An Investigation on Residential Satisfaction in Mass Housing: A Case Study of Garanti Houses in Konya-Turkey

In due course, the changing culture, technological developments have continually presented new dimensions to shelter. All the quests and new solutions to housing have aimed to satisfy the users. Housing evaluation is a field that determines whether the housing fulfils the necessary conditions for the users' mental and physical health, whether the users would be content as individuals and as families, and whether the big housing investments would go down the drain. The mistakes in housing practices are constantly repeated. Housing evaluations have recently gained great importance in order to evade these inaccuracies. This study tackles user satisfaction in mass housing systems. The field of study is Garanti Houses, the largest mass housing in gated community-style in Konya. User satisfaction with inner and outdoor spaces is investigated and evaluated by means of user satisfaction questionnaires. Eventually, it is found out that the inhabitants of Garanti Houses are satisfied with the social facilities and the indoor and outdoor spaces of the housing complex, and with their locations at levels good and very good. It is believed that the findings to be obtained in this study will provide data for a participatory planning approach to the processes of planning of future mass housing projects

Number System Conversions in Spreadsheets for vocational school students: A Case Study from Instrumental Genesis

Theoretical frameworks for mathematics teaching and learning technology-supported provide a systematic structure in examining the contribution of the tool to conceptual development. This study examines the processes for the use of spreadsheets and the mathematical development of the participants in the tasks for performing the conversions between number systems using the instrumental genesis approach, which deals with transforming a tool into an instrument that will contribute to the conceptual development. In the study, the screen images of the worksheets of the participants, who are at the Department of Computer Technologies Program in a vocational school in Turkey, are analyzed together with the observation notes and evaluation scales prepared based on the outcomes. In the study, while the efforts of the participants to transform the spreadsheet into an instrument are observed, it is seen that their habits of paper-and-pencil experiences and misconceptions lead to an obstacle to transferring their operations to the spreadsheet and hesitations. However, their developments in instrumentalization processes are reflected by the following: they use subjective usage schemes, realize the advantages of spreadsheet functions and features, and create dynamic worksheets through dragging and cell addresses. Nevertheless, it can be stated that the reflections of instrumentalization progress on the instrumentation processes for conceptual development are limited

A note on the right-hand side identification problem arising in biofluid mechanics

The inverse problem of reconstructing the right-hand side RHS of a mixed problem for onedimensional diffusion equation with variable space operator is considered. The well-posedness of this problem in Hölder spaces is established

Comparison of the effects of carvedilol and nebivolol on diastolic functions of the left ventricle in patients with non-ischemic heart failure

Background: We investigated whether carvediolol or nebiovolol with vasodilator properties will produce different effects on diastolic function of the left ventricle (LV) in heart failure (HF) with low ejection fraction (EF).Methods: Sixty-one non-ischemic HF patients with EF ≤ 40% randomly received carvedilol (n = 31, 16 male) or nebivolol (n = 30, 19 male). Clinical and echocardiographic evaluations were performed at baseline, 3 and 6 months after therapy. Mitral inflow velocities (E and A waves), deceleration time of E wave (DT), isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT), mitral annular velocities (Ea and Aa waves) were evaluated. Mitral E/A and E/Ea ratios were calculated.Results: In carvediolol and nebivolol groups, mitral E/A ratio (from 1.08 ± 0.31 to 0.87 ± 0.30 vs. from 0.98 ± 0.20 to 0.80 ± 0.20, p = 0.30) and IVRT (from 108 ± 13 to 94 ± 10 ms vs. from 107 ± 22 to 92 ± 10 ms, p = 0.25) similarly decreased while DT prolonged (from 184 ± 40 to 218 ± 42 ms vs. from 193 ± 37 to 222 ± 36 ms, p = 0.71). Also, E/Earatio significantly decreased in each group (p = 0.01), but it was lower in nebivolol group than carvedilol group at 6 months (10.2 ± 2 vs. 11.8 ± 2, p = 0.01). Carvediolol and nebivolol reduced similarly N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide level (from 666 to 137 vs. 661 to 123 pg/dL, p = 0.41, respectively) and improved functional capacity (p > 0.05).Conclusions: At 6 month follow-up, carvedilol and nebivolol appear to similarly improve LV diastolic functions in non-ischemic HF patients

Application of Proteomics to Identify Fertility Markers in Angus Bull Sperm

The goal of the study was to ascertain sperm proteins as fertility markers by identifying sperm proteins in Angus bull sperm using proteomics and validate the markers through comparative sperm biology between Angus and Holstein bulls for which there is reliable fertility data available. We aimed to determine proteins differentially expressed in sperm from Angus bulls with different fertility phenotypes. Two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis with mass-spectrometry, functional gene clusters, canonical pathways and protein networks, using integrated discovery bioinformatics software and ingenuity pathway analysis were used to identify and analyze sperm proteome. We identified 80 proteins that were differentially expressed in sperm of our experimental population. Using computational biology approaches we demonstrated involvement of structural proteins such as outer dense fiber of sperm tails 2 and enzymes including kinases, and phosphatases having functions in essential pathways in glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and free scavenging. The results are significant because analyzed proteins in Angus sperm are determinants of fertility, gene-environment interactions, as well as potential biomarkers for animal breeding

Comprehensive proteomic analysis of bovine spermatozoa of varying fertility rates and identification of biomarkers associated with fertility

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Male infertility is a major problem for mammalian reproduction. However, molecular details including the underlying mechanisms of male fertility are still not known. A thorough understanding of these mechanisms is essential for obtaining consistently high reproductive efficiency and to ensure lower cost and time-loss by breeder.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using high and low fertility bull spermatozoa, here we employed differential detergent fractionation multidimensional protein identification technology (DDF-Mud PIT) and identified 125 putative biomarkers of fertility. We next used quantitative Systems Biology modeling and canonical protein interaction pathways and networks to show that high fertility spermatozoa differ from low fertility spermatozoa in four main ways. Compared to sperm from low fertility bulls, sperm from high fertility bulls have higher expression of proteins involved in: energy metabolism, cell communication, spermatogenesis, and cell motility. Our data also suggests a hypothesis that low fertility sperm DNA integrity may be compromised because cell cycle: G₂/M DNA damage checkpoint regulation was most significant signaling pathway identified in low fertility spermatozoa.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This is the first comprehensive description of the bovine spermatozoa proteome. Comparative proteomic analysis of high fertility and low fertility bulls, in the context of protein interaction networks identified putative molecular markers associated with high fertility phenotype.</p

Sustainable energy saving alternatives in small buildings

Day lighting significance in architectural designs is well established for enhancing visual comfort, energy-efficiency and low carbon buildings development. Practising the atrium element in the modern architectures has been increasingly popular in recent years because of the fact that the transitional space with good environmental elements can improve the quality of the buildings and reduce extra energy utilisation. The present study explores the advantages and effectiveness of the atrium on the energy performance of small buildings, a case study of ‘The Azuma Row House’. Based on local micro-climate data Autodesk Ecotect Analysis was performed to calculate the daylight factors and the energy demand of the building. A comparison was made with atrium and without atrium in the building to evaluate overall energy savings. The results show a higher annual heating energy demand with atrium 3443 kWh compared without atrium 2526 kWh. The annual cooling energy demand without atrium 2516 kWh is significantly greater than with atrium 912 kWh. The total energy requirements under no atrium case is about 5042 kWh which is considerably higher than the total annual energy demand with atrium 4355 kWh. The total amount of energy saved is about 15.7% per year by introducing the sunlight through the atrium. Along with the increasing issue of the energy crisis, environmental problem and the beautiful design of atrium, the development of atrium in modern architecture designing is feasible to have a good future

Effects of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on implant osseointegration in experimental diabetes mellitus

Objective: To evaluate whether hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment has a favorable effect on implant osseointegration in diabetic rabbits. Material and Methods: An experimental diabetes model was induced in 32 New Zealand rabbits through IV injection of alloxan. After the state of diabetes had been confirmed, one dental implant was placed in the metaphysical region of each animal’s tibia. After the implants’ placements, the animals were divided into two groups. Half of the animals underwent HBO treatment, while the other group did not receive HBO treatment and served as the control group. The animals were euthanized at the 4th and 8th weeks. The osseointegration of the implants were compared by histomorphometry and resonance frequency analysis (RFA). Results: The Bone Implant Contact (BIC) values were significantly higher in the HBO group than in the control group at the 4th week. There was no difference in the BIC values between the groups at the 8th week. There was no significant difference in the RFA scores between the groups both at the 4th and 8th weeks after the operation. Conclusion: Histomorphometry findings suggest that HBO has positive effect on implant osseointegration in the early healing period in diabetic rabbits. However, implant stability is not affected by HBO treatment