bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
INVESTIGATION THE EFFECTS OF SUSTAINABLE COOLING/LUBRICATION CONDITIONS ON THE MACHINABILITY OF Al-3Gr BASED HYBRID COMPOSITES
Authors: Usca Üsame Ali , Değirmenci Ünal , Şap Serhat
Published: September 2024

The main purpose of this research is to meticulously evaluate various derivatives resulting from recently developed Al-3Gr-based hybrid composites and to complete the deficiencies for industrial applications, especially focusing on processability. Assessments were conducted using a computer numerical control (CNC) milling apparatus, involving a spectrum of cutting parameters: varying cutting speeds (150-225-300 m/min), feed rates (0.15-0.225-0.3 mm/rev), and diverse cooling/lubrication conditions (dry-minimum quantity lubrication-liquid nitrogen). The experimental framework was meticulously structured based on the Taguchi L18 orthogonal array, which was further validated through a comprehensive analysis of variance (ANOVA) at a 95% confidence level. Throughout the experimentation, crucial machinability parameters such as cutting temperature, flank wear, and surface roughness were meticulously scrutinized. The optimized test outcomes, demonstrating an impressive precision level of 97%, revealed a reduction in machinability by approximately 18%, accompanied by a noteworthy decrease in cutting temperature by 16%, flank wear values by 16%, and surface roughness by 25%. Overall, the findings elucidate that the cooling/lubrication conditions significantly dictated the machinability parameters during the experimental trials. The empirical evidence extracted from these experiments emphatically suggests the potential utilization of the novel Al-3Gr composites, signifying a promising avenue for their widespread integration within industrial domains.
MULTILEVEL THRESHOLDING FOR BRAIN MR IMAGE SEGMENTATION USING SWARM-BASED OPTIMIZATION ALGORITHMS
Authors: Toprak Ahmet Nusret , Şahin Ömür , Kurban Rifat
Published: September 2024

Image segmentation, the process of dividing an image into various sets of pixels called segments, is an essential technique in image processing. Image segmentation reduces the complexity of the image and makes it easier to analyze by dividing the image into segments. One of the simplest yet powerful ways of image segmentation is multilevel thresholding, in which pixels are segmented into multiple regions according to their intensities. This study aims to explore and compare the performance of the well-known swarm-based optimization algorithms on the multilevel thresholding-based image segmentation task using brain MR images. Seven swarm-based optimization algorithms: Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Artificial Bee Colony (ABC), Gray Wolf Optimizer (GWO), Moth-Flame Optimization (MFO), Ant Lion Optimization (ALO), Whale Optimization (WOA), and Jellyfish Search Optimizer (JS) algorithms are compared by applying to brain MR images to determine threshold levels. In the experiments carried out with mentioned algorithms, minimum cross-entropy, and between-class variance objective functions were employed. Extensive experiments show that JS, ABC, and PSO algorithms outperform others.
HAYCAM VS EIGENCAM FOR WEAKLY-SUPERVISED OBJECT DETECTION ACROSS VARYING SCALES
Authors: Ornek Ahmet , Ceylan Murat
Published: September 2024

When a classification process is performed using Class Activation Maps, which is one of the Explainable Artificial Intelligence approaches, the areas influencing the classification on the input image can be revealed. In other words, it is demonstrated which part of the image the classifier model looks at to make a decision. In this study, a 200-class classification model was trained using the open-source dataset CUB 200 2011, and the classification results were visualized using the EigenCAM and HayCAM methods. When comparing object detection performances based on the areas influencing classification, the EigenCAM method reaches an IoU (Intersection over Union) value of 30.88%, while the HayCAM method reaches a value of 41.95%. The obtained results indicate that outputs derived using Principal Component Analysis (HayCAM) are better than those obtained using Singular Value Decomposition (EigenCAM).
HAM PERLİT ESASLI HAFİF GEOPOLİMERLERDE HİDROJEN PEROKSİT KAYNAKLI GENLEŞME: DENEYSEL BİR YAKLAŞIM
Authors: Çelik Ali İhsan , Acar Mehmet Cemal , Tunç Ufuk , Kayabaşı Ramazan , Şener Ahmet
Published: September 2024

Modern yapılarda yığma duvarların hafif ve dayanıklı malzemelerle inşa edilmesi, aynı zamanda düşük ısı iletkenliğe sahip olması büyük önem taşımaktadır. Bu tür elemanlarda hafiflik, dayanıklılık ve ısı geçişine karşı direncin artırılması bina yükünü azaltırken ısıtma ve soğutma yüklerini azaltmaya katkı sunmaktadır. Özellikle ham perlit temelli hafif betonların üretiminde, Hidrojen Peroksit (H2O2) ilavesiyle genleşme sağlanabilmektedir. Bu çalışmada ise %1, %2, %3 ve %4 oranlarda H2O2 ilavesinin kullanıldığı ham perlit esaslı hafifi yapı elemanlarının deneysel olarak incelemesi yapılmıştır. Elde edilen sonuçlar, %3 oranında H2O2 ilavesinin en iyi sonuçları verdiğini, %4 ilavesiyle perlit taneciklerinde aşırı şişme ve yapısal dağılma meydana geldiğini göstermiştir. Ayrıca, eğilme dayanımı, basınç dayanımı ve ısı iletkenlik performansı arasındaki ilişki, kullanılan H2O2 oranıyla değerlendirilmiştir. TGA ve DTA analizine göre numunenin kütle kaybına uğradığı sıcaklık dereceleri belirlenmiştir.
Curculionoidea (Insecta: Coleoptera) Species Detected on Some Weeds in Kahramanmaraş Province, Türkiye Part II
Authors: Gözübenli Zehra Sena , Aslan Mahmut Murat , Sabancı Kevser
Published: September 2024

This study was conducted to determine the Curculionoidea species on weeds found in non-agricultural areas in Kahramanmaraş Province, Türkiye between 2021 and 2022, weekly from late March-early April until the end of September after the weeds begin to germinate, and at fifteen-day intervals when the weeds start to dry towards the end of September. As a result of this study, one genus belonging to the subfamily Brentidae of the family Apionidae of the superfamily Curculionoidea, eleven genera belonging to the family Curculionidae, Lixinae Schoenherr, 1823, Hyperinae Marseul, 1863, Curculioninae Latreille, 1802, Baridinae Schoenher, 1836, Ceutorhynchinae Bedel, 1881, Entiminae Schoenherr, 1823 subfamilies and fifteen species belonging to these genera were identified. A total of eight species, including Hypera striata (Boheman, 1834), Rhinusa (Gymnaetron) bipustulata (Rossi, 1792), Smicronyx jungermanniae (G. C. Reich, 1797), Aulacobaris picicornis (Marsham, 1802), Baris analis (Olvier, 1790) Gyllenhal, 1837, Glocianus distinctus (C. Brisout, 1870) and Rhopalapion longirostre (Olivier, 1807), are new records for Kahramanmaraş Province. In addition, fifteen weed species were identified as new host plants for the identified Curculionoidea species.
Assessing the Efficacy of Moringa, Neem, and Tulsi in Remediation of Sewage Water: A Comparative Study.
Authors: Khan Fatima Zehra , Avarı Zeenia
Published: September 2024

The increase in a population's production and consumption habits causes an exponential rise in household waste, resulting in a lack of clean drinking water which leads to the main cause of water pollution. A cost-effective method is to use herbs as they are abundant in secondary metabolites. The purpose of this study was to understand how indigenous herbs can be utilized for treating sewage water, that can be used by citizens to get access to clean drinking water. A low-cost method was created to investigate the efficacy of herbs such as Moringa oleifera (Moringa), Azadirachta indica (Neem), and Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi), in the treatment of sewage water. Four combinations of herbs were selected, and the results were compared with municipal-treated water from a wastewater treatment facility. The samples were tested for parameters such as Estimation of Copper, pH, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), and Most Probable Number (Coliform). Coliform levels and copper levels in the herb-treated water were almost one-fourth the level as compared to sewage water. In both parameters, statistical significance was obtained. Statistical significance was considered at p < 0.034. The herb-treated samples showed a reduction in the COD and an increase in pH towards neutrality, as compared to the sewage water. In all combinations tested, the herbs were successful in improving the quality of water when compared to the sewage water as well as the municipal treated water. Hence, it can be concluded that herbs are a good natural resource that can be used for the treatment of sewage water, as they are easily available, and the method is sustainable.
Evaluation Of Raftlin And 8-Iso Prostaglandin Levels On The Clinical Severity Of Cases With Covid-19 In Turkey : A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Belge Kurutas Ergul , Öner Erkan , Güzelgül Figen
Published: September 2024

COVID-19 is an infectious respiratory disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Raftlin is a large lipid raft protein found in cell membranes and plays a crucial role in inducing autoimmune and vascular inflammatory responses. Although there have been few studies on 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α) as a marker of oxidative stress in COVID-19, the levels of raftlin in the disease have not been previously investigated. The objective of in this study was to evaluate the levels of Raftlin and 8-iso-PGF2α in COVID-19 patients. We analyzed clinical findings from three groups: healthy controls, patients with a mild course of COVID-19, and patients with a severe course of COVID-19. We measured the levels of Raftlin and 8-iso-PGF2α in serum samples using ELISA. This results showed that the levels of Raftlin and 8-iso-PGF2α were higher in patients with severe COVID-19 compared to the control and mild course groups. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was found between Raftlin and 8-iso-PGF2α in the severe COVID-19 group. Raftlin was identified as a potentially important biomarker in COVID-19 patients. This study is valuable as it is the first to investigate changes in Raftlin and 8-iso-PGF2α levels in COVID-19 disease.
Anatomic and Phytochemical Investigation of Herbal Tea Bags Sold as Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis L.) in the Market
Authors: Oçkun Mehmet Ali
Published: September 2024

Melissa officinalis L., an ethnobotanically valuable plant, has been used for the treatment of several diseases since ancient times. However, different plants with the same name are sold instead of lemon balm in markets that sell herbal products in Türkiye. For this purpose, 15 different brands of tea bags in crushed form, sold as lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) in markets, were analyzed. The total phenolic, flavonoid, and antioxidant capacities of the hydroalcoholic extracts of these tea samples along with the stomatal structure were investigated. Additionally, chemical compositions and rosmarinic acid contents were determined by the high-performance thin-layer chromatography method. Among the samples examined, S1, S2, S9, and S12 tea samples were found to meet the eligibility criteria. The leaves of these samples had diacytic stomata and the rosmarinic acid ratio in their phytochemical composition was over 2%. Furthermore, caffeic acid was detected in these samples.
Türkiye’de Tarım İşletmelerinin Sosyo-Ekonomik Profili ve Tasarruf Davranışları Arasındaki İlişki: Konya İli Örneği
Authors: Ağızan Kemalettin , Bayramoğlu Zeki , Doğan Hasan Gökhan , Celik Yusuf , Karakayacı Zuhal
Published: September 2024

Bu çalışmanın temel amacı kırsal alandaki tarımsal hanehalklarının tasarruf davranışlarına etki eden faktörlerin belirlenmesidir. Bu amaca yönelik olarak Türkiye’de Konya ilinde faaliyet gösteren 268 tarım işletmesiyle anket yapılmıştır. Bu doğrultuda anketler sonucunda tarım işletmelerinin sosyo-ekonomik yapıları ve tasarruf miktarları belirlenmiştir. Türkiye gibi birçok ülkede tarım işletmelerinin sahip oldukları sosyo-ekonomik özellikler göz önünde bulundurulduğunda işletmelerin tamamının tasarruf yapamayacağı ihtimali göz önünde bulundurularak tarım işletmelerinde tasarrufları etkileyen faktörlerin belirlenmesinde tobit model kullanılmıştır. Model sonucunda yaş, aile nüfusu, sermaye, tarımsal gelir, işletme büyüklüğü ve tarım dışı gelir ile işletmelerin tasarruf miktarları üzerinde anlamlı ve pozitif etkisi olduğu belirlenmiştir. Fakat eğitim seviyesi, tecrübe ve sosyal güvence, sağlık durumu, işletme maliyetleri, kredi miktarı ve destekleme miktarının tasarruf miktarı üzerinde anlamlı ama negatif bir etkiye sahip olduğu söylenebilir. İşletmede edilen sonuçlara göre ekonomik büyüme için daha fazla tasarrufu harekete geçirmek için farklı gelir seçenekleri için alternatif kaynakların ihtiyacına işaret edilmektedir. Çünkü kent-kır fark etmeksizin yatırım fonların önemli bir kısmı gayrimenkul veya vasıta fonlarına aktarılmaktadır. Bu sebeple alternatif yatırım araçlarının desteklenerek yaygınlaştırılması gerekmekte olup tasarrufların değerlendirilmesine yönelik politika önerileri hazırlanmıştır.
Estimation and Analysis of Trigonometric Models under Bayesian Approach
Authors: Sapkota Laxmi Prasad , KUMAR Pankaj , Kumar Vijay , Bam Nirajan
Published: September 2024

In this study, we explore three innovative trigonometric models within the Bayesian framework, utilizing the inverse Weibull distribution as our foundation. These models—namely the Sine inverse Weibull, Cosine inverse Weibull, and Tan inverse Weibull—are crafted from distinct distribution families. We employ both maximum likelihood estimation and Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulation techniques to estimate parameters, drawing upon a comprehensive dataset. By scrutinizing posterior samples numerically and graphically, we evaluate the efficacy of our models, generating Bayes estimates for parameters, examining reliability and hazard functions, and establishing credible intervals. Furthermore, we assess the predictive capacity of all three models through posterior predictive checks. We also conduct comparative analyses, pitting our models against competing ones using real-world data. Notably, our results reveal that the proposed trio of models exhibit strikingly similar performance in terms of fitting the data.
Skin disorders in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Khartoum Dermatology and Venereology Teaching Hospital
Authors: Mohamed Zainab M. R.
Published: September 2024

Background: Diabetes is a chronic, metabolic disease characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose, which leads over time to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves. The most common is type 2 diabetes, usually in adults, which occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn't make enough insulin. About 1 in 11 adults worldwide now have diabetes mellitus (DM), 90% of whom have type 2 DM (T2DM). One of the most common manifestations of diabetes are skin complications, such as dryness of the skin, bacterial and fungal infections. Objectives were to study the frequency and pattern of skin disorders in patients with T2DM at Khartoum dermatology and venereology teaching hospital (KDVTH) in Khartoum, Sudan during August 2016 to December 2016.
Methods: This was prospective, observation descriptive, cross-sectional hospital-based study used a quantities method. A total convenient sample technique enrolled 100 points during the study period.
Results: One hundred diabetic patients (64% male and 36% female) were included in the study. The age group varies between (25 and >70 years), the commonest cutaneous manifestations were xerosis which was found in 45 patients (45%), fungal infection found in 36 patients (36%). Serum HbA1c level was done for each case.
Conclusions: The study concluded that the most prevalent cutaneous diseases among patients were xerosis fungal infection, eczema, bacterial infections, and scabies respectively. A significant relationship between duration of DM and level of HB A1C and the presence of cutaneous manifestations was observed.
In Vitro Efficacy of Tricalcium Phosphate and Casein Phosphopeptide Amorphous Calcium Phosphate Fluoride for Remineralization of Enamel White Spot Lesions
Authors: Haerian Alireza , Yasaei Soghra , Rafiei Elaheh , Malek Hosseini Seyed Vahid , Karimi Negin
Published: September 2024

Objectives: The main purpose of this study was to compare the remineralizing effects of casein phosphopeptide amorphous calcium phosphate fluoride (CPP-ACPF) and tricalcium phosphate (TCP) on artificially induced enamel white spot lesions (WSLs).
Materials and Methods: In this in vitro study, 45 sound extracted premolars were immersed in a demineralizing solution (pH=4.5) for 96 hours, and were randomly divided into 3 groups of TCP, MI Paste Plus, and control. They were exposed to the remineralizing agents for 5 minutes once a day for 30 days. After mounting the teeth in resin blocks and polishing, they underwent a microhardness test at 3 different depths from the enamel surface. Data were analyzed by Prism software, two-way ANOVA, and Tukey’s test (α=0.05).
Results: The volume percentage of mineral content (VPM) was significantly different among the three groups at 30-, 60- and 90µm depths (P<0.0001). At 30µm depth, CPP-ACPF was significantly more effective than TCP (P<0.0001). At 60- and 90µm depths, there was no significant difference between CPP-ACPF and TCP (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Both CPP-ACPF and TCP had significant efficacy for remineralization of artificially induced enamel WSLs under in vitro conditions.
Investigating the Methods of Teaching English as a Foreign Language to Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Zohoorian Zahra , Matin Sadr Nader , Mohammadi-Nezhad Tayyebe , Sadr Farbod Matin
Published: September 2024

Introduction: Teaching foreign languages,  such as English,  as an international  language,  to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been considered by the researchers      of language instruction, language learning, and teachers of children with special needs. The population of children diagnosed with autism is rapidly growing and they must have similar opportunities for enhancing life skills, education, successful interactions, and universal communicative skills.
Materials and Methods: This study reviews and discusses the findings of past studies that investigated effective ways and efficient methods for teaching these children English as a foreign language.
Results: Although there has been restricted literature throughout the world, the reviewed studies demonstrated improvement of English language learning by suitable strategies and various methods, including pictures representing, humanoid robots, Montessori-oriented methods, applied behavior analysis (ABA), cognitive method, the picture exchange communication system (PECS), well-designed educational environments, mixed methods and strategies, speech therapy, media, total physical response (TPR), and individualized education plan (IEP).
Conclusion: This narrative review encourages various interventions and integrated methods for teaching the English language to autistic children, considering their differences from diverse aspects.
Assessing Scapular Muscle Strength and Force Couple Ratios in Stroke Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Khandare Shilpa , Kamlesh Bhavsar Dharti
Published: September 2024

Introduction: This study quantifies the differences in individual scapular muscle strength in both arms along with obtaining a force couple ratio of scapula stabilizers to gain values in terms of the strength of muscles.
Materials and Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was done on 30 stroke patients to assess the muscle strength of the serratus anterior, rhomboids, and upper, middle, and lower trapezius (in both shoulders) using a suspension scale. Meanwhile, the muscle force couple ratios were calculated.
Results: The results showed significant strength differences between both arms for upper trapezius (P=0.0020), serratus anterior (P=0.018), rhomboids (P=0.001), middle trapezius (P=0.0068), and no difference for lower trapezius (P=0.1746). The mean muscle strength in the non-affected arm is greater than the affected arm. The middle trapezius strength is lowest in the affected arm (0.574 kgf) and the lower trapezius strength is lowest in the non-affected arm (0.767 kgf). The mean force couple ratio for upper trapezius versus lower trapezius was higher in the affected side (10.08) and the non-affected side (7.74). The remaining force couples were similar for both arms.
Conclusion: Overall muscle strength of the scapula stabilizers is greater in the non-affected arm than in the affected arm. The strength of the force couple between the upper and lower trapezius is greater in both arms which shows considerable incoordination between the muscles.
Comparing the Effectiveness of Aerobic and Core Stability Exercises on Balance in Older Adult Men
Authors: Naserpour Nader , Piri Hashem , Sheikhhoseini Rahman
Published: September 2024

Introduction: Aging is associated with changes in the neuromusculoskeletal system, which can lead to impairments in balance. This study compares the effects of aerobic and core stability exercises on healthy older men’s static and dynamic balance.
Materials and Methods: In this study, 30 adults aged 60 to 70 years were selected through purposive sampling and randomly divided into three groups as follows: aerobic exercises, core stability exercises, and a control group. The interventions were carried out separately for the two experimental groups over 6 weeks. Static balance was assessed using the Romberg and Sharpened Romberg balance tests, while dynamic balance was assessed using the functional reach and timed up-and-go tests. The data were analyzed using the one-way multivariate analysis of covariance test with the SPSS software, version 26.
Results: The mean scores of post-tests for the balance tests in the two experimental groups improved compared to their pre-test scores and the post-test scores of the control group. Moreover, both aerobic and core stability exercises had a significant effect on the static and dynamic balance of the elderly (P=0.001). When examining the effects of exercises on dynamic balance, the findings showed a significant difference in favor of aerobic exercises compared to core stability exercises (P=0.017). However, no significant difference was observed concerning static balance (P=1.00) when comparing the effects of the exercises.
Conclusion: Aerobic and core stability exercises have a positive impact on the static and dynamic balance of the elderly. Furthermore, for improving dynamic balance in older men, aerobic exercises appear to be more effective than core stability exercises.
Investigating the Immediate Effects of Static and Dynamic Stretching Exercises of Lower Extremities Muscles on Core Stability in Young Healthy Females
Authors: Mehdizadeh Harikandei Elaheh , Bashardoust Tajali Siamak , Ashnagar Zinat , Havigh Fatemeh Manafi
Published: September 2024

Introduction: This study investigates the immediate effects of warm-up exercises, specifically static and dynamic stretches for the lower extremities, on strength, endurance, flexibility, motor control, and core stability function in young, healthy females.
Materials and Methods: A total of 60 healthy, active women aged 19-30 years were randomly divided into three groups as follows: Static stretching (SS), dynamic stretching (DS), and a control group (CG), which received no exercises. Evaluation methods for core stability included strength, endurance, sit-and-reach, Y-balance, and bilateral squat tests. Meanwhile, these tests were conducted before and after the prescribed exercise protocols.
Results: Both the SS and DS groups experienced significant increases in all core stability components compared to their baseline values (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the analysis of variance/ analysis of covariance indicated that immediately after performing the stretching exercises, the SS and DS groups exhibited significantly greater improvements in parameters, such as strength, endurance, flexibility, and balance tests (except for the posterior-medial direction) when compared to the CG (P<0.05). Regarding functional parameters after the exercises, there were no statistically significant differences between the study groups (P>0.05). In addition, dynamic exercises demonstrated a higher effectiveness than static exercises for most parameters (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Warm-up exercises, involving both static and dynamic stretches for lower limb muscles appear to have an immediate positive impact on core stability parameters. In sports that demand strong trunk muscles and balance, the dynamic protocol may be more effective
Investigating the Relationship Between Kinesiophobia, Catastrophizing, Pain Intensity, Disability, and Gait Performance in Chronic Neck Pain
Authors: Ery Mersad , Saadat Maryam , Hessam Masumeh , Mehravar Mohammad , Amirabadi Negar
Published: September 2024

Introduction: There is little evidence regarding the relationship between gait performance and psychological factors in people with chronic neck pain. This study evaluates gait performance in patients with neck pain and explores the relationship between gait performance and kinesiophobia, pain catastrophizing, pain intensity, and disability.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 34 patients with chronic neck pain and 29 age- and sex-matched controls were recruited for this study. The participants performed timed up-and-go (TUG), and 10-m walk tests (TMW) with and without head-turning tests. The associations between clinical gait tests, kinesiophobia (Tampa scale of kinesiophobia (TSK), pain catastrophizing scale, pain intensity (visual analog scale), and disability (neck disability index) were assessed.
Results: People with neck pain had  significant  differences  in the TUG,  and TMW with and without head-turning tests compared to controls (P<0.01). Kinesiophobia and pain catastrophism were significantly correlated with TMW tests (r range=0.45 to 0.71, and 0.40 to 0.47, respectively). Pain intensity and disability were not correlated with gait tests.
Conclusion: The gait performance, as represented by TUG and TMWs test scores, altered in patients with chronic neck pain in comparison controls. Fear of motion and pain catastrophizing thoughts correlated with clinical gait test scores.
Investigating Noun and Verb Naming in Behavioral Variant of Frontotemporal Dementia and Non-Patients Persian-Speaking
Authors: Ahmadi Atefeh , Mehr Azar , Jalaei Shohreh , Aghamollaii Vajiheh
Published: September 2024

Introduction: Due to the prevalence of cognitive disorders, such as the behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) and the consequences that these disorders follow, early diagnosis and awareness of the deficiencies of these people in the cognitive and language areas is essential. Given that language is dependent on culture, examining the linguistic characteristics of such patients in different languages can provide valuable findings. Therefore, this study compares noun and verb naming abilities in individuals with bvFTD and non-patients Persian-speaking.
Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 3 cognitive tests, including frontal assessment battery (FAB), Montreal cognitive assessment, and mini-mental state examination (MMSE), along with 2 noun naming and verb naming tests were performed on 15 patients with bvFTD and 30 homogeneous non-patient individuals.
Results: The bvFTD group had significantly different scores for both noun and verb naming compared to the non-patient group (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the bvFTD group was more impaired in naming verbs than nouns, with the largest difference between groups in the verb naming task.
Conclusion: the results showed that bvFTD patients have poorer noun and verb naming abilities than non-patients. In particular, in verb naming, they showed more deficits than nouns. One possible explanation is that the processing of verbs is more complicated than nouns and involves a more complex neural system and cognitive processes than noun processing. Another possibility is that verbs rely more heavily on frontal and temporal regions of the brain, which are typically affected by bvFTD.
Investigating the Effectiveness of Morphosyntactic Treatment on Production in Two Children with Hearing Impairment Older Than 3 Years
Authors: Tahbaz Sayeh , Mehri Azar
Published: September 2024

Introduction: Since hearing loss (HL) can lead to linguistic and especially morphosyntactic (MS) delay, creating a method for fostering and facilitating MS development is required. Accordingly, the auditory-based Sayeh Tahbaz Hoseynzadeh (STH)-method has been designed. Accordingly, the present article examines the effectiveness of this treatment.
Case Description: Two hearing-impaired children (HIC) who used hearing aids, with moderately severe and severe HL and older than 3 years of age at the time of study, enrolled in the STH method for 24 weeks. The Persian developmental sentence scoring was used to analyze language samples together with some formal and informal assessments performed within a 12-week interval.
Results: According to the Persian developmental sentence scoring used to analyze spontaneous language samples, the score of participant 1 changed from 0 to 10.6 and the score of participant 2 improved from 5 to 7.4 in the final assessment.
Conclusion: The findings showed that STH-method helped in improving the MS skills of the participants.
Investigating the Effects of Manual Therapy and Pelvic Floor Training on Erectile Dysfunction: A Case Study
Authors: Safavi Mahdi Afshar , Niknam Hoda , Okhovatian Farshad , Roostayi Mohammad Mohsen
Published: September 2024

Introduction: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common issue in men, often associated with various factors,  such as obesity,  diabetes,  and more. This case study examines  the impact  of friction massage combined with pelvic floor exercises on ED in three patients, linked to prostatic adenectomy, aging, and diabetes.
Case Description: Patients followed a one-month regimen of pelvic floor exercises and techniques. The technique’s progress was monitored via video calls twice a week. Exercises lasted for 10 min daily, along with a 10-min massage. We assessed improvement using the international index of erectile function 15 (IIEF15) questionnaire and erection hardness score (EHS), as well as ultrasound scans.
Results: Following treatment, all three patients showed increased EHS and IIEF15 15 scores. Muscular thickness increased in the ischiocavernosus and bulbospongiosus muscles, while  the cavernosal artery exhibited higher systolic velocity and lower diastolic velocity, although maximum blood flow velocity in the posterior vein decreased. Treatment had the most significant impact on the adenectomy patient, followed by the elderly patient and then the diabetic patient.
Conclusion: Combining friction massage and pelvic floor exercises led to improved erection- related indicators and increased patient satisfaction.
Psychometric Properties of the Swedish Version of the Person–Place Fit Measure for Older Adults
Authors: Granbom Marianne , Weil Joyce , Kottorp Anders
Published: September 2024

Background and Purpose:Possibilities to age in place are increasingly important with the demographic shift toward aging populations. With the Person–Place Fit Measure for Older Adults (PPFM-OA), older adults self-assess how their home and community environments suit their needs. The aim of the study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Swedish version of PPFM-OA.Methods:Four hundred sixty community-living adults aged 65 and older answered the PPFM-OA. Rasch model was used for analyses.Results:A reduced 19-item version of PPFM-OA showed sufficient evidence of validity in response processes, internal structure, fairness in testing, and reliability/precision.Conclusions:The reduced version is recommended to use in Sweden to capture person–place fit, an aspect to consider when communities, healthcare, and elder care aim to facilitate aging in place.
Effects of Unequal Treatment, Verbal Harassment, and Physical Violence on Subjective Cognitive Health Among Middle-Aged and Older LGBTQ Adults: Variation by Type and Basis of Victimization
Authors: Barbee Harry , McKay Tara , Akré Ellesse-Roselee
Published: September 2024

This study investigated how different forms of victimization influence subjective cognitive health among middle-aged and older LGBTQ adults. Using data from the Vanderbilt University Social Networks, Aging, and Policy Study, we applied Poisson regression models to examine the effects of victimization experiences, including variation by type and basis of victimization, on the number of self-reported cognitive difficulties. Regarding victimization type, we tested the effects of experiencing unequal treatment, verbal harassment, and physical attack in the last year on the number of self-reported cognitive difficulties. We also examined the effects of experiencing victimization based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, and race or ethnicity on the number of self-reported cognitive difficulties. Respondents who experienced victimization in the past year reported higher rates of cognitive difficulties than respondents who did not experience victimization. These results varied by victimization type. Experiencing unequal treatment and verbal harassment in the last year was associated with higher rates of self-reported cognitive difficulties. Experiencing physical attack did not significantly predict higher rates of self-reported cognitive difficulties. Finally, victimization experiences based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race or ethnicity, and age all predicted higher rates of self-reported cognitive difficulties. Taken together, these results demonstrate how different forms of victimization could harm cognitive health among LGBTQ populations and generate cognitive health disparities.
Evidence of Internal Structure Validity, Measurement Invariance, Convergent Validity, Clinical Validity, and Reliability of the Woman Abuse Screening Tool in Peruvian Women
Authors: Aiquipa-Tello Jesús Joel , Ponce-Díaz Carlos Ramón
Published: September 2024

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is the most common type of violence committed against women and results in serious personal, familial, social, and economic consequences; thus, there is a need to detect IPV early. One test for detecting IPV is the Woman Abuse Screening Tool (WAST). The objective of the study was to obtain evidence of the validity of the WAST in terms of its internal structure, measurement invariance, convergent validity, clinical validity, and reliability. A total of 670 women who have or have had a heterosexual relationship participated in the study. The first stage included 513 adult women who partook of health services (Mage= 35.5 years,SDage= 10 years). The second stage included 160 women, 80 diagnosed with IPV (Mage= 34.2 years,SDage= 11.8 years) and 80 who were not (Mage= 31.8 years,SDage= 11.5 years). We used multivariate and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses. We found evidence that the WAST demonstrates a one-dimensional structure; evidence of measurement invariance regarding cohabitation with the partner, length of the relationship, and age; evidence of convergent validity in terms of correlations with emotional dependence, self-compassion, expressive suppression, anxiety, and depression; and evidence of clinical validity in terms of the high probability of detecting positive cases of IPV. These properties support the use of the WAST for detecting possible cases of IPV, which will allow timely intervention. This instrument can also be used in larger studies on IPV in the Spanish-speaking population.
Tumeurs primitives de la fosse ischiorectale : Diagnostic et traitement à propos de 07 observations à Abidjan
Authors: Konan K.I.P. , Anoh N.A. , Ehui A.Y. , Oddo B.A. , Touré L. , Kouadio N.L. , Vamoussa D. , Adama S. , Kouadio K.G.
Published: September 2024

But : Le but de cette étude était de rapporter les aspects diagnostics et les résultats de la prise en charge des tumeurs primitives de la fosse ischio rectale. Patients et méthode : Il s’agissait d’une étude transversale à collecte de données rétrospective étalée de février 2019 à décembre 2023 dans le service de Chirurgie digestive et proctologique du CHU de Treichville. Nous avions étudié, les manifestations cliniques, les moyens diagnostiques, et les résultats du traitement chirurgical. Ont été inclus dans l’étude, les dossiers des malades suivis pour une tumeur primitive de la fosse ischio-rectale. Résultats : Nous avions colligé sept (7) patients pris en charge pour tumeurs primitives de la fosse ischio-rectale. Il s’agissait de 4 femmes et 3 hommes. L’âge moyen était de 48,8 ans, la médiane était de 50 ans et un écart-type de 14,4. Une prédominance féminine avec un sex ratio de 1, 33. Le motif de consultation était dominé par la proctalgie (n=3) qui était associée à une dyspareunie dans 2 cas. L’examen physique retrouvait une masse para-anale dans 4 cas. L’anorectoscopie était peu contributive. L’IRM demeurait le maître examen. L’histologie était en faveur des tumeurs malignes chez 4 patients. La résection chirurgicale était la règle et la voie périnéale antérieure était la voie d’abord principale. L’évolution Après recul de 4 ans, était marquée par 04 patients vivants en bonne santé apparente sans poursuite ni récidive tumorale. Conclusion : La tumeur de fosse ischio-rectale est une tumeur rare. L’expression clinique dépend du stade de la maladie. La tumeur maligne a dominé dans cette série. La résection chirurgicale périnéale antérieure est possible. L’imagerie par résonnance magnétique devrait être systématique devant toute proctalgie d’adulte.
Effect of Pinus halepensis Mill. Reforestation on the Above-Ground Biomass and Internode Elongation and Leaf Size of Native Species in Morroco
Authors: Benarchid Khalid , Khatori Mohammed , Hilali Said
Published: September 2024

This study aims to determine the effect of the reforestation of Pinus halepensis Mill. on the above-ground biomass and morphological characteristics of native species (internode elongation and leaf size) in the Beni Sohane forest. Plant biomass of the herbaceous layer was harvested on randomly selected 2 m2 quadrats in reforested plots of ± 12, ± 25, and ± 45-year-old, and native forest controls. The internode length and leaf size (length and width) were measured on plants randomly selected belonging to four native species Quercus ilex L., Pistacia lentiscus L., Phillyrea angustifolia L., and Cistus creticus L.. The results showed that P. halepensis reforestation had no significant effect on the above-ground biomass and the leaves and internodes dimensions in the young plantations ± 12-year-old. However, as the pine trees mature, the average dry matter weight decreases, especially in stands 45 years old, where this weight was significantly lower than that of natural forests. This fact has led to herders abandoning important pastures previously used by their cattle. In addition, the fast growth of P. halepensis trees formed a canopy above all indigenous species resulting in changes in the dimensions of internodes and leaves. For the two oldest plantations, the internode length, leaf width, and length of the 4 species have been significantly increased. However, the leaf length-to-width ratio decreased significantly, with leaves in reforested plots being larger rather than longer compared to control samples in native forests. Planting P. halepensis can negatively impact the long-term growth of native plants, so we recommend periodically removing some of the pines (thinning) to restore the balance of these ecosystems. Thus, species selection for reforestation should consider maximizing rather than destroying ecological and socioeconomic services.
Rainfall-runoff modeling using artificial neural networks in the Mono River basin (Benin, West Africa)
Authors: Biao Iboukoun Eliezer , Obada Ezechiel , Moussa Djibril Aliou , Segbede Armand , Alamou Adechina Eric
Published: September 2024

Hydrological models are developed to simulate river flows over a watershed for many practical applications in the field of water resource management. However, the rainfall-runoff models mostly used in the Mono river basin struggle to better simulate high river flows. This paper presents a modeling approach based on Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) under different input meteorological parameters in the Mono River basin to better take into account the non-linearity of the relationship between rainfall and runoff. To this end, precipitation, potential evapotranspiration, and previously observed flow have been used for the daily flow simulation. The Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm is used to train the ANN rainfall-runoff models over the other optimization training algorithms mostly implemented in the study area. The analysis of the rainfall-runoff variability allowed us to show the strong correlation between rainfall and runoff and the impact of the Nangbéto dam on the flows at Athiémé. The results obtained after the training, validation, and testing of the ANN models are satisfactory (e.g., the coefficient of correlation varies between 0.93 and 0.99). The most efficient model has been identified and implemented in the Mono river basin at Nangbéto. The satisfactory results obtained show that ANN models can be considered good alternatives for traditional rainfall-runoff modeling approaches.
Türkiye’de Paylaşım Ekonomisi İş Modellerini Kullananların Memnuniyeti Üzerine Bir İnceleme: Airbnb Örneği
Authors: Özdirek Ulu Elif Özgün , Ekizler Hüseyin , Ulu Efe Kaan
Published: September 2024

Bu araştırmada, konaklama sektörü oyuncusu Airbnb örneğiyle, Türk kullanıcıların paylaşım ekonomisi kullanımlarındaki memnuniyetini ölçmek ve analiz etmek amaçlanmıştır. Memnuniyet ve yeniden kullanma isteği oluşumunda tüketiciler tarafından önemli bulunan olumlu ve olumsuz noktalardan yola çıkarak, paylaşım ekonomisi uygulamaları için, geliştirmeleri gereken iş modelleri ve iletişim yolları alanlarında çıktı sağlamayı amaçlamaktadır. Araştırmanın sonuçlarına göre memnuniyeti istatistiksel olarak en açıklayıcı kavram güvenilirlik olarak saptanmıştır. Güvenilirliği sırasıyla fiyat ve hizmet kalitesi takip etmektedir. Modaya uyma, topluluğa ait olma ve çevresel etki boyutlarının memnuniyet üzerinde anlamlı etkilerinin olmadığı tespit edilmiştir.
Turizm Sektörünün COVID-19 Pandemisi Sonrası Finansal Performans Değerlendirmesi
Authors: Balcı Yıldız Nehir , Koba Yeşim
Published: September 2024

COVID-19 pandemi döneminden fazlasıyla etkilenen sektörlerden biri olan turizm sektörü aynı zamanda milli gelir üzerinde etkisi pozitif olan sektörler arasında yer almaktadır. Gelişmiş ve gelişmekte olan ülkelerde büyümenin itici gücü olarak görülen turizm sektöründe yer alan firmaların, COVID-19 pandemi dönemi sonrası finansal performanslarının incelenmesi politika yapıcılar, yatırımcılar, sektör içi firmalar ve yöneticiler açısından önem taşımaktadır. Bu çalışmada, 2022 yılında BIST Turizm endeksinde işlem gösteren dokuz firmanın finansal performanslarının Gri İlişkisel Analiz (GİA) yöntemi ile değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Likidite, kaldıraç ve karlılık oranlarıyla GİA yöntemi gerçekleştirilmiştir. Finansal performans değerlendirmesinde finansal oranlar arasındaki önem sırası; likidite oranları, kaldıraç oranları ve karlılık oranları şeklinde gerçekleşmiştir. Pandemi sonrası dönemde firmaların likidite, finansal kaldıraç ve karlılık oranlarına göre iyi durumda olduğu tespit edilmiştir. GİA gri ilişkisel derece sıralamasına göre finansal performansı en yüksek olan firma AYCES olup, finansal performansı en düşük olan BIGCH’dir. Yüksek finansal performansa sahip olmak isteyen turizm firmalarının likidite ve kaldıraç göstergelerini güçlendirmek için çaba sarf etmeleri ve sektördeki yatırımcıların bu iki göstergeyi yakından takip etmeleri faydalı olacaktır. Aynı şekilde politika yapıcıların ise turizm sektörüne yönelik düzenlemelerde, öne çıkan göstergeleri dikkate almaları sektörün performansını olumlu yönde etkileyecektir.
KAYSERİ’NİN SAĞLIK TURİZMİ POTANSİYELİNE İLİŞKİN KRİTERLERİN ÖNCELİKLENDİRİLMESİ
Authors: Akın Mehmet Halit
Published: September 2024

Son yıllarda sağlık amaçlı yapılan seyahatlerin artış göstermesi ve buna bağlı olarak özellikle gelişmekte olan ülkeler açısından sağlık turizminin ciddi bir gelir kaynağı oluşturması, destinasyonlar açısından sağlık turizminin önemini gittikçe artırmıştır. Bu araştırmada, sahip olduğu altyapı ve konumu itibariyle sağlık turizmi destinasyonu olma yönünde ciddi bir potansiyele sahip olan ve bu doğrultuda, tanıtım ve pazarlama faaliyetlerini yürüten Kayseri’nin 2021 – 2030 Eylem Planı’nda sağlık turizmi açısından mevcut durumunun belirlenmesi amacıyla ortaya konan kriterlerin çok kriterli karar verme yöntemlerinden Analitik Hiyerarşi Prosesi (AHP) yöntemi ile önceliklendirilmesine odaklanılmıştır. Araştırmanın amacı, doğru ve etkin bir planlama yürütülebilmesinin yanı sıra stratejiler geliştirebilmesi için Kayseri’nin sağlık turizmi ile ilgili politikaların geliştirilmesi sürecinde önem arz eden faktörlerin belirlenmesidir. Ayrıca öncül bir araştırma olarak elde edilen bulgular ile ilgili literatüre yönelik yaygın etki oluşturması beklenen bilgi birikiminin sunulması hedeflenmektedir. Yapılan analizler neticesinde, ana kriterlerde Kayseri’nin sağlık turizmine ilişkin sahip olduğu zayıf yönlerinin önem derecesi bakımından birinci sırada yer aldığı görülmüştür. Alt kriterlerde ise zayıf yönlerde mevzuata ve turizme ilişkin bilinçsizlik, güçlü yönlerde önemli tanıtım materyallerinin olması, fırsatlarda fahri tanıtım elçilerinin çok olması ve tehditlerde ise sağlık turizmi yetkisi olmayan işletmelerin olması kriterlerinin önem derecesi bakımından önceliklendirildiği tespit edilmiştir.
Kamu Hastanelerinde Medikal Turizme İlişkin Zorlukların AHP Yöntemi ile Tespit Edilmesi: Eğitim Araştırma Hastanesi Örneği
Authors: Öztürk Nazife
Published: September 2024

Medikal turizm, küresel ölçekte hızla büyüyen bir endüstri olup birçok ülke tarafından stratejik bir yatırım alanı olarak görülmektedir. Özellikle Türkiye gibi ülkelerde, kamu sağlık kuruluşları medikal turizmin gelişiminde önemli bir paya sahiptir. Bu nedenle, bu sektörde karşılaşılan zorlukların belirlenmesi, sektörün sürdürülebilir büyümesi açısından kritik bir öneme sahiptir. Bu araştırmanın amacı, bir Eğitim Araştırma Hastanesi üzerinden medikal turizm uygulanmasına ilişkin zorlukları tanımlamak, bu zorlukların öncelik sırasını belirlemek ve nihayetinde medikal turizm potansiyelini artırmaya yönelik stratejik öneriler geliştirmektir. Araştırmada olarak medikal turizm uygulamasının zorluklarına ilişkin 12 kriter belirlenmiştir. Araştırma verileri yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme formu kullanılarak ilgili hastanede medikal turizm alanında farklı birim ve meslek gruplarında görev yapan 10 sağlık çalışanından toplanmıştır. Elde edilen veriler Analitik Hiyerarşi Prosesi (AHP) adımları takip edilerek analiz edilmiştir. Araştırma sonuçları, kamu hastanelerinde medikal turizm uygulamasının önündeki en önemli üç engelin hastane imajı, hastanede yabancı dil bilen sağlık profesyoneli sayısı ve hastane reklam ve tanıtım faaliyetleri olduğuna işaret etmektedir. Bu bağlamda, politika yapıcıların araştırmanın sonuçlarını dikkate alması, özellikle tanıtım ve pazarlama faaliyetlerine ilişkin sosyal medya, sosyal ağlar ve benzer alanlarda bütüncül politika izlemesi, sağlık çalışanlarının yabancı dil öğrenmek için teşvik edilmesi ve bu personeller için düzenleme yapılması ile ilgili çalışmalar yürütmesi önerilmektedir.