Accurate non-intrusive residual bandwidth estimation in WMNs

The multi-access scheme of 802.11 wireless networks imposes difficulties in achieving predictable service quality in multi-hop networks. In such networks, the residual capacity of wireless links should be estimated for resource allocation services such as flow admission control. In this paper, we propose an accurate and non-intrusive method to estimate the residual bandwidth of an 802.11 link. Inputs from neighboring network activity measurements and from a basic collision detection mechanism are fed to the analytical model so that the proposed algorithm calculates the maximum allowable traffic level for this link. We evaluate the efficiency of the method via OPNET simulations, and show that the percent estimation error is significantly lower than two other prominent estimation methods, bounded only between 2.5-7.5%. We also demonstrate that flow admission control is successfully achieved in a realistic WMN scenario. Flow control through our proposed algorithm keeps the unsatisfied traffic demand bounded and at a negligibly low level, which is less than an order of magnitude of the other two methods

Is there a Link between Profit Share Rate of Participation Banks and Interest Rate?[:] The Case of Turkey

Today, the sensitive side of national economies is financial sector. The main reason for this sensitivity is financial crises. This situation has increased the demand and orientation for Islamic finance as a substitute for the modern financial system. The Islamic finance is discussed as a real solution to financial crises because the Islamic finance methods and applications depend on real economic activities. Both this case and the distance that is taken by Muslim countries in recent years has increased the share of Islamic banking/finance in the world. Thus, it has been a long debate in Islamic finance literature to investigate the presence of dependency between profit share rate settled by participation banks and deposit interest rate offered in conventional banking. In this study, variables that affect profit share rate of participation banks and deposit interest rate of conventional banks are examined over the period between January 2006 and May 2015 in Turkey. OLS method is constructed and empirical results are pointed out that interest rate on government security and foreign exchange rate are significantly effective on participation banks’ profit share rate. In addition, the profitability of conventional banks, government security, and foreign exchange rate are significantly effective on deposit interest rate settled by conventional banks. The main reason for this link between conventional interest rate and profit share rate arises with the domiance of murabahah, simple buy and sell with term sale transactions, at Islamic financial institutions. The interest rate is a benchmark for participation banks to determine the profit share rate. To get rid of this dependency, Islamic financial institutions may tend towards mudarabah transactions

Etiology of a rare intraglandular foreign body in the parotid gland: Vegetable nidus

Foreign bodies observed in the parotid gland generally origins from trauma. These foreign bodies are commonly solid structures such as metal, stone, and glass, but foreign body compatible with plant histomorphology is a rare condition. In this study, we present the diagnosis and treatment methods that we applied to this clinical entity, which is very rare in the literature. A 44-year-old female patient who applied to our clinic with a mass on her left cheek that developed in the past 3 months was evaluated. The patient underwent foreign body excision from the parotid gland. On the patient who had a stricture in the Stensen duct during intraoperative exploration, the duct was dilated, and the patient was followed up. Foreign body with vegetative morphology, which settles into the parotid gland by retrograde migration, is a very rare condition. The importance of being aware of possible complications, and a meticulous surgical approach should also be taken into consideration

Colloidal stability-slip casting behavior relationship in slurry of mullite synthesized by the USP method

This study presents the outcome of a research concerning the relationship between the colloidal stability of mullite powders synthesized by the USP (ultrasonic spray pyrolysis) method and its slip casting behavior. The colloidal stability of mullite slurry has been investigated under three different pH conditions (4.5, 8.9 and 10.9) derived from pH-dependent zeta potential (ZP) curves. Employing these pH values, mullite slurries with 50 wt.% solid content were prepared and slip cast. The microstructures of dried and sintered specimens were examined using SEM. It is concluded that the pH significantly influences the stability and in turn the slip casting behavior of the mullite slurry. In order to prepare homogeneous and stable mullite slurry for efficient slip casting it is preferable to utilize a basic rather than an acidic medium. High pH (i.e. 10.9) tends to leads to more closely packed mullite particles resulting in a homogeneous microstructure and greater structural integrity

Cognitive Absorption Levels of Social Network Users

DergiPark: 326098trakyasobedSocial networks are internet applications which allow users to experience intensive interactions and which are increasingly becoming popular today. Studies conducted and statistics related to the use of social networks demonstrate that a large amount of the time spent on the internet is allocated to social networks. This appealing feature of social networks has also drawn researchers’ attention. The rate of use of social networks discussed within the scope of a number of variables such as internet addiction and problematic internet use is explained with the feeling of deep involvement to the Web. In literature, this structure, called Cognitive Absorption Theory, is defined as deep involvement with technology. Therefore, social network users’ intensive usage rates revealed in studies might have a relationship with certain features of social networks that could lead to deep involvement. The present study investigated the effects of the sub-factors of cognitive absorption such as time, curiosity, interest and pleasure on individuals’ use of social networks. Sample of the research contain 402 social software user (71 female and 331 male). Cognitive Absorption Scale was used to data collection. To analysis data, descriptive statistic, t-test and one way ANOVA test was used. The findings obtained demonstrated that the variable of gender did not have any significant influence on individuals’ levels of cognitive absorption; that their social network use time constituted a great deal of their internet use time; that the number of their friends in social networks and their attempts to restrict or not to restrict their social network use did not predict their levels of cognitive absorptionSosyal ağlar, kullanıcıların yoğun etkileşim deneyimi yaşadıkları ve bu sayede kullanım oranları gün geçtikçe artan internet uygulamalarıdır. Yapılan araştırmalar ve kullanım istatistikleri, internette geçirilen sürenin büyük bir bölümünün sosyal ağlarda geçirildiğini göstermektedir. Sosyal ağların bireyleri kendine çeken bu yapısı güncel araştırmalara da konu olmaktadır. İnternet bağımlılığı, problemli internet kullanımı gibi birçok farklı değişken kapsamında tartışılan bu kullanım oranları web ortamının bireylerde oluşturduğu derin bağlanma duygusuyla da açıklanmaktadır. Alanyazında Bilişsel Kapılma Kuramı olarak adlandırılan bu yapı teknoloji ile ilgili deneyimlerde yaşanan derin bağlılık durumu olarak tanımlanmaktadır. Dolayısıyla sosyal ağ kullanıcılarının araştırmalarda ortaya konulan yoğun kullanım oranları, sosyal ağların bireylerde derin bağlılığa neden olabilecek birtakım özellikleriyle ilişkili olabilir. Bu araştırma kapsamında bilişsel kapılma kuramının alt boyutlarından olan zaman, merak, ilgi ve zevk faktörlerinin kullanıcıların sosyal ağ kullanımları üzerinde ne yönde etkide bulunduğu araştırılmıştır. Araştırma, 71’i kadın ve 331’i erkek olmak üzere toplam 402 sosyal ağ kullanıcısı ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırma verileri Bilişsel Kapılma Ölçeği ve bilgi formu ile toplanmıştır. Veriler betimsel istatistikler, t-testi ve tek yönlü ANOVA testi yardımı ile analiz edilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgulara göre cinsiyet değişkeninin bireylerin bilişsel kapılma düzeyleri üzerinden anlamlı bir etkisinin bulunmadığı, sosyal ağ kullanım sürelerinin internet kullanım sürelerinin oldukça önemli bir bölümünü oluşturduğu, sosyal ağlardaki arkadaş sayılarının ve sosyal ağ kullanımı konusunda kendini sınırlandırma ve sınırlandırmama davranışlarının bireylerin bilişsel kapılma düzeylerini yordamadığı sonuçlarına ulaşılmıştı

Turkish Paediatric Dentists’ Knowledge, Experiences and Attitudes Regarding Child Physical Abuse

Objectives Numerous studies have shown that the education of health professionals is essential to effectively respond to child abuse. The present study aimed to evaluate Turkish paediatric dentists\u27 knowledge, experiences and attitudes regarding child physical abuse. Materials and methods An electronic questionnaire was e‐mailed to 518 paediatric dentists. Participants’ knowledge of diagnostic indicators of child physical abuse, and their past experiences, attitudes and self‐assessment of educational needs were evaluated. Results The response rate was 40.9% (n = 212). Participants who completed their undergraduate education before 1997 received significantly less education on child physical abuse than participants who completed their education more recently (P \u3c 0.001). Although statistically insignificant, participants who completed their doctorate/specialty training after 2012 received increased education on child physical abuse (P = 0.06). Of the participants, 43.9% suspected physical abuse; however, only 12.7% reported it. ‘I did not know where and how to report’ was the most common reason for not reporting physical abuse. The rate of suspicion was higher among dentists from state hospitals or oral health centres (P \u3c 0.05). Of the participants, 70.3% did not know about the legal sanctions for delay in or not reporting suspected cases. Only 15.6% assessed themselves as competent to diagnose and report physical abuse. Almost all of them acknowledged their need for more education on this topic. Conclusion Turkish paediatric dentists’ educational needs for diagnosing and reporting of child physical abuse cases should be met

Ten years experience with poor responder patients fulfilling bologna criteria

70th Annual Meeting of the American-Society-for-Reproductive-Medicine -- OCT 18-22, 2014 -- Honolulu, HIAmerican Society for Reproductive Medicin

Serum Levels of Soluble P-Selectin Are Increased and Associated With Disease Activity in Patients With Behçet's Syndrome

Behçet's syndrome (BS) is a relapsing, chronic, inflammatory disease characterized by endothelial dysfunction, atherothromboembogenesis, and leukocytoclastic vasculitis with complex immunologic molecular interactions. Generalized derangements of the lymphocyte and neutrophil populations, activated monocytes, and increased PMNLs motility with upregulated cell surface molecules such as ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin, which are found on the endothelial cells, leukocytes, and platelets, have all been demonstrated during the course of BS. Our aim is to investigate the association of serum concentrations of soluble P-selectin in patients with BS, and to evaluate whether disease activity has an effect on their blood levels. This multicenter study included 31 patients with BS (15 men and 16 women) and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy control volunteers (11 men and nine women). Neutrophil count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and acute-phase reactants as well as soluble P-selectin levels were determined. The mean age and sex distributions were similar (P > .05) between BS patients (35 years) and control volunteers (36 years). Serum levels of soluble P-selectin in patients with BS (399 ± 72 ng/mL) were significantly (P < .001) higher when compared with control subjects (164 ± 40 ng/mL). In addition, active BS patients (453 ± 37 ng/mL) had significantly (P < .001) elevated levels of soluble P-selectin than those in inactive period (341 ± 52 ng/mL). This study clearly demonstrated that serum soluble P-selectin levels are increased in BS patients when compared with control subjects, suggesting a modulator role for soluble P-selectin during the course of platelet activation and therefore, atherothrombogenesis formation in BS, especially in active disease