Profust reliability of linear and circular type F and G systems having two failure criteria under Markov dependency

In this study, the profust reliabilities of (n, f, k): F(G) and < n, f, k > : F(G) systems for Markov dependent components are investigated. Having two failure criteria are the common features of these four systems. The usage of both fuzzy approach and two failure criteria in the same system provides us more realistic approach to evaluate the reliability of more complex systems. The component configurations are examined for both linear and circular sequences and the working principle of systems are studied for both F and G systems. Under all these assumptions, the profust reliabilities of (n, f, k): F(G) and < n, f, k > : F(G) systems are obtained using the distribution of run statistics. Also a new membership function different from the linear membership function which is generally used in the literature is proposed. Some numerical results which allow the comparison of the systems from various perspectives and various figures for both linear and circular type systems are presented. Some special cases (between Markov – iid assumption, conventional – profust reliability) are also considered.     

Androgen deficiency in the adult male

Introduction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between severity of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), erectile dysfunction (ED) and metabolic syndrome.

Methods. Our study population included a consecutive series of 190 patients with LUTS (International Prostate Symptom Score-IPSS >7) with or without manifestations of the metabolic syndrome. The diagnoses of diabetes mellitus and hypertension were obtained from the patient's medical history. Data on blood pressure, waist measure, body height and weight were collected and body mass index were calculated. Patients were assessed based on the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) for ED and IPSS and IPSS-Quality of Life for LUTS. Blood samples were drawn from fasting patients to determine, fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol and serum total testosterone levels.

Results. In severe LUTS patient group, IIEF erectile function domain scores were significantly lower than moderate LUTS patient group (p < 0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis confirmed that presence of ED was the most predictor of severe LUTS. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was higher in patients with severe LUTS (26%vs. 46%, p = 0.009). The severe form of the LUTS was significantly correlated with waist circumference >102 cm (p < 0.05), blood pressure ≥130/85 mmHg (p < 0.05) and FBG >110 mg/dl (p < 0.01).

Conclusion. Obesity, high plasma level of FBG and hypertension constitute risk factors for the development of severe LUTS. Metabolic syndrome may play a key role in the pathogenesis in both ED and LUTS. Presence of ED is the most predictor of severe LUTS.     

Beyond cheap labour: trade unions and development in the Turkish metal industry

The ability of developing countries to export to more developed parts of the world is often associated with cheap labour. But such very obvious economic advantage is not always the end of the story. A fuller account needs to consider the wider institutional context. In some instances trade unionism can be an important part of this. This paper addresses trade unionism with specific reference to workers employed in large firms in Turkey that are significant exporters of consumer goods to the European market. The union examined is the largest union in the metal industry, an industry that is a driving force in the Turkish economy, and a major centre of trade unionism with over half a million of Turkey's three million trade unionists. The particular ‐ autocratic ‐ character of this union is critically examined and located with reference to wider forces of political economy and the specific constraints and difficulties to which its members are subject. Finally, the significance of this sort of trade unionism for economic ‐ and socio‐political ‐ development is discussed.     

Capturing the re-admission process: focus on time window

In the majority of studies on patient re-admissions, a re-admission is deemed to have occurred if a patient is admitted within a time window of the previous discharge date. However, these time windows have rarely been objectively justified. We capture the re-admission process from the community using a special case of a Coxian phase-type distribution, expressed as a mixture of two generalized Erlang distributions. Using the Bayes theorem, we compute the optimal time windows in defining re-admission. From the national data set in England, we defined re-admission for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), stroke, congestive heart failure, and hip- and thigh-fractured patients as 41, 9, 37, and 8 days, respectively. These time windows could be used to classify patients into two groups (binary response), namely those patients who are at high risk (e.g. within 41 days for COPD) and low risk of re-admission group (respectively, greater than 41 days). The generality of the modelling framework and the capability of supporting a broad class of distributions enables the applicability into other domains, to capture the process within the field of interest and to determine an appropriate time window (a cut-off value) based on evidence objectively derived from operational data.     

The Determinants of U.S. City Manager’s Sense of Power

Public Organization Review - Research on public managers’ power at the national level has investigated an extensive range of contributing factors. Studies in local governments, however, have...     

Turkey's Response to Sex Trafficking of Migrant Women: Is It Efficient Enough?

Human trafficking for sexual exploitation is a serious problem affecting especially women and children. Turkey has been particularly affected by sex trafficking because of the large numbers of female migrants that it receives. This article aims to critically assess the effectiveness of Turkey's current policies against sex trafficking using a feminist theoretical perspective with a particular focus on migrant women. To this end, the scope of the problem in Turkey, the supply and demand sides of sex trafficking, and the existing policies are discussed. Sex trafficking is examined at the intersection of Turkey's migration and prostitution regimes. It is argued that Turkey's response to sex trafficking has been inefficient because it currently focuses only on the economic supply side of the problem, ignoring the patriarchal demand side of it. The article concludes with a discussion of policy recommendations for Turkey that could help reduce sex trafficking in this country.     

Nonproportional random effects modelling of a neonatal unit operational patient pathways

Modelling patient flow in health care systems is considered to be vital in understanding the operational and clinical functions of the system and may therefore prove to be useful in improving the functionality of the health care system, and most importantly provide an evidence based approach for decision making, particularly in the management of the system. In this paper, we introduce a nonproportional cumulative odds random effects model for patient pathways by violating the proportional assumption of the cumulative odds model. Using the probability integral transform, we have extended this to cases where the random effects are not normal, specifically gamma and exponentially distributions. Some of the advantages of this is that these models depict changes in wellbeing (frailties) of patients as they move from one stage of care to the other in time. This is an hybrid extension of our earlier work by jointly including pathways and covariates to explain probability of transition and discharge, which could easily be used to predict the outcome of the treatment. The models here show that the inclusion of pathways render patients characteristics as insignificant. Thus, pathways provide a source of useful information about transition and discharge than patient characteristics, especially when the model is applied to a London University Neonatal Unit dataset. Bootstrapping was then used to investigate the stability, consistency and generalizability of estimated parameters from the models.     

Social Workers in Turkey: Identifying and Addressing Professional Problems and Concerns

The purpose of this study is to explore the perceptions of social workers in terms of the occupational problems they experience in the country of Turkey. Using a mixed-methods approach, a survey of 98 social workers was followed by individual interviews with 10 social workers. Utilizing this combined approach, social workers reported several problem areas with the most common concerns being: work execution and working conditions that can impair the delivery of efficient and effective service delivery; limited community awareness of the profession leading to occupational identity concerns; employment setting and expectations that limit the capability of what can be done to assist those in need; and, employment setting difficulties such as long hours, limited wages, and strict requirements that limit creative problem-solving. Suggestions and future practice improvement suggestions are provided.