Astronomical Site Selection for Turkey Using GIS Techniques

A site selection of potential observatory locations in Turkey have been carried out by using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) coupled with Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and satellite imagery which in turn reduced cost and time and increased the accuracy of the final outcome. The layers of cloud cover, digital elevation model, artificial lights, precipitable water vapor, aerosol optical thickness and wind speed were studied in the GIS system. In conclusion of MCDA, the most suitable regions were found to be located in a strip crossing from southwest to northeast including also a diverted region in southeast of Turkey. These regions are thus our prime candidate locations for future on-site testing. In addition to this major outcome, this study has also been applied to locations of major observatories sites. Since no goal is set for \textit{the best}, the results of this study is limited with a list of positions. Therefore, the list has to be further confirmed with on-site tests. A national funding has been awarded to produce a prototype of an on-site test unit (to measure both astronomical and meteorological parameters) which might be used in this list of locations.Comment: 17 pages, 10 figures, accepted by Experimental Astronom

Smoking Determinants in Turkish University Students

The aim was to explore the prevalence and the correlates of smoking in a group of Turkish university students. A sample of 1,870 students (21.2 ± 2.0 years old) completed the Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Hopelessness Scale, Anxiety Sensitivity Index, 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Smoking was highly prevalent (35.9%) in this sample. Male gender (OR = 2.72, CI 2.15–3.44), and parental smoking (OR = 1.41, CI 1.13–1.78) were factors associated with increased likelihood of smoking. Higher depressive symptoms and hopelessness levels were significantly related to smoking behavior. Smoking behavior might initiate as a mild and transient habit and unfortunately could become more serious and lead to an actual dependence. The results of this study show that it is necessary to pay attention to levels of depression and hopelessness, as well as parental influence

Erratum to: 36th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13054-016-1208-6.]

To ‘douche’ or not to ‘douche’: hygiene habits may have detrimental effects on vaginal microbiota

The importance of a healthy vaginal micro-flora is indisputable. Therefore, intravaginal practices, such as vaginal douching (VD), may inhibit or lower the colonisation of beneficial Lactobacilli strains. Although the results of disrupted vaginal microbiota have been widely reported in the literature, direct microbicidal effects of products used for VD have been rarely studied. Moreover, there are certain studies advocating the beneficial effects of VD. This in vitro study was designed to provide more evidence to help health care givers in disseminating the knowledge that VD might have detrimental effects on vaginal microbiota. Three commercially available VD products (A, B and C) were examined for their minimal inhibiting concentrations (MICs) against Lactobacilli strains. Although the MICs of product A (ranging from 0.19% to 0.09%, p < .05) were proven to be lower than the other two, all the products were potentially able to inhibit the growth of Lactobacilli strains effectively, and hence should be used with caution.Impact statement What is already known on this subject? The importance of vaginal microbiota has long been reported for the maintenance of health. The lack of a healthy vaginal ecosystem may lead to various diseases including pelvic inflammatory disease, bacterial vaginosis, sexually transmitted diseases, etc. Moreover, studies also stress that lack of beneficial bacteria may lead to miscarriages, premature delivery, ectopic pregnancy and cervical cancer. Despite a huge amount of data regarding the importance of vaginal microbiota, studies confirm that women still utilise VD for various reasons. Whilst the detrimental effect of VD have been widely reported in the literature; there are a few publications advocating the potential benefits of VD. Educational efforts are reported to lessen this practice. What do the results of this study add? In this in vitro study we aimed to substantiate the bactericidal potential of three commercially available products. There are studies about the clinical outcomes of VD, but a limited number of in vitro studies exist. Our results represent a direct measure of how potentially destructive VD is. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? This information can be used for educational purposes, enhancing the efforts provided by health care givers used to lessen VD practice

The Examination of the Changes Occurred on Offset Printing Roller and its Effects on Density

The quality and use of inking and dampening rollers on the printing press is one of the important factors that affect the printing quality and production performance. The aim of this study is to determine the roughness, diameter and hardness changes on the surface of offset printing rollers while operating time and indicate the effect of roller wearing on printing quality. With this aim, the changes, up to 750.000 unit printing samples per hundrend thousand, after 750.000 unit printing samples one per one million, occured on roller surface were examined. Also density measurement was done to determine the printing quality which affected by change on the roller surface. Then the density results obtained from printing samples and and surface roughness values were analysed by using Minitab data analysis programme. At this study, it was tried to determine the ideal roller surface properties which provides the most suitable results for printing

The ornithological importance of Dalaman (Mugla, Turkey) wetlands and threats to the bird population

The study, conducted from May 2002 to December 2004, aimed to provide scientific baseline data about avifaunal richness, species of breeding birds, and threats that affect both bird species and ecosystems, and to support attempts to get official protection status for the Dalaman (Mugla, Turkey) wetlands. A total of 215 bird species were recorded using point counts throughout transect lines. The species' statuses were determined as follows: 56 residents, 78 summer visitors, 44 winter visitors, 22 passage migrants, and 15 undetermined. Of the 215 species, 93 (43%) were non-breeders. According to EBCC (European Bird Census Council) criteria, the 122 breeding species were determined as 32 (15%) possible, 24 (11%) probable, and 66 (31%) confirmed breeders. Moreover, 49 (40%) of the breeding species were in SPEC (Species of European Conservation Concern) categories. The main observed threats for bird populations and habitats in the area were illegal hunting, cutting reed beds, uncontrolled agricultural pesticide and insecticide usage, agricultural and touristic activities, domestic waste, and noise from the airport. This study showed that the wetland ecosystems and the surrounding marshland, farmland, and forest ecosystems of Dalaman provide a good refuge for many bird species. Therefore, we think that the study area must urgently be protected by laws to reduce the human impact on the area. © TÜBİTAK

The blooms of a cyanobacterium, Microcystis cf. aeruginosa in a severely polluted estuary, the Golden Horn, Turkey

The distribution of toxic cyanobacterium Microcystis cf. aeruginosa in the severely polluted Golden Horn Estuary was studied from 1998 to 2000. Microcystis persisted at the upper estuary where the water circulation was poor and values ranged between 2.9 x 10(4) and 2.7 x 10(6) cells ml(-1) throughout the study. Simultaneously measured physical (salinity, temperature, rainfall and secchi disc) and chemical parameters (nutrients and dissolved oxygen) were evaluated together with Microcystis data. Although the Microcystis blooms generally occur in summer due to the increase in temperature, the blooms were recorded in winter in the present study. The abundance of Microcystis depended on the variations in salinity and both blooms were recorded below S = 2. A moderate partial correlation between Microcystis abundance and salinity was detected in the presence of temperature, dissolved oxygen and precipitation data (r = -0.561, p = 0.002). The M. cf. aeruginosa abundance was low in the summer when the salinity was higher than winter. A remarkable increase in the eukaryotic phytoplankton abundance following the improvements in the water quality of the estuary occurred, whilst the Microcystis abundance remained below bloom level. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Exenatide, a GLP-1 analog, has healing effects on LPS-induced autism model: Inflammation, oxidative stress, gliosis, cerebral GABA, and serotonin interactions

Erdogan, Mumin/0000-0003-0048-444XWOS: 000558438600001PubMed: 32745285Previous studies have established anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects of Exenatide in the central nervous system. Since these mechanisms are thought to have important roles in the pathophysiology of autism, we hypothesized that Exenatide may have healing effects in autism. We tested this hypothesis by examining the effects of Exenatide in an experimental autism model created by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure in the womb, with behavioral tests, histopathological examinations, and biochemical measurements. the autism model was created by administration of LPS (i.p) to pregnant rats on the 10th day of their pregnancy at a dose of 100 mu g/kg. on postnatal 21st day, a total of four groups were formed from offspring with regard to sex distribution and treatment. After a 45-day treatment, behavioral analysis tests were performed on rats. Subsequently, the rats were sacrificed and biochemical analysis [superoxide dismutase, tumor necrotizing factor alpha, nerve growth factor, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, and glutamic acid decarboxylase-67] and histopathological analysis were performed. on the 10th day of the intrauterine period, LPS exposure was found to disrupt behavioral findings, increase inflammation and hippocampal gliosis, and decrease 5-HIAA, GAD-67, and NGF, especially in male rats. However, among the rats exposed to LPS in the intrauterine period, recipients of Exenatide demonstrated significant amelioration of findings. Exenatide therapy shows positive effects on behavioral disorders in an LPS-induced autism model. This agent probably exerts its effects by suppressing inflammation and oxidative stress and reducing hippocampal gliosis. in addition, Exenatide has also been shown to positively affect cerebral serotonergic and GABAergic effects