EXAMINATION OF ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION ACTIVITIES OF SECONDARY SCHOOL 9TH AND 10TH GRADE PHYSICS TEXTBOOKS IN TERMS OF REVISED BLOOM TAXONOMY AND SCIENCE LITERACY COMPETENCE LEVELS: THE SAMPLE OF TURKEY

The purpose of this research is to examine assessment and evaluation activities of secondary school 9th and 10th grade physics textbooks in Turkey according to the revised Bloom Taxonomy and PISA science literacy competence levels. In this study document review, a qualitative research method was used. Within the scope of the study, assessment tools of 9th and 10th grade secondary school physics textbooks which are recommended by the Ministry of Education (Turkey) to be used in the 2017-2018 academic year were examined. As a result of the study, assessment and evaluation activities of 9th and 10th grade physics textbooks were found to meet generally 1, 2, 3 and 4 levels of PISA Science literacy competence levels. Moreover, when the same activities were examined according to the revised Bloom Taxonomy, the vast majority of the assessment activities are at the factual and conceptual level of the knowledge accumulation dimension, and at the applying and understanding sub-dimensions of the cognitive process dimension.  Article visualizations

Indirect Reference Intervals Estimated from Hospitalized Population for Thyrotropin and Free Thyroxine

Aim To establish indirect reference intervals from patient results obtained during routine laboratory work as an alternative to laborious and expensive producing of their own reference range values according to international instructions. Methods All results for thyrotropin (TSH) and free thyroxine (T4) that were stored in our laboratory information system between 2004 and 2008 were included in this study. After a logarithmic transformation of the raw data, outliers were excluded. Non-parametric reference intervals were estimated statistically after visual observation of the distribution using stem-and-leaf plots and histograms. A standard normal deviation test was performed to test the significance of differences between sub-groups. Results There was no significant difference in serum TSH or free T4 concentrations between male and female participants. Because no differences were found within the time span of the study, combined reference intervals were calculated. Indirect reference values were 0.43-3.93 mU/L for TSH and 11.98-21.33 pmol/L for free T4. Conclusion Using patient laboratory data values is a relatively easy and cheap method of establishing laboratoryspecific reference values if skewness and kurtosis of the distribution are not too large

Sigma metric revisited: True known mistakes

Six Sigma methodology has been used successfully in industry since the mid-1980s. Unfortunately, the same success has not been achieved in laboratory medicine. In this case, although the multidisciplinary structure of laboratory medicine is an important factor, the concept and statistical principles of Six Sigma have not been transferred correctly from industry to laboratory medicine. Furthermore, the performance of instruments and methods used in laboratory medicine is calculated by a modified equation that produces a value lower than the actual level. This causes unnecessary, increasing pressure on manufacturers in the market. We concluded that accurate implementation of the sigma metric in laboratory medicine is essential to protect both manufacturers by calculating the actual performance level of instruments, and patients by calculating the actual error rates

Between a rock and a hard place: corporate elites in the context of religion and secularism in Turkey

Drawing on discourse analyses of 36 in-depth interviews with elite business people from Turkey, the study identifies the networking patterns of new and established business elites in the context of economic liberalization and socioreligious transformation of the country. Through a comparative analysis of the so-called secular and religious elite networks, we demonstrate the role of institutional actors such as the government, and identity networks, based on religion and place of birth in shaping the form and content of social networks among business elites in Turkey. In order to achieve this, we operationalize Bourdieu's notion of theory of practice and Granovetter's theory of social networks, illustrating the utility of combining these approaches in explicating the form and content of social networks in their situated contexts, in which power and divergent interests are negotiated.Galatasaray University Research Fund [grant number 12.102.005]

Sedación y Analgesia en Colonoscopia Electiva: Propofol-fentanilo versus Propofol-Alfentanilo

ResumenJustificativa y objetivoLa sedación y la analgesia están recomendadas en la colonoscopia para propiciar la comodidad, porque son procedimientos invasivos y pueden ser dolorosos. Este estudio tuvo el objetivo de comparar las combinaciones de propofol-alfentanilo y propofol-fentanilo para la sedación y la analgesia en pacientes sometidos a la colonoscopia electiva.MétodosEstudio prospectivo y aleatorio. Participaron en el estudio 80 pacientes, ASA I-II, entre 18 y 65 años. La inducción de sedación y la analgesia fue hecha con propofol (1 mg.kg-1) y fentanilo (1 μg.kg-1) en el grupo propofol-fentanilo (PF) y con propofol (1 mg.kg-1) y alfentanilo (10 μg.kg-1) en el grupo propofol-alfentanilo (PA). Para el mantenimiento, dosis adicionales de propofol se administraron en bolos de 0,5 mg.kg-1 para obtener las puntuaciones de 3-4 en la Escala de Sedación de Ramsey (ESR). Se registraron los datos demográficos, la frecuencia cardíaca, la presión arterial promedio (PAP), la saturación de oxígeno de la hemoglobina (SpO2), los valores de la ESR, el tiempo de colonoscopia, la dosis total de propofol, las complicaciones, el tiempo de recuperación y el tiempo para el alta, como también las puntuaciones de satisfacción del colonoscopista y del paciente.ResultadosLa PAP a los 15 minutos en el Grupo PA fue significativamente mayor que en el Grupo PF (p = 0,037). La frecuencia cardíaca promedio del grupo PA fue mayor al inicio que en las mensuraciones posteriores (p = 0,012, p = 0,002). El promedio de la dosis total de propofol del Grupo PA fue significativamente mayor que la del Grupo PF (p = 0,028). El tiempo promedio de recuperación del grupo PA fue significativamente mayor que el del grupo PF (p = 0,032).ConclusionesEl Fentanilo proporciona mejores condiciones de operación y reduce la necesidad de dosis adicionales de propofol. Esas ventajas reducen el tiempo de recuperación. Por tanto, el propofol-fentanilo es superior al propofol-alfentanilo para la sedación y la analgesia en la colonoscopia

Sedation-Analgesia in Elective Colonoscopy: Propofol-Fentanyl Versus Propofol-Alfentanil

AbstractBackground and objectivesSedation-analgesia is recommended for comfortable colonoscopy procedures, which are invasive and can be painful. This study aimed to compare the combinations of propofol-alfentanil and propofol-fentanyl for sedation-analgesia in elective colonoscopy patients.MethodsThis prospective and randomized study was planned in ASA I-II groups and included 80 patients between the ages of 18 and 65 years. Sedation-analgesia induction was performed as 1μg.kg-1 fentanyl, 1mg.kg-1 propofol in the propofol-fentanyl group (Group PF) and 10μg.kg-1 alfentanil, 1mg.kg-1 propofol in the propofol-alfentanil group (Group PA). Patients’ scores were limited to 3-4 values on the Ramsey Sedation Scale (RSS) by 0.5mg.kg-1 bolus additional doses of propofol in sedation-analgesia maintenance. We recorded demographical data, heart rate, mean arterial pressure (MAP), oxygen saturation of hemoglobin (SpO2), RSS value, colonoscopy time, total dose of propofol, complications, recovery time, and discharge time, as well as colonoscopist and patient satisfaction scores.ResultsMAP at the 15th minute in Group PA was significantly higher than in Group PF (p = 0.037). Group PA's beginning mean heart rate was higher than the mean heart rate at subsequent readings (p = 0.012, p = 0.002). The mean total propofol dose of Group PA was significantly higher than the total dose of Group PF (p = 0.028). The mean recovery time of Group PA was significantly longer than that of Group PF (p = 0.032).ConclusionFentanyl provides better operative conditions and reduces the need for additional propofol doses. These advantages cause a shorter recovery time. Therefore, propofol-fentanyl is superior to the propofol-alfentanil for sedation-analgesia in colonoscopy

Heart-Type Fatty Acid Binding Protein (H-FABP): Relationship with arterial ıntima-media thickness and role as diagnostic marker for atherosclerosis in patients with ımpaired glucose metabolism

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Heart type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) has been closely associated with acute coronary syndrome, cardiac abnormalities, stroke, and obstructive sleep disorder in previous studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the serum H-FABP levels and carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) between patients with prediabetes and control subjects.</p> <p>Research design and methods</p> <p>We measured serum H-FABP levels in 58 prediabetic patients, 29 with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and 29 with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and 28 age-, sex- and body mass index-matched control subjects using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and in order to measure CIMT, all participants underwent high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Serum H-FABP levels were significantly elevated in pre-diabetic patients when compared with that of control subjects (IFG: 32.5 ± 34.2 ng/dL, IGT: 45.4 ± 45.8 ng/dL, control: 16.8 ± 14.9 ng/dL; p = 0.011). The difference in means of H-FABP levels between patients with IGT or IFG and control subjects was significant (p = 0.010 and p = 0.009, respectively). CIMT was higher in the pre-diabetic groups compared with the control group (IFG: 0.6 ± 0.1, IGT: 0.6 ± 0.1, control: 0.5 ± 0.1; p < 0.001), and H-FABP level was positively correlated with CIMT (p < 0.001, rho = 0.626).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results indicate that patients with pre-diabetes are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. In addition, serum H-FABP levels could represent a useful marker for myocardial performance in patients with IFG and IGT.</p

Evaluation of Acoustic Reflex and Reflex Decay Tests in Geriatric Group

Objective: To determine average acoustic reflex thresholds in geriatric groups by assessing ipsilateral and contralateral acoustic reflex and reflex decay tests.Methods: A total of 25 elders between ages 65-84 years (74.3±5.4) and 25 individuals between ages 18-45 years (30.4±4.2) were recruited for the study. After ear, nose, and throat examination, ipsilateral and contralateral acoustic reflex thresholds at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hertz (Hz) were determined and a reflex decay test at contralateral 500 Hz was conducted. Ipsilateral acoustic reflex thresholds were obtained with high-frequency band, low-frequency band, and wide band noise, and the results were compared with ipsilateral acoustic reflexes at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz.Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in ipsilateral and contralateral acoustic reflex measurements at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz (p>0.05). Negative reflex decay was obtained in all participants and no statistically significant difference between the two groups was observed in terms of reflex decay thresholds (p>0.05). Acoustic reflex with high-frequency band noise was observed in five of nine elders whose acoustic reflexes were not obtained at 2000 and 4000 Hz, whereas acoustic reflex with low-frequency band noise was observed in one of six elders who did not show reflexes at 500 and 1000 Hz.Conclusion: It was concluded that although some changes were observed due to age, middle ear and stapes muscles work normally in geriatric group. In the reflex decay test, reliable results were obtained at contralateral 500 Hz. Acoustic reflex measurements with low- and high-frequency band noise may also be used to assess middle ear functions

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Positive Case with Squamous Cell Larynx Cancer: Difficulties in the Choice of Treatment

Squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx is rarely encountered in HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)-positive patients compared with HIV-associated malignancies. Standard protocols are absent for the management of laryngeal carcinoma in HIV-positive patients. HIV infection- associated immune suppression increases the mortality and morbidity of laryngeal carcinoma treatment. In the management of laryngeal carcinoma in HIV-positive patients, beside the clinical staging, the detection of CD4+ cell count is important. Regular antiretroviral treatment may have favorable effects in the management of laryngeal carcinoma. The treatment modality in the presented HIV-positive case with the diagnosis of laryngeal cancer was determined with a multidisciplinary approach