The Relation among retail price main of consumption center of fruit and vegetables and Region of Mediterranean (Turkey) : Test of Market Integration

Spatial price differentials for selected fresh fruits and vegetables, among six cities of Turkey, namely, Adana, Mersin, Antalya, important production centers, and İstanbul, Ankara and İzmir, main consumption centers, were investigated. The relations among retail prices of different cities were analyzed using Vector Auto Regression (VAR) models for each product. The existence or not, and the level of integration -in the affirmative case- among city markets regarding each product were tried to be analyzed using Ravallion’s dynamic analysis method of the market integration. Monthly data used are the retailer price series from 1994 to 2004, obtained from DIE for each of the cities. Retail prices of lemons, lettuce and tomatoes are considered as representative of fresh fruits and vegetables market. Results of the VAR model for lemons market revealed that Adana was the leader market, and that the prices of the other cities were dependent on those of the leader. The highlighted leader position of Adana in this market permitted the dynamic analysis method of market integration suggested by Ravallion to be applied in the lemons market. As the result, long-run market integration with Adana for three out of five local markets was detected. In the lettuce market, on the other hand, the VAR model suggested the retail prices in each city to behave fairly independently from each other. Regarding tomato prices, even though virtual influence of Antalya on other cities was identified examining the impulse response functions (IRF) and the variance decomposition obtained from the VAR model, Adana and Mersin were also observed to have their respective regions of impact. The level of leadership assigned to Antalya in tomatoes market was not highlighted enough for dynamic analysis of integration.Var model, Market Integration, Fruit and vegetables, Retail Price, Region of Mediterranean

Akdeniz Bölgesi ve Başlıca Tüketim Merkezlerinde Yaş Meyve ve Sebze Perakende Fiyatları Arasındaki İlişkiler: Pazar Entegrasyonunun Testi

Spatial price differentials for selected fresh fruits and vegetables, among six cities of Turkey, namely, Adana, Mersin, Antalya, important production centers, and İstanbul, Ankara and İzmir, main consumption centers, were investigated. The relations among retail prices of different cities were analyzed using Vector Auto Regression (VAR) models for each product. The existence or not, and the level of integration -in the affirmative case- among city markets regarding each product were tried to be analyzed using Ravallion’s dynamic analysis method of the market integration. Monthly data used are the retailer price series from 1994 to 2004, obtained from DIE for each of the cities. Retail prices of lemons, lettuce and tomatoes are considered as representative of fresh fruits and vegetables market. Results of the VAR model for lemons market revealed that Adana was the leader market, and that the prices of the other cities were dependent on those of the leader. The highlighted leader position of Adana in this market permitted the dynamic analysis method of market integration suggested by Ravallion to be applied in the lemons market. As the result, long-run market integration with Adana for three out of five local markets was detected. In the lettuce market, on the other hand, the VAR model suggested the retail prices in each city to behave fairly independently from each other. Regarding tomato prices, even though virtual influence of Antalya on other cities was identified examining the impulse response functions (IRF) and the variance decomposition obtained from the VAR model, Adana and Mersin were also observed to have their respective regions of impact. The level of leadership assigned to Antalya in tomatoes market was not highlighted enough for dynamic analysis of integration

Akdeniz Bölgesi ve Başlıca Tüketim Merkezlerinde Yaş Meyve ve Sebze Perakende Fiyatları Arasındaki İlişkiler: Pazar Entegrasyonunun Testi

Spatial price differentials for selected fresh fruits and vegetables, among six cities of Turkey, namely, Adana, Mersin, Antalya, important production centers, and İstanbul, Ankara and İzmir, main consumption centers, were investigated. The relations among retail prices of different cities were analyzed using Vector Auto Regression (VAR) models for each product. The existence or not, and the level of integration -in the affirmative case- among city markets regarding each product were tried to be analyzed using Ravallion’s dynamic analysis method of the market integration. Monthly data used are the retailer price series from 1994 to 2004, obtained from DIE for each of the cities. Retail prices of lemons, lettuce and tomatoes are considered as representative of fresh fruits and vegetables market. Results of the VAR model for lemons market revealed that Adana was the leader market, and that the prices of the other cities were dependent on those of the leader. The highlighted leader position of Adana in this market permitted the dynamic analysis method of market integration suggested by Ravallion to be applied in the lemons market. As the result, long-run market integration with Adana for three out of five local markets was detected. In the lettuce market, on the other hand, the VAR model suggested the retail prices in each city to behave fairly independently from each other. Regarding tomato prices, even though virtual influence of Antalya on other cities was identified examining the impulse response functions (IRF) and the variance decomposition obtained from the VAR model, Adana and Mersin were also observed to have their respective regions of impact. The level of leadership assigned to Antalya in tomatoes market was not highlighted enough for dynamic analysis of integration

A Phenomenological Study on the Effectiveness of Curriculum and Course Information Packages in the Bologna Process

The aim of the present study is to analyze the School of Education and Department of Educational Sciences' curricula (program and course information packages) with respect to the Bologna process. Designed in line with phenomenology, the study focuses on the phenomenon of "the effectiveness of curricula with respect to the Bologna process". The data were collected by interviewing two separate focus groups of students and lecturers, and analyzed by using Miles and Huberman's stages. The results of the three research questions are explained in terms of preparation, implementation, follow-up and revision, and quality assurance. The results are as follows: Considering the positive aspects of the process, both lecturers and students agreed that the process eased access to information and course selection with the help of elective courses; however, all participants complained about the lack of information flow, unclear tasks and process, disbelief in the importance of the process, resistance to the preparation process, unfair work distribution, and the mismatch between competencies and courses. Lecturers also mentioned problems related to the revision and feedback processes

Shedding light on healthcare workers’ labour behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on all spheres of the economy. One of the numerous consequences for the health system, in particular, was the disruption of flexible working and the need for its fundamental transformation. The article is intended to analyse and assess the relationships between flexible work perception (FWP), job satisfaction (JS), work-family balance (WFB) and task performance (TP) and examine this relational network cumulatively from the perspective of healthcare workers. The methodological framework of the research includes social exchange theory and the concept of human resources management. The study involved 353 staff members working for one of private medical clinics in the city of Gaziantep, Turkey. The research methods applied are purposeful sampling and online survey. Smart PLS3 statistical program was used to estimate the structural equation model by partial least squares method. The study showed that despite the mobilization of additional resources, TP of healthcare workers during the pandemic significantly decreased. We proved that FWP had a positive effect on task performance. At the same time, lack of flexible working negatively influenced job satisfaction and work-family balance of the employees. We found that poor WFB resulted in a decrease in the respondents’ JS and TP. Among the avenues for further research are using the data retrieved from public medical institutions and conducting the investigation in different cities and with varying working conditions

Modulation of arginine and asymmetric dimethylarginine concentrations in liver and plasma by exogenous hydrogen sulfide in LPS-induced endotoxemia

Plasma levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) are known to be elevated under pathological conditions, but reports on intracellular ADMA levels are scarce. In this study, we investigated whether lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endotoxemia alters the intra-and extra-cellular partition of L-arginine and ADMA. The effect of H2S pretreatment was also researched. Wistar rats were given sodium hydrogen sulfide (NaHS, 1 mg.(kg body mass)(-1)) one hour before the LPS injections (20 mg.kg(-1)). Six hours after the LPS treatment, the animals were sacrificed. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) and dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) activities and levels of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 alpha were measured in the liver. ADMA and arginine levels were determined using HPLC. LPS injection caused liver injury, as evidenced by the activities of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and arginase. LPS increased L-arginine content and decreased DDAH activity in the rat liver. MPO activity and HIF-1 alpha levels indicated inflammation and hypoxia. Despite the accumulation of ADMA in the plasma, the level remained unchanged in the liver. NaHS pretreatment restored both the DDAH activity and intracellular L-arginine levels. It is concluded that increased H2S generation has a potency to restore hepatic L-arginine levels and ADMA handling in endotoxemia. Extra-and intra-cellular partitions of ADMA seem to depend on transport proteins as well as the DDAH activity

Effect of Carnosine on Prooxidant^|^ndash;Antioxidant Balance in Several Tissues of Rats Exposed to Chronic Cold Plus Immobilization Stress

In this study, we investigated the effect of L-carnosine (CAR) on prooxidant antioxidant balance in several tissues of rats exposed to chronic stress. Both cold and immobilization stresses were applied to rats at the same time. In the stress group, rats were placed in restraint cages and kept in a cold room (+4 degrees C) for I h for 21 days (5 days a week). Rats were injected with CAR (250 mg/kg, i.p.) at 30 min before stress application. Malondialdehyde, diene conjugate, protein carbonyl and nitrotyrosine levels, nonenzymatic (glutathione, vitamin E, and vitamin C), and enzymatic (catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) antioxidants were determined in the liver, heart, and brain tissues. Chronic cold plus immobilization stress was observed to affect especially the prooxidant antioxidant status in the brain tissue of rats. This is the first report showing the beneficial effects of CAR on oxidative stress in the brain in rats exposed to stress

Effect of Carnosine on Prooxidant-Antioxidant Balance in Several Tissues of Rats Exposed to Chronic Cold Plus Immobilization Stress

In this study, we investigated the effect of L-carnosine (CAR) on prooxidant antioxidant balance in several tissues of rats exposed to chronic stress. Both cold and immobilization stresses were applied to rats at the same time. In the stress group, rats were placed in restraint cages and kept in a cold room (+4 degrees C) for I h for 21 days (5 days a week). Rats were injected with CAR (250 mg/kg, i.p.) at 30 min before stress application. Malondialdehyde, diene conjugate, protein carbonyl and nitrotyrosine levels, nonenzymatic (glutathione, vitamin E, and vitamin C), and enzymatic (catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) antioxidants were determined in the liver, heart, and brain tissues. Chronic cold plus immobilization stress was observed to affect especially the prooxidant antioxidant status in the brain tissue of rats. This is the first report showing the beneficial effects of CAR on oxidative stress in the brain in rats exposed to stress

The protection by heme oxygenase-1 induction against thioacetamide-induced liver toxicity is associated with changes in arginine and asymmetric dimethylarginine

This study was designed to investigate the role of HO-1 induction in prevention of thioacetamide (TAA)-induced oxidative stress, inflammation and liver damage. The changes in hepatic dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) activity as well as plasma arginine and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels were also measured to evaluate nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Rats were divided into four groups as control, hemin, TAA and hemin+TAA groups. Hemin (50mgkg1, i.p.) was injected to rats 18h before TAA treatment to induce HO-1 enzyme expression. Rats were given TAA (300mgkg1, i.p.) and killed 24h after treatment. Although TAA treatment produced severe hepatic injury, upregulation of HO-1 ameliorated TAA-induced liver damage up to some extent as evidence by decreased serum alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase and arginase activities and histopathological findings. Induction of HO-1 stimulated antioxidant system and decreased lipid peroxidation in TAA-treated rats. Myeloperoxidase activity and inducible NO synthase protein expression were decreased, whereas DDAH activity was increased by hemin injection in TAA-treated rats. Induction of HO-1 was associated with increased arginine levels and decreased ADMA levels, being the main determinants of NO production, in plasma of TAA-treated rats. In conclusion, our results indicate that HO-1 induction alleviated increased oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions together with deterioration in NO production in TAA-induced liver damage in rats. Copyright (c) 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd