Necmettin Erbakan University

The purpose of this study is to analyze the convergence dynamics in renewable energy innovation in 25 OECD countries during the period 1990-2022. The research makes a unique contribution to the literature by examining renewable energy innovation in two different dimensions: the number of patents per capita (RPPC) and economic intensity (RPINT) indicators. Stochastic, beta, and sigma convergence tests were applied in a comprehensive approach. The results show a clear trend toward convergence among OECD countries in renewable energy innovation, particularly in terms of innovation per capita. Beta convergence analyses show that this process between countries is influenced by structural factors such as renewable energy consumption, ecological footprint, real GDP per capita, globalization, and financial development. On the other hand, it has been found that countries starting from low levels have recorded faster growth rates in innovation, supported by knowledge and technology transfer. Policy recommendations emphasize increasing public-private partnerships, research and development (R&D) investments, supporting multinational partnerships, and developing country-specific strategies.

This present study was designed to evaluate the impact of intramuscular dexmedetomidine, alone or combined with subcutaneous tramadol, on intraocular pressure (IOP), pupil size (PS), and tear secretion (TS) in healthy cats. Thirty healthy cats (n=30) were randomly assigned to two groups (n=15/group). Cats received either dexmedetomidine alone (Dex; 25 µg/kg IM) or dexmedetomidine plus tramadol (Dex-Tra; tramadol 2 mg/kg SC + dexmedetomidine 25 µg/kg IM). IOP, PS, and TS were recorded at baseline (T0) and 5, 15, and 30 minutes post-administration (T5, T15, T30). Within the Dex group, IOP decreased significantly from T0 to T30, and PS increased from T5 to T15, returning to baseline by T30 (p0.05). Both protocols reduced TS over time. Dexmedetomidine alone produced ocular hypotension and a transient increase in PS; co-administration with tramadol attenuated these effects. As both regimens decreased tear secretion, clinicians should consider potential impacts on tonometry, ocular surface integrity, and perioperative ophthalmic management when selecting sedation protocols.

Objective: Oral contraceptives (OCs) are widely prescribed hormonal agents that may influence bone homeostasis due to their estrogen content. Estrogen is essential for maintaining skeletal integrity, primarily by modulating osteoblast and osteoclast activity. This study aimed to evaluate whether combined oral contraceptive (COC) use affects mandibular bone microarchitecture using fractal dimension (FD) analysis and panoramic mandibular index (PMI) assessments.Methods: A case-control design was employed, analyzing digital panoramic radiographs from 290 women aged 18–50, including 145 COC users and 145 age-matched controls. FD values were determined from three mandibular sites: the condyle, angle, and interdental region. PMI values were also computed. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 21.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA), p

Pathogenic variants in the T-cell receptor alpha constant (TRAC) gene have been primarily associated with combined immunodeficiency (CID). To date, only five patients from three unrelated families harboring the same TRAC variant with a CID phenotype, and three patients carrying a distinct variant with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), have been described. We report a previously unreported homozygous TRAC variant causing a premature stop codon in three siblings with classical SCID phenotype. Comprehensive immunological and molecular analyses were performed, including lymphocyte immunophenotyping, proliferation assays, qPCR for T helper (Th) subset-related gene expression, and cytokine secretion profiling. In silico analyses included conservation assessment, structural modeling using ChimeraX, and protein stability prediction via PremPS to evaluate the variant's structural and functional consequences. All three siblings exhibited recurrent infections, refractory diarrhea, and elevated liver enzymes, accompanied by profound T-cell lymphopenia with preserved B-cell numbers. Whole-exome sequencing revealed a homozygous TRAC variant in the affected siblings and heterozygous carriage in their parents. The variant alters a highly conserved residue, disrupting hydrogen bonding and likely destabilizing the protein structure. Functional assays demonstrated a marked reduction in recent thymic emigrants (RTEs) cell ratio absence of TCRαβ⁺ T cells, skewed Th polarization, and elevated proinflammatory cytokine levelsfindings consistent with a SCID phenotype. These findings expand the clinical and molecular spectrum of TRAC-related immunodeficiency and support its inclusion among genes primarily associated with SCID. The results further emphasize that specific mutation sites within immune-related genes critically influence disease severity and phenotype variability.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the relationship between perceived spousal support, fatigue, and breastfeeding self-efficacy in the early postpartum period.Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive and correlational study was conducted at a pediatric outpatient clinic in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey. A Demographic Questionnaire, Scale of Spouse Support Perceived By Women During the Early Postpartum Process, Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale, and Visual Analogue Scale for Fatigue were used to interview 266 mothers in the early postpartum period. Mothers were ensured to complete the survey forms in full.Results: The mean total scores of mothers were determined as 65.04 ± 11.39 for the Spouse Support Perceived Scale, 54.27 ± 29.29 for the Fatigue Subscale of the Visual Analog Scale, 32.96 ± 12.01 for the Energy Subscale, and 61.54 ± 8.33 for the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale. Positive correlations were found between mothers' scores on the Spouse Support Perceived Scale and the Fatigue and Energy Subscales of the Visual Analog Scale for Fatigue and the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale, respectively (p

Abstract Voltage unbalance factor in three-phase power systems adversely affects induction motor performance and efficiency, particularly in industrial settings. Conventional efficiency tests based on IEEE 112 are intrusive and impractical for in-situ applications. This paper proposes a non-intrusive efficiency estimation approach for three-phase induction motors operating under unbalanced voltages, combining positive/negative sequence modeling, IEEE 112-F1/Form F2 loss calculations, and heuristic optimization. Four equivalent circuit parameters (stator leakage reactance, magnetizing reactance, core-loss resistance, and rotor resistance) are identified from terminal measurements and nameplate data. The framework is implemented using three heuristic algorithms, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Harris Hawks Optimization (HHO), and Fox Optimization Algorithm (FOX), and experimentally validated on a 1.1 kW induction motor for four load factors (25%, 50%, 75%, 100%) and Voltage Unbalance Factor (VUF) levels between 0 and 5%. IEEE 112-A is used as the reference method. The results show that PSO and HHO reproduce IEEE 112-A efficiencies with high accuracy for medium and high load factors (LF ≥ 50%), with full-load deviations typically below 1% for all VUF levels, while FOX exhibits larger errors, particularly at light load. Furthermore, the experiments confirm that efficiency degradation due to VUF is most pronounced at low load factors, even when VUF remains within the 5% NEMA limit. The proposed framework enables practical in-situ efficiency monitoring under realistic unbalanced supply conditions without motor shutdown.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of fixed appliances (FA), clear aligners (CA), and no treatment on white spot lesion (WSL) formation and the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index.Materials and Methods: A total of 120 patients aged 14-30 years were divided into three groups: FA (n=40), CA (n=40), and control (n=40). The DMFT index and WSL counts were recorded at baseline (T1) and after treatment (T2) using clinical examinations, panoramic radiography, and standardized photographs. All data were analyzed using SPSS with appropriate statistical tests (ANOVA, t-test, chi-square, McNemar-Bowker).Results: The FA group showed significant increases in decayed teeth and DMFT scores (p