Sneutrino Dark Matter: Symmetry Protection and Cosmic Ray Anomalies

We present an R-parity conserving model of sneutrino dark matter within a Higgs-philic U(1)' extension of the minimal supersymmetric standard model. In this theory, the mu parameter and light Dirac neutrino masses are generated naturally upon the breaking of the U(1)' gauge symmetry. The leptonic and hadronic decays of sneutrinos in this model, taken to be the lightest and next-to-lightest superpartners, allow for a natural fit to the recent results reported by the PAMELA experiment.Comment: Revised to match the published version; 11 pages (2 column format), 1 table, 6 figures, to appear in PR

Advanced plasmonic interfaces for optimized light trapping in photovoltaics

Plasmonic interfaces are integrated to photovoltaic devices to enhance light trapping and improve efficiency. The optimum thickness of the spacer layer used to passivate the absorber layer and adjust its distance from the metal nanoparticles remains unclear. We integrate plasmonic interfaces consisting of Ag nanoparticles and silicon nitride spacers of different thicknesses to the back of a-Si:H absorber to investigate the optimum thickness of the spacer layer and use the photocurrent in a-Si:H to indicate the enhancement in light-trapping. For integration to the back or front of the device, the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) is shifted and broadened into the red with increased spacer layer thickness and the effect is more pronounced for integration to the back. An appreciable enhancement of photocurrent in a-Si:H is consistent with this broadening of LSPR and has a critical dependence on spacer layer thickness

The Role of Shared Book Reading on Early Literacy: The Effects in terms of Home and School Environment

Shared book reading is a social activity in which an adult reads a book to a child or a group of children by expecting a different rate of participation from the child according to the type of reading. The literature supports that, during shared book reading process, children improve the abilities of receptive and expressive language; and depending on the technique of reading they improve the abilities of phonological awareness and print awareness. Important body of research shows that different practices of reading ((a) dialogic reading, (b) shared book reading, (c) interactive shared book reading, (d) print referencing) are used for the field of early intervention. As the most useful techniques among the early intervention techniques in which book-sharing was used, are interactive shared book reading and dialogic reading, which gave the child the most active role. There are some variables that affect the output during shared book reading. Depending on that fact, the attitudes and behaviours of the adults; the number of the children in the interaction; home and school context; following the interest of the children and expanding their answers; asking open-ended questions and children’s active participation to the reading process are the factors that affect the shared book reading interaction. Some researchers claim that gender of the parent is another variable in this interaction. This research examines the different practices of shared book reading, the benefits of these specific practices and the variables which are considered as effective in shared book reading interaction

Prevalence of leishmaniosis in dogs in Istanbul,Turkey determined by using PCR

Leishmania infantum is widespread in Mediterranean countries including Turkey and can cause a serious disease in both humans and dogs. Dogs are considered to be its main reservoirs. The current epidemiological study was carried out in Istanbul for detection of leishmaniosis among dogs. A total of 246 dogs were included in the study. Twenty one (8.54%) blood samples were found to be positive based on PCR diagnosis, using primers specific for the kinetoplast DNA of Leishmania. Infection rate was 6.51% in 169 dogs living in shelters and 12.99% in 77 client-owned dogs. The rate was significantly (p<0.001) higher in the dogs (37.93%) presenting one or more clinical symptoms which may be attributable to leishmaniosis, than in the asymptomatic dogs (4.61%). Eleven (52.4%) of 21 PCR positive dogs presented clinical symptoms whereas the rest of the dogs (47.62%) were asymptomatic. The major clinical sign in PCR positive animals was dermatological problems. Amongst PCR positive dogs, skin lesions were present in 11, weight loss in 2, lymphadenopathy in 2, epistaxis in 2 and lethargy in 2 dogs

GCK gene mutations are a common cause of childhood-onset MODY (maturity-onset diabetes of the young) in Turkey.

Inactivating heterozygous mutations in the GCK gene are a common cause of MODY and result in mild fasting hyperglycaemia, which does not require treatment. We aimed to identify the frequency, clinical and molecular features of GCK mutations in a Turkish paediatric cohort.This article is freely available via PubMed Central, click on the Additional Link above to access the full-text

Prevalence of daytime urinary incontinence and related risk factors in primary school children in Turkey

Purpose: Urinary incontinence is one of the major urinary symptoms in children and adolescents and can lead to major distress for the affected children and their parents. In accordance with the definitions of the Standardization Committee of the International Children's Continence Society, daytime urinary incontinence (DUI) is uncontrollable leakage of urine during the day. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors of DUI in Turkish primary school children. Materials and Methods: The questionnaire, which covered sociodemographic variables and the voiding habits of the children, was completed by the parents of 2,353 children who were attending primary school in Denizli, a developing city of Turkey. The children's voiding habits were evaluated by use of the Dysfunctional Voiding and Incontinence Symptoms Score, which is a validated questionnaire. Children with a history of neurological or urological diseases were excluded. Results: The participation rate was 91.9% (2,164 people). The overall prevalence of DUI was 8.0%. The incidence of DUI tended to decrease with increasing age and was not significantly different between genders (boys, 8.8%; girls, 7.3%; p=0.062). Age, maternal education level, family history of daytime wetting, settlement (urban/rural), history of constipation, urinary tract infection, and urgency were independent risk factors of DUI. Conclusions: Our findings showed that DUI is a common health problem in primary school children. In an effort to increase awareness of children's voiding problems and the risk factors for urinary dysfunction in the population, educational programs and larger school-based screening should be carried out, especially in regions with low socioeconomic status. © The Korean Urological Association, 2014