Price rigidity in Turkey: evidence from micro data

In this study we investigate the duration of consumer price spells and price change patterns for Turkey by employing a comprehensive micro price data covering around 6,000 items over four years. In detail, we analyze how long typical price spell lasts and we investigate the size, frequency, distribution and synchronization of price changes. Compared to advanced economies, a higher frequency of price changes is estimated. Findings suggest substantial heterogeneity among sub-groups in terms of frequency and synchronization indicators. The mixed evidence of both state and time-dependent pricing is also relevant for Turkey, an emerging market economy

Language anxiety in Chinese dialects and Putonghua among college students in mainland China: the effects of sociobiographical and linguistic variables

This paper examined language anxiety (LA) in Chinese dialects and Putonghua among college students in mainland China and explored the links between their LA in the first language and a range of sociobiographical variables (i.e. gender and geographical background) as well as linguistic variables (i.e. mother tongue, age of onset of acquisition, context of learning, self-perceived oral proficiency, and frequency of use). Participants were 778 Beijing university students who speak Chinese dialects and Putonghua. Statistical analyses revealed that participants reported significantly higher levels of LA in dialects than in Putonghua across a variety of situations. Geographical background and gender had scattered effects on LA in Putonghua and in dialects. Early bilinguals whose mother tongue were both a dialect and Putonghua reported the least LA in both. Later age of onset and acquisition of Putonghua in an instructed context were linked to increased LA in Putonghua. The negative relationships between self-perceived oral proficiency, frequency of use and LA were stronger in Putonghua than in dialects. The higher levels of LA in dialects combined with their language practices in dialects suggest a relatively lower confidence in the use of dialects among in this group of highly educated young Chinese adults

Orthodontic Banding Cements

The purpose of this review is to summarize the general features of cements used in orthodontics. Dental cements are used to retain orthodontic bands during fixed appliance therapy. A number of different band cements have been used since the introduction of fixed orthodontic appliances, including zinc phosphate, zinc polycarboxylates and conventional glass ionomers. Recently hybrid cements have been developed to decrease moisture contamination and increase the rate of strength. Hybrid cements can be divided into 2 categories: Resin-modified glass ionomers and acid modified composite resins (compomers). Although traditional cements are still used, the usage of hybrid cements is increasing because of their improved physical and handling properties

Influences of neutron star parameters on evolutions of different types of pulsar; evolutions of anomalous X-ray pulsars, soft gamma repeaters and dim isolated thermal neutron stars on the P-\.{P} diagram

Influences of the mass, moment of inertia, rotation, absence of stability in the atmosphere and some other parameters of neutron stars on the evolution of pulsars are examined. It is shown that the locations and evolutions of soft gamma repeaters, anomalous X-ray pulsars and other types of pulsar on the period versus period derivative diagram can be explained adopting values of B$<10^{14}$ G for these objects. This approach gives the possibility to explain many properties of different types of pulsar.Comment: 18 pages, 1 figur

Effects of the background radiation on radio pulsar and supernova remnant searches and the birth rates of these objects

In different directions of the Galaxy the Galactic background radio radiation and radiation of complex star formation regions which include large number of OB associations have different influences on radio pulsar (PSR) and supernova remnant (SNR) searches. In this work we analyse the effects of these background radiations on the observations of PSRs at 1400 MHz and SNRs at 1000 MHz. In the interval l=0$^o$$\pm60^o$ the PSRs with flux F$_{1400}$$>$0.2 mJy and the SNRs with surface brightness $\Sigma$$>10^{-21}$ Wm$^{-2}$Hz$^{-1}$sr$^{-1}$ are observable for all values of l and b. All the SNRs with $\Sigma$$>3\times10^{-22}$ Wm$^{-2}$Hz$^{-1}$sr$^{-1}$ can be observed in the interval 60$^o$$<$l$<300^o$. We have examined samples of PSRs and SNRs to estimate the birth rates of these objects in the region up to 3.2 kpc from the Sun and also in the Galaxy. The birth rate of PSRs is about one in 200 years and the birth rate of SNRs is about one in 65 years in our galaxy.Comment: revised versio

Impact of different environmental conditions on the aggregation of biogenic U(IV) nanoparticles synthesized by Desulfovibrio alaskensis G20

This study investigates the impact of specific environmental conditions on the formation of colloidal U(IV) nanoparticles by the sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB, Desulfovibrio alaskensis G20). The reduction of soluble U(VI) to less soluble U(IV) was quantitatively investigated under growth and non-growth conditions in bicarbonate or 1,4-piperazinediethanesulfonic acid (PIPES) buffered environments. The results showed that under non-growth conditions, the majority of the reduced U nanoparticles aggregated and precipitated out of solution. High resolution transmission electron microscopy revealed that only a very small fraction of cells had reduced U precipitates in the periplasmic spaces in the presence of PIPES buffer, whereas in the presence of bicarbonate buffer, reduced U was also observed in the cytoplasm with greater aggregation of biogenic U(IV) particles at higher initial U(VI) concentrations. The same experiments were repeated under growth conditions using two different electron donors (lactate and pyruvate) and three electron acceptors (sulfate, fumarate, and thiosulfate). In contrast to the results of the non-growth experiments, even after 0.2 mu m filtration, the majority of biogenic U(IV) remained in the aqueous phase resulting in potentially mobile biogenic U(IV) nanoparticles. Size fractionation results showed that U(IV) aggregates were between 18 and 200 nm in diameter, and thus could be very mobile. The findings of this study are helpful to assess the size and potential mobility of reduced U nanoparticles under different environmental conditions, and would provide insights on their potential impact affecting U(VI) bioremediation efforts at subsurface contaminated sites

Heritage language anxiety and majority language anxiety among Turkish immigrants in the Netherlands

Aims and objectives: This study examines the language anxiety that occurs in immigrants’ daily lives when speaking the heritage language and the majority language, both in their host country and during visits to their home country. It compares the levels of heritage language anxiety and majority language anxiety across three generations of the Turkish immigrant community in the Netherlands and explores the link between immigrants’ language anxiety, and sociobiographical (i.e. generation, gender, education) and language background variables (i.e. age of acquisition, self-perceived proficiency, frequency of language use). Design: A Likert scale-based questionnaire was administered to 116 participants across three generations who reported their language anxiety levels when speaking the heritage language and the majority language in three social contexts (i.e. family, friendship and speaking with native speakers). Findings: Statistical analyses revealed that heritage language anxiety and majority language anxiety were prevalent in immigrants’ daily life, and that levels of both forms of anxiety differed across generations, and in different daily life situations. First- and second-generation immigrants typically experienced majority language anxiety, while second- and predominantly third-generation immigrants suffered from heritage language anxiety. Relationships emerged between language background variables and both forms of anxiety, but only in certain situations. These findings suggest that language background variables on their own may be insufficient to explain immigrant language anxiety in certain social contexts (i.e. within family). Rather than merely language background factors, a variety of other issues within social, cultural and national currents must be considered when examining language anxiety in the immigrant context. Implications: Taking an interdisciplinary approach that combines language contact and foreign language anxiety/second language anxiety research, this study suggests that the concept of foreign language anxiety/second language anxiety should be expanded beyond the confines of the classroom in order to include daily interactions immigrant or minority communities. Originality: This study contributes to the limited body of evidence on the topic of language anxiety in immigrant contexts and presents a new construct ‘majority language anxiety’

Metastatic Serous Carcinoma Initially Presented As An Incarcerated And Strangulated Umbilical Hernia: A Rare Case Report

Introduction: We report a rare case of a metastatic serous ovarian carcinoma presented as an incarcerated and strangulated umbilical hernia.Presentation of case: A 54 year-old female was admitted to the hospital with a painful mass around the umblical region. It was elucidated during clinical history that the mass had been present for 3 to 4 years without pain. An incarcerated and strangulated umbilical hernia including a solid mass and mesenteric fat was detected on physical examination. She underwent an urgent operation for strangulated umbilical hernia. The pathological diagnosis of the hernia material was reported as carcinoma compatible with serous ovarian carcinoma metastasis. Concurrently, total abdominal histerectomy and bilateral salphingo-oopherectomy, pelvic and paraaortic lymph node dissection, omentectomy and sigmoid colon resection were performed. Histopathological evaluation confirmed the serous carcinoma originated from the left ovary.Conclusion: In the literature, some metastatic tumors have been reported to be presented as umbilical metastasis rarely. However, the present case is the first metastatic ovarian cancer that initially presented as an incarcerated and strangulated umbilical hernia in the literature, to the best of our knowledge. 

Femoral nerve compression secondary to a ganglion cyst arising from a hip joint: a case report and review of the literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Femoral nerve compression due to a cystic lesion around the hip joint is rare and only a few cases have been described in the literature. Among these, true ganglion cysts are even more rare.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report the case of a 57-year-old woman with femoral nerve compression caused by a true ganglion cyst of the hip joint.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A high index of suspicion is required to predict a non-palpable cystic lesion around the hip joint as it may mimic different disorders and should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of unusual groin pain, radicular pain and peripheral vascular disorders.</p

What Do Nonreligious Nonbelievers Believe in? Secular Worldviews Around the World

Includes supplementary materials.Understanding Unbelief RFP2 Early Career Award; Aarhus University Research Foundation; Finnish Cultural Foundation (grant number: 00180271)