A Structural VAR Analysis of the Determinants of Capital Flows Into Turkey

Since the beginning of 1990s, Turkey has been exposed to large amounts of capital flows with significant effects on the economic performance. This study examines the determinants of capital flows into Turkey in the traditional ‘push-pull’ factors approach. To this end, a structural vector autoregression (SVAR) model has been employed and impulse-response and variance decomposition functions have been produced covering the period from 1992 : 01 to 2005 : 12. The same analysis has also been carried out for the two sub-periods 1992 : 01-2001 : 12 and 2002:01-2005 : 12 to inspect if there exists a change in the roles of push and pull factors before and after the 2001 economic crisis. The empirical evidence suggests that the relative roles of some of the factors have changed considerably in the post crisis period and pull factors are in general dominant over push factors in determining capital flows into Turkey.Capital Flows, Push and Pull Factors, Structural Vector Autoregression

A Structural VAR Analysis of the Determinants of Capital Flows into Turkey

Since the beginning of 1990s, Turkey has been exposed to large amounts of capital flows with significant effects on the economic performance. This study examines the determinants of capital flows into Turkey in the traditional 'push-pull' factors approach. To this end, a structural vector autoregression (SVAR) model has been employed and impulse-response and variance decomposition functions have been produced covering the period from 1992:01 to 2005:12. The same analysis has also been carried out for the two sub-periods 1992:01-2001:12 and 2002:01-2005:12 to inspect if there exists a change in the roles of push and pull factors before and after the 2001 economic crisis. The empirical evidence suggests that the relative roles of some of the factors have changed considerably in the post crisis period and pull factors are in general dominant over push factors in determining capital flows into Turkey.Capital Flows, Push and Pull Factors, Structural Vector Autoregression

The Determinants of the Price-Cost Margins of the Manufacturing Firms in Turkey

This study examines the determinants of the price-cost margins in the Turkish manufacturing industry spanning from 1995 to 2003. The literature on this subject points to the importance of market structure, business cycles and input costs. Utilizing panel data econometric techniques on a large number of manufacturing firms by conditioning on their firm size, age, ownership and export orientation, the study finds that there exists a marked difference among the firms’ pricing behaviors according to their market share. Import penetration seems to be ineffective to reduce the price-cost margins of large, high market share and foreign partner firms, while exporting activity was observed to act as a factor to enhance competition. The analysis also suggests that price-cost margins behave pro-cyclically in general and an appreciation of the domestic currency reduces price-cost margins by way of lowering input costs.Price-cost margins, Market Structure, Import Penetration

Thin Films Prepared from Nanometer Size TiO 2

Absorption of average 10 nm size TiO2 nanoparticles deposited on glass surfaces as a thin film using convective assembly technique and drop-casting is studied in the millimeter wave range from 26 GHz to 40 GHz. The millimeter wave responses of the fabricated samples were obtained using a vector network analyzer. Reflection properties of the prepared samples were also measured. Absorption and reflection of TiO2 nanoparticles were more pronounced between 35 GHz and 40 GHz compared to glass-only sample

2D Gold Nanoparticle Structures Engineered Through DNA Tiles for Delivery and Therapy

Self-assembly of 13 nm gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) engineered into 2D structures in solution using DNA tiles for their possible use for gene delivery and photothermal therapy is reported. The two different DNA tiles were constructed and the AuNPs coated with oligonucleotides possessing complementary sequence from the free ends were hybridized with the sticky ends of the tiles. The DNA tiles were bind to each other by mixing the tile structures without a heating and cooling step. The constructed nanostructures were 5 to 7 DNA tiles long since heat was not used to elongate them. When the DNA tiles were bound to the AuNPs, it was observed that AuNPs tend to stay in close proximity by filling the gaps between tiles. The stability of the constructed structures was tested against DNase, a DNA cleaving enzyme, for possible applications for gene delivery and photothermal therapy. It was found that the AuNP bound DNA tile structures resist the DNase cleavage up to eighty percent. Due to the presence of the AuNPs in the structure, the enzyme cannot bind to DNA sequences and this increases the DNA tile structures’ stability

Evaluating the bond strength of opaque material on porcelain fused to metal restorations (PFM) alloys by scratch test method

The aim of this study was to evaluate the bond strength of opaque material on CrCo, CrNi and Palladium alloys in the metal-ceramic complex. Opaque materials were applied on CrNi. WBC, Bellobond, Cost N, Cost Co, Palladium and CrCo alloys. The scratch test was used for determining the bond strength of opaque materials to these alloys. Furthermore, opaque layer thickness and surface roughness values were determined by surface profilometer. When the opaque was applied on WBC, CrNi and Bellobond alloys; the thickness of opaque layer was 10-15 mu m, surface roughness of opaque was 6.5-7.2 mu m and after polishing (with All particles) 2-2.4 mu m. While the opaque was applied on Cost N and Cost Co frameworks, the thickness of opaque layer was 9-11.2 mu m, opaque surface roughness was 7.5-8.1 mu m and after polishing 1-1.7 mu m. As it was applied on Palladium and CrCo frameworks, the thickness of opaque layer was 15-19 mu m, opaque surface roughness 6.5-8 mu m and after polishing 1-1.7 mu m. The Critical Force values were 61.58 mN, 59.86 mN, 48.63 mN, 51.59 mN, 50.07 mN, 71.83 mN, and 41.56 mN for Pd, CrCo alloy, Cost N, Cost Co, CrNi, WBC alloy and Bellobond alloy, respectively. WBC, Pd, CrCo alloys showed higher bond strength values with the opaque material than other specimens. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Evaluating the bond strength of opaque material on porcelain fused to metal restorations (PFM) alloys by scratch test method

WOS: 000267746800048The aim of this study was to evaluate the bond strength of opaque material on CrCo, CrNi and Palladium alloys in the metal-ceramic complex. Opaque materials were applied on CrNi. WBC, Bellobond, Cost N, Cost Co, Palladium and CrCo alloys. The scratch test was used for determining the bond strength of opaque materials to these alloys. Furthermore, opaque layer thickness and surface roughness values were determined by surface profilometer. When the opaque was applied on WBC, CrNi and Bellobond alloys; the thickness of opaque layer was 10-15 mu m, surface roughness of opaque was 6.5-7.2 mu m and after polishing (with All particles) 2-2.4 mu m. While the opaque was applied on Cost N and Cost Co frameworks, the thickness of opaque layer was 9-11.2 mu m, opaque surface roughness was 7.5-8.1 mu m and after polishing 1-1.7 mu m. As it was applied on Palladium and CrCo frameworks, the thickness of opaque layer was 15-19 mu m, opaque surface roughness 6.5-8 mu m and after polishing 1-1.7 mu m. The Critical Force values were 61.58 mN, 59.86 mN, 48.63 mN, 51.59 mN, 50.07 mN, 71.83 mN, and 41.56 mN for Pd, CrCo alloy, Cost N, Cost Co, CrNi, WBC alloy and Bellobond alloy, respectively. WBC, Pd, CrCo alloys showed higher bond strength values with the opaque material than other specimens. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Urazole as an unorthodox functional group for fabrication of anionic hydrogels and ion-exchange materials

In this study, highly ionazable protons (pKa 5-6) of urazole were exploited to obtain an anionic hydrogel in two simple and scalable steps. Commercially available multiisocyanate, poly(hexamethylene)diisocyanate, was used to prepare urazole containing gel. Urazole formation was confirmed by FT-IR and 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The hydrogel were characterized by microscopy imaging, spectroscopic and gravimetric analysis. Mechanical analysis and cell viability test were performed for its initial biocompatibility evaluation. The prepared hydrogel is a highly porous hydrogel with a Young’s modulus of 0.91MPa, has swelling ratio of 87% and capable of exchanging ions in a medium. In this report, we demonstrated a strategy to overcome synthetic challenge of incorporating urazole into a material via precursor path rather than attempting to embeding urazole groups directly

BETA-GLOBIN GENE MUTATIONS IN TURKISH CHILDREN WITH BETA-THALASSEMIA: RESULTS FROM A SINGLE CENTER STUDY

Introduction: The beta thalassemias are common genetic disorders in Turkey and in this retrospective study our aim was to evaluate β-globin chain mutations and the phenotypic severity of β-thalassemia patients followed-up in our hospital, a tertiary center which serves patients from all regions of Turkey. Materials and Methods: 106 pediatric patients were analysed for β-globin gene mutations by using DNA analysis. Patients were classified as having β-thalassemia major or β-thalassemia intermedia based on age at diagnosis, transfusion frequency and lowest hemoglobin concentration in between transfusions. Results: There were 106 patients (52.8% female and 47.2% male) with a mean age of 11.2±5 years (1.6 – 22.3 years). Eighty-four (79.2%) patients had β-thalassemia major, whereas the remaining 22 patients (20.8%) were identified as having β-thalassemia intermedia. Overall, 18 different mutations were detected on 212 alleles. The most frequently encountered mutation was IVS I.110 (G>A) (35.3%), followed by Codon 8 del-AA (10.4%), IVS II.1 (G>A) (8%), IVS I.1 (G>A) (7.5%), Codon 39 (C>T) (7.1%) and Codon 5 (-CT) (6.6%), which made up 79.4% of observed mutations. According to present results, IVS I.110 (G>AA) was the most frequent mutation observed in this study, as in other results from Turkey. Evaluation of β-thalassemia mutations in 106 patients with 212 alleles, revealed the presence of homozygous mutation in 85 patients (80.2%) and compound heterozygous mutation in 21 patients (19.8%). The mutations detected in patients with homozygous mutation were IVS I.110 (G>A) (38.8%), Codon 8 del –AA (11.8%), IVS II.1 (G>A) (8.2%) and IVS I.1 (G>A) (8.2%). Observed mutations in the compound heterozygotes were Codon 39 (C>T)/Codon 41-42 (-CTTT) (14.3%), IVS I.110 (G>A)/Codon 39(C>T) (14.3%), IVS I.110 (G>A)/Codon 44(-C) (14.3%), and IVS II.745 (C>G)/ 5’UTR + 22 (G>A) (9.5%). Conclusion: Our hospital is a tertiary referral center that provides care to patients from all over the country, and thus the distribution of mutations observed in the current study is significant in term of representing that of the country as a whole