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AN OLD BUT TIMELESS SOLUTION IN THE FIGHT AGAINST SOCIAL INEQUALITIES: PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYMENT
No full textDuring the period whenneoclassical economics was the dominant and untouchable paradigm the publicsector's share was much smaller than that of the private sector, and thestate's role in the economy was essentially restricted to arbitration and, to alesser extent, regulation. After 1980, neoliberal policies, which signified aclear shift in favor of the capitalist classes, reshaped both economicrelations and the state's role in economy. While the social state is stillaccepted as a general principle, there have been partial but important setbacksin the state's role in providing public services. The aim of this study is toobtain additional findings using quantitative research methods, to makecomparisons both among different countries and within Turkey using secondaryresearch data obtained from the OECD, TurkStat and the WEF, and to point outcertain inequalities. Based on correlation analysis conducted using OECD data,an inverse relationship was found between the share of public sector employmentin total employment and income inequality rates. Furthermore, based on datafrom the WEF, striking conclusions have been reached regarding genderinequality. The study examines the inequality-reducing effects of public sectoremployment in Turkey and compares the working conditions of those employed inthe public and private sectors using the 2023 Household Labor Force SurveyMicro Data Set from the TurkStat.</p
Big data analysis of globally skilled birth attendants, caregiver midwife/nurse density, and health expenditures: A longitudinal study from 2010 to 2020
No full textObjective This study was conducted to show the numerical data analysis of countries regarding the number of experienced health personnel attending births, the distribution of midwives/nurses in the world and health expenditures.Methods In this longitudinal study, the statistics published by the World Bank were used as a data source. Within the scope of the study, data on three different indicators were collected. The indicators used in the study were "Incidence of births attended by skilled health staff (% of total)," "Nurses and midwives (per 1000 people)," "Current health expenditure (% of GDP)." In the data collection process, after the data were downloaded to the personal computer with the World Bank API, the data were grouped according to the World Bank regions and the income status of the countries (Income) and the analyses were made based on these groupings. One of the researchers wrote a script using Python 3.8.18 to collect and analyze the research data.Results Globally, the number of qualified personnel decreased from 84.27% (relative to total births) of births attended by skilled person in 2010 to 80.21% (relative to total births) of births attended by skilled personnel in 2021. The data for South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa have been consistently below the global average between 2010 and 2020. The number of nurses and midwives for 1000 people worldwide was around 4.48 in 2010 and 5.62 in 2021. Data for Latin America, the Caribbean, South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa remained below the global average between 2010 and 2021. Health expenditures increased globally from 6.92% of GDP (according to each country's currency) in 2010 to 10.56% of GDP (according to each country's currency) in 2021. East Asia and the Pacific, sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East and North Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean remained below the global average.Conclusion This study highlights significant disparities in global health indicators related to skilled birth attendance, the density of nurses and midwives, and health expenditure. Moreover, regions such as South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America continue to fall below global averages in both skilled birth attendance and the number of nurses/midwives per capita. These results underscore the urgent need for targeted investment in maternal and newborn health services, especially in low-income regions. Strengthening the healthcare workforce and improving equitable access to skilled birth care are critical steps toward achieving global health equity and improving maternal and neonatal outcomes
Engineering quantum dot-based nanozymes for advanced biomedical applications
No full textQuantum dot-based nanozymes (QDNs) represent a cutting-edge convergence of quantum dot technology and enzyme-mimicking nanomaterials, offering outstanding prospects in biomedical fields including bioimaging, biosensing, targeted drug delivery, and photodynamic therapy. Recent advances have leveraged precise surface modification techniques, heteroatom doping, and innovative core–shell architectures to amplify catalytic efficiency, biocompatibility, and specificity, thereby enhancing therapeutic and diagnostic precision. These multifunctional QDNs exhibit superior catalytic performance, stability across physiological conditions, and tunable optical properties, positioning them at the forefront of nanozyme research for combating complex biomedical challenges such as antimicrobial resistance and tumor targeting. Nonetheless, pivotal challenges persist, including inherent toxicity concerns, bioaccumulation, immunogenicity, and gaps in standardization that hinder clinical translation. Addressing these issues involves developing biodegradable and non-toxic quantum dots, optimizing surface passivation, and establishing robust preclinical evaluation protocols. Future directions emphasize integrating multifunctional therapeutic modalities within single QDN platforms, advancing scalable and reproducible manufacturing methodologies, and fostering regulatory frameworks to accelerate clinical adoption. This review underscores both the transformative potential and the critical barriers facing QDNs, guiding their evolution into clinically impactful biomedical tools
Survival Outcomes and Recurrence Patterns of Early-Stage HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Patients on Adjuvant T-DM1 Treatment: Turkish Oncology Group (TOG) Study
No full textPurpose: This study aimed to investigate the survival outcomes of adjuvant trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) in patients with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer and the recurrence patterns in those who experienced recurrence. Methods: This multicenter, retrospective study included 121 patients with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer who underwent surgery following neoadjuvant chemotherapy and anti-HER2 therapy and received adjuvant T-DM1 for residual disease. Recurrence within the first 12 months of adjuvant T-DM1 was defined as ``early recurrence,'' while recurrence after 12 months (> 12 months) was defined as ``late recurrence.'' Results: With a median follow-up of 36 months, recurrence occurred in 23 patients (median time: 11 months). Twenty-two had distant metastases—most commonly lung (n = 14) and CNS (n = 6)—and one had local recurrence. The recurrent subgroup had higher Ki67, tumor grade, and HR-negativity rate (P = .015, P = .034, and P = .014, respectively). Among recurrences, 12 were early (≤ 12 months) and 11 were late recurrence (> 12 months). Patients with early recurrence were significantly younger (P = .007) and had a numerically higher median Ki67 (40% vs. 30%, P = .062). DFS rates at 12, 24, and 36 months were 93.3%, 75.2%, and 62.8%, respectively; OS rates were 100%, 98.3%, and 93.1%. Conclusions: Younger patients with HR-negative, high-grade, high Ki67 tumors had significantly higher rates of recurrence. Defining patient subpopulations through biomarker identification is crucial for tailoring escalation and de-escalation strategies, thereby enabling more effective treatments and improved long-term survival. The mechanisms of T-DM1 resistance require investigation through larger trials and molecular profiling
Acrylation of bioresources for 3D printing: strategies, technologies, and applications
No full text3D printing has revolutionized manufacturing across various industries, but the increased emphasis on sustainability necessitates the development of renewable bioresource feedstocks, which often fail to meet the specifications required for 3D printing. To overcome these drawbacks, acrylic functionalization has emerged as a viable option for improving the chemical, mechanical, and surface properties and processability of bioresources. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of acrylation techniques that can be employed for a diverse range of bioresources to facilitate their utilization as a feedstock for 3D printing applications. The article begins by examining modifications of bioresources to acrylated materials that can improve their properties and enhance their suitability for 3D printing applications. Subsequently, the review examines a range of 3D printing techniques that are compatible with modified bioresources. Case studies are then presented that examine the modification of plant-, animal-, and marine-based bioresources and their utilization in 3D printing for a variety of applications. Finally, the review addresses the challenges and identifies future research directions, including green modification techniques, synergistic combinations of bioresources, 4D printing, and developing bio-based covalent adaptative networks. The aim is to accelerate the development of sustainable, high-performance materials for 3D printing while promoting environmentally responsible manufacturing practices
Validating a Hashin‐Based Shell Model for LVI of Woven E‐Glass/Epoxy Laminates
No full textLow-velocity impacts can cause extensive, often hidden damage in woven E-glass/epoxy laminates. This work characterizes 100 × 100 × 2 mm, 10-ply woven E-glass/epoxy plates subjected to 4–35 J drop-weight impacts (5 kg, 20 mm hemispherical tup) and validates a cost-effective Hashin-based finite-element model in ABAQUS/Explicit. Experiments recorded force–time and energy–time histories and quantified ply-by-ply damaged areas from optical images using ImageJ. The calibrated shell-element (SC8R) model with mesh convergence reproduced force and energy histories (absorbed energy within 3.5% of tests), realistic cross/diamond damage morphologies, and the quasi-linear growth of total damaged area (0.83 × 103 to 3.96 × 103 mm2 from 4 to 35 J). Simulations captured the transition from matrix cracking at low energy to delamination and fiber failure at higher energies. The validated shell-based Hashin framework offers a fast, reliable tool for impact-tolerance assessment and preliminary laminate sizing, reducing dependence on extensive drop-weight testing.</p
Real-world comparison of cabozantinib and sunitinib in advanced non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma: A multicenter study by the Turkish Oncology Group
No full textNon-clear cell renal cell carcinoma (nccRCC) comprises a heterogeneous group of malignancies with limited prospective data and no established first-line standard. We conducted a multicenter retrospective study across 29 centers in Turkey, including patients with advanced or metastatic nccRCC treated with first-line cabozantinib or sunitinib between 2015 and 2025. Among 268 patients (sunitinib, n = 198; cabozantinib, n = 70), baseline characteristics were balanced. Cabozantinib was associated with significantly longer median progression-free survival (PFS) compared to sunitinib (9.2 vs. 6.6 months; HR: 0.66; p =.027), while overall survival (OS) was similar (18.6 vs. 17.2 months; p =.566). Objective response rate (ORR) was higher with cabozantinib (38.6% vs. 26.3%; p =.052). Multivariate analyses identified ECOG performance status ≥2, IMDC risk category, sarcomatoid differentiation, and chromophobe histology as independent prognostic factors for OS. Predictors of PFS included IMDC risk, sarcomatoid features, nephrectomy status, and histologic subtype. These findings suggest that cabozantinib may offer improved disease control over sunitinib in this diverse patient population and provide valuable real-world insights for therapeutic decision-making in the absence of prospective randomized data
Fluorescence enhancement and quenching study: Interaction of diosgenin with biologically significant macromolecules
No full textDiosgenin, a naturally occurring steroidal sapogenin, has drawn increasing attention due to its broad pharmacological potential. In this study, we investigated its binding interactions with three biologically significant macromolecules: calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA), human serum albumin (HSA), and trypsin. The effects of the diosgenin on the structure and activity of these macromolecules were carried out using fluorescence spectroscopy (type of quenching, binding constant, number of binding locations, thermodynamic parameters, synchronous fluorescence, FRET analysis, 2D, and 3D fluorescence analysis, effect of metal ions), FTIR and molecular docking techniques. The results show that the diosgenin could bind to CT-DNA via a minor groove mode. The fluorescence experiments indicated that the diosgenin binding causes enhancement of HSA fluorescence while the diosgenin binding causes quenching of trypsin fluorescence. Experimental binding studies were conducted to assess the diosgenin's interaction profile, complemented by molecular docking simulations to provide structural insight into the binding modes. Docking results indicated that the diosgenin forms stable complexes with all three targets, exhibiting the highest affinity toward HSA (-10.5 kcal/mol), followed by DNA (-9.0 kcal/mol) and trypsin (-8.1 kcal/mol). The diosgenin was found to bind along the minor groove of DNA, interact with subdomain IB of HSA, and settle within the catalytic pocket of trypsin. In silico analyses indicated high oral absorption, good permeability, and no major toxicity risks, supporting the diosgenin's drug-likeness and multitarget potential. The antioxidant effectiveness of the diosgenin was measured via the DPPH method and reported in terms of its EC50 value
Evaluating ChatGPT’s Adherence to Hoarseness Guidelines: A Three-Rater Study Including an Otolaryngologist, an Audiologist, and the Model Itself
No full textObjective: To assess the alignment of Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT), based on Generative Pre-trained Transformer 4 (GPT-4) with the 2018 Clinical Practice Guideline on Hoarseness (Dysphonia), using a structured three-rater evaluation involving an otolaryngologist, an audiologist, and ChatGPT. Methods: Thirteen guideline statements were converted into 15 open-ended clinical questions and independently answered by ChatGPT. Responses were assessed for consistency with the guideline using a three-point scale (consistent, partially consistent, inconsistent). Evaluations were performed by an otolaryngologist, an audiologist, and ChatGPT itself, with final adjudication by a senior otolaryngologist. Results: Of 15 items, 13 responses (86.7%) were rated as fully consistent by all three raters. Two responses (13.3%) were rated as partially consistent by one evaluator each. No responses were deemed inconsistent. Overall agreement across raters was 97.8%. Conclusion: ChatGPT’s responses showed high concordance with expert recommendations in the evaluation and management of hoarseness. These findings support the potential of large language models as adjunctive tools for patient education and clinical decision-making in voice disorders, when used under expert oversight