Search Results (51)

Turkey, a country with a unique blend of traditional and modern lifestyles, has made significant progress in promoting gender equality and is recognized as a pioneer in advancing women’s rights in the region. However, despite these advances, gender inequalities persist in various respects. This study aims to examine gender perception in a Turkish sample. Employing a cross-sectional and descriptive research design, the study was conducted with 1053 literate participants aged 18 and above who volunteered. Data were collected using a Demographic Information Form and the gender perception scale. The findings suggest that gender perception in Turkey is shifting toward a more egalitarian perspective, reflecting a departure from traditional norms. Several key factors were identified as contributors to this transformation, including education level, employment status, urbanization, socio-economic background, and geographical region of residence. These variables play a critical role in shaping gender perceptions and fostering societal change. By analyzing and contextualizing the results, this study offers valuable insights into the ongoing evolution of gender norms in Turkey. It underscores the importance of continued efforts to promote gender equality and serves as a foundation for future research on the sociocultural dynamics influencing gender perceptions. Full article

The aim of this study was to analyze the activation of selected upper limb muscles. For the purposes of this article, we present results concerning the following muscles: triceps brachii, anterior and posterior deltoid, and trapezius in women aged 50 and above during simulated riding of the Torqway device, using surface electromyography (sEMG). The primary objective was to compare muscle activity across two movement phases: active and passive. Accordingly, the following research hypotheses were formulated: muscle activity (measured by RMS values) will be significantly higher during the active phase compared to the passive phase, and MPF (mean power frequency) values will decrease over time, indicating the onset of muscle fatigue. Additionally, the potential of surface electromyography was assessed as a diagnostic tool for evaluating ergonomics and muscle effort in the context of designing personalized mobility devices for older adults. As the study of the Torqway device represents a pioneering research effort, this publication makes a significant contribution to the biomechanical analysis of new forms of active mobility supported by wearable sensor technologies. Full article

This review offers a historical overview of the role of women in the modern dental profession, tracing their journey from the earliest pioneers to the present day and highlighting their significant achievements. The second main section presents a narrative analysis of the current situation, focusing on the main challenges faced by female dentists in advancing their careers in clinical practice, academia, and leadership roles. Finally, the discussion connects these issues with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda and explores support models for women’s empowerment in the health sciences, with a particular emphasis on dentistry. Full article

Considering refugees’ employment challenges in their host countries, they often need to create jobs by starting ventures and embracing self-employment. However, this requires financing. This study seeks to assess the roles of formal and informal financing in self-employment while also looking at the drivers of financing decisions and self-employment among refugees in an urban setting. Using the extension of the Blinder–Oaxaca decomposition pioneered by Fairlie, this study found informal financing to be significantly associated with an individual’s decision to be self-employed, while formal financing is not. Male refugees who access informal financing have a higher probability of embracing self-employment than refugee women and Kenyan nationals; this calls for actions that encourage forming community-based organizations that promote affirmative action and steer the use of informal finance. Full article

Purpose: Social media has become a significant catalyst for entrepreneurship in the Middle East, particularly for women. Considering the limited research conducted to understand the factors influencing social media adoption in conservative societies such as Qatar, this study aims to examine the factors affecting the adoption of social media among women entrepreneurs in Qatar and extend the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) by including sociocultural variables. Method: The study employed a quantitative cross-sectional survey approach comprising 290 women entrepreneurs through an online survey. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), particularly Partial Least Squares (PLS) analysis, was used to investigate relationships between constructs. Findings: The results highlight two dimensions that significantly affect women’s adoption of social media for entrepreneurship in Qatar: technological (perceived usefulness) and sociocultural (family influence, kinship roles, and reputation preservation). Through these factors, we found that women in Qatar are especially drawn to social media entrepreneurship because it enhances their business operations while being in line with their cultural and social values. Conclusion and Originality: This research is one of the pioneering studies on women entrepreneurship and social media in Qatar. It extends the technology adoption theory with novel sociocultural constructs specific for women entrepreneurship in the Middle East. This research offers insights that are significant for advancing the field of digital entrepreneurship and fostering women’s entrepreneurship and economic empowerment within Qatar and the other communities of the Middle East. Full article

Background/Objectives: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine disorder affecting up to 15% of reproductive-age women, characterized by hyperandrogenism, chronic oligo-ovulation, and metabolic dysfunction. This study aims to evaluate serum sortilin levels in women with PCOS for the first time and investigate their potential associations with metabolic and hormonal alterations. Material and Methods: Eighty PCOS patients and 80 healthy controls were included; serum sortilin levels were measured using ELISA kits, with documented intra-assay and inter-assay variations below 6% and 8%, respectively, ensuring high specificity and sensitivity. Results: Serum sortilin levels were significantly elevated in PCOS patients (69.51 ± 27.75 pg/mL) versus controls (48.60 ± 21.20 pg/mL) (p < 0.001). PCOS patients exhibited higher mean HOMA-IR, free androgen index values, serum glucose, insulin, triglycerides, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, luteinizing hormone, total testosterone, and DHEA-S levels, alongside reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and sex hormone-binding globulin levels (all, p < 0.05). Notably, inverse correlations were observed between sortilin and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in both groups (p = 0.028 and 0.033). Conclusions: This pioneering study indicates that serum sortilin may be implicated in PCOS pathogenesis and serves as a potential biomarker for metabolic dysfunction in PCOS. Larger, diverse studies with longitudinal designs are needed for further validation. Full article

Breast cancer, a prevalent and significant cause of cancer-related mortality in women, often necessitates precise detection through nuclear medicine techniques. Despite the utility of computer-aided navigation in thoracoscopic surgeries like mastectomy, challenges persist in accurately locating and tracking target tissues amidst intricate surgical scenarios. This study introduces a novel system employing a channel R-CNN model to automatically segment target regions in thoracoscopic images and provide precise cutting curve indications for surgeons. By integrating a Detection Network Head and Thorax Network Head, this multi-channel framework outperforms existing single-task models, marking a pioneering effort in cutting curve indication for thoracoscopic procedures. Utilizing a specialized dataset, the model achieves a notable region segmentation mIOU of 79.4% and OPA of 83.2%. In cutting path planning, it attains an mIOU of 68.6% and OPA of 77.5%. The system operates at an average speed of 23.6 frames per second in videos, meeting the real-time response needs of surgical navigation systems. This research underscores the potential of advanced imaging and AI-driven solutions in enhancing precision and efficacy in thoracoscopic surgeries. Full article

Feminist studies have increasingly highlighted the contributions of women from various backgrounds; however, a gap remains in the research on conservative religious women. This article presents findings on Casilda Iturrizar, a bourgeois and religiously conservative woman who significantly influenced 19th-century Bilbao. Three surveys with 442 participants and five communicative interviews with educators were conducted using a communicative methodology, which has pioneered the current criteria for social impact and cocreation in the Horizon Europe scientific program. The results revealed that most people in Bilbao were unaware of Casilda’s contributions, with feminists and institutions neglecting her achievements. The findings from the communicative interviews suggested that Casilda’s contributions have been overlooked, contradicting recent efforts in education to address the invisibility of notable women. Such findings potentially have social impact by opening feminism to all women, including those made invisible for having conservative religious thinking. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study pioneers the application of the ViPLUS module, utilizing plane-wave ultrasound to measure breast tissue viscosity and elasticity. The primary goal was to establish normal reference values for viscosity in healthy women. Secondary objectives included exploring correlations between breast tissue viscosity and breast density categories, hormonal influences, and menstrual cycle phases. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 245 asymptomatic women. Viscosity and elasticity measurements were obtained using the ViPLUS module, ensuring high reliability with stringent quality control measures. Data were statistically analyzed to evaluate correlations and group differences. Results: The median viscosity value for normal breast parenchyma was 1.7 Pa.s, with no significant variations based on breast density, menopausal status, or menstrual cycle phase. A strong correlation (rho = 0.866, p < 0.001) was observed between elasticity and viscosity values. Conclusions: The findings suggest that breast viscosity is consistent across diverse physiological states, indicating its potential as an independent diagnostic marker. This parameter could be pivotal in future breast cancer screening strategies, especially for younger women and those with dense breasts. Full article

Ovarian cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in women. There are several processes that are described to have a causal relationship in ovarian cancer development, progression, and metastasis formation, that occur both at the genetic and epigenetic level. One of the mechanisms involved in its pathogenesis and progression is estrogen signaling. Estrogen receptors (ER) α, ERβ, and G-protein coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER1), in concert with various coregulators and pioneer transcription factors, mediate the effects of estrogens primarily by the transcriptional regulation of estrogen responsive genes, thereby exerting pleiotropic effects including the regulation of cellular proliferation and apoptosis. The expression and activity of estrogen receptors and their coregulators have been demonstrated to be regulated by epigenetic mechanisms like histone modifications and DNA methylation. Here, we intend to summarize and to provide an update on the current understanding of epigenetic mechanisms regulating estrogen signaling and their role in ovarian cancer. For this purpose, we reviewed publications on this topic listed in the PubMed database. Finally, we assess to which extent drugs acting on the epigenetic level might be suitable for the treatment of ovarian cancer. Full article

At the intersection of memory and feminist studies, this article examines the issue of suffrage and feminist monumental commemoration in the United States. Starting from the deficit of statues representing female historical figures in the public space, it analyzes the conception and reception of two important monuments honoring women’s suffrage (Portrait Monument 1921 and the Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument 2020). While those monuments have somewhat broken the “bronze ceiling”, they testify to the mechanics of exclusion and inclusion at work both in the construction of history and memory. Then, the article takes on a broader perspective, questioning the extent to which traditional monuments, as products of a patriarchal culture and memory, can properly commemorate modern feminism. The essay identifies two trends, one consisting of transforming the bronze through various strategies, the other of “breaking the bronze” by replacing it with other materials and proposing new memory frameworks belonging to what James E. Young has labeled countermonuments. Still, the article ultimately questions the limits of the monument itself and points to the notion of interactive spaces as perhaps the most adequate sites of memory for the complex, multifaceted, contested, and contemporary movement that feminism(s) stand(s) for. Full article

(1) Background: “To change the world, we must first change the way the babies are being born”, said Michel Odent, the famous French obstetrician and pioneer of the “natural birth” movement. This quotable phrase has been widespread in activism campaigns, and it refers to a project for social change that goes beyond birth. Conceiving childbirth in the broader social context, it is not surprising that this emblematic quote inspires emancipatory struggles around birth. This paper results from a study of childbirth activism in different European contexts, where the author explores the emergence and modes of action of social movements advocating for the humanization of childbirth and women’s rights in pregnancy and childbirth. (2) Methods: Starting from the analysis of the main characteristics of childbirth activism, in this paper the author briefly analyzes the cases of organizations from Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands, as well as a campaign promoted by the European Network of Childbirth Associations (ENCA). The author mobilizes empirical data resulting from a triangulation approach, essentially based on documentary analysis, complemented by conversations and participant observation in different settings. (3) Results: Preliminary results show how childbirth activism is contributing to the construction of alternative conceptions of birth, challenging established paradigms. (4) Conclusion: In its differences and similarities, childbirth activism assumes distinct features, but it also has the ability to adapt and promote changes, depending on the specificities of the contexts where it operates. Full article

This study explores how an inclusive governance of “niche” innovations with family farmers enables or limits the realization of just transitions in family farming at different scales, from the local to the national levels. The research focuses on a case study in the Brunca region of Costa Rica, which has pioneered innovations for bean research with family farmers. The primary source of information for the study was in-depth interviews with relevant stakeholders. Secondary information comes from a desk review of the relevant policies and strategic documents from the relevant authorities. Lastly, a semi-scoping review was conducted to explore gender and intergenerational gaps in plant breeding, as well as potential conflicts between plant breeding and on-farm agro-diversity. The inclusive governance of bean research contributes to the realization of just-transition dimensions of justice, such as recognitional, procedural, and distributional justice, as a result of farmers’ engagement in participatory plant-breeding processes, and due to the coordination between different institutions at the local and national levels. Progress has been made in terms of the recognition and participation of farmers in research and in decision-making locally. The findings show interactions between the local and national scales, in terms of the commercialization of farmers’ seeds. However, the Costa Rican program for bean research struggles to engage family farmers in national decision-making processes and falls short of addressing equality and intergenerational issues. It also faces challenges in reaching a balance between short-term income generation and long-term conservation of agro-biodiversity on the farm. Fostering just transitions in family farming would require a greater inclusion of women and youth by the Costa Rican bean system. This implies allocating resources to increase their capacities and participation in bean research, as well as in decision-making at all levels. This is imperative and could be achieved if the government and relevant stakeholders align their strategic objectives and priorities to shorten gender and intergenerational gaps within the bean production system. Full article

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between the psychological needs of athletes who attend gyms, the spirituality index of well-being, and motivation in sports, and to determine the mediating role of the spirituality index of well-being between psychological needs in sports and motivation in sports. Although sports spirituality is rapidly developing in the international literature, sports and spirituality have not been studied together in the national literature before. Therefore, this study holds the distinction of being one of the pioneering research efforts on the subject of spirituality in athletes in Türkiye. In this context, the data of 422 athletes, 176 women and 246 men, who have been attending gym facilities in Antalya for at least one year, were included in the research. Participants were administered a personal information form, Psychological Need States. It was found that the spirituality index of well-being is positively related to all satisfaction subscales and negatively related to all frustration subscales of psychological needs and that the life scheme is related to many subscales of sport motivation. Furthermore, it was also found that the spirituality index of well-being is a mediating variable between psychological needs in sports and motivation in sports. The data draw attention to the importance of sports spirituality. It is recommended to integrate spirituality into healthcare for athletes. Full article

Segmenting the left ventricle from the transgastric short-axis views (TSVs) on transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is the cornerstone for cardiovascular assessment during perioperative management. Even for seasoned professionals, the procedure remains time-consuming and experience-dependent. The current study aims to evaluate the feasibility of deep learning for automatic segmentation by assessing the validity of different U-Net algorithms. A large dataset containing 1388 TSV acquisitions was retrospectively collected from 451 patients (32% women, average age 53.42 years) who underwent perioperative TEE between July 2015 and October 2023. With image preprocessing and data augmentation, 3336 images were included in the training set, 138 images in the validation set, and 138 images in the test set. Four deep neural networks (U-Net, Attention U-Net, UNet++, and UNeXt) were employed for left ventricle segmentation and compared in terms of the Jaccard similarity coefficient (JSC) and Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) on the test set, as well as the number of network parameters, training time, and inference time. The Attention U-Net and U-Net++ models performed better in terms of JSC (the highest average JSC: 86.02%) and DSC (the highest average DSC: 92.00%), the UNeXt model had the smallest network parameters (1.47 million), and the U-Net model had the least training time (6428.65 s) and inference time for a single image (101.75 ms). The Attention U-Net model outperformed the other three models in challenging cases, including the impaired boundary of left ventricle and the artifact of the papillary muscle. This pioneering exploration demonstrated the feasibility of deep learning for the segmentation of the left ventricle from TSV on TEE, which will facilitate an accelerated and objective alternative of cardiovascular assessment for perioperative management. Full article