REVIEW OF OPINIONS OF MATH TEACHERS CONCERNING THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY DESIGN

Design of appropriate learning environment has a significant importance in creation of aims of the math teaching. In the design of learning environments, teachers play a significant role. The aim of this study is determination of opinions of the math teachers concerning the learning environment that they design. In accordance with this aim, an opinion form which is comprised of open-ended questions is applied on 30 math teachers who are in charge in Middle Anatolian Region in Turkey. The data which are obtained as result of the application have been analysed and presented by using frequencies and percentages. It is understood from the obtained results that teachers benefit from the textbooks and auxiliary test books for designing the teaching environment, and they don't often give a place to different teaching methods and techniques.  Article visualizations

Dynamic base-age invariant site index models based on generalized algebraic difference approach for mixed Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) stands

Data from stem analysis of 397 dominant trees (198 Scots pine and 199 Oriental beech) were used to evaluate dynamic base-age invariant site index models derived from Bertalanffy–Richards, Hossfeld, and Lundqvist–Korf functions with the generalized algebraic difference approach (GADA) for mixed Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) stands. These functions were compared with respect to residuals of these models; specifically, the evaluation criteria were bias (– root mean square error (RMSE), absolute mean error (AME), adjusted coefficient of determination (R2 ), and Akaike information criterion. The best results were obtained with generalized algebraic difference equations derived from the base models of Bertalanffy–Richards for Oriental beech and Hossfeld for Scots pine. These selected models accounted for 95%–96% of the total variance in height–age relationships in dominant trees with bias of 0.049841 and 0.00171, RMSE of 1.55624 and 1.353736, AME of 0.940128 and 0.884034, and AIC of 723.55 and 1250.78 for Scots pine and Oriental beech, respectively. These dynamic base-age invariant site index models for the 2 tree species presented more effective and accurate polymorphic site index curves with multiple asymptotes than earlier site index models for Oriental beech and Scots pine. The important differences of height growth trend between developed base-age invariant site index models in this study and earlier site curves were determined by graphical comparisons for site index predictions. Therefore, the new dynamic base-age invariant site index models developed based on GADA methodology can be recommended for dominant height prediction and forest site quality evaluations in the mixed stands of these 2 species

Site index conversion equations for mixed stands of scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) in the Black Sea Region, Turkey

The site index conversion equations are important for estimating the site index of one tree species from the site index of another tree species in mixed stands. In this study, data were obtained from 162 sample plots in mixed stands of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) from the Black Sea Region in the north of Turkey. The breast height ages and height of the site trees were measured and the site index was estimated by these data. Geometric linear regression was used to estimate the parameters of a linear model relating to site indices of Scots pine and Oriental beech species. The correlation between the site indices of Scots pine and Oriental beech was 0.818, indicating a good fit to the linear model. Validation procedure showed that conversion equations were suitable for the studied mixed stands. The conversion equations can be applied to mixed species stands with inconsistent stratification or in stand conversion situations for an accurate and reliable evaluation of forest quality

Assessing forest fire behavior simulation using FlamMap software and remote sensing techniques in Western Black Sea Region, Turkey 

European Community's INTERREG IV 'Black Sea Basin Joint Operational Programme 2007-2013 MIS ETC 2666 nr. 15610/25.02.2013 Central Finance and Contracts Unit (CFCU) in TURKEY TR08C1.01-02/323Aim of study: Forest fuels are very critical for fire behavior models and hazard maps. Relationship among wind speed, fuel moisture content, slope, and fuel type directs us to predict fire behavior of a given region. For this study, we evaluated fire behavior parameters such as fireline intensity and rate of fire spread using the fuel moisture content, slope, fuel load, and wind speed for the Bayam Forest District with the help of remote sensing techniques and FlamMap software. Area of study: The study area is located in Bayam Forest District in the city of Taskopru, Kastamonu, a Western Black Sea region of Turkey. Material and Methods: In order to estimate and map forest fuel load of the study area, fuel models were developed using the parameters of the average vegetation height, 1-hr, 10-hr, and 100-hr fuel load, foliage, total fuel load, litter load and litter depth. Three basic fire descriptors (fireline intensity, rate of fire spread, and flame length) were calculated using FlamMap software with the parameters fuel load, wind speed, fuel moisture, and slope. Using the descriptors above, the historical fire data was overlaid with the fireline intensity maps to determine fire potential areas within the remote sensing and GIS framework. Main results: The results of this study showed that 20.0% of the region had low (<2 m min-1 ), 43.2% had moderate (2- 15 m min-1 ), 12.0% had high (15-30 m min-1 ), and 24.8% had very high (>30 m min-1 ) rate of fire spread, respectively. The fireline intensity map showed that 60.7% of the area was in low (0-350 kW m-1 ), 24.9% was in moderate (350-1700 kW m1 ), 1.3% was in high (1700-3500 kW m-1 ), and 13.0% was in very high (>3500 kW m-1 ) fireline intensity. Highlights: The spatial extent of fuel types was observed and three of the potential fire behavior predictors (fire intensity, rate of fire spread and flame length) were estimated using remote sensing and GIS techniques. The overlaid historical fire data showed that the most fire-prone areas are in the mixed young Anatolian black pine - Scots pine tree stands that have 40-70% canopy cover and that are in the young Anatolian black pine tree stands that have more than 70% canopy cove

Is there a difference between normotensive and hypertensive patients in terms of blood parameters and cardiovascular diseases?

Objectives: It has been stated in various studies that there is a difference in some blood parameters between hypertensive and normotensive patients for a long time. Mean platelet volume (MPV), and red blood cell distribution width (RDW), have been studied in hypertensive patient groups in many studies. Hypertension is a classic risk factor for ischemic stroke and myocardial ischemia, as known. In our study, we examined whether there was a difference between hypertensive patient groups and normotensive patients in terms of blood parameters such as MPV and RDW, and the incidence of stroke and myocardial infarction.Methods: Blood samples and twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) results of 552 patients admitted to our outpatient clinic with a pre-diagnosis of hypertension were retrospectively analyzed. According to ABPM results, we divided the study participants into four groups; dippers, non-dippers, extreme dippers, and normotansives. Complete blood count and biochemical test results were found in the database of our hospital for all patients and differences between groups were investigated.Results: One hundred seventy three normotensives (Group 1) (mean age, 47.4 ± 15.4 years), 210 non-dippers (Group 2) (mean age, 53.8 ± 15.8 years), 67 extreme dippers (Group 3) (mean age, 49.1 ± 15.9 years) and 102 dippers (Group 4) (mean age, 52.2 ± 12.5 years). Daytime mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and night-time mean SBP and DBP were significantly different in groups (Group 1: 117 [90-193] mmHg and 71 [55-87] mmHg; Group 2: 137 [107-188] mmHg and 83 [107-188] mmHg; Group 3: 143 [115-193] mmHg and 88 [56-122] mmHg; and Group 4: 140.5 [116-173] mmHg and 76 [55-124] mmHg), p &lt; 0.001; respectively. MPV and RDW levels were different in all four groups (p &lt; 0.001). We found a significant difference in the rates of stroke and coronary artery disease between the four groups (p = 0.018 and p = 0.002, respectively). In the ROC curve analysis MPV had sensitivity of %77. 8 and specificity of 78. 1% for stroke when the cut-off value MPV was 9.25 (Area under curve: 0.808, 95% confidence interval: 0.726-0.889, p &lt; 0.001).Conclusions: In our study, MPV and RDW levels and the rates of stroke and cardiovascular disease were significantly higher in non-dipper patients compared to other groups

A novel approach to selecting a competition index: the effect of competition on individual-tree diameter growth of Calabrian pine

In this study, we evaluated the performance of 18 competition indices composed of nine distance-dependent and nine distance-independent indices in explaining the variation in individual-tree diameter growth of Calabrian pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) in the central Mediterranean region of Turkey. The data were obtained from 432 sample plots with varying stand age, site index, and stand density. To evaluate the performance of each competition index, the mean square error reduction approach was used relative to the noncompetition. Also, this study compared fixed and mixed effects models to analyze diameter growth. Statistical analyses showed that the best distance-independent competition indices performed as well as the best distance-dependent competition indices. The distance-independent competition index of Schroder and Gadow (1999; Can. J. For. Res. 29(2): 280-283, doi:10.1139/x98-199) performed best and is recommended for use in future growth and yield models to be used in the central Mediterranean region of Turkey. Also, the best selection of competitive neighbors was achieved using the area of influence overlap method, whereas the fixed-radius and angle count sampling methods had no significant improvement in quantifying the competition effects. On the other hand, all mixed effects models provided much better fits than their fixed model counterparts.Dans cette étude, nous évaluons la performance de 18 indices de compétition, comprenant neuf indices dépendants des distances et neuf indices indépendants des distances, pour expliquer la variation de la croissance en diamètre d’individus de pin de Calabre (Pinus brutia Ten.) dans la région méditerranéenne centrale de la Turquie. Les données ont été obtenues de 432 placettes échantillons couvrant une gamme d’âge du peuplement, d’indice de qualité de station et de densité du peuplement. Pour évaluer la performance de chaque indice de compétition, nous avons utilisé l’approche de la réduction de l’erreur quadratique moyenne par rapport à l’absence de compétition. De plus, cette étude compare des modèles à effets fixes et mixtes pour analyser la croissance en diamètre. Les analyses statistiques montrent que les meilleurs indices de compétition indépendants des distances sont aussi performants que les meilleurs indices dépendants des distances. L’indice de compétition indépendant des distances de Schröder et Gadow (1999; Can. J. For. Res. 29(2): 280–283, doi:10.1139/x98-199) est le plus performant et son utilisation est recommandée pour les futurs modèles de croissance et de production qui seront utilisés dans la région méditerranéenne centrale de la Turquie. De plus, la meilleure sélection des arbres voisins concurrents a été réalisée à l’aide la méthode de chevauchement de l’aire d’influence alors que les méthodes à rayon fixe et par balayage sous angle constant n’ont pas significativement amélioré la quantification des effets de compétition. Par ailleurs, tous les modèles à effets mixtes ont produit de bien meilleurs ajustements que les modèles à effets fixes équivalents. [Traduit par la Rédactio

Karadeniz bölgesi sarıçam (pinus sylvestris L.) - doğu kayını (fagus orientalis lipsky) karışık mesçerelerine ilişkin sıklığa bağlı hasılat tablolarının düzenlenmesi

In this study, variable density yield tables were developed for Scots pine and oriental beech mixed stands in Black Sea Region. The data used in this study were obtained from 162 temporary sample plots measured in evenaged Scots pine and oriental beech mixed stands. The sample plots have 31-150 years for Scots pine and 33-117 years for oriental beech of stand age range, 16.2-34.9 m Scots pine and 14.7-32.3 m for oriental beech of site index range, 0.24-0.9 of Scots pine mixture ratio range, 2.9-10.0 of stand density range. With the generated equation systems, stand age, site index, density and mixture ratio of the four main factors in Scots pine -Oriental beech mixed stands, including the effects individual, dual, triple and quadruple of factor interactions on the stands were determined numerically. The results were in arrangement with the acknowledged growth rules.Bu çalışmada, Karadeniz bölgesinde yayılış gösteren Sarıçam-Doğu Kayını karışık meşcerelerine ilişkin sıklığa bağlı hasılat tabloları düzenlenmesi amaçlamıştır. Bu çalışmada, Karadeniz Bölgesi sınırları içerisinde yer alan eşityaşlı Sarıçam (Pinus sylvestris L.) - Doğu Kayını (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) karışık meşcerelerinden alınan 162 adet geçici örnek alandan elde edilen veriler kullanılmıştır. Örnek alanlar, Sarıçam için 31-150 ve Doğu Kayını için 33-117 yaşları, Sarıçam için 16.2-34.9 m ve Doğu Kayını için 14.7-32.3 m bonitet endeksi, 0.24-0.90 sarıçam karışım oranları ve 2.9-10.0 sıklık değerleri arasında değişim göstermektedir. Söz konusu bu veriler kullanılarak elde edilen regresyon denklemleriyle, Sarıçam-Doğu Kayını karışık meşcerelerinin yaş, verim gücü, sıklık derecesi ve karışım oranı olmak üzere dört ana faktörün bireysel etkileriyle, ikili, üçlü ve dörtlü faktör etkileşimlerinin meşcere yapısı üzerindeki etkileri sayısal olarak belirlenmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular temel ormancılık büyüme yasaları ile uyumludu

The Construction of Variable Density Yield Table for Scots Pine and Oriental Beech Mixed Stands in Black Sea Region

Bu çalışmada, Karadeniz bölgesinde yayılış gösteren Sarıçam-Doğu Kayını karışık meşcerelerine ilişkin sıklığa bağlı hasılat tabloları düzenlenmesi amaçlamıştır. Bu çalışmada, Karadeniz Bölgesi sınırları içerisinde yer alan eşityaşlı Sarıçam (Pinus sylvestris L.) - Doğu Kayını (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) karışık meşcerelerinden alınan 162 adet geçici örnek alandan elde edilen veriler kullanılmıştır. Örnek alanlar, Sarıçam için 31-150 ve Doğu Kayını için 33-117 yaşları, Sarıçam için 16.2-34.9 m ve Doğu Kayını için 14.7-32.3 m bonitet endeksi, 0.24-0.90 sarıçam karışım oranları ve 2.9-10.0 sıklık değerleri arasında değişim göstermektedir. Söz konusu bu veriler kullanılarak elde edilen regresyon denklemleriyle, Sarıçam-Doğu Kayını karışık meşcerelerinin yaş, verim gücü, sıklık derecesi ve karışım oranı olmak üzere dört ana faktörün bireysel etkileriyle, ikili, üçlü ve dörtlü faktör etkileşimlerinin meşcere yapısı üzerindeki etkileri sayısal olarak belirlenmiştir. Elde edilen bulgularIn this study, variable density yield tables were developed for Scots pine and oriental beech mixed stands in Black Sea Region. The data used in this study were obtained from 162 temporary sample plots measured in even- aged Scots pine and oriental beech mixed stands. The sample plots have 31-150 years for Scots pine and 33-117 years for oriental beech of stand age range, 16.2-34.9 m Scots pine and 14.7-32.3 m for oriental beech of site index range, 0.24-0.9 of Scots pine mixture ratio range, 2.9-10.0 of stand density range. With the generated equation systems, stand age, site index, density and mixture ratio of the four main factors in Scots pine - Oriental beech mixed stands, including the effects individual, dual, triple and quadruple of factor interactions on the stands were determined numerically. The results were in arrangement with the acknowledged growth rules

Site index estimation between species for mixed stands

Karışık meşcerelerde karışımı oluşturan türlerden her biri için yeterli sayı ve nitelikte bonitet ağacı bulunmaması durumunda türler arası bonitet endeks tahmini denklemlerinden yararlanılmaktadır. Denklemlere ilişkin parametre tahminlerinde En Küçük kareler Yöntemi (E.K.K.) yerine, Geometrik Ortalama Regresyonu (G.O.R.), Geometric Mean Regression (GMR), önerilmektedir. Bu çalışmada, Bursa Orman Bölge Müdürlüğü, Bursa Orman İşletme Müdürlüğü, Kestel Orman İşletme Şefliği sınırları içerisinde yer alan Karaçam-Kayın karışık meşcerelerinden alınan 50 deneme alanı verileri kullanılarak, Karaçam-Kayın karışık meşcereleri için Türler Arası Bonitet Endeks Tahmin Denklemleri (Site Index Conversion Equations) geliştirilmiştir.The site index estimations can be incorrect for one of tree species in lower crown layer in mixed stands. For this situation, the equations estimating site index for tree species in lower crown layer from tree species in higher crown layer position must be developed to accurate site index estimations. In developing these equations, Geometric Mean Line Regression Technique, GMLR, was proposed to Ordinary Least Squares, OLS. In this study, fifty sample plots from Kestel Forest Enterprise, Bursa Forest District Directorship, were used. Site Index Conversion Equations were developed to estimate site index for tree species in lower crown layer from tree species in higher crown layer position. Also, Geometric Mean Line Regression Technique was particularly explained to estimate the parameters of Site Index Conversion Equations