Econometric analysis of the bilateral trade flows in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries

This study analyzes the trade flows of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) both among its member countries and with the rest of the world for the 1997-2002 and 2003-2007 periods. In this paper, the research question is whether the trade flows of the GCC countries with their partners have sustained and/or they have developed new relations over time, mainly after the 2003 Customs Union agreement of the GCC. For this purpose, fixed effects models have been estimated in order to obtain individual country effects variable. Then, trade model as a function of distance and income variables and the country effects model as a function of the time invariant control variables have been estimated simultaneously within the panel analysis using the Least Squares and Generalised Method of Moments under the assumption of the presence of cross section heteroskedasticity and the robust standard errors. It has been found that: (1) The order of top fifteen trade partners has changed significantly from the EU countries and the US to the Asian countries after 2003. (2) Exports and imports of the GCC countries are related to the wealth of the partner countries, but not to their distance, mainly due to the nature of their exported and imported goods, the characteristic of the region and developments in transportation facilities.Gulf Cooperation Council Countries; Trade Flows; Gravity model; Panel Analysis; System Estimation

Econometric Analysis of the Bilateral Trade Flows in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries

This study analyzes the trade flows of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) both among its member countries and with the rest of the world for the 1997-2002 and 2003-2007 periods. In this paper, the research question is whether the trade flows of the GCC countries with their partners have sustained and/or they have developed new relations over time, mainly after the 2003 Customs Union agreement of the GCC. For this purpose, fixed effects models have been estimated in order to obtain individual country effects variable. Then, trade model as a function of distance and income variables and the country effects model as a function of the time invariant control variables have been estimated simultaneously within the panel analysis using the Least Squares and Generalised Method of Moments under the assumption of the presence of cross section heteroskedasticity and the robust standard errors. It has been found that: (1) The order of top fifteen trade partners has changed significantly from the EU countries and the US to the Asian countries after 2003. (2) Exports and imports of the GCC countries are related to the wealth of the partner countries, but not to their distance, mainly due to the nature of their exported and imported goods, the characteristic of the region and developments in transportation facilities.Gulf Cooperation Council Countries; Trade Flows; Gravity model; Panel Analysis; System Estimation

Role of N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) in compensated chronic kidney disease

Aim: To evaluate the role of N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) in the evaluation of hypervolemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its relationship with CKD. Methods: Sixty compensated chronic kidney disease patients enrolled in this study. NT-pro BNP levels and other routine biochemical laboratory parameters are studied. The associations between results were analyzed. Results: NT-pro BNP levels were correlated with urea (r = 0.66, p <0.01), creatinine (r = 0.69, p <0.01) and phosphorus (r = 0.36, p <0.01) values and were negative correlated with hemoglobin (r = -0.32, p = 0.01), hematocrit (r = -0.36, p <0.01), albumin (r = -0.29, p = 0.02) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR)  values (r = -0.35, p <0.01). Conclusion: The positive correlation between NT-pro BNP levels and urea and creatinine values in our study and the negative correlation with GFR support that the severity of hypervolemia increases as the CKD stage progresses. BNP and NT-pro BNP are strong predictors of all-cause cardiovascular mortality in asymptomatic CKD patients. In the light of all these data, it is possible to suggest that NT-pro BNP is associated with hypervolemia and therefore increased cardiovascular mortality in subjects with CKD

Investigation of the Effects of Some Herbal Extracts Used in Different Ratios on Meat Fatty Acid Profile Level in Experimental Heat Stress Created in Broilers

Stress is the biological or external alteration of the organism against the factors that make it possible to achieve hemostasis or normal physiological balance. In our world, temperature increase due to climate change has become one of the most important stress factors in poultry sector. This research investigated the effects of essential oil mixture (EOM; Eucalyptus globulus Labill, Thymus vulgaris, Cymbopogon nardus, and Syzygium aromaticum) broilers adding to the drinking water under heat stress conditions. The fatty acid profile was evaluated. In a 42-day study, 400 Ross-308 male chickens (1-day-old) were randomly assigned to eight different groups (n = 50), each containing five subgroups (n = 10). As a result of the research, in stress-free groups 22°C rations of myristic acid (C14:0), palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), oleic acid (C18:1), linoleic acid (C18:2n-6t), and Cis 11 eicosapentaenoic acid (C 20: 1n9) increased, whereas MUFA, UFA, and behenic acid (C22:0) reduced. However, in stressed groups, 36°C rations of myristic acid (C14:0), palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), and arachidonic acid (C20:0) decreased, increased the UFA ratio, and had no effect on the MUFA and PUFA

A free trade area between the Repbulic of Moldova and the European Union: feasibility, perspectives and potential impact.

This publication has been launched within the project “European Union – Republic of Moldova Trade Relations: Current Situation and Perspectives for Enhancement”. The project is sponsored by the Moldova-Soros Foundation. The major goal of this project is to help Moldovan government formulate and adopt balanced and sound positions for the future negotiations with the European Commission, so that an “enhanced trade regime” contributing to the economic modernization of the country and economic integration with EU is achieved.free trade agreement; feasibility study; Moldova; European Union;

Econometric Analysis of the Bilateral Trade Flows in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries

This study analyzes the trade flows of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) both among its member countries and with the rest of the world for the 1997-2002 and 2003-2007 periods. In this paper, the research question is whether the trade flows of the GCC countries with their partners have sustained and/or they have developed new relations over time, mainly after the 2003 Customs Union agreement of the GCC. For this purpose, fixed effects models have been estimated in order to obtain individual country effects variable. Then, trade model as a function of distance and income variables and the country effects model as a function of the time invariant control variables have been estimated simultaneously within the panel analysis using the Least Squares and Generalised Method of Moments under the assumption of the presence of cross section heteroskedasticity and the robust standard errors. It has been found that: (1) The order of top fifteen trade partners has changed significantly from the EU countries and the US to the Asian countries after 2003. (2) Exports and imports of the GCC countries are related to the wealth of the partner countries, but not to their distance, mainly due to the nature of their exported and imported goods, the characteristic of the region and developments in transportation facilities

Econometric analysis of the bilateral trade flows in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries

This study analyzes the trade flows of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) both among its member countries and with the rest of the world for the 1997-2002 and 2003-2007 periods. In this paper, the research question is whether the trade flows of the GCC countries with their partners have sustained and/or they have developed new relations over time, mainly after the 2003 Customs Union agreement of the GCC. For this purpose, fixed effects models have been estimated in order to obtain individual country effects variable. Then, trade model as a function of distance and income variables and the country effects model as a function of the time invariant control variables have been estimated simultaneously within the panel analysis using the Least Squares and Generalised Method of Moments under the assumption of the presence of cross section heteroskedasticity and the robust standard errors. It has been found that: (1) The order of top fifteen trade partners has changed significantly from the EU countries and the US to the Asian countries after 2003. (2) Exports and imports of the GCC countries are related to the wealth of the partner countries, but not to their distance, mainly due to the nature of their exported and imported goods, the characteristic of the region and developments in transportation facilities