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Aim: The aim of this study is to explore the extent of missed nursing care in Turkey and identify its predictors. Design: This was a descriptive, cross‐sectional, multicentre study. Methods: A total of 477 nurses working in seven public hospitals participated in this study from March to July 2019. The survey included two components: a personal and professional characteristics data form and the MISSCARE survey. Results: The study revealed that emotional support, patient bathing and ambulation were the most frequently missed nursing care activities. An inadequate number of assistive personnel and staff, along with an unexpected increase in patient volume, were identified as the primary reasons for missed nursing care. Of the 21 missed nursing care activities, nine predictive models showed statistical significance (p < 0.05). Factors such as the type of unit, years of work experience, working hours, number of patients cared for in a shift and intention to leave the unit were found to be significant predictors of seven missed nursing care activities (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study found that numerous variables influence each care activity, which suggests the need to devise more targeted and specific strategies to minimize missed nursing care. Thorough investigation into the impact of these strategies on each care activity is essential. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? The problem of missed nursing care (MNC) affects healthcare institutions universally.MNC can serve as an indicator of patient safety, practice environment and quality of care.Intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational and cultural factors may contribute to MNC.What this paper adds: This study found that nurses prioritize more structured and time‐sensitive care activities.This study showed the significant influence of staffing adequacy, patient volume and other variables on MNC.This study identified several significant predictors for each care activity, including the nature of the unit, weekly working hours, nurse‐to‐patient ratio, professional experience and intention to leave.The implications of this paper: To effectively reduce or eliminate MNC, the nature of each care activity should be examined separately.To develop more targeted, specific and comprehensive strategies, predictors of each care activity should be considered.A combination of observation and interview methods is recommended for a comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of the developed strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In teaching French as a foreign language, there is a constant development from traditional methods to action-oriented approaches. This development has arisen as a result of students' needs and of innovations in technology. Particularly in the last decade, there has been increasing interest in teaching foreign languages to children. Because of this increasing interest, much is expected from teachers in particular. The educators who will teach a foreign language to children should be trained with a system that children learn languages in a way physically and mentally different than adults do. In this study, it was emphasized that French as a foreign language should be taught to children using games, which are classroom activities. A field study in teaching foreign languages was conducted with first-year students who were in their secondary stage of primary education, aged from 10 to 11 and learning A1 level French.

Copyright of Erciyes Akademi is the property of Erciyes Universitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Erciyes Akademi is the property of Erciyes Universitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Nursing Sciences is the property of Turkiye Klinikleri and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The study aimed to determine nurses' self-efficacy levels for safe transfusion of blood and blood components. The design of this study is descriptive and cross-sectional. Before starting the study, ethics committee approval and institution approval was obtained. The participants were informed about the purpose of the study, and their written consent was obtained. The research was conducted between the dates 01 March 2022 and 01 May 2022, a private hospital in Turkey. The study sample consisted of 482 nurses. Data were collected using descriptive characteristics form and the Safe Blood and Blood Products Transfusion Self-Efficacy Scale (SBT-SES). The total SBT-SES scores of the nurses were high (202.7 ± 50.1), and the behavioral sub-factor self-efficacy scores were moderate (48.2 ± 19.5). When the SBT-SES scores were analyzed based on demographic characteristics, it was found that those who had received previous safe blood transfusion training scored higher than those who had not, and women scored higher than men (p < 0.05). In addition, no relationship was found between age, working time, number of weekly blood transfusions, and self-efficacy levels. As a result, nurses' self-efficacy levels towards blood transfusion are high. However, the behavioral sub-factor self-efficacy level is not sufficient. Based on these results, in order to increase the behavioral self-efficacy levels of nurses, our recommendations are as follows: investigating appropriate training methods, considering the sex factor when choosing training methods and techniques, investigating the barriers to safe transfusion behaviors, and measuring self-efficacy levels at regular intervals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to develop a valid and reliable measurement instrument for determining the self-efficacy perceptions of nurses concerning safe medication practices. Method: The study was conducted at the hospital of a state university in Istanbul, Turkey, between August and December 2016. The sample consisted of 278 nurses. Results: The exploratory factor analysis indicated the scale had a single-factor structure that explained 47.92% of the total variance. The remaining 76 items had factor loads ranging from.50 to.87. The item-total correlations varied between.49 and.86, and Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the scale was.98. Conclusion: The results of the analysis show the items constituting the scale have validity and reliability criteria that can measure the self-efficacy of nurses related to parenteral medication administration. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2021;52(6):267–273.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Newly collected high-resolution seismic reflection and magnetic data collected offshore of the Ganos Fault (NW Turkey) in the western Sea of Marmara, along the submerged portion of the North-Anatolian Fault, highlight the presence of a complex fault pattern. Based on these data, we propose a new tectonic model for this key region, connecting the onshore fault pattern to the transtensional basins of the deepest Sea of Marmara. According to this new model, three main faults control the deformation pattern of this region, fault SF1, a tectonic element that shapes the Tekirdağ Basin, and fault SF2, which although not affecting the sea floor, is structurally related to SF1. Another fault we called SF3, connects the offshore to the Ganos fault onshore creating a transtensional pattern nearby the shelf. All such kinematic indicators witness an incipient activity, and a seismogenic potential that should be determined by a detailed mapping of both the surficial expression of fault at the seafloor, and the deformation pattern observed in the post-glacial sedimentary sequence. The active fault pattern detected nearby the coastal areas and their structural relationships with the Tekirdağ basin show that it could be interpreted as a negative flower structure, which accommodates strain partitioning. This observation is crucial to seismic hazard assessments in this region that has been the site of destructive earthquakes in the recent and remote past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Loneliness is one of the important problems of the old age period and it is important to address and find solutions due to the negative effects it creates. Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the effect of music therapy on the feeling of loneliness of the elderly living in the nursing home. Material and Method: This research was carried out as a pretest-posttest control group design experimental study in a nursing home in Turkey. The population of the study consisted of 104 elderly individuals who stayed in the nursing home between the dates of the research, and the samples were 38 elderly individuals (19 interventions, 19 controls) who could communicate verbally and had no diagnosed psychiatric disease. As a pretest, Interview Form and UCLA Loneliness Scale were applied to the elderly individuals in both the intervention and control groups. Elderly individuals in the intervention group together listened to instrumental music for 30 minutes in the Rast maqam with naked ear, in the sitting position, for 10 days, both in the morning and evening being 20 times in total, in the activity room of the nursing home. After the intervention group's music therapy application was completed, UCLA Loneliness Scale was applied to both the intervention and control groups as a post-test. Data were evaluated using descriptive statistical methods, Pearson chi-square test, Fisher-Freeman-Halton Exact Test, Wilcoxon test and Mann Whitney U test. Statistical significance limit value was accepted as p <0.05. Results: Elderly individuals in the intervention and control groups were found to be similar in terms of introductory features (p>0.05). After the music therapy applied to the elderly individuals in the intervention group, it was determined that there was a statistically significant difference between the average of UCLA Loneliness Scale in the last measurement of the elderly individuals in the intervention and control groups (p<0.05). Total mean score of UCLA Loneliness Scale was found to be significantly lower in the intervention group which was applied music therapy (p<0.001). Conclusions: It was determined that music therapy applied to elderly individuals living in nursing homes is effective in reducing the level of loneliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Nursing Sciences is the property of Turkiye Klinikleri and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aim: The aim of this study was to develop a valid and reliable measuring tool to determine the level of self‐management of insulin treatment by individuals with diabetes. Methods: This was a methodological instrument development study. This study was conducted in a training and research hospital in Istanbul, Turkey, between January and June 2014.The sample of the study included 311 individuals with diabetes. The item pool was formed with 63 items. The content validity was assessed by 14 experts. The draft scale with 58 items was formed with a five‐point Likert type scale. The structural validity of the scale was assessed via exploratory factor analysis. In the context of reliability analyses, the item‐total score correlation, the split‐half method, and the test‐retest application were used. Results: The scale had 32 items and three subscales. The first factor was called "behavioral subdimension," the second as "cognitive subdimension," and the third, "affective subdimension." The total Cronbach alpha value of the scale was 0.91. Conclusion: Preliminary validity and reliability was demonstrated for a newly developed scale for measuring insulin treatment self‐management of adult individuals with diabetes. SUMMARY STATEMENT: What is already known about this topic? Personal management of insulin treatment is crucial for the success of diabetes treatment.Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of individuals with diabetes related to insulin treatment should be improved by self‐management training.Most scales that measure diabetes self‐efficacy and self‐management among individuals with diabetes do not include items on insulin management. What this paper adds? Preliminary validity and reliability was demonstrated for the Insulin Treatment Self‐Management Scale.The effectiveness of insulin treatment self‐management can now be measured with a valid and reliable tool to support effective diabetes management. The implications of this paper: The Insulin Treatment Self‐Management Scale can help nurses identify the lack of knowledge and skills and negative attitudes about insulin treatment in individuals with diabetes.The Insulin Treatment Self‐Management Scale can help nurses plan and perform more effective patient education to improve the effectiveness of insulin self‐management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine the effect of a Web‐Based Diabetes Training Program (WB–DTP) on the diabetes‐related knowledge, attitudes, and skills of health professionals. Methods: This was an experimental pretest–post‐test with a 1 month follow‐up study design that included a control group. The results of the power analysis suggested that 50 individuals with diabetes should be in both the intervention and the control groups. The WB–DTP was developed in accordance with the Effective Teaching Instruction Model.. Measures included the information form, Achievement Test (AT), Diabetes Attitudes Scale (DAS), and skill observation forms. The Wilcoxon's Signed Rank test, Mann–Whitney U‐test, and Friedman test were used to analyze group differences on these measures. Results: There was a significant difference between the AT post‐test and the follow‐up test scores of the intervention and control groups. No significant difference was present for the DAS post‐test and follow‐up scores between the intervention and control groups. A significant difference emerged on the Insulin Injection Skill Observation Form score between the intervention and control groups. In addition, there was a significant difference in the measurement level of blood glucose by the Glucometer Skill Observation Form between the intervention and control groups. Conclusions: As a result, it was determined that the WB–DTP is effective in increasing the diabetes‐related knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals. However, the program was not adequate at increasing the diabetes‐related attitudes of health professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this revisited study was to compare the clinical efficacy and long-term scar evaluation of a hydrophilic polyurethane membrane (HPM), Omiderm (Omikron Scientific Ltd., Rehovot, Israel) and an antimicrobial tulle-gras dressing (TGD), Bactigras (Smith & Nephew) in the management of partial-thickness burns. Method: Patients with partial-thickness burns were enrolled in this prospective study. Burn areas were divided into two areas and both dressings were applied to each field at the same time. Time to full re-epithelialisation and scar evaluation were compared using the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS). Results: A total of 21 patients, mean age 36.8 years, with 22 burns areas participated. The results showed that there is no statistically significant difference in terms of full epithelialisation time in the application of either dressing (p>0.05). However, with deep dermal burns, the HPM provided slightly faster epithelialisation (p>0.05). A VSS assessment showed no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) between applying either dressing materials. Conclusion: This study indicated that both dressings had the same effectiveness in treatment of partial-thickness burn wounds. However, the use of the HPM, especially in deep dermal second-degree burns, should be one of the first-line clinical choices, based on the advantages discerned by this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study was performed with nurses who provide care for an intercultural population with the objective of determining intercultural communication competence of nurses who provide care for patients from different cultures. Material and Method: Data were collected from 204 nurses using a Nurse Identification Form, the Intercultural Awareness Scale, Intercultural Sensitivity Scale and Intercultural Effectiveness Scale. As part of the study, nurses' introductory characteristics were presented as percentile, mean or median values. A regression analysis and manova test were used to review the intercultural awareness, sensitivity and effectiveness levels according to the descriptive characteristics of the nurses. Result: Nurses' had high Intercultural Awareness, Intercultural Sensitivity and Intercultural Effectiveness scale scores. It was found that the scores obtained from the Intercultural Awareness, Intercultural Sensitivity and Intercultural Effectiveness scales do not show a difference according to the descriptive characteristics of the nurses. Conclusion: Within the scope of intercultural communication competence, high scores received from the intercultural awareness, intercultural sensitivity and intercultural effectiveness scales demonstrated that the working nurses had good intercultural communication competence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study developed a Web-based type 2 diabetes education program (WB-DEP) for health care professionals. The methodology consisted of a pretest-posttest quasiexperimental approach. The study group consisted of 44 nurses and six midwives who volunteered for the study. The WB-DEP was developed in accordance with the effective teaching design model of Morrison, Ross, and Kemp. Data for the study were collected using the Information Form, The Section Evaluation Tests, the Web-Based Teaching Material Evaluation Scale, and the WB-DEP Opinion Form. In the statistical evaluation of the data, the averages, percentages, frequencies, and mean values were calculated, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was also used. According to the results, the study group believed that the WB-DEP was generally useful, successful, beneficial, informative, and understandable. In addition, the WB-DEP was found to significantly increase participants' knowledge about diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clinical governance evaluation is important to determine what organisational development efforts should focus on, and an increased clinical governance level is believed to increase the quality of health care services as well as employee job satisfaction. Objectives: The aim of this study is to identify nurses’ perceptions of the clinical governance climate and to explain its relationship to their job satisfaction levels. Method: The sample of this research, which was intended to be descriptive, consisted of 248 nurses in a university hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. Data were collected using a nurse description form containing nurses’ socio-demographic characteristics, a Clinical Governance Climate Questionnaire (CGCQ) and the Minnesota Job Satisfaction Scale. Results: Of the nurses participating in the research, 37.1% were between the ages of 31-35, 66.1% were married and 39.5% held an associate degree in nursing. We found that overall nurses’ perceptions of the clinical governance climate were at 180.01±20.63. A statistically significant negative relationship was found between nurses’ perception of the clinical governance climate and their job satisfaction levels. As the nurses’ intrinsic, extrinsic and overall job satisfaction scores increased, the CGCQ scores decreased. Conclusions: Because the nurses’ perception of the clinical governance climate as supportive increased their job satisfaction, we recommended that their managers adopt a management style that is more participatory and flexible and that gives priority to cooperation and sense of security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iznik Lake, a freshwater lake surrounded by a fertile basin of land in NW Turkey, is deteriorating gradually depending upon the increment in loadings which is ascribed to the inputs from streams, agriculture, excessive irrigation, urbanization and industrial activities along the shore, and atmospheric deposition. The main scope of this study is to assess the content, distribution and ecological risk of the elements (Al, Fe, Mn, V, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, As and Zn) in the surficial sediments collected from 25 sites in the Lake Iznik. Quantitative indices and sediment quality guidelines were used to evaluate the pollution status of metals. The resulting estimates reflected a natural environment of low to moderate degree of impaction, and an approximate contribution of geogenic and anthropogenic inputs, with some variations among the stations. The enriched concentrations of As and Mn could be depending on the thermogenic activity along the active faults bounding the lake. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the sources of Al, Fe, Co, Cr, Zn and V, concentrated at near-shore stations, could be attributed to mixed (lithogenic/anthropogenic) sources via streams. The enriched concentrations of Cd, Cu, Ni and Pb observed at the deep stations, and their sources were attributed to the transported/deposited sediments and partly atmospheric deposition. Except Ni, the metal concentrations in the majority of sediment samples were believed to be safe for living organisms. Local governments must prepare rational environmental strategies and suitable drainage programs to decrease the level of contaminants that pollute the environment and to prevent the dramatic drop of the lake's water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although there are many research studies on the northern and southern branches of the North Anatolian fault, cutting through the deep basins of the Sea of Marmara in the north and creating a series of pull-apart basins on the southern mainland, little data is available about the geometrical and kinematical characteristics of the middle strand of the North Anatolian fault. The first detailed geometry of the middle strand of the North Anatolian fault along the southern Marmara shelf, including the Gemlik and Bandırma Bay, will be given in this study, by a combined interpretation of different seismic data sets. The characteristic features of its segments and their importance on the paleogeographic evolution of the southern shelf sub-basins were defined. The longest one of these faults, the Armutlu-Bandırma segment, is a 75-km long dextral strike-slip fault which connects the W-E trending Gençali segment in the east and NE-SW trending Kapıdağ-Edincik segment in the west. In this context, the Gemlik Bay opened as a pull-apart basin under the control of the middle strand whilst a new fault segment developed during the late Pleistocene, cutting through the eastern rim of the bay. In this region, a delta front forming the paleoshoreline of the Gemlik paleolake was cut and shifted approximately 60 ± 5 m by the new segment. The same offset on this fault was also measured on a natural scarp of acoustic basement to the west and integrated with this paleoshoreline forming the slightly descending topset-foreset reflections of the delta front. Therefore the new segment is believed to be active at least for the last 30,000 years. The annual lateral slip rate representing this period of time will be 2 mm, which is quite consistent with modern GPS measurements. Towards the west, the Bandırma Bay is a rectangular transpressional basin whilst the Erdek Bay is a passive basin under the control of NW-SE trending faults. When the water level of the paleo-Marmara lake dropped down to −90 m, the water levels of the suspended paleolakes of Bandırma and Gemlik on the southern shelf were −50.3 (−3.3 Global Isostatic Adjustment-GIA) and −60.5 (−3.3 GIA) m below the present mean sea level, respectively. As of today a similar example can be seen between the Sea of Marmara and the shallow freshwater lakes of Manyas and Uluabat. Similarly, the paleolakes of Gemlik and Bandirma were affected by the water level fluctuations at different time periods, even though both lakes were isolated from the Sea of Marmara during the glacial periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a need for an appropriate instrument to measure colleague solidarity among nurses. This study was carried out to develop a Colleague Solidarity of Nurses' Scale ( CSNS). This study was planned to be descriptive and methodological. The CSNS examined content validity, construct validity, test-retest reliability and internal consistency reliability. The trial form of the CSNS, which was composed of 44 items, was given to 200 nurses, followed by validity and reliability analyses. Following the analyses, 21 items were excluded from the scale, leaving an attitude scale made up of 23 items. Factor analysis of the data showed that the scale has a three sub-factor structure: emotional solidarity, academic solidarity and negative opinions about solidarity. The Cronbach's alpha reliability of the whole scale was 0.80. This study provides evidence that the CSNS possesses robust solidarity among nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some earthquakes in the Eastern Mediterranean are tsunamigenic, and some of their tsunamis affected the coastal area of the Gulf of Fethiye, SW Turkey. Recent trenching surveys on the low-lying coastal areas of Dalaman delta beach across the Rhodes Pass revealed three probable tsunami impacts as a result of the historical earthquakes of 1303, 1481, and 1741. Yet there have been relatively few studies of the processes associated with tsunami sediment transport, their deposition, and nature in geological record. In addition to the interpretation of sedimentary features, accurate palaeo-environmental assessments might be possible by distinctive biogeochemical researches on marine-sourced organic matters, geochemical properties, quantitative amounts of marine biomarkers, and deterministic ratios. The identification of major lipid biomarkers (fatty acids and sterols) in the samples recovered from the sidewalls of the studied trench, for example, indicated biogenic contributions due to the presence of phytoplankton, zooplankton, bacteria, and dinoflagellates. Quantitative estimation of biomarkers and deterministic ratios also indicated some evidences for marine-sourced organic matters, implying that biomarkers can be used to answer the open questions in tsunami and palaeo-tsunami researches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of past connection routes between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, other than the traditional one through to the Bosphorus Strait, would be of considerable interest to the international scientific community. Nazik et al. (Geo-Mar Lett 31:75-86 () doi:) suggest the possibility of two alternative waterway connections via lakes Sapanca and İznik. Their Black Sea to Sea of Marmara multi-connection hypothesis, which is based on undated marine fossils collected in both lakes from surficial grab samples, conflicts with many earlier studies. In this contribution, the hypothesis and the underlying data are discussed in the light of previous tectonic, sedimentological and limnological findings showing that it is impossible to have had marine connections through lakes Sapanca and İznik during the last 11.5 ka. Global sea-level trends and tectonic uplift rates would accommodate a connection between the Sea of Marmara and Lake İznik in the middle Pleistocene. Uplift rates for the northern block of the North Anatolian Fault, when compared with the global sea-level curve, clearly indicate that there cannot have been a connection through the İzmit Gulf-Lake Sapanca-Sakarya Valley for at least the past 500 ka. Moreover, borehole sediments along the western shores of Lake Sapanca, which reach down to the bedrock, do not contain any marine fossils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During two distinct earthquakes occurred on March 7, 1867 and October 6, 1944, tsunami waves were also observed at some localities around the Gulf of Edremit, NE Aegean Sea. The first event ( M = 6.8) mostly affected the city of Mitilini of Lesvos Island while the Gulf of Edremit-Ayvacık earthquake ( M = 6.8) largely affected the northern and eastern coastal areas of the Gulf of Edremit. In 1944 earthquake, numerous surface cracks and water gushes were reported. The coastal neighborhoods of the town of Ayvalık in the east were flooded by tsunami waves. At the WSW extend of the main fault observed on land, which is parallel to the present-day slip vectors, some normal-oblique faults were observed close and subparallel to the northern coast. On the basis of historical documents, reports, interviews, geological setting, field observations and marine seismic reflection data, the 1944 earthquake was not triggered by one of the main fault segments but by a secondary fault or fault group which was described in this study. Depending on the distribution of tensional and compressional forces in the region, which rotates clockwise under the control of the middle strand of the North Anatolian fault, secondary fault groups become important. The moment tensor parameters of such small-size events have been determined and have obtained consistent results with the faults proposed in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentrations of 12 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined from 28 sediment samples taken from the Lake Iznik located in the north-west area in Turkey. Total concentration of the PAHs was observed as in the range of 17-835 ng g dry weight, with the highest values recorded offshore the cities of Iznik and Orhangazi, and the Sölöz creek. According to the molecular indices, contamination of the PAHs in the lake was a mixture of the atmospheric input of high temperature pyrolytic processes and the petrogenic sources transported by the creeks. Further, the higher proportion of high molecular-weight PAHs (>85%) suggests the domination of combustion-related sources. Compared to the consensus-based sediment quality guidelines for PAHs, there are no harmful biological effects on the short term to aquatic life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical features, follow-up and treatment results in patients diagnosed with ocular toxoplasmosis. Material and Method: 57 patients who have received a diagnosis of active ocular toxoplasmosis (first attack and/or recurrence) in uvea department at Istanbul Education and Research Hospital, Eye Clinic between 1996 and 2007 were evaluated retrospectively. The average follow-up period was 5.2 years. Visual acuity and ocular pressure values of the patients were recorded. Anterior and posterior segment findings were evaluated with biomicroscopy. Tests for Toxoplasma-specific IgG and IgM antibodies were repeated two times with one-week intervals in cases with clinical appearance compatible with ocular toxoplasmosis. Results: The average age of the patients was 29.7 (range: 16-50) years and the female/male ratio was 33/24. 43 patients (75.86%) had first attack, while 14 patients (24.14%) had recurrence of ocular toxoplasmosis. In 12 patients (20.7%), the macular retina and in 14 patients (24.14%), the peripheral retina was involved. 9 patients (15.5%) had atypical signs of ocular toxoplasmosis. Patients with clinical appearance compatible with ocular toxoplasmosis and positive serological tests have been given triple therapy consisting of pyrimethamine + sulfadiazine + corticosteroid (only for cases with vision-threatening macular and posterior pole involvement) for 4-6 weeks. Discussion: Ocular toxoplasmosis is the most common form of posterior uveitis that can lead to vision loss. The establishment of diagnosis is often based on clinical view and serological tests are helpful in the diagnostic process. The disease is self-limiting in immunocompetent people. The purpose of the treatment is to prevent complications and recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eastern and southern coasts of the Gulf of Gemlik, a resort in the Sea of Marmara, Turkey, are under the influence of rapid ecotourism development, direct domestic and industrial discharges via rivers and outfalls, surface run-off, drainage from ports and shipping. According to sediment quality criteria in use around the world, sediment quality in the gulf shows a broad spectrum. It is more related by direct input, rather than by the type of sediment, and excluding inner port and southern coasts, it does not exert adverse biological effects yet. The total PAH concentrations range from 51 to 13,482 ng/g dry weight with the mean value of 1,850 ng/g dry weight (n = 61). The elevated values of the total toxic Benzo[ a]pyrene equivalency (TEQcarc), with a maximum of 1,838 ng/g dry weight, were found at the inner harbor of Gemlik, possibly posing hazard to benthic organisms. Among the different PAHs, the contribution to the total TEQcarc decreased as the following order: Benzo[ a]pyrene (43.6%) > Benzo[ k]fluoranthene (36.0%) > Indeno[ 1,2,3-cd]pyrene (35.1%) > Benzo[ b]fluoranthene (20.0%) > Chrysene + Triphenylene (18.9%) > Benzo[ a]anthracene (12.5%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Accelerated rise in sea-level, and associated geological adjustment, may result in a high impact on shorelines. On the basis of hourly sea-level observations over a 20 year period, sea-level change along the Turkish coast has been investigated. In addition to relative sea-level rise, the high level of human activities in coastal areas puts a significant amount of stress on Turkish coastal zones, especially on coastal lowland plains. Coastal erosion and ground water salinization are the most important impacts and two case studies are discussed in this paper: the Kizilirmak river delta on the Black Sea; and the tourism center of Erdek on the Marmara Sea. Coastal retreat on the Kizilirmak river delta is mostly attributed to decreasing sediment supply to the coast. The shore barriers and the enclosed lagoons are likely to respond readily to future sea-level rise. At Erdek, the most important threat is intrusion of salt water into freshwater systems caused by a combination of accelerated sea-level rise, land reclamation and overexploitation of underground aquifers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences is the property of Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The chemical fingerprinting approach to environmental assessment is illustrated in the evaluation of marine oil pollution on the coasts of the suburb of Florya (Marmara Sea). The samples of unknown origin collected during three leg expeditions on April 2003, December 2003, and February 2004 were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) Hydrocarbon distribution patterns of samples indicated different known and unknown origins. The group hydrocarbon compositions of the samples from leg one are the same as those from the cargo oil spill of tanker Volgoneft-248, which ran aground after structural failure. When it broke apart at the end of the year 1999, tons of oil were spilled into the Marmara Sea. The results show that the remainder of the buried oil in the seabed may come ashore during strong onshore winds even after comprehensive clean-up operations and after 4 years. On the other hand, the samples collected during legs 2 and 3 appear to be from unknown sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Golden Horn estuary has been one of the worst-affected coastal areas of Istanbul (Turkey) as a result of heavy and unplanned commercial and industrial activities along the shoreline, in particular, since the early 1950s. The estuary is an internal port, heavily polluted by creek discharges conveying domestic and industrial loads. It has also been affected by the implementation of ill-adapted coastal structures and upstream activities. Increased sediment deposition coupled with weakened water circulation has hindered the self-purification capacity of the estuary owing to its particular oceanographic features. In view of the amount of work already undertaken and valuable information already available, and on the basis of our observations related to the water mass structure and circulation of the Golden Horn, it has been demonstrated that the estuarine waterbody is governed by the hydrodynamic conditions of the Strait of Istanbul that are dependent on atmospheric factors, water budget, and nonlinear transient variances such as temporary blocking of the lower or upper layers of flow. The primary objectives set forth are, as a first step, to understand what problems this estuary faces and to suggest a comprehensive management and research program in which scientists, relevant organizations, local communities, and individuals with diverse expertise could collaborate in a partnership approach to promote and ensure the rational and efficient management of the Golden Horn estuarine system as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article determines the polyaromatic structure and the total polyaromatic hydrocarbon concentration levels in the sea floor sediments recovered at the Marmara exit of the Dardanelles Strait in Turkey. Most of the surface sediments were found to be fine-grained and water content of the sediment column generally started to decrease at about 25 centimeter below the surface. Base on their depositional characteristics, the surface sediments were 0.5 to 3 meters thick and overlay the coarse-grained sediments with varying amounts of biogenic material.

This article focuses on hydrocarbon balance of surface sediments in Turkey. Izmit Bay is a semi-enclosed basin; 49 km long, 2-10 km wide with a surface area of 310 square km. It is separated into three morphologic regions; western, central and eastern sub-basins with water depths of 200, 180 and 35 m, respectively. Active tectonism affects the actual basin-fill deposits. The region is important with its seaports, oil terminals, urban centers and industries located along shore. The intensive anthropogenic activity leads to the introduction of contaminants and the possibility of polluting the bay.

This article discusses various issues related to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) contamination sources in the sediments of the Strait of Istanbul, Turkey, and presents a study in this regard. Pollution occurring in the Strait of Istanbul is due to mass traffic and can be examined under two topics; air pollution caused by funnel gasses of vessels and marine pollution. Pollution deriving from marine traffic in the strait is much more important. The purpose of this study is determine some of the PAHs origin and the levels of them in the sediments of the Strait of Istanbul and to compare these sources with hydrocarbons in sediment samples from the region.

The article presents information on the effects of the eastern Marmara Earthquake on marine structures and coastal areas. The eastern Marmara earthquake occurred on August 17, 1999 and struck the Izmit Bay and eastern Marmara Sea region, north-west Turkey. The effects of the earthquake, including the severity of damage, service losses, and environmental impact at petrochemical facilities, were severe and extensive. The nature of soil and the interactions between structure and ground during the earthquake are very important contributors to the severity of damage. The heavy damage to coastal structures such as refineries, petrochemical plants and ports deserves special attention.

Background: Intravenous lipid emulsions stabilized with phospholipids have been an attractive alternative as vehicles for drug delivery, particularly for the parenteral administration of drugs with solubility problems. Methods: Naproxen (a poorly aqueous soluble non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent) emulsions were formulated with different types of emulsifiers (soybean lecithin, synperonic PEF-127 and a 50:50 mixture of these). The stability of the various emulsion systems was evaluated at different temperatures (4, 25 and 40 °C) for a period of 6 months by measuring changes in pH, droplet size, viscosity and percentage oil separation. The percentage of naproxen incorporation and the degree of haemolysis induced by the different types of emulsion systems was also determined. Results: The emulsifier type showed a pronounced effect on the physicochemical properties of the emulsion systems, whereas storage temperature and time did not. Irrespective of emulsifier type, storage temperature and time, the percentage incorporation of naproxen in emulsions was between 80 and 100%. The degree of haemolysis induced by other emulsion components (dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and naproxen solution in DMSO) was about 10 times higher than that induced by emulsion systems. Conclusion: Choice of emulsifier is the most important factor in the stability of the naproxen emulsions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New Chirp seismic data collected from the northern margin of the Marmara Sea in June 2015 and previous Sparker seismic profiles recorded in 1999 suggest a change in tectonic regime in Messinian. New tectonic lineaments and fault segments were detected at offshore the Çekmece lagoons region that is located on one of the possible water corridors with the Paratethys. The faults only affect the older seismic unit (U1), which can be best outlined on the Chirp data. The E-W trending fault offshore Avcılar (OAF) borders the northern edge of a tightly folded sedimentary zone. The NNE-SSW trending fault, namely the Büyükçekmece Fault (BF), passing through the Büyükçekmece Bay, follows a buried valley. Its evolution must be related to the development of the Early Miocene – Early Pliocene Thrace-Eskişehir fault zone (TEFZ). BF and OAF indicate old tectonic activities in the region, which continued to the North Anatolian fault becoming the most dominant tectonic element in the region. The upper surface of the stratigraphic unit U1 and its terraces define the thickness of younger deposits (U2), which is thinner in the middle of the shelf. The morphology of the tightly folded zone controls those terraces, which correspond to the Bakırköy Formation and Kıraç member on land. The topmost parts of the terraces must have been eroded during sea level low-stands and cutting of the paleo-valleys. There is no evidence of any tectonic deformation or active fault in the younger seismic unit (U2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in which the authors criticize police violence and the use of tear gas against political protestors in Istanbul, Turkey between May 31 and June 26, 2013 and call for the Turkish government to recognize international law and provide medical care to protestors.

On the basis of gravity modelling on the southern Marmara Sea shelf and conventional multichannel seismic reflection data, the tectonic setting of the region was studied. The relation of the middle strand of the North Anatolian Fault Zone with the Thrace–Eskis¸ehir Fault Zone was examined. The southern Marmara Sea region was tectonically uplifted in the Late Pliocene. Gemlik Bay was developed during Late Pliocene–Early Pleistocene under the control of right lateral strike–slip faults along the middle strand of the North Anatolian Fault. The northwest trending Thrace–Eskis¸ehir Fault is the second important tectonic element in this evolution. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The westward propagation of the seismic ruptures along the North Anatolian Fault (NAF) during the 20th century has increased the probability that the next rupture will be located offshore, in the Marmara Sea, in the prolongation of the 1999 Izmit earthquake faulting. Historical tsunamis have been evidenced in the Marmara Sea, e.g., those associated with the 1509, May 1766 strong earthquakes that broke submarine parts of the NAF, in the vicinity of Istanbul, and future submarine events are expected to produce tsunamis as well that could be triggered either by submarine coseismic displacements or by landsliding. The assessment of their amplitude and extent of their effects is discussed in this paper through numerical modeling based on both earthquake and landsliding sources. We use a finite difference method that yields the maximum water levels reached in the Marmara Sea and the effects (run-up values) around the coasts of Istanbul, using a set of three nested bathymetric grids with a decreasing cell size to focus on Istanbul. First, we consider probable earthquake sources along the northern branch of the emerged NAF, namely, in the eastern (Çinarcik Basin; magnitude Mw 7.2), in the western (Tekirdag and Central Basins; magnitude Mw 7.5) and along the whole branch (magnitude Mw 7.6). The impact obtained in Istanbul is all the more important as a normal component in the Eastern Basin is present, and maximum water levels can reach 2 m along the shoreline, provoking locally significant inundations. These results show that the historical tsunami observations around Istanbul (1509, May 1766), provided they are directly due to earthquake sources, imply a significant normal component in the Eastern Basin whatever the extent of the rupture westward. Conversely, a source located in the Western and/or Central Basin does not provoke large waves in Istanbul (e.g., August 1766 most probably). Finally, we test three landslide sources in the southern vicinity of Istanbul and show that the damage is expected to be larger than in the case of earthquake sources for moderate to large volumes involved. This kind of source, in addition to the coseismic deformation, could therefore be a good candidate to explain the historical waves in Istanbul, especially in 1509 where run-up values as high as 6 m have been reported, provided we are confident in the historical documents available. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]