An Analysis of the Relationship among EFL Learners’ Autonomy, Self-esteem, and Choice of Vocabulary Learning Strategies

This study seeks to determine whether any significant relationship exists among EFL learners’ autonomy (LA), self-esteem (SE), and choice of vocabulary learning strategies (VLS) as well as whether LA and SE are predictors of these strategies. To achieve these aims, this study employed a descriptive research design. Participants included 157 male and female undergraduate EFL learners, all within the age range of 17 to 25 years. They were studying English within the sub-disciplines of English Literature, Linguistics, and General English. Participants were administered the following three types of questionnaires adapted by the researcher: a) a 30-item VLS questionnaire based on that of Schmitt taxonomy (1997); b) a 30-item LA questionnaire developed by Sakai, et al. (2008); c) and a 30-item SE questionnaire based on Coopersmith’s SE inventory (1967). Upon conducting preliminary analyses of this study’s assumptions, the characteristics of the data were proven legitimate via correlation and regression analyses. Correlation analysis demonstrated that a statistically significant relationship existed between EFL learners’ autonomy and VLS, with (r = .555, p < .05), and SE and VLS, with (r = .678 p < .05). Furthermore, regression analysis revealed LA and SE to be significant predictors of VLS. LA predicted 30.7% of scores in the choice of VLS (R = .555, R2 = .307), and SE predicted 45.9% of scores in the choice of VLS (R = .678, R2 = .456). These findings demonstrate that both LA and SE make strong contributions to VLS

Coronary arteriovenous fistulas in the adults: natural history and management strategies

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>To describe aspects of the natural history and pathophysiology of coronary arteriovenous fistula and to propose potential treatment strategies.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Eleven adult patients were treated surgically for coronary arteriovenous fistulas (8 male, 3 female) during the last three years. Mean age was 48,7 ± 9,5 years (range 32-65 years). Diagnosis was made by coronary angiography and transesophageal echocardiography</p> <p>Results</p> <p>All patients were symptomatic due to the associating cardiac disorder or fistula. Presenting symptoms were chest pain, exertional dyspnea and palpitation. All patients were diagnosed by selective angiography. Transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography was performed to identify the Qp/Qs ratio in one patient. One patient who had an LAD to pulmonary artery coronary arteriovenous fistula with a vascular malformation needed early reoperation due to recurrence of the fistula. Echocardiographic evaluation at the postoperative third month revealed no residual shunts in all patients.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Because of the severe complications that may develop due to coronary arteriovenous fistula, we believe that every coronary artery fistula should be treated invasively by surgery or transcatheter closure. But both treatment modalities still need to be evaluated with randomized multicenter studies for long term survival and effectiveness.</p

Extended Durability of a Cloth-Covered Star-Edwards Caged Ball Prosthesis in Aortic Position

The Starr-Edwards caged ball valve is one of the oldest cardiac valve prosthesis and was widely used all around the world in the past decades. Despite the long-term results that have been reported there are only a few cases reported that exceed 30 years of durability. Here in, we report a 53-year-old patient with a well-functioning 35-year-old aortic Starr-Edwards caged ball prosthesis

Cadastral valuation as instrument for strategic planning

The article analyzes issues modern state improving of cadastral valuation methods. In this case, the role of the land and property complex in strategic and territorial planning is analyzed. The necessity of forecasting changes in the lands cadastral value for achieving strategic goals and the choice of town-planning solutions is shown

Clinical Evaluation of a Self-Adhering Flowable Resin Composite in Minimally Invasive Class I Cavities: 5-year Results of a Double Blind Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial

Svrha istraživanja: Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je procijeniti dugoročne kliničke rezultate samoadhezivnog tekućeg kompozita u usporedbi s konvencionalnim tekućim kompozitom u kombinaciji s jetkajuće-ispirućim adhezivom u minimalno invazivnim kavitetima I. razreda. Materijali i metode: Na zubima dvadeset i pet pacijenata izrađena su barem po dva ispuna I. razreda (n = 65). Nakon što su preparirani kaviteti I. razreda, nasumično su restaurirani ili samoadhezivnim tekućim kompozitom (Vertise-Flow/Kerr-VR) [skupina 1 (n = 33)], ili konvencionalnim tekućim kompozitom (Luxaflow/DMG-LX) u kombinaciji s jetkajuće-ispirućim adhezivnim sustavom (Teco/DMG) [skupina 2 (n = 32)] prema uputama proizvođača. Dva istraživača procijenila su početne vrijednosti restauracija prema kriterijima FDI-a i nakon toga u petogodišnjem razdoblju jedanput na godinu. Statistička analiza provedena je Pearsonovim Chi-kvadrat testom i Cochranovim Q-testom, a zatim McNemarovim testom (p = 0,05). Rezultati: Nakon pet godina ukupno je izrađeno 47 restauracija sa stopom odaziva na kontrolne preglede od 68 %. U razdoblju od četiri godine, na trima (11,5 %) restauracijama u skupini VR i dvjema u skupini LX (7,6 %) dogodio se kumulativni gubitak retencije. Sedamnaest restauracija (73,9 %) VR i 14 LX (58,3 %) ocijenjeno je klinički dobrima (2) za parametar rubne prilagodbe. Pri procjeni nakon pet godina u skupinama VR i LX zabilježeni su slični rezultati za sve procijenjene parametre (p > 0,05). Kumulativne stope gubitka retencije u skupinama VR i LX iznosile su 15,3 %, odnosno 7,6 %. Ni kod jedne restauracije nije zabilježen rekurentni karijes ili postoperativna osjetljivost. Za oba materijala zabilježena je značajna promjena nakon četiri i pet godina, kad je riječ o rubnom obojenju, u odnosu prema početnoj vrijednosti (p < 0,001). Nadalje, opažene su značajne promjene za parametar rubne prilagodbe u skupinama VR i LX nakon jedne, dvije, tri, četiri i pet godina u usporedbi s početnom vrijednosti (p < 0,001). Zaključak: Oba materijala za restauraciju kaviteta I. razreda pokazala su klinički prihvatljive rezultate nakon pet godina. Samoadhezivni tekući kompozit imao je slične kliničke performanse kao i konvencionalni tekući kompozit u kombinaciji s jetkajuće-ispirućim adhezivnim sustavom.Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term clinical performance of a self-adhering flowable resin composite compared to a conventional flowable resin composite used with an etch&rinse adhesive system in minimally invasive Class I cavities. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five patients received at least one pair of Class I restorations (n=65). After Class I cavities had been prepared, they were randomly restored either with a self-adhering flowable resin composite (Vertise-Flow/Kerr-VR) [Group-1 (n=33)], or with a flowable resin composite (Luxaflow/DMG-LX) in combination with an etch&rinse adhesive (Teco/DMG) [Group-2 (n=32)] according to the manufacturers’ instructions. The restorations were evaluated at baseline and yearly during 5 years according to the FDI criteria by two evaluators. A statistical analysis was carried out using the Pearson Chi-Square test and the Cochran Q-test followed by the Mc Nemar’s test (p=0.05). Results: After 5 years a total of 47 restorations were evaluated with a recall rate of 68%. At 4-year, 3 (11.5%) VR and 2 LX (7.6%) restorations exhibited a cumulative retention loss. Seventeen (73.9%) VR and 14 LX (58.3%) restorations exhibited clinically acceptable (2) scores for marginal adaptation. At 5-year evaluations VR and LX showed similar results regarding all evaluated criteria (p > 0.05). The cumulative retention loss rates of VR and LX were 15.3% and 7.6%, respectively. None of the restorations demonstrated a recurrence of caries and post operative sensitivity. Both materials showed significant changes at 4 and 5 years regarding marginal staining when compared to baseline (p<0.001). Furthermore, significant changes were observed for VR and LX at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years for marginal adaptation according to baseline (p<0.001). Conclusion: The use of both materials for the restoration of Class-I cavities demonstrated clinically acceptable performance at the end of 5-year. The self-adhering flowable composite exhibited a clinical performance similar to the conventional flowable applied with an etch&rinse adhesive

Daily antibiotic cost of nosocomial infections in a Turkish university hospital

BACKGROUND: Many studies associated nosocomial infections with increased hospital costs due to extra days in hospital, staff time, extra investigations and drug treatment. The cost of antibiotic treatment for these infections represents a significant part of hospital expenditure. This prospective observational study was designed to determine the daily antibiotic cost of nosocomial infections per infected adult patient in Akdeniz University Hospital. METHODS: All adult patients admitted to the ICUs between January 1, 2000, and June 30, 2003 who had only one nosocomial infection during their stay were included in the study. Infection sites and pathogens, antimicrobial treatment of patient and it's cost were recorded. Daily antibiotic costs were calculated per infected patient. RESULTS: Among the 8460 study patients, 817 (16.6%) developed 1407 episodes of nosocomial infection. Two hundred thirty three (2.7%) presented with only one nosocomial infection. Mean daily antibiotic cost was $89.64. Daily antibiotic cost was$99.02 for pneumonia, $94.32 for bloodstream infection,$94.31 for surgical site infection, $52.37 for urinary tract infection, and$162.35 for the other infections per patient. The treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections was the most expensive infection treated. Piperacillin-tazobactam and amikacin were the most prescribed antibiotics, and meropenem was the most expensive drug for treatment of the nosocomial infections in the ICU. CONCLUSIONS: Daily antibiotic cost of nosocomial infections is an important part of extra costs that should be reduced providing rational antibiotic usage in hospitals

Estudio comparativo de las traducciones al turco y al español de Las Brujas de Salem

Este texto demuestra cómo los cambios que han sucedido en las relaciones de género y poder afectan el proceso de traducción de un texto literario. Concretamente, nos centramos en la traducción de las formas de cortesía y del comportamiento político en la obra El Crisol de Arthur Miller. Mientras sólo hay una traducción al turco (1962), para el análisis de las traducciones españolas se han seleccionado dos de distintos períodos: una de 1955 y la otra de 1997. El objetivo, en últimas, es señalar cómo las traducciones se convierten en un reflejo de la situación socio-cultural del país meta, en el momento en que se producen