The Moving Epidemic Method (MEM) is the ECDC/WHO-Europe-endorsed approach for establishing influenza epidemic thresholds and intensity levels, yet no positivity-based MEM analysis exists for Türkiye or any country in the WHO Western Asia transmission zone. Weekly influenza positivity rates from FluNet sentinel surveillance were analysed for ten of twelve seasons (2013/2014–2024/2025, excluding two COVID-19 pandemic seasons) using the mem R package with cross-validated optimized slope parameter, and Türkiye’s average epidemic curve and thresholds were compared with the Western Asia (excluding Türkiye) and South West Europe zones using Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), root mean square deviation (RMSD) and complementary correlation metrics. The epidemic threshold was 10.59% positivity, with intensity thresholds at 42.56% (medium), 60.92% (high), and 71.38% (very high); cross-validated sensitivity was 0.77, specificity 0.88, and Matthews correlation coefficient 0.65. Türkiye’s average curve showed higher concordance with Western Asia (CCC=0.890; RMSD=4.22 percentage points) than South West Europe (CCC=0.672; RMSD=12.48) despite similar Pearson correlations (0.922 vs. 0.939), and the Western Asia epidemic threshold (11.50%) closely matched Türkiye’s. These first operational MEM thresholds for Türkiye and the first positivity-based thresholds for the Western Asia zone confirm alignment with the current WHO transmission zone classification and support integration into routine surveillance.

The dietary phytochemical index (DPI), an alternative and practical marker for assessing dietary phytochemical intake, has not previously been investigated in relation to primary dysmenorrhoea (PD). This study aimed to investigate the association between the DPI and PD in women university students in Niğde, Türkiye. The sample of this cross-sectional study consisted of women university students aged 19–35 years. The study data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a questionnaire. The questionnaire included general information about the students, dietary intake, the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and the Visual Analog Scale. The DPI was calculated from the participants’ food consumption records (DPI = energy from foods rich in phytochemicals (kcal/day)/total energy intake (kcal/day) × 100). Of the 362 women university students who participated in the study, the prevalence of PD was 83.9%. Those affected had higher waist circumference and dietary energy intake, but lower potassium and magnesium intake and DPI (p < 0.05). Students with severe pain were more likely to have a lower DPI (p < 0.05). The results of this study showed that the prevalence of PD a was quite high among students and that the DPI was associated with PD. These findings suggest a potential role of foods rich in dietary phytochemicals in alleviating PD, although causal relationships cannot be established due to the cross-sectional design of the study.

This article presents a recently discovered multipurpose agricultural processing facility constructed within the Small Bath at Antiochia ad Cragum in Türkiye. We argue that the Bath was transformed for the production of wine and olive oil in Late Antiquity, representing the best-preserved and largest-capacity agricultural facility recorded at this urban site. The remarkable discovery of in situ processing equipment continues to develop our understanding of the extensive repurposing of monumental public architecture for agricultural and artisanal production at Antiochia. Discussion in this article sets the excavated complex within a broader context of local viniculture, oleiculture, ceramic production and export, showing how these networks of activity operated together, and underscores investment priorities between the 4th and 6th c. CE. This story of adaptation, resilience, and repurposing ultimately also provides potential insight into the owners and operators of this space.

Archaeology is increasingly shaped by institutional pressures that privilege speed, monumentality and tourist appeal. At Comana, Türkiye, the Covid-19 pandemic created an opportunity to adopt a slower, more deliberate pace of investigation. Here, the author reflects on how practices adopted during this period promoted a deeper engagement with ritual landscapes through embodied interaction with the land and local community. This experience is used to support the argument that slowing down can resist institutional pressures and renew the discipline’s capacity for thoughtful, contextually grounded understanding; slow archaeology could be seen as a form of best practice under conditions of institutional acceleration.

Online platforms have become indispensable tools for political candidates to gain visibility, particularly for female candidates in electoral autocracies who often lack access to traditional networks, party hierarchies, and media platforms. We argue that online visibility, while a resource for female candidates, disproportionately exposes them to online violence that functions as a mechanism of political control, reinforcing patriarchal exclusion from the political sphere. Our analysis draws on more than three million tweets directed at 1,834 candidates across the 2023 parliamentary and 2024 local election campaigns in Türkiye, providing a rare opportunity to observe how these dynamics unfold at both the national and subnational levels. We find that while online visibility increases abuse for all candidates, the effect is markedly stronger for female candidates, who are disproportionately targeted across diverse forms of violence, including profanity, demeaning and ridiculing language, physical threats, and ethnic and religious hate speech. Moreover, our results suggest that in local elections, where candidates rely more heavily on personalized campaigns, increases in visibility are more strongly associated with female candidates’ exposure to online violence.

This article examines how artificial intelligence (AI) impacts state sovereignty and the balance between innovation and control in AI governance through a case study of Türkiye. As AI technologies become increasingly sophisticated, they challenge traditional notions of sovereignty, creating tensions between fostering innovation and maintaining regulatory control. The concept of “AI sovereignty” encompasses a state’s ability to exercise meaningful control over AI infrastructure, data resources, regulatory frameworks, and technological capabilities. Türkiye’s AI strategy illustrates how “middle powers” navigate this balance, especially as it stands at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, requiring Türkiye to develop distinct approaches that reflect its unique geopolitical position. The analysis reveals that sovereignty in the AI domain encompasses multiple dimensions—technical capabilities, regulatory frameworks, and strategic positioning—requiring adaptable governance approaches. The findings offer insights for jurisdictions seeking to balance innovation imperatives with control mechanisms while maintaining strategic autonomy in an evolving global AI landscape.

The parasite fauna of Sardina pilchardus from the Black Sea coast of Türkiye was investigated. The parasitological survey was conducted on a total of 136 fish collected monthly from October 2024 to May 2025. A total of 7 parasite species were recovered: 5 digeneans (comprising 3 adult stages and 2 metacercarial stages), 1 larval nematode and 1 coccidian. The identified taxa included the adult digeneans Pronoprymna ventricosa, Lecithaster confusus and Aphanurus stossichii, metacercariae Stephanostomum sp. and Renicola sp., nematode Hysterothylacium aduncum, and coccidian Eimeria sardinae. Prevalence (%) and infection intensity indices were determined for each parasite species. Overall infection prevalence (82.35%), mean intensity (8.28 ± 0.74) and mean abundance (6.82 ± 0.67) were calculated. Infection parameters for each parasite species were determined and statistically compared across fish length groups, seasons, sex and host body condition factor. The results revealed that parasite abundance and intensity varied significantly among fish length groups and seasons, whereas no significant correlations were found with host body condition or fish sex. Spearman’s correlation analysis was performed to examine co-occurrence patterns among parasite species. A moderate positive correlation was detected between H. aduncum and Stephanostomum sp. (r = 0.494, P < 0.01). In contrast, associations among other parasite species were weak or negligible, indicating largely independent occurrence. Except for H. aduncum, all identified species represent new host records for this species in the Black Sea and Türkiye. Notably, Renicola sp. constitutes the first record of this genus for the parasite fauna of Türkiye.

This study examines clay fragments found at Çemka Höyük, a Pre-Pottery Neolithic site in Mardin, Türkiye (tenth millennium BC). Analysis of mineral inclusions in the clay matrix indicates that these fragments may have been deliberately fired, representing an early example of ceramic technology in South-west Asia. The diversity of forms identified and their likely uses suggest, the authors argue, a formative phase in ceramic innovation during which the properties and potential applications of clay were explored by the local community and adopted and adapted within existing social and economic traditions in advance of widespread application in the seventh millennium BC.

Despite extensive research on asbestos mineralogy and health impacts, comprehensive multi-analytical characterization of naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) in ophiolitic mélanges of central Türkiye is still lacking. The present study examines asbestos-form minerals within the ophiolitic mélange northeast of Kıraman village (Karaman, Türkiye), with a focus on chrysotile, tremolite, and talc. These minerals were formed through intensive alteration processes, including serpentinization, talc formation, listwanitization, chloritization, carbonation, and silicification. The main objective was to characterize the mineralogical, morphological, and chemical features of asbestos-form serpentine and amphibole minerals and to evaluate their potential environmental and health implications. Analytical techniques such as optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential thermal analysis–thermogravimetry (DTA–TG), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy, as well as scanning and transmission electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDX, TEM–EDX), were employed. The results confirmed the presence of nearly pure chrysotile, talc, and tremolite. Thermal and vibrational analyses revealed characteristic dehydroxylation reactions and diagnostic spectral bands. The SEM and TEM imaging displayed fibrous and acicular morphologies, while TEM–EDX confirmed typical chemical compositions, including minor Fe content (3–5%). Both chrysotile and tremolite fibers exhibited dimensions within the respirable range and elemental characteristics that are commonly associated with increased toxicity in asbestos minerals. The co-existence of Fe-bearing chrysotile and respirable-size tremolite fibers indicates a potential for asbestos-related health risks under conditions of environmental disturbance or exposure. These findings underscore the need for environmental monitoring and suggest the regional geological formations are a potential public health concern.

Karacadağ rice is a local variety with significant genetic diversity, cultivated for centuries in the Karacadağ basin of South-eastern Anatolia (Türkiye) using traditional methods. The production system relies on basalt stone fields, minimal tillage, no chemical inputs, and irrigation with melted snow waters directed through natural channels. Harvesting is conducted manually using sickles. This rice variety has adapted to the region’s hot and arid climate, demonstrating resilience to pests, diseases, and environmental stresses. Key features of the Karacadağ Rice Production System include its harmony with natural flora, crop rotation practices, contribution to biodiversity, and alignment with the socio-cultural fabric of the region. The Karacadağ steppes are ecologically significant, hosting wild relatives of cultivated crops, including wheat, and supporting rich biodiversity. Additionally, the region’s cultural richness is enhanced by nomadic communities engaged in pastoralism. Preserving this production system contributes to maintaining agricultural biodiversity, protecting the natural environment, and safeguarding the socio-cultural heritage of the area. This study was conducted within the framework of the Management Plan for the Karacadağ Steppes, a pilot area of the ‘Conservation and Sustainable Management of Steppe Ecosystems in Turkey’ project (2017–2021) to support the sustainable conservation and management of the Karacadağ Rice Production System. Using the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) framework, the system was evaluated against five key criteria, major pressures and changing trends were identified, and inputs were provided for a management plan aimed at enhancing its resilience and sustainability under ongoing socio-economic and environmental change.

Türkiye is a country with many seismic fault lines and has experienced major earthquakes throughout its history. In history, 2 major earthquakes occurred in Kahramanmaraş province in 1544 and 1795, causing serious destruction and damage. On February 6, 2023, 2 major earthquakes of 7.7 Mw and 7.6 Mw occurred, centered in Kahramanmaraş (Elbistan and Pazarcık). This great disaster affected 11 cities (about 14 million people), mostly Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, and Malatya. According to the latest official report, it resulted in 50 783 deaths and more than 122 000 injuries.1,2