The effects of employee empowerment on employee job satisfaction: A study on hotels in Turkey

Purpose – The main objective of this study is to determine the impact of employee empowerment on job satisfaction. To serve this purpose, empowerment is taken into consideration as two dimensions – i.e. behavioral and psychological – and the effect of employee empowerment on the level of job satisfaction was examined by taking these two dimensions into consideration as a whole and separately. Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire was employed in order to collect data on job satisfaction as well as behavioral and psychological empowerment. The data collected were analyzed through correlation and regression analyses. The study covered 1,854 participants employed at five-star hotels in Turkey. Findings – The findings suggest that the most positive aspects related to job satisfaction are relations with the colleagues and physical conditions, while the most negative aspect is the wage issue, i.e. unfair payment. Furthermore, correlation and regression analyses indicate that psychological and behavioral empowerment has a significant effect on job satisfaction, and the effect is much greater when psychological and behavioral empowerment are taken as a whole. Research limitations/implications – The major limitation of this study is that it covers the employees of five-star hotels only. Another important limitation of the study is the exclusion of variables mentioned in the literature. This apart, it is thought that the study will provide some insights for managers in terms of enhancing job satisfaction and the effect of empowerment on job satisfaction as well as making a contribution to the literature. Originality/value – Studies into the relation between employee empowerment and job satisfaction on the whole focus on only one aspect of empowerment, i.e. either behavioral empowerment or psychological empowerment. This study incorporates behavioral and psychological empowerment together as the components of empowerment, unlike previous studies in the literature, in determining their effect on job satisfaction

Vrste kukaca koje oštećuju industrijsko drvo u Zapadnoj crnomorskoj regiji u Turskoj

Insect species collected in log depots in Western Black Sea Region of Turkey were identified. The study covered two years, 2015 and 2016, in 21 log depots in seven provinces (Duzce, Bolu, Zonguldak, Bartin, Karabuk, Kastamonu and Sinop). The study area was divided into three sub regions and each sub region was analyzed for insect species, their prevalence and intensities. Overall, four orders, 22 families, 74 genera and 57 species were described in log depots of the study area. Sub region 1 (Düzce-Bolu) showed the highest diversity in terms of insect species and sub region 2 (Zonguldak-Bartin) had the lowest diversity. Dorcus parallelipipedus Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) and Rhagium inquisitor Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) were found in all provinces studied. Based on wood species analysis, Scots pine wood had the highest diversity in insect species, followed by fi r, oak and beech. The study also described some important wood-destroying insect species from the families Anobiidae, Buprestidae and Cerambycidae. Buprestis dalmatina (Mannerheim, 1837) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), Leptura aurulenta (Fabricius, 1792) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) and Stictoleptura scutellata (Fabricius, 1781) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), all wood-destroying insect species, were identified for the first time in the Western Black Sea Region of Turkey.U sklopu istraživanja identificirane su vrste kukaca koje su prikupljene na stovarištima trupaca u Zapadnoj crnomorskoj regiji u Turskoj. Studija se provodila tijekom dvije godine, 2015. i 2016., na 21 stovarištu u sedam pokrajina (Duzce, Bolu, Zonguldak, Bartin, Karabuk, Kastamonu and Sinop). Područje istraživanja bilo je podijeljeno u tri podregije u kojima su analizirane vrste kukaca, njihova prevalencija i intenzitet. U skladištima trupaca na istraživanom su području ukupno opisana četiri reda, 22 porodice, 74 roda i 57 vrsta kukaca. U podregiji 1. (Düzce-Bolu) primijećena je najveća raznolikost vrsta kukaca, a u podregiji 2. (Zonguldak-Bartin) zabilježena je najmanja raznolikost. U svim istraživanim pokrajinama pronađeni su Dorcus parallelipipedus Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) i Rhagium inquisitor Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Na temelju analize različitih vrsta drva zaključeno je da je borovina imala najveću raznolikost vrsta kukaca, a slijedile su jelovina, hrastovina i bukovina. U studiji su također opisane neke važne vrste kukaca koji razaraju drvo, a pripadaju porodicama Anobiidae, Buprestidae and Cerambycidae. Kukci vrsta Buprestis dalmatina (Mannerheim, 1837) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), Leptura aurulenta (Fabricius, 1792) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) i Stictoleptura scutellata (Fabricius, 1781) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) također razaraju drvo i prvi su put zabilježeni u Zapadnoj crnomorskoj regiji u Turskoj

How do Turkish people use the media content of the health issues?

In recent years it has been obviously observed that there has been a huge increase in health news in Turkey. In addition to this increase it’s also observed that there has been an obvious raise in critics about this kind of news. It is also possible to say that academic researches on health publications have limited extent or they are independent from each other in the scope of subject. In this respect, today’s health publications in Turkey are required to have some specific features. According to this, publication content should be examined, and publics’ opinions and perceptions should be determined. In other words, there is a need for increasing social consciousness by determining main principles of health publication. In this regard, the project named “Designation of the Principles on Health Content of the Media in Turkey: An Analysis on Source, Message, and Audience” has been conducted to reveal main principles of health publications and to increase public’s consciousness by describing health publication in today’s Turkey, examining media content and determining public’s perceptions and considerations on these publications. As a part of the project, this paper covers the results of the national survey on the health content of Turkish media. The paper aims to show how people use and how they evaluate the media content on health issues in Turkey. Results show that Turkish people mostly prefer to get information from medical doctors rather than the media. But on the other hand, even though if it’s not the majority, Turkish people implement treatments, visit doctors, hospitals and buy health products that they see on the media.This paper was supported by TÜBİTAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) with the project number 109 K 534, and Anadolu University Scientific Research Projects Commission (SRPC) with the project number 1000 E 38

SISMIC RISK AND DAMAGE TYPES AT SEAPORTS

Limanlar ulaşım sistemlerinde düğüm noktalarını oluşturmaktadır. Hizmet ettikleri hinterlandların kapılarıdırlar. Dünya ticaretinin %80'i denizlerden yapıldığı ve ticaretin küreselleştiği düşünülürse, limanların doğru planlanmaları, yapılarının öngörülen kullanım amacına, sahip olduğu öneme ve deprem performansına cevap verecek biçimde tasarlanmaları gerekir. Liman yapıları çevresel yükler olan rüzgar, dalga, akıntı ve deprem yüklerine göre tasarlanırlar. Yapılar bu yükler altında güvenle hizmet vermelidirler. Bu yükler altında yapıların tanımlanan limitlerin üzerinde hasar görmeleri durumunda liman hizmeti duracaktır. Bu durumda limanın büyüklüğüne bağlı olarak bölgesel, ulusal ve küresel ölçekte ticari faaliyetler aksayacaktır. Son yıllarda büyük limanların bulunduğu bölgelerde meydana gelen depremler, konunun önemini artırmıştır. Ancak yüksek yatırım maliyetlerini gerektiren limanlar da ekonomik tasarımları gerektirmektedir. Bu tip tasarımlar da ileri düzeyde analizlere ihtiyaç duymaktadır. Bu çalışmada özellikle keson tipi rıhtıma sahip bir limanda sismik risk ve kayan blok yöntemiyle analize dayalı araştırma sunulacaktır. The ports are nodal points in transportation systems. They are the gates for their hinterlands. That fact that trade has been globalized and 80% of this global trade is seaborne trade makes it imperative that the ports must have layouts and their infrastructure must be designed so as to carry out the functions projected and expected seismic response. While the port structures are designed, winds, currents, waves and seismic loads are taken into consideration. The infrastructures should be safe under these environmental loads. Port operations may stop when acceptable damage limits are exceeded. In such case depending upon the size of the port failing to provide services, local, national and global trade is likely to be obstructed. The recent occurence of large earthquakes around major ports has increased the significance of port designs. Huge port investments should require economic planning and design. Port structures need advanced design methods. In this study, a simplified dynamic analysis method is proposed to evaluate the magnitude and the phase variation of the dynamic thrust acting on the caisson type quay walls and to predict the seismic sliding displacement of caisson type quay walls by considering the variation of wall thrus

Kıvırcık, Sakız ve Gökçeada Yerli Irk Dişi Kuzuların İlk Yaş Üreme ve Büyüme Özellikleri

Bu çalışma, Bandırma Koyunculuk Araştırma İstasyonunda yetiştirilen Kıvırcık, Sakız ve Gökçeada yerli koyun ırklarımızın ilk yaş üreme özellikleri ve büyüme performansını belirlemek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Araştırmada ilk yaş üreme özellikleri için 15 baş Kıvırcık, 8 baş Sakız ve 10 baş Gökçeada dişi kuzu, büyüme özellikleri için ise 16 baş Kıvırcık, 12 baş Sakız ve 11 baş Gökçeada dişi kuzunun verileri kullanılmıştır. Kızgınlık tespitleri kuzuların beşinci ayını doldurması ile beraber arama koçları ile on iki saat arayla günde iki kez yapılmıştır. Kıvırcık, Sakız ve Gökçeada kuzularında ilk kızgınlık canlı ağırlığı sırasıyla; 37,93; 33,35 ve 29,75 kg, ilk kızgınlık yaşı; 315, 320 ve 337 gün, kızgınlık süresi; 30,99; 25,85 ve 20,28 saat, kızgınlık siklusu; 16,59; 17,91 ve 17,76 gün bulunmuştur. Kıvırcık, Sakız ve Gökçeada dişi kuzuların doğum ağırlığı sırasıyla; 3,64; 3,90; 3,28 kg, sütten kesim ağırlığı; 31,01; 25,44 ve 23,67 kg, altıncı ay canlı ağırlığı; 32,87; 26,95 ve 24,15 kg, bir yaş canlı ağırlığı; 39,01; 30,95 ve 30,27 kg ve günlük canlı ağırlık artışı; 0,271; 0,257 ve 0,202 kg bulunmuştur.This study was conducted to determine first age reproduction characteristics of indigenous Kıvırcık, Sakız and Gökçeada sheep breeds and growth performances of ewe lambs which have been kept in Bandırma Sheep Research Station (BSRS). The data of reproduction characteristics of ewes and growth characteristics of lambs were collected on 15 Kıvırcık, 8 Sakız and 10 Gökçeada ewes, and on 16 Kıvırcık, 12 Sakız and 11 Gökçeada lambs, respectively. After the lambs completed their fifth month ages, estrus detection was carried out with a teaser ram twice a day with 12 hour intervals. For the Kıvırcık, Sakız and Gökçeada lambs, the first oestrus weights were 37.93, 33.35 and 29.75 kg; first oestrus ages were 315, 320 and 337 days; oestrus durations were 30.99, 25.85 and 20.28 hours and the duration of the oestrus cycles were 16.59, 19.91 and 17.76 days, respectively. The birth weights of Kıvırcık, Sakız and Gökçeada lambs were found to be 3.64, 3.91, 3.28 kg; the weaning weight (WW), 31.01, 25.44 and 23.67 kg, the six month live weight (SMLW), 32.87, 26.95 and 24.15 kg, the yearling live weight (YLW), 39.01, 30.95 and 30.27 kg and the average daily weight gain (ADWG), 0.271 0.257 and 0.202 kg, respectivel

Tularemia: A Rare Cause of Neck Mass

Objective:Tularemia is a bacterial zoonosis caused by Francisella tularensis. In this study, we aimed to retrospectively evaluate the documents of patients who had a diagnosis of tularemia in our hospital and discuss this condition with a literature review.Methods:Twenty-five patients who had a diagnosis of tularemia between 2010 and 2013 were included in the study. The patients were assessed with respect to their demographic data; presenting complaints; leukocyte, sedimentation, and C-reactive protein (CRP) values; applied treatment protocols; duration of stay in the hospital; and histopathological examinations.Results:Fifty-seven patients were admitted to the health department of our clinic with a preliminary diagnosis of tularemia, and the diagnosis of tularemia was serologically confirmed for 25 patients. Pharyngeal mucosa cultures, centrifuged serum samples, and abscess and/or pathological samples were collected from all the patients. Thirteen patients were female, and 12 were male. The ages of the patients were between 10 and 75 (average 33.12±15.53) years. The most frequent (100%) symptom among the patients was swelling in the neck. While abscess drainage was performed in 12 patients (48%), the neck mass was excised in 3 patients (12%), and 10 patients (40%) were given only medical treatment. According to the guide of tularemia management by the Ministry of Health, treatment using suitable doses of streptomycin was started for all the patients; in addition, for 8 (32%) patients, doxycycline treatment was added.Conclusion:In recent years, tularemia in our country has been increasing at some specific locations, and those patients are frequently admitted to polyclinics with a complaint of swelling in the neck. In endemic areas in particular, tularemia should also be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients who present with abscess in the neck

Predictors of Outcome in Patients with Advanced Nonseminomatous Germ Cell Testicular Tumors

Background: Predictor factors determining complete response to treatment are still not clearly defined. We aimed to evaluate clinicopathological features, risk factors, treatment responses, and survival analysis of patient with advanced nonseminomatous GCTs (NSGCTs). Materials and Methods: Between November 1999 and September 2011, 140 patients with stage II and III NSGCTs were referred to our institutions and 125 patients with complete clinical data were included in this retrospective study. Four cycles of BEP regimen were applied as a first-line treatment. Salvage chemotherapy and/or high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) with autologous stem cell transplantation were given in patients who progressed after BEP chemotherapy. Post-chemotherapy surgery was performed in selected patients with incomplete radiographic response and normal tumor markers. Results: The median age was 28 years. For the good, intermediate and poor risk groups, compete response rates (CRR) were, 84.6%, 67.9% and 59.4%, respectively. Extragonadal tumors, stage 3 disease, intermediate and poor risk factors, rete testis invasion were associated with worse outcomes. There were 32 patients (25.6%) with non-CR who were treated with salvage treatment. Thirty-one patients died from GCTs and 94% of them had stage III disease. Conclusions: Even though response rates are high, some patients with GCTs still need salvage treatment and cure cannot be achieved. Non-complete response to platinium-based first-line treatment is a negative prognostic factor. Our study confirmed the need for a prognostic and predictive model and more effective salvage approaches

Reproductıve and Growth Chacterıstıcs First Age of Bandırma-I and BandırmaII Crossbred Ewe Lambs

Bu çalışmanın amacı, Marmara Hayvancılık Araştırma Enstitüsü’nde yetiştirilen Bandırma-I ve Bandırma-II melez kuzuların ilk yaş üreme özelliklerini ve büyüme performansını araştırmaktır. Kuzular, 3 aylık yaştan sonra bir sürü olarak bakılmıştır. Kızgınlık tespiti arama koçları yardımı ile günde iki defa on iki saat arayla yapılmıştır. Araştırmada, ilk yaş üreme özellikleri için 20 baş dişi Bandırma-I, 21 baş dişi Bandırma-II genotipi kuzu, büyüme özellikleri içinde 99 baş Bandırma-I ve 89 baş Bandırma-II kuzu materyali kullanılmıştır. Bandırma-I ve Bandırma-II kuzularında sırasıyla; ilk kızgınlık canlı ağırlığı, 45.30 kg ve 47.30 kg, ilk kızgınlık yaşı 317.73 gün ve 321.330 gün, kızgınlık süresi 19.42 saat ve 21.23 saat, kızgınlık siklusu 16.12 gün ve 17.07 gün, gebelik süresi 145.74 gün ve 145.87 gün, doğum ağırlığı (DA), 4.23 kg ve 4.12 kg, sütten kesim ağırlığı (SKA), 35.45 kg ve 34.27 kg, altıncı ay canlı ağırlığı (AACA) 46.03 kg ve 44.17 kg, bir yaş ağırlığı (BYCA) 47.97 kg ve 46.64 kg ve günlük canlı ağırlık artışı (GCAA), 0.394 kg ve 0.381 kg bulunmuştur. Kızgınlık süresi, siklusu ve ilk kızgınlık canlı ağırlığı üzerine genotip, ana yaşı ve doğum tipinin etkisi önemsiz (P>0.05) bulunmuştur. Kuzuların DA, SKA, AACA, BYCA ve GCAA üzerine genotip etkisi önemsiz (P>0.05), ana yaşı, doğum tipi ve cinsiyetin etkisi önemli (P<0.01) bulunmuştur. Sonuç olarak, Bandırma-I ve Bandırma-II genotipileri, ilk yaş üreme özellikleri ve canlı ağırlıklar bakımından benzer bulunmuştur.The purpose of the study was to investigate first age reproduction and growth characteristics of Bandırma-I and Bandırma-II crossbred lambs which have been keeping on Marmara Livestock Research Institute. Bandırma-I and Bandırma-II females were kept to gather in a single flock after 3 month of age. The oestrus detection was performed twice a day (per twelve hours) by using teaser rams. The materials of the study were used 21 head female for first age reproductive traits and for growth characteristics 99 head and 89 head Bandırma-I and Bandırma-II lamb. The results of live weight first oestrus for Bandırma-I and Bandırma-II lambs were 45.30 kg and 47.30 kg, age of first oestrus 317.73 day and 321.330 day, the duration of oestrus 19.42 hour and 21.23 hour the duration of the cycle 16.12 day and 17.07 day, the duration of gestation length 145.74 day and 145.87 day, birth weight (BW) 4.23 kg and 4.12 kg, weaning weight (WWLW) 35.45 kg and 34.27 kg, six mount live weight (SMLW) 46.03 kg and 44.17 kg, yearling live weight (YLW) 47.97 kg and 46.634 kg and average daily live weight gain (ADLG), 0.394 kg and 0.381 kg respectively. The effects of genotype on BW, WW, SMLW, YLW and DLWG were not significant statistically whereas the effects of age of dam, birth type, and sex on growth characteristic were significant (P<0.001). In conclusion, Bandırma-I and Bandırma-II crossbred lambs were similar first age reproduction and growth characteristic of lambs

The real-life efficacy of the second line treatment strategy in advanced pancreas cancer

ABS TRACT Objective: Pancreatic cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death. Despite the introduction of new therapeutic agents, survival rates remain low. Furthermore, few trials have evaluated the options for second-line therapy and the prognostic variables. In this study, we aimed to determine the real-world efficacy and prognostic parameters of second-line treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer. Material and Methods: Patients with advanced pancreatic cancer from different centers who received second-line treatment were enrolled in the study. The patients’ demographic, clinical, and pathological characteristics were retrieved retrospectively. Results: A total of 161 patients were enrolled in the study. The majority of the patients (50.3%) received oxaliplatin plus fluoropyrimidine as second-line treatment. The median progression-free survival and overall survival for the entire cohort were 2.5 months and 4.5 months, respectively. In univariate anal-yses, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≥2, age ≥65 years, hypoalbuminemia, thrombocytosis, presence of metastatic peritoneal disease, elevated alkaline phosphatase and carcinoembryonic antigen levels, and a neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) ≥3 were identified as poor prognostic factors. In multivariable analyses, low albumin level (p=0.031) and high NLR (p=0.05) were found to be independent prognostic factors for overall survival. Conclusion: Pancreatic cancer is a unique malignancy, and advanced disease has a dismal prog-nosis. In univariate analyses, we identified multiple factors that were poor prognostic variables. In particular, the albumin level and NLR were independent prognostic factors for overall survival, and these parameters might be useful in selecting the second-line treatment and pre-dicting the survival of these patients