Marital satisfaction of Turkish individuals: the role of marriage type, duration of marriage, and personality traits

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of marriage type (family-arranged versus self-choice), duration of marriage, and personality traits (i.e., agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion, openness, and neuroticism) in predicting married Turkish individuals’ marital satisfaction levels. Participants were 288 (147 female and 141 male) married Turkish individuals living in urban cities in Turkey. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed significant results for the linear combination of marriage type and duration of marriage as well as personality traits in explaining individuals’ marital satisfaction levels. More specifically, duration of marriage, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism were found to have individual significant contributions to Turkish individuals’ marital satisfaction levels. Results were discussed by offering suggestions for future research and mental health professionals working with marriage and family issues

Should the cut-off value of D-dimer be elevated to exclude pulmonary embolism in acute exacerbation of COPD?

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the D-dimer levels in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation with and without pulmonary embolism (PE) and to attempt to define a new cut-off value for D-dimer to exclude the diagnosis of PE in patients with COPD exacerbation. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed between the June 2012 and January 2013. The COPD patients who were admitted to the emergency department with acute exacerbation were consecutively included. D-dimer levels were measured upon admission. All patients underwent computed tomography angiography (CTA) and Doppler ultrasonography (US) of the lower extremities. Results: A total of 148 patients were enrolled. Fifty-three patients (36%) who did not have PE had higher than normal (>0.5 pg/mL) D-dimer levels. The D-dimer levels of the COPD patients with PE were significantly higher than those of the patients without PE (2.38±2.80 vs. 1.06±1.51 pg/mL) (P<0.001). The cut-off value for D-dimer in diagnosing PE in the COPD patients was 0.95 pg/mL. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.752±0.040 (95% CI: 0.672-0.831) (P<0.001). Conclusions: This study showed that the D-dimer concentrations of COPD patients who are in the exacerbation period may be higher than normal, even without PE. The cut-off level for D-dimer was 0.95 pg/mL (sensitivity 70%, spesificity 71%) for the exclusion of PE in the patients with COPD exacerbation. The D-dimer cut-off value that is used to exclude PE in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD should be reevaluated to prevent the excessive use of further diagnostic procedures

Myokines as mediators of exercise-induced cognitive changes in older adults: protocol for a comprehensive living systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundThe world’s population is aging, but life expectancy has risen more than healthy life expectancy (HALE). With respect to brain and cognition, the prevalence of neurodegenerative disorders increases with age, affecting health and quality of life, and imposing significant healthcare costs. Although the effects of physical exercise on cognition in advanced age have been widely explored, in-depth fundamental knowledge of the underlying mechanisms of the exercise-induced cognitive improvements is lacking. Recent research suggests that myokines, factors released into the blood circulation by contracting skeletal muscle, may play a role in mediating the beneficial effect of exercise on cognition. Our goal in this ongoing (living) review is to continuously map the rapidly accumulating knowledge on pathways between acute or chronic exercise-induced myokines and cognitive domains enhanced by exercise.MethodRandomized controlled studies will be systematically collected at baseline and every 6 months for at least 5 years. Literature search will be performed online in PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, SportDiscus, LILACS, IBECS, CINAHL, SCOPUS, ICTRP, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Risk of bias will be assessed using the Revised Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (ROB 2). A random effects meta-analysis with mediation analysis using meta-analytic structural equation modeling (MASEM) will be performed. The primary research question is to what extent exercise-induced myokines serve as mediators of cognitive function. Secondarily, the pooled effect size of specific exercise characteristics (e.g., mode of exercise) or specific older adults’ populations (e.g., cognitively impaired) on the relationship between exercise, myokines, and cognition will be assessed. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023416996).DiscussionUnderstanding the triad relationship between exercise, myokines and cognition will expand the knowledge on multiple integrated network systems communicating between skeletal muscles and other organs such as the brain, thus mediating the beneficial effects of exercise on health and performance. It may also have practical implications, e.g., if a certain myokine is found to be a mediator between exercise and cognition, the optimal exercise characteristics for inducing this myokine can be prescribed. The living review is expected to improve our state of knowledge and refine exercise regimes for enhancing cognitive functioning in diverse older adults’ populations.RegistrationSystematic review and meta-analysis protocol was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) on the 24th of April 2023 (registration number CRD42023416996)

Case study on seismic behavior of aseismically designed reinforced concrete frame structures

Gökçe Tönük (MEF Author)In this study, the seismic performances of two aseismically designed plan-irregular reinforced concrete frame (RCF) households damaged during the October 23, 2011 Van earthquake are assessed. Since no strong ground motion recordings from the main shock were available, first, strong ground motion parameters of the event are evaluated and then compatible with these parameters suits of real records are selected and scaled to match with the event's simulated acceleration spectrum to be used in the analytical investigations. The results of previous reconnaissance studies, in which one of the present authors was involved, are then discussed. Capacities of the considered RCF's are determined applying a 3D single-run adaptive pushover procedure that is capable of considering the effect of plan irregularities. The performance assessment procedure based on the current 2007 Turkish Earthquake Code is then applied to these investigated buildings. Additionally, nonlinear dynamic time history analyses are carried out using the previously selected time histories. The hysteretic behavior of the considered buildings is examined as the consequence of the conducted analyses and considering the different suits of selected ground motions, the seismic response of the buildings is evaluated in terms of interstorey drifts. None of the buildings are found to satisfy the expected performance level. Moreover, the numerical results are found to have good correlation with the field observation results.WOS:000434706200020Scopus - Affiliation ID: 60105072Science Citation Index ExpandedQ2ArticleUluslararası işbirliği ile yapılmayan - HAYIRTemmuz2018YÖK - 2017-1

Blood biomarkers mediate the association between age and gait speed

International audienceIntroduction: Age-related gait speed declines are associated with an increased risk of falls and a loss of autonomy in older adults. Understanding the biological pathways and identifying the biomarkers associated with this decline could allow better and earlier detection of older adults at risk of mobility decline. The objective was to determine whether the age-related decline in gait speed was mediated by biomarkers from blood and urine samples known to be associated with metabolic and hormonal factors, inflammation and immune function, renal function, lipid profile, bone and collagen markers, vitamins, antioxidants, and stress. Methods: Parcipants (n=1030) from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study, aged between 34 and 84 years (55% women), were included in the mediation analyses with Age as a predictor, the average time of two 50-foot-walk trials as an outcome, and 54 biomarkers as mediators. Results: Blood inflammation markers (IL6 and IL8) were the strongest mediators of age-related gait speed declines (22% and 15% of the total effect, respectively), followed by metabolic markers (blood hemoglobin, IGF-1, blood fasting glucose, corresponding to 10%; 7%, 4% of the total effect, respectively). Conclusion: Declines in gait speed may be caused by changes in blood biomarkers, particularly inflammation and metabolic markers, emphasizing their crucial role in understanding mobility decline. These findings could help early detection and intervention

Exploring the relationship between teacher beliefs and styles on classroom management in relation to actual teaching practices: a case study

AbstractClassroom management is one of the primary areas of concern expressed by teachers and teachers’ personal belief system is believed to guide their choices of classroom management approaches. The present study investigates the beliefs of a Turkish teacher of English as a foreign language on classroom management and examines the similarities or differences between her classroom management beliefs and actual teaching practices. Data coming from the Attitudes and Beliefs on Classroom Control (ABCC) Inventory (Martin et al., 1998), a philosophy of teaching statement, and a stimulated recall session revealed a congruence between the participating teacher's beliefs on classroom management and her actual practices in the classroom

Emotional dependency and dysfunctional relationship beliefs as predictors of relationship satisfaction (conferenceObject)

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