Equitable Considerations in the Delimitation of the Continental Shelf

The delimitation of the continental shelf is often regarded as one of the most controversial inter-State delimitation disputes due to the significant advantages it can offer to coastal States. Since the conception of the continental shelf regime, i.e., the 1945 Truman Proclamation, equitable considerations have been central to the delimitation of this zone, which has been consistently reflected in the jurisprudence and in UNCLOS. As an umbrella instrument with a framework character, UNCLOS usually suffices to stipulate the fundamental norms and principles. This was also the case for the delimitation of the continental shelf. Article 83, whilst not prescribing a specific delimitation method, sets out the ultimate objective as the achievement of an equitable solution. Hence, this requires a proactive role for international courts and tribunals in developing appropriate approaches and methods. The relevant case law recognizes that the equitable principles doctrine stands as a fundamental norm of international law. However, the exact application of equitable considerations is yet to be further refined. In light of the foregoing, this article aims to explore the role of equitable considerations in the delimitation of the continental shelf process

Faculty Support in Higher Education Provided by University Administration during Emergency Remote Teaching: A Case Study

COVID-19 caused a global crisis and influenced approximately 1.5 billion students. Due to the threat of COVID-19, schools and universities suspended all the face to face classes and faced a mandatory transition to online learning to continue their teaching and learning. Teachers and students did not have time to prepare or get supported for emergency remote teaching. This study aims to examine the support services provided by the university administration to the faculty in Turkey. So it is designed as a case study, which is one of the qualitative methods in education. Regarding the findings related to support systems in the time of emergency remote teaching provided by the universities, it can be seen that administrative and technical supports were well-provided. However, it can be said that the universities ignored their faculties’ needs regarding academic support as well as counseling support, which faculty needed most. Although library support is one of the support systems in the literature, faculty mentioned that they did not need any support in this regard. Peer support can be shown as the most prominent type of support in the emergency remote teaching, although it is not included in the open and distance learning literature for faculty

Sequence variants of CYP345a1 and CYP6a14 gene regions in tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) adults treated with the novel characterized bolanthus turcicus (Caryophyllaceae) extract

In this study, various doses of plant extracts that obtained from Bolanthus turcicus was applied to an important storage pest Tribolium castaneum adults. Bolanthus turcicus is an endemic species and spreads on the Hasan Mountain above Karkin town (Turkey, Aksaray province). The plant species was collected from June to July with the field study to be carried out in this region. Obtained extract of plant was analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method. The doses were defined during the study and the concentrations that kill 50% and 99% of the population were determined after applications. After 24 h, DNA was isolated from live and dead individuals that obtained from LC50 and LC99 concentration applications and analyzed for Cytochrome P450-mediated detoxification resistance genes, CYP345A1 and CYP6A14 gene regions, by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). CYP genes in insects are known to be rapidly regulated when exposed to insecticides. In the study, in order to screen for 206 bp and 353 bp fragments of CYP345A1 and CYP6A14 genes in T. castaneum adults were amplified using specific primers, respectively. DNA direct sequencing was performed on each template using the forward primer. When compared to the control, it is believed that mutation differences in live and dead individuals according to the sequencing results obtained from survival and dead adults, may allow these genes to play a protective role against the toxic effect of B. turcicus extract. © Shiraz University

A retrospective study of the prevalence and characteristics of dens invaginatus in a sample of the Turkish population

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of dens invaginatus and to classify the types of dens invaginatus in a sample of the Turkish population.. Study Design: A retrospective study was performed using periapical and panoramic radiographs of 5355 patients who presented to the Department of Oral Diagnosis and Radiology at the Ondokuz May?s University Dentistry Faculty between January 2009 and December 2010. Maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth were evaluated for the presence and characteristics of dens invaginatus. Statistical evaluation of the presence of dens invaginatus related to gender was performed by the Pearson chi-squared test. Results: Dens invaginatus was observed in 116 of 4556 subjects, with a frequency of 2.5%. There was only one periapical lesion in teeth with type I dens invaginatus, but 8.1% of patients with type II and 87.5% of patients with type III dens invaginatus had apical periodontitis at the time of referral. There were 116 (72%) females and 32 (27%) males with dens invaginatus. Conclusion: This data represents the only study carried out in a large population in Turkey, and no dens invaginatus was found in mandibular teeth. The most commonly observed type of dens invaginatus was type I (69.8%)

Sustainability Organic Agriculture and Livestock Production with Respect to European Union in Eastern Anatolia and East Black Sea Regions

The majority of farm households in Turkey and especially the Eastern Anatolia are still based on low-input semi subsistence agriculture and livestock production. Despite a slow decline in recent years, agriculture and livestock production remains a major employer in Turkey and it is a significant contributor to the country’s gross domestic product, GDP. Whist Turkey is one of the EU candidate countries, is self sufficient in food production and Turkish agriculture is poorly structured inefficient, with farming in the Eastern Anatolia being mainly subsistence farming. Yet, these traditional rural structures combined with poor access to low level of education and low level of off-farm unemployment problem makes the situation more complicated and unsustainable. The best way to promote sustainability, better and higher production of Eastern Anatolian and rural Turkey is to invest in the local people, villages through improved, continuing and effective agricultural and livestock programs in particular. Investment in human capital especially in the rural areas leads to more employment opportunities through entrepreneurship and innovation in organic agriculture and livestock production. A holistic approach to developing and improving supply chains could unlock the potential for sophisticated, state-of-the-art organic agriculture and livestock producers and businesses in the region to become EU and global players. Eastern Anatolian livestock producers and the farmers have the ambitions to take part in future progress because the region is naturally organic not by design but default. It is for sure that present potential of the region has not been fully determined and utilized. EU has greatly benefited from previous enlargements economically, politically and socially. When European Union (EU) and Turkish Government relations considered and accession of Turkey to EU would be the logical consequence of the previous accessions. The screening on chapter 11 (Agriculture and rural development) is one of the important criteria and Turkey is working on to meet these benchmarks

Prognostic significance of surgical margin status and gleason grade at the positive surgical margin in predicting biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy in a turkish patient cohort

Objective: To investigate the prognostic role of positive surgical margin (PSM) features in addition to well-defined risk factors in predicting biochemical recurrence (BCR) after radical prostatectomy. Materials and Methods: This study used the prostate cancer database from the Urooncology Association in Turkey. Clinical, surgical, pathological and follow-up data were recorded from the database. PSM features, including number, location, linear length and Gleason grade (GG) were also recorded. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were performed to assess differences in BCR-free survival (BCR-FS). In order to identify prognostic factors affecting BCR-FS, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed. Results: The study included 984 patients who met the eligibility criteria. The median follow-up time was 29 (minimum: 6, maximum: 210) months, and BCR was detected in 178 (18.1%) patients. BCR-FS was found to be significantly lower in patients with higher total prostate-specific antigen, higher International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grade, extraprostatic extension (EPE), seminal vesicle invasion, lymphovascular invasion, lymph node involvement, PSM and GG at PSM (PSMGG) >= 4 (log-rank p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001 and p=0.005). ISUP grade, EPE and PSM were identified as independent prognostic factors in predicting BCR-FS [Hazard ratio (HR): 1.89, p=0.035 and HR: 4.65, p<0.001, HR: 1.82, p=0.030, HR: 1.77, p=0.042, respectively]. Unlike the univariate analysis, in multivariate analysis, PSMGG did not prove to be an independent prognostic factor in predicting BCR-FS. Conclusion: PSM GG >= 4 was found to be significantly associated with shorter BCR-FS. There is a need for large, randomised prospective studies to clarify the role of PSMGG to be used in nomograms as an independent predictor to determine patients who would benefit from adjuvant radiation therapy

Kanser ve çoklu ilaç dirençliliği tespiti için mems tabanlı dielektroforetik hücre ayrıştırma sistemi geliştirilmesi

TÜBİTAK EEEAG01.06.2015Kanser tüm dünyada en önemli ikinci ölüm sebebi olup, her yıl 8.2 milyon insan kanser nedeniyle hayatını kaybetmektedir. Kanser tedavisinde başarının en önemli etkenlerinden biri erken teşhistir. Metastaz ve çoklu ilaç dirençliliği (ÇİD) ise ölüm oranının artmasına neden olan en önemli iki sebeptir. Bu nedenle metastaz ve ÇİD gelişiminin tedavi öncesi ve süresince takip edilmesi, uygun tedavi yönteminin seçilebilmesi açısından oldukça önemlidir. Ancak, klinikte metastaz ve ÇİD gelişiminin tespitine yönelik yaygın olarak kullanılabilen bir yöntem bulunmamaktadır. Önerilen projenin temel amacı şüphelenilen dokuda kanser hücrelerinin varlığını tespit eden ve bu kanser hücrelerinin çoklu ilaç direnci (ÇİD) mekanizması geliştirip geliştirmediğinin kontrolünü sağlayan, dielektroforez (DEF) tabanlı bir hücre ayrıştırma sistemi geliştirilmesidir. Bu iki aşamalı DEF sisteminin, ilk aşamada kanser ve normal doku hücrelerini boyut farklılıklarına göre, ikinci aşamada ise ÇİD geliştirmiş kanser hücrelerini diğer kanser hücrelerinden dielektrik özelliklerindeki farklılığa göre ayırması beklenmektedir. Proje süresince, simülasyon ve test sonuçlarına bağlı olarak her iki DEF alanı için 3 farklı nesil DEF çipi geliştirilmiştir. Projenin son aşamasında, son tasarımlar birleştirilerek iki aşamalı bir DEF çipi tasarımı yapılmış ve MEMS üretimleri gerçekleştirilmiş. Tasarımların testleri hassas ve dirençli MCF-7 meme kanseri ve K562 lösemi hücreleri ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Kan hücrelerini K562 kanser hücrelerinden ayrıştırması planlanan birinci aşama DEF çipinin 1000 kat seyreltilmiş kırmızı kan hücresi (5x106 kan hücresi/ml) içinde 1x106 hücre/ml kanser hücresini ayrıştırabildiği gözlenmiştir. İkinci aşama DEF çipi ise 100 hassas kanser hücresi içinden 1 dirençli kanser hücresini ayrıştırabilecek hassasiyettedir. Proje kapsamında kullanılan hücrelerin hassas bir şekilde dielektrik karakterizasyonlarını yapabilecek özgün bir elektrorotasyon (ER) çipi geliştirilmiş ve farklı ilaç dirençlilik seviyesine sahip MCF-7 meme kanseri ve K562 lösemi hücrelerinin dielektrik özellikleri belirlenmiştir. Sonuç olarak, DEF yönteminin herhangi bir biyolojik işaretlemeye gerek duyulmaksızın hassas ve hızlı bir şekilde kanser ve kanserde ÇİD gelişimini tespit edebilecek bir platform olabileceği gösterilmiştir. Proje süresince elde edilen veriler, kanserde metastaz ve ÇİD gelişiminin erken tespitini sağlayabilecek MEMS-tabanlı bir çip-üstü-laboratuvar sisteminin geliştirilmesi için temel oluşturacak niteliktedir.Cancer has the 2nd rank in the mortality all over the world. 8.2 million people die due to cancer every year. Early diagnosis is one of the most crucial parameter in the cancer therapy. Metastasis and multidrug resistance (MDR) are the two reasons, causing to increase of death rate in cancer. Therefore, the observation of the metastasis and the development of MDR in cancer patient is crucial to determine the accurate therapy. However, there are not any method to detect metastasis and MDR in the clinic. The main objective of the proposed project is to develop a dielectrophoresis (DEP) based cell separation system (i) to detect cancer cells obtained from the suspected tissue, and also (ii) to separate the MDR cancer cells from non-resistant ones. The proposed two- stage DEP system is supposed to separate cancer cells from normal tissue cells due to their size differences at the first stage, and separate MDR cells from non-resistant ones due to differences in their dielectric properties at the second stage. Three generations were developed for both DEP stages based on the simulations and test results. At the last stage of the project, last generations were merged and two-stage DEP device was designed and fabricated. MDR and sensitive K562 and MCF7 cell lines were utilized in the tests of integrated DEP devices. At the first stage, K562 cancer cells (1x106cells/ml) were separated from blood cells (5x106cells/ml). The second DEP stage has the selectivity to detect one MDR cancer cell inside 100 sensitive ones. During the project, an electrorotation (ER) device was developed to characterize the cells dielectrically. The dielectric properties of MCF7 and K562 cells, having different drug resistance levels, were determined by utilizing ER devices. In conclusion, results prove that DEP can provide an efficient and rapid platform for the detection of cancer and MDR in cancer, in a label-free manner. These results form a basis for the development of a MEMS based lab-on-a-chip system to provide early diagnosis of metastasis and MDR in cancer

Real-world efficacy and safety of Ledipasvir plus Sofosbuvir and Ombitasvir/Paritaprevir/Ritonavir +/- Dasabuvir combination therapies for chronic hepatitis C: A Turkish experience

Background/Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the real-life efficacy and tolerability of direct-acting antiviral treatments for patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with/without cirrhosis in the Turkish population.Material and Methods: A total of 4,352 patients with CHC from 36 different institutions in Turkey were enrolled. They received ledipasvir (LDV) and sofosbuvir (SOF)+/- ribavirin (RBV) ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir +/- dasabuvir (PrOD)+/- RBV for 12 or 24 weeks. Sustained virologic response (SVR) rates, factors affecting SVR, safety profile, and hepatocellular cancer (HCC) occurrence were analyzed.Results: SVR12 was achieved in 92.8% of the patients (4,040/4,352) according to intention-to-treat and in 98.3% of the patients (4,040/4,108) according to per-protocol analysis. The SVR12 rates were similar between the treatment regimens (97.2%-100%) and genotypes (95.6%-100%). Patients achieving SVR showed a significant decrease in the mean serum alanine transaminase (ALT) levels (50.90 +/- 54.60 U/L to 17.00 +/- 14.50 U/L) and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores (7.51 +/- 4.54 to 7.32 +/- 3.40) (p<0.05). Of the patients, 2 were diagnosed with HCC during the treatment and 14 were diagnosed with HCC 37.0 +/- 16.0 weeks post-treatment. Higher initial MELD score (odds ratio [OR]: 1.92, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22-2.38; p=0.023]), higher hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA levels (OR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.31-2.28; p=0.038), and higher serum ALT levels (OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.21-1.83; p=0.042) were associated with poor SVR12. The most common adverse events were fatigue (12.6%), pruritis (7.3%), increased serum ALT (4.7%) and bilirubin (3.8%) levels, and anemia (3.1%).Conclusion: LDV/SOF or PrOD +/- RBV were effective and tolerable treatments for patients with CHC and with or without advanced liver disease before and after liver transplantation. Although HCV eradication improves the liver function, there is a risk of developing HCC.Turkish Association for the Study of The Liver (TASL

Sanal Derslere İlişkin Öğrenci Görüşlerinin İncelenmesi

Çalışmanın amacı, bir devlet üniversitesinde sanal sınıflar aracılığıyla yürütülen ortak zorunlu derslerin işlenişine ilişkin öğrencilerin görüşlerini ortaya çıkarmak ve bu derslerin etkililiği ve verimliliğini ortaya koymaktır. Bu amaca uygun olarak, araştırmanın yöntemini nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden durum çalışması oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmanın çalışma grubu amaçlı örneklem yöntemlerinden olan ölçüt örneklem ile seçilmiş ve ortak zorunlu derslere devam eden 8 lisans öğrencisi tarafından oluşmaktadır. Araştırmada veri toplama aracı olarak araştırmacılar tarafından geliştirilen yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme formu kullanılmıştır. Veri toplama süreci, hazırlanan görüşme protokolü doğrultusunda yürütülmüştür. Verilerin çözümlenmesinde öncelikle her bir ses kaydı dinlenerek bu kayıtlar yazıya dökülmüş ve her bir katılımcı için bir görüşme metni oluşturulmuştur. Verilerin çözümlenmesinde betimsel analiz yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Bulgular incelendiğinde, sanal öğrenme ortamında birtakım problemlerin olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Bu sorunlar, öğrenenlerin açık ve uzaktan öğrenme ile ya da konuların kendileriyle ilgili geçmiş deneyimlerinin olmaması ve programdaki uyum eğitiminin eksikliği, öğrenen-öğrenen, öğrenen-öğretim elemanı ve öğrenen- ortam etkileşimlerinde yetersizlik; zamandan ve mekândan bağımsız olamama, canlı derslere katılımın olmaması ve tasarımdan kaynaklı diğer sıkıntılar olarak sıralanabilir. Son olarak da sanal derslerde öğretim tasarımcısı olarak çalışan kişiler ya da sanal ortamları kullanan kurumlar için öneriler bulunmaktadır

Palatal myoclonus

Öyküsünde geçirilmiş strokları olan 67 yaşındaki erkek hasta dengesizlik, palatal myoklonus ve solunum zorlukları ile kliniğimize başvurdu. Manyetik rezonans (MR) tetkikinde pons orta hat tegmentumda infarkt alanı görüldü. 1000 mg/gün Na valproat ile belirgin düzelme görüldü. Palatal myoklonus nadir görülür ve solunum kaslarını etkileyebilir. Çoğunlukla dentato-rubro-oliver yolu etkileyen serebellar veya beyinsapı lezyonu sonucu ortaya çıkar. Genellikle ilaç tedavisine iyi yanıt vermez. Bu yazıda palatal myoklonus etiyolojisi, patogenezi radyolojik bulguları ve tedavisi tartışılmıştır.A 67 year old man with a history of old strokes admitted to our clinic with truncal imbalance, palatal myoclonus and difficulty in breathing. Magnetic resonance (MR) showed pontin midline tegmental infarct. Na Valproat administered 1000mg/d and a significant improvement occured. Palatal myoclonus is a rare movement disorder and may affect respiratory muscles and usually due to a cerebellar or brainstem lesion disrupting the dentato-rubro-olivary pathway. It is not usually influenced by drug treatment. We discussed aetiology, pathogenesis, radiological findings and treatment options of palatal myoclonus in this report