ABSTRACT Since the teachings of the Islamic faith may be called homophobic from some opposite views, this study aims to explore problems caused by employing transgender employees within organizations in Muslim-majority countries, how this kind of diversity is managed and to evaluate it in terms of a gendered perspective to professions and professionalism. Interviews lasting an average of 25 minutes were conducted with a total of 60 company managers in different industries from Turkey, Indonesia, North Cyprus and Jordan. According to the findings, the managers are subjected to bullying at least once because of employing transgender employees and they are frequently reacted by existing employees. The problems caused by employing transgender employees are categorized into two themes as individual and organizational problems. While organizational problems are classified as workplace design, work organization, conflict management, performance appraisal and boycott actions, individual problems are classified under the title of mobbing actions. Due to the limited number of studies that address gender and religion intersections together in the context of professions and professionalism, the findings of the research were interpreted in terms of a gendered perspective within the context of professions and professionalism, and various recommendations were developed to contribute to existing literature.

This study aimed to develop and compare two deep learning-based segmentation-radiomics pipelines - YOLOv8-Hybrid and nnU-Net v2 - for automated sex classification and age estimation from maxillary sinus morphometry on panoramic radiographs. A balanced dataset of 1,024 panoramic radiographs (512 males, 512 females; age 18-81 years) was collected from Near East University, North Cyprus. Ground truth sinus annotations were generated by an expert oral radiologist and validated through dual-annotator inter-observer reliability assessment (ICC (2,1) = 0.94-0.97). The YOLOv8-Hybrid pipeline employed YOLOv8n-seg coarse segmentation, U-Net boundary refinement, > 120 morphometric and radiomic features, and CatBoost/XGBoost classifiers. The nnU-Net v2 pipeline used auto-configured 2D U-Net segmentation with identical feature extraction and XGBoost prediction. Both pipelines underwent 5-fold cross-validation with patient-level splitting, transfer learning, Bayesian hyperparameter optimization, and SHAP interpretability analysis. nnU-Net v2 achieved statistically significant superiority in sex classification (AUC = 0.927 [95% CI: 0.881-0.964]) over YOLOv8-CatBoost (AUC = 0.893 [0.841-0.938]; DeLong p = 0.024, Cohen's d = 0.48). Both pipelines demonstrated comparable age estimation performance (MAE ≈ 7.2 years). YOLOv8 showed exceptional consistency (mAP@50 = 98.19%, CV = 0.77%). SHAP analysis identified bilateral area difference as the most determinant feature (sex: 0.42, age: 0.51). External validation on 50 independent images confirmed model generalizability. This study provides the first systematic comparison of YOLOv8 and nnU-Net v2 for forensic maxillary sinus analysis. nnU-Net v2 is recommended for precision-critical forensic reporting, while YOLOv8-Hybrid is suited for high-throughput screening. The > 120 radiomic/morphometric features establish a comprehensive framework for automated biological profiling.

Clean water is essential for human health, as it greatly reduces the risk of disease; however, water can also serve as a vehicle for pathogens. To safeguard public health, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established drinking water standards to control microbial contamination and disinfection byproducts. This study investigated the combined use of UV irradiation followed by chlorination to inactivate Escherichia coli under low UV doses and short contact times. The results showed that UV irradiation alone achieved a 2-log₁₀ reduction after 30 seconds, whereas chlorination alone was more effective, achieving a 2-log reduction at chlorine doses of 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 mg/L within 60, 5, 1, and 1 minute, respectively. The combined UV–chlorine treatment outperformed either method alone, demonstrating that UV disinfection is significantly enhanced when followed by low-dose chlorination.

The current study explored the relationship between self-esteem and suicidal ideation among individuals at risk for problem gambling, with a particular focus on the moderating role of key sociodemographic characteristics. The sample consisted of 112 adults residing in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus who were identified as being at risk using the South Oaks Gambling Screen. Data were collected through validated instruments, including the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Suicide Cognitions Scale-Revised. Statistical analyses indicated that self-esteem significantly and negatively predicted suicidal ideation, accounting for 34% of the variance. Furthermore, moderation analyses revealed that this relationship varied significantly across gender, marital status, and educational level. Specifically, the predictive effect of low self-esteem on suicidal ideation was approximately three times stronger in males compared to females. Additionally, married individuals exhibited a stronger association between low self-esteem and suicidal ideation than single or divorced individuals, suggesting that marital status may lose its traditionally protective function in the context of gambling-related distress. Lower educational attainment was also found to amplify this risk. Overall, these findings underscore the critical role of self-esteem as both a risk and protective factor and highlight the importance of targeted, sociodemographically sensitive intervention strategies for individuals at risk for problem gambling.

Amid persistent xenophobic and racist attitudes and even denial of immigrant students’ presence, this study examines social media discourse targeting them in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Using a qualitative netnographic approach, it analyzes posts, likes, shares, and comments on Facebook and Instagram. A dataset of 876 posts reveals dominant narratives portraying immigrant students as economic, cultural, or security threats. The findings show that such rhetoric harms students’ social and educational experiences, fostering isolation and marginalization. The study underscores the powerful role of media framing in shaping public perceptions and highlights the need for more balanced, inclusive representations. It also offers insights that inform pedagogical considerations and responses to discrimination in educational contexts.

Implementing early mobilization protocols can improve patient outcomes and accelerate postoperative recovery. This pre-test and posttest randomized controlled experimental study aims to evaluate the effects of early mobilization training on mobility, pain, comfort, and sleep quality in patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominal surgery. The study was conducted at a state hospital in Northern Cyprus between June and October 2022, and participant recruitment and follow-up were reported using the CONSORT 2010 flow diagram. The sample of the study comprised 78 abdominal surgery patients who were equally assigned to the intervention (n = 39) and control groups (n = 39). Perioperative information form and patient mobility scale were used for data collection. The mean ages of the intervention and control groups were 44.82 ± 12.37 and 44.41 ± 10.80 years, respectively. The total duration of mobilization in the intervention group (58.33 ± 11.20 min) was significantly higher than that of the control group (24.92 ± 5.64 min). Postoperative pain scores of the intervention group were significantly lower than those of the control group. Comfort and sleep quality scores of the intervention group were significantly higher than those of the control group. Finally, the length of hospital stay in the intervention group was significantly lower than that of the control group. The findings of this study imply that early mobilization training had a positive impact on reducing postoperative pain and increasing the duration of mobilization, comfort while turning in bed, and lying and the quality of sleep on the first postoperative day. This study provides practical insights for enhancing comfort, mobility, pain management, and sleep quality, while addressing a key gap in the literature and contributing to evidence-based clinical practice.

By applying the justice theory and social exchange theory, this study examines the relationship between justice perceptions and corporate reputation, with multifocal trust examined as a mediator and patient satisfaction as a moderator. Additionally, it investigates the association between corporate reputation and patient citizenship behaviour in public hospitals in North Cyprus. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 450 patients who recently received care in public hospitals. Data were analyzed using PLS-SEM, ensuring a robust examination of the direct, mediating and moderating relationships. The findings show significant associations between distributive and informational justice and corporate reputation, with multifocal trust exhibiting a mediating association in the relationship between justice perceptions and corporate reputation. Corporate reputation is also strongly associated with patient citizenship behaviour. However, patient satisfaction did not moderate the relationship between trust and corporate reputation, indicating that the association between trust and reputation remains consistent regardless of satisfaction levels. This study provides a comprehensive examination of justice perceptions, multifocal trust, corporate reputation, multi-level satisfaction and patient citizenship behaviour in non-competitive public healthcare environments. The findings provide practical recommendations for hospital administrators on approaches to managing hospital reputation and supporting patient-centred practices in public hospitals.

Nutrition literacy has been increasingly recognized as a fundamental determinant of healthy eating behaviors during adolescence. Adolescence is a critical phase for growth and adoption of long-term healthy habits. However, there are limited evidence on the correlation between nutrition literacy and diet quality in adolescents. This study aims to evaluate the nutrition literacy and diet quality in adolescents and analyze the relationship between these variables. This cross-sectional study is comprised of a total of 320 adolescents studying in grade 9-12. Participants were recruited from all state-run secondary schools in the Morphou district using a multi-stage proportional stratified random sampling approach, with proportional allocation across grade and sex strata and random selection within classrooms. The sociodemographic characteristics were collected through a structured survey. The nutrition literacy was evaluated with the Adolescent Nutrition Literacy Scale (ANLS) and diet quality with the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index in Children and Adolescents (KIDMED). Body mass index (BMI) was calculated with anthropometric measurements and BMI percentiles were identified as per age and gender. A correlation analysis was developed to analyze the relationship between the components and nutrition literacy and diet quality scores. The average age of participants is 15.39 ± 1.10. The average ANLS total score is 69.17 ± 4.75, which indicates a medium-high nutrition literacy. There is no significant different across genders as per their total nutrition literacy scores (p = 0.336). Functional nutrition literacy (FNL) has a strong but negative correlation with the interactive nutrition literacy (INL) (r = - 0.453; p < 0.01). Moreover, FNL reflected weak yet positive correlation with total nutrition literacy (r = 0.222; p < 0.01) and KIDMED scores (r = 0.118; p < 0.05). No significant association was observed between the ANLS total score and diet quality among adolescents. However, a weak but statistically significant association was observed between FNL and diet quality. Strengthening nutrition literacy through age- and gender-sensitive, school-based, and evidence-based interventions may contribute to healthier dietary behaviors and potential long-term improvements in public health outcomes.

Early childhood education is a crucial field that plays a fundamental role in human development and lays the foundation for lifelong learning. This study examines the roles, responsibilities, and leadership approaches of administrators in early childhood education within a theoretical framework. The research aims to explore the relationship between educational administration and preschool leadership, highlighting the impact of administrators’ pedagogical, instructional, and organizational roles on child development. Based on a literature review, the study reveals that effective leadership significantly influences teacher performance, classroom climate, child outcomes, and overall school effectiveness. Furthermore, international practices and the current situations in both the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Turkey are comparatively analyzed. The findings indicate that enhancing the competencies of early childhood administrators is a critical factor in improving the quality of education (Heckman, 2006; OECD, 2018; UNESCO, 2019). Keywords: Early childhood education, educational administration, pedagogical leadership, preschool education, administrator roles

This study examines the relationships between technology readiness, Augmented Reality Consumer Experience Scale (ARCES), and purchase intention in digital retail environments. Unlike prior augmented reality studies that primarily focus on technology adoption or isolated experiential effects, this study integrates technology readiness, multidimensional AR-based consumer experience, and purchase intention within a single correlational framework. Data were collected from 385 university students using a correlational research design. The factor structure of the adapted measurement scale was assessed through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and the relationships among the variables were examined using correlation analysis. The findings indicate significant positive relationships: technology readiness is positively associated with AR-based consumer experience, and AR-based consumer experience is positively associated with purchase intention. From a sustainability-oriented perspective, these findings suggest that AR-enabled retail experiences may support more informed and reflective pre-purchase evaluation processes in digital environments.

This study employed a cross-sectional quantitative research design to explore the relationship between attachment styles and marital satisfaction among Turkish Cypriot and Saudi couples, with a focus on gender, type of marriage, and number of children. A total of 201 married individuals participated, selected through convenience sampling; 100 resided in Northern Cyprus, and 101 lived in Saudi Arabia. The majority of participants were university graduates aged 35-44. Data collection included the Experiences in Close Relationships–Revised (ECR-R), the Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS), and a personal information form developed by the researchers. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation, the Mann-Whitney U test, and multiple regression in SPSS version 29. The results indicated that both anxious (r = -0.688) and avoidant (r = -0.564) attachment styles were significantly and negatively associated with marital satisfaction in both samples. Additionally, Turkish Cypriots reported higher marital satisfaction than their Saudi counterparts. Among Saudi participants, those in monogamous marriages exhibited higher marital satisfaction than those in polygamous marriages. Importantly, no significant relationship between gender and marital satisfaction was identified in either group. Overall, the findings suggest that marital satisfaction is linked to the number of children, attachment styles, and the type of marriage. These results are intended to provide insights for family counselors, psychologists, and social workers. Furthermore, it is recommended that future research examine attachment styles and marital satisfaction across different populations and with various variables.

This report analyses Organization of Turkic States’s (OTS) Samarkand Summit Declaration of 2022, which granted observer status to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The analysis covers whether this move by Turkic states was more of a symbolic recognition or a step toward strategic integration. As a contested state which is only recognized by Türkiye, TRNC’s inclusion in the OTS sparked negative reactions alongside critical questions around the limitations and potential of such symbolic recognitions. The article utilizes constructivist international relations theory and qualitative case study method while analyzing official statements, policy documents, discourses, and reactions. The article further analyses the benefits OTS can provide to TRNC and if TRNC’s involvement in OTS can have a broader impact on widespread recognition and legitimacy. Finally, this study emphasizes how such symbolic gestures can be less effective in resolving the legal and political disagreement around contested statehood but can offer a great soft power tool.

ABSTRACT Turkish Cypriots in North Cyprus achieved mass mobilisation for peace and integration into the European Union in early aughts, producing a novel identity group of Cypriotists who at large emphasised Cypriotness, reunion with Greek Cypriots and differentiation from mainlander Turks. However, the status quo ante of a somewhat porous yet hard boundary in-between the two Cypriot communities has persevered. Furthermore, the boundaries between Turkey and North Cyprus have since softened. How do such borderland dynamics affect Turkish Cypriotists and their identities? This article develops a theory of vernacular practices in dealing with borderland pressures to achieve belonging within this community. The theory developed herein synthesises the identity-borders-order, ontological security and basic human needs frameworks to demonstrate how politically disempowered border-dwellers shift their engagement to microcosmic, embodied resistance tactics.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a School-Based Family Empowerment Psychoeducational Program on parental involvement and family interaction. A pre-test – post-test experimental design with a control group was employed. The sample consisted of 30 volunteer parents (26 mothers, 4 fathers) whose children were enrolled in state primary schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 15) or a control group (n = 15). The Family Interaction Patterns Scale was administered as a pre- and post-test measure. The intervention comprised eight 60-minute sessions delivered over four weeks within the school setting. Multivariate analyses indicated that participation in the psychoeducational program was associated with statistically significant increases in both parental involvement and family interaction scores in the experimental group compared to the control group (p < .01). Effect size estimates indicated medium effects (partial η2 = .45–.55). These findings suggest that school-based empowerment-oriented psychoeducational programs may support family involvement and parent – child interaction within primary school contexts.

Research suggests that cultural and administrative factors may contribute to a high level of silence, despite low reports of mobbing. This study expands cross-cultural investigations on silence within educational institutions. This research aimed to examine the relationship between mobbing that teachers are exposed to and their levels of organizational silence and commitment. The population of this research consisted of 2,000 full-time teachers working at state secondary schools in North Cyprus and 300 randomly selected secondary school teachers involved in the sample. The data were collected through a survey that included a personal information form, a mobbing scale, an organizational silence scale, and an organizational commitment scale. Research data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 26.0) software. Data analysis revealed that teachers’ mobbing perceptions were at a low level, organizational silence was high, and organizational commitment was medium. A significant and positive relationship was determined between mobbing and organizational silence, and an important but negative relationship was determined between mobbing and organizational commitment. Mobbing was found to significantly predict both higher levels of organizational silence and lower levels of organizational commitment. It has been determined that mobbing behaviors increase organizational silence and decrease organizational commitment.

The ability to use artificial intelligence applications, particularly in mathematics lessons, for classroom management is becoming increasingly important for educational institutions. Digital developments in mathematics education can change teachers' roles in the classroom, teaching methods and techniques, and, most importantly, learning environments. The integration of artificial intelligence applications into educational fields and processes offers various opportunities for observing students individually and increasing interactions within the classroom. Classroom management applications incorporating artificial intelligence systems can make learning environments more equitable and effective. Furthermore, artificial intelligence applications can alleviate teachers' roles and add innovative dimensions to pedagogical decision-making processes. However, alongside these advantages, artificial intelligence applications can also bring to light debates concerning ethics, privacy, and teacher-student interactions. This research aimed to comprehensively evaluate how 20 participants (5 school administrators and 15 primary school teachers) working in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) used artificial intelligence applications in mathematics classroom management and the effects of this use on classroom management. The phenomenology research design from qualitative research methods was used in the research. A semi-structured interview guide was used to collect data. The data were then examined using descriptive analysis and categorised in terms of the perceived positive and negative contributions of artificial intelligence to classroom management and the conditions of application. As the study was conducted with only 20 participants working in the district of Nicosia, it has limitations in terms of generalisability. In conclusion, it was found that artificial intelligence technologies may have both positive and negative effects on mathematics classroom management, and that schools' equipment is inadequate. It was recommended that teachers and administrators receive in-service training.

ABSTRACT Small-Scale Cities (SSCs) face increasing pressure to balance economic competitiveness with sustainable, locally grounded development. This paper examines the governance challenges associated with implementing two contrasting development approaches in Lefke, Northern Cyprus: a top-down, university-led model supported by central government policies and a bottom-up, Cittaslow-led strategy driven by local actors. Drawing on a systematic literature review, grounded theory, and comparative case study analysis, particularly with Wolfville, Canada, this study explores whether these divergent models can be harmonized through an integrated governance framework. The findings indicate that successfully orchestrating conflicting development trajectories requires a hybrid model combining multi-level collaborative governance and pro-growth coalitions. The proposed framework emphasizes democratic inclusivity, strategic coordination, stakeholder partnerships, and decentralized decision-making. A local growth coalition, led by the municipality and engaging key public and private stakeholders, is proposed as the institutional mechanism to align top-down imperatives with bottom-up initiatives. This model contributes to the broader discourse on SSC development by demonstrating how governance structures – not just development strategies – determine the effectiveness and sustainability of local transformation efforts.

The implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in education is gaining more attention, and as a result, more research is being conducted on the views and conceptualisations of AI by educators. The understanding of teacher candidates is vital for the AI integration in education, which should be human-centred, and still, there is a lack of studies focusing mainly on teacher candidates in the field of the native language. This qualitative phenomenological research aimed to explore metaphors of 46 Turkish language teacher candidates (third- and fourth-year undergraduates in Northern Cyprus) representing their answer to the prompt “AI is like because…”. The data were collected through open-ended questions and analysed using content analysis along with expert validation. Participants produced 46 valid metaphors, which were divided into five thematic categories: (1) AI as Teacher or Learner (21.7%), (2) AI as Method/Strategy (21.7%), (3) AI as Evolving Living Organism (13%), (4) AI as Guide/Helper (21.7%), and (5) AI as Danger/Threat (21.7%). Four groups expressed positive or neutral attitudes towards AI, such as considering it a clever teacher, a useful tool, a growing entity, or a guide. One category revealed negative views, perceiving AI as a destructive force. Overall, 78.3% of participants expressed optimistic views about AI, while 21.7% of them pointed to concerns. Turkish language teacher candidates generally perceive AI as a supportive, human-like assistant in the classroom, but a few of them express concerns about its existence. These results emphasise the importance of incorporating AI literacy and ethics into teacher education. Equipping future language teachers with the skills to use AI in the classroom might be a way of implementing AI in schools that is confident, critical, and human-centred.

The island of Cyprus is located in the Eastern Mediterranean, where leishmaniasis is endemic. Although human visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis (VL and CL) cases have already been documented on the island, there are limited data on the Leishmania species in northern Cyprus. In this report, we present a CL case diagnosed by both microscopic examination and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). The patient, a 79-year-old man residing in northern Cyprus, developed an ulcerative lesion on his left leg. The lesion was surgically excised for histopathological examination, and tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). Microscopic examination of H&E-stained tissue sections revealed Leishmania amastigotes. To confirm the diagnosis and identify Leishmania species at the molecular level, DNA was extracted from the paraffin-embedded tissue sections. Following deparaffinization, qPCR targeting the Leishmania-specific Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 region (located between SSU and 5.8S rRNA genes) was performed. In the qPCR assay, the infecting agent was identified as a member of the L. donovani complex, presumptively L. infantum, based on the melting curve analysis. Our findings provide molecular evidence for the presence of leishmaniasis in northern Cyprus and contribute to addressing the lack of molecular data in the region. Our study also suggests that, due to the zoonotic nature of the identified pathogen, continuous vector and reservoir control programs should be implemented in the region to prevent the spread of the disease.

Allele frequencies of ACE I/D and CCR5- Δ32 variants in the Jordanian cohort residing in Northern Cyprus