Trans-Kemalism: the politics of the Turkish state in the diaspora

Abstract

In contrast to the huge amount of research on Turkish migration and migrants, the diasporic politics of the Turkish Kemalist state constitutes a neglected research subject in the scholarship on Turkish diaspora. How does the Turkish state reach out to its nationals and expatriates abroad? In what ways does the Turkish Republic seek to make Islam (as it does in Turkey) into an instrument legitimizing its politicizing and mobilizing enterprises? To explore these questions, this article investigates the long-distance Kemalism engaged in by the Turkish state to Turkify and secularize its nationals in the diaspora, using its activities in Australia as its case study. In sketching out trans-Kemalism's dimensions, the analysis directs attention to the intimate relationship between the political and religious fields of transnationalism manufactured by the state. The paper concludes that the intense political polarization in Turkey in the present makes the future of trans-Kemalism abroad somewhat uncertain.     

Immobilization of nisin producer Lactococcus lactis strains to chitin with surface-displayed chitin-binding domain

In this study, nisin producer Lactococcus lactis strains displaying cell surface chitin-binding domain (ChBD) and capable of immobilizing to chitin flakes were constructed. To obtain ChBD-based cell immobilization, Usp45 signal sequence with ChBD of chitinase A1 enzyme from Bacillus circulans was fused with different lengths of PrtP (153, 344, and 800 aa) or AcmA (242 aa) anchors derived from L. lactis. According to the whole cell ELISA analysis, ChBD was successfully expressed on the surface of L. lactis cells. Scanning electron microscope observations supported the conclusion of the binding analysis that L. lactis cells expressing the ChBD with long PrtP anchor (800 aa) did bind to chitin surfaces more efficiently than cells with the other ChBD anchors. The attained binding affinity of nisin producers for chitin flakes retained them in the fermentation during medium changes and enabled storage for sequential productions. Initial nisin production was stably maintained with many cycles. These results demonstrate that an efficient immobilization of L. lactis cells to chitin is possible for industrial scale repeated cycle or continuous nisin fermentation.     

Prostate specific antigen levels after acute myocardial infarction

Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA), a member of kallikrein family, is a specific serine protease of prostatic tissue. In some case reports, changes in PSA levels after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have been reported. In this study we evaluated variations in PSA levels post-AMI. Twenty-six male patients who had PSA levels within reference limits were included in the study. The diagnosis of AMI was confirmed by clinical findings, ECG (electrocardiogram) and cardiac marker studies. Serum total PSA (tPSA) and free PSA (fPSA) levels were measured at days 0 (day of admission), 1, 2 and 3 after AMI. PSA/albumin ratio was also calculated in order to evaluate the effect of dilution. A statistical analysis of the results of all patients revealed significant decrease in tPSA levels and tPSA/Albumin ratio at day 2 when compared to days 0 and 3, which showed a similar pattern. Changes of fPSA and fPSA/ Albumin ratio according to days were not found significant. In only four patients we found increased levels of tPSA and increased fPSA levels in three of them. These patients displayed severe problems such as renal failure, cardiac failure, ventricular aneurysm and cerebral ischemia due to cardiac arrest. The lower tPSA levels on day 2 suggest that tPSA can be eliminated rapidly from the circulation on days 1 and 2, probably through the formation of complexes of tPSA with acute phase proteins.     

Assessment of The Annual European eel (Anguilla Anguilla Linnaeus, 1758) Catches In Three Suggested Major Monitoring areas To Support The development of eel fishery management system In Turkey

Thirteen river basins draining into the Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean Seas were selected for evaluation of European eel (Anguilla Anguilla L., 1758) catch in Turkey. These basins were grouped into three so-called “eel monitoring area” (EMA). The official province-based annual landing data between 1996 and 2018 were assessed for each of the monitoring areas. Statistically significant decreases over the years were observed in the landing data in all of the monitoring areas. The adequate protection of the European eel standing stocks, particularly in some critical eel habitats such as Köyceğiz lagoon showed over time a small decrease in eel catches in EMA-2. However, a substantial decrease was detected in the province of Adana, which includes the Seyhan and Ceyhan basins, and these are located in the EMA-3. The catch data mainly based on the commercial fisheries and the restriction on export seems to be the main reason for the decline in catches in the three EMAs. Thus the suggested monitoring areas (EMAs) are needed to structure research programmes on basic knowledge on escapement ratio of migrating silver eels, arrival and upstream migration of glass eels in the rivers of each of the EMAs in order to build area specific management strategies. These monitoring areas may provide practical units that management can use in future fisheries regulations.     

Effects of meteorin-like hormone on endocrine function of hypothalamo-hypophysial system and peripheral uncoupling proteins in rats

Molecular Biology Reports - Meteorin-like hormone (Metrnl) is a peptide secreted from the adipose tissue and modulates the whole-body energy metabolism. Metrnl release into the circulation is...     

Design and modification of frog skin peptide brevinin-1GHa with enhanced antimicrobial activity on Gram-positive bacterial strains

Amino Acids - Naturally occurring frog skin peptides are one of largest sources of antimicrobial peptides that have many advantages including high potency, broad spectrum of targets and low...     

The effects of type I collagen on bone defects and gene expression changes for osteogenesis: In a rat model

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of type I collagen on bone defects and on genes specifically for osteogenesis in a rat model. Two millimeter drill hole bone defect was created in the femur of rats. In the experimental group, type I collagen was applied in bone defects whereas in control group defects were left empty. Inflammation, development of connective tissue, osteogenesis, and foreign body reaction parameters evaluated with histologically and genes evaluated by blood samples. In the experimental group, the histopathologically significant change was found in favor of bone healing only at the first week. A significant increase was found in genetic expressions of BMP-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, TGF-βRII, Smad-1, IL-6, BMPR-IA, BMPR-IB, Eng, BMPR-II, c-fos, Cdkn1a, Chrd, Gdf-5, Id-1, PDGF-β, IGF-1, Serpine-1, and TGF-βRI at the first hour. At the first, third, and sixth week, no significant increase was found in any of the gene expressions. Type I collagen is found to be effective in favor of bone healing through increased inflammatory cytokines and expression of BMP genes in the early stages of fracture healing.     

In vitro cytotoxic activity of microalgal extracts loaded nano–micro particles produced via electrospraying and microemulsion methods

Reactive oxygen species can bind protein, DNA, lipids, and carbohydrates and thus cause an oxidation reaction that induces various syndromes such as cardiovascular diseases, degenerative disease, and cancer types in the human body. Bioactive compounds, such as PUFA, EPA, DHA, and carotenoids in algae, have a chain ring and protect the tissue from chemical damage and reverse the symptoms of some diseases. Algal bioactives also have various biological properties such as anticoagulants, antiviral, antiangiogenic, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiproliferative, and immune modulation properties. This study aimed to show in vitro cytotoxic activity effect of Chlorella protothecoides and Nannochloropsis oculata microalgal extracts loaded nano–microparticles on A-172 (Homo sapiens brain glioblastoma) and HCT-116 (H. sapiens colon colorectal carcinoma) cell lines because of the increasing importance of algal biotechnology. MTT viability tests were performed on HUVEC, A172, and HCT 116 cells with particles obtained at optimum process parameters. The cell viability rates of encapsulated particles were also compared with pure algae extracts. Microalgal extracts loaded nano–micro particles showed very promising results for cytotoxic effect on cancer cells.     

A simple and efficient method for cultivation of limbal explant stem cells with clinically safe potential

Background

Several methods to cultivate limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs) in vitro with the support of feeder layers and different growth medium formulations have been established for several years. The initial green medium consists of various ingredients that exhibit a non-optimal level of biosafety, therefore, different modifications have been made to suit it to safe clinical applications. However, the question of which formulation is the most appropriate remains to be answered.