Lack of Evidence as Evidence: The Case of Air Pollution in Turkey

Environmental issues are in a constant interaction with social, economic, cultural, administrative and political variables that affect each other in a number of ways. As a result, environmental problems are complex problems and their solutions require a holistic approach. In parallel, sustainable development, as an environmental policy principle and objective promotes policy integration to deal with complexity. In this context, data, knowledge and evidence gathering activities play a major role in environmental policy process, from problem definition to selection of alternatives and policy implementation. It is impossible to develop a holistic approach and solve environmental problems without resorting to facts. However, there is not a straightforward line between the evidence, environmental policies and policy change. According to interpretative approaches scientific evidence is socially constructed, and subject to a number of challenges by competing theories and methods. Policy process is not a gentlemen’s business where scientific evidence is used to support political arguments and to legitimize a course of action, rather it is frequently disregarded, side-lined or even discredited if it challenges established practices and vested interests. However, this paper does not aim to focus on the social construction of evidence, but to the establishing a mechanism for the data collection. Public policies involve actions and inaction of governments and inaction demonstrates the concern of public authorities’. By focusing on problems in the development of air quality monitoring systems in Turkey, the paper argues that lack of a sufficient data gathering system is itself a sign of inaction or non-decision. In this case, lack of evidence also counts as an instrument of power, because scientific ambiguity or lack of evidence is used as an instrument of power to preserve status quo and contributes to sustenance of environmental problems, like air pollution, with an extra effect on every stage of policy process

A New Method for the Science Teaching: 6-Sigma Method

Today, in order to increase the academic achievement of the students, new methods are investigated in the field of education and many studies are done on their effectiveness. In this article, 6-Sigma method implemented recently in different areas is introduced and it is aimed to discuss the applicability of the 6-Sigma method in science teaching. In this framework, the study was carried out by using phenomenographic research method. Semi-structured interviews were conducted on the opinions of six science teacherswho voluntarily applied the 6-Sigma method with DMAIC process in their classes. Keywords: Six Sigma, DMAIC, Science Teaching, Heat and Temperatur

Physics Teachers' Opinions on Algodoo Training

The purpose of this research is to reveal the feelings and thoughts of physics teachers towards Algodoo training within the scope of the 4005 TUBITAK project named Innovative and Technology Supported Applications in Physics Education. This study was carried out with phenomenological research within the context of the qualitative research approach. The study group of the research consisted of 22 physics teachers trained in the 4005 TUBITAK project and volunteered to participate in the research. Data were obtained from semi-structured interviews. The data were carried out following the descriptive analysis method with the help of the NVivo 9 program. As a result of descriptive analysis, four categories emerged. These are the installation and application of the Algodoo program, physics teaching activities, and apps similar to Algodoo and Algodoo training. Based on the findings obtained from the research, it was concluded that most of the teachers were very interested in using Algodoo in their lessons, could benefit from Algodoo in their lessons, and could prepare simple physics simulations. Based on the results, Suggestions such as disseminating Algodoo training with in-service training for teaching physics subjects with interactive applications were presented to those interested in the subject

Effect of electrolysis parameters on the morphologies of copper powder obtained at high current densities

The effects of copper ion concentrations and electrolyte temperature on the morphologies and on the apparent densities of electrolytic copper powders at high current densities under galvanostatic regime were examined. These parameters were evaluated by the current efficiency of hydrogen evolution. In addition, scanning electron microscopy was used for analyzing the morphology of the copper powders. It was found that the morphology was dependent over the copper ion concentration and electrolyte temperature under same current density (CD) conditions. At 150 mA cm-2 and the potential of 1000±20 mV (vs. SCE), porous and disperse copper powders were obtained at low concentrations of Cu ions (0.120 M Cu2+ in 0.50 M H2SO4). Under this condition, high rate of hydrogen evolution reaction took place parallel to copper electrodeposition. The morphology was changed from porous, disperse and cauliflower-like to coral-like, shrub-like and stalk-stock like morphology with the increasing of Cu ion concentrations towards 0.120 M, 0.155 M, 0.315 M, 0.475 M and 0.630 M Cu2+ in 0.5 M H2SO4 respectively at the same CD. Similarly, as the temperature was increased, powder morphology and apparent density were observed to be changed. The apparent density values of copper powders were found to be suitable for many of the powder metallurgy applications

Examination of national studies on activity-based learning

Etkinlik temelli öğrenme, öğrencilerin yeni bir bilgiyle karşılaştığında, o bilgiyi tanımak ve yorumlamak için önceki bilgilerinden ve öğrenme kurallarından yararlanarak onu yeniden anlamlandırmaktır. Son yıllarda etkinlik temelli araştırmaların sayısı giderek artmaktadır. Bu araştırmada 2006 ve 2021 yılları arasında etkinlik temelli öğrenmeye yönelik yapılan tez, makale ve bildiri çalışmalarının bazı ölçütlere göre incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Bu amaç doğrultusunda araştırma, nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden doküman inceleme kullanılarak yürütülmüştür. Araştırmada dokümanlara ulaşmada YÖK Akademik Arama ve YÖK Tez Merkezi’nden yararlanılmıştır. Gerçekleştirilen tarama sonucunda, tez, makale ve bildiri olmak üzere toplam 134 bilimsel araştırmaya ulaşılmıştır. Elde edilen veriler betimsel analiz ile çözümlenmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda, incelenen araştırmaların yarıdan fazlasının nicel araştırma yaklaşımına uygun olarak hazırlandığı ortaya çıkmıştır. Bu araştırmalarda ise çoğunlukla yarı deneysel yöntem kullanılmıştır. Ayrıca, araştırmalarda daha çok ortaokul düzeyindeki öğrenci gruplarının tercih edildiği ve eğitim bilimleri ile temel eğitim alanlarında yürütüldüğü belirlenmiştir. Araştırmada varılan sonuçlar bağlamında etkinlik temelli öğrenme üzerine çalışmalar yapacak olan araştırmacılara gerekli öneriler sunulmuştur.When students encounter new information, activity-based learning allows them to make sense of it by applying prior knowledge and learning rules to recognize and interpret that information. In recent years, the number of activity-based studies has increased. The aim of this study is to examine thesis, article, and proceeding type studies on activity-based learning between 2006 and 2021 using specific criteria. Document analysis, one of the qualitative research methods, was used to achieve this aim. To reach the documents in the study, the YÖK Academic Search and Council of Higher Education Thesis Center were used. The searching resulted in a total of 134 scientific researches, including theses, articles, and proceedings. Descriptive analysis was used to examine the collected data. As a result of the research, it was revealed that more than half of the studies examined were prepared in accordance with the quantitative research approach. In these studies, mostly quasi-experimental method was used. In addition, it has been determined that in the researches, student groups at the secondary school level are preferred and carried out in the fields of educational sciences and basic education. In the context of the results of the research, necessary suggestions were presented to the researchers who will work on activity-based learning

The Journal of MacroTrends in Energy and Sustainability Improving the Energy Output of a Geothermal/Solar Hybride Energy System

Abstract In these days Renewable Energy Sources (RES) are becoming increasingly more popular. The key reason for this is, perhaps, the increase of prices in fuel oils and other fossil based energy resources. Another effect is the increase of global warming. This work shows the improvement of a Hybrid Electrical Power Plant which is controlled b

Duration of labor with meperidine versus placebo in singleton term pregnancies: A randomized placebo controlled study

Objective: Meperidine, a synthetic opioid analgesic, is used empirically in many birth centers due to its effect on the duration of labor as well as pain relief during labor. In this study, we examine the effect of meperidine administration on the duration of labor. Methods: This study was designed as a prospective randomized placebo-controlled study; 250 patients were randomized into two groups where the study group received 0.5 mL-25 mg i.v. meperidine and the control group received 0.5 mL i.v. saline solution, all at the start of the active phase. The start of the active phase of labor was defined as 4 cm cervical dilatation and 60%-70% cervical effacement. The primary outcome was determined as the duration of the active phase (DAP). This study is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT01555671). Results: Women randomized to the meperidine group had a shorter total duration of labor (TDL) and shorter duration of the DAP compared to the control group, both in the total patient population women (mean ± standard deviation (SD): 273±129 min vs. 331±177 min, p=0.033; 249±122 min vs. 304±167 min, p=0.029, respectively) and in primiparous (mean ± SD: 372±134 min vs. 400±179 min, p=0.026; 296±126 min vs. 363±170 min, p=0.024, respectively). No statistically significant difference was found between the total patient population and primiparous group in terms of the second stage of labor (DSS) (p=0.930, p=0.229; respectively). Multiparous women in meperidine and control groups, did not show a statistically significant difference in terms of the TDL, DAP and the DSS (p=0.170, p=0.157, p=0.498; respectively). No statistically significant difference was found between the two study groups in terms of age (p=0.126), parity (p=0.427), body mass index (p=0.163), cesarean rates (p=0.511) and mean gestational weeks (p=0.845). Conclusion: Our findings revealed that meperidine administration was associated with a shorter duration of active phase of labor in primiparous women

(Z)-Ethyl 4-chloro-2-[(4-chloro­phen­yl)hydrazono]-3-oxobutanoate

The title compound, C12H12Cl2N2O3, crystallizes as a non-merohedral twin with a twinning ratio of 0.51:0.49. The mol­ecule adopts a keto–hydrazo tautomeric form stabilized by an intra­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bond. The configuration around the N—N bond is trans