Identification of Mesophylic Bacterial Flora in Deceased Worker Adults of Apis mellifera caucasia (Pollmann, 1889)

Apis mellifera, widely farmed around the world, is the most economically important species within the genus Apis. While the microbiota of live honey bees have been extensively examined, bacteria found in deceased honey bees (which might indicate infection or opportunistic pathogens) is in contrast poorly studied. Therefore, we decided to investigate the mesophilic bacterial flora of dead honey bees. So, in September 2013, dead adult worker honey bees were collected from 12 different cities, most of which were in the border provinces of Turkey. We identified bacterial isolates at the species level by using different morphological, biochemical, physical and molecular methods, in conjunction with molecular phylogenetic analysis. We constructed phylogenetic trees for isolated bacteria with the MEGA 6.0 program and neighbor-joining trees were reconstructed based on 16S rDNA gene sequences. The phylogenetic trees indicated that isolates DE003, DE007, DE011, DE001, DE019 and DE016, DE029 could be new members of the genera Erwinia, Acidovorax, Hydrogenophaga and Bacillus genus, respectively. In the bioassay study results, we observed that DE019 Hydrogenophaga sp. (64.7%) and DE004 Klebsiella grimontii (73.3%) had lethal effects on the honey bees. The other mortalities ranged from 10% to 25% (p>0.05), and according to a One-Way ANOVA analysis DE004 and DE019 significantly affect the A. mellifera caucasia in adult worker honey bees. This study is the first report of Hydrogenophaga as honey bee pathogen

The effects of the addition of baker's yeast on the functional properties and quality of tarhana, a traditional fermented food

As a fermented product, tarhana is the dry form of yogurt-cereal mixture and represents an important part of the diets of many people in different countries including Turkey. In the present study, the effects of the addition of baker's yeast on the quality and functional properties of tarhana were investigated. Tarhana was produced under laboratory conditions (uncontrolled and controlled conditions) using two formulas. Some physicochemical, functional, and sensory properties of the samples were analysed. An increase was found in the acidity value of all samples during the fermentation period. The addition of baker's yeast affected the functional properties (water absorption capacity, foaming capacity, foaming stability, emulsifying activity) of the samples (P < 0.05). The tarhana samples produced by the addition of yeast and under controlled conditions had shorter fermentation times and better sensory properties. This research suggests that the addition of baker's yeast and the employment of controlled conditions can be recommended in the production of the commercial type of tarhana

Türkçeyi Yabancı Dil Olarak Öğrenenlerin Türkçeye Yönelik Algılarının Metaforlar Aracılığı İle Belirlenmesi

Bu çalışmada, Türkçeyi yabancı dil olarak öğrenenlerin Türkçeye yönelik algılarının belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Çalışmaya 51’i erkek 49’u bayan olmak üzere A2,B1 ve B2 seviyelerinde Türkçe öğrenen toplam 100 öğrenci katılmıştır. Çalışmada katılımcıların Türkçeye ilişkin sahip oldukları metaforları ortaya çıkarmak amacıyla onların her birinden “Türkçe ………. gibidir, çünkü ...........” cümlesini tamamlaması istenmiştir. Bu çalışmada nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden biri olan olgu bilim yaklaşımından yararlanılmıştır. Araştırmanın bulgularına göre, katılımcılar Türkçeye ilişkin olarak toplam 100 adet geçerli metafor üretmiştir. Bu bağlamda 100 metafor dikkate alınarak her metaforun kavramsallaştığı alana göre gruplara ayrılmış ve belli bir tema altında toplanmıştır. Bu metaforlardan 9 tanesi herhangi bir temaya yerleştirilemediği için değerlendirilmeye alınmamıştır. İşlemler sonunda toplam 4 farklı tema (Diller Arası Benzerlik, Olumlu His, İhtiyaç ve Kolay Bulma) oluşturulmuştur. Çalışma sonucunda, öğrencilerin 31’inin Türkçeyi ihtiyaç olarak gördüğü, 21’inin Türkçeyi zor bulduğunu, 9’unun Türkçeyi ana dili ile veya bildiği bir dille ilişkilendirdiği, 30’unun ise Türkçeye karşı olumlu bir his beslediği görülmektedir

Plasmapheresis Therapy in Acute Critical Leg Ischemia Associated withCatastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Antifosfolipid sendromu tekrarlayan arteryel ve venöz trombozlar ile seyreden otoimmun bir hastalıktır. Tedavisinde antiagregan ve antikoagülan ilaçlar kullanılabilir. Bu tedavilere cevap vermeyen ve akut kritik bacak iskemisi ile başvuran antifosfolipid sendromlu olguda plazmaferez tedavisi başarı ile uygulanmıştır. Olgunun sonuçları literatür eşliğinde gözden geçirilmiştir.Antiphospholipid syndrome is an autoimmune disease associated with repetitive thrombosis of both arterial and venous vasculature. Anti-aggregant and anti-coagulant agents can be used in treatment of these thrombosis. This case with antiphospholipid syndrome and acute leg ischemia which was nonresponsive to these treatment modalisties was treated with plasmapheresis successfully. The case is reported and discussed with literature review

Securing Elections Through International Law: A Tool for Combatting Disinformation Operations?

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, in 2014, the Russian government-connected Internet Research Agency (IRA) initiated an information operation on social media platforms to manipulate the U.S. population concerning the 2016 U.S. presidential elections. This has revealed that social media platforms enable the spread of fake news among the masses globally and can thus become a means of disrupting the electoral process for foreign actors. This article addresses state-sponsored disinformation operations on social media that target foreign voters. It considers it crucial to counter such operations to protect the security and integrity of the elections in the digital age, which is a vital national interest. Despite some mitigation efforts given after 2016, social media platforms continued to be exploited by the States seeking to influence the outcome of foreign elections through the dissemination of false information. This article argues that international law could play an essential role in combating state-sponsored disinformation operations. In this regard, it elaborates on sovereignty and non-intervention principles, and the right to self-determination

Securing Elections Through International Law: A Tool for Combatting Disinformation Operations?

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, in 2014, the Russian government-connected Internet Research Agency (IRA) initiated an information operation on social media platforms to manipulate the U.S. population concerning the 2016 U.S. presidential elections. This has revealed that social media platforms enable the spread of fake news among the masses globally and can thus become a means of disrupting the electoral process for foreign actors. This article addresses state-sponsored disinformation operations on social media that target foreign voters. It considers it crucial to counter such operations to protect the security and integrity of the elections in the digital age, which is a vital national interest. Despite some mitigation efforts given after 2016, social media platforms continued to be exploited by the States seeking to influence the outcome of foreign elections through the dissemination of false information. This article argues that international law could play an essential role in combating state-sponsored disinformation operations. In this regard, it elaborates on sovereignty and non-intervention principles, and the right to self-determination