Combining ornamental tree and forage crop production using both field experiments and modelling approach in the Netherlands

N/

Higgs field as the gauge field corresponding to parity in the usual space-time

We find that the local character of field theory requires the parity degree of freedom of the fields to be considered as an additional dicrete fifth dimension which is an artifact emerging due to the local description of space-time. Higgs field arises as the gauge field corresponding to this discrete dimension. Hence the noncommutative geometric derivation of the standard model follows as a manifestation of the local description of the usual space-time.Comment: 14 pages, latex, no figure

Advanced oxidation protein products and malondialdehyde — the new biological markers of oxidative stress — are elevated in postmenopausal women

Objectives: The aim of the study was to measure advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) as markers for oxidative stress to evaluate cardiovascular risk in pre- and postmenopausal women and to compare the results with malondialde­hyde (MDA) levels. Material and methods: Twenty premenopausal women and 84 naturally postmenopausal patients were enrolled in the study. AOPP and MDA plasma levels were measured. The postmenopausal group was further subdivided into two groups: postmenopausal age of 40–49 and of 50–59 years. AOPP and MDA levels were compared between premenopausal, 40–49 and 50–59 year old menopausal women. Results: Plasma AOPP and MDA levels in postmenopausal women were increased when compared with their premeno­pausal peers (123.83 ± 55.51 μmol/L vs. 61.59 ± 16.42 μmol/L and 6.50 ± 1.05 μmol/L vs. 5.98 ± 0.77 μmol/L; respectively). Mean plasma AOPP levels in the two menopausal age groups were both significantly higher from the premenopausal group (118.64 ± 59.1 μmol/L vs. 61.59 ± 16.42 μmol/L and 132.31 ± 48.97 μmol/L vs. 61.59 ± 16.42 μmol/L; respectively). No significant difference was found in mean AOPP levels between postmenopausal subjects of 40–49 and 50–59 years age (118.64 ± 59.12 μmol/L vs. 132.31 ± 48.97 μmol/L). Mean plasma MDA levels of each of two postmenopausal age groups were both significantly higher from the premenopausal group (6.50 ± 1.04 μmol/L vs. 5.98 ± 0.77 μmol/L and 6.50 ± 1.10 μmol/L vs. 5.98 ± 0.77 μmol/L; respectively). However, no statistically significant difference between the two postmenopausal age groups (6.50 ± 1.04 μmol/L vs. 6.50 ± 1.10 μmol/L) was found. Conclusions: AOPP and MDA levels are elevated in postmenopausal women as compared to their premenopausal peers, suggesting they can be used as markers for cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women

The effects of social security systems on macroeconomic performance: a cross-sectional analysis

Ankara : Institute of Economics and Social Sciences of Bilkent University, 1999.Thesis(Master's) -- Bilkent University, 1999.Includes bibliographical references leaves 75-80.Developments in demographic factors affect the magnitude of several Social Security attributes, and have recently lead many countries to reform their systems. The most marked one of such reforms is the transition from Pay-as-you-go (PAYG) based systems to funded systems. This thesis discusses the effects of social security systems on a country’s macroeconomic performance by means of a cross-sectional study. It examines five main macroeconomic indicators: GDP growth rate, budget deficit, private saving rate, unemployment and inflation. It does so by using both their main macroeconomic determinants and the relevant social security attributes, such as dependency ratio, social security deficit, retirement ages, contribution rates, and public spending on social security. Our main conclusion is that many social security attributes significantly affect macroeconomic indicators.Erdem, F SenemM.S

MRI-validation of SEP monitoring for ischemic events during microsurgical clipping of intracranial aneurysms

OBJECTIVE: During surgical clipping of intracranial aneurysms, reduction in SEP amplitude is thought to indicate cortical ischemia and subsequent neurological deficits. Since the sensitivity of SEP is questioned, we investigated SEP with respect to post-operative ischemia. METHODS: In 36 patients with 51 intracranial aneurysms, clinical evaluation and diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) was performed before and within 24h after surgery. During surgery, time of temporary occlusion was recorded. MRI images were reviewed for signs of ischemia. RESULTS: For 43 clip applications (84%), we observed neither pathologic SEP events nor ischemia in MRI. In two cases where reduction lasted >10 min after clip release, SEP events correlated with ischemia in the MRI. Only one of the ischemic patients was symptomatic and developed a transient hemiparesis. CONCLUSIONS: While pathologic SEP events correlated with visible ischemia in MRI only in two cases with late SEP recovery, ischemia in MRI may have been transient or may not have reached detection threshold in the other cases, in agreement with the absence of permanent neurological deficits. SIGNIFICANCE: In complex aneurysm cases, where prolonged temporary occlusion is expected, SEP should be used to detect ischemia at a reversible stage to improve the safety of aneurysm clipping. Copyright © 2011 International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Multi-Temperature Zone, Droplet-based Microreactor for Increased Temperature Control in Nanoparticle Synthesis

Cataloged from PDF version of article.Microreactors are an emerging technology for the controlled synthesis of nanoparticles. The Multi-Temperature zone Microreactor (MTM) described in this work utilizes thermally isolated heated and cooled regions for the purpose of separating nucleation and growth processes as well as to provide a platform for a systematic study on the effect of reaction conditions on nanoparticle synthesis. © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Öğretmen Eğitimi Programları ve Paradigmalarının Karşılaştırmalı Analizi

Bu çalışmanın amacı  New York, Singapur, Finlandiya, ve Türkiye’de benimsenen öğretmen yetiştirme programlarını ülkelerde baskın olan paradigmalar doğrultusunda incelemek ve araştırma sonuçlarından yola çıkarak Türkiye’de yapılacak olan yeniliklere katkıda bulunmaktır. Tarama modelinde desenlenen çalışmada ölçüt örneklem tekniği kullanılmıştır. Araştırmada nitel analiz teknikleri kullanımıştır. Araştırma sonucunda Finlandiya ve A.B.D’de öğretmen yetiştiren kurumların kendi programlarını belirlemede etkin oldukları, buna karşın Türkiye ve Singapur’da programların merkezi otoriteler tarafından belirlendiği ve bu durumun önemli bir zayıflık olduğu bulunmuştur.  Diğer yandan öğretmen eğitimi paradigması olarak A.B.D, Singapur ve Türkiye’de politika düzeyinde reformist paradigmaların vurgulanmasına karşın uygulamada rekabetçi ve yararlı bilgi paradigmasının baskın olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Finlandiya ise işbirliği, araştırma temelli bilgi ve gelenekten ayrılma paradigmaları gibi reformist paradigmaların  gerek politika gerekse uygulama düzeyinde etkin olarak benimsendiği bir ülke konumundadır

Fenotypowe podgrupy zespołu policystycznych jajników mają różne objawy wewnątrznerkowej oporności

Objective: The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is known to be related with increased metabolic and cardiovascular risks. Various phenotypic subgroups of PCOS have been proven to have metabolic and endocrine disorders with varying degrees of severity. However, intra-renal vascular resistance, which is an indirect indication ofatherosclerosis, remains unknown in PCOS subgroups. In this study we examined whether PCOS subgroups have different intra-renal resistance symptoms. Material and Methods: 98 PCOS patients (diagnosed according to the Rotterdam criteria) 30 controls were ncluded in the study. The diagnosis of PCOS was established in the presence of at least two of the following criteria: 1- oligo and/or amenorrhea (OM); 2- clinic and/or biochemical signs of hyperandrogenism (HA); 3- polycystic ovarian morphology (PCO) detected by transvaginal ultrasonography. 37 patients (Group 1) met all three criteria (HA+OM+PCO), 29 patients (Group 2) met two of the criteria including hyperandrogenism (HA+OM or HA+PCO) and the remaining 32 patients (Group 3) had no hyperandrogenism but fulfilled the other two criteria; PCO+OM. Renal Doppler ultrasonography and hormonal/ biochemical analyses were carried out. The first outcome measure was designated as the differences in the renal resistive index (RRI) values of the groups, and the second outcome measure was designated as the relation of RRI with the insulin resistance and lipid profile. Results: In Group 1, the RRI and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) values were significantly higher than in Group 3 and controls (P < 0.031, P < 0.001, respectively, after adjusting for age and BMI). The RRI and HOMA-IR values in Group 3 were similar to those of the control group. It was determined that RRI has a positive correlation with HOMA-IR (r=0.784, PCel pracy: Zespół policystycznych jajników jest związany ze zwiększonym ryzykiem metabolicznym i sercowonaczyniowym. Fenotypowe podgrupy w obrębie zespołu PCO charakteryzują się zaburzeniami metabolicznymi i endokrynnymi o rożnym stopniu nasilenia. Jednak wewnątrznerkowa oporność naczyniowa, która jest pośrednim wykładnikiem miażdżycy, pozostaje nieznana w podgrupach zespołu PCO. W badaniu ocenialiśmy czy podgrupy zespołu PCO mają rożne objawy wewnątrznerkowej oporności. Materiał i metoda: do badania włączono 98 pacjentek z zespołem PCO (zdiagnozowanym według kryterium z Rotterdamu) oraz 30 pacjentek kontrolnych. Rozpoznanie zespołu PCO postawiono na podstawie obecności przynajmniej dwóch z poniżej wymienionych kryteriów: 1-oligo i/lub amenorrhea (OM); 2-kliniczne lub biochemiczne objawy hiperandrogenizmu (HA); 3-policystyczny obraz jajnikow (PCO) w przez pochwowym badaniu ultrasonograficznym. Grupę 1 stanowiło 37 pacjentek, które spełniły wszystkie kryteria diagnostyczne (HA+OM+PCO), grupa 2 to 29 pacjentek z dwoma kryteriami, w tym kryterium hiperandrogenizmu (HA+OM lub HA+PCO), pozostałe 32 pacjentki to grupa 3 – bez hiperandrogenizmu ale z dwoma pozostałymi kryteriami; PCO+OM. Przeprowadzono badanie dopplerowskie nerek i hormonalno-biochemiczną ocenę. Jako pierwszą zmierzono różnicę pomiędzy grupami w indeksie oporu nerkowego (RRI), następnie oceniono związek pomiędzy RRI a insulinoopornością i profilem lipidowym. Wyniki: W grupie 1, RRI i wskaźnik oceny insulinooporności (HOMA-IR) były istotnie wyższe niż w grupie 3 oraz kontrolnej (