63 research outputs found
Knowledge Economy and North Cyprus
No full textAbstractIt is very well known in the knowledge management literature that knowledge has become an engine of social, economic and cultural development in today's world. Involvement of education in economic growth occurs through creation of new knowledge and transfer of knowledge and information. Better educated individuals will later become an innovator or creator of new technology. Schools provide the education necessary to understand this new information and technology. Education is a vital factor for the accumulation of intellectual capital to reach economic growth. As a small developing island with its eleven universities, government assigning education is one of the locomotive sectors of the North Cyprus economy. Today's globalised world, transforming economies from traditional labour based production technique to modern knowledge based production technique is inevitable. Rise of knowledge and technology- intensive jobs and economic activities, investment in knowledge based assets and increasing well qualified and educated workforces indicates the knowledge based economic transformation is necessary and inevitable for rapid economic growth. The main purpose of this paper is to point out knowledge and knowledge based economies and creates both the public and government awareness about knowledge based economy in North Cyprus. The paper also investigates the importance of human capital, intellectual capital and intangible assets in production process and emphasizes the importance of technology based highly productive production systems and their impact on economic development. The study will be a reference to other small economies as well
Evaluation of the performance of MALDI-TOF MS and DNA sequence analysis in the identification of mycobacteria species
No full textBackground/aim: Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry is an alternative way of identifying mycobacteria via the analysis of biomolecules. It is being increasingly used in routine microbiology practice since it permits early, rapid, and cost-effective identification of pathogens of clinical importance. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of phenotypic identification of mycobacteria by the MALDI-TOF MS MBT Mycobacteria Library (ML) 4.0 (Bruker, Daltonics) compared to standard sequence analysis. Materials and methods: A total of 155 Mycobacterium clinical and external quality control isolates, comprising nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) (n = 95) and the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) (n = 60), were included in the study. Results: Identification by MBT ML4.0 was correctly performed in 100% of MTC and in 91% of NTM isolates. All of the MTC isolates were correctly differentiated from NTM isolates. Conclusion: Based on our results, MBT ML4.0 may be used reliably to identify both NTM and MTC
Evaluation of the GeneXpert MTB/RIF Assay for Rapid Diagnosis of Tuberculosis and Detection of Rifampin Resistance in Pulmonary and Extrapulmonary Specimens
No full textMycobacterium tuberculosis remains one of the most significant causes of death from an infectious agent. The rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis and detection of rifampin (RIF) resistance are essential for early disease management. The GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay is a novel integrated diagnostic device for the diagnosis of tuberculosis and rapid detection of RIF resistance in clinical specimens. We determined the performance of the MTB/RIF assay for rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis and detection of rifampin resistance in smear-positive and smear-negative pulmonary and extrapulmonary specimens obtained from possible tuberculosis patients. Two hundred fifty-three pulmonary and 176 extrapulmonary specimens obtained from 429 patients were included in the study. One hundred ten (89 culture positive and 21 culture negative for M. tuberculosis) of the 429 patients were considered to have tuberculosis. In pulmonary specimens, sensitivities were 100% (27/27) and 68.6% (24/35) for smear-positive and smear-negative specimens, respectively. It had a lower sensitivity with extrapulmonary specimens: 100% for smear-positive specimens (4/4) and 47.7% for smear-negative specimens (21/44). The test accurately detected the absence of tuberculosis in all 319 patients without tuberculosis studied. The MTB/RIF assay also detected 1 RIF-resistant specimen and 88 RIF-susceptible specimens, and the results were confirmed by drug susceptibility testing. We concluded that the MTB/RIF test is a simple method, and routine staff with minimal training can use the system. The test appeared to be as sensitive as culture with smear-positive specimens but less sensitive with smear-negative pulmonary and extrapulmonary specimens that include low numbers of bacilli.Ege UniversityEge University [2010/TIP/01]This work was supported by grant 2010/TIP/01 from the Ege University Medical Science Program
Molecular Epidemiology of Tuberculosis (TB) Patients Attending to Ege University Faculty of Medicine
No full text28th International Congress of the European-Respiratory-Society (ERS) -- SEP 15-19, 2018 -- Paris, FRANCEEuropean Respiratory So
Alterations in serum biochemical parameters of patients with lung cancer exposed to radiotherapy
No full textAbstract: In this study, the alterations in serum biochemical parameters of patients with lung cancer exposed to radiotherapy was investigated. For this aim, the levels of serum gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), albumin (ALB), bilurubin (BLB), copper (Cu), sodium (Na) and potassium (K) were evaluated before and after radiotherapy. Serum enzyme, protein, Na and K levels were determined using an autoanalyzer. Serum Cu analysis was made with Atomic Absorbtion Spectrophotometre (AAS). Although we found significant increases in levels of GGT, BLB, Cu and K in patients, levels of AST, ALT, ALB and Na in patients showed significant decreases. The levels of serum AST and ALT fairly decreased after radiotherapy. The level of GGT in patients was significant higher than that in the controls before radiotherapy. However, GGT level showed again a distinctly decrease after radiotherapy. There was an inverse relationship among serum BLB, Cu and ALB values. Besides, serum Na levels showed significantly decrease in patients at the end of radiotherapy treatment compared to the controls and before radiotherapy, and K levels increased significantly following radiotherapy. In conclusion, the selected serum parameters are very sensitive and useful biomarkers for the study of the effects of radiotherapy
Evaluation of the genotype MTBDRplus assay for the diagnosis of tuberculosis and rapid detection of rifampin and isoniazid resistance in clinical specimens
No full textAim: To determine the performance of the Genotype MTBDRplus assay for diagnosis of tuberculosis and rapid detection of rifampin (RIF) and isoniazid (INH) resistance in clinical specimens. Materials and methods: A total of 90 clinical specimens of 57 patients (69 sputum samples, 11 bronchoscopic aspirates, 5 bronchoalveolar lavage, 4 deep tracheal aspirate, 1 lymph aspirate) sent to the Ege University Medical Faculty, Department of Medical Microbiology, Mycobacteriology Laboratory between December 2007 and 2009 during the clinical routine were included in the study. Results: Overall 80 valid results were obtained for 90 clinical specimens (88.9%) with MTBDRplus. While 74 of 82 (90.2%) smear positive specimens gave interpretable results by MTDRplus, 2 of 8 smear negative specimens gave invalid results. The overall rates of concordance between the results of the MTBDRplus assay and those of the drug susceptibility testing for the assessment of RIF and INH resistance were 97.5% (78/80) and 98.8% (79/80), respectively. Conclusion: Although the MTBDRplus assay could be a useful tool for rapid identification of RIF- and INH-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in both clinical samples and strains, the test results must always be confirmed by culture and drug susceptibility testing.Ege UniversityEge University [07/TIP/018]This work was supported by grant 07/TIP/018 from the Ege University Medical Science Program
Activities of Linezolid against nontuberculous mycobacteria
No full textThe activity of linezolid (Pfizer, USA) was tested by broth microdilution against 53 clinical isolates of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), including the common disease producing species Mycobacterium avium, M.intracellulare, M.fortuitum, M.chelonae and M.abscessus, obtained from western Turkey The isolates of M.abscessus and M.intracellulare were the least susceptible, M.mucogenicum, M.gordonae and M.avium were the most susceptible to linezolid of the common species of NTM. Linezolid showed a variable sensitivity in all strains; therefore, each species and strain must be individually evaluated, and it is always advisable to perform in vitro sensitivity tests before using the drug for human therapy
Genotyping of rifampin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates by mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit - variable number tandem repeat (MIRU-VNTR) analysis
No full textMolecular typing methods have greatly enhanced our understanding on epidemiology of tuberculosis and allowed us to identify outbreaks and intertransmission within populations. Recently, a set of 12 variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR), designated mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units (MIRU), has been described as being useful for the typing of M.tuberculosis. In this study, 26 rifampin (RIF) resistant M.tuberculosis isolates with known IS6110-RFLP patterns obtained from 26 different patients in Aegean Region were typed by MIRU-VNTR and the data were compared with IS6110-RFLP results. The results showed that in most isolates the clustering on the basis of IS6110 RFLP typing and that on the basis of MIRU-VNTR typing were in agreement. It was also determined that the loci including MIRU 16, MIRU 40, MIRU 26, MIRU 10, MIRU 04 and MIRU 31, respectively, have the highest allelic diversities and discriminatory power. In conclusion, since the discrimination level of conventional MIRU-VNTR including 12 loci might be variable, by the use of additional loci which present high degree of allelic differentiation, this method would be reliable for the epidemiologic studies
IN VITRO ACTIVITY OF LINEZOLID AGAINST MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS ISOLATES BY BACTEC MGIT 960 METHOD
No full textObjective: The aim of our study was to determine susceptibility of linezolid to multi-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates. Material and Method: Seventy two multi drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates were studied under the activity of 1 mu g/ml of linezolid by the BACTEC MGIT 960 susceptibility method. Results: Seventy two multi drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis species were determined to be susceptible to linezolid. Conclusion: Linezolid was found to be effective to multi-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro
But a storm is blowing from paradise: contemporary art of the Middle East and North Africa (2016), Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York
No full textCrystal & Flame (2010)
“Inspired by Italian author Italo Calvino’s unfinished book of lectures, Six Memos for the Next Millennium (1988), Ergin Çavuşoğlu weaves three seemingly unconnected but ultimately complimentary narratives into a dramatic meditation on social norms and moral codes. In one scenario, a man is seen cutting and polishing a diamond; in another, a group of actors rehearses The House with the Mezzanine, an 1896 play by Anton Chekov about a clash between peasants and city dwellers; and in a third, a group of friends discusses, over a Turkish meal, a proposed film about children forced to smuggle black-market goods across the treacherous Turkish-Syrian border. Where Calvino explores the application of ideas around polarity and regenerative force in a literary context, Çavuşoğlu makes them visual through the metaphorical opposition of images of crystal (the diamond) and flame (the restaurant’s grill).” (text from the Guggenheim Museum’s online collection catalogue)
Dust Breeding (2016)
“As its title suggests, Ergin Çavuşoğlu’s installation Dust Breeding makes reference to American photographer and painter Man Ray’s famous 1920 photograph Dust Breeding (Duchamp’s Large Glass with Dust Motes), which depicts the named artist’s iconic work in the studio having accumulated a year’s worth of environmental dirt. Çavuşoğlu’s reworking of this project also revolves around the documentation of ephemeral matter. The artist invites visitors to walk across a section of an anamorphic floor drawing based on a three-dimensional model of a cement factory in Turkey. Recording their actions with a closed-circuit television camera, he uses a monitor to relay the surreal-looking images, which seem to show visitors standing inside a sculpture.” (text from the Guggenheim Museum’s online collection catalogue
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