Promoting the Enabling Environment for functioning Civil Society: Analysis of Civil Society Environment in Turkey

An increasing amount of attention has been devoted to understanding the role of civil society in the global politics, although little has been done to identify and analyze conditions under which civil society can function as agents of democratization and development. This article reviews this changing discourse that acknowledges civil society as an independent actor and the approaches to define “the enabling environment” for civil society development. The main part of the contribution presents the findings of an empirical investigation demonstrating the situation of enabling environment for civil society in Turkey in the EU accession process. Three major tenets of enabling environment are assessed: (1) Operational activity (law on associations and foundations, problems in registration, disproportionate audit, lack of statistical data/ consistent policy towards CSOs); (2) Speech and advocacy (freedom of expression, internet regulation and pressure on social networks); (3) Freedom of Assembly (constitutional rights, law on meeting and demonstrations, responses to Gezi protests). The empirical data is drawn from Third Sector Foundation of Turkey (TUSEV) publications2 on these dimensions and Monitoring Reports drafted by TUSEV within project entitled Monitoring Matrix on Enabling Environment for Civil Society Development Project funded by the European Unio

Unilocular ossifying fibroma of the mandible misdiagnosed as a radicular cyst: Case report

Ossifying fibroma is a benign fibro-osseous lesion which arises mostly on mandibular molarpremolarregion. Ossifying fibroma may be asymptomatic or may cause buccolingual expansion.The localization of the lesion is mainly on non-tooth bearing areas of the jaws. Radiographicallythe lesion is presented with a range of radiographic patterns including pure radioluscency, mixradiolucency-radiopacity or pure radioopacity. Ossifying fibroma is always well-demarcated. Inthis case report, the surgical treatment of a misdiagnosed unilocular ossifying fibroma which isin relation with mandibular second molar radix is presented

The Relations of Space, Material, Form in Textile Art through the 'Textural Touch' Textile Exhibition

Bu makale, iki kişilik ortak bir çalışmanın ürünü olan 'Doku'nuşlar' Tekstil Sergisi'nin ardından, yaratı süreci ve sergileme sırasında sorgulanan mekanmalzeme ve biçim birlikteliğini tekstil sanatçısı yaklaşımıyla ele alan bir değerlendirmeye dayanmaktadır. 'Doku'nuşlar' Tekstil Sergisi, iki tekstil sanatçısının tarihi bir mekan olan Nakkaş Sarnıcı'nın heybetinden, ışığından, gölgesinden, dokusundan ve hatta kokusundan ilham alarak mekan için bir şeyler tasarlamak fikrinden ortaya çıkmıştır. Bizans döneminde inşa edilmiş olan 1400 yıllık tarihe sahip sarnıçta gerçekleştirilen sergi, mekanın egemenliğinde ve etkisinde malzeme, yüzey ve biçim oyunlarının sorgulandığı, geometrik formların içinde gizlenen organik detayları vurgulayan tekstilin ana malzemesi ve tamamlayıcı öğeleri ile birlikte, doku ve yüzey arayışlarının üç boyutlu tekstillere/tekstil heykellere dönüşmesi sürecini anlatmaktadır. Serginin yaratı sürecinde, tekstil sanatının kendi içindeki oluşumları sorgulanırken aynı zamanda diğer disiplinler ile ilişkisi üzerinden yenilik arayışını sürdüren bir yöntem izlenmiştir. Bu yöntemdeki temel yaklaşım olan deneysellik ve rastlantısallık yaratı sürecinde merak, heyecan ve motivasyonu arttırırken bir yandan da çözülmesi gereken birçok sorunu beraberinde getirmiştir. Süreç bu haliyle yaratıcı sorun çözme yöntemi ile yönetilmiştir. Bu yaklaşımla makalede, günümüzde tekstil sanatında mekan, malzeme ve biçim birlikteliğinin sorunları ele alınarak, 21. yüzyıl sanatında üç boyutlu tekstillerin mekan algısındaki güçlü etkisi irdelenmektedir This paper is based on an evaluation of space-material and form association investigated during the creation process and exhibiting, from the perspective of Textile Artist, after the launch of 'Textural Touch' Textile Exhibition which was a collaborative work created by two artists. 'Textural Touch' Textile Exhibition is emerged from the idea of designing something through the inspiration of the grandeur of the Cistern Nakkaş which is a historical place, of its light, shadow, texture and even of its smell. Realized in a cistern that was built during the Byzantine period and has a history of 1400 years, this exhibition with the influence of its space where plays of material, surface and form are questioned, with the essential material of textile and its complementary elements which emphasize organic details hidden inside geometric forms; relates the pursuits for texture and surface, the process of them transforming into three dimensional objects/textile sculptures. During creative process of the exhibition, while formations of textile art in itself are questioned, a method for sustaining the search of innovation on textile art's relationship with other disciplines is followed. Experimentalism and accidentalness which were the principal approaches of this method have increased curiosity, great interest and motivation but on the other hand has brought along many problems that need to be solved. The process in its own plight had been managed through creative problem solving methods. Through this approach, while current problems of space - material and form togetherness are being adressed in the paper, the powerful influence of three dimensional textiles in 21st century art in the perception of space is investigated

A retrospective study on demographics and characteristics of the supernumerary teeth in western-central anatolian region

Objectives: Supernumerary teeth (ST) are impacted or erupted redundant teeth on normal primary or permanent dentition. The prevalence and type of ST may vary due to geography and ethnicity.  In this study, demographics and characteristics of surgically operated supernumerary teeth in an institution in Western-Central Anatolia were evaluated.Materials and Methods: Computerized tomography or panoramic radiography images and clinical data of 67 supernumerary teeth that were surgically operated in a 1-year period was retrieved from archives and data regarding localization, age, type of ST were recorded.Results: The mean age was 15.89. Twenty-three (34.4%) of 67 ST were erupted and 44 (65.6%) of them were impacted. Four types of supernumerary teeth were identified. The most common form was conical form.(44.7%) Twenty-five (37.3%) ST were removed with related cyst enucleation. The most common localization was mandibular premolar region. (53.7%)Conclusions: All acquired data was consistent with the previous literature findings. Computerized tomography may be useful in the surgery of multiple ST cases

Urease and acetylcholinesterase enzyme inhibitor novel phthalonitrile azo compounds

Based on the relationship between Helicobacter pylori and Alzehimer’s disease, new azo phthalonitrile compounds containing different amino pyridines have been synthesized. These compounds can inhibit both Urease and Acetylcholinesterase, which are the most important enzymes in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori and Alzehimer’s disease, respectively. All compounds have shown better inhibition than standards in the presence of both enzymes. Especialy, azo phthalonitrile compound 4 is more active than other compounds and standards, showed a significant inhibition performance and efficient IC50 values to Urease (20.47±0.14 µM) and Acetylcholinesterase (4.73±0.07 µM) enzymes. Interestingly, the inhibitory effect of the newly synthesized compounds against to Urease and Acetylcholinesterase is same ranking

Impact of an Inner-City Smoke-Free Zone on Outdoor Smoking Patterns:A Before-After Study

INTRODUCTION: On September 2, 2019, Rotterdam’s first inner-city outdoor smoke-free zone encompassing the Erasmus MC, a large university hospital in the Netherlands, the Erasmiaans high school, the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences and the public road in between, was implemented. AIMS AND METHODS: We aimed to assess spatiotemporal patterning of smoking before and after implementation of this outdoor smoke-free zone. We performed a before–after observational field study. We systematically observed the number of smokers, and their locations and characteristics over 37 days before and after implementation of the smoke-free zone. RESULTS: Before implementation of the smoke-free zone, 4098 people smoked in the area every weekday during working hours. After implementation, the daily number of smokers was 2241, a 45% reduction (p = .007). There was an increase of 432 smokers per day near and just outside the borders of the zone. At baseline, 31% of the smokers were categorized as employee, 22% as student and 3% as patient. Following implementation of the smoke-free zone, the largest decreases in smokers were observed among employees (–67%, p value .004) and patients (–70%, p value .049). Before and after implementation, 21 and 20 smokers were visibly addressed and asked to smoke elsewhere. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of an inner-city smoke-free zone was associated with a substantial decline in the number of smokers in the zone and an overall reduction of smoking in the larger area. Further research should focus on optimizing implementation of and compliance with outdoor smoke-free zones. IMPLICATIONS: A smoke-free outdoor policy has the potential to denormalize and discourage smoking, support smokers who want to quit, and to protect people from secondhand smoke exposure. Implementation of an inner-city smoke-free zone encompassing a large tertiary hospital and two educational institutions was associated with a substantial decline in the number of smokers in the zone, as well as in the larger area. Voluntary outdoor smoke-free zones can help reduce the number of smokers in the area and protect people from secondhand smoke. There is a need to explore effectiveness of additional measures to further improve compliance

Pediatric patients' views regarding smoke-free hospital grounds compared to those of adults:A survey study

INTRODUCTION: Children are important stakeholders in discussions about regulation of smoking and protection from secondhand smoke, but are rarely acknowledged as such. We explored the opinion of pediatric patients and other key stakeholders regarding the planned smoke-free zone around the Erasmus MC, a large university hospital in the Netherlands. METHODS: In 2019, we conducted a survey among pediatric patients and their parents, Erasmus MC employees, visitors, and adult patients, before implementation of the outdoor smoke-free zone, to assess their opinions on smoking and the planned smoke-free policy. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected and analyzed mostly using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. RESULTS: In all, 91 parent-child dyads and 563 employees, visitors, patients and students filled in the questionnaires. Over 90% of children reported that they were regularly exposed to tobacco smoke, most often on the streets. Many underlined the exemplary role of healthcare providers, and 89% felt that nobody should be allowed to smoke near the hospital. Among parents, 89% were (very) positive towards the planned implementation of the smoke-free zone. In addition, 70% of adult patients, 81% of employees, 65% of visitors, 89% of students and 75% of ‘others’ were (very) positive about the new smoke-free policy. Smokers and former smokers generally were less positive about the policy. CONCLUSIONS: Children generally disapproved smoking around a hospital and felt that healthcare providers should be a good example concerning not smoking. The majority of adult patients, employees and visitors support a smoke-free zone surrounding the hospital, and virtually all pediatric patients and their parents do. Children should be acknowledged as important stakeholders in smoke-free policies and should be involved in planning and implementation

Cytokines as Early Markers of Colorectal Anastomotic Leakage: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Purpose. Colorectal anastomotic leakage (CAL) is one of the most severe complications after colorectal surgery. This meta-analysis evaluates whether systemic or peritoneal inflammatory cytokines may contribute to early detection of CAL. Methods. Systematic literature search was performed in the acknowledged medical databases according to the PRISMA guidelines to identify studies evaluating systemic and peritoneal levels of TNF, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 for early detection of CAL. Means and standard deviations of systemic and peritoneal cytokine levels were extracted, respectively, for patients with and without CAL. The meta-analysis of the mean differences was carried out for each postoperative day using Review Manager. Results. Seven articles were included. The meta-analysis was performed with 5 articles evaluating peritoneal cytokine levels. Peritoneal levels of IL-6 were significantly higher in patients with CAL compared to patients without CAL on postoperative days 1, 2, and 3 (P<0.05). Similar results were found for peritoneal levels of TNF but on postoperative days 3, 4, and 5 (P<0.05). The articles regarding systemic cytokine levels did not report any significant difference accordingly. Conclusion. Increased postoperative levels of peritoneal IL-6 and TNF are significantly associated with CAL and may contribute to its early detection