Computer assisted concept maps instruction: Effects on overcoming 6th

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of 'Computer Assisted Concept Map' (CACM)-oriented instruction with 'Classic Concept Map' (CCM)-oriented instruction on overcoming 6th grade students misconceptions of the circulatory system and also to compare their attitudes towards concept mapping. A quasi-experimental model was used with the students assigned randomly to the experimental group I, EGI (N=28) and experimental group II, EGII (N=28). This study was carried out during 2012-2013 with 566th grade students from a primary school in Civril-Denizli-Turkey. The Circulatory System Concept Test (CSCT) and the Attitude Scale towards Concept Map (ASTCM) were administered to the students. The CSCT was administered before, soon after and 4 months after instruction (to experiment groups). The ASTCM was administered before and soon after instruction. Several misconceptions about the circulatory system were identified by the researcher. This study suggests that instruction using the CACM is more efficient than the CCM in facilitating understanding and overcoming misconceptions about the circulatory system. It was also found that there was a clear difference in the attitudes towards concept mapping between groups I and II before and after instruction

DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION OF BREATHABLE ARTIFICIAL LEATHER WITH MICROPORES

Despite the increasing ethical and social opposing views, genuine leather continues to bepreferred due to its air and water vapour permeability. In this study, Poly(vinyl) chloride (PVC)coated fabric, artificial leather, with high air permeability and optimum water vapour permeabilitywas developed as an alternative to genuine leather. Thanks to the formulation and process developedfor the PVC coated fabric, which is normally not air-permeable, a coating with micropores has beenobtained, thus providing a product that is higher than standard products and close to real leather interms of comfort of use. The air permeability, water vapour permeability and micropore structure ofthe developed product were evaluated by comparing it with real leather and standard PVC coatedfabric.</p

Exploring the KERMA, mass stopping power and projected range values against heavy-charged particles: A focusing study on Sm, Yb, and Nd reinforced tellurite glass shields

In present study, the behavior of ytterbium (III) oxide, samarium (III) oxide and neodymium (III) oxide reinforced novel TeO2–B2O3–V2O5 (TBV groups, tellurite-vanadium–boro) glasses groups are investigated against heavy charged particles, on mass stopping power, projected range and KERMA parameters. SRIM and PAGEX codes are used for determination of the mass stopping power, projected range and KERMA parameters in a kinetic energy range of 0–10 MeV. The highest KERMA values of TBV(X) glasses were achieved at 0.6 MeV. Among TBV(X) glasses, the TBVY1.5 sample with the highest material density (i.e. 5.01038 g/cm3) had the highest KERMA value. The TBVY1.5 sample has the lowest projected range values for alpha and protons with the same kinetic energy. The lowest values of mass stopping power were reported for the TBVY and TBVS groups, which had the highest density values among the analyzed glass samples. The TBVY1.5 sample provides the greatest stopping and slowing characteristics for alpha and proton kinetic energies ranging from 0 to 10 MeV. In this case, it can be said that these two glass groups may slow down alpha particles with a certain kinetic energy the most effectively. It can be concluded that TBV(Y) and TBV(S) glass groups might be useful for stopping the alpha, proton and electron particles

Níveis NT-Pro-BNP e resposta ao exercício em pacientes com fluxo lento coronariano

FUNDAMENTO: Os peptídeos natriuréticos são liberados pelo coração em resposta ao estresse da parede. OBJETIVO: As concentrações de NT-Pro-BNP em pacientes com Fluxo Lento Coronariano (FLC) foram avaliadas antes e depois do teste de exercício e comparados com os valores dos controles saudáveis. MÉTODOS: A população do estudo foi de 34 pacientes com FLC [22 homens (64,7%), com idade 51,0 ± 6,2 anos], e 34 indivíduos normais com artérias coronarianas normais [21 homens (61,8%), com idade 53,2 ± 6,6 anos]. As taxas de fluxo coronariano dos pacientes e controles foram determinadas pelo escore TIMI Trombólise no Infarto do Miocárdio (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction). As amostras de sangue foram coletadas em repouso e após o teste ergométrico. RESULTADOS: As concentrações basais de NT-Pro-BNP nos pacientes com FLC foram superiores às dos indivíduos-controle (NT-Pro-BNP: 49,7 ± 14,2 pg/mL vs. 25,3 ± 4,6 pg/mL p <0,0001, respectivamente), e essa diferença entre os grupos aumentou após o teste de exercício (NT-Pro-BNP: 69,5 ± 18,6 pg/mL vs. 30,9 ± 6,4 pg/mL, p <0,0001). No grupo FLC após o exercício, a concentração de NT-Pro-BNP em 15 pacientes com angina foi maior do que aqueles sem angina (76,8 ± 17,8 pg/mL vs. 63,8 ± 17,5 pg/mL, p = 0,041).A concentração de NT-Pro-BNP em 11 pacientes com infradesnivelamento do segmento ST foi também maior do que aqueles sem infradesnivelamento do segmento ST (82,4 ± 17,3 pg/mL vs. 63,3 ± 16,1 pg/mL, p = 0,004). Os aumentos na mediana pós-exercício no NT-Pro-BNP (Δ NT-Pro-BNP) foram maiores no grupo FLC do que no grupo de controle (Δ NT-Pro-BNP: 19,8 ± 7,7 pg/mL vs. 5,7 ± 4,5 pg/mL, p < 0,0001). CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados deste estudo sugerem que pode haver uma ligação fisiopatológica importante entre a gravidade do FLC (microvascular ou disfunção da artéria coronária epicárdica) e o nível de circulação de NT-Pro-BNP em pacientes com FLC

The Prevalence of Periodontal Pathogenic Bacteria in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

Background: A possible link between periodontal pathogenic bacteria and atherosclerosis may exist based on the inflammatory mechanisms initiated by bacteria found in periodontal lesions. Our aim was to investigate the presence of DNA originating from T. denticola, C. rectus, T. forsythia, and P. gingivalis in the vascular tissue specimens obtained from patients who underwent surgery for arteriosclerotic vascular disease in this study