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Regressive analysis was used to determine empirical correlations between the velocity of an elastic P-wave (compressional pulse) and a number of physical, strength, and deformation characteristics of limestone rock collected at quarries in Turkey. The results may be used to determine the properties of limestone rock formations for engineering purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the role of teacher immediacy and student burnout on empowerment and resistance behaviors among university students attending a faculty of education in Turkey. A total of 329 pre-service teachers ranging in age from 17–37 (mean age: 20.57 years) participated in the study. Hierarchical regression results revealed that teacher immediacy positively predicted all three dimensions of student empowerment and negatively predicted student resistance. Efficacy was a positive predictor of the competence and impact dimensions of learner empowerment and a negative predictor of resistance, whereas cynicism was a negative predictor of the meaningfulness dimension of empowerment and a positive predictor of resistance. In addition, teacher immediacy had a stronger effect on learner empowerment than student burnout, while student burnout had a stronger effect on resistance than teacher immediacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of gender and ego identity status (identity achievement, moratorium, foreclosure, and identity diffusion) in predicting psychological well-being among Turkish emerging adults. The study sample comprised 301 emerging adults aged 19–25 years (mean age: 22.03;SD = 1.46) who were attending a university. Self-reporting scales were used to assess ego identity status (Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status) and psychological well-being (Multi-Dimensional Psychological Well-Being Scale). Hierarchical regression analysis showed identity achievement to be a positive predictor of all psychological well-being dimensions whereas moratorium, foreclosure, and identity diffusion were found to be negative predictors of several well-being dimensions. These results suggest that identity commitment following exploration of possible alternatives is an important factor in the psychological well-being of emerging adults in a non-Western cultural context. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study examined the role of demographic factors (length of stay, education and language level), perceived discrimination, social support, four acculturation attitudes, and psychological distress in predicting empowerment among Turkish migrant women in the UK. The study sample comprised 248 Turkish migrant women (mean age: 34.38; SD: 7.6) living in London. Self-report questionnaires were used to assess empowerment, social support, acculturation attitude and psychological distress. The study hypothesized that perceived discrimination; acculturation attitudes of separation, assimilation and marginalization; and psychological distress would be negative predictors of empowerment and that social support and an integration acculturation attitude would be positive predictors of empowerment. To some extent, the study findings supported this hypothesis. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated psychological distress to be the most significant predictor of empowerment, with other significant predictors including level of education and social support. More specifically, lower levels of psychological distress and higher levels of education and social support appeared to predict greater empowerment. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that level of education and social support may function as protective factors and that psychological distress may function as a risk factor for empowerment in the migration context. The paper discusses the findings of this study in relation to the previous literature and notes their implications for future research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the differences among 403 middle adolescents regarding Marcia's four identity statuses in terms of perceived parental attitudes and gender. The Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status (EOM-EIS-2) and Parental Education Scale (PAS) were used to collect data. Results showed that children of authoritative parents scored significantly higher on identity foreclosure than those of neglectful parents. Children of permissive parents scored significantly higher on identity foreclosure than those of neglectful parents. In addition, female students scored higher on achievement identity status while male students scored higher on identity foreclosure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several prognostic factors have been described but there are few studies evaluating the prognostic importance of seizure in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). To evaluate the prognostic importance of seizure at the time of the diagnosis of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and compare it with other known prognostic factors. Between January 1994 and December 2000, 81 patients underwent irradiation for intracranial GBM at our institution. The criteria for inclusion in this study were biopsy-proven GBM, being treated for primary disease. Seventy-six patients were retrospectively evaluated and the remaining five patients could not be enrolled due to lack of details. The prognostic importance of age, sex, performance status, a history of seizure at diagnosis, extent of surgery, radiotherapy field and dose were studied. The Kaplan-Meier method, the Log rank test, the Cox proportional hazard model and the Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis. Survival at first and second years was 19.74% and 4.81%, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed age, performance status, history of seizure, and radiotherapy dose as significant prognostic factors and with multivariate analysis age, history of seizure and radiotherapy dose were positive prognostic factors. This study concluded that in GBM, history of seizure prior to diagnosis of GBM was a positive prognostic factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Supraglottic airway devices are commonly used to manage the airway during general anaesthesia. There are sporadic case reports of temporomandibular joint dysfunction and dislocation following supraglottic airway device use. We conducted a prospective observational study of adult patients undergoing elective surgery where a supraglottic airway device was used as the primary airway device. Pre‐operatively, all participants were asked to complete a questionnaire involving 12 points adapted from the Temporomandibular Joint Scale and the Liverpool Oral Rehabilitation Questionnaire. Objective measurements included inter‐incisor distance as well as forward and lateral jaw movements. The primary outcome was the inter‐incisor distance, an accepted measure of temporomandibular joint mobility. Both the questionnaire and measurements were repeated in the postoperative period and we analysed data from 130 participants. Mean (SD) inter‐incisor distance in the pre‐ and postoperative period was 46.5 (7.2) mm and 46.3 (7.5) mm, respectively (p = 0.521) with a difference (95%CI) of 0.2 (−0.5 to 0.9) mm. Mean (SD) forward jaw movement in the pre‐ and postoperative period was 3.6 (2.4) mm and 3.9 (2.4) mm, respectively (p = 0.018). Mean (SD) lateral jaw movement to the right in the pre‐ and postoperative period was 8.9 (4.1) mm and 9.1 (4.0) mm, respectively (p = 0.314). Mean (SD) lateral jaw movement to the left in the pre‐ and postoperative period was 8.8 (4.0) mm and 9.3 (3.6) mm, respectively (p = 0.008). The number of patients who reported jaw clicks or pops before opening their mouth as wide as possible was 28 (21.5%) vs. 12 (9.2%) in the pre‐ and postoperative period, respectively (p < 0.001) with a difference (95%CI) of 12.3% (6.7–17.9%). There was no significant difference in the responses to the other 11 questions or in the number of patients who reported pain in the temporomandibular joint area postoperatively. No clinically significant dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint following the use of supraglottic airway devices in the postoperative period was identified by either patient questionnaires or objective measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recurrent nature of bipolar disorder needs an optimum compliance with long term pharmacotherapy, however the poor adherence is common. Adjunctive psychoeducation seems favorable effects on adherence during the long term pharmacotherapy. Even strong benefits were showed, setting a psychoeducation in clinical practice is still novel and recruiting the patients with long history of bipolar disorder may not be feasible. In literature, recruitment rate, motivation and attitudes of patients for participation in psychoeducation is not studied. The present study was conducted to clarify the intends of patients with bipolar disorder to participate in psychoeducation and the factors that contribute. The euthymic patients with diagnosis of bipolar disorder I or II, were invited to the 6 week psychoeducation program in prospective study. The demographic and clinical data were obtained from life charts and updated with a clinical interview. The blood levels of mood stabilizers, adherence, response to prophylactic treatment, relapses and hospitalization rates between the participants and non-participants were compared. 84 patients were attended the program, 71 patients were considered as unwilling to attend. The motivation of patients to attend a psychoeducation is limited. The participation rate was only 54.2%. The patients who refused attending to this program have fewer adherences to medication and irregular follow up visits, insufficient blood levels of mood stabilizers, poor response to long term treatment, more likely have mood episodes. Education level between attendees and non-attendees were not different. Optimum methods are required for recruitment of bipolar patients to a psychoeducation program. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A correction to the article "Mycotox and Aflatoxicosis in Quails," by A. Sehu, S. Cakir, Ö Cengiz and D. Essiz.

Abstract: Computational studies were carried out to investigate the influence of polymerization procedure on the topology and various macromolecular characteristics of the highly branched polymers formed by the reaction of A2 and B3 type monomers through step-growth polymerization reactions. The influence of three different polymerization procedures on the properties of the polymers formed was investigated, namely, (i) slow addition of A2 over B3, (ii) slow addition of B3 over A2, and (iii) mixed A2 +B3. Topology, degree of branching, number and weight average molecular weights, and polydispersity index of the polymers were determined using Monte Carlo simulations, assuming different levels of cyclization ratios during the reactions. Interestingly model polymers obtained by the slow addition of B3 over A2 produced much higher degree of branching or truly hyperbranched polymers, when compared with the other two methods, which mainly resulted in linear growth with slight branching. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Mongolian gerbils (28 males) were divided into four groups, control (C), treadmill-exercised (Ex), treated with the extract of Diospyros kaki (Dk), and exercised plus treated with the Dk extract (Ex+Dk). Animals of the respective groups were running-exercised for 30 min per day during 8 weeks, and the Dk extract (dose 20 mg/kg) was given by gavage during five days per week within the same period. After the treatment and exercise period, an epilepsy model was produced by penicillin G injection (500 IU) into the left somatomotor cortex, and the electrocorticogram (ECoG) was recorded during 120 min. The mean frequency of spike/wave complexes was significantly smaller in the Ex and Ex+Dk groups from the 65th min of the observation period and, in the Dk group, from the 75th min than the respective value in the C group ( P < 0.01, P < 0.05, and P < 0.01, respectively). The differences in the amplitude values and latency to onset of the spike/wave events among all groups did not reach the significance level ( P > 0.05). Thus, both the running exercise and Dk extract applications inhibit penicillin-induced epileptiform activity by altering the spike/wave frequency or severity of seizures observed in ECoG recordings. Further studies are needed to determine the effects of physical activity of different intensities and forms and to analyze the active compounds in the Dk extract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Venous balloon dilation and stent therapy have been proposed as effective treatments for chronic iliofemoral thrombosis. In this study, we report our experience and describe the one-year outcome and efficacy of balloon angioplasty and stenting for the treatment of post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) in iliofemoral vein segments. Methods: From June 2011 to June 2012, 52 consecutive patients with chronic PTS (59 limbs; 75% women; median age 58 years; range: 23-76 years) referred to our unit for interventional assessment were included in the study. Treatment effects were assessed using Villalta scale, Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS) and Chronic Venous Insufficiency Questionnaire (CIVIQ)-20 for PTS, CEAP (clinical, aetiological, anatomical and pathological elements) grading and measurement of leg circumference, before and after intervention. Results: Stenting was successfully accomplished in all patients. Coagulation abnormality was identified in 21 subjects (40.3%). CEAP grades were as follows: C3 in 19 patients, C4 in 24 patients, C5 in one patient and C6 in eight patients. According to Villalta scores, three patients were mild, seven patients were moderate and 42 patients were severe PTS. VCSS, Villalta scale and CIVIQ-20 showed a significant decrease in the severity of PTS signs and symptoms (P < 0.001). The calf and middle thigh circumferences decreased significantly on both sides (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Treatment of iliac venous obstruction with balloon angioplasty and stenting appears to be a minimally invasive and safe therapeutic approach in patients with PTS offering quick symptomatic relief, good patency and minimal morbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of dietary inclusion of shelled acorn seed (Quercus cerris) on the growth performance and carcass yield of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Four hundred four-day old quail chicks were used in this study. Experimental diets contained 0, 5, 10, 15 or 20% shelled acorn seed. The experiment lasted 38 days. There were no differences between treatments in body weight, body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio. Furthermore, the mortality rate and carcass yield were not affected by the inclusion in the diet of different levels of shelled acorn seed. The inclusion of shelled acorn seed to the quail diets did not cause any harmful effect on the health of the birds. These results suggested that up to 20% shelled acorn seed could be included as an energy source in quail diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examines the accuracy of endometrial curettage in patients with endometrial carcinoma. Based on study of pre- and postoperative grades of 168 patients, 22 patients have endometrial hyperplasia and the remaining 136 patients had endometrial carcinoma preoperatively. It concludes that preoperative sampling with endometrial curettage for patients with endometrial carcinoma has a diagnostic accuracy of 91% for histopahologic types and 61% for grades of the tumors.