Women in banking: A comparative perspective on the integration myth

This article reports on the results of two similar surveys conducted with professional women bankers, one in the USA and the other in Turkey, to explore socio-economic backgrounds, attitudes towards work, and the nature of the support they receive as such. It also describes the views of women bankers in both cultures with reference to sexual discrimination in the workplace and also their varying levels of job satisfaction and frustration. In the last decade, the number of professional women has increased substantially in the workplace. In particular, women have made significant advancements in the banking industry[l], where 190 of them serve as Presidents at the 14,000 banks in the US, and where the number of them serving as executives has tripled over the last decade. A similar trend also exists in Turkey[2]. The number of women bankers has increased since 1971, and these women have high potential for promotion to executive positions. Because banks are major employers of women, women bankers represent an important case study. Studying women and their professional advancement in banks will provide guidelines for other women professionals striving to achieve professional advancement. A comparative study will help to expand the boundaries of knowledgeability about the advancement of professional women bankers to an international level

AI for Everyone? Critical Perspectives

We are entering a new era of technological determinism and solutionism in which governments and business actors are seeking data-driven change, assuming that Artificial Intelligence is now inevitable and ubiquitous. But we have not even started asking the right questions, let alone developed an understanding of the consequences. Urgently needed is debate that asks and answers fundamental questions about power. This book brings together critical interrogations of what constitutes AI, its impact and its inequalities in order to offer an analysis of what it means for AI to deliver benefits for everyone. The book is structured in three parts: Part 1, AI: Humans vs. Machines, presents critical perspectives on human-machine dualism. Part 2, Discourses and Myths About AI, excavates metaphors and policies to ask normative questions about what is ‘desirable’ AI and what conditions make this possible. Part 3, AI Power and Inequalities, discusses how the implementation of AI creates important challenges that urgently need to be addressed. Bringing together scholars from diverse disciplinary backgrounds and regional contexts, this book offers a vital intervention on one of the most hyped concepts of our times

HLA tapasin independence: broader peptide repertoire and HIV control.

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I allotypes vary in their ability to present peptides in the absence of tapasin, an essential component of the peptide loading complex. We quantified tapasin dependence of all allotypes that are common in European and African Americans (n = 97), which revealed a broad continuum of values. Ex vivo examination of cytotoxic T cell responses to the entire HIV-1 proteome from infected subjects indicates that tapasin-dependent allotypes present a more limited set of distinct peptides than do tapasin-independent allotypes, data supported by computational predictions. This suggests that variation in tapasin dependence may impact the strength of the immune responses by altering peptide repertoire size. In support of this model, we observed that individuals carrying HLA class I genotypes characterized by greater tapasin independence progress more slowly to AIDS and maintain lower viral loads, presumably due to increased breadth of peptide presentation. Thus, tapasin dependence level, like HLA zygosity, may serve as a means to restrict or expand breadth of the HLA-I peptide repertoire across humans, ultimately influencing immune responses to pathogens and vaccines

Does the unification of health financing affect the distribution pattern of out‐of‐pocket health expenses in Turkey?

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149529/1/ijsw12389_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149529/2/ijsw12389.pd

Genome-wide association study identifies variants in the MHC class I, IL10, and IL23R-IL12RB2 regions associated with Behcet's disease

Behcet's disease is a genetically complex disease of unknown etiology characterized by recurrent inflammatory attacks affecting the orogenital mucosa, eyes and skin. We performed a genome-wide association study with 311,459 SNPs in 1,215 individuals with Behcet's disease (cases) and 1,278 healthy controls from Turkey. We confirmed the known association of Behcet's disease with HLA-B*51 and identified a second, independent association within the MHC Class I region. We also identified an association at IL10 (rs1518111, P = 1.88 x 10(-8)). Using a meta-analysis with an additional five cohorts from Turkey, the Middle East, Europe and Asia, comprising a total of 2,430 cases and 2,660 controls, we identified associations at IL10 (rs1518111, P = 3.54 x 10(-18), odds ratio = 1.45, 95% CI 1.34-1.58) and the IL23R-IL12RB2 locus (rs924080, P = 6.69 x 10(-9), OR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.18-1.39). The disease-associated IL10 variant (the rs1518111 A allele) was associated with diminished mRNA expression and low protein production

Effect of gut microbiome modulation on muscle function and cognition: the PROMOTe randomised controlled trial

Studies suggest that inducing gut microbiota changes may alter both muscle physiology and cognitive behaviour. Gut microbiota may play a role in both anabolic resistance of older muscle, and cognition. In this placebo controlled double blinded randomised controlled trial of 36 twin pairs (72 individuals), aged ≥60, each twin pair are block randomised to receive either placebo or prebiotic daily for 12 weeks. Resistance exercise and branched chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation is prescribed to all participants. Outcomes are physical function and cognition. The trial is carried out remotely using video visits, online questionnaires and cognitive testing, and posting of equipment and biological samples. The prebiotic supplement is well tolerated and results in a changed gut microbiome [e.g., increased relative Bifidobacterium abundance]. There is no significant difference between prebiotic and placebo for the primary outcome of chair rise time (β = 0.579; 95% CI −1.080-2.239 p = 0.494). The prebiotic improves cognition (factor score versus placebo (β = −0.482; 95% CI,−0.813, −0.141; p = 0.014)). Our results demonstrate that cheap and readily available gut microbiome interventions may improve cognition in our ageing population. We illustrate the feasibility of remotely delivered trials for older people, which could reduce under-representation of older people in clinical trials. ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT04309292

Clinical Use and Therapeutic Potential of IVIG/SCIG, Plasma-Derived IgA or IgM, and Other Alternative Immunoglobulin Preparations

Intravenous and subcutaneous immunoglobulin preparations, consisting of IgG class antibodies, are increasingly used to treat a broad range of pathological conditions, including humoral immune deficiencies, as well as acute and chronic inflammatory or autoimmune disorders. A plethora of Fab- or Fc-mediated immune regulatory mechanisms has been described that might act separately or in concert, depending on pathogenesis or stage of clinical condition. Attempts have been undertaken to improve the efficacy of polyclonal IgG preparations, including the identification of relevant subfractions, mild chemical modification of molecules, or modification of carbohydrate side chains. Furthermore, plasma-derived IgA or IgM preparations may exhibit characteristics that might be exploited therapeutically. The need for improved treatment strategies without increase in plasma demand is a goal and might be achieved by more optimal use of plasma-derived proteins, including the IgA and the IgM fractions. This article provides an overview on the current knowledge and future strategies to improve the efficacy of regular IgG preparations and discusses the potential of human plasma-derived IgA, IgM, and preparations composed of mixtures of IgG, IgA, and IgM

response of the left ventricle to stress: Re-evaluation of an old method

Introduction: We aimed to assess whether the vasodilator effect of oral dipyridamole on the left ventricular systolic function in patients with suspected CAD is different from that of intravenous (IV) dipyridamole using Tc-99m MIBI myocardial perfusion gated SPECT.Methods: Eighty-nine patients (17 male, 72 female; 61 +/- 10 years) were enrolled in this study. The patients underwent a dipyridamole stress test for the gating study. Forty-one patients were given oral dipyridamole (OD), and 48 patients were given intravenous dipyridamole (ID). Each group was divided into two subgroups according to whether they had normal or abnormal myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) findings (reversible perfusion defect). A two-day dipyridamole pharmacologic stress-rest Tc-99m MIBI myocardial perfusion gated SPECT protocol was performed in all patients. The LV ejection fraction (EF), end diastolic volume (EDV) and end systolic volume (ESV) were calculated from the gated data.Results: In the ID group, LV myocardial perfusion was normal in 28 cases and abnormal in 20 cases. In abnormal ID cases, a significant difference between rest and stress EDV was detected (P = 0.017). In the OD group, the LV myocardial perfusion was normal in 20 and abnormal in 21 cases. In the OD normal cases, the rest EF (P = 0.012) and EDV (P = 0.029) were significantly different from the stress cases.Conclusion: The effect of ID test continues during gated SPECT and results in LV diastolic dysfunction in patients with abnormal myocardial perfusion. Oral administration is also highly effective for detecting real myocardial ischemia that causes LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction

response of the left ventricle to stress: Re-evaluation of an old method

Introduction: We aimed to assess whether the vasodilator effect of oral dipyridamole on the left ventricular systolic function in patients with suspected CAD is different from that of intravenous (IV) dipyridamole using Tc-99m MIBI myocardial perfusion gated SPECT.Methods: Eighty-nine patients (17 male, 72 female; 61 +/- 10 years) were enrolled in this study. The patients underwent a dipyridamole stress test for the gating study. Forty-one patients were given oral dipyridamole (OD), and 48 patients were given intravenous dipyridamole (ID). Each group was divided into two subgroups according to whether they had normal or abnormal myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) findings (reversible perfusion defect). A two-day dipyridamole pharmacologic stress-rest Tc-99m MIBI myocardial perfusion gated SPECT protocol was performed in all patients. The LV ejection fraction (EF), end diastolic volume (EDV) and end systolic volume (ESV) were calculated from the gated data.Results: In the ID group, LV myocardial perfusion was normal in 28 cases and abnormal in 20 cases. In abnormal ID cases, a significant difference between rest and stress EDV was detected (P = 0.017). In the OD group, the LV myocardial perfusion was normal in 20 and abnormal in 21 cases. In the OD normal cases, the rest EF (P = 0.012) and EDV (P = 0.029) were significantly different from the stress cases.Conclusion: The effect of ID test continues during gated SPECT and results in LV diastolic dysfunction in patients with abnormal myocardial perfusion. Oral administration is also highly effective for detecting real myocardial ischemia that causes LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction