Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Üniversitesi Kurumsal Akademik Arşivi
DSpace@RTEÜ, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Üniversitesi tarafından doğrudan ve dolaylı olarak yayınlanan; kitap, makale, tez, bildiri, rapor, araştırma verisi gibi tüm akademik kaynakları uluslararası standartlarda dijital ortamda depolar, Üniversitenin akademik performansını izlemeye aracılık eder, kaynakları uzun süreli saklar ve yayınların etkisini artırmak için telif haklarına uygun olarak Açık Erişime sunar.
Güncel Gönderiler
Terrestrial exposure to microplastics in an endangered salamander (Lyciasalamandra antalyana)
(Elsevier, 2026) Öztürk, Duygu; Akman, Bahadır; Karış, Mert; Yıldız, Mehmet Zülfü; Yıldız, İsmail; Altunışık, Abdullah
Microplastics (MPs) are increasingly reported from a wide range of environments, yet information on terrestrial amphibians remains scarce. In this study, we investigated the occurrence and characteristics of MPs in the gastrointestinal tracts of the endemic and endangered terrestrial salamander Lyciasalamandra antalyana from Türkiye. A total of 67 specimens were analyzed, and MPs were detected in 34 individuals (50.7%), with 46 particles identified in total. The overall median MP abundance was 1 particle per specimen (range: 0–8). No significant differences in MP abundance were detected among females, males, and juveniles, and no significant relationships were found between MP abundance and body size variables. Five polymer types were identified, with polyethylene terephthalate (PET, 67.4%) being the most abundant, followed by ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA, 13.0%) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN, 10.9%). Most particles were fibers (93.5%), whereas fragments were rare. The predominance of PET and fibers may indicate potential terrestrial sources, likely related to synthetic materials and diffuse anthropogenic inputs. Navy blue particles predominated, and a significant association was observed between particle shape and color. The mean particle size was 219.04 ± 21.95 μm, with particles distributed across all size classes. These findings provide baseline evidence of microplastic occurrence in a habitat-restricted terrestrial amphibian and contribute to a better understanding of microplastic contamination in terrestrial ecosystems.
Microplastics in intravenous fluids: Occurrence, characterization, and risk indicators
(Academic Press Inc., 2026) Özçifçi, Zehra; Başaran, Burhan; Akçay, Hakkı Türker
In this study, the presence of microplastics was investigated in a total of 50 commercially available intravenous fluid samples in Türkiye, and ATR/FT-IR spectroscopy was used for particle identification. As a result of the analyses, microplastic contamination was detected in only 9 samples. Considering all samples examined, the average amount of microplastics was calculated as 0.40 ± 0.90 MP/L. Accordingly, microplastic exposure associated with the single-use administration of intravenous fluids (all samples) was determined to be approximately 0.20 MPs per unit. While the microplastic diversity index indicated very limited diversity at 0.02 ± 0.11, the average polymeric risk index was 5.64 ± 18.2, indicating a low overall risk level. The average pollution load index for all samples was 1.06, corresponding to a moderate contamination level. The findings show that intravenous fluids generally exhibit a safe profile; however, microplastics represent an increasingly important quality and exposure parameter in medical products that should be monitored.
Cross-cultural insights: Narrative skills and attachment representations in children with autism spectrum disorder using narrative story stems
(Springer Nature, 2026) Yazıcı, Mahmut Serkan; Dallos, Rudi; Stancer, Rebecca
This paper reports an exploratory study that examined attachment dynamics between children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and teaching staff in Turkish and English school settings, using both family-based and school-based narrative story stems. The study employed adaptations of narrative story stems combined with observations to investigate attachment narratives among children with ASD in different cultural contexts. This study employed a cross-cultural comparative design with a mixed-methods data analysis approach. A total of 93 children (40 from Türkiye and 53 from England), who were assessed by their teachers to have similar severity levels of autism, were invited to participate. However, the study included 17 Turkish children and 37 English children, all diagnosed with ASD. Results indicated significant differences in narrative skills between Turkish and English children with ASD, with English children demonstrating better skills in narrative completion and interactive storytelling during narrative story stems. Specifically, Turkish children more often showed secure responses toward teachers, despite lower narrative engagement, while English children displayed a wider range of attachment responses and interactions at school. These findings highlight the importance of cultural context in understanding attachment dynamics among children with ASD and suggest implications for educational practices and interventions tailored to support diverse attachment needs in school settings.
Fractional-order Klein-Gordon nonlocal model for thermo-elasto-diffusion in porous medium
(Nature Research, 2026) Sur, Abhik; Alosaimi, Moataz; Singhal, Abhinav; Yaylacı, Murat; Das, Soumik
Classical heat conduction and thermoelastic theories are often inadequate for describing transport processes in modern micro and nano-scale materials, as they assume instantaneous propagation and neglect memory and nonlocal effects. This limitation becomes particularly important in applications such as semiconductor devices and porous structures subjected to rapid thermal and chemical loading. To address this issue, the present study develops a generalized thermo-elasto-diffusion model for porous medium by incorporating fractional-order heat conduction and Klein-Gordon-type nonlocal dynamics. The model extends the classical Lord–Shulman framework through a set of fractional-order modified models derived using an analogy with viscoelastic behavior, allowing both memory effects and spatial interactions to be captured through intrinsic time and length scales. Analytical solutions are obtained in the Laplace domain and numerically inverted using Zakian’s algorithm to evaluate the transient response of displacement, temperature, chemical potential, and stress fields. The results show that fractional-order parameters and nonlocal effects significantly influence wave propagation and heat transfer, especially near boundaries and in regions with strong microstructural interactions. Overall, the proposed framework provides a more realistic and physically consistent description of coupled thermo-mechanical processes, offering useful insights for the design and analysis of advanced porous and semiconductor materials under extreme conditions.
Cinematic rendering in cone-beam computed tomography: A clinical and observer-based evaluation
(Elsevier, 2026) Doğan, Buğra; Köse, Taha Emre; Çene, Erhan; Çakır Karabaş, Hülya
Objectives: To compare volume rendering (VR) and cinematic rendering (CR) in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT)-based three-dimensional (3D) visualisation, focusing on perceived image quality, distance/length estimation accuracy, perceived treatment-planning impact, and practical applicability within clinical workflow. Methods: Fourteen CBCT cases in five categories (implant planning, periodontal, soft-tissue calcifications, endodontic, surgical/maxillofacial) were reconstructed using VR and CR in OsiriX MD. In two sessions (VR first; CR after a 3-week washout), 110 observers (students, general dental practitioners, specialists) rated visual realism, 3D perception, detail sharpness, and perceived impact on anticipated treatment planning on a visual analogue scale and estimated a reference distance in millimetres via open-ended responses. Reconstruction and video export times were recorded. Results: CR outperformed VR for visual realism, 3D perception, and detail sharpness (+14–19%; all p ≤ 0.007). Distance-estimation error was 2.7% lower with CR, but not statistically significant. Although the perceived impact on anticipated treatment planning favoured CR overall (+14.0%; p > 0.05), gains were statistically significant in surgical/maxillofacial cases (+32%; p < 0.01). Reconstruction was <1 min for both; video export was longer for CR (12–89 min/case) than VR (2–9 min/case). Conclusions: CR markedly improved perceived image quality over VR. However, its contribution to observer-based measurement accuracy was limited and its perceived impact on anticipated treatment planning was evident, mainly in surgical/maxillofacial cases. Longer export times support selective use alongside VR rather than replacement. Clinical significance: CR may serve as an adjunctive visualisation tool in selected CBCT applications, particularly in surgical/maxillofacial cases, whereas VR remains more practical for routine use.
