Micro sociological syndromes

With the emergence of postmodernist and poststructuralist theories, studies on micro sociology have begun to gain importance in recent years. Contrary to research on general societal structures, micro sociological studies attempt to understand how individuals or small groups are affected by micro-environment, general macro-sociological structures and socialization processes such as family and relatives, and these processes. This study examined the micro-sociological processes in which a participant lived in 16 years. The research method is composed of longitudinal idiographic technique. The data were obtained by log keeping and interview methods. The study shows that the participant experienced severe syndrome at the micro sociological level. The family showed that the participant did not agree with the values of friends, relatives and general social structure, and that they were in conflict. The findings were interpreted within the framework of the concepts of social dialogue and ambivalence. These two concepts were analyzed on the basis of postmodernist and poststructuralist theories and the data of participants were analyzed

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERSONALITY TRAITS AND SOCIAL CAPITAL PERCEPTIONS OF PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS

There are a number of psycho-social variables that predict the levels of social capital of pre-service teachers. Social capital, which is in connection with almost all of these psycho-social variables, is associated with personality traits in literary studies. This study aimed to investigate the social capital predictive levels of five-factor personality traits. This research is based on survey data and two Likert type scales were used. 470 pre-service teachers studying in different departments of Necmettin Erbakan University Faculty of Education participated in this research. The relationship between personality traits and social capital components was examined using correlation analysis. The effect of personality traits of the candidates on the perception of social capital was investigated by using structural equation model analysis. It was found that the neuroticism and conscientiousness personality traits of pre-service teachers were not effective on perceptions of social capital. In addition, it was also found that the extraversion, agreeableness and openness to experience personality traits of pre-service teachers have an impact on their perceptions of social capital

Different lives and shared practices: Sociology of women in Turkey

Although there have been various studies on women and feminism since 1960s, gender inequalities are still experienced in the modern era. Paradigmatic changes have been experienced in western societies and communities that have been affected by these western theories and practices. However, women still undergo hard times in social and business lives. This study aims to focus on social practices of women that have different experiences. The study is descriptive and exploratory in nature. A semi-structured interview was administered. The participants ( N=17) were involved in the study at a Turkish university. Thus, this study intended to bring theory and practice together at the university. Each of the participants had different socio-economic backgrounds. The study was carried out in four sessions. In each session women received training from different experts. The results of the study show that the participants developed positive attitudes towards training regarding women ranging from art to law and that these educational practices should be sustained in the society

Consumption culture and body in cinema context: Fight Club

Studies on consumption culture and body have been examined considerably in sociology in recent years. Analysis of culture industry through cinema can be viewed as an important practice in understanding sociological theories and concepts. This study examined the movie Fight Club through content analysis within the framework of consumption culture and body. The present study found that the movie contained the concepts of desire, ambivalence, chronic health problems, and transition from the world of objects to discourse dimension, desire of destroying, principle of bodily desire and lack of reciprocal relationship and showed that there was a significant relationship between the concepts in the movie and sociological theories. The study indicated that sociological analysis of the movie Fight Club could be evaluated as a crucial tool in the analysis of sociological problems

TESTING THE MEDIATING ROLE OF COLLECTIVE EFFICACY PERCEPTIONS ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TEACHERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF PROFESSIONAL BURNOUT AND ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT

The aim of this study is to investigate the mediating role of perceptions of collective efficacy in the relationship between teachers’ professional burnout and organizational commitment. The study group consisted of 377 teachers working at different levels of education in central districts of Konya. Data were obtained by using Demographic Information Form, Collective Teacher Self-Efficacy Scale, Organizational Commitment Scale and Maslach Burnout Inventory. The relationships between the variables were analysed by using Structural Equation Modeling. Our results indicate that teachers’ perceptions of burnout affected both their organizational commitment and perceptions of collective efficacy negatively. It was found that perceptions of collective efficacy had a partial mediating role in the relationship between professional burnout and organizational commitment. As teachers’ perceptions of professional burnout are increased, their tendency to display organizational commitment increases

Two Approaches to Investigate Preservice Teachers’ TPACK Competencies and Self-Regulated Learning Skills in Turkey and the United States

In this study the investigators used two different approaches to investigate preservice teachers’ Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) competencies and self-regulated learning skills (SRL). The first study was conducted at Ahmet Keleşoğlu Education Faculty, Necmettin Erbakan University (NEU), Konya, Turkiye and the second study was conducted at Arkansas Tech University (ATU), Arkansas, the United States. The data from the participants at NEU was collected from 375 preservice teachers to examine the correlation among preservice teachers’ TPACK competencies, SRL and their gender and years of study. Although the findings revealed that preservice teachers’ TPACK competencies differed by their gender and year of study, there was no significant difference in their SRL skills. Finally, the results indicated that there were positive and significant relationships between the preservice teachers’ TPACK competencies and their self-regulated learning skills. The data from the ATU participants was collected from 66 preservice teachers (54 undergraduates, 12 graduate). The ATU study examined the impact of employing project-based learning (PBL) on students’ TPACK competencies, self-efficacy (SE), and SRL in different learning environments. The findings indicated that the use of PBL does enhance preservice teachers’ SRL skills in all learning environments. Finally, the findings indicated that students’ TPACK competencies significantly increased after using PBL

Kinetics of thermal decomposition of the polyester nanocomposites

In this study, characterization processes have been done by synthesizing the nano-aerosil-reinforced polyester composite. Chemical bonds formed in polyester composites were examined with FTIR spectrum and thermal stability with proportional integral derivative (PID) system. With the PID system, the drying kinetics of nano-polyester composites were examined from room temperature to 378 K, and thermal decomposition kinetics up to 918 K. The effect of temperature separates volatile components and physical impurities from the structure in the first region. Chemical decomposition starts in the second region, and degradation is the fastest step. Thermal degradation slows in the third region, and the remaining cross-linked components shift away from the structure. According to the new special solution method, the most suitable function in the thermal decomposition kinetics of polyester nanocomposites was found in the second-order model (f (delta) = (1-delta)(2), E: 53.492 kJ/mol, R-2: 0.99686, for experiment 3). Also, with three-dimensional diffusion and Jander functions have been found better results using Coats-Redfern method (R-2: 0.99882, E: 50.55141 kJ/mol for experiment 3). The most consistent results in drying kinetics of polyester nanocomposites were found in the Midilli and Kucuk model (R-2: 0.99575, RMSE: 0.03099 for experiment 1)

Solid Lipid Nanoparticles and Nanostructured Lipid Carriers of Loratadine for Topical Application: Physicochemical Stability and Drug Penetration through Rat Skin

Purpose: To prepare solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) of loratadine (LRT) for the treatment of allergic skin reactions.Methods: SLN and NLC were prepared by high pressure homogenization method. Their entrapment efficiency (EE) and loading capacity (LC) were determined. The physical stability of nanoparticles was investigated during 6 months of storage at room temperature (RT), 4 and 40oC. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and laser diffraction (LD) were used for the investigation of drug:excipient compatibility, thermal behaviour and particle size of the nanoparticles. In vitro release and ex vivo skin penetration of LRT were studied. Nanoemulsions (NE) were also prepared and characterized for comparison.Results: Nanoparticles sizes ranged from 0.222 ± 0.011 μm to 0.252 ± 0.014 μm (D50 as a value based on the volume distribution, the maximum particle diameter below which 50 % of the sample volume exists) They were obtained with high drug payloads (> 90.67 %). LRT was compatible with the other excipients after 6 months. Particle size did not significantly alter particularly at RT. The highest release rate was obtained with NE (1.339 ± 0.026 mcg/ml/h) followed by NLC (1.007 ± 0.011 mcg/ml/h) and SLN (0.821 ± 0.012 mcg/ml/h), indicating anomalous transport (p < 0.05). Penetration profiles of LRT through skin were statistically similar for SLN and NLC (p > 0.05). NE showed the highest penetration rate (0.829 ± 0.06 mcg/cm2/h) (p < 0.05).Conclusion: SLN and NLC of LRT are alternative formulations for immediate treatment of allergic skin reactions with prolonged drug delivery via reservoir action.Keywords: Loratadine, Transdermal delivery, Controlled drug delivery, Solid Lipid nanoparticles, Nanostructured lipid carriers, Allerg

TURKISH PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS’ PERCEPTIONS ON SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP THROUGH METAPHORS

The aim of this qualitative study is to examine and interpret Turkish pre-service teachers’ perceptions of social entrepreneurship through metaphors. Answers to the questions “How do pre-service teachers perceive and express social entrepreneurship through metaphors?” and “Under which conceptual categories could the metaphors be collected” were sought accordingly. The study group consisted of 130 pre-service teachers at Necmettin Erbakan Üniversitesi Ahmet Keleşoğlu Eğitim Fakültesi (Faculty of Education), Konya, Türkiye. Data were collected through semi-structured, individual interviews and were analysed by qualitative content analysis. 66 metaphors in relation to social entrepreneurship were categorized as ‘Personal characteristics’, ‘Social and solidarity characteristics’, ‘Innovative characteristics’, ‘Working, producing and functional characteristics’ and ‘Other’. Additionally, 57 positive features related to How to Become a Social Entrepreneur were classified into 4 categories: "Having Affective Characteristics", "Skills Needed as a Social Entrepreneur", "Social Relations, Social Environment and Team Building", "Entrepreneurial Process Planning and Implementation"

Research on the Rheological Properties of Asphalt Binder Modified by Fume Silica and Crumb Rubber Compound

This study investigates the effect of using Fume Silica (Aerosol 300) alone and together with crumb rubber (CR) in bitumen modification on the traditional and rheological properties of the binder and compares it to the SBS modified binder. Using the aerosol additive in the binder at the rates of 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% were determined as the most convenient ratio and CR+aerosol modified binders were prepared per this ratio. The binders were subjected to the softening point, viscosity, frequency sweep, bending beam rheometer (BBR), and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) tests in the context of the study. Besides, the optimum conditions were determined according to the response functions by designing an experiment with statistical regression according to the Response surface methodology (RSM). The results indicate that the optimum aerosol ratio is 1.5%. With the use of 1.5% aerosol in 6% CR modification per bitumen weight, it was found that (1) the softening point increases and the temperature sensitivity decrease in comparison to other binders, (2) the consistency of the binder increases, (3) the complex modulus values increase and become more resistant to rutting, (4) the low-temperature parameters enhance by performing more flexible behavior, (5) there may be physical changes in the structure even though there is no chemical reaction in the binder with the use of CR and aerosol additives, and (6) the experimental data and theoretical data obtained from the RSM method are consistent as per the statistical analysis