TEACHING MATHEMATICS AT VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOLS AND STUDENT ATTITUDES AND APPROACHES TOWARDS THIS COURSE

We examined the observations of preservice mathematics teachers in relation to mathematics teaching and teaching methods at vocational high schools and also their thoughts about vocational high school student attitudes and approaches towards this course in this qualitative study which is a case study of a descriptive type. With this aim, a total of 50 preservice teachers were addressed two research problems. The data reached within the context of the study was analyzed through the content analysis method. The research data were broadly analyzed by using the methods of categorical analysis and the frequency analysis. The findings showed that the preservice teachers thought that the way of teaching mathematics at vocational high schools and the vocational high school student attitudes and approaches towards this course were mostly negatively affected by such different variables as participation in courses, special teaching methods and techniques, and teacher. Besides, almost all the preservice teachers wrote negative statements in relation to the vocational high school student attitudes and approaches towards mathematics

Modal identification of a reduced-scale masonry arch bridge with experimental measurements and finite element method

This study aims to investigate modal parameters such as mode shapes, natural frequencies and damping ratios of a reduced scale one-span historical masonry arch bridge constructed in laboratory conditions by performing numerical and experimental analysis. Sarp Dere historical masonry bridge, in Ordu, Ulubey, has 15.5m in length and 4.75m in width was chosen as a prototype model. The reduced-scale bridge model and structural details were carried out in the scale of 1:12.5. Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) technique was used for experimental study. The experimental modal parameters of the bridge model were figured out by using Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition (EFDD). ANSYS software was used to create 3D finite element (FE) model and to expose the analytical modal parameters of the reduced-scaled bridge model. Moreover, FE model of the reduced-scale bridge model was calibrated based on the experimental results by using the Response Surface based FE model calibration technique to obtain more accurate results. The analysis results of experimental, initial and calibrated FE model were compared. It is noted that there are significant differences between the modal parameters obtained from experimental and initial FE model. Model calibration techniques are beneficial to get a more reasonable FE model

Clinical Utility of Hepassocin and TXNDC5 in Patients with Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and/or Type 2 Diabetes

Objective: The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is high both in the general population and in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), while studies on its etiopathogenesis are still ongoing. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between the ultrasound grade of liver steatosis and serum levels of hepassocin (HPS) and thioredoxin domain-containing protein 5 (TXNDC5) in patients with T2DM. Method: The cross-sectional study included 156 participants who were divided into four groups: isolated NAFLD, isolated T2DM, both NAFLD and T2DM, and healthy controls. The demographic data as well as the physical characteristics, laboratory findings, and ultrasonographic grades of liver steatosis of the participants were evaluated between all groups. Results: According to ultrasound examinations, HPS values were significantly higher in patients with grade 1 and 2 liver steatosis than in patients without liver steatosis. HPS levels were significantly higher in the vast majority of participants, including healthy controls than in those with isolated T2DM. No significant differences were found between HPS and diabetes. There was no significant correlation between TXNDC5 serum levels and ultrasound results in all groups. Conclusion: In the present study, our results show that serum HPS levels were higher in individuals with liver steatosis than in individuals without liver steatosis. These results provide further evidence for the association of HPS with NAFLD and expand our understanding of its potential role in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. In addition, our study can be considered one of the first studies in the literature to investigate the association between ultrasonographic hepatic steatosis and serum HPS levels

Failures and Inabilities of High School Students about Quadratic Equations and Functions

In this research study, it was aimed to examine failures and inabilities of eleventh grade students about quadratic equations and functions. For this purpose, these students were asked ten open-ended questions. The analysis of the answers given by the students to these questions indicated that a significant part of these students had failures and inabilities about quadratic equations and functions. The students were often unable to decide what to do in relation to the mathematical operations and made some arithmetical mistakes

Effect of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure on Overactive Bladder Symptoms in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Objective:To evaluate overactive bladder (OAB) in male and female patients with moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and to investigate the impact of three months of continuous positive airwMethods:Twenty-eight female and 45 male patients with moderate and severe OSAS whose obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity was evaluated according to the apnea–hypopnea index were included in the study. Patients’ voiding symptoms were evaluated using the validated Turkish translations of overactive bladder symptom scores (OAB-V8) and the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short-Form (ICIQ-SF) at OSAS diagnosis and at 3-months after the CPAP therapy.Results:Patients with moderate and severe OSAS were more likely to have OAB than the average population, and CPAP therapy improved the symptoms of OAB in both male and female patients. In addition, a positive association was observed between OSA severity and OAB-V8 and ICIQ-SF in female patients and between OSA severity and OAB-V8 in male patients.Conclusion:Our findings suggest that CPAP therapy improves the clinical symptoms of OAB. Thus, unnecessary medical or interventional treatment of OAB can be avoided in such patients

Real-world efficacy and safety of Ledipasvir plus Sofosbuvir and Ombitasvir/Paritaprevir/Ritonavir +/- Dasabuvir combination therapies for chronic hepatitis C: A Turkish experience

Background/Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the real-life efficacy and tolerability of direct-acting antiviral treatments for patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with/without cirrhosis in the Turkish population.Material and Methods: A total of 4,352 patients with CHC from 36 different institutions in Turkey were enrolled. They received ledipasvir (LDV) and sofosbuvir (SOF)+/- ribavirin (RBV) ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir +/- dasabuvir (PrOD)+/- RBV for 12 or 24 weeks. Sustained virologic response (SVR) rates, factors affecting SVR, safety profile, and hepatocellular cancer (HCC) occurrence were analyzed.Results: SVR12 was achieved in 92.8% of the patients (4,040/4,352) according to intention-to-treat and in 98.3% of the patients (4,040/4,108) according to per-protocol analysis. The SVR12 rates were similar between the treatment regimens (97.2%-100%) and genotypes (95.6%-100%). Patients achieving SVR showed a significant decrease in the mean serum alanine transaminase (ALT) levels (50.90 +/- 54.60 U/L to 17.00 +/- 14.50 U/L) and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores (7.51 +/- 4.54 to 7.32 +/- 3.40) (p<0.05). Of the patients, 2 were diagnosed with HCC during the treatment and 14 were diagnosed with HCC 37.0 +/- 16.0 weeks post-treatment. Higher initial MELD score (odds ratio [OR]: 1.92, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22-2.38; p=0.023]), higher hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA levels (OR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.31-2.28; p=0.038), and higher serum ALT levels (OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.21-1.83; p=0.042) were associated with poor SVR12. The most common adverse events were fatigue (12.6%), pruritis (7.3%), increased serum ALT (4.7%) and bilirubin (3.8%) levels, and anemia (3.1%).Conclusion: LDV/SOF or PrOD +/- RBV were effective and tolerable treatments for patients with CHC and with or without advanced liver disease before and after liver transplantation. Although HCV eradication improves the liver function, there is a risk of developing HCC.Turkish Association for the Study of The Liver (TASL

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF RESONANCE FREQUENCY OF CIRCULAR PIEZO MICROPHONE BASED ON PHOTOACOUSTIC, LASER SPECKLE, AND PIEZOELECTRIC EFFECTS

Resonance frequency of a circular piezoelectric microphone was measured by two types of methods which were named as photoacoustic and speckle method. In the photoacoustic method; acoustic waves were obtained due to the optical excitation and resulting thermally induced mechanical distortion was measured by the piezoelectric layer of microphone. Photoacoustic effect is a type of optical excitation, which creates an acoustic wave due to the absorbed light energy which causes thermal expansion of material. In contrast to the photoacoustic method, speckle method was conducted by electrical excitation of the piezoelectric layer which results in mechanical distortion and this distortion was detected by using changes in laser speckle pattern. Measurements were taken from 6 different piezo microphones in 3 different diameters of 15 mm, 35 mm, and 50 mm and the same thickness of brass plate in the frequency range of 0-11 kHz. As a conclusion, it is found that the resonance frequencies of same diameter microphones determined by the photoacoustic method are close but different with the results of the speckle method. It is believed that the differences in the results are caused by differences of excitation/detection mechanism for same microphones and shape, material parameter differences between microphones for different microphones

An x-band SiGe BiCMOS T/R module core chip for phased array RADAR applications

This paper presents a T/R Module core chip with 4-bit operation using 0.25µm SiGe BiCMOS technology, for X-Band Phased Array RADAR applications. T/R Module core chip consists of sub-blocks such as Low Noise Amplifier (LNA), Power Amplifier (PA), Phase Shifter (PS), Single-Pole-Double-Throw (SPDT) switch, and Variable Gain Amplifier (VGA). Switches incorporate NMOS devices while amplifiers are implemented with SiGe HBTs. Measurement results for the complete core chip and its individual sub blocks are reported here. Between 9-10GHz, the constructed T/R Module achieves about 11dB gain for both receiver (RX) and transmitter (TX) chains, while it has -10.5dBm receiver chain IIP3, and 16dBm OP1dB for transmitter chain. RMS phase error is measured as 5, while Noise Figure (NF) varies between 4-6dB. Total power dissipation of core chip is about 285mW; with a total area 4.9mm2

Can the devices used to treat obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome increase the tendency to gain weight?

Özet: Uyku apnesi tedavisinde kullan›lan cihazlar kilo almaya e¤ilimi artt›r›yor olabilir mi? Amaç: Bu çal›flma ile t›kay›c› uyku apnesi sendromu (TUAS) hastalar›-n›n tedavisinde kullan›lan cihazlar›n kilo de¤ifliklikleri üzerine etkilerinin araflt›r›lmas› planland›. Yöntem: Çal›flmaya horlama ve uyku apnesi flikayetleriyle baflvurup polisomnografi (PSG) tetkiki istenen 256 hasta dahil edildi. Hastalar apne hipopne indeksleri (AHI) ve cihaz kullan›m durumlar›na göre afla¤›daki flekilde grupland›r›ld›: Grup 1 TUAS tan›s› konularak tedavi amaçl› cihaz kullananlar (n=101), Grup 2 TUAS tan›s› konularak tedavi amaçl› önerilen cihaza uyum sa¤layamayanlar (n=76) ve Grup 3 PSG ile basit horlama teflhisi konulup TUAS olmayanlar (n=79). Grup 1; CPAP, Auto CPAP veya BiPap kullanan hastalardan oluflmaktad›r. Her üç grup hastan›n da vücut kitle indeksi (VK‹) ve boyun çevresi (BÇ) öl-çümleri kay›tlar›na PSG merkezinden ulafl›ld› (bafllang›ç de¤erleri); bu hastalar tekrar ölçüm ve kontrol için Kulak Burun Bo¤az poliklini¤ine ça¤›r›larak de¤erlendirildiler (kontrol de¤erleri). Bulgular: Grup 1 hastalar›nda; bafllang›ç de¤erleri ile kontrol de¤erleri karfl›laflt›r›ld›¤›nda: VK‹ ve BÇ istatistiksel olarak anlaml› derecede yük-sekti (p&lt;0.05), Grup 2 ve 3 için VK‹ ve BÇ&apos;de istatistiksel olarak anlaml› bir fark saptanmad› (p&gt;0.05). Grup 1 de farkl› cihaz türlerini kullanan (CPAP, Auto CPAP veya BiPap) hastalar için VK‹ ve BÇ aç›s›ndan anlaml› farkl›l›k göstermedi (p&gt;0.05). Sonuç: Uyku apnesi hastalar›n› tedavi etmek için kullan›lan cihazlar kilo almaya e¤ilimi artt›rmaktad›rlar. Bu hastalar›n ileride k›s›r dön-güye sebep olmamak için obezite aç›s›ndan yak›n takipleri ve gerekli önlemlerin al›nmas› gerekir. Anahtar sözcükler: Uyku apnesi, CPAP, Auto CPAP, BiPap, vücut kitle indeksi, boyun çevresi. Abstract Objective: This study investigated the effects of device treatments on weight changes in obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) patients. Methods: The study included 256 patients who underwent polysomnography to evaluate snoring and suspected OSAS. They were grouped according to the apnoea hypopnoea index (AHI) and device usage for OSAS as follows: Group 1 included patients who were established with OSAS diagnosis and used device for treatment purpose (n=101); Group 2 included patients who were established with OSAS diagnosis but could not adapt to the devices recommended for medical purposes (n=76); and Group 3 included patients who were established with ordinary snoring diagnosis but did not have OSAS, (n=79). Group 1 used CPAP, Auto CPAP, or BiPap. For all groups, BMI and neck circumference data were obtained from sleep centre records (baseline values) and invited to visit again for followup measurements in otolaryngology outpatient clinic (control values). Results: In Group 1, both BMI and neck circumference were increased at follow-up compared with the baseline measurements (p&lt;0.05) while no significant change was detected in the other two groups (p&gt;0.05). The BMI and neck circumference did not differ among the devices used in Group 1 (CPAP, Auto CPAP, and BiPap) (p&gt;0.05). Conclusion: Devices used to treat OSAS tend to enhance weight gain. Such patients should be closely monitored and the required measures should be taken in terms of obesity

Experimental modal investigation of scaled minaret embedded in different soil types

The influence of various types of foundation soil on dynamic behaviour of reinforced-concrete minarets is analysed in the paper. A 1:20 RC scale model was constructed in laboratory for the testing. The gravel, sand, and clay-gravel mixture, were used as foundation soil types to determine differences in dynamic behaviour as related to the type of foundation soil. Experimental measurements were conducted using the Operational Modal Analysis (OMA), taking into account ambient vibrations due to wind action and traffic. Test results show that the dynamic behaviour of RC minaret is strongly influenced by the type of foundation soil