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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: 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: 4Citation - Scopus: 5Stability Analysis of an Epidemic Model With Vaccination and Time Delay(Wiley, 2023) Turan, Mehmet; Adiguzel, Rezan Sevinik; Koc, F.; Sevinik Adıgüzel, RezanThis paper presents an epidemic model with varying population, incorporating a new vaccination strategy and time delay. It investigates the impact of vaccination with respect to vaccine efficacy and the time required to see the effects, followed by determining how to control the spread of the disease according to the basic reproduction ratio of the disease. Some numerical simulations are provided to illustrate the theoretical results.Article The Paradox of Power in Turkey: Omnipotent Leader, Impotent State(Wiley, 2026) Bektas, Eda; Muhurcuoglu, KorhanThis article examines a central paradox of contemporary authoritarianism: how the concentration of power in the hands of a seemingly omnipotent executive can simultaneously erode bureaucratic capacity and autonomy through subordination, producing an increasingly impotent state. Focussing on Turkey's transition to hyper-presidentialism after the 2018 elections, it argues that excessive centralisation has undermined the institutional competence and discretion required for coordinated and effective policy implementation. The government's response to the 6 February 2023 twin earthquakes provides a tragic and revealing case that affected millions of lives. Despite Recep Tayyip Erdo & gbreve;an's pledges that the presidential system would deliver efficiency and decisiveness, disaster governance was marked by delayed decision making, poor coordination, limited capacity for rapid mobilisation and communication and an emphasis on narrative control over effective execution. Drawing on bureaucratic capacity and autonomy as indicators of governance quality, this article shows how personalist rule hollows out state institutions, exposing its limits in delivering good governance.Article Citation - WoS: 21Citation - Scopus: 21Investigation of Hydrogen Production From Sodium Borohydride by Carbon Nano Tube-Graphene Supported Pdru Bimetallic Catalyst for Pem Fuel Cell Application(Wiley, 2022) Al-Msrhad, Tuqa Majeed Hameed; Devrim, Yilser; Uzundurukan, Arife; Budak, YagmurIn this study, hydrogen (H-2) generation from the hydrolysis of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) catalyzed by bimetallic Palladium-Ruthenium (PdRu) supported on multiwalled carbon nanotube-graphene (MWCNT-GNP) hybrid material is investigated. The effect of various parameters such as temperature, NaBH4 concentration, and catalyst loading and effect of base concentration are examined to observed optimum operating conditions. Experimental results show that the PdRu/MWCNT-GNP bimetallic catalyst has high catalytic activity on NaBH4 hydrolysis reaction. It has been found that PdRu/MWCNT-GNP catalyst shows low activation energy of 22.33 kJ/mol for hydrolysis reaction of NaBH4. The PdRu/MWCNT-GNP catalyst also exhibits H-2 generation rate of 79.2 mmol/min center dot g(cat) at 45 degrees C. It shows good cycle stability in the catalyst reusability test and retained 89% of its initial catalytic activity after fifth use. The high catalytic activity of the PdRu/MWCNT-GNP catalyst makes it promising in H-2 generation from NaBH4 hydrolysis for commercial proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) applications.Article Novel Enterococcus Phages Identified through Comprehensive Screening to Control Contamination in Chicken Meat(Wiley, 2026) Unal, Gultekin; Cengiz, Gorkem; Cufaoglu, Gizem; Acar, Bahar Onaran; Ayaz, Naim Deniz; Yildiz, Tansu; Erdinc, Ayse Nur; Onaran Acar, BaharBACKGROUND Antibiotic-resistant Enterococcus faecalis and E. faecium are persistent contaminants in food and environmental settings, including poultry-related matrices, contributing to food safety risks and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) dissemination. This study aimed to identify Enterococcus phages through environmental screening and evaluate their biocontrol potential using a chicken wing food model. RESULTS From 1719 environmental samples, 45 Enterococcus-targeting phages were isolated, and two (Efs.1 1-1 and Efm 3-10) with the broadest lytic profiles were selected for characterization. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that both phages belong to Caudoviricetes with siphovirus-like morphology, latent periods (6-8 min), and high burst sizes (90-110 PFU per cell). Whole-genome sequencing revealed complete circular genomes with estimated completeness values between 0.97 and 1.00, and no detectable virulence, lysogeny, or AMR genes. The phages were stable at pH 4 for 60 min and tolerated 40-60 degrees C for 1 h. Phage titers decreased from 10.0 to no less than 6.0 log PFU mL(-1) across all storage conditions over 12 months. In vitro assays in tryptic soy broth showed that while the control groups reached 8.56-9.12 log CFU mL(-1) at 24 h at 37 degrees C, no bacteria were detected in any of the phage-treated samples (limit of detection: 1 CFU mL(-1)). In the chicken wing food model, phage treatment maintained bacterial counts below the detection limit (<1 log CFU g(-1)) throughout refrigerated storage. Mean log reductions reached 1.78-2.78 and 3.71-4.71 log CFU g(-1), respectively. CONCLUSION These novel lytic phages exhibit strong stability and rapid antibacterial activity, offering promising biocontrol agents to reduce Enterococcus contamination in chicken meat.Article Citation - WoS: 2Citation - Scopus: 2Ultrafast Green Synthesis of Superparamagnetic Hybrid Nanoparticle for Advanced Applications(Wiley, 2025) Kibar, GunesThe integration of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) into functional hybrid nanostructures remains a challenge, particularly in preserving their magnetic properties within composite frameworks. Herein, we present a rapid and environmentally friendly synthesis strategy for SPION-decorated polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) nanoparticles. The process involves UV-induced polymerization to form POSS nanoparticles, followed by in situ SPION precipitation, with comprehensive characterization performed via SEM, FTIR, XRD, and VSM analyses. This approach enables the fabrication of hybrid nanoparticles (similar to 160 nm) within 5 min and subsequent SPION decoration in under an hour, ensuring (10 emu/g) superparamagnetic behavior. The developed method is highly scalable, efficient, and compatible with green chemistry principles, making it a promising platform for engineering advanced hybrid nanostructures. These nanoparticles hold significant potential for applications in biomedicine, catalysis, and next-generation material science.Article Validating the Turkish Adaptation of the Fear of Being Single Scale(Wiley, 2024) Kirimer-Aydinli, Fulya; Kucukkomurler, SanemPeople may experience anxiety regarding their future romantic relationship status. Fear of being single (FOBS) is a potential cause of this anxiety, characterized by distress about the idea of being single and assessed through the FOBS Scale. In the current study, the FOBS Scale was adapted into Turkish. The study included 349 individuals aged 28-55 years (M = 23.63 years, SD = 6.45 years). The reliability and validity of the measure and the associations with particular variables were investigated for the first time in the cultural context of Turkey. The confirmatory factor analysis revealed an acceptable model fit for the single-factor structure. Measurement invariance of the scale across relationship status was supported at configural and metric levels, but not at the scalar level. The convergent and divergent validity analyses indicated that FOBS is distinct from generalized anxiety, attachment anxiety, and the personality trait of neuroticism. FOBS was found to be related to the need to belong but not to the inclusion of close others into the self. It has been determined that FOBS is a distinctive phenomenon, and the Turkish version of the FOBS Scale is a valid and reliable tool for assessing FOBS in Turkey.Article Baby Steps of Parenting: Turkish Adaptation of Infancy Parenting Styles Questionnaire and Mother- and Infant-Related Characteristics Affecting Parenting in Infancy(Wiley, 2025) Bahtiyar-Saygan, BaharThe crucial importance of parenting for human development is well known, yet there has been little investigation, particularly regarding infancy parenting. This study investigates mother- and infant-related characteristics affecting parenting styles in the first year after birth. Additionally, adapting an Infancy Parenting Styles Questionnaire (IPSQ) to Turkish is aimed. In total, 110 mothers with babies in the first year of their lives (M age in months = 6.39, SDage in months = 3.72; 70 girls) participated in the study. Mothers filled out the IPSQ, Early Parenting Attitudes Questionnaire (EPAQ), Karitane Parental Self-Confidence Scale (KPSC), and Parental Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF). Four components emerged: involvement, discipline, anxiety, and routine. The IPSQ was found to be reliable (alpha = .81) and valid. The findings revealed that income, the number of children, and parental confidence were significant predictors for involvement; maternal education, parental confidence, parenting stress, and sleep wellness of the baby were significant predictors for discipline; and the number of caregivers and parental confidence were significant predictors for routine sub-components. Also, results indicated higher involvement and lower discipline in primiparous compared to multiparous mothers. The findings were discussed in light of the literature regarding the antecedents of parenting and its developmental outcomes.
