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The effect of vitamin D injection on post-thaw semen parameters and testosterone levels in non-breeding rams
No full textReprodüktif biyoteknolojide, kriyoprezervasyon (dondurma-eritme) sonrası sperm kalitesini artırmak temel hedeflerden biridir. Bu çalışmada koçlarda sezon dışı D vitamini uygulamasının testosteron seviyesine ve dondurup eritme sonrası elde edilen sperm parametrelerine etkisinin araştırılması amaçlanmıştır. 6 adet kıvırcık ırkı koç iki gruba ayrılmıştır. Birinci gruba (Kontrol) 2 ml kas içi fizyolojik tuzlu su (FTS), ikinci gruba (Çalışma) ise 1 ml/ 50 kg dozda D3 vitamini (Provet-D3 Vitamin Enjeksiyonluk Çözelti) kas içi (IM) yolla uygulandı. Uygulamanın yapıldığı gün 0.gün olarak kabul edildi. Uygulamanın yapıldığı 0.gün ve bunu takip eden 15.gün 30.gün 45.gün ve 60.günlerde 5 defa sperma ve kan örnekleri toplandı. Sperma, altı baş kıvırcık ırkı koçtan üreme sezonu dışında, elektro-ejakülatör ile alındı. Laboratuvar ortamında %6 gliserol içeren Tris-Sitrik Asit sulandırıcısıyla sulandırılan sperma örneklerinin sıcaklığı bir saat içinde 5ºC’a indirildi ve iki saat boyunca ekilibrasyona tabi tutuldu. Sperma, dondurma cihazıyla dondurularak (-196 oC) analize kadar sıvı azotun içinde saklandı. Spermalara eritme sonrası motilite, HOST, TUNEL, FITCH-PNA, JC-1 ve NO analizleri yapıldı. D vitamini uygulamasının 0. gününde, kontrol ve D vitamini grupları arasında sperm parametreleri açısından anlamlı bir fark saptanmadı (p>0,05). Ancak, 15. günden itibaren D vitamini uygulanan grupta sperm motilitesi, hipo-osmotik şişme testi (HOST) ve DNA bütünlüğü (TUNEL testi) sonuçlarında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı iyileşmeler gözlendi (p0.05). However, from day 15 onwards, sperm motility, hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST), and DNA integrity (TUNEL assay) showed statistically significant improvements in the vitamin D group (p<0.05). On days 30, 45, and 60, sperm motility, HOST, the proportion of cells not subjected to oxidative stress dependent on nitric oxide (NO) levels, and mitochondrial membrane potential (JC-1) were significantly higher in the vitamin D group compared to the control group (p<0.05), whereas DNA damage (TUNEL assay) was lower. It was concluded that there was a positive correlation between vitamin D and serum testosterone levels. In conclusion, vitamin D administration positively affected sperm quality in rams and exhibited protective effects on DNA integrity
Is lingual fracture pattern in sagittal split osteotomy associated with recovery of neurosensory disturbance?
No full textBackground: Bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO) is commonly used to correct mandibular deformities but may cause neurosensory disturbance (NSD) of the lower lip due to potential injury to the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of LSS 3 on postoperative neurosensory disturbances. The hypothesis of this study was that the LSS 3 split pattern would extend the recovery time of neurosensory disturbance. Material and Methods: The retrospective cohort study included patients who underwent BSSO surgery in Erciyes University, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Hospital. The primary predictor variable was the lingual split pattern. The split patterns were categorized using the Lingual Split Scale (LSS). The primary outcome was NSD. The postoperative sensation was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS). The secondary outcome was intraoperative nerve exposure. The nerve exposure was classified as No nerve encountered, Embedded in distal segment, Embedded in proximal segment and Nerve transected. All data were analyzed using Turcosa Cloud statistical software (Turcosa Ltd. Co., Turkey). p<0.05 was considered significant. Results: The study included 101 patients with 202 split sides. LSS 1 was the most common pattern (63.37%), followed by LSS 3 (25.74%). In LSS 3 split pattern, the inferior alveolar nerve mostly embedded in the proximal segment (p<0.05). NSD was highest in LSS 3 cases, particularly in the first 6 months postoperatively (p<0.05). However, no significant differences were observed after 12 months. Conclusions: LSS 3 splits may significantly increase embedded in the proximal segment and can associated with higher postoperative NSD, particularly in the first 6 months. Surgeons should consider factors contributing to LSS 3 patterns to reduce the risk of NSD
Investigation of the effect of capecitabine on uridine phosphorylase-1 and the protective properties of resveratrol
No full textKapesitabin, metastatik meme ve kolorektal kanser başta olmak üzere birçok kanser türünde kullanılan bir kemoterapi ilacıdır. Bu ilacı kullanan hastalarda görülen en yaygın yan etki El-Ayak Sendromu (HFS)’dur ve HFS’li hastaların %10-17’sinde parmak izi kaybı görüldüğü rapor edilmiştir. Parmak izi, adli kimliklendirmede önemli bir biyometrik belirteçtir. Bu hastalarda parmak izi kaybı ile ilgili sorunların çıkmaması için HFS’nin tedavi edilmesi gerekmektedir. HFS’nin nedeni ise halen bilinmemektedir. Yapılan çalışmalarda bilim insanları HFS’nin kapesitabin metabolizmasında bulunan enzimlerle ilgili olabileceğine ve inflamatuar yolla oluşabileceğine dikkat çekmiştir. Bu çalışmada antioksidan, antikanser ve antienflamasyon etki gösteren resveratrolün, HFS üzerindeki koruyucu etkisini incelemek için kapesitabin, resveratrol ve kapesitabin+resveratrol verilen sıçanların ayaklarındaki kızarıklık ölçülüp karşılaştırılmıştır. Resveratrolün kapesitabinden kaynaklanan kızarıklığı azalttığı görülmüştür. Ayrıca bu sıçanların karaciğer, beyin, böbrek ve kalp dokularında kapesitabin metabolizmasında bulunan üridin fosforilaz-1 (UPP1) enziminin derişimi ölçülüp karşılaştırılmış, kapesitabinin ve resveratrolün UPP1 üzerine etkisine bakılmıştır. Kapesitabin metabolizmasında yer alan karaciğer ve böbrek dokularında kapesitabin+resveratrol verilen grubun UPP1 enzim derişimi kapesitabin verilen gruba göre anlamlı olarak düşük çıkmıştır. Bu, resveratrolün karaciğer ve böbrek dokularında UPP1 enzim derişimini etkilediğini göstermiştir. UPP1 derişimi ile HFS’ye neden olduğu düşünülen 5-florourasil (5-FU) arasında doğrusal orantı olduğu yapılan çalışmalarda gösterilmiştir. Biz de yaptığımız çalışmada resveratrolün bu sonuçlar doğrultusunda HFS’yi azaltabileceğini düşünüyoruz. Fakat kesin sonuçlar için daha kapsamlı çalışmalara ihtiyaç vardır.Capecitabine is a chemotherapy drug used in many types of cancer, especially metastatic breast and colorectal cancer. The most common side effect seen in patients using this drug is Hand-Foot Syndrome (HFS), and it has been reported that 10-17% of patients with HFS experience loss of fingerprints. Fingerprints are an important biometric marker in forensic identification. HFS must be treated in order to prevent problems related to loss of fingerprints in these patients. The cause of HFS is still unknown. In studies, scientists have pointed out that HFS may be related to enzymes found in the metabolism of capecitabine and may occur through an inflammatory pathway. In this study, to examine the protective effect of resveratrol, which has antioxidant, anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects, on HFS, the redness on the feet of rats given capecitabine, resveratrol and capecitabine+resveratrol were measured and compared. It was observed that resveratrol reduced the redness caused by capecitabine. In addition, the concentration of uridine phosphorylase-1 (UPP1) enzyme, which is found in the metabolism of capecitabine in the liver, brain, kidney and heart tissues of these rats, was measured and compared, and the effects of capecitabine and resveratrol on UPP1 were examined. In the liver and kidney tissues, which are involved in the metabolism of capecitabine, the UPP1 enzyme concentration in the group given capecitabine+resveratrol was significantly lower than in the group given capecitabine. This showed that resveratrol affected the UPP1 enzyme concentration in the liver and kidney tissues. Studies have shown that there is a linear proportion between the concentration of UPP1 and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), which is thought to cause HFS. In our study, we think that resveratrol can reduce HFS in line with these results. However, more comprehensive studies are needed for definitive results
Sustainable management of rural architectural heritage through rural tourism: Iznik (Turkey) case study
No full textArchitectural heritage structures stand out as important local elements in rural tourism activities carried out in rural areas to observe and experience natural and cultural values, local activities, and rural life culture. The protection and reuse of architectural heritage in rural development promotes environmental sustainability and economic development while raising the living standards of local people. In this context, the protection and use of architectural heritage is an important tool for sustainable rural development in the future. This study is an example of efforts to develop rural areas with tourism using rural architectural heritage values and aims to emphasize the architectural importance of rural architectural heritage and to reveal management studies to be carried out for the use of these heritage values in rural tourism. The rural area of Iznik was selected as the study area due to its natural, historical, and cultural values, rural architectural heritage elements, and rural tourism potential. According to the field studies and interviews with stakeholders, sustainable management approaches and action proposals were created for the integration of rural architectural heritage with rural tourism and rural development
Phenotypes of food allergies in patients with atopic dermatitis aged under 24 months: A multicenter study
No full textBackground: Atopic dermatitis (AD) and food allergy (FA) are common allergic diseases in early childhood. AD may be concomitant with FA, particularly in young children. Although studies report the prevalence of FA in children with AD, there is insufficient data regarding different phenotypes of FA. Objective: The aim of our research was to determine the prevalence and clinical predictors of different phenotypes of concomitant FA in children with AD. Methods: This cross-sectional multicenter study included patients younger than 24 months old diagnosed with AD, recruited from 14 pediatric allergy centers. Patients were categorized into two groups using skin testing, allergen-specific IgE, and ultimately food challenge testing (FCT): those with FA and those without. Individuals with FA were classified into three distinct phenotypes: IgE-mediated, non-IgE-mediated, and concurrent IgE- and non-IgE-mediated. Results: The data of 530 children [59% male, median-age 7 months (IQR: 5–11)] were analyzed. IgE-mediated FA was found in 28.1% of participants, whereas 22.4% (n = 119/530) exhibited non-IgE-mediated FA. Concurrent IgE- and non-IgE-mediated FA was reported in 12.1% (n = 64/530) of patients. Cow’s milk (69.6%) and egg-white (68.9%) were identified as the most prevalent allergens. Cow’s milk was primarily responsible for non-IgE-mediated and egg-white for IgE-mediated FA. The most significant predictors of FA were severe AD and the presence of blood in stool with odds ratios of 8.25 (95% Cl: 3.04–22.39) and 10.04 (95% CI: 2.03–49.59), respectively (p < 0.01) (p < 0.005). Conclusions: The study’s findings indicate that children with early-onset and mild-to-moderate AD deserve to be comprehensively assessed for FA symptoms. The most significant indicators of concomitant FA in AD patients were the presence of blood in stool and severe AD. It is important to consider that those who exhibit IgE-mediated FA may also have concurrent non-IgE-mediated FA. We underline that it is important to consider that children with AD who exhibit IgE-mediated FA may also have concurrent non-IgE-mediated FA. Addressing these symptoms may assist healthcare practitioners in clinical practice to improve the quality of care for AD patients having FA
Uridine and uridine nucleotides as novel regulators of nucb2/nesfatin-1 neuron activation: An immunohistochemical study
No full textNesfatin-1, identified as an anorexigenic neuropeptide in the hypothalamus, is activated by glutamatergic agonists and innervated by excitatory and inhibitory neurons. The uridine nucleotide uridine diphosphate was recently identified as a novel regulator of feeding-related neurons. However, the activating effects of uridine and uridine nucleotides on anorexigenic NUCB2/nesfatin-1 neurons are unknown. In this study, the activating effects of intracerebroventricularly administered uridine or uridine nucleotides (UMP, UDP, UTP) on NUCB2/nesfatin-1 neurons localized in the supraoptic (SON), paraventricular (PVN), and periventricular (PeV) nuclei were determined using c-Fos immunohistochemistry. Results were evaluated as the percentage of the ratio of c-Fos-expressing (activated) NUCB2/nesfatin-1 neurons to all NUCB2/nesfatin-1 neurons. It was determined that centrally administered uridine, UMP, and UTP activated a statistically significant number of NUCB2/nesfatin-1 neurons in the SON, PVN, and PeV, compared with the saline group (p < 0.05). At the same time, the slight increase in the neuronal activation seen following UDP application was not found to be significant. The results of this study show that NUCB2/nesfatin-1 neurons respond to uridine and uridine nucleotides in the form of neuronal activation, possibly through pyrimidinergic neurotransmission
Şevkî Mehmed's Taʾbīr-nāme: [Textual analysis and critical edition]
No full textİnsanlık tarihinin en eski dönemlerinden beri rüyalar, bireylerin psikolojik ve kültürel dünyalarında özel bir yere sahip olmuştur. Antik Mezopotamya, Mısır, Yunan, Arap, İran ve Türk toplumlarında da çoğu zaman ilahî bir mesajın ya da geleceğe dair bir işaretin habercisi olarak kabul edilmiştir. Türk kültüründe, özellikle destanlarda ve sözlü gelenekte de rüya motiflerine sıklıkla yer verilmiştir. Uygur metinlerinden Dede Korkut hikâyelerine kadar rüya, çoğu zaman kutsal bir rehberlik aracı olarak kullanılmıştır. Bu gelenek içinde ta’bîrnâme adı verilen eserler, rüyaların sembolik anlamlarını açıklayan metinler olarak ortaya çıkmıştır. Arapça, Farsça ve Türkçe yazılmış çok sayıda olan bu tür, alfabetik ya da tematik düzenle yorumlarını içeren iki bölümlü yapısıyla dikkat çeker. Bu eserler, sadece saray çevresinde ilgi görmemiş hatta halka da hitap ettiği için genelde sade dille yazılmış, zamanla edebî tür hâline gelmiştir. Bu değerli külliyat içinde Şevkî Mehmed’in kaleme aldığı ta’bîrnâme, hem dili hem içeriği hem de sistematiğiyle öne çıkan önemli eserlerden biridir. Rüya türleri, yorum ilkeleri ve sembollerin açıklanış biçimiyle didaktik ve edebî yönü bir araya getiren bu eser, sadece bir rüya sözlüğü değil, aynı zamanda bir kültür aynası işlevi görmektedir.Since the earliest periods of human history, dreams have held a special place in individuals' psychological and cultural worlds. In ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Arabia, Iran, and among the Turks, dreams were often regarded as divine messages or signs of events yet to come. In Turkish culture, particularly in epics and oral traditions, dream motifs have frequently appeared. From Uighur texts to the tales of Dede Korkut, dreams were commonly used as sacred tools of guidance. Within this tradition, works known as ta'bīrnāmes emerged as texts that interpret the symbolic meanings of dreams. Composed in Arabic, Persian, and Turkish, this genre is characterized by its two-part structure, which often includes an introduction to dream theory and an alphabetical or thematic arrangement of dream interpretations. These texts were not only appreciated in courtly circles but were also written in plain language to appeal to the general public, eventually evolving into a literary genre. Among this valuable corpus, the ta'bīrnāme authored by Şevkî Mehmed stands out with its language, content, and systematic approach. By combining didactic and literary elements, this work elaborates on types of dreams, principles of interpretation, and the meanings of symbols. It functions not merely as a dictionary of dreams but also as a cultural mirror reflecting the intellectual and spiritual dimensions of its time
Diagnostic accuracy and predictive value of the QuantiFERON-TB gold plus assay for tuberculosis in immunocompromised individuals: A prospective TBnet study
No full textBackground In low tuberculosis (TB)-endemic countries, tuberculosis preventive therapy (TPT) is recommended for immunocompromised individuals with a positive immunodiagnostic test. This study aimed to assess the performance of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT+) assay and predictive power for future tuberculosis in immunocompromised individuals. Methods In this prospective observational study, immunocompromised adults >= 18 years of age including people living with HIV (PLHIV), chronic renal failure, rheumatoid arthritis, solid-organ transplantation or stem-cell transplantation, and immunocompetent adults with and without TB-disease were recruited at 21 sites in 11 European countries and tested with the QFT+ assay. Individuals without TB-disease were followed up for the development of tuberculosis. TB incidence rates (IR) were calculated, stratified by QFT+ results and acceptance of TPT. This study is registered with Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02639936. Findings A total of 2663 individuals (1115 female, 1548 male) were enrolled from 03/11/2015 to 29/03/2019. Persons without tuberculosis were followed up for at least two years. Among 1758 immunocompromised individuals without active tuberculosis, 13.6% had positive QFT+ results. Sensitivity and specificity for TB-disease were 70.0% (52.1-83.3%) and 91.4% (89.6-92.9%), respectively, in immunocompromised, and 81.4% (76.6-85.3%) and 96.0% (92.5-97.9%), respectively, in immunocompetent individuals. During 2457 cumulative years of follow-up among 932 individuals with chronic renal failure, rheumatoid arthritis, solid-organ transplantation or stem-cell transplantation, including 83 persons with a positive QFT+ test without TPT, no-one developed active tuberculosis. In contrast, among 642 PLHIV without TPT, one with an indeterminate QFT+ and 3/30 individuals with a positive QFT+ developed active tuberculosis; all had detectable HIV-replication and low CD4 T-cell counts (incidence 4.1 (95% CI (1.3-12.4) per 100 person-years). No individuals receiving TPT developed active tuberculosis during 269 years of follow-up. Interpretation In immunocompromised individuals in low TB-endemic countries, the 2-year-risk for active tuberculosis was highest among PLHIV with detectable HIV-replication and low CD4-counts. In this study, the QFT+ assay did not strongly predict progression to active tuberculosis, which emphasises the need to incorporate additional risk factors. Funding None. Copyright (c) 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Yapay zeka destekli dil öğretimi atölyesi aracılığıyla eğitimciler arasında yapay zeka okuryazarlığını geliştirmek
No full textThis study investigates the AI literacy of in-service EFL teachers and evaluates the effectiveness of a targeted AI-enhanced Language Teaching workshop. Responding to the growing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, the study addresses the practical need for EFL teachers to develop AI literacy, particularly in pedagogical integration and ethical application. A quasi-experimental mixed-methods approach was employed to evaluate participants’ baseline AI literacy, implement the workshop, and measure its impact through pre- and post-tests and qualitative feedback. The workshop content was specifically designed to address gaps in knowledge, focusing on practical classroom applications and ethical considerations. The results revealed that participants entered the workshop with moderate AI literacy, excelling in foundational technological knowledge but struggling with Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) and ethics. The workshop significantly improved participants’ literacy across all domains, with the most notable gains in areas of initial weakness. Participants highlighted the relevance of the workshop, particularly in lesson planning, adaptive feedback, and assessment. This study contributes to English Language Teaching (ELT) by providing a tested content framework for AI training and a replicable workshop model. It also identifies data-driven recommendations for refining future workshops and proposes opportunities for future research, including the development of AI literacy certifications, ELT-specific AI policies, and ongoing exploration of emerging AI tools. These findings show the importance of targeted interventions in bridging the gap between AI advancements and practical classroom applications.Bu çalışma, hizmet içi İngilizce öğretmenlerinin yapay zeka (YZ) okuryazarlığını araştırmakta ve hedef odaklı bir YZ destekli Dil Öğretimi atölyesinin etkinliğini değerlendirmektedir. Eğitimde yapay zekanın (YZ) giderek artan entegrasyonuna yanıt olarak, çalışma, özellikle pedagojik entegrasyon ve etik uygulamalar konusunda İngilizce öğretmenlerinin YZ okuryazarlığı geliştirmesi için duyulan pratik ihtiyacını ele almaktadır. Katılımcıların mevcut YZ okuryazarlığını değerlendirmek, atölye çalışmasını uygulamak ve etkisini ön-test ve son-test ile nitel geri bildirimler aracılığıyla ölçmek amacıyla yarı deneysel karma yöntemli bir yaklaşım kullanılmıştır. Atölye içeriği, bilgi eksiklerini gidermek ve pratik sınıf uygulamaları ile etik konulara odaklanmak için özel olarak tasarlanmıştır. Sonuçlar, katılımcıların atölyeye orta düzeyde YZ okuryazarlığıyla katıldıklarını, temel teknolojik bilgide başarılı olduklarını ancak Teknolojik Pedagojik İçerik Bilgisi (TPACK) ve etik konularında zorlandıklarını ortaya koymuştur. Atölye, katılımcıların tüm alanlardaki okuryazarlığını önemli ölçüde geliştirmiş ve en belirgin kazanımlar başlangıçtaki zayıflık alanlarında olmuştur. Katılımcılar, özellikle ders planlama, uyarlanabilir geri bildirim ve değerlendirme alanlarında atölyenin önemini vurgulamışlardır. Bu çalışma, YZ eğitimi için test edilmiş bir içerik çerçevesi ve çoğaltılabilir bir atölye modeli sunarak İngiliz Dili Eğitimi (ELT) alanına katkı sağlamaktadır. Ayrıca, gelecekteki atölyelerin iyileştirilmesine yönelik veri odaklı öneriler sunmakta ve YZ okuryazarlık sertifikalarının geliştirilmesi, İngiliz Dili Eğitimi’ne özgü YZ politikaları ve ortaya çıkan YZ araçlarının sürekli olarak araştırılmasını içeren gelecekteki araştırma fırsatlarını önermektedir. Bu bulgular, YZ ilerlemeleri ile pratik sınıf uygulamaları arasındaki boşluğu kapatmak için hedefe yönelik müdahalelerin önemini göstermektedir
Bacterial-based molecular communication: Simulation of a fixed and receding receiver scenarios in varied viscosities and environmental conditions
No full textThis study introduces a novel bacterial-based molecular communication (BBMC) model for nanoscale information exchange, harnessing the chemotactic behavior of Escherichia coli (E. coli). A comprehensive 3D simulation framework is developed to analyze the impact of key parameters diffusion coefficient (D), chemoattractant release rate (Q), receiver (RX) speed (u), and initial transmitter-receiver distance (d) on communication performance. Results indicate that lower D values enhance the formation of chemoattractant gradients, leading to improved signal clarity and efficiency. Conversely, higher RX speeds distort these gradients, increasing signal reach time and reducing success rates. Elevated Q values significantly broaden the sensing range and improve reliability, particularly over larger distances, though their effect is diminished at high RX speeds. Notably, success rates drop sharply as d approaches the theoretical sensing threshold, underscoring the critical need for parameter tuning. Experimental results validate these findings and reveal a threshold beyond which bacterial movement becomes random, limiting effective signal transmission. These insights contribute to optimizing BBMC systems for greater efficiency and reliability. Applications include targeted drug delivery, environmental biosensing, and synthetic biology, where precise bacterial signaling is essential. The study also demonstrates simulation as a scalable, cost-efficient alternative to experimental methods, addressing complexity and feasibility in real-world scenarios