Comparing Macroeconomic Performance of the Union for the Mediterranean Countries Using Grey Relational Analysis and Multi-Dimensional Scaling

The aim of this study is to evaluate the economic performance of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) countries during 2006-2016 periods. The Union for the Mediterranean comprises the 28 EU Member States, the European Commission and 15 Mediterranean countries namely Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Luxemburg, Mauritania, Montenegro, The Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden, Tunisia, United Kingdom, Algeria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, France, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Palestine, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain and Turkey. Syria has suspended its membership to the UfM on December 1, 2011. Libya has an observer status in the UfM. Grey Relational Analysis is used for the outranking of countries using macroeconomic indicators including total investment, gross national savings, inflation, average consumer prices, volume of imports of goods and services, volume of exports of goods and services, unemployment rate, general government revenue, general government total expenditure, general government gross debt, current account balance, gross product domestic (constant). Also annual macroeconomic indicators are converted to single data set by using arithmetic mean and weighted arithmetic mean (to be focused on recent years). This combined data was also used for another economic performance evaluation and Multidimensional Scaling Analysis has been used for weighted arithmetic mean to show countries' positions relative to each other in a two-dimensional plane. The results of the empirical analyses show that Ireland ranked as first according to the weighted arithmetic mean among 36 UfM countries. Egypt and Tunisia have been found as the countries with the worst economic performance

Assessment of Turkish HR Professionals on Determining the Importance of Factors in Point Factor as a Method of Job Evaluation

Job evaluation is a procedure for assessing the relative jobs with a view to differentiating jobs to positions. In this study, it is aimed to redetermine the importance of main and sub factors used in point factor method which is one of job evaluation methods by human resource professionals located in different sectors based on the manifacturing sector. The determining factors importance is a phenomenon open to subjective judgments. Also, with some developments such as change of technology and ways of doing business, factors weights should be redetermined or updated now and again. So, it is thought that the explore of reviews from different parties (job evaluation experts, technical managers, HR professionals, employees, etc.) about importance of all factors is very important. Accordingly, data about importance of factors were received from 40 human resource professionals through survey method and they were analyzed by analytic hierarchy process. At the end of research, similar results to job evaluation scale generated and used by Turkish Metal Industry Employer’s Union (MESS) were achieved. However, it was found that “education and basic knowledge” which was the most important sub factor in job evaluation scale developed by Turkish Metal Industry Employer’s Union was least important sub factor as result of study. Keywords: job evaluation, point factor method, analytic hierarchy process, multi criteria decision making, Turkish HR professionals

Identifying The Importance Level of Factors Influencing The Selection Of Nursing As A Career Choice Using AHP: Survey To Compare The Precedence Of Private Vocational High School Nursing Students And Their Parents

Choosing a carrier is a kind of multi-criteria decision making problem and it is a crucial decision in people's life. The aim of this study was to determine the precedence order of the factors influencing choice of nursing as a carrier. The survey participants were the nursing students of Mektebim Anatolian Vocational High School for Health and their parents. In analyzing the data, Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) methodology was used. In this study, subjective opinions of nursing students and their parents turn into quantitative form with Analytic Hierarchy Process. This study found that "academic staff", "want nursing profession" and "job guarantee" were more important factors for parents in choosing their children's nursing career. Among the criteria, the criterion of "the security of nursing school", "income of nursing profession" and "developing profession" had the highest weight for students. Results of this study can be used by school management, nurse leaders, Ministry Of National Education, Ministry Of Health, nursing academicians and education science academicians etc. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd

Investigation of the reasons that affect nurses mentally negatively during the Covid-19 pandemic

It was aimed to investigate the causes of negative psychological states that may occur in nurses due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the degree of importance of these reasons. This is a cross-sectional study conducted in two government hospitals. The data were obtained from 134 nurses by the face-to-face survey method. First, scientific studies on the topic were examined, and the authors created a pool of criteria. These criteria were examined one by one under the supervision of experts with experience in the field. In the review, the criteria that dealt with a similar topic were combined, the unsuitable criteria were removed from the pool, and the criteria that dealt with the topic in the same scope were grouped under headings. As a result, 20 final criteria in total were determined under 3 different headings. The headings were grouped as negative situations that individuals feel about themselves (5 criteria), negative situations that individuals feel about their families (5 criteria) and negative situations that individuals feel about their profession (10 criteria). In the second part, 16 questions were created to collect the participants' demographic and work-related information. The Analytic Hierarchy Process Method was used to analyze the data. When the answers (general) were examined, regardless of sociodemographic and working conditions, it was seen that "the feeling of hopelessness and uncertainty" was the primary feeling among the identified negative situations that the individuals felt about themselves. At the top of the participants' negative feelings regarding their families, "the anxiety of transmitting the virus to their family, friends and colleagues" was found, whereas "inequality in supporting employees in terms of wages" came at the top of their negative situations related to their profession. In the fight against the pandemic, measures taken by policymakers and decision-makers are of great importance in protecting nurses and ensuring the sustainability of the health system. This study demonstrates the primary corrective-preventive actions by revealing in which cases nurses feel more negativity. [Med-Science 2022; 11(1.000): 346-53

The association between aspirin resistance and extent and severity of coronary atherosclerosis

WOS: 000453318400008PubMed ID: 30859163OBJECTIVE: Uncontrolled inflammatory responses could contribute to the pathogenesis of many leading causes of human morbidity and mortality. Aspirin is an anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic drug that is used in the primary and secondary protection in atherothrombotic diseases and complications. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effect of aspirin resistance on the extent and severity of atherosclerosis. METHODS: One hundred patients who underwent coronary angiography with suspected or known coronary artery disease and were using aspirin were enrolled in the study. RESULTS: Of these 100 patients, 30 (8 female and 22 male) formed the aspirin-resistant group (ARG), and 70 (22 female and 48 male) formed the control group. Gensini scoring system (GSS) was significantly higher in the ARG than in the control group (80.5 (36-166) vs. 45 (2-209); p<0.001). The number of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) patients was significantly higher in the ARG (13 of 30 (43.3%) ARG vs. 13 of 70 (18.6%) control group; p=0.01). Furthermore, when we evaluate the 16 reintervention patients, stent restenosis was significantly higher in the ARG (11 of 16 (68.75%) ARG vs. 5 of 16 (31.25%) control group; p=0.016). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that GSS (p=0.038; 95% CI: 1.001-1.026) and PCI history (p=0.017; 95% CI: 1.182-89.804) were independent risk factors for aspirin resistance. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, atherosclerotic burden as calculated by the GSS is significantly higher in aspirin-resistant patients. According to this result, we suggest that aspirin treatment can be prescribed in higher doses in aspirin resistance patients with coronary events. Furthermore, GSS and PCI history could be independent predictors of aspirin resistance

Development and field evaluation of a species-specific mt-COI targeted SYBR-Green Real Time PCR for detection and quantification of Haemonchus contortus in cattle in Turkey

Haemonchus contortus is one of the most important gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) infecting sheep, goats, and cattle worldwide. We developed a SYBR Green real-time PCR (qPCR) assay for detection and quantification of H. contortus by using specific primers based on a conserved region of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (mt-COI) gene, and evaluated this technique in the detection of H. contortus infections in cattle in Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. The newly developed qPCR assay successfully discriminated H. contortus from other GIN species infecting cattle in the specificity evaluations, with a specific melt peak of 77.5 degrees C. Our results revealed the efficient amplification of the proposed target COI region within the range of plasmid copies, from 2 x 10 (6) to 2 x 10 (1) per mu l, with 96.9 % efficiency, R-2 value of 0.999, and a slope of -3.398. Among the 920 cattle fecal samples from the field, 58 samples (6.3 %) were positive with qPCR assay, whereas 45 samples (4.9 %) were positive, as determined by larval culture, suggesting the utility of SYBR Green qPCR. Phylogenetic characterization of the partial COI gene of H. contortus isolates was also evaluated for 100 eggs and third stage larvae recovered from positive cattle faecal samples, which were verified with the qPCR assay prior to analyses. COI sequences were classified into three haplotypes (THC1 to THC3) with intraspecific nucleotide differences of 0.50 to 0.76 %. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the haplotypes grouped with H. contortus isolates from several countries in a monophyletic cluster, with evidence of at least two main haplogroups. Overall, the SYBR Green qPCR assay was highly specific and sensitive, suggesting that it can be used for screening of H. contortus infections in livestock populations in epidemiological studies and the control of this important parasite

Genetic diversity of Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Fouquet, 1876) infecting farmed rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum, 1792) in Turkey

We assessed genetic diversities among Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ich) field isolates collected from farmed rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in Turkey. The overall prevalence of Ich was 35.3% (634/1798). Five novel Ich genotypes (ImulTR1 and ImulTR3-ImulTR6) were described based on mitochondrial cox-1 and nad1_b genes. The remaining genotype ImulTR2 was identical to the previously reported NY3 (or Ark9 and TW7) genotype from the United States and South Asia. Phylogenetic analysis indicated Turkish Ich isolates separated genetically into at least four distinct groups. Our study presents the first data on the genotypes of Ich in Turkey. We also provide evidence for the wide distribution of the NY3 genotype (or Ark9 and TW7) from the United States and South Asia to Turkey. Genetic diversities within the mitochondrial genes provided adequate resolution for describing novel genotypes and identifying the known genotype within Turkish Ich isolates. Description of the Ich genotypes allows for tracking of pathogen genotypes worldwide. Thus, we can better understand the connections between Ich outbreaks in the fisheries aquaculture

Prevalence and genotyping of bovine Cryptosporidium species in the Mediterranean and Central Anatolia Region of Turkey

The prevalence of Cryptosporidium species in calves and heifers with relation to diarrhea from several herds was investigated in this study. Fecal samples were collected from 135 and 120 pre-weaned calves and 79 and 130 heifers raised in the Central Anatolia (CAR) and Mediterranean Regions (MR) of Turkey, respectively. A total of 86 post-weaned calves in CAR were also included in the study. For diagnostic comparison, all samples were examined by microscopic examination, SSU rRNA nested PCR and TaqMan real-time PCR for the presence of oocyst and Cryptosporidium DNA. In total, 102 (34.0 %) and 93 (37.2 %) of the examined samples from CAR and MR were found positive for Cryptosporidium DNA with both nested PCR and real-time PCR analyses, respectively with an overall prevalence of 35.5 %. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of microscopic examination were determined as 68.7 % and 100.0 % compared to molecular tools, respectively. RFLP and sequence analyses of the SSU rRNA from the PCR products revealed that 138 (70.8 %) out of 195 positive isolates were C. parvum further confirming the species-specific real-time PCR results. Among the remaining 57 (29.2 %) positive isolates, 30 (15.4 %) and 27 (13.8 %) were characterized as C. ryanae and C. bovis, respectively. C. parvum was the dominant species in pre-weaned calves especially with diarrhea while C. bovis and C. ryanae were mostly found in post-weaned calves and heifers. The sequence analyses of the gp60 gene of C. parvum isolates revealed two subtypes (IIaA13G2R1, IIaA14G1R1) belonging to zoonotic family IIa, with IIaA13G2R1 being the most common in diarrheic calves

An old enemy not to be forgotten during PET CT scanning of cancer patients: tuberculosis

Aim of the study: Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET CT) scan is commonly used in current medical oncology practice as an imaging method. In this study we present data from cancer patients who were followed at our clinic and suspected of having tuberculosis during PET CT scanning. After the biopsy, they were diagnosed with concomitant tuberculosis. Material and methods: In this study, 14 patients who applied to our clinic and followed up due to cancer, and had PET CT scanning for the preliminary staging or further evaluation, were included. The patients were diagnosed with metastatic or recurrent disease, and their biopsy results revealed tuberculosis. Results: The mean age was 57.8 years with SD (standard deviation) 13.1 years and gender distribution of 78.6% (n = 11) females and 21.4% (n = 3) males. None of the patients had tuberculosis in their personal history (0%). Among the patients, 5 (35.7%) were diagnosed with tuberculosis during the preliminary staging, whereas 9 (64.3%) were diagnosed during the follow-up after the treatment. The median time to tuberculosis diagnosis was 11 months (min-max: 3-24 months) after the treatment. The most commonly involved lymph nodes during PET CT scanning were mediastinal in 8 (64.3%), axillary in 3 (21.4%) and para-aortic in 3 (21.4%) patients. The mean SUVmax (maximum standardised uptake value) of lymph node involved by PET CT scanning was defined as 8.5 (SD 2.6). Conclusions: Despite all improvements in modern medicine, tuberculosis is still a serious public health problem. It should always be considered in differential diagnosis while evaluating PET CT scanning results of cancer patients, because it may cause false positive results

Occurrence and molecular characterization of Clinostomum complanatum (Trematoda: Clinostomidae) in freshwater fishes caught from Turkey

The metacercariae of Clinostomum species which known as yellow grubs have zoonotic potential by infecting humans. In the present study, a total of 403 freshwater fish specimens belonging to different genera from Central Anatolia Region of Turkey were examined for yellow grub metacercariae infections. Only three specimens belonging to Squalius cephalus were found to be infected with metacercariae with a prevalence on this host species of 2.4% and an overall prevalence of 0.7%. All the metacercariae were morphologically identified as Clinostomum complanatum. Partial fragments of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (mt-COI) gene and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS-2) were amplified for sequence and phylogenetic analyses. The sequence analyses of ITS-2 and mt-COI revealed three and nine polymorphic sites leading to detection of four and five haplotypes within the related gene regions, respectively. Moreover, the intraspecific genetic distances for C. complanatum isolates ranged from 0.0 to 0.7% for ITS-2 and 0.0 to 1.4% for mt-COI data sets. Consequently, the present study has provided first combined morphologic and molecular data on C. complanatum infecting Turkish freshwater fishes