A general outlook on Turkish librarianship and libraries

Turkey has a rich book and library tradition going back centuries. This article presents an overview of Turkish libraries and librarianship by providing information specifically on the library tradition in Turkey, public and special libraries, librarianship education, professional associations and publications, and recent developments including some special projects run by the state and NGOs

The Usability of E-learning Platforms in Higher Education: A Systematic Mapping Study

The use of e-learning in higher education has increased significantly in recent years, which has led to several studies being conducted to investigate the usability of the platforms that support it. A variety of different usability evaluation methods and attributes have been used, and it has therefore become important to start reviewing this work in a systematic way to determine how the field has developed in the last 15 years. This paper describes a systematic mapping study that performed searches on five electronic libraries to identify usability issues and methods that have been used to evaluate e-learning platforms. Sixty-one papers were selected and analysed, with the majority of studies using a simple research design reliant on questionnaires. The usability attributes measured were mostly related to effectiveness, satisfaction, efficiency, and perceived ease of use. Furthermore, several research gaps have been identified and recommendations have been made for further work in the area of the usability of online learning

Hüzünleri taşıdım sevinçleri yaşadım: anılar

Yaşam sürecimiz boyunca hepimizin karşılaştığı, bir yığın olay vardır. Bunların bir kısmı hüzünlendirir, bir kısmı sevindirir. Bir kısmı ise, isteyerek veya istemeyerek çeşitli olayları yaşamaya, iyi veya kötü deneyimler kazanmaya neden olur. Sonuçta tüm olgular, yaşayan ile yaşam arasındaki, görülen ve görülmeyen iletişimin bir parçasıdır. Bu ilk kitabımda, hayatımın, yaklaşık son kırk beş yılında karşılaştıklarımdan dağarcığıma attığım bazı anılarımı bir araya getirdim ve bunları sizlerle paylaşmak istedim. Satırlarımda olabildiğince hayatın güzel yanlarını, insanın insana yakışan davranışlarını, zaman zaman biraz da hicvederek, göstermeye çalıştım. Nerede ise tüm yaşamımız boyunca içimizi dışımızı kaplayan hüzünden, uzak durmaya çalıştım. Çünkü ondan hem çok çektim, hem de onun hiçbir kapıyı açmadığını gördüm. Ulusal ve uluslararası düzeyde, çok güzel şeyler gördüm yaşadım. Dostluklar edindim, doğrusuyla yanlışı ile birçok insanla karşılaşma, konuşma ve tartışma olanağı buldum. En saygın akademisyenlerden, en saygın politikacılara ve pek çok mesleğin güzide önderleriyle birlikte olabilme şansına sahip oldum. Elmanın öbür yarısından ve elmanın öbür yarısında yer alanlardan söz etmek bile istemiyorum. Çünkü hayatın içindeki güzelliklere ve yaşam sürecinin kısalığına bakınca onlar, sözünü bile etmeye değmezler. Dahası,1980 İhtilalini yapanların en üst düzeyindeki komutanların nerede ise tümünü tanıdım. Büyük bir kısmıyla aynı ortamlarda bulundum. Ne yaptıklarını, ne yapmaya çalıştıklarını ve niye yapamadıklarını gördüm. Bütün bunlar bana, hem ülkemi, hem insanlarımı tanıma ve genetik denen nesnenin ne olduğunu anlama olanağı sağladı. Ayrıca, başka ülkelerde ya da başka kültürlerde yetişen veya yaşayan insanlardan, ülkem hakkında söylenenleri dinleme ve onlarla konuşma ve tartışma olanağı buldum. Hatta pek çok kere, çok önemli mi bilmiyorum ama düşüncelerimi yüksek sesle bile söyledim. Bu yüzden, yaşadıklarımın bir kısmını, bu kitapta topladım. Okurlar neler düşünür bilemiyorum. Bunlar, benim yaşadıklarım ve yaşananların bana olan etkileri. Cümlelerimin başında da söylediğim gibi, hüzünden uzak durdum olabildiğince. Hüzünlenmedim, üzülmedim, sıkılmadım, kahrolmadım hatta delirmedim demek hem yalan olur, hem de uykusuz ve huzursuz geçen gecelere haksızlık olur. Aslında şimdi daha iyi anlıyorum ki, hüzünlendiklerim, gücümün yetmedikleridir

Assessment of ex-vivo efficacy (oncogram) of immunotherapeutic and chemotherapeutic agents in bladder cancer: A pilot study of personalized treatment

Purpose: To investigate the ex-vivo efficacy of immunotherapeutics and chemotherapeutics in bladder cancer primary cell cultures, to assess the applicability of the method according to the results and to evaluate suitability of the oncogram method for personalized treatment of bladder cancer

The anemia of familial Mediterranean fever disease

The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of anemia detected in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and the effect of disease activity and colchicine therapy along with inteleukins to laboratory tests, including serum transferrin receptor (TfR), in the diagnosis of anemia seen in FMF in children. After detecting anemia in 63.4% of 172 FMF patients followed up by our rheumatology outpatient polyclinics, it was decided to study 3 groups of patients: group 1, 17 newly diagnosed FMF patients; group 2, 36 FMF patients on colchicine therapy; and group 3, 17 healthy children as control for the symptom of anemia. All 3 groups of patients were investigated for their hematological parameters, iron status, including soluble transferrin receptor (sTFR) concentrations and sTFR index, and IL-6 levels. Anemia ratio was 9/17, 53%; 11/36, 31%; and 1/17, 5% in the groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. There was a significant difference between hemoglobin (Hb) values in the first group and the second (patients who were on colchicine therapy). Furthermore, in the second group there was a significant difference between the Hb concentrations at the time of diagnosis and after colchicine therapy (p = .003). There was a positive correlation between Hb and plasma iron and transferrin saturation in group 1 and disease beginning age, iron, transferrin saturation, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in the second group. In the first group the anemic patients' iron and transferrin saturation were significantly lower than normal, while ferritin levels were higher. In the second group, a good correlation was found with ESR and Hb levels; the higher ESR values were detected in patients with lower Hb values. Of the anemic and nonanemic patients of the first and second groups, values for interleukin 6 and iron parameters, including sTFR, were found similar. Anemia detected in FMF patients was found related to iron status more than interleukins. Colchicine therapy had a positive effect on anemia as well as on disease activity. Resolution of symptoms of FMF occurred with correction of the anemia, if the patient ESR values also decreased on colchicine therapy

Febrile neutropenia in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: single center experience

Aim: An important life-threatening complication of intensive chemotherapy administered in children with leukemia is febrile neutropenia. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical features and consequences of febrile neutropenia attacks in children who were treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Galectin-3: A biochemical marker to detect paroxysmal atrial fibrillation?

Purpose: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common form of arrhythmia. AF leads to electrical remodelling and fibrosis of the atria; however, the mechanism(s) remain poorly understood. Galectin-3 is a potential mediator of cardiac fibrosis. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between serum galectin-3 levels and paroxysmal AF. Methods: Forty-six patients with paroxysmal AF and preserved left ventricular systolic function, and 38 age- and gender-matched control subjects, were involved in the study. Serum galectin-3 levels were analyzed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Serum galectin-3 levels (median 1.38 ng/mL; 1.21 ng/mL-1.87 ng/mL; p< 0.001) were significantly elevated in patients with paroxysmal AF compared with the control. Left atrial diameter was significantly higher in patients with paroxysmal AF (41.2±3.0 mm vs. 39.6±3.3 mm). Left atrial diameter was found to be significantly correlated with serum galectin-3 levels in patients with paroxysmal AF (r= 0.378, p= 0.001). Conclusion: Serum galectin-3 levels are significantly elevated and significantly correlated with left atrial diameter in patients with paroxysmal AF