Determining the Underlying Reasons of License Termination and Cancellation Associated with Local Power Production in Turkey

Considerable changes have taken place in power production investments in Turkey within the last decade. As a result, an increasing number of investments in this sector have been terminated or cancelled and still continue to do so. When these investments are analyzed, significant issues attributed to misconceptions on cash flow estimations, local community objections, changes in the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation interpretations, diminished trust in the conducted project evaluations and the associated reduction of capital and funds have been observed. Thus, the main contributors and their underlying reasons for these issues are examined in this study. In order to determine the associated key aspects and parameters, a survey has been developed and distributed to companies working on the renewable energy sector with questions regarding the number and the size of the licenses they have, the percentage of them turning into investments, the major methods of financial evaluation they use in the decision making process, their ability to calculate the cash flows during project evaluation process and the modelling of associated risk factors in the renewable energy sector. Keywords: Project evaluation methods; power production; license termination; Turkey JEL Classifications: O220; O250; Q280  

Pricing Electric Power under a Hybrid Wholesale Mechanism: Evaluating the Turkish Electricity Market

During the restructuring process, Turkish electricity sector has gone through significant changes both in wholesale and retail markets. In this framework, the Market Financial Settlement Mechanism established for handling market imbalances has become a spot market in time. So, it can be claimed that the wholesale electricity market in Turkey is a hybrid mechanism composed of bilateral contracts and the balancing market. On the other hand, the main target of liberalization program is providing consumers with affordable electric power. Hence, this study attempts to explore the link between retail tariffs for ineligible consumers and prices in the two wholesale mechanisms, in the period after the launch of the day-ahead market. Findings suggest that regulated wholesale prices are more effective in the determination of end-user prices, whereas unregulated ones might have a price reduction effect in case the free market dominates. However, the volatility in spot market prices implies that the sector would better continue with the hybrid mechanism for quite some time. Keywords: Electricity Prices; Wholesale; Retail; Competition; Turkey JEL Classifications: D40; Q40; Q4

Hareket becerileri egzersiz programının zihinsel engellilerin motor ve dikkat performansına etkisi

Bu çalışma, hareket becerileri egzersiz programının zihinsel engellilerin motor ve dikkat performansına etkisini belirlemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Araştırmada, Eğitilebilir Zihinsel Engellilerin (EZE) deney grubuna 8 haftalık hareket eğitimi programı uygulanırken diğer kontrol grubuna klasik beden eğitimi programı uygulanmıştır. Katılımcıların vücut kompozisyonu, koordinasyon, çeviklik ve dikkat özelliklerine bu iki eğitim programının etkililiği araştırılmıştır. Araştırmada Mersin ilinde EZE çocuklara ve ailelerine ulaşılarak yaşları 10 ile 20 arasında değişen 40 EZE çocuk ailelerinin verdikleri onam formları ile gönüllü katılımları sağlanmıştır. Katılımcıların 20’si deney (9 erkek, 11 kadın), diğer 20’si de kontrol (14 erkek, 6 kadın) grubu oluşturulmuştur. Araştırmada ön test-son test kontrol gruplu modelde yansız atama ile biri deney, diğeri kontrol grubu olarak iki grup oluşturulmuştur. Bu çalışmanın sonuçları Erkek ve kadın adölesanlarda ön test sırasında deney ve kontrol grupları arasındaki sadece atma ve yakalama testi sonucu deney grubunun lehine daha büyük bulunmuştur. Son test sırasında ise, deney ve kontrol grupları arasında erkeklerde Burdon dikkat testi deney grubunun lehine ve slalom testi kontrol grubunun lehine daha büyüktür. Sonuç olarak, 8 haftalık hareket eğitimi programı, EZE erkeklerin beden kütle indeksi üzerinde düşük, slalom yeteneklerinde orta, atma-yakalama ve Burdon dikkat testine büyük düzeyde etkiye sahipken farklı egzersiz programı uygulanan erkeklerde sadece Burdon testi üzerinde düşük etkiye sahiptir

Intravaginal misoprostol alone versus intravaginal misoprostol and extraamniotic Foley catheter for second trimester pregnancy termination: an observational study

Background: No systematic empirical research exists addressing the question of optimal pregnancy termination method in second trimester pregnancies. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of intravaginal misoprostol and extraamniotic Foley catheter combination for second trimester pregnancy termination. Methods: A single center, observational study was conducted in a total of 91 pregnancies. Women who met the termination of pregnancy criteria due to feto-maternal indications between 13 to 26 gestational weeks were included into the study. Study participants received intravaginal misoprostol in combination with Foley catheter (n=46) or intravaginal misoprostol alone (n=45). Results: The efficacy of intravaginal misoprostol and Foley catheter insertion combination was comparable to that of intravaginal misoprostol alone in terms of time to abortion/birth [median (95% Confidential Interval [95% CI]): 14.33 (11.33-17.25) hours and 12.08 (9.50-15.33) hours, respectively. Hazard Ratio: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.47 to 1.12, p= 0.14 (log-rank)]. The only serious maternal event was uterine rupture observed in one woman in Foley combination group. Conclusion: The combination of intravaginal misoprostol and extraamniotic Foley catheter for second trimester pregnancy termination does not provide additional efficacy

The effect of power distribution privatization on electricity prices in Turkey: Has liberalization served the purpose?

Privatization in electricity distribution has not reduced the retail prices in transition period in Turkey. Changes in retail prices do not harmonize with those in wholesale prices in the electricity market. The cost reflectiveness of the pricing system in the market is questionable. The market does not seem to be ready yet for the automatic pricing mechanism. The increase in distribution tariffs is not compatible with the targets of the liberalization program adopted for the Turkish electricity market. a r t i c l e i n f o b s t r a c t Various electricity reforms have been adopted by a number of countries within the last 2 decades. Turkey, as one of those countries, has restructured its electricity market and intensively privatized the distribution companies. As one of the main targets of the liberalization efforts in the sector was announced to be reduced consumer prices, it is a matter of interest to look at the related developments after privatizations. Hence, this study attempts to explore the impact of power distribution privatization in Turkey on the national end-user electricity prices. Results of the analysis suggest that privatization of electricity distribution companies has not yielded the expected retail price declines within the first 4 years of the program. Whereas wholesale tariffs exhibit a reduction in the rate of 10%, retail tariffs show an increase of 5.9% within the period in question. Besides, the unstable patterns of the two tariffs imply that the market is not yet ready for the automatic pricing mechanism planned to be implemented based on a cost-reflective methodology. Therefore, results indicate that the factors behind the unsatisfactory outcomes of the program should be explored in order for the privatization efforts in the Turkish electricity distribution market to serve the purpose

PRICING ELECTRIC POWER UNDER A HYBRID WHOLESALE MECHANISM: EVALUATING THE TURKISH ELECTRICITY MARKET

During the restructuring process, Turkish electricity sector has gone through significant changes both in wholesale and retail markets. In this framework, the Market Financial Settlement Mechanism established for handling market imbalances has become a spot market in time. So, it can be claimed that the wholesale electricity market in Turkey is a hybrid mechanism composed of bilateral contracts and the balancing market. On the other hand, the main target of liberalization program is providing consumers with affordable electric power. Hence, this study attempts to explore the link between retail tariffs for ineligible consumers and prices in the two wholesale mechanisms, in the period after the launch of the day-ahead market. Findings suggest that regulated wholesale prices are more effective in the determination of end-user prices, whereas unregulated ones might have a price reduction effect in case the free market dominates. However, the volatility in spot market prices implies that the sector would better continue with the hybrid mechanism for quite some time

SPAD GREENNESS TO ESTIMATE GENOTYPIC VARIATION IN FLAG LEAF CHLOROPHYLL IN SPRING WHEAT UNDER MEDITERRANEAN CONDITIONS

Leaf chlorophyll (Chl) is emphasized as an indicator for photosynthesis in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). SPAD greenness meters are used to predict extractable Chl, but few studies have evaluated relationships between flag leaf greenness and Chl among wheat genotypes. Sixteen spring wheat genotypes with similar development patterns were studied in eight environments (2 years, 2 irrigation treatments and 2 sowing times) to investigate the precision of the SPAD-502 meter to predict Chl content/concentration. Relationships of Chl with SPAD greenness generally best fit linear and quadratic models. Relationships of SPAD greenness with Chl concentration were weak and inconsistent. Strongest associations were observed with Chla content (highest R2= 0.71 under late sowing), whereas associations with Chlb content were weak (highest R2 = 0.46) or insignificant. Relationships between SPAD greenness and total Chl content ranged from low (R2 = 0.24, p = 0.054) to moderate (R2 = 0.64, p < 0.001) under rainfed conventional-sowing and late-sowing conditions in the second year, respectively. SPAD greenness can be used to diagnose spring wheat genotypes differing in flag leaf Chla and total Chl content under warm Mediterranean conditions, but may not always applicable in cooler Mediterranean conditions, where genetic variability, especially in Chlb, was not expressed adequatelyLeaf chlorophyll (Chl) is emphasized as an indicator for photosynthesis in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). SPAD greenness meters are used to predict extractable Chl, but few studies have evaluated relationships between flag leaf greenness and Chl among wheat genotypes. Sixteen spring wheat genotypes with similar development patterns were studied in eight environments (2 years, 2 irrigation treatments and 2 sowing times) to investigate the precision of the SPAD-502 meter to predict Chl content/concentration. Relationships of Chl with SPAD greenness generally best fit linear and quadratic models. Relationships of SPAD greenness with Chl concentration were weak and inconsistent. Strongest associations were observed with Chla content (highest R2= 0.71 under late sowing), whereas associations with Chlb content were weak (highest R2 = 0.46) or insignificant. Relationships between SPAD greenness and total Chl content ranged from low (R2 = 0.24, p = 0.054) to moderate (R2 = 0.64, p < 0.001) under rainfed conventional-sowing and late-sowing conditions in the second year, respectively. SPAD greenness can be used to diagnose spring wheat genotypes differing in flag leaf Chla and total Chl content under warm Mediterranean conditions, but may not always applicable in cooler Mediterranean conditions, where genetic variability, especially in Chlb, was not expressed adequatel

Effect of TNF-α and IL-1β genetic variants on the development of myocardial infarction in Turkish population.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) genetic variants which resulting in TNF-alpha and IL-1 overproduction may increase susceptibility to autoimmune diseases such as atherosclerosis. We have studied the association of TNF-alpha G308A and IL-1 beta (+3953) C/T polymorphism with myocardial infarction in Turkish population. 143 patients with myocardial infarction and 213 age-matched healthy controls were included in the study. In univariant analysis, the frequencies of IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha genotype or allele, and haplotype of C:A and T:A were significantly elevated in patients when compared with those of controls. GA genotype of TNF-alpha, T allele of IL-1 beta and A of TNF-alpha allele seem to be risk factors for myocardial infarction. In contrast, CC genotype of IL-1 beta and GG genotype of TNF-alpha have protective effect against myocardial infarction. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, TNF-alpha A allele, gender and smoking were associated with myocardial infarction. In conclusion, we can state that TNF-alpha A allele might be associated with myocardial infarction

The Relation between Sarcopenia and Mortality in Patients at Intensive Care Unit

Background and Aim. Psoas muscle area (PMA) can reflect the status of skeletal muscle in the whole body. It has been also reported that decreased PMA was associated with postoperative mortality or morbidity after several surgical procedures. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relation between PMA and mortality in all age groups in intensive care unit (UNIT). Materials and Method. The study consists of 362 consecutive patients. The demographic characteristics of patients, indications for ICU hospitalization, laboratory parameters, and clinical parameters consist of mortality and length of stay, and surgery history was obtained from intensive care archive records. Results. The mean age was 61.2±18.2 years, and the percentage of female was 33.3%. The mean duration of stay was 10.3±24.4 days. Exitus ratio, partial healing, and healing were 25%, 70%, and 5%, respectively. The mean right, left, and total PMA were 8.7±3.6, 8.9±3.4, and 17.6±6.9, respectively. The left and total PMA averages of the nonoperation patients were statistically significantly lower (p=0.021  p=0.043). The mean PMA between the ex and recovered patients were statistically significantly lower (p=0.001, p=0.001, p<0.001). Dyspnoea, renal insufficiency, COPD, transfusion rate, operation rate, ventilator needy, and mean duration of hospitalization were statistically significant higher in patients with exitus. There is a significant difference in operation types, anesthesia type, and clinic rates. Conclusion. Our data suggest that sarcopenia can be used to risk stratification in ICU patients. Future studies may use this technique to individualize postoperative interventions that may reduce the risk for an adverse discharge disposition related to critical illness, such as early mobilization, optimized nutritional support, and reduction of sedation and opioid dose