South-East Asian Integration in the Context of OIC: Implications of Free Trade among Malaysia, Indonesia and Bangladesh

( Mustafa Acar ),( Savas Alpay ),( Esat Bakimli ),( Zehra Zumrut Koc ) 세종대학교 경제통합연구소 2009 Journal of Economic Integration Vol.24 No.1

Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is the second largest intergovernmental organization after UN with its 57 members. OIC accounts for 22.48 percent of world population, 6.64 percent of world GDP, and 9.1 percent of world trade as of 2007. When it comes to having world valuable resources, OIC`s potential is even more striking with more than 70% of oil and nearly 50% of natural gas reserves of the world. However, the level of economic integration and volume of trade among OIC members over the last 4 decades has been less than satisfactory. But recently there have been some efforts towards increased economic cooperation among the member countries as a key strategy for higher economic growth and welfare. Protocol on Preferential Tariff Scheme (PRETAS) signed by nearly a dozen countries proposes a preferential trade regime among the member states. Further steps in the coming years, including possible free trade areas and customs union are also on the agenda. In this context, this paper looks into the likely consequences of an economic integration among three OIC member countries: Malaysia, Indonesia, and Bangladesh. This could be seen as a first step to investigate the possible gains from more comprehensive economic integration initiative including all members of the OIC. Using a multi-sector, multi-country computable general equilibrium framework, we investigate the impact of full trade liberalization among Malaysia, Indonesia and Bangladesh. One should stress that there is not a simple and clear-cut conclusion one can derive: depending on the nature and the degree of integration, the results vary. The simulation results indicate that free trade among these three countries will likely benefit Indonesia and Malaysia while leading to some welfare loss for Bangladesh. Based on the results, it can be suggested that mechanisms be developed in order to strengthen the adjustment capacity of the less developed trade partners. Correspondingly, instead of FTAs, preferential trade arrangements can be considered in the beginning in accordance with the priorities of countries focusing on certain sectors in which they have comparative advantage. Larger integrations may be achieved in the long term gradually through such small-scale integrations.

Agricultural Unskilled Labor Mobility : Does It Matter?

ACAR, Mustafa 세종대학교 국제경제연구소 2003 Journal of Economic Integration Vol.18 No.1

Labor mobility is on important issue in quantiative economic analyses due to its possible implications for the sectoral reallocation of factors of production, output response, prices, and wages. This paper investigates the issue of agricultural unskilled labor mobility from both modeling and empirical perspectives. After discussing the issue from a theoretical perspective, I look into the empirical implications fo treating agricultural unskilled labor less than mobile in the context of Turkey-EU agricaultural integration. The results indicate that degree of mobility of the agricultural unskilled labor moatters. It has certaqtin implications on sectoral labor mobility between farm and non-farm sectors, the higher the output response, and the lower the real earnings of unskilled labor in agriculture.

Openness and the Effects of Monetary Policy on the Exchange Rates: An Empirical Analysis

( Nihat Islk ),( Mustafa Acar ),( H. Bayram Islk ) 세종대학교 경제통합연구소 (구 세종대학교 국제경제연구소) 2005 Journal of Economic Integration Vol.20 No.1

This paper examines whether the effects of monetary policy on the exchange rates depend on the degree of openness of an economy. Theoretically, it can be shown that the effect of openness on the ability of money to influence the exchange rate is ambiguous. In light of this, the purpose of this study is to investigate how the relationship between monetary policy and exchange rate is affected by openness, hence shedding some light on the theoretical ambiguity. Using annual data for a panel of 41 countries for the period 1988-2000, the paper`s empirical results indicate that the effects of monetary policy on the exchange rates are negatively affected by economy`s openness. It seems that the more open the economy, the smaller is the depreciation effects of a given increase in the money growth rate. More interestingly, contrary to conventional expectations, monetary expansions in developed countries do not seem to result in depreciation of the domestic currency.

Specimen index may be a predictive factor for recurrence after primary closure of pilonidal disease

Husnu Alptekin,Fahrettin Acar,Mustafa Sahin,Huseyin Yilmaz,M. Ertugrul Kafali,Sinan Beyhan 대한외과학회 2012 Annals of Surgical Treatment and Research(ASRT) Vol.83 No.6

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the predictive value of volume of the specimen/body mass index (VS/BMI) ratio for recurrence after surgical therapy of pilonidal disease. Methods: Ninety-eight patients with primary pilonidal disease were enrolled in this study. The VS/BMI ratio was calculated for each patient. This ratio was defined as the specimen index (SI). VS, BMI and SI were evaluated to determine whether there is a relationship between these parameters and recurrence of pilonidal disease. In addition, the predictive ability of SI for recurrence was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: VS and SI were found to be higher in patients with recurrence. ROC curve analysis showed that VS and SI are predictive factors for recurrence in patients treated with primary closure, nevertheless our new index had higher sensitivity and specificity than VS (sensitivity 85.7% vs 71.4% and specificity 90.7% vs 85.1%, respectively). The cut-off level for the greatest sensitivity and specificity for SI was 1.29. Conclusion: Recurrence is higher in patients with high VS regardless of the operation method. SI may be a predictive value in patients treated with primary closure.

Association between the Gensini Score and Carotid Artery Stenosis

Anil Avci,Serdar Fidan,Mehmet Mustafa Tabakçı,Cuneyt Toprak,Elnur Alizade,Emrah Acar,Emrah Bayam,Muhammet Tellice,Abdurrahman Naser,Ramazan Kargın 대한심장학회 2016 Korean Circulation Journal Vol.46 No.5

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the extent of coronary artery disease assessed by the Gensini score and/or the SYNTAX score and the significant carotid stenosis in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Subjects and Methods: A total of 225 patients who had carotid doppler ultrasonography prior to CABG were included retrospectively. Significant coronary artery disease was assumed as a lumen diameter stenosis of ≥50% in any of the major epicardial coronary arteries. The severity of carotid stenosis was determined by B-mode and duplex ultrasonography. Clinically significant carotid stenosis was defined as peak systolic velocity greater than 125 cm/s. Results: The mean value of SYNTAX score and Gensini score was highest in patients allocated to significant carotid stenosis (22.98±7.32, p<0.001 and 77.40±32.35, p<0.001, respectively). The other risk factors for significant carotid stenosis were found to be male gender (p=0.029), carotid bruit (p<0.001), diabetes (p=0.021), left main disease (p=0.002), 3-vessel disease (p=0.008), chronic total coronary occlusion (p=0.001), and coronary artery calcification (p=0.001) in univariate analysis. However, only the Gensini score (odds ratio[OR]=1.030, p=0.004), carotid bruit (OR=0.068, p<0.001), and male gender (OR=0.190, p=0.003) were the independent predictors. The Gensini score cut off value predicting significant carotid stenosis was 50.5 with 77% sensitivity (p<0.001). Conclusion: The Gensini score may be used to identify patients at high risk for significant carotid stenosis prior to CABG.

Effect of laparoscopic cholecystectomy techniques on postoperative pain

Huseyin Yilmaz,Oguzhan Arun,Seza Apiliogullari,Fahrettin Acar,Husnu Alptekin,Akın Calisir,Mustafa Sahin 대한외과학회 2013 Annals of Surgical Treatment and Research(ASRT) Vol.85 No.4

Purpose: Minimally invasive surgical technics have benefits such as decreased pain, reduced surgical trauma, and increased potential to perform as day case surgery, and cost benefit. The primary aim of this prospective, randomized, controlled study was to compare the effects of single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) and conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy (CLC) procedures regarding postoperative pain. Methods: Ninety adult patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were included in the study. Patients were randomized to either SILC or CLC. Patient characteristics, postoperative abdominal and shoulder pain scores, rescue analgesic use, and intraoperative and early postoperative complications were recorded. Results: A total of 83 patients completed the study. Patient characteristics, postoperative abdominal and shoulder pain scores and rescue analgesic requirement were similar between each group except with the lower abdominal pain score in CLC group at 30th minute (P = 0.04). Wound infection was seen in 1 patient in each group. Nausea occurred in 13 of 43 patients (30%) in the SILC group and 8 of 40 patients (20%) in the CLC group (P > 0.05). Despite ondansetron treatment, 6 patients in SILC group and 7 patients in CLC group vomited (P > 0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery, SILC or CLC techniques does not influence the postoperative pain and analgesic medication requirements. Our results also suggest that all laparoscopy patients suffer moderate and/or severe abdominal pain and nearly half of these patients also suffer from some form of shoulder pain.

Clinical Outcomes of Laparoscopic Partial Cystectomy and Conventional Partial Cystectomy for the Treatment of Hepatic Hydatid Cyst

( Ilhan Ece ),( Huseyin Yilmaz ),( Serdar Yormaz ),( Bayram Colak ),( Fahrettin Acar ),( Husnu Alptekin ),( Mustafa Sahin ) 대한간학회 2018 춘·추계 학술대회 (KASL) Vol.2018 No.1

Aims: The aim of this study was to compare the mid-term outcomes of open and laparoscopic partial cystectomy (LPC). Methods: The medical records of patients who underwent conventional partial cystectomy (CPC) and LPC for liver hydatid cyst from March 2009 to January 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Operative time, blood loss, length of hospital stay, postoperative morbidity, mortality, and follow up outcomes were evaluated. Results: Among 162 patients, 59 of patients were underwent LPC and 103 underwent CPC. Blood loss, postoperative complications were similar in both groups. The mean operative time in the LPC and the CPC groups was respectively 91.4±11.5 and 61.5±18.1 minutes, which showed a significant difference between the both groups. The mean length of hospital stay in CPC group was significantly longer when compared the LPC group. The mean diameter of cyst in LPC group was 6.1±1.1 cm, and 7.8±2.1 cm in CPC group with significant difference. The overall complication rates were 15.2 % in LPC group and 16.5 % in CPC group without significant difference. The most common complication was biliary leakage and surgical site infection. Conclusions: In the hands of experienced laparoscopic surgeons with appropriate technical tools; Laparoscopic drainage and partial cystectomy seem to be safe and effective techniques in carefully selected patients in the surgical treatment of liver hydatid cysts. Technical devices such as grinder aspirator and laparoscopic ultrasonography may expand the indication for laparoscopy.