Monocyte-to-HDL-cholesterol ratio is associated with Ascending Aorta Dilatation in Patients with Bicuspid Aortic Valve

Background: The importance of monocyte count-to-HDL-cholesterol ratio (MHR) in cardio- vascular diseases has been shown in various studies. Ascending aortic dilatation (AAD) is a common complication in the patients with bicuspid aortic valve. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between MHR and the presence of aortic dilatation in the patients with bicuspid aortic valve. Methods: The study population included totally 347 patients with bicuspid aortic valve.169 patients with aortic dilatation (ascending aorta diameter 65 4.0 cm) and 178 patients with no aortic dilatation. Echocardiographic and laboratory measurement was done and compared between groups. Results: The mean age of the participants was 44.7 \ub1 15.4 years and average ascending aorta diameter was 3.2 \ub1 0.3 cm in dilatation negative group and 4.4 \ub1 0.4 cm in positive group. MHR was significantly increased in in patients with aortic dilatation. MHR and uric acid level was independently associated with the presence of aortic dilatation in the patients with bicuspid aortic valve. Conclusion: We found a significant relationship between MHR and aortic dilatation in the patients with bicuspid aortic valve

An Assessment of Consumer Satisfaction for Food Retail Chains: A Case Study from Turkey

Consumer oriented marketing concept appeared to be effective in accordance to the shift from the traditional marketing approach to the modern marketing approach. This process brings about the concept of customer value in retail food sector as it is the case in other sectors. The rise in number and variety of shopping units that operate in the retail market drives firms into value based marketing concept. Due to the positive effect on the relationship between customer value and customer satisfaction, measuring customer satisfaction in order to increase customer value in sector has gained importance. This study is focuses on determination of satisfaction level of customers who make shopping in local and national supermarket chains operating in retail food sector. In order to achieve this, firstly the qualifications that constitute customer satisfaction conditions in supermarket chains and satisfaction level of customers regarding those qualifications are determined. The study was conducted in Antalya province of Turkey. The sample size was determined as 400 with 95 % confidence interval and 5 % margin of error. The data were collected from consumers via face to face survey. In the study 30 basic qualifications affecting performance of supermarket chains on customer satisfaction were enlisted under five main factors. Customer satisfaction index of supermarket chains was found out to be 74, 9 %, which is 72, 8 % in local chains and higher with 77, 8 % in national chains. Findings reveal that local supermarket chains focus on positioning strategy while national supermarket chains focus on good/service strategies. However, the lowest satisfaction level criterion of customers in food purchases in retail chains was found out to be related with after sales service process

A REVIEW ON CONSUMER PERCEPTION OF ORGANICALLYPRODUCED RED MEAT AND MEAT QUALITY

In this study consumer perception of organically produced meat and meat quality isreviewed and the relationship between quality expectation and quality experienceand its implications for consumer satisfaction is addressed.Even in the developing countries, food quality is avery subjective and dynamicconcept, and the perception of meat quality is changing very rapidly. Consumerstoday pay more attention to credence quality attributes like safety, healthiness,convenience, locality, ethical factors, organicallyproduced and so on

Determining Costs and Profitability of Lavender Farms in Isparta Province of Turkey

WOS: 000381628100019Lavender is a perennial shrub cultivated primarily for its inflorescence which produces high value essential oil. In Turkey, a great deal of studies has been done regarding the calculation of input, cost and profit of many agricultural products. However; there are not sufficient studies for medical and aromatic plants. In this study, it was aimed to determine the production inputs, costs and profitability of lavender farms. As research field, Isparta Province, which constitutes significant portion of Turkey's lavender production, was chosen. The material of this study consists of data obtained through face-to-face surveys with 38 farmers. The mean yield of farm was calculated as 1636.70 kg ha(-1) while 1 kg lavender production cost was calculated as $0.95. The average selling price of farm for 1 kg of lavender was$1.57. The GPV from lavender farming was calculated as 2573.31$ha(-1). Gross profit and the net profit were calculated as$1695.08 and 1018.37 $ha(-1) respectively. Relative profit was found to be 1.65. Lavender production was an alternative and important source of income for producers in region. Therefore, governmental support to lavender can lead to improvements in profitability indicators

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF VINEYARD FARMS IN DENIZLI PROVINCE

WOS: 000454318300024Grapes produced in many provinces of Turkey, with the possibility to evaluate in different ways and also as an agricultural product which is also an important contribution to foreign trades. According to the latest data, Turkey ranks in fifth regarding the total vineyard area and sixth in grape production in the world countries. This study aims to reveal the economic analysis of grape production. In this framework, determining the economic structures, annual activity results of vineyards, and calculating the production costs in the case of Denizli province. It was determined that grape production mostly made in aqueous conditions and goble training production was done in non-irrigated vineyards. Because of this situation, according to the wired training vineyards, it was found that the yield was about 1.6 times higher than the goble training system. It was determined that the labour force was used intensively in both production systems. However, more labour was used in the wired training vineyards than in the goble training system. It was determined that the gross production value be higher in the wired training vineyards. According to these results, it can be said that the wired training system was more advantageous regarding economic criteria

TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY IN GRAPE PRODUCTION: A CASE STUDY OF DENIZLI, TURKEY

WOS: 000454318300030In many parts of the world, viticulture has become primary agricultural importance throughout history. The main reason for this is that it is economically productive with an assessment of grapes as fresh wine, dried fruit, fruit juice and other manufactured products. The aim of this was to determine the resource utilisation success of vineyard in Denizli province, which has an important share in Turkeys grape production. The primary material of the study was the data obtained from the grape producers in selected villages in Civril, Cal and Buldan Districts of Denizli Province. The sample size was calculated by using proportional sampling method. Sample volume was found 96 farmers in 95% confidence interval and the 10% margin of error. Data envelopment method (DEA) was used in the research to measure technical efficiency in grape production. Data Envelopment Method is used to evaluate the efficiency of a certain number of production units. The technical efficiency, scale efficiency and pure technical efficiency calculated according to input and the results were calculated and compared to irrigated and non-irrigated vineyards. Interviewed producers were 49 years old, educated seven years, and their agricultural experience was 26 years. According to the findings, respondents were asked how much they could reduce their input on the efficiency limit, and some suggestions were made for inefficient vineyards

Analyzing Households’ Fruit Juice Consumption and Purchasing Tendency: A Case Study From Isparta

The investments of fruit juice industry had been begun in 1969 in Turkey and accelerated since 1983 in modern sense. 37 fruit juice firms are officially registered as trademark. The fruit juice consumption per head was increased in the beginning of 1970s by about 13 fold augmentation, however, this value is still considerably lower than the developed countries. Relatively high fresh fruit consumption is caused lower fruit juice consumption in Turkey. However, an increasing in the domestic demand of fruit juice is observed by the years. This study was carried out to determine the fruit juice consumption and the expenditure of the families in Isparta Province. Thus, this investigation was conducted in the centre of Isparta. In this means, purchasing behaviours on socio-economic variables which are related with fruit juice consumption and expenditure pattern, types and brand preferences, tendency of consumption and purchasing of households were carried out. The data used in this study were collected from 384 consumers (5% Standard Error, 95% Confidence Interval) by using face to face survey method in Isparta downtow