Effects of stratification and moisturizing treatments on breaking seed dormancy in two echinacea species

Echinacea (Echinacea ssp.) has been widely used in folk medicine for centuries and has a high market share and medicinal value, because more than 280 different products are sold economically in Europe. Generally, germination rate of Echinacea seeds is very low and poor seedling growth is an ongoing problem compared to other medicinal plants. Different methods were used before sowing that effect seedling quality which have positive effects on yield. In this study, the effects of stratification and moisturizing on the germination of Echinacea seeds were investigated. It was determined that stratification + moisturizing treatment at +4 degrees C with different day intervals (0, 5, 10, 15 days) had a significant (p<0.01) effect on germination rates on seeds of Echinacea purpurea L. and Echinacea angustifolia L., besides the same effect was observed in epicotyl and hypocotyl lengths. Germination rates and seedling outflows were highest in moist seeds that kept at +4 degrees C temperature for 15 days. It is clear from the study that stratification and moisturizing methods were efficient in breaking dormancy and also used methods were non-chemical, easily applicable and economically advantage for commercial plantations

Chemical and morphological diversity among wild populations of Hypericum aviculariifolium Jaub. et Spach subsp. depilatum (Freyn et Bornm.) N. Robson var. depilatum

In this study, the chemical and morphological diversity among eleven wild populations of Hypericum aviculariifolium Jaub. et Spach subsp. depilatum (Freyn et Bornm.) N. Robson var. depilatum, an endemic Turkish species was studied. These populations were investigated for their contents of hypericin, pseudohypericin, hyperforin, the chlorogenic, neochlorogenic, caffeic and 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acids, hyperoside, quercitrin, isoquercitrin, avicularin, 13,118 biapigenin, (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin as well as for their morphological traits, including density of leaf light and dark glands, leaf area, leaf length/width ratio and plant height. The top two-thirds of the plants representing thirty individuals was harvested at full flowering from eleven sites and analyzed for the content of bioactive compounds by high-performance liquid chromatography after being dried at room temperature. Morphological characterization of the wild populations was performed on twenty randomly selected individuals from each plant-growing locality. The content of the tested compounds, except for caffeic acid and avicularin, and some morphological traits, namely, the density of leaf translucent glands and black nodules and leaf area varied significantly with the investigated populations. It was observed that hypericin and pseudohypericin contents were connected positively with leaf black nodule density, but negatively with leaf area and the contents of hyperforin, quercitrin and 13,118-biapigenin were correlated positively with leaf translucent gland density. Data presented here could be useful in determining future targets for further wide-ranging studies on this endemic species as well as in identifying superior germplasm in terms of high chemical content

Choroidal vascularity index after a single dose of intravitreal dexamethasone implant in patients with refractory diabetic macular oedema

Purpose: To evaluate choroidal vascularity index (CVI) after a single dose of intravitreal dexamethasone implant in refractory diabetic macular oedema (DME). Methods: Total choroidal area, luminal area, and CVI were measured at baseline, 1st month, and at 3rd month after dexamethasone implant using binarization of enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) images. Results: A total of 25 eyes of 25 patients (mean age: 61.4 ± 8.3 years; 12 males, 13 females), were enroled in the study. All eyes had been previously treated with intravitreal aflibercept injections (mean number of injections 4.6 ± 2.5). Mean CVI was 70.3 ± 8.1 prior to intravitreal dexamethasone treatment. It was decreased to 66.1 ± 9.3 at 1 month and 63.5 ± 10.1 at 3 months after treatment. The mean CVI was significantly decreased at 3 months compared with pre-treatment measures (p = 0.033). Conclusion: CVI was found to be decreased in patients who responded to intravitreal dexamethasone implant. © 2022 Elsevier B.V

Thiadiazuron ve Zeatin’in Helichrysum Pallasii’de bitki rejenerasyonuna etkisi

The genus of Helichrysum comprises many species which have therapeutical effects and used in folk medicine. H. pallasii is one of these species, used in the region for traditional medicine and ornamental purposes. Therefore, optimizing alternative micropropagation protocols of tissue culture conditions and secondary metabolite production for these species needs attention. The effect of Thidiazuran (TDZ) combined with Zeatin (ZEA) on shoot regeneration in H. pallasi was investigated during this study. The leaf, stem and root parts taken from the seedling germinated under in vitro conditions were used as explants. As a result, the root explants were more efficient compared to other explants in inducing plant regeneration using 1 mg L-1 Thidiazuran (TDZ) + 0.1 mg L-1 Zeatin (ZEA) (88.9%) and 1 mg L-1 TDZ treatment (85.7%). The lowest plant regeneration percentage (16.7%) was found in control medium using leaf explants.Helichrysum cinsi, tedavi edici etkileri olan ve halk hekimliğinde kullanılan birçok türü içermektedir. H. pallasii yörede geleneksel tıp ve süs amaçlı kullanılan bu türlerden bir tanesidir. Bu nedenle, bu türler için doku kültüründe alternatif mikroçoğaltım protokollerinin ve sekonder metabolit üretiminin optimize edilmesi gerektirmektedir. Bu çalışmada Zeatin (ZEA) ile kombine edilmiş Thidiazuran (TDZ)’ nın H. pallasi'de sürgün rejenerasyonu üzerine etkileri incelenmiştir. İn vitro koşullarda çimlendirilen bitkiciklerden alınan yaprak, gövde ve kök kısımları eksplant olarak kullanılmıştır. Sonuç olarak, en yüksek bitki rejenerasyonu kök eksplantlarına uygulanan 1 mg L-1 Thidiazuran (TDZ) + 0.1 mg L-1 Zeatin (ZEA) (%88.9) ve 1 mg L-1 TDZ (%85.7) uygulamalarından elde edilmiştir. En düşük bitki rejenerasyon yüzdesi (%16.7) ise yaprak eksplantları kullanılan kontrol uygulamasından elde edilmiştir

GENETİĞİ DEĞİŞTİRİLMİŞ ÜRÜNLERE KARŞI ÜRETİCİLERİN FARKINDALIKLARI

Dünyada ve ülkemizde sosyal medya ve sivil toplum kuruluşlarının tepkisini çeken genetiği değiştirilmiş ürünler gündemde yer almaya devam etmektedir. Tekirdağ İli'nde, bu güne kadar genetiği değiştirilmiş ürünler konusunda üreticilerin farkındalıklarını belirlemeye yönelik anket çalışması yapılmamıştır. Bu tezin amacı bir anket çalışmasıyla üreticilerin genetiği değiştirilmiş ürünler konusundaki bilgi farkındalık ve tutumlarının belirlenmesidir. Bu maksatla Tekirdağ İli ve ilçelerinde Gıda, Tarım ve Hayvancılık Bakanlığı Tarım İl Müdürlüğünde kayıtlı tarımla uğraşan üreticiler belirlenerek 404 kişi ile anket çalışması yapılmıştır. Açıklayıcı faktör analizine göre 28 yargıdan 4 faktörlü bir yapı oluşmuştur. Olumsuz bakış faktörü 14, olumlu bakış 9 yargı, korku ve kaygılar 3 yargı ve bilgi edinme fiyat ise 2 yargıdan oluşmuştur. Yargıların iç tutarlık katsayısı 0,890, Kaiser Mayer Olkin (KMO) değeri 0,880 bulunarak, örneklem büyüklüğünün iyi olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Elde edilen verilerin güvenilirlik analizleri yapılmış, üreticilerin demografik özellikleri incelenmiştir. Analiz sonucunda hipotezler istatistiki anlamda önemli bulunarak kabul edilmiştir. Ancak, “üreticilerin GD ürünlere yönelik tutumları üreticilerin çocuk sahibi olma durumlarına göre farklılık gösterir” ve “ GD ürünlere yönelik tutumlar üreticilerin medeni durumuna göre farklılık gösterir” hipotezleri P<0,05 ve P<0,01 anlamlılk düzeyinde olduğundan red edilmiştir. Üreticilerin GDO ile ilgili verilen ''yanlış, doğru ve tartışmaya açık ifadeler'' konusunda doğru bilgiye sahip olduğu belirlenmiştir. Üreticiler GD ürünlerin etiketlenerek birbirinden ayrılmasını desteklemiştir. GDO oranın %95.54’ü mısırda, %87,87’si soyada olduğunu belirtmiştir. Üreticiler, GD ürünlere ihtiyaç duyulmasının nedeninin dünyadaki açlıkla mücadeledir ve GD bitkilerin hastalık tedavisi ile aşı üretiminde kullanılacağını belirten ifadeleri doğru bulmamıştır. Anket sonuçlarına göre; ankete katılan üreticilerin yaş grubu, eğitim oranı, GDO ile ilgili bilgi sahibi olma düzeyi yükseldikçe olumsuz bakış, tüketici hakları ve kaygılar ile fiyat faktörü arasında anlamlı fark görülmüştür.Genetically modified products, which attract the reaction of social media and nongovernmental organizations in the world and in our country, continue to be on the agenda. In Tekirdag and its province there has been no survey to determine the producers' awareness about genetically modified products to this day. The aim of this thesis is to determine the knowledge awareness and attitudes of producers on genetically modified products with an objective survey study. For this purpose, the producers dealing with agriculture registered in the Provincial Directorate of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock were determined and surveyed in Tekirdağ province and districts. The questionnaire survey was conducted face to face with total of 404 manufacturers. According to explanatory factor analysis, a structure with 4 factors was formed from 28 judges. Negative glance factor 14, positive view 9 judiciary, fear and concerns 3 judiciary and information acquisition price is composed of 2 judges. The internal consistency coefficient of the judgments was 0.890, and the Kaiser Mayer Olkin (KMO) value was 0.880, indicating that the sample size was good. Reliability analyzes of the obtained data were conducted and the demographic characteristics of the producers were examined. As a result of the analysis hypotheses have been accepted as statistically significant. It has been determined that the producers have the right information on the "wrong, correct and disputable expressions" given to GMOs. Manufacturers support labeling and separation of products and they believe in 95,54% of corn and 87,87% of soy are contain GMO. The producers do not consider that the need for genetically modified crops is a starvation struggle in the world and the plants to be used to produce vaccines in the treatment of disease.According to the survey results; As the level of the age group, the education rate, and the knowledge of the GMOs increased, the worries about the price and the consumer rights and concerns were seen to increase.Manufacturers' intentions to purchase GM crops were different. They have developed an attitude that they will be sensitive while purchasing a cheap GM product and that they will not buy an GM genetically modified product with the animal gene

Vascular and structural alterations of the choroid evaluated by optical coherence tomography angiography and enhanced-depth imaging optical coherence tomography in eyes with reticular pseudodrusen and soft drusen

Background: To assess the vascularity of choriocapillaris and structural choroidal differences in eyes with reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) and soft drusen. Methods: 21 eyes with RPD (group 1), 17 eyes with soft drusen (group 2), and 19 eyes as a control group (group 3) were included in this study. Choriocapillaris vascular density and flow area were measured by optical coherence tomography angiography. Total choroidal area, luminal area, stromal area, and lumen/stroma ratios were measured on optical coherence tomography B-scans converted to binary images. Results: Mean choriocapillaris vascular density was higher in group 3 than other groups (group 1 vs 3, p = 0.001; group 2 vs 3, p = 0.003). Mean flow area in choriocapillaris was higher in group 3 than other groups (group 1 vs 3, p = 0.001; group 2 vs 3, p = 0.001). Mean luminal, stromal, and total choroidal areas decreased in group 1 and group 2 compared to controls (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). The stroma ratio decreased in group 1 compared to group 3 (p = 0.013). The lumen ratio and lumen/stroma ratio increased in group 1 compared to group 3 (p = 0.012 and p = 0.008, respectively). Conclusions: The choroid of eyes with RPD and soft drusen was affected in both choriocapillaris and whole choroid layer. © 2021 Elsevier B.V

International Migration and The Rise of Islamophobia as A "New Racism" Type

The phenomenon of international migration is a problem that is more prominent than other types of migration today. It is observed that human mobility, which has increased due to various crises in the recent period, is especially concentrated in the prosperous and economically developed Western nation-states. This situation causes more people from different religions, languages, ethnic origins and cultures to meet and experience adaptation problems. In addition, these developments deeply affect the daily lives of Muslims, who are a minority in Western societies. In the process that evolved from xenophobia to a "new racism" based on Islamophobia, Muslims are now seen as members of an incompatible and dangerous religion. When evaluated together with these developments, the subject of the study is to examine the effects of dynamics in the encounters of people from different religions on their lives and understandings, which is one of the results of the phenomenon of international migration today. This study aims to analyze the rise of Islamophobia, one of the consequences of international migration, and the reasons for its transformation into "new racism" together with historical developments. A comparative historical sociological analysis method has been adopted. The most important findings of the study are that the phenomenon of international migration compares people from different cultures, languages, ethnic origins and religions more in Western societies with a higher socioeconomic level and makes integration problems more unsolved, especially with internal dynamics such as the far-right and the media. Especially in Western societies, in the context of historical crisis and developments of Muslim immigrants, xenophobia and a kind of new-cultural racism are more frequently encountered. This situation makes visible a dangerous process developing from Islamophobia to anti-Islamism

Choroidal vascularity index and retinal nerve fiber layer reflectivity in newly diagnosed migraine patients

Purpose: To evaluate the choroidal structural parameters, peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, and optic density index (ODI) and their correlations in patients with migraine. Methods: Twenty-eight newly diagnosed migraine patients and 28 age-matched healthy controls were included in this prospective cross-sectional study. The enhanced depth-optical coherence tomography images were evaluated. The choroidal area (CA) was binarized to the luminal area (LA) and stromal area (SA) using Image J. The choroidal vascularity index (CVI), the mean peripapillary RNFL thickness, superior-inferior-nasal-temporal quadrant RNFL thicknesses, and the ODI were compared statistically. Results: The difference in the mean CVI between the patient group and controls reached a statistical significance (p=0.035). The mean RNFL thickness was significantly decreased in patients with migraine compared with the controls (p=0.040). The mean RNFL thickness in the superior, temporal, and inferior quadrants was significantly decreased in the patient group in comparison to the control subjects (p=0.030, p=0.001, and p=0.022, respectively). There were no significant differences between the migraine group and the controls for the mean ODI of RNFL (p=0.399). Conclusion: The CVI and the RNFL thickness except for the nasal quadrant were significantly decreased in newly diagnosed migraine patients. © 2021 Elsevier B.V

4+4+4 Eğitim Sisteminin Beşinci Sınıf Öğrencilerine Yansıması: Öğretmen Görüşleri

ÖZ: Bu çalışmanın amacı 4+4+4 eğitim sistemiyle birlikte ortaokul olan 5. Sınıf öğrencilerinin yaşadığı problemlerin öğretmen görüşleri açısından ele alınmasıdır. Araştırmanın örneklemini 2013-2014 eğitim ve öğretim yılı, Niğde ili 147 beşinci sınıf branş öğretmenleri oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmada nitel ve nicel araştırma yöntemleri bir arada kullanılmıştır. Elde edilen açık uçlu anket sorularından en temel görüşler; öğrenci kaynaklı olduğu düşünülen sorunların kısaca, öğrencilerin yaşlarının küçük olduğu, kendilerini ilkokul gibi hissettikleri, ergenlik çağındaki çocuklarla bir arada olmalarının sakıncalı olabileceği, derslere ilgisiz oldukları yönündedir. öğretmen kaynaklı olduğu düşünülen sorunların öğrencilerin davranışlarını yönetememe (sınıf ve davranış yönetimi), ders anlatım yöntem ve tekniklerinde hissedilen eksiklikler, haftalık ve günlük ders saatlerinin fazlalığı ile derslere giriş-çıkış saatleri şeklinde yoğunlaşmıştır; diğer etmenler olarak kısaca ders saatlerinin fazlalığı, giriş çıkış saatlerinin uygun olmayışı, ders kitapları ve müfredat programının uygun olmadığı ve son olarak açlıkla başedememe olarak dile getirilmiştir. Bunlara ek olarak nicel bulgular da bu sonuçları destekler niteliktedir.Anahtar kelimeler: 4+4+4 eğitim sistemi, 5. Sınıf öğrencileri, öğretmen görüşleri

A newborn with an alternative porto-caval shunt

BACKGROUND: Absent ductus venosus (ADV) is a rare condition, but it should be known that this embryonic anomaly may be detected by fetal echocardiographic or newborn ultrasound examinations. CASE REPORT: We present a baby with an ADV and an accompanying alternative porto-caval shunt between the right portal vein and inferior vena cava detected on postnatal ultrasound examination. CONCLUSIONS: Variations in the fetal umbilical or porto-systemic circulations should be detected by fetal or newborn ultrasound examinations and kept in mind before common interventions such as UV catheterizations