Privatization in emerging markets: The case of Turkey

This paper discusses the progress and success of the privatization programs in Turkey between 1985 and 1998. The paper discusses the legal developments, privatization methods, and performance of privatized companies and overall success of privatization by comparing the results of privatization with the aims and objectives stated initially. Within this framework, the paper presents the productivity increases or decreases in various privatized state enterprises, discusses the impact on stock market development, and the privatization revenues and cash results. Only 8.3 percent of the large state-owned enterprises have been privatized during this period. Net cash flow generated from the privatization process does not appear to be satisfactory, and the impact on the stock market and the economy is not very impressive. Turkey still needs to privatize its largest state-owned enterprises in order to realize the full effects of the privatization program

A class of exactly solvable Schroedinger equation with moving boundary conditions

Using first and second order supersymmetry formalism we obtain a class of exactly solvable potentials subject to moving boundary conditions

T violation in (Lambda_b -> Lambda l^+ l^-) decay beyond standard model

Using the most general, model independent form of effective Hamiltonian, the transverse polarization P_T of Lambda in Lambda_b -> Lambda l^+ l^- decay is studied. It is observed that the averaged is very sensitive to the existence of new physics and can attain large values, which can be measured at future colliders.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, LaTeX formatte

The conserved C-terminus of the PcrA/UvrD helicase interacts directly with RNA polymerase

Copyright: © 2013 Gwynn et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Funding: This work was supported by a Wellcome Trust project grant to MD (Reference: 077368), an ERC starting grant to MD (Acronym: SM-DNA-REPAIR) and a BBSRC project grant to PM, NS and MD (Reference: BB/I003142/1). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Efficacy of ivabradin to reduce heart rate prior to coronary CT angiography: Comparison with beta-blocker

PURPOSE: The objective of our study was to assess the effect of ivabra-dine on image quality of ECG-gated multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) coronary angiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) was performed on two groups. In Group 1 (n=54), an intravenous beta-blocker was administered to patients with a heart rate >70 beats per minute (bpm) just before CTCA. In Group 2 (n=56), oral ivabradine 5 mg was administered twice a day for three days prior to CTCA examination to patients with a heart rate >70 bpm and contraindication to beta-blockers. Images acquired on two different MDCT scanners were scored in terms of image quality of the coronary artery segments using a 5-point grading scale (Grade 1, unreadable; Grade 5, excellent). RESULTS: The mean heart rates during CTCA were 64±6.7 bpm for Group 1 and 59±4.1 bpm for Group 2 (P < 0.05). Mean heart rate reduction was 9±5% and 14±8% for Groups 1 and 2, respectively (P < 0.001). A total of 880 segments were evaluated in 110 patients. When the best reconstruction interval was used, 89.8% and 95.5% of all the coronary segments showed acceptable image quality in Groups 1 and 2, respectively. Acceptable image quality of the middle right coronary artery was obtained in 78.3% of Group 1 and 92.4% of Group 2. These ratios for the other segments were 88.4% for Group 1 and 95.2% for Group 2. CONCLUSION: Reduction of heart rates with ivabradine premedication improves the image quality of CTCA. It should be considered as an alternative drug, particularly in patients with contraindications to beta-blockers. © Turkish Society of Radiology 2012

Carbon deficiencies in the primaries of some classical Algols

The equivalent widths of C II $\lambda$ 4267 \AA line were measured for the mass-gaining primary stars of the 18 Algol-type binary systems. The comparison of the EWs of the gainers with those of the single standard stars having the same effective temperature and luminosity class clearly indicates that they are systematically smaller than those of the standard stars. The primary components of the classical Algols, located in the main-sequence band of the HR diagram, appear to be C poor stars. We estimate $[N_{C} /N_{tot}]$ relative to the Sun as -1.91 for GT Cep, -1.88 for AU Mon and -1.41 for TU Mon, indicating poorer C abundance. An average differential carbon abundance has been estimated to be -0.82 dex relative to the Sun and -0.54 dex relative to the main-sequence standard stars. This result is taken to be an indication of the transferring material from the evolved less-massive secondary components to the gainers such that the CNO cycle processed material changed the original abundance of the gainers. There appear to be relationships between the EWs of C II $\lambda$ 4267 \AA line and the rates orbital period increase and mass transfer in some Algols. As the mass transfer rate increases the EW of the C II line decreases, which indicates that accreted material has not been completely mixed yet in the surface layers of the gainers. This result supports the idea of mixing as an efficient process to remove the abundance anomaly built up by accretion. Chemical evolution of the classical Algol-type systems may lead to constrains on the initial masses of the less massive, evolved, mass-losing stars.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, accepted in MNRA

Comparative study on cellular entry of incinerated ancient gold particles (Swarna Bhasma) and chemically synthesized gold particles

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are used for a number of imaging and therapeutic applications in east and western part of the world. For thousands of years, the traditional Indian Ayurvedic approach to healing involves the use of incinerated gold ash, prepared with a variety of plant extracts and minerals depending on the region. Here, we describe the characterization of incinerated gold particles (IAuPs) in HeLa (human cells derived from cervical cancer) and HFF-1 (human foreskin fibroblast cells) in comparison to synthesized citrate-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). We found that while individual IAuP crystallites are around 60 nm in size, they form large aggregates with a mean diameter of 4711.7 nm, some of which can enter cells. Fewer cells appeared to have IAuPs compared to AuNPs, although neither type of particle was toxic to cells. Imaging studies revealed that IAuPs were in vesicles, cytosol, or in the nucleus. We found that their nuclear accumulation likely occurred after nuclear envelope breakdown during cell division. We also found that larger IAuPs entered cells via macropinocytosis, while smaller particles entered via clathrin-dependent receptor-mediated endocytosis

XRN2 Links Transcription Termination to DNA Damage and Replication Stress

We thank the Proteomics Core Facility. We thank Dr. Robert J. Crouch for providing us with GFP- and GFP-RNase H expression plasmids. We also thank Dr. Stephen H. Leppla for providing us with antibodies directed against RNA:DNA hybrids (R loops) (S9.6). We thank Novus Biologicals for generously providing XRN2 and Rrp45 antibodies. We also thank the members of the Boothman lab for critical reading of this manuscript.Author Summary Genomic instability is one of the primary causes of disease states, in particular cancer. One major cause of genomic instability is the formation of DNA double strand breaks (DSBs), which are one of the most dangerous types of DNA lesions the cell can encounter. If not repaired in a timely manner, one DSB can lead not only to cell death. If misrepaired, one DSB can lead to a hazardous chromosomal aberration, such as a translocation, that can eventually lead to cancer. The cell encounters and repairs DSBs that arise from naturally occurring cellular processes on a daily basis. A number of studies have demonstrated that aberrant structures that form during transcription under certain circumstances, in particular RNA:DNA hybrids (R loops), can lead to DSB formation and genomic instability, especially during DNA synthesis. Thus, it is important to understand how the cell responds and repairs transcription-mediated DNA damage in general and R loop-related DNA damage in particular. This paper both demonstrates that the XRN transcription termination factor links transcription and DNA damage, but also provides a better understanding of how the cell prevents transcription-related DNA damage.Yeshttp://www.plosgenetics.org/static/editorial#pee