Transition to Markets and the Environment: Effects of the Change in the Composition of Manufacturing Output

Measures the changes in environmental quality that occurred in the early years of economic transition for 12 former centrally planned economies. The authors address the empirical question of whether the transition from a centrally planned to a market-driven economy exacerbates environmental degradation or stimulates environmental improvements. The results indicate a strong relationship between environmental improvement and price liberalization, trade and foreign exchange reforms, enterprise restructuring, and prevarication reforms

Not all firms react the same to exchange rate volatility? A firm level study

This article investigates the effect of exchange rate volatility on the exporting behavior of firms using a very rich Turkish firm-level data for the period of 1989–2013. The estimation results show that although exchange rate volatility has depressing impact on foreign sale share of firms, the magnitude and the sign of the effect differ substantially across firm classifications. More specifically, medium-sized firms, firms not listed in the stock market, and less foreign market dependent firms observe significant depressing impact of exchange rate volatility while the other firms are, by and large, immune to negative effect of exchange rate volatility. Furthermore sectors and firm age have important role on the differential impact of exchange rate volatility on foreign sales activity of firms. © 2017 Elsevier Inc

Hemi-Castaing ligamentoplasty for the treatment of chronic lateral ankle instability: a retrospective assessment of outcome

Purpose: In the treatment of chronic ankle instability, most non-anatomical reconstructions use the peroneus brevis tendon. This, however, sacrifices the natural ankle stabilising properties of the peroneus brevis muscle. The aim of this study was to evaluate the functional outcome of patients treated with a hemi-Castaing procedure, which uses only half the peroneus brevis tendon. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent hemi-Castaing ligamentoplasty for chronic lateral ankle instability between 1993 and 2010, with a minimum of one year follow-up. Patients were sent a postal questionnaire comprising five validated outcome measures: Olerud-Molander Ankle Score (OMAS), Karlsson Ankle Functional Score (KAFS), Tegner Activity Level Score (pre-injury, prior to surgery, at follow-up), visual analog scale on pain (VAS) and the Short Form 36 (SF-36). Results: Twenty patients completed the questionnaire on functional outcome. The OMAS showed good to excellent outcome in 80% and the KAFS in 65%, the Tegner Score improved from surgery but did not reach pre-injury levels, the VAS on pain was 1 of 10 and the SF-36 returned to normal compared with the average population. Conclusions: Even though most patients were satisfied with the results, outcome at long-term follow-up was less favourable compared with the literature on anatomical reconstructions. In accordance with the literature, we therefore conclude that the initial surgical treatment of chronic lateral ankle instability should be an anatomical repair with augmentation (i.e. the Broström-Gould technique) and the non-anatomical repair should be reserved for unsuccessful cases after anatomical repair or in cases where no adequate ligament remnants are available for reconstruction

Transition to Markets and the Environment: Effects of the Change in the Composition of Manufacturing Output

The paper measures the changes in environmental quality that occurred in the early years of economic transition for 12 former centrally planned economies using information on 13 pollution effluents in the manufacturing sector and the energy intensity of the value added. For the manufacturing sector, the change in the pollution is separated into scale and composition effects. Pollution decreases substantially in most countries because of large decreases in aggregate manufacturing activity. The composition effect is more diverse depending on the effluent type and country. We examine the reduced form relationship between composition effects coupled with the energy intensity rate of change and the extent of policy reforms. The results indicate a strong relationship between environmental improvement and price liberalization, trade and foreign exchange reforms, enterprise restructuring, and privatization reforms. In addition, the amplification of the environmental regulatory regime causes a shift towards a less-polluting allocation of resources

Transition to Markets and the Environment: Effects of the Change in the Composition of Manufacturing Output

Measures the changes in environmental quality that occurred in the early years of economic transition for 12 former centrally planned economies. The authors address the empirical question of whether the transition from a centrally planned to a market-driven economy exacerbates environmental degradation or stimulates environmental improvements. The results indicate a strong relationship between environmental improvement and price liberalization, trade and foreign exchange reforms, enterprise restructuring, and prevarication reforms.

Biodegradable implants in the treatment of scaphoid nonunions

We reviewed 12 male patients with scaphoid nonunions treated by open reduction, bone grafting, and internal fixation with biodegradable implants made of self-reinforced poly-L-lactic acid. Mean patient age was 22.5 (20-25) years. Ten patients had type D2 scaphoid nonunions with a fracture line in the middle one third, one patient had type D2 nonunion with a fracture line in the proximal one third, and one patient had type D1 distal one-third fibrous union. The mean wrist score (modified Mayo wrist score) was 20.8 (10-40) preoperatively and improved after 22-80 months (55-90). All nonunions healed, and the mean solid union time was 4.5 (3.5-7) months. We obtained excellent results in five patients, good results in four, fair results in two, and a poor result in one. The results of this study offer a valid alternative in the fixation of scaphoid nonunions. The major advantage of biodegradable materials is to eliminate the requirement for the removal of the fixation material