ICAR: endoscopic skull‐base surgery

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Therapeutic targeting of cathepsin C::from pathophysiology to treatment

Cathepsin C (CatC) is a highly conserved tetrameric lysosomal cysteine dipeptidyl aminopeptidase. The best characterized physiological function of CatC is the activation of pro-inflammatory granule-associated serine proteases. These proteases are synthesized as inactive zymogens containing an N-terminal pro-dipeptide, which maintains the zymogen in its inactive conformation and prevents premature activation, which is potentially toxic to the cell. The activation of serine protease zymogens occurs through cleavage of the N-terminal dipeptide by CatC during cell maturation in the bone marrow. In vivo data suggest that pharmacological inhibition of pro-inflammatory serine proteases would suppress or attenuate deleterious effects of inflammatory/auto-immune disorders mediated by these proteases. The pathological deficiency in CatC is associated with Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome. The patients however do not present marked immunodeficiency despite the absence of active serine proteases in immune defense cells. Hence, the transitory pharmacological blockade of CatC activity in the precursor cells of the bone marrow may represent an attractive therapeutic strategy to regulate activity of serine proteases in inflammatory and immunologic conditions. A variety of CatC inhibitors have been developed both by pharmaceutical companies and academic investigators, some of which are currently being employed and evaluated in preclinical/clinical trials

On generalized fractional integral inequalities of Ostrowski type

We obtain new generalizations of Ostrowski inequality by using generalized Riemann{Liouville fractional integrals. Some special cases are also discussed

Investigating energy consumption and economic growth for BRICS-T countries

Yildirim, Seda/0000-0003-4367-6652; YILDIRIM, Durmus C./0000-0003-4168-2792WOS: 000485872900003Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between energy consumption and economic growth for Brazil, Russia, China, India, South Africa and Turkey (BRICS-T) countries. In this context, this study investigates energy consumption and real output in BRICS-T countries through panel cointegration. Design/methodology/approach The data include energy consumption and real output for BRICS-T countries and period of 1990-2014. The variables are transformed into natural logarithm. To analyze these data, this study employed Pedroni cointegration test, the second-generation panel cointegration test, Westerlund and Edgerton (2008) test and FMOLS test. Findings Results indicate that there is a bi-directional causality relationship between energy consumption and economic growth for BRICS-T countries. An increase in GDP leads to an increase in energy consumption and an increase in energy consumption leads to an increase in GDP. Originality/value This study provides important evidence that countries with strong growth performance need to follow bi-directional energy policies to increase both energy investments and ensure energy savings

The impact of personality traits on organizational cynicism in the education sector

Yildirim, Seda/0000-0003-4367-6652WOS: 000398862600006Purpose - Today's organizations try to keep their employees loyalty but employees may still feel unsatisfied and adopt negative attitudes. Cynicism, as a negative attitude of employees toward their organization, leads to unwanted outputs such as lower performance or lower loyalties that can appear in every kind of sector. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to determine the effects of personality traits on organizational cynicism in the education sector. Design/methodology/approach - This study used the survey method to collect data and survey forms were distributed to teachers from various private schools in Istanbul, Turkey. With the e-mail survey method, the authors received 254 healthy survey forms from teachers. For personality traits, the five-factor model of personality traits that was developed by McCrae and Costa (1987) was preferred and the organizational cynicism model was evaluated with three basic dimensions as based on Brandes's (1997) model. Findings - Based on data from 254 teachers of various private schools in Istanbul, interrelationships amongst personality traits and organizational cynicism were tested. on the basis of the partial least-squares method, the authors found that agreeableness had a negative effect on cognitive cynicism and affective cynicism, conscientiousness had a negative effect on cognitive cynicism and affective cynicism, neuroticism had a negative effect on cognitive cynicism and behavior cynicism, and openness to experience had a positive effect on cognitive cynicism and affective cynicism. Thus, it can be said that personality traits of teachers had a significant effect on organizational cynicism as a result of this study. Research limitations/implications - This study used two main scales: the scale of McCrae and Costa (1987) for personality traits and the scale of Brandes (1997) for organizational cynicism. the authors adapted both the scales for Turkish culture and the education sector that the results can be considered valid for only this study. Originality/value - This study shows a significant effect of personality traits on cynicism in the education sector and thus can be considered to be useful for future studies

Segmentation of Green Product Buyers Based on Their Personal Values and Consumption Values

Yildirim, Seda/0000-0003-4367-6652WOS: 000363437300005In heterogeneous markets, one of the many consumer groups is that of green product buyers. With rising ethical values, the green market is assuming its place in a general growth trend. Given this, it is important to determine the profile of green product buyers. This study aims to find out whether there are sub-markets for green product buyers, based on their personal values and consumption values, and to determine a detailed profile for these buyers. Both personal values and consumption values are basic factors guiding consumer behaviour and affecting consumption preferences. the data was collected, through surveys in Turkey, from green consumers who were members of the TEMA (the Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion, for Reforestation and the Protection of Natural Habitats) council. the result of our clustering analysis indicates that green product buyers could be segmented into subgroups according to their personal values and consumption values

The effect of the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project (TANAP) on industrial production in Turkey

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project (TANAP) on industrial production in Turkey. The TANAP is a project which ensures the security of the country's natural gas supply and encourages a decrease in energy prices. So, this study investigates TANAP's efforts to decrease gas prices, as well as the effects of gas prices on industrial production. Design/methodology/approach - The data include gas prices and industrial production index series. Gas prices are approached for industrial users (nonresidential) in Turkey and industrial production index series have been discussed for whole industries. The Johansen cointegration method has been used to analyze the data, spanning the period from 2005M01 to 2015M11. Findings - Results indicate that the decrease in the energy prices has a positive effect on the industrial production index, which is accepted as a basic sign of economic growth. Accordingly, it has been proved that gas priced had a significant effect on industrial production in Turkish economy during the respective periods. Research limitations/implications - This study has supported the argument that TANAP helps to decrease gas prices in Turkey. It can be said that a decrease in gas price is expected to have positive effect on industrial production in the long-term. Originality/value - The present study shows that projects such as TANAP can help gas importing countries like Turkey to decrease gas prices and increase industrial production. In this context, this study supports projects that decreasing gas prices for energy importing countries in the long term

On new generalized inequalities with some parameters for coordinated convex functions via generalized fractional integrals

In this work, firstly, we obtain a new identity with some parameters for generalized fractional integrals. Then by utilizing this obtained equality, we establish some new parameterized inequalities for coordinated convex functions via generalized fractional integrals. In addition, in a separate section, we show that the results given in the main section reduce to several trapezoid, midpoint, and Simpson type inequalities for various values of parameters.WOS:0006641257000012-s2.0-8510826570