Gender Differences in the Impact of the Informal Economy on the Labor Market: Evidence From Middle Eastern Countries.

Although considerable discussion has been devoted to the macro determinants of labor market variables across genders, comparatively little attention has been given to the contribution of the informal economy to this market. This study was aimed at empirically investigating the impact of the size of the shadow or informal economy (IE) on labor market variables across genders in 12 Middle Eastern countries. The study used quarterly time series data on each country under investigation, covering 1991 to 2015.

The role of financial systems in energy demand: A comparison of developed and developing countries.

This study investigates the role of the financial system in energy demand in the cases of developed and developing countries. Time-series analyses are carried out using the annual data period from 2000 to 2015. Results indicate that the financial system and financial markets are long-term catalysts for energy consumption in both groups under consideration.

Prognostic nutritional index predicts in-hospital mortality in patients with acute Stanford type A aortic dissection.

Background: Acute Stanford type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is a life-threatening medical emergency. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) as a novel inflammatory marker for ATAAD patients undergoing surgical repair.

Methods: We retrospectively examined the medical records of 151 ATAAD patients who treated surgically.

Dynamic effects of shadow economy and environmental pollution on the energy stock prices: empirical evidence from OECD countries.

This study investigates the dynamic effects of the shadow economy and environmental pollution on the energy stock prices in the case of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries via generalized methods of moments (GMM) and during the years from 2004 to 2014. Results suggest significant links between the volume of shadow economies, energy stock prices, and environmental pollution. Negative effects of carbon dioxide emissions on energy stock prices are found in this study.

The role of shadow economies in ecological footprint quality: empirical evidence from Turkey.

The purpose of this research study is to investigate the role of shadow economies in the levels of ecological footprint for the case of Turkey. Annual data set ranging from 1961 to 2014 was used with this respect. The results of this study verify the long-term and positively elastic impact of shadow economic activities on the level of ecological footprint in Turkey; that is, 1 % change in shadow economic activities results in a 1.

Estimating the role of climate changes on international tourist flows: evidence from Mediterranean Island States.

This article examines the role of climate change on tourist flows to Malta, Cyprus (north), and Cyprus (south) which are major tourist destinations in the Mediterranean. Results from time series analyses reveal that climate change positively impacts on foreign tourist flows to these island states. Thus, this finding is reasonable where we argue that global warming leads to increases in international tourist arrivals to small island states.

Volatility of the alternative energy input prices and spillover effects: a VAR [MA]-MGARCH in BEKK approach for the Turkish economy.

The interaction among the energy unit prices, which are considered as the most effective factor on the realization of economic growth, and the distribution of this interaction throughout the manufacturing process have become popular subjects in research recently. Especially, the scarcity of energy resources and the problems encountered in their supply make it necessary to utilize alternative energy resources. Thus, the realization of production using different energy inputs simultaneously results in an interaction between the factors and the spillover effect.

The moderating role of oil price changes in the effects of service trade and tourism on growth: the case of Turkey.

The aim of this study is to examine the role of oil price changes in the effects of services trade and tourism on real income growth in Turkey. Time series analysis using the 1960-2017 annual period has been adapted with this respect. Results confirm the long-term impacts of tourism and services trade sectors on real income growth in Turkey.

Interactions between oil prices and financial sectors' performances: empirical evidence from Amman Stock Exchange.

The present study searches the effects of international oil prices on the performance of financial sector firms in the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE). Using the daily data which range from July 3, 2006 to April 12, 2018, we found that financial performance of the ASE firms is downturn during this data period and oil prices do not impact on these performances. It is found that downward movement of financial performances in the ASE is totally independent of the movements in international oil prices.

Testing the role of tourism development in ecological footprint quality: evidence from top 10 tourist destinations.

The aim of this study is to search the role of tourism development in the environmental quality for the major tourist destination countries. Ecological footprint has been selected as a proxy of environmental quality with this respect while top 10 tourist countries have been selected as samples of the study. Panel estimation results of this study show that the tourism-induced environmental Kuznets curve has been confirmed for these tourist countries which has an inverted U-shape.

Evaluation of the increase in invasive device associated infections in cardiovascular surgical intensive care unit.

Introduction: Infections related to the use of invasive instruments leads to the risk of treatment difficulties, prolonged hospitalization, increased health care costs, and increased mortality and morbidity rates. The present study examines the results of an infection surveillance study that showed an increased incidence of infections related to the use of invasive instruments in the cardiovascular surgery intensive care unit of the Ankara Training and Research Hospital and mitigating measures were taken following the surveillance program.

Methodology: Compared with previous surveillance data, an increase was observed in the incidence of infections related to the use of invasive instruments in cardiovascular surgery intensive care unit (CVS-ICU) during the first six months of 2014.

Investigating the role of urban development in the conventional environmental Kuznets curve: evidence from the globe.

We investigated the role of urbanization in the conventional environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) of the globe. The overall population and rural population were also considered for control purposes. Based on our findings, we suggest that the conventional EKC of the globe is not an inverted U-shape but becomes downward sloping when urban development is added and inverted U-shapes when the overall population and rural population volumes are added.

Testing the role of external debt in environmental degradation: empirical evidence from Turkey.

This study investigates the role of external debt stock in Turkey, which has suffered from heavy (external and domestic) debt stock for many years. Annual data from 1960 to 2013 was analyzed using time series analysis in order to study this. The results confirm the validity of the conventional environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) in the case of Turkey.

Testing the role of fiscal policy in the environmental degradation: the case of Turkey.

This study introduces a new research topic that investigates the relationship between fiscal development and carbon emissions in Turkey through testing Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis. Annual data covering the period, 1960-2013, has been used and in addition to gross domestic product and energy consumption, fiscal policy variables have been regressed on the level of carbon emissions in Turkey. Results reveal that fiscal policies and carbon emissions are in long-term equilibrium relationship in Turkey; carbon dioxide emission level converges towards long-term paths as contributed by fiscal policy.

Tricuspid Valve Replacement Through Right Thoracotomy has Better Outcomes in Redo Cases.

Background: The tricuspid valve is usually ignored and tricuspid interventions are mostly done in the context of other planned cardiac surgery. Isolated tricuspid reoperative procedure, especially tricuspid valve replacement (TVR) is very rare and carries a very high mortality rate. In this prospective study, clinical results of isolated TVR either through a median re-sternotomy or an antero-lateral thoracotomy with conventional cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) have been evaluated.

Successful Concomitant Revascularization in a Patient with Carotid, Coronary, and Intestinal Artery Occlusive Disease.

Background: Chronic mesenteric ischemia and carotid stenosis frequently have coexistent coronary artery disease. Myocardial ischemia is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality following revascularization of the peripheral arteries. The optimal treatment of concurrent mesenteric, carotid, and coronary disease is unknown.

Is a Clean Development Mechanism project economically justified? Case study of an International Carbon Sequestration Project in Iran.

The present study evaluates a carbon sequestration project for the three plant species in arid and semiarid regions of Iran. Results show that Haloxylon performed appropriately in the carbon sequestration process during the 6 years of the International Carbon Sequestration Project (ICSP). In addition to a high degree of carbon dioxide sequestration, Haloxylon shows high compatibility with severe environmental conditions and low maintenance costs.

Revisiting the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis in a tourism development context.

This study investigates empirically an extended version of the Environmental Kuznets Curve model that controls for tourism development. We find that international tourist arrivals into Turkey alongside income, squared income and energy consumption, cointegrate with CO2 emissions. Tourist arrivals, growth, and energy consumption exert a positive and significant impact on CO2 emissions in the long-run.

Celiac artery thrombosis and superior mesenteric artery stenoses with essential thrombocythemia: a case report.

Thrombosis of the celiac artery trunk is a rare cause of acute abdominal pain. Thrombosis of the celiac artery carries a high mortality and morbidity when the diagnoses and treatment are delayed. It is frequently associated with other cardiovascular events.

What should be the first treatment of popliteal artery entrapment syndrome.

Introduction: Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES) is the rare congenital abnormality. It is a threat to the lower extremity due to ischemia in young adults.

Case Report: A 32-year-old health worker (medical doctor) applied to our clinic with a complaint of lower extremity pain, paleness, and coldness, post-exercise.

Comparison of neurocognitive functions after beating-heart mitral valve replacement without aorta cross-clamping and after standard mitral valve replacement with cardioplegic arrest.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the postoperative long-term neurocognitive functions of patients who under-went beating-heart mitral valve replacement on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) without aorta cross-clamping with those of patients who underwent mitral valve replacement via the classic method.

Methods: The study group included 25 randomly selected patients who underwent beating-heart mitral valve surgery. During the same period, 25 patients were randomly selected as controls to undergo mitral valve replacement procedures via the standard ascending aorta-cannulation technique.

Does on-pump normothermic beating-heart valve surgery with low tidal volume ventilation protect the lungs?

Background: Postoperative pulmonary dysfunction following cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) usually develops secondary to the inflammatory process with contact activation, hypothermia, operative trauma, general anesthesia, atelectasis, pain, and pulmonary ischemia/reperfusion due to cross-clamping. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of an on-pump, normothermic, and beating-heart technique and of low-volume ventilation on lung injury.

Methods: We compared the results for 20 patients who underwent operations with an on-pump, normothermic, and beating-heart technique of mitral valve surgery with low-volume ventilation (group 1) with the results for 23 patients who underwent their operations with an on-pump, hypothermic cardiac-arrest technique (group 2).

Beating heart versus conventional mitral valve surgery.

Objectives: The present study aimed to compare the results of beating heart technique and conventional mitral valve surgery (MVS).

Methods: Three hundred and nineteen patients who underwent MVS between April 2005 and December 2006 were enrolled in the study. While 125 patients underwent beating heart MVS (group 1), the conventional approach was used for 194 patients (group 2).

Treatment of mechanical aortic valve thrombosis: fibrinolytic treatment versus surgical intervention: result of eight cases.

Objective: : Thrombosis of mechanical heart valve prosthesis is a rare fatal complication after heart valve replacement. Although surgical intervention is the suggested treatment in many series, fibrinolytic treatment offers a good alternative. We describe eight cases with mechanical aortic valve thrombosis and compare their results after fibrinolytic treatment or redo aortic valve replacement.

Mitral valve replacement with beating heart technique via right thoracotomy in a patient with previous Bentall operation.

Traditionally, reoperations for mitral valve replacement are carried out under cardioplegic arrest with cross-clamping of the ascending aorta via a median sternotomy. In this case, the mitral valve replacement operation was performed with an on-pump beating heart technique without cross-clamping the aorta and via a right thoracotomy because of diffuse adhesions around the ascending aortic tube graft. A 44-year-old male patient had undergone a Bentall operation via a median sternotomy for annulo-aortic ectasia 3 years ago.