Balıkesir Üniversitesi Kurumsal Akademik Arşivi
DSpace@Balıkesir, Balıkesir 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
Migration of phthalates, bisphenols, photoinitiators, and perfluorinatedcompounds in polyethylene and polystyrene based beverage cups
(Taylor & Francis Inc., 2026) Kıralan, Sezer; Toptancı, İsra; Sezer, Cansu
Disposable paper cups are widely used for consuming beverages, particularly hot drinks, in daily life.However, concerns regarding the migration of hazardous chemicals from these cups into beverageshave been largely overlooked. This study investigates the presence of phthalates, bisphenols,photoinitiators (PIs), and two perfluorinated compounds (PFC) in polyethylene and polystyrenebased beverage cups from Turkey. Potential migrants were quantified using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) in a total of 40 cup samples. Among the phthalatesanalyzed, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was the most prevalent, with concentrations reachingup to 0.95 mg/kg. Bisphenol A (BPA) was the dominant bisphenol, detected at levels between0.01 and 0.02 mg/kg. Five photoinitiators—benzophenone, 1-hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone,4-methylbenzophenone, 4-hydroxybenzophenone, and ethyl 4-dimethylaminobenzoate—werefrequently identified, indicating the contribution of printing inks and surface coatings ascontamination sources. In addition, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was detected in two samples,highlighting the potential presence of PFOA in disposable food-contact materials. The resultsunderscore the need for continued surveillance of food-contact materials and the implementationof stricter regulatory controls to reduce long-term consumer health risks.
Evaluation of psychosocial health and anxiety levels of high-risk and healthy pregnant women: A observational case-control study
(BMC, 2026) Karaca, Pelin Palas; Türkmen, Hülya; Tozan, Selvihan; Güler, Sevinç
Purpose This study was conducted to compare psychosocial health and anxiety levels of high-risk and healthy
pregnant women.
Methods The study is a observational case-control type and was implemented in Türkiye between September
1, 2022 and July 31, 2023. The study sample consisted of pregnant women diagnosed with high-risk pregnancy
(n=255) and healthy pregnant women (n=275). The Pregnancy Psychosocial Health Assessment Scale (PPHAS) and
the Pregnancy-related Anxiety Scale (PrAS) were used to assess the psychosocial health and anxiety levels of the
participants in the study.
Results It was determined that those with high-risk pregnancies had higher total PrAS scores (p<0.001, effect
size=1.551) and lower total PPHAS scores (p<0.001, effect size=0.514) compared to healthy pregnant women. In
the study, it was determined that as the PPHAS score decreased in both the high-risk and healthy pregnant groups,
the PrAS score increased. As a result of the linear regression analysis, it was determined that high-risk pregnancy
(p<0.001), experiencing a stressful event during pregnancy (p<0.001), and regular antenatal control (p=0.005)
affected psychosocial health during pregnancy. Moreover, it was found that high-risk pregnancy (p<0.001), regular
antenatal control (p=0.014), relationship status with the spouse (p=0.013), and psychosocial health level during
pregnancy (p<0.001) affected the anxiety level during pregnancy.
Conclusion According to the results of this study, high-risk pregnant women are at risk in terms of psychosocial
health and anxiety. It is recommended that healthcare professionals assess women with high-risk pregnancies for
psychosocial health and anxiety. Midwives should use assessment tools, provide counseling, and provide holistic care
to protect the psychosocial health of high-risk pregnant women and to diagnose psychological distress at an early
stage
Functionalized carbon nanotube-based affinity chromatography for polyphenol oxidase purification from different sources and evaluation of kinetic properties
(Elsevier Inc., 2026) Doğan, Mehmet; Yalçınkaya, Fatma Nur; Biçil, Zeynep; Kızılduman, Berna Koçer; Doğan, Serap
In this study, functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were firstly synthesized and applied to purify polyphenol oxidase (PPO). Structural characterization of matrix was confirmed via different techniques. BET surface area decreased from 278.0 to 202.8 m2·g−1 with functionalization. Affinity chromatography achieved 16.4-fold purification for S. officinalis L., 12.9-fold purification for mushroom, 8.4-fold for S. aethiopis L., while SDS-PAGE analysis of S. officinalis L. revealed a single distinct band corresponding to an estimated molecular weight of approximately 43–45 kDa. Optimum pH and temperature values varied depending on the substrates and purification step. Kinetic analysis revealed substrate-dependent catalytic behavior, with catechol (KM = 0.0035–0.0050 mM; Vmax = 5.000–25.000 EU/mL), 4-methylcatechol (KM = 0.00129–0.00333 mM; Vmax = 10.000–14.286 EU/mL) and pyrogallol (KM = 0.00075–0.0040 mM; Vmax = 5.000–50.000 EU/mL). Pyrogallol showed the highest catalytic activity due to its high Vmax/KM value. These results highlight the potential of functionalized MWCNTs as effective affinity supports for PPO purification and position Salvia species and mushroom as a promising natural enzyme source for industrial and biotechnological applications.
Emergency department prediction of in-hospital mortality in suspected pulmonary embolism: An explainable machine learning approach
(MDPI, 2026) Fındık, Meliha; Alatlı, Tufan; Kocaoğlu, Salih; Gelen, Yeltuğ Esra; Taş, Rahime Sema
Background: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a significant cause of cardiovascular mortality, and emergency department (ED) management requires early risk assessment to
guide monitoring and disposition. Because key decisions are often needed while diagnostic evaluation is ongoing, the simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (sPESI)
may provide limited discrimination for in-hospital outcomes. We evaluated whether explainable machine-learning (ML) models integrating routine ED variables with validated
risk scores can predict in-hospital mortality in adults evaluated for suspected acute PE.
Methods: A retrospective single-center cohort study was performed, including 220 consecutive adults evaluated for suspected acute PE in the ED between January 2021 and
March 2025, comprising both PE-confirmed and PE-excluded cases. Predictors included
demographics, vital signs, arterial blood gas indices, available imaging/echocardiographic
findings, and Wells, Revised Geneva, and sPESI scores. Seven ML algorithms were trained
and internally evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve
(AUC) and complementary metrics. Model interpretability was assessed using SHAP
(SHAPley Additive exPlanations), and a sensitivity analysis was conducted in the PEconfirmed subgroup. Results: Tree-based ensemble models demonstrated higher discrimination for in-hospital all-cause mortality than simpler classifiers. SHAP analyses
consistently highlighted sPESI, oxygenation/arterial blood gas indices, and malignancy as
key contributors to mortality risk. Findings were similar in the PE-confirmed sensitivity
analysis. Conclusions: Explainable ML models combining established risk scores with
routinely collected ED variables may complement risk stratification along the suspected-PE
pathway. External multicenter validation and prospective impact studies are warranted
before clinical implementation.
Turkish adaptation and psychometric evaluation of the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey: A multicenter study
(Wiley, 2026) Gülşen, Mehmet; Dirik, Hasan Fehmi; Kaymaz, Kubilay; Kuşçu, Asuman; Yazıcı, Melis; Yerlikaya, Işıl; Baylam, İlkay
Patient experience is a critical indicator of healthcare quality and therefore requires assessment using robust measurement tools. One such is the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey. However, limited evidence supports its validation, underscoring the need for further psychometric evaluation across diverse healthcare contexts. A multicenter cross-sectional psychometric study was conducted across three private hospitals in Turkey. Between December 2023 and December 2024, data were collected from 478 patients following hospital discharge. Content validity was assessed using content validity indices, and construct validity was examined through confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega. The Turkish HCAHPS maintained its original structure with excellent content validity. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated a good model fit (chi 2/df = 2.06; RMSEA = 0.05; CFI = 0.98; NFI = 0.96). Reliability analysis revealed that both Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega values ranged from 0.71 to 0.95, indicating acceptable to excellent internal consistency across composites. The Turkish version of the HCAHPS demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties, supporting its use as a reliable tool for measuring patient experience, with potential to inform quality improvement efforts in hospital settings.
