Long-Term Relationship between Inflation and Public Sector Deficit in the Turkish Economy and its Macroeconomic Implications (1975-2014)

The process of deterioration in the fundamentals, in particular those related to inflation and the public sector deficits, that had started in the 1980's have accelerated in the 1990's. Meanwhile two way causative relations seem to have appeared between the fluctuations of some fundamentals. In this context, this paper examines the long term relationship between inflation and the public sector deficit and provides an analysis of the macro dynamics that derive from this relationship. Following a summary of the theoretical literature on the relationship between inflation and the public sector deficit, the behavior of these two variables in the 1975-2014 periods are delineated and an analysis of their relationship to some selected macro-variables is presented. The most important result of this article is that high and chronic inflation rates are one of the responsible of deterioration which appeared on the main economic variables particularly in the public sector balance. Similarly, in the 2000’s, on the basis of positive developments in the public balance lies in falling inflation rates quickly and permanently

Asynchronous CSMA Policies in Multihop Wireless Networks With Primary Interference Constraints

We analyze asynchronous carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) policies for scheduling packet transmissions in multihop wireless networks subject to collisions under primary interference constraints. While the (asymptotic) achievable rate region of CSMA policies for single-hop networks has been well-known, their analysis for general multihop networks has been an open problem due to the complexity of complex interactions among coupled interference constraints. Our work resolves this problem for networks with primary interference constraints by introducing a novel fixed-point formulation that approximates the link service rates of CSMA policies. This formulation allows us to derive an explicit characterization of the achievable rate region of CSMA policies for a limiting regime of large networks with a small sensing period. Our analysis also reveals the rate at which CSMA achievable rate region approaches the asymptotic capacity region of such networks. Moreover, our approach enables the computation of approximate CSMA link transmission attempt probabilities to support any given arrival vector within the achievable rate region. As part of our analysis, we show that both of these approximations become (asymptotically) accurate for large networks with a small sensing period. Our numerical case studies further suggest that these approximations are accurate even for moderately sized networks.United States. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (Grant number HDTRA 1-08-1-0016)National Science Foundation (U.S.). (CAREER-CNS-0953515)National Science Foundation (U.S.). (CCF-0916664

Antisosyal Davranışları Önlemeye Yönelik “Başarıya İlk Adım Programı” Türkçe Versiyonu’nun Etkililiği

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the Turkish version of the First Step to Success (TFSS) early intervention program on problem behaviors, social skills, and academic competence of at-risk students for antisocial behaviors in Turkey. Participants consisted of a total number of 102 students (53 students in experimental and 49 students in control group) and experimental group students’ teachers and mothers. Experimental group students were subjected to implementation of TFSS while control group students were not. Results revealed significant differences between the scores of two groups on problem behaviors and social skills. Moreover, significant decreases in experimental group students’ problem behavior scores and significant increases in their social skills and academic competence scores were observed. High levels of satisfaction were reported by experimental group students’ teachers and mothers. Results are being discussed.Bu çalışmanın amacı, Başarıya İlk Adım Programı Türkçe Versiyonu’nun (BİA-TV) antisosyal davranışlar açısından riskli olan öğrencilerin problem davranışları, sosyal becerileri ve akademik yeterlilikleri üzerindeki etkililiğini incelemektir. Çalışma 53’ü deney ve 49’u kontrol grubunda olmak üzere 31’i anasınıfından 37 birinci sınıf ve 34’ü ikinci sınıftan 102 öğrenciyle gerçekleştirilmiştir. Deney grubu öğrencileri ile BİA-AV programı uygulanırken, kontrol grubu ile herhangi bir uygulama gerçekleştirilmemiştir. Bulgular iki grubun problem davranışları ve sosyal beceri puanları arasında anlamlı farklılıklar olduğunu göstermiştir. Programın deney grubu öğrencilerinin problem davranışlarında anlamlı düşüşe, sosyal beceri ve akademik yeterlilik puanlarında anlamlı artışa yol açtığı gözlenmiştir. Katılımcıların öğretmenleri ve annelerinin memnuniyet düzeyleri yüksek bulunmuştur. Bulgular tartışılmıştır

Worth the wait: effects of age of onset of marijuana use on white matter and impulsivity

Rationale: Marijuana (MJ) use continues to rise, and as the perceived risk of using MJ approaches an all-time historic low, initiation of MJ use is occurring at even younger ages. As adolescence is a critical period of neuromaturation, teens and emerging adults are at greater risk for experiencing the negative effects of MJ on the brain. In particular, MJ use has been shown to be associated with alterations in frontal white matter microstructure, which may be related to reports of increased levels of impulsivity in this population. Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between age of onset of MJ use, white matter microstructure, and reported impulsivity in chronic, heavy MJ smokers. Methods: Twenty-five MJ smokers and 18 healthy controls underwent diffusion tensor imaging and completed the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale. MJ smokers were also divided into early onset (regular use prior to age 16) and late onset (age 16 or later) groups in order to clarify the impact of age of onset of MJ use on these variables. Results: MJ smokers exhibited significantly reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) relative to controls, as well as higher levels of impulsivity. Earlier MJ onset was also associated with lower levels of FA. Interestingly, within the early onset group, higher impulsivity scores were correlated with lower FA, a relationship that was not observed in the late onset smokers. Conclusions: MJ use is associated with white matter development and reported impulsivity, particularly in early onset smokers

3-D crustal structure along the North Anatolian Fault Zone in north-central Anatolia revealed by local earthquake tomography

3-D P-wave velocity structure and Vp/Vs variations in the crust along the North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ) in north-central Anatolia were investigated by the inversion of local P- and S-wave traveltimes, to gain a better understanding of the seismological characteristics of the region. The 3-D local earthquake tomography inversions included 5444 P- and 3200 S-wave readings obtained from 168 well-located earthquakes between 2006 January and 2008 May. Dense ray coverage yields good resolution, particularly in the central part of the study area. The 3-D Vp and Vp/Vs tomographic images reveal clear correlations with both the surface geology and significant tectonic units in the region. We observed the lower limit of the seismogenic zone for north-central Anatolia at 15 km depth. Final earthquake locations display a distributed pattern throughout the study area, with most of the earthquakes occurring on the major splays of the NAFZ, rather than its master strand. We identify three major high-velocity blocks in the mid-crust separated by the Izmir-Ankara-Erzincan Suture and interpret these blocks to be continental basement fragments that were accreted onto the margin following the closure of Neo-Tethyan Ocean. These basement blocks may have in part influenced the rupture propagations of the historical 1939, 1942 and 1943 earthquakes. In addition, large variations in the Vp/Vs ratio in the mid-crust were observed and have been correlated with the varying fluid contents of the existing lithologies and related tectonic structures

Choices:Future trade-offs and plausible pathways

Policy development and management of deltas in the Anthropocene involves the consideration of trade-offs and the balancing of positive and negative consequences for delta functions and the societies that rely on them. This assessment outlines policy-driven and spatial trade-offs that dominate the landscape of choice. It highlights examples of such trade-offs using plausible delta futures and the governance choices associated with them. The analysis is based on modelling broad-scale processes and individual adaptive actions. It highlights how policy choices to maximise economic growth can, for example, have unforeseen consequences such as diminished well-being for some populations. Hence the chapter concludes that trade-offs are a crucial governance challenge for future sustainability of deltas

The effect of spacing on the vortex-induced vibrations of two tandem flexible cylinders

Vortex-induced vibrations (VIV) of two flexible cylinders arranged in tandem are studied using a two-way fluidstructure interaction (FSI) method with different spacing ratios (Sx/D) at Reynolds number Re = 500 using a twoway fluid-structure interaction (FSI) method. The main objective of this study is to investigate the effect of spacing on the hydrodynamic interactions and the VIV responses of these cylinders. The responses of the two flexible cylinders are found to be similar to the classical VIV responses at small Sx/D. Once Sx/D is large enough for the vortices to become detached from the upstream cylinder, the response of the upstream cylinder is similar to the typical VIV response whereas the downstream cylinder undergoes wake-induced vibration (WIV). The characteristics of the response of the downstream cylinder in the present study are similar to those of the first two response regimes classified by previous researchers. The third regime is not observed for the flexible downstream cylinder with both ends fixed. The two changes in the phase relation between the cross-flow displacements of the two tandem flexible cylinders are discovered to be linked with the initial-upper branch transition and the upperlower branch transition, respectively. The correlation lengths of the two flexible cylinders decrease significantly in the transition range between the upper and lower branches. Three modes of vortex shedding (2S, P + S and 2P) have been identified in the present study. The upper-branch 2P mode is found to be associated with largeamplitude vibration of the upstream cylinder and the P + S mode is observed to be related to large-amplitude vibration of the downstream cylinder for Sx/D = 3.5 and 5. On the other hand, the lower-branch 2P mode leads to small-amplitude vibration of the downstream cylinder in the post-lock-in range at Sx/D = 2.5. The relative phase shifts of the sectional lift coefficients on different spanwise cross sections can be attributed to the variation of the vortex shedding flow along the flexible cylinders, and these phase shifts result in poor phasing between the forces and the displacements which is related to the decrease of the correlation lengths

HIPK2 and extrachromosomal histone H2B are separately recruited by Aurora-B for cytokinesis

Cytokinesis, the final phase of cell division, is necessary to form two distinct daughter cells with correct distribution of genomic and cytoplasmic materials. Its failure provokes genetically unstable states, such as tetraploidization and polyploidization, which can contribute to tumorigenesis. Aurora-B kinase controls multiple cytokinetic events, from chromosome condensation to abscission when the midbody is severed. We have previously shown that HIPK2, a kinase involved in DNA damage response and development, localizes at the midbody and contributes to abscission by phosphorylating extrachromosomal histone H2B at Ser14. Of relevance, HIPK2-defective cells do not phosphorylate H2B and do not successfully complete cytokinesis leading to accumulation of binucleated cells, chromosomal instability, and increased tumorigenicity. However, how HIPK2 and H2B are recruited to the midbody during cytokinesis is still unknown. Here, we show that regardless of their direct (H2B) and indirect (HIPK2) binding of chromosomal DNA, both H2B and HIPK2 localize at the midbody independently of nucleic acids. Instead, by using mitotic kinase-specific inhibitors in a spatio-temporal regulated manner, we found that Aurora-B kinase activity is required to recruit both HIPK2 and H2B to the midbody. Molecular characterization showed that Aurora-B directly binds and phosphorylates H2B at Ser32 while indirectly recruits HIPK2 through the central spindle components MgcRacGAP and PRC1. Thus, among different cytokinetic functions, Aurora-B separately recruits HIPK2 and H2B to the midbody and these activities contribute to faithful cytokinesis

Complex consequences of Cantu syndrome SUR2 variant R1154Q in genetically modified mice

Cantu syndrome (CS) is caused by gain-of-function (GOF) mutations in pore-forming (Kir6.1, KCNJ8) and accessory (SUR2, ABCC9) ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel subunits, the most common mutations being SUR2[R1154Q] and SUR2[R1154W], carried by approximately 30% of patients. We used CRISPR/Cas9 genome engineering to introduce the equivalent of the human SUR2[R1154Q] mutation into the mouse ABCC9 gene. Along with minimal CS disease features, R1154Q cardiomyocytes and vascular smooth muscle showed much lower KATP current density and pinacidil activation than WT cells. Almost complete loss of SUR2-dependent protein and KATP in homozygous R1154Q ventricles revealed underlying diazoxide-sensitive SUR1-dependent KATP channel activity. Surprisingly, sequencing of SUR2 cDNA revealed 2 distinct transcripts, one encoding full-length SUR2 protein; and the other with an in-frame deletion of 93 bases (corresponding to 31 amino acids encoded by exon 28) that was present in approximately 40% and approximately 90% of transcripts from hetero- and homozygous R1154Q tissues, respectively. Recombinant expression of SUR2A protein lacking exon 28 resulted in nonfunctional channels. CS tissue from SUR2[R1154Q] mice and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived (hiPSC-derived) cardiomyocytes showed only full-length SUR2 transcripts, although further studies will be required in order to fully test whether SUR2[R1154Q] or other CS mutations might result in aberrant splicing and variable expressivity of disease features in human CS