Mehmet Akif Ersoy University

This study aims to investigate the renewable energy (RE) productivity of European Union (EU) countries for 2013-2022. For this purpose, the study focuses on 26 EU member states and uses the Hicks-Moorsteen productivity index (HMPI) method. Because of the analysis, it is determined that Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Ireland are the leaders in RE productivity, while the RE productivity of other countries, except Hungary, Romania, Latvia, Croatia, and Bulgaria, has increased in the said period. Moreover, the HMPI values of EU countries for 2013-2022 vary between 0.968 and 1.182. When analyzing the annual averages by country, the average HMPI value for the relevant period is 1.040. Considering the index components, the increase in productivity across the EU is primarily driven by technological change (1.025), whereas efficiency change (1.018) contributes less to this increase.

Çalışmanın amacı, BİST’te işlem gören imalat şirketleri yöneticilerinin iç kontrol sistemi etkinliği algıları ile finansal başarısızlık riski üzerinde ne ölçüde etkiye sahip olduğunun tespit edilmesidir. Araştırmanın örneklemini, BİST’te 2000 ile 2022 yılları arasında işlem gören 101 imalat şirketi oluşturmaktadır. İşletmelerin finansal açıdan başarılı/ başarısız olduklarını belirlemek için finansal tablolarındaki 2022 yılına ait son altı ayı kapsayan ikinci dönem verileri baz alınmıştır. İşletmelerin finansal tablolarına BİST üzerinden ulaşılmıştır. Finansal tablolardaki finansal oranlardan yola çıkılarak işletmelerin başarılı ve başarısızlık durumu belirlenmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda, işletme yöneticilerinin iç kontrol etkinliliği ile finansal başarısızlık ilişkisi analiz edilmiştir. Firmaların finansal risk durumunun belirlenmesinde Altman Z Skor kullanılmıştır. Araştırma kapsamında iç kontrol ile finansal başarısızlık arasındaki ilişkiyi ölçen altı tane hipotez bulunmaktadır. Hipotezler arasındaki ilişkinin belirlenmesinde korelasyon analizi ve varyans analizi yapılmıştır. Çalışma kapsamındaki firmaların başarılı veya başarısızlık durumunun tespit edilmesinde lojistik regresyon analizi ve kümeleme analizi kullanılmıştır.

This study investigated that the presence, molecular identification, antibiotic resistance, and biofilm-forming capacity of Listeria and Salmonella species in cheeses sold at farmers’ markets in Ereğli Province, Konya, Türkiye. Collectively 120 cheese samples were evaluated using selective enrichment and isolation methods. Salmonella spp. was not detected, in any samples while Listeria spp. was isolated in two cheese samples (1.7%). Consensus sequences were deposited in the NCBI GenBank under accession numbers PX415425 (L33) and PX415426 (L49), with Listeria innocua isolates showing 99.79 – 100% similarity to strains worldwide. Antibiotic susceptibility testing of the two isolates (L-49 and L-33) against 14 antibiotics showed overall sensitivity to commonly used drugs, including ampicillin, penicillin, erythromycin, and tetracycline. Resistance to cefoxitin was observed in L-33 and L-49, while L-49 also exhibited intermediate resistance to rifampicin. Biofilm assays revealed moderate biofilm formation in L-33 and L-49. These findings highlight that artisanal cheeses may harbor Listeria spp. Limited antimicrobial resistance, but variable biofilm-forming ability emphasize the need for strict hygiene measures in cheese production and marketing.

Varicellovirus bovinealpha1 (BoAHV-1) is among the most important infectious agents affecting cattle health and productivity. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of BoAHV-1 infection in Türkiye and estimate its economic impact using a meta-analytical approach. A total of 39 studies comprising data from 5,219 animals were included in the meta-analysis. Three analytical groups were established based on sample size and study scale: the small-scale group (SSG), large-scale group (LSG), and herd-level group (HLG). Random effects models were used for prevalence estimation, and heterogeneity was assessed using the Q, I2, and τ2 statistics. Publication bias was evaluated via Egger’s regression and Kendall’s Tau tests. The pooled prevalence was estimated at 0.320 for the SSG group, 0.427 for the LSG group, and 0.356 for the HLG group. The highest level of heterogeneity was identified in the LSG group (I2 = 99.76%). The economic impact of BoAHV-1 was evaluated under two distinct scenarios—one incorporating abortion-related losses and the other excluding them. Principal components of loss included reduced milk production, live weight reduction, delayed onset of first calving, prolonged calving intervals, and losses attributable to aborted calves. The average total economic loss per infected animal was estimated to range from 285.18 to 383.21 USD. These findings suggest a dynamic epidemiological pattern and a potentially high economic burden of BoAHV-1 infection in Türkiye, highlighting the need for effective herd-level control and prevention measures.

This study investigates the impact of weather conditions on solar energy production by comparing the performance of different time series forecasting models. Production data obtained from the İkitelli Solar Power Plant in Istanbul, together with simultaneous meteorological variables such as sunshine duration, cloudiness, humidity, and temperature, were analyzed. Three forecasting models—ARIMA, LSTM, and FB-Prophet—were implemented to evaluate their predictive performance. The accuracy of the models was assessed using widely accepted statistical metrics including Mean Squared Error (MSE), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), and the coefficient of determination (R²). The results show that the ARIMA model achieved the highest accuracy in short-term forecasting with the lowest error rates, demonstrating its effectiveness in handling stationary time series. The LSTM model, a deep learning approach, proved successful in capturing long-term dependencies, offering a robust alternative despite requiring larger datasets for optimal performance. The FB-Prophet model stood out for its ability to account for seasonality and trends but exhibited lower accuracy in short-term fluctuations compared to ARIMA and LSTM. Additionally, the analysis revealed that solar energy production is strongly correlated with weather conditions. In particular, an increase in sunshine duration positively influenced electricity generation, while greater cloud cover led to significant reductions in production levels. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating meteorological data into forecasting models to enhance the accuracy and reliability of renewable energy predictions. Furthermore, the study emphasizes that selecting the appropriate forecasting model according to data characteristics is critical for effective energy management. The outcomes provide methodological insights that may contribute to the optimization of solar energy projects and the integration of renewable energy into sustainable energy strategies.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Brillant Cresyl Blue (BCB) dye at different concentrations in selecting immature bovine oocytes for blastocyst development. Ovaries obtained from an abattoir were aspirated, and oocytes were divided into two groups. A and B quality oocytes selected morphologically served as the control group and were directly matured. In the staining groups, oocytes were stained without selection criteria using BCB at 26, 13, and 6.5 μM concentrations. Oocytes were incubated in BCB for 90 minutes, and those that absorbed the dye (BCB+) were taken for maturation. Staining rates were 70.5% (26 μM), 76% (13 μM), and 72.2% (6.5 μM). Maturation rates were 97.3% in the control, while the BCB-stained groups had significantly lower rates (2.6% at 26 μM, 4.1% at 13 μM, and 5% at 6.5 μM). Blastocyst formation was 35.9% in the control but 0% in all BCB-treated groups. These findings suggest that BCB staining at the tested concentrations does not support embryo development. Although previous studies report successful oocyte selection with BCB, its use in embryo production requires caution due to potential toxicity.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the loneliness, physical activity, and malnutrition status of older people and determine the relationship between them. Materials and Methods: The data of the cross-sectional study were collected from 204 older people using a questionnaire between May and June 2024. The questionnaire includes questions regarding general information, the mini nutritional assessment short-form (MNA-SF), the loneliness scale of the elderly (LSE), and the physical activity scale for the elderly (PASE). Data analysis was performed using SPSS 24. Results: The mean total LSE score of the older people was 6.8±5.4, the mean total MNA-SF score was 11.8±2.2, and the mean total PASE score was 85±66.9. The LSE scores of those who were single, who lived in a village/district, and who did not graduate from any school (only literate) were higher (p<0.05). The total LSE scores were lower in older people with normal nutritional status compared to those at risk of malnutrition (p<0.05). The total PASE score was positively correlated with the MNA-SF score (r=0.348, p<0.05). There was no correlation between the PASE and LSE scores (r=-0.081, p>0.05). Conclusion: Good nutritional status is associated with less feelings of loneliness and higher levels of physical activity in older people. Interventions to increase social participation in older people and interventions to provide nutrition training for the management of malnutrition should be made. It is also essential to raise awareness among adults in the community to provide physical, financial, and emotional support to their older parents.

This study aims to determine hygiene conditions and potential contamination risks by examining the microbiological load on surfaces in the veterinary anatomy laboratory at different time intervals. Within the scope of the study, swab samples were taken from fifteen different surfaces (dissection tables, cadaver pools, faucets, and door handles) in the student laboratory of the Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, at three different time intervals (after cleaning, before and after practical lessons). Total mesophilic aerobic bacteria (TMAB), total psychrophilic bacteria, total Enterobacteriaceae, and total yeast-mold counts were performed on the samples. The results showed that the microbial load increased significantly after the practical lesson, reaching high contamination levels, particularly in cadaver pools and on dissection tables. After the practical session, the TMAB load reached 4.15 log10 cfu/cm2, the yeast-mold load reached 4.90 log10 cfu/cm2, and the Enterobacteriaceae load reached 3.74 log10 cfu/cm2. After the cleaning process, it was found that all microbiological parameters were significantly reduced. The total psychrophilic bacterial load remained below detectable limits in all samples collected. These findings confirm that microbial contamination, which poses a potential risk to student and staff health in anatomy laboratories, increases particularly during practical classes. The study emphasizes the importance of regularly monitoring and continuously improving the effectiveness of existing hygiene and disinfection protocols to minimize contamination risk and ensure a safe learning environment..

Bu araştırmada Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy Üniversitesi Spor Bilimleri Fakültesi öğrencilerinin dikkat ve konsantrasyon düzeylerinin incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Araştırmamız nicel araştırma desenlerinden betimsel araştırma modeli kullanılmıştır. Veriler Mualler, S, T. & Piper, B, J (2014) tarafından geliştirilmiş olan “The Psychology Experiment Building Language (PEBL) And PEBL Test Battery” uygulamasından “Corsi” ve “Change Detection” testeri ile alınmıştır. “Change Detection” testi total süre verisine, “Corsi” testinde ise “total skor” verisine bakılmıştır. Testler Mehmet Akif Ersoy Üniversitesi Spor Bilimleri Fakültesi’nde aktif olarak öğrenim gören basit tesadüfi yöntemle seçilen 269 gönüllü öğrenciye uygulanmıştır. Araştırmada elde edilen veriler bilgisayar ortamında analiz edilmiştir. Verilerin değerlendirilmesinde önce Skewness-Kurtosis normallik testi uygulanmıştır. İkili değişkenlerin karşılaştırılmasında bağımsız gruplarda t testi, ikiden fazla olan değişkenlerde ise ANOVA testi uygulanmıştır. Anlamlı farklılığı ortaya koyabilmek için LSD testi uygulanmıştır. Sonuç olarak “change detection” testi en az sürede tamamlayan, “corsi” testinde ise en yüksek skoru yapan tam puan almaktadır. Cinsiyet değişkenine göre dikkat ve konsantrasyon düzeyleri arasında anlamlı bir farklılık tespit edilmiştir (p<0.05). Erkeklerin kadınlara göre dikkat ve konsantrasyon düzeyleri daha yüksektir. Bölüm ve sınıf değişkenine göre dikkat ve konsantrasyon düzeylerinde anlamlı fark tespit edilmemiştir (p>0,05). Sonuç olarak spor bilimleri fakültesinde eğitim görmeye devam eden öğrencilerin dikkat testinde toplam skoru ve konstrasyon testinde tamamlanan süreleri daha kısadır. Kadın sporcular ve kadın öğrenciler için ders müfredatında ve antrenman içeriklerinde dikkat ve konsantrasyon arttırıcı egzersiz uygulamalarına yer verilmesi gerektiği düşünülmektedir.