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Strontium removed by activated carbon (AC) and activated carbon/pectin- alginate (AC-PA) composite derived 'Posidonia oceanica' seagrass
No full textThis study explores the synthesis of activated carbon (AC) from Posidonia oceanica and composite biopolymer spheres with alginate (AC-PA) for Sr(II) removal. AC and AC-PA were characterized by SEM, XPS, BET, FT-IR, and Zeta analysis. Adsorption isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamics revealed efficient adsorption. Langmuir isotherm indicated maximum capacities of 55.77 mg/g for AC and 99.95 mg/g for AC-PA. Intraparticle diffusion governed AC adsorption, while AC-PA showed chemisorption and diffusion. Thermodynamics confirmed the endothermic process. Results demonstrate AC and AC-PA as sustainable biosorbents for Sr(II) removal
Biomimetic Gellan Gum Hybrid Hydrogels for Extracellular Matrix Simulation in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Culture (vol 45, pg 519, 2025)
No full text[Abstract Not Available
Women’s rights and technology: The current issues and challenges
No full textRecent technological advancements, particularly in digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML), are leading to rapid and revolutionary changes in workplaces. In this evolving environment, employees’ perspectives on these developments vary substantially. While adapting to constantly changing technology can be viewed as an opportunity, it also elicits fears and concerns for many individuals. This circumstance presents a challenge that businesses must address and a process that can be converted into an advantage. In order to comprehend these dynamics more thoroughly, it is essential to scrutinize the underlying causes of the fears and risks involved. Investigating gender-based effects in this context is especially significant. Studies suggest that a primary concern is whether women face a greater risk of job displacement than men as a result of these technological advancements. To ensure a more equitable and balanced future, it is crucial to develop policies that guarantee technological progress actively mitigates gender disparities rather than exacerbating them. This study aims to analyze the current impact of technological developments and innovations on women’s rights and to propose multifaceted solutions. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved
The Impact of Perceived Self-Efficacy on Mobilisation in Thoracic Surgery Patients: Identifying Key Influencing Factors
No full textBackground: During the recovery period after thoracic surgery, it is of great importance for patients to feel self-efficacious. Postoperative mobilisation is vital for thoracic surgery patients to prevent complications and enhance recovery. Perceived self-efficacy significantly impacts their ability to adhere to rehabilitation and mobilisation activities. Aim: The aim of this research was to investigate the relationship between self-confidence and post-operative movement in individuals who underwent thoracic surgery and the influence of demographic and illness-related factors on this association. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the thoracic surgery clinic of Bakırcay University Cigli Education and Research Hospital. The study sample consisted of 132 patients. Data were collected through Patient Information Form, General Self-Efficacy Scale and Patient Mobility Scale. Descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation analysis were used to analyse the data. The study design restricts researchers from determining cause-and-effect relationships between variables. Results: The mean age of the patients was 54.1 years (SD = 13.6) and 57.6% were male. A positive and strong correlation was found between Patient Mobility Scale and General Self-Efficacy Scale scores (r = 0.885, p = 0.006). Age, education level, employment status and income level were found to be important factors associated with both scales. Younger, educated, employed and higher income patients had higher self-efficacy and mobility scores. In addition, patients with chronic diseases and previous hospital experience had higher mobility scores and lower self-efficacy scores. Conclusion: The correlation between movement and self-belief is significant for individuals undergoing chest surgery treatment. Efforts to enhance movement may be associated with patients' confidence levels and may be related to better health results in general. Hence it is crucial to take into account factors related to demographics and diseases when creating rehabilitation plans. Implications for Practice: The findings highlight the importance of integrating strategies to enhance self-efficacy in postoperative care for thoracic surgery patients. Healthcare professionals should design personalised rehabilitation plans that consider demographic and illness-related factors, such as age, education, and chronic conditions. Encouraging patient participation, providing education about the recovery process, and offering psychological support can enhance both self-efficacy and mobility. This holistic approach may be associated with improved adherence to mobilisation protocols, reduced complications, and better overall recovery outcomes. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved
Flood risk analysis in the Tahtalı Dam Basin using the fuzzy logic method
No full text2209 - A/ 1919B012306861Küresel iklim değişikliği günümüz dünyasının en büyük sorunlarından biri olarak karşımıza çıkmaktadır. Bu sorun doğal afetlerin sayısında ve sıklığında önemli ölçüde artışları yaşanmasına neden olmaktadır. Son on yılda dünya genelinde yaklaşık 2,5 milyon insan, taşkınlara bağlı doğal afetlerin etkileriyle karşı karşıya kalmaktadır. Günümüzde, gelecekte meydana gelebilecek potansiyel taşkın olaylarını öngörmek, muhtemel can ve mal kayıplarını sınırlamak, riskli bölgeleri tanımlamak ve bu bölgelerde alınacak önlemleri planlamak büyük bir öneme sahiptir. Taşkın riskinin belirlenmesi birçok mekânsal faktörün birlikte değerlendirilmesini gerektiren bir süreçtir. Bu bağlamda taşkın riskinin belirlenmesinde Coğrafi Bilgi Sistemleri’nin (CBS) kullanımı kaçınılmaz bir gereklilik haline gelmiştir. CBS, çeşitli verilerin bir araya getirilmesi, analiz edilmesi, etkili bir şekilde yönetilmesi için önemli bir araçtır. Taşkın riski analizinde CBS temelli bazı yöntemler kullanılmaktadır. Çalışmamızda kullanılacak Bulanık Mantık Yöntemi, sadece klasik iki veya çok kriterli mantıkla sınırlı olmayan, mekânsal durumları da içeren bir süreçtir. Bulanık Mantık Yöntemi, eksik, kesin olmayan ve tamamen güvenilir olmayan bir ortamda sorunu çözme konusunda rasyonel temel sunan yöntemdir. Taşkın riski gibi doğal afetlerin hesaplanması da genellikle belirsizlik içermekte ve bu nedenle Bulanık Mantık, taşkın riski değerlendirmelerinde etkin bir araç olarak kullanılmaktadır. Bu bağlamda araştırmanın amacı, İzmir Tahtalı Barajı Havzasının potansiyel taşkın riski alanlarının Bulanık Mantık Yöntemi ile belirlenmesidir. Yapılan analiz sonucunda Tahtalı Barajı Havzasına yakın bölgelerin sel ve taşkın açısından yüksek risk altında olduğu görülmüştür.Global climate change stands out as one of the most significant problems of today's world. This issue has led to a substantial increase in both the frequency and number of natural disasters. Over the past decade, approximately 2.5 million people worldwide have been affected by natural disasters related to floods. Today, it is of great importance to predict potential future flood events, to limit possible loss of life and property, to identify high-risk areas, and to plan necessary precautionary measures in these regions. Determining flood risk is a process that requires the simultaneous evaluation of many spatial factors. In this context, the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has become an inevitable necessity in flood risk assessment. GIS is a vital tool for integrating, analyzing, and effectively managing various data. Several GIS-based methods are used in flood risk analysis. The Fuzzy Logic Method, which will be employed in our study, is a process that involves spatial conditions and is not limited to classical binary or multi-criteria logic. The Fuzzy Logic Method provides a rational foundation for solving problems in environments that are incomplete, uncertain, and not entirely reliable. Since the assessment of natural disasters such as flood risk often involves uncertainty, fuzzy logic has proven to be an effective tool in flood risk evaluations. In this context, the aim of the research is to determine the potential flood risk areas of the İzmir Tahtalı Dam Basin using the Fuzzy Logic Method. The results of the analysis indicate that the areas near the Tahtalı Dam Basin are under high risk of floods and inundation.TÜBİTA
Neoliberalizm ve Sağlıkta Dönüşüm Politikaları Ekseninde Kamu Hastaneler Birliği Reformu
No full textThis study examines neoliberal policies, which have become widespread in Turkey as well as around the world since the 1980s, and the Health Transformation Programme shaped by these policies. One of the key elements of this programme, the Public Hospitals Union reform, was implemented with the aim of restructuring healthcare services based on the principles of cost-effectiveness, efficiency and competition. However, structural problems that emerged during the implementation process and criticisms in the Court of Accounts audit reports reveal that this reform has not achieved its objectives. The operation of public hospitals according to market logic has led to a decline in healthcare services, a decrease in employee motivation, and waste of resources. In addition, the city hospital application, which was implemented after the Public Hospitals Union model, is also evaluated. The city hospitals model, operated through public-private partnerships, has frequently been the subject of debate due to its high costs and long-term contracts, and represents a new example of the reflection of neoliberal policies in the healthcare sector. In this context, a critical analysis of the Public Hospitals Union and city hospitals applications is being conducted from the perspective of protecting the right to healthcare and the effective use of public resources.Bu çalışmada, 1980’lerden itibaren tüm dünyada olduğu gibi Türkiye’de de yaygınlık kazanan neoliberal politikalar ve bu politikaların etkisi altında şekillenen Sağlıkta Dönüşüm programı ele alınmaktadır. Bu programın önemli unsurlarından biri olan Kamu Hastaneler Birliği reformu, sağlık hizmetlerinin maliyet etkinliği, verimlilik ve rekabet ilkeleri temelinde yeniden yapılandırılması hedefiyle hayata geçirilmiştir. Ancak uygulama sürecinde ortaya çıkan yapısal sorunlar ve Sayıştay denetim raporlarında yer alan eleştiriler, bu reformun amaçlarına ulaşamadığını ortaya koymaktadır. Kamu hastanelerinin piyasa mantığıyla işletilmeye başlanması, sağlık hizmetlerinde düşüşe, sağlık çalışanlarının motivasyonunda azalmaya ve kaynakların israfına neden olmuştur. Ayrıca bu çalışmada Kamu Hastaneler Birliği modelinin ardından devreye alınan şehir hastaneleri uygulaması da ele alınmaktadır. Şehir hastaneleri modeli, kamu-özel ortaklığı ile işletilen, yüksek maliyetleri ve uzun vadeli sözleşmeleri nedeniyle tartışma konusu olan ve neoliberal politikaların sağlık alanındaki yansımasını teşkil eden yeni bir uygulamadır. Bu çalışmada, sağlık hakkının korunması ve kamu kaynaklarının etkin kullanımı açısından Kamu Hastaneler Birliği ve şehir hastaneleri uygulamalarının eleştirel bir analizinin yapılması amaçlanmaktadır
Transformer-Based Feature Extraction and Optimized Deep Neural Network for Gastric Cancer Detection
No full textGastric cancer is among the most common diseases worldwide and can lead to fatal outcomes. Early diagnosis significantly increases the success of treatment, and accurate and rapid analysis of histopathological images is of enormous importance. However, since manual evaluation of these images is time-consuming and open to observational errors, the need for automatic diagnosis systems supported by artificial intelligence is increasing. In this study, a multi-stage artificial intelligence-based model that performs cancer detection on gastric histopathological images is proposed. In the first stage, features were extracted from the images using 11 different state-of-the-art vision transformer models. Then, the most significant features were determined by using feature selection methods such as ANOVA F-Test, Recursive Feature Elimination, and Ridge regression, and separate feature sets consisting of the intersections and unions of these features were created. The obtained feature sets were trained with a deep neural network model optimized with the Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm to increase the classification performance, and the detection of gastric tissues was achieved. Among the tested configurations, the highest classification performance was obtained using 160 x 160 image resolution, the DPT model, and union-based feature selection. This configuration achieved 97.96% accuracy, 96.95% sensitivity, 98.61% specificity, 97.85% precision, and a 97.40% F1-score. Additionally, strong results were observed with other configurations, such as 97.21% accuracy using the DPT model with 120 x 120 images, and 95.78% accuracy with the BEiT model at 80 x 80 resolution. These findings demonstrate that transformer-based feature extraction methods, when combined with effective feature selection strategies, can significantly enhance diagnostic performance
Effect of vortioxetine and fluoxetine on immunohistochemical expression of Caspase-8, RANKL, and IL-6 in testicular tissue in an experimental depression model
No full textThe main symptoms of depression, a chronic mental illness, include sadness, low self-esteem, and a diminished sense of enjoyment in life. Many factors have been suggested to be associated with depression, one of which is low testosterone in men. The serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine (FLU), used to treat depression, has been reported to potentially have detrimental effects on spermatogenesis in rats after long-term use. The multimodal antidepressant vortioxetine (VTX) offers new promise for the treatment of depression. The chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model is widely known as an experimental paradigm used to study depression-like behaviors in rodents. Stress leads to various neurochemical and immune changes, affecting multiple organs. Our study aims to examine the histopathological findings in testicular tissue induced by CUMS and the immunohistochemical expression of Cas-8, IL-6, and RANKL using a depression model in rats. Rats were split into 4 groups of 7 animals each at random. Group 1 (control) did not experience any stress. Group 2 (CUMS) was exposed to chronic, unpredictable mild stress using a specific procedure. Group 3 (CUMS+VTX) and Group 4 (CUMS+FLU) underwent CUMS and received intraperitoneal drug treatment at a dose of 10 mg/kg during the final three weeks of the study. The rat testicles collected during necropsy were evaluated histopathologically and immunohistochemically for Cas-8, IL-6, and RANKL expressions using a light microscope. In Group 1, histological analysis showed normal tissue architecture in the testicles and epididymis. In Group 2, there was significant depletion of spermatozoa in the seminiferous tubules and empty tubules in the epididymis. In Groups 3 and 4, FLU and VTX treatment led to improvements in the testicles. Cas-8, RANKL, and IL-6 immunohistochemistry revealed increased expression in Group 2, primarily in interstitial cells. In Groups 1, 3, and 4, no or very slight expression of these markers was observed. The results of this study showed that sperm production in the testes is negatively affected in CUMS-induced depression and that Cas-8, IL-6, and RANKL expression is increased, particularly in interstitial cells. VTX and FLU, used in the treatment of depression, suggest potential for mitigating the adverse effects of CUMS on the testes. © 2025 The Biological Stain Commission
Does preoperative gum chewing reduce postoperative sore throat?
No full textPurpose: There are numerous pharmacological and nonpharmacological methods that are used to manage postoperative sore throat (POST). The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of different types of herbal gums on POST management. Design: A randomized controlled, blinded, prospective, experimental study. Methods: This study was carried out between June and October 2023 in a research and training hospital. A total of 72 patients scheduled for cholecystectomy were randomly assigned to one of four groups in the preoperative period: control, mastic, xylitol, and propolis groups. No intervention was applied to the control group, while patients in the experimental groups chewed either mastic-flavored, xylitol, or propolis gum. Patients in the experimental groups chewed sugar-free gum for 15 minutes immediately before surgery. The incidence and severity of sore throat were evaluated upon admission to the postanesthesia recovery unit and at the 1st, 2nd, 6th, and 24th hours postoperatively. Descriptive statistics, χ2, Fisher's Exact, Independent samples t test, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used in the analysis of the data. Findings: There was no significant difference in POST severity between the groups at admission to the postanesthesia recovery unit and at the 1st, 6th, and 24th hours postoperatively. However, the rate (P: .007) and the median POST score (P: .046) in the propolis group were significantly lower than that of the other groups at the 2 hours postoperatively. Additionally, throat dryness in the propolis group was significantly lower at the first (P: .046) and second (P: .023) hour after surgery compared to the other groups. Conclusions: Preoperative chewing sugar-free gum containing propolis effectively reduces sore throat and throat dryness within the first 2 hours after surgery. © 2025 The American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurse
Undoped and Eu doped LaCa₄O(BO₃)₃ phosphors: Thermoluminescence characteristics with a focus on kinetic parameters, anomalous heating rate, and dose response
No full textThe thermoluminescence (TL) properties of LaCa₄O(BO₃)₃ (LACOB) phosphors, both undoped and doped with 0.5 % Eu³⁺, were synthesized using a microwave-assisted sol-gel method and analysed under beta irradiation doses ranging from 0.1 Gy to 700 Gy. The TL glow curves revealed prominent peaks at 100 °C and 285 °C for the Eu-doped sample. Activation energy values were calculated using the Hoogenstraaten and Booth-Bohun-Parfianovitch methods, yielding 1.52 eV and 1.48 eV for the undoped sample, and 2.07 eV and 2.01 eV for the Eu-doped sample, respectively. Eu³⁺ ions introduced deeper traps and enhanced the thermal stability of the material. Anomalous increases in TL intensity with rising heating rates were observed, deviating from typical thermal quenching behaviour; this phenomenon was explained using a semi-localized transition (SLT) model. The TL reusability measurements demonstrated a standard deviation of less than 5 %, indicating consistent and reliable performance across multiple cycles. The TL glow curve deconvolution identified six distinct peaks in the undoped sample, while the Eu-doped sample showed a more complex trap structure with eight peaks, indicating the introduction of additional or modified trapping sites by Eu doping. The figure of merit (FOM) values obtained from the deconvolution analysis were all below 2.5 %, indicating a good fit between the observed and fitted TL signals. These findings suggest that Eu³⁺-doped LACOB is a robust material for radiation dosimetry, with its enhanced sensitivity, stability, and versatility across various dosimetric applications. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l.Deanship of Graduate Studies and Scientific ResearchJazan University, (RG24-M04)Jazan Universit