From Online to Offline: Presentations of Self and Partner Searching Techniques among Women in Turkey on Dating Sites

Online dating platforms (apps or websites) have become instruments that are increasingly used by women in their practices of looking for a partner for romantic and/or sexual purposes. This paper focuses on discussing women’s self-presentation (also called impression management) methods and their strategies for evaluating themselves as presented both offline and online within the context of habitus. To this end, field data were collected with the netnographic method on the dating site called “OkCupid”. Afterwards, 11 university-educated white-collar women who were users of this platform in Turkey were enrolled in a semi-structured in-depth interview. While dating sites have offered women new opportunities in the intimacy market within modern society, relationships that start online and continue offline may not provide the anticipated satisfaction among daters due to several structural and technical reasons. The results of our analysis indicate that firstly, this online platform creates the insatiable idea in the minds of daters that they will find a better partner candidate at any moment. Furthermore, it decreases the possibility that daters that like each other will make long-term investments in each other. Secondly, after the rationally-built presentation of the self on the online stage, the mystery which brought about the emotional attraction has been significantly removed from the offline stage

FROM MAIN COMPONENT TO EQUAL CITIZEN: RECONSTRUCTION OF THE JA’FARI IDENTITY IN TURKEY

The ethnic, sectarian, and political conflicts in Iraq and Syria serve as significant catalysts for Turkey’s Ja’faris to redefine their social identity. This article comprises a sociological analysis of the Ja’fari community who are predominantly Azeri Turks adhering to the Shiite sect. The article addresses the parameters they pursue in order to construct and position their own social identity in light of the developments in foreign and domestic politics in Turkey where the Sunni population constitutes the quantitative and political majority. Since the foundation of the secular Republic up until today, the establishment has pursued the policy of homogenizing citizens via its ideological apparatus based on Sunni Islam references. As a response, Ja’faris have been rebuilding their identity in tandem with the social changes. In order to integrate with the national policies and overcome the barriers that arise from sectarian differences, Ja’faris constantly underscore in the public sphere that they are the founding components of the nation as “Turks” and “Muslim”s. However, Turkey’s foreign and domestic politics during the conflicts in Iraq, and particularly in the post-Syrian crisis has engendered, citing the Ja’fari leader’s own words, a “shocking effect” within the Ja’fari community. Given the new state of affairs, Ja’faris are rebuilding the Ja’fari identity using a dual language: On one hand, they continue to highlight the “superior” Turkish and Muslim identity that is embraced by the unofficial state ideology, and on the other hand, they embark on a quest for a more civilian equal citizenship within social movements

FROM MAIN COMPONENT TO EQUAL CITIZEN: RECONSTRUCTION OF THE JA’FARI IDENTITY IN TURKEY

The ethnic, sectarian, and political conflicts in Iraq and Syria serve as significant catalysts for Turkey’s Ja’faris to redefine their social identity. This article comprises a sociological analysis of the Ja’fari community who are predominantly Azeri Turks adhering to the Shiite sect. The article addresses the parameters they pursue in order to construct and position their own social identity in light of the developments in foreign and domestic politics in Turkey where the Sunni population constitutes the quantitative and political majority. Since the foundation of the secular Republic up until today, the establishment has pursued the policy of homogenizing citizens via its ideological apparatus based on Sunni Islam references. As a response, Ja’faris have been rebuilding their identity in tandem with the social changes. In order to integrate with the national policies and overcome the barriers that arise from sectarian differences, Ja’faris constantly underscore in the public sphere that they are the founding components of the nation as “Turks” and “Muslim”s. However, Turkey’s foreign and domestic politics during the conflicts in Iraq, and particularly in the post-Syrian crisis has engendered, citing the Ja’fari leader’s own words, a “shocking effect” within the Ja’fari community. Given the new state of affairs, Ja’faris are rebuilding the Ja’fari identity using a dual language: On one hand, they continue to highlight the “superior” Turkish and Muslim identity that is embraced by the unofficial state ideology, and on the other hand, they embark on a quest for a more civilian equal citizenship within social movements

GREENWAYS AND THE URBAN FORM: CITY OF ANKARA, TURKEY

A greenway is a linear open space established along either a natural corridor, such as a riverfront, stream valley, or ridgeline, or overland along a railroad right-of-way converted to recreational use, a canal, scenic rood, or other route. It is any natural or landscaped course for pedestrian or bicycle passage. An open-space connector linking parks, nature reserves, cultural features, or historic sites with each other and with populated areas (Little, 1995; Miller et al., 1998; Viles and Rosier, 2001). A greenway is a connector; a pattern of protected lands linking other protected lands such as natural features or historic sites into a greater whole. According to Fabos and Ahern (1996), greenways are urban riversides, recreational paths and trails, ecologically significant natural corridors, scenic and historic roads and comprehensive regional green infrastructures incorporating elements from all the previous four. The system can be defined as a connected and integrated system of mostly linear, rear-natural and cultural areas which remained as almost undeveloped corridors passing through the human-altered landscape. In the 1980’s, increased interest in open-space conservation converged with the growing popularity of outdoor recreation, resulting in many new greenway projects along with vigorous support across the country (Little, 1995). As the loss of open space has become increasingly apparent on the national level and particularly striking in many urban areas, interest in all types of land conservation has risen to an unprecedented level. At the same time, the cost of land in many places especially in metropolitan areas has continued to rise while federal funding for land conservation has plummeted. Land protection has thus become increasingly difficult in many parts of country. Greenways are a partial solution to this problem because they often require less than traditional, non linear parks, especially when recreation is the primary focus. One estimate put the number of greenways existing in the United States at 1989 at over 250. The actual number of greenways may be much higher, since many protected linear open spaces that lack organized management, administration, or publicity often go unrecognized. The term greenway can usually be applied to many linear open spaces that have, not traditionally been so named. Dozens of greenway projects are now under way across the country in urban, suburban and rural settings. Notable efforts with a strong recreational focus, but which also involve land protection, are taking place in San Francisco, where the Bay Trail and The Bay Area Ridge Trail trace concentric rings around San Francisco Bay; along the Chattanooga River in Chattanooga, Tennessee; from New York City to Albany and beyond along the Hudson River, and in Boston, where the Bay Circuit Trail encircles the metropolitan area much as Frederic Law Olmsted’s Emerald Necklace encircled the inner city over a century ago. Several coordinated urban greenway networks are now under way that stresses both recreation and conservation in cities like Boulder, Colorado; Davis, California; and North Carolina. The state of Maryland has launched a statewide greenways program that seeks to combine water resource and habitat protection. In Texas, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working to secure a major wildlife corridor along 250 miles of the lower Rio Grande (Smith and Helmund, 1993)

Genetically Engineered Microvesicles Carrying Suicide mRNA/Protein Inhibit Schwannoma Tumor Growth

Microvesicles (MVs) play an important role in intercellular communication by carrying mRNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs), non-coding RNAs, proteins, and DNA from cell to cell. To our knowledge, this is the first report of delivery of a therapeutic mRNA/protein via MVs for treatment of cancer. We first generated genetically engineered MVs by expressing high levels of the suicide gene mRNA and protein–cytosine deaminase (CD) fused to uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (UPRT) in MV donor cells. MVs were isolated from these cells and used to treat pre-established nerve sheath tumors (schwannomas) in an orthotopic mouse model. We demonstrated that MV-mediated delivery of CD-UPRT mRNA/protein by direct injection into schwannomas led to regression of these tumors upon systemic treatment with the prodrug (5-fluorocytosine (5-FC)), which is converted within tumor cells to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)–an anticancer agent. Taken together, these studies suggest that MVs can serve as novel cell-derived “liposomes” to effectively deliver therapeutic mRNA/proteins to treatment of diseases

Impact of Coronary Collateral Circulation on In-Hospital Death in Patients with Inferior ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Objectives. Coronary collateral circulation (CCC) may limit the size of right ventricular (RV) infarcts but does not fully explain the relationship between CCC and clinical adverse events in patients with inferior STEMI. In this study, it was aimed to assess the relationship between preintervention angiographic evidence of CCC and clinical outcomes in patients with inferior STEMI who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention. Methods. A total of 235 inferior STEMI patients who presented within the first 12 hours from the symptom onset were included. CCC to the right coronary artery (RCA) before angioplasty were angiographically assessed, establishing two groups: 147 (63%) patients without CCC and 88 (37%) with CCC according to presence of CCC. Results. RV infarction, complete atrioventricular block, VT/VF, cardiogenic shock, and in-hospital death were noted less frequently in patients with CCC than in those without CCC. Absence of CCC to RCA was found to be the independent predictor for in-hospital death among them (odds ratio 4.0, 95% CI 1.8–12.6; p=0.03). Conclusion. Presence of angiographically detectable CCC was associated with better in-hospital outcomes including RV infarction, complete AV block, cardiogenic shock, and VT/VF in patients with inferior STEMI

Protective effects of dantrolene and methylprednisolone against spinal cord injury-induced early oxidative damage in rabbit bladder: A comparative experimental study

Conclusions. Dantrolene and MP may have potential benefits against oxidative damage in the bladder after SCIs because of their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. In particular, the combined use of DNT and MP at different doses can be considered a treatment strategy

Angiographic correlations of patients with small vessel disease diagnosed by adenosine-stress cardiac magnetic resonance imaging

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) with adenosine-stress myocardial perfusion is gaining importance for the detection and quantification of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, there is little knowledge about patients with CMR-detected ischemia, but having no relevant stenosis as seen on coronary angiography (CA). The aims of our study were to characterize these patients by CMR and CA and evaluate correlations and potential reasons for the ischemic findings. 73 patients with an indication for CA were first scanned on a 1.5T whole-body CMR-scanner including adenosine-stress first-pass perfusion. The images were analyzed by two independent investigators for myocardial perfusion which was classified as subendocardial ischemia (n = 22), no perfusion deficit (n = 27, control 1), or more than subendocardial ischemia (n = 24, control 2). All patients underwent CA, and a highly significant correlation between the classification of CMR perfusion deficit and the degree of coronary luminal narrowing was found. For quantification of coronary blood flow, corrected Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) frame count (TFC) was evaluated for the left anterior descending (LAD), circumflex (LCX) and right coronary artery (RCA). The main result was that corrected TFC in all coronaries was significantly increased in study patients compared to both control 1 and to control 2 patients. Study patients had hypertension or diabetes more often than control 1 patients. In conclusion, patients with CMR detected subendocardial ischemia have prolonged coronary blood flow. In connection with normal resting flow values in CAD, this supports the hypothesis of underlying coronary microvascular impairment. CMR stress perfusion differentiates non-invasively between this entity and relevant CAD

Associations of Trauma Severity with Mean Platelet Volume and Levels of Systemic Inflammatory Markers (IL1 beta, IL6, TNF alpha, and CRP)

WOS: 000374424100001We investigated the associations of injury severity scores (ISSs) with the mean platelet volume, the serum levels of two interleukins (IL1 beta and IL6), and the serum levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) and C-reactive protein (CRP). We sought to identify biochemical parameters that could be used as components of a new biochemical parameter-based ISS system. The levels of CRP, TNF alpha, IL1 beta, and IL6 differed significantly (all p values 0.05). The TNF alpha and IL6 levels were useful for determining the severity of injury, and the CRP level was elevated in all trauma patients but did not correlate with the ISS. The IL1 beta level was higher in the study group but did not increase as the ISS increased. IL6 and TNF alpha levels were higher in the study group and increased as the ISS increased. We found no significant difference between the trauma group and healthy individuals in terms of MPV values. IL6 and TNF alpha levels can be used to assess trauma severity. However, neither the MPV nor the CRP or IL1 beta level is useful for this purpose