Multinational Corporations and Governance of Political Activity

This article builds a conceptual framework to help explain the political behavior of multinational corporations (MNCs). I build on three streams of literature, i.e. heterogenous firms, global value chains, and governance, and provide an overarching framework to help understand firms’ political activities undertaken across value chain networks. I put forward a model that outlines MNCs’ coordination of political mobilization using their affiliates and subsidiaries in different jurisdictions and demonstrate models of governance they have at their disposal to reach political goals. I argue that the spread of global value chains allows firms to develop legal links with enterprises across borders through which they orchestrate political activity or delegate policy goals. The degree of flexibility between MNCs and associated firms determine the model of governance they undertake with corporations in their network. They engage in such costly coordination either to obtain legal standing in foreign jurisdictions or to cultivate a sort of critical mass that goes after a policy objective. I demonstrate the plausibility of my propositions with anecdotal evidence and identify future lines of research

Foreign language reading strategy use of intermediate level adult Turkish EFL learners

The purpose of this study was to investigate foreign language reading strategy use of a group of intermediate level adult Turkish EFL learners. The participants of the study were 87 Turkish first-year university students who were taking intermediate level English courses at a state university in Turkey. The main instrument of the study was a reading strategies survey which consisted of 30 items with three sub-scales: global or metacognitive reading strategies, problem-solving or cognitive reading strategies, and support reading strategies. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted to support the quantitative data. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, frequencies, percentages) and one-way ANOVA with repeated measures. As for the analysis of the qualitative data, tape-recorded interviews were first transcribed and then analyzed by grouping each interviewee’s response according to the sub-scales of the survey. Results of the study indicated that intermediate-level adult Turkish EFL learners show the moderate overall use of reading strategies; problem-solving strategies are the most favored strategies, and they are followed by global reading strategies and supplementary reading strategies

Classification of Turkish safflower oils based on their fatty acid and sterol profiles using multivariate techniques

The aim of the current study was to classify Turkish safflower oils based on sterol and fatty acid composition. For this purpose, 37 samples from five different safflower varieties (Dinçer, Linas, Remzibey-05, Balcı and Olas) grown in the same agricultural and environmental conditions were obtained. Seeds were evaluated for their oil, water and ash content. Oils of seeds were extracted by solvent extraction and oils were analyzed for their sterols and fatty acids. Results have shown that Linas and Olas varieties’ oil contents were significantly higher than others’. There were clear differences in fatty acid compositions of various cultivars. Remzibey-05 and Olas varieties were different from others by their higher oleic and relatively lower linoleic acid ratios. Total sterol contents of oils ranged among 2700-3626 mg/kg and the main phytosterol was β-sitosterol covering 43.27-48.16 % of the total sterols

Further Increase in the Expression of Activation Markers on Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells in Coronary Artery Disease Patients with Ectasia Compared to Patients with Coronary Artery Disease Alone

Background. Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is defined as localized or diffuse dilation of the coronary arteries. There are scarce data about the role of dendritic cells in CAE development. In this study we investigated the activation markers on the surface of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (mDCs) in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with or without CAE. Method. The study consisted of 6 patients who had obstructive CAD with CAE, 6 CAD patients without CAE and 6 subjects with angiographically normal coronary arteries. mDCs were cultivated from peripheral blood monocytes. Surface activation markers were detected by flow cytometry. Results. CAD patients with CAE were detected to have significantly higher mean fluorescence intensities of CD11b, CD11c, CD54 , CD83, CD86 and MHC Class II molecules on mDCs in comparison to CAD patients without CAE and normal controls (P < .001 for all). A significant positive correlation was found between the number of vessels with CAE and the levels of CD11c, CD86, and MHC Class II molecules. Conclusion. mDCs display an increased cell surface concentration of activation molecules in CAD patients with CAE compared to patients with CAD alone. DC activation may play an important role for CAE development in patients with CAD

The Reconstruction of Nasal Septal Perforation with High Density Porous Polyethylene Covered with Fascia Lata: An Experimental Study on Rabbit Model

ObjectivesEvaluation of a new material, high-density porous polyethylene (HDPP), which is covered with fascia lata, for experimental nasal septal perforation closure.MethodsTwenty New Zealand albino rabbits were included and divided into study and control groups. A lateral incision was made from the lateral aspect of the left nares to the incisura nasomaxillaris. After exposure of the cavum nasi, the nasal mucoperichondrium was elevated bilaterally. A full-thickness 0.5×0.5-cm perforation was created over the septum nasi with a No. 11 surgical blade. A fascia lata graft was used for the study group. The HDPP was covered with fascia lata and placed under the elevated mucosa. HDPP without a fascial covering was used in the control group. Four months after the procedure, magnetic resonance imaging was performed to evaluate resorption of the material. The animals were sacrificed, and the nasal septum was completely removed. Macroscopic and histopathological examinations were performed on the nasal septum.ResultsAll rabbits had survived after the 4-month period. Macroscopically, nine of 10 (90%) perforations were closed in the fascia lata-covered HDPP group. Histopathological examination of these nine rabbits revealed that the continuity of cartilage was disturbed in the perforation areas. Granulation tissue was inverted in areas in which the cartilage continuity was disturbed. The HDPP had remained intact at the edge of the perforation. In the HDPP group, six of 10 implants were still perforated (60%) and four (40%) were closed. The fascia lata-covered HDPP implant had a significantly higher perforation closure rate than that of the HDPP implant alone (P<0.05).ConclusionIn cases of septal perforation, it is better to cover the HDPP implant with fascia lata. This covered implant can be used for the repair of nasal septal perforations. HDPP implants are easy to work with and avoid the increased operative time and morbidity associated with harvesting autografts

The Levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha and Interleukin-6 in Patients with Isolated Coronary Artery Ectasia

Background/Aim. Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is considered as a variant of atherosclerosis. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are among the sensitive markers of systemic inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the plasma levels of the cytokines; TNF-α and IL-6 in CAE patients. Methods. Plasma concentrations of TNF-α and IL-6 were measured in 36 patients with CAE (28 males, mean age: 58.2 ± 12 years), and results were compared with age and sex-matched controls (n = 32) without coronary artery ectasia. TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations in blood were assesed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results. Baseline characteristics of the two groups were similar. TNF-α and IL-6 levels were significantly higher in CAE group than controls (15.6 ± 11.2 pg/mL versus 7.8 ± 3.7 pg/mL, P < .001, and 17.2 ± 12.6 versus 7.6 ± 2.1 P < .0001, resp.). Conclusion. CAE patients showed increases in TNF-α and IL-6 levels compared to the controls. This study provides evidence for alterations in the proinflamatory cytokines which suggest the involvement of the immune system in the pathophysiology of CAE. Further placebo-controlled studies are needed to evaluate the clinical significance of this increase in TNF-α and IL-6 levels

Fragmented QRS complexes are associated with left ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunctions in patients with metabolic syndrome

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is found to be associated with deterioration of the left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic functions. One of the factors for this impairment is myocardial fibrosis. Fragmented QRS (fQRS) complexes are found to be associated with myocardial fibrosis. The aim of the study was to evaluate if the presence of fQRS on electrocardiogram (ECG) can detect pronounced impairment in the LV systolic and diastolic functions in MetS patients. Methods: The study included 111 (mean age 47 ± 9, 49.5% male) MetS patients and 96 (mean age 45 ± 9, 58.3% male) control subjects without MetS. ECG was evaluated for the presence of fQRS. Each patient underwent conventional echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging. Results: Fragmented QRS was more common among MetS patients (26.1% vs. 14.6%, p = 0.041). MetS was associated with subclinical LV systolic and LV diastolic dysfunctions. In subgroup analyses of MetS patients, the presence of fQRS on ECG had a higher E/E’ ratio and lower E’ velocity, indicating pronounced diastolic dysfunction, as well as lower isovolumic acceleration (IVA), indicating profound subclinical LV systolic dysfunction. E/E’ ratio and IVA were independent predictors of fQRS presence in patients with MetS. Conclusions: Fragmented QRS is more common among MetS patients compared to non-MetS patients. The presence of fQRS is associated with pronounced subclinical LV systolic and diastolic dysfunctions in MetS patients