Sürdürülebilir Kalkınma Amaçları

Yazarlar

  • MakaleAçık Erişim2026Scopus SJRQ1
    Modulation of SIRT1/PPARγ pathways and tight junction proteins by nicotinamide riboside under chronic variable stress

    Celik, Abdullah; Sahin, Nurhan; Orhan, Cemal; Er, Besir; Erten, Fusun; Ozmen, Busra; Tuzcu, Mehmet; Ozercan, Ibrahim Hanifi; Sahin, Kazim

    Abstract: Chronic stress disrupts homeostasis, leading to major health problems such as liver damage, intestinal barrier dysfunction, and impaired glucose metabolism. Although current treatments, including anxiolytics, sedatives, antidepressants, and beta blockers, are effective, their adverse effects emphasize the need for safer alternatives. Nicotinamide riboside (NR), a precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), plays a central role in energy metabolism and oxidative stress regulation; elevated NAD + levels have been associated with reduced risk of chronic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. However, the effects of NR on liver metabolism, intestinal barrier integrity, and related protein pathways remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of NR supplementation in rats exposed to chronic variable stress (CVS). Fifty-six male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into normal and CVS groups and treated in a 2 × 4 factorial design with 0, 150, 300, or 600 mg/kg NR. Under CVS conditions, serum glucose, corticosterone, ACTH, and insulin levels increased, whereas NAD+, NADPH, nicotinamide (NAM), and nicotinic acid (NA) decreased significantly (p < 0.001). NR supplementation effectively corrected these biochemical imbalances and upregulated hepatic markers, including PPARγ, SIRT1, GLUT2, IRS1, and FASN (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the increased expression of key transport proteins such as PepT1, LAT2, EAAT3, FABP2, and FATP4 contributed to maintaining intestinal barrier integrity and improving gut health. NR also promoted the recovery of tight and adherens junction proteins. Notably, high-dose NR (600 mg/kg) markedly alleviated liver fibrosis, improved glucose metabolism, and strengthened intestinal barrier function, demonstrating its therapeutic potential as an alternative strategy against stress-induced metabolic disorders. Key points: • NR mitigated chronic stress-induced liver, intestinal, and glucose dysregulation. • NR improved glycemia and NAD⁺-related biomarkers under stress. • NR reduced hepatic fibrosis markers. • NR strengthened TJ/AJ proteins, supporting intestinal barrier integrity. • Findings support NR’s therapeutic potential in stress-related metabolism.

    • SDG 3 · Sağlık ve Kaliteli Yaşam
  • MakaleYalnız künye2026Scopus SJRQ1
    Psychological well-being and aggression in handball players: examining the mediating role of exercise addiction

    Güler, Muhammed; Yeşiltepe, Akgün; Topcuoğlu, Ceyhun

    Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship between psychological well-being and aggression among handball players and to determine whether exercise addiction mediates this relationship. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional, and correlational design was used. The population consisted of players competing in the Turkish Handball Leagues during the 2024–2025 season, and 442 athletes participated using a non-probability sampling method. Data were collected via an online survey including a personal information form, the Psychological Well-Being Scale, the Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire, and the Exercise Addiction Inventory. Results: Psychological well-being showed a significant negative correlation with aggression (r = −0.242, p < 0.001). Exercise addiction was positively associated with both psychological well-being (r = 0.212, p < 0.001) and aggression (r = 0.105, p = 0.027). Mediation analysis indicated that exercise addiction significantly and partially mediated the relationship between psychological well-being and aggression (indirect effect 95% CI: 0.0246–0.1654). The direct effect of psychological well-being on aggression remained significant (β = −0.7093, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Higher psychological well-being was associated with lower aggression among handball players, whereas exercise addiction was associated with both higher psychological well-being and higher aggression and emerged as a partial statistical mediator of this relationship. These findings may help inform future studies and preventive strategies focusing on athlete mental health and behavioral regulation. However, because of the cross-sectional design, causal inferences cannot be drawn.

    • SDG 3 · Sağlık ve Kaliteli Yaşam
  • MakaleAçık Erişim2026Scopus SJRQ4
    Petrography, geochemistry and formation of the Sarıçimen (Van, eastern Türkiye) Fe-Ni-Co laterite deposit

    Çimen, Okay

    The Sarıçimen Fe-Ni laterite deposit is located in eastern Türkiye (Van province) and represents one of the important Ni and Co-enriched lateritic mineralizations formed in the ophiolitic occurences. This study aims to decipher the petrographic and geochemical signatures of the laterite horizon in order to better figure out the processes controlling Fe-Ni-Co mineralization and the genesis of the deposit. In this study, field and petrographic observations, and whole-rock geochemical data have been used to characterize the mineralogical and geochemical evolution of the lateritic horizon. Petrographic studies indicate that the protolith of the laterite zone is mostly composed of serpentinized ultramafic rocks including relics of Cr-spinel and chromite grains. This lateritic zone is characterized by hematite-and magnetite-rich zones formed above saprolitic levels that may have been derived from the weathering of ultramafic parent rocks. Whole rock geochemical analyses indicate that Fe₂O₃ and SiO₂ are the dominant oxides, and Ni concentrations vary between 0.33 and 1.01 wt.%. Also, Co values are ranging between 330 ppm and 600 ppm in the laterite samples investigated here. More importantly, correlation analyses exhibit a positive relationship between Ni and Fe₂O₃ and this may be attributed to a close association with Fe-oxide minerals during the lateritization. In contrast, a negative correlation between Ni and SiO₂ may indicate the presence of silica depletion during chemical weathering. The geochemical trends investigated here reveal that the laterite zone developed through intense lateritic weathering of ultramafic rocks, which is characterized by the removal of relatively mobile elements such as Si and Ca and the residual enrichment of Fe, Ni, and Co. The presence of Cr-spinel relics once again confirms the ultramafic origin of the parental rocks. Overall, the Sarıçimen deposit represents a Fe-Ni-Co laterite derived from nearby ultramafic sources within the ophiolitic sequence. The occurrence of Fe-Ni-Co laterite deposits at both the southwestern and northeastern segments of the Southern Neotethys Suture Zone suggests that this tectonic belt may represent a promising metallogenic area for lateritic Fe-Ni-Co mineralization in the southern Türkiye.

  • MakaleYalnız künye2026Scopus SJRQ2
    An Innovative Thermal Management Approach Enhanced by Thermoelectric Stations and Turbulators for Lithium-Ion Batteries

    Tuğan, Volkan; Yardımcı, Uğurcan

    The design of an effective battery thermal management system is critical to ensure the safe, efficient, and long-lasting operation of lithium-ion batteries. Excessive heat generation and temperature non-uniformity among cells in high energy density battery systems lead to performance degradation, accelerated aging, and an increased risk of thermal runaway. Although liquid-cooled systems and thermoelectric module-assisted solutions have been extensively investigated separately in the literature, studies that holistically evaluate multiple thermoelectric stations combined with an innovative flow channel design and turbulator integration remain limited. This gap constitutes a significant research need, particularly in terms of improving temperature uniformity and reducing maximum cell temperature. In this study, to address this research gap, a novel liquid-cooled battery thermal management system integrating thermoelectric coolers and turbulators within the flow channel is proposed. The thermal performance of the proposed system was systematically analyzed using computational fluid dynamics under three different configurations (conventional system, thermoelectric-assisted system, and turbulator-integrated thermoelectric-assisted system) and four different mass flow rates (0.0008, 0.0013, 0.0018, and 0.0023 kg/s). The results indicate that, at a mass flow rate of 0.0023 kg/s, the integration of thermoelectric coolers and turbulators reduces the maximum battery temperature by 8.95 K and the maximum temperature difference by 6.83 K. At the highest mass flow rate, the proposed system achieves a maximum battery temperature of 306 K and a maximum temperature difference of 4.5 K, ensuring both effective cooling performance and high temperature uniformity. Overall, the results in terms of cooling performance and temperature uniformity demonstrate that the combination of thermoelectric modules and turbulators offers significant potential for advanced battery thermal management system applications and offers an effective solution for high-energy-density systems.

    • SDG 7 · Erişilebilir ve Temiz Enerji
    • SDG 9 · Sanayi, Yenilikçilik ve Altyapı
  • MakaleAçık Erişim2026Scopus SJRQ2
    Translation-Aware Multilingual Sentiment Analysis: A Comparative Study of Machine Translation Systems and Transformer Ensembles

    Aslan, Serpil; Kartoğlu, Celal Şamil; Can, Ümit

    Multilingual sentiment analysis remains challenging because of cross-linguistic differences, uneven data availability, and potential shifts in meaning introduced during translation. Rather than proposing a new model, this study examines the performance of translation-based pipelines and ensemble Transformer models in multilingual settings. The primary objective is to investigate differences in downstream sentiment classification performance between translation systems within a consistent evaluation framework. Texts in Arabic, Chinese, French, and Italian are standardized through label harmonization and basic preprocessing and subsequently translated into English using Google Translate and the open-source LibreTranslate. Sentiment classification is performed using three Transformer-based models: DeBERTa-v3, RoBERTa, and BERTweet. The experiments are formulated as a binary polarity-classification task comprising positive and negative instances, with neutral samples excluded because their annotations are not directly comparable across the heterogeneous source datasets. Predictions from the individual models are combined through majority voting without introducing a new ensemble method. Experiments on the resulting binary datasets demonstrate that the ensemble achieves the highest mean weighted F1-score, with low fold-to-fold variation under both translation pipelines. Google Translate yields higher and more consistent classification performance across the evaluated subsets, whereas LibreTranslate exhibits greater variation. Given that the datasets differ in domain and genre, these variations cannot be attributed solely to linguistic differences. Overall, the findings reveal differences in downstream sentiment classification performance between the two translation pipelines and indicate that the ensemble combines high mean performance with low fold-to-fold variation within the evaluated binary setting.

  • MakaleAçık Erişim2026Scopus SJRQ2
    Reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the pain attention and awareness questionnaire for nonspecific musculoskeletal pain

    Sürmeli, Mahmut; Özdemir, Özlem Çinar; Topcuoğlu, Ceyhun

    Background: Reliable and valid assessments of pain vigilance and awareness are crucial for understanding and treating pain within cognitive-behavioral frameworks, such as the fear-Avoidance Model. While the Pain Vigilance and Awareness Questionnaire (PVAQ) is a widely used tool for this purpose, no culturally adapted and validated version exists for the Turkish-speaking population, creating an instrumental and clinical gap. Objective: This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and comprehensively evaluate the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the PVAQ in a sample of patients with nonspecific musculoskeletal pain. Methods: An instrumental, cross-sectional study was conducted. The PVAQ was translated and adapted into Turkish according to established guidelines. A sample of 131 patients with low back, neck, or shoulder pain completed the PVAQ-T, the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and a visual analog scale (VAS) for pain intensity. Reliability was assessed via internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient - ICC). Construct validity was examined via exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Criterion validity was evaluated through Pearson correlations with the PCS, TSK, and HADS. Results: The PVAQ-T demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.83) and good test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.918). EFA supported a two-factor structure (vigilance and awareness), explaining 62.3% of the variance. CFA indicated that the original 16-item model had a suboptimal fit (CFI = 0.807; GFI = 0.732; SRMR = 0.060; RMSEA = 0.138, and χ²/df = 3.46). Following the removal of items 4 and 12 based on exploratory and item-level findings, some fit indices showed modest improvement (CFI = 0.836; GFI = 0.768; SRMR = 0.006), whereas others remained unchanged or worsened (RMSEA = 0.144; χ²/df = 3.69). The PVAQ-T total score showed moderately to strongly, statistically significant (p < 0.001) correlations with the PCS (r = 0.681), TSK (r = 0.694), HADS-Anxiety (r = 0.491), and HADS-Depression (r = 0.416) scores, supporting its criterion validity. Conclusion: Within a Turkish sample of individuals with nonspecific musculoskeletal pain, the 14-item Turkish version of the PVAQ demonstrates adequate reliability and validity for assessing pain-related attention and awareness. While the two-factor structure was supported at the exploratory level, confirmatory findings suggest that results should be interpreted with caution. The PVAQ-TR may be a useful instrument for research and clinical assessment of pain-related attentional processes, highlighting the importance of cultural adaptation and empirical evaluation of psychometric instruments.

    • SDG 3 · Sağlık ve Kaliteli Yaşam
  • MakaleAçık Erişim2026Scopus SJRQ2
    Multifunctional PLA/PHA-Based films incorporating Moluccella spinosa extract for sustainable and antimicrobial food packaging applications

    Selcuk Pekdemir, Sibel; Gurler, Nedim; Yilmaz Sancar, Pelin; Karagulle, Burcu; Kok, Mediha; Pekdemir, Mustafa Ersin; Qader, Ibrahim Nazem

    In this study, a novel plant-based shape memory biocomposite was developed for sustainable food packaging applications. A poly(lactic acid)/poly(hydroxyalkanoate) (PLA/PHA) blend was reinforced with the ethanolic extract of Moluccella spinosa, a plant recognized for its bioactive constituents. Structural and thermal analyses confirmed the successful incorporation of the extract without compromising the polymer matrix integrity. The results demonstrated improved barrier performance, characterized by lower water vapor permeability, reduced moisture content, and slightly increased opacity with increasing concentrations of M. spinosa extract. In addition, the composite films exhibited enhanced shape memory behavior, which became more pronounced at higher extract concentrations. Antimicrobial assays revealed a limited and selective inhibitory effect, primarily against Gram-positive bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis and Clostridium perfringens), while no notable activity was observed against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. These findings indicate a preliminary antimicrobial potential, likely associated with a sustained-release mechanism rather than strong bactericidal activity. Overall, the integration of M. spinosa extract into the PLA/PHA matrix offers a promising route to design multifunctional, biodegradable packaging materials with shape memory capability, where antimicrobial functionality serves as a complementary feature, contributing to the advancement of environmentally friendly and active food packaging technologies.

    • SDG 12 · Sorumlu Üretim ve Tüketim
  • MakaleAçık Erişim2026Scopus SJRQ1
    Technology Acceptance in Sustainable Distance Education

    Akti Aslan, Seda; Çekmez, Erdem; Ayaz, Ahmet; Özyurt, Özcan; Aslan, Alper

    This study aims to examine the thematic structure and temporal evolution of the literature on technology acceptance in distance education using the Structural Topic Modeling method. Peer-reviewed articles indexed in the Scopus database between 2016 and 2025 were included in the analysis, yielding 18 consistent thematic clusters. Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) Core Constructs and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)/Partial Least Squares (PLS) Methodology emerged as the most prevalent themes, reflecting the field’s sustained reliance on quantitative model-testing approaches. Trend analyses revealed a pronounced decline in TAM Core Constructs, while Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and Extensions, Hybrid and Emergency Remote Teaching, and Mobile and AI Applications demonstrated significant upward trends. The period comparison showed that pandemic-related themes became markedly prominent in the 2021–2025 period. Topic correlation analysis indicated the presence of competing temporal niches within the literature. Taken together, the findings suggest that research on technology acceptance in distance education is undergoing a structural transition from single-framework TAM dominance toward a multi-model, context-sensitive research paradigm. These findings carry important implications for the sustainable development of technology-enhanced distance education ecosystems and offer evidence-based guidance for researchers and policymakers committed to building inclusive and adaptive educational systems.

    • SDG 4 · Nitelikli Eğitim
  • MakaleAçık Erişim2026Scopus SJRQ1
    Real-time photovoltaic voltage data-driven dynamic green s-box generation framework for smart grid security

    Aydın, Yılmaz; Garipcan, Ali Murat; Özkaynak, Fatih

    In this study, a dynamic substitution box (s-box) generation method is proposed using real-time voltage data obtained from photovoltaic (PV) panels as an environmentally sensitive entropy source. These data, affected by environmental conditions such as solar radiation and temperature, exhibit irregular and unpredictable temporal behavior, offering strong potential for cryptographic randomness generation. In this context, the 0–1 test, Kolmogorov Entropy (KE), scale-index analysis, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) SP 800-22 test suite are applied to PV voltage data collected at 1-minute intervals, experimentally confirming their chaotic dynamics and high-entropy characteristics. Following appropriate preprocessing and nonlinear mathematical transformations, the validated data are utilized to generate 8-bit s-box structures. The cryptographic strength of the generated s-boxes is quantitatively evaluated using standard security metrics, including nonlinearity (NL), Differential Probability (DP), Linear Probability (LP), Strict Avalanche Criterion (SAC), and Bit Independence Criterion (BIC). The findings reveal that PV data can serve as a functional resource not only for energy monitoring but also for randomness-based cryptographic construction. This approach enables lightweight cryptographic solutions for resource-constrained edge devices requiring <1 KB of memory and supports context-aware data security in renewable energy infrastructures.

    • SDG 7 · Erişilebilir ve Temiz Enerji
    • SDG 9 · Sanayi, Yenilikçilik ve Altyapı
  • MakaleAçık Erişim2026Scopus SJRQ1
    The relationship between empathy levels of obstetrics and gynecology specialists and their attitudes toward posthumous organ donation

    ÖZBEY, Gürkan; YEŞİLTEPE, Akgün; Dokuzcan, Deniz Aslı

    Empathy is recognized as a critical factor in shaping attitudes toward organ donation among healthcare professionals. Given the continuous patient interaction and decision-making roles of obstetrics and gynecology specialists, the limited number of studies examining the link between empathy levels and attitudes toward postmortem organ donation represents a significant gap in literature. This study aims to investigate the relationship between empathy levels and attitudes toward postmortem organ donation among obstetrics and gynecology specialists. This correlational cross-sectional study included 142 obstetrics and gynecology specialists. Data were collected via Google Forms using a personal information form, the Toronto Empathy Questionnaire, and the Attitude toward Posthumous Organ Donation for Transplantation Scale. Analyses were conducted using SPSS 26 and JASP 0.19, including the Spearman’s correlation, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, and Machine Learning-Random Forest regression analysis methods. 93% of the participants stated that their empathy levels influenced organ donation decisions, and 74.6% reported considering organ donation. Their mean TEQ score was 56.25 ± 7.51, while their mean APODS score was 4.37 ± 0.57. A statistically significant moderate positive correlation was found between empathy and general attitudes toward postmortem organ donation (r = 0.428, p < 0.05). Statistically significant, weak-to-moderate positive correlations were also found between empathy levels and the APODS Positive Attitudes dimension (r = 0.373 p < 0.01), Religion dimension (r = 0.266, p < 0.01), and Family Approval dimension (r = 0.352, p < 0.01) scores of the participants. Significant differences were observed in empathy scores based on gender, empathy levels, and organ donation consideration status (p < 0.05). Attitudes toward posthumous organ donation also varied significantly by empathy levels, donation consideration status, ethical/humanitarian perception of donation, and religious influence (p < 0.05). In the exploratory Random Forest model, attitudes toward organ donation had the highest relative contribution to model performance. Obstetrics and gynecology specialists exhibit moderate empathy levels and highly positive attitudes toward posthumous organ donation. Higher empathy scores were associated with more favorable attitudes toward organ donation among obstetrics and gynecology physicians. Interventions addressing empathy and donation awareness may be valuable, but their effects on attitudes and donation-related behavior should be tested in longitudinal and interventional studies.

    • SDG 3 · Sağlık ve Kaliteli Yaşam
  • MakaleAçık Erişim2026Scopus SJRQ1
    Comparative effects of topical Maresin-1 and cyclosporine A in a capsaicin-induced rat model of neurotrophic keratopathy

    Canan Sezis, Selen; Güngör Kobat, Sabiha; Kuloğlu, Tuncay; İlhan, Nevin; Erten, Füsun

    Purpose: To evaluate and compare the effects of topical Maresin-1 (MaR1) and cyclosporine A (CsA) in a capsaicin-induced rat model of neurotrophic keratopathy (NK). Methods: A total of 40 Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated to five groups (n = 8 per group): Control, NK, NK + Vehicle, NK + CsA (0.05%), and NK + MaR1. Except for the Control group, all animals received a single subcutaneous injection of capsaicin (50 mg/kg) on postnatal day 2. Topical treatments were applied twice daily for 14 days. Corneal TrkA, TNF-α, and Caspase-3 expression were assessed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Results: Both treatment groups significantly restored TrkA expression and reduced TNF-α and Caspase-3 relative to NK + Vehicle (p < 0.05 for all). CsA produced greater suppression of TNF-α than MaR1 (p < 0.001), whereas MaR1 demonstrated greater reduction in Caspase-3 than CsA (p = 0.013), with no significant difference between groups for TrkA (p = 0.054). Conclusion: Both MaR1 and CsA significantly attenuated the neurotrophic, inflammatory, and apoptotic changes associated with experimental NK. The distinct efficacy profiles of the two agents suggest complementary mechanisms of action and warrant further investigation of MaR1 in neurotrophic keratopathy.

    • SDG 3 · Sağlık ve Kaliteli Yaşam
  • MakaleAçık Erişim2026Scopus SJRQ1
    Knowledge Rent, Intangible Capital, and Core–Periphery Dynamics: Theory and Evidence

    Ateş-Saygılı, Çiğdem

    We study how ownership and pricing of intangible assets generate asymmetric macroeconomic dynamics between a core and a periphery. We develop a two-country dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model in which production uses tangible capital, domestically owned intangible capital, and rented foreign intangible services; the periphery pays a knowledge rent flow to the core, which acts as a wedge in its accumulation equation. Calibrated to observed income shares and depreciation patterns, the model yields sharp qualitative predictions. Following a positive technology shock in the core, core output jumps and consumption and labor rise persistently, while the periphery sees only modest output gains and slower capital build-up; a positive technology shock in the periphery can even reduce its output as rent payments drain resources, with only small, transitory effects in the core. A tighter repayment schedule modestly lifts core activity–mainly via consumption–while acting as a negative wealth shock in the periphery that lowers output, labor, and consumption. Sensitivity analyses–varying the periphery's intangible share and reliance on rented knowledge–preserve these qualitative rankings. Complementary evidence from OECD panels (2000–2019) using PVARs and state-dependent local projections shows that cross-border payments for the use of intellectual property co-move with financing conditions and macroeconomic dynamics, consistent with the model's mechanism. Policy implications include building domestic intangible capacity, easing diffusion at fair terms, and leveraging multilateral tools to reduce effective rent exposure in the periphery.

    • SDG 8 · İnsana Yakışır İş ve Ekonomik Büyüme
  • MakaleAçık Erişim2026Scopus SJRQ4
    Sustainable land management under uncertainty: A hybrid Bayesian BWM and RPM framework for spatial prioritization

    Konurhan, Zekeriya

    Sustainable land management is a complex problem due to environmental constraints and decision-maker uncertainty. This study presents an integrated solution combining Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the Bayesian Best-Worst Method (Bayesian BWM), and the Ratio Product Model (RPM) to improve the accuracy of spatial prioritization in land-use decisions. The integration of the Bayesian BWM and RPM statistically minimizes the cognitive uncertainty in expert opinions whilst enabling the most suitable areas to be ranked with precision within their own categories, without any normalization constraints. The proposed model was developed for three main categories —residential, industrial, and agricultural— in the province of Balıkesir. The analysis results revealed that the ‘ease of access to services’ (0.5660) criterion was the most decisive factor for residential suitability, whilst ‘distance to power transmission lines’ (0.1322) and ‘average rainfall’ (0.1315) were the most decisive factors for industry and agriculture, respectively. The suitability maps show that the Bandırma-Susurluk corridor is strategically prioritized for industry, whilst the Manyas-Gönen basin is prioritized for agricultural production. RPM scores (0.2750 for settlement, 0.6036 for industry, and 0.3868 for agriculture) quantify implementation priorities, providing a reliable decision-support tool for managing uncertainty in spatial planning.

    • SDG 9 · Sanayi, Yenilikçilik ve Altyapı
    • SDG 11 · Sürdürülebilir Şehirler ve Topluluklar
    • SDG 15 · Karasal Yaşam
  • MakaleYalnız künye2026Scopus SJRQ3
    Rényi holographic dark energy-inspired model and scalar field reconstruction in bianchi type III spacetime

    Korunur, Murat; Korunur, Sibel

    In this study, we consider a cosmological model based on Rényi holographic dark energy within the context of an anisotropic Bianchi type III spacetime geometry. The dark energy density is taken as a modified function of the Hubble parameter, which enables us to express the Einstein field equations in a closed dynamical system. By solving these equations, we obtain the evolution of the Hubble parameter and examine the main cosmological implications of the model. The physical behavior of the universe is discussed through the analysis of the equation-of-state parameter as well as the deceleration parameter. Our results indicate that the universe evolves from an initial decelerated expansion phase toward a late-time accelerated regime. In the asymptotic limit, the model tends to a de Sitter phase, suggesting the presence of a stable attractor configuration. In addition, we reconstruct the dark energy component in terms of different scalar field frameworks, namely quintessence, tachyon, and k-essence models. The associated scalar fields and their potentials are derived and numerically investigated. The obtained results show a coherent late-time behavior, which is in agreement with the observed accelerated expansion of the universe. The small value of the mean anisotropy parameter indicates that this evolution occurs within a quasi-isotropic Bianchi type III background.

  • MakaleAçık Erişim2026Scopus SJRQ2
    Sustainable epoxy based biocomposites reinforced with Melilotus officinalis: Structural, mechanical, thermal, and dielectric performance evaluation

    Solmaz, Adnan; Açar, Mikail; Demirel, Maruf Hurşit; Deniz, Şermin; Aydoğmuş, Ercan

    The aim of this study is to investigate the manufacturability of Melilotus officinalis (L.) reinforced epoxy biocomposites as a renewable biofiller and to characterize the mechanical, thermal, and dielectric properties of these materials. For this purpose, composites containing biomass at 0, 3, 6, and 9 wt.% were prepared; the samples were examined by tensile testing, FTIR, SEM, EDX, XRD, Shore D hardness, thermal conductivity, and dielectric analysis. The findings showed that with increasing M. officinalis content, tensile strength, hardness, and density decreased, while ductility and elongation at break improved. The significant decrease in thermal conductivity revealed an increase in heat insulation efficiency. Dielectric analyses showed that strong interfacial polarization occurred at low frequencies, and the dielectric constant and loss values ​​decreased as the frequency increased. SEM examinations confirmed that the plant-derived filler was homogeneously distributed and formed acceptable interfacial adhesion with the matrix. In conclusion, although the use of synthetic epoxy matrix and the decrease in mechanical strength limit load-bearing structural applications, M. officinalis is a promising biofiller for lightweight and partially bio-based epoxy composites thanks to its increased ductility and improved thermal insulation properties. © The Author(s) 2026. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).

    • SDG 12 · Sorumlu Üretim ve Tüketim
  • MakaleAçık Erişim2026Scopus SJRQ2
    A Genetic Algorithm-Optimized ConvNeXtV2-YOLOv8 Framework for Dental Caries Detection in Panoramic Radiographs

    Sobahi, Nebras; Küçük, Deniz Bora; Kılıç, Kazım; İmak, Andaç; Çelebi, Adalet; Alghamedi, Yazyd; Yazicioglu, Cafer; Türkoğlu, Muammer; Şengür, Abdulkadir

    Background/Objectives: Dental caries is one of the most common oral diseases worldwide, and early diagnosis is essential for effective treatment. However, detecting carious lesions in panoramic radiographs is challenging because of low image contrast, anatomical complexity, and overlapping structures. This study aimed to develop an improved object detection framework for dental caries localization in panoramic radiographs. Methods: A modified YOLOv8 architecture was developed by integrating ConvNeXtV2 blocks into the Cross-Stage Partial (C2f) modules to enhance feature extraction and gradient propagation. To improve detection performance and reduce overfitting, key training hyperparameters were optimized using a genetic algorithm. The proposed model was evaluated on a dataset of 474 panoramic dental radiographs annotated by experts using bounding boxes. Results: The optimized model achieved a box precision of 78.4%, a recall of 53.6%, and a mean average precision at 50% intersection-over-union threshold (AP50) of 62.6%. Compared with the baseline YOLOv8 model, the proposed approach improved precision and AP50. Visual and quantitative analyses demonstrated that the ConvNeXtV2-enhanced architecture enabled more accurate localization of carious regions. Conclusions: The results indicate that combining ConvNeXtV2-based architectural enhancement with genetic algorithm-based hyperparameter optimization is an effective strategy for dental caries localization in panoramic radiographs. Although recall remains a limitation, the proposed framework shows potential as a computer-aided diagnostic tool for supporting clinical caries assessment.

    • SDG 3 · Sağlık ve Kaliteli Yaşam
  • MakaleAçık Erişim2026Scopus SJRQ2
    Effect of Dietary Supplementation with Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Seminal Plasma Arginase Activity and Semen Quality Parameters in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum, 1792)

    Kaya, Seyma Ozer; Ozcan, Sinan; Kaya, Emre; Gur, Seyfettin; Koprucu, Kenan; Sonmez, Mustafa; Turk, Gaffari; Erisir, Mine

    Background: This study was conducted to determine the effect of various fatty acid ratios added to diets of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum) on some sperm parameters and parameters related to arginase activity. Methods: A total of 99 male rainbow trout were used in this study, with the fish averaging 3 years old. Semen was collected by abdominal massage. Four different experimental groups were created in the study: a control group without n-3 series fatty acids added to their diets, and groups with n-3 series fatty acids added at ratios of 1% (D1), 2% (D2), and 3% (D3), respectively. Results: While no significant difference in semen volume was observed between the D1 and D3 groups and the control group, semen volume was significantly higher in the D2 group. Compared with the control group, the time required for sperm motility to decline to both 50% and 0% was significantly prolonged in the D1 and D3 groups. Seminal plasma arginase activity did not differ significantly in the D2 and D3 groups compared with the control group but was significantly higher in the D1 group. Conclusions: Consequently, considering the doses used in the study, fatty acid supplementation was found to lead to changes in sperm quality parameters, specifically volume (only 2%) and arginase activity (only 1%). Given that the rate of decrease in sperm motility was later in groups D1 and D2, it was concluded that the added fatty acids may be beneficial.

    • SDG 2 · Açlığa Son
  • MakaleAçık Erişim2026Scopus SJRQ2
    Effects of fenugreek and shatavari on vasomotor and hormonal balance in ovariectomized rats

    Erten, Füsun; Er, Beşir; Orhan, Cemal; Morde, Abhijeet A.; Padigaru, Muralidhara; Şahin, Kazim

    Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (fenugreek, TFG) and Asparagus racemosus Willd. (shatavari, AR) have been extensively used in Ayurvedic, Unani, and traditional folk medicine to support women’s health. TFG seeds are traditionally employed as galactagogues and hormonal modulators, while AR roots are valued as rejuvenating tonics with phytoestrogenic activity, prescribed for menopausal complaints and reproductive well-being. Both plants also exhibit antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects, suggesting their potential as safe, nonhormonal alternatives to conventional hormone replacement therapy. This study investigated the dose-dependent effects of TFG and AR, administered individually or in combination, on vasomotor symptoms, hormonal balance, oxidative stress, and neuroendocrine markers in an ovariectomized (OVX) rat model of menopause. Adult female rats underwent bilateral ovariectomy and were randomized into eight groups: Control, OVX, OVX+TFG (30 and 60 mg/kg), OVX+AR (30 and 60 mg/kg), and OVX+TFG/AR combinations. Treatments were administered orally for 8 days. Tail, core, and skin temperatures were recorded to assess thermoregulation, while blood and tissue samples were analyzed for hormone levels, oxidative stress, and molecular markers. OVX rats showed classical menopausal alterations, including increased follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, cortisol, and malondialdehyde, and decreased 17β-estradiol, progesterone, dopamine, and antioxidant enzymes, along with dysregulated neuroendocrine markers. All treatments partially reversed these changes, while the high-dose combination (TFG/AR 60 mg/kg each) demonstrated the most pronounced effects, normalizing hormone levels, reducing hot-flash-like temperature fluctuations, restoring antioxidant activity, downregulating neuroendocrine markers (c-FOS, GnRH, Kisspeptin, NKB, and TRPV1) expression, and elevating brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels (p < 0.05). High-dose combined supplementation of TFG and AR effectively alleviates vasomotor disturbances, restores hormonal and oxidative balance, and modulates neuroendocrine pathways in OVX rats. These findings validate their traditional use and highlight their potential as safe phytoestrogen-based, nonhormonal alternatives for the management of menopausal symptoms, warranting further clinical evaluation.

    • SDG 3 · Sağlık ve Kaliteli Yaşam
  • MakaleAçık Erişim2026Scopus SJRQ2
    Water extracts of Fucus vesiculosus and Laminaria digitata enhance male reproductive parameters via antioxidant and NO/cGMP mechanisms in rats

    Gencoglu, Hasan; Erten, Fusun; Er, Besir; Orhan, Cemal; Acisu, Tutku Can; Sahin, Kazim

    Male sexual dysfunction is increasingly prevalent, driving interest in marine algal bioactives as potential natural modulators of reproductive physiology. Brown seaweeds such as Fucus vesiculosus and Laminaria digitata contain phlorotannins, fucoidans, and antioxidant compounds of applied relevance in phycology and biotechnology. This study assessed the effects of standardized water extracts of these two species on reproductive behavior, hormonal status, sperm quality, oxidative balance, and nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signaling in male Sprague–Dawley rats. Animals received the seaweed extracts orally by gavage (300 mg kg⁻1 day⁻1) for 52 days. Both extracts improved male reproductive behavior by reducing the time required to initiate mounting, intromission, and ejaculation (mount latency, intromission latency, and ejaculation latency), while increasing the number of these sexual behaviors during the test period (p < 0.05). Serum follicle-stimulating hormone and testosterone concentrations increased, alongside higher testicular superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities and lower malondialdehyde levels. Sperm count and motility improved, particularly with L. digitata extract. Western blot analyses revealed phosphorylated phosphodiesterase-5, endothelial NO synthase, and cGMP levels, with reduced endothelin-1 in testicular and epididymal tissues (p < 0.05–0.001). These findings indicate that extracts of F. vesiculosus and L. digitata, chosen for their well-documented antioxidant and phlorotannin-rich profiles, confer protective and prosexual effects associated with enhanced antioxidant defense and upregulation of NO/cGMP-related pathways, with the L. digitata extract exhibiting comparatively stronger activity.

    • SDG 3 · Sağlık ve Kaliteli Yaşam
    • SDG 14 · Sudaki Yaşam
  • MakaleYalnız künye2026Scopus SJRQ3
    A multi-parametric unit distribution via Bernstein polynomials

    Susam, Selim Orhun

    This study develops the method of constructing a multi-parametric distribution on the unit interval using Bernstein polynomials and investigates its key statistical properties. The performance of the proposed distribution’s parameter estimators was evaluated by Monte Carlo simulation under both maximum-likelihood (MLE) and minimum-distance frameworks, with the MLE approach generally yielding lower estimation error. A real data example illustrates the advantages of the construction method. The results reveal that the Bernstein distribution provides superior goodness-of-fit to the dataset compared with competing models.