Visceral adiposity index is associated with premature ejaculation inversely: a cross-sectional study

Objective: Visceral adiposity index (VAI) is a novel indicator for the assessment of visceral obesity. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between VAI and premature ejaculation (PE).

Materials and method: A total of 300 men were included in the study. Hundred and fifty men with PE and 150 men without PE (control). All men were evaluated for PE by premature ejaculation diagnostic tool (PEDT). VAI levels were calculated using body mass index (BMI), high density lipoprotein and triglyceride (TG) levels.

Results: Mean age of the study groups was 34.3?±?5.2 (30–60) years and the mean age of the controls were 35.9?±?5.3 (30–60) years. The men with PE had lower BMI, TG levels, waist circumference (WC) and higher high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. Mean VAI level was 4.13?±?0.7 in study group and 5.72?±?1.6 in control group, respectively. VAI levels were statistically higher in men without PE (p?Discussion: Our cross-sectional study demonstrated a negative correlation between VAI and PE. VAI is superior index for the evaluation and calculation the relationship between obesity and PE.     

Turkey's physicians' attitudes toward euthanasia: a brief research report

Euthanasia and assisted suicide are subject to an ongoing debate and discussed with various aspects. Because physicians are in a profession closely related to euthanasia, their attitudes toward this subject are significant. Thus, research intending to explore their opinions is carried out in many countries. In this study, opinions of the physicians regarding euthanasia's definition, contents, legal aspects, and acceptable conditions for its application are addressed. The questionnaire was given to 949 physicians, more than 1% of the total working in Turkey. Of the physicians who participated in the study, 49.9% agreed with the opinion that euthanasia should be legal in certain circumstances. In addition, 19% had come across a euthanasia request and the majority of physicians (55.9%) believed that euthanasia is applied secretly in the country despite the prohibitory legislation. In conclusion, the authors infer from the study itself and believe that euthanasia should be legal in certain circumstances and that the subject, which is not in the agenda of the Turkish population, should continue to be examined.     

Philosophical Views and Basic Theories of System Dynamics

System dynamics, founded by professor Forrester at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1956, is a discipline which analyzes and studies the system of information feedback. Basic views of theories of system dynamics distinctively show its dialectical characteristics. More attention should be paid to the features of complicated nonlinear systems. The model simulation of system dynamics is a kind of structure-function simulation. One of the remarkable advantages of system dynamics is that it can handle problems of high order, nonlinear and multiplefeedback system.     

Increased visceral adiposity index associated with sexual dysfunction in men

Objective: Visceral adipose index (VAI) is a novel parameter for the evaluation of visceral obesity. As we know that obesity is a risk factor for erectile dysfunction (ED). So, in this study, we compared the VAI levels between the men with ED and without ED.

Materials and method: A total of 177 men were included in the study. Ninety-five men with ED and 82 men without ED (control). All men were evaluated for ED by Index of Erectile Function-5 items (IIEF-5). VAI levels were calculated using body mass index, high density lipoprotein and tryglyceride levels.

Results: Mean age was 53.5 (38–69) in men who have ED and 53.1 (34–69) in control. The men with ED had higher body mass index (BMI), triglyceride (TG) levels, higher waist circumference (WC) and lower high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. Mean VAI level was 5.18?±?2.50 in study group and 3.47?±?1.76 in control goup, respectively. VAI levels were statistically higher in men with ED (p?Discussion: The simplicity of WC and BMI measurement and TG and HDL assessment, make VAI an easily applicable index for the evaluation of visceral fat dysfunction. VAI can be useful index for the evaluation and calculation of erectile dysfunction risk.     

Least Median of Squares Solution of Multiple Linear Regression Models Through the Origin

Barreto and Maharry (2006 Barreto , H. , Maharry , D. ( 2006 ). Least median of squares and regression through the origin . Comput. Statist. Data Anal. 50 : 1391 – 1397 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) showed that PROGRESS algorithm fails to find a correct minimum “Least Median of Squares/LMS” estimate for bivariate regression models which have no intercept. Kayhan and Gunay (2008 Kayhan , Y. , Gunay , S. ( 2008 ). A new approach to least median of squares and regression through the origin . Commun. Statist. Theor. Meth. 37 ( 5 ): 773 – 781 .[Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) presented a different approach for the regression models through the origin which includes at most two unknown parameters. However, LMS estimate for multiple linear regression models still remains an open issue. The aim of this study is to show that finding true LMS estimate for zero intercept multiple linear regression models can be treated as a convex optimization problem and to provide a more general algorithm for any dimensional linear regression models.     

The Ideological Convergence of Civil Society Organizations and Newspapers in Turkey

This study investigates the extent to which newspapers are polarized in representing civil society organizations in Turkey. In examining the news in 15 printed newspapers and 2 online newspapers in 2017, we found that (1) 1499 associations and 499 foundations were mentioned but not equally distributed across the newspapers, (2) Turkish newspapers’ coverage of associations/foundations was affected by the type of association/foundation (religious/conservative vs. secular) and newspaper (pro-government vs. anti-government), (3) when news about an association/foundation appeared in pro-government newspapers, it did not appear in anti-government newspapers, and vice versa, and (4) secular associations/foundations were covered more often by anti-government newspapers than by pro-government newspapers. We therefore argue that in countries such as Turkey, where civil society organizations have historically been closely allied with state or political ideologies, newspapers’ political stances affect the media coverage of civil society organizations.

     

A New Approach to Least Median of Squares and Regression Through the Origin

When the regression model passes through the origin, PROGRESS algorithm fails to find the exact minimum least median of squares (LMS). Therefore Barreto and Maharry (2006 Barreto , H. , Maharry , D. ( 2006 ). Least median of squares and regression through the origin . Comput. Statist. Data Anal. 50 : 1391 – 1397 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) proposed a new algorithm for finding the true LMS. In this paper, a new method is introduced to find the LMS solution, when the intercept is suppressed and regression model includes at most two unknown parameters, in the case of an odd number of data points.     

A POSSIBLE EXPLANATION OF THE MISSING DEFLATION PUZZLE

Following the Great Recession, despite large and persistent slowdown in economic activity, the fall in inflation was modest. This is known as the missing deflation puzzle. In this paper, we develop and estimate a New Keynesian model to provide an explanation for the puzzle. The new model allows for time-varying volatility in cross-sectional idiosyncratic uncertainty and accounts for changes in intermediate input prices. We show that inflation did not fall much because intermediate input prices were increasing. (JEL E31, E32, E52)     

Deprivation: Endowment and Discrimination?

Social Indicators Research - Due to the lack of good-quality data, there has been no sound research about the economic welfare of the Romani in the countries where they live. Drawing on a...     

Some Observations on Copula Regression Functions

ABSTRACT

The main objective of this article is to introduce an alternative way of looking at regression analysis by using copulas. To achieve our objective we work on copula regression function, study its properties, and discuss advantages that will come out from our approach.