Suleyman Demirel University

Although the restorative effects of virtual reality (VR) tourism experiences are widely recognized, knowledge of the neural mechanisms of different VR experiences and mental recovery processes is limited. This study investigated the effects of nature-based (relaxing) and adventure-oriented VR tourism experiences on psychological detachment and relaxation. Sixty participants were randomly assigned to three VR groups: relaxing, adventure, and control. Electroencephalography (EEG) measurements were recorded while participants watched the 360-degree videos. Time-resolved, frequency-specific EEG oscillations revealed the effects of the videos on brain activity. Adventure VR enhanced detachment and increased beta power through an attention-based mechanism. In contrast, relaxing VR enhanced relaxation and increased alpha power by reducing physiological arousal. Three-minute VR tourism experiences are an effective tool for supporting recovery. • VR tourism experiences provide psychological detachment and relaxation. • Beta power is associated with psychological detachment and alpha with relaxation. • Adventure VR group has the highest psychological detachment score and beta power. • Relaxing VR group has the highest relaxation score and alpha power. • Three-minute VR tourism experiences provide effective recovery.

MUC16 is one of the largest mammalian mucins and exhibits substantial evolutionary variation in both sequence composition and structural modularity. Comparative analysis of SEA domain composition and tandem repeat architecture is therefore essential for understanding the evolutionary diversification of this gene across mammals. This study investigates the phylogenetic relationships of mammalian MUC16 and examines how variation in SEA domains and tandem repeats contributes to lineage-specific structural divergence. MUC16 nucleotide and protein sequences from 20 mammalian species representing Primates and Rodentia were retrieved from public databases. Multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic reconstruction were conducted using the Neighbor-Joining method with 1,000 bootstrap replicates. SEA domains were annotated using the SMART database, while tandem repeats were identified with Tandem Repeats Finder. Structural features were evaluated using descriptive statistics, hierarchical clustering, and Spearman’s rank correlation analysis. Phylogenetic reconstruction revealed a clear molecular separation between Primates and Rodentia with strong bootstrap support. Primate species generally exhibited conserved sequences and expanded SEA domain and tandem repeat architectures, whereas rodents displayed higher sequence divergence and reduced structural complexity. A moderate positive association between SEA domain number and tandem repeat count (ρ = 0.44) was observed, although this relationship did not reach statistical significance and is therefore interpreted as a biologically suggestive trend rather than evidence of coordinated evolution. Overall, the results indicate that MUC16 evolution follows lineage-dependent patterns shaped by both sequence divergence and domain-level remodeling. This comparative framework provides an evolutionary context for understanding structural diversity in mammalian mucins and offers a foundation for future functional and genomic investigations.

Homoarginine is a toxic non-protein amino acid that occurs naturally in plants and adversely affects plant growth and development. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the effects of different externally applied L-homoarginine doses (10, 50, and 100 mM) on various physiological, cytogenetic, biochemical, and anatomical parameters of onion (Allium cepa L.) bulbs. All L-homoarginine doses caused a decrease in the physiological parameters examined (germination percentage, root length, root number, and fresh weight), a rise in chromosomal aberrations and micronucleus frequency, and a decrease in the mitotic index. L-Homoarginine applications promoted chromosomal aberrations such as cellular budding, accumulation of micronuclei, C-metaphase, chromosomal stickiness, chromatid bridges, vagrant chromosomes, unequal separation of chromosomes, and polar slip in the root meristem cells. In addition, this non-protein amino acid caused an enhancement in the free proline, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and malondialdehyde contents in the root cells of onion bulbs. Moreover, this toxic amino acid revealed some serious damage and changes such as the epidermal and cortex cell deformations, wall thickening in the cortex layer cells, accumulation of some chemical compounds in cortex layer cells, flattening of the cell nuclei, and deformation of the cell nuclei in the anatomical structure of onion roots. In summary, it was concluded that L-homoarginine is an amino acid with inhibitory effects and that the A. cepa test is a useful bioindicator for monitoring these effects.

This study emphasises the growing importance of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria in both global and national financial markets by analysing the short- and long-run relationships between the MSCI Emerging Markets Select Index (MSCI EM SI), the Borsa İstanbul Sustainability Index (XUSRD) and the Borsa İstanbul 100 Index (XU100). The integration of ESG principles into financial markets has transformed how investors assess risk and return, becoming even more critical following recent global crises such as climate change, geopolitical instabilities and the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, both international and national ESG indices have emerged as key indicators supporting the transition to sustainable financial assets, especially for developing economies. This study employs an empirical analysis using the ARDL Bounds Testing Approach with monthly closing data for the selected indices. The findings reveal no significant short- or long-run relationship between the MSCI EM SI and the XU100 Index. Conversely, the results indicate that the XUSRD Index exhibits a statistically significant interaction with the XU100 Index in both the short- and long-run.

among university faculty members in Türkiye. The present study seeks to construct and validate a robust measurement scale capturing the multidimensional nature of academic fatigue among academics or teachers. After constructing a preliminary item pool, the proposed scale was administered to 443 academics across Turkish higher education institutions to assess its factorial validity and reliability. First, a pilot study was conducted on the research data. The items were simplified, and exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were performed. Construct, convergent, and discriminant validity and reliability tests were also performed on the data. The Academic Fatigue Scale consists of three subdimensions: Structural Problem Areas, Functional Problem Areas, and Managerial Problem Areas, with 28 statements. The study results demonstrate that the Academic Fatigue Scale is a measurement tool with high internal consistency, reliability, and construct validity, assessing academics’ or individuals’ perceptions of academic fatigue in the education profession.

This study examines mathematics teachers’ engagement with counterintuitive problems through a structured four-stage process: intuitive responses, reasoning, calculation, and peer discussion. Using convenience sampling method, 60 mathematics teachers from Kazakhstan’s Zhetysu Region were selected for the study. Data were collected using an adapted set of four counterintuitive mathematics tasks. Results revealed that initial intuitive responses frequently led to systematic errors. Reasoning explanations were often only partially correct, indicating that intuitive responses were grounded in incomplete conceptual models. Formal calculations improved accuracy across most tasks, though the average speed problem remained especially resistant to resolution. Peer discussion proved to be the most effective intervention, leading to substantial gains in correctness, particularly for the most counterintuitive tasks. Comparative analysis across the four stages revealed distinct learning trajectories, with collaborative reasoning consistently yielding the largest improvements. Regression analysis demonstrated a moderate positive relationship between reasoning quality and solution accuracy. These findings show the pedagogical value of counterintuitive problems for improving reasoning, conceptual understanding, and collaborative learning in mathematics education.

ABSTRACT Burdur Lake is a saline lake in southwestern Türkiye that has lost approximately 75 km 2 , or one‐third of its surface area, since 1975. The basin's hydrology has been significantly modified by human activities, including reservoir construction, and water level declines continue with no signs of stabilisation. In this study, the soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) was employed to simulate the hydrological processes in the Burdur Lake Basin and analyse the cumulative impacts of climate change and hydrological modifications. The model incorporated a digital elevation model, land use/cover and soil maps and historical meteorological data. Calibration and validation were performed using the SUFI‐2 algorithm within SWAT‐CUP, based on streamflow and water volumes in major reservoirs and Burdur Lake. Future hydrological conditions were projected by running bias‐corrected precipitation and temperature data from three global climate models (GFDL‐ESM2M, HadGEM2‐ES, MPI‐ESM‐MR) under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios for 2025–2098. Results indicate that the Burdur Lake Basin can face a 5%–10% decrease in precipitation under RCP4.5 and a 14%–20% decrease under RCP8.5, with minimum and maximum temperatures rising by about 5°C relative to historical values. Simulated lake volumes and levels show continued declines, with water levels falling below the ecological threshold of 835 mASL under all RCP8.5 projections and the HadGEM2‐ES RCP4.5 scenario. Although the decrease in water level is slower than in the historical period, the downward trends are projected to continue. This study shows that climate change could create additional stressors on the already altered hydrological conditions of Burdur Lake. Implementation of adaptive and integrated water management strategies is essential to prevent further degradation in the lake's ecological and hydrological balance.

21. yüzyıl Türkiye’sinde önemli politik sonuçları beraberinde getiren göç krizi hem küresel hem de yerel düzlemde önemli sağlık politikalarının ve uygulamalarının hayata geçirilmesine neden olmuştur. Bu kapsamda Türkiye için önemli bir uygulama örneğini temsil eden Sıhhat Projesi ile göçmenlere yönelik birinci, ikinci ve üçüncü basamak sağlık hizmeti sunumu planlanmıştır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, Sıhhat Projesinin birinci basamak sağlık hizmeti sunumunu kapsayan göçmen sağlığı merkezlerine ilişkin politika sürecinin retrospektif yaklaşımla analiz edilmesidir. Bu doğrultuda politikanın analiz edilmesinde Sabatier’in (2007) politika süreci yaklaşımı kullanılmıştır. Analizde kullanılan veriler resmi kurum ve kuruluşların yayınladığı rapor, belge ve istatistiklere dayanmaktadır. Analizin resmi kurum ve kuruluşlara ait ulaşılabilen veriler ile sınırlı olması araştırmanın kısıtlılığını ifade etmektedir. Gündeme gelme, formüle etme, kanunlaştırma ve uygulama aşamalarıyla analiz edilen politika süreci neticesinde makro ve mikro düzlemde politika önerileri sunulmuştur. Göçmen sağlığı merkezleri kapsamında yapılan analiz sonucunda politikanın yarattığı iyileşmeler, yetersizlikler ve geliştirilmesi gereken yönler tespit edilmiştir. Böylelikle hem politika süreci açıklığa kavuşturulmuş hem de etkili sonuçlara ulaşılıp ulaşılmadığı değerlendirilmiştir. Bunun yanı sıra, elde edilen veriler ışığında Türkiye’de izlenen göçmen sağlığı politikaları ile Avrupa ülkeleri arasında bir karşılaştırma sunulmuştur.

Objectives Myrtus communis L. (Myrtaceae) is a Mediterranean aromatic plant with numerous beneficial properties. This study aimed to evaluate and investigate its antioxidant and antibacterial activities, as well as its effects on primary immune cells, astrocytes, and C6 glioma cells. Methods After GC-MS chemical quantification of leaf essential oil composition, HPTLC-DPPH, HPTLC-direct bioautography, and three assays that estimate metabolic activity and cell membrane function were employed to estimate its pharmacological activities. Results Oil analysis revealed 26 compounds, with α-pinene (41.61%) and 1,8-cineole (38.79%) being dominant constituents. Strong antioxidant activity can be primarily attributed to 1,8-cineole (80.5 ± 4.8 µg gallic acid equivalents/µL). Antibacterial evaluation showed higher susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus (529.4 ± 41.3 µg streptomycin equivalents/µL) than Klebsiella pneumoniae (279.8 ± 13.1 µg/µL). M. communis essential oil exhibited pronounced cytotoxicity toward immune cells (peritoneal macrophages, thymocytes, and splenocytes) and primary astrocytes at the highest tested concentration (100 μg/ml), while it had no impact on C6 glioma cells. At lower concentrations, the oil exerted minimal or no cytotoxic effects, indicating a concentration-dependent and cell-type-specific response. Conclusion These data provide comprehensive evidence linking the chemical composition of the essential oil to its bioactivity and potential pharmacological applications, highlighting the considerable antioxidant and antibacterial activities, while emphasising the need for careful application due to its toxic potential.