Excavations at the Old City, Fortress, and Mound of Van: Work in 2017

Fig. 1: The citadel of Tushpa The citadel of Tushpa, the mound of Van Fortress with its lower settlement, and the walled Old City of Van to the south of the citadel have been the sites of various cultures from the Early Bronze Age to the early 20th century (Fig. 1). In the 2017 excavation season, excavations and documentation work continued at the Tushpa citadel, on the Van Fortress mound, and at the Old City of Van, and research proceeded with the goal of understanding and solving the probl..

Decreasing trends in cardiovascular mortality in Turkey between 1988 and 2008.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality increased in developed countries until the 1970s then started to decline. Turkey is about to complete its demographic transition, which may also influence mortality trends. This study evaluated trends in coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke mortality between 1988 and 2008. METHODS: The number of deaths by cause (ICD-8), age and sex were obtained from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) annually between 1988 and 2008. Population statistics were based on census data (1990 and 2000) and Turkstat projections. European population standardised mortality rates for CHD and stroke were calculated for men and women over 35 years old. Joinpoint Regression was used to identify the points at which a statistically significant (p < 0.05) change of the trend occurred. RESULTS: The CHD mortality rate increased by 2.9% in men and 2.0% in women annually from 1988 to 1994, then started to decline. The annual rate of decline for men was 1.7% between 1994-2008, whilst in women it was 2.8% between 1994-2000 and 6.7% between 2005-2008 (p < 0.05 for all periods).Stroke mortality declined between 1990-1994 (annual fall of 3.8% in both sexes), followed by a slight increase between 1994-2004 (0.6% in men, 1.1% in women), then a further decline until 2008 (annual reduction of 4.4% in men, 7.9% in women) (p < 0.05 for all periods). CONCLUSIONS: A decrease in CVD mortality was observed from 1995 onwards in Turkey. The causes need to be explored in detail to inform future policy priorities in noncommunicable disease control

Diverse aging rates in ectothermic tetrapods provide insights for the evolution of aging and longevity

Comparative studies of mortality in the wild are necessary to understand the evolution of aging; yet, ectothermic tetrapods are underrepresented in this comparative landscape, despite their suitability for testing evolutionary hypotheses. We present a study of aging rates and longevity across wild tetrapod ectotherms, using data from 107 populations (77 species) of nonavian reptiles and amphibians. We test hypotheses of how thermoregulatory mode, environmental temperature, protective phenotypes, and pace of life history contribute to demographic aging. Controlling for phylogeny and body size, ectotherms display a higher diversity of aging rates compared with endotherms and include phylogenetically widespread evidence of negligible aging. Protective phenotypes and life-history strategies further explain macroevolutionary patterns of aging. Analyzing ectothermic tetrapods in a comparative context enhances our understanding of the evolution of aging.Animal science

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Dış ticaret mevzuatına dayalı olarak ithalatta finansal kiralama

Bu çalışmamızda finansal kiralama tekniği ile ilgili literatürler taranarak teorik bilgilere değinilmiş, Türkiye uygulamaları incelenmiş ve finansal kiralama da ithalat uygulamalarına ait bir örnek çalışma sunulmuştur. Tezin birinci bölümünde finansal kiralamanın tarihsel gelişimine, tanımına ve çeşitlerine yer verilmiştir.İkinci bölümde Türkiye'de finansal kiralama başlığı altında Türkiye'de ki gelişimi ve finansal kiralama mevzuatı açıklanmıştır.Üçüncü bölümde finansal kiralama analizinin başlıca tekniklerine değinilmiştir.Dördüncü bölümde finansal kiralama içerisinde yatırım teşvike ait mevzuat ele alınmıştır. Son olarak örnek alınan bir finansal kiralama şirketinin ithalat bölümünün genel işleyiş prosedürü anlatılmıştır.Finansal kiralamanın esas amacı orta ve uzun vadeli finansman sağlamaya yöneliktir. 1985 yılından beri Türkiye'de uygulaması görülmekte olan finansal kiralama, gelişmekte olan ülkelerle karşılaştırıldığında oransal olarak düşük gözükmektedir. Ancak yıllar itibariyle ülkemizdeki gelişimine bakıldığında artan bir trend göstermektedir. Türkiye'nin iktisadi yapısında büyük bir orana sahip olan orta ve küçük ölçekli sanayi kurumlarının ellerinde yeterince mevcut olmayan sermayeden dolayı yatırımlarını gerçekleştirememektir. Finansal kiralama orta ve uzun vadeli kredilere bir alternatif olduğundan sabit yatırımları arttırabilecek bir finansman kaynağıdır. Ancak ülkemizde ekonomik istikrarın olmaması ve mevzuat bakımından finansal kiralamanın tam desteklenmemesi, finansal kiralamanın ülkemizde ilerleme trendini engelleyen bir unsur olmuştur.Yıllar itibariyle bakıldığında finansal kiralamayı daha etkin bir hale getirebilmek için çeşitli değişiklikler yapılmış ve yapılmaktadır.Yatırım malı alımları için büyük nakit çıkışı gerektirmeyen, yatırımın ekonomik ömrü ile finansman süresi arasında uyumu sağlayan tam bir kaynak niteliği taşıyan finansal kiralama Türkiye için bir umut olarak görülmektedir.Finansal kiralama da ithalata dayalı olarak mal alımı çalışmamız içerisinde de değinildiği üzere yatırımcı firmaya çeşitli avantajlar sağlamaktadır.Uygulama tezimiz içerisinde adım adım anlatılmış olup, bu akışın daha iyi bir işlerlik kazanması için finansal kiralama kuruluşlarımızında organizasyon yapılarını kurumsallaştırmaya yönelik hedef belirlemeleri gerektiği görüşündeyiz

2,6-Bis-benzimidazolylpyridines as new catalyst in copper-based ATRP

The ligands, 2,6-bis(NH-benzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine (L1) and 2,6-bis(N-methyl-benzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine (L2), were synthesized by a one-step reaction of 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid with a diamine (o-phenylenediamine or N-methyl-1,2-phenylenediamine), respectively, in syrupy phosphoric acid at ca. 200 °C. Their efficiency as a catalyst in Cu-based atom transfer radical polymerizations (ATRP) of methylmethacrylate (MMA) was investigated. The linear first-order kinetic plots were observed; indicating that the number of active species is constant during the polymerization and termination reactions are limited. The apparent rate constant values of ATRP of MMA with CuCl/L1 catalyst system at 90 °C in acetonitrile were found to be between 3.83 × 10-5 and 1.33 × 10-4 s-1, while they were between 1.86 × 10-4 and 4.40 × 10-4 s-1 in the case of CuCl/L2 catalyst, indicating the presence of lower radical concentration throughout the polymerization of MMA using CuCl/L1 catalyst system. In both the cases, low apparent rate constant values are obtained. This indicates that ATRP proceeded at reasonable rates and a good control over ATRP in general. Apparent rate constant vs [ligand]/[catalyst] ratio plots showed a maximum at the [ligand]/[catalyst] ratio of two. Mn,GPC values increased slightly linearly with conversion and molecular weight values were closer to Mn,th in the case of ATRP of MMA using CuCl/L2 catalyst complex. Cyclic voltammetry measurements confirmed that CuCl/L1 and CuCl/L2 complexes in acetonitrile give reversible redox couples and copper(I) centers in CuCl/L1 and CuCl/L2 catalyst complexes that are readily oxidized and they potentially suit to facile ATRP. © 2016, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

Investigation of the variation in weak-link profile of YBa 2Cu3-xAgxO7-δ superconductors by Ag doping concentration

The effect of Ag doping concentration on the microstructure, transport properties and weak-link profile of YBa2Cu3-xAg xO7-δ bulk superconducting compound was investigated through resistance-temperature (R-T), ac magnetic susceptibility (χ-T), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the critical current density (Jc) versus applied magnetic field (Jc-B) measurements. We used the additive method with cationic ratio of x=0.1-0.4 for the YBCO-Ag system. The change in the silver doping concentration slightly affected the transition temperatures (Tc,zero), whereas, the critical current densities (Jc) of the samples and their magnetic field (B) dependencies were noticeably affected. The improvement on the microstructural properties of YBCO bulk superconductors was observed in SEM analysis, the J c values increased and their magnetic field dependencies decreased with the increasing of Ag concentration up to x=0.2. As well as the current transport properties. Ag doping up to a certain amount produces texturing that gives rise to a modification in the weak-link profile resulting in an enhanced strength of flux pinning which causes an increase in the current carrying capacity