The 2018 European heatwave led to stem dehydration but not to consistent growth reductions in forests

Heatwaves exert disproportionately strong and sometimes irreversible impacts on forest ecosystems. These impacts remain poorly understood at the tree and species level and across large spatial scales. Here, we investigate the effects of the record-breaking 2018 European heatwave on tree growth and tree water status using a collection of high-temporal resolution dendrometer data from 21 species across 53 sites. Relative to the two preceding years, annual stem growth was not consistently reduced by the 2018 heatwave but stems experienced twice the temporary shrinkage due to depletion of water reserves. Conifer species were less capable of rehydrating overnight than broadleaves across gradients of soil and atmospheric drought, suggesting less resilience toward transient stress. In particular, Norway spruce and Scots pine experienced extensive stem dehydration. Our high-resolution dendrometer network was suitable to disentangle the effects of a severe heatwave on tree growth and desiccation at large-spatial scales in situ, and provided insights on which species may be more vulnerable to climate extremes

Turkey's June 2011 parliamentary elections

The parliamentary elections in Turkey were held on 12 June 2011. The elections marked an important turning point as the Justice and Development Party (AKP) became the winner for the third time and with a higher vote, 49.9 per cent. The Republican People's Party (CHP) and the ethnically oriented Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), increased their votes to 25.9 and 6.65 per cent, respectively, while the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) obtained 12.9 per cent of the votes. The new parliament is highly representative, with 95 per cent of the voters being represented. This raised hopes about the drafting of a new constitution based on broad consensus. However, the enduring polarization of secular and religious groups, coupled with the obstructive attitude of Turkish and Kurdish nationalists, render this reformist undertaking difficult

Medicinal leech therapyâan overall perspective

Complementary medicine methods have a long history, but modern medicine has just recently focused on their possible modes of action. Medicinal leech therapy (MLT) or hirudotherapy, an old technique, has been studied by many researchers for possible effects on various diseases such as inflammatory diseases, osteoarthritis, and after different surgeries. Hirudo medicinalis has widest therapeutic usage among the leeches, but worldwide, many different species were tested and studied. Leeches secrete more than 20 identified bioactive substances such as antistasin, eglins, guamerin, hirudin, saratin, bdellins, complement, and carboxypeptidase inhibitors. They have analgesic, anti-inflammatory, platelet inhibitory, anticoagulant, and thrombin regulatory functions, as well as extracellular matrix degradative and antimicrobial effects, but with further studies, the spectrum of effects may widen. The technique is cheap, effective, easy to apply, and its modes of action have been elucidated for certain diseases. In conclusion, for treatment of some diseases, MLT is not an alternative, but is a complementary and/or integrative choice. MLT is a part of multidisciplinary treatments, and secretes various bioactive substances. These substances vary among species and different species should be evaluated for both treatment capability and their particular secreted molecules. There is huge potential for novel substances and these could be future therapeutics. Keywords: Hirudo medicinalis, hirudotherapy, leec

Arising Prevalence Of Oxa-48 Producer Escherichia Coli And Oxa-48 With Ndm Co-Producer Klebsiella Pneumoniae Strains

Background/aim: This prospective study aimed to determine the presence of the most common carbapenemase genes, blaOXA-48, blaKPC, blaIMP, blaVIM and blaNDM on carbapenem resistant clinical K.pneumoniae and E.coli isolates. Materials and methods: Isolates were selected according to EUCAST guideline; gradient test and disc diffusion with both meropenem and ertapenem discs. Resistance rates of these isolates to other antimicrobial agents were also examined by disc diffusion method. Carbapenem resistance gene were investigated by using Real-Time PCR. Results: A total of 3845 E. coli and 1689 K. pneumoniae isolates from clinical samples between January 2015 and April 2017 were evaluated. The 419 isolates were found as carbapenem resistant but only the first resistant isolate (n=155; 126 K. pneumoniae and 29 E.coli) of each patient were included. Carbapenem resistant isolates were most frequently isolated from intensive care units (48.8%). Colistin was the most effective antibiotic (91.0%). The 121 (78.1%) of the tested isolates were positive for OXA-48 (103 K. pneumoniae and 18 E. coli) and 9 K. pneumoniae carrying blaNDM were also positive for blaOXA-48. VIM, IMP and KPC type carbapenemases were not detected in any isolates. Conclusion: Carbapenem-resistant pathogens have been shown to be able to develop resistance mechanisms with more than one carbapenemase encoding gene.Wo

Model countries in political analysis : is Turkey a model for state-building in the Arab world?

This study analyzes the Turkish case as a model country for the state-building processes in the Arab world in the aftermath of the Arab revolts that took place in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. To this end, it deals with the Turkish case in three phases: the founding of the Turkish Republic, political developments until 2002, and the post-2002 Justice and Development Party period. The study focuses on state-society relations manifested in the form of a secular-religious cleavage intertwined with problematic civil-military relations. Each phase of Turkey’s history is compared to cleavages and civil-military relations in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya. After analyzing the constitution-making processes in the latter three countries following the Arab revolts, the study concludes by discussing the viability of the Turkish model in the light of Turkey’s search for a new constitution.peer-reviewe

The Role of Ultrasonography for Differentiating and Management of Malignant Cervical Lymph Nodes

Objective: To investigate the value of grey scale and Doppler ultrasonography in the assessment of metastatic and lymphomatous cervical lymph nodes. Methods: One hundred and nineteen malignant cervical lymph nodes in 119 patients diagnosed as malignant according to grey scale, color Doppler and spectral Doppler ultrasonography features were included in this study. The sizes, shape, echo pattern, echogenic hilus, nodal border, cystic necrosis and coagulation necrosis, vascular distribution pattern, resistivity and pulsatility index values of lymph nodes were noted. All patients had histopathological diagnosis. Results: The final diagnosis of the 42 lymph nodes was lymphoma, and of the 77 lymph nodes was carcinoma metastasis (33 thyroid carcinoma metastasis and 44 squamous cell carcinoma metastasis). While a hyperechoic pattern and calcification were detected in the lymph nodes originating from thyroid carcinoma as 39% and 33%, respectively, a reticular pattern (26%) and low resistive and pulsatility indices were detected in lymph nodes originating from lymphoma. These criteria were statistically significant for the differential diagnosis (p < 0.05). Size, shape, hypoechoic echo pattern, absence of echogenic hilus, nodal border, cystic necrosis, coagulation necrosis and vascular distribution pattern were not found to be significant for the detection of a primary tumour. Conclusion: Hyperechoic echo pattern, reticular pattern, calcification, low resistivity and pulsatility indices are useful parameters for the differential diagnosis of malignant cervical lymph nodes. These ultrasonography critaria can be used for assesment and management of unknown primary malign neck nodes

Evaluation of the results of MOTAKK hepatitis C virus RNA genotyping and hepatitis delta virus external quality assessment programs during 2015-2016

Background/Aims: To evaluate the HCV RNA genotyping and HDV RNA tests that are performed in molecular microbiology laboratories in Turkey as part of a national external quality assessment programme, MOTAKK (Molekuler Tanida Kalite Kontrol) (English translation: Quality control in molecular diagnostics)