Internationalization of Turkish business groups: Motives and institutional context

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate the internationalization motives behind location choice among emerging country business groups (EBGs) and the way in which institutional factors affect Turkiye € ’s foreign direct investment (FDI). Design/methodology/approach – This study develops a multi-perspective framework that integrates the ownership, location and internalization (OLI) paradigm (Dunning and Lundan, 2008) and the linkage, leverage and learning (LLL) model (Mathews, 2006) with neo-institutional theory to explain the internationalization of EBGs. It adopts a multiple-case study research method relying on 14 semi-structured interviews with top executives to explore the internationalization strategy of a set of Turkish BGs. Findings – This study supports the combination of the OLI paradigm, the LLL model and neo-institutional theory to explain EBGs’ internationalizing behaviors. Turkish BGs have adopted both asset exploitation and asset augmentation internationalization strategies. The institutional legitimacy mechanism moderates the internationalization motives of Turkish BGs, and their host country location choice and normative pressures are more salient than their regulative and cognitive pressures. Research limitations/implications – This study is based on a sample of EBGs from Turkiye, and this € restriction limits the generalizability/applicability of the findings to BGs globally. Originality/value – Few studies have considered EBGs and their internationalization strategies in the international business field. This paper puts forward an integrated framework for analyzing internationalization and legitimacy in the institutional context of EBGs. This study highlights that BGs bridge institutional voids. Focusing on Turkish BGs helps to answer Granovetter’s Coasian question and contributes to the understanding of emerging countries’ economic development

The effect of fruit cultivar/origin and storage time on sorbets quality

Fruit quality is one of the main factors that influence the sorbets’ quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two different cultivars of five fruits (mandarin, lemon, melon and mango) or origin (strawberries) on the overall quality of sorbets, right after being produced and after being preserved for 21 days at 18 C. Total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA) and firmness were used to characterize the fruits. Colour, pH, antioxidant capacity (AC) and total phenolic content (TPC), as well as sensory attributes, were evaluated on fruits and respective sorbets. Fruit processing led to a loss of TPC and AC. Nevertheless, no significant changes were observed on sorbets over storage time. In spite of chemical, physical and sensorial differences registered among fruits from different cultivars or origin, the sensory profiles of sorbets from the same pair of studied fruits are very similar. Multivariate analysis clearly shows that the sorbets produced maintain the same sensorial quality regardless of the cultivar or the origin of the fruitsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Atherogenic index of plasma is an independent predictor of mitral annular calcification

Abstract Background In the latest reports, atherogenic indices have been related to acute coronary syndromes, stable coronary artery disease, heart failure and future cardiac events. Conventional atherosclerosis risk factors have been associated with mitral annular calcification (MAC), but data on the relationship between atherogenic indices and MAC are lacking. We aimed to investigate a possible relationship between MAC and atherogenic indices. Methods In total 741 patients (n = 427 with MAC and n = 314 without MAC) who were examined in our cardiology clinic from February 2016 to October 2021 were recruited in the study. Mitral annular calcification was diagnosed by transthoracic 2-dimensional echocardiography. The atherogenic coefficient (AC), Castelli risk index 1 (CRI-1), Castelli risk index 2 (CRI-2) and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) were calculated by utilizing standard lipid test values. Results There was no statistically significant difference in sex, age, diabetes and hypertension status between the patient and the control groups. Serum triglyceride level, AIP, Hs-CRP, smoking and BMI were independently significantly associated with MAC in multiple regression analysis (p < 0.001). Conclusion Higher AIP was related to the existence of MAC and also predict the presence of MAC independently. Studies evaluating the modification of these indices are needed

Cardiac heterogeneity in patients with chronic urticaria; A perusal of P wave and QT dispersions

Data on how the heart is affected in Chronic Urticaria (CU), a common annoying chronic dermatological disease, is quite limited. The electrocardiographic parameters; P wave dispersion (PWD) and QT dispersion (QTD) have been consistently reported to be predictive for cardiac arrhythmias and morbidity. We aimed to detect asymptomatic cardiovascular involvement in terms of predisposition to arrhythmias in chronic urticaria. This cross-sectional study included 128 individuals: 64 with CU and 64 healthy controls. 12-lead surface electrocardiogram and Doppler echocardiography were performed on patients and controls. All of the cardiologic parameters such as P wave, PWD, QTD and corrected QTD (QTDc) parameters were obtained from ECG measurements. Maximum P wave duration and PWD were found to be higher in CU patients than controls (P= 0.035 and P [Med-Science 2022; 11(2.000): 574-80

Application of electron conformational-genetic algorithm approach to 1,4-dihydropyridines as calcium channel antagonists: pharmacophore identification and bioactivity prediction

Two different approaches, namely the electron conformational and genetic algorithm methods (EC-GA), were combined to identify a pharmacophore group and to predict the antagonist activity of 1,4-dihydropyridines (known calcium channel antagonists) from molecular structure descriptors. To identify the pharmacophore, electron conformational matrices of congruity (ECMC)-which include atomic charges as diagonal elements and bond orders and interatomic distances as off-diagonal elements-were arranged for all compounds. The ECMC of the compound with the highest activity was chosen as a template and compared with the ECMCs of other compounds within given tolerances to reveal the electron conformational submatrix of activity (ECSA) that refers to the pharmacophore. The genetic algorithm was employed to search for the best subset of parameter combinations that contributes the most to activity. Applying the model with the optimum 10 parameters to training (50 compounds) and test (22 compounds) sets gave satisfactory results (R-training(2) = 0.848, R-test(2) = 0.904, with a cross-validated q(2) = 0.780)

Pharmacophore identification and bioactivity prediction for triaminotriazine derivatives by electron conformational-genetic algorithm QSAR method

The electron conformational genetic algorithm (EC-GA) method has been employed as a 4D-QSAR approach to reveal the pharmacophore (Pha) and to predict anticancer activity in the N-morpholino triaminotriazine derivatives. The electron conformational matrices of congruity (ECMCs) identified by electronic and structural parameters are constructed from data of conformational analysis and electronic structure calculation of molecules. Comparing the matrices, electron conformational submatrix of activity (ECSA, Pha) are revealed that are common for these compounds within a minimum tolerance. To predict the theoretical activity of training and test set and to select important variables for describing the activities, genetic algorithm and non-linear least square regression methods were applied. Regression coefficients were found 0.9708 for training and 0.9520 for test set. (C) 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved

4D-QSAR analysis and pharmacophore modeling: Electron conformational-genetic algorithm approach for penicillins

4D-QSAR studies were performed on a series of 87 penicillin analogues using the electron conformational-genetic algorithm (EC-GA) method. In this EC-based method, each conformation of the molecular system is described by a matrix (ECMC) with both electron structural parameters and interatomic distances as matrix elements. Multiple comparisons of these matrices within given tolerances for high active and low active penicillin compounds allow one to separate a smaller number of matrix elements (ECSA) which represent the pharmacophore groups. The effect of conformations was investigated building model 1 and 2 based on ensemble of conformers and single conformer, respectively. GA was used to select the most important descriptors and to predict the theoretical activity of the training (74 compounds) and test (13 compounds, commercial penicillins) sets. The model 1 for training and test sets obtained by optimum 12 parameters gave more satisfactory results (R-training(2) = 0.861, SEtraining = 0.044, R-test(2) = 0.892, SEtest = 0.099, q(2) = 0.702, q(ext1)(2) = 0.777 and q(ext2)(2) = 0.733) than model 2 (R-training(2) = 0.774, SEtraining = 0.056, R-test(2) = 0.840, SEtest = 0.121, q(2) = 0.514, q(ext1)(2) = 0.641 and q(ext2)(2) = 0.570). To estimate the individual influence of each of the molecular descriptors on biological activity, the E statistics technique was applied to the derived EC-GA model. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.4D-QSAR studies were performed on a series of 87 penicillin analogues using the electron conformational-genetic algorithm (EC-GA) method. In this EC-based method, each conformation of the molecular system is described by a matrix (ECMC) with both electron structural parameters and interatomic distances as matrix elements. Multiple comparisons of these matrices within given tolerances for high active and low active penicillin compounds allow one to separate a smaller number of matrix elements (ECSA) which represent the pharmacophore groups. The effect of conformations was investigated building model 1 and 2 based on ensemble of conformers and single conformer, respectively. GA was used to select the most important descriptors and to predict the theoretical activity of the training (74 compounds) and test (13 compounds, commercial penicillins) sets. The model 1 for training and test sets obtained by optimum 12 parameters gave more satisfactory results (R(training)(2) = 0.861, SE(training) = 0.044, R(test)(2) = 0.892, SE(test) = 0.099, q(2) = 0.702, q(ext1)(2) = 0.777 and q(ext2)(2) = 0.733) than model 2 (R(training)(2) = 0.774, SE(training) = 0.056, R(test)(2) = 0.840, SE(test) = 0.121, q(2) = 0.514, q(ext1)(2) = 0.641 and q(ext2)(2) = 0.570). To estimate the individual influence of each of the molecular descriptors on biological activity, the E statistics technique was applied to the derived EC-GA model. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.</p

Screening of Clinically Approved and Investigation Drugs as Potential Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease and Spike Receptor-Binding Domain Bound with ACE2 COVID19 Target Proteins: A Virtual Drug Repurposing Study

In this virtual drug repurposing study, we used 7922 FDA approved drugs and compounds in clinical investigation from NPC database. Both apo and holo forms of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease as well as Spike Protein/ACE2 were used for virtual screening. Initially, docking was performed for these compounds at target binding sites. The compounds were then sorted according to their docking scores which represent binding energies. The first 100 compounds from each docking simulations were initially subjected to short (10 ns) MD simulations (in total 300 ligand-bound complexes), and average binding energies during MD simulations were calculated using the MM/GBSA method. Then, the selected promising hit compounds based on average MM/GBSA scores were used in long (100-ns and 500-ns) MD simulations. In total around 15 µs MD simulations were performed in this study. Both docking and MD simulations binding free energy calculations showed that holo form of the target protein is more appropriate choice for virtual drug screening studies. These numerical calculations have shown that the following 8 compounds can be considered as SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease inhibitors: Pimelautide, Rotigaptide, Telinavir, Ritonavir, Pinokalant, Terlakiren, Cefotiam and Cefpiramide. In addition, following 5 compounds were identified as potential SARS-CoV-2 ACE-2/Spike protein domain inhibitors: Denopamine, Bometolol, Naminterol, Rotigaptide and Benzquercin. These compounds can be clinically tested and if the simulation results validated, they may be considered to be used as treatment for COVID-19

Intra-ovarian stem cell transplantation in management of premature ovarian insufficiency: towards the induced Oogonial Stem Cell (iOSC)

SAHIN, Erdem/0000-0001-9492-6223; Ak, Mehmet/0000-0003-3384-0586WOS: 000529791700019PubMed: 32359395The specialized resident-stem cells in gonads are tasked with restorating damaged ovarian cells following injury to maintain sequential reproductive events. When we talk about premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) we accept the existence of decreased stem cell and their regenerative abilities. the present study was to explain how restorating damaged ovarian cells following injury to maintain sequential reproductive events in evidence-based medicine indexed in PubMed and Web of Science. the exact mechanism is unclear stem cells transfer may improve compromised ovarian function and fertility outcome in women with POI. Soluble factors secreted by stem cell may rescue impaired mitochondrial function in oogonial stem cells, enhance metabolic capacity of resident stem cells, induce local neovascularization in the ovary, and activate gene shifting between transferred stem cells and germ cell precursors. This review may provide insight into how stem cells show some of their beneficial effects on compromised ovarian microenvironment and germ cell niche and paves the way for clinical trials for improving ovarian function of women with POI. We also had the opportunity to share our hypothesis about the design and development of induced oogonial stem cell (iOSC) and its use in POI

Is the Knowledge Pertaining to Adult Glioblastomas Enough for Pediatric Cases? Prognostic Factors in Childhood

AIM: Pediatric glioblastoma (GBM) is still a topic obscurity. The aim of this study was to explore clinical, radiological and pathological features, and prognostic factors affecting the outcomes. MATERIAL and METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed our database for prognostic factors for 42 consecutive pediatric patients with histologically proven GBM treated in our hospital. RESULTS: The study reached at 20 boys and 22 girls, with a mean age of 10.2 years. Almost all patients (97.6%) had supratentorial tumors; lobar/hemispheric (68.3%), thalamic (26.8%) and suprasellar-hypothalamic region (4.8%). Total of 11/42 children had seeding metastases (mean 11.5 months) either preoperatively or postoperatively. Gross total resection (GTR) was achieved in 13 patients (30.9%) in the first surgery. Perioperative mortality and morbidity rates were 4.7% and 19%, respectively. Patients were followed for an average of 18.1 months. The median progression-free and overall survivals were 7.0 (95% CI: 5.9-8.0) and 11.0 (95% CI: 8.9-13.1) months, respectively. 1-year, 2-year and 5-year progression-free survival and overall survivals were 30.9% vs. 50.0%, 11.9% vs. 19.0%, 4.8% vs. 9.5%; respectively. CONCLUSION: Gross total resection should be safely attempted in pediatric GBM. In addition, a thorough and frequent radiological evaluation of the entire neuraxis for seeding metastases is recommended both at diagnosis and follow-ups.WoSScopu