Does agricultural value-added induce environmental degradation? Evidence from Azerbaijan.

This study empirically analyzes the long-term relationship between agricultural production and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in Azerbaijan using annual data covering the period of 1992-2014. Additionally, real income and energy consumption variables were included in the model in testing the existence of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis. Autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) method is undertaken to reveal the existence of the long-term relationship between the CO2 and its determinants. The ARDL mechanism shows that gross domestic product (GDP) and energy consumption have a positive and statistically significant effect on carbon dioxide emissions. However, agricultural production and the square of GDP have a negative impact on air pollution. Furthermore, when the coefficients of real GDP and squared GDP included in the model were examined to analyze the inverted-U-shaped relationship between economic growth and environmental pollution, the EKC hypothesis was confirmed to be valid. According to Toda-Yamamoto causality test results, there is a bidirectional relationship between GDP, the square of GDP, and carbon emissions. From energy consumption and agricultural value-added to CO2 emissions, a unidirectional Granger causality relationship was found. Ultimately, the findings suggest that policies and reforms that increase or support agricultural production will help lower the country's CO2 emissions level.

Integrated environmental impact and risk assessment in rural women entrepreneurs.

This study set out to reveal to what extent women entrepreneurs operating in rural areas have been affected by environmental pollution and climate change. Besides, it emphasises how much they will be affected over the next 5 years throughout Turkey. The study covered rural areas of all seven regions in Turkey. Findings were analysed by using SPSS 23 programme. Women entrepreneurs were younger in less developed regions of the country, such as the Central, Eastern, and South-Eastern Anatolia, and were older in the more economically developed coastal areas. One-third of the respondents were microentrepreneurs; 12% employ five or more workers. The problems of rural women entrepreneurs are further complicated by environmental pollution and climate change. Among the significant environmental issues, women entrepreneurs endure a loss of income, loss of trade stock/goods, and loss of livestock, property damage and potable water supply. Women entrepreneurs agreed that, in the next 5 years, environmental problems would adversely affect customer demand, the quality of raw materials they use and the products they offer; therefore, customer demand would reduce. On the other hand, they were divided in their opinion about whether environmental problems will be affecting their business location and the need to invest in technology and equipment. The study showed that none of the participants obtained disaster insurance, and none of them was members of an environmental organisation.

What is Your Level of Nomophobia? An Investigation of Prevalence and Level of Nomophobia Among Young People in Turkey.

This research was conducted to measure the nomophobia levels of young people. The sample of the study consisted of 400 young people living in rural districts of Bursa province in Turkey. The results show that 8.5% of the youth was severely nomophobic, 71.5% were moderate and 20.0% were mildly nomophobic. There was no statistically significant difference between gender and working status and nomophobia level but statistically significant differences were encountered between age and educational status. As young people's age increased, the levels of nomophobia they suffer decreased. They asserted a higher level of nomophobia during high school years. Despite a slight decrease in university years, students' nomophobia levels were higher than the graduates and working youth. When the sub-dimensions of the scale were examined, the 'avoidance' and 'conflict' factors were above the NoSmartPhone Scale (NSPS) mean score, but the interwind identity and attachment factors were below the mean score.

Green consumerism: the influence of antioxidant parameters and socio-economic values on Tarhana consumption patterns.

This study aimed to examine the production and consumption patterns of the tarhana as a green food product and its content in terms of health value in the socio-economic framework by comparing urban and rural households. To be able to assess the tarhana's health value, the addition of antioxidative parameters was analysed. We obtained the data as a result of a two-part study. The first part of the research included a structured survey conducted between September and December 2015. In the second part, three types of tarhana samples evaluated in terms of their antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content as extractable, hydrolysable, and bioaccessible phenolics to support the claim that homemade tarhana offers higher nutritional potential and healthier content than commercially produced tarhana. Organic and additive-free homemade tarhana samples have great antioxidative potential, also depending on the content and the production pattern. The results of the antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content analyses, and their bioaccessibility revealed that non-fermented homemade tarhana and cranberry-added tarhana stand out, according to production process and content. Our findings showed that participants mostly produced the tarhana at home. In cases where they could not produce it themselves, they supplied it from their family and friends. This result showed us that participants preferred homemade tarhana over industrial tarhana sold in markets. Rural areas mostly consumed tarhana for its economic value. However, tarhana consumption did not decrease in cities. Only the consumption mode and the times have changed.

Consumers' knowledge, attitude and behavioural patterns towards the liquid wastes (cooking oil) in Istanbul, Turkey.

This study was carried out to reveal the people's knowledge level about the harmful effects of waste oils, especially waste cooking oil, on the environment. It also aims to understand the attitude and behavioural patterns related to the safe disposal of them. Istanbul is chosen because it represents the entire country with its diverse socio-demographic and socio-cultural structure. A total of 408 respondents were randomly chosen and interviewed in the designated regions. The research data were obtained by using a structured survey consisting demographic and Likert scale questions. SPSS 23.0 statistical software was used to analyse the survey data. Results suggest that despite the high educational level, participants did not know that household liquid waste has a negative impact on the environment. They disagreed on the statement that liquid waste can damage water resources. Public spots, and formal and informal education were not found effective and failed to make the desired impact. Majority of participants did not know their duties in the disposal of waste. They also did not know where the liquid waste collection units were and what projects were being implemented in their neighbourhood. Fewer participants were concerned at what point and how the hazardous liquid wastes collected by municipalities were disposed of after leaving their habitat and whether these methods were reliable or acceptable. This research concludes that user behaviour was disappointing in cooking oil usage and waste oil disposal. The collection of waste cooking oils remains far below the developed countries.

Nongreen revolution: a case study of wild-grown edible mushroom.

Mushroom's biological content has a positive effect on human welfare which is called "nongreen revolution". It has an economic and social component that provides long-term food nutrition, environmental conservation, and regeneration of valuable resources. This article provides evidence that mushrooms can be a healthy food alternative to meat. In this study, analyzed data was collected from Marmara region of Turkey using a survey method. A survey questionnaire was prepared and distributed to a total sample size of 408 participants. Linear regression model y = α + ß1×1+ß2×2 was administered to determine the relationship of the variables. Secondary data were also used for the literature of the study. The study revealed that the consumption of mushroom accounts for 13.2% of the consumption of meat at the time of mushroom collection period. Consequently, it showed also that for every 1% increase in consumption of two species of mushrooms (Lactarius semisanguifluus and Macrolepiota procera var.) meat consumption decreases (-4.39, -2.97%).