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Copyright of Journal of Harran University Medical Faculty / Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi is the property of Harran University Medical Faculty 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.)

Purpose: To investigate serum levels of VEGF, IGF-1 and FGF-2, and relationships with several clinical characteristics in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with and without bipolar disorder (BD). Method: 40 subjects with ASD + BD as study group, and 40 subjects with ASD as control group were included. Serum levels of VEGF, IGF-1, and FGF-2 were measured using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Results: The study group was significantly higher than the control group in terms of ASD severity, self-harming behavior and sleep disturbance. Serum VEGF and FGF-2 levels were significantly higher in the ASD + BD group than in the control group. There was no significant difference in serum IGF-1 levels between the two groups. There was no correlation between VEGF, IGF-1 and FGF-2 serum levels and ASD severity in the study group. However there was a negative correlation between VEGF levels and age at first diagnosis of BD, and a positive correlation between IGF-1 levels and the number of bipolar episodes in the study group. Conclusion: Growth factors like VEGF and FGF-2 may be potential biomarkers of bipolar disorder in young subjects with ASD. Given the difficulty of clinical management of BD in young subjects with ASD, potential biomarkers would help clinicians in the diagnosis and follow up of BD in this special population. Further research is needed whether VEGF and FGF-2 can be potential biomarkers in the clinical management of young subjects with ASD and BD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The care of patient individuals in the good death process should be planned based on nursing values. The aim of the study is to determine nurses' perceptions of a good death and its relationship with nursing values. Methods: The study is descriptive and cross-sectional and was completed with 210 nurses. Data were collected using the Nurse Information Form, Good Death Scale, and Revised Nursing Professional Values Scale. In the study, an attempt was made to reach nurses across Türkiye over a three-month period using the snowball sampling method without calculating the sample size beforehand. Descriptive statistics, Kruskal Wallis and Mann Whitney U test, LSD test, Spearman correlation and linear regression analyzes were used in the study. Results: The nurses' Good Death Scale total mean score was 53.52 ± 7.11, and The Revised Nursing Professional Values Scale mean score was 97.77 ± 15.71. There was a moderate, positive, statistically significant relationship between the nurses' Good Death Scale total mean scores and the Revised Nursing Professional Values Scale total mean scores (r = 0.522; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Value-based educational activities may be effective in helping nurses have positive perceptions about a good death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bilimname is the property of IBAV (Research Foundation of Theological Science) 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.)

Anoplophora chinensis Forster (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is a highly polyphagous and invasive species native to East Asia that makes tunnels in the stems of a variety of broad-leaved plant species and cultivated plant species, as well as citrus and hazelnut. In this study, we collected A. chinensis from hazelnut orchards in Sakarya province of Türkiye, and subsequently recovered the parasitoid Megaselia scalaris (Diptera: Phoridae) from dead adult beetles. The present study reports M. scalaris as a new natural enemy of A. chinensis, and more study is needed on this species' behaviour and biological parameters as a parasitoid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on mitigating effects of an animal-derived biostimulant on sugar beet plantlets subjected to drought stress. The experiment was performed at the Seed Science and Technology Laboratory of the Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Field Crops, in 2024. It was established by the randomized plot 2x5 factorial experimental design (ANOVA) with four replications. The sugar beet cultivar Mohican was sprayed by an animalderived biostimulant (Andolamin®) containing 11% amino acids. Different levels of the biostimulant (control, 12.5, 25, 50, and 75 mL/L) were treated twice at 2-day intervals. Morphological and physiological measurements were made at 7 days after the first application on sugar beet plants grown under two irrigation regimes (water deficit (WD) 50% of field capacity and well-watered (WW) 80% of field capacity). The findings showed that drought had a hazardous impact on sugar beet's number of leaves (NL), fresh (LFW) and leaf dry weight (LDW), relative water content (RWC), and leaf area (LA). Leaf surface temperature (LST), chlorophyll content (Chl), and electrolyte leakage (EL) were higher in plants under water deficit. Foliar biostimulant application mitigated the effect of drought stress on seedlings through improving LFW, LDW, Chl, EL, and LA. On the other hand, biostimulant treatment had no significant effects on NL, and RWC in seedlings exposed to drought stress. It was concluded that animal-derived biostimulant application may be used for alleviating the harmful effects of drought stress and may stimulate the growth of sugar beet seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the spatiotemporal variability of remotely sensed gross primary productivity (GPP) over Türkiye based on MODIS, TL-LUE, GOSIF, MuSyQ, and PMLV2 GPP products. The differences in various GPP products were assessed using Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U methods, and long-term trends were analyzed using Modified Mann–Kendall (MMK), innovative trend analysis (ITA), and empirical mode decomposition (EMD). Our results show that at least one GPP product significantly differs from the others over the seven geographic regions of Türkiye (χ2 values of 50.8, 21.9, 76.9, 42.6, 149, 34.5, and 168; p < 0.05), and trend analyses reveal a significant increase in GPP from all satellite-based products over the latter half of the study period. Throughout the year, the average number of months in which each dataset showed significant increases across all study regions are 6.7, 8.1, 5.9, 9.6, and 8.7 for MODIS, TL-LUE, GOSIF, MuSyQ, and PMLV2, respectively. The ITA and EMD methods provided additional insight into the MMK test in both visualizing and detecting trends due to their graphical techniques. Overall, the GPP products investigated here suggest 'greening' for Türkiye, consistent with the findings from global studies, but the use of different statistical approaches and satellite-based GPP estimates creates different interpretations of how these trends have emerged. Ground stations, such as eddy covariance towers, can help further improve our understanding of the carbon cycle across the diverse ecosystem of Türkiye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuous increase in the demand for water and the scarcity of water to be used as drinking water have made groundwater even more important. The study area, Eber wetland, is located in the Akarçay river basin, which is one of the most important river basins in Turkey. The groundwater quality and heavy metal pollution were investigated in the study using index methods. In addition, health risk assessments were performed. Ion enrichment was determined at locations E10, E11, and E21 related to water-rock interaction. In addition, nitrate pollution was observed in many samples due to agricultural activities and also fertilizer application in the areas. The water quality index (WOI) values of the groundwaters vary between 85.91 and 201.77. In general, groundwater samples located around the wetland were in the "poor water" class. According to the values for the heavy metal pollution index (HPI), all the groundwater samples are suitable for use as drinking water. They are also classified as "low pollution" according to the heavy metal evaluation index (HEI) and the value/degree of contamination (Cd). In addition, since the water is been used for drinking by the people in the area, a health risk assessment was performed to ascertain As and NO 3 . It was determined that the R cancer values calculated for As were considerably higher than the tolerable/acceptable values for both adults and children. The results obtained clearly show that the groundwater should not be used as drinking water., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Copyright of Ictimaiyat is the property of Ictimaiyat 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 Balikesir Health Sciences Journal / Balıkesir Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of Balikesir Health Sciences Journal (BAUN Health Sci J) 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 Midwifery & Health Sciences 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.)

Purpose: The inadequacy of regulations, the uncertainty of the quality of houses produced and the needs of users all highlight the need for a house analysis in Turkey. The goal of this study is to understand housing quality in Turkey based on the gap between expectations and existing housing stock, to identify the main housing expectations and the problematic issues in the current housing situation. Design/methodology/approach: The authors designed a survey using the quality indicators of several well-known housing quality assessment tools to reveal residents' housing preferences and current housing situation in Turkey. The authors analyzed the survey results to identify the gap between housing preferences and existing conditions to reveal the housing quality of Turkish housing. Findings: Overall results show that residents in Turkey, regardless of their demographics, want and need better houses. It was determined that physical conditions, safety, aesthetics and accessibility are the issues for which the expectations of the participants are high and the lack of which is most felt. Originality/value: This paper reveals the residents' perspective on housing and their housing quality. It emphasizes the need for more research on housing quality, the need for updated regulation and necessity of a housing quality assessment tool in Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was designed to evaluate the chemical composition, antioxidant, enzyme inhibition and cytotoxic properties of different extracts from aerial parts of V. diversifolium (family Scrophulariaceae), a plant that is native to Lebanon, Syria and Turkey. Six extracts, namely, hexane, dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), ethanol (EtOH), 70% EtOH, and water (aqueous) were prepared by maceration. The EtOH extract was predominated by the presence of rutin (4280.20 µg g-1) and p-coumaric acid (3044.01 µg g-1) while the highest accumulation of kaempferol-3-glucoside (1537.38 µg g-1), caffeic acid (130.13 µg g-1) and 4-hydroxy benzoic acid (465.93 µg g-1) was recorded in the 70% EtOH, aqueous, and EtOAc extracts, respectively. The EtOH (46.86 mg TE/g) and 70% EtOH (46.33 mg TE/g) extracts displayed the highest DPPH radical scavenging result. Both these extracts, along with the aqueous one, exerted the highest ABTS radical scavenging result (73.03-73.56 mg TE/g). The EtOH and 70% EtOH extracts revealed the most potent anti-AChE (2.66 and 2.64 mg GALAE/g) and anti-glucosidase (1.07 and 1.09 mmol ACAE/g) activities. The aqueous extract was the most efficacious in inhibiting the proliferation of prostate cancer (DU-145) cells with an IC50 of 8.71 µg/mL and a Selectivity Index of 3.7. In conclusion, this study appraised the use of V. diversifolium aerial parts as a potential therapeutic source for future development of phytopharmaceuticals that target specific oxidative stress-linked diseases including diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer's disease among others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Approximately 80% of individuals worldwide use various holistic complementary and alternative medicine (HCAM) methods, including herbal products, to prevent diseases and improve their general health. In this study, it was aimed to investigate complementary and alternative therapy (CAM) and the use of phytotherapy by pregnant women in the COVID-19 pandemic period. Methods: This is a cross-sectional and descriptive study. The study included 381 women who applied to a public hospital in Türkiye and used herbal products during this pregnancy. Purposive sampling method was used. The study data were collected through "Identifying Information Form", "Holistic Complementary and Alternative Medicine Questionnaire (HCAMQ)" and "Information Form on the Use of Phytotherapy". In the analysis of the study data, descriptive statistics, the one-way ANOVA and multinomial logistic regression analyses were used. Results: The study was completed with 381 pregnant women. The average age, parity and gestational age of the pregnant women were 28.33±6.09, 2.17±0.95, 29.11±8.87, respectively. It was determined that 37.3% of pregnant women did not know the ingredients of the herbal products they used and 38.8% found them safer than the drugs. HCAMQ total mean score of the pregnant women was calculated as 34.62±16.22. It was found that the pregnant women used garlic the most (65.6%), followed by cumin (38.6%), curcuma (36.2%), and ginger (34.4%). HCAMQ total mean score was found to be lower in the pregnant women who found herbal products safer than drugs (p<0.001), who were not aware of the content of the herbal product they used (p<0.001), and who used herbal products so as to protect against COVID-19 (p = 0.041), to increase their physical resistance (p = 0.022), and to facilitate childbirth (p = 0.002). It was determined that among the pregnant women who knew the content of the herbal products they used (Odds Ratio (OR) 1.122; 1.095–1.149 95%CI; p<0.001) and who did not know (OR 1.114; 1.085–1.144 95%CI; p<0.001), as negative attitude towards HCAM increased, their status of finding traditional drugs safer increased. Among the pregnant women who used herbal products to protect against COVID-19 (OR 1.142; 1.111–1.174 95%CI; p<0.001) and to increase their physical resistance (OR 1.120; 1.094–1.147 95%CI; p<0.001), as negative attitude towards HCAM increased, their status of finding conventional drugs safer increased. Conclusion: In today's world where the use of herbal products and CAM has become widespread, it is important to raise the awareness of pregnant women about the benefits and harms of these practices about which there is inadequate evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

River water is a vital source of agricultural activities and ecology in the Akarçay basin. This study aims to determine the water quality of the Akarçay River. According to this purpose, 12 water samples that were thought to be affected by different polluting sources were taken through the flow path of the river and physicochemical analyses were performed. The water quality index (WQI) was used for drinking purposes, and the analysis results were compared with World Health Organization and Turkish drinking water standards. Irrigation quality parameters like sodium absorption ratio, residual sodium carbonate, and magnesium hazard were also calculated, showing that most samples are unsuitable for irrigation. The river water is of the Ca-Mg-HCO3, Na-Cl and Na-HCO3 types. It has been determined that the river water is unsuitable for irrigation and drinking water due to its high EC, Na+, Cl-, SO42-, As, B, F-, Fe, and Mn content. According to the WQI results, river water has different classifications from excellent to unsuitable. Geothermal water mixture and industrial, domestic and agricultural activities are the primary pollution sources. At the same time, the evaporation that the river is exposed to indicates the solute concentration and changes the usage characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The objective of this study to translate the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia for Temporomandibular Disorders (TSK-TMD) and to examine its reliability and validity. Material and Methods: The TSK-TMD was translated into Turkish as per international standards. The study included 111 patients with Temporomandibular Joint Disorder and aged 18-61 years. The research questionnaire collected demographic information, the Turkish version of TSK-TMD and Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). Using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Cronbach's alpha coefficient, respectively, internal consistency and test-retest reliability were examined. Construct validity was assessed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Results: The total Cronbach's alpha coefficient was found to be 0.876. The item total correlation of was found to be between 0.410 and 0.706. The ICC coefficient was found to be 0.951. The correlation coefficient by PCS, measured in terms of parallel from reliability, was discovered to be 0.520. According to the findings of EFA and CFA, the 12-item scale had the same two-factor structure as the original. Conclusions: These results demonstrate the Turkish version of the TSK-TMD item questionnaire to be a valid and reliable instrument. It can be applied to patients with TMJ problems to assess kinesiophobia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anatolia has been used as a settlement area by many civilizations throughout history due to its geopolitical and geographical features. Traditional houses in Anatolia convey the thousands of years of culture and identity of the region where they are located, with their unique architectural style. In this respect, traditional houses appear as the most important cultural heritage values that convey information such as the social, cultural, economic and architectural style of the period. Historical textures have been in change and transformation in the Malatya region, as in every region of Anatolia. However, Malatya has largely lost its traditional houses and texture due to many reasons such as rapid urbanization, unconsciousness, rent, and the destructive effect of time. In this study, which was prepared by addressing this problem, Fuzzy Logic and AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) analysis system was used in order to evaluate the authenticity of civil architectural examples located in traditional tissue pieces in the urban area of Malatya and to protect these structures. Thus, it is aimed to develop an authenticity assessment method together with the experts of the subject (conservation experts, architectural historians, art historians). It is aimed to determine the authenticity of the buildings numerically and proportionally with the authenticity evaluation model developed with a systematic setup. Ahmet Kökçü House, located in Yakınca Neighborhood, was chosen as the study area due to reasons such as the fact that it largely preserved its traditional texture as a field study and faced extinction as a result of the rapid urbanization of Malatya's central city wall reaching the border of Yeşilyurt district. With the authenticity assessment model developed in this context, the authenticity of the building was determined by experts and suggestions were made for the preservation of the building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today's society is increasingly concerned with the social impacts of sustainability. Social and economic difficulties necessitated a reconsideration of urban space, with socio-spatial issues at the center of discussions. Urban space is a facilitator for accomplishing social and environmental equity and fostering the sustainability of community. This study aims to discover the relationship between the socio-spatial characteristics of urban space and social sustainability. It highlights socio-spatial dimensions such as social equity (accessibility, social facilities, daily operations), environmental equity (open spaces), and sustainability of community (attachment, sense of community, sense of safety, participation). Applied to two study areas in Izmir, Turkey, the research method consists of detailed spatial analyses, a questionnaire survey, and statistical analyses. The findings show that the study areas had considerably differing social sustainability scores in the indicators of accessibility, daily operations, open spaces, attachment, social relations, sense of safety, and participation whereas they showed similar results in social facilities and sense of neighborliness. Furthermore, there are many promising relationships between social sustainability measures with varying strengths. Most particularly, residents who stated that their neighborhood was more accessible and that daily operations were more pleasant showed higher results in attachment and participation. Residents who evaluated their open spaces higher showed greater social relationships and a higher sense of safety. So, the study shows that the sustainability of community is highly influenced by social and environmental equity, which should be thoroughly considered in planning and developing the urban space. The study summarizes the relationship between socio-spatial aspects, followed by a discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ekşi Kara (functional female flowers) and Gök Üzüm (hermaphroditic flowers) are the two most important autochthonous varieties of middle Anatolia. This clone selection study started with mass-selection in producer vineyards consisting of approximately 5000 vines by The International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV) clonal selection procedure. Two-years genetic and sanitation were examined visually in population and 220 clone candidates were ampelography and fertilization biology and bud fertility determined for Ekşi Kara variety. The clone candidates were ranked at the level of sums, with weighted grading of three-year yield, growth, and quality records. Sanitation analyses of the superior clones were made. 17 clones in the Ekşi Kara grape variety were selected according to their superior scores in genetic selection and sanitation analyses. Eleven clones were selected by mass selection from Gök Üzüm carried out in a single location, and 2 clones were selected with genetic selection scores and health tests. Grapevine fleck virus (GfKV) was the most common (≅ 29%) in the samples tested, Grapevine leafroll associated virus 1+3 (GLRaV-1 + 3, ≅ 26%), Grapevine virus A (GVA, 12%), Grapevine leafroll associated virus-2 (GLRaV-2, ≅ 3%), Arabis mosaic virus (ArMV) / Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV) (≅ 1%) are fallowed with indicated percentage. Although virus and bacterial infections are common in the vineyards, enough healthy clones were selected. 17 Ekşi Kara and 2 Gök Üzüm clones selected as pollinators were grafted onto the 110R rootstock for clone comparison in homogeneous conditions, and a "Clone Comparison Vineyard" was established in Selçuk University. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Amme Idaresi Dergisi is the property of Public Administration Institute for Turkey & the Middle East (TODAIE) 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.)

Uluabat Lake holds a significant status as one of our country's essential Ramsar areas. Nevertheless, the lake faces considerable pressure from environmental pollutants. This study employed GIS-based index methods to examine the heavy metal pollution and water quality in Uluabat Lake. To achieve this, sediment and water samples were collected from 19 different locations during various seasons. The concentrations of As, Ni, Cr, Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, Hg, Al, Fe, and Mn in these samples were analyzed. The average contents of the investigated heavy metals in the lake waters were found to be in the following order: Al > Fe > Mn > As > Zn > Ni > Pb > Cu > Cr > Hg > Cd. The As content in the lake waters exceeded the limit value of 10 μg/L, as defined by TS-266 (2005) and WHO (2017) guidelines. Consequently, the lake waters were deemed unsuitable for drinking. The health risk assessments revealed that consuming the lake waters could lead to both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health problems. However, all other metal concentrations were measured below the specified limit values. Based on index calculations, the heavy metal pollution index value indicated that the lake water samples were suitable for drinking water use. Additionally, all samples fell into the "low pollution" category according to the heavy metal evaluation index, and degree of contamination values. However, geoaccumulation index values indicated that As was moderately contaminated. Moreover, enrichment factors of As, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Cd exhibited significant enrichment in lake sediments, with pollution load index values of all sediment samples indicating the impact of anthropogenic pollutants and a decline in sediment quality. Considering all the obtained results together, it can be concluded that environmental pollutants, especially heavy metal pollution, primarily enter the lake water through stream transports, leading to pollution in Uluabat Lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landslides are among the most destructive geological disasters that seriously damage human life and infrastructures. Landslides mainly occur in mountainous regions around the world. One of the key processes to reduce these damages is to uncover landslide-exposed areas through different data-driven methods such as Geographical Information System (GIS) and multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM). In the literature, there are many studies developed with these fundamental tools. In this study, unlike the literature, a new landslide susceptibility assessment model is proposed by integrating GIS with the stratified best–worst method (S-BWM). This model has four main dimensions and 16 sub-dimensions under topography, environment-land, location, and hydrological factors, weighted with the S-BWM. A network was created considering the different states that may arise in the importance weights of these dimensions in the future. The transition probabilities of these states were predicted and injected into the classical BWM. Then, maps were created for these dimensions and classifications for each sub-dimension according to the map characteristics. Finally, the most susceptive landslide locations were determined with GIS-based calculations. To demonstrate the model's applicability, a case study was conducted for the Erzurum region, one of Turkey's landslide-prone regions. In addition, besides the landslide map, an analysis and discussion about the spatial distribution of susceptibility classes was presented, contributing to the study's robustness. In the results of landslide susceptibility analysis, landslides are higher in the range of about 1600–2500 m. Approximately 42% (35.59 sq. km) of the study area has high landslide susceptibility, while 58% (64.41 sq. km) has medium and low landslide susceptibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sumela Monastery located in the northeast city of Trabzon is one of the most-visited touristic places in Turkey. As it is located in a mountainous area, rockfall hazards have become a crucial problem that the Monastery complex faces, especially in the last decade. Due to several rockfall cases, the monastery was closed for visitors in 2015 to take preventative measures. The current study examines the whole stages assessing and eliminating rockfall hazards that a historical Vaulted masonry building in the Sumela Monastery is exposed to. First of all, field studies were conducted to determine the kind and type of rockfall hazard. For this purpose, the regional geology of the area was evaluated and due to the inaccessibility of the region, industrial climbers were recruited to climb the slope above the Historical Vaulted building to determine the locations, dimensions, and risk level of the risky blocks that threatened the building. After that, the terrain of the risky area was modeled with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) using the digital photogrammetry method. In the last step of the field studies, samples were taken to determine the mechanical and physical properties of the rocks and several laboratory tests were conducted. In the second part of the study, probabilistic analyses of 2400 rockfall simulations with eight different trajectories were conducted to calculate the maximum run-out distance, velocity, kinetic energy, and bounce heights of falling blocks. In the third part, to evaluate the damage status on the vaulted building, six different possible rockfall scenarios determined by the rockfall analysis were simulated using the Finite Element Method. After determining the rock block size that would not cause significant damage to the building, the cleaning and controlled removal method of the risky blocks was determined. In the last stage, controlled crushing and removing practices for risky rock blocks were carried out and the building was restored. Consequently, the rockfall hazard for the historical Vaulted building was eliminated and the monastery complex opened for visitors in 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial canker of stone fruits caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae (Pss) and Pseudomonas syringae pv. morsprunorum (Psm race‐1/Psm race‐2) may lead to significant yield and crop losses in apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) cultivation areas in Türkiye. Strains pathogenic to apricot were isolated from trees with symptoms (mainly necrotized buds and dieback) of bacterial canker in orchards in Aras Basin. Pathogens were characterized using pathogenicity tests, phenotypic assays, end‐point PCR and multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA). Fifteen Pseudomonas syringae strains were isolated from 205 plant samples collected from apricot orchards showing symptoms of bacterial canker. As a consequence of the diagnostic tests, all isolates were identified as P. syringae pv. syringae. In this study, Pss, Psm R1 and Psm R2 strains in stone fruits were separated into different phylogroups (Pg‐2, Pg‐3, sPg‐1b) based on MLSA. Turkish strains obtained from stone fruits, particularly apricot, showed genetic heterogeneity, and clustered in different sub‐phylogroups (sPg‐2b, sPg‐2c, sPg‐2d). All these strains except strain K258 are also clustered in the same sub‐phylogroups (sPg‐2b and sPg‐2d) with other strains from different countries especially Iran, Lebanon, etc. Strain K258 isolated from apricot was clustered in sPg‐2c with Pss strain 642 (USA). The risk of bacterial canker disease in apricot growing areas is considered using GIS in this study. It was determined that a significant part of the Iğdır Plain, the biggest agricultural area in the Aras Basin, is at very high risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater is contaminated by anthropogenic factors such as industry, domestic waste, and excessive fertilizers. Groundwater samples, which were obtained from 50 different wells in July 2020, were used in this study. Thirteen hydrochemical properties, including electrical conductivity (EC), pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness (TH), nitrate NO3−, anions, and cations were analyzed. Also, types of groundwater were investigated via the Piper diagram. The groundwater was also evaluated for irrigation suitability using the sodium percentage (Na%), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), Kelly's index (KI), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), potential salinity, magnesium hazard (MR), and permeability index (PI). The samples were assessed for drinking the suitability using the water quality index (WQI) and the nitrate pollution index (NPI). Geographic information systems (GIS) were used to create spatial distribution maps of irrigation water quality indices, WQI, and NPI values. The results of major cations varied sodium 28.69–211.80 mg/L, calcium 78.74–258.89 magnesium 27.78–161.30 mg/L, and potasium 0.10–3.57 mg/L. The results from the study area showed that 62.70 of EC, 32.40% of PI, 20.09% of RSC, 51.55% of PS, and 49.36% of MR were inappropriate for irrigation purposes. The NPI data ranged from − 0.75 to 9.65, and 21.06% of the study areas were heavily polluted. The WQI showed that almost 62.90% of the experimental area was categorized as poor, very poor, and inappropriate for drinking water purposes, whereas 37.10% of the areas were categorized as good and excellent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allowing a foreign military in a sovereign country is often controversial. Yet, the United States has had hundreds of military facilities in foreign nations, including South Korea and Türkiye (Turkey) for nearly seven decades. The two American allies have traded partial autonomy in return for the military assistance of the U.S. This study selects the two G20 member states for a comparative case study, given their geostrategic importance to the U.S. defense agenda from the Cold War era to the present. This article aims to elucidate how American military bases are politically affected by the security situation and anti-Americanism in the host nations. Furthermore, this paper underscores the imperative for both countries to recalibrate their stances on American military bases amid the continuously evolving international political landscape, utilizing the Autonomy Security Trade-off Model as a framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies have shown that serum uric acid levels and uric acid-related ratios, such as uric acid-to-albumin ratio (UAR), uric acid-to-creatinine ratio (UCR), uric acid-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) ratio (UHR), and uric acid-to-lymphocyte ratio (ULR), are associated with various diseases and their complications, and that these ratios can be used as biomarkers. In the current study, we aimed to investigate uric acid levels in obese adolescents and the relationship of uric acid-related ratios with insulin resistance and obesity for the first time in the literature. Methods: A total of 100 adolescents (60 obese and 40 healthy) aged 10–17 years were retrospectively included. Participants were assigned to two groups: the obese group and the healthy control group. Obesity was defined as a body mass index (BMI) >the 95th percentile for age and gender. Demographic and laboratory data (serum glucose, urea, creatinine, uric acid, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), C-reactive protein (CRP), total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free T4 (fT4), insulin levels, and complete blood count) were obtained from the laboratory information management system. A homeostatic model of assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL cholesterol), and uric acid-related ratios were calculated. Results: Uric acid, UAR, UCR, and UHR levels of obese adolescents were significantly higher than the healthy group (p < 0.05). We found that HOMA-IR was positively correlated with uric acid, UAR, and UHR. No correlation was found between BMI and uric acid or uric acid-related ratios. We did not find any difference between the two groups in terms of ULR levels, and we did not find any correlation between BMI and HOMA-IR. Conclusion: High levels of serum uric acid, UAR, UCR, and UHR were associated with obesity. Furthermore, we found that uric acid, UAR, and UHR were positively correlated with insulin resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This correlational study aims at exploring the correlations between symptom burden, functional status, and self‐efficacy in advanced breast cancer patients and to analyze their paths of influence. The study was performed with 122 patients with advanced breast cancer receiving outpatient chemotherapy between April 10, 2021 and April 29, 2022. Data were collected using a sociodemographic information form, the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory, the Functional Living Index‐Cancer, and the Symptom Management Self‐Efficacy Scale for Breast Cancer Related to Chemotherapy. Kruskal–Wallis, Mann–Whitney U, and Spearman correlation tests and path analysis were used for data evaluation. Less‐educated individuals had a higher symptom burden and poorer self‐efficacy. Low‐income level was related to poor self‐efficacy. Symptom severity did not directly influence functional status but affected it indirectly through self‐efficacy, while symptom interference and self‐efficacy had a direct impact on functional status. This study mainly concludes that symptom burden and self‐efficacy affect functional status in advanced breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Self‐efficacy‐enhancing interventions may be helpful strategies for symptom relief and improvement in functional status in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Caries Impacts and Experiences Questionnaire for Children (CARIES-QC) has been developed to assess the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) associated with caries., Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the CARIES-QC in the Turkish-speaking population following its translation and adaptation into Turkish (CARIES-QC/T)., Design: Two hundred and fifty children between the ages of 5 and 16 years who have active dental caries were included in the study and answered the Turkish-translated and cross-culturally adapted final version of CARIES-QC/T. Test-retest reliability and internal consistency were used to examine the reliability of the CARIES-QC/T. Factor structure of CARIES-QC/T was analyzed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and convergent validity was determined., Results: Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's ômega values were 0.907 and 0.908, respectively. For the CARIES-QC/T scale, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) value was 0.933, and polychoric correlations ranged from 0.390 to 0.794. The convergent validity of the items revealed a statistically significant correlation with the global question (r s  = 0.821, p < .001). The EFA results of CARIES-QC/T suggested a one-factor solution and explained 59.7% of the total variance., Conclusion: The findings provided supporting evidence that the CARIES-QC/T could be used as a tool for measuring OHRQoL in healthy Turkish-speaking children aged 5-16 years with active caries., (© 2023 The Authors. International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry published by BSPD, IAPD and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: The Caries Impacts and Experiences Questionnaire for Children (CARIES-QC) assess children's effects of dental caries on their quality of life. This study aimed to determine the scale's Turkish version (CARIES-QC/T) validity and reliability according to age groups and to create the scale that is specific to selected age groups. Methods: Children were divided up into 3 age groups (5–7, 8–10 and 11–14 ages). Explanatory factor analysis (EFA) was used in the concept validation process. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used for cross-cultural validity. For each group, test-retest analyses were performed on 20 children. Inter-question correlation and Cronbach's alpha were used to examine internal consistency. Results: A total of 360 children (mean age; 9.04, 56.1% girls,) 120 children in each group, participated in the study. Questions 7 and 12 for the 5–7 age group, Questions 4 and 7 for the 8–10 and 11–14 age groups were excluded from the analysis (according to EFA results; factor loads < 0.30). Three modified CARIES-QC/T scales structures with a total of 10 questions were developed for the age groups of 5–7, 8–10, and 11–14. Conclusions: Some questions on the Caries-QC/T scale should be eliminated, it was found when it was evaluated for age specificity. Although the results of the Caries-QC scale studies to be carried out in different societies and age groups vary, the high sample size in this study and the statistically strong results showed that the Caries-QC/T scale forms that we adapted could be used by the specified age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Selçuk University Journal of Studies in Turcology / Selçuk Üniversitesi Türkiyat Arastirmalari Dergisi is the property of Turkiyat 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.)

Microplastic pollution is becoming a major issue for human health due to the recent discovery of microplastics in most ecosystems. Here, we review the sources, formation, occurrence, toxicity and remediation methods of microplastics. We distinguish ocean-based and land-based sources of microplastics. Microplastics have been found in biological samples such as faeces, sputum, saliva, blood and placenta. Cancer, intestinal, pulmonary, cardiovascular, infectious and inflammatory diseases are induced or mediated by microplastics. Microplastic exposure during pregnancy and maternal period is also discussed. Remediation methods include coagulation, membrane bioreactors, sand filtration, adsorption, photocatalytic degradation, electrocoagulation and magnetic separation. Control strategies comprise reducing plastic usage, behavioural change, and using biodegradable plastics. Global plastic production has risen dramatically over the past 70 years to reach 359 million tonnes. China is the world's top producer, contributing 17.5% to global production, while Turkey generates the most plastic waste in the Mediterranean region, at 144 tonnes per day. Microplastics comprise 75% of marine waste, with land-based sources responsible for 80–90% of pollution, while ocean-based sources account for only 10–20%. Microplastics induce toxic effects on humans and animals, such as cytotoxicity, immune response, oxidative stress, barrier attributes, and genotoxicity, even at minimal dosages of 10 μg/mL. Ingestion of microplastics by marine animals results in alterations in gastrointestinal tract physiology, immune system depression, oxidative stress, cytotoxicity, differential gene expression, and growth inhibition. Furthermore, bioaccumulation of microplastics in the tissues of aquatic organisms can have adverse effects on the aquatic ecosystem, with potential transmission of microplastics to humans and birds. Changing individual behaviours and governmental actions, such as implementing bans, taxes, or pricing on plastic carrier bags, has significantly reduced plastic consumption to 8–85% in various countries worldwide. The microplastic minimisation approach follows an upside-down pyramid, starting with prevention, followed by reducing, reusing, recycling, recovering, and ending with disposal as the least preferable option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key strategy for social development and sustainable urban expansion is building sustainable and affordable transport systems. In this study, we aim to test the validity of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis and reveal the impact of infrastructure investment in transportation systems in China, Turkey, India, and Japan over the period 1995–2020 on environmental degradation. According to dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) method analysis, per capita GDP and per capita GDP3 have a significant positive impact on per capita CO2 emission, while per capita GDP2 has a significant adverse impact on per capita CO2 emission. These results confirm the validity of the N-shaped EKC assumption, while inconsistent with the results of the FMOLS technique, showing that per capita GDP is significantly positive, while per capita GDP2 and per capita GDP3 have a significant negative impact on per capita carbon emissions. Moreover, as clarified by the fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) and DOLS methods, road infrastructure investment (RO), aviation infrastructure investment, trade openness, and foreign direct investment (FDI) have significant positive effects, while railway infrastructure investment (RA) has a significant negative effect on per capita carbon emission. Country-level estimates of per capita carbon emission-based DOLS strategies in the model show that only China and Japan have N-shaped EKC hypothesis. Road infrastructure investment, aviation infrastructure investment, and trade openness have significant positive effects, while railway infrastructure investment has a significant negative effect on per capita CO2 emission in selected central and east Asian countries. The latest electrified rail systems are well thought out and less polluting, so the contribution of rail infrastructure investment to the transport mix can support sustainable and safe transport systems at city center and intercity levels and reduce environmental pollution in central and east Asian countries. Moreover, the implementation of the basic environmental settings of trade agreements should be strengthened to condense the growing impact of free trade on environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flat wasps genus, Pristepyris Kieffer is reported for the first time from Türkiye based on the identification of Pristepyris masii (Soika, 1933). Now, with this new record, the species number of Bethylidae from Türkiye has increased to ten. Additionally, new data are presented for Epyris niger Westwood, 1832, Sclerodermus ephippius (Saunders, 1881) and Pristocera depressa (Fabricius, 1804), which were previously recorded from Turkey. All taxa are morphologically illustrated and their geographical distribution in Türkiye and in the World is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assesses the spatio‐temporal impact of vaccination efforts on Covid‐19 incidence growth in Turkey. Incorporating geographical features of SARS‐CoV‐2 transmission, we adopt a spatial Susceptible–Infected–Recovered (SIR) model that serves as a guide of our empirical specification. Using provincial weekly panel data, we estimate a dynamic spatial autoregressive (SAR) model to elucidate the short‐ and the long‐run impact of vaccination on Covid‐19 incidence growth after controlling for temporal and spatio‐temporal diffusion, testing capacity, social distancing behavior and unobserved space‐varying confounders. Results show that vaccination growth reduces Covid‐19 incidence growth rate directly and indirectly by creating a positive externality over space. The significant association between vaccination and Covid‐19 incidence is robust to a host of spatial weight matrix specifications. Conspicuous spatial and temporal diffusion effects of Covid‐19 incidence growth were found across all specifications: the former being a severer threat to the containment of the pandemic than the latter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This multi-center point prevalence study evaluated children who were diagnosed as having coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). On February 2nd, 2022, inpatients and outpatients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) were included in the study from 12 cities and 24 centers in Turkey. Of 8605 patients on February 2nd, 2022, in participating centers, 706 (8.2%) had COVID-19. The median age of the 706 patients was 92.50 months, 53.4% were female, and 76.7% were inpatients. The three most common symptoms of the patients with COVID-19 were fever (56.6%), cough (41.3%), and fatigue (27.5%). The three most common underlying chronic diseases (UCDs) were asthma (3.4%), neurologic disorders (3.3%), and obesity (2.6%). The SARS-CoV-2-related pneumoniae rate was 10.7%. The COVID-19 vaccination rate was 12.5% in all patients. Among patients aged over 12 years with access to the vaccine given by the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health, the vaccination rate was 38.7%. Patients with UCDs presented with dyspnea and pneumoniae more frequently than those without UCDs (p < 0.001 for both). The rates of fever, diarrhea, and pneumoniae were higher in patients without COVID-19 vaccinations (p = 0.001, p = 0.012, and p = 0.027). Conclusion: To lessen the effects of the disease, all eligible children should receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The illness may specifically endanger children with UCDs. What is Known: • Children with COVID-19 mainly present with fever and cough, as in adults. • COVID-19 may specifically threaten children with underlying chronic diseases. What is New: • Children with obesity have a higher vaccination rate against COVID-19 than children without obesity. • Among unvaccinated children, fever and pneumoniae might be seen at a higher ratio than among vaccinated children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to investigate the effect of simulation-supported breastfeeding program given to women in pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic period on breastfeeding success, breastfeeding self-efficacy, and mother-infant attachment. They carried out this study 73 pregnant women who presented to the obstetrics and gynecology clinic of a hospital and were selected by using the simple random sampling method. The researchers used a quasi-experimental design in this study. After the simulation-supported breastfeeding program, they found that breastfeeding success and breastfeeding self-efficacy were increased in the experimental group compared to the control group. The researchers were used the structural equation model, regression analysis, and independent samples t-test in the data analysis. The education given to pregnant women in this period when social interaction decreases becomes more important. Researchers are recommended that breastfeeding education should start in the antenatal period and continue in the postpartum period by using different education methods together. Simulation-supported breastfeeding program is a model that can be used to provide breastfeeding education for pregnant women in public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic. With this program, the number of visits to the hospital for breastfeeding education will decrease, and more remote counseling will be provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Selcuk Dental Journal is the property of Selcuk Dental Journal 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.)

Microplastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems presents an emerging environmental threat that can have adverse effects on ecology, endanger aquatic species, and result in economic damage. Despite the numerous studies reporting the presence of microplastics in marine environments, research into their presence in freshwater systems or inland waters remains limited. This study aimed to assess the level of microplastic pollution transported by the Munzur and Pülümür Rivers and some small rivers that flow into the Uzunçayır dam lake, which is the confluence of the Munzur and Pülümür Rivers in Türkiye. Samples were collected from 23 stations, with the concentration of microplastics ranging from 0.01 MP/m3 at P-4 station to 28.21 MP/m3 at P-10, a station located near a city. Microplastics comprise four types: fiber, film, fragment, and glitter. The average size of microplastics was 1.46 ± 0.05 mm, with the average size of fibers, films, fragments, and glitter-type microplastics being 1.58 ± 0.07 mm, 1.23 ± 0.10 mm, 1.21 ± 0.11 mm, and 0.78 ± 0.16 mm, respectively. The most frequent polymers were polyethylene (31.8%), polystyrene (21.1%), and polypropylene (10.5%). Despite being considered remote and less populated rivers compared to other river systems in Türkiye, all sampling sites showed varying concentrations of microplastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, dissolved metal levels of 10 different ponds used as irrigation and drinking water sources in the north of Saros Bay (Türkiye) were evaluated using multivariate statistical methods, contamination and ecological risk indices, and absolute principal component score-multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR). The mean levels of metals in the ponds ranged from 0.045 µg/L (Cd) to 127 µg/L (Mn). Pond 7 used for drinking water source had the lowest total metal level. Only Mn levels in two ponds (P1 and P2) slightly exceeded the critical value set by EU Drinking Water Directive. However, the levels of all metals in all ponds were lower than the critical values set for irrigation water and aquatic life. According to the heavy metal pollution index (HPI), five ponds showed low metal pollution in terms of drinking water quality, four ponds showed moderate metal pollution, and one pond (P1) showed moderate to heavy pollution. According to the Nemerow pollution index (NPI) values (0.26–1.82), ponds P1 and P2 showed slight metal pollution, while other ponds showed insignificant metal pollution. Contamination degree (CD) values of ponds varied between 0.95 and 3.33, indicating that all ponds showed low pollution. In terms of irrigation water quality, all ponds showed low or insignificant metal pollution according to the HPI, NPI, and CD values. According to the ecological risk index (ERI) values, metals in all ponds posed low ecological risks for both drinking and irrigation purposes. Factor analysis identified two potential sources: mixed sources and natural sources. The APCS-MLR model results revealed that mixed sources and natural sources contributed 78.99% and 21.01% to dissolved metals in the ponds, respectively. Health risk assessment results indicated that both individual and combined metals in the ponds would not cause non-carcinogenic risks to both adults and children. Similarly, it was found that Cr and As would not cause carcinogenic risks to the residents of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate the impact of urban spatial expansion on the landscape patterns of coastal cities in Türkiye through the use of spatio-temporal indices. To this end, temporal samples covering a period of approximately 30 years (1986–2000 and 2000–2015) were analyzed for six selected coastal cities in Türkiye. The urban spatial growth patterns in these cities were characterized using 17 geospatial indices, and Pearson's correlation coefficient and principal component analysis were employed to assess the quantitative relationships between urban spatial development and the fragmentation of landscape networks. The results of the study demonstrated that the patterns of landscape fragmentation caused by the spatial growth patterns of the selected coastal cities can be divided into two categories: disconnected landscape connections and perforated landscape patterns. Leapfrog development was identified as a major factor in the fragmentation of landscape continuity, leading to the formation of perforated green structures. The findings of this research can serve as spatial guidelines for addressing disconnected landscapes, a crucial factor in enhancing urban sustainability in Türkiye's coastal cities. Furthermore, the outcomes of this study may be useful for informing the national well-being strategy for urban planning and natural mitigating policies in Türkiye's coastal regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study fungal strains were investigated, which had been isolated from eggs of the cereal cyst nematode Heterodera filipjevi, and roots of Microthlaspi perfoliatum (Brassicaceae). The morphology, the interaction with nematodes and plants and the phylogenetic relationships of these strains originating from a broad geographic range covering Western Europe to Asia Minor were studied. Phylogenetic analyses using five genomic loci including ITSrDNA, LSUrDNA, SSUrDNA, rpb2 and tef1-α were carried out. The strains were found to represent a distinct phylogenetic lineage most closely related to Equiseticola and Ophiosphaerella, and Polydomus karssenii (Phaeosphaeriaceae, Pleosporales) is introduced here as a new species representing a monotypic genus. The pathogenicity tests against nematode eggs fulfilled Koch's postulates using in vitro nematode bioassays and showed that the fungus could parasitise its original nematode host H. filipjevi as well as the sugar beet cyst nematode H. schachtii, and colonise cysts and eggs of its hosts by forming highly melanised moniliform hyphae. Light microscopic observations on fungus-root interactions in an axenic system revealed the capacity of the same fungal strain to colonise the roots of wheat and produce melanised hyphae and microsclerotia-like structure typical for dark septate endophytes. Confocal laser scanning microscopy further demonstrated that the fungus colonised the root cells by predominant intercellular growth of hyphae, and frequent formation of appressorium-like as well as penetration peg-like structures through internal cell walls surrounded by callosic papilla-like structures. Different strains of the new fungus produced a nearly identical set of secondary metabolites with various biological activities including nematicidal effects irrespective of their origin from plants or nematodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effect of geofoam compressible cushions on the impact response of the rockfall protection galleries located in a main artery highway connecting the southern Turkey to central Anatolia is investigated. Due to high occurrence risk of rockfall hazard at the mountainous region, permanent protection structures are required to prevent damage. Numerical analyses were carried out to evaluate the performance of EPS geofoam compressible layers with different stiffness characteristics on reducing the transmissibility of the impact forces caused by rockfalls. The kinetic energy levels, expected fall velocities for rock masses and the typical rockfall paths were assessed considering the topography of the hill. Dynamic explicit finite element analyses were performed to investigate the effect of the rockfall impact on a reinforced concrete rock shed. Stresses, strains and displacements on the structural section and the cushioning zone were monitored through the analyses. Based on the results, it was observed that geofoam has a significant effect on reducing the transmitted forces to the structure while increasing the impact duration. In terms of structural displacements, up to 75% reduction is observed when EPS cushions are placed on top of rock shed structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, cities are at the center of the debate on global warming since land use and land cover change (LULC) in cities are considered to be major contributors to global climate change. In this study, Çarşı and Doğukent Neighborhood areas in the city center of Elazığ province, Turkey, were examined in terms of land use and land cover (LULC). Both areas were chosen because they have different patterns and features, such as different residential densities, street aspect ratios and orientations, impervious surfaces, vegetation, and elevations. The aim is to assess the effect of the different patterns of these settlements on the land surface temperature (LST) using Landsat 8 satellite images in the summertime, July 19, 2021. The results showed that the maximum, minimum, and average LST of the Doğukent Neighborhood, which is characterized by uniform streets with dense vegetation and streets oriented to the NE-SW or NW–SE, were recorded as 44.4, 38.4, and 41.0 °C, respectively, while 45.4, 40.4, and 43.8 °C were recorded in the Çarşı Neighborhood characterized by excessive residential areas and deep streets with lack of vegetation oriented to the E-W direction. However, the average difference is around 2.8 °C, implying that residential areas with mid-building heights and vegetated streets oriented to NE-SW or NW–SE are thermally better than those with high aspect ratio streets and lacking vegetation and oriented to E-W. It was found that small variations in land elevation of these areas do not significantly affect the LST. The results of this study will set an example not only for the city of Elazığ, but also for the determination of urban transformation areas, new housing areas, and climate change in most cities of Turkey and other countries, and will provide support for sustainable and more livable urbanization in most cities. Transferring the data obtained by local governments to the physical plan decisions could also contribute to preventing climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Mukaddime Journal is the property of Mukaddime Journal 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.)

BACKGROUND: Grape and leaf quality are often severely reduced by fungi such as grey rot Botrytis cinerea Pers., powdery mildew Erysiphe necator Schwein, and downy mildew Plasmopara viticola (Berk. & M.A.Curtis) Berl. & De Toni and by insects such as Otiorhynchus spp., European grapevine moth Lobesia botrana Den.‐Schiff., vine mealybug Planococcus citri Risso, and grape erineum mite Colomerus vitis Pgst. Various pesticides are often applied to mitigate these pest problems. These chemicals used singly as well as in the form of a mixture can leave residues on or in the crop. It is therefore of great importance to study the dissipation of the pesticides applied alone and in mixtures to this crop to protect consumers. RESULTS: The dissipation kinetics of cypermethrin, boscalid, deltamethrin, kresoxim‐methyl, lambda‐cyhalothrin, metalaxyl‐M, metrafenone, and triadimenol residues were studied in vine leaves grown under sunny conditions in Turkey. The dissipation rate for singly applied pesticides followed first‐order kinetics, with half‐lifes in grape leaves in the range of 1.85–7.22 days. Changes in the degradation process of pesticide residues were determined after application, as both single applications and mixtures. The degradation of boscalid, cymoxanil, deltamethrin and metalaxyl‐M accelerated while the degradation of cypermethrin, kresoxim‐methyl, and lambda‐cyhalothrin slowed down in mixtures of pesticides. CONCLUSION: The use of pesticides in mixtures leads to slower degradation and higher residues for some active ingredients and faster degradation and fewer residues for other active ingredients. Therefore, pesticide mixtures should not be applied in the field without having detailed information about their ingredients. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite advances in clinical care for the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, population-wide interventions are vital to effectively manage the pandemic due to its rapid spread and the emergence of different variants. One of the most important interventions to control the spread of the disease is vaccination. In this study, an extended Susceptible-Infected Healed (SIR) model based on System Dynamics was designed, considering the factors affecting the rate of spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The model predicts how long it will take to reach 70% herd immunity based on the number of vaccines administered. The designed simulation model is modeled in AnyLogic 8.7.2 program. The model was performed for three different vaccine supply scenarios and for Turkey with ~83 million population. The results show that, with a monthly supply of 15 million vaccines, social immunity reached the target value of 70% in 161 days, while this number was 117 days for 30 million vaccines and 98 days for 40 million vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to monitor the presence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that cause the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), particularly on certain foods and surfaces that come in contact with food in district supermarkets in Ankara, Türkiye, where the highest number of COVID-19 cases was reported based on data from the Ministry of Health. For this purpose, a total of 172 samples were taken from 5 supermarkets in 4 districts in Ankara. RNA was extracted from the samples and RdRp gene-targeting reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assays were used to determine the presence of SARS-CoV-2. The results showed that all the supermarket samples collected during the period when there was a high number of COVID-19 cases in the district did not have SARS-CoV-2 except for one sample that was taken from a supermarket where COVID-19 had been detected among the staff. In this supermarket, COVID-19 RNA was detected with a high number of copies of 5 000, using Real-Time RT-PCR assay in pooled swab samples taken from salt shakers, pepper shakers, red pepper shakers, and vinegar and oil bottles in the social area that the staff used for lunchbreaks and other breaks. This finding shows that it is of great importance for public health agencies to monitor COVID-19 cases in food businesses in regions with a high number of cases and to take samples from these businesses at certain intervals, as a form of "early warning system." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Harran University Medical Faculty / Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi is the property of Harran University Medical Faculty 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.)