Trade Shocks from BRIC to South Africa: A Global VAR Analysis

This paper studies the trade linkages between South Africa and the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) countries. We apply a global vector autoregressive model (global VAR) to investigate the degree of trade linkages and shock transmission between South Africa and the BRIC countries over the period 1995Q1-2009Q4. The model contains 32 countries and has two different estimations: the first one consists of 24 countries and one region, with the 8 countries in the euroarea treated as a single economy; and the second estimation contains 20 countries and two regions, with the BRIC and the euro area countries respectively treated as a single economy. The results suggest that trade linkages exist between our focus economies; however the magnitude differs between countries. Shocks from each BRIC country are shown to have considerable impact on South African real imports and output.BRICS, Trade Linkages, Global VAR

Using the Data from Learning Management System in Educational Data Mining (Amasya University Moodle Sample)

Extracting meaningful results from educational data and using these results in reorganizing education is called educational data mining. In this study, students studying at Amasya University, Faculty of Education, Department of Computer education and Instructional Technology, some of whose undergraduate courses are instructed in accordance with Moodle system, have been analyzed by means of data mining. For this purpose, the log iles received from Moodle system and the database iles of Moodle system were extracted using SQL queries, and clustering, association rule mining analyses were made with the help of the WEKA program and Microsoft data mining tools software. The obtained results and recommendations have been expressed

Expression of inwardly rectifying potassium channels (GIRKs) and beta-adrenergic regulation of breast cancer cell lines

BACKGROUND: Previous research has indicated that at various organ sites there is a subset of adenocarcinomas that is regulated by beta-adrenergic and arachidonic acid-mediated signal transduction pathways. We wished to determine if this regulation exists in breast adenocarcinomas. Expression of mRNA that encodes a G-protein coupled inwardly rectifying potassium channel (GIRK1) has been shown in tissue samples from approximately 40% of primary human breast cancers. Previously, GIRK channels have been associated with beta-adrenergic signaling. METHODS: Breast cancer cell lines were screened for GIRK channels by RT-PCR. Cell cultures of breast cancer cells were treated with beta-adrenergic agonists and antagonists, and changes in gene expression were determined by both relative competitive and real time PCR. Potassium flux was determined by flow cytometry and cell signaling was determined by western blotting. RESULTS: Breast cancer cell lines MCF-7, MDA-MB-361 MDA-MB 453, and ZR-75-1 expressed mRNA for the GIRK1 channel, while MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-435S did not. GIRK4 was expressed in all six breast cancer cell lines, and GIRK2 was expressed in all but ZR-75-1 and MDA-MB-435. Exposure of MDA-MB-453 cells for 6 days to the beta-blocker propranolol (1 μM) increased the GIRK1 mRNA levels and decreased beta(2)-adrenergic mRNA levels, while treatment for 30 minutes daily for 7 days had no effect. Exposure to a beta-adrenergic agonist and antagonist for 24 hours had no effect on gene expression. The beta adrenergic agonist, formoterol hemifumarate, led to increases in K(+ )flux into MDA-MB-453 cells, and this increase was inhibited by the GIRK channel inhibitor clozapine. The tobacco carcinogen 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), a high affinity agonist for beta-adrenergic receptors stimulated activation of Erk 1/2 in MDA-MB-453 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggests β-adrenergic receptors and GIRK channels may play a role in breast cancer

Effects of Piperonyl Butoxide and Tetramethrin Combinations on Biological Activities of Selected Synthetic Pyrethroid Insecticides against Different Housefly (Musca domestica L., Diptera: Muscidae) Populations

Piperonyl butoxide (PBO), a methylenedioxyphenyl compound, is primarily used as a synergist in combination with space spray, residual and admixture products for the control of insect pests in or around domestic and commercial premises, especially food preparation areas. Also, tetramethrin is known as a knockdown agent on target organism and it is generally used with piperonyl butoxide. In this study, effects of piperonyl butoxide and tetramethrin combinations on biological activities of synthetic pyrethroids, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, and permethrin against different housefly (Musca domestica Linnaeus, 1758) populations were evaluated. In addition, the biological efficiency of the insecticides used in the study, insecticide + PBO and insecticide + PBO + tetramethrin combinations, against the WHO standard sensitive housefly population and housefly populations collected from different parts of Turkey were compared. Results showed that PBO extensively promoted the ratio of knockdown and killing effect values of the insecticides. The results also indicated that PBO and PBO + tetramethrin combinations moderately reduced the knockdown effect times of all formulation in all housefly populations. The knockdown effect times were more decreased by insecticide + PBO + tetramethrin combinations than insecticides that are used alone and insecticide + PBO combinations

The evaluation of serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is considered a cause of conditions such as depression and eating disorders, and hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). Material and methods: This study was conducted as a prospective study at Ankara Ataturk Training and Research Hospital in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The study included 73 pregnant women with singleton pregnancies (32 pregnant women with HG and 41 pregnant women without hyperemesis). Serum BDNF levels were compared between the two groups. Results: The mean age of the study group was 27.3 ± 3.5 years and the body mass index (BMI) was 22.4 ± 2.7 kg/m2. There is no statistically significant difference between the study group and the control group in terms of demographic data (p > 0.05). The pregnant women with HG were found to have significantly higher serum BDNF levels compared to the control group (349.1 ± 94.6 pg/mL vs 292. 3± 86.01, p = 0.009) Conclusions: Serum BDNF levels that are low in psychiatric disorders such as depression or anxiety were found as high in pregnant women with HG

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P < 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

Beta-Adrenergic, Arachidonic Acid and Potassium Channel Associated-Regulation of Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines

During the late stages of breast cancer progression, breast cancer cell growth switches from steroid hormone to growth factor dependence, and it is assumed that invasive breast cancers are growth factor receptor positive and estrogen hormone resistant. The cellular arachidonic acid (AA) pathway is upregulated in a variety of cancer types, and it may play an important role in the growth regulation of breast cancer cells. Recent evidence suggests that beta-adrenergic receptors (β-ARs) are expressed in some estrogen receptor (ER) negative breast cancers and that beta agonists not only can trigger AA release via the activation of cytosolic PLA2 or MAPK but also stimulate DNA synthesis in ER (-) breast cancers. AA is metabolized to prostaglandins and leukotrienes by cyclooxygenases (COX-1, 2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), respectively. COX-1 is constitutively expressed and required for the homeostatic function, whereas COX-2 is overexpressed during pathological conditions and cancer. It is well documented that COX-2 and 5-LOX are overexpressed in ER (-) breast cancers. Additionally, in many cell types there is a link between G-protein inwardly rectifying potassium channel 1 (GIRK1) and beta-adrenergic receptor pathways. A recent report has demonstrated overexpression of GIRK1 in metastatic breast carcinomas. Using thymidine incorporation assays, this study shows that antagonists of β-AR, COX, 5-LOX or potassium channels in vitro decreased cell proliferation in both ER (-) and (+) breast cancer cell lines. The general β-blocker propranolol was more effective than the selective β2-antagonist ICI 118,551 or the selective β1-antagonist atenolol. ER (+) cell lines generally were more responsive to the β1-antagonist atenolol whereas ER (- ) cell lines were more responsive to the β2-antagonists ICI 118,551. The β-1/ 2- agonist isoproterenol significantly increased DNA synthesis in only ER (-) cell lines. The reduction in DNA synthesis caused by the 5-LOX inhibitor MK-886 and non-specific LOX inhibitor NDGA was significantly higher in ER (-) cell lines than in ER (+) cell lines. The COX 1/2 inhibitor aspirin and the specific COX-2 inhibitor meloxicam reduced DNA synthesis in both cell lines. The potassium (K+) channel blocker quinidine inhibited DNA synthesis in both cell lines, and the ER (-) cell line MDA-MB-453 was more sensitive to this effect. RT-PCR experiments showed that the ER (-) cell line MDAMB- 453 expressed mRNA for the GIRK1 channel. In summary, our study suggests a link among beta-adrenergic receptor, potassium channel and AA cascade. The observed ability of COX inhibitors, 5-LOX inhibitors, β-adrenergic blockers and K+ channel blockers to suppress the growth and proliferation of the a subset of human breast cancer cells lines is an important finding that provides the basis for the exploration of such agents in the clinical management and prevention of breast cancer. Because these inhibitors are already widely used for the treatment of various diseases they can immediately be used in clinical trials with breast cancer patients. In particular the β-ARs represent a promising new target for the development of new drug candidates with potential application in the clinical fields because a wealth of information is already available on the biochemical and molecular events underlying signaling by these receptors

Results of dexamethasone implant in macular edema of variable etiologies [Farkli etyolojilere bagli makula odeminde intravitreal deksametazon implantasyonu sonuclari]

Macular edema is the most important cause of vision loss at the disease such as diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein root or branch occlusion, age related macular degeneration and uveitis. In our study, the findings from 50 eyes of 46 patients with the implementation of one dose intravitreal dexamethasone (IVD) diagnosed of retinal vein root or branch occlusion, diabetic retinopathy and macular edema related to non-enfective posterior uveitis, followed up at least 6 months after injection were evaluated retrospectively.Patients were evaluated of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) before injection and 7th day, 1th, 2nd, 3th and 6th months after injection.All patients mean CMT and BCVA outcomes were compared before injection with 7th day, 1th, 2nd, 3th and 6th months after injection and the results were statistically significant (p [Med-Science 2016; 5(3.000): 761-6

Geochemistry And Origin Of Plagiogranites From The Eldivan Ophiolite, Cankiri (Central Anatolia, Turkey)

The Eldivan Ophiolite, exposed around Ankara and Cankiri cities, is located at the central part of the Izmir-Ankara-Erzincan Suture Zone (IAESZ). It represents fragments of the Neotethyan Oceanic Lithosphere emplaced towards the south over the Gondwanian continent during the Albian time. It forms nearly complete series by including tectonites (harzburgites and rare dunites), cumulates (dunites, wherlites, pyroxenites, gabbro and plagiogranites) and sheeted dykes from bottom to top. Imbricated slices of volcanic-sedimentary series and discontinuous tectonic slices of ophiolitic metamorphic rocks are located at the base of tectonites. Plagiogranitic rocks of the Eldivan Ophiolite are mainly exposed at upper levels of cumulates. They are in the form of conformable layers within layered diorites and also dikes with variable thicknesses. Plagiogranites have granular texture and are mainly composed of quartz and plagioclases. The occurrences of chlorite and epidote revealed that these rocks underwent a low grade metamorphism. Eldivan plagiogranites have high SiO2 content (70-75 %) and low K2O content (0.5-1 %) and display flat patterns of REE with variable negative Eu anomalies. LREE/HREE ratio of these rocks varies between 0.2-0.99. All members of the Eldivan rocks have high LILE/HFSE ratios with depletion of Nb, Ti and P similar to subduction related tectonic settings. Geochemical modelling indicates that the Eldivan plagiogranites could have been generated by 50-90 % fractional crystallization and/or 5-25 % partial melting of a hydrous basaltic magma.WoSScopu