Cointegration analysis of wine export prices for France, Greece and Turkey

Mediterranean countries have noticeable affect on the world wine exportation. Among these countries France, Greece and Turkey are selected for this study because of different wine market, trade systems and wine policies they have. In this study, cointegration analysis was conducted for real wine export prices and real exchange rates for France, Greece and Turkey. The long term relationships between real exchange rates and real wine export values were explored by using cointegration analysis. Annual data from 1970 to 2003 was used for this analysis and the data sets were found to be integrated of the same order. It was also found that they move together in the long run by Johansen Cointegration Test. Then, Error Correction Model (ECM) was applied to search any short term relations and impacts of exchange rate variations on wine exports. French and Greek monetary policies affect their wine export volume by the years. Therefore, any depreciation of local currency in dollar terms will lead to increase of exports vice versa. On the other hand, Turkish wine real export value and real exchange rate were found not cointegrated. Since, there was not any cointegrated vector, any exchange rate volatility do not influence Turkish real export wine value. Subsequently, the reasons of wine market failures in these countries and pursued policies were discussed.Cointegration Analysis, Error Correction Model (ECM), Wine Export Prices, Real Exchange Rates, Wine Market, Demand and Price Analysis,

VISUOMOTOR AND AUDIOMOTOR REACTION TIME IN ELITE AND NON-ELITE BADMINTON PLAYERS

The ability to quickly perceive appropriate motor response is essential in the badminton sport under the critical time pressure. This study aimed to evaluate the visual and auditory reaction time, speed, anaerobic power and vertical jump between elite and non-elite badminton athletes. With this purpose, various anthropometric measurements, hexagonal obstacle test, vertical jump test, anaerobic power measurement and auditory and visual reaction time tests were performed to the elite and non-elite athletes. When auditory reaction time, vertical jump and anaerobic power measurements were evaluated, there was no significant difference between the elite and non-elite groups, but it was noticed that there was a significant differences in quickness and visual reaction time in favor of elite athletes. It is also seen that speed and visual reaction time have a positive effect on badminton athletes are able to get to the high performance level in other literature information. For this reason, it has been thought that training programs designed for badminton athletes by considering these physiological parameters and training systems designed to increase the reaction time may be beneficial.  Article visualizations

ANTINEPHROLITHIATIC ACTIVITY OF PERSEA AMERICANA (AVOCADO) AND VIBURNUM OPULUS (GUELDER ROSE) AGAINST ETHYLENE GLYCOL-INDUCED NEPHROLITHIASIS IN RATS

Background: Nephrolithiasis is a severe health problem causing morbidity. Chemolisis, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL), percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL), retrograde ureterorenoscopy (URS), and open and laparoscopic surgery are used for treatment with various success rates. Medical treatments with fewer complications were investigated thoroughly. Materials and Methods: In this study, we evaluated the effects of Persea americana (avocado) leaves and Viburnum opulus (guelder rose) fruits on nephrolithiasis in an animal model and used 42 rats. The groups received both low and high doses of Persea americana leaves and Viburnum opulus fruit ethanol extracts orally for 28 days. These two plants have been used for years in Turkey for their nephrolithiatic effect. Results: Avocado and guelder rose increased the urine volume and urine citrate levels, decreased urine cystine and oxalate levels, and lowered the crystal deposits in kidney tissue. Avocado and guelder rose also prevented oxidant damage and crystal formation in kidney tissue samples. Conclusion: The two plants that have been used for years for nephrolithiasis treatment in Turkey can safely be used for kidney stones

Determination of the Failure Susceptibility of a Flat Die used in Biomass Pelletizing Machines by means of FEA based Design Exploration

This paper focuses on a design analysis of a flat die used in an agricultural biomass pelletizing machine by considering its high pressure loading failure susceptibility. The pellet die is one of the key elements in a pelletizing machine, and the strength of the die plate has an important role on the pellet’s quality and producibility. In fact, higher compression ratio (CR - the ratio of effective length and the internal (press channel) diameter of a die orifice/hole) will provide denser pellets which is a desired phenomenon, however, if the compression pressure is too high or CR is not determined to compensate high pressures, the raw material may block the die and the die may experience deformation failure due to overloading. If the desire is to make high quality pellets with no die failure, optimum flat die hole/orifice design parameters should be used which can provide the best CR for a specific compression pressure. This is the core motivation of this research. In this study, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) based design exploration has been utilised for a sample single hole flat die with various die geometry parameters against various compression pressure values. Following the FEA design exploration undertaken, a response surface analysis (RSA) was carried out and then estimation models (empirical equations), which could be used to calculate parameters of the die hole/orifice against applied compression pressure and failure susceptibility based on structural stress and deformation, was described. The results gained from the RSA has indicated that the estimation models have high R2 values (higher than 98 %) which could be used for adequately predicting failure susceptibility indicators. In addition to this, FEM-based simulation print-outs have provided useful stress distribution visuals on the die against different compression pressure values. Most especially, the study has highlighted that a detailed structural optimisation study may be scheduled in order to obtain die geometry design parameters with a focus on the failure susceptibility

Ayesian methods in animal breeding with different prior specification using gibbs sampling

An application of Gibbs sampling in animal breeding is carried out using two different types of prior specification. The first specification has full conjugacy and the second one has non-conjugacy, which causes computational difficulties. This paper demonstrates how the Gibbs sampling procedure, making use of an adaptive rejection sampling algorithm, deals with non-conjugacy in animal breeding using a balanced one-way classification with a random sire effects model and compares the results of two different specifications. It is also shown how Bayesian methods solve the problem of obtaining a negative estimated variance

Problems with multiple-trait analysis in animal breeding and solutions [Hayvan islahinda kullanilan çoklu karakter analizinin getirdigi problemler ve çözüm yollari]

In animal breeding applications, more than one traits are measured on each individual, for example, beside milk production the amount of fat and protein in milk are also measured. Since these traits are strongly correlated, instead of analysing each one separately, it is much more appropriate to evaluate them simultaneously. Thus estimates of genetic and phenotypic correlations and heritability are easily obtained. The obvious problem of multiple-trait analysis is the additional computational requirements due to the increased number of equations to be solved. The other problem is that the more traits are analysed, the greater the probability of estimates outside the parameter space. The objective of this study is to suggest some solutions after discussing the problems imposed by the use of multiple-trait analysis together with its advantages. Simulation study has been carried out and the results are presented in table format

COMPARISON OF METHODS OF ESTIMATING VARIANCE COMPONENTS IN BALANCED TWO-WAY RANDOM NESTED DESIGNS

Bu çalışmanın amacı, varyansı analizi (ANOVA), en çok olabilirlik (ML), kısıtlanmış en çok olabilirlik (REML) ve Bayesyen gibi farklı varyans unsurları tahmin yöntemlerini karşılaştırmaktır. ANOVA yöntemi kareler ortalamalarının beklenen değerlerine eşitlenmesine dayanır. Ancak bu yöntemin varyans unsurlarının negatif tahminlerini vermesi bir problem teşkil eder. Olabilirlik yöntemlerine dayanan metotlar ve Bayesyen yöntemle bu problemin üstesinden gelinebilir. Bu çalışmada varyans unsurlarının dört farklı yöntemle tahminleri karşılaştırılmıştır. Ayrıca dengeli iki seviyeli şansa bağlı iç içe düzenlenmiş deneme planlarının varyans unsurlarının negatif tahmin probleminin üstesinden nasıl gelineceği gösterilmişti