Heegaard genus and complexity of fibered knots

We prove that if a fibered knot $K$ with genus greater than one in a three-manifold $M$ has a sufficiently complicated monodromy, then $K$ induces a minimal genus Heegaard splitting $P$ that is unique up to isotopy, and small genus Heegaard splittings of $M$ are stabilizations of $P$. We provide a complexity bound in terms of the Heegaard genus of $M$. We also provide global complexity bounds for fibered knots in the three-sphere and lens spaces.Comment: 37 pages, 3 figure

Periodic Structures of Great Lakes Levels Using Wavelet Analysis

The recently advanced approach of wavelet transforms is applied to the analysis of lake levels. The aim of this study is to investigate the variability of lake levels in four lakes in the Great Lakes region where the method of continuous wavelet transform and global spectra are used. The analysis of lake-level variations in the time-scale domain incorporates the method of continuous wavelet transform and the global spectrum. Four lake levels, Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, Lake Ontario, and Lake Superior in the Great Lakes region were selected for the analysis. Monthly lake level records at selected locations were analyzed by wavelet transform for the period 1919 to 2004. The periodic structures of the Great Lakes levels revealed a spectrum between the 1-year and 43-year scale level. It is found that major lake levels periodicities are generally the annual cycle. Lake Michigan levels show different periodicities from Lake Erie and Lake Superior and Lake Ontario levels. Lake Michigan showed generally long-term (more than 10 years) periodicities. It was shown that the Michigan Lake shows much stronger influences of inter-annual atmospheric variability than the other three lakes. The other result was that some interesting correlations between global spectrums of the lake levels from the same climatic region were found

Ankle-brachial index in coronary artery disease

Ankle-brachial index in coronary artery diseas

The effects of memantine on recovery, cognitive functions, and pain after propofol anesthesia

AbstractObjectivesPostoperative cognitive dysfunction refers to the problems associated with thought and memory that are often experienced after major surgery. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of intraperitoneally administered memantine on recovery, cognitive functions, and pain after propofol anesthesia.MethodsThe study was conducted in Gazi University Animal Research Laboratory, Ankara, Turkey in January 2012. Twenty-four adult female Wistar Albino rats weighing 170–270g were educated for 300s in the radial arm maze (RAM) over three days. Group P was administered 150mgkg−1 of intraperitoneal (IP) propofol; Group M was given 1mgkg−1 of IP memantine; and Group MP was given 1mgkg−1 of IP memantine before being administered 150mgkg−1 of IP propofol. The control group received only IP saline. RAM and hot plate values were obtained after recovery from the groups that received propofol anesthesia and 30min after the administration of drugs in other two groups.ResultsThe duration of recovery for Group MP was significantly shorter than Group P (p<0.001), and the number of entries and exits in the RAM by Group MP was significantly higher during the first hour when compared to Group P (p<0.0001). Hot plate values, on the other hand, were found to be significantly increased in all groups when compared to the control values, aside from Group C (p<0.0001).ConclusionIn this study, memantine provided shorter recovery times, better cognitive functions, and reduced postoperative pain. From this study, we find that memantine has beneficial effects on recovery, cognitive functions, and pain after propofol anesthesia

Dietary Antioxidants in Experimental Models of Liver Diseases

Oxidative stress is caused by the imbalance between the amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant capacity in the body. A balanced diet involving the daily intake of antioxidant-rich foods makes improvements in the total antioxidant capacity of individuals and would therefore reduce the incidence of oxidation-related diseases. It may also regulate the degree of oxidative stress. In fact, dietary micronutrients are either direct antioxidants or components of antioxidant enzymes, which may contribute positively to certain indicators of hepatic function. Liver plays an important role in the regulation of various processes such as metabolism, secretion, storage, and the clearance of endogenous and exogenous substances. Once liver is damaged by pursuing a wrong diet and inflammation takes place, most of these physiological functions get altered. Apart from drugs that used to treat the ailments, it is also necessary to determine the pharmaceutical alternatives for the drugs that are used in the treatment of liver diseases. Therefore, this chapter aims to summarize all known information on the effects of dietary nutrients on oxidative stress in experimental liver models

The Asymmetric Effects of Monetary Policy on Economic Activity in Turkey

In this paper, we look at the sector-level asymmetric effects of the monetary policy shocks on economic activity in Turkey. Using business cycles for the state of the economy, we find that monetary policy shocks have strong effects on both aggregate GDP, services and industrial production and sub-sectors during recessionary periods. The results are weaker for the expansionary periods. We further study whether the results depend on the state of the credit cycles. Similar results emerge in that the monetary policy is more effective during credit slowdowns with economically more feasible quantitative effects compared to the business cycles

The Asymmetric Effects of Monetary Policy on Economic Activity in Turkey

In this paper, we look at the sector-level asymmetric effects of the monetary policy shocks on economic activity in Turkey. Using business cycles for the state of the economy, we find that monetary policy shocks have strong effects on both aggregate GDP, services and industrial production and sub-sectors during recessionary periods. The results are weaker for the expansionary periods. We further study whether the results depend on the state of the credit cycles. Similar results emerge in that the monetary policy is more effective during credit slowdowns with economically more feasible quantitative effects compared to the business cycles

Exchange Rate Pass-Through in a Small Open Economy: A Structural VAR Approach

Pass through from the exchange rate developments to consumer prices could be an important dimension of inflationary dynamics in small open economies. In such economies, the proper identification of exchange rate pass through (ERPT) is crucial for monetary policy analysis. In this paper, we study ERPT in Turkey for the period of 2006m1-2015m6, which starts with the launch of explicit inflation-targeting regime. We first show that commonly used recursive VAR model generates unrealistic dynamics like effects of domestic variables on external variables in small open economies and as result ERPT estimate is biased. This bias comes from the unrealistic decline in energy prices in response to depreciation of currency for the given period in Turkey. We then use a structural VAR model with block exogeneity assumption. This model generates more realistic dynamics and suggests that ERPT is around 18 percent in Turkey. Overall, the analysis demonstrates the importance of using realistic model setup and checking the relationships across variables when estimating ERPT in small open economies

Exchange Rate Pass-Through in a Small Open Economy: A Structural VAR Approach

Pass through from the exchange rate developments to consumer prices could be an important dimension of inflationary dynamics in small open economies. In such economies, the proper identification of exchange rate pass through (ERPT) is crucial for monetary policy analysis. In this paper, we study ERPT in Turkey for the period of 2006m1-2015m6, which starts with the launch of explicit inflation-targeting regime. We first show that commonly used recursive VAR model generates unrealistic dynamics like effects of domestic variables on external variables in small open economies and as result ERPT estimate is biased. This bias comes from the unrealistic decline in energy prices in response to depreciation of currency for the given period in Turkey. We then use a structural VAR model with block exogeneity assumption. This model generates more realistic dynamics and suggests that ERPT is around 18 percent in Turkey. Overall, the analysis demonstrates the importance of using realistic model setup and checking the relationships across variables when estimating ERPT in small open economies