Seasonal Adjustment Methods : An Application to the Turkish Monetary Aggregates

Seasonality can be defined as a pattern of a time series, which repeats at regular intervals every year. Seasonal fluctuations in data make it difficult to analyse whether changes in data for a given period reflect important increases or decreases in the level of the data, or are due to regularly occurring variation. In search for the economic measures that are independent of seasonal variations, methods had been developed to remove the effect of seasonal changes from the original data to produce seasonally adjusted data. The seasonally adjusted data, providing more readily interpretable measures of changes occurring in a given period, reflects real economic movements without the misleading seasonal changes. The choice of method for seasonal adjustment is crucial for the removal of all seasonal effects in the data. Seasonal adjustment is normally done using the off-the-shelf programs-most commonly worldwide by one of the programs in the X-11 family, X-12 ARIMA, the latest improved version. Another program in common use is the TRAMO/SEATS package developed by the Bank of Spain and promoted by Eurostat. In this study, the performances of two seasonal adjustment methods, X-12 ARIMA and TRAMO/SEATS, on the monetary aggregates will be studied. In section five, the two methods are applied to the M2 monetary aggregate series, and the resulting seasonally adjusted series are compared using specific criteria. In sections six and seven, some of the issues that should be concerned in the process of seasonal adjustment, are discussed.Seasonal Adjustment, TRAMO/SEATS, X-12 ARIMA

The effect of major element oxide and moisture loss on grindability of Afsin-Elbistan low-grade coal

WOS: 000410554100003In this paper, the influences of major element oxides and moisture loss in coal on its grindability were examined using the Hardgrove equipment. The major element oxides in the coal could be a predictor of HGI. If CaO content in the coal was high, the grindability of coal could be easier. The moisture loss in the coal had a strong effect on the grindability property. The pH could be a good indicator to predict and classify HGI. If the pH is lower than 9.5, HGI is also lower than 53 and those type of coal was classified as heavily grindable.Cukurova UniversityCukurova University [FBA-2015-5246]The authors thank the Research Fund Project (FBA-2015-5246) of Cukurova University for their financial support in this study

Secondary Phimosis due to Circumcision

WOS: 000478576300003INTRODUCTION: In this study we aimed to present the secondary phimosis cases after circumcision as a complication of circumcision and demographic data of the patients. METHODS: The data of 47 patients revised because of secondary phimosis developing after circumcision were analyzed retrospectively. The demographic data of the patients were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean ages of 47 patients were 2.84 years (5 months-11 years). All of the patients had been circumcised under local anesthesia by a non-physician circumciser in the home environment. 37 patients were consulted in the first six months after circumcision, and the remaining 10 patients were consulted in the later period (6 months-8 years). It was found in all patients that both penile skin and mucous was left longer than usual and fibrotic ring which grew out during the healing tightened the glans penis. All disorders were corrected surgically. None of the patients in the early and late postoperative follow-up showed any complications. DISCUSSION and CONCLUSION: Our study reveals that secondary phimosis is a complication requiring circumcision revision and may develop after circumcision made by non-physicians and out of the hospital or a health organization. Moreover, the study shows that sleeve resection technique circumcision is a safe and successful method for revision in the hospital. The limitations of our study are that it is retrospective and there is no control group

A Giant Ureteral Stone without Underlying Anatomic or Metabolic Abnormalities: A Case Report

A 28-year old man presented with left flank pain and dysuria. Plain abdominal film and computed tomography showed a left giant ureteral stone measuring 11.5 cm causing ureteral obstruction and other stones 2.5 cm in size in the lower pole of ipsilateral kidney and 7 mm in size in distal part of right ureter. A left ureterolithotomy was performed and then a double J stent was inserted into the ureter. The patient was discharged from the hospital 4 days postoperatively with no complications. Stone analysis was consistent with magnesium ammonium phosphate and calcium oxalate. Underlying anatomic or metabolic abnormalities were not detected. One month after surgery, right ureteral stone passed spontaneously, left renal stone moved to distal ureter, and it was removed by ureterolithotomy. Control intravenous urography and cystography demonstrated unobstructed bilateral ureter and the absence of vesicoureteral reflux

Evaluation of the pathologic results of prostate biopsies in terms of age, Gleason score and PSA level: Our experience and review of the literature

Objective: To evaluate the pathologic and clinic results of our large series of transrectal prostate biopsies in relation to Gleason score, age and PSA level. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the pathologic results of transrectal prostate biopsies performed because of high PSA levels and abnormal digital rectal examination findings between January 2008 and February 2012. Results: The pathologic result of 835 prostate biopsies was benign in 82.2% and malign in 17.8%. Furthermore in 3.7% high grade PIN (Prostatic Intraepitelial Neoplasia) or ASAP (Atypical Small Acinar Proliferation) was shown. In the interval of total PSA values between 4 and 10 ng/dl, that is thw so-called grey zone, cancer detection rate was 12.4%. There was a significant relationship between cancer detection and cancer stage at all high levels of PSA also in the grey zone. The most common Gleason score observed was 3 + 3 wirh a rate of 7.4% whereas the second most commonly observed scare was 3 + 4 with a rate of 2.5%. In the patients with abnormal digital rectal examination findings but normal PSA levels according to age the cancer detection rate was 8.7%, in patients with only high PSA levels the rate was 41.2% and in the patients with both high PSA levels and abnormal digital rectal examination findings. the rate was 49.3%. Conclusion: Our study underlines the relationship between age, PSA level and pathologic stage of prostate cancer and also the importance of digital rectal examination

Effects of 5α-reductase inhibitor therapy with dutasteride on bone metabolism in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dutasteride on bone metabolism in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). Design: Prospective study Setting: Sakarya University Sakarya Training and Research Hospital Subjects: Fifty patients were administered 0.5 mg dutasteride daily for treatment of BPH. Interventions: All patients were evaluated prior and six months after the treatment for bone metabolism. Main outcome measure: Standard parameters of bone metabolism and serum osteoprotogerin (OPG) levels, which is an important regulator for bone metabolism, were evaluated. Results: Seven of the 50 patients were lost to follow up and the remaining 43 patients were included in the study. Mean age of patients was 60.3±5.5 (range: 48-74) years. Dutasteride significantly increased serum testosterone and estradiol levels compared to pretreatment values. Mean OPG level increased from 198.3±40.5 pg/ml to 240±90.1 pg/ml (P=.019). Except T score of femur neck, there was an increase of T-Z scores in the lumbar spine and in the femur neck (P >.05). There was an increase in bone mineral density levels of the body, but only the increase in L4 vertebral value was statistically significant (P <.008). The treatment with dutasteride also caused significant decrease in prostate specific antigen levels and prostate volume as expected. Conclusions: It seems that, in addition to the benefits on prostatism symptoms, the short-term results of 5ARI on bone metabolism are promising

Is routine ureteral stenting really necessary after retrograde intrarenal surgery?

Objectives: To investigate the situations in which ureteral double-J stent should be used after retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS). Patients and Methods: Patients with no ureteral double-J stent after RIRS constituted Group 1, and those with double- J stent after RIRS constituted Group 2. Patients’ age and gender, renal stone characteristics (location and dimension), stone-free status, VAS score 8 hours after surgery, post-procedural renal colic attacks, length of hospitalization, requirement for re-hospitalization, time to rehospitalization and secondary procedure requirements were analyzed. Results: RIRS was performed on 162 renal units. Double-J stent was used in 121 (74.6%) of these after RIRS, but not in the other 41 (25.4%). At radiological monitoring at the first month postoperatively after RIRS, complete stone-free status was determined in 122 (75.3%) renal units, while residual stone was present in 40 (24.6%). No significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of duration of fluoroscopy (p = 0.142), operation (p = 0.108) or hospitalization times (p = 0.798). VAS values determined routinely on the evening of surgery were significantly higher in Group 1 than in Group 2 (p = 0.025). Twenty-eight (17.2%) presentations were made to the emergency clinic due to renal colic within 1 month after surgery. Double-J catheter was present in 24 (85.7%) of these patients. Conclusions: Routine double-J stent insertion after RIRS is not essential since it increases costs, morbidity and operation time

Risk Factors of Infectious Complications after Flexible Uretero-renoscopy with Laser Lithotripsy.

To determine the perioperative risk factors for postoperative infections among patients undergoing flexible uretero-renoscopy with laser lithotripsy (FURSLL). In addition, the resistance patterns of pathogens isolated from positive preoperative urine cultures were investigated