Addiction profile index-family (BAPI-A): The study of validity and reliability [Aile Bagimlilik Profil Indeksinin Geliştirilmesi, Geçerlik Ve Güvenilirligi]

Objectives: Addiction is a disease that affects the family and also requires family's participation on treatment. Therefore, determination of the family property will contribute to organize the treatment. Method: Addiction Profile Index-Family (BAPI-A) was developed as a scale consisting of 10 questions to asess family's abilities to set rules, give responsibility, resolve conflict, family bond and the attitude of the family towards the addict. BAPI- A developed on practiced with parents, spouces and their relatives of addicts applied the Addiction Clinic and Family Assessment Device (ADÖ) were applied. The application was repeated after 15 days. Results: Cronbach Alpha coefficient of the scale was found as 0.82. 4 factors explained %30.81 of the total variance were obtained on explanatory factor analysis. These factors were named "establish relationship", "family bonds" and "attitude towards the addict". A correlation of 0.52 (p<0.01) was found between the average total scores of ADÖ and BAPI-A. The correlation of between pre-test and post-test of BAPI-A was found 0.67 (o<0.01). When comparing the scale scores of families that have an addict member and not, the variance between average total scores was found statistically significant. And also similar findings were obtained when parents, spouces and other relatives were evaluated. Conclusion: Thus, the Addiction Profile Index-Family (BAPI-A) can be used as a valid and reliable instrument to asses family's abilities to set rules, give responsibility, resolve conflict, and establish relationship, family bonds and the attitude towards the addict. © 2017 ANP Publishing. All rights reserved

Submerged cultivation of Scytalidium thermophilum on complex lignocellulosic biomass for endoglucanase production

Scytalidium thermophilum endoglucanase production was analyzed on lignocellulosic biomass in submerged cultures at 45 degreesC and 155 rpm for S days. Endoglucanase, adsorbability of endoglucanase onto avicel, as well as exoglucanase, and filter paper activities were determined and compared with those on microcrystalline cellulose (avicel) as the main source of carbon. Lentil bran and sunflower seed bagasse yielded c. 1.5 fold more endoglucanase and avicel-adsorbable endoglucanase activity than avicel, and activities on grass clippings were similar. Grass clippings yielded the highest percentage of avicel-adsorbable endoglucanase among all lignocellulosic substrates tested. By the time when endoglucanase activities reached maximal levels, exo,glucanase activities on lentil bran, sunflower seed bagasse and grass clippings were c. 1.5-3 fold lower than those on avicel, although a significant difference in filter paper activities was not observed. On lignocellulosic biomass, maximum levels of endoglucanase activity were reached within 3-4 days, and within 6-7 days on avicel. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved

Knowledge and attitudes of general practitioners about depression

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to learn more about general practititoners' knowledge, attitudes and social distance towards depression which is the most prevalent mental disorder seen in general practice. Method: The survey was conducted in 2002 using face-to-face interviews in offices of 300 general practitioners in Turkey. Data were derived from the questionnaire developed for the survey called "Attitudes Towards Mental Disorders". Results: Almost all of the practitioners believed that depression was treatable, and it could be completely cured according to 90% of the respondents. 80% of the practitioners considered "extreme sadness", near half of them "weak personality" and more than 90% "social handicaps" to be as the causes of depression. 66% believed that these patients would not improve unless social problems were solved. Attitudes of the subjects with relatives diagnosed depression, married, and older were more positive than the others with respect to social distance characteristics. Discussion: Although general practitoners with closer social distance held more positive attitudes towards depression than community people, the results suggest that incorrect knowledge and beliefs about etiology, nonmedical treatment methods and risk of dependency have a tendency to persist in this group. The results of this study underline the need for development of new education programmes aimed to decrease effects of stigmatization based upon information obtained more studies about attitudes and beliefs of physicians