An Analysis of the Demarcation Problem in Philosophy of Science and Its Application to Homeopathy

This paper presents a preliminary analysis of homeopathy from the perspective of the demarcation problem in the philosophy of science. In this context, Popper, Kuhn and Feyerabend’s solution to the problem will be given respectively and their criteria will be applied to homeopathy, aiming to shed some light on the controversy over its scientific status. It then examines homeopathy under the lens of demarcation criteria to conclude that homeopathy is regarded as science by Feyerabend and is considered as pseudoscience by Popper and Kuhn. By offering adequate tools for the analysis of the foundations, structure and implications of homeopathy, demarcation issue can help to clarify this medical controversy. The main argument of this article is that a final decision on homeopathy, whose scientific status changes depending on the criteria of the philosophers mentioned, cannot be given

Strong Programme against Scientific Knowledge and Its Autonomy

Science and scientific knowledge have been questioned in many ways for a long period of time. Especially, after the scientific revolution of 16th- and 17th-century Europe, science and its knowledge have been mainly accepted one of the most valuable and trustable information. However, in 20th century, autonomy of scientific knowledge and its dominant position over other kinds of knowledge have been mainly criticised. Social and other factors that were tried to be excluded before have been incorporated into the work by the influence of the Strong Programme. In this article, it will be argued that while people are presenting scientific knowledge, their interests, beliefs and the communities they are involved in are also shown to be effective in producing this information. Thus, the desired result is that it is not reasonable to talk about the absolute autonomy of scientific knowledge

A new model for heating of Solar North Polar Coronal Hole

This paper presents a new model of North Polar Coronal Hole (NPCH) to study dissipation/propagation of MHD waves. We investigate the effects of the isotropic viscosity and heat conduction on the propagation characteristics of the MHD waves in NPCH. We first model NPCH by considering the differences in radial as well as in the direction perpendicular to the line of sight (\textit{los}) in temperature, particle number density and non-thermal velocities between plumes and interplume lanes for the specific case of \ion{O}{VI} ions. This model includes parallel and perpendicular (to the magnetic field) heat conduction and viscous dissipation. Next, we derive the dispersion relations for the MHD waves in the case of absence and presence of parallel heat conduction. In the case of absence of parallel heat conduction, we find that MHD wave dissipation strongly depends on the viscosity for modified acoustic and Alfven waves. The energy flux density of acoustic waves varies between $10^{4.7}$ and $10^7 \,erg\,cm^{-2}\,s^{-1}$ while the energy flux density of Alfven waves turned out to be between $10^6-10^{8.6} \,erg\,cm^{-2}\,s^{-1}$. But, solutions of the magnetoacustic waves show that the parallel heat conduction introduce anomalous dispersion to the NPCH plasma wherein the group velocity of waves exceeds the speed of light in vacuum. Our results suggests all these waves may provide significant source for the observed preferential accelerating and heating of \ion{O}{VI} ions, in turn coronal plasma heating and an extra accelerating agent for fast solar wind in NPCH.Comment: 17 pages, 11 figures, Submitted to MNRA

Bilim ve Sözde Bilim: Bilimsel Topluluğun Doğasının Belirlenmesi ve Sözde Bilimin Ayırt Edilmesine Yönelik Sosyal Bir Ölçüt

Bilimin ne olduğunun tespit edilmesi ve bilimi sözde bilimlerden ya da bilimsel olmayan alanlardan ayırt edecek ölçütün ne olması gerektiğine yönelik tartışma, bilim felsefesinde sınır çizme sorunu olarak ele alınmaktadır. Bu makalede, öncelikle söz konusu soruna yönelik geleneksel yaklaşımlar incelenmiş ve ardından bu yaklaşımların bilimsel toplulukların doğasına ilişkin özellikleri göz ardı ettiği ortaya konmuştur. Daha önce yapılan çalışmalar bilimi daha çok önermeler, ifadeler ya da salt epistemik bir sistem olarak ele almakta ve bilimsel akıl yürütmenin biçimi ile bilimsel kuramların özelliklerine odaklanmaktadır. Bu tespit çerçevesinde, sunulan çalışmada, bilimsel bir disiplinin asgari olarak iki özellik (yapısal ve kanıta dayalı olması) üzerine kurulması gerektiği vurgulanarak, sınır çizme sorununun çözümüne yönelik önerilen alternatif ölçüt bilimin sosyal yönüne dikkat çekmektedir. Bu bakımdan, makalenin asıl ilgisi, sınır çizme sorununu alternatif bir yolla ele alabilmek amacıyla bilimin ve onun uygulayıcılarının sosyal özelliklerine yönelik tespitleri, sözde bilimin uygulayıcıları ile kıyaslayarak aktarmaktır. Makale, bir disiplinin sözde bilim olarak nitelendirilebilmesi için öncelikle o disiplinin bilimsellik iddiasında bulunması, daha sonra bilimsel topluluk tarafından sürdürülen bir araştırma geleneğine kabul edilmemiş ya da bu araştırma geleneği tarafından terk edilmiş olması gerektiği düşüncesi ile sonuçlandırılmıştır

Atlarda splint kemik kırıklarının operatif sağaltımı

In this study; it is aimed to present the operative treatment and results, which are indicated for the continue of their racing life in splint bone fractures which are frequently occurred in race horses. The 2nd and 4th metacarpal (Mc-II and Mc-IV) and metatarsal bones (Mt-II and Mt-IV) of the horse are accessory structures that support the carpus and tarsus. Fractures of these bones in horses are called “splint bone fractures”. Splint bone fractures are relatively common in horses and usually seen in forelimbs. Fractures of the proximal part are rarer and represent 2.7-5% of all splint bone fractures, but challenging to manage. In the present study, 5 cases of splint bone fractures in different horses were evaluated. The distribution of the fractures were Mc-II in three, Mc-IV and Mt-IV in one each. Localization of the fractures were distal 1/3 in 4 and diaphyseal in 1 horse. For the management of these fractures, surgical removal of the fractured fragments were performed under general anaesthesia. Functional limb usage was achieved following the 30th day postoperatively in all cases.Bu çalışmada; yarış atlarında sıklıkla karşılaşılan splint kemik kırıklarında, yarış hayatlarını sürdürebilmeleri için endike olan operatif sağaltım ve sonuçlarının aktarılması amaçlanmıştır. İkinci ve dördüncü metakarpal (Mc-II ve Mc-IV) ve metatarsal kemikler (Mt-II ve Mt-IV) karpus ve tarsusu destekleyen aksesuar yapılardır. Atlarda bu kemiklerin kırıkları “splint kemik kırıkları” olarak adlandırılır. Splint kemik kırıkları atlarda sık ve özellikle de ön ekstremitede yerleşim gösterirler. Proksimal bölge kırıkları daha nadir olup, tüm splint kemik kırıkları içerisinde %2,7-5’lik bir orana sahiptir. Bu çalışmada farklı atlardaki 5 splint kemik kırığı değerlendirildi. Kırıkların dağılımı, üç olguda Mc-II, birer olgulda da Mc-IV ve Mt-IV olarak belirlenirken, lokalizasyonu ise dört olguda distal 1/3, bir olguda diafizer bölge olarak tespit edildi. Bu kırıkların sağaltımında, distal kırık fragmentleri genel anestezi altında operatif olarak uzaklaştırıldı. Olguların tümünde postoperatif 30. günde ilgili bacağın fonksiyonel olarak kullanıldığı gözlendi

Estimating the live weight using some body measurements in saanen goats

This research was carried out to investigate the estimation of the live weight in Saanen Goats by statistical methods. Seventy Saanen Goats were used as the study material. The goats were divided into two groups. The first group included 2-2.5 years aged goats at first lactation period while the second group included the goats ready to be inseminated for the first time. The average live weight, heart girth, shank circumference, withers height, body length and chest depth values were calculated as 55.37 kg, 91.57, 9.32, 66.94, 109.75 and 32.55 cm respectively for the first group whereas the same parameters were calculated as 41.03 kg, 84.00, 8.86, 62.07, 101.55 and 30.27 cm respectively for the second group. Live weight (LW) was found to be highly correlated with heart girth (HG), shank circumference (SC), withers height (WH), body length (BL) and chest depth (CD) in the first group, whereas live weight was highly correlated with heart girth and body length in the second group. The regression equation for the first group was established as LW = -151,295 + 1,067*HG + 3,262*BL + 0,167*SC + 0,604*WH + 0,254*CD and it was LW = -64,753 + 0,863*HG + 0,717*BL – 0,029*SC + 0,207*WH + 0,254*CD for the second group. It is concluded that live weight could be predicted by statistical methods using several body measurements in Saanen goats.Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi, BAP

The surface analysis of fleece by sem and their elemental characteristics of menemen sheep breed

In this study, fleece samples from a flock of Menemen sheep belong to a private enterprise were taken, and only the surface topography of the SEM and the fleece were examined. According to this examination, it was tried to find out what kind and how much elements exist within the fleece. This was tried to be determined through the SEM-EDX, XPS and ICP-OES analysis. The examined SEM images of Menemen sheep fleece seen that the cuticle surface was composed of scales shaped by the properly sorted cuticular cells and the cuticle cells were in the polygonal coronoid shape. According to the analysis performed by ICP-OES method, it was found that the mean values of elements in the Menemen sheep fleece were respectively; Ca, 0.244 ± 0.006%; Na, 0.130% ± 0.008; Mg, 353.863 ± 13.369 mg/kg; K, 633.743 ± 65.295 mg/kg; Fe, 46.323 ± 7.847 mg/kg; Al, 45.054 ± 7.132 mg/kg; Si, 152.630 ± 17.626 mg/kg; Mn, 3.970 ± 0.318 mg/kg; Zn, 92.690 ± 2.073 mg/kg; Pb, 1.959 ± 0.364 mg/kg; Cu, 5.626 ± 0.289 mg/kg; Co, 0.120 ± 0.010 mg/kg; P, 150.033 ±3.728 mg/kg and Se, 0.070 ± 0.013 mg/kg. The elemental content of the fleece owns a special importance since it reflects the mineral status of the body thus could characterize as indicator in terms of the animal welfare.Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi, BAP