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Article Citation - WoS: 2Citation - Scopus: 2Recycling Decommissioned Wind Turbine Blades for Post-Disaster Housing Applications(Mdpi, 2025-03-12) Turhan, Cihan; Durak, Murat; Saleh, Yousif Abed Saleh; Kalayci, AlperThe growing adoption of wind energy has resulted in an increasing number of decommissioned wind turbine blades, which pose significant disposal challenges due to their size, material composition, and environmental impact. Recycling these blades has thus become essential. To this aim, this study explores the potential of using recycled wind turbine blades in post-disaster housing applications and examines the feasibility of re-purposing these durable composite materials to create robust, cost-effective, and sustainable building solutions for emergency housing. A case study of a post-earthquake relief camp in Hatay, T & uuml;rkiye, affected by the 2023 earthquake, is used for analysis. First, the energy consumption of thirty traditional modular container-based post-disaster housing units is simulated with a dynamic building simulation tool. Then, the study introduces novel wind turbine blade-based housing (WTB-bH) designs developed using the same simulation tool. The energy consumption of these (WTB-bH) units is compared to that of traditional containers. The results indicate that using recycled wind turbine blades for housing not only contributes to waste reduction but also achieves 27.3% energy savings compared to conventional methods. The novelty of this study is in demonstrating the potential of recycled wind turbine blades to offer durable and resilient housing solutions in post-disaster situations and to advocate for integrating this recycling method into disaster recovery frameworks, highlighting its ability to enhance sustainability and resource efficiency in construction. Overall, the output of this study may help to present a compelling case for the innovative reuse of decommissioned wind turbine blades, providing an eco-friendly alternative to traditional waste disposal methods while addressing critical needs in post-disaster scenarios.Article Citation - WoS: 6Citation - Scopus: 10Impact of Green Wall and Roof Applications on Energy Consumption and Thermal Comfort for Climate Resilient Buildings(Mdpi, 2025-04-01) Turhan, Cihan; Carpino, Cristina; Austin, Miguel Chen; Ozbey, Mehmet Furkan; Akkurt, Gulden Gokcen; Chen Austin, MiguelNowadays, reducing energy consumption and obtaining thermal comfort are significant for making educational buildings more climate resilient, more sustainable, and more comfortable. To achieve these goals, a sustainable passive method is that of applying green walls and roofs that provide extra thermal insulation, evaporative cooling, a shadowing effect, and the blockage of wind on buildings. Therefore, the objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of green wall and roof applications on energy consumption and thermal comfort in an educational building. For this purpose, a university building in the Csb climate zone is selected and monitored during one year, as a case study. Then, the case building is modelled in a well-calibrated dynamic building energy simulation tool and twenty-one different plant species, which are mostly used for green walls and roofs, are applied to the envelope of the building in order to determine a reduction in energy consumption and an increase in thermal comfort. The Hedera canariensis gomera (an ivy species) plant is used for green walls due to its aesthetic appeal, versatility, and functional benefits while twenty-one different plants including Ophiopogon japonicus (Mando-Grass), Phyllanthus bourgeoisii (Waterfall Plant), and Phoenix roebelenii (Phoenix Palm) are simulated for the green roof applications. The results show that deploying Hedera canariensis gomera to the walls and Phyllanthus bourgeoisii to the roof could simultaneously reduce the energy consumption by 9.31% and increase thermal comfort by 23.55% in the case building. The authors acknowledge that this study is solely based on simulations due to the high cost of all scenarios, and there are inherent differences between simulated and real-world conditions. Therefore, the future work will be analysing scenarios in real life. Considering the limited studies on the effect of different plant species on energy performance and comfort, this study also contributes to sustainable building design strategies.Article Citation - WoS: 3Citation - Scopus: 2Current New Approach in Thoracoscopic Surgery: Non-Intubated Uniportal Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (Ni-Univats)(Mdpi, 2025-04-01) Agar, Mehmet; Gulcek, Ilham; Kalkan, Muhammed; Ulutas, Hakki; Celik, Muhammet Reha; Aksu, Ahmet; Cakmak, MuharremBackground and Objectives: Non-intubated uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (NI-UniVATS) is a minimally invasive technique performed using a single port, allowing the entire surgical procedure to be completed with spontaneous breathing without the need for general anesthesia. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 51 patients who underwent NI-UniVATS between 2020 and 2023. The intraoperative and postoperative data of patients who underwent NI-UniVATS were evaluated. Results: Among the cases, 37 (72.5%) were male, and 14 (46.6%) were female, with a mean age of 47.73 +/- 20.43 years (range: 18-78 years). The mean operative time was 25.92 +/- 7.31 min. No perioperative complications were observed in any patient. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 4.17 +/- 1.76 days (range: 2-9 days). A right hemithoracic approach was performed in 28 patients (54.9%), whereas a left hemithoracic approach was used in 23 patients (45.1%). The procedures performed included wedge resection in 27 patients (52.9%), biopsy in 22 patients (43.1%), pericardial window creation in one patient (2%), and intrathoracic foreign body removal in one patient (2%). Conclusions: NI-UniVATS allows for safer surgery by preventing the adverse effects and complications associated with general anesthesia. NI-UniVATS can be recommended as a safe and feasible approach for both minor and major thoracic procedures.Article Citation - WoS: 13Citation - Scopus: 13Epidemiological Assessment of Depression, Activities of Daily Living and Associated Factors in Elderly Individuals Aged 65 Years and Older: Evidence From a Population-Based Study(Mdpi, 2025-04-21) Arayici, Mehmet Emin; Kose, Ali; Dolu, Suleyman; Arayici, Sema Gultekin; Gedik, Gizem; Kilic, Beyza Nur; Erkin, Ozum; Gultekin Arayici, SemaBackground: It is a well-established fact that late-life depression represents a significant public health issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries experiencing rapid demographic aging. Although its clinical and societal impacts are well-recognized, data on the interplay between depressive symptoms and functional status in older populations remain limited for T & uuml;rkiye. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of depression among individuals aged 65 years or older, examine its associations with instrumental and basic activities of daily living, and identify key sociodemographic and behavioral correlates. Methods: In this study, data obtained from a population-based survey in 2264 clusters by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK) were used, and weighted data were yielded from 6,036,396 adults aged 65 and over. Depression was measured using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), categorizing participants as "not depressed", "mildly depressed", or "severely depressed". Functional status was evaluated using the Lawton-Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) Scale and the Katz Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Scale. Logistic regression models, adjusted for age and body mass index (BMI), were used to determine the associations of depression with functional impairment and various covariates, including gender, education, marital status, chronic disease, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol use. Results: Overall, the prevalence of depression in this cohort was 49.9% [95% CI = 48.7-51%], with 36.0% [95% CI = 34.8-37.0%] classified as mild and 13.9% [95% CI = 13.1-14.7%] as severe depression. IADL and ADL scores were negatively correlated with GDS scores (r = -0.416 and r = -0.321, respectively; p < 0.001). In logistic models, lower IADL scores were linked to higher odds of mild (OR = 0.797, 95% CI = [0.796-0.798], p < 0.001) and severe depression (OR = 0.689, 95% CI = [0.688-0.690], p < 0.001). Being semi-dependent or dependent in ADL further escalated depression risk. Female gender, lower education, single/divorced status, chronic disease, and inactivity also emerged as strong predictors. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that depression is highly prevalent among older adults in T & uuml;rkiye, with functional impairment, unfavorable health behaviors, and sociodemographic vulnerabilities heightening risk. Integrating depression screening into geriatric care-alongside interventions to maintain functional independence-may help mitigate the burden of late-life depression in similar contexts.Article Citation - WoS: 8Citation - Scopus: 12Enhancing Urban Sustainability With Novel Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines: a Study on Residential Buildings in Çeşme(Mdpi, 2025-04-24) Saleh, Yousif Abed Saleh; Durak, Murat; Turhan, CihanThis study investigates the integration of three types of vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs)-helical, IceWind, and a combined design-on residential buildings in & Ccedil;e & scedil;me, T & uuml;rkiye, a region with an average wind speed of 7 m/s. The research explores the potential of small-scale wind turbines in urban areas, providing sustainable solutions for renewable energy generation and reducing reliance on conventional energy sources. The turbines were designed and analyzed using SolidWorks and ANSYS Fluent, achieving power outputs of 350 W for the helical turbine, 430 W for the IceWind turbine, and 590 W for the combined turbine. A total of 42 turbines were mounted on a five-storey residential building model, and DesignBuilder software was utilized to simulate and evaluate the energy consumption. The baseline energy consumption of 172 kWh/m2 annually was reduced by 18.45%, 22.93%, and 30.88% for the helical, IceWind, and combined turbines, respectively. Furthermore, the economic analysis showed payback periods of 12.89 years for the helical turbine, 10.60 years for the IceWind turbine, and 10.49 years for the combined turbine. These findings emphasize the viability of integrating VAWTs into urban buildings as an effective strategy for reducing energy consumption, lowering costs, and enhancing energy efficiency.Article Citation - WoS: 3Citation - Scopus: 7The Impact of Increases in Housing Prices on Income Inequality: a Perspective on Sustainable Urban Development(Mdpi, 2025-04-29) Unalan, Gokhan; Camalan, Ozge; Yilmaz, Hakki HakanThis study examines the impact of housing price increases on income inequality using the dynamic system GMM for OECD countries (2010-2021). We test the hypothesis that housing price appreciation affects income distribution differently based on economic development levels and homeownership patterns. The analysis is conducted both for the entire sample and by dividing countries into two groups based on per capita income, Group 1 (16 countries) with below-median per capita GDP and Group 2 (17 countries) with above-median per capita GDP, to account to account for structural differences in housing markets, financial systems, and wealth accumulation mechanisms. The findings show that rising housing prices help reduce income inequality, especially in countries that are relatively low-income and where more low-income households own their homes. Specifically, our estimates indicate that a one-point increase in the housing price index leads to a statistically significant (p < 0.05) 0.21 percentage point reduction in the Gini change rate in lower-income countries. However, in higher-income countries, the effect of housing prices on inequality is statistically insignificant, suggesting that the relationship between housing markets and income inequality varies across different economic contexts. This insignificance likely stems from countervailing forces: while housing appreciation increases wealth for homeowners, higher housing costs may disproportionately burden lower-income households through rental markets in these economies. The findings highlight the importance of country-specific housing programs that consider homeownership patterns and financial market access in tackling inequality, along with comprehensive public social policies. Our study has implications for policymakers seeking to address inequality through housing market interventions, particularly during the post-2008 recovery period and into the early pandemic phase.Article Citation - WoS: 4Citation - Scopus: 4Integrating Personalized Thermal Comfort Devices for Energy-Efficient and Occupant-Centric Buildings(Mdpi, 2025-04-26) Turhan, Cihan; Carpino, CristinaPersonalized thermal comfort (PTC) systems aim to satisfy the individual thermal preferences of occupants rather than relying on average comfort indices. With the growing emphasis on sustainability and reducing energy consumption in buildings, energy efficiency has become a critical factor in the design and selection of PTC systems. While the development of PTC tools has accelerated in the last decade, selecting the most appropriate system remains a challenge due to the dynamic, uncertain, and multi-dimensional nature of the decision-making process. This study introduces a novel application of the KEMIRA-M multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method to identify the optimal PTC system for university office buildings-an area with limited prior investigation. A case study is conducted in a naturally ventilated office space located in a temperate climate zone. Eight distinct PTC alternatives are evaluated, including data-driven HVAC systems, wearable devices, and localized conditioning units. Six key criteria are considered: estimated energy consumption, capital cost, indoor and outdoor space requirements, system complexity, mobility, and energy efficiency. The results indicate that wearable wristbands, which condition the occupant's carpus area, offer the most balanced performance across criteria, while radiant ceiling/floor systems perform the poorest. Energy efficiency plays a crucial role in this evaluation, as it directly impacts both the operational cost and the environmental footprint of the system. The study's findings provide a structured and adaptable framework for HVAC engineers and designers to integrate PTC systems into occupant-centric and energy-efficient building designs.Article Citation - WoS: 3Citation - Scopus: 3Millimeter-Wave Sar Imaging for Sub-Millimeter Defect Detection With Non-Destructive Testing(Mdpi, 2025-02-10) Yalcinkaya, Bengisu; Aydin, Elif; Kara, AliThis paper introduces a high-resolution 77-81 GHz mmWave Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imaging methodology integrating low-cost hardware with modified radar signal characteristics specifically for NDT applications. The system is optimized to detect minimal defects in materials, including low-reflectivity ones. In contrast to the existing studies, by optimizing key system parameters, including frequency slope, sampling interval, and scanning aperture, high-resolution SAR images are achieved with reduced computational complexity and storage requirements. The experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the system in detecting optically undetectable minimal surface defects down to 0.4 mm, such as bonded adhesive lines on low-reflectivity materials with 2500 measurement points and sub-millimeter features on metallic targets at a distance of 30 cm. The results show that the proposed system achieves comparable or superior image quality to existing high-cost setups while requiring fewer data points and simpler signal processing. Low-cost, low-complexity, and easy-to-build mmWave SAR imaging is constructed for high-resolution SAR imagery of targets with a focus on detecting defects in low-reflectivity materials. This approach has significant potential for practical NDT applications with a unique emphasis on scalability, cost-effectiveness, and enhanced performance on low-reflectivity materials for industries such as manufacturing, civil engineering, and 3D printing.Article Predictive Factors of Cardiac Function Recovery and Mortality in Patients With Reduced Ejection Fraction Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation(Mdpi, 2025-02-04) Guney, Murat Can; Suygun, Hakan; Polat, Melike; Ayhan, Huseyin; Keles, Telat; Ertop, Zeynep Seyma Turinay; Bozkurt, Engin; Turinay Ertop, Zeynep ŞeymaBackground and Objectives: Patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) are reported to have unfavorable outcomes following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). This study aims to evaluate outcomes and identify predictive factors for LVEF recovery following TAVI in patients with reduced LVEF. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 114 patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS) with LVEF < 40% who underwent TAVI between 2011 and 2023 at two centers. Echocardiographic parameters, including LVEF, ventricular dimensions, and relative wall thickness (RWT), were assessed at baseline and during follow-up. The outcomes and predictors of substantial LVEF improvement and mortality were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression methods. Results: Anemia (OR = 4.345, 95% CI: 1.208-15.626, p = 0.024), RWT (OR = 1.224, 95% CI: 1.064-1.407, p = 0.005), and early post-procedural changes in left ventricular end-systolic dimension (LVESD) (OR = 1.297, 95% CI: 1.037-1.622, p = 0.023) and left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) (OR = 1.346, 95% CI: 1.034-1.753, p = 0.027) at one-month follow-up were identified as significant factors associated with LVEF recovery at one year. Regarding factors related to mortality, higher baseline AVMG levels were associated with a lower probability of death after one year (OR = 0.926, 95% CI: 0.875-0.979, p = 0.007). Conversely, a more limited increase in LVEF from baseline to the final follow-up was linked to poor prognosis and higher mortality at one year (95% CI: 1.045-1.594, p = 0.018). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that TAVI in patients with AS and reduced LVEF can be performed with high procedural success, low mortality, and significant improvement in cardiac function during follow-up. Additionally, anemia, baseline RWT, and early post-procedural changes in LVESD and LVEDD were identified as factors associated with LVEF recovery. Baseline AVMG and changes in LVEF at the final follow-up were found to be significant predictors of total mortality.Article Citation - WoS: 15Citation - Scopus: 18Protective Effects of BPC 157 on Liver, Kidney, and Lung Distant Organ Damagein Rats with Experimental Lower-Extremity Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury(MDPI, 2025-02-08) Demirtas, Hueseyin; Ozer, Abdullah; Yildirim, Alperen Kutay; Dursun, Ali Dogan; Sezen, Saban Cem; Arslan, MustafaBackground and Objectives: Ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury can affect multiple distant organs following I/R in the lower extremities. BPC-157’s anti-inflammatory and free radical-neutralizing properties suggest its potential in mitigating ischemia–reperfusion damage. This study evaluates the protective effects of BPC-157 on remote organ damage, including the kidneys, liver, and lungs, in a rat model of skeletal muscle I/R injury. Materials and Methods: A total of 24 male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham (S), BPC-157(B), lower extremity I/R(IR) and lower extremity I/R+BPC-157(I/RB). Some 45 min of ischemia of lower extremity was followed by 2 h of reperfusion of limbs. BPC-157 was applied to groups B and I/RB at the beginning of the procedure. After 2 h of reperfusion, liver, kidney and lung tissues were harvested for biochemical and histopathological analyses. Results: In the histopathological examination, vascular and glomerular vacuolization, tubular dilation, hyaline casts, and tubular cell shedding in renal tissue were significantly lower in the I/RB group compared to other groups. Lung tissue showed reduced interstitial edema, alveolar congestion, and total damage scores in the I/RB group. Similarly, in liver tissue, sinusoidal dilation, necrotic cells, and mononuclear cell infiltration were significantly lower in the I/RB group. Additionally, the evaluation of TAS, TOS, OSI, and PON-1 revealed a statistically significant increase in antioxidant activity in the liver, lung, and kidney tissues of the I/RB group. Conclusions: The findings of this study demonstrate that BPC-157 exerts a significant protective effect against distant organ damage in the liver, kidneys, and lungs following lower extremity ischemia–reperfusion injury in rats.