IEU GCRIS Database (İzmir Ekonomi Üniversitesi)
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'Reluctant Migrants' and 'Just-In-Case Citizenships': Accounts of Highly Skilled Turkish-Australians in Sydney
No full textThis paper investigates the experiences of highly skilled Turkish migrants who have migrated to Australia during the past decade and a half due to the socio-political transformations in T ; uuml;rkiye under the reign of the Justice and Development Party. The paper reports on yearlong ethnographic research carried out in Sydney and develops its analysis through empirical data gathered from interviews and participant observation. The paper argues that many highly skilled Turkish migrants initiate their journeys to Australia reluctantly, who nevertheless seek to attain Australian citizenship in hopes of disentangling themselves from the perceived inconveniences of a Turkish citizenship, and to create an alternative option 'just in case' they should need it. Through the deployment of two concepts developed in the paper - 'reluctant migrant' and 'just-in-case citizenship', the article discusses key dynamics with relation to the temporalities, motivations and anxieties of migration experienced by these highly skilled migrants.Scientific and Research Council of Turkey (TBITAK); Institute for Culture and Society (ICS) at Western Sydney UniversityI would like to thank the Institute for Culture and Society (ICS) at Western Sydney University (WSU) for hosting me as a Visiting Professor during my sabbatical between July 2023 and July 2024. I would specifically like to thank Prof. Greg Noble at ICS for his generous support and feedback throughout my broader research in Sydney and the preparation of this manuscript
Sglt-2 Inhibitors on Cardiac Autonomic Function in Individuals With and Without Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
No full textSodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors have emerged as key therapeutic agents in managing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity, offering benefits that extend beyond glycemic control. This review examines the role of SGLT-2 inhibitors in modulating cardiac autonomic function, with a particular focus on heart rate variability (HRV) as a biomarker of autonomic balance. These agents improve metabolic profiles through enhanced glucosuria, natriuresis, and weight loss, while concurrently reducing blood pressure. Importantly, they also attenuate sympathetic nervous system overactivity and promote parasympathetic modulation, which may lower the risk of adverse cardiovascular events. The underlying mechanisms include not only the metabolic effects but also anti-inflammatory and antioxidative actions, which together contribute to improved endothelial function and vascular health. Advanced HRV analyses, encompassing traditional time and frequency domain methods as well as nonlinear approaches, have proven valuable in detecting early autonomic dysfunction in high-risk populations. Some studies suggest that SGLT-2 inhibitors may be associated with improvements in HRV parameters, such as increased SDNN and RMSSD and a reduced LF/HF ratio. However, findings are inconsistent across studies, and further research is needed to determine the extent and mechanisms of these potential effects. Although these findings are promising, further standardized, long-term studies are essential to clarify the mechanisms and optimal therapeutic strategies involving SGLT-2 inhibitors in the management of autonomic dysfunction. Future research should also explore the synergistic potential of combining SGLT-2 inhibitors with other cardiometabolic therapies to enhance cardiovascular outcomes in individuals with and without T2DM
Sustained Attention and Gait Pattern Changes During the 6-Minute Walk Test in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis
No full textBackground and purpose: It is unknown whether persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) can retain sustained attention and gait quality during long-distance walking tests. This study aimed to investigate changes in sustained attention and gait parameters during prolonged walking in pwMS with different levels of disability and healthy controls (HCs) and correlations of these changes with self-reported daily life difficulties. Methods: The 6-Minute Walk Test was performed with an auditory sustained attention task while wearing inertial measurement sensors. Participants were asked to respond verbally as quickly as possible to randomly presented auditory stimuli during 6 minutes of walking. The accuracy of answers, average reaction time, and gait parameters per minute were determined. Results: Thirty pwMS with mild disability (Expanded Disease Status Scale [EDSS] 4.0), 16 pwMS with moderate-to-severe disability (EDSS 4.0 to 6.5), and 27 age-gender matched HCs were included. A significant group-by-time interaction effect as found for reactions times, which increased in mild and moderate-to-severe disability groups but not in HCs. Gait parameters deteriorated over time in all groups, but no significant group-by-time interaction was found. The decrease in sustained attention was not related to changes in gait or clinical outcomes, while deterioration in gait parameters was associated with perceived walking disability and dual-task difficulties in daily life. Discussion and Conclusions: Sustained attention during walking declined over time in pwMS, but not in HCs. However, gait parameters deteriorated in all groups. Worsening gait during simultaneous cognitive task execution may contribute to walking and dual-task difficulties in pwMS. Video Abstract available for more insights from the authors (see the Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, available at: http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A520. © 2025 Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy, APTA.Universiteit Hasselt; Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds UGent, BOF, (BOF20BL13); Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds UGent, BO
Serum Choline, Leptin and Interleukin-6 Levels in Fibromyalgia Syndrome-Induced Pain: a Case-Control Study
No full textBackground Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) predominantly affects middle-aged women, characterized by musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and cognitive issues. Choline, an endogenous molecule, may influence FMS due to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. This study compared choline, leptin, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in FMS patients and controls and examining their association with pain severity. Methods Volunteers with FMS were clinically diagnosed at a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department. The control group included pain-free volunteers. Pain severity was gauged using a numeric scale, dietary choline intake through a questionnaire. Serum choline, leptin and (interleukin)IL-6 levels were measured from fasting blood samples of volunteers with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Results All FMS patients (n = 38) and healthy volunteers (n = 38) were female. Pain score in patients with FMS was 7.6 +/- 0.2. Dietary choline intake was lower in patients with FMS than the controls (p = 0.036). Serum choline and leptin levels were lower in the FMS group compared to control (p = 0.03). Serum IL-6 levels were higher in the FMS group than in the control (p 0.001). There was weak positive correlation between IL-6 levels and pain scores and there were no correlation between leptin levels and pain scores in FMS. Conclusions This research highlights FMS's complex nature, involving neurochemical, immunological, and nutritional factors. It suggests the significance of choline's anti-inflammatory effect, leptin's metabolic function, and IL-6's role in FMS pathology. The results suggest that reduced dietary choline might influence serum choline, leptin, and IL-6 levels, potentially impacting FMS-related pain. This points to the potential of supplementary choline intake in FMS management. Trial registration Not applicable (Non-interventional study).Dokuz Eyluel University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit [2020.KB.SAG.014]The study was supported by Dokuz Eyluel University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit with project number 2020.KB.SAG.014
The LGBTI+ Movement in Turkey a Qualitative Network Analysis of Actors’ Connections
No full textBased on in-depth interviews and secondary data, this study investigates how the LGBTI+ movement in Turkey establishes and uses networks at the individual and organizational levels. At the individual level, the article reveals the networking practices of actors engaged in the LGBTI+ movement and examines the effects of networking on their identification with the movement, as well as their decision-shaping processes. At the organizational level, it explores networking practices with a particular focus on resource transfer. The study's findings indicate that these two levels are complementary, facilitating the expansion of the LGBTI+ movement in Turkey. Networks not only help LGBTI+ individuals socialize and identify themselves with the movement but also contribute to its mobilization by enabling the transfer of material and nonmaterial resources between organizations
Tourist Guides Versus the Technology Threat
No full textThe study aims to understand the technology threat to the jobs of tourist guides and the way they perceive technology's impact. An email interview method is preferred while collecting the data from 25 countries. The findings reveal that although many guides mentioned the essentiality of human touch in guidance, they are aware of the influence of AI, the metaverse and smart technologies. Loss of jobs is very much possible, according to the vast majority of guides. They believe that without training and adapting themselves to novel technologies like the metaverse, they will not attract new generations and guides may lose jobs due to a lack of applying new technology to their own ways of doing business. The study enlightens the tour guidance field and the metaverse perceptions of guides influencing jobs
The Psychosocial Dynamics of Political Alliances: Alliance Characteristics, Leadership, and Political Engagement
No full textPre-electoral political alliances are common practices in democracies, offering a platform for uniting diverse voter bases under shared objectives. This study investigates the psychosocial dynamics of political alliances by exploring how alliance characteristics (complexity, coherence, and indispensability) and leadership characteristics (prototypicality and advancement) are associated with political engagement, win expectancy, and intergroup relations among supporters. Data were collected from supporters of a political alliance (Nation Alliance) (N = 130) before Turkey’s 2023 presidential elections. Participants completed measures assessing alliance complexity, coherence, and indispensability, alongside evaluations of leader prototypicality and advancement. Results revealed significant positive relationships between alliance characteristics, positive intergroup attitudes towards subgroups (alliance parties), perceptions of collective efficacy, expectancy of winning the election, and political engagement. Mediation analyses further showed that collective efficacy mediated the relationships between alliance characteristics and both political engagement and win expectancy. However, the hypothesized mediating role of relative in-group prototypicality in intergroup attitudes was not supported. Leader characteristics are also positively associated with political engagement and collective efficacy beliefs among supporters, highlighting the positive role of leaders in shaping alliance dynamics and mobilizing voter support. This study explores the associations between alliance characteristics, leadership characteristics, and political engagement, providing insights into how these dynamics are associated with diverse political alliances in democratic contexts. © 2025 Societa Editrice Il Mulino. All rights reserved
Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (Bpnsfs): a Turkish Adaptation Study
No full textKocak, Aylin/0000-0003-1601-9016This two-wave study aimed to adapt the Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (BPNSFS) to the Turkish language and cultural context. At Time 1, participants included 1033 Turkish high school students (Mage = 15.91, SD = 0.36; 41.9% female) from 26 public schools located in Ankara, T ; uuml;rkiye. At Time 2, 849 students continued to participate in the study. A series of CFA provided support to the originally proposed six-factor solution of the BPNSFS and its time invariance along a 6-month period. The results also revealed that in addition to the six-factor model, the Multi-Trait, Multi-Method (MTMM) model could also be used in future research. In addition, testing the reliability and validity of the scale, regression analyses showed that satisfaction of the three needs positively predicted life satisfaction and negatively predicted depressive feelings, while an opposite trend was observed for the need frustration. Our findings suggest that the Turkish version of the scale is reliable and carries similar psychometric features to the original version.Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma KurumuThis research was supported by Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu
The Mediating Role of Psychological Well-Being in the Association Between Intolerance of Uncertainty and Academic Life Satisfaction Among University Students
No full textDigrak, Ebru/0000-0001-7406-4769The aim of this study is to investigate the mediating role of psychological well-being in the association between intolerance of uncertainty and academic life satisfaction among university students. A cross-sectional design was employed in the research, which was conducted with 443 students attending a university in western country using a convenience sampling method. Data were collected through Personal Information Form, Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, Academic Life Satisfaction Scale, and Psychological Well-Being Scale. Analyses were conducted using structural equation modeling and mediation analysis. The participants were comprised of 55.5% females, with an average age of 21.31 +/- 1.91 years. The results indicate that psychological well-being significantly mediates the relationship between inhibitory anxiety and both dimensions of academic life satisfaction. However, psychological well-being did not mediate the relationship between prospective anxiety and academic life satisfaction. These findings highlight the importance of different types of anxiety in academic life and emphasize the necessity of promoting psychological well-being to enhance students' academic life satisfaction. The study suggests that supporting university students' psychological well-being could be an important strategy related to uncertainty intolerance and academic life satisfaction.Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkiye (TUBITAK)Open access funding provided by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkiye (TUBITAK). This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors
