Incivility, Mobbing, and Abusive Supervision: A Tripartite Scale Development Study.

Using qualitative and quantitative methodologies, in three consecutive studies with employed samples, we developed measures of workplace incivility, mobbing, and abusive supervision sensitive to the nuances of a non-Western context (i.e., Türkiye). In Study 1, we first conducted 15 focus groups (N = 149), identified culture-specific and universal themes underlying the focal mistreatment types, and developed the initial scales. We then pilot-tested (N = 427) and refined the scales using exploratory factor analytic procedures. In Study 2, confirmatory factor analyses (N range = 456-524) and associations between the new scales and their widely used counterparts (N = 353) yielded evidence for the construct validity of the scales. Study 2 also involved the development of short forms of relatively long incivility and abusive supervision scales. In Study 3 (N = 482), we first examined the extent to which the three scales were operationally distinct. Second, we examined the scales' ability to predict burnout and organizational commitment. Results supported operational distinctiveness as well as the criterion-related validity of the scales. A dominance analysis revealed that the three scales had equivalent contributions in explaining the two outcome variables, further justifying their distinctiveness. We argue that the use of present scales is not necessarily restricted to the Turkish context and may prove useful more broadly in other neo-traditional contexts.

Do Employees Leave Just Because They Can? Examining the Perceived Employability-Turnover Intentions Relationship.

The relationship between perceived employability and turnover intentions seems much more complicated than what the common sense would suggest. Based on the reviewed literature, it was expected that job satisfaction, affective commitment, and perceived job security would moderate this relationship. Using a sample of working individuals from different occupations and sectors (N = 721), it was found that employees who perceived themselves as highly employable were more likely to have turnover intentions when their affective commitment was low and perceived job security was high; and the relationship was negative for employees with shorter tenures. Understanding the conditions under which perceived employability is associated with turnover intentions may help organizations design human resource policies that allow them to retain an educated and competent workforce.

NANOG is a key factor for induction of pluripotency in bovine adult fibroblasts.

Since the first reports on isolation of pluripotent mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells 3 decades ago, there have been numerous attempts to derive ES cell lines from commercially important livestock species with limited success. The recent discovery that ectopic expression of a handful of stem cell-related genes was capable of inducing pluripotency in rodents and primates provided a novel approach to derivation of pluripotent stem cell lines. We used this approach in cattle and demonstrated that the ectopic expression of POU5F1 (also known as Oct4), SOX2, KLF4, and c-MYC alone was not sufficient for stable induction of pluripotency in bovine adult fibroblasts and that the additional expression of NANOG to the reprogramming cocktail was essential for the generation of stable bovine (b) induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. The resulting biPS cells were characterized by reverse-transcription PCR for a panel of ES marker genes. Immunocytochemical localization of POU5F1, SSEA-1, SSEA-4, and colorimetric alkaline phosphatase activity was measured in the iPS clones. The differentiation potential of the biPS cells was determined in vitro by expression of differentiation markers in embryoid bodies. Injection of biPS into immunocompromised mice resulted in teratomas containing cell types of the 3 germ lineages. This study reports the first generation of bovine induced pluripotent cell lines and paves the way for the use of biPS cells for biotechnological and agricultural purposes.

Individual differences as predictors of illicit drug use among Turkish college students.

Although the prevalence of drug use in the young adult population in Turkey is still far below the figures reported for most European Union countries and the United States, there seems to be a noteworthy increase in drug use, especially among high school and college students. The purpose of the present study was to examine the extent of drug use among college students in Turkey and to identify some of the individual-difference variables associated with drug use. Participants were 781 college students. A survey package including (a) measures of sensation seeking-risk taking, self-esteem, affectivity level, global mental health, overall life satisfaction, and the rate and nature of substance use and (b) demographic questions was administered to the participants during regularly held class meetings. A logistic regression analysis revealed that sensation seeking-risk taking, parental education level, smoking, and frequency of alcohol use predicted illicit drug experience. Implications of the findings and limitations of the study are discussed using the context of the study as a framework.

The use of signalling pathway inhibitors and chromatin modifiers for enhancing pluripotency.

Pluripotent embryonic stem cells have been isolated from a limited number of species. The new advances with inducing pluripotency in somatic cells have resulted in the generation of pluripotent stem cells while circumventing the need for embryos. In this review we describe the main signalling pathways involved in maintaining pluripotency and inducing differentiation. Inhibition of the signalling pathways involved in differentiation enhances the derivation and cultivation of pluripotent stem cells. Furthermore, we discuss the use of chromatin modifiers to maintain an open chromatin state which is characteristic of pluripotent stem cells, to facilitate the derivation of pluripotent cell lines.

Personality attributes as predictors of psychological well-being for NCOs.

The authors examined the nature of the relationships between job-specific personality dimensions and psychological well-being for noncommissioned officers (NCOs) in the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF). A job-specific personality inventory, comprising measures of 11 personality dimensions was developed for selection purposes. The inventory was administered to a representative sample of 1,428 NCOs along with a general mental health inventory developed by the authors, which consisted of 6 dimensions of psychological well-being. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses suggested existence of a single factor underlying the 6 psychological well-being dimensions, Mental Health, and 2 latent factors underlying the 11 personality dimensions, Military Demeanor and Military Efficacy. The 2 personality constructs explained 91% of the variance in the Mental Health construct. A stepwise regression indicated that beta weights of the personality measures were significant except for military bearing, orderliness, and dependability. Results suggest that job-specific personality attributes were predictive of mental health. Implications of the findings for the selection of NCOs are discussed.

Increased frequency of familial Mediterranean fever in Central Anatolia, Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: It has been observed that familial Mediterranean fever is more prevalent among people coming from central Anatolia in Turkey. To test this observation the frequency of FMF was investigated by afield survey in Sivas, a city located in central of Turkey. METHODS: The survey was conducted in a cohort of 4809 persons selected by systematic sampling from 2 districts of Sivas, with a total population of 83,274. Face to face interviewing was done with registered households using a standard questionnaire developed to screen FMF A second interview was conducted by a rheumatologist and an internist of those individuals who were regarded to have possible FMF. RESULTS: The suspicion of FMF emerged in the cases of 46 individuals during the survey and 36 were interviewed for a second time. FMF was diagnosed in 10 cases. Only one had a previous diagnosis of FMF. The overall frequency of FMF among a cohort of 3,948 inhabitants of Sivas was 1/395 (0.25%). CONCLUSION: This study indicates that the prevalence of FMF in Sivas may be higher than that in general Turkish population, which has been reported to be 0.1%.

Prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infection in barbers in the Sivas region of Turkey.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are among the most devastating health problems in the world, including Turkey. The route of transmission of HBV and HCV is mainly parenteral, a small number of epidemiological studies demonstrating that perinatal, sexual, household and occupational transmission occurs. Contact of a patient's blood or bodily fluids with non-intact skin is another mode of HBV and HCV transmission. Barbers in Turkey may often be exposed accidentally to the blood and bodily fluids of their customers. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HBV and HCV infection in barbers. We conducted a study to determine the prevalence of antibodies against HBV and HCV among 176 barbers and 180 control subjects in the Sivas region of Turkey. The prevalence of HBV and HCV was found to be higher in barbers (39.8 and 2.8%, respectively) than in a comparison group (28.3 and 1.1%, respectively). No significant relationship was found with the duration of occupation. Among the seropositive subjects, it was found that most had been exposed to needle pricks or scissor cuts. Our data suggest that both HBV and HCV infections may constitute occupational hazards for barbers. The sources of infection could be not only such personal risk factors as 'sharps' injuries and scissor cuts, but may also include other unknown factors.

How do people with different attachment styles balance work and family? A personality perspective on work-family linkage.

This study explored whether different models of work-family relationship were possible for individuals with different attachment styles. A mail survey was conducted using employees (N = 481) at a midwestern university in the United States. Results suggested that (a) individuals with a preoccupied attachment pattern were more likely to experience negative spillover from the family/home to the work domain than those with a secure or dismissing style, (b) securely attached individuals experienced positive spillover in both work and family domains more than those in the other groups, and (c) preoccupied individuals were much less likely to use a segmentation strategy than the other 3 attachment groups. However, when the conventional job satisfaction life satisfaction relationship was examined, the data provided unique support for the spillover model. Implications of the findings for both attachment and work family relationship literatures are discussed.

THE EFFECT OF BIOMASS FUEL COMBUSTION ON PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTS IN THE ADULT POPULATION OF SIVAS PROVINCE.

The effects of natural traditional energy sources which is called biomass, mainly cowdung, on pulmonary function was investigated. In rural regions of Sivas City, pulmonary function tests of 112 cow-dung users and 153 modern energy source users were compared. When comparing the mean values of spirometric measurements of two groups' males and females seperately, all the spirometric parameters of the cow-dung users' group were found to be decreased (P < 0.05) and this decrement was in obstructive type. As a result, cow-dung which is a special type of biomass, was seen to effect pulmonary function tests negatively both in males and females.

Rickets and soil strontium.

The subjects of this study were children aged 6-60 months living in villages in the Ulas Health Region, Sivas. The villages were divided into two groups according to the amount of strontium in the soil: region 1, > 350 ppm, 650 children; region 2, < 350 ppm, 1596 children. Overall, the prevalence of one or more clinical signs of rickets was 22.9%. The prevalence in region 1 was 31.5% and that in region 2, 19.5%. These values were significantly different (p < 0.001). When other variables which may be relevant to the occurrence of rickets were taken into account, the difference in prevalence persisted. The results suggest that in villages where nutrition is mainly based on grain cereals the presence of strontium in the soil will increase the prevalence of rickets significantly. As a preventive measure, a greater proportion of the foods given to children in these villages should be derived from animal origin, and cereals and drinking water supplies should be obtained from villages with a low soil strontium content, or calcium supplements should be given.

Color Doppler ultrasound and spectral analysis of tumor vessels in the differential diagnosis of solid breast masses.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of color Doppler and spectral analysis of specific tumor vessels in the differentiation of benign from malignant breast masses. METHODS: Forty-eight patients with solid breast masses were evaluated with color Doppler ultrasound prospectively. When tumor vessels were visualized, spectral analysis was performed and peak systolic and end diastolic Doppler frequency shifts were recorded. Histology was obtained in all but two cases. RESULTS: In 28 out of 29 malignant lesions tumor vessels were visualized. Thirteen of 19 benign lesions showed no demonstrable flow. The peak systolic Doppler frequency shifts recorded over the vessels of the malignant breast masses were significantly higher than those of the benign breast masses (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In our preliminary series, spectral Doppler analysis of tumor vessels shows promise in differentiating benign from malignant breast masses.

Acute bacterial cholangitis: an analysis of clinical manifestation.

A retrospective study of 65 patients with biliary sepsis and mechanical biliary obstruction, 19 of them with suppurative cholangitis (SC) and 46 with nonsuppurative cholangitis (NSC), was undertaken to identify distinguishing characteristics of the two forms of the disease. There were no statistically significant differences between SC and NSC based on histologic data, physical findings, or preoperative laboratory values. Mortality was significantly increased in patients with SC and in those with both forms of the disease who were given medical therapy alone. The treatment of choice for cholangitis with mechanical biliary obstruction is early operative drainage of the biliary tree, regardless of the presence or absence of suppuration in the common bile duct.