Role of the environmental ethics in creating the bio-policies: genetically modified organisms

When taking decisions on environment, being satisfied only with the science and technology without considering the ethical and philosophical problems will create more problems than it solves. The fundamental assumption in this study is that the environment policies should be determined by incorporating the views of as different stakeholders as possible and in political circles within an ethical framework. For example, by using biotechnology, it is possible to cultivate, reproduce and genetically modify the organs, tissue and cells of vegetables. Despite strongly opposed by environment organizations, anti-globalization groups, some academicians and politicians due to their negative effects on natural world, Genetically Modified Organisms are promoted by some agricultural producers and manufacturing companies as well as by some political groups. The importance of referring to the environmental ethics approaches in making the bio policies is understood when we consider that although claims focus on the idea that the reproduction of the genetically modified species will reduce famine in the world, heal diseases and ensure continuity in agriculture, the available data indicate that the main purpose is to control the sectors like seed, food and medical products

Effects of Health-Related Knowledge and Aerobic Exercise on Lower Secondary School Students' Obesity Awareness and Physical Activity Levels

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of health-related knowledge and aerobic exercise on lower secondary school students' obesity awareness and physical activity levels. A total of 50 obese and 20 normal-weight female students, ranging in age from 12-14 (mean 12.10±1.7), participated in the study. Obesity awareness was determined using the Obesity Awareness Scale, which also incorporates awareness of nutrition and physical activity. Physical activity levels were determined using a pedometer. The participants were divided into one obese experimental group and 2 control groups, obese and normal weight. The obese experimental group received instruction in health and nutrition and followed an aerobic exercise program, while the control groups received no such instruction and did not participate in an exercise program. The health education program was conducted once a week, while the aerobic exercise program was performed three times a week, with each session lasting 45-60 minutes. At the conclusion of the study, the obesity awareness, nutrition awareness, and physical activity awareness scores of the students in the obese experimental group increased significantly compared to those of the obese control and normal control groups. Similarly, the physical activity levels of the students in the obese control group increased with respect to those of the obese and normal-weight control groups. These findings suggest that health-related knowledge and aerobic exercise were effective in increasing obesity awareness and the physical activity levels of lower secondary school students

Effects of Health-Related Knowledge and Aerobic Exercise on Lower Secondary School Students' Obesity Awareness and Physical Activity Levels

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of health-related knowledge and aerobic exercise on lower secondary school students' obesity awareness and physical activity levels. A total of 50 obese and 20 normal-weight female students, ranging in age from 12-14 (mean 12.10±1.7), participated in the study. Obesity awareness was determined using the Obesity Awareness Scale, which also incorporates awareness of nutrition and physical activity. Physical activity levels were determined using a pedometer. The participants were divided into one obese experimental group and 2 control groups, obese and normal weight. The obese experimental group received instruction in health and nutrition and followed an aerobic exercise program, while the control groups received no such instruction and did not participate in an exercise program. The health education program was conducted once a week, while the aerobic exercise program was performed three times a week, with each session lasting 45-60 minutes. At the conclusion of the study, the obesity awareness, nutrition awareness, and physical activity awareness scores of the students in the obese experimental group increased significantly compared to those of the obese control and normal control groups. Similarly, the physical activity levels of the students in the obese control group increased with respect to those of the obese and normal-weight control groups. These findings suggest that health-related knowledge and aerobic exercise were effective in increasing obesity awareness and the physical activity levels of lower secondary school students

Analysis of survival among top industrial firms in Turkey

This paper looks at the survival among the top firms in Turkey and analyses which company specific attributes are correlated with survival. Looking at the company specific attributes such as profitability, number of employees, productivity, exporter status, which industry or network a firm belongs to and where it operates, the paper aimed to get a picture of the top thousand firms in Turkey over a period of 35 years. We found that having a higher number of employees, higher productivity, and higher profitability (with one exception), operating out of a major industrial center, as well as belonging to a secular network were all correlated in a statistically significant way with continued survival among the top firms

The Determinants of Social Anxiety in Lower Secondary Education Student Athletes: A Case of Competitive Swimming Environment

Social anxiety disorder is a common psychological problem that may negatively impact the cognitive and social development of children. Its severity may, however, be reduced through regular participation in sports or other physical activity. This study aimed to determine the relationship between competitive student-athlete swimmers' social anxiety levels and anthropometric measurements (height, weight, and BMI), body composition (body fat and lean body mass), and body type (ectomorph, endomorph, or mesomorph). The participants were pre-adolescent female (n = 160) and male (n = 146) lower secondary education student-athlete swimmers. The Social Anxiety Scale was used to evaluate their social anxiety levels, while the anthropometric parameters included height and weight, from which BMI was calculated. Body composition involved determining the percentage of body fat and lean body mass; ectomorphic, endomorphic, and mesomorphic values were then calculated. We found that the social anxiety levels of both female and male student-athlete swimmers were low. There was no statistically significant relationship between the social anxiety levels of the male and female student-athlete swimmers with BMI (rs = -.002), lean body mass (rs = -.017), or ectomorphy (rs = -.006) (p > .05 for all). For the female swimmers, social anxiety levels were not associated with body fat (rs = .116), endomorphy (rs = .067), or mesomorphy (rs = .032), nor were those of the male student-athlete swimmers (rs = .005, rs= .065, and rs= -.001, respectively) (p > .05 for all). These findings suggest that participation in competitive swimming during adolescence is effective in controlling social anxiety. Furthermore, this study revealed that social anxiety is not associated with lower secondary education student-athlete swimmers’ anthropometric measurements, body composition, or body type

Intraocular pressure dynamics with prostaglandin analogs: a clinical application of water-drinking test

Pelin Özyol,1 Erhan Özyol,1 Ercan Baldemir2 1Ophthalmology Department, 2Biostatistics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Mugla, Turkey Aim: To evaluate the clinical applicability of the water-drinking test in treatment-naive primary open-angle glaucoma patients. Methods: Twenty newly diagnosed primary open-angle glaucoma patients and 20 healthy controls were enrolled in this prospective study. The water-drinking test was performed at baseline and 6 weeks and 3 months after prostaglandin analog treatment. Peak and fluctuation of intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements obtained with the water-drinking test during follow-up were analyzed. Analysis of variance for repeated measures and paired and unpaired t-tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: The mean baseline IOP values in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma were 25.1±4.6 mmHg before prostaglandin analog treatment, 19.8±3.7 mmHg at week 6, and 17.9±2.2 mmHg at month 3 after treatment. The difference in mean baseline IOP of the water-drinking tests was statistically significant (P<0.001). At 6 weeks of prostaglandin analog treatment, two patients had high peak and fluctuation of IOP measurements despite a reduction in baseline IOP. After modifying treatment, patients had lower peak and fluctuation of IOP values at month 3 of the study. Conclusion: Peak and fluctuation of IOP in response to the water-drinking test were lower with prostaglandin analogs compared with before medication. The water-drinking test can represent an additional benefit in the management of glaucoma patients, especially by detecting higher peak and fluctuation of IOP values despite a reduced mean IOP. Therefore, it could be helpful as a supplementary method in monitoring IOP in the clinical practice. Keywords: glaucoma, intraocular pressure, water-drinking test, prostaglandin analog, intra­ocular pressure fluctuatio

Hydro-visco-implantation Technique for Wound-assisted Foldable Intraocular Lens Implantation During Microincision Cataract Surgery

The routine use of ophthalmic viscosurgical device (OVD) has revolutionized many anterior segment surgeries. All agents may be responsible for causing or exacerbating a transient, but occasionally significant, postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation, anterior chamber reaction. Removal of OVD from the anterior chamber is then very important. Otherwise administration of topical antiglaucomatous, steroid, or mydriatic drops may be needed in averting or controlling the increased IOP, inflammation, or synechiae [1,2]. Less use of OVD is preferable for both cost-effectiveness and easy removal from eye.Based on this knowledge we have described hydro-viscoimplantation technique that is including IOL implantation and passive removal of OVD.</p

Acute zonal occult outer retinopathy: optical coherence tomography angiography findings and treatment response

Acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR) is a rare condition primarily affecting the outer retina based on electrophysiologic studies. In addition to characteristic fundus appearance, spectral domain optical coherence tomography and fundus autofluorescence are unique in diagnosing AZOOR. There are a few reports on optical coherence tomography anjiography (OCTA) in AZOOR disease. In this report, we present a case using multimodal imaging including OCTA and treatment response to combined systemic antiviral, antiinflammatory, and immunosuppressive drugs. En-face OCTA outer retinal slab may provide useful tips for diagnosis and treatment response

Biocompatibility of Intraocular Lenses

The performance of an intraocular lens is determined by several factors such as the surgical technique, surgical complications, intraocular lens biomaterial and design, and host reaction to the lens. The factor indicating the biocompatibility of an intraocular lens is the behavior of inflammatory and lens epithelial cells. Hence, the biocompatibility of intraocular lens materials is assessed in terms of uveal biocompatibility, based on the inflammatory foreign-body reaction of the eye against the implant, and in terms of capsular biocompatibility, determined by the relationship of the intraocular lens with residual lens epithelial cells within the capsular bag. Insufficient biocompatibility of intraocular lens materials may result in different clinical entities such as anterior capsule opacification, posterior capsule opacification, and lens epithelial cell ongrowth. Intraocular lenses are increasingly implanted much earlier in life in cases such as refractive lens exchange or pediatric intraocular lens implantation after congenital cataract surgery, and these lenses are expected to exhibit maximum performance for many decades. The materials used in intraocular lens manufacture should, therefore, ensure long-term uveal and capsular biocompatibility. In this article, we review the currently available materials used in the manufacture of intraocular lenses, especially with regard to their uveal and capsular biocompatibility, and discuss efforts to improve the biocompatibility of intraocular lenses