Relativistic MOND from Modified Energetics

We begin to investigate the question of what modifications in energy-momentum tensor can yield correct MOND regime. As a starting study, we refrain from insisting on an action principle and focus exclusively on the equations of motion. The present work, despite the absence of an explicit action functional, can be regarded to extend Milgrom's modified inertia approach to relativistic domain. Our results show that a proper MOND limit arises if energy-momentum tensor is modified to involve determinant of the metric tensor in reference to the flat metric, where the latter is dynamically generated as in gravitational Higgs mechanism. This modified energy-momentum tensor is conserved in both Newtonian and MONDian regimes.Comment: 7p

Higgsed Stueckelberg Vector and Higgs Quadratic Divergence

Here we show that, a hidden vector field whose gauge invariance is ensured by a Stueckelberg scalar and whose mass is spontaneously generated by the Standard Model Higgs field contributes to quadratic divergences in the Higgs boson mass squared, and even leads to its cancellation at one-loop when Higgs coupling to gauge field is fine-tuned. In contrast to mechanisms based on hidden scalars where a complete cancellation cannot be achieved, stabilization here is complete in that the hidden vector and the accompanying Stueckelberg scalar are both free from quadratic divergences at one-loop. This stability, deriving from hidden exact gauge invariance, can have important implications for modelling dark phenomena like dark matter, dark energy, dark photon and neutrino masses. The hidden fields can be produced at the LHC.Comment: 5pp, 1 fig. Improved exposition, rectified concurrency to broken and unbroken electroweak vacua, added reference

Factors Affecting Recurrent Choledocholithiasis After Endoscopic Biliary Sphincterotomy: A Cross-Sectional Study

Aim:The purpose of this study was to identify and analyze factors associated with the recurrence of common bile duct stones (CBDS) following endoscopic interventions, aiming to provide insights into predictors and characteristics of CBDS recurrence after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) procedures.Methods:The study was designed as a single-center, cross-sectional study. Clinical data were collected from 271 patients with CBDS who underwent ERCP between June 2019 and December 2022. According to the diagnostic criteria for CBDS recurrence, patients were categorized into recurrence and non-recurrence groups. The assessment of predisposing risk factors for recurrent bile duct stones included various variables such as age, sex, gallbladder status, presence of periampullary diverticulum (PAD), number and diameter of bile duct stones, bile duct diameter, pre-cutting, and early complications.Results:A total of 271 patients were included in the study. CBDS recurrence occurred in 25 patients (9.2%), with a median of 18 months after ERCP and EST. Notable findings included that patients with recurrent CBDS had larger common bile duct diameters (7.5±4.5 mm vs 13±1.7 mm, p=0.037). Choledocholithiasis was more common in patients with a choledochal duct diameter ≥1.5 cm (3% vs 48%, p=0.00001). Recurrent choledocholithiasis was frequent in patients with larger stone sizes (7.3±6.5 mm vs 13.5±4.3 mm, p=0.04). The presence of PAD was correlated with a higher recurrence risk (23% vs 44%, p=0.013). The time to stone recurrence after the index ERCP and EST was 18.273±2.021 months. There was no significant difference in recurrence between patients with ≥2 CBDS and those with a single stone (41% vs 44%, p=0.35).Conclusion:Larger bile duct diameter, choledochal stone size, initial stone size, and the presence of PAD emerged as crucial indicators of recurrence risk. These findings contribute to our understanding of the prediction and management of CBDS recurrence after ERCP and EST procedures

Protective effect of astaxanthin and metformin in the liver of rats in which the polycystic ovary syndrome model was formed by giving letrozole

Objective(s): In this study, the effects of astaxanthin on liver tissue in rats with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) were evaluated.Materials and Methods: Fifty-four Spraque-Dawley rats were divided into 9 groups: Groups: Control, PCOS, PCOS+Metformin (Met), PCOS+ Astaxanthin (ASX)10, PCOS+ASX20, PCOS+ASX40, PCOS+Met+ASX10, PCOS+Met+ASX20, and PCOS+Met+ASX40. PCOS was induced in female rats by oral administration of letrozole (1 mg/kg) for 21 days. Rats were treated with ASX (10 mg/kg), ASX (20 mg/kg), ASX (40 mg/kg), and metformin (20 mg/kg) for 7 days after PCOS induction. At the end of the experiment, malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were measured in the liver tissue. The liver was stained with hematoxylin/eosin for histological examination. Additionally, NF-kB and caspase 3 were analyzed immunohistochemically.Results: A remarkable abnormality was observed in the biochemical and histological parameters in the liver tissue of the PCOS model rats. Astaxanthin dose-dependently normalized the MDA level. Additionally, astaxanthin showed a protective effect by increasing the SOD level and increasing its antioxidant activities. We observed that administration of astaxanthin in addition to metformin applied in the standard was more effective. Caspase 3 and NF-kB immune positivity was lower in the groups given astaxanthin compared with PCOS. Histologically, it was observed that astaxanthin improved the deteriorated liver morphology in the letrozole-induced PCOS group.Conclusion: According to our results, it was observed that astaxanthin had antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects on PCOS in the treatment groups. Therefore, it was concluded that astaxanthin may have a protective effect against PCOS side effects

Diagnostic Prevalence of Celiac Disease by Routine Duodenum Biopsy in Adult Patients with Iron Deficiency

Objective:Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) frequently emerges as a consequence of Celiac disease (CeD), and in some cases, it can be the sole clinical manifestation of the condition, especially among patients with subclinical or atypical forms. Histological analysis plays a pivotal role in the diagnostic process. Our study aimed to assess the significance of duodenal biopsies in diagnosing CeD among patients with IDA of unknown origin and to determine the prevalence of CeD within the group of patients with unexplained IDA.Method:Between June 2019 and December 2022, we enrolled 248 consecutive patients aged 18 and above who underwent duodenal biopsies during esophagogastroduodenoscopy procedures for evaluating unexplained IDA in our endoscopy unit. A retrospective analysis of CeD prevalence was performed. Patients with abnormal duodenal histology were tested for anti-endomysium antibody and tissue transglutaminase antibody levels. A positive serological test along with abnormal duodenal histology confirmed the diagnosis of CeD. Histopathological changes were categorized according to the Marsh classification.Results:A total of 248 patients, including 171 women, meeting the study criteria were included. CeD was identified in 8 (3.2%) patients who underwent duodenum biopsies. The average age of celiac patients was 36±14 years, and the female-to-male ratio was 1.3:1. Histopathology revealed Marsh III in 5 (62.5%) patients, Marsh II in 2 (25%), and Marsh I with lesions in 1 (12.5%) patient. All patients with pathological changes in duodenal biopsies (Marsh I, II & III) tested positive serologically. No significant differences were observed in mean hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, and ferritin levels between patients with and without CeD accompanied by IDA.Conclusion:Routine duodenum biopsies performed during upper endoscopic examinations of IDA patients contribute to a diagnostic yield of 3.2% for CeD. Thus, even in cases where the endoscopic appearance of the mucosa seems normal, this procedure should be routinely integrated into the diagnostic evaluation of patients with IDA

THE EXPECTATIONS OF POST GRADUATE STUDENTS FROM ACADEMIC STAFF MEMBERS: THE EXAMPLE OF EDUCATIONAL SCIENCES INSTITUTION

In this study, the question of "What are the expectations of graduate students from academic staff members" has been focused so that the expectations of graduate students from academic staff members and to which extent they can attain these expectations could be found out. While determining the working group, maximum variation sampling, one of the methods of purposive sampling was used. At this point, our working group includes 9 master students and 10 doctorate (PhD) students in the educational sciences institution of Gazi University in 2009-2010 academic year. Measuring tools developed by the researchers of this study was used to obtainthe data, and the technique of category analysis was used while analyzing the data. As a consequence of this study, it has been found out that there are two kinds of sub-dimensions which are respectively Communication Skills related with the active learning process of graduate students and Personal Qualities along with Academic Adequacy related with academic staff members in terms of Academic Proficiency. There are some characteristics like being a model and ability to empathize under the sub-dimension of Personal Qualities while there are some characteristics like ability to empathize, the ability to use Turkish in an efficient way, use of body language and being objective under the sub-dimension of Communications Skills related with the academic staff members

INVESTIGATION OF PROSPECTIVE SCIENCE TEACHERS' ATTITUDES TOWARDS COMPUTERS IN TERMS OF DIFFERENT VARIABLES

The purpose of this study is to investigate prospective science teachers' attitudes towards computers in terms of gender, general academic achievement and grade level. This is a descriptive field survey. The study group of the research comprised of totally 226 students attending the Science Teaching Department of Education Faculty, Kırşehir Ahi Evran University. "Attitude Scale towards Computers" and "Demographic Information Form" were used as data collection tools. In the analysis of the data, descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficient were used. At the end of the study, teachers' attitudes towards computers were determined as in medium level. On the other hand, it was found out that prospective teachers' points of attitudes towards computers differed significantly according to gender and grade level. In addition, it was determined that the teachers' points of attitudes towards computers didn't differ significantly according to general academic achievement. It was revealed that there were high and medium-level positive relationships between prospective teachers' points of attitudes towards computers and gender, grade level and academic achievement

USE OF SCIENCE LOGS IN DETERMINING THE RELATION BETWEEN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND DAILY LIFE

In this study, science logs were used in order to investigate students' skills to relate science and daily life. The purpose of the study was to determine what kind of relations students can generally form between science and daily life without choosing any subject from science and technology curriculum and to specify their opinions about explaining these relations through science logs. Students' science log writing practice lasted for 3 weeks. The study group, which was determined through convenient sampling-one of purposeful sampling methods- comprised of 12 6th grade students in Selçuklu district of Konya. The study was designed in a purely qualitative fashion for all steps of sample selection, data collection and analysis. The technique that was preferred in the data collected through science logs were correspondence. Students' opinions about relating science to daily life by using science logs were taken through semi-structured interviews. For analyzing the study data, descriptive analysis was performed through NVivo 8 Data Analysis Program. According to the study results, it was determined that students could generally identify the subjects related to science but that they had difficulty forming a relation between what they came across and science. Students stated that they had pleasure in writing science logs and that although in the first couple of days they had difficulty in understanding whether what they came across was related or not, they liked it later on

STATION TECHNIQUE: A SAMPLE LESSON ACTIVITY ON CELLS

Purpose of this study is, evaluating products of students which were formed as a result of the activity prepared with station technique and their views which are related to this activity. This study was carried out with 20 sixth grade students who educated in Konya's Selçuklu Town in 2010-2011 education year. They were used as data gathering tool that semi-structured interview forms which prepared for determining activity products and views about this activity. NVivo 8 qualitative data analyzing program and descriptive analysis method was used for data analyzing. According to results of the study; cell and its parts were used correctly and impressive in activity products. Also, students expressed, they liked the activity, found it entertaining and regard it as an independent environment for telling their thoughts. But it is seen that some of the students didn't like the activity because of the reasons as can't generating ideas, not being taken into discussion and grou