Postmodernism and tribal marketing: an application for religious communities

Post modern dönemde modern klan olarak tanımlanan toplulukların ortaya çıkması, klan pazarlaması olarak tanımlanan alternatif bir pazarlama yaklaşımının doğmasına yol açmıştır. Bu çalışmanın amacı Türkiye’de faaliyet gösteren dinsel toplulukları, modern klan davranışları açısından tanımlamak ve klan pazarlamasının söz konusu topluluklara ne ölçüde uygulanabileceğini belirlemektir. Bu amaçla Çanakkale, Biga’da kolayda örnekleme yöntemiyle seçilen topluluk üyeleriyle anket yapılmıştır. Analiz sonuçları, topluluğun bir ölçüye kadar modern klan niteliklerine sahip olduğunu, ancak üyelerinin çoğunun sembolik değerlerden haberdar olmadığını göstermiştir. Diğer taraftan üyelik türlerine göre davranış farklılıkları, üyelerin topluluğa bağlılığı ve toplulukla uyumlu davranış gösterip göstermediklerine yönelik kurulan hipotezler büyük ölçüde doğrulanmıştır. Bununla birlikte sonuçlar, üyelerin topluluğa karşı gösterdikleri uyum davranışının satın almaya yönelik tutumlarına yansımadığını göstermiştir.The emergence of communities described as modern tribe in postmodern period has led to the occurrence of an alternative marketing approach – tribal marketing. The purpose of this study is to define the religious communities in Turkey in terms of modern tribe behaviors and to determine to what extent tribal marketing is applicable to the concerning communities. For this purpose, a questionnaire was administered to the community members selected by convenience sampling in Biga, Çanakkale. The results of analysis indicate that the community has characteristics of modern tribe to some extent although most of the members are not aware of symbolic values. On the other hand, the hypotheses intended to test behavioral differences regarding the level of membership types, affiliation of members to the community and whether they have adaptive behavior to the community were confirmed to a great extent. Yet the results also indicate that the adaptive behavior of members to the community does not reflect on their buying attitudes

Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index as a Predictor of Left Atrial Thrombosis in Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation

Background: The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) has recently been investigated for cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between SII and left atrial thrombosis (LAT). Methods: This retrospective, case-control study recruited patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) who underwent transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for LAT detection before cardioversion or catheter ablation at a tertiary hospital between 2012 and 2021. Demographic characteristics were obtained from the hospital data system. According to TEE findings, the patients were categorized into LAT (+) and (-) groups. Age, gender, history of chronic diseases, urea, creatinine, albumin, hemogram parameters, the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), the platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), SII, the CHADS₂ score, the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score, echocardiographic parameters, antiaggregant-anticoagulant use, and non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation were included and analyzed. Results: The study population consisted of 403 patients, including 228 men (56.6%), at a mean age of 60.84±12.26 years. A high white blood cell count (WBC) (OR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.51; P=0.013), a high SII (OR, 1.00, 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.00; P=0.003), and a low ejection fraction (OR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.90 to 0.99; P=0.018) were independent predictors of LAT (+). A spontaneous echo contrast (OR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.35 to 4.39; P=0.003) was associated with LAT (+). SII values above 693.6 predicted LAT (+) with 71.6% sensitivity and 71.7% specificity (AUC, 0.77; P<0.001). The predictiveness of SII was similar to that of NLR (0.77 vs 0.74, P=0.093) but higher than PLR (0.77 vs 0.67; P<0.001) and WBC (0.77 vs 0.69; P=0.031). Conclusion: SII is an independent predictor of LAT in patients with NVAF

TASL practice guidance on the clinical assessment and management of patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a multisystem disease and is significantly associated with obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. NAFLD has become the most prevalent chronic liver disease in Western countries, and the proportion of NAFLD-related cirrhosis among patients on liver transplantation waiting lists has increased. In light of the accumulated data about NAFLD, and to provide a common approach with multi-disciplines dealing with the subject, it has become necessary to create new guidance for diagnosing and treating NAFLD. This guidance was prepared following an interdisciplinary study under the leadership of the Turkish Association for the Study of the Liver (TASL), Fatty Liver Special Interest Group. This new TASL Guidance is a practical application guide on NAFLD and was prepared to standardize the clinical approach to diagnosing and treating NAFLD patients. This guidance reflects many advances in the field of NAFLD. The proposals in this guidance are meant to aid decision-making in clinical practice. The guidance is primar-ily intended for gastroenterology, endocrinology, metabolism diseases, cardi-ology, internal medicine, pediatric specialists, and family medicine specialists

Real-world efficacy and safety of Ledipasvir plus Sofosbuvir and Ombitasvir/Paritaprevir/Ritonavir +/- Dasabuvir combination therapies for chronic hepatitis C: A Turkish experience

Background/Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the real-life efficacy and tolerability of direct-acting antiviral treatments for patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with/without cirrhosis in the Turkish population.Material and Methods: A total of 4,352 patients with CHC from 36 different institutions in Turkey were enrolled. They received ledipasvir (LDV) and sofosbuvir (SOF)+/- ribavirin (RBV) ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir +/- dasabuvir (PrOD)+/- RBV for 12 or 24 weeks. Sustained virologic response (SVR) rates, factors affecting SVR, safety profile, and hepatocellular cancer (HCC) occurrence were analyzed.Results: SVR12 was achieved in 92.8% of the patients (4,040/4,352) according to intention-to-treat and in 98.3% of the patients (4,040/4,108) according to per-protocol analysis. The SVR12 rates were similar between the treatment regimens (97.2%-100%) and genotypes (95.6%-100%). Patients achieving SVR showed a significant decrease in the mean serum alanine transaminase (ALT) levels (50.90 +/- 54.60 U/L to 17.00 +/- 14.50 U/L) and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores (7.51 +/- 4.54 to 7.32 +/- 3.40) (p<0.05). Of the patients, 2 were diagnosed with HCC during the treatment and 14 were diagnosed with HCC 37.0 +/- 16.0 weeks post-treatment. Higher initial MELD score (odds ratio [OR]: 1.92, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22-2.38; p=0.023]), higher hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA levels (OR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.31-2.28; p=0.038), and higher serum ALT levels (OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.21-1.83; p=0.042) were associated with poor SVR12. The most common adverse events were fatigue (12.6%), pruritis (7.3%), increased serum ALT (4.7%) and bilirubin (3.8%) levels, and anemia (3.1%).Conclusion: LDV/SOF or PrOD +/- RBV were effective and tolerable treatments for patients with CHC and with or without advanced liver disease before and after liver transplantation. Although HCV eradication improves the liver function, there is a risk of developing HCC.Turkish Association for the Study of The Liver (TASL

The Role of marketing in the sustainable development in the frame of social responsibility and ethical approaches

Bu çalısmanın amacı, pazarlama ahlakının gerçek hayata nasıl yansıdığını ortaya koyarak, sürdürülebilirliğe hangi sartlarda daha fazla katkı yapacağını saptamaktır. Bu amaçla, sürdürülebilirliğe hizmet eden sosyal sorumluluklarının ahlaki temelleri ve pazarlamanın içinde faaliyet gösterdiği sistemde ne tür ahlaki engellerle karsılastığı tartısılmıstır. Ahlaki temele dayandırılan pazarlama uygulamalarının hemen hepsinde öne çıkan ahlaki egoizmin izlerinin, ahlak teorilerinde de arandığı bu çalısmada, ahlak kavramının gerçeklesmesi mümkün olmayan ideal kavramlar yerine, ahlaki egoizm üzerine insa edilmesinin sürdürülebilir gelismeye daha fazla katkı sağlayacağı savunulmustur. Bununla beraber, kapitalist sistemde faaliyet gösteren isletmelerin uzun vadede toplumsal çıkar sağlayan davranısları gösterebilmelerinin, kısa vadeli finansal basarılara bağlı olması, sürdürülebilirliğe hizmet eden pazarlama anlayısının tüm toplum kesimleri, özellikle tüketiciler tarafından desteklenmesi gerektiği, aksi halde, pazarlamacıların sürdürülebilirliği destekleyen davranısları sadece farklılastırma amacıyla kullanmalarının kaçınılmaz olduğu sonucuna varılmıstır. The aim of this paper is to determine in which conditions marketing will provide more contribution to sustainability by revealing how marketing morality reflects real world. For this purpose, this paper discusses ethical bases of social responsibilities underpinning sustainability and what kind of barriers the marketing encounter in the system in which it operates. This paper, in which traces of ethical egoism, which is highlighted nearly in all marketing implementations based on ethical basis is also searched in the marketing theories advocates that rather than building morality concept on ideals that can not be realized, building it on ethical egoism will contribute more to the sustainable development. However, companies that operate within the capitalist system have to fulfill financial earnings in the short term in order to maintain behaviours that favour society's benefit in the long term. For this reason, the paper concludes that unless marketing approaches which serve for sustainability are supported by all the groups in the society especially by the consumers, it is unavoidable that marketers will maintain behaviours which support sustainability only as a differentiation tool

Making the psycho-technical method ıntegrated with the dimention of transactional analysis on the spiritual design of the business

İşletmeler, sosyo-teknik sistemlerdir. İnsan kaynakları bu sistemin sosyal boyutunu oluşturur. Verimlilik açısından işletme-işgören uyumu büyük önem arz eder. Nasıl ki, ruh insan organizmasının manevi varlığını temsil ediyorsa, aynı şekilde insan kaynakları da bir işletmenin ruhsal boyutunu oluşturmaktadır. Bu nedenle işletme-işgören uyumunda işgörenlerin kişilik özelliklerinin (ego durumlarının) belirlenmesi ve tasarımı işletmelerin ruh tasarımı anlamına gelmektedir.Businesses are socio-technical systems. Human resources form the social dimension of the system. The harmony between business and labour is very important form the point of view of productivity. Human resources constitute the spiritual side of the business just as the soul represents moral existence of the human organism. So, that the features (ego states) of labour are detemined and designed from the point of view of harmony between business and labour means the spiritual design of the business

Delta MELD as a predictor of early outcome in adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation

Background/Alms: An increased post-operative mortality risk has been reported among patients who undergo living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) with higher model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores. In this study, we investigated the effect of MELD score reduction on post-operative outcomes in patients with a high MELD (>= 20) score by pre-transplant management.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 386 LDLT cases, and patients were divided into low-MELD (= 20, n=93) groups according to their MELD score at the time of index hospitalization. Patients in the high-MELD group were managed specifically according to a treatment algorithm in an effort to decrease the MELD score. Patients in the high-MELD group were further divided into 2 subgroups: (1) responders (n=34) to pre-transplant treatment with subsequent reduction of the MELD score by a minimum of I point vs. (2) non-responders (n=59), whose MELD score remained unchanged or further increased on the day of LDLT. Responders vs. non-responders were compared according to etiology, demographics, and survival

The comparrision of the avarage of students succes in exams for transition to secondary education (SBS) and the placement exam for student success (ÖBSS)

Eğitimde değerlendirme türleri, programa girişte, süreçte ve çıkışta uygulanış amacına göre farklılık göstermektedir. Ülkemizde uygulanan büyük ölçekli değerlendirme sınavları temelde sıralama, seçme, yerleştirme, sorumlu tutma, gözlemleme ve durum belirleme olarak farklı amaçlara hizmet etmektedir. Bu çalışmada Milli Eğitim Bakanlığının (MEB) 2008-2009-2010 yıllarında uyguladığı Seviye Belirleme Sınavları (SBS) ile MEB mülga Eğitimi Araştırma ve Geliştirme Başkanlığının (EARGED) uyguladığı Öğrenci Başarılarını Belirleme Sınavlarıında (ÖBBS) aynı yıllarda, aynı öğrencilerin sınav başarı ortalamalarına ilişkin verileri karşılaştırılmıştır. 2008-2009-2010 yılı SBS ve ÖBBS verilerindeki alan başarıları sınıf ve yıl bazlı değerlendirilmiş, trendin gözlenmesi sağlanmıştır. Çalışma sonucunda SBS ve ÖBBS arasında öğrencilerin akademik başarılarının sıralanması bakımından benzerlik görülmüştür. Bu sonuç, bu iki sınavın birbirlerinin yerine kullanılabileceğini göstermektedir. Dolayısıyla öğrenciler üzerinde stres ve baskı oluşturmanın yanında uzun süreli sınav hazırlığı gerektiren, yarışma odaklı SBSnin kaldırılmasının faydalı olacağı görüşü kuvvet kazanmıştır. SBS yerine yapılabilecek izleme amaçlı değerlendirmelerle hem benzer sonuçlara ulaşılabilecek hem de öğretim çabalarının etkisiz kaldığı noktalar belirlenerek sürecin iyileştirmesine dönük çalışmalar yapılabilecektir.The kinds of evaluation in education differ depending on the input, progress and output of the curriculum. The large-scale evaluation exams implemented in our country serve, in general, different aims as grading, electing, placing, holding accountable, observing and indicating status. In this paper, the datas of average exam success of the same students gained from the Placement Exams for transition to secondary education (SBS) implemented in the years 2008-2009-2010 by the Ministry of National Education and the Placement Exam for Student Success (öBSS) implemented by the abolished Research and Improvement Presidency (EARGED) of the Ministry of National Education are compared. The field successes in the datas of SBS and öBBS in the 2008-2009- 2010 are evaluated based on class and year and the trend is provided to be observed. As a result of the study, it is seen that there is a similarity between the SBS and öBBS in terms of ordering the students academic success. This result shows that these two exams can be used interchangebly. Therefore, the opinion that removing the SBS, which is competition based and requires long-term exam preparation besides creating stress and pressure on the students, would be beneficial has gained strength. With the observation-aimed evaluations which can be done instead of SBS, it will be possible to have similar results and also do research to improve the process determining the underwhelming points of teaching efforts