A Brief Comparison of the Current Approaches in Teaching Pronunciation

Though pronunciation has an important place in English as a foreign language (EFL) teaching and learning, it is evident that EFL teachers experience some problems in pronunciation classes. Thus, this study aims to review some studies on teaching pronunciation to present essential information and solutions to the problems encountered in pronunciation classes. As a result of the study, it was concluded that despite the problems, pronunciation is a priority in language teaching and instructions, whereas age is a considerable factor in pronunciation instruction. It was also concluded that techniques, materials, and approaches used to teach pronunciation have significant influences on learners’ achievement. Accordingly, it is recommended that teachers should be trained to be good models for learners. For this purpose, teachers should use appropriate strategies in pronunciation to teach more effectively by the means of recent technological developments. In addition, as the lack of knowledge on appropriate strategies in pronunciation classrooms is a remarkable problem, teachers should raise their awareness of modern strategies and apply them in their classrooms. Last, teachers should examine the current and recent approaches on pronunciation and try to integrate the most suitable ones to their classes. Keywords: English as foreign language learning; pronunciation; learners; current approache

Numerical reservoir simulation of Alaşehir geothermal field

Use of a comprehensive reservoir simulation is essential for an effective geothermal reservoir management. TOUGH2 has become a widely used simulator for this purpose. In this study, one of the most exploited geothermal fields in Turkey, Alaşehir geothermal field has been modeled by using TOUGH2 reservoir simulator. The study includes more than 100 wells, which are operated by 7 different developers. The total installed capacity of geothermal power plants in the field is 212 MWe, but additional capacity (98 MWe) is planned to be commissioned by the end of 2020. The proximity of licensed areas and strong well interferences have made the simulation necessary for a successful reservoir management. Different data sources including pressure transient tests, reservoir monitoring and tracer test data were coupled to construct a large numerical model, which has dimensions of 18 kmx12kmx5.5km. During model calibration, good matches were obtained between model results and actual decline in the reservoir temperature, pressure and noncondensable gases (NCG) production. The effect of planned power plants on the field performance is studied by performing scenario runs using maximum possible flow rates. Model results indicated that commissioning of new power plants and additional make up wells that will compensate missing production accelerates pressure decline to more than 3 bars/year

Artificial Lifting in Liquid Dominated High-Temperature Geothermal Fields in Turkey: Lessons Learned

Due to the attractive feed-in-tariff mechanism, Turkish geothermal producers operate geothermal power plants at their maximum capacity. As a result, many geothermal reservoirs in Turkey have been exploited with an aggressive production strategy by multiple operators. A significant amount of production targeted natural fractures associated with normal faults in Western Anatolia. Wells produced at the maximum allowable capacity caused substantial reservoir pressure drops that affected reservoir dynamics. Premature temperature decline, local pressure drop, and the sharp decline of non-condensable gases (NCG) have been commonly observed in these geothermal reservoirs. All of these impacted the production performance of wells negatively. Artificial lifting methods such as airlifting and downhole pumps (Line shaft pumps or electrical submersible pumps (ESPs)) are commonly used to compensate for missing production. This study discusses the use of ESPs in liquid dominated high-temperature Alaşehir and Kızıldere fields. Observations, experiences, and lessons learned from the ESP applications in these fields are reported in detail

Multi-mode resource constrained project scheduling under fuzzy enviroment

Bu çalışmada, belirsizlik ortamında proje süreçlerinin çizelgelenmesine olanak tanıyan bulanık etkinlik sürelerinden oluşan çok modlu, kaynak kısıtlı proje çizelgeleme problemleri incelenmiştir. Proje çizelgeleme problemlerinin çözümü için Microsoft C# programlama dili kullanılarak “Proje Çizelgeleme Programı” olarak isimlendirilen bir paket program geliştirilmiş, literatürde Proje Çizelgeleme Problemleri Kütüphanesi (PSPLib) olarak bilinen örnek problem setleri üzerinde test edilerek çıktı sonuçları kıyaslanmıştır. Kaynak kısıtlı bulanık çok modlu proje çizelgeleme problemleri, geliştirilen program ile çözülerek toplam proje süreleri ve toplam çizelgeleme maliyetleri en küçüklenmektedir.In this paper, we consider multi-mode resource-constrained project scheduling problems with multiple execution modes for each activity under uncertainty conditions. A software package named as “Project Scheduling Programming” was developed by using Microsoft C# and its performance was tested on some sample projects and PSPLib data sets. Project scheduling problems defined with constrained resources and uncertainty issues can be solved by by Project Scheduling Software in order to minimize total project makespan and scheduling cost

Effects of climate changes on phenological periods of apple, cherry and wheat in TurkeyTürkiye’de iklim değişikliğinin elma, kiraz ve buğdayın fenolojik dönemlerine etkileri

It is known that the increase in air temperature from 1980 to present has dramatically changed the phenological periods of the plants in a large part of the world. In this study, the relationships between phenological periods of wheat plant, apple and cherry trees planted large areas in Turkey and climate change were investigated. In this study, the climate and phenological data for 1971-2012 period belonging to the General Directorate of Meteorology were used. The correlation coefficients between temperature and phenological data were calculated, and their trends were examined using Mann-Kendall trend analysis. In Turkey, positive temperature anomalies have been observed since 1994 until present days. Negative relationships were found between phenological periods of apple, cherry and wheat and the average temperatures of February-May period when the plants grow faster. This situation shows that the plants shift their phenological periods to the earlier times in response to the increasing temperatures. The trend calculated for harvest times of apple, cherry, and wheat are -25, -22, -40 days/100 years respectively. It was calculated that an increase of 1.0ºC in the temperatures of the February-May period will shift the harvest times of apple, cheery and wheat by 5, 4 and 8 days earlier respectively

Factors associated with complications of vaginal hysterectomy in patients with pelvic organ prolapse — a single centre’s experience

Objectives: The study aimed to examine the predisposing factors that play a role in the development of complications in patients undergoing vaginal hysterectomy. Material and methods: This retrospective analysis was performed on data provided from 239 patients who underwent vaginal hysterectomy due to uterine prolapse at a single centre between January 2008 and August 2018. Complications were defined according to Clavien-Dindo classification of complications. The patients were divided into two groups: with and without complications. We built a model using multivariable logistic regression to examine the relationships between complications and five candidate predictors. Results: Intra/postoperative complications developed in 30 patients, and the complication rate was found to be 12.5%. 87.2% of the reported complications were classified as Grade ≤ 2 according to Clavien-Dindo system. It was found that complications were associated with factors such as intraoperative concurrent salpingo-oophorectomy [Odds ratio (OR): 1.24 (1.1–1.4)], low preoperative haemoglobin [OR: 0.96 (0.94–0.98)], uterine weight [OR: 2.69 (2.62–2.76)], and long operation time [OR: 1.04 (1.02–1.07)]. History of pelvic surgery was not found to increase complication rate [OR: 1.11 (0.96–1.27), p = 0.13]. Our multiple logistic regression model correctly classified 74% of participants within the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. Conclusions: Preoperative anaemia, large uterus and concomitant adnexectomy were found to be factors associated with complications during and after vaginal hysterectomy for pelvic organ prolapse

A case of primary hypoparathyroidism presenting with acute kidney injury secondary to rhabdomyolysis

Hypoparathyroidism is the most common cause of symmetric calcification of the basal ganglia. Herein, a case of primary hypoparathyroidism with severe tetany, rhabdomyolysis, and acute kidney injury is presented. A 26-year-old male was admitted to the emergency clinic with leg pain and cramps, nausea, vomiting, and decreased amount of urine. He had been treated for epilepsy for the last 10 years. He was admitted to the emergency department for leg pain, cramping in the hands and legs, and agitation multiple times within the last six months. He was prescribed antidepressant and antipsychotic medications. He had a blood pressure of 150/90 mmHg, diffuse abdominal tenderness, and abdominal muscle rigidity on physical examination. Pathological laboratory findings were as follows: creatinine, 7.5 mg/dL, calcium, 3.7 mg/dL, alanine transaminase, 4349 U/L, aspartate transaminase, 5237 U/L, creatine phosphokinase, 262.000 U/L, and parathyroid hormone, 0 pg/mL.There were bilateral symmetrical calcifications in basal ganglia and the cerebellum on computerized tomography. He was diagnosed as primary hypoparathyroidism and acute kidney injury secondary to severe rhabdomyolysis. Brain calcifications, although rare, should be considered in dealing with patients with neurological symptoms, symmetrical cranial calcifications, and calcium metabolism abnormalities

Helicobacter pylori infection in amniotic fluid may cause hyperemesis gravidarum

Objectives: Limited data are available from recent trials involving pregnant women to guide Helicobacter pylori infection diagnosis. There are no data about the presence of H. pylori in the amniotic fluid as well. Furthermore, the relation between amniotic fluid H. pylori and hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) has not been characterized yet. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective study conducted after obtaining approval from the Ethics Committee. Pregnant women undergoing amniocentesis were enrolled in the study. The stool antigen test assessed the presence of H. pylori in amniotic fluid. A perinatologist independently performed an amniocentesis. The obtained amniotic liquid was sent to the laboratory to evaluate H. pylori infection by stool H. pylori antigen assay. We determined the rate of H. pylori in amniotic fluid and assessed relations between H. pylori infection and pregnancy outcome, including HG. Results: Between May and September 2017, we enrolled 48 pregnant women who underwent amniocentesis to detect possible fetal malformations. Patients were divided into two groups regarding the HG status. There were significant differences between the groups in terms of H. pylori infection presence. Among them, 28 (58.3%) were found to have a positive H. pylori test in their amniotic fluid. The rate of HG was significantly higher (71.4%) in patients who tested positive for H. pylori in amniocentesis than the H. pylori-negative group (20%), (p<0.001). Conclusions: The study’s main new finding is that presence of H. pylori in the amniotic fluid is possible. Our data suggest that H. pylori-infected amniotic fluid is associated with the experience of past HG. The current study may have important implications for HG detection and help identify patients who would benefit from future preventive strategies. © 2020 Global Research Online. All rights reserved

Je li fleksibilna bronhoskopija siguran postupak kod kritičnih bolesnika s respiracijskim zatajanjem?

Flexible bronchoscopy (FB) plays an important role in critical care patients. But, critical care patients with respiratory failure are at an increased risk of developing complications. Considering the developments in intensive care unit care in recent years, we aimed to evaluate the use of FB in these patients. We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent FB in critical care between 2014 and 2020. A total of 143 patients underwent FB during the study period. Arterial blood gas measurement on the FB day revealed a mean PaO2/FiO2 of 186.94±28.47. Eighty-one (56.6%) patients underwent an fiberoptic bronchoscopy procedure under conventional oxygen supplementation, 10 (7%) on noninvasive ventilation, 13 (9.1%) on high flow nasal cannula, and 39 (27.3%) on invasive mechanical ventilation. During and immediately after bronchoscopy, none of the patients experienced life-threatening complications. Fifty-five (38.5%) patients developed complications that could be controlled. Multivariate analysis indicated that increased Apache-II score and presence of cardiovascular disease were significantly associated with an increased complication risk. Although critical care patients with respiratory failure are more prone to complications, diagnostic and therapeutic bronchoscopy may be performed following appropriate patient selection, without leading to major complications.Fleksibilna bronhoskopija (FB) igra važnu ulogu u bolesnika na kritičnoj skrbi. Međutim, ovi bolesnici na kritičnoj skrbi s respiracijskim zatajenjem imaju povećani rizik od razvoja komplikacija. S obzirom na napredak u skrbi u jedinici intenzivnog liječenja tijekom posljednjih godina cilj je bio procijeniti uporabu FB-a u ovih bolesnika. Retrospektivno smo pregledali podatke bolesnika koji su podvrgnuti FB-u u kritičnoj skrbi između 2014. i 2020. godine. Ukupno je 143 bolesnika podvrgnuto FB-u tijekom razdoblja ispitivanja. Mjerenje plinova u arterijskoj krvi na dan FB pokazalo je srednju vrijednost PaO2/ FiO2 od 186,94±28,47. Osamdeset jedan bolesnik (56,6%) podvrgnut je postupku fiberoptičke bronhoskopije pod konvencionalnim dodacima kisika, 10 (7%) na neinvazivnoj ventilaciji, 13 (9,1%) na nosnoj kanili s velikim protokom i 39 (27,3%) na invazivnoj mehaničkoj ventilaciji. Tijekom i neposredno nakon bronhoskopije niti jedan bolesnik nije doživio komplikacije opasne za život. Osim toga, 55 (38,5%) bolesnika razvilo je komplikacije koje se mogu kontrolirati. Prema multivarijatnoj analizi, povećani rezultat Apache-II i prisutnost kardiovaskularnih bolesti bili su značajno povezani s povećanim rizikom od komplikacija. Iako su bolesnici na kritičnoj skrbi s respiracijskim zatajenjem skloniji komplikacijama, dijagnostička i terapijska bronhoskopija mogu se provesti nakon odgovarajućeg odabira bolesnika, a da to ne dovede do većih komplikacija

Children's Foreign Language Anxiety Scale: Preliminary Tests of Reliability and Validity

Foreign language anxiety (FLA), which constitutes a serious problem in the foreign language learning process, has been mainly seen as a research issue regarding adult language learners, while it has been overlooked in children. This is because there is a lack of appropriate tools to measure FLA among children, whereas there are many studies on the scales that aim to measure anxiety levels among adult learners. Thus, the current study aims to conduct the preliminary tests of reliability and validity of the Children's Foreign Language Anxiety Scale (CFLAS) and to report on the pilot examination of reliability, validity and factor structure of the CFLAS. The findings of the pilot study show that CFLAS is a reliable and valid tool to measure FLA levels among children who learn English as a foreign language (EFL) within the age range of 7-12 in a Turkish EFL context