Scopus İndeksli Yayınlar Koleksiyonu

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14627/7

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 514

Smart and Sustainable Cities: Challenges and Prospects for Istanbul
(IGI Global, 2025) Özbay Daş, Z.Ö.
Rapid urbanization brings about many challenges, such as air pollution, congestion, food insecurity, and waste management. The concepts of "smart city" and "sustainable city" have become very significant for cities that are severely experiencing these types of problems. In this study, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and smart sustainable indicators are linked to the concept of smart sustainable cities, with a particular focus on assessing Istanbul in this context. As a megacity, Istanbul possesses abundant human capital and a dynamic environment that can provide opportunities for smart and sustainable solutions. However, rapid economic and population growth may simultaneously generate new and complex challenges. © 2026 by IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved.
Operating Room Nurses' Attitudes Toward Patient Safety and Attitudes Toward Preventing Pressure Injuries: Descriptive and Regression Analysis
(W.B. Saunders, 2025) Cetinkaya, M.M.; Taylan, S.; Eti Aslan, F.
Purpose This study was conducted to determine the relationship between patient safety attitudes of operating room nurses and their attitudes toward the prevention of pressure injuries. Design The study is a descriptive regression study. Methods The study data were collected from 102 nurses working in the operating room of a private hospital between September 2 and October 10, 2024. The sample size, which was known before the study, was determined by power analysis. Data were collected using a personal information form, a patient safety attitude scale, and a pressure ulcer prevention attitude scale. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations) were used to analyze the data. Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to compare groups. The correlational relationship between the patient safety attitude scale and the pressure injury prevention attitude scale was evaluated by Pearson correlation analysis. The predictors of all subdimensions of the nurses' attitudes toward pressure injury prevention scale were evaluated by stepwise multiple linear regression analysis. Findings The mean age of the operating room nurses (56.9%) who participated in the study was between 20 and 30 years, 63.7% were female, 77.5% had a bachelor's degree, 39.2% had worked for less than 5 years, and 92.2% were scrub nurses. A high school education and less than 5 years of experience were found to be negative predictors of attitudes toward pressure injury prevention. Working conditions, job satisfaction, and teamwork subdimensions of the patient safety attitude scale were found to be significant predictors of attitudes toward pressure injury prevention. Conclusions The findings of the study revealed that operating room nurses' attitudes toward patient safety and the prevention of pressure injuries were significantly related to variables such as educational level, professional experience, job satisfaction, teamwork, and safety climate. © 2025 The American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses.
Myrtus Communis Ameliorates Ionizing Radiation-Induced Cardiopulmonary Injury in Rats: TROD-GROG-003 Study
(KeAi Communications Co., 2026) Aytekin, A.; İşçi, O.; Ozyilmaz, N.; Yilmaz-Karaoglu, S.; Ertas, B.; Sen, A.; Atasoy, B.M.
Objectives Ionizing radiation (IR), widely used in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, can damage vital organs such as the heart and lungs through oxidative stress. This study aims to assess the potential radioprotective effect of Myrtus communis (MC) against cardiopulmonary injury. Methods Thirty female rats were divided into four groups. Control (C) and IR (R) groups received oral saline. The treatment (R+MC) and pretreatment (R+preMC) groups received MC (100 mg/kg) for 4 days (starting on the day of IR) and 8 days (starting 4 days before IR), respectively. All IR-exposed groups (R, R+MC, R+preMC) received a single 10 Gy whole-body irradiation. Histopathological changes were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin staining, while oxidative stress was evaluated by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), myeloperoxidase (MPO), nitric oxide (NO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and tissue factor activity (TFa) levels. Protein profiles in tissues were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Results Histopathologically, MC reduced alveolar and cardiomyocyte damage in both R+MC and R+preMC groups. IR increased all oxidative stress markers and decreased antioxidant parameters in heart and lung tissues (p < 0.05–0.001). Both MC treatment and pretreatment reversed these effects, significantly reducing oxidative/inflammatory markers and restoring antioxidant enzyme activities (p < 0.05–0.001). The R+preMC group demonstrated a stronger protective effect than the R+MC group. Conclusion Our study shows that MC has a radioprotective effect on the cardiopulmonary system by decreasing oxidative damage. MC appears to be a promising natural compound for advanced radioprotection research, and further molecular and clinical studies could clarify its mechanisms and potential applications . © 2025 Science and Technology Publishing House Limited.
Development and Psychometric Properties of the Self-Efficacy Scale for Symptom Management and Self-Care in Patients with Cardiac Surgery
(Springer Publishing Co, 2025) Aksut, Rabia Saglam; Capik, Canturk; Elmas, Tugce Bozkurt
Background and Purpose: Evaluating self-efficacy for symptom management and self-care is crucial for ensuring follow-up care after cardiac surgery. As there is not yet a validated measurement tool for this evaluation, the aim of this study was to develop the Self-Efficacy Scale for Symptom Management and Self-Care (SESMSC: Cardiac Surgery) in patients with cardiac surgery and to examine its psychometric properties. Methods: The Symptom Management Theory and Bandura's Self-Efficacy Theory were used as the theoretical background for scale development. A multiphase design was utilized. The initial development phase consisted of item generation and expert panel review. The second phase comprised a three-step validation process: (a) face and content analysis (CFA) for construct validity, and (c) Cronbach's alpha, test-retest, and item- total correlation analysis to assess internal consistency reliability. The sample (n = 401) was randomly divided into two subsamples for EFA and CFA (EFA group: n = 201; CFA group: n = 200). Results: EFA suggested a 20-item, two-factor structure with factor loadings of .342-.782. The two subscales of the scale were labeled symptom management self-efficacy and self-efficacy for ch's alpha, test-retest, and item-total correlation results demonstrated acceptable internal consistency reliability. Implications for Practice: The SESMSC: Cardiac Surgery may be a useful tool to evaluate self-efficacy for symptom management and self-care after cardiac surgery. Further evaluation in independent samples is needed to investigate its psychometric properties and usefulness in clinical practice.
Effects of Left and Bilateral Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Pain, Mood, and Autonomic Nervous System in Female Patients With Fibromyalgia: a Randomized Controlled Trial
(Taylor & Francis Inc, 2025) Akkurt, Mustafa Ferit; Ozden, Ali Veysel; Akkurt, Halil Ekrem; Akkurt, Burcu; Bildik, Celaleddin
Introduction: Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is a complex disease characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, emotional disturbances, and autonomic dysfunction. Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) has emerged as a potential noninvasive approach to modulate FMS-related symptoms. Purpose: To compare the effects of left and bilateral taVNS on pain, mood, functionality, and autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity in individuals with FMS. Methods: Forty female individuals with FMS were assigned to either a left (n = 20) or a bilateral (n = 20) taVNS group. Both received 11 sessions of taVNS targeting the tragus and concha regions (30 minutes each, 25 Hz, 300 mu s) over nonconsecutive days, excluding weekends and menstrual periods. Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) were assessed. ANS activity was evaluated via heart rate variability (HRV). After 11 sessions of taVNS, a 2-week follow-up was performed. Results: No significant differences were observed between groups except for FIQ and BAI on day 28 (p = .002-0.008). Both groups showed significant within-group improvements in VAS (r = 0.87-0.94; p < .001), BDI (r = 0.46-0.71; p < .001), FIQ (r = 0.95-0.99; p < .001), and BAI (r = 0.69-0.94; p < .001) scores. Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) (p = .365-0.776) and Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) (p = .598-0.880) indices, which are the subparameters of HRV, showed no significant between-group differences, with small effect sizes (r < 0.15). Conclusion: Both stimulation protocols effectively reduced pain and improved mood and functionality in fibromyalgia, indicating a safe, noninvasive adjunctive treatment option. Clinicaltrials.gov: (Identifier: NCT06871306).
Evaluation of Pulmonary Function Test and Peripheral Muscle Strength in Smoking and Non-Smoking University Students
(Georg Thieme Verlag KG, 2025) Tekeoglu Tosun, Anil; Yilmaz, Nergis; Uysal, Ogulcan; Aydin, Buket; Cambel, Ilayda; Karagozoglu Coskunsu, Dilber
Objective This study was conducted to compare pulmonary function and peripheral muscle strength in smoking and non-smoking university students. Materials and Methods Data were collected from 120 volunteer university students aged between 18 and 25 years, who were divided into two groups regardless of gender after their smoking status had been determined. Data were collected using a sociodemographic form, the Pulmonary Function Test (PFT), and the Five Times Sit-to-Stand and Six-Minute Walk tests to assess peripheral muscle strength. These tests were applied to both smoking and non-smoking groups. Results According to GLI 2012 reference values, female non-smokers exhibited significantly higher FEV1 and FEV1/FVC z-scores compared to female smokers (p<0.001 and p=0.008, respectively), whereas no significant differences were observed among males. No significant differences were found between smokers and non-smokers in peripheral muscle strength tests overall; however, gender-specific analyses revealed significant differences in some tests. Conclusion Significant differences were found in some pulmonary function tests between smoking and non-smoking university students, while no overall difference was observed in peripheral muscle strength. Gender-based subgroup analyses suggested varying effects on muscle strength and pulmonary function. Developing targeted smoking awareness programs for university students is important for public health.
Turkey on the Fault Line: The Impact of the Earthquake on the Labor Market
(Wiley, 2025) Demirkilic, Serkan; Ozbay Das, Zuhal; Aydin, Guney
We assess the impact of the 2011 earthquakes of eastern Turkey on the labor market and the potential resilience strategy by exploring heterogeneity among subgroups. Our findings indicate a rise in low-skilled employment and an increase in the wage rates for low-skilled women following the earthquake. The instant response to earthquakes varies according to the residents' education level. The manufacturing sector was significant in enhancing the workers' resilience. The results further reveal that the return to the family business may have helped to mitigate the negative economic conditions created by the earthquakes.
Post-Truth Populism as an Emerging Electoral Strategy: The Case of Turkey's 2023 Elections
(Routledge Journals, Taylor & Francis Ltd, 2025) Eldem, Tuba
This article develops a new theoretical framework to explain how right-wing populist incumbents mobilise electoral support in competitive authoritarian regimes. It argues that post-truth populism, defined as the strategic fusion of securitised discourse and emotionally charged identity appeals with epistemic manipulation, enables populist leaders to shape the political battlefield through affective and symbolic narratives rather than policy content. Drawing on discourse analysis of President Recep Tayyip Erdo & gbreve;an's 2023 campaign in Turkey, the article shows how the ruling coalition reframed the elections as an existential struggle against internal and external enemies while simultaneously offering emotionally resonant promises of national revival. Rather than focus solely on institutional advantages or voter grievances, this study foregrounds the discursive agency of populist leaders and their ability to manufacture fear, pride and loyalty. By analysing how Erdo & gbreve;an's campaign displaced economic accountability with emotionally saturated, post-factual narratives, the article contributes to literatures on populism, post-truth politics and securitisation. It argues that the convergence of post-truth politics and populist securitisation forms a powerful mechanism for authoritarian endurance in hybrid regimes, transforming elections into moralised referenda on identity and national survival.
New Diclofenac Hydrazones: Design, Synthesis, in Silico Studies and Anticancer Evaluation Against Breast Cancer
(Elsevier, 2026) Birgul, Kaan; Oktay, Lalehan; Bekci, Hatice; Cikla-Suzgun, Pelin; Durdagi, Serdar; Kucukguzel, S. Guniz
Breast cancer remains one of the most prevalent and lethal malignancies among women, highlighting the urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies that can overcome resistance mechanisms. The p38 alpha mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK14) plays a key role in inflammation-associated oncogenic signaling, making it an attractive molecular target for drug development. In this study, a novel series of diclofenac-based hydrazone derivatives (4a-4o) were designed, synthesized, and characterized using FT-IR, 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy, thin-layer chromatography, and elemental analysis. Computational target profiling using SwissTargetPrediction identified MAPK14 as the primary predicted target. Molecular docking against the MAPK14 crystal structure (PDB ID: 1WBS) revealed high binding affinities (-11.41 to -8.34 kcal/mol), supported by MM/GBSA free energy calculations and molecular dynamics simulations, which confirmed stable ligand-protein interactions through hydrogen bonding with Asp168 and Glu71. In vitro cytotoxicity assays on MCF-7 (luminal A) and MDA-MB-231 (triple-negative) breast cancer cell lines demonstrated low-micromolar IC50 values, with compounds 4c, 4d, and 4e showing the strongest activity (2.1-4.5 mu M), surpassing the reference drug Tamoxifen. Overall, the results indicate that diclofenac hydrazones represent promising candidates anticancer properties through MAPK14 inhibition, providing a foundation for the development of next-generation therapeutics against breast cancer.
Turning Human Resource Analytics Into Actionable Strategies
(IGI Global, 2025) Khan, Shad Ahmad; Koy, A.; Rani, C.; Kansra, P.; Kajla, T.
In today's data-driven workplace, the ability to harness unstructured text data is reshaping how organizations manage their human capital. Natural Language Processing (NLP) empowers HR professionals to extract insights from employee communications, feedback, and performance reviews, turning qualitative input into strategic decision-making tools. By improving areas such as recruitment, engagement, and retention, NLP enhances both employee experiences and organizational efficiency. Its application bridges the gap between traditional HR practices and advanced analytics, enabling more informed, proactive, and people-centered approaches. This integration of technology and human insight marks a transformative shift in the way businesses understand and support their workforce. Turning Human Resource Analytics Into Actionable Strategies emphasizes transforming raw textual data into actionable intelligence that enhances recruitment processes, improves employee engagement strategies, and optimizes organizational decision-making. It explores innovative approaches to effectively understand, manage, and leverage human capital in today's data-driven business environment. Covering topics such as forecasting workforce needs, job satisfaction, and recommendation systems, this book is an excellent resource for HR managers, recruiters, performance managers, employee engagement professionals, business leaders, data analysts, professionals, researchers, scholars, academicians, and more. © 2026 by IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved.
The Futures of New Diplomatic History in a Shifting International Order
(Brill, 2025) Papuccular, Hazal
This essay reflects on the agenda of globalizing diplomatic history as put forward in the manifesto "Provincializing `New' Diplomatic History." It first emphasizes that the Manifesto overlooks key structural dynamics, such as the transformation of the global order. These structural shifts have the potential to significantly influence the trajectories of global diplomatic history. This signifies that the suggestion for global diplomatic history is not merely an epistemic endeavor, but one that must also grapple with the politics of writing global - diplomatic - history in an age of rising disconnections and in an increasingly post-Western world order. Second, the essay points out that New Diplomatic History remains useful in many contexts, even if in a somewhat parochial form, because in many non-Western settings, it still represents a nascent approach to study diplomatic history. Thus, it still holds the potential to generate novel contributions to the historiography of diplomacy.
The Foundation of the Turkish Republic Under Atatürk 1923-38
(Taylor and Francis, 2025) Papuccular, H.
Sports Injuries of the Sternoclavicular Joint
(Springer Science+Business Media, 2025) Uluçay, C.; Yilmaz, B.
The sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) is the primary joint connecting the upper limb to the axial skeleton. It is a saddle-shaped diarthrodial joint comprised of a large clavicular head and a small fossa on the manubrium sterni. The SCJ plays a crucial role in facilitating a wide range of shoulder movements, allowing for clavicle rotation and abduction. Despite its relatively small size and limited bony locking, the SCJ requires robust ligaments to maintain stability and withstand substantial forces. Particularly in sports like football, martial arts, and soccer, direct and indirect traumas can easily lead to injuries in this joint. SCJ injuries are relatively common, and they often complicate other shoulder injuries. Because of the strength of its ligaments, dislocations of this joint are rare, accounting for less than 1% of all dislocations. However, posterior dislocations, although infrequent, can be life-threatening. In this chapter, we will provide a brief overview of the anatomy, patterns of injury, imaging techniques, and treatment options related to the SCJ. © 2025 Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
Psychological Effects of Robotic Rehabilitation in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury: A Narrative Review
(BMC, 2025) Ibrahim, Ismail A.; Mounir, Mennatallah M.; Hussein, Omar; Parnian, Nadieh; Sefertas, Ece; Ravanbod, Amin; Arican, Tuna Eren
IntroductionSpinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with severe physical, psychological, and social burdens. Robotic rehabilitation, especially robotic-assisted gait training, is increasingly used to improve functional recovery. Nonetheless, its psychological effects which are key to motivation, compliance, and long-term prognosis have received little scrutiny.MethodsWe conducted a narrative review across five databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane, Embase) from inception to January 2025. Studies were included if they evaluated robotic rehabilitation in SCI and reported psychological outcomes. Findings were synthesized thematically into domains of anxiety/technophobia, motivation/engagement, self-efficacy/dependence, and frustration/quality of life.ResultsRobotic systems frequently improved autonomy, motivation, and self-confidence, which corresponded to less depression and a better quality of life. Nevertheless, negative effects including technophobia, frustration from technological malfunction, and loss of self-efficacy from excessive dependence were found. Patient experiences ranged: empowerment and new optimism were reported by some patients, whereas others experienced the devices as complicated, emotionally alienating, or inadequately adjustable.DiscussionRobotic rehabilitation has a dual psychological effect. On one hand, it encourages engagement and emotional resilience; on the other, it carries risks of interdependence and diminished autonomy. There are ethical issues to be resolved access disparities, data protection, and preserving human connection that require careful management. The inclusion of psychological screening, education of patients, and specific goal-setting within protocols can maximize results.ConclusionRobotic rehabilitation is highly capable of promoting progress after SCI if psychological considerations are completely incorporated into rehabilitation interventions. A multimodal approach that is interdisciplinary and ethically solid is required to achieve optimized functional improvement as well as psychosocial health.
Ultrasound Measurements of Pelvic Floor and Diaphragm Muscles in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients With Urinary Incontinence
(Springer London Ltd, 2025) Balaban, Mehtap; Dusgun, Elif Sena; Nur, Hifziye Pervin; Lalecan, Nida; Sertcelik, Umran Ozden; Celenay, Seyda Toprak
BackgroundThe precise manner in which morphological properties of pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) and diaphragm muscle in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients with Urinary Incontinence (UI) are affected remains unclear.AimThis study aimed to compare the ultrasound measurements of PFMs and diaphragm muscle in COPD patients with and without UI.MethodsThirty COPD patients with UI [UI group, age: 61.00 (42.00-70.00) years, body mass index: 27.86 (20.20-54.69) kg/m2] and thirty COPD patients without UI [N-UI group, age: 64.00 (47.00-70.00) years, body mass index: 27.11 (20.30-35.94) kg/m2] were included. The PFMs contaction assessment and diaphragm muscle morphological properties were evaluated using the Logiq S7/Expert ultrasound device. The percentage of change in thickness of diaphragm muscle, known as the diaphragm thickening fraction index (DTFI), was also calculated.ResultsIt was found that the PFMs contraction (p = 0.018) and DTFI (p = 0.016) values were significantly lower in the UI group compared to the N-UI group. No significant differences were observed in the diaphragm thickness score during the inspiration (p = 0.973) and expiration (p = 0.233) between the groups.ConclusionsPatients with COPD and UI exhibited diminished the PFMs contaction severity and DTFI compared to those with COPD but no UI. It should be considered that UI comorbidity in COPD may negatively affect PFMs contaction severity and diaphragm muscle morphological properties.
Burn Rehabilitation: Evaluation of Physiotherapists' Knowledge and Awareness Levels
(Elsevier Sci Ltd, 2025) Seyyah, Mine; Akkurt, Mustafa Ferit; Yilmaz, Nergis
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge and awareness of physiotherapists working in Turkey about burn rehabilitation. Method: This was a cross-sectional study conducted between March and June 2025 and data were collected using Google Form. A total of 324 people were included in the study. The level of knowledge and awareness of the participants about burn rehabilitation was evaluated with 28 questions created by taking expert opinion. Results: While 25.6 % of participants had experience in burn rehabilitation, only 1.2 % frequently encountered burn patients. Although 60.5 % had taken courses on burn rehabilitation, only 15.1 % considered their knowledge sufficient. Correct response rates to key knowledge questions were 78.7 % for exercise applicability, 79.6 % for timing, 54.6 % for the most common burn type in Turkey, 35.8 % for edema management, and 13 % for pressure garment duration, revealing gaps in clinical knowledge. Additionally, 92.9 % believed early physiotherapy improves recovery, and 98.4 % reported positive effects on quality of life. Discussion: Our results indicate that although most physiotherapists had taken courses on burn rehabilitation, their knowledge remains insufficient, whereas their awareness is high, underscoring the need for targeted training and certification programs.
Effectiveness of Vibration in Reducing Pain and Improving Satisfaction During Subcutaneous Injections: A Randomized Crossover Clinical Trial
(Taylor & Francis Ltd, 2025) Yildirim, Dilek; Kugu, Emre
AimThe pain experienced during and after the injection may cause discomfort and lead individuals to develop a negative perception toward future injections. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of vibration stimulation on pain induced by subcutaneous injections and patient satisfaction.MethodsThis was a prospective, randomized, single-blind, crossover study design. Data were collected from 85 patients. Vibration and non-vibration subcutaneous anticoagulant injections were administered randomly by the same investigator following a standardized procedure. Pain and satisfaction were evaluated by a study-blind investigator using the Visual Analogue Scale immediately after the injection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Student's t-test, paired sample test, and a generalized linear mixed model.ResultsA total of 175 injections were analyzed. It was found that the pain level of patients was lower when vibration was applied (4.06 +/- 1.68 vs. 5.32 +/- 2.19, p = 0.004). Additionally, patient satisfaction was higher when vibration was used (7.17 +/- 1.71vs. 5.97 +/- 2.46, p = 0.011).ConclusionThe results of this study demonstrated that vibration was effective in reducing the pain associated with subcutaneous anticoagulant injections and in increasing patient satisfaction. Vibration can be used as a method to alleviate pain from subcutaneous anticoagulant injections and enhance patient satisfaction. Clinically, this suggests that incorporating vibration during subcutaneous injections can be a simple, non-pharmacological strategy to improve patient comfort and adherence to therapy.
Investigating the Personal and Professional Variables That Predict Discrimination Attitudes Among Nurses and Physicians
(Wiley, 2025) Tekin, Suat; Seren, Arzu Kader Harmanci
Introduction: Healthcare professionals are expected to provide holistic care to their patients without discrimination based on factors such as religion, language, age, gender, and race. Design: It is a cross-sectional descriptive study. Aim: The study aimed to examine the discriminatory attitudes of nurses and physicians working in hospitals in Sanliurfa and to define whether the personal and professional variables predict discriminatory attitudes among them. Methods: The STROBE reporting method, which is one of the EQUATOR guidelines, was followed. Data were collected from a total of 376 physicians and nurses through online platforms between March and June 2020 via the information form and the Discrimination Attitude Scale. Results: The discriminatory attitudes of the nurses and physicians participating in the study were above average. The total discriminatory attitudes scores of the participants varied according to sex, income levels, profession, hospital experience, and unit (p < 0.05). In addition, sex, profession and unit variables predicted the total discriminatory attitudes of nurses and physicians (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Although nurses' and physicians' discriminatory attitudes scores were generally higher, the highest mean score was in the subscale "discrimination against other nationalities." Sex, profession, and unit variables predicted the total discriminatory attitudes of nurses and physicians. Further quantitative and qualitative research is needed to understand the reasons for the highest discriminatory attitudes towards other nationalities among healthcare professionals, to overcome this issue. Clinical Relevance: Nursing or healthcare managers, as well as policymakers, may consider the predictive variables when staffing and training nurses and physicians working in similar regions and conditions.
Logistics Performance and Agricultural Exports: Evidence From Sub-Saharan Africa
(Routledge Journals, Taylor & Francis Ltd, 2025) Vardar, N. Baris; Cifter, Atilla; Delipinar, Gul Esin; Tekelioglu, Mehmet Gurel
This paper investigates the relationship between logistics performance and agricultural exports in Sub-Saharan Africa. Using dynamic panel data from 2012 to 2022, we examine the impact of various components of logistics performance on aggregate agricultural exports. We also analyse how logistics performance affects exports in agricultural subsectors. Our results show that improvements in logistics infrastructure, customs procedures, and international shipping services significantly increase agricultural export performance. The food and live animals subsector benefits the most, followed by crude materials and animal and vegetable oils and fats subsectors. We also find that financial development, foreign direct investment, and world demand are important drivers of agricultural exports in Sub-Saharan Africa. We include institutional quality indicators in our analysis for robustness checks, showing that governance factors also play a significant role in boosting exports. These findings highlight the need for targeted investment in logistics and complementary economic policies, supported by good governance, to harness the region's agricultural export potential and promote sustainable economic development.
Unraveling the Potential of Stem Cell Therapy in Motor Neuron Disease: A Narrative Review
(Bentham Science Publ, 2025) Essa, Syed Muhammad; Khosa, Noor Ahmed; Kakar, Amanullah; Ozturk, Basar; Ibrahim, Ismail A.; Haq, Noman
Motor neuron disorders (MNDs), including ALS, are deadly neurodegenerative conditions that cause progressive motor neuron degeneration. With neuroprotection and the potential for neuron regeneration employing MSCs, ESCs, iPSCs, and NSCs, stem cell treatment presents a viable alternative to current medicines, which only control a limited number of symptoms. Following PRISMA criteria, this narrative review methodically screened 1248 records from the Cochrane, Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus databases. Following a thorough screening process, 22 studies, including preclinical models and 19 clinical trials, were analysed to assess the therapeutic mechanisms, safety, and efficacy of stem cell therapies for MNDs. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy has shown a promising safety profile and possible therapeutic efficacy in ALS, with no substantial transplant-related toxicity noted. ALS functional rating scale-revised (ALSFRS-R) scores and forced vital capacity (FVC) assessments from clinical trials, such as those evaluating autologous bone marrow-derived MSCs, demonstrated stabilisation in ALS development. Studies have also emphasised as to how immunomodulation and neurotrophic factors play a part in MSC-based therapies. Recent data indicate that repeated intrathecal MSC injection could extend the duration of therapeutic advantages. Clinical trials have shown safety and early efficacy signals for motor neurons produced from embryonic stem cells (ESCs), especially using AstroRx (R). This suggests that ESCs could be a viable option for regenerative medicine. Nonetheless, issues, like host integration and differentiation optimisation, still exist. Although clinical translation is still in its early stages, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and their derivatives provide disease modelling and patient-specific therapeutic applications. Stem cell therapy holds promise for treating MND, with MSCs leading the way in current trials. It is necessary to enhance ESC- and iPSC-based techniques to tackle integration issues. To ensure long-term safety and efficacy, therapies must be developed using standardised protocols, patient stratification, optimised delivery, and large-scale studies.

Browse

Recent Submissions