Effects of robotic coding activities on the effectiveness of secondary school students' self-efficacy for coding

In this study, it was aimed to determine whether robotic coding activities at secondary school level had any significant effect on students’ self-efficacy perceptions related to block-based programming. Data were collected by "self-proficiency perception scale for block-based programming" prepared by Altun and Kasalak (2018). Within the scope of the study, 5-week robotic coding activities were planned, followed by 58 students in a public school. According to pre-test and post-test results of the students, there was a significant change in intra-group positive direction in the self-efficacy perception scores of both simple and complex block-based programming (tsimple = -5.01, p = 0.00, tcomplex = -8.84, p = 0.00). Across various variables, when we look at the differentiation of self-efficacy perceptions regarding block-based programming, it is found that it does not differ significantly according to gender (tsimple = -0.58, p = 0.56, tcomplex = 0.87, p = 0.39), computer ownership at home (tsimple = -1.23, p = 0.22, tcomplex = -1.23, p = 0.22), Internet connection ownership at home (tsimple = -0.37, p = 0.22, tcomplex = -0.44, p = 0.66) and the possibility to study Scratch program out of course (tsimple = -0.91, p = 0.37, tcomplex = -0.91, p = 0.37)

NEW LIFE STYLES: THE GATED COMMUNITIES

Mimarlığın en çok deneyimlenen biçimi olarak konutun, toplumsal, ekonomik ve politik gelişmelerden direkt etkilenen konumu ile farklılaştığı ve bu nedenlerle son dönemde birçok alanda tartışılan tüketim kültürünün bir aracı haline geldiği söylenebilir. Tüketim dinamikleri çerçevesinde 1980 sonrası Türkiye‟sinde ortaya çıkan yeni kentli seçkinlerin “kaliteli yaşam†arayışları karşılığını, önce kent içindeki sınırlı sayıdaki boş arsalarda, sonrasında ise kent dışı alanlara, banliyölere yayılan kapalı konut sitelerinde bulmuştur. Bu çalışmanın amacı, tüketim kültürünün kent üzerinde yarattığı dönüşümleri ve konut mimarisi üzerindeki etkilerini kapalı konut siteleri bağlamında incelemek, bu sitelerin ortaya çıkış nedenlerini irdelemek, olumlu-olumsuz yanlarını üzerinde farkındalık yaratmaktır. Sonuç olarak çalışma, özelleşmiş ev yerleşkeleri üzerine kurgulanan farklı bir yaşam tipi temasını ve meşrulaştırılma sürecini, tüketim kültürü dinamikleri çerçevesinde inceleyecek ve İzmir örneği özelinde tartışacaktır. In present days, it is a fact that, there is an important transformation in the world and industrial society has been evolving the information society. The changes in the technological, economical, social, political, cultural areas and social life affect the architecture. The transformation has begun with rapid developments in microelectronic and computer technology; a new content and conformation has been emerged in architecture by carrying the design action to computer. There are some architectural rapprochements which are foreground because their different characteristics from conventional buildings and are determined and are introduced as a â€non-standard‟ in the architectural media. These design rapprochements that has pretentious ideas for the architecture of future, has close relations with scientific and technological developments for being non-standard. In this context, in this article under some captions like as ecological architecture, computer architecture, new materials and building systems, genetic architecture; the effects of scientific-technologic studies on architecture at the end of 20th century, the non-standard architectures in contemporary architecture and the utopic architectural rapprochements which can be shape the far future are investigated

Non–Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants, Clinical Use, Real-World Data, and Reversal of Anticoagulant Effect

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia in clinical practice and is associated with a higher risk of thromboembolic events. CHA2DS2VASc score enables identification of those patients with AF who will most benefit from anticoagulation therapy and low-risk patients with AF who do not need any antithrombotic therapy. Antithrombotic drugs especially oral anticoagulants (OACs) are the mainstay of therapy to prevent stroke in patients with AF. Although vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) were the only available drugs for decades, numerous non–vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have been developed and marketed for stroke prevention in recent years. The risk of stroke was reported to decline up to 68 % with OAC therapy, associated with good anticoagulation control with VKAs, assessed by time in therapeutic range (TTR). In low TTR values, VKAs were found to be associated with severe complications, and a minimum TTR of 58 % should be achieved to expect a net benefit from being on OAC therapy. Narrow therapeutic index, drug-drug interactions, and the need for close monitoring are the main disadvantages of VKAs, and management of patients have dramatically improved after the introduction of NOACs. NOACs have a more predictable anticoagulant affect which allows a fixed-dose regimen. The efficacy and safety of NOACs have been shown not only in large randomized controlled clinical trials but also in observational studies. The main advantages of NOACS such as “fixed-dose regimen” and “no need for regular anticoagulant therapy monitoring” may also be the Achilles heel of the use of these agents. Fixed-dose regimen may not be appropriate for elderly, for patients with chronic kidney disease, and for patients using interacting drugs. Adherence to NOAC therapy is another concern as it may be as low as 50 % in the chronic use of cardiovascular drugs, especially if the drug has no apparent affect to the patient. Thus, appropriate use of OACs among non-valvular AF (NVAF) patients is essential for stroke prophylaxis. We intended to review the use of OAC therapy among (NVAF) patients

Associations of non-HDL-C and triglyceride/HDL-C ratio with coronary plaque burden and plaque characteristics in young adults

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is uncommon in young adult patients. However, these patients have different risk factor profiles and high-risk coronary plaques are more common. The aim of this study was to examine the relations between the coronary plaque burden, plaque composition, serum non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non–HDL-C) levels, and triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio in young adults. We analyzed a total of 551 patients under age 45 who had undergone coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). Coronary plaque characteristics were analyzed using CCTA. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to assess the predictors of non-calcified plaque (NCB) and calcified plaque (CB) burdens. Serum non–HDL-C levels and TG/HDL-C ratio were higher in the coronary atherosclerosis patient group. Serum non–HDL-C levels and the TG/HDL-C ratio were higher in the obstructive CAD patient group. The plaque burden was positively correlated with non-HDL-C (r = 0.30; p < 0.001), and TG/HDL-C ratio (r = 0.18; p < 0.001).  NCB was positively correlated with age, gender, smoking status, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, serum triglycerides, hbA1c, non–HDL-C, and TG/HDL-C ratio. Non–HDL-C (β coefficient = 0.13; p = 0.023) and TG/HDL-C ratio (β = 0.10;  p = 0.042) were independent predictors of NCB. Serum non–HDL-C levels and TG/HDL-C were significantly associated with the presence and burden of coronary plaques. Serum non–HDL-C and TG/HDL-C ratios were independently associated with NCB, suggesting their use as easy-to-compute markers for identifying high-risk groups in young adults

Misuse of ICTs among Turkish children and youth: A study on newspaper reports

This study investigated the misuse of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) among children and youth. The data source was newspaper reports obtained from three Turkish daily newspapers, between January 2006 and December 2012. In that seven years period, a total of 66 ICT misuse incidents were reported in the selected newspapers. Document analysis was performed on the newspaper reports. Themes and codes were entered as variables to manage the data quantitatively. Results revealed that ICT misuse was most commonly conducted through cell phones, social networking sites, instant messaging and web pages. Young people’s involvement of ICT misuse had three forms; from young perpetrator/s to the young victim/s, from young perpetrator/s to adult victim/s and from adult perpetrator/s to young victim/s. ICTs were commonly misused for sexual abuse, insulting or taking revenge. While perpetrators were mostly males whose ages ranged between 14 and 52, a great majority of ICT misuse victims were females, with an age range from 8 to 46. Negative psychological and physiological impacts were reported by the victims

Can NLR, PLR and LMR be used as prognostic indicators in patients with pulmonary embolism? Author’s reply on commentary

We appreciate the comments made by Dr Bedel and colleagues. NLR, PLR and LMR are affected by various diseases such as oncological, collagen tissue, inflammatory, or severe renal/liver diseases [1]. Because of this, we have listed some of the above-mentioned disorders in the tables. Hematological diseases, collagen tissue disease, inflammatory diseases, congenital heart disease, or severe renal/liver disease were therefore excluded from the study. However, the presence of malignancy did not affect our results in regression analysis. Platelets swell until 120 minutes in ethylene diamine tetra acetic (EDTA) and until 60 minutes in citrate [2]. Authors suggest that optimal measuring time should not exceed 120 minutes. The blood samples of the patients were taken within 1 hour after their emergency admission. All blood samples in our study were tested within 1 hour of collection [3]. We used EDTA for whole blood anticoagulation. The mean duration of symptoms prior to admission was 5.04 ± 6.9 days. The drugs such as corticosteroids affect inflammatory parameters. Therefore, we excluded inflammatory diseases without emphasizing corticosteroids or other anti-inflammatory drugs

Morphometric and morphological evaluation of mastoid emissary canal using cone-beam computed tomography

Objectives: This study aimed to determine mastoid emissary canal’s (MEC) and mastoid foramen (MF) prevalence and morphometric characteristics on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images to underline its clinical significance and discuss its surgical consequences. Methods: In the retrospective analysis, two oral and maxillofacial radiologists analyzed the CBCT images of 135 patients (270 sides). The biggest MF and MEC were measured in the images evaluated in MultiPlanar Reconstruction (MPR) views. The MF and MEC mean diameters were calculated. The mastoid foramina number was recorded. The prevalence of MF was studied according to gender and side of the patient. Results: The overall prevalence of MEC and MF was 119 (88.1%). The prevalence of MEC and MF is 55.5% in females and 44.5% in males. MEC and MF were identified as bilateral in 80 patients (67.20%) and unilateral in 39 patients (32.80%). The mean diameter of MF was 2.4 ± 0.9 mm. The mean height of MF was 2.3 ± 0.9. The mean diameter of the MEC was 2.1 ± 0.8, and the mean height of the MEC was 2.1 ± 0.8. There is a statistical difference between the genders (p = 0.043) in foramen diameter. Males had a significantly larger mean diameter of MF in comparison to females. Conclusion: MEC and MF must be evaluated thoroughly if the surgery is contemplated. Radiologists and surgeons should be aware of mastoid emissary canal morphology, variations, clinical relevance, and surgical consequences while operating in the suboccipital and mastoid areas to avoid unexpected and catastrophic complications. CBCT may be a reliable imaging diagnostic technique

Evaluation of epicardial fat tissue thickness and aortic stiffness in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus

Objective We aimed to assess the relationship between gestational diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease by measuring epicardial fat tissue thickness and aortic stiffness in pregnant women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus. Methods 28 pregnant women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus and 25 pregnant women without gestational diabetes mellitus were included in the research. Body mass index, laboratory values, blood pressure measurements and obstetric history findings of the study population were recorded. All participants of the study population were evaluated with transthoracic echocardiography between 24 and 28 weeks of gestational period. The measurement of epicardial fat tissue thickness was taken and aortic stiffness index was also calculated. Results The age, gravidity, parity and obstetric history of the two groups were similar. Epicardial fat tissue thickness was found significantly higher in gestational diabetes mellitus group than control group (0.416 cm and 0.336 cm, respectively; p<0.001). However, no significant difference was found in aortic stiffness measurements of the two groups (p=0.079). Conclusion According to the results of our study, epicardial fat tissue thickness was found to be statistically significantly higher in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus compared to the control group. The fact that no difference was detected in other cardiovascular parameters suggests that measurement of epicardial fat tissue thickness in gestational period may be a beneficial adjunctive tool in early detection of gestational diabetes mellitus