Eastern Turkey Research Articles

Genesis of sulfate lithofacies between Erzincan-Divriği Basin with sedimentologic and geochemical evidences: an example from the Paleogene basins of Eastern Turkey

Genesis of sulfate lithofacies between Erzincan-Divriği Basin with sedimentologic and geochemical evidences: an example from the Paleogene basins of Eastern Turkey

THE RELATIONSHIP OF COVID-19 FEAR WITH PREOPERATIVE ANXIETY AND POSTOPERATIVE ANALGESIC REQUIREMENT IN TOTAL HIP AND KNEE ARTHROPLASTY PATIENTS

It was conducted to determine the relationship between fear of Covid-19 and preoperative anxiety and postoperative analgesic requirement in total hip and knee arthroplasty patients. This descriptive study was conducted with 331 patients scheduled for arthroplasty who were hospitalized in the orthopedic clinic of a hospital in eastern Turkey between March 2022-2023. Fear of covid-19, state anxiety inventory, and visual analogue pain scale were used. The mean age of the patients was 61.9±14.4 years, 52.0% had undergone total knee arthroplasty, and there was no relationship between Covid-19 fear score and state anxiety score. A positive significant correlation was found between opioid requirement and Covid-19 fear score on the first and second days after surgery. A weak positive correlation was found between non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) requirement and Covid-19 fear score on the zero, first and second days after surgery. A weak negative correlation was found between paracetamol use and Covid-19 fear score on the first and second days. It was determined that the Covid-19 fear experienced by the patients before surgery was not associated with preoperative anxiety and increased the use of analgesics such as NSAIDs and opioids after surgery.

THE EFFECT OF PRIMARY AND REPEATED CESAREAN BIRTH ON BREASTFEEDING SUCCESS AND MATERNAL ATTACHMENT LEVEL IN POSTPARTUM: A CROSS-SECTIONAL AND COMPARATIVE STUDY

This research was conducted to determine the effect of primary and repeated cesarean births on breastfeeding success and maternal attachment level in postpartum women. The cross-sectional and comparative study sample consisted of 322 postpartum women who applied to a public hospital in eastern Turkey. Data were collected with the "Personal Information Form", "LATCH Breastfeeding Assessment Tool" and “Maternal Attachment Scale(MAS)". Descriptive statistics, independent group’s t-test, and Pearson correlation analysis were used to analyze the data. The average age of the puerperants with primary and repeat births was determined as 28.14±6.15, and 30.56±4.91, respectively. The mean LATCH and MAS total scores of postpartum women who had primary cesarean delivery were lower than those of postpartum women who had repeated cesarean delivery, and the difference between them was statistically significant(p=0.000). It was found that there was a weak, positive relationship between the MAS and LATCH score averages of women who had primary and repeated cesarean deliveries, and as breastfeeding success increased, the level of attachment also increased. It was concluded that breastfeeding success and attachment levels were lower in primary cesarean births compared to repeated cesarean births, and as the breastfeeding success achieved in both groups increased, the level of attachment increased.

Beyond the physical realm: exploring the relationship between spiritual well-being and spiritual care competence

ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the relationship between nurses’ spiritual well-being and their competence in providing spiritual care, and to identify influencing factors among Turkish nurses.MethodsA descriptive and correlative design...

Turkish adaptation of the fear of cancer scale: validity, measurement invariance and reliability study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the Turkish cultural and psychometric properties of the cancer fear scale developed by Feng et al. This methodological study was conducted between January and April 2024 with students from a university in eastern Turkey. Data were collected from two different sample groups (sample 1:350, sample 2:245). Personal information form and cancer fear scale were used. In the adaptation process of the scale, language validity, content validity, construct validity, and reliability were examined. Exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, measurement invariance and convergent-divergent validity were used to determine construct validity. Cronbach alpha internal consistency coefficient, test-retest and corrected item-total correlation were used for reliability. According to the results of exploratory factor analysis, it was determined that the fear of cancer scale had a two-factor structure with factor loadings between 0.58 and 0.70. As a result of the confirmatory factor analysis performed on the two-factor structure of the fear of cancer scale, it was determined that the model goodness-of-fit indices were acceptable and had an excellent fit. It has been determined that measurement invariance findings across genders support configural, metric and scalar invariance. The Cronbach alpha internal consistency coefficient of the fear of cancer scale was 0.93, and the corrected item total correlation values were between 0.45 and 0.73. The Turkish version of the fear of cancer scale was found to be a valid and reliable measurement tool.

Self-care strategies used by disaster responders after the 2023 earthquake in Turkey and Syria: a mixed methods study

BackgroundDisaster responders are exposed to several physical and mental health risks. This study aimed to describe self-care strategies used by disaster responders after the earthquake in Syria and eastern Turkey in February 2023.MethodsA study specific web-based questionnaire survey was used to collect quantitative and qualitative data according to a convergent mixed methods approach. Data from 252 disaster responders responding to the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria were analyzed using both descriptive and analytical statistics and summative content analysis of free-text answers. Data were collected in March to July, 2023.ResultsThe most used self-care strategies included resting, social support from colleagues in the field, extra intake of food or drink, and intake of medicines. The recovery strategies varied due to previous disaster response experience, indicating that supportive self-care strategies can be developed or learned.ConclusionGiven the extreme conditions and limited possibilities of external support, sufficient self-care is an essential competence among disaster responders. Self-care strategies can be both external processed such as intake of medicines, social support from others, and internal processes such as personal reflection. Providing oneself with self-care activities seems to be a skill developed with increasing experience supported by pre-deployment training. Therefore, to enhance resilience, self-care strategies should be encompassed in pre-disaster response training.

Public attitudes toward patients with epilepsy and their opinions on stigma for epilepsy: A case from eastern Turkey.

Public attitudes toward patients with epilepsy and their opinions on stigma for epilepsy: A case from eastern Turkey.

Historical drivers and future streamflow variations of the Kura River in the Western Transcaucasia region of Georgia: Analysis of tree-ring chronologies from 1720 to 2021 CE

In this paper, we conduct a dendrochronological study in the Western Transcaucasia region of Georgia to elucidate the relationship between tree growth and climatic variables (temperature, precipitation, and streamflow) in order to reconstruct the paleohydrology of the Kura River and to assess the impacts of climate change on water resources. We analyzed tree-ring chronologies from 1720 to 2021 CE, and analysis of July–August streamflow revealed five wet phases (1739–1753, 1764–1807, 1811–1831, 1962–1988 and 2000–2019 CE ranging in duration from 11 to 49 years) when streamflow exceeded the long-term mean, and four dry phases (1720–1738, 1832–1881, 1936–1961 and 1989–1999 CE) when streamflow was below average. The most extreme wet and dry years were 1771 and 1851 CE, respectively. Spatial correlation patterns of Kura River reconstructed runoff against sea level pressure (SLP) are negative in the Arctic and positive in mid- to high-latitude Eurasia. The Arctic Oscillation (AO)/North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and solar activity are important drivers of hydroclimatic conditions in the Mediterranean region, by modifying the location of high-pressure areas and large-scale atmospheric circulations. Comparison of our Kura streamflow reconstructions and data in the Old World Drought Atlas (OWDA) reveals a moderately positive correlation (0.40) throughout the study period, being strongest over the Southern Caucasus and Eastern Turkey. This validates the drought signals and emphasizes the importance of using multi-proxy approaches, supported by spatially resolved data, to enhance understanding of regional hydroclimatic variability and drought patterns. We additionally conducted future streamflow scenarios, most notably under the high-emission SSP585 scenario, in line with global trends in CMIP6 projections. Our streamflow results indicate a trend towards increasing drought severity, which highlights the need for urgent adaptation and mitigation strategies in water resource management in this region. Ultimately, this study provides valuable information on historical hydroclimatic conditions in the Kura River Basin, which help to develop strategies to mitigate the hydrologic impacts of climate change in the Western Transcaucasia Caucasus region. We further highlight the importance of regional and global teleconnections for understanding regional hydrological dynamics.

Plio-Pleistocene Small Mammal-Based Biochronology of Eastern Anatolia and Transcaucasus

The known Plio-Pleistocene mammalian record, mainly represented by small mammals, and its biotic and geological context in the vast region of Eastern Turkey and Transcaucasus provides a sound base for regional biochronology. Recently obtained faunal associations and the main evolutionary lineages found in the region support direct correlations to the European (ELMA/MN/MQ) and the Eastern European (faunal complexes/MQR-MNR) biochronological systems. Important data on palynology, aquatic and terrestrial mollusks, and magnetostratigraphy integrate the reviewed material into a robust local biochronology. The range of standard biochrons of Early Pliocene through late Early Pleistocene and the regional Anatolian zones M-P are reliably detected. The Early Pleistocene time range (zone P) is refined based on rhizodont lagurines Borsodia and Euro-Asian larger voles Mimomys ex gr. pliocaenicus. The successive zone R for Early Pleistocene faunas with early rootless Microtini is proposed.

The Effects of Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercise on Hot Flashes in Menopausal Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic Period:

Vasomotor symptoms are the most common problem during the menopausal period. This study investigated the effects of diaphragmatic breathing exercises on hot flashes in menopausal Turkish women during the COVID-19 pandemic period. The study was carried out as a randomized controlled trial with the participation of menopausal women aged 45-60 years in eastern Turkey. A total of 68 women formed two groups, 34 in each group. A Descriptive Characteristics Form and the Hot Flash-Related Daily Interference Scale were used to collect study data.The results of the study showed that the menopause period in most women was between one and five years. The participants stated that the COVID-19 pandemic period increased the frequency of their menopausal hot flashes to a statistically significant extent. While there was a statistically significant difference (p0.05).The diaphragmatic breathing exercises in this study were found to reduce hot flashes complaints during the menopausal period.

Difficulties in emotion regulation and attachment styles among Kurdish individuals in Eastern Turkey with substances use disorders

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between attachment style and emotion dysregulation in Kurdish individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) in Eastern Turkey, a non-Western, Islamic society, in a descriptive cross-sectional design. This study was conducted with 216 individuals with SUDs who were treated at the SBU Van Training and Research Hospital Alcohol and Substance Addiction Treatment Center in Eastern Turkey between April 2023 and June 2023. Almost half of the participants (44.5%, n = 96) were between 18 and 30 years old and almost all were men (96.3%, n = 208). The most commonly used substances were heroin (46.3%, n = 100), marijuana (28.7%, n = 62) and synthetic cannabinoids (7.9%, n = 12). The results showed that higher levels of emotion dysregulation were associated with increased avoidant attachment and anxious attachment style. The study found that anxious and avoidant attachment styles were a significant predictor of emotion dysregulation. These findings suggest that attachment styles may play an important role in emotion dysregulation in Kurdish individuals with SUDs. Future research should investigate whether interventions targeting attachment-based interventions could be effective in reducing emotion dysregulation in Kurdish individuals with SUDs.

What is concealed under the name Lochmaea crataegi (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)?

Until now, Lochmaea crataegi (Forster, 1771) was considered a transpalaearctic species, while the closely related species L. machulkai Roubal, 1926 was known only from the Caucasus and adjacent regions. The present study establishes that L. crataegi is found exclusively in Western, Central, and Southern Europe, while L. machulkai is distributed in Crimea, the central and southern regions of European Russia, the Caucasus, northern Iran, eastern Turkey, and western Middle Asia. A new species, L. sergeevi sp. nov. , is described from Asian Russia, specifically from the Urals to the Far East. The males of L. sergeevi sp. nov. differ from those of L. crataegi and L. machulkai in the aedeagus, which is much wider than that of L. crataegi , with the maximum width closer located to the apex than in L. machulkai (in dorsal view), and significantly less curved than in both compared species (in lateral view), and in the metatibia which is curved near the mid-length, whereas it is curved closer to the base in both of the compared species. The diagnostic characters of the L. crataegi species–group, as well as those of L. crataegi and L. machulkai , are revised. Color photographs of the diagnostic characters and a distribution map of all species are provided.

Turkish validity and reliability study of the Baby-Led Weaning Scale

AimThe aim of this study was to test the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Baby-Led Weaning Scale for parents with babies/children aged from 6 to 30 months. MethodsThe sample for this methodological research consisted of parents with babies aged 6 to 30 months between March and June 2024 in a city in eastern Turkey. The data were collected from 354 parents for exploratory factor analysis, from 213 parents for confirmatory factor analysis, and from 70 for the test-retest reliability study. The data were collected using the “Descriptive Information Form”, the “Baby-Led Weaning Scale” and the “Transition to Complementary Feeding Behaviors Scale” (TCFBS). ResultsThe total content validity index score of the Baby Led Weaning Scale was 0.92 and the content validity rate score was 0.92. The TCBFS was used for the concordance of the scale with similar scales. During the measurements, the intra-observer reliability of the Baby Led Weaning Scale was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The Exploratory Factor Analysis revealed a three-factor structure, explaining 611.5 % of the variance. The fix index values were χ2/df = 3.036, RMSEA = 0.069, GFI = 0.902, CFI = 0.907 and AGFI = 0.857, IFI = 0.928, and TLI = 0.921.The Cronbach alpha values of the scale were in the range of 0.706 and 0.831. ConclusionAs a result, the Turkish adaptation of the Baby Led Weaning Scale is a valid and reliable measurement tool. Practical implicationsThe Baby-Led Weaning Scale can be used as a simple and objective tool to measure the knowledge level of parents with babies/children aged 6 to 30 months.

DETERMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL MEDIA APPEARANCE CONSCIOUSNESS AND SELF-ESTEEM IN ADOLESCENTS

Introduction: Adolescents' active use of social media raises curiosity about how they appear on social media platforms. This situation may cause changes in their personality. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between social media appearance consciousness and self-esteem in adolescents. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted between January and March 2023. The study involved 1103 students from three different high schools located in a province in eastern Turkey. As part of the study process, data were collected using the "Questionnaire", "Appearance-Related Social Media Consciousness Scale" and "Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale". To analyze the data, percentages, averages, independent sample t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and regression analysis were performed. The significance level in all tests was set at 0.05. Shao's method was employed to assess the conformity of the data to normal distribution. As a result, the Skewness value was 0.409, the Kurtosis value was -0.370, and it was determined that the data showed a normal distribution between -3 and +3. Results: The mean age of the students in the study was 26.8% 15 years old, 62.2% were male, and 27% were 9th-grade students. The mean total score of the students was 41.11±17.74 for the Appearance-Related Social Media Consciousness Scale and 29.36±6.35 for the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. It was determined that there was a positive correlation between the scores of the Appearance-Related Social Media Consciousness Scale and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (p&lt;0.05). Conclusions: In conclusion, it was observed that increasing social media appearance consciousness scores was associated with higher self-esteem levels.

Population response of eastern wild turkey to removal of wild pigs

AbstractThere is insufficient understanding of interspecific interactions with the eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) and wild pigs (Sus scrofa). Wild pigs compete with wild turkeys and predate nests and adults; however, population‐level effects on wild turkeys are not clear. Using cameras, we assessed responses of wild turkey populations to wild pig removal in central Alabama, USA, from 2018–2021. We compared wild turkey relative abundance and occupancy on 3 large‐scale pig‐removal treatment sites (3,407–5,531 ha) relative to a control site (2,510 ha) during 1 pre‐treatment year and 2 post‐treatment years, with analyses including a covariate expressing the cumulative number of pigs removed from each site standardized by the initial pig abundance on the site. We removed 1,851 wild pigs from the 3 treatment sites over 22 months. Based on N‐mixture modeling, when the number of pigs removed was equal to our baseline population estimates (i.e., 100% removal relative to initial population), there were 1.50 (95% CL = 1.01–2.23) times as many wild turkeys, and detection of wild turkeys was 2.01 (95% CL = 1.49–2.70) times as likely. Additionally, poults were 3.49 (95% CL = 1.12–10.89) times as likely to occupy an area when the number of pigs removed was equal to our baseline population estimates compared with poult occupancy at baseline pig abundance. Our data suggests that reduction of wild pig populations may lead to a localized increase in populations of wild turkeys.

Reassessing the origins of Near Eastern obsidian vessels: Not as simple as “Central Anatolia”

In the 1960s, Renfrew and colleagues tested an obsidian vessel from Tepe Gawra in northern Iraq. The vessel was attributed to their “Group 1e-f” chemical type, which matched obsidian from the Acıgöl volcanic complex in central Turkey as well as unclear locations in eastern Turkey and Armenia. Renfrew and colleagues favored an attribution of the vessel to Acıgöl, and consequently, an association between obsidian vessels and central Turkey became widely held in the literature. Given the destructive nature of chemical analysis until the 21st century, obsidian vessels and fragments were almost never tested, so there were few chances to overturn or support this association. Furthermore, such vessels have attracted much attention as likely prestige objects. To consider value and meanings derived from a material’s source, however, it is crucial to have the correct identification of its origin. First I consider the available sourcing data for previously studied vessel fragments. Second I report my new source identifications for a vessel with an uncertain provenience in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, fragments from Ur, and the same vessel from Tepe Gawra tested by Renfrew and colleagues. Only the site located in south-central Turkey (Domuztepe) had polished artifact fragments from the obsidian sources of Cappadocia. For Mesopotamian (Tepe Gawra, Ur, Kenan Tepe) and Zagros (Tal-e Malyan) sites, the vessels instead derived from four sources in eastern Turkey: Sarıkamış 2, Nemrut Dağ 2, Bingöl B, and Meydan Dağ. Thus, the association between obsidian vessels and central Turkey must be abandoned, as must narratives based on this association (e.g., exchange between early states or elites in Cappadocia and Mesopotamia).

Examining the Relationship Between Functioning and Spiritual Well-Being in Female Patients Diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder

Aim: The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between functionality and spiritual well-being in female patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Methods: The research was conducted in a descriptive and correlational study. The research was conducted with 61 female bipolar patients who applied to the psychiatric outpatient clinic of a hospital in eastern Turkey between January 2023 and January 2024. Personal Information Form, Bipolar Disorder Functioning Scale (BIDS) and Spiritual Well-Being Scale (FACIT-Sp-12) were used to collect research data. In evaluating research data; Number, mean, percentage distributions, standard deviation and Pearson correlation analyzes were used. Results: It was found that the research participants' mean BIS total score was 96.21±20.02, and the FACIT-Sp-12 total score mean was 31.26±9.35. It was determined that there was a positive, statistically significant relationship between the functionality and spiritual well-being score averages of female patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Conclusion: It was determined that the functionality of female patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder was at an average level, and their spiritual well-being levels were above average. It was determined that there was a relationship between the functionality and spiritual well-being of female patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Petrological Features of Neogene Ulukale Porphyritic Dome and Çağlarca Radial Dykes in the Tunceli Volcanic, Eastern Turkey

Petrological Features of Neogene Ulukale Porphyritic Dome and Çağlarca Radial Dykes in the Tunceli Volcanic, Eastern Turkey

Effect of diaphragmatic breathing exercises on fetal health anxiety and coping with prenatal stress

urpose: This study was conducted to determine the effect of diaphragmatic breathing exercises on coping with fetal health anxiety and prenatal stress during pregnancy. Methods: This randomized controlled study was carried out at a family health center in eastern Turkey. The study sample consisted of 108 pregnant women (experimental group, 54; control group, 54). Diaphragmatic breathing exercises were applied to the experimental group, once face to face and 5 times in total, via video phone call 2 days a week for the following two weeks. Those in the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using the Revised-Prenatal Coping Inventory (NuPCI) and the Fetal Health Anxiety Inventory (FHAI). Results: The mean scores on planning-preparation (2.16 vs 2.17; p

Stigma perception and health fatalism in parents of children with epilepsy: A cross-sectional study

AimThe aim of this study was to examine the factors that affect stigma perceptions and health fatalism of parents of children with epilepsy in eastern Turkey, the relationship between these and the impact of these on their social lives. MethodThis descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted between August 2022 and January 2023 with the parents of children under the age of 18 who had been diagnosed with epilepsy for at least 1 year and who were followed up in the only hospital with a paediatric neurology outpatient clinic in Van province of Turkey. No sample selection was made in the study. Healthy parents (n = 123) who presented to the outpatient clinic within the specified time period and who agreed to participate in the study after being explained the purpose of the study participated in the study. ResultsIn this study, parental age was found to have a statistically weak positive correlation with Health Fatalism Scale (HFS) (r = 0.251; p = 0.005). A weak positive correlation was also found between the years patients had epilepsy and Parent Stigma Scale (PSS) (r = 0.275; p = 0.002). In addition, a statistically positive and weak relationship was found between Parent Stigma Scale scores and Health Fatalism Scale scores (r = 0.212; p = 0.018). This study found significant relationships between stigma perception and health fatalism in parents of epileptic children. Stigma perception increased with disease duration and lower parental education levels. ConclusionWhile providing an important basis for understanding the difficulties experienced by parents and developing support mechanisms, the present study can contribute to more informed support for parents of patients with epilepsy in the community. Nurses can contribute to ending stigma and discrimination by identifying patients' and parents’ perceptions of epilepsy, focusing on addressing gaps in knowledge and raising awareness in the community.