Environmental Tax Reform and the European Green Deal: Empirical Evidence from Panel Data Analysis

The European Green Deal, the European Union's roadmap for a green transition, was launched in 2019. With this strategy, the European Union aims to stop carbon emissions by 2050 through green policies in many sectors, especially in the energy sector. The European Union also uses various environmental tax instruments to achieve this goal. Environmental taxes, one of these instruments, are considered to have a regressive effect on employment and welfare, especially in carbon-intensive industries. In order to mitigate these negative social and economic impacts of the green transition, the European Union has implemented the Just Transition Mechanism. However, it is not known whether the Just Transition Mechanism will be sufficient after the newly introduced regulations such as the plastic tax, the Energy Tax Directive, and the Carbon Border Adjustment. This study conducted a panel data analysis covering the period between 1994-2020 to analyze the impact of environmental taxes on employment. In this panel of 29 European countries, the dependent variable is the unemployment rate while independent variables are environmental taxes, gross domestic product, renewable energy supply and energy efficiency. As a result of this analysis, it is concluded that environmental taxes have an increasing effect on unemployment. Therefore, based on the panel data analysis, it is concluded that the Environmental Tax Reform package, which will provide double dividend in terms of both environmental and employment, should be implemented in addition to the Just Transition Mechanism

European Union as a Leader in Climate Change Policy: Assessing Europe’s Roles in the World∗

The European Union has grown up in terms of influence and size in international politics. The size of its economy and the ever-increasing membership, have seen its ambitions grow meaning that the EU now has an international presence it did not have at its formation. It is easy to say that with the EU being an ambitious actor in international politics, the rise into prominence of climate change naturally came in handy for the EU as it provided an opportunity for the EU to assert itself and prove both its capacity and presence. The 1992 Rio Earth Summit and the withdrawal of the USA from the obligations of the Kyoto came as a blessing in disguise for the Union as it seized the moment to assert itself. Thus, in trying to understand what role the EU has or is playing in international climate change politics, there is need to assess its leadership claims and what it has done to prove these claims. To get there, the paper will navigate through a part of the discipline of International Relations (IR) to understand how it provides for a basis to explain or understand the EU’s limitations and strengths on actorness

Our experience regarding withdraw blood from rats and preparation of platelet-rich plasma

Aim: Withdraw blood from rats is an important, but not easy, invasive procedure in experimental research on these animals. In addition, the preparation and standardization of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a more difficult process in rats. In this study, we presented our experiences about rat blood collection and PRP preparation technique. Methods and Result: This experimental study was performed with ten male Wistar rats weighing 250–300 g. Under anesthesia, the blood was obtained by percutaneous puncture from the right ventricle of the rats. The blood obtained from rats was rapidly transferred to tubes containing anticoagulants such as sodium citrate or acid citrate dextrose solution A. After the first centrifuge, the all plasma was collected by a pipette after a second spin in a sterile tube. As a result of all these processes, PRP at the desired concentration was obtained. Conclusions: Blood withdraw from rats is not an easy method, and when large amounts of blood are required cardiac blood intake is necessary. In order to achieve the therapeutic intensity in PRP preparation, usually a double spin is required and the concentration obtained with the base number of platelets should be compared

Importance of homogenization in platelet-rich plasma researches

Aim: To achieve homogenization, one of the most important factors to overcome during platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is standardization phases. Method: We used 10 cc 'BD vacutainer ACD-A' tubes which consisted of 1.5 cc ACD-A. 3 tubes blood was collected from healthy volunteers from 20 to 40 years. All tubes were centrifuged by 180g x 12 min. Then 0.01 ml PRP was collected from just the level of buffy coat. Results: Platelet concentration decreased from buffy coat to top of PPP as expected. If any counting done before homogenization the results will be misleading. Conclusion: When we sample 3 cc PRP homogenized with shaker at 3 point from 3 different point, we see that they are close to each other. It is important that the PRP to be used in the studies must be homogenized before any measurement

Design and Development of a Lorentz Force-Based MRI-Driven Neuroendoscope

The introduction of neuroendoscopy, microneurosurgery, neuronavigation, and intraoperative imaging for surgical operations has made significant improvements over other traditionally invasive surgical techniques. The integration of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-driven surgical devices with intraoperative imaging and endoscopy can enable further advancements in surgical treatments and outcomes. This work proposes the design and development of an MRI-driven endoscope leveraging the high (3-7 T), external magnetic field of an MR scanner for heat-mitigated steering within the ventricular system of the brain. It also demonstrates the effectiveness of a Lorentz force-based grasper for diseased tissue manipulation and ablation. Feasibility studies show the neuroendoscope can be steered precisely within the lateral ventricle to locate a tumor using both MRI and endoscopic guidance. Results also indicate grasping forces as high as 31 mN are possible and power inputs as low as 0.69 mW can cause cancerous tissue ablation. These findings enable further developments of steerable devices using MR imaging integrated with endoscopic guidance for improved outcomes

Serum IL-1β, IL-2, and IL-6 in Insulin-Dependent Diabetic Children

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is a chronic disease characterized by T-cell-dependent autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing β cells in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans, resulting in an absolute lack of insulin. T cells are activated in response to islet-dominant autoantigens, the result being the development of IDDM. Insulin is one of the islet autoantigens responsible for the activation of T-lymphocyte functions, inflammatory cytokine production, and development of IDDM. The aim of this study was to investigate serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in children IDDM. The study population consisted of 27 children with IDDM and 25 healthy controls. Children with IDDM were divided into three subgroups: (1) previously diagnosed patients (long standing IDDM) (n : 15), (2) newly diagnosed patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (before treatment) (n : 12), and (3) newly diagnosed patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (after treatment for two weeks) (n : 12). In all stages of diabetes higher levels of IL-1β and TNF- α and lower levels of IL-2 and IL-6 were detected. Our data about elevated serum IL-1β, TNF- α and decreased IL-2, IL-6 levels in newly diagnosed IDDM patients in comparison with longer standing cases supports an activation of systemic inflammatory process during early phases of IDDM which may be indicative of an ongoing β-cell destruction. Persistence of significant difference between the cases with IDDM monitored for a long time and controls in terms of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and TNF-α supports continuous activation during the late stages of diabetes

Türkiye’de farklı branşlardaki sporcularının cinsel ve psikolojik tacize maruz kalma farkındalıklarının araştırılması

Bu çalışmanın amacı Türkiye’de farklı branşlardaki sporcularının cinsel ve psikolojik tacize maruz kalma farkındalıklarının araştırılmasıdır. Bu amaçla toplam 474 takım ve bireysel sporlarda yarışmalara katılan sporcuya cinsel taciz envanteri uygulanmıştır. İstatistiksel işlemlerde ki-kare testi kullanılmıştır. Sporcuların toplamda %74,65’i cinsel taciz davranışlarına maruz kalmadıklarını belirtirken, %9,12si bir kez, %14,12’si ara sıra ve %2,58’i ise çok sık bu davranışlarla karşılaşmışlardır. Spor ortamında cinsel taciz davranışına uğrama durumu ve sıklığının takım ve bireysel sporlarda yarışma durumuna göre istatistiksel olarak anlamlı farklılık göstermediği tespit edilmiştir (p>0,05). Takım ve bireysel spor yapma durumuna göre spor ortamında cinsel taciz davranışına uğrama sıklığında maruz kalınan cinsel içerikli şakalar ve cinsel ilişkiye zorlamaya uğrama sıklığında istatistiksek olarak anlamlı farklılık bulunmuştur (p0,05). Takım ve bireysel spor yapma durumuna göre spor ortamında cinsel taciz davranışına uğrama sıklığında ise “cinsel içerikli şakalar ve cinsel ilişkiye zorlamaya uğrama” durumunda farklılık bulunmuştur. Cinsel tacize uğrayan kişilerin başvuru yapacağı özel bir birimin oluşturulması gerekli görülmüştür. Bu birimde sporculara yönelik cinsel tacizin tüm failleri için sporculara ve antrenörlere büyük özen gösterilerek cinsel taciz müdahale programları tasarlanmalı ve uygulanmalıdır

Brain Perfusion MRI Findings in Patients with Behcet's Disease

Objective. To search brain perfusion MRI (pMRI) changes in Behcet's disease (BD) with or without neurological involvement. Materials and Method. The pMRI were performed in 34 patients with BD and 16 healthy controls. Based on neurologic examination and post-contrast MRI, 12 patients were classified as Neuro-Behcet (group 1, NBD) and 22 patients as BD without neurological involvement (group 2). Mean transit time (MTT), time to peak (TTP), relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV), and relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were obtained and compared to those of healthy control group (group 3). Results. There was a significant difference in the MTT and rCBF within the pons and parietal cortex in groups 1 and 2. rCBV increased in cerebral pedicle in group 1 compared with groups 2 and 3. In the temporal lobe white matter, prolonged MTT and decreased rCBF were found in groups 1 and 2. In the corpus striatum, internal capsule, and periventricular white matter, rCBF increased in group 1 compared with group 3 and decreased in groups 1 and 2. Conclusion. Brain pMRI is a very sensitive method to detect brain involvement in patients with BD and aids the clinical diagnosis of NBD, especially in patients with negative MRI findings

Investigation of TCSC and SSSC Controller Effects on the Power System

Abstract Electrical power systems have been growing due to the increased demand and various loads and it is getting more and more difficult to provide stability and control. It is possible to increase line transmission capacities and to control these systems by providing reactive power compensation. In the recent years, FACTS (Flexible Alternative Current Transmission System) devices have been used as reactive power compensation elements. The study utilized rapid responding TCSC (Thyristor Controlled Series Capacitor) and SSSC (Static Synchronous Series Compensator) FACTS devices that are formed by power electronics elements. The effects of these devices on voltage stability, on the powers carried on the lines and the losses that occur on the lines were investigated with the simulation and its results

Phenolic content, antioxidant activities and stimulatory roles of citrus fruits on some lactic acid bacteria

In this study, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities in citrus fruits and their peels were determined, and their stimulatory roles on some lactic acid bacteria were investigated. Phenolic compounds in citrus fruits such as mandarin, lemon, orange and grapefruit were determined either in the juices or in the peel extracts. Total phenolic content was determined in a spectrophotometer at 685 nm using the adapted Folin-Ciocalteu method. Total flavonoid content was measured using LC/MS (liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry). The effects of the fruit juices and peel extracts on the selected lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus delbrueckii NRRL B5448, Lb. casei NRRL B1922, Lb. acidophilus NRRL B4495) were investigated. The tested lactic acid bacteria were significantly affected by chlorogenic acid, hesperidin, naringin and caffeic acid compared to the control samples (P≤0.05). Antioxidant properties of fruit samples were also measured using the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method. The phenolics positively affected the metabolism of bacteria, with the stimulatory effects of the assayed samples being influenced by the phenolic profile