Search Results (1,508)

Understanding the evolutionary and geographic trajectories of crop wild relatives is vital for enhancing agro-biodiversity and advancing climate-resilient agriculture. This study focuses on ten Vicia L. taxa—comprising five species, four varieties, and one subspecies—of significant agricultural importance in Türkiye. An integrative molecular framework was applied, incorporating nuclear ITS sequence data, ITS2 secondary structure modeling, phylogenetic network analysis, and time-calibrated biogeographic reconstruction. This approach revealed well-supported clades, conserved secondary structural elements, and signatures of reticulate evolution, particularly within the Vicia sativa L. and V. villosa Roth. complexes, where high genetic similarity suggests recent divergence and possible hybridization. Anatolia was identified as both a center of origin and a dispersal corridor, with divergence events estimated to have occurred during the Late Miocene–Pliocene epochs. Inferred migration routes extended toward the Balkans, the Caucasus, and Central Asia, corresponding to paleoenvironmental events such as the uplift of the Anatolian Plateau and the Messinian Salinity Crisis. Phylogeographic patterns indicated genetic affiliations between Turkish taxa and drought-adapted Irano-Turanian lineages, offering valuable potential for climate-resilient breeding strategies. The results establish a molecularly informed foundation for conservation and varietal development, supporting sustainability-oriented innovation in forage crop systems and contributing to regional food security. Full article

Scarturus williamsi (Williams’ jerboa) is a medium-sized, semi-fossorial rodent endemic to steppe ecosystems across Anatolia, Iran, and Azerbaijan, with specialized habitat requirements in semi-arid continental environments. This study integrates a mitochondrial DNA analysis with species distribution modeling to assess the species’ evolutionary structure and vulnerability to future climate change. The phylogeographic analysis and species distribution modeling reveal the evolutionary history and climate vulnerability of Scarturus williamsi across Anatolia and adjacent regions. The mitochondrial DNA analysis of 98 individuals demonstrates exceptional haplotype diversity (Hd = 0.9896), with 90 unique haplotypes and complete regional isolation, indicating pronounced population structuring across five evolutionary lineages: Central Anatolia, Eastern Anatolia, Aegean, Black Sea, and Azerbaijan–Iran. The Iran–Azerbaijan lineage exhibits the deepest evolutionary divergence, while Eastern Anatolia functions as the primary Anatolian refugium and Central Anatolia as the secondary refugial center. The strong isolation by distance (r = 0.735, p < 0.001) across ~2500 km explains 54.0% of the genetic variation, with the hierarchical structure reflecting greater Iran–Turkey isolation than intra-Turkish differentiation. The species distribution modeling identifies the Mean Temperature of Driest Quarter (bio9) and the Mean Diurnal Range (bio2) as primary habitat determinants, with bimodal preferences reflecting highland versus steppe adaptations. Climate projections reveal severe vulnerability with habitat losses of 63.69–98.41% by 2081–2100 across emission scenarios. SSP3-7.0 represents the most catastrophic scenario, with a severe habitat reduction (98.41% loss), while even optimistic scenarios (SSP1-2.6) project a 60–70% habitat loss. All scenarios show accelerating degradation through mid-century, with the steepest losses occurring between 2041 and 2080. Projected eastward shifts face constraints from the Anatolian Diagonal, limiting the climate tracking capacity. Despite occupying open landscapes, S. williamsi exhibits exceptional sensitivity to climate change, with Anatolian refugial areas representing critical diversity centers facing substantial degradation. Results provide baseline genetic structure and climate vulnerability information for understanding climate impacts on S. williamsi and Irano–Anatolian steppe fauna. Full article

Topic modeling in digital news faces the dual challenge of thematic overlap and evolving semantic boundaries, especially in morphologically rich languages like Turkish. To address these obstacles, we propose a topic modeling framework enhanced with knowledge graphs that explicitly incorporates uncertainty in topic assignment. We focus on the diversity of Fuzzy Latent Semantic Analysis (FLSA) and compare the performance with Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA), BERTopic, and embedding-based Top2Vec on a corpus drawn from two Turkish news agencies. We evaluate each model using standard metrics for topic coherence, diversity, and interpretability. We propose Shannon entropy of node-degree distributions to measure the network complexity of knowledge graphs as topic similarity. Our results indicate that FLSA achieves perfect topic diversity, 1.000 and improved interpretability, 0.33 over LDA, 0.09 while also enhancing coherence, 0.33 vs. 0.27. Top2Vec demonstrates the strongest coherence, 0.81 and interpretability, 0.78 with high diversity, 0.97, reflecting its capacity to form semantically cohesive clusters. Entropy analysis further shows that FLSA produces the most information-rich topic networks. These findings suggest that fuzzy modeling and embedding-based approaches offer complementary strengths, uncertainty-aware flexibility, and semantic precision, thereby improving topic discovery in complex, unstructured news environments. Full article

The rapid integration of generative AI, particularly ChatGPT, into academic settings has prompted urgent questions regarding its impact on students’ psychological and academic outcomes. Although generative AI holds considerable potential to transform educational practices, its effects on individual traits such as self-control and academic wellbeing remain insufficiently explored. This study addresses this gap through a sequential two-phase design. In the first phase, the ChatGPT Usage Scale was adapted and validated for a Turkish university student population (N = 413). Using confirmatory factor analysis and item response theory, the scale was confirmed as a psychometrically valid and reliable one-factor instrument. In the second phase, a separate sample (N = 449) was used to examine the relationships between ChatGPT usage, self-control, and academic wellbeing through a mediation model. The findings revealed that higher ChatGPT usage was significantly associated with lower levels of both self-control and academic wellbeing. Additionally, mediation analysis demonstrated that self-control partially mediates the negative relationship between ChatGPT usage and academic wellbeing. The study concludes that while generative AI tools are valuable, their integration into education presents a double-edged sword, highlighting the critical need to foster students’ self-regulatory skills to ensure they can harness these tools responsibly without compromising their academic and psychological health. Full article

This study investigates how perceptual and emotional factors—perceived naturalness, aesthetic pleasure, environmental concern, and disgust—shape consumer acceptance of a human-hair-derived bio-fabricated textile product (a unisex cardholder). In a scenario-based online survey, participants viewed an AI-generated image accompanied by a short vignette. A purposive sample of young adults in Istanbul with prior experience purchasing sustainable textile products was recruited and screened. All constructs were measured with standard Likert-type scales and translated into Turkish using a two-way back-translation procedure. Data were analyzed with PLS-SEM. Model fit was acceptable, and the model accounted for a substantial share of the variance in adoption intention. Aesthetic pleasure showed a clear positive influence on adoption intention, whereas perceived naturalness did not display a direct effect. Environmental concern modestly strengthened the link between naturalness and adoption. Disgust emerged as the dominant moderator, fully conditioning the naturalness pathway and reducing—but not eliminating—the effect of aesthetic pleasure. Together, these findings indicate that perceived naturalness, aesthetic pleasure, environmental concern, and disgust jointly shape adoption intention and that practical emphasis should be placed on reducing feelings of disgust while enhancing aesthetic appeal. Full article

Background and Objectives: Chronic ankle instability (CAI), a prevalent injury among female volleyball players, can negatively affect functional performance and increase the risk of further injury. The aim of this study was to compare functional movement quality, dynamic balance, vertical jumping performance, hip muscle strength, and risk of injury between adolescent female volleyball players with unilateral CAI and those without CAI. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 46 adolescent female volleyball players, divided into CAI (n = 23) and control (n = 23) groups based on predefined criteria. Functional movement quality was assessed using the Functional Movement Screen (FMS), and dynamic balance was evaluated with the Y-Balance Test (YBT). Maximal isometric strength of the hip muscles (flexors, extensors, abductors, adductors, and internal and external rotators) was measured using hand-held dynamometry, and vertical jumping performance was assessed using countermovement jump tests. Injury risk was classified based on established cut-off values for the FMS-composite and YBT-anterior reach asymmetry scores. Results: The CAI group demonstrated significantly lower FMS-composite scores (p = 0.007), reduced anterior reach on the YBT (p = 0.004), and decreased strength in the hip flexors (p = 0.007) and hip adductors (p = 0.044), supported by moderate effect sizes. No significant group differences were observed in the other YBT directions, vertical jump tests, or the other hip muscles (p > 0.05). A greater proportion of athletes in the CAI group were classified as high risk for injury based on both FMS-composite (p = 0.022) and YBT-anterior reach asymmetry (p = 0.001) cut-off values, supported by moderate and relatively strong effect sizes, respectively. Conclusions: Adolescent female volleyball players with unilateral CAI showed impaired movement quality, balance deficits, hip muscle weakness, and increased injury risk. These results highlight the importance of targeted interventions and broader investigations into CAI in adolescent athletes. Full article

The development of thin, wear-resistant coatings is a relevant area in the field of surface engineering, especially given the increasing demand for resource efficiency and reliability of machine elements. In this study, we investigate the structural and phase composition, tribological characteristics, and physical and mechanical properties of zirconium carbonitride (ZrCN) coatings deposited by high-velocity oxygen-fuel spraying (HVOF) on U8G carbon steel substrates. Particular attention is paid to the influence of spraying parameters, in particular air pressure, on the formation of coatings and their performance properties. X-ray phase analysis methods revealed the formation of Zr₂CN, ZrC, ZrN, ZrO₂, and Fe₃O₄ phases, with the dominance of the cubic phase ZrN(C) with a lattice parameter of a = 4.6360 Å. Tribological tests have shown that at an air pressure of 0.38 MPa, the minimum friction coefficient is achieved, presumably due to the formation of an amorphous CN_x phase with a self-lubricating effect. The wear mechanism is predominantly abrasive in nature; the width of wear tracks is 329–759 μm. The coatings demonstrate a significant increase in microhardness—up to 1512–1857 HV, which is 4–4.5 times higher than the substrate. The results of adhesion tests carried out in accordance with ASTM D4541-22 showed a maximum adhesion strength of 14.56 MPa. The results obtained confirm the high efficiency of thin ZrCN coatings obtained by the HVOF method as a promising solution for protecting metal surfaces subject to intense wear in tribological systems. Full article

Equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) and Equine herpesvirus 4 (EHV-4) are major viral pathogens of horses that contribute to respiratory disease, abortion, and neurological disorders, leading to economic losses in the equine industry. Accurate serological diagnosis is critical for disease surveillance and control. This study aimed to develop and validate an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detecting antibodies against EHV-1 and EHV-4 in horse sera. Serum samples previously confirmed by virus neutralization test (VNT) and a commercial ELISA were used to optimize the assay. Cut-off values were established using negative controls, and 155 serum samples were tested. The developed ELISA demonstrated 80.64% positivity for EHV-1 and 79.35% for EHV-4. When compared to VNT, the assay showed 85% specificity and 100% sensitivity. A high similarity (99%) was also observed when compared with the commercial ELISA. The overall seroprevalence was found to be 54.19% for EHV-1 and 75.48% for EHV-4, with an SN₅₀ value of 1/10 for both. The validation results confirmed high repeatability and reliability across plates. These findings suggest that the developed in-house ELISA is a practical, cost-effective, and accurate tool for the serological monitoring of EHV-1 and EHV-4 infections in horse populations. Full article

Burial location and concepts of belonging are deeply interconnected. This article explores the biblical narrative of Jacob’s death and burial in the final chapters of the book of Genesis, with a focus on this relationship. The analysis engages in dialogue with Osman Balkan’s recent research on Turkish Muslims in Europe, examining factors influencing burial decisions, including the choice between repatriation to countries of origin and local burial. Key themes relevant to the biblical narrative include tensions with the host society, its authorities, and customs, the complex interplay of factors in end-of-life decisions, and the role of burial location as a means of anchoring future generations. In particular, the concept of the dead as an ‘anchor’ provides a useful framework for understanding the contrasting burial wishes of Jacob and his son Joseph. Additionally, considering Joseph as an undertaker adds nuance to his struggle to balance loyalty to local Egyptian customs with his father’s request to be buried among his ancestors in Canaan. Full article

Following recent earthquakes in Van, Istanbul, Izmir, and Kahramanmaraş, concerns have once again been raised regarding whether existing buildings possess adequate seismic performance and the necessity of strengthening those that do not. A common theme in all related discussions is how to improve the seismic resilience of the existing building stock most efficiently and cost-effectively. In particular, seismic retrofitting efforts should be accelerated for residential buildings in areas where urban transformation has not been feasible due to low added value, as well as for public buildings in smaller settlements and school or dormitory structures in rural towns and villages. In this study, the seismic performance of a reinforced concrete (RC) frame was evaluated using the nonlinear single-mode pushover analysis method in accordance with the Turkish Building Earthquake Code (TBEC). For frames with inadequate performance, a retrofitting method was proposed using glued laminated timber (glulam), a renewable and sustainable material, as diagonal bracing. This intervention aimed to improve the structural performance to an acceptable level specified by the code. The results indicated that glulam braces can effectively enhance the seismic performance of RC buildings and may be considered a viable solution for this purpose. Full article

Objectives: Social isolation is an important public health issue that is becoming increasingly prevalent among adolescents today. Recognizing the risk of social isolation in children and adolescents during their developmental years can contribute to the prevention of depression and anxiety disorders, as well as risky behaviors such as suicide and substance abuse. Valid and reliable measurement tools are needed to assess social isolation in adolescents. There is a lack of surveys to identify gaps in social isolation among Turkish adolescents. This study aims to adapt the Social Isolation Questionnaire (QIS) scale, which was developed for adolescents, to Turkish culture and to evaluate its psychometric properties. Methods: This descriptive and methodological study was conducted between July and November 2024 with 1922 adolescents. Data were collected using an introductory information form, the QIS, and the UCLA Loneliness Scale. In the evaluation of the data, explanatory and confirmatory factor analysis, Cronbach’s alpha, split-half, item–total score correlation, and test–retest analysis were used. Results: The average age of the adolescents was 13.97 ± 1.67 years (min = 12, max = 17). A total of 50.6% of the adolescents were male and 49.4% were female. A total of 81.2% of the adolescents had a nuclear family structure. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a three-factor structure explaining 55.97% of the variance. The factor loadings were greater than 0.30, and all fit indices were greater than 0.90. The total Cronbach’s α value of the scale was 0.83, while the values for the subdimensions ranged from 0.73 to 0.75. Conclusions: The Turkish version of the QIS is a valid and reliable measurement tool for assessing social isolation in adolescents. This questionnaire can be used by health professionals and researchers to identify adolescents at risk of social isolation and plan appropriate mental health interventions. This questionnaire can be used in studies focusing on adolescent mental health and well-being, contributing to the development and implementation of strategies in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. Full article

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the performance of three widely used artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots—ChatGPT-4, Gemini 2.5 Pro, and Claude Sonnet 4—in answering patient-oriented frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to orthognathic surgery. Given the increasing reliance on AI tools in healthcare, it is essential to evaluate their performance to provide accurate, empathetic, readable, and clinically appropriate information. Methods: Twenty FAQs in Turkish about orthognathic surgery were presented to each chatbot. The responses were evaluated by three oral and maxillofacial surgeons using a modified Global Quality Score (GQS), binary clinical appropriateness judgment, and a five-point empathy rating scale. The evaluation process was conducted in a double-blind manner. The Ateşman Readability Formula was applied to each response using an automated Python-based script. Comparative statistical analyses—including ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis, and post hoc tests—were used to determine significant differences in performance among chatbots. Results: Gemini outperformed both GPT-4 and Claude in GQS, empathy, and clinical appropriateness (p < 0.001). GPT-4 demonstrated the highest readability scores (p < 0.001) but frequently lacked empathetic tone and safety-oriented guidance. Claude showed moderate performance, balancing ethical caution with limited linguistic clarity. A moderate positive correlation was found between empathy and perceived response quality (r = 0.454; p = 0.044). Conclusions: AI chatbots vary significantly in their ability to support surgical patient education. While GPT-4 offers superior readability, Gemini provides the most balanced and clinically reliable responses. These findings underscore the importance of context-specific chatbot selection and continuous clinical oversight to ensure safe and ethical AI-driven communication. Full article

This study explores how Turkish Generation Z adapts their fashion consumption behaviours in response to economic crises, particularly focusing on involuntary anti-consumerism. Through a qualitative methodology using semi-structured interviews and purposive sampling, the research captures the coping strategies and emotional experiences of young consumers in Türkiye. A thematic analysis of fifteen interviews reveals an original “8Rs” framework—Reject, Restrict/Reduce, Reuse/Reclaim, Re-find, Reconsider, Re-framing Discounts, Re-direction of Resources, and Emotional Responses—that illustrates both behavioural and psychological adjustments under financial strain. Notably, the study introduces two novel concepts: “recession rush,” a calculated urgency to purchase before price hikes, and “re-direction of resources,” the reallocation of budget from other categories toward fashion purchases. By focusing on a geographically underrepresented context and a pivotal consumer segment, this research contributes new insights to the literature on anti-consumption, economic adaptation, and youth identity expression in crisis economies. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are prevalent central nervous system (CNS) disorders that share overlapping symptoms but differ in underlying molecular mechanisms. Distinguishing these mechanisms is essential for developing targeted diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. In this study, we integrated multi-tissue transcriptomic datasets from brain and peripheral samples to identify differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) in AD and MDD. Functional enrichment analyses (KEGG, GO) revealed that dysregulated miRNAs in AD were associated with MAPK, PI3K–Akt, Ras, and PD-1/PD-L1 signaling, pathways linked to synaptic plasticity, neuroinflammation, and immune regulation. In contrast, MDD-associated miRNAs showed enrichment in Hippo signaling and ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, implicating altered neurogenesis and protein homeostasis. Network analysis highlighted key disease- and tissue-specific miRNAs, notably hsa-miR-1202 and hsa-miR-24-3p, with potential roles in neuronal survival and molecular network regulation. These findings suggest that miRNAs may serve as non-invasive biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring in both disorders. While therapeutic targeting of miRNAs offers promise, challenges such as blood–brain barrier penetration and tissue-specific delivery remain. This integrative approach provides a translational framework for advancing miRNA-based strategies in CNS disease research. Full article

This study examined the spatial and seasonal variations of trihalomethanes (THMs) and estimated the health risks associated with THM exposure in drinking water through various pathways. Water samples were collected from 14 distribution districts connected to the Ulutan Distribution System (UDS) and the Süleyman Bey Distribution System (SDS), which supply drinking water to Zonguldak Province, Türkiye. THMs were measured using the USEPA 551 method. The median total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) ranged from 41 μg/L to 71 μg/L, which is below the Turkish drinking water standard of 100 μg/L. Chloroform (TCM) was the most common trihalomethane in all distribution networks in UDS and SDS. On the other hand, pre-ozonation oxidation after chlorination in SDS disinfection caused the contribution of brominated THMs (62%) to THM formation to be higher than that of TCM (38%). The study on cancer risk reveals that ingestion (96%) poses the greatest risk of the investigated pathways, followed by dermal contact (3.95%), while inhalation has been found to have a negligible effect. The highest and lowest median TTHMs occurred during winter and summer. The findings of the study show that the distribution areas of Kozlu, Ömerli, Topçalı, and Uzunçayır, for both genders, exhibit an unacceptable cancer risk level according to the criteria established by the USEPA (>10⁻⁴). Bromodichloromethane (BDCM) and chlorodibromomethane (DBCM) are the main contributors to cancer risk for males and females in UDS and SDS. The hazard index (HI) data indicated that the HI value remained below one for both UDS and SDS. Sensitivity analysis of THMs demonstrated that exposure frequency (EF) was the primary parameter contributing to the maximum potential impact on the total cancer risk exposure frequency (EF), followed by body weight (BW) and exposure duration (ED). Further, the results provide valuable information for health departments and water management authorities, enabling the formulation of more specific and efficient policies to minimise THM levels in drinking water distribution networks. Full article