A sample implementation of teaching molecular structure of DNA in the classroom and the opinions of teacher candidates about it

The purpose of this study is to carry out sample classroom applications in the teaching of the molecular structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which is the basis of the field of molecular biology, and obtaining the opinions of teacher candidates on these applications after they are completed. This is a basic, qualitative research study. The study was conducted in the fall semester of the academic year 2021-2022 at the Faculty of Education of a state university in Ankara. The participants from whom the data were collected were determined by the convenience sampling method. The research study group consisted of 15 teacher candidates, who were third-year biology students taking the molecular biology course. The interview form, developed by the researchers themselves and containing three questions, was the data collection tool for the study. Classroom applications used for the purposes of the study span a seven-year period. Teachings and other activities throughout the process were explained in detail. Thematic analysis, one of the qualitative analysis techniques, was used to analyze the data. In this study, an exemplary teaching practice/method was developed in DNA teaching. The findings showed that teacher candidates who took part in the application had positive views about the teaching of the subject and the process. In the future, various other teaching practices for other abstract concepts in biology can be developed and the views of prospective teachers explored. The effects of these classroom practices on the academic achievements, attitudes and motivation etc. of teacher candidates can be examined

The Reconstruction of Nasal Septal Perforation with High Density Porous Polyethylene Covered with Fascia Lata: An Experimental Study on Rabbit Model

ObjectivesEvaluation of a new material, high-density porous polyethylene (HDPP), which is covered with fascia lata, for experimental nasal septal perforation closure.MethodsTwenty New Zealand albino rabbits were included and divided into study and control groups. A lateral incision was made from the lateral aspect of the left nares to the incisura nasomaxillaris. After exposure of the cavum nasi, the nasal mucoperichondrium was elevated bilaterally. A full-thickness 0.5×0.5-cm perforation was created over the septum nasi with a No. 11 surgical blade. A fascia lata graft was used for the study group. The HDPP was covered with fascia lata and placed under the elevated mucosa. HDPP without a fascial covering was used in the control group. Four months after the procedure, magnetic resonance imaging was performed to evaluate resorption of the material. The animals were sacrificed, and the nasal septum was completely removed. Macroscopic and histopathological examinations were performed on the nasal septum.ResultsAll rabbits had survived after the 4-month period. Macroscopically, nine of 10 (90%) perforations were closed in the fascia lata-covered HDPP group. Histopathological examination of these nine rabbits revealed that the continuity of cartilage was disturbed in the perforation areas. Granulation tissue was inverted in areas in which the cartilage continuity was disturbed. The HDPP had remained intact at the edge of the perforation. In the HDPP group, six of 10 implants were still perforated (60%) and four (40%) were closed. The fascia lata-covered HDPP implant had a significantly higher perforation closure rate than that of the HDPP implant alone (P<0.05).ConclusionIn cases of septal perforation, it is better to cover the HDPP implant with fascia lata. This covered implant can be used for the repair of nasal septal perforations. HDPP implants are easy to work with and avoid the increased operative time and morbidity associated with harvesting autografts

“The Lolelaplap (Marshall Islands) in Us: Sailing West to East (Ralik→Ratak) to These Our Atolls (Aelon Kein Ad) Ad Jolet Jen Anij (Our Blessed Inheritance from God)”

This paper discusses the expansion of Oceania through a Marshallese indigenous lens as a focal point. It explains that decolonizing methodologies allows reclaiming of space for mental liberation and reassurement of constitutional rights. It highlights similar occurrences of decolonization practices meeting resistance in the 21st century all while strengthening the human right argument that no human deserves any less than their fellow human brothers and sisters. It argues that an indigenous imagery can only be viewed through an indigenous lens where the researches’ level of purity is retained and unfiltered. It nevertheless argues that Marshallese ethnolinguistics reveal the same cultural practices in America, Judeo-Christianity, and Oceania thus dictating the reality that “we are the same not withstanding one stays here and one there (Bedbedjin Bedbedjen, Bedbedjinma wot Kwe)”. It further explains the importance in these similarities and how Marshallese spirituality predates introduced American Judeo-Christianity despite the latter attempting to marginalize the former. It concludes by stating that Marshallese contributions on the global stage are rooted in that culture of love (IaKwe) which is echoed by the custom(s) revealing the significance of Marshallese validation academically, spiritually, economically, & socially to prevent institutionalized discrimination. This paper ends stating that the agency to know one’s self and how one should fit in the world, is a human right in itself and Marshallese are entitled to this sense of self worth through knowing thy self by thy self where real thinking takes place in one’s own mind as we all live our own lives

Reactive oxygen species and male reproductive hormones

Reports of the increasing incidence of male infertility paired with decreasing semen quality have triggered studies on the effects of lifestyle and environmental factors on the male reproductive potential. There are numerous exogenous and endogenous factors that are able to induce excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) beyond that of cellular antioxidant capacity, thus causing oxidative stress. In turn, oxidative stress negatively affects male reproductive functions and may induce infertility either directly or indirectly by affecting the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis and/or disrupting its crosstalk with other hormonal axes. This review discusses the important exogenous and endogenous factors leading to the generation of ROS in different parts of the male reproductive tract. It also highlights the negative impact of oxidative stress on the regulation and cross-talk between the reproductive hormones. It further describes the mechanism of ROS-induced derangement of male reproductive hormonal profiles that could ultimately lead to male infertility. An understanding of the disruptive effects of ROS on male reproductive hormones would encourage further investigations directed towards the prevention of ROS-mediated hormonal imbalances, which in turn could help in the management of male infertility

THE USE OF BLAST FURNACE SLAG IN THE REMOVAL OF HEAVY METALS FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS

CaO, SiO2, Al2O3 ve diğer metal oksitlerden oluşan yüksek fırın cürufu sık bulunan çelik endüstrisi yan ürünüdür. Bu çalışmada granüle yüksek fırın cürufu (GYFC), sulu çözeltilerden Cu(II) ve Pb(II) uzaklaştırmak için adsorbent olarak kullanılmıştır. İlk önce başlangıç pH'ının, GYFC miktarının, tane boyutunun ve temas süresinin Cu(II) ve Pb(II) uzaklaştırmasına etkisi araştırılmıştır. Yüksek fırın cürufunun ortamı nötrleştirme veya alkali etkisi, cüruf ile ağır metal uzaklaştırma prosesinin farklılığını ve kompleks yapısını belirlemektedir. En etkin Cu(II) ve Pb(II) uzaklaştırmasının, cürufun en fazla hidroliz olup, Ca+2, OH- ve diğer iyonları saldığı, başlangıç pH'ı 2'de gerçekleştiği görülmüştür. Çalışılan konsantrasyon aralığında (25-300 mg/L), Cu(II) ve Pb(II) için sorpsiyon verisi Langmuir eşitliği ile tanımlanmaktadır. 25 ºC'de maksimum adsorpsiyon kapasitesi Cu(II) ve Pb(II) için sırasıyla 5,79 mg/g ve 12,64 mg/g olarak elde edilmiştir. Ayrıca Cu(II) ve Pb(II) için yüksek fırın cürufu ile sorpsiyon kinetiğinin yüksek korelasyon sabiti ile, ikinci derece kinetik modeli ile ifade edilebileceği bulunmuştur. Son olarak pH 2'de başlangıç iyon konsantrasyonu (29,3-170,7 mg/L) ve GYFC konsantrasyonu (0,76-9,24 g/L) gibi değişkenlerin Cu(II) ve Pb(II) için % uzaklaştırma, qe (mg/g) ve son pH üzerine etkisi Box-Wilson istatiksel metodu kullanılarak incelenmiştir. Yüksek regrasyon katsayıları, ikinci derece polinom modellerin deneysel veriyi en iyi temsil ettiğini göstermektedir.Blast furnace slag which consist of CaO, SiO2, Al2O3 and other metal oxides is an abundant by-product in steel making industry. In this study granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) was used as adsorbent to remove Cu(II) and Pb(II) ions aqueous solutions. First, the influence of initial pH, particle size, slag dosage and contact time on Cu(II) and Pb(II) removal was investigated. The alkali or neutralization effect of blast furnace slag on medium determines the peculiarities and complex nature of the process of elimination of heavy metal ions by slag. It was found that the efficient Cu(II) and Pb(II) removal occured at initial pH 2 which promoted at most the hydrolysis of slag and the release of Ca++, OH- and other ions. In the range of concentrations (25-300 mg/L), the sorption data for Cu(II) and Pb(II) have been described by Langmuir equation. The maximum adsorption capacity at 25 ºC for Cu(II) and Pb(II) obtained as 5,79 mg/g and 12,64 mg/g respectively. It was also found that blast furnace slag sorption kinetics for Cu(II) and Pb(II) can be represented well by the pseudo-second order kinetics with high correlation coefficients. Finally at initial pH 2, influence of initial metal concentration (29,3-170,7 mg/L) and blast furnace concentration (0,76-9,24 g/L) variables on % removal of Cu(II) and Pb(II), qe (mg/g) of Cu(II) and Pb(II) and final pH were examined using Box-Wilson statistical method. High regression coefficients indicates very good representation of experimental data by second order polynomial regression models

The Effect of Ecological Footprint Education for Sustainable Life on Attitudes Towards Environmental Problems and Behavior Levels

The aim of this research is to investigate the effect of the ecological footprint education for sustainable life on attitudes towards environmental problems and behaviors levels in the 8 th grade science and technology class This research was carried out in the Science and Technology Lecture of the 8th class students of a secondary school which is in Ankara Kazan district, during 2013-2014 academic years. In this study, pre test–post test control group semi experimental design containing experimental and control groups was used. In the research, “Attitude Scale towards Environmental Problems” and “Behaviors Scale towards Environmental Problems” being pre-test and posttest for both groups were used as data collection tools. Finally, the applications of ecological footprint education towards sustainable life were seemed to be effective on students to change their attitude and behaviors against the environmental problems