Proceedings of the Conference on Emerging Economic Issues in a Globalizing World

This paper tests the endogenous relationship between FDI and economic growth using a panel dataset for 23 OECD countries for the period 1975-2004. Following the literature, we treat economic growth and FDI as endogenous variables, and estimate a two-equation simultaneous equation system with the generalized methods of moments (GMM) for the OECD case. We find that FDI and growth are important determinants of for each other. We also find that export growth rate is statistically significant determinant of FDI and economic growth. Our results indicate that there is an endogenous relationship between FDI and economic growth.FDI, growth

Tubal splenosis: unusual location of the spleen

İntroduction: Splenosis is defined as the autotransplantation of splenic tissue to abnormal locations after splenic injury. Heterotopic spleen can be found within the abdominal and pelvic cavities. We report a tubal splenosis case in a 48 year old woman who underwent splenectomy following a blunt trauma 41 years prior to presentation. Case report: A 48 years old gravida 3, para 3, was admitted to our gynecology clinic for pelvic pain, menstrual irregularities and abnormal bleeding. The patient had a six months history of sonographically detected 40 x 20 mm pelvic mass. She also had a blunt trauma and splenectomy history from 41 years ago. Total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed. Intraoperative exploration revealed a 40 mm sized suspicious mass immediately adjacent to the right fallopian tube. The histopathologic examination of the specimen reported normal splenic tissue with polymorphous small lymphocytes, granulocytes, and frequent hemosiderin laden macrophages. Discussion: Posttraumatic pelvic splenosis is a rare condition. Splenosis should be kept in mind as a differential diagnosis especially for patients with a history of posttraumatic splenectomy who are scheduled for pelvic mass surgery. Although most of the patients are diagnosed postoperatively, if preoperative diagnosis could be made, there is no medical indication for this normally functioning tissue to be resected

Assessing the performance of machine learning algorithms in Google Earth Engine for land use and land cover analysis: A case study of Muğla province, Türkiye

Regions with high tourism density are very sensitive to human activities. Ensuring sustainability by preserving the cultural characteristics and natural structure of these regions is of critical importance in order to transfer these assets to the future world heritage. Detecting and mapping changes in land use and land cover (LULC) using innovative methods within short time intervals are of great importance for both monitoring the regional change and making administrative planning by taking necessary measures in a timely manner. In this context, this study focuses on the creation of a 4-class LULC map of Muğla province over the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform by utilizing three different machine learning algorithms, namely, Support Vector Machines (SVM), Random Forest (RF), and Classification and Regression Tree (CART), and on comparison of their accuracy assessments. For improved classification accuracy, as well with the Sentinel-2 and Landsat-8 satellite images, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) are also derived and used in classification of the major land use classes, which are ‘built-up area & barren land’, ‘dense vegetation’, ‘water surface’, and ‘shrub, grassland & sparse vegetation’. Experimental results show that the most relevant algorithm is RF with 0.97 overall accuracy and 0.96 Kappa value, followed by SVM and CART algorithms, respectively. These results indicate that the RF classifier outperforms both SVM and CART classifiers in terms of accuracy. Moreover, based on the results of the RF classifier, 19% (2,429 km2) of the study region is classified as built-up area & barren land, 48% (6,135 km2) as dense vegetation, 2% (301 km2) as water surface and 30% (3,832 km2) as shrub, grassland & sparse vegetation class

Flash Electroretinography and Pattern Visual Evoked Potential Changes in Ocular Hypertension Patients

Purpose. To evaluate the changes of flash electroretinography (fERG) and pattern visual evoked potentials (pVEP) in ocular hypertension (OHT) patients. Methods. Twenty-five OHT patients and 30 healthy volunteers were enrolled for this cross-sectional study. Opthalmologic examinations, visual field tests, pVEP and fERG were performed. The main outcome measures were the differences between pVEP and fERG parameters. Results. The mean age of OHT patients and volunteers were 57 ± 12.25 years (range 30–65 years), and 53.25 ± 12.0 years (range 30–65 years), respectively. The mean amplitude of the pVEP was statistically lower in the OHT group (P 0.05). In fERG of OHT group, there was a significant decrease in the amplitude of the oscillatory potentials (Ops), and a significant delay in latency of rod and cone waves (all P 0.05). Conclusions. Although we found a decrease in Ops amplitude and a prolonged latency in flicker fERG, only the decrease in Ops amplitude was statistically significant between the two groups. The amplitude of Ops wave and amplitude of pVEP may reflect early glaucomatous damage in OHT patients

The assessment of cervical vertebral anomalies on lateral cephalograms and cone-beam computed tomographs

Objectives: The aims of this study were (1) to determine the occurrence of cervical vertebral anomaly in the selected population, (2) to evaluate the reliability of the findings obtained from lateral cephalograms. For this purpose, the lateral cephalogram findings were compared with those obtained from cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).Subjects and Methods: A sample of 123 subjects who had both lateral cephalogram and CBCT were comprised from the archive. Only the subjects with images presenting the first four cervical vertebrae were included; thus 25 subjects (14 female, 11 male) formed the study group. Normal appearance was determined when the first four vertebrae could be traced as separate entities, with all anatomical components present. Characteristics of the cervical column were classified according to Sandham as posterior arch deficiencies (PAD) and fusions.Results: The lateral cephalogram findings of the 25 subjects revealed an occurrence of 16% for fusion and an occurrence of 20% for PAD. However, none of these findings were confirmed by the evaluation of CBCT images.Conclusions: The occurrence of cervical vertebral anomalies was zero in the evaluated orthodontic population. Our findings suggest that the evaluation of two-dimensional radiographs for the diagnosis of cervical vertebral anomalies was not a reliable metho

Bond Strength of Different Composite Resin Materials and CAD/CAM Restorative Materials to Each Other and Dentin Tissue

Objective:The aim of the current study is to investigate the strongest and weakest points of the three different structures of prosthodontic restorations constituting the coronal structure when considered as a whole: the remaining tooth, composite resin, and computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) restorative materials.Methods:Seventy extracted caries-free molars, CAD/CAM blocks [Lava Ultimate (LU), Vita Enamic (VE), IPS e.max CAD (IPS)], and composite resin materials Clearfil Majesty Posterior [CMP], Light Core [LC], Filtek Bulk Fill Posterior [FBP], EverX Posterior [EP] were used for this study. Dentin and CAD/CAM sections were embedded in acrylic. Clearfil SE Bond was used as adhesive material. Composite resin materials were applied to the dentin surface using a Teflon mold. LU and VE were sandblasted with 50-μm Al2O3 for 10-sec. IPS was etched with HF for 20-sec. Ceramic Primer-2 was applied to the surfaces. Composite bars (2.3x3 mm) were adhered to CAD/CAM blocks using RelyX-U200. In addition, CAD/CAM bars were also adhered to dentin. The shear bond strength test was performed. Failure modes were examined using a stereomicroscope. Differences were analysed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey Post Hoc test.Results:The highest shear bond strength values of the composite resin materials to dentin tissue were observed in EP (p<0.05). Shear bond strength values of composite resin materials to IPS were found higher than to LU and VE. The shear bond strengths of the three different CAD/CAM restorative materials to the dentin tissue were statistically similar.Conclusion:The type of composite resin materials affects the shear bond strength to dentin tissue and CAD/CAM restorative materials. However, the type of CAD/CAM restorative material does not affect the shear bond strength to dentin tissue

Dentofacial Morphology in Third Molar Agenesis

Objective:In the literature, some studies show a relation between tooth agenesis and craniofacial morphology, whereas other authors conclude that dental agenesis exerts little influence on dent facial structures. The objective of this study was to determine the existence of any relation between bilateral agenesis of the maxillary and/or mandibular third molars and the anteroposterior dimensions and vertical growth pattern of the jaws.Subjects and Methods:Sixty-eight subjects between the ages of 13 and 17 years with bilateral agenesis of maxillary third molars (group I, n=37), bilateral agenesis of the mandibular third molars (group II, n=19), and agenesis of all third molars (group III, n=12) as well as 33 subjects without third molar agenesis (group IV) were selected from the radiology archive. A before and after treatment orthopantomograph and the pretreatment cephalometric radiograph of the subjects were used. Several angular and linear parameters representing the anteroposterior dimensions and vertical growth pattern of the jaws were measured on cephalometric radiographs. The data were analyzed by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, analysis of variance for 1 factor, and independent-samples t test. Statistical significance was set at p,0.05.Results:When the agenesis groups (groups I, II, and III) were compared with the control group, it was found that all parameters representing the anteroposterior dimensions of both jaws (A-Ptm, CoA, ANS-PNS, CoB, CoGn, CoPog, and ABRB) were significantly smaller in all agenesis groups (p,0.05). The parameters reflecting the vertical growth pattern did not represent any difference among the groups (p.0.05).Conclusion:In subjects with bilateral or total third molar agenesis, the anteroposterior dimensions of both jaws were smaller in comparison with subjects without tooth agenesis. Vertical growth pattern of the jaws did not differ among the groups

Do patients with diabetes use the insulin pen properly?

Aim: This study was conducted to evaluate the insulin pen application knowledge and skills of patients with diabetes. Methods: In our descriptive study, 200 patients with diabetes were asked to present the insulin pen injection technique on a mannequin and the steps of the pen injection implementation were noted on the data collection form as correct/incorrect by researchers. Results: More than 3 out of 4 (79.5%) of the participants were using the insulin pen or the cartridge after the expiry date, 70.5% were not rotating the injection site, and 63.0% were massaging the skin after injection. Injection sites complications were significantly more in those who were using the insulin pen or the cartridge after the expiry date, those who don\u2019t know the proper length of the needle and the possible body injection sites, those who don\u2019t rotate the injection sites, those who massage after injection, and those who don\u2019t use a new needle at each injection (p&lt;0.05). Conclusion: This study put into light some failures in the knowledge and skills of patients with diabetes regarding insulin pen use. Nurses should provide patients with diabetes an effective and repetitive training concerning insulin pen use. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v19i1.38 Cite as: Tosun B, Cinar FI, Topcu Z, Masatoglu B, Ozen N, Bagcivan G, et al. Do patients with diabetes use the insulin pen properly? Afri Health Sci. 2019;19(1). 1628-1637. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v19i1.3