Exchange Rate Dynamics under Alternative Optimal Interest Rate Rules

We explore the role of interest rate policy in the exchange rate determination process. Specifically, we derive exchange rate equations from interest rate rules that are theoretically optimal under a few alternative settings. The exchange rate equation depends on its underlying interest rate rule and its performance could vary across evaluation criteria and sample periods. The exchange rate equation implied by the interest rate rule that allows for interest rate and inflation inertia under commitment offers some encouraging results – exchange rate changes “calibrated” from the equation have a positive and significant correlation with actual data, and offer good direction of change prediction. Our exercise also demonstrates the role of the foreign exchange risk premium in determining exchange rates and the difficulty of explaining exchange rate variability using only policy based fundamentals.Taylor Rule, exchange rate determination, mean squared prediction error, direction of change, foreign exchange risk premium

Geopolymer Concrete Production by Activating Alkaline With Silica Sand, Blast Furnace Slag and Fly Ash

In this paper, it was aimed to manufacture a functional geopolymer structure by activating silica sand, fly ash disposed from Afsin-Elbistan Thermal Power Plant and blast furnace slag obtained from Iskenderun Ferrous & Steel Plant with NaOH. Concrete mortars containing alkaline-activated aggregates were shaped in 4 cm x 4 cm x 16 cm and 10 cm x 10cm x 10 cm molds. These samples were kept in oven at 75 oC during 20 hours. Bending resistance, specific weight, thermal conductivity coefficient, compressive strength and ultrasound transmission rate of each sample were measured

Soil micromorphology for construction science: the mortar archaeometry

Micromorphology revealed in depth evaluation of materials particularly soil micromorphology yielded numerous data on processes such as formation, neoformation and transformation of minerals and microstructure in soils, pottery and construction materials. Mortars, one of the first human made materials for construction of Byzantine and the Ottoman worlds were compared in terms of micromorphology and mineralogy

Action problematic in Anthony Giddens structure theory

Sosyolojide 'eylem' sorunuyla ilgilenen pek çok yaklaşım eylemin ne olduğunu ele alıp açıklamak yerine çoğu zaman onu verili kabul etmiştir. Dolayısıyla 'eylem' konusunda sosyolojik düşüncede bütünlüklü bir teoriler kümesi görülememektedir. Giddens'ın yapılaşma teorisi öncelikle sosyolojide derinleştirilmiş bir eylem analizinin eksikliğinin tespiti ile başlar. Bu tespitten hareketle Giddens, eylem konusunda sosyal analiz için uygun bir teori geliştirmeye çalışır. O, bu sebeple yorumcu sosyolojilerin ve eylem felsefecilerinin çeşitli kavramlarından istifade ederek bir eylem teorisi inşa etmektedir. Bu çalışmada, Giddens'ın yapılaşma teorisinde `eylem'i nasıl ele aldığı değerlendirilecektir.In sociology, different approaches related to 'action' issue generally accept as given instead of explaining what action is. Thereby, regarding in 'action' in sociological thinking it is hard to find an aggregate theory. Giddens' structure theory initially begins with determining to research an action analysis thoroughly in sociology. Giddens, try to improve a theory appropriate social analysis regarding in action. Therefore, he establishes an action theory by using the concepts of interpretative sociologies and action philosophies. In this study, it is tried to be evaluated how action is discussed in Giddens' structure theory

Trade Openness, Market Competition, and Inflation: Some Sectoral Evidence from OECD Countries

This study evaluates the role market competition plays in determining inflation based on sector-level data from OECD countries. In theory, trade openness can affect inflation through changes in market competitiveness and productivity. Nonetheless, previous empirical studies often fail to account for productivity effects, and their results may overstate the role of market competition. This study shows that inflation decreases with greater market competitiveness even after controlling for productivity effects. Indeed, when market competition and productivity effects are both accounted for, trade openness becomes insignificant in explaining inflation. The results support that changes in market competitiveness and productivity are the main channels through which trade openness affects inflation.trade openness, inflation, market structure, static panel, dynamic panel

Investigating potency and efficacy of mRNA lipid nanoparticle systems and targeting lymph node

mRNA lipid nanoparticle (LNPs) based vaccines played a crucial role in dealing with the COVID19 pandemic. The primary function of LNPs is to encapsulate and deliver mRNA to the target site, facilitating its release into the cytosol, thereby eliciting an immune response against the antigen transcribed from the mRNA. Despite LNP's first approval in 2018 for delivering siRNA to the liver cells, LNPs face challenges such as endosomal escape, stability, and extrahepatic targeting. The components of LNPs need to be optimised with in vitro and in vivo studies to address these challenges. This thesis aimed to investigate the efficiency of mRNA-LNP systems. The study evaluated ionisable lipids such as ALC-0315, SM-102, and Polyethylene glycol (PEG) lipids, including DMG-PEG2k and ALC-0159. From the in vitro and in vivo studies, SM-102 LNPs were selected as a lead formulation and moved further with testing the ionic strength of the encapsulation buffer. This study showed that the concentration of citrate buffer also had a significant role in transfection efficiency; increasing the ionic strength from 50 mM to 300 mM negatively impacted the transfection efficiency. Additionally, the efficacy of a microfluidic-based rapid mixing method (MF) was evaluated using the Design of Experiment (DoE) approach to reveal the importance of process parameter and their interactions and quadratic effects. Subsequently, an in vivo study (using ovalbumin (OVA) mRNA in varying doses) highlighted the sex-specific immune response, irrespective of the protein expression. The final study focused on using biotinylated LNPs to target the lymph node, exploiting the strong interaction between avidin and biotin. Overall, this thesis provided insight into investigating mRNA-LNP systems, demonstrating potential strategies to enhance the efficacy of mRNA-based vaccines, which is crucial for advancing therapeutic applications.mRNA lipid nanoparticle (LNPs) based vaccines played a crucial role in dealing with the COVID19 pandemic. The primary function of LNPs is to encapsulate and deliver mRNA to the target site, facilitating its release into the cytosol, thereby eliciting an immune response against the antigen transcribed from the mRNA. Despite LNP's first approval in 2018 for delivering siRNA to the liver cells, LNPs face challenges such as endosomal escape, stability, and extrahepatic targeting. The components of LNPs need to be optimised with in vitro and in vivo studies to address these challenges. This thesis aimed to investigate the efficiency of mRNA-LNP systems. The study evaluated ionisable lipids such as ALC-0315, SM-102, and Polyethylene glycol (PEG) lipids, including DMG-PEG2k and ALC-0159. From the in vitro and in vivo studies, SM-102 LNPs were selected as a lead formulation and moved further with testing the ionic strength of the encapsulation buffer. This study showed that the concentration of citrate buffer also had a significant role in transfection efficiency; increasing the ionic strength from 50 mM to 300 mM negatively impacted the transfection efficiency. Additionally, the efficacy of a microfluidic-based rapid mixing method (MF) was evaluated using the Design of Experiment (DoE) approach to reveal the importance of process parameter and their interactions and quadratic effects. Subsequently, an in vivo study (using ovalbumin (OVA) mRNA in varying doses) highlighted the sex-specific immune response, irrespective of the protein expression. The final study focused on using biotinylated LNPs to target the lymph node, exploiting the strong interaction between avidin and biotin. Overall, this thesis provided insight into investigating mRNA-LNP systems, demonstrating potential strategies to enhance the efficacy of mRNA-based vaccines, which is crucial for advancing therapeutic applications

Physical–Mechanical and Mineralogical Properties of Fired Bricks of the Archaeological Site of Harran, Turkey

In this study, the physical–mechanical and mineralogical properties of bricks used in historical structures of the site of Harran, Turkey have been investigated. Harran was destroyed by the Mongol army, during the Turkish reconquest campaign around the 1260s. The remains of the buildings made of bricks and basalt/limestone were recently uncovered almost in their entirety. Several brick samples have been taken from the burial mound, the university, the city walls, the castle, and the great mosque. From the visual analyses, it was noted that the bricks have unique colors such as pottery, desert beige, and canyon. Physical analyses show that the absorption rates of the bricks are between 17.30–38.12%, their densities between 1.33–1.70 g/cm3, and porosities between 8.88–25.31%. For the mechanical analyses, the bending strengths have been found to be between 0.82–1.86 MPa and compressive strengths between 6.69–7.95 MPa. The thin-section images show that the bricks contain calcite, muscovite, and plagioclase quartz and pyroxene minerals

Exchange rate dynamics under alternative optimal interest rate rules

We explore the role of interest rate policy in the exchange rate determination process. Specifically, we derive exchange rate equations from interest rate rules that are theoretically optimal under a few alternative settings. The exchange rate equation depends on its underlying interest rate rule and its performance could vary across evaluation criteria and sample periods. The exchange rate equation implied by the interest rate rule that allows for interest rate and inflation inertia under commitment offers some encouraging results - exchange rate changes calibrated from the equation have a positive and significant correlation with actual data, and offer good direction of change prediction. Our exercise also demonstrates the role of the foreign exchange risk premium in determining exchange rates and the difficulty of explaining exchange rate variability using only policy based fundamentals

Math Applications on the Displacement of Beam Calculations

Beams under load are subject to displacement. In the calculations ofthese, mathematical formulations are used. In this paper, displacement of different beams under different loads has been analysed by using mathematical formulations. Thus, coherent formulations of loading on beams and displacement of beams are obtained. Furthermore to obtain these formulas, boundary conditions have been taken into consideration