Autonomous Learning for Proficiency Level İn Foreign Language Development of Graduate Students

Also called student-centred learning, autonomous learning is a multifaceted and self-motivated study skill that relates to a change in focus in the learning environment from the teacher to the student or from teaching to learning (Taylor 2000, p. 107). Its impact on linguistic competence has been investigated over time and the two have been found to be correlated. This survey was conducted in Balıkesir University in academic years of 2014-2015. The survey analyses graduate (Master of Arts) students’ foreign language learning styles and strategies to find out to what extent they are autonomous. The aim of the study is to investigate the impacts of graduate students’ proficiency attitudes on autonomous learning in foreign language learning. Two kinds of questionnaires were administered: the first one was learner autonomy survey questionnaire developed by Zhang and Li (2004), which was administered to investigate how autonomous the participants were in learning English as a foreign language. The second one was the perceptual learning style preference questionnaire (PLSPQ), developed by Reid (1987). The two questionnaires were administered to 600 graduate students enrolled in the Institutions of Social Sciences and the Institution of Health at Balıkesir University in the academic years of 2014-2015. Only 504 graduate students responded. Then it was announced that there would be two types of English YDS preparation courses for the participants enrolled at Balıkesir University, Institute of M.A programs. 30 participants applied to join the courses. The participants are assigned to two groups, as instructed and non-instructed on voluntary bases. The study involved the YDS test that measured the performance of the control and experimental groups to find out the differences. The study involved 15 sample YDS tests that were administered after every two weeks of instructions. Before the training commenced, there were some preliminaries that were being applied to determine the advancement in the level of proficiency and the level of trainees.  The results indicate that the male graduate students from both groups performed better than the female learners. The results also reveal that the control group scored a mean of 38, 86 while the experimental group recorded 38, 06 in the first test. Throughout all tests, the experimental group only scores a few points less. The ultimate YDS (The formal Proficiency Exam) score was (control group= 48; experimental group =47), which is almost the same. There is no meaningful difference between the control and experimental group

Carl Schmitt'in Hukuk Düşüncesinde Demokrasi ve Diktatörlük Tartışması

Bu kitap, Carl Schmitt'in demokrasi ve diktatörlük üzerine düşüncelerini politik felsefenin sorgu sahasında ele almayı amaçlayarak Schmitt'i kendi döneminin polemikleri arasında konumlandırmaktadır. Bu amaçla Weimar dönemi hukukçuları üzerinde önemli etkisi olan Carl Friedrich Wilhelm von Gerber ve Paul Laband'ın anayasa düşünceleri ekseninde Alman İmparatorluğu'nun hukuk mirası incelenmiştir. Weimar Cumhuriyeti'nin krizlerle şekillenen politik atmosferi, politik felsefe açısından verimli tartışmaların ortaya çıkmasını sağlamıştır. Bu tartışmaların izi; dönemin hukukçularından Gerhard Anschütz, Richard Thoma, Georg Jellinek, Hans Kelsen ve Hermann Heller'ın demokrasi ve diktatörlük tartışmasına kaynaklık eden düşünceleri üzerinden sürülmüştür. Schmitt, çoğunluğu 1920'li yıllara denk gelen anayasa hukuku çalışmaları ile Weimar dönemi hukuk tartışmaları arasında belirleyici bir yerde durmaktadır. Schmitt ile anayasanın koruyuculuğu ve parlamentarizm hakkında polemiğe giren düşünürler, kitabın ayrı bir bölümünün konusunu oluşturmaktadır. Politik felsefenin güncel bir uğrağı olmayı sürdüren Schmitt'in demokrasi ve diktatörlük üzerine düşünceleri, çağdaş dünyanın karşı karşıya kaldığı demokrasi sorunlarının derinleştirilmesinde verimli bir kaynaktır. Bu kitabın amaçları arasında, kendi tarihsel bağlamı içerisinde Schmitt'in devlet düşüncesinin spesifik bir incelemesini yapmanın yanında, kendisini diktatörlüğün karşısında konumlandıran liberal demokrasi anlayışını tartışmaya açmak da bulunmaktadır

Effects of sinapic acid on lead acetate-induced oxidative stress, apoptosis and inflammation in testicular tissue

In this study, the effect of lead acetate (PbAc) and sinapic acid (SNP) administration on oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammation, sperm quality and histopathology in testicular tissue of rats was tried to be determined. PbAc was administered at a dose of 30 mg/kg/bw for 7 days to induce testicular toxicity in rats. Oral doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg/bw SNP were administered to rats for 7 days after PbAc administration. According to our findings, while PbAc administration increased MDA content in rats, it decreased GPx, SOD, CAT activity and GSH content. NF-kB, IL-1β, TNF-α, and COX-2, which are among the inflammation parameters that increased due to PbAc, decreased with the administration of SNP. Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1 mRNA transcript levels decreased with PbAc, but SNP treatments increased these mRNA levels in a dose-dependent manner. RAGE and NLRP3 gene expression were upregulated in PbAc treated rats. MAPK14, MAPK15, and JNK relative mRNA levels decreased with SNP treatment in PbAc treated rats. While the levels of apoptosis markers Bax, Caspase-3, and Apaf-1 increased in rats treated with PbAc, the level of Bcl-2 decreased, but SNP inhibited this apoptosis markers. PbAc caused histopathological deterioration in testis tissue and negatively affected spermatogenesis. When the sperm quality was examined, the decrease in sperm motility and spermatozoon density caused by PbAc, and the increase in the ratio of dead and abnormal spermatozoa were inhibited by SNP. As a result, while PbAc increased apoptosis and inflammation by inducing oxidative stress in testicles, SNP treatment inhibited these changes and increased sperm quality

Effects of chrysin against isoniazid-induced lung injury in rats

Bu çalışmanın amacı; tüberküloz tedavisinde yaygın olarak kullanılan izoniazid (İZN) kaynaklı akciğer hasarına karşı doğal flavonoidlerden olan krisin (KRS)’in etkilerinin araştırılmasıdır. Çalışmada Spraque Dawley cinsi 35 adet erkek rat rastgele 5 gruba ayrıldı: Kontrol grubu, İZN uygulanan grup, KRS 50 mg/kg uygulanan grup, İZN+ KRS 25 mg/kg uygulanan grup ve İZN+ KRS 50 mg/kg uygulanan grup. İZN’nin glutatyon peroksidaz (GPx), süperoksit dismutaz (SOD) ve katalaz (KAT) gibi antioksidan enzim aktivitelerini ve glutatyon (GSH) düzeylerini azaltıp, lipid peroksidasyonunu (LPO) artırarak oksidatif hasara neden olduğu belirlendi. Ayrıca İZN ile kombine uygulanan KRS uygulamasının GSH seviyesini ve antioksidan enzim aktivitelerini artırdığı, lipid peroksidasyonunu ise azalttığı ettiği tespit edildi. Çalışmada incelenen nükleer faktör eritroid 2 ile ilişkili faktör 2 (Nrf-2) ve hem oksijenaz-1 (HO-1) seviyelerinin İZN grubunda gen ekspresyonu düzeyinde, nükleer faktör kappa B (NF-κB) ekspresyonunu ise immunhistokimyasal incelemede arttığı tespit edilmiş, buna karşın KRS uygulamasının bu belirteçlerin düzeylerinde azalmaya neden olduğu gözlenmiştir. Birlikte ele alındığında, bu sonuçlar KRS'in oksidan-antioksidan dengesini koruyarak ve NF-κB, Nrf-2 ve HO-1 ekspresyonlarını azaltarak İZN’nin neden olduğu akciğer toksisitesinde faydalı etkilere sahip olduğunu düşündürmektedir.The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of chrysin (CH), one of the natural flavonoids, against isoniazid lung damage caused by isoniazid (INH), which was widely used in the treatment of tuberculosis. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: a control group, INH-treated group, CH alone treated group 50 mg / kg, INH + CH 25 mg / kg treated group, and INH+ CH 50 mg / kg treated group. It was determined that INH caused oxidative damage by decreasing antioxidant enzyme activities such as glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) and increasing lipid peroxidation (LPO). In addition, it was found that the administration of CH to INH-treated rats increased GSH level and antioxidant enzyme activities, and decreased lipid peroxidation. It was observed that the nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf-2) and oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression levels were up-regulated in the INH-treated group, and the expression of NF-κB increased in the INH-treated group in the immunohistochemical examination, and the CH administration, on the other hand, decreased the levels of these markers. Taken together, these results suggested that CH had beneficial effects in INH-induced lung toxicity by maintaining the oxidant-antioxidant balance and decreasing NF-κB, Nrf-2, and HO-1 expressions

Protective effects of zingerone against sodium arsenite-induced lung toxicity: A multi-biomarker approach

Objective(s): Sodium arsenite (SA) exposure is toxic to the body. Zingerone (ZNG) is a flavonoid with many biological properties found naturally in honey and plants. This study aimed to determine the effects of ZNG on SA-induced rat lung toxicity.Materials and Methods: Thirty-five male Sprague rats were divided into Control, SA, ZNG, SA+ZNG25, and SA+ZNG50 groups (n=7). SA 10 mg/kg and ZNG were administered at two doses (25 and 50 mg/kg) (orally, 14 days). Analysis of oxidative stress, inflammation damage, apoptosis damage, and autophagic damage markers in lung tissue were determined by biochemical and histological methods. Results: The administration of ZNG reduced oxidative stress by increasing SA-induced decreased antioxidant enzyme activities, increasing Nrf-2, HO-1, and NQO1, and decreasing MDA level. ZNG administration reduced inflammation marker levels. Anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 increased and apoptotic Bax and Caspase-3 decreased with ZNG. ZNG promoted the regression of autophagy by reducing Beclin-1, LC3A, and LC3B levels.Conclusion: Evaluating all data showed that SA caused toxic damage to lung tissue by increasing inflammation, apoptosis, autophagy, and oxidant levels, whereas ZNG had a protective effect by reducing this damage

Impact of Obesity on the Metabolic Control of Type 2 Diabetes: Results of the Turkish Nationwide Survey of Glycemic and Other Metabolic Parameters of Patients with Diabetes Mellitus (TEMD Obesity Study)

Background: Obesity is the main obstacle for metabolic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. Turkey has the highest prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes in Europe. The effect of obesity on the metabolic control, and the macro- and microvascular complications of patients are not apparent. Objectives: This nationwide survey aimed to investigate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among patients with type 2 diabetes and to search for the impact of obesity on the metabolic control of these patients. We also investigated the independent associates of obesity in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: We consecutively enrolled patients who were under follow-up for at least 1 year in 69 tertiary healthcare units in 37 cities. The demographic, anthropometric, and clinical data including medications were recorded. Patients were excluded if they were pregnant, younger than 18 years, had decompensated liver disease, psychiatric disorders interfering with cognition or compliance, had bariatric surgery, or were undergoing renal replacement therapy. Results: Only 10% of patients with type 2 diabetes (n = 4,648) had normal body mass indexes (BMI), while the others were affected by overweight (31%) or obesity (59%). Women had a significantly higher prevalence of obesity (53.4 vs. 40%) and severe obesity (16.6 vs. 3.3%). Significant associations were present between high BMI levels and lower education levels, intake of insulin, antihypertensives and statins, poor metabolic control, or the presence of microvascular complications. Age, gender, level of education, smoking, and physical inactivity were the independent associates of obesity in patients with type 2 diabetes. Conclusion: The TEMD Obesity Study shows that obesity is a major determinant of the poor metabolic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. These results underline the importance of prevention and management of obesity to improve health care in patients with type 2 diabetes. Also, the results point out the independent sociodemographic and clinical associates of obesity, which should be the prior targets to overcome, in the national fight with obesity

Antik Hint’te Devlet Yönetimi ve Siyaset Bilimi Üzerine Bir Başyapıt: Arthaşastra

Hint klasik metinleri arasında yer alan Arthaşastra, devlet y&ouml;netimi, ekonomi, siyaset bilimi, dış politika gibi alanlarda, devlet y&ouml;neticisine &ouml;ğ&uuml;tler vermek amacıyla, M.&Ouml;. 4. y&uuml;zyılda yazılmış bir eserdir. On beş kitap ve altı bin beyitten oluşur.&nbsp;Eserde yalnızca devlet y&ouml;netimi değil, aynı zamanda halkın refahı, toplumsal yapılanma, o d&ouml;nemde kullanılan &ouml;l&ccedil;&uuml; birimleri, yapı iş&ccedil;iliği, hayvan yetiştiriciliği, silahlar, zehirler, ila&ccedil;lar ve vahşi yaşam gibi toplumsal, k&uuml;lt&uuml;rel ve ekonomik yaşam ile ilgili &ccedil;ok değişik konulara yer verilmiştir.&nbsp;Arthaşastra, Klasik Hint Edebiyatında &ouml;nemli yeri olan Şastra geleneğinin başta gelen &ouml;rneklerindendir. Nitekim eserin ilk beyitlerinde, Arthaşastra&#39;nın bu t&uuml;rde yazılmış başka eserlerin bir derlemesi olduğu s&ouml;ylenmektedir.The Arthashastra, a Sanskrit work of the 4th century B.C., is a masterpiece of Indian classics on statecraft, economics, political science, military strategy and foreign policy.It is a treatise on how a state ought to be governed by a king and his administration. Its main aim is to advise governors on the art of statecraft. It literallymeans something between &ldquo;science of politics&rdquo; and &ldquo;treatise on political economy&rdquo;.Arthashastra consists of 15 books and 6,000 hymns. The text was influential until the 12th century, when it disappeared. It was discovered in 1904 by R. Shamasastry, whopublished it in 1909 and the first English translation in 1915.The Arthashastra&rsquo;s scopes is on the whole much wider than mere statecraft, because it focuses on issues of welfare, collective ethics and cultural details, such as measurements, weapons, poisons, mineralogy, mining and metals, agriculture, animal husbandry, medicine and the use of wildlife.Arthashastra is an example of Shastra tradition, which has an important place in Classical Hindi Literature. In the opening hymns, it is especially mention ed to be a collection of this kind.</p

Autonomous Learning for Proficiency Level İn Foreign Language Development of Graduate Students

Also called student-centred learning, autonomous learning is a multifaceted and self-motivated study skill that relates to a change in focus in the learning environment from the teacher to the student or from teaching to learning (Taylor 2000, p. 107). Its impact on linguistic competence has been investigated over time and the two have been found to be correlated. This survey was conducted in Balıkesir University in academic years of 2014-2015. The survey analyses graduate (Master of Arts) students’ foreign language learning styles and strategies to find out to what extent they are autonomous. The aim of the study is to investigate the impacts of graduate students’ proficiency attitudes on autonomous learning in foreign language learning. Two kinds of questionnaires were administered: the first one was learner autonomy survey questionnaire developed by Zhang and Li (2004), which was administered to investigate how autonomous the participants were in learning English as a foreign language. The second one was the perceptual learning style preference questionnaire (PLSPQ), developed by Reid (1987). The two questionnaires were administered to 600 graduate students enrolled in the Institutions of Social Sciences and the Institution of Health at Balıkesir University in the academic years of 2014-2015. Only 504 graduate students responded. Then it was announced that there would be two types of English YDS preparation courses for the participants enrolled at Balıkesir University, Institute of M.A programs. 30 participants applied to join the courses. The participants are assigned to two groups, as instructed and non-instructed on voluntary bases. The study involved the YDS test that measured the performance of the control and experimental groups to find out the differences. The study involved 15 sample YDS tests that were administered after every two weeks of instructions. Before the training commenced, there were some preliminaries that were being applied to determine the advancement in the level of proficiency and the level of trainees.  The results indicate that the male graduate students from both groups performed better than the female learners. The results also reveal that the control group scored a mean of 38, 86 while the experimental group recorded 38, 06 in the first test. Throughout all tests, the experimental group only scores a few points less. The ultimate YDS (The formal Proficiency Exam) score was (control group= 48; experimental group =47), which is almost the same. There is no meaningful difference between the control and experimental group