Space-Time-Frequency Diversity for OFDM-Based Indoor Power Line Communication

In this paper, full rate space-time-frequency coding applied to orthogonal frequency division multiplexing based power line communication systems. The proposed systems yield both time and frequency diversity and keep transmission rate full. Performances of the systems are evaluated for three conductors of low voltage indoor cables and are compared with space-frequency and space-time-frequency coding applied power line communication systems in the literature. Owing to the higher order diversity level the proposed full rate space-time-frequency systems have an increasing advantage over space-frequency systems as the SNR level above 12.5dB. On the other hand owing to transmission rate advantage the proposed full rate space-time-frequency systems can have more than 6dB gain over the other space-time-frequency coding applied power line communication systems in the literature

The Integration of Syrian Refugees in Turkey via Education

The Syrian conflict, which was initiated as a pro-democratic movement against Bashar Assad’s government, has displaced millions of people both internally and externally. Since the beginning of the conflict, 6.6 million people are internally displaced, while 5.6 million people seek refuge in other countries. Many Syrians scattered to neighboring countries, principally Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt. Turkey, who shares the longest borderline with Syria, hosts 63 percent of the total number of Syrian refugees, currently at more than 3.5 million (UNHCR, 2018b). However, Turkey as the country with the highest number of refugees in the world does not legally recognize Syrians as refugees. The prolonged stay of Syrians in Turkey, on the other hand, undermines the success of temporary protection and emphasizes the importance of long-term planning and integration policies. Considering that half of the refugee population are children, the education of refugee children is an important step for the overall integration of refugees and their future in the host country. The purpose of this paper is to examine current policies and problems on the integration and education of Syrians in Turkey, in order to provide an informed perspective on how to integrate Syrian refugees in Turkey via education

Multiple-input multiple-output proportional-integral-proportional-derivative type fuzzy logic controller design for a twin rotor system

A new multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) proportional-integral-proportional-derivative (PIPD) type fuzzy logic controller (FLC) is proposed for pitch and yaw motion control of a twin rotor system in this study. A fuzzy feedforward compensator for gravity effects on pitch motion of the twin rotor is also designed. Fuzzy logic was preferred for controller design since it can be applied to nonlinear systems and do not require the mathematical model of the system. The twin rotor system is a highly nonlinear system that includes coupling effects between pitch and yaw motions and has similar dynamics to that of a helicopter in certain aspects. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed controller is able to stabilize the system along with good trajectory tracking performance

Neurophysiological Effects of Exercise

Convincing findings from animal and clinical studies have shown that exercise improves mood and cognition in addition to cardiovascular and metabolic benefits. Exercise, with the greatest effects on the hippocampus, which has a central role in learning and memory, increases neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity. Although the exact molecular mechanisms responsible for the exercise-induced neuroplasticity need to be clarified, some neurotrophic and angiogenic factors (e.g. BDNF, IGF-1, bFGF2 and VEGF) and different neurotransmitter systems (glutamate, GABA, endocannabinoids and monoamines) may have critical contributions in these processes. Exercise-induced changes in the brain morphology, chemistry and functions seem to be responsible for the beneficial effects of exercise, like improved learning and memory, anti-depressant-like and anxiolytic effects, reduced cognitive decline related to ageing and improvements in symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases. In this chapter, after discussing basic neurophysiological information regarding the brain, cognition, neurotransmitter systems, neural plasticity, learning, memory and behaviour tasks, the focus is on the exercise-induced changes in neuroplasticity, cognitive functions and mood and the factors mediating the effects of exercise, and finally, the effect of exercise on ageing and neurodegenerative diseases is discussed

Restart Test Design For Inverter Compressors

When a short power cut or electricity failure occurs on an electric supply system, which the household refrigerator is connected to, the suction and discharge pressures of the system become unbalanced, and the compressor exposes to higher loads than rated conditions. If the power recovers very quickly before the pressures get balanced, the compressor may not overcome the load and fails to start up. If the inverter control of the compressor has Class B protection software instead of mechanical overload protector; the inverter software forms a fault signal, cuts the energy through the compressor and waits for a while that provides pressure balancing before the next compressor start up trial. Provided that the compressor starts up, or the inverter control cuts energy by a fault signal, the compressor periodically tries running in an infinite loop. This situation prevents compressor running and cooling of the refrigerator. In order to prevent this, the inverter board and the control software should be controlled at every load condition if it works properly or not. Generally, a standard restart test is done to refrigerators by cutting the electricity off and energizing after a few seconds in order to check if the compressor starts up or a fault signal occurs. This test only checks one load condition and every different suction-discharge pressure value after power cut cannot be simulated that can occur in the field. Simulation of all loads on the refrigerator is a hard situation because providing variable suction-discharge pressure values on the refrigerator system is impossible and waiting for pressure balancing takes a long time for every load condition. For this paper; a compressor restart test is studied without a refrigerator and an array of suction-discharge pressures that can occur against the compressor is determined in case of a short power off-on situation in order to check all load conditions of the refrigerator. The test is carried out by compressor-electronic control pairs on a cooling system simulator. The compressor test results are verified by testing the same compressors on the refrigerator

Antifungal Activity of Endemic Salvia tigrina in Turkey

Purpose: The ethanol extracts obtained from the leaves, rootstock and the combined formulation of endemic Salvia tigrina Hedge & Hub.-Mor. (Labiatea) have been investigated for their antifungal activities. Method: The antifungal activity of the extract was tested against Candida species (C. albicans ATCC 10231, C. tropicalis ATCC 13803 and C. guilliermondii ATCC 6260 and Cryptococcus species (C. neoformans ATCC 90112 and C. laurentii 34142), Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium frequentans, Botrytis cinerea, Geotrichum candidum, Fusarium oxysporum and Alternaria alternara by the visual broth macrodilution method. Ketoconazole was used as a positive reference standard to determine the sensitivity of the strains. Results: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranged from 3.12 to 25 mg/mL. All the extracts exhibited a strong antifungal effect against the fungal cultures. The extracts exhibited greater antifungal effect against C. albicans, C. neoformans and B. cinarea. Conclusion: The findings provide support for the use of this plant in traditional medicine for fungal infections especially against candidiasis. Keywords: Antifungal activity, Salvia tigrina, Plant extracts, Minimum inhibitory concentration Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Vol. 7 (3) 2008: pp. 1051-105

Berufserfolg von AkamemikerInnen türkischer Herkunft

Die vorliegende Arbeit thematisiert den Berufserfolg von AkademikerInnen türkischer Herkunft in Wien. Das Ziel war einerseits, einen Einblick zu bekommen, inwieweit sich die AkademikerInnen türkischer Herkunft im Vergleich zu österreichischen AkademikerInnen auf dem Arbeitsmarkt integrieren konnten. Andererseits wurde untersucht, welche Faktoren einen Einfluss auf den Berufserfolg haben. Dazu wurde 2011 eine empirische Datenerhebung in Form von einer Online-Befragung durchgeführt. Der Fragebogen ist aufgrund des großen Umfangs nicht angeführt und ist auf der beigefügten CD nachzulesen

Body composition indices and electromechanical durations in metabolic syndrome

Aim: To examine electromechanical delay (EMD) a predictive of atrial fibrillation (AF) risk, in obese and non-obese metabolic syndrome (MS) patients and to research the relationship between EMD and the new body composition indices. Method: 118 overweight (body mass index (BMI)>26 kg/m2) individuals with MS meeting the criteria for IDF and ATP III were included in the study. The subjects were divided into two groups: Group 1; 54 obese persons with MS (33 females; mean age 46.2±14.1) while Group 2 included 64 non-obese persons with MS (33 females; mean age 41.4±13.2). In addition to laboratory findings, body composition indices, conventional and tissue Doppler imaging were obtained. Atrial EMD was defined as the time interval from the onset of the P wave on the surface electrocardiogram to the beginning of the late diastolic A wave. Inter, intra and left atrial EMD’s were measured from the data obtained. Results: Inter, intra and left atrial EMDs were significantly greater in the obese group compared to the non-obese group. There was a significant correlation between interatrial EMD and left atrial EMD and all body composition indices except body surface index. The strongest correlation was between body roundness index (BRI) and interatrial and left atrial EMD (r=0.46; p<0.001, r=0.39; p<0.001, respectively). Conclusions: EMD intervals were more prolonged in obese subjects with MS than in non-obese subjects with MS. The parameter most relevant to EMD was BRI. BRI is the body composition index most correlated with increased risk for AF in persons with MS. &nbsp

Treatment Outcomes of HER-2 Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Pertuzumab in the First Line Setting- Real Life Experience

INTRODUCTION: Pertuzumab is a new recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody, has been developed to inhibit the formation of HER2: HER3 heterodimerization. The clinical benefit of pertuzumab therapy in HER2 positive metastatic Breast Cancer (mBC) patients in the first-line setting has been shown in previous phase III studies. Herein we aimed to analyze the efficacy and toxicity profile of pertuzumab in patients with HER2 positive mBC. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 28 patients with mBC followed from two different centers in Turkey. All patients were treated with pertuzumab in the first line setting, with combination of trastuzumab and docetaxel. Treatment outcomes along with drug efficacy and safety were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: At a median follow-up time of 10.1 (2.4-25.2) months, among the 28 patients, 1 (3.6%) died and 2 (7.1%) developed disease progression. The median age of study population was 47 (18-74) years. Excluding 1 patient, all had (96.4%) de-novo metastatic disease at presentation. The median number of treatment cycles was 7 (4 - 12) for docetaxel, 18 (4 - 35) for pertuzumab + trastuzumab, and 10 (1 - 29) for the maintenance therapy (pertuzumab + trastuzumab). The most common side effects were; fatigue (75%) and arthralgia/myalgia (64.3%). Grade 3 or 4 toxicity were observed to be very infrequent. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Even with a small sample size, our results confirm that, pertuzumab, trastuzumab and docetaxel combination therapy in the first line setting in HER2 positive mBC patients is the standardof care, with acceptable toxicity profile and promising survival results

Treatment-Resistant Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Clinical and Personality Correlates

AbstractThe objective of the present study was to establish a clinical/personality profile of Turkish patients with treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (TR-OCD). Methods. A neurocognitive/clinical test battery was administered to 17 patients with TR-OCD. Results. TR-OCD patients presented with major psychiatric syndromes (especially mood and generalized anxiety disorders) and personality disorders (particularly paranoid, avoidant, obsessive-compulsive, histrionic), and obtained higher scores on measures of core OCD symptoms (i.e., obsessional ideation, compulsive cleaning/washing, mental neutralizing), depressive symptoms, schizotypal personality features, and impulsiveness relative to normative controls. TR-OCD patients did not differ significantly from normative controls on checking, doubting, ordering, and hoarding subscales, and on measures of venturesomeness and empathy. Conclusions. Lack of insight, suspiciousness, and rigidity associated with schizotypal, paranoid, and obsessive-compulsive personality features may have contributed to treatment failure