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Article Citation - WoS: 5Citation - Scopus: 7China's Charm Defensive: Image Protection by Acquiring Mass Entertainment(Wiley, 2020) Yildirim, Nilgun Elikucuk; Aslan, MesutFocusing on discussion of China's soft power resources, this article argues that China performs two kinds of soft power strategies in developing and developed countries: offensive and defensive, respectively. While China's charm offensive aims to consolidate her comprehensive power through a development model, aid, investment, traditional culture, foreign policy, and international broadcasting in developing countries, the defensive aspect of China's soft power strategy aims to soften the rise of China with traditional culture by introducing appealing parts of Chinese culture through investments and international broadcasting in Western countries. China applies classical soft power tools in developing countries while she endeavors to protect her image in Western countries defensively. China's alternative defensive approach to soft power is mostly implemented through the acquisition of media outlets, and via the entertainment sector and gaming industry by Chinese-owned companies. However, even in the defensive and offensive bifurcation, if charm attacks result in failure, China could turn take a defensive stance in developing countries.Article Role of Latissimus Dorsi-Thoracolumbar Fascia Complex Stretching on Pain and Pain-Related Parameters in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomised Clinical Trial(Wiley, 2025) Ulug, Naime; Kodak, Seyde Busra; Kodak, Muhammed Ihsan; Aslan, Sema NurBackground Fascial stretching is gaining interest as a potential intervention for pain management. However, evidence regarding the effect of latissimus dorsi-thoracolumbar fascia (LD-TLF) complex stretching in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of LD-TLF complex stretching on pain-related factors and disability in patients with CLBP. Methods Thirty patients with CLBP were randomly assigned to a study group (n = 15; 7 men, 8 women) and a control group (n = 15; 7 men, 8 women). The study group received 4 weeks of LD-TLF complex stretching in combination with conventional physiotherapy, while the control group received conventional physiotherapy only. Outcomes were assessed before and after the interventions, including primary measures of pain pressure thresholds (PPT) at thoracolumbar fascia levels (L1, L3 and 12th costa), and secondary measures included the Pain Sensitivity Questionnaire (PSQ), the effects of pain on daily activities measured by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), and disability assessed by the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (ODQ). Results Pre- and post-treatment PPTs, at the L1, L3 vertebrae and 12th costa levels, demonstrated significant differences between the study group and control groups. Post-treatment thresholds were significantly higher compared to pre-treatment thresholds (p < 0.001, eta p(2) = 0.67; p < 0.001, eta p(2) = 0.61; p < 0.001, eta p(2) = 0.74). Additionally, significant improvements were found in PSC, BPI and ODQ scores in the study group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion The results of this study suggest that stretching the LD-TLF complex may be a beneficial addition to the conventional physiotherapy approach for patients with CLBP. Specifically, LD-TLF complex stretching, when used in combination with conventional physiotherapy, appears to provide improved pain thresholds, decreased pain sensitivity and pain during activity, as well as reduced disability compared to conventional physiotherapy alone in patients with CLBP.Article Epistemic Extraction Zones in Migration Studies: Rethinking Over-Research and Research Fatigue Among Syrian Refugees in Turkey(Wiley, 2025) Ozdemir, ZelalThis paper explores the phenomenon of over-research among Syrian refugees in Turkey, highlighting how sustained and repetitive research attention has created research saturation zones that shape both refugee experiences and knowledge production. Drawing on unstructured conversations with six Syrian refugees in Ankara, the study examines how research fatigue manifests not only as reluctance to participate but also as strategic responses through which refugees navigate frequent encounters with researchers. While existing literature has addressed research fatigue and ethics in refugee studies, less attention has been given to how academic incentives, humanitarian logics, and policy imperatives intersect to produce systematic inequalities in knowledge production. To address this gap, the paper advances the concept of epistemic extraction zones, referring to contexts where knowledge is persistently mined from marginalized communities to satisfy institutional demands with limited reciprocity or epistemic agency. This conceptual lens shifts the debate from individual withdrawal to the structural political economy of knowledge production. The analysis identifies three key dynamics. First, the emergence of research saturation zones in contexts of protracted displacement, where the same communities are repeatedly targeted for study; second, refugees' strategic yet ambivalent engagement with research, combining pragmatic hope with critical awareness of its limited effects; and third, the paradoxical consequences of over-research, where intensified attention produces epistemic extraction that narrows the circulation of knowledge and reinforces hierarchies. The article also reflects critically on the researcher's own position within these dynamics. By theorizing epistemic extraction zones, the paper contributes not only to refugee studies but also to broader sociological debates on power, inequality, and the ethics of knowledge production, highlighting the need for more reflexive and politically accountable research practices.Article Citation - WoS: 14Citation - Scopus: 14How Can We Get Benefits of Computer-Based Testing in Engineering Education?(Wiley, 2013) Cagiltay, Nergiz; Yaman, Seniz-OzalpUsing computers for assessment can provide several benefits for educators and test-takers. However, in the literature, there is no consensus on the equivalence of paper-and-pencil (P&P) and computer-based test (CBT) environments. Additionally, these studies fail to address the engineering domain. Our main assumption is that, if we could define the confounding factors to satisfy that these two versions of the tests provide equivalent results, then especially in the first year courses of the engineering education programs, we could get several benefits of the CBT environments. Accordingly, in this study, students' performance on different test modes was evaluated on 209 first year engineering students of a chemistry course. The results of this study showed that there is no significant performance difference between P&P and CBT. By comparing results with the previous studies, this study concludes that personal characteristics of test takers, the features of CBT systems, and the test content are all possible confounding factors when comparing test modes and need to be considered by the implementers. The results of this study show that once these factors are controlled, students' performance on CBTs and P&P tests in chemistry courses will not vary. This finding is encouraging the educators to get benefits of CBTs without any affect on students' performance. (c) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 21: 287293, 2013; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/cae; DOI 10.1002/cae.20470Article Citation - WoS: 11Citation - Scopus: 20Reinforcement Learning Using Fully Connected, Attention, and Transformer Models in Knapsack Problem Solving(Wiley, 2022) Yildiz, Beytullah; Yıldız, Beytullah; Yıldız, BeytullahKnapsack is a combinatorial optimization problem that involves a variety of resource allocation challenges. It is defined as non-deterministic polynomial time (NP) hard and has a wide range of applications. Knapsack problem (KP) has been studied in applied mathematics and computer science for decades. Many algorithms that can be classified as exact or approximate solutions have been proposed. Under the category of exact solutions, algorithms such as branch-and-bound and dynamic programming and the approaches obtained by combining these algorithms can be classified. Due to the fact that exact solutions require a long processing time, many approximate methods have been introduced for knapsack solution. In this research, deep Q-learning using models containing fully connected layers, attention, and transformer as function estimators were used to provide the solution for KP. We observed that deep Q-networks, which continued their training by observing the reward signals provided by the knapsack environment we developed, optimized the total reward gained over time. The results showed that our approaches give near-optimum solutions and work about 40 times faster than an exact algorithm using dynamic programming.Article Citation - WoS: 1Citation - Scopus: 1Left Ventricular Geometry as a Predictor of Carotid Artery Stenosis Severity in Patients Undergoing Carotid Artery Stenting(Wiley, 2020) Karaduman, Bilge Duran; Ayhan, Huseyin; Keles, Telat; Bozkurt, EnginBackground and Aim Cerebrovascular diseases are the second most common cause of death worldwide. Moderate and severe carotid artery stenosis causes nearly 10% of all strokes. LV geometry is a familiar prognostic and diagnostic factor in several populations; yet, data on its role in carotid artery stenosis are unknown. In our study, we investigated the prognostic value of LV geometry in predicting carotid artery stenosis severity in patients undergoing carotid artery stenting. Methods Patients who underwent carotid artery stenting between January 2012 and January 2016 at our tertiary care center were evaluated retrospectively. Two hundred fifty-five patients who underwent carotid artery stenting were included in the study. Accessible echocardiographic documentation of ninety-eight patients was accessed and evaluated. Results LV normal geometry was detected in 37 (37.7%) of the 98 carotid artery stenting (CAS) patients, concentric hypertrophy in 13 (13.2%), eccentric hypertrophy in 9 (9.1%), and concentric remodeling in 39 (39.7%). By a majority, distal filter was used in normal geometry and eccentric hypertrophy groups (82.9% vs 100%, P: .017). Considering the relationship between carotid artery stenosis severity and LV geometry, we determined that the stenosis severity was statistically significantly higher in the concentric hypertrophy group (p:0.012). However, although no complications were detected in the concentric hypertrophy group, it did not reach statistical significance between the groups (P: .058). LVMi and as expected, Doppler velocity showed a significant correlation with stenosis severity (r = .23 vs .54; P: .021, <.001, respectively). Conclusion Echocardiographic evaluation of LV geometry provided prognostic information in the development of carotid artery stenosis. Abnormal LV geometry is an independent predictor in detecting the severity of carotid artery stenosis undergoing carotid artery stenting.Article Citation - WoS: 19Citation - Scopus: 21Development of Effective Bimetallic Catalyst for High-Temperature Pem Fuel Cell To Improve Co Tolerance(Wiley, 2021) Al-Tememy, Mogdam Gassy Hussein; Devrim, YilserIn this study, it is aimed to examine the effect of multi-walled carbon nanotube doped graphene nanoplatelet (MWCNT-GNP) supported PtPd bimetallic catalyst on the performance of the high-temperature proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (HT-PEMFC). In addition, PtPd/GNP and PtPd/MWCNT bimetallic catalysts were also investigated for performance comparison. The characterizations of these catalysts were examined by ICP-MS, XRD, HR-TEM, and TGA analysis. The electrochemical characterizations of the catalysts were performed for both cyclic voltammetry (CV) and CO stripping experiments, as well as HT-PEMFC tests. The specific surface area (SSA) for PtPd/GNP and PtPd/MWCNT catalysts was obtained as 148 and 137 m(2)/g, respectively, while the highest SSA was achieved as 164 m(2)/g for PtPd/MWCNT-GNP. The performance of the catalysts was confirmed with the HT-PEMFC tests, based on the H-2/air and reformate gas/air experiments. The electrocatalytic results display that PdPt bimetallic catalysts exhibited higher catalytic property than that of commercial Pt/C catalyst. The highest performance was achieved with PtPd/MWCNT-GNP catalyst as 0.390 and 0.310 W/cm(2)at 160 degrees C for H-2/air and reformat/air, respectively. The obtained results indicate that the PtPd/MWCNT-GNP catalyst is appropriate for HT-PEMFC operations.Article Citation - WoS: 8Unexpected Event: Having an Infants With Cleft Lip And/Or Palate(Wiley, 2021) Cinar, Sevil; Ay, Ayse; Boztepe, Handan; Gurlen, EdaThis study aimed to determine the difficulties that the mothers of infants with a cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) go through, the problems they encounter in this process, and how they perceive the support of healthcare professionals, families, and friends. The study used a phenomenological approach from qualitative research methods. The study sample included 18 mothers of 0 to 3-month-old infants with CL/P. The data were collected using socio-demographic information form and semi-structured interview form. The data obtained from the interviews were evaluated using content and thematic analysis approaches. On the basis of the interviews conducted with mothers of infants with CL/P, the following themes emerged: (a) "unexpected event: having an infant with CL/P," (b) "using social media," (c) "stigma," and (d) "uncertainty of long-term treatment." In this study, it was determined that mothers experienced shock, confusion, sadness, and disappointment in this process; therefore, they used social media to seek support from the families as well as conducted research on the disease that involved a lot of uncertainty due to long-term treatments. The present study can help healthcare professionals, who play a role in the care and treatment of infants with CL/P, to understand and know what mothers need in the preoperative period.Article Citation - WoS: 1Citation - Scopus: 1Electrochemical Polymerization and Characterization of Polyether-Substituted Aniline Derivatives(Wiley, 2007) Tirkes, Seha; Cihaner, Atilla; Oenal, Ahmet M.New compounds consisting of aniline units linked by polyether bridges have been synthesized and their electrochemical polymerization was performed via constant potential electrolysis and cyclic voltammetry in an aqueous solution containing 3.0 moI L-1 H2SO4. Chemical polymerization was carried out using (NH4)(2)S2O8 as oxidizing agent. It was found that both methods gave the same polymer product without any cleavage of the polyether bridge between aniline rings. The polymers were characterized using the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic technique and the thermal behavior of electrochemically prepared polymers was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis. Spectroelectrochemical properties of the films were investigated using the in situ UV-visible spectroscopic technique. (c) 2007 Society of Chemical Industry.Article Citation - WoS: 2Citation - Scopus: 2Assessment of Anticancer Effects of Aloe Vera on 3D Liver Tumor Spheroids in a Microfluidic Platform(Wiley, 2025) Tevlek, Atakan; Kibar, Gunes; Cetin, BarbarosThe search for effective anticancer therapies has increasingly focused on natural compounds like Aloe vera, renowned for its therapeutic properties. This study investigates the anticancer properties of Aloe vera on 3D liver tumor spheroids via a PDMS-based microfluidic device, providing a more physiologically realistic model compared to traditional 2D cultures. HepG2 cells were cultivated to generate 3D spheroids on-chip, thereafter subjected to different concentrations of Aloe vera and the chemotherapeutic drug Doxorubicin to evaluate cytotoxic effects. The microfluidic system, validated by COMSOL simulations, facilitated continuous perfusion and real-time assessment of cell viability over a duration of 10 days. The results indicated that Aloe vera markedly diminished cell viability by triggering apoptosis at concentrations over 12.5 mg/mL. IC50 values were determined at 72 h: 25 +/- 0.10 mg/mL for Aloe vera and 5.47 +/- 0.03 mu g/mL for Doxorubicin in 2D cultures, but in 3D cultures, the IC50 values were 31.25 +/- 0.14 mg/mL for Aloe vera and 8.33 +/- 0.05 mu g/mL for Doxorubicin. This study underscores the promise of Aloe vera as a natural anticancer agent and illustrates the efficacy of microfluidic platforms for enhanced drug screening and customized medicine applications.
