Geometric analysis of medio.lateral position of patella: A new measuring tool

Background: Evaluation of medio.lateral position of patella is necessary for diagnosis and treatment of patellofemoral diseases.Objective: In the present study, we aimed to evaluate medio-lateral  patellar position differences and to define a new practical measuring tool which enables us to analyze relationships of the points at the knee.Materials and Methods: Total of 120 healthy volunteers (60 men and 60 women) were included in our study and both of their knees were measured. In the research, the gender groups and right-left differences were  evaluated. In the measurements, a four-lever measuring tool designed for this study was used. The four anatomic points of the knee which are center of patella, epicondylus lateralis, epicondylus medialis and middle point of tuberositas tibiae were used.Results: While patella is 76% lateral in the right knee, it is 90% lateral in the left knee in men. As for woman, while it is 50% lateral in the right.knee, it is 30% lateral in the left-knee. In medio.lateral patellar position, while bilateral asymmetry is 28% in men, it is 50% in women. In measurements of knees of women and men, significant differences were detected both in the right and left knees (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001).Conclusion: The patellofemoral order differences between men and women can explain anatomic reasons of patellofemoral diseases, which are encountered more in women than men.Key words: Anatomy, patella, patellofemoral order, tuberositas tibia

Central region morphometry in a child brain; Age and gender differences

Background: Data on central region morphometry of a child brain is  important not only in terms of providing us with information about central region anatomy of the brain but also in terms of the help of this  information for the plans to be applied in neurosurgery.Objective: In the present study, central region morphometry of a child  brain in mid.sagittal MR images was analyzed in age and gender groups.Materials and Methods: Different points determined previously,  commissura posterior (PC) and the distances between cerebral cortex point (VCS) vertical to commissura anterior. commissura posterior line, sulcus centralis (CS), sulcus marginalis (MS), and the angle (α) between   CS-PC-MS were determined and measured together with difference of gender in three different age groups (aged 6.9, 10.13, and 14.17).Results: Central region measures of the brains of boys aged 6.17 are  higher than girls except for MS.PC distance. While VCS.PC, CS.PC, and MS-PC measures display a significant difference in the girls aged 14.17  when compared to the other age groups of 6.9 and 10.13 (P < 0.05), angle α is not significantly different in age and gender groups (P > 0.05). However, while VCS-PC, CS-PC and MS-PC distances show a significant  increase in girls beginning from the age of 14, this increase is limited in boys.Conclusion: Morphometric differences observed in different age groups in boys and girls shall contribute our evaluation of the alterations in brain development in both of genders and shall be useful in preparation of  surgical operation plans to be applied to the central region.Key words: Brain, central region, child, morphometry, magnetic resonance Imagin

Molecular diversification and preliminary evaluations of some satsuma selections’ performance under mediterranean conditions

Satsuma (Citrus unshiu Marc.) has been cultivated for a long time in Turkey, and therefore variations for agronomical traits are likely among cultivated satsumas due to bud mutations. The objectives of this study were to determine variations for some selected agronomical traits and genetic markers among 21 new satsumas derived from selections. Fruit yield, fruit quality and molecular diversification of these clones were determined. The clones of 62 Adana, 4/2 Izmir and 11/1 Izmir indicated the highest yield. The fruits obtained from all clones were heavier than the control (Owari Satsuma). Molecular analysis, as assessed with 9 random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and 14 simple sequence repeats (SSR) primers, indicated that satsuma clones showed a narrow genetic base suggesting that the observed morphological polymorphism within the group must be associated with  somatic mutations which were not detected by these molecular markers.Key words: Mandarins, clonal selection, citrus

Nasıl Bir Harmanlama? Karma Öğrenmede Sosyal Ağların Lise Düzeyinde Erişi ve Ağ Kullanım Davranışlarına Etkisi

This study examines the effect of blended learning environment, where social networks are utilized to supplement or enrich classroom environment, on the academic achievement and social network usage behaviors of high school students. The study was carried out with a total of 104 students in 10th grade of a state high school in İstanbul. It involved one control and two experimental groups. The students in the first experimental group were obliged to use social networking which aimed at complementing the class environment. The social networking environment was presented to the students in the second experimental group with the purpose of enriching the class environment. Yet, participation to this networking was voluntary. For the control group, all activities were held in face-to-face classroom setting. A 24-item test was developed to measure students’ academic achievement and administered as pre- and post-test. In addition, all activities of students on the social network were recorded to measure their social networking behaviors, and these records were used to calculate total activity scores, and course-related activity scores. Academic achievement test scores of both experimental groups were found to be significantly higher than those of the control group. Another finding of the study is that, in the social network, total course related activity scores did not significantly differ between experimental groups. Findings indicate that using social networks to supplement or enrich classroom setting increases student achievement. This increment is higher when the social network is used to supplement classroom setting instead of using social network as enriching medium. Suggestions were also provided.Bu çalışmada sosyal ağların farklı şekilde harmanlandığı karma öğrenme ortamlarının lise öğrencilerinin akademik erişilerine ve sosyal ağ kullanma davranışlarına etkisi incelenmiştir. Araştırma, İstanbul ili Avcılar ilçesindeki bir devlet lisesinde öğrenim gören, iki deney ve bir kontrol grubunda yer alan toplam 114 10. sınıf öğrencisi ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Sosyal ağın sınıf ortamının tamamlayıcısı olarak kullanıldığı birinci deney grubundaki öğrenciler sosyal ağ ortamındaki faaliyetleri, dersin devamı olarak ve katılımları zorunlu olacak şekilde gerçekleştirmişlerdir. İkinci deney grubundaki öğrencilere aynı sosyal ağ sınıf ortamını zenginleştirici nitelikte ve öğrencilere katılmaları önerilerek ancak zorunlu tutulmadan sunulmuştur. Kontrol grubundaki öğrenciler ise tüm aktiviteleri sınıfta, yüzyüze ortamda gerçekleştirmişlerdir. Öğrencilerin üniteyle ilgili akademik erişilerini ölçmek üzere geliştirilen 24 maddelik test ön test-son test olarak kullanılmıştır. Ayrıca, öğrencilerin kullanma davranışlarını ölçmek amacıyla sosyal ağ üzerindeki tüm faaliyetlerinin kayıtları tutulmuş, bu kayıtlar kullanılarak tüm aktivite puanları ve derse yönelik aktivite puanları hesaplanmıştır. Araştırma bulguları her iki deney grubunun akademik erişilerinin kontrol grubuna göre istatistiksel olarak anlamlı derecede yüksek olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Her iki deney grubundaki öğrencilerin sosyal ağda katıldıkları genel amaçlı ve derse yönelik aktivitelerin sayıları arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir farkla rastlanmamıştır. Araştırmanın sonuçları sosyal ağ kullanımının her halükarda öğrencilerin başarısına olumlu katkısı olduğunu, dersin tamamlayıcı bir parçası haline getirildiğinde bu katkının daha da yükseldiğini göstermektedir. Araştırma bulgularına göre öneriler sunulmaktadır.