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This paper examines the factors that determine farmers' intention to improve animal waste storage facilities using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). The model was tested using Structural Equation Modelling. Data were collected from 376 small and medium livestock farmers in Turkey. The results showed farmers' intention to improve waste facilities was primarily determined by their attitudes. Subjective norms (SN) and perceived behavioral control (PBC) were almost equally influential. Multiple-Group Analysis determined the effects of control variables. The attitude of less-educated farmers, who owned more extensive livestock operations and relied solely on income from livestock, had a significant and positive effect on the intention to improve farm waste management. SN and PBC were significant determinants of the behavior of farmers' who were more educated, had more prominent families, and employed higher-paid labor. The results will help central and local governments, industry investors, and growers' associations understand farmers' attitudes toward waste storage issues and develop more effective strategies to ensure environmental sustainability and better use of investment and training opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transient electric polarization in single crystalline SrTiO3 (STO) substrates was studied by measuring the transmission of surface acoustic waves (SAWs). We applied a large dc electric field (8 × 106 Vm−1) to interdigital transducers (IDTs) on STO substrates in order to induce local piezoelectricity, which is required to generate and transmit SAWs. The resulting electric polarization and the retention thereof were analyzed as a function of time after the applied electric field was removed, by measuring transient SAW signals. The retained polarization turned out to provide strong electromechanical coupling, comparable to that resulting from the dc-field-induced piezoelectricity. SAW signals were observed for more than 30 h (in absence of an external dc electric field), which is evidence for a long-lasting retention of electric polarization. Remarkably, this polarization was found to be rapidly suppressed as the sample was exposed to visible light. By measuring the transient SAW transmission under illumination with light at different wavelengths, we identified photoconductivity and/or acceleration of oxygen vacancy migration by photon-induced splitting of bound vacancy pairs as the main mechanisms behind this photoresponsive memory effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transient electric polarization in single crystalline SrTiO3 (STO) substrates was studied by measuring the transmission of surface acoustic waves (SAWs). We applied a large dc electric field (8 × 106 Vm−1) to interdigital transducers (IDTs) on STO substrates in order to induce local piezoelectricity, which is required to generate and transmit SAWs. The resulting electric polarization and the retention thereof were analyzed as a function of time after the applied electric field was removed, by measuring transient SAW signals. The retained polarization turned out to provide strong electromechanical coupling, comparable to that resulting from the dc-field-induced piezoelectricity. SAW signals were observed for more than 30 h (in absence of an external dc electric field), which is evidence for a long-lasting retention of electric polarization. Remarkably, this polarization was found to be rapidly suppressed as the sample was exposed to visible light. By measuring the transient SAW transmission under illumination with light at different wavelengths, we identified photoconductivity and/or acceleration of oxygen vacancy migration by photon-induced splitting of bound vacancy pairs as the main mechanisms behind this photoresponsive memory effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study effects of different processing technologies (drying, canning, and freezing) on morphological properties and chemical composition of wild grown edible mushroom Macrolepiota procera var. procera (Scop.) ( M. procera) were investigated. For this purpose before the analyses measured the weight, pileus width, stipe length, and stipe diameter (69.94 g, 118.26, 143.82 cm, and 13.60 mm, respectively) of clean mushrooms. After that moisture, ash, crude protein, fat, carbohydrate and energy values of fresh, dried, canned, and freezed wild edible mushrooms were investigated. Moisture, ash, crude protein, fat, and carbohydrate were 10.79-90.56, 0.37-37.92, 2.05-39.68, 0.70-4.23, 2.35-7.10% of dry weight, respectively. And energy value estimated 39.13-206.62 kcal (165.42-872.87 kJ). Practical Applications Wild edible mushrooms are not only an important nutritional source but also an important livelihood. Mushrooms have high amount of moisture content and fragile structure. Therefore, mushrooms are highly perishable. After harvest mushrooms lose their quality immediately. In view of these mushroom requires some treatment to prevent its deterioration. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of different processing methods (drying, canning, and freezing) on morphological properties (the pileus width, the stipe length, the stipe diameter, weight of the mushroom, and color measurement), chemical contents (moisture, ash, crude protein, fat), carbohydrate and energy values of wild edible mushroom Macrolepiota procera var. procera (Scop.) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seed oils ofCistus laurifolius, C. salviifolius, andC. creticuswere investigated for their fatty acids by employing capillary GC and capillary GC-MS. The results of this study indicated that palmitic, linoleic, linolenic, oleic, stearic, and behenic acids were found in all of these three seed oils of Turkish origin. In addition, an important polyunsaturated fatty acid, linoleic acid, was the major fatty acid in all of these oil samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, the evaluation of in vitro chymotrypsin and trypsin inhibitory activities of ten plant species collected from Rize were aimed, and fractions that showed strong activity were analyzed through HPLC. Daphne pontica L. and Mentha longifolia (L.) L. were found to have the highest chymotrypsin inhibitory activities (87.75 and 84.24 % inhibition). Similarly, the highest trypsin inhibitory activity was observed in D. pontica (%99.93 inhibition), followed by Sambucus ebulus L. flowers (87.47 % inhibition). Extracts showing strong enzyme inhibition were fractioned and subjected to activity tests. The highest chymotrypsin inhibitory activity was observed in the n-hexane fraction of D. pontica (%80.70 inhibition), while the highest trypsin inhibitory activity was found in the n-butanol fraction of S. ebulus (%86.81 inhibition). HPLC studies determined that the 80 % ethanol extract of D. pontica and its dichloromethane and ethyl acetate fractions contained umbelliferone. It was found that chlorogenic acid was present in the 80 % ethanol extracts of S. ebulus flowers. M. longifolia was found to contain chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, luteolin-7-glucoside, and rosmarinic acid. M. longifolia has been identified as the plant exhibiting the highest antioxidant activity in ABTS and CUPRAC tests, consistent with its high phenolic and flavonoid content., (© 2024 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic and apoptotic activities of ethanolic extracts prepared from the roots of 5 Ferulago species [ F. humilis Boiss., F. macrosciadia Boiss. & Balansa, F. sandrasica Peşmen & Quézel, F. silaifolia (Boiss.) Boiss., F. trojana Akalın & Pimenov] on various human cancer cell lines. The cytotoxicity analyses against human lung (A549), breast (MCF-7), prostate (PC3) and colon (SW480) cancer cell lines were determined by MTT test; while the apoptotic effect was evaluated by Annexin V binding assay. All studied extracts showed concentration-dependent cytotoxic activity with an IC 50 value ranging from 0.416 to 5.336 mg/mL. The studied Ferulago species significantly induced apoptosis of cancer cells, while F. macrosciadia had the highest apoptotic activity on MCF-7 cells with 21.79 ± 1.63% apoptotic cell population ( p  < 0.0001). In addition, felamedin and prantschimgin content of the extracts, which are common coumarins in Ferulago species, were evaluated by HPLC. According to HPLC analysis, the highest amount of felamedin content was found in F. trojana , while the highest content of prantschimgin was found in F. sandrasica among the studied Ferulago species. This preliminary research has revealed that the studied Ferulago species have promising effects on various cancer cell lines. Further studies are planned to determine the compounds responsible for the effect and underlying mechanism., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestOn behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest., (© King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology 2023, Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess lower extremity proprioception and investigate its relationship to activity and participation levels in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP)., Methods: A total of 22 children with USCP between the ages of 5 and 16 years participated in this study. Lower extremity proprioception was evaluated with a protocol that consisted of verbal and location identification, unilateral and contralateral limb matching, and static and dynamic balance tests performed with the impaired and less impaired lower extremities under eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions. Furthermore, the Functional Independence Measure (WeeFIM) and Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI) were used to evaluate the independence levels in daily living activities and participation levels., Results: Children demonstrated proprioceptive loss, as evidenced by an increase in matching errors under the eyes-closed condition compared to the eyes-open condition (p<0.05). Also, the impaired extremity had greater proprioceptive loss than the less impaired extremity (p<0.05). The 5-6-year age group experienced greater proprioceptive deficits than did the 7-11 and 12-16 age groups (p<0.05). Children's lower extremity proprioceptive deficit was moderately associated with their activity and participation levels (p<0.05)., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that treatment programs based on comprehensive assessments, including proprioception, may be more effective in these children., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare there are no competing interests that might be perceived as posing a conflict or bias., (Copyright © 2023 French Society of Pediatrics. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To perform the Turkish translation, reliability, and validity study of the PedsQLTM-3.0 Multidimensional Fatigue Scale (PedsQL-MFS) in patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)., Methods: This prospective, cross-sectional, observational study was held in Hacettepe University, Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation between January 2016-August 2018. Turkish translation of the PedsQL-MFS was conducted based on the steps addressed in the translation manual of the original research. The psychometric features of the Turkish version of PedsQL-MFS including feasibility, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability, construct, and criterion-related validity as well as parent/child agreement were investigated on a total of 71 children and their parents., Results: The mean age of boys with DMD included in the study was 102.94+/-23.23 months with a mean 17.15+/-2.98 BMI. Internal consistencies of Child Self Report General Fatigue, Sleep/rest Fatigue, and Cognitive Fatigue items were 0.74, 0.65, and 0.83 while, 0.89, 0.84, and 0.91 in Parent Proxy Report. The ICC values of Child Self Report and Parent Proxy Report were 0.87 and 0.91, respectively. Parent Proxy Report succeded more acceptable fit indices than Child Self Report. A statistically significant correlation was found between PedsQL-MFS and PedsQL-Neuromuscular Module (p<0.05). Moderate agreement was detected between parent and child., Conclusion: The Turkish version of PedsQL-MFS was determined to be a reliable and valid tool to evaluate fatigue in 5-12 years old, ambulant children with DMD.

In this study, antibacterial, antifungal, antihyaluronidase, anticollagenase and antielastase activity of Hypericum bithynicum, Malva neglecta, Morus alba, Rubus discolor, Sambucus ebulus and Smilax excelsa were investigated. Methanol extracts of M. neglecta and R. discolor and all extracts of H. bithynicum were more active against Staphylococcus epidermidis. Similarly, water extracts of M. alba and S. ebulus were more active against Streptococcus pneumonia. Additionally, S. ebulus and S. excelsa had prominent antifungal activity on Candida albicans. Besides, methanol extract of M. neglecta and n-hexane extract of H. bithynicum were determined to have significant anti-hyaluronidase activity. Only R. discolor showed significant anti-elastase effect.

The matricellular protein WISP1 is a member of the CCN protein family. It is induced by WNT1 and is a downstream target of β-catenin. WISP1 is expressed during embryonic development, wound healing and tissue repair. Aberrant WISP1 expression is associated with various pathologies including osteoarthritis, fibrosis and cancer. Its role in tumor progression and clinical outcome makes WISP1 an emerging candidate for the detection and treatment of tumors., (Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: The main cause of death of breast cancer patients is not the primary tumor itself but the metastatic disease. Identifying breast cancer-specific signatures for metastasis and learning more about the nature of the genes involved in the metastatic process would 1) improve our understanding of the mechanisms of cancer progression and 2) reveal new therapeutic targets. Previous studies showed that the transcriptional regulator megakaryoblastic leukemia-1 (Mkl1) induces tenascin-C expression in normal and transformed mammary epithelial cells. Tenascin-C is known to be expressed in metastatic niches, is highly induced in cancer stroma and promotes breast cancer metastasis to the lung., Methods: Using HC11 mammary epithelial cells overexpressing different Mkl1 constructs, we devised a subtractive transcript profiling screen to identify the mechanism by which Mkl1 induces a gene set co-regulated with tenascin-C. We performed computational analysis of the Mkl1 target genes and used cell biological experiments to confirm the effect of these gene products on cell behavior. To analyze whether this gene set is prognostic of accelerated cancer progression in human patients, we used the bioinformatics tool GOBO that allowed us to investigate a large breast tumor data set linked to patient data., Results: We discovered a breast cancer-specific set of genes including tenascin-C, which is regulated by Mkl1 in a SAP domain-dependent, serum response factor-independent manner and is strongly implicated in cell proliferation, cell motility and cancer. Downregulation of this set of transcripts by overexpression of Mkl1 lacking the SAP domain inhibited cell growth and cell migration. Many of these genes are direct Mkl1 targets since their promoter-reporter constructs were induced by Mkl1 in a SAP domain-dependent manner. Transcripts, most strongly reduced in the absence of the SAP domain were mechanoresponsive. Finally, expression of this gene set is associated with high-proliferative poor-outcome classes in human breast cancer and a strongly reduced survival rate for patients independent of tumor grade., Conclusions: This study highlights a crucial role for the transcriptional regulator Mkl1 and its SAP domain during breast cancer progression. We identified a novel gene set that correlates with bad prognosis and thus may help in deciding the rigor of therapy.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Sweetgum, Styrax liquidus (Turkish sweetgum) is a resinous exudate obtained from the wounded barks of Liquidambar orientalis Miller tree which belongs to Altingiaceae (Hamamelidaceae). The plant material has been used for the treatment of peptic ulcer symptoms in Turkish folk medicine since centuries. In order to evaluate the claimed activity, we studied the anti-ulcerogenic effect of Styrax liquidus by using an in vivo anti-ulcerogenic activity model and to determine the chemical composition of the balsam., Materials and Methods: Anti-ulcerogenic effects of the balsam "Styrax liquidus" itself and its fractions obtained by successive solvent extractions with chloroform and n-butanol, were investigated against the ethanol-induced peptic ulcer model in rats. The chloroform extract demonstrated a statistically significant gastroprotective effect. In addition, the chemical characterization of the volatiles obtained by microdistillation technique from the balsam and the sub-extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), respectively., Results: Pharmacological experiments have clearly demonstrated that 150 and 300mg/kg doses of Styrax liquidus given orally to rats showed significant gastric protection. On GC-MS analysis of the resin, overall, 31 compounds representing 99.8% of the total oil were identified where styrene (81.9%), cinnamyl alcohol (6.9%) and α-pinene (3.5%) were identified as the major components., Conclusion: Present study confirmed the anti-ulcerogenic activity of the local ethnobotanical usage of Styrax liquidus in Turkey., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To determine the population-based seroprevalence of varicella zoster virus (VZV) and related risk factors in Izmir., Materials and Methods: A population-based household survey was conducted. A representative sample of the population older than 15 years of age was selected using multistage random sampling. A total of 2136 healthy persons participated in this cross-sectional study. The participants completed a questionnaire designed to collect data related to socio-demographic characteristics and risk factors. Blood samples were collected, and VZV-specific IgG was measured using an ELISA., Results: In total, 94.3% of individuals were seropositive for VZV. The difference between VZV seroprevalence in urban and rural populations was significant (OR: 2.6 (95% CI, 1.7-3.8)). No statistically significant differences in seropositivity were observed with respect to other sociodemographic characteristics., Conclusion: A large proportion of the participants were found to be immune to VZV., (Copyright © 2012 King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Human papillomavirus virus (HPV) is the major causative factor for cervical cancer, and sex workers are at high risk for HPV infection. In this study, we aimed to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of HPV infection among female sex workers (FSWs)., Materials and Methods: The study included 239 brothel-based FSWs who work in Izmir, Turkey. A self-administered questionnaire for risk factors was completed, and cervical brush samples were taken for HPV detection and typing. HPV detection and typing were performed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse hybridization methods. The risk factors related to HPV infection were determined by multivariate analysis., Results: The prevalence of HPV among FSWs was 20.1%. HPV18 was the most common type (40%), followed by HPV16 (17%) and HPV50 (15%). Logistic regression analysis revealed that being less than 30 years of age, having a high frequency of sexual contacts, smoking, and lack of condom use were significantly associated with HPV infection., Conclusion: FSWs have a high prevalence of HPV infection and are at increased risk for cervical cancer. As they are a priority group for active follow-up, national strategies for reducing HPV among FSWs and regular cervical cancer screening programs should be implemented for this population.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The aerial parts of Equisetum palustre L. are used to treat peptic ulcer disease in Turkey. In a previous study, a flavonol diglucoside i.e., kaempferol 3-O-1''-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-3-O-1'''-beta-D-glucopyranoside (KGG) was isolated as the major antiulcerogenic constituent from the plant., Aim of the Study: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the antiulcer activity profile of KGG using various in vivo experimental ulcer models as well as by assessing gastric biochemical parameters., Material and Methods: KGG was obtained from the ethanol extract of the aerial parts of the plant by successive chromatographical methods. The activity profile of the compound was investigated using several ulcerogenesis models such as indomethacin-, indomethacin plus HCl/EtOH-, cysteamine-, serotonin-, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester plus EtOH-, diethyldithiocarbamate-, N-ethylmaleimide plus EtOH-, water immersion and restraint stress-, pyloric ligation-induced ulcers. In addition, effects of KGG on the biochemical parameters of gastric juice; i.e., inhibition of titratable gastric acidity, acid output, gastric pH, gastric secretion volume and peptic activity were studied., Results: KGG exerted statistically significant gastroprotective activity against indomethacin-, indomethacin plus HCl/EtOH- and N-ethylmaleimide plus EtOH-induced ulcerogenesis. Moreover, KGG demonstrated weak activity against N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester plus EtOH, water immersion and immobilization-induced stress, pyloric ligation-induced and diethyldithiocarbamate-induced gastric ulcer models, and also it was ineffective in the prevention of ulcers induced by serotonin and cysteamine. On the other hand, among the gastric biochemical parameters studied, KGG was only found to increase the gastric acid pH from 2.03 to 3.35., Conclusion: Results of this investigation have clearly demonstrated that KGG was found to improve the cytoprotective mechanisms of the gastric mucosa. On the other hand, a weak activity profile was observed on the parameters affecting the gastric acidity (water immersion and restraint-induced-, pyloric ligation-induced-ulcerogenesis and titratable acidity)., ((c) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The aerial parts of Eqiusetum palustre L. is used to treat peptic ulcer in Karaman, Turkey., Aim of the Study: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the in vivo gastroprotective potential and structure elucidation of the active constituent(s) through bioassay-guided fractionation procedures by using ethanol (EtOH)-induced ulcerogenesis model in rats., Material and Methods: The 80% ethanol extract of the aerial parts was subjected to subsequent separation procedures such as solvent-solvent partition and column chromatography through bioassay-guided fractionation techniques to isolate the active anti-ulcer component(s) by using the EtOH-induced ulcer model in rats. The ulcer index was used to evaluate and to calculate the gastroprotection percentage., Results: The subextracts, n-butanol and remaining H2O, of Equisetum palustre showed potent in vivo gastroprotective activity. Bioassay-guided fractionation has revealed that a flavonol diglucoside, was isolated as an active constituent from the n-BuOH subextract of Equisetum palustre. Structure elucidation by standard spectroscopic techniques (1H NMR, 13C NMR and DEPT, etc.) revealed that this compound as kaempferol-3-O-1''-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-3-O-1'''-beta-D-glucopyranoside, which provided remarkable protection at 250 and 500 mg/kg doses (69.5 and 98.5% ulcer inhibition, respectively) against ethanol-induced gastric lesions., Conclusion: Experimental data confirmed the ethnobotanical usage of Equisetum palustre, with scientific evidence, in Turkey. Additionally, kaempferol-3-O-1''-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-3-O-1'''-beta-D-glucopyranoside, a known compound, was defined as an anti-ulcerogenic compound in the present work for the first time.

Viscum album L. ssp. album and Hypericum perforatum L. are used for the treatment of different diseases. In this study, the effects of these herbals on immune cells were assessed in vitro. The phagocytosis, candidacidal activity of neutrophils and adhesion function of epithelial cells were investigated. Also, the expression of the surface markers of lymphocytes was analyzed by flow cytometry. It was observed that V. album ssp. album increased phagocytic activity and candidacidal activity of neutrophils and decreased adhesion function of epithelial cells. We also observed that in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated by Viscum album L. ssp. album the levels of CD4(+)CD25(+) and CD8(+)CD25(+) T cells, CD69 expressions in the activated T lymphocytes and CD3(-)CD16(+)CD56(+) NK cells increased compared to the cells that were not stimulated by this herbal. Whereas CD4(+)CD25(+), CD8(+)CD25(+) T cells, CD 69 expression and CD3(-)CD16(+)CD56(+) Natural killer cells did not show any significant differences with the presence of Hypericum perforatum L. compared to the control group. Hypericum perforatum L. increased candidacidal activity of neutrophils and decreased adhesion function of epithelial cells. In the light of these findings, it is considered that these extracts may be used as an adjuvant treatment option for immune activation in immunosuppressed patients.

Four lignan type compounds, lariciresinol, taxiresinol, isolariciresinol and 3-demethyl-iso-lariciresinol, were isolated from the heartwood of Taxus baccata L. (Taxaceae) growing in Turkey through chromatographic techniques. In vivo anti-ulcerogenic potency of these compounds was investigated on ethanol-induced ulcerogenesis model in rats at two different doses, 50 and 100 mg/kg. All compounds were shown to possess significant anti-ulcerogenic activity at both doses. However, the effect of taxiresinol was the most prominent.