Between accommodationism and separatism: Kurds, Ottomans and the politics of nationality (1839-1914)

This dissertation examines the origins and development of ethno-national mobilisation amongst the Kurds of the Ottoman Empire in the decades leading up to the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. It argues that, like other elements of Ottoman community, over the course of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century the idea that the Kurds constituted a 'nation' gradually proliferated amongst Kurdish intellectual and political leaders. This nascent 'national consciousness' found concrete expression in the establishment of a series of newspapers, journals and organisations claiming to represent the views and interests of the Ottoman Kurdish community. However, while a growing number of Kurds began to see themselves as part of a 'Kurdish nation', the political implications of Kurdish ‘nationhood’ remained controversial. Indeed, from its inception the Kurdish movement contained within it a number of factions which held very different opinions on what precisely constituted the Kurds' national interests. This included some who attempted to secure the advancement and development of their people within the framework of the empire (accommodationists) and others who sought national independence (separatists). This study seeks to highlight the diversity within the Kurdish movement and, more importantly, shed light on the reasons behind it. In doing so, it will become possible to create a more nuanced historical narrative of the origins and nature of the Kurdish question, a question which remained a major political issue facing Middle Eastern leaders and statesmen today.</p

Nano-Magnetic Structures Characterization in Thin Films

Abstract The driving force for developments in nano-technology results from the increasing demand related to key technologies like microelectronics and nano magnetic devices. In decreasing scale of many devices, high-resolution characterization methods have become of fundamental importance for further development in nano technologies. The availability of powerful microscopy methods, is certainly important for the development of new and functional materials. The characterization of materials at various and increasing levels of resolution, structures, microstructure, and defect geometry, as well as chemical composition and spatial distribution are important parameters determining the behavior of materials and practical applications

Innovation Use of Nano Technology in Magnetic Storage Devices and Nano Computers

Abstract-The fluence of ion irradiation on polycrystalline thin films affects both anisotropy and spontaneous magnetisation M s . The dependence of coercivity and initial susceptibility on M s is predicted by a hysteresis model considering the balance of energy with good qualitative agreement

Internet addiction and sleep problems : A systematic review and meta-analysis

The pathological use of the internet – conceptualized as ‘internet addiction’ – might be crucial in initiating and increasing sleep disturbances in the community. While inconsistent evidence is reported regarding the association of internet addiction and sleep disturbances, the severity of this association remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to increase our understanding of the relationship between internet addiction and sleep disturbances. A systematic review was conducted through Scopus, PubMed Central, ProQuest, ISI Web of Knowledge, and EMBASE using keywords related to internet addiction and sleep problems. Observational studies (cohort, case-control or cross-sectional studies) focusing on association between internet addiction and sleep disturbances including sleep problems and sleep duration were selected. A meta-analysis using random-effect model was conducted to calculate the odds ratio (OR) for experiencing sleep problems and standardized mean differences (SMDs) for sleep duration. Eligible studies (N = 23) included 35,684 participants. The overall pooled OR of having sleep problems if addicted to the internet was 2.20 (95% CI: 1.77–2.74). Additionally, the overall pooled SMDs for sleep duration for the IA group compared to normal internet users was −0.24 (95% CI: −0.38, −0.10). Results of the meta-analysis revealed a significant OR for sleep problems and a significant reduced sleep duration among individuals addicted to the internet

Microemulsions for delivery of Apiaceae essential oils – towards highly effective and eco-friendly mosquito larvicides?

The development of effective and eco-friendly pesticides to manage mosquito vector larvae is a timely and crucial challenge nowadays. Insecticide resistance is on the rise, therefore plant-borne insecticides may represent promising candidates to control insect vectors. In the present work, we encapsulated selected essential oils (EOs) from Pimpinella anisum, Trachyspermum ammi and Crithmum maritimum into highly stable microemulsions (MEs) with the aim to develop effective and eco-friendly larvicidal formulations. MEs made with both single EOs and their mixtures were tested against 3rd instar larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus, assessing acute and chronic toxicity, emergence of adults, and their impact on non-target invertebrates, i.e., Daphnia magna, Tubifex tubifex and Eisenia fetida. All MEs were able to exert toxicity against mosquito larvae, with LC50 values in the ranges 1.45-4.01 ml.L-1, along with high larval mortality and low percentage of hatched adults following short-term exposure to sublethal concentrations. Low or none mortality was observed on D. magna and E. fetida. Taken together, these results give new insights for the exploitation of plant-borne EOs as active ingredients of novel and reliable larvicidal products

α-Glucosidase inhibition of lactone intermediates of the iminosugar deoxynojirimycin

α-Glycosidase enzymes hydrolyse α-glycosidic linkages and are involved in bodily processes such as the catabolism of glycans, intestinal digestion, and the degradation of glycoproteins. Various types of diseases which are caused by the failure of this enzyme to function properly can be treated through enzyme inhibition. The hydroxyethyl derivative of DNJ (Miglitol) is a clinical drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Although the iminosugar D-deoxynojirimisin (D-DNJ) is an excellent micromolar glycosidase inhibitor, the α-glucosidase inhibition activity of D-DNJ lactone intermediates has yet to be reported. Therefore, the scalable synthesis of the D-DNJ intermediates 1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucurono-3,6-lactone (2), 1,2-O-isopropylidene-β-L-idurono-3,6-lactone (3) and 5-azido-5-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucurono-3,6-lactone (4) was carried out using D-glucuronolactone (1) as the starting material based on the method reported by Best et al. 2010 with some modification and subsequently, evaluated for anti-α-glucosidase activity. All products were characterised and identified by HPLC-ELSD, mass spectrometry (DI-ESI-MS) and NMR spectroscopy (via comparison of 1D 1H and 13C data with previously reported values). The inhibitory activity of compounds 1-4 towards α-glucosidase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was evaluated using the p-nitrophenyl α-D-glucopyranoside substrate. Compound 3 showed 29.5% inhibition followed by 2 (21.4%), 1 (15.8%) and 4 (15.7%) compared to the positive control, quercetin (72.7%)

α-Glucosidase inhibition of lactone intermediates of the iminosugar deoxynojirimycin

α-Glycosidase enzymes hydrolyse α-glycosidic linkages and are involved in bodily processes such as the catabolism of glycans, intestinal digestion, and the degradation of glycoproteins. Various types of diseases which are caused by the failure of this enzyme to function properly can be treated through enzyme inhibition. The hydroxyethyl derivative of DNJ (Miglitol) is a clinical drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Although the iminosugar D-deoxynojirimisin (D-DNJ) is an excellent micromolar glycosidase inhibitor, the α-glucosidase inhibition activity of D-DNJ lactone intermediates has yet to be reported. Therefore, the scalable synthesis of the D-DNJ intermediates 1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucurono-3,6-lactone (2), 1,2-O-isopropylidene-β-L-idurono-3,6-lactone (3) and 5-azido-5-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucurono-3,6-lactone (4) was carried out using D-glucuronolactone (1) as the starting material based on the method reported by Best et al. 2010 with some modification and subsequently, evaluated for anti-α-glucosidase activity. All products were characterised and identified by HPLC-ELSD, mass spectrometry (DI-ESI-MS) and NMR spectroscopy (via comparison of 1D 1H and 13C data with previously reported values). The inhibitory activity of compounds 1-4 towards α-glucosidase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was evaluated using the p-nitrophenyl α-D-glucopyranoside substrate. Compound 3 showed 29.5% inhibition followed by 2 (21.4%), 1 (15.8%) and 4 (15.7%) compared to the positive control, quercetin (72.7%)