WATER-Model: An Optimal Allocation of Water Resources in Turkey, Syria and Iraq

Political instability of several countries in the Middle East is overshadowing one of the biggest challenges of the upcoming century: Water - a natural resource that is easily taken for granted, but whose scarcity might lead to serious conflicts. This paper investigates an optimal Water Allocation of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivershed by introducing the WATER-Model. A series of scenarios are analyzed to examine the effects of different levels of cooperation for an optimal water allocation. Special emphasize is put on the effects of filling new Turkish reservoirs which can cause additional welfare losses if these actions are not done on a basin-wide coordinated basis. Modeling results show that Turkey is most efficient in its water usage. However, using the water for irrigation purposes in Turkey, instead of the Iraqi or Syrian domestic and industrial sector, decreases the overall welfare. Especially the Euphrates basin might thus encounter losses of up to 33% due to such strategic behaviour. The predicted water demand growth in the region is going to increase this water scarcity further. Minimum flow treaties between riparian countries, however, can help to increase the overall welfare and should therefore be fostered

Legal and institutional foundations of Turkey’s domestic and transboundary water policy

Turkey’s water policy and management is a culmination of various laws and regulations governed by a range of national ministries and executive administrations. Over time, several changes were made in the existing legislation and institutions, which ended up with complex water management system in Turkey. Existing surface and groundwater laws have become insufficient in responding to the increasing water demand and diminishing water supply. On the other hand, neoliberal transformation of Turkish economy in the 1980s and the country’s harmonization process with the European Union since the early 2000s have produced new primary and secondary water legislations in the domestic water, irrigation, hydropower and the environment sectors. In this context, this chapter, firstly, describes the principal water legislation in Turkey. Secondly, main water institutions are depicted with specific attention to the reorganization processes of various key ministries due to domestic and regional political changes. Finally, Turkey’s transboundary water policy is delineated with its basic principles and prevailing practices.WOS:000487756200018Book Citation Index- Science - Book Citation Index- Social Sciences and HumanitiesArticle; Book ChapterMayıs2020YÖK - 2019-2

Oligoclonal T cell expansions in patients with Behçet's disease

Behçet's disease (BD) is a multisystem disorder with oral and genital ulcers, mucocutaneous, ocular, joint, vascular and central nervous system involvement. In this study, the peripheral T cell repertoire was analysed in patients with BD with MoAbs against T cell receptor (TCR) Vβ gene products in CD4+ and CD8+ T cell compartments, and these were compared with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and healthy controls (HC). In the CD4+ T cell compartment, oligoclonal TCR Vβ expression was observed in 56% of BD (10/18), 71% of RA (5/7) patients and 21% (3/14) of HC. In the CD8+ T cell group 50% of BD (9/18), 57% of RA patients and 28% of HC (4/14) had an oligoclonal TCR repertoire. An increase of TCR Vβ5.1 subset was observed in five BD patients among CD8+ T cells. Other elevations of TCR Vβ subsets were heterogeneously distributed with one to three different Vβ subsets. Our results suggest an antigen-driven oligoclonal increase of T cells in BD. There was no overall increase in any Vβ group to suggest a superantigen effect. Analysis of the responsible antigens causing the increase in T cell subsets may give insights into the aetiopathogenesis of BD and immunomodulation of these T cells may lead to new treatments