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Why R? Turkey 2022 was a non-profit conference that aimed to bring Turkish R users together and encourage them to attend the R conferences. The targeted audience of the conference consisted of, data scientists, data analysts, and all R users from academia and industry. The three-day conference, which consisted of several events such as workshops, regular talks, lightning talks, short tutorials, and panels, was free of charge and fully online. This article describes the challenges and benefits, as well as providing an overview of the conference's content and participants' profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed to examine the effects of basic properties, fiber morphological properties, strength properties, wettability and optical properties on offset printing of office papers. Widely used office papers with different brands were obtained from Istanbul-Turkey. Technical characteristics of papers; basic properties, strength properties including tensile, burst, tear, and Z direction tensile strength and optical properties such as gloss, whiteness, opacity, and wettability tests were determined according to TAPPI and ISO standards. The results obtained by the tests are as follows; i) there is a great difference in water resistance between the top and the lowest values (207 %), ii) there is little difference between the highest and the lowest brightness value (3.8 %), other papers values have close to each other, iii) in the printing process there is a little difference between the highest, and the lowest gloss values (36.7 %), although the others are close iv) the highest and lowest values in CIE C* showed that it ranged from the narrowest color gamut to the widest color gamut. By applying the widely used offset printing process to commercially produced office papers, the quality levels were evaluated to raise awareness of consumers and sellers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Declaration of Helsinki (DoH), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) recommendations, and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines outline the basic principles for ethical conduct and publication of human-subject research, most notably informed consent (IC) and research ethics committee (REC) approval. This retrospective observational study was a first study to investigate the quality of reporting of these protections in a selected sample of medical papers published in Turkey. A total of 573 research articles published in the official journals of six leading Turkish medical schools between January 2018 and December 2020 were searched for information on obtaining (i) REC approval, (ii) written IC from research subjects or their legal guardians/representatives, and (iii) an REC-granted IC waiver when it was found, as stated in the DoH, "impossible or impracticable to obtain consent" from research subjects. Similarly, a total of 166 case reports were searched for a statement about publication-specific IC, as was recommended by COPE. Despite a statistically significant improvement over the years, the overall rates were found to be unsatisfactory. The protections were particularly misused or underused in retrospective research, where the rates of reporting written IC (15.41% vs. 48.61%) and REC approval with date and reference number information (45.38% vs. 61.11%) were significantly lower than in prospective research (p <.05). Both the practices of seeking and granting an IC waiver when no IC was obtained were extremely rare (n = 3). It was also found that the requirement of structured ethical information in research papers was associated with higher levels of ethics compliance, and that medical publishing in Turkey needed specific improvements, including better implementation of the protections already adopted in principle, clearer instructions for authors, more rigorous editorial scrutiny, and greater commitment to rejecting substandard submissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Curfews period of December 2015 to February 2016 in south-eastern Turkey was a time of collective violence in multiple forms, among which the Cizre Basement Massacres are the most known. The period of the general elections in June 2015, until the later and most recent attempt to carry out a military coup in July 2016, covers multiple curfews and military operations in the south-eastern regions of Turkey, and some social media material shared from the region caught international attention and provoked artistic as well as political responses. Zehra Doğan, a Kurdish journalist and artist, modified and re-shared some footage that was first posted in social media accounts of the special forces in Nusaybin and as a result was sentenced to three years in prison. She continued to produce artworks in prison, even though it was 'prohibited' for her to draw. She started to use her own body fluids, hair, newspaper, toilet paper, and any other available daily material in the prison to produce works of art. She also produced a series of work with her menstrual blood. For this article, I conducted two thematic one-to-one discussions with Zehra Doğan and studied her series of works produced with menstrual blood within the scope of mimesis and embodiment theories. Further sections of the article discuss: the function of these series of works for her acting out and working through processes of the collective political violence of which she became both a witness and a victim; methods of artistic transmission of political violence both for the artist and for the audience; and the possible ritualistic functions of using blood while producing work of arts in relation to collective political killings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to introduce Theory of Semiotic Mediation, which is a theory regarding mathematics teaching, in Turkey and provide an example for its practice. After describing the main characteristics and concepts of the theory, semiotic potential of a sheet of paper, which was chosen as an artifact of Theory of Semiotic Mediation, was analyzed in paper folding activities in order to discuss the practice of the theory and also the signs were analyzed that occurred in the building and conceptual constructing of quadrilaterals with only one symmetry axe (isosceles trapezoid and rhombus). The study was a case study which was carried out with 35 students who were studying in 10th grade. The students were divided into groups of four and five. Only one groups’ activity was reported in this paper. The analysis of the semiotic potential of paper folding showed that it was an artifact that helps students to reconstruct concepts such symmetry and equality by means of coincide and crease and to think deeply on the characteristics of quadrilaterals like rectangle, square, trapezoid and etc. which students have already known. The paper has properties that can be used as an artifact of the Semiotic Mediation Theory. In order to be used the mentioned theory in classes, it was founded that teachers’ guidance role was quite essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Chapter 2, Adalet examines the records of Daniel Lerner, another prominent theorist of modernization who conducted research in Turkey. In the study of Turkish-American relations in the twentieth century, much of the focus is on political narratives, diplomatic exchanges, crises, and regional disputes. Adalet also supplies many anecdotes to show the inner details of the relationship between Hilts and Vecdi Diker, who visited the United States and proposed the foundation of a separate Directorate of Highways ( I Karayollari Genel Müdürlügü i ) in Turkey. [Extracted from the article]

Although there have been significant advances in fingerprinting techniques, studies on how these techniques affect other criminal evidence are limited. Synthetic cannabinoids (SC), which are illegal substances frequently encountered in crime scenes and are widely used worldwide, are available in various forms in the market (pill, powder, liquid, and herbal product). These synthetic cannabinoid substances have recently been introduced to places such as prisons and rehabilitation centers, primarily via an infused piece of paper. The first seizure of the paper‐impregnated form of AB‐PINACA and AB‐FUBINACA in Turkey was observed in 2014. This study investigates the effects of fingerprint development methods on the concentrations of these SCs impregnated on paper. Therefore, eccrine and sebaceous fingerprints of volunteers were imprinted on the papers before and after they were impregnated with AB‐PINACA and AB‐FUBINACA. Six different fingerprint development methods were applied. Fingerprint development methods were later checked in 384 fingerprints. AB‐PINACA and AB‐FUBINACA infused on papers were extracted by the liquid−extraction method, and concentrations were analyzed via LC‐MS/MS. After applying Thermanin, 1,2‐indandione, iodine vapor, DFO, and 5‐MTN fingerprint development methods, the concentration levels of AB‐FUBINACA were 26.25, 19.60, 21.43, 17.76, and 17.77 ng/cm2, while the concentration levels of AB‐PINACA were 1.1, 0.98, 1.31, 1.28, and 1.22 ng/cm2, respectively. Finally, although the best fingerprint visualization was obtained on papers that were applied the Ninhydrin method, the method failed to detect SCs on papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many physicians in Turkey are both clinicians and researchers, and publishing their research contributes to better patient care as well as to career advancement. Objective: To identify the barriers faced by Turkish physicians to writing research papers and getting them published. Methods: Respondents were asked, through eight multiple-choice questions, about the difficulties they faced in writing research papers and in getting them published in journals. We also searched published literature for accounts of similar difficulties and answers to the question 'What is your purpose in writing scientific publications?' Results: A total of 18% (155 of 871) of physicians completed the questionnaire. About the difficulties faced in writing, 82 out of the 155 participants, or 57%, reported problems in finding financial support; 58 (40%), in obtaining required permissions and clearances; 65 (45%), in acquiring relevant skills, especially those related to data analysis or statistics; and 42 (29%), in languagerelated skills. About the difficulties in getting their papers published in journals, 85 (60%) said that they tried to overcome the difficulties by searching for appropriate solutions on the internet; 66 (47%) sought help from experienced colleagues; and 47 (33%) needed professional help in English translation and editing. Need for financial support was reported by a significantly (p = 0.04) larger proportion of associate professors or full professors (69%) than that of residents (47%) and fellows (45%). Conclusion: The main problems that Turkish physicians face in preparing scientific manuscripts were lack of financial support, inadequate knowledge of data analysis and statistics, and the paperwork involved in obtaining required approvals and permissions--problems that were common to the departments of internal medicine and of surgery. The primary motivation for writing and publishing was career advancement, especially through promotion to a higher academic rank. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This paper aims to find out the factors that are likely to increase the citation impact of Turkey-addressed international papers. Method: For this purpose, we downloaded bibliographic records of some 226,000 TR-addressed papers that were published between 2006 and 2015, there from selected a sample (2%) using stratified probabilistic sampling technique, and obtained relevant data from various sources such as the number of citations and coauthors, journal impact factors (JIF) and journal quartiles pertaining to each paper in the sample. We then identified 19 independent variables on article, journal, cooperation, support and access levels and analyzed the data using the hurdle model. Findings: The strongest factors increasing the number of citations of TR-addressed papers are five-year JIFs and journal quartiles (Q1) in which TR-addressed papers appeared and the number of references in papers' reference lists. These factors also reduce the number of papers with zero citations. Papers published in cooperation with other countries collect higher numbers of citations. Factors such as the subjects of papers, whether papers received monetary support or not, and methods by which papers can be accessed (open or closed access) have no impact on the number of citations received. Implications: Findings indicate that academic promotion and support policies encouraging publishing in high impact journals while forestalling publishing in low impact journals should be developed in order to increase the scientific impact of TR-addressed papers. Originality: This is the first study using hurdle model to investigate the direct impact of several article, journal, collaboration, monetary support and access level explanatory variables on the number of citations that TR-addressed papers receive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to identify the nest materials, some physical characteristics and the essential composition of the nest of Vespa crabro germanaChrist, 1791. Nest surfaces were observed with a stereomicroscope and a scanning electron microscope. In the inner surface of the V. c. germana nest, the medium thicknesses of the fibers in the envelope and comb varied between 5.30 and 11.90 µm with an average of 9.07 µm. In the outer surface of the nest, the medium thicknesses of the fibers in the envelope and comb were between 4.46 and 11.40 µm with an average of 7.68 µm. The nitrogen and protein concentration of the nest was 0.22 and 1.40%, respectively. The percentages of the fibers, saliva, oil and the water absorption capacity were calculated as 70-75, 25-30, 16-20 and 120-150, respectively. The amount of the elements nickel and copper in the nest was found to be 0.6 and 1.2 ppm, respectively. The major components of the nest were plant fibers, saliva and oil. Consequently, we have found that the ratios and the amounts of physical characteristics, the element composition and the fibers in the envelope and comb of the nest changed with environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to identify the nest materials, some physical characteristics and the essential composition of the nest of Vespa crabro germana Christ, 1791. Nest surfaces were observed with a stereomicroscope and a scanning electron microscope. In the inner surface of the V. c. germana nest, the medium thicknesses of the fibers in the envelope and comb varied between 5.30 and 11.90 µm with an average of 9.07 µm. In the outer surface of the nest, the medium thicknesses of the fibers in the envelope and comb were between 4.46 and 11.40 µm with an average of 7.68 µm. The nitrogen and protein concentration of the nest was 0.22 and 1.40%, respectively. The percentages of the fibers, saliva, oil and the water absorption capacity were calculated as 70-75, 25-30, 16-20 and 120-150, respectively. The amount of the elements nickel and copper in the nest was found to be 0.6 and 1.2 ppm, respectively. The major components of the nest were plant fibers, saliva and oil. Consequently, we have found that the ratios and the amounts of physical characteristics, the element composition and the fibers in the envelope and comb of the nest changed with environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this study, a pulp and paper mill (PPM) in the SEKA Papermaking Plant in İzmit, Turkey, is analysed through energy and exergy balances. The plant utilises recycled waste paper for papermaking. This type of raw material input makes the process highly sophisticated. The pulping uses strictly mechanical processes, such as digestion, separation by screening and hydrocyclone, and refining. The milling, as an integrated process, provides the final operations necessary to prepare the conditions required for the end-product by stock-preparation, wiring, rolling, and drying by dewatering, pressing, and evaporation. The possibility of making the entire process more thermodynamically efficient is discussed by calculating the energy and exergy losses for all the mechanical and physical sub-processes. The study shows that the energy efficiencies for each of the mechanical and physical steps in the PPM vary between 34% and 97.4%, whereas the exergy efficiencies vary between 30.2% and 94.2%. In conclusion, based on the results from the energy and exergy flow analyses, the exergy output can be improved through more efforts directed primarily to further measurements toward more efficient energy utilisation in the PPM. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To what extent can hostility toward Greeks in Turkish politics be explained sociologically? This paper provides a fresh perspective by examining the value of group position theory in understanding negative perceptions of Greeks in Turkish politics between 1946 and 1960. It proposes that Turkish politicians' perceived threats to valued resources played a key role in their unfavorable portrayals of Greeks. To test the argument, the study scrutinizes all Turkish parliamentary speeches in this period that contain the word Greek (N = 652). Quantitative analysis demonstrates that speaking about border-related threats is a significant predictor of negative perceptions. Qualitative investigation details how politicians justified their negative comments. The paper concludes that the negative remarks about Greeks are a function of Turkish politicians' perceived threats to valued resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The Assyrian Trade Colonies Age, from the EBA to MBA, marked a shift in the trading system between Anatolia and Mesopotamia due to increased mineral trade. Assyrian traders transported tin, textiles, and valuable stones and metals, paying taxes to local rulers. They established settlements and established Karum colonies in major cities and Wabartum stations in smaller ones. It is known that donkeys and mules were used as caravan animals towards the end of the Early Bronze Age in Central Anatolia. However, we have not identified enough archaeological material to prove the existence of mules in particular. Animal bone remains recovered from the Derekutuğun mining settlement were examined, and especially the teeth of equids were further examined by the researcher. This study mentions the existence of the oldest known possible mules, especially based on the dental remains of equids found in Derekutuğun. This paper discusses the discoveries of early donkey and the earliest mule remains in Central Anatolia from the site Derekutuğun. This site represents the remains of a village dating back to the Early Bronze Age and Assyrian Trade Colonies period, associated with mining. The archaeofaunal assemblage was studied by the author and his team using classical archaeozoological methods. The dental remains of the Equidae found at Derekutuğun have been re-examined and are described in this article. The dental evidence indicates that donkeys, and possibly the earliest mules ever found in Central Anatolia, were kept at this site. Although the paper is based on the archaeozoological remains, written sources from the period also support the faunal identification. Derekutuğun was a small settlement that specialized in processing copper ore, and which was an important hub for a trade network because of its extensive mining and extraction operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agile software development has reached wide adoption in various countries including Turkey, even though from which its original cultural backgrounds differ. In Turkey, many organizations have started to adopt Agile approaches more and more in their software development processes. This interest in the country's software development is parallel to what the academic literature on Agile in the country exhibits. However, despite the prevalence of Agile in Turkey, there is a lack of sufficient secondary research and comprehensive review on Agile in Turkey, which poses a significant necessity for further investigation. Considering this gap, we performed a quantitative bibliometric analysis of Agile software development publications produced by Turkish organizations in a holistic and broad approach both for scholars and practitioners. We provide a summary of relevant academic studies that emerged in Agile research in Turkey by focusing on many aspects including bibliometric properties of papers, researchers, affiliations, venues, and thematic contents that are separated into 15 sub‐research questions. After delivering results based on the questions, we discuss the results and findings of our study and present implications regarding the findings. The main contributions of our work are twofold. First, the paper may help the readers to have a quick idea, understand the subject, and gain insight from a large volume of scientific data. Second, the paper can help readers to use these analyses to form future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilization of agricultural and food wastes for biohydrogen generation is a hot research topic. In this paper, biohydrogen generation potentials from wheat, maize, barley, rice and potato production, consumption, associated losses, and household food waste generation in Turkey is estimated till 2030 using novel semi-empirical holistic models based on different scenarios. It was estimated that up to 90 thousand tonnes of biohydrogen could be produced from household food wastes in Turkey in 2030. This amount of biohydrogen would be worth 1.5 billon US$ and generate nearly 0.8 billion US$ of net return. In addition, this study clearly shows that there is a great potential for economic gain from agricultural and food waste based biohydrogen generation in Turkey. In conclusion, the methodology developed in this study could be used by researchers around the world to estimate local and national level biohydrogen generation potentials from agricultural and food wastes. [Display omitted] • This paper examines biohydrogen potentials from agricultural and food wastes. • Holistic per capita models for estimating annual biohydrogen production potentials. • Annual production and sale costs are estimated. • Annual net returns from biohydrogen generation are calculated. • The results highlight recommendations for future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Easter controversy of the late second century unveiled a profound theological and cultural debate within early Christianity. Originating from differing practices regarding the calculation of Easter dates, the dispute pitted the churches of Asia Minor against the Roman Church. This paper primarily employs a method of documentary analysis. It analyzes the accounts provided by the fourth-century historian Eusebius of Caesarea in his work The History of the Church. It is also cross-referenced with the works of second-century Christian writers. Through this process, this paper seeks to reconstruct the situation of this Easter controversy. Furthermore, it aims to uncover the struggle for apostolic authority concealed beneath the surface of this debate over dates. Central figures like Victor I and Polycrates engaged in this struggle for Apostolic authority, responding to challenges posed by heresies. Victor I leveraged his position to convene religious conferences and issue excommunication decrees against dissenting churches, laying claim to the papal primacy. However, Polycrates invoked the apostolic succession and heritage from John the Apostle to assert the legitimacy of the churches in Asia Minor, challenging Victor I's attempts at centralizing power within the Roman see. The controversy reflected broader debates over apostolic succession and ecclesiastical power structures. The Easter controversy serves as a case study of the Early Church's engagement with practical theology and the integration of religious festival culture with social backgrounds, highlighting the significance of Easter as a symbol of Christian unity and collective memory. This debate highlighted theological nuances and underscored broader issues of communal identity and the power struggle within early Christian communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of motivational interviewing based on the trans‐theoretical model promoting physical activity in older adults. Methods: A randomized controlled trial study was conducted with 117 older adults (intervention group: 58, and control group: 59) between April and November 2019. The data were collected via a questionnaire, trans‐theoretical model scales, the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly, the Katz Activities of Daily Living scale and a pedometer. The 24‐week intervention consisted of regular motivational interviewing. The control group received usual care at the family health centre. Results: Following the intervention, the Intervention Group showed significant improvements Exercise Processes of Change Scale, Exercise Self‐Efficacy Scale and Perceived Benefits of the Decisional Balance Scale for Exercise. There was a significant difference between the groups in terms of stages of change. In the Intervention Group, 81.5% were in the contemplation stage in the pre‐test, while in the post‐test, 70.4% had transitioned to the action stage. In contrast, in the control group, 62.5% were in the contemplation stage initially, but in the post‐test, only 9.3% had reached the action stage. The mean number of step counts increased significantly in favour of the Intervention Group, as did the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly total score. Conclusion: The trial indicated that after the trans‐theoretical model‐based motivational interviewing, the stages of change among the older adults improved, as did their exercise behaviours. It is recommended that the trans‐theoretical model and motivational interviewing be used by nurses to improve healthy lifestyle stage behaviours in older adults. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Physical immobility ranks fourth among the leading risk factors for mortality globally.Older adults constitute the age group which leads the most sedentary life in society and is most affected by physical inactivity.In Turkey, one out of every two people undertakes insufficient physical activity, and this rate increases with advancing age. What this paper adds? Nurse‐led motivational interviewing based on the trans‐theoretical model was effective in increasing the physical activity levels of the older adults. The implications of this paper: It is recommended that the trans‐theoretical model and motivational interviewing should be used by nurses to improve healthy lifestyle behaviours in older adults.It is recommended that studies be conducted to assess the effectiveness of interventions aimed at promoting physical activity in older adults via both qualitative and quantitative methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This work aims to evaluate the relationship between the fear of hypoglycaemia, treatment adherence, and the quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its determinants. Methods: This descriptive and cross‐sectional study sample recruited 1060 T2DM outpatients in a health centre between January and July 2022. The Hypoglycemia Fear Survey (HFS), Type 2 DM Treatment Patient Compliance Scale, and the 5‐Level EuroQol 5‐Dimension (EQ‐5D‐5L) were used for data collection. Results: There was a positive correlation between age, duration of T2DM, and the scores obtained from the HFS and its subscales (p < 0.001). There was a positive, moderate correlation between the total HFS score and the TCS (p < 0.001). There was a negative correlation between the scores obtained from the HFS and the EQ‐5D‐5L (p < 0.001). The multiple regression analysis showed that the quality of life scores of the patients were significantly predicted by hypoglycaemia fear, duration of T2DM diagnosis, and age. (F = 91.691, p < 0.001). Hypoglycaemia fear, duration of T2DM diagnosis, and age explained 38.1% of the quality of life of patients. Conclusion: We determined that the increase in hypoglycaemia fear resulted in a decrease in treatment adherence. Besides, hypoglycaemia fear increased with increasing age and duration of T2DM diagnosis. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? In a limited literature, it has been reported that patients with diabetes experience hypoglycaemia fear. However, almost all of these studies focus on the hypoglycaemia fear in type 1 diabetes mellitus patients. What this paper adds? There was a positive correlation between the level of treatment adherence and hypoglycaemia fear in patients with T2DM. It was observed that adherence with treatment declined because of the increased fear of hypoglycaemia in patients with T2DM.Hypoglycaemia fear increased with increasing age and duration of T2DM diagnosis.Hypoglycaemia fear, duration of T2DM diagnosis, and age explained 38.1% of the quality of life scores of patients. The implications of this paper: This study reveals a new perspective on hypoglycaemia fear, treatment adherence, and the quality of life scores in patients with T2DM and its determinants.In nursing practice, it was determined that it is important to control hypoglycaemia fears to increase the treatment adherence and quality of life of T2DM patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed microbial culture from paper mill treatment system was enriched on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) medium and its PVA biodegradation capacity was investigated as a function of change in the initial pH values and PVA concentrations. The optimum pH value at 0.75 gl-1 initial PVA concentration was determined to be 8. PVA biodegradation by mixed microbial culture was investigated at the range of 0.68 - 15.5 gl-1 initial PVA concentrations. The mixed microbial culture was found to degrade within 5 days 98.6-88.5% of the initial PVA levels which ranged from 0.68 to 1.14 gl-1. The mixed microbial culture was found to remove more than 90% of the initial PVA concentrations, within the range of 3.13 to 6.64 g1-1 in 16-25 days of incubation at 35 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Excessive water consumption in pulp and paper industry results in high amount of wastewater. Pollutant characteristics of the wastewater vary depending on the processes used in production and the quality of paper produced. However, in general, high organic material and suspended solid contents are considered as major pollutants of pulp and paper industry effluents. The major pollutant characteristics of pulp and paper industry effluents in Turkey were surveyed and means of major pollutant concentrations, which were grouped in three different pollution grades (low, moderate and high strength effluents), and flow rates within 3000 to 10,000m3/day range with 1000m3/day steps were used as design parameters. Ninety-six treatment plants were designed using twelve flow schemes which were combinations of physical treatment, chemical treatment, aerobic and anaerobic biological processes. Detailed comparative cost analysis which includes investment, operation, maintenance and rehabilitation costs was prepared to determine optimum treatment processes for each pollution grade. The most economic and technically optimal treatment processes were found as extended aeration activated sludge process for low strength effluents, extended aeration activated sludge process or UASB followed by an aeration basin for medium strength effluents, and UASB followed by an aeration basin or UASB followed by the conventional activated sludge process for high strength effluents. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The project of modernity, which started in the last period of the Ottoman Empire, turned into a planned action in the country with the Republic of Turkey. In this context, within the project of modernity, planned development for economic independence and the development of industry were given importance. The İzmir Economy Congress (1927) and the First Five-Year Industry Plan (1934) ensured the realization of industrial investments in this process. These investments were seen as the elements that sustain the revolutions and the basic requirements for economic/social development and were realized by the state. As one of the first steps in the modernization process of the country, the Kocaeli SEKA Paper Factory area is a concrete example where the stages of this process can be followed. With the global crisis in the second half of the 20th century, the service sector began to become a predominant sector in industrial cities. Industrial areas, which used to be located in city centers in the past, started to be decentralized towards the periphery. In this process, production areas in city centers began to lose their usability in terms of both location and production due to technological obsolescence. With its locations covering large areas in city centers, it has become attractive in terms of new uses. The need to maintain these areas, which are also important in terms of urban history, except for their original functions, but maintaining the value created by the original function, has revealed the concept of industrial heritage. After the transfer of the SEKA area, whose functioning ended, to the municipality in 2005, it was aimed to reuse. This area, which is important for the history of the city, needs to be evaluated within the scope of the concept of industrial heritage, apart from its original functions, but maintaining the value created by the original function. In this study, the coastline, historical and industrial structures of SEKA, which affects the social and economic structure of the city, will be evaluated especially with the implementation of the Sekapark Urban Transformation Project. In addition, in order to ensure the effective and efficient use of the whole area, suggestions have been developed regarding the buildings and areas that have relatively limited use in the current situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study was designed to apply cleaner production concepts in a Turkish pulp and paper mill, for the first time in Turkey, to introduce the concept as well as to provide a framework for future initiatives. To achieve this objective a comprehensive waste reduction audit was conducted at SEKA Balikesir pulp and paper mill. First, audit schemes from different sources were examined and compiled that resulted in the methodology employed in this work. The audit covered water emissions and water usage. Then, the collected data were compared with international environmental performance indicators from other companies in the USA, Canada, Australia, and Europe. This comparison provided specific opportunities for improvement at different processes in the mill. For each viable opportunity, different waste reduction measures were analyzed and determined. Furthermore, the benefits of the identified waste reduction options were analyzed for increasing production efficiency and achieving target raw effluent pollution loads from the mill. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The purpose of this paper is to identify the nest materials, some physical characteristics and the elemental composition of the nest of Dolichovespula saxonica (Fabricius, 1793). The nest surfaces were observed with a stereomicroscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM). In the inner surface of the D. saxonica nest the medium thickness of the fibers in the envelope and comb varied between 7.14 and 26.9 μm, respectively and averaged 16.4 μm. In the outer surface of the nest the medium thickness of the fibers in the envelope and comb were between 3.52 and 5.70 μm, respectively and averaged 4.63 μm. The nitrogen concentration of the nest of D. saxonica was 0.616% and the amount of protein was 3.08%. The percentages of the fibers, saliva, oil and the water absorption capacity were calculated as 67-70%, 23-30%, 12-18% and 110-140%, respectively. However, the amount of the element Cadmium (Cd) in the nest was found to have a value of 0.2 ppm. The major compounds of wasp nests are plant fibers, saliva and oil. However, the concentrations and ratios of the nest material compounds depend on the plant variety, place of origin, and time of harvest as well as on the processing and saliva conditions. The colors of the nest are beige, cream and grey with long dark brown lines. As a result of our study, we have found that the rates and quantities of physical characteristics, elemental composition and the fibers in the envelope and comb of the nest of D. saxonica change with environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues that the Justice and Development Party (AKP) has instrumentalised the Turkish army by conducting military operations in the run-up to elections. Although ending military tutelage has been interpreted in other countries as a sign of the professionalisation of the army, in Turkey it has done the opposite: the civilianisation discourse and civilian hegemony over military institutions have led to the instrumentalisation of the army. I demonstrate that the number of military operations significantly increased in the lead-up to elections, which strongly indicates the extent of instrumentalisation. Previous studies have primarily focused on the army’s praetorian role, neglecting the instrumentalisation process in which the military is engaged. This paper analyses the operational aspect of the army and introduces the concept of instrumentalisation. I contend that the cessation of military tutelage in Turkey has resulted in the securitisation of both society and politics. The failed coup in 2016, the double elections of 2015, and the heightened interest in the defence sector during election periods provide strong grounds for examining the instrumentalisation hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the susceptibility of post-conflict democratization processes to civilian forms of ethnic violence. Shifting the focus away from institutions and political elites, which dominate analyses on democracy and ethnic violence, the paper analyzes social relations and struggles among civilians during post-conflict democratization. Through an analysis of anti-Kurdish communal violence in twenty-first-century Turkey, the paper shows that social movements led by minorities demanding recognition make ethnicity a politically salient cleavage. This triggers contention over ethnic boundaries, resulting in civilian forms of ethnic violence. A key finding of this paper is that violence is not merely an outcome of increasing polarization and division but also a strategy employed by dominant populations to reinforce former boundaries and reduce uncertainties surrounding the existing ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an analysis of the historical trajectory of Turkish geographical practice over the past four decades, situated within the broader socio-political landscape of the country. The transmission of the modern geographical tradition from continental Europe to Turkey during the interwar period established the discipline as a holistic science of the human-environment relationship. Although this understanding started to change after the 1968 events, the 1980 Turkish military coup abruptly disrupted innovative endeavors in the discipline, prompting a resurgence of regionally focused synthesis within geography. This insular approach prevailed for several decades but began to evolve in response to the internationalization trends that emerged in the 2000s, with deliberate steps taken toward fostering innovation. Despite institutional damage resulting from the political developments following the 2016 military coup attempt, the discipline maintained its commitment to innovation. This paper critically examines the divergent responses of Turkish geography and its practitioners to the 1980 military coup and the 2016 coup attempt, highlighting the significant influence of globalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large-scale high-rise architecture projects have been central to the rise of the construction industry in Turkey in recent years. This vertical escalation, however, has not been received without dissidence. Scholars, activists, journalists and officials with different viewpoints have participated in media debates regarding the reasons and consequences of this transformation. In these discussions, stakeholders have raised various environmental, cultural and ethical concerns that the vertical organisation of cities generate. Focussing on juxtapositions of Izmir and Istanbul in debates on urban verticality in the city of Izmir, Turkey's third most populated city, the paper examines how such comparisons with Istanbul, where the recent urban neoliberal transformation is experienced most intensely, have been mobilised to oppose vertical expansion. The paper argues that as a result of the recent centralisation of the Turkish economy around construction, the hyper-visibility of skyscrapers and the concentration of the urban transformation generated by the Turkish construction industry in Istanbul, skyscrapers have become materialised symbols of Istanbul's integration into global capitalism, neoliberal urbanisation, and the difference between Istanbul and other urban centres in Turkey. This example establishes urban verticality as a discursive axis at which urban centres outside of the Global North establish their difference from each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In middle-aged individuals with early-stage knee osteoarthritis, follow-up with remote rehabilitation methods may provide effective clinical outcomes. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of telerehabilitation on pain, function, performance, strength, proprioception, and psychosocial parameters in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Design: A randomized controlled study was conducted with 54 participants with knee osteoarthritis. All patients were randomized into two groups: the home-based telerehabilitation group (n = 29) and the home-based paper group (n = 28). The home exercise program and training were provided with an instruction manual to paper group. The same home exercise and education prescriptions were given to individuals in telerehabilitation group via an online platform. Pain, function, quality of life, physical performance, muscle strength, and proprioception were evaluated at baseline and after 8 wks of intervention. In addition, satisfaction and usability were evaluated at week 8. Results: Telerehabilitation group demonstrated better improvement in terms of pain, function, quality of life index score, and left extremity proprioception (P < 0.05). Telerehabilitation group was not superior to paper group in terms of muscle strength and performance tests (except the Five Times Sit to Stand Test) (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The home-based telerehabilitation program was superior to the home-based paper group program for pain, function, quality of life, and proprioception in patients with knee osteoarthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, I discuss how the earthquake risk is exploited by 'disaster capitalism', in order to convert Istanbul to a massive construction site. The shock of the 1999 Marmara Earthquake has been effectively used by the neoliberal market and government as 'a shock therapy' to implement a construction‐led development model for Turkey and to favour the construction sector by introducing new incentives, exceptional rights and interventions, which otherwise might be challenged. The current Turkish government justify the ongoing massive urban transformation and new mass housing projects as an improvement of the housing stock to make residential buildings stronger and more resilient to earthquakes. However, areas actually under earthquake risk do not match the areas that are officially declared under disaster risk by the government. The Disaster Law #6306 that granted the government the absolute right to expropriate land based on the justification of 'protecting residents against earthquakes and other natural disasters' was applied in a selective way to seize valuable land in Istanbul. In the paper I explore how the disaster was quickly converted to an opportunity for economic growth. To do that I introduce stories of three different neighbourhoods in Istanbul, namely Moda, Tozkoparan and Fikirtepe, each of which experience the ongoing massive urban transformation differently based on the land value of the neighbourhoods, class position of the residents, and residents' capacity to organise in order to protect their rights. I describe, how disaster capitalism is lived and experienced differently in these three neighbourhoods. Although the massive construction projects are indifferent to life's sustainability, those projects are justified as interventions in terms of public health and safety through making housing resilient to earthquakes. I critically discuss how in each case biopolitics presents disaster capitalism's massive urban transformation projects as a manifestation of liveliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The average age of the global merchant fleet has been declining with the increasing number of new ship constructions and dismantled ships. Although a noteworthy part of ship dismantling and recycling (SDR) facilities have been performed in Asian countries, such as India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, SDR facilities have also been increasing in Türkiye. SDR facilities provide substantial economic income and employment opportunities. However, SDR facilities should have been performed in a certain systematic framework by taking necessary precautions since toxic substances from dismantled ships affect the environment and employees' health. That's why maritime authorities make an effort to sustain the SDR facilities in the best way in the sense of safety, health, and environment through the European Union (EU) Ship Recycling Regulation (SRR), Basel Convention, and Hong Kong Convention (HKC). In this paper, the global SDR facilities have been evaluated in terms of ship types and their gross tonnages (GTs) over the past 5 years among the leading countries. The number, type, economic life span, steel weight, and light displacement tonnage (LDT) of dismantled ships have been analyzed in Türkiye, especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic process. To determine the most effective year in terms of SDR, the weighted aggregated sum product assessment (WASPAS) method has been utilized based on scrap steel price, LDT, economic life span, number of dismantled ships, and steel structure weight coefficient of the ship by maritime experts. The year 2017 has been highlighted as the most effective year with a .909 rank value in the last 5 years. In addition to analysis results, the largest amount of scrap steel has been acquired from dry cargo ships, which is the most dismantled ship type under data getting from the SDR facilities in Türkiye. Temporary bans on cruises due to the COVID-19 pandemic have caused more than triple increments in the number of passenger ships (PS) dismantling. This paper will be a quite notable resource for experts, academics, and industry stakeholders in order to explore and compare the SDR process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to examine whether the characteristics of the audit committee impact the timely reporting represented by audit report lag (ARL), firm-based abnormal audit report lag (FAARL), and industry-based audit reports lag (IAARL). The sample of the study includes mostly hand-collected 2,284 firm-year observations obtained from Turkey's listed non-financial companies. Main regression results show that audit committee gender diversity, meeting frequency, and independence are negatively associated with timely reporting. Furthermore, additional analysis indicates the negative association between timely reporting and the audit committee effectiveness indexes created by the coexistence of the audit committee. Also, an interaction effect between audit committee independence and gender diversity concerning the timeliness of financial reporting has been documented. The use of fixed effects estimators and two-step system GMM estimator also supported the main results. This paper aims to provide concrete contribution to the literature by examining timely reporting in an emerging market like Turkey. The results suggest that regulatory bodies and companies should review the audit committee structure to better timely reporting and reduce firm and industry-based abnormal delays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the agency of the architecture of the Temple of Apollo at Claros and its cognitive impact on the ritual of divination. In the comparison with Delphi, Claros represents a peculiar example of how architecture evolved to suit and shape at the same time the ritual it was hosting. The paper starts with the analysis of the exteriors of the building, highlighting the choice of the Doric style dictated by the desire of being associated to Delphi. A further analysis of the internal layout gives the author a chance of describing the cognitive inputs that the peculiar structure sent to the ancient mind. Specifically, the paper studies how the narrow tunnels made of black marble that turned seven times and the underground cave like adyton created a situation of sensory confusion in the mind of the seekers and the oracle that found themselves prone to detect agencies in the surrounding space and specifically to identify the agent with Apollo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Image and reputation are key factors in how nations are perceived by global audiences. Current and historical issues can pose as challenges to a nation's reputation prompting the need to save face. The Armenian genocide is one of the most critical issues the Republic of Turkey has had to manage in terms of its global image and reputation. While the vast body of literature on the subject borrows from history and political science focusing on the mechanism of denial, this paper offers a communication framework to understand the rhetoric of Turkey's image repair. Turkey's crisis communication strategies vis-à-vis the centennial of the Armenian genocide are analyzed by employing Benoit's image repair theory through a content analysis of official statements and declarations by the heads of state given in 2014 and 2015. In response to the emerging political crisis, the Turkish government primarily employed image repair strategies of evading responsibility and reducing offensiveness with the aim to appeal to international audiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reaction paper provides a brief response and critique Khan et al.'s (2023) proposal categorisation about dividing four subgenera of the genus Raphignathus Dugès. The present work contains following nomenclatural recommendation in Raphignathus: (1) Raphignathus bengalensisModak, 1991 and R. sayedi Gomaa and Hassan, 1986 are considered here as nomina nuda due to no formally publishing. (2) Raphignathus curtipilus Berlese, 1888 is transferred to the genus Eustigmaeus Berlese. (3) Raphignathus striatus Trägardh, 1904 is moved to the genus Prostigmaeus? Kuznetsov in Stigmaeidae based on their original descriptions and illustrations. This paper also presents a current species list for the family Raphignathidae Kramer, with a new country (Türkiye) recorded species and a case of numerical variation in its external suranal setae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Communication of people with Parkinson's disease (PwPD) is negatively affected. For PwPD with communication difficulties, it is important to use self‐assessment tools as a primary assessment approach to evaluate their perspectives on communication. It is also important to evaluate PwPDs with self‐assessment scales in order to determine in which situations their communicative effectiveness is affected and to include them in the intervention plan. Aims: To create a Turkish version of the Communicative Effectiveness Survey‐Revised (CES‐R), to examine its validity and reliability, and to investigate its applicability in PwPD. Method: The study included 106 PwPD and 106 healthy participants. The original form of the CES‐R was adapted into Turkish according to international guidelines. Every participant completed the Turkish version of CES‐R and the Voice Handicap Index‐10 form. The adapted scale was retested 2 weeks later. Outcomes and Results: Because the Kaiser‐Meyer‐Olkin coefficient was 0.956 in the exploratory factor analysis of the CES‐R and p < 0.01 for Bartlett's Test, the data set is 'perfectly' suitable for factor analysis. In the explanatory factor analysis applied in the CES‐R scale, the total explanatory ratio of the two dimensions was determined as 63.5%, and the validity condition was met. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.958 in the PwPD group and 0.955 in the control group and the scale was found to be at the 'high reliability' level. Conclusion: The CES‐R is a valid, reliable, and useable self‐assessment scale for Turkish PwPD. Furthermore, this adaptation research was developed to assess possible communication difficulties for PwPD. With this tool, difficulties in communication skills that can be identified by a comprehensive evaluation should also be studied in the intervention processes. What this paper adds: What is already known on the subject: Self‐assessment tools are suggested as a primary use when evaluating people with Parkinson's disease (PwPD) with communication difficulties. The CES‐R is one of these self‐assessment scales. However, the validity and reliability study of the Communicative Effectiveness Survey‐Revised (CES‐R) in Turkish has not been conducted. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: This study demonstrates the validity and reliability of the Turkish CES‐R scale and its applicability to PwPD. Furthermore, this scale can be used in assessment procedures for possible communication difficulties for PwPD. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: The scale, which is unidimensional in the literature, was found to have two dimensions with eigenvalues > 1 in the Discovery Factor analysis in this study. The first dimension was named communication in general situations (CGS) and the second dimension was named communication in difficult situations (CDS). It is thought that this scale will be useful in research and clinics for the comprehensive assessment of PwPD with communication difficulties before and after treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to study recent approaches to peacemaking, particularly by Turkey and Russia, in a changing world and their implications for UN-led peace processes. The authors analyze the factors that allow parallel processes to UN mediation to emerge and discuss their influence. Design/methodology/approach: The paper presents two in-depth case studies of mediation in Syria and Libya, where the UN, as well as Russia and Turkey, were actively involved in peacemaking. Findings: The authors find that parallel processes to UN mediation emerge if the UN process does not show progress toward a negotiated settlement and other third parties have leverage over the conflict parties. However, whether these parallel processes pose a fundamental challenge to the UN-led process depends on how sustained the third parties' leverage over the conflict parties is. If it lasts, it puts the UN in a difficult position to either participate in the parallel process and contain it but thereby also legitimizing it, or to abstain from participating but thereby risking to lose control over the mediation process. Research limitations/implications: Analyzing different approaches to mediation helps to better understand current dynamics of multiparty mediation, including an increased questioning of the effectiveness of UN mediation, and provides insights on how the UN may adapt to keep its relevance in a changing world. Originality/value: The paper is based on original first-hand data gathered between 2018 and 2022 through more than 50 interviews with UN officials, negotiation team members, political and civil society actors from Syria and Libya, (former) state officials and experts from Russia and Turkey, as well as external observers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has evolved into an important provider of resources for developing countries, encompassing capital, know-how and expertise. China has also actively worked to strengthen diplomatic ties with developing regions since the early 2000s. Against this backdrop, the governments in many developing countries have moved to incorporate China as a significant factor in their geopolitical and geoeconomic considerations. Under the rule of the Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi, AKP), Turkey has also sought to foster relations with China, particularly since the early 2010s. This pursuit has been further triggered by Ankara's strained relations with the United States and the European Union. Turkish political leadership envisions China as a potentially crucial partner that could enhance the country's autonomy in relation to the West. While this expectation has not entirely materialized so far, there is an ongoing debate regarding the extent to which China can potentially be a transformative actor in Turkey's position within the international order. This paper contributes to this debate by locating Turkey-China engagement within a broader context of China's power and influence in the developing world. The paper suggests that the potential for Turkey's cooperation with China is likely to remain relatively limited for the foreseeable future. This is not only due to Turkey's deeply rooted ties with the West, but also because of the nature of China's global power, which is more partial and not as deep as commonly assumed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on examining how ecotourism can help rural development. Eco-tourism is an important type of tourism that provides economic and social benefits to the local community by exhibiting rural life, culture, and nature in rural areas. The study was conducted in Yozgat province of Turkey using primary and secondary data. In this context, interviews were had with the authorities of the Culture and Tourism Provincial Directorate, Yozgat Culture, Tourism and Development Association, and local administrations, plus it was observed in the field. Published publications and scientific studies on the subject were also used as secondary sources. According to the research findings, ecotourism was considered an effective and important model for the sustainable development of local communities. In the study, the eco-tourism potential of the province, strengths (S), weaknesses (W), opportunities (O), and threats (T) were revealed by SWOT analysis. Opportunities and strengths were considered significant for sustainable ecotourism potential. Focusing on local tourism and rural development as a leverage point, this paper puts forward proposals on management strategies and offers a different viewpoint on the need for rural innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to social protection in old age is crucial and yet contingent upon negotiations between the social structures of the welfare states and the personal networks within which individuals are embedded. International migration, changing family dynamics, and the transformation of care and other welfare policies in the global North make it challenging for older migrants to negotiate social protection. Drawing on 45 semi-structured interviews with first-generation older Turkish migrants in London and 13 semi-structured interviews with professional service providers for the community, the paper aims to investigate the assemblages of formal and informal social protection in the lives of older migrants. Findings indicate the complexity in accessing informal social protection and the navigation of formal care support in the UK for first generation older Turkish migrants and the contingency of access to formal care services on informal support networks for participants. It has been demonstrated that built infrastructure and policies aimed at older adults have great influence on assemblages of care, highlighting the need for more age-friendly and integrated policies to facilitate access to social protection for diverse groups of older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turkey, under the Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi, AKP), has launched large-scale national housing programmes in line with the emerging international trend in low-income housing provision. This paper analyses the place of the government's housing programmes in economic policy and in the international context to illustrate the overall picture of the Turkish housing policy in the AKP era. Housing programmes have enabled low and middle-income people to access homeownership. However, other areas of housing policy such as land provision, taxes, subsidies, or housing finance have ignored the housing needs of low-income households. The case of Turkey reveals that the area on which the government should focus for low-income housing provision is access to affordable finance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Particle swarm optimization, one of the modern global optimization methods, is attracting widespread interest because it overcomes the difficulties of conventional inversion techniques, such as trapping at a local minimum and/or initial model dependence. The main characteristic of particle swarm optimization is the large search space of parameters, which in a sense allows the exploration of the entire objective function space if the input parameters are properly chosen. However, in the case of a high‐dimensional model space, the numerical instability of the solution may increase and lead to unrealistic models and misinterpretations due to the sampling problem of particle swarm optimization. Therefore, smoothness‐constrained regularization techniques used for the objective function or model reduction techniques are required to stabilize the solution. However, weighting and combining objective function terms is partly a subjective process, as the regularization parameter is generally chosen based on some kind of criteria of how the smoothing constraints affect the data misfits. This means that it cannot be completely predefined but needs to be adjusted during the inversion process, which begins with the response of an initial model. In this paper, a new modelling approach is proposed to obtain a smoothness‐constrained model from magnetotelluric data utilizing multi‐objective particle swarm optimization based on the Pareto optimality approach without using a regularization parameter and combining several objective function terms. The presented approach was verified on synthetic models and an application with field data set from the Çanakkale–Tuzla geothermal field in Turkey. Findings from these analyses confirm the usefulness of the method as a new approach for all constrained inversions of geophysical data without the need to combine the objective function terms weighted by a regularization parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A previous comprehensive survey in the Mediterranean and Southeastern regions of Türkiye investigating the natural egg parasitism of lepidopteran maize pests, Sesamia spp, (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn. and Chilo partellus (Swinhoe; Lepidoptera: Crambidae) by Trichogramma evanescens Westwood (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) yielded successful establishment of laboratory cultures of six strains molecularly clustering into two main groups. In this study, the functional response and adult longevity of the strains reared and tested on a factitious host, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) were investigated to provide insights into their potential as candidate biocontrol agents under constant laboratory conditions. The functional response modelling process consisted of two main sequential steps: model selection using polynomial logistic regression and parameter estimation using an iterative maximum likelihood estimation method. The functional response of two strains showed negative linear parameters (type II): HAP068M and HAP268S. Although their attack rate did not differ, the handling time of HAP268S was longer than that of HAP068M. In contrast, four strains had positive linear and negative quadratic parameters (type III) in their functional response: HAP044S, HAP070S, HAP210S, and HAP258M. The strains exhibiting type III functional response did not differ in their handling time, while HAP044S had a higher attack coefficient than HAP070S, HAP210S, and HAP258M. The longevity of both female and male adults significantly differed between strains. More importantly, the females belonging to strains exhibiting type II functional response presented a shorter longevity, compared to those with type III functional response. Males also showed a similar trend in their longevity. This paper discusses the differences in functional response types and estimated parameters of the strains in relation to their relevance for biological control programs and reveals a link between their functional response and longevity as potential reciprocal predictors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Online collaboration tools have been identified as potentially effective means for enhancing student learning, motivation, and engagement in science education. However, their effectiveness in improving science education outcomes among middle school students remains uncertain. Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the impact of online collaboration tools on science education outcomes among middle school students, focusing on learning achievement, engagement, and motivation. Methods: A quasi‐experimental design with a pretest‐posttest control group was used in this study. A total of 60 eighth‐grade middle school students were involved in the study, with both the experimental and control groups comprising 30 students each. The experimental group incorporated the use of digital collaboration platforms, including Asana, Slack, and Team Viewer, as instrumental components of group project execution and discussion in their science lessons. Conversely, the control group adhered to the current educational approach in Turkey, characterized by the employment of an inquiry‐based learning strategy in their science instruction. Data was collected over eight weeks using a science achievement test, engagement scale, and science motivation scale. Results: The experimental group demonstrated significantly higher post‐test scores compared to the control group, suggesting that online collaboration tools positively impacted science education outcomes. Additionally, survey data indicated high levels of engagement and motivation among the experimental group students when using the online collaboration tools. Conclusions: The findings support the notion that online collaboration tools can effectively enhance learning, motivation, and engagement in science education among middle school students. These results have significant implications for educators, educational institutions, policymakers, and curriculum developers. Further research is needed to examine the potential of these tools in various educational contexts and with different student populations. This will help broaden the understanding of how online collaboration tools can be integrated into diverse learning environments, potentially benefiting a larger number of students and further improving science education outcomes. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: Technology's role, particularly online collaboration tools, in enriching science education is undebatable (Donkin & Rasmussen, 2021; Rahmawati et al., 2022). Such tools have been theorized to bolster student learning outcomes, motivation, and engagement (Donnelly et al., 2013; Ekici, 2017; Khazanchi & Khazanchi, 2019). Yet, the empirical evidence validating their efficacy in science educational settings remains sparse. What this paper adds: This research delves into the influence of online collaboration tools on science learning outcomes among middle school learners. Data indicates that employing these digital tools substantially elevates student performance, as gauged by a science achievement test. Furthermore, students navigating through these online collaborative platforms recorded elevated levels of both engagement and motivation. The primary effectiveness of online collaboration tools stems from their ability to foster specific behaviours, such as increased communication frequency and structured task management, which can amplify learning and group collaboration through their facilitated structured interactions. Implications for practice and/or policy: This study's conclusions offer pivotal insights for educators, academic institutions, policy framers, and curriculum architects. Online collaborative platforms exhibit promise in amplifying student outcomes and engagement within the realm of science education. It is imperative to broaden this research scope to discern the tools' potential across varied educational environments and diverse student demographics. There is a compelling case for stakeholders, especially educators and policymakers, to contemplate incorporating these online tools into science pedagogy, aiming to magnify student learning experiences and engagement levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the urban centers of Türkiye, where cultural changes are more widespread and effective, wedding processional is replaced by the solemnization of the marriage at indoor weddings, and the Kūdegū (old Turkic language; refers to bridegroom, son-in-law) awaiting the bride's arrival at the boy's house is replaced by differences in the way of the bride and groom's entry together; moreover, while wedding rituals such as the bridal bath and groom's hammam are being forgotten, bachelor/bachelorette parties are on the rise. The beliefs and practices related to the bride being taken out of the girl's house with a special ceremony have deep meanings, such as blessing the bride who has just joined the family, acclimatizing the bride who feels like an outsider and avoiding her from these feelings, and protecting the bride and groom from the körmös (spirits in Turkic mythology, devilish entities living in the underworld), bad spirits, and the evil eye. In this paper, the structure, function, practices, and beliefs of the rituals surrounding the bride and groom on the last day of Anatolian Turkish weddings are analyzed using a qualitative research method. In addition, this study identified the betrothal, performance, beliefs, and practices surrounding the ritual of "bridal pick up" among Anatolian Turks and evaluated the symbols and signs in the ritual procedures in the functional context of the origins and reflections of traditional Turkish beliefs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although leisure constraints that individuals have to cope with can negatively affect their social inclusion and satisfaction with life, little research has addressed the link between these variables. Therefore, the current paper examined the moderator role of leisure constraints on the relationship between satisfaction with life and leisure constraints among adults living in five different European countries. The respondents were 1,382 women and 877 men adults. The findings of analysis revealed that all factors used in the study accounted for 15% of the variance in satisfaction with life and social inclusion had a significant and positive impact on satisfaction with life. As a result, it can be said that leisure constraints had a moderating effect on the relationship between satisfaction with life and social inclusion. The present research study recommends that social inclusion should be encouraged through decreasing to leisure constraints to increase the life satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the liberal international order has been falling, the heteropolar order coupled with politics of uncertainty has been rising. In this context, illiberal regimes of status-seeking powers have realized the value of public diplomacy to promulgate their versions of the "reality." Those illiberal regimes' adoption of public diplomacy tools (incl. international public news agencies) has generated discussions on theoretical and practical approaches to the field at the intersection of political science/international relations, media, and communication studies. Against this backdrop, this paper aims to contribute to the emerging literature on public diplomacy of non-Western illiberal democracies. With the assumption that those regimes' illiberal democratic characteristics will be reflected in their public agencies' coverage styles (e.g., monologic, conflictive, and unbalanced), the article raises the following question: How do illiberal democracies utilize international public agencies as public diplomacy channels? To answer this question, it compares framing strategies (peace/war journalism) of the Russian TASS and the Turkish Anatolian Agency public agencies during the Syrian crisis. The findings reveal that those illiberal regimes' public agencies have reported the crisis as a state-centric monolog in conflict with the West by distrupting the global public good (i.e., peace). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The warnings about Turkey's not-so-near accession to the EU are explored as a strategic tool in the Brexit campaign, linking concerns about sovereignty and immigration compounded with the anxieties surrounding Islam and the threat of terrorism. Drawing on the theoretical framework of Edward Said's Orientalism and the unique perspectives gathered from British Turks, this paper sheds light on their nuanced responses. It uncovers strategies of disbelief and denial in the face of the constructed narrative that portrayed Turkey as an undesirable 'Other' with its predominantly Muslim population. A closer analysis of some British Turks' narratives is premised not only on the sacralised defence of the principles of Turkish westernisation but also on the socio-political reputation of the Islamic Ottoman past as almighty. The article equally contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between British national identity and discourses surrounding immigration, sovereignty, and Islamophobia within the context of Brexit, as well as the principles by which the privileges of modern, secular Turkey, as well as the demise of the mighty Ottoman image, are maintained. In a paradoxical manner, the act of denial only serves to affirm the Brexit campaign's narrative depicting Turkey as an undesirable 'Other' with a predominantly Muslim demographic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]