The effects of different pot length and growing media on seedling quality of Crimean juniper (Juniperus excelsa Bieb.)

The aim of this study was to determine appropriate pot length and growing medium for Crimean Juniper seedlings (Juniperus excelsa Bieb.), which will be used for afforestation of extreme areas. For this purpose, polyethylene pots of 11 cm width and 20, 25 and 30 cm lengths were used. As growing medium, 13 different treatments were used, containing different ratios of forest soil, pumice, creek sand and humus collected from the species’ natural forest environments. The experimental design was a randomized block with 3 replications under open field conditions. Some morphological properties of the seedlings, such as seedling height, root collar diameter, shoot and root fresh and dry weights and shoot/root ratios (fresh and dry weights) were measured on 1 + 0 year old seedlings. Statistical analyses indicated that when pot length increased, the seedling quality improved. The seedlings with the best quality in terms of the measured criteria can be grown in 11 cm x 30 cm pots. In respect to the growing media, 70% forest soil + 15% humus + 15% pumice or creek sand should be used

A change in the optical polarization associated with a gamma-ray flare in the blazar 3C 279

It is widely accepted that strong and variable radiation detected over all accessible energy bands in a number of active galaxies arises from a relativistic, Doppler-boosted jet pointing close to our line of sight. The size of the emitting zone and the location of this region relative to the central supermassive black hole are, however, poorly known, with estimates ranging from light-hours to a light-year or more. Here we report the coincidence of a gamma-ray flare with a dramatic change of optical polarization angle. This provides evidence for co-spatiality of optical and gamma-ray emission regions and indicates a highly ordered jet magnetic field. The results also require a non-axisymmetric structure of the emission zone, implying a curved trajectory for the emitting material within the jet, with the dissipation region located at a considerable distance from the black hole, at about 10^5 gravitational radii.Comment: Published in Nature issued on 18 February 2010. Corresponding authors: Masaaki Hayashida and Greg Madejsk

How to Correctly Stitch Together Kepler Data of a Blazhko Star

One of the most challenging difficulties that precedes the frequency analysis of Kepler data for a Blazhko star is stitching together the data from different seasons (quarters). We discuss the preliminary steps in the stitching, detrending and rescaling process using the data for long-term Blazhko stars. We present the process on Kepler data of a Blazhko star with a variable Blazhko cycle and some first results of our analysis.status: publishe

A Turkish law perspective on the right to be forgotten

Since the rule is changed from easily forget to easily remember thanks to the digital Internet platforms, the question if there should be a right to be forgotten consecrated to individuals has become a frequently asked question with - of -course no “one correct answer” in different legal systems all around the world. Turkish legal practice has also encountered different cases where the question if a right to be forgotten should be recognized/accorded or not. Thus, the concept itself and discussions thereon prove to be heated nowadays among legal scholars. Accord- ingly, this article mainly aims to legally analyze the newly emerging concept “the right to be forgotten” and its potential practical impacts to the existing or future Internet technologies, in light of the Turkish legislations and existing case law

Sedation: dose-dependent effects of flumazenil on cognition, mood, and cardio-respiratory physiology in healthy volunteers

Objectives: To assess the possible effects of flumazenil on cognitive processing, physiology, and mood. Design: A double-blind, placebo controlled, four-way cross-over study, using healthy volunteers. Methods: On each of 4 separate visits, 16 participants received 0.5mg, 2.5mg, 5.0mg of flumazenil, or normal saline. They then performed a computerised test battery assessing cognitive function. Measures of pulse rate, arterial oxygen saturation and mean arterial pressure were also taken. Finally, participants completed visual analogue scales assessing their subjective mood state. Results: The majority of cognitive tasks showed dose-dependent declines in performance. Mean arterial pressure was significantly reduced, as was pulse rate. Subjective alertness showed a similar decline. Conclusions: Flumazenil has been clinically described as an agent with few intrinsic properties, whose primary effect lies in its ability to reverse benzodiazepine-induced states. This study has shown that flumazenil does possess intrinsic activity which have a significant effect on cognition, cardiovascular physiology and mood. Clinicians need to be aware of these effects