The undeniable impact of climate change and air pollution on respiratory health has led to increasing cases of asthma, allergic rhinitis and other chronic non-communicable immune-mediated upper and lower airway diseases. Natural bioaerosols, such as pollen and fungi, are essential atmospheric components undergoing significant structural and functional changes due to industrial pollution and atmospheric warming. Pollutants like particulate matter(PMx), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs), nitrogen dioxide(NO2), sulfur dioxide(SO2) and carbon monoxide(CO) modify the surface and biological properties of atmospheric bioaerosols such as pollen and fungi, enhancing their allergenic potentials. As a result, sensitized individuals face heightened risks of asthma exacerbation, and these alterations likely contribute to the rise in frequency and severity of allergic diseases. NAMs, such as precision-cut lung slices(PCLS), air–liquid interface(ALI) cultures and lung-on-a-chip models, along with the integration of data from these innovative models with computational models, provide better insights into how environmental factors influence asthma and allergic diseases compared to traditional models. These systems simulate the interaction between pollutants and the respiratory system with higher precision, helping to better understand the health implications of bioaerosol exposure. Additionally, NAMs improve preclinical study outcomes by offering higher throughput, reduced costs and greater reproducibility, enhancing the translation of data into clinical applications. This review critically evaluates the potential of NAMs in researching airway diseases, with a focus on allergy and asthma. It highlights their advantages in studying the increasingly complex structures of bioaerosols under conditions of environmental pollution and climate change, while also addressing the existing gaps, challenges and limitations of these models.

Studies of health care expenditure often exclude explanatory variables measuring wealth, despite the intuitive importance and policy relevance. We use the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey to assess impacts of income and wealth on health expenditure. We investigate four different dependent variables related to health expenditure and use three main methodological approaches. These approaches include a first difference model and introduction of a lagged dependent variable into a cross-sectional context. The key findings include that wealth tends to be more important than income in identifying variation in health expenditure. This applies for health variables which are not directly linked to means testing, such as spending on health practitioners and for being unable to afford required medical treatment. In contrast, the paper includes no evidence of different impacts of income and wealth on spending on medicines, prescriptions or pharmaceuticals. The results motivate two novel policy innovations. One is the introduction of an asset test for determining rebate eligibility for private health insurance. The second is greater focus on asset testing, rather than income tests, for a wide range of general welfare payments that can be used for health expenditure. Australia's world-leading use of means testing can provide a test case for many countries.

Pointer analysis is a fundamental static program analysis for computing the set of objects that an expression can refer to. Decades of research has gone into developing methods of varying precision and efficiency for pointer analysis for programs that use different language features, but determining precisely how efficient a particular method is has been a challenge in itself.

For programs that use different language features, we consider methods for pointer analysis using Datalog and extensions to Datalog. When the rules are in Datalog, we present the calculation of precise time complexities from the rules using a new algorithm for decomposing rules for obtaining the best complexities. When extensions such as function symbols and universal quantification are used, we describe algorithms for efficiently implementing the extensions and the complexities of the algorithms.

Specimens of European hake were collected by a traditional demersal trawl between July 2004 and June 2007 from İzmir Bay, Central Aegean Sea. A total of 2108 individuals were sampled during the study and the female: male sex ratio of the stock was 1:0.89. The length–weight relationship was W = 0.00341L3.24 (R 2 = 0.994) for all individuals. A high gonadosomatic index was evident over most of the year but it was minimal from August to October. The estimated age composition was 1–5 years; the length and weight at infinity were calculated as L ∞ = 54.53 cm and W ∞ = 1455.77 g respectively. In addition, growth coefficient was found to be k = 0.315 y−1 and t o  = −0.223 y (R 2 = 0.99). Total mortality ratio of the stock was calculated as Z = 1.539 y−1, while natural and fishing based mortality ratio were estimated as M = 0.579 y−1 and F = 0.959 y−1 respectively, with the exploitation ratio (E) of the stock estimated to be 0.624.

The size selectivity of traditional gillnets for whiting, (Merlangius merlangus euxinus) was investigated in the eastern Black Sea between June 2010 and June 2011. Experimental fishing operations were carried out by using gillnets of 16, 17, 18, 20 and 22 mm mesh size. A total of 2038 specimens belonging to 16 different fish species were caught during the experiment. The Share Each Length's Catch Total method was used to fit gillnet selectivity curves. Gillnet selectivity was best described by a bi-modal selectivity curve. The modal catch sizes were estimated as 14.81, 15.74, 16.66, 18.51 and 20.37 cm for 16, 17, 18, 20 and 22 mm mesh sizes, respectively. Modal lengths and spread values increased with increasing mesh size. The majority of fish (71.8%) caught by 16 mm mesh size were less than the length at first sexual maturity.

Dendrochronological research in North-Central Europe and the East Mediterranean has produced networks of long regional oak (Quercus sp.) reference chronologies that have been instrumental in dating, provenancing, and paleoclimate research applications. However, until now these two important tree-ring networks have not been successfully linked. Oak forests and historical/archaeological sites in southeastern Europe provide the key for linking the North-Central European and East Mediterranean tree-ring networks, but previous dendrochronological research in this region has been largely absent. This article presents the initial results of a project, in which we have built oak tree-ring chronologies from forest sites and historical/archaeological sites along a north-south transect between Poland and northwestern Turkey, with the aim of linking the North-Central European and East Mediterranean tree-ring networks and creating a new pan-European oak data set for dendrochronological dating and paleoclimatic reconstruction. Correlation among tree-ring chronologies and the spatial distribution of their teleconnections are evaluated. The southeastern European chronologies provide a solid bridge between both major European dendrochronological networks. The results indicate that a dense network of chronologies is the key for bridging spatial and temporal gaps in tree-ring records. Dendrochronological sampling should be intensively continued in southeastern Europe because resources for building long oak chronologies in the region are rapidly disappearing.

Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) is one of the most advanced absorber materials with conversion efficiencies reaching up to about 20%. Electrodeposition of CIGS precursors is highly attractive due to its low cost, efficient utilization of raw materials and scalability to high-volume manufacturing, however, a strict chemistry control of the plating baths is required in a manufacturing environment to ensure a consistent plating process with high yields. In the present study, we tested the use of ion chromatography (IC), for the quantitative analysis of both the cationic and anionic species in a variety of aqueous alkaline electroplating solutions we developed for the fabrication of CIGS precursors. Using ion chromatography we were able to precisely determine the concentrations of several key anions commonly employed in the plating baths including chloride, sulfate, selenite, selenate, tartrate, citrate, gluconate, and ethylenediaminetetraacetate. Our results indicated IC might not be a suitable method to determine the cationic concentrations for Cu, In, Ga ions when complexing species, such as ethylenediaminetetraacetate, are present in the electroplating solutions. We determined that inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) could be used instead for the precise determination of the cationic concentrations.

We study the asymptotic behavior of the tail probability of integrated stable processes exceeding power barriers. In the first part of the paper the limiting behavior of the integrals of stable processes generated by ergodic dissipative flows is established. In the second part an example with the integral of a stable process generated by a conservative flow is analyzed. Finally, the difference in the order of magnitude of the exceedance probability in the two cases is related to the dependence structure of the underlying stable process.

Age and growth of the common guitarfish (Rhinobatos rhinobatos) were estimated from the north-eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey. A total of 115 common guitarfish (66 females and 49 males) were sampled. Age determinations were carried out using vertebral sections. Alcian blue dying techniques were used to enhance the visibility of the band on vertebrae. The techniques have been used for the first time on elasmobranchs vertebrae successfully in this study. A total of 97 vertebrae of 115 were visible on the vertebral band in this study. Male and female common guitarfish ranged in age from 1 to 15 and 1 to 24 y respectively. Total length ranged from 42 to 147 cm for females and 39 to 124 cm for males.

The relationships between total length (TL) and total weight (TW) were presented as TW = 0.0014*TL3.1672 (R2 = 0.98) for females, TW = 0.0012*TL3.1947 (R2 = 0.98) for males and TW = 0.0012*TL3.1915 (R2 = 0.98) for both sexes. The parameters for von Bertalanffy growth curves were estimated as Linf  = 137.70±9.38 cm, K = 0.159±0.047, to = −2.180 ± 0.90 for pooled data.

Reproductive properties of Eledone moschata from the north-eastern Aegean Sea are reported for the first time. A total of 471 specimens was collected during monthly samplings from December 2004 to November 2005. The mantle lengths of the species were between 4.5 and 15.0 cm with an average of 8.1 cm ±0.15 for 204 males, and between 2.7 and 14.0 cm with an average of 7.8 cm ±0.12 for 267 females. The annual sex ratio (males: females) of the sampled specimens was 1:1.31. Maturity stages were recorded on a monthly basis in both sexes. The highest monthly percentage of mature females (21%) and males (46%) was recorded in January 2005 and June 2005, respectively. The monthly and seasonal gonadosomatic index (GSI) results indicated that E. moschata shows two annual reproduction peaks for each sex. For males, the first spring peak occurs in March–June and the second, autumn peak is in November. For females, the first summer peak occurs in May–June and the second, winter peak is in January, respectively. On the other hand, the reproductive season extends from November to July with two peaks in the Aegean Sea. Total oocyte stock varied from 273 to 2896 with a mean of 836 ±193 oocytes. The mean size of the oocytes was 6.26 ±0.10 mm. The maximum oocyte size found was 10.7 mm. The mean length of spermatophores was of 13.66 ±0.08 mm (range: 7.3–18.3) and their average number was 52 ±6 (range: 6–172).

We study the ruin probability where the claim sizes are modeled by a stationary ergodic symmetric α-stable process. We exploit the flow representation of such processes, and we consider the processes generated by conservative flows. We focus on two classes of conservative α-stable processes (one discrete-time and one continuous-time), and give results for the order of magnitude of the ruin probability as the initial capital goes to infinity. We also prove a solidarity property for null-recurrent Markov chains as an auxiliary result, which might be of independent interest.

Organic farming seems to be a solution in environmentally sensitive zones such as the protection zone of Tahtalı Dam, which supplies fresh water to Izmir, the third largest city in Turkey. Greenhouse vegetable production is the major agricultural activity in this area (Menderes Township). However, due to the pollution risk from agriculture, governmental authorities have issued a regulation discouraging the use of chemicals within the collection basin of the dam. An on-farm project was conducted in 2001 to introduce organic greenhouse vegetable production in the Tahtalı Dam preservation area and to serve as a model for other areas in Turkey facing similar ecological problems. Two irrigation levels and four organic fertilizers were tested on the growth of cucumbers (Cucumis sativus cv. Sardes). The four fertilizers were two rates of farmyard and poultry manure (30 and 50 tons ha−1) with and without two organic fertilizers based on either bacteria or algae. During the growing period, pests and diseases were monitored weekly and preparations allowed in organic agriculture were used when necessary. Plant diseases did not create any significant problem, but the pest population, in particular spidermites, increased. No significant differences in cucumber yield were found between the fertilizer and irrigation treatments tested. However, it should be noted that yields from the addition of 30 tons ha−1 of farmyard or poultry manure and organic fertilizers were the same as those for 50 tons ha−1 of manure alone. The average total yield was 13 kg m−2, within an acceptable range for short-term crop production in this region, but 55% lower than a conventional substrate culture trial nearby. However, due to reduced production costs and a price premium for organic products, the organic produce yielded a net return of US$1.12–1.79 per m2 whereas that for conventional bag culture produce was US$0.55 per m2. Our results indicate that, under present conditions, organic greenhouse cucumber production has less environmental impact and is more economic than conventional bag culture, due to reduced chemical input and reduced operating and initial investment costs.

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) are being used in many critical applications that require very high stress levels. To properly design MEMS components, mechanical properties should be characterized testing relevant sized samples that are fabricated with the same procedures as the final structure. In this paper we use atomic force microscopy (AFM) experiments to study the fracture strength statistics of polycrystalline SiC and SiN nanobeams, and compare their mechanical performance with the performance of previously tested Si nanostructures. Using the same AFM method and similar sample shape and sizes, allows a direct comparison to be made, which will be useful in determining the best material for different mechanical applications and also to validate the theoretical limits.

In this paper, different adaptive control algorithms will be experimentally tested on a two axis SCARA type direct drive robot arm, and the performance of these algorithms will be compared. Being a direct drive system, the nonlinear effects, arising from the dynamics of the manipulator under high velocities, are directly reflected in the control of the manipulator. This makes the manipulator a more efficient test bed for testing the efficiency of the proposed adaptive schemes. In the experiments, we used fast trajectories rather than slow ones to observe how the proposed controllers compensate the dynamic nonlinear effects of manipulator dynamics. We will test some known adaptive control algorithms given in the literature along with our proposed adaptive control scheme which makes use of multiple models.

Objective: To determine whether Henle’s spine could be used as a reliable and multipurpose landmark for the other important structures of the skull base.

Materials and methods: Ninety-two specimens from 46 cadaveric adult dry skulls were studied. Two imaginary lines and a triangle were defined: a spinopterygoidal line extending from Henle’s spine to the root of the medial pterygoid plate, a bispinal line extending from one Henle’s spine to the contralateral one, and a parapetrosal triangle lying between the spinopterygoidal line, the bispinal line and the sagittal midline. The parapetrosal triangle encompasses nearly all the main structures of the skull base, including the petrosal internal carotid artery.

Results: Along the spinopterygoidal line the distance from Henle’s spine to the spine of the sphenoid was found to be about 3 cm, to the foramen spinosum 3.5 cm, to the posterior and anterior margins of the foramen ovale 4 and 4.5 cm, to the root of the lateral pterygoid plate 5 cm, to the root of the medial pterygoid plate 5.5 cm, and to the vomer 6.5–7 cm. Along the bispinal line, the distance from Henle’s spine to the stylomastoid foramen was found to be about 1.5 cm, to the lateral and medial margins of the jugular foramen 2.5 and 3.5 cm, to the external orifice of the hypoglossal canal 4 cm, and to the foramen magnum 5 cm.

Conclusion: Henle’s spine with its superficial and central position can be used to localize important anatomical structures during skull-base surgery.

Bilateral traumatic facial paralysis is a very rare clinical condition. Abducens palsy, associated with bilateral traumatic paralysis, is even rarer and has not been well described in the literature. In this report, a 24-year-old male, who developed immediate bilateral facial and right abducens paralyses following a motor vehicle accident, is presented. The patient was referred for neurotologic evaluation 22 days after the injury. Electroneurography (ENoG) demonstrated 100 per cent degeneration at the first examination and, correspondingly, electromyography showed no regeneration potentials. Using high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), a longitudinal fracture on the right and a mixed-type fracture on the left were identified. The patient had good cochlear reserve on both sides. The decision for surgery was based not on ENoG, because of the delayed referral of the patient, but on the HRCT, which showed clear fracture lines on both sides. The middle cranial fossa approach for decompression of the right facial nerve was performed on the 55th day following the trauma, and a combined procedure using the middle cranial fossa and transmastoid approaches was applied for decompression of the left facial nerve on the 75th day following the trauma. On the right, there was dense fibrosis surrounding the geniculate ganglion and the proximal tympanic segment whereas, on the left, bone fragments impinging on the geniculate ganglion, dense fibrosis surrounding the geniculate ganglion, and a less extensive fibrotic tissue surrounding the pyramidal segment were encountered. There were no complications or hearing deterioration. At the one-year follow up, the patient had House-Brackmann (HB) grade 1 recovery on the right, and HB grade 2 recovery on the left side, and the abducens palsy regressed spontaneously. The middle cranial fossa approach and its combinations can be performed safely in bilateral temporal bone fractures as labyrinthine sparing procedures if done on separate occasions.