The effects of heat treatment on the physical properties of juvenile wood and mature wood of Eucalyptus grandis

Heat treatment can be used to improve the physical properties and durability of wood. The results achieved by heat treatment can be affected significantly by various factors. Juvenile wood and mature wood from the same trunk have different properties, and the effects of heat treatment on their physical properties have not been well defined. Thus, a study to determine the differences in the physical properties of juvenile wood and mature wood of E. grandis after heat treatment was conducted. Samples of both types of wood were treated at temperatures of 120, 150, and 180 oC for durations of 4, 6, and 8 h. The results showed that the physical properties of juvenile and mature wood, e.g., swelling, moisture content, and fiber saturation point, did not decrease to the same extent. Mass loss of mature wood was higher than that of juvenile wood. Generally, percentage decreases of volumetric swelling, moisture content, and fiber saturation point of juvenile wood were more affected than those of mature wood

THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF HEARTWOOD AND SAPWOOD OF EUCALYPTUS GRANDIS

In this study, some of the physical propertiesof heartwood and sapwood of Eucalyptus grandisgrown in Karabucak, Turkey were determined. Thephysical properties determined were air-drieddensity, oven-dried density, basic density, shrinkage,swelling, fiber saturation point, and maximummoisture content. According to the test results, thephysical properties of the heartwood samplesdiffered from those of the sapwood samples due tothe presence of high proportion of juvenile wood inthe heartwood. It can be said that the shrinkage andswelling percentages were better for heartwood thansapwood. Air-dried density, oven-dried density, andbasic density of sapwood were higher than those ofheartwood

Some mechanical properties of plywood produced from eucalyptus, beech, and poplar veneer

In this study, we determined the flexural properties and tensile shear strength of five-ply plywood panels produced with eucalyptus (Eucalyptus grandis), beech (Fagus orientalis), and hybrid poplar (Populus x euramericana) using urea-formaldehyde (UF), melamine-urea-formaldehyde (MUF) and phenol-formaldehyde (PF) adhesives. Flexural properties were tested on both parallel and perpendicular to grain samples. Tensile shear-strength tests were conducted on four glue lines of the plywood panels, and the effects of species of trees, type of adhesives, and direction of load were determined. The results of variance analyses showed that the effects of species of trees, direction of load, and type of adhesive on flexural properties were significant, but it was determined by specific flexural properties that the effect of the type of adhesive was based on the density of the plywood. In addition, as a result of findings, it can be said that specific mechanical properties may be a good predictor for comparative studies

Inclusive knowledge production at an elementary school through family-school-university partnerships: A formative intervention study

Students from racially minoritized backgrounds have been disproportionately subject to exclusionary school discipline in the United States. Utilizing cultural-historical activity theory and the formative intervention methodology, we conducted a yearlong formative intervention, Learning Lab, in an elementary school with significant racial disproportionality in school discipline. Teachers, family members, administrators, support staff, and community members with diverse and often opposing histories and goals worked together to critically examine their existing behavioral support system and racial disparities in practices, assumptions, processes, and outcomes from multiple perspectives. We utilized the method of expansive learning actions to analyze qualitative data from ten subsequent sessions. Our findings showed that local stakeholders successfully formed and sustained a diverse working group that represented families, educators, researchers, and community members. Learning Lab members worked collaboratively to question their existing school practices and to examine the root causes of racial disproportionality through historical and empirical analyses. We discuss both possibilities and challenges regarding inclusive knowledge production and the systemic transformation process at local schools

In the Course Turkish the Cases of Making Use of Dictation Exercises of Elementary School Teachers As a Method of Assessment and Evaluation

DergiPark: 326170trakyasobedIn educational activities, to determine whether or not the aim is reached, whether or not to gain the skills needed occur, and to what extent it was achieved reveal via assessment and evaluation. The case emerging as a consequence of assessment and evaluation is the most important indicator in considering the state of student and teacher. Assessment and evaluation have also major importance in the course Turkish. Because, even if the way the courses are treated and the subjects take place in the program, the teacher should treat the subjects and pass to the new subjects, considering the state of class. The teacher’s determining the level of student is important from this point of view. In the course Turkish, various methods of assessment and evaluation are utilized. Those most often used among these are written and oral exams in multiple choices. These sorts are also frequently used in the other courses. The course Turkish has the methods of assessment and evaluation specific to it. In the course Turkish, one of the methods in assessment and evaluation is also dictation. Dictation is a name given to the studies used for writing correctly. What is said or listened to Dictation is also a method of assessment and evaluation. The exercises on dictation are very important in terms of being able to understand what is listened to, and to write correctly. When time and place is suitable, these exercises should be given place and used in the class as sort of exam. However, althoughdictation exercises are often carried out in the class, it is not sufficiently known how it is applied as a method of assessment and evaluation by the primary school’s teachers. This study aiming at presenting the cases of making use of dictation exercises of the primary school’s teachers as a method of assessment and evaluation is designed in the sort of survey. The study was carried out with 30 primary school’s teachers serving in the province Konya. The data of study were collected via open ended questionnaire developed by the researchers. Since the titles were earlier determined, the data collected were analyzed by the method of descriptive analysis. In the study, it was concluded that the primary school’s teachers defined the dictation as being written by the students the text read or what are said; that they often used the exercises of dictation in developing the writing skills; and that they utilized the dictation in the course Turkish as a method of assessment and evaluation: The primary school’s teachers often use the dictation exercises, particularly, to teach read-write in the first classes, and to see whether or not the rules of spelling and grammar are complied with in upper classes. And some participants suggested that they carried out dictation exercises to develop the skills of students to understand and listen to. In the study, it was concluded that the dictation in the course Turkish was applied in the way that the text read by the teacher was written by the students. As a result of research, it was proposed for the primary school’s teachers to use the dictation exercises on various purposes and more often in the courses TurkishEğitim faaliyetlerinde amaca ulaşılıp ulaşılmadığının, kazandırılması gereken becerilerin kazanılıp kazanılmadığını ve ne ölçüde gerçekleştiğinin belirlenmesi, ölçme değerlendirme ile ortaya çıkmaktadır. Ölçme değerlendirme sonucu ortaya çıkan durum, öğrencinin ve öğretmenin durumunun göz önüne alınmasında en önemli göstergedir. Türkçe dersinde de ölçme değerlendirme çok önemlidir. Çünkü derslerin işlenişi ve konular her ne kadar programda yer alıyorsa da, öğretmen sınıfın durumunu göz önüne alarak konuları işlemeli ve yeni konulara geçmelidir. Öğretmenin öğrencinin düzeyini belirlemesi bu açıdan önemlidir. Türkçe dersinde çeşitli ölçme değerlendirme yöntemleri kullanılmaktadır. Bunlardan en sık kullanılanlar yazılı, sözlü ve çoktan seçmeli sorulardan oluşan sınavlardır. Bu türler diğer derslerde de sık kullanılmaktadır. Ancak Türkçe dersinin kendine özgü bazı ölçme değerlendirme yöntemleri vardır. Türkçe dersinde ölçme değerlendirmede kullanılabilecek yöntemlerden biri de diktedir. Dikte, genel olarak söyleneni ya da dinlediğini doğru yazma amacıyla kullanılan çalışmalara verilen isimdir. Dikte aynı zamanda bir ölçme değerlendirme yöntemidir. Dikte çalışmaları, dinlediğini anlama ve doğru yazabilme açısından çok önemlidir. Bu çalışmalara sınıf içinde yeri ve zamanı geldiğinde yer verilmeli ve bir sınav türü olarak da kullanılmalıdır. Ancak dikte çalışmaları, Türkçe dersinde sık sık yapılmasına rağmen, ölçme değerlendirme yöntemi olarak sınıf öğretmenleri tarafından nasıl uygulandığı yeterince bilinmemektedir. Sınıf öğretmenlerinin Türkçe dersinde ölçme değerlendirme yöntemi olarak dikte çalışmalarından yararlanma durumlarını ortaya koymayı amaçlayan bu araştırma, tarama türünde desenlenmiştir. Araştırma Konya ilinde ilköğretim okullarında görev yapmakta olan 30 sınıf öğretmeni ile yürütülmüştür. Araştırma verileri araştırmacılar tarafından oluşturulmuş açık uçlu soru formu ile toplanmıştır. Toplanan veriler, konu başlıkları önceden belirlendiği için betimsel analiz yöntemi ile analiz edilmiştir. Araştırmada sınıf öğretmenlerinin dikteyi okunan bir metnin ya da söylenenlerin öğrenciler tarafından yazılması olarak tanımladıkları, dikte çalışmalarını yazma becerisinin geliştirilmesinde sık sık kullandıkları, ölçme değerlendirme yöntemi olarak dikteyi Türkçe dersinde kullandıkları sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Sınıf öğretmenleri dikte çalışmalarını özellikle birinci sınıfta okuma yazma öğretmek ve üst sınıflarda da öğrencilerin yazım ve dilbilgisi kurallarına uyup uymadıklarını görmek için sık sık kullanmaktadırlar. Bazı katılımcılar ise öğrencilerin anlama ve dinleme becerilerini geliştirmek için dikte çalışmaları yaptırdıklarını belirtmişlerdir. Araştırmada, Türkçe dersinde diktenin genellikle sınıf öğretmeninin okuduğu metni öğrencilerin yazması şeklinde uygulandığı sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Araştırma sonunda sınıf öğretmenlerinin Türkçe dersinde ölçme değerlendirme yöntemi olarak dikte çalışmalarını çeşitli amaçlarla ve daha sık kullanmaları önerilmişti

The Pediatric Tracheostomy Practice During COVID-19 Pandemic at a PICU

Introduction:To evaluate pediatric tracheostomies performed at a tertiary care pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) before and after the Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.Methods:A total of 57 pediatric tracheostomy patients performed at a tertiary care PICU were included. Prognostic scores including pediatric risk of mortality 2, pediatric index of mortality 2 and pediatric logistic organ dysfunction scores, the family education process and time to home discharge were evaluated according to time of tracheostomy (pre-pandemic vs. after pandemic) and responsible surgeon (pediatric surgeon vs. otolaryngologist). MedCalc® Statistical Software version 19.7.2 (MedCalc Software Ltd, Ostend, Belgium; https: //www.medcalc.org; 2021) was used for statistical analysis.Results:A non-significant tendency for higher rate of pediatric surgery-based tracheostomies was noted after the pandemic (76.0 vs. 24.0%, p=0.134). No significant difference was noted between tracheostomies performed before vs. after the COVID-19 pandemic and those performed by otolaryngologists vs. pediatric surgeons in terms of prognostic scores and time to home discharge.Conclusion:Our findings emphasize the maintenance of high quality patient care for pediatric tracheostomy patients in accordance with standardized tracheostomy protocols and policies during the pandemic period with no significant difference between tracheostomies performed before and after the COVID-19 pandemic and those performed by pediatric surgeons vs. otolaryngologists in terms of prognostic scores and time to home discharge

Lacidipine, thiamine pyrophosphate and their combination on the ocular ischemic syndrome induced by bilateral common carotid artery ligation

AIM: To investigate the effect of lacidipine, thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) and the combination of lacidipine and TPP against oxidative and inflammatory eye damage induced by bilateral common carotid artery ligation in rats. METHODS: Male albino Wistar rats were categorized as those who underwent sham surgery (SG), right and left common carotid cross-clamping and unclamping procedure (CCU), lacidipine+CCU (LCCU), TPP+CCU (TCCU), and combination of lacidipine and TPP (LTC)+CCU (LTCCU). One hour before anesthesia, the LCCU (n=6) received lacidipine (4 mg/kg, orally) and the TCCU (n=6) received TPP (20 mg/kg, intraperitoneally). The SG (n=6) and CCU (n=6) received the same volume of distilled water from the same route. After anesthesia (60 mg/kg ketamine, intraperitoneally), the necks of the rats were opened in the midline. Ischemia was created for 10min by placing clips on the right and left common carotid arteries. Rats in the SG only underwent subcutaneous incision. After 10min, the clips were removed and reperfusion was achieved for six days. Then, the animals were euthanized (120 mg/kg ketamine, intraperitoneally) and the levels of oxidant, antioxidant and proinflammatory cytokines in the eye tissues were determined. The retinal tissue of the eye was also examined histopathologically. RESULTS: Lacidipine, TPP, and LTC significantly prevent the increase in malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6 levels, decrease in total glutathione levels, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities and histopathological retinal damage in eye tissue induced by bilateral common carotid artery ligation in rats. The impact of these drugs on protection is determined to be LTC>lacidipine>TPP. CONCLUSION: As a result of the study, it is concluded that LTC may be more effective than lacidipine and TPP alone in treating ocular ischemic syndrome

Diffusion profile of macromolecules within and between human skin layers for (trans)dermal drug delivery

Delivering a drug into and through the skin is of interest as the skin can act as an alternative drug administration route for oral delivery. The development of new delivery methods, such as microneedles, makes it possible to not only deliver small molecules into the skin, which are able to pass the outer layer of the skin in therapeutic amounts, but also macromolecules. To provide insight into the administration of these molecules into the skin, the aim of this study was to assess the transport of macromolecules within and between its various layers. The diffusion coefficients in the epidermis and several locations in the papillary and reticular dermis were determined for fluorescein dextran of 40 and 500 kDa using a combination of fluorescent recovery after photobleaching experiments and finite element analysis. The diffusion coefficient was significantly higher for 40 kDa than 500 kDa dextran, with median values of 23 and 9 µm2/s in the dermis, respectively. The values only marginally varied within and between papillary and reticular dermis. For the 40 kDa dextran, the diffusion coefficient in the epidermis was twice as low as in the dermis layers. The adopted method may be used for other macromolecules, which are of interest for dermal and transdermal drug delivery. The knowledge about diffusion in the skin is useful to optimize (trans)dermal drug delivery systems to target specific layers or cells in the human skin

Navigating the Future of Organisational Health Services Research in Germany and beyond:a Position Paper

Background Recent analyses have shown that in health services research in Germany, healthcare organisations are often considered primarily as a study setting, without fully taking their complex organisational nature into account, neither theoretically nor methodologically. Therefore, an initiative was launched to analyse the state of Organisational Health Services Research (OHSR) in Germany and to develop a strategic framework and road map to guide future efforts in the field. This paper summarizes positions that have been jointly developed by consulting experts from the interdisciplinary and international scientific community.Methods In July 2023, a scoping workshop over the course of three days was held with 32 (inter)national experts from different research fields centred around OHSR topics using interactive workshop methods. Participants discussed their perspectives on OHSR, analysed current challenges in OHSR in Germany and developed key positions for the field’s development.Results The seven agreed-upon key positions addressed conceptual and strategic aspects. There was consensus that the field required the development of a research agenda that can guide future efforts. On a conceptual level, the need to address challenges in terms of interdisciplinarity, terminology, organisation(s) as research subjects, international comparative research and utilisation of organisational theory was recognized. On a strategic level, requirements with regard to teaching, promotion of interdisciplinary and international collaboration, suitable funding opportunities and participatory research were identified.Conclusions This position paper seeks to serve as a framework to support further development of OHSR in Germany and as a guide for researchers and funding organisations on how to move OHSR forward. Some of the challenges discussed for German OHSR are equally present in other countries. Thus, this position paper can be used to initiate fruitful discussions in other countries