School Bonding and Alcohol Use in Italian Early Adolescents: What Comes First?

Previous research has identified school bonding as protective against substance use during adolescence. However, there is still a question as to whether school involvement predicts changes in substance use or if substance use actually predicts changes in level of school bonding. This study investigated the relationship between school bonding and alcohol use, which is commonly recognized as gateway drug, during early adolescence. A three-wave longitudinal analysis was conducted on a sample composed of 161 Italian adolescents (51% boys, 49% girls, mean age = 11.14 years, standard deviation =.40). Associations were analyzed by using crossed-lagged autoregressive models in MPlus. Findings revealed that greater school involvement decreased alcohol consumption from Grade 6 to Grade 7. However, greater alcohol use decreased school involvement from Grade 7 to Grade 8. Findings of this study underlined the importance of choosing the right time for prevention

Metaphoric Perceptions of Pre-service Primary School Teachers on Reading and Reading Disability

There is widespread acknowledgement that importance of reading skill is increasing day by day. Reading is the first step to learning and revealing something new. Beyond the primary grades, it plays a vital role in keeping up with the requirements of the age. Individuals who read, understand, question, think and produce develop societies. Thus, it is inevitable that individuals who have difficulties in acquiring reading skill will encounter difficulties both in school life and in society. To remove barriers of people presence in academic and daily life, students with these difficulties should be identified as early as possible and the difficulties they experience should be eliminated. The proficiency of primary school pre-service teachers regarding the concepts of “reading’’ and “reading difficulty’’ gives clues for identifying and remedying individuals with reading disabilities. It is aimed to determine the metaphorical perceptions of primary school pre-service teachers towards the concepts of “reading’’ and “reading disability’’ in order to help address this issue. The study group of the research consists of 89 4thgrade primary school pre-service teachers who continue their education at a state university in the Black Sea Region in Turkey in the fall semester of the 2017-2018 academic year. The model of this research is phenomenology which is one of the qualitative research methods. A questionnaire developed by the researchers was used as a data collection tool. Content analysis method was used in the analysis of the data. Five different categories related to reading skills and reading disabilities emerged as a result of the analysis of the data. Categories related to the concept of reading skills are 'Discovering Something New', 'Fun Source', 'Embarking on Adventure', 'Decoding' and 'Other'. The categories related to the concept of reading disability are 'Difficulty', 'A problem in itself', 'Visual impairment', 'Deficiencies' and 'An insurmountable problem'

Isolation and characterization of Micromonospora bacteria from various soil samples obtained around Lake Van

The objective of the study was to isolate and characterize the Micromonospora type bacteria from 24 soil samples collected from different localities around the Lake Van basin and Lake Erçek surroundings. Culturing was carried out on selective media following the completion of various physical-chemical analyses of the soil samples. Purified 65 Micromonospora isolate color grouping and numerical taxonomic analyses were carried out. In addition, complete cell protein profiles of 10 Micromonospora test isolates selected as representative of the color groups for characterization studies were determined via sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and the obtained results were presented as dendograms. Whereas the pHs of the soil samples were generally at neutral values, their organic material content varied from 4.181 to 15.248%. Colony counts in the isolation study varied between 0.9×104 and 14.3×104 cfu/g soil.Keywords: Micromonospora, numeric analysis, simple matching coefficient, SDS PAGEAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(21), pp. 3283-328

Analyzing Exchange Market Pressure Dynamics with Markov Regime Switching: The Case of Turkey

This study analyzes the dynamics of exchange market pressure in Turkey by employing the Markov regime switching model for the period from January 2006 to December 2019. Our findings show that there are two regimes in the foreign exchange market, characterized as low- and high-pressure periods. The domination of the high-pressure regime in the sample period indicates that depreciation pressure prevails in the Turkish foreign exchange market. During this regime, the pressure is aggravated by the rising inflation, credit growth, and VIX, and the falling of short-term external debt. Thus, in the presence of capital flows, the preferences of policy authorities regarding price stability and growth determine the course of the pressure. When these policy choices favor credit-driven growth, depreciation pressure in the foreign exchange market is exacerbated through the current account deficit

Unveiling the black box: exploring teachers’ approaches to ethnic victimization incidents at school

Schools are crucial socialization contexts where civic norms and values such as appreciating diverse perspectives and embracing differences can be systematically transmitted to the next generations. This process, in turn, can foster the development of more inclusive societies. However, increasing polarized political climate poses a risk for the formation of harmonious interactions between youth of different ethnic origins in schools. Teachers are considered as crucial resources in addressing negative student interactions and helping victims in overcoming the consequences of their negative experiences. Nevertheless, our understanding of how teachers respond to ethnic victimization incidents is limited, along with the factors influencing their responses. To address this gap in knowledge, we examined the relative contributions of teachers’ general efficacy (i.e., managing disruptive behaviors in class) and diversity-related efficacy (i.e., addressing challenges of diversity) on their responses to ethnic victimization incidents. The sample consisted of head teachers of 8th grade students (N = 72; 56% females). The results showed that teachers adopt a diverse range of strategies to address incidents of ethnic victimization, with a primary focus on prioritizing the comfort of the victim as the foremost action. Further, we found that teachers’ efficacy in handling disruptive behaviors in class, as opposed to their efficacy in addressing diversity-related issues, explained their responses to victimization incidents. Specifically, teachers with a high sense of efficacy for classroom management were more likely to contact parents of both victims and perpetrators and to provide comfort to the victim. These findings highlight the necessity of supporting teachers to enhance their efficacy in classroom management, and in turn to address potential challenges in diverse school settings more effectively

The Role of Macroprudential Policies on Controlling Credit Growth:The Case of Turkey

Following the global financial crisis, the quantitative easing policies implemented by developed countries to recover from the crisis led to large capital inflows into developing countries. In the face of macro-financial risks associated with capital flows, policy authorities had to deal with various policy dilemmas between price stability and financial stability. The need to support monetary policy with additional tools to ensure price stability and financial stability simultaneously has led many developing countries to increase the use of the macroprudential policy. Turkey is also among the emerging market economies exposed to the macro-financial risks caused by large capital inflows. Unable to control the risks that accumulated due to the divergence between domestic demand and external demand, the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey began to implement a new policy mix from November 2010. To this end, the conventional inflation targeting was modified by incorporating financial stability as a supplementary objective without prejudice to price stability and monetary policy was conducted together with macroprudential policy. This study investigates the effectiveness of macroprudential policies to control excesses in credit growth under the new policy mix in Turkey. Different from the literature on Turkish experience, an index is constructed to analyze macroprudential policy. By employing cointegration approach with structural breaks of Johansen et al. (2000) the relationship between macroprudential policy index and real total credit growth was estimated covering the period from November 2010 to December 2017. Our empirical findings indicated that macroprudential policy implementations in Turkey have had a limiting effect on credit growth. However, this effect emerged after the tightening of the macroprudential policy stance was increased

An Evaluation of the Effects of Turkey's New Policy Mix on Financial Stability and Price Stability

Küresel finansal krizin ardından Türkiye gibi pek çok yükselen piyasa ekonomisinin fiyat istikrarı ilefinansal istikrarın bir arada ele alınmasına imkan verecek politika çerçeveleri geliştirdiği görülmüştür.Gerek ortodoks enflasyon hedeflemesinin kriz ile gün yüzüne çıkan sorunları gerekse küresel sermayeakımlarındaki yön değiştirmelere esnek bir biçimde tepki verme gereği karşısında Türkiye CumhuriyetMerkez Bankası Kasım 2010’dan itibaren yeni politika bileşimini uygulamaya başlamıştır. Bu çalışmada,Türkiye’de yeni politika bileşimi altında uygulanan politikaların değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Yenipolitika bileşimi çerçevesinde gerçekleştirilen para politikası ve makro ihtiyati politika uygulamalarıincelendiğinde politikaların finansal istikrar doğrultusunda belirlenen ara hedeflere ulaşmada başarılı birperformans ortaya koyduğu görülmüştür. Diğer taraftan söz konusu başarının, politika otoritelerinin -tek haneli faiz oranlarının kalıcı hale gelmesi ve büyümenin sürdürülmesi amacıyla- yeni politikabileşiminin içsel risklerini göz ardı etmelerine ve para politikasının normalleşmesi için atılması gerekenadımları geciktirmelerine neden olduğu belirtilmelidir. Bununla birlikte makro ihtiyati politikanın büyümeamacı için de kullanımı, enflasyon oranının yükselmesi ve küresel politika ortamının farklılaşmasısebebiyle büyümenin istikrarsız bir seyir izlemesine bağlı olarak politika açmazları yaratmıştır. Bunedenle yeni politika bileşiminin finansal istikrarın sağlanması hususunda başarılı olduğu görülse desadeleşmenin gecikmesi ve fiyat istikrarının sağlanamaması nedeniyle kendi başarısının kurbanıolduğunu belirtmek gerekmektedir.After the global financial crisis, it has been seen that many emerging markets like Turkey have developed policy frameworks that allow for price stability and financial stability taken together. The CBRT has implemented new policy mix since November 2010, in response to need to respond flexibly to the problems faced by orthodox inflation targeting and the changes in global capital flows. In this study, it is aimed to evaluate the policies implemented under new policy mix. Analyzing the monetary policy and macroprudential policy practices within the framework of new policy mix, it has seen that policies have shown a successful performance in achieving the intermediate targets that determined in line with financial stability. On the other hand, it should be noted that policymakers -to keep single digit interest rates permanent and sustain economic growth- ignored the internal risks of the new policy mix and delayed the steps that required for normalization of monetary policy. However, the use of macroprudential policy for the purpose of economic growth has created policy dilemmas due to an unstable course of economic growth that caused by to the rise in inflation rate and changing the global policy environment. Although the new policy mix has seen to be successful in achieving financial stability, it has to be stated that due to the delay in normalization and the lack of price stability make it a victim of its own success

Antimicrobial activity of galls of Quercus infectoria

Objectives: Gall oak (Quercus infectoria) is a species of tree belonging to fagaceae family and its galls has been used in the treatment of burn wounds traditionally. In this study, it is aimed to investigate the antimicrobial activity of the extract of oak galls on some microorganisms.Materials and methods: With using microdilution method, a solution which was obtained by boiling the galls was studied on 20 staphylococci, 20 Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 20 Candida albicans isolates which were obtained from various clinical samples and the values of minimum inhibitor concentration (MIC) were detected.Results: At the end of incubation MIC50 and MIC90 values were determined as 0,5 and 1 μg/ml for staphylococci, 1 and 2 μg/ml for Pseudomonas, 2 and 2 μg/ml for Candida, respectively.Conclusion: As a result, we concluded that galls of Q.infectoria has antimicrobial effect on common factors of burn wound infections. Larger studies about the antimicrobial and antiinflamatorial activity and in vivo effect of topical treatment of Q.infectoria will obtain more accurate data about using this plant in the treatment of burn wounds

Bariatrik cerrahi sonrası viseral organ yağ infiltrasyon değişikliklerini izlemenin etkili yöntemi: İdeal IQ sekansı

Aim: The aim of this study is to demonstrate the efficiency of non-invasive imaging method-MR proton density fat fraction (PDFF); ideal IQ sequence- on detecting the effects of bariatric surgery on liver and pancreatic fatty infiltration. Materials and Methods: Thirty-nine patients (25 females, 14 males) who underwent bariatric surgery between May 2016 and April 2017 were analyzed retrospectively in this study. Body mass index (BMI) and body weight (BW) values of all patients were noted one week before and one month after bariatric surgery, and meanwhile an unenhanced upper abdominal MR imaging was performed. Liver fat fraction (LFF), pancreas fat fraction (PFF), liver volume (LV) and craniocaudal length of liver (LL) were measured with MR-PDFF and T2 weighted images. Changes in all parameters after the surgery were recorded and the correlation of these changes with the change in LFF was analyzed. Results: At the end of first month of bariatric surgery, a significant decrease on mean values of LFF and PFF has been observed along with a decrease of LV, LL, BW and BMI (p<0.0001). A moderate positive linear correlation was observed between LFF and PFF, LV, LL (r=0.69, 0.61, 0.49; respectively) while a weak positive linear correlation was noticed between LFF and BMI, BW (r=0.34, 0.21; respectively). Conclusion: Ideal IQ sequence enables quantitative analysis of fatty infiltration of the liver and pancreas and thus may be used as a non-invasive tool to monitor the positive effects of the bariatric surgery on fatty infiltration of these visceral organs in the postoperative period.Amaç: Bariatrik cerrahinin karaciğer ve pankreas yağ infiltrasyonu üzerindeki etkilerinin saptanmasında non-invaziv görüntüleme yönteminin-MR proton dansite yağ fraksiyonu (PDFF); ideal IQ sekansı-etkinliğini göstermeyi amaçladık. Gereç ve Yöntem: Bu çalışmada Mayıs 2016 ile Nisan 2017 tarihleri arasında obezite cerrahisi geçiren 39 hasta (25 kadın, 14 erkek) retrospektif olarak incelendi. Tüm hastaların vücut kitle indeksi (VKİ) ve vücut ağırlığı (VA) değerleri bariatrik cerrahiden bir hafta önce ve bir ay sonra kaydedildi ve bu esnada kontrastsız üst abdomen MR görüntülemesi yapıldı. MR-PDFF ve T2 ağırlıklı görüntülerle karaciğer yağ fraksiyonu (KYF), pankreas yağ fraksiyonu (PYF), karaciğer hacmi (KV) ve karaciğer kraniyokaudal uzunluğu (KKU) ölçüldü. Ameliyat sonrası tüm parametrelerdeki değişiklikler kaydedildi ve bu değişikliklerin KYF’deki değişiklik ile korelasyonu analiz edildi. Bulgular: Bariatrik cerrahinin 1. ayının sonunda KYF ve PYF ortalama değerlerinde anlamlı azalma ile birlikte KV, KKU, VA ve VKİ’de azalma gözlendi (p<0,0001). KYF ile PYF, KV, KKU arasında orta derecede pozitif bir doğrusal korelasyon gözlenirken (sırasıyla r=0,69, 0,61, 0,49), KYF ile VKİ, VA arasında (sırasıyla r=0,34, 0,21) zayıf bir pozitif doğrusal korelasyon fark edildi. Sonuç: İdeal IQ sekansı, karaciğer ve pankreasın yağ infiltrasyonunun kantitatif analizini sağlar ve bu nedenle postoperatif dönemde bariatrik cerrahinin bu viseral organların yağ infiltrasyonu üzerindeki olumlu etkilerini izlemek için non-invaziv bir araç olarak kullanılabilir

High-resolution diffusion-weighted imaging compared with conventional diffusion-weighted imaging and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging with regard to image quality and assessment of breast cancer morphology

PURPOSETo evaluate the image quality and tumor morphology depiction ability of high resolution (HR) diffusion- weighted imaging (f-DWI) in comparison to conventional DWI (c-DWI) and dynamic contrast- enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) in the primary breast cancer setting.METHODSThe f-DWI, c-DWI, and DCE-MRIs of 160 malignant breast masses were evaluated retrospectively by two independent radiologists. Data on image quality [sharpness, distortion, and perceived signalto- noise ratio (SNR)], apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value, lesion size, and tumor morphology (shape, margin, and internal pattern) obtained on f-DWI, c-DWI, and DCE-MRI were compared. Consistency between the readers and imaging methods for morphological parameters was analyzed.RESULTSThe ADC values measured on f-DWI were significantly lower than those measured on c-DWI for both readers (P < 0.001 for each), whereas mean lesion size was significantly larger in c-DWI than in f-DWI and DCE-MRI for both readers (P < 0.001 for each). Higher consistency values were obtained for f-DWI compared with c-DWI when correlated with DCE-MRI for each morphological parameter. The least distorted images were obtained using DCE-MRI compared with c-DWI and f-DWI for both readers, whereas the highest distortion scores were obtained using c-DWI. Sharpness and perceived SNR scores were rated as significantly higher for f-DWI and DCE-MRI images compared with c-DWI by both readers (P < 0.001 for all). The concordance between c-DWI and DCE-MRI was fair to slight (κ = 0.15 to 0.41), whereas concordance between f-DWI and DCE-MRI was significantly better (κ = 0.68 to 0.87) for each reader and for all morphological parameters (P < 0.001). The highest concordance between the readers was achieved in margin assessment (κ = 0.87 to 0.89) regardless of the MRI method, followed by shape and internal pattern parameters (κ = 0.63 to 0.79).CONCLUSIONThe results demonstrated that f-DWI produces higher-quality images than c-DWI, enabling the morphological features to be identified in similar detail to that offered by HR DCE-MRI. Accordingly, f-DWI, as a method that highly correlates with DCE in determining the morphological characteristics of breast cancers, seems to have potential in the evaluation of breast tumors in patients for whom the use of contrast media is contraindicated