Efficiency And Productivity Analysis In Turkish Banking Sector With Data Envelopment Analysis And Malmquist Index

The aim of this study is to analyze the efficiency and productivity of 3 public, 6 private and 6 foreign deposit banks operating in the Turkish banking sector with the help of data envelopment analysis and Malmquist index.For this purpose, the efficiency of 15 deposit banks operating in the Turkish banking sector between 2014 and 2018 was measured and whether the efficiency of Malmquist productivity index changed over the years. In the study, input-oriented Charnes Cooper and Rhodes (CCR) model was used under the assumption of constant return to scale and 4 input 2 output variables were selected. Inputs in efficiency and productivity measurement are defined as; personnel expenses / total assets (%), total loans / total assets (%), equity / total assets (%), total deposits / total assets (%), outputs are defined as; the earning power of assets (net profit / total assets), the earning power of equity (net profit / equity) (%). The Windows Data Envelopment Analysis Program (Win4Deap) package program was used in the analysis and brokerage approach was adopted. While 4 banks were active under the Constant Return to Scale(CRS) assumption between 2014 and 2018, 8 banks were found active under the assumption of Variable Return to Scale (VRS).Inefficient banks; target values were calculated by slacks movement and radial movement values to their original values and it was found that the lambda values calculated by Win4Deap program and which banks are peers. The changes observed in Malmquist total factor productivity, technical efficiency, technological efficiency, pure efficiency, scale efficiency and total factor productivity were analyzed as a whole and decision-making units experienced improvement in the 2016-2017 period

COVID-19 Pandemic: A comparison of adult and pediatric populations

Aim:  Couple of pneumonia cases were reported in a short period in Wuhan, China. The cases were revealed to be associated with a different coronavirus type was named SARS-CoV-2 and the disease was identified as Covid-19.  It is known that the disease occurs in all age groups. We aimed to evaluate the differences in clinical and laboratory features between adult and pediatric patients. Method: The study is a retrospective cross-sectional study and consists of 206 patients with a definitive diagnosis of Covid-19 confirmed by a positive real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing for SARS-CoV-2. They hospitalized in health institutions connected to City Health Administrative of Bolu, Turkey between 11.03.2020 and 19.04.2020. The number of the pediatric patients (0-17 age group) was 106, that of the adult patients (18 and above age group) was 100. Data concerning the patients consisted of age, symptoms, laboratory parameters such as hemogram, biochemistry, coagulation. Results: The mean values of platelet (PLT), platocrit (PCT), percentage of monocytes (MONO %) and MONO in the “0-17” age group were found to be significantly higher than the mean values in the “18 and above” age group. The hemoglobin (HGB) mean value of the “0-17” age group was significantly lower than that of the “18 and above” age group. The mean C - reactive protein (CRP) value of the “0-17” age group (4.55; min: 1.20 – max: 11.80) was significantly lower than that of the “18 and above” age group (5.35; min 1.25- max: 19.77) with no statistically significance. In pediatric group, the most common symptoms were other symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting and joint pain whereas the adult patients had fever and cough often with statistically significant. Conclusion: Clinical findings and laboratory abnormalities in Covid-19 are less common in children. Although it seems that Covid-19 is less symptomatic in children, they are also affected by the disease. Performing RT-PCR test based on the contact history of the children may help to minimize morbidity with an early diagnosis. Multicenter studies with more numbers of patients should be performed

The effects of IL-10 gene polymorphism on serum, and gingival crevicular fluid levels of IL-6 and IL-10 in chronic periodontitis

Objective Anti-inflammatory cytokines play a crucial role in periodontitis by inhibiting synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of interleukin-10 (-597) gene polymorphism and genotype distributions on chronic periodontitis (CP) development and IL-6 and IL-10 levels in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and serum before and after non-surgical periodontal treatment. Material and Methods The study population consisted of 55 severe generalized CP patients as CP group and 50 healthy individuals as control group. Plaque index, gingival index, probing depth and clinical attachment level were recorded and GCF and blood samples were taken at both the baseline and the sixth week after non-surgical periodontal treatment. PCR-RFLP procedure was used for gene analyses and cytokine levels were measured via ELISA. Results IL-10 genotype distribution was significantly different between CP and control groups (p=0.000, OR:7, 95%CI, 2.83-60.25). Clinical measurements significantly improved in the CP group after periodontal treatment (p;0.05). Sixth week GCF IL-10 levels were significantly lower in patients carrying IL-10 AC+CC genotype compared to the patients carrying IL-10 AA genotype (p;0.05). Conclusion IL-10 AA genotype carriers had lower IL-6 and IL-6/10 levels in serum; however, GCF IL-6/10 levels were similar in both genotypes. Within the limitations of our study, a possible association between IL-10(-597) gene polymorphism and CP might be considered

Model based process optimization of enhanced wastewater treatment plants

Avrupa Birliği’ne uyum sürecinde ele alınan atık sorunu kapsamında, alıcı ortamlara yapılacak deşarjlarda konvansiyonal parametrelerin yanısıra azot ve fosfor (besi maddesi) parametrelerinin de belli standart değerlerin altına indirilmesi gerekli hale gelmiştir. Bu nedenle, “Kentsel Atıksu Arıtımı Yönetmeliği, 2006” ile uyum sürecinde olan ülkemizde azot ve fosfor standartları mevzuatımıza dâhil edilmiştir. “Kentsel Atıksu Arıtımı Yönetmeliği, 2006” kapsamında mevcut tesislerin besi maddesi giderimine yönelik olarak geliştirilmesi, yeni kurulacak tesislerin ise besi maddesi giderecek şekilde en uygun arıtma teknolojisi kavramı çerçevesinde boyutlandırılması gereklidir. Besi maddesi giderimine yönelik en uygun arıtma teknolojisi biyolojik prosesler, bunlar arasında en ekonomik çözüm ise aktif çamur sistemleri olarak tanımlanmaktadır. Bu çalışma aktif çamur tesislerinin, Avrupa Birliği normlarında performansını sağlayabilecek optimum tasarım ve işletme süreçlerinin değerlendirilmesini amaçlamaktadır. Bu kapsamda, bir örnek olarak ele alınan İstanbul Su ve Kanalizasyon İdaresi (İSKİ) Paşaköy İleri Biyolojik Atıksu Arıtma Tesisi’nde mevcut durumda atıksu karakterizasyonu ve sistem performansı deneysel olarak belirlenmiş, elde edilen bilgiler kullanılarak sürekli kullanıma uygun olacak model-bazlı tasarım ile işletme simülasyon programları hazırlanmış ve işletme optimizasyonu çerçevesinde çıkış besi maddesi konsantrasyonlarının düşürülmesi amacıyla işletme senaryoları oluşturularak önerilerde bulunulmuştur. Yürütülen senaryo analizleri ile, havalandırma tanklarındaki çözünmüş oksijen seviyelerinin uygun ayarlanması, tesisin geri devir denitrifikasyonu prensibi yerine A2O veya UCT tipi sistem şeklinde işletilmesi ile sistem veriminin arttırılabileceği ve dolayısıyla çıkış besi maddesi konsantrasyonlarının azaltılabileceği belirlenmiştir. Anahtar Kelimeler: İleri biyolojik atıksu arıtma tesisi, atıksu karakterizasyonu, model-bazlı tasarım, işletme optimizasyonu.The Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive published in the Official Gazette No. 26047 of 08.01.2006 was adapted from the “The Council Directive (91/271/EEC)” concerning urban waste-water treatment was accepted in European Union Countries, which imposes enforcements about the collection and treatment of wastewater. This directive requires that also nitrogen and phosphorus (nutrients) to be removed together with the conventional parameters. In this context, it is very important to follow and apply the technological advances while the harmonization of legislations in Turkey with European Union Standards. Mathematical models are frequently used for the design and optimum operation of wastewater treatment systems. In order to use the activated sludge models for the process design and control, it is crucial to understand the behavior of complex biological reactions under steady and dynamic conditions. The initial step for the use of models should be, a model calibration according to the data obtained from the treatment plant and an analysis of the behavior of the treatment plant under dynamic influent and environmental conditions (Vanrolleghem et al., 2003). After the calibration of the prepared model according to the operational conditions of the treatment plant, the model can be used for the optimization of the plant, meeting the effluent quality standards, minimizing operational costs and for developing appropriate process control strategies. On the other hand the effect of changes in the process conditions on the model stability should be taken into consideration (Insel et al., 2007). The aim of this study was to evaluate the optimum design and operational criteria of advanced biological wastewater treatment plants by applying international monitoring and evaluation mechanisms that will increase the performance to norms required in the European Union. Accordingly, İSKİ Paşaköy Advanced Biological Wastewater Treatment Plant (ABWWTP) was chosen as a model plant and in the first stage on influent wastewater characterization, chemical oxygen demand (COD) fractionation and performance of the activated sludge system were experimentally determined. In the second stage, using the dimensions of the İSKİ Paşaköy ABWWTP units and the experimentally determined operational parameters, model calibration studies were conducted. On this context, theoretical parameters of model-based design and operational simulation programs applied for the plant were evaluated. In the last stage of the study, for operational optimization, according to the results obtained from the experimental and simulation studies conducted at İSKİ Paşaköy ABWWTP, operational scenarios were developed and suggestions were made. In the scenario analysis reduction of effluent phosphorus and total nitrogen concentration was aimed and the effect of (i) the aeration system control, (ii) recycle denitrification (iii) influent VFA concentration was analyzed and the effect of (iv) different system configurations was evaluated. The results of statistical data analysis of wastewater characterization studies conducted at İSKİ Paşaköy Advanced Biological Wastewater Treatment Plant aiming nitrogen and phosphorus removal revealed that due to low influent Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN), Total Phosphorus (TP) and Volatile Fatty Acids (VFA) concentrations, high efficiencies of biological phosphorus removal was not achievable. According to the scenario analysis performed for the treatment plant it has been concluded that it is possible to increase the removal efficiency of the system and achieve lower effluent total nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations by setting the dissolved oxygen levels to appropriate levels and operating the systems as an A2O or a UCT type system instead of a recycle denitrification system. It has been concluded that if the scenario analyses were applied it is not possible to meet the European Union Effluent Quality Standard of 1.0 mg/l for the phosphorus parameter. Experimental and model based studies have to be conducted for the installation of a fermentation process together with different system configurations that are required to meet the effluent quality standard by biological treatment. Keywords: Paşaköy wastewater treatment plant, wastewater characterization, model based optimization, process control

THE İMPLEMENT OF MULTİPLE INTELLIGENCE THEORY ON THE TEACHİNG OF JUSTNESS VALUE İN PRİMARY EDUCATİON 5th GRADE SOCİAL SCİENCES COURSE

Bu araştırmada; İlköğretim 5. Sınıf Sosyal Bilgiler dersi değer eğitiminde, çoklu zekâ kuramına göre hazırlanan eğitim durumlarıyla, geleneksel öğretim yöntemiyle verilecek eğitim durumlarının, öğrencilerin seçilen değere ilişkin görüşlerine ve değeri içselleştirmelerine yaptığı etkiyi karşılaştırmak amaçlanmıştır. Bu amaçla, değer olarak Adil Olma değeri seçilmiştir. Araştırmanın örneklemini, 2008-2009 öğretim yılında Kırıkkale ili merkez ilçede yer alan resmi ilköğretim okulları arasından seçkisiz örnekleme yoluyla seçilen Mustafa Necati İlköğretim Okulu ve Tınaz İlköğretim Okulu'nda okuyan beşinci sınıf öğrencileri oluşturmuştur. Araştırmada; ön test, son test kontrol gruplu deney deseni kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın problemine ilişkin veriler, araştırmacı tarafından geliştirilen Adil Olma Ölçeği ve Görüş Alma Formu na verilecek öğrenci cevaplarının toplanmasıyla elde edilmiştir. Araştırmada; Adil Olma Ölçeği'nin verilerinin çözümlenmesinde, aritmetik ortalama, frekans ve standart sapma; öğrencilerin araştırmacının sorduğu sorulara verdikleri cevapların çözümlenmesinde ise verilen dokümanlar içerik analizine tabii v tutulmuştur. Adil Olma Ölçeği ve dokümanların analizinde, deney ve kontrol gruplarına uygulanan ön test ve son test için bağımlı gruplarda t testi uygulanmıştır. Deneysel işlemin etkili olup olmadığı iki grubun ön test ve son test puanlarının karşılaştırılması ile belirlenmiştir. Bu karşılaştırmada alınan iki ortalama arasındaki farkın anlamlı olup olmadığı bağımsız gruplarda t testi ile sınanmıştır.In this study, the aim is while giving justness value in 5th grade social science course, comparing traditional teaching method education conditions with education conditions prepared according to Multiple Intelligence Theory in terms of students' effect on the content information related to chosen value and internalization of the value. For this aim Being Just value is chosen. The participants of the study are 2008-2009 education year 5th grade students of Mustafa Necati Primary Education School and Tınaz Primary Education School, government schools of Kırıkkale. In the study, pre-test post-test design was used. The data related to the problem of the study were gained from the participants with the Justness Instrument and Opinion Taking Form developed by the researcher. In the study, in the analysis of the data gathered with Justness Instrument mean, frequency, and standard deviation were used. The answers of students that were given to vii the researcher's questions were analyzed with content analysis. In analysis of Justness Instrument and documents the pre and post-test given to the control and experiment groups, t test was used. To see whether the experimental process worked or not pre and post test results will be compared. In this comparison one way variance analysis is used

Comparison of risk-taking behaviour and frequency of piercing and tattooing among university students

Objective: To assess the frequency of piercing and tattooing among university students and to determine the extent of risk-taking behaviour in this age group

PREVALANCE AND CLINICAL FINDINGS OF PRIMARY HEADACHES IN PEOPLE WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalance of primary headache and clinical evaluation Of primary headaches according to the International Headache Society criteria in patients with multiple sclerosis. The relationship between primary headache and multiple sclerosis subtypes, locations of plaques on magnetic resonance of these patients were also investigated

Neurologic Soft Signs in Behcet Disease

Background: Patients with Behcet disease have an excess of minor neurologic abnormalities (neurologic soft signs). Objective: (a) To investigate the neurologic soft signs (NSS) in Behcet disease (BD) patients who had no neurologic symptoms, by using the neurologic evaluation scale (NES). (b) To evaluate the effect of silent infarction on NES scores in BD patients