Status of greenhouses in Eastern Mediterranean coastal areas of Turkey

The study was carried out in greenhouses at Eastern Mediterranean coastal areas of Turkey in Samandag area of Hatay province where greenhouse production is wide spread. The work undertaken in 2007 aimed at determining general management problems, structural features and weaknesses and climate control of greenhouses owned by villagers, having only small holdings barely adequate for supporting their families. 97 greenhouses in 48 holdings were evaluated. Only one greenhouse was glass and the rest was plastic covered. The greenhouses with an area of greater than 1000 square meter were 32%. Regarding roof structures, 63.9% was of arch, 34.0% shallow arch and the remaining 2.1% was of gothic. The single glasshouse that existed in the area had saddle roof. The roof structures did not generally have adequate slopes. The plastic cover material used was mostly PE (79%) with inclusionof UV+IR. Heating of the greenhouses was only for frost protection purpose which adversely affected crop yields and quality. Only 2% of the greenhouses present in the area was constructed based onprojects of engineering designs; the remaining were simply of palliative construction with no expert input. They were usually constructed by growers themselves. Interviews with growers showed that theywere quite knowledgeable on best management greenhouse practices; however, the economic constraints prevent them from using and adopting new greenhouse technologies. There was only one greenhouse where soilless practice was used. The survey work showed that major improvements regarding types, construction, climate control of greenhouses and crop production methods were essential to improve greenhouse production in the area

Effect of different irrigation water level on cotton yield and yield components

Effects of different water level on yield and yield components of the drip irrigated cotton were evaluated in Amik Plain in the East Mediterranean Region of Turkey. Four levels of irrigation water were tested in2003 and 2004. Treatments were 25 (I25), 50 (I50), 75% (I75) of the full irrigation treatment (I100) which received 100% class-A pan evaporation. Numbers of irrigation events were 5 and 8 in 2003 and 2004, respectively. Under I25, I50 and I75 treatment conditions, evapotranspiration, total cotton seed yield, boll weight, lint percentage, number of sympodial branches and leaf area index decreased while some boll parameters such as boll weights and opened boll numbers increased. Increase of boll number per plant under water stress condition showed that cotton had high ability for adapting water stress conditions. The highest yield was obtained in the I100 treatment. A second degree polynomial relation could adequately describe the cotton seed yield response to the irrigation water amount. The highestirrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) was obtained with the I50 treatment

Validation of the Data-Driven Decision-Making Efficacy and Anxiety Inventory (3D-MEA) with U.S. Pre-Service Teachers

Sound measurement of teacher self-efficacy and anxiety surrounding data-driven decision making is crucial in both theory-building and efficacy studies, as well as in practical contexts. The present study (N=457) thusly examined the validity of inferences drawn from the Data-Driven Decision-Making Efficacy and Anxiety Inventory (3D-MEA; Dunn et al., 2013) among U.S. pre-service teachers, a population with whom this instrument has never been fully and rigorously validated. Findings indicated a good fit of the hypothesized five-factor confirmatory factor model and reliable 3D-MEA scores in this population. The reported validity and reliability evidence implies that the 3D-MEA, originally intended for in-service teachers, may too be used meaningfully with U.S. pre-service teachers

A new knock event definition for knock detection and control optimization

[EN] In this paper, the knock phenomenon is studied and characterized in the time-frequency domain. From the analysis results, a new knock event definition is proposed, which compares the excitation of the cylinder resonance produced by the autoignition of the end gas to that associated with the combustion. The new definition permits a more consistent differentiation between knocking and not knocking cycles than the classical approach in the literature, thus allowing the improvement of the knock control strategies. The new knock index proposed analyses the frequency spectrum of the pressure signal in two locations, i.e. near the maximum heat release and near the end of combustion, by using the fast Fourier transform and a window function, and it is compared with the classical MAPO definition, which consists on finding the maximum pressure oscillation in the time domain. Both indices have been implemented online in a four-stroke SI engine and its performance is illustrated by using a classical knock control strategy. Results obtained under different operating conditions demonstrate that the improved knock index definition can substantially reduce the variability of the spark advance angle control, avoiding strong knocking events and reducing engine vibration.Bares-Moreno, P.; Selmanaj, D.; Guardiola, C.; Onder, C. (2018). A new knock event definition for knock detection and control optimization. Applied Thermal Engineering. 131:80-88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2017.11.138S808813

Knock probability estimation through an in-cylinder temperature model with exogenous noise

[EN] This paper presents a new knock model which combines a deterministic knock model based on the in-cylinder temperature and an exogenous noise disturbing this temperature. The autoignition of the end-gas is modelled by an Arrhenius-like function and the knock probability is estimated by propagating a virtual error probability distribution. Results show that the random nature of knock can be explained by uncertainties at the in cylinder temperature estimation. The model only has one parameter for calibration and thus can be easily adapted online. In order to reduce the measurement uncertainties associated with the air mass flow sensor, the trapped mass is derived from the in-cylinder pressure resonance, which improves the knock probability estimation and reduces the number of sensors needed for the model. A four stroke SI engine was used for model validation. By varying the intake temperature, the engine speed, the injected fuel mass, and the spark advance, specific tests were conducted, which furnished data with various knock intensities and probabilities. The new model is able to predict the knock probability within a sufficient range at various operating conditions. The trapped mass obtained by the acoustical model was compared in steady conditions by using a fuel balance and a lambda sensor and differences below 1% were found. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Bares-Moreno, P.; Selmanaj, D.; Guardiola, C.; Onder, C. (2018). Knock probability estimation through an in-cylinder temperature model with exogenous noise. Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing. 98:756-769. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymssp.2017.05.033S7567699

Defining spatial housing submarkets: Exploring the case for expert delineated boundaries

Although there are numerous reasons for real estate analysts to construct spatial housing submarkets, there is little clarity about how this might best be done in practice. The existing literature offers a variety of techniques including those based on principal components analysis, cluster analysis and a range of other statistical procedures. This paper asks whether, given their market expertise and their role in disseminating information, shaping search patterns and informing bid formation, real estate agents might offer an effective but less data intensive method of submarket construction. The empirical research is based on an experiment that compares the predictive of different sets of submarket boundaries constructed by using either standard statistical methods or through consultation with real estate agents and other market analysts. The analysis draws on housing transactions data from Istanbul, Turkey. While the results do not demonstrate the outright superiority of any single method, they do suggest that expert-defined boundaries tend to perform at least as well as alternative construction techniques. Importantly, the results suggest that agent-based methods for delineating submarket boundaries might be used with a degree of confidence by real estate analysts and planners in market contexts where rich micro-datasets are not readily available. This has been one of the constraints internationally on wider adoption of submarket boundaries as an analytical tool

Geriatric pharmacotherapy : optimisation through integrated approach in the hospital setting

Since older patients are more vulnerable to adverse drug-related events, there is a need to ensure appropriate prescribing in these patients in order to prevent misuse, overuse and underuse of drugs. Different tools and strategies have been developed to reduce inappropriate prescribing; the available measures can be divided into medication assessment tools, and specific interventions to reduce inappropriate prescribing. Implicit criteria of inappropriate prescribing focus on appropriate dosing, search for drug-drug interactions, and increase adherence. Explicit criteria are consensus-based standards focusing on drugs and diseases and include lists of drugs to avoid in general or lists combining drugs with clinical data. These criteria take into consideration differences between patients, and stand for a medication review, by using a systematic approach. Different types of interventions exist in order to reduce inappropriate prescribing in older patients, such as: educational interventions, computerized decision support systems, pharmacist-based interventions, and geriatric assessment. The effects of these interventions have been studied, sometimes in a multifaceted approach combining different techniques, and all types seem to have positive effects on appropriateness of prescribing. Interdisciplinary teamwork within the integrative pharmaceutical care is important for improving of outcomes and safety of drug therapy. The pharmaceutical care process consists offour steps, which are cyclic for an individual patient. These steps are pharmaceutical anamnesis, medication review, design and follow-up of a pharmaceutical care plan. A standardized approach is necessary for the adequate detection and evaluation of drug-related problems. Furthermore, it is clear that drug therapy should be reviewed in-depth, by having full access to medical records, laboratory values and nursing notes. Although clinical pharmacists perform the pharmaceutical care process to manage the patient’s drug therapy in every day clinical practice, the physician takes the ultimate responsibility for the care of the patient in close collaboration with nurses

Do ACE inhibitors improve the response to exercise training in functionally impaired older adults? A randomized controlled trial

<br>Background: Loss of muscle mass and strength with ageing is a major cause for falls, disability, and morbidity in older people. Previous studies have found that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) may improve physical function in older people. It is unclear whether ACEi provide additional benefit when added to a standard exercise training program. We examined the effects of ACEi therapy on physical function in older people undergoing exercise training.</br> <b>Methods:</b> Community-dwelling people aged ≥65 years with functional impairment were recruited through general (family) practices. All participants received progressive exercise training. Participants were randomized to receive either 4 mg perindopril or matching placebo daily for 20 weeks. The primary outcome was between-group change in 6-minute walk distance from baseline to 20 weeks. Secondary outcomes included changes in Short Physical Performance Battery, handgrip and quadriceps strength, self-reported quality of life using the EQ-5D, and functional impairment measured using the Functional Limitations Profile.<p></p> <b>Results:</b> A total of 170 participants (n = 86 perindopril, n = 84 placebo) were randomized. Mean age was 75.7 (standard deviation [SD] 6.8) years. Baseline 6-minute walk distance was 306 m (SD 99). Both groups increased their walk distance (by 29.6 m perindopril, 36.4 m placebo group) at 20 weeks, but there was no statistically significant treatment effect between groups (−8.6m [95% confidence interval: −30.1, 12.9], p = .43). No statistically significant treatment effects were observed between groups for the secondary outcomes. Adverse events leading to withdrawal were few (n = 0 perindopril, n = 4 placebo).<p></p> <b>Interpretation:</b> ACE inhibitors did not enhance the effect of exercise training on physical function in functionally impaired older people.<p></p&gt

An International Perspective on Chronic Multimorbidity: Approaching the Elephant in the Room

Multimorbidity is a common and burdensome condition that may affect quality of life, increase medical needs, and make people live more years of life with disability. Negative outcomes related to multimorbidity occur beyond what we would expect from the summed effect of single conditions, as chronic diseases interact with each other, mutually enhancing their negative effects, and eventually leading to new clinical phenotypes. Moreover, multimorbidity mirrors an accelerated global susceptibility and a loss of resilience, which are both hallmarks of aging. Due to the complexity of its assessment and definition, and the lack of clear evidence steering its management, multimorbidity represents one of the main current challenges for clinicians, researchers, and policymakers. The authors of this article recently reflected on these issues during two twin international symposia at the 2016 European Union Geriatric Medicine Society (EUGMS) meeting in Lisbon, Portugal, and the 2016 Gerontological Society of America (GSA) meeting in New Orleans, USA. The present work summarizes the most relevant aspects related to multimorbidity, with the ultimate goal to identify knowledge gaps and suggest future directions to approach this condition