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Background: An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 occurred in Pazarcık District of Turkey at 04.17 on February 6, 2023 and another earthquake of 7.6 occurred at 13.24 on the same day. This is the second largest earthquake to have occurred in Turkey. The aim of this study is to investigate the earthquake-related level of knowledge, attitudes and behaviours, general health and psychological status of survivors who were affected by the 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquake and who were living in Nurdağı District of Gaziantep after the earthquake. Methods: Data of 2317 individuals older than 18 years of age who were living in earthquake neighbourhoods, tents and containers in Nurdağı District of Gaziantep were examined. Variables were evaluated to find out the demographic characteristics and general health status of earthquake victims. General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) was used to find out psychological states of earthquake victims. Results: The rate of injuries was 14.2% and leg and foot injuries were the most common with 44.2%. The relationship between injury status; and age, marital status, and being trapped under debris was revealed (p < 0.05). Mean GHQ-12 score of the survivors was 3.81 ± 2.81 and 51.9% experienced psychological distress. In the evaluation with logistic regression, it was found that female gender, being injured in the earthquake, loss of first degree and second degree relatives (with a higher rate in loss of first degree relative), having a severely damaged -to be demolished house and having a completely destroyed house were correlated with higher level of psychological distress (p < 0.05). Conclusion: General characteristics, injury prevalence and affecting factors of earthquake survivors were evaluated in the present study. Psychological distress was found in victims. For this reason, providing protective and assistive services to fight the destructive effects of earthquake is vital. Accordingly, increasing the awareness of people residing in earthquake zones regarding earthquakes is exceptionally important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surplus structures lead to wall problems in outdoor spaces. This makes people feel trapped between concrete masses. In this study, the walls in Izmit were examined. Activity areas in Izmit were determined as roadside, children's playground, sports area and resting area in which the wall is used intensively. The focal point was chosen as the visual quality of the walls in these areas. Visual quality is the user's appreciation or preference of the images of the walls before and after the design intervention. For each activity area, a total of 8 different wall examples of boundary and load-bearing walls were decided on, and design recommendations were developed using three different techniques of planting, constructiveness and planting–constructiveness. For each activity area, different intervention rates less (25–50%) or more (75–100%) were employed. Subsequently, the effect of these proposed designs on users and appropriate applications for different walls was revealed with the aid of a survey. In order to reveal the selection differences between the user group and the expert group, the survey was applied to 100 voluntary participants and an expert group of 10 landscape architects. As a result of the analysis, it was revealed that activity difference and the intervention rate were effective in the choice of intervention. Planting intervention design proposals were chosen for children's playground and roadside while constructiveness and planting interventions were chosen for resting areas. Also, constructiveness interventions were chosen for sports areas. On the basis of the results, activity type in the areas where the walls are located was found to be effective on choices. It is important to choose the appropriate intervention technique in accordance with the user's preference for the activity. Overall, this study aims to emphasize the necessity and importance of correct interventions to walls in order to illustrate the city more liveable, healthy and comfortable, providing aesthetic value in a visual sense compatible with the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowing the energy demand guides the future investments of countries. Nuclear power plant (NPP) is an important resource to guide sustainable energy policies in sectoral investments. The first step for the reliable, accurate and energy-demand-based use of this resource is the NPP installation on a suitable site. Therefore, spatial evaluation is required for NPP in terms of planning and management. The purpose of this study was to identify the potential province for NPP installation depending on the energy demand and to select the most suitable sites in this province by using geographic information system integrated with fuzzy analytic hierarchy process from multi-criteria decision making. First of all, the energy demand map for Turkey was produced by considering the demographic and economic criteria. From this map, it was concluded that "Bursa" has a very high energy potential province. Then, the suitability map was created by handling the environmental, social and safety criteria for site selection in Bursa. Results showed that Bursa has a very high suitability site for NPP, which spans 1092 km2 (10%) after deducting the restricted sites, relatively and least suitable sites. Finally, nine candidate sites were selected from among the most suitable sites, and these sites were evaluated in terms of tourism, agricultural activities, sufficient cooling water and area sizes. As a result of the evaluations, two priority sites (CS-7 and CS-9) for NPP were found in Bursa. The examination of NPP site suitability would assist in the country's development and spatial plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Alanya region on Turkey's southern coast has become an important destination for German retirement migration. Objective: Identify research studies on German retirement migration to Turkey which deal with the life situation, the motives, the handling of critical life situations in the context of retirement migration, and the reasons for return migration. Methods: The researcher conducted a qualitative systematic literature review from January 2021 to May 2021 in MEDLINE, CINAHL Complete, and APA PsychInfo. Results: Eleven studies on German and European retirement migration to Turkey were included after a critical assessment based on defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Motives for retirement migration are climatic, scenic, cultural advantages and the lower cost of living in Turkey. Conclusion: It has been found that most of the studies are thematically narrowly defined, detailed studies deal with and describe the development of retirement migration in a more general way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The February 2023 Turkey‐Syria Earthquake doublet ruptured multiple segments of the East Anatolian Fault (EAF) Zone. Dominating seismicity focal mechanism shifted dramatically from strike‐slip to normal‐faulting after the doublet. To better understand this shift, here we derived a comprehensive 3D co‐seismic displacement field and performed the stress analysis. Abundant space geodetic data were used to generate high‐resolution 3D surface displacement, which provide tight constraints on fault geometry, slip distribution and stress field. Together with stress inversion from aftershock focal mechanisms, we show that the principal stress direction rotation in the region with the most normal‐faulting aftershocks is the staggering 29°. The induced heterogenous stress may explain the shift of the dominant focal mechanism toward normal faulting. We suggest that the extensional horsetail splay faults, likely formed through geologic time scale related to the releasing bend on the EAF, are the hosts of most of the normal faulting aftershocks. Plain Language Summary: Sudden dislocation of two sides of a fault, or the rupture of rocks, produces an earthquake. The dislocation direction relative to the fault traces reflects the direction of stress that are responsible for the earthquake. When dislocation direction is parallel to the fault strike, the earthquake is termed as strike‐slip type, and termed as normal‐faulting type when they are perpendicular. A remarkable feature for the 2023 Turkey‐Syria Mw7.8 & 7.7 earthquake doublet is that, background seismicity shifted dramatically from strike‐slip to normal type of faulting after the doublet. To unravel the physical process resulted in this feature, we use space geodetic measurements to derive the surface displacements and stress field associated with the doublet. The derived stress field shows a staggering 29° rotation occurred in a horsetail splay fault structure where many normal‐faulting earthquakes happened. The large stress rotation indicates the doublet released considerable stress and may result in a heterogeneous stress field due to the stress change. The combination of the identified horsetail structure and stress rotation can help better explain the occurrence of pervasive normal‐faulting earthquakes. Key Points: We map the 3D displacements, slip distribution, and stress fields related to the 2023 Turkey‐Syria Earthquake doubletDramatic stress rotation occurred after the Earthquake doublet, up to 29°Stress rotation and horsetail splay fault structure are potentially responsible for normal‐faulting aftershocks [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The death toll and monetary damages from landslides continue to rise despite advancements in predictive modeling. These models' performances are limited as landslide databases used in developing them often miss crucial information, e.g., underlying movement types. This study introduces a method of discerning landslide movements, such as slides, flows, and falls, by analyzing landslides' 3D shapes. By examining landslide topological properties, we discover distinct patterns in their morphology, indicating different movements including complex ones with multiple coupled movements. We achieve 80-94% accuracy by applying topological properties in identifying landslide movements across diverse geographical and climatic regions, including Italy, the US Pacific Northwest, Denmark, Turkey, and Wenchuan in China. Furthermore, we demonstrate a real-world application on undocumented datasets from Wenchuan. Our work introduces a paradigm for studying landslide shapes to understand their underlying movements through the lens of landslide topology, which could aid landslide predictive models and risk evaluations. This study analyzes the 3d shapes of landslides and introduces a method to discern landslide movements, such as slides, flows and falls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Irano-Turanian region is one of the largest floristic regions in the world and harbors a high percentage of endemics, including cushion-like and dwarf-shrubby taxa. Onobrychis cornuta is an important cushion-forming element of the subalpine/alpine flora of the Irano-Turanian floristic region. To specify the genetic diversity among the populations of this species (including individuals of O. elymaitica), we employed nrDNA ITS and two noncoding regions of plastid DNA (rpl32-trnL(UAG) and trnT(UGU)-trnL(UAA)). The most striking feature of O. cornuta assemblages was the unexpectedly high nucleotide diversity in both the nDNA and cpDNA dataset. In the analyses of nuclear and plastid regions, 25 ribotypes and 42 haplotypes were found among 77 and 59 accessions, respectively, from Iran, Turkey, and Afghanistan. Network analysis of the datasets demonstrated geographic differentiation within the species. Phylogenetic analyses of all dataset retrieved O. cornuta as a non-monophyletic species due to the inclusion of O. elymaitica, comprising four distinct lineages. In addition, our analyses showed cytonuclear discordance between both nuclear and plastid topologies regarding the position of some O. cornuta individuals. The underlying causes of this inconsistency remain unclear. However, we speculate that chloroplast capture, incomplete lineage sorting, and introgression were the main reasons for this event. Furthermore, molecular dating analysis indicated that O. cornuta originated in the early Pliocene (around 4.8 Mya) and started to diversify throughout the Pliocene and in particular the Pleistocene. Moreover, O. elymaitica was reduced to a subspecific rank within the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare health service use (HSU) between migrants and non-migrants in Germany. Methods: Using data from the population-based German National Cohort (NAKO), we compared the HSU of general practitioners, medical specialists, and psychologists/psychiatrists between six migrant groups of different origins with the utilization of nonmigrants. A latent profile analysis (LPA) with a subsequent multinomial regression analysis was conducted to characterize the HSU of different groups. Additionally, separate regression models were calculated. Both analyses aimed to estimate the direct effect of migration background on HSU. Results: In the LPA, the migrant groups showed no relevant differences compared to nonmigrants regarding HSU. In separate analyses, general practitioners and medical specialists were used comparably to slightly more often by first-generation migrants from Eastern Europe, Turkey, and resettlers. In contrast, the use of psychologists/psychiatrists was substantially lower among those groups. Second-generation migrants and migrants from Western countries showed no differences in their HSU compared to non-migrants. Conclusion: We observed a low mental HSU among specific migrant groups in Germany. This indicates the existence of barriers among those groups that need to be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Drawing on Durkheim’s historical theorization of suicide, we extend his concept of anomic suicide, which is suicide due to a lack of social regulation, to introduce the concept of institutional suicide. We define institutional suicide as suicide due to the absence or decline of institutional policies, practices, and discourses for prevention. In this study, we explore the mechanisms for institutional suicides based on suicide notes Turkey, in a context without institutional responsibilization for prevention. Turkey provides a significant context for studying institutional suicides as policies, practices, and discourses for suicide prevention have been declining for some decades. Methods: Drawing on publically available suicide notes and narratives in Turkish media outlets, we analyze 17 suicide notes and responses from their institutions of work and friends, family, and colleagues. Findings and Discussion: We identify two mechanisms that lead to institutional suicides: (1) dehumanization due to lack of recognition and (2) misrecognition through a devaluation of potential. We extend the theory of anomie to institutional settings and offer social policy suggestions to improve institutional responses based on co-design based on suicide notes to prevent institutional suicides and call for institutional responsibilization for preventing work-related suicides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study investigates the influence of Global Smoking Prevalence (GSP) on Stroke Death Rates (SDR) across 27 countries categorized into High-Income Countries (HIC), Upper Middle-Income Countries (UMIC), Lower Middle-Income Countries (LMIC), and Low-Income Countries (LIC). Methods: Analysing data from two distinct periods (1990–1999 and 2010–2019), countries exhibiting an increased SDR were selected. The study uses a polynomial regression model, treating income groups as cross-sectional and years as time series data. Results: Results from the regression model reveal that 17 countries observed a significant impact of GSP on SDR, with only Turkey, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste resulting in negative values. However, the study emphasises that out of all 27 countries, the highest occurrence of the impact of GSP on SDR has been reported in the LMIC stratum for the period under review. Conclusion: It is evident that GSP affects the risk of incidence of stroke death, specifically in the LMIC stratum. Furthermore, it has been identified that GSP is a major preventable risk factor affecting global mortality. To mitigate the risk of stroke death attributable to smoking prevalence, necessary preventive steps should be adopted to encourage smoking cessation, and essential policies should be implemented to reduce the burden of SDR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amphibians are the most endangered taxa among vertebrates, and they face many threats during their complex life cycles. The species' life history traits and occurrence database help understand species responses against ecological factors. Consequently, the species-level-trait database has gained more prominence in recent years as a useful tool for understanding the dimensions of communities, assembly processes of communities, and conserving biodiversity at the ecosystem level against environmental changes. However, in Turkey, there are deficiencies in the knowledge of the ecological traits of amphibians compared to other vertebrate taxa, as most studies have focused on their distribution or taxonomic status. Consequently, there is a need to create such a database for future research on all known extant amphibians in Turkey. We compiled a species-level data set of species traits and occurrences for all amphibians in Turkey using 436 literature sources. We completed 36 trait categories with 5611 occurrence data for 37 amphibian species in Turkey. This study provides an open, useful, and comprehensive database for macroecological and conservation studies on amphibians in Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to compare the publication rates of audiology master's and doctoral theses completed in 2017 and to investigate the effectiveness of the "publication of theses before graduation" rule applied by some universities. Materials and Methods: The participants' age range, gender, degrees, graduation year, private/state university graduation, institutions where they proceeded to their business life, and publication status of their master's and doctoral theses were questioned using a survey consisting of 16 multiple-choice as well as two open-ended questions. The study comprised 71 participants who completed their master's or doctoral degrees in audiology in 2017 and later. The descriptive statistic and Chi-Squared test were used for statistical analysis using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0. Results: Thirty-five of the 62 (56.45%) master's theses were presented at an international (n=21, 33.87%) or national (n=14, 22.58%) congress as oral/poster presentations. Thirty-three of the 62 (53.22%) master's theses were published as articles in national and international peer-reviewed journals. Additionally, of the 16 doctoral theses, two (12.5%) were presented as oral/posters at a national and five (31.25%) at an international congress. Ten of the 16 theses (62.5%) were published in an international SCI/SCIE journal. Conclusion: The rate of publication of master's and doctoral theses in national journals has decreased while the rate of publication in international journals has more than doubled. It was concluded that the "publishing theses before graduation" rule significantly increased the publication rates in international journals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Applied & Theoretical Social Sciences is the property of Journal of Applied & Theoretical Social Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Kocatepe Veterinary Journal / Kocatepe Veteriner Dergisi is the property of Afyon Kocatepe University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Cultural Studies / Kültür Araştırmaları Dergisi is the property of Journal of Cultural Studies / Kultur Arastirmalari Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this study is to examine postgraduate theses conducted in the field of Early Childhood Education in Turkey between 2013 and 2023. In this study, data was collected using the technique of document analysis, which is one of the qualitative research methods. The population of the study consists of 352 postgraduate theses published in the National Thesis Center of the Council of Higher Education between 2013 and 2023. The sample of the research consists of 191 master's theses and 21 doctoral theses that have been approved and published in the Department of Preschool Education, Department of Elementary Education, Department of Educational Sciences, and Department of Primary Education, all of which are openly accessible. The sample of the research also constitutes the study group of the research. The research findings indicate that the majority of the postgraduate theses conducted between 2013 and 2023 were master's theses. It is noteworthy that the number of doctoral theses is limited. The maximum year in which a postgraduate thesis was published has been determined as 2019. According to the findings obtained, the number of female authors and female advisors is significantly higher than the number of male authors and male advisors. Most postgraduate theses were conducted at the Institute of Educational Sciences. The conclusion has been reached that the most frequently coded focal point is "Education". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Palmette / Palmet Dergisi is the property of Ataturk University Coordinatorship of Scientific Journals and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In underdeveloped and/or developing countries, garbage is often randomly piled up in open areas. This method has been used to dispose of garbage/solid waste in Turkey for many years. Although pollution is not at the forefront in Bingöl province, the area located in the city center of the city has been used as a wild garbage storage area for approximately 18 years. Since the garbage in the area poses a danger to people and the environment, this area has become inactive with the establishment of a new solid waste disposal facility in the city. There are plants that have adapted to this area, which has been empty for about ten years. In this study, it was tried to determine in what proportions and organs the plant species distributed in the area accumulate heavy metals that may have come from garbage leachate. Plants identified in the field; Alyssum simplex, Cirsium libanoticum, Descurainia sophia, Fumaria asepala, Fumaria officinalis, Matricaria chamomilla, Papaver dubium, Scrophularia canina, Trifolium repens and Ziziphora capitata species. Fe, Cr, As, Cd and Pb concentrations (mg kg-1 ) of these species were measured in root, stem, leaf and flower organs and translocation factors (TF) were calculated for these species. In conclusion; Alyssum simplex, Cirsium libanoticum and Fumaria asepala for Fe, Cirsium libanoticum, Fumaria asepala, Fumaria officinalis and Matricaria chamomilla Cr and As, Cirsium libanoticum, Papaver dubium and Scrophularia canina for Cd and all other species except Alyssum simplex and Scrophularia canina for Pb translocation factors (TF) were found to be greater than 1 (TF>1). The accumulation potential of these species is thought to be promising so that they can be evaluated in phytoremediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to examine the moderating role of formalization in the relationship between human resources (HR) practices and work engagement (WE) in aviation industry employees. The research revealed the moderator role of formalization, which is still one of the most critical components for aviation industry workers. Design/methodology/approach: In the study, the authors used the survey method. In this explanatory and cross-sectional study, the authors examined a data set collected from aviation industry employees (n = 226) in Turkey using the partial least squares (PLS) method and tried to moderate the formalization. The authors analyzed the moderator role of formalization in the relationship between HR practices and WE with SmartPLS 3.0 and HAYES Process Macro. Findings: The results of the study explain the effect of HR practices on WE in the context of social exchange theory through formalization. Findings show that formalization is an essential factor in HR practices' resulting in higher WE. Research limitations/implications: The study is cross-sectional. Research participants participated in the study voluntarily. This situation, in turn, may lead to a social desirability bias in participants' self-reported responses. To avoid this, the authors have prepared a standardized measurement tool. Again, since the authors do not request the names and institutions of the participants, confidentiality and anonymity are provided. Practical implications: Research findings offer implications for companies and employees in developing economies, especially in the aviation sector. It refers to the necessity for companies aiming for a sustainable strategic position in the competitive aviation sector to attach importance to HR practices that will enable them to see their employees as a competitive advantage. In addition, the results emphasize the need for aviation industry companies to adopt an approach that considers both practices that can increase WE and formalization procedures that can affect employee behavior. Originality/value: This research provides a comprehensive understanding to examine the interrelationships between HR, formalization and WE in the context of the mechanism of social change in the context of aviation industry workers. To the best of the authors' knowledge, no other researcher has holistically addressed these links in general, particularly in a developing country. The findings significantly enrich the literature on HR practices and WE, particularly in the context of a developing country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research sought to explore the new career approaches of employed students. A comparative analysis was conducted with nonstudent employees to comprehensively grasp the novel career attitudes of working students. The neoliberal era has profoundly reshaped various disciplines, including economics, human resource management, and employment structures. Among these changes, career management has undergone a significant transformation. Conventional organisational careers have been supplanted by new approaches such as boundaryless, protean, subjective career success and kaleidoscope careers. These emerging career paradigms align with the emergence of novel forms of employment. Moreover, in an increasingly liberalised world, the rising costs of education and the growing prevalence of paid education are prompting students to enter the workforce while continuing their studies. The proliferation of companies offering part-time employment, such as private employment agencies, corresponds to an increase in students seeking part-time work. In other words, supply and demand within the part-time labour market intersect more robustly. Furthermore, working students gain valuable experience while employed, shaping the future supply of the labour market. Our research aims to assess the suitability of new career approaches for future workers and contributes to unravelling their complexities. The study also investigates whether employees are students and whether this affects their career approaches. To analyse this research, boundaryless career attitude and professional career attitude scales were utilised as assessment tools. These new career approaches represent innovation in careers. The research dataset comprised responses from 521 working students and 374 nonstudent employees, all of whom were actively employed in Istanbul, the most populous city in Turkey and home to many universities. The data analysis employed a quantitative research methodology using descriptive statistics, factor analysis, correlation analysis, and independent t tests. The findings revealed that working students exhibited significantly greater boundaryless career orientation, organisational mobility, boundaryless mindset, and value-driven career attitudes than did their nonstudent counterparts. The outcomes of this study will make a valuable contribution to the existing body of literature concerning employed students. Furthermore, the findings are anticipated to provide valuable insights into formulating and implementing human resources policies within organisations that engage in student employment practices. By shedding light on the experiences, challenges, and potential areas for improvement in this context, this research aims to inform and enhance the effectiveness of human resource strategies tailored toward working students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examining the statistics of tourism, of real estate sales to foreigners and statistics of mixed marriages, the authors argue that Russians' interest to Turkey has steadily increased not only as a tourist destination but also as an emigration country for Russians. Many Russian citizens who visit Turkey for tourism purposes think about settling down in the country, and some of them buy real estate there. The second main period of the Russian immigration to Turkey is 1990s, after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Due to the number of mixed marriages increased as a result of irregular migration, a new generation grew up with two common cultures. In general, the gender factor appears more prominently in the marriage and migration, and the mixed marriages point out the unimportance of social-cultural differences such as language and religion. After 1980, an increase in foreign population was observed in Turkey especially in coastal areas such as Aegean and Mediterranean regions with tourism activities, and from 2000, these locations, mainly Antalya, have become popular in international migration. Main changes in Turkish legislation on citizenship are closely linked to the economic migration process, including quantitative limits set forth for investments in capital and real estate were dramatically decreased. Turkey has really become an immigration country while before it was an emigration one.The statistical data collected from different sources prove some surveys' conclusions that economic factors are less important than social and geographical ones in the decisions of Russian citizens to migrate to and settle down in Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Electronic Turkish Studies is the property of Electronic Turkish Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Considering the undeniable influence of effective language teachers on successful language teaching and learning practices, this study was conducted to address the qualifications of effective language teachers based on the Turkish EFL students' perception of effective EFL teachers at the university level in Türkiye. The design of this study was descriptive, so the researcher used a survey method. Participants of the study were180 Turkish EFL students who were given a questionnaire created by Barnes and Lock (2013) to collect data. The reliability of the questionnaire was determined to be quite excellent (r = 0.91). The participants were the first, second, third, and fourth grade ELT students, respectively. The researcher conducted this study to identify which teaching credentials are more significant for students and a successful language instructor. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate and analyze the mean scores. Students rated the main teacher qualification categories. In addition, giving clear explanations received the highest mean score among teacher attributes. The results showed that Turkish EFL students generally placed great importance on the characteristics of effective foreign language teachers. Knowledge of the target language, delivery, organization, and preparation were high-ranking attributes. Findings revealed important implications for foreign language teachers to improve their communication skills and the efficiency of their teaching methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of air pollutant particles on the cardiovascular disease burden (CVDALY) in Türkiye. Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) and Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) were taken as the independent variable and CVDALY as the dependent variable. The variables were analyzed within the Panel Data Analysis and Machine Learning Approaches frame. Unidirectional Granger causality was determined from PM 2.5-NMVOC to CVDALY and revealed that they acted together in the long term. The regression analysis that was made using econometric and multivariate regression models revealed that generally 1 unit increase in PM 2.5 increased CVDALY by between 0.0021–0.0029 units; 1 unit increase in NMVOC increased CVDALY by between 0.00024–0.0004 units. In Machine Learning approach, it had been determined that if the PM 2.5 and NMVOC were reduced to 0.84- and 9.48 respectively; CVDALY would be decreased to 0.022. In other words, Machine Learning approaches results showed that reducing PM 2.5 by about 4.5 times and NMVOC by about 30% would be reduced CVDALY by about 39.6% from the current status of Türkiye. The empirical results showed that PM 2.5 - NMVOC increased CVDALY in Türkiye. From this perspective establishing and implementing policies to improve air quality in Türkiye could be an important approach in reducing cardiovascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, first, a list of pesticides that can potentially pose environmental exposure risks was compiled by analyzing the recent literature on residue levels in fresh vegetables produced in Türkiye. Then, by using the fundamental environmental partitioning properties of these pesticides, their potential multi-media environmental distributions were assessed. Acetamiprid, chlorpyrifos, and pyridaben were among the pesticides that frequently exceeded the residual limit values. Multi-media environmental modeling was conducted for these three pesticides using an evaluative four-compartment (air, soil, water, sediment) model. Compartmental distributions, inter-compartmental mass transfer rates, advective, and reactive losses were estimated for the selected pesticides after their simulated application to soil. The ranking of overall persistence among the pesticides was found to be pyridaben > chlorpyrifos > acetamiprid. The percentage mass distribution of acetamiprid in water was higher due to its low volatility and high solubility. The overall persistence of chlorpyrifos was limited by its higher partitioning to air although it is more persistent than pyridaben in other compartments. To investigate the residue dynamics of the three pesticides in tomato crops, temporal changes in harvest fractions were compared using the regression equations of the crop model dynami- CROP. Acetamiprid was estimated to be taken up at higher rates in tomatoes after initial application. The residue dynamics of chlorpyrifos and pyridaben were found to be similar. The quantitative methods in this study can be used to assess the environmental risks associated with commonly used pesticides in Türkiye and to address the issue of exceeding residue limits in agricultural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the importance of explicitly identifying and considering contingent factors such as decision content and context is widely accepted as a way to ensure the validity of the decision analysis for the specific task at hand, few studies include this. This research uses a contingency theoretical approach to study factors affecting the emigration decision of medical doctors (MDs) for the specific case of Turkey. The motivation for conducting this study arises from the observation that the growing trend in emigration among MDs from Turkey is having a significant impact on the country's healthcare system. Dealing with the emigration of MDs is crucial for ensuring an effective and sustainable healthcare system, especially in terms of the availability of services, satisfaction, and employment of the healthcare staff. Contextual factors were explicitly identified through consultation with experts, while the generic factors were retrieved from the specialized medical migration literature. The Analytic Hierarchy Process method was utilized to prioritize the factors. Seventy-three participants were surveyed about their intention to either study or work abroad. The findings reveal that low remuneration and anxiety about their future due to the political situation in the country constitute the two most important factors driving the decision to emigrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study was to develop and psychometrically test the Ethical Conflict Scale for Nurses in Extraordinary Circumstances (ECSNEC). Design: This study is designed to develop and validate an instrument. Methods: There are four basic steps in the development process of ECSNEC: (1) establishment of the conceptual framework, (2) creation of the item pool, (3) preliminary evaluation and (4) psychometric evaluation. The data were gathered from 519 nurses who worked in two different hospitals operating in Istanbul between June 2022 and October 2022. Results: The scale had good content validity. The exploratory factor analysis revealed a three-factor construct which explained 47.31% of the total variance in the measured variable. The corresponding construct was confirmed by the confirmatory factor analysis. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients were greater than .60 for all dimensions. The test--retest reliability coefficient value of the scale was 0.90. Conclusion: ECSNEC is a valid and reliable tool to determine the ethical conflict experienced by nurses in extraordinary circumstances. Impact: The established scale allows the identification of factors influencing the ethical challenges nurses face in extraordinary circumstances. Thus, policies can be developed to prevent such ethical conflicts. Patient or Public Contribution: No patient or public contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ecology & Evolution (20457758) is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

On February 6, 2023, the Republic of Turkey experienced a rare occurrence of two successive earthquakes, each with a magnitude exceeding 7.0. The Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD) swiftly shared the strong motion records, thereby enriching the global database of near‐fault strong motion records. Identification of permanent displacement is essential for effectively utilizing these records. In this study, we refined the permanent displacement identification method, which combines the Hermit interpolation baseline correction with flatness determination by incorporating a low‐pass filter. Following this, we compared four permanent displacement identification methods, including our improved approach. We applied these to the strong motion record of station 4404 and compared the results with the Global Positioning System coseismic displacement. At the same time, we used field investigation data to verify the effectiveness of our improved method, studying its applicability for both single‐wave packet and multiwave packet records. The conclusions are the following: the improved method provides a more reasonable and effective means of identifying permanent displacement. When the peak ground acceleration (PGA) exceeds 1 g, the permanent displacement identifications from the four methods differ significantly. The discrepancy in permanent displacements identified by the four methods in the horizontal direction is larger than that in the U−D direction. For the record with the largest PGA (station 4614), our improved method yields more reasonable results compared with other techniques. Furthermore, the choice of segmentation time nodes in the velocity time history significantly affects the identification of permanent displacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of the current study is to explore the profiles of language awareness of distance and face-to-face EFL learners. The study sheds light on the need to consider the effects of language awareness in distance and face-to-face education as language awareness is essential in foreign language learning in both education types and needs to be improved to make learners know much about how to use English. The main question addressed by the research is whether there are any differences between the language awareness of distance and face-to-face EFL learners regarding course type, gender, and age. The context of the study is Türkiye, where English is taught as a foreign language in higher education institutions. The study uses a survey method and includes 157 language learners distance and 225 face-to-face, 382 learners attending a state university in Türkiye. The study's results unveiled significant differences between distance and face-to-face language learners regarding language awareness. There was an apparent disparity between distance-learning and face-toface approaches in linguistic awareness and communicative awareness, as the face-to-face learning group scored significantly higher in these dimensions. While distance and face-to-face learners had close scores in the dimensions of cultural awareness and metacognitive awareness, the findings revealed that face-to-face learners scored somewhat higher, which helps to explain how the physical classroom setting may have some influence on learners' cultural sensitivity and metacognitive awareness. The results suggested that distance education learners should improve their consciousness about language and have the necessary instruction to enhance their language awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mediterranean region experiences the annual destruction of thousands of hectares due to climatic conditions. This study examines forest fires in Türkiye's Antalya region, a Mediterranean high-risk area, from 2000 to 2023, analyzing 26 fires that each damaged over 50 hectares. Fire danger maps created from fire weather indexes (FWI) indicated that 85.7% of the analyzed fire areas were categorized within the high to very extreme danger categories. The study evaluated fire danger maps from EFFIS FWI and ERA5 FWI, both derived from meteorological satellite data, for 14 forest fires between 2019 and 2023. With its better spatial resolution, it was found that EFFIS FWI had a higher correlation (0.98) with in situ FWIs. Since FWIs are calculated from temperature and fire moisture subcomponents, the correlations of satellite-based temperature (MODIS Land Surface Temperature—LST) and soil moisture (SMAP) data with FWIs were investigated. The in situ FWI demonstrated a positive correlation of 0.96 with MODIS LST, 0.92 with EFFIS FWI, and 0.93 with ERA5 FWI. The negative correlation between all FWIs and SMAP soil moisture highlighted a strong relationship, with the highest observed in in situ FWI (−0.93) and −0.90 and −0.87 for EFFIS FWI and ERA5 FWI, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amidst increasing globalization and religious diversity, acknowledging and embracing openness towards religious and/or cultural others has become crucial for societal cohesion and international relations. Theological scholars, holding significant potential in mitigating inter-religious and intercultural prejudices, can play a pivotal role in addressing this challenge. However, it is acknowledged that theologians themselves may harbor such biases. This study, conducted within the framework of the Religious Openness Hypothesis, employed an online questionnaire among theology students, seen as future multipliers of religiosity, in Germany and Turkey (N = 513) using convenience sampling. The results reveal the consistent relation of religiosity to all forms of prejudice among German Christians, with a linked defense against secularism potentially leading to self-isolation and the protection of their own worldview against religious or cultural outgroups. In contrast, the (generally high) prejudice among Turkish Muslims appears to be rooted not primarily in religiosity or defense against secularism but in fundamentalism and, most likely, in other socio-cultural factors such as politics and education. For both subsamples, religiosity was positively linked with xenosophia, particularly when accounting for fundamentalism. The article concludes by proposing curriculum implications for universities and schools in both cultural contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

School supervision is generally defined as the process of determining the realization level of performance indicators in schools, and evaluating the quality of education. Supervisors are not directly involved in these activities, and are appointed by the Ministry to assess fulfilment level of these educational activities. In current study, teachers' perspective related to the supervision in Türkiye was examined in a qualitative research design. A single case study model was adopted to explore the case in depth. The aim of this research was to explore views of 28 teachers on supervision. The study group was chosen through maximum variation sampling technique. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews, observations, and focus group interviews. Thematic content analysis technique was adopted to analysis of raw data. Four themes emerged based on the analysis. These themes were low stakes inspection, high stakes inspection, decentralization, and decreasing in quality. The results revealed that the participants were in a dilemma about the supervision in schools. Moreover, this dilemma was related to the audit of teacher performance by school principal and the supervision of school by ministry inspectors. In addition, through the focus group interviews, the suggestions of the participants with different perspectives on inspection were explored and thus more generalizable themes were produced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last 30 years, there have been various findings related to the effects of construction investments––especially housing investments––on the economic development of urban areas. However, the impact of public housing investments on economic development in rapidly and dynamically developing countries with high housing demand has not been sufficiently discussed. This article presents an examination of the impact of housing production as a public housing investment on the economic development of provinces at the macro level through the case of Turkey. In the study, we analyzed the impact of public housing investments on the economic development of the provinces in Turkey between 2004 and 2018. Since 2004, Turkey has pursued a policy of increasing public housing investments, and for this purpose, the structure of the Toplu Konut İdaresi Başkanlığı (TOKI––the Mass Housing Authority), which is a strong and autonomous centralized public institution, has changed. Despite the increase in public housing investment at the country level as a result of this policy, the effect of public housing investment on economic growth at the provincial level has not been determined. In this study, panel data analysis methods were applied, regression analyses were conducted, and the findings were evaluated. The findings of the analyses showed that, although housing investments (private sector) have had an impact on the development of the provinces at the macro level, public housing investment and production have not played a decisive role in the economic development of the provinces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to conduct a systematic literature review of research to provide an overview of the key findings and trends in studies on problem-based learning within the context of science education in Türkiye. To achieve this goal, descriptive content analysis was used in this study. Articles and graduate theses conducted in Türkiye between 2000 and December 2023 were included in this study. The Turkish Academic Network and Information Center (TR Dizin) and National Thesis Center databases were used to access the articles and theses. The purposive sampling method known as the criterion sampling method was employed in this study, resulting in the inclusion of 133 studies, including 37 articles and 96 graduate theses. To facilitate data analysis, we developed a coding form. The results of this study showed that PBL had a positive impact on 34 different skills, and it had no impact on 11 different skills. Across all reviewed studies, the most preferred research design was the quasi-experimental design. There was limited inclusion of final-year students in the samples at various school levels, and researchers mainly preferred physics subjects for their studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turkey ranks among the top five olive oil-producing countries in the world, and the olive crop plays a crucial role in its economy, economically, environmentally, and socially. One of the primary challenges facing the agricultural sector is its profitability. Therefore, the aim of this study is to analyse the olive sector in terms of economic efficiency, to identify productive and organizational variables directly associated with higher economic efficiency. Data were obtained from 193 organizations in the sector. A dual methodology is employed, comprising Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and, subsequently, Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA). The findings highlight the relevance of variables such as organization size, irrigation usage, focus on olive oil, or cultivation on sloping terrain as factors associated with a higher level of economic efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent times, the rise of urbanization, industrialization, population growth, food security, and the COVID-19 pandemic have led to an increased demand for indoor spaces with efficient air conditioning systems. As a result, there is a growing interest in creating more complex HVAC systems to improve indoor spaces. Building information modeling (BIM) offers numerous benefits to the HVAC industry, such as clash detection, budget and time reductions, and increased efficiency. However, its implementation is currently hindered by various challenges. This research aims to identify the major barriers to BIM implementation in the HVAC industry in Turkey, using a questionnaire survey of 224 domain experts working in 42 different companies across various fields of the HVAC industry. The study utilized several statistical analyses to categorize and prioritize the most critical barriers, including reliability tests, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), the Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) test, Bartlett's test, and ranking of factors (IRI). The results indicate that the "Deficiencies of Infrastructure and Lack of Qualified Personnel (DIP)" factor group constituted the most significant barrier, followed by "Lack of Documentation and Specifications (LDS)", "Deficiencies of Case Studies and Project Drawings (DCP)", and "Lack of Motivation and Resistance to BIM (LMR)". Moreover, our research revealed that 60% of the participants' companies allocate less than 40% of their budgets to technological infrastructure, which hinders the adoption of BIM. To promote BIM in the HVAC sector, we recommend enhancing personnel capacity building, improving skills and knowledge about BIM, promoting guidelines, and providing free access to documentation for practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the evolving landscape of the building sector, the digital sphere is reshaping consumer engagement and purchase behaviors, especially in the sustainability-focused niche of fitness facilities. Utilizing the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and elaboration likelihood model (ELM), this study examines the impact of social media influence (SMI) on purchasing intentions for sustainable fitness services (PISFS) through the mediating role of green building consumption perceptions (GBCPs) and the moderating effect of environmental awareness (EA). To examine the proposed relationships and achieve the objectives of the study, 672 valid responses were collected from professionals and customers in fitness services in Turkey and analyzed using Smart PLS 4. The results of the data analysis revealed that SMI positively impacts PISFS, SMI positively impacts GBCP, GBCP positively impacts PISFS, GBCP plays an effective mediation role between SMI and PISFS, the influence of social media on purchasing intentions for sustainable fitness services is further enhanced at high levels of environmental awareness, and the impact of social media on green building consumption perceptions is further strengthened at higher levels of environmental awareness. This study's insights call for the building sector, particularly in sustainable fitness facilities, to actively integrate social media strategies and environmental awareness into their marketing and design. Emphasizing green building attributes on digital platforms can significantly influence consumer choices, steering the industry toward a more environmentally conscious and digitally engaged future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the identification of collapsed buildings in satellite images after earthquakes through deep learning-based image segmentation models. The performance of four different architectures, namely U-Net, LinkNet, FPN, and PSPNet, was evaluated using various performance metrics, such as accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score, specificity, AUC, and IoU. The study used satellite images taken from the area located in the south and southeast of Türkiye covering the eleven provinces which are most affected by the Mw 7.7 Pazarcık (Kahramanmaraş) and Mw 7.6 Elbistan (Kahramanmaraş) earthquakes. The results indicated that FPN and U-Net were the best-performing models depending on the performance metric of interest. FPN achieved the highest accuracy and specificity scores, as well as the best precision score, while U-Net achieved the best recall and F1 score values, as well as the best AUC and IoU scores. The training and validation accuracy and loss curves were analyzed, and the results indicated that all four models achieved an accuracy value of over 96%. The FPN model outperformed the others in terms of accurately segmenting images while maintaining a low loss value. This study provides insights into the potential of deep learning-based image segmentation models in disaster management and can be useful for future research in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Communication Theory & Research / Iletisim Kuram ve Arastirma Dergisi is the property of Gazi University, Faculty of Communication and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Communication Theory & Research / Iletisim Kuram ve Arastirma Dergisi is the property of Gazi University, Faculty of Communication and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The trophic status of the Berdan River Basin was determined using univariate and multivariate classification tools. The results indicated that the water quality/trophic status of a downstream section of the Berdan River was characterized as "poor/eutrophic" due to anthropogenic inputs from agricultural, industrial and domestic wastewater discharges. Strong and positive correlations between TRIX values and concentrations of eutrophication parameters suggest that nutrient enrichment of water in the Berdan River during its flow will result in further eutrophication in the coastal region of the NE Mediterranean Sea. Therefore, the trophic and pollution status of the Berdan River, as well as other regional rivers flowing into the coastal area of the NE Mediterranean Sea should be monitored to develop action plans and sustainable management of eutrophication in regional rivers and the oligotrophic Mediterranean Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Computer vision syndrome has become a significant public health problem, especially in developing countries. Therefore, this study aims to identify the prevalence of computer vision syndrome during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature was conducted using the databases PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase up to February 22, 2023, using the search terms "Computer Vision Syndrome" and "COVID-19". Three authors independently performed study selection, quality assessment, and data extraction, and the Joanna Briggs Institute Meta-Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument was used to evaluate study quality. Heterogeneity was assessed using the statistical test I2, and the R version 4.2.3 program was used for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 192 studies were retrieved, of which 18 were included in the final meta-analysis. The total sample included 10,337 participants from 12 countries. The combined prevalence of computer vision syndrome was 74% (95% CI: 66, 81). Subgroup analysis based on country revealed a higher prevalence of computer vision syndrome in Pakistan (99%, 95% CI: 97, 100) and a lower prevalence in Turkey (48%, 95% CI: 44, 52). In addition, subgroup analysis based on study subjects showed a prevalence of 82% (95% CI: 74, 89) for computer vision syndrome in non-students and 70% (95% CI: 60, 80) among students. Conclusion: According to the study, 74% of the participants experienced computer vision syndrome during the COVID-19 pandemic. Given this finding, it is essential to implement preventive and therapeutic measures to reduce the risk of developing computer vision syndrome and improve the quality of life of those affected. Trial registration: The protocol for this systematic review and meta-analysis was registered in the international registry of systematic reviews, the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), with registration number CRD42022345965. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Tobacco use is an important risk factor for more than 20 types of cancer, especially cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and many other health problems. Cigarettes are one of the most commonly used tobacco products in the world, and they can cause both physical and mental addiction. Adolescence is known to be the highest-risk period in terms of addiction among all age groups. As a result, smoke-free campus practices have become even more important in universities. This study investigates the prevalence of smoking among Pamukkale Medical School students and their views and behaviors regarding smoke-free campus practices. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 548 medical students at Pamukkale Universıty Faculty of Medicine during the academic year 2021-2022, between April 1-29, 2022. A face-to-face interview was conducted. Students' smoking status and their views about a smoke-free campus were assessed. In the questionnaire, the independent variables were socio-demographic characteristics, duration of staying in a smoke-free environment, smoking status in the place of residence, areas where smoking is most common, Fagerström nicotine dependence level, knowledge about smoke-free campus applications and campuses with the smokefree application. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 21.0 package program was used to analyze the data. Descriptive statistics are presented with numbers and percentages for categorical variables, while the arithmetic mean and standard deviation are used for continuous variables. The chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables, and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov analysis was used to test the compatibility of data to normal distribution. RESULTS: The student smoking rate increased significantly as the number of semesters increased (P = .021). The smoking rate of male students was higher than that of female students (P = .001). The smoking rate of students living with their family or relatives was lower (P = .020). Smokers (14.7%) were more likely to have heard about the introduction of smoke-free zones on campus than nonsmokers (11%) (P = .280). 81.4% of students affirmed the statement, "The number of smoke-free rooms should be increased," and 84.3% responded, "I support the existence of smoke-free spaces." Nonsmoking students (90.8%) are more likely to agree that smoke-free spaces should be increased than those who smoke (57.7%) (P < .001). Among the students, 17.6% of nonsmokers and 37.8% of smokers find the information about smoke-free spaces sufficient (P < .001). The rate of those who consider smoke-free space inspections to be sufficient is lower for nonsmoking students than for nonsmokers (P = .017). Nonsmokers (89.5%) support the existence of smoke-free spaces to a higher degree than smokers (71.2%) (P < .001). CONCLUSION: One-third of Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine students smoke, and smoking rates are higher among men and those who do not live with family or relatives. All participants strongly support the existence of smoke-free zones (84.3%), while a proportion of tobacco users (31.4%) support the implementation of a smoke-free campus. Student opinions of the smoke-free zones and the smoke-free campus application are more positive among nonsmokers than smokers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: The total annual count of reported tuberculosis (TB) cases continues to decline throughout Turkey. Recognizing the regions with high and low burdens and revealing the factors affecting TB notification rates may play a role in guiding national control programs. This study aimed to analyze the spatial distribution of TB notification rates from 2005 to 2018 and evaluate the factors contributing to TB rates. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this ecological study, we used freely available open data from the Internet. We employed global and local spatial autocorrelation analysis to identify the spatial distribution and the clusters with low and high burdens. We conducted an ordinary least square regression model, spatial lag model, and spatial error model. The best-fitting model was selected via model parameters. RESULTS: Throughout the study period, the provinces in West Marmara Region (Edirne, Kırklareli, Tekirdağ, Çanakkale) were consistently in a high-burden cluster. In univariate ordinary least square regression, population density, the proportion of contacts screened for TB, the proportion of TB contacts who received prophylaxis, TB dispensary count, mean particulate matter 10 levels, and gross domestic product were found to be positively associated with TB notification rate. The best-fitting multivariate spatial lag model revealed that the proportion of contacts screened for TB (ß, z-value: 0.89, 2.21) positively affected TB notification rate. CONCLUSION: The high TB burden in West Marmara Region should warn policymakers to maintain a focused approach to controlling TB in this area. This study showed the importance of contact tracing efforts to prevent the underdetection of TB cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among all the sectors, the hospitality and tourism sector has been detrimentally affected by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This research aimed to determine how changes have been experienced specifically in the Turkish tourism higher education and tourism sector. Twenty-seven academics from the hospitality and tourism education departments were interviewed. Most agreed that restrictions have limited student access to hands-on practical courses and internships, which are crucial to developing necessary competencies. Moreover, the results showed the curriculum does not always meet the needs of the hospitality industry for a trained and skilled workforce. The challenge is to decide what else should be taught and what methods and teaching approaches should be used. As a result, industry-academia cooperation is necessary to reassess the curriculum programs to meet sector needs considering the pandemic impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pertussis is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in infancy. It is recommended that close contacts of the baby be vaccinated with Tdap, and this practice is called the cocoon strategy. This study aimed to investigate the applicability of the cocoon strategy and to determine the factors affecting the process. Mothers of babies who were hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit were included in the study. In the first stage, a face-to-face questionnaire was given to the mothers to measure their level of knowledge about whooping cough and its vaccine. In the second stage, written and verbal information about the cocoon strategy was given, and then vaccination intentions for Tdap were learned. In the third stage, all mothers were contacted 3 weeks after and asked whether they had received a Tdap vaccination and why. Of these mothers, 68% could not answer any questions about pertussis disease and vaccines correctly. After the information, 35% (n = 78) of the mothers stated that they were considering getting vaccinated, while only 2% (n = 5) of the mothers were able to get the Tdap vaccine. The most important reasons for not getting vaccinated were a lack of time (24%) and the cost of vaccination (23%). It is predicted that Tdap vaccination rates may increase if the cost of vaccine, availability of vaccine, and the access of mothers to the vaccine application are facilitated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Top-level presidential advisor appointments provide would-be autocrats in backsliding democracies a quick and effective means to coopt elites and assemble an authoritarian coalition. Such appointments represent a mechanism for making promises of patronage that are more credible and more directly under the executive's control than patronage facilitated by their party. Elites who join the executive's coalition via such appointments have incentives to maintain their privileged access and therefore are more likely to match or even surpass the authoritarian sentiment of an autocratic executive. This research uses a sentiment analysis model trained with 2 years of Twitter data—between 2019 and 2021—to compare the authoritarian sentiment of Turkey's major political parties and to examine differences between groups within Turkey's ruling party. The evidence shows that President Erdogan's advisors are significantly more authoritarian than the rest of the party, and, as such, they form an authoritarian vanguard within an already authoritarian party. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nematode population densities were determined in 60 soil and root samples collected from 6 fruit orchards in the Bilecik province (western Turkey), between April 2022 and June 2022. The total number of identified nematodes have reached up to 2418 individuals (number of female: 1036; male: 154; and juvenile: 1228). They belong to 54 species, 54 genera, 33 families and 11 orders. Plant parasitic nematodes that were detected mostly are listed as follows: Helicotylenchus (6,12 %), Pratylenchus (5,74 %), Paratylenchus (4.83 %), Xiphinema (3,06 %), Tylenchorhynchus (2,19 %), Malenchus (1.94 %) and Tylenchus (1.19 %). According to the maturity index analysis, mean values showed the highest maturity level at peach trees (MI value: 3,52), followed by; walnut trees (MI value: 2.49), cherry trees (MI value: 2.15), nectarine trees (MI value: 1.86), plum trees (MI value: 1.57), and olive trees (MI value: 1.42). Mostly the diverse group in terms of species richness was within the order Dorylaimida. The nematodes associated with peach and walnut trees here showed the most stable environments in terms of soil nematode community structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turkey's diverse geology causes natural disasters that kill and damage towns every year. Population growth in unstable areas without geological variables in value studies endangers people and real estate. This study examines how geological factors affect house values, which are often overlooked in applications. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was used to analyze conventional parameters, geological factors, and priorities for three provinces in Turkey with unique geological properties in surface water, groundwater, active faults, and karstic collapse. The AHP analysis was performed in the Ankara–Cankaya district (Ilkbahar quarter), Bolu–Gerede district, and Konya–Karapinar district, test locations with unique geological properties in terms of surface water, groundwater, active faults, and karstic collapse in various regions of Turkey. Statistical software analyzed the test location survey data. The results show that surface water, groundwater, active faults, and karstic collapse all affect real estate value. The findings suggest that house valuation requires multidisciplinary building site investigations with appropriate methods. This reduces the risk of making unreliable decisions and eliminates uncertainties, resulting in reliable results. The geological factors that determine a house's value are crucial to reducing disaster-related deaths and property damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]