Assessments of Turkish foreign policy in the Middle East during the Arab uprisings

Using original public-opinion polls and elite interviews conducted in 2012, this article analyzes the perceptions of Turkish foreign policy regarding the Arab Uprisings and the Syrian conflict in three Middle Eastern countries, Egypt, Iraq and Iran. It finds that ethnic, sectarian and religious groups in these three countries vary significantly in their views on Turkish foreign policy regarding both the Arab Uprisings and the Syrian conflict, although the same identity-related factors have a less salient effect at the elite level. The findings also suggest that the intersection of ethnicity and sect shapes people's attitudes toward Turkish foreign policy in Iran and Iraq. Sunnis, except for Kurds in Iran and Iraq, tend to have a positive view of Turkish foreign policy, while Shia Turkomans in Iraq tend to have a negative one

Emigration and the diffusion of political Salafism:religious remittances and support for Salafi parties in Egypt during the Arab Spring

This study investigates the impact of emigration on the political behavior of citizens in Egypt. In particular, it argues that emigrants’ family members are more likely to vote for Salafi parties for several reasons, including the transfer of religious remittances by Egyptian emigrants to the Gulf and the influence of transnational Salafi networks. In order to test our argument, we conducted an original public opinion survey with around 1100 individuals between January 12, 2012 and January 25, 2012, just after the Egyptian parliamentary election. We find that individuals with family members who had emigrated to the Gulf voted heavily for Islamist parties, particularly the Freedom and Justice Party and the Nour Party. Further analysis shows that there is no statistical difference between individuals with and without emigrant family members in voting for the Muslim Brotherhood, while the Nour’s popularity among voters with emigrant family members is substantial and statistically significant. In particular, we find that the strongest support for the Nour came from individuals whose family members had immigrated to Saudi Arabia, whereas those whose family members had immigrated to other countries, including other Gulf countries, do not differ significantly from non-emigrant family members in their party preferences

Model, design, and fabrication of antenna coupled metal-insulator-metal diodes for IR sensing

There is increasing demand for devices operating at room temperature for IR sensing and imaging. Antenna coupled metal-insulator-metal (MIM) diodes are potential candidates in this field. The reasons are miniaturizing features and femtosecond operation of these devices: smaller sizes lead to more pixels in limited areas and quantum tunneling phenomenon leads to faster operation. In this work, it is aimed to design and develop a device that can act as IR detector at room temperature

Device characteristics of antenna-coupled metal-insulator-metal diodes (rectenna) using Al2O3, TiO2, and Cr2O3 as insulator layer for energy harvesting applications

Antenna-coupled metal-insulator-metal devices are most potent candidate for future energy harvesting devices. The reason for that they are ultra-high speed devices that can rectify the electromagnetic radiation at high frequencies. In addition to their speed, they are also small devices that can have more number of devices in unit area. In this work, it is aimed design and develop a device which can harvest and detect IR radiation

New Generation Peptide-Based Vaccine Prototype

Synthetic peptide-based vaccine prototypes are the future potential vaccination. Antigens, which belong to minimal microbial component and produce antibodies such as peptides and polysaccharides, can promote long-term protection against pathogens that can cause infectious diseases. Production of peptides becomes simple with solid phase peptide synthesis and microwave-assisted solid phase peptide synthesis using automatic synthesizers. The use of synthetic peptides was approved by the health authorities for vaccine design. Peptides are themselves very weak immunogens and need adjuvants to provide an effective autoimmune response. For this reason, peptide antigens are conjugated with biopolymers and loaded with nanoparticles. The toxicity of vaccine prototypes is evaluated in cell culture, and non-toxic prototypes are selected for vaccinating experimental animals. The most effective peptide-based vaccine prototype is determined as the one with the highest antibody level. The goal of this book chapter is to illustrate the use of peptides vaccine systems and present their opportunities with their future development

SJÖGREN SENDROMLU HASTANIN ORAL BULGULARI VE DENTAL TEDAVİ YAKLAŞIMI: OLGU SUNUMU [Oral Findings and Dental Treatment Approach of the Patient with Sjögren’s Syndrome: A Case Report ]

ÖZET Sjögren sendromu endokrin bezlerin, özellikle de lakrimal ve tükürük bezlerinin, bağışıklık sistemi ile yıkıma uğraması nedeniyle oluşan, göz kuruluğu (kseroftalmi) ve ağız kuruluğu (kserestomi) ile tanımlanan bir sendromdur. Hastalığın oral belirtileri olarak, yarıklı dil, mantar enfeksiyonları başta olmak üzere sık oral enfeksiyonlar ve özellikle kök yüzeylerinde olmak üzere özellikle köklerde ve kesicilerde yaygın çürükler görülmektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı Primer Sjögren sendromlu bir hastada hastalığın oral bulgularını ve dental tedavi yaklaşımını sunmaktır. Anahtar kelimeler: Sjögren Sendromu, Ağız kuruluğu, Oral Sağlık ABSTRACT Public demand for tooth whitening has increased in recent Sjogren’s syndrome is defined as a syndrome of dry eyes (xerophthalmia) and dry mouth (xerostomia) due to immune destruction of endocrine glands, especially of the lacrimal and salivary glands. Oral manifestations of this disease include tongue fissures, frequent mouth infections including fungal infections, and rampant dental caries, especially at root and incisors. The aim of this study is to present oral findings and dental treatment of a patient with Primer Sjögren Syndrome. Keywords: Sjögren Syndrome, Xerostomia, Oral Healt

EDTA INDUCED PSEUDOTHROMBOCYTOPENIA IN A PATIENT WITH HEPATITIS A INFECTION

Pseudotrombositopeni kanama riskinde artışa neden olmayan ve trombosit transfüzyonu gerektirmeyen bir iyatrojenik laboratuar fenomenidir. Etilendiaminotetraasetik asid'e (EDTA) bağlı pseudotrombositopeni, otomatik kan sayımında yalancı olarak trombosit sayısındaki azalmayı tanımlamaktadır. Kan örneklerinin EDTA ile antikoagule edilmesi sonucunda normal kişilerde oluşabileceği gibi farklı hastalıkların seyrinde de gözlenebilmektedir. Bu yazıda hepatit A infeksiyonu seyrinde gözlenen bir EDTA bağımlı pseudotrombositopeni olgusu sunulmuştur. Olgu halen devam eden pseudotrombositopeni nedeniyle izlenmektedir. Pseudothrombocytopenia is an iatrogenic laboratory phenomenon that does not increase the risk of bleeding or the need for platelet transfusion. The term ethylenediaminotetraacetic acid (EDTA) induced pseudothrombocytopenia, defines false low platelet count when measured with automatic counters. It may occur in both normal individuals and patients with a variety of diseases when their blood samples are anticoagulated with EDTA. Here we report a patient with EDTA induced pseudothrombocytopenia during the course of hepatitis A infection. The patient is still being followed up with pseudothrombocytopenia

New Diagnosis and Treatment Approaches to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition and disorder causing psychological deterioration triggered by terrifying events or traumatic experiences either by experiencing or by witnessing it. Though many people have common feelings, PTSD symptoms vary from one person to another. So it is strongly recommended to focus on new diagnostic and therapeutic methods relying and structured on a neurobiological dimension by collecting and processing neuroimaging data. It is crucial to make a profound analysis of PTSD in terms of its ontological, biological, developmental, psychological, and sociological aspects. Both with the new treatment opportunities and involvement of in silico-based artificial intelligence applications, new psychotherapy techniques and new discourses in digital media will be possible. Within the scope of the study, ontological discussions are followed and juxtaposed by Neuro-Biological Perspectives on Genomics and Epigenomics as well as the clinical and neuro-imaginative perspectives and clinical overviews of PTSD. Besides, the neuro-developmental views in the context of children along with adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and their relation to PTSD are analyzed by emphasizing the significance of brain development. Sociological aspects of PTSD in the digital habitus are collocated to develop unique therapy approaches that embrace sociological perspectives of Information Society

Clinical outcomes and treatment patterns of primary central nervous system lymphoma: Multicenter retrospective analysis

Objectives: Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare malignant disease with poor prognosis. Its low incidence leads to challenges in decision-making for treatment. As a matter of fact, there is still no consensus on the appropriate treatment modalities. In this context, the objective of this study is to investigate and comparatively assess the efficacies of several treatment modalities in the treatment of PCNSL. Methods: Thirty-four patients diagnosed with PCNSL at 5 different hematology centers between 2007 and 2021 were included in the study. Patients’ data from all five centers were collected retrospectively. Since ibrutinib is not approved for this indication in Turkey, consent for off-label use of ibrutinib is obtained from each patient. Ethics committee ap-proval was obtained on June 9, 2021 with decision number 2021/18-05. Results: The median age of the patients was 59 (min.: 22, max.: 78) years. The male-to-female ratio was 1.26/1. Nineteen (55.9%) patients had Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance score of ≥2. Fifteen (44.1%) patients had normal lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and only 14.7% of the patients had B symptoms at the time of diagnosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a single mass lesion in 14 (41.2%) patients. As an induction therapy, meth-otrexate-based regimen was administered in 29 (85.3%) patients. Only 14 of the 34 patients received 4 or more cycles of high-dose methotrexate (MTX). About 32.4% of the patients received radiation therapy (RT) during follow-up as a part of induction therapy. Five patients received only RT due to poor performance status. Ibrutinib was administered in 5 patients for refractory disease. It was determined that four or more cycles of MTX treatment increased progression-free survival (PFS) (p=0.031) and overall survival (OS) (p=0.012). Moreover, RT improved PFS (p=0.023). Considering that the complete response achieved by induction therapy influences long-term survival, achievement of the best response to the treatment regimens administered in combination with new agents may prolong survival (PFS: p=0.01, OS: p=0.023). Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that the initial response to treatment is crucial. Additionally, it was found that high-dose MTX treatment should be administered for 4 cycles or more in order to achieve the best results. Furthermore, it was determined that ibrutinib monotherapy was well-tolerated in our patients with relapsed/refractory disease, with excellent clinical benefits. In conclusion, a combination therapy consisting of high-dose MTX, ibrutinib, and rituximab appears to be a promising initial treatment approach in appropriate patients