Comparison of oxidation stability of virgin olive oils from different locations of Turkey

Ten kinds of virgin olive oil of two major cultivars (Ayvalık and Memecik) produced in several areas of Turkey (Bayındır, Edremit, Ortaklar, Burhaniye, Ezine, Tire, Havran, Ayvalık, Altınoluk, and Küçükkuyu) were analysed. The quality characteristics, fatty acid composition, total phenol, ando-diphenol content of the samples were determined. Oxidative stability and free radical scavenging activity were determined using Rancimat test, Schaal oven test, and DPPH method. It was found that while Memecik oil from Ortaklar demonstrated the strongest oxidative stability, Ayvalık oil from Ezine had the lowest oxidative stability among the samples. Fatty acid composition and especially oleic acid/linoleic acid ratio was previously defined as a parameter that can help distinguish cultivars from one another; however, this study proved that total phenol, especially o-diphenol content of the oil, has the strongest effect on oxidative stability compared to other factors including fatty acid composition

Development of validated stability-indicating chromatographic method for the determination of fexofenadine hydrochloride and its related impurities in pharmaceutical tablets

A simple reversed phase high performance liquid chromatographic method with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) has been developed and subsequently validated for the determination of fexofenadine hydrochloride (FEX) and its related compounds; keto fexofenadine (Impurity A), meta isomer of fexofenadine (Impurity B), methyl ester of fexofenadine (Impurity C) in addition to the methyl ester of ketofexofenadine (Impurity D). The separation was based on the use of a Hypersil BDS C-18 analytical column (250 × 4.6 mm, i.d., 5 μm). The mobile phase consisted of a mixture of phosphate buffer containing 0.1 gm% of 1-octane sulphonic acid sodium salt monohydrate and 1% (v/v) of triethylamine, pH 2.7 and methanol (60:40, v/v). The separation was carried out at ambient temperature with a flow rate of 1.5 ml/min. Quantitation was achieved with UV detection at 215 nm using lisinopril as internal standard, with linear calibration curves at concentration ranges 0.1-50 μg/ml for FEX and its related compounds. The optimized conditions were used to develop a stability-indicating HPLC-DAD method for the quantitative determination of FEX and its related compounds in tablet dosage forms. The drugs were subjected to oxidation, hydrolysis, photolysis and heat to apply stress conditions. Complete separation was achieved for the parent compounds and all degradation products. The method was validated according to ICH guidelines in terms of accuracy, precision, robustness, limits of detection and quantitation and other aspects of analytical validation

The use of infrared thermography for welfare assessment during the application of ear tags to lambs

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of metal-tipped, plastic-tipped, and electronic ear tags on the likelihood of infection using infrared thermography and to evaluate the effect on welfare by examining the behavioral responses of the lambs. Ninety lambs with an average age of 6 months were used in this study. Before the application of the ear tags, infrared images of the right and left ears of the lambs were taken with the thermal camera and the infrared temperatures were recorded. Measurements were repeated on days 1, 4, 10, and 30 after the ear tag application. The mean of infrared ear temperatures on days 0, 1, 4, 10, and 30 were found to be 14.60, 23.20, 23.77, 20.36, and 17.61 °C for the metal-tipped ear tag group; 15.69, 21.50, 20.42, 18.00, and 16.39 °C for the plastic-tipped ear tag group; and 15.17, 29.47, 27.49, 25.93, and 20.61 °C for the electronic ear tag group. The infrared temperatures on days 1, 4, and 10 in the control and experimental groups were significantly different from each other (P < 0.001). The plastic-tipped ear tags caused fewer problems and are preferred to the traditional ear tags with metal tips. The electronic ear tags caused more inflammatory reactions compared to metal- or plastic-tipped ear tags. The infrared thermography method may be used as a useful tool in the early detection of the inflammatory reactions and infections caused by the application of ear tags

Determining science and elementary mathematics teachers’ views on interdisciplinary approach [Fen bilgisi ve ilköğretim matematik öğretmenlerinin disiplinlerarasi yaklaşima yönelik görüşlerinin belirlenmesi]

The purpose of the study was to determine the views of science and elementary mathematics teachers about the interdisciplinary approach. In determining the sample of the research conducted using phenomenology design of the qualitative research designs, criterion sampling method was used, and semi-structured interviews were carried out with sixteen teachers in total, eight of whom were science teachers and eight were elementary mathematics teachers, who had different experience period and worked at schools and in the cities with different characteristics. Content analysis approach was used to analyze the collected data. The triangulation technique ensuring the internal validity and reliability was used through research. As a result of the analyses carried out, it was concluded that the teachers had expressed opinions under the themes of “definitions, information, the elements taken into consideration, associated courses and subjects, collaboration with other course teachers, the advantages and limitations of the approach and suggestions for the approach regarding interdisplinary approach”. Recommendations for the current practices and future studies were developed in this direction. © 2017, Ankara University. All rights reserved

The effect of in-service training on the teacher development: The evaluation of the teacher professional development program

The teacher has very important roles and responsibilities in reaching the aims of education, which is an important organ in the development of societies. Therefore, it is very important to train teachers who will introduce the desired knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values to individuals in the society and to provide them with the content knowledge, professional formation, and general culture they need. Providing the pre-service and in-service development of teachers is a very important issue. Subjects such as the need-based nature of in-service training, the suitability of the training time for employees, the functionality of the methods and techniques used in teaching, and the teaching period are the key elements that determine the effectiveness of this training, although its importance in the professional development is acknowledged by everybody. The aim of this study is to evaluate the secondary school teachers’ perceptions of a professional development program. In this study, an evaluation of the in-service training program consisting of 8 modules of 3 hours for secondary school teachers was performed. The study group of the research, in which the qualitative method was used, consisted of 67 teachers participating in the in-service training. An interview form consisting of 11 questions was used as the assessment tool. As a result of the study, the teachers stated that the in-service training they received contributed to their professional development. Furthermore, the teachers expressed that they had difficulty with the problems related to the time of the in-service training and the room in which the training was provided. The teachers believe that the practical professional training integrating the theory with practice will be more beneficial. Teachers need in-service training in subjects such as the behavioural management, creativity, and problemsolving, educational technologies, and material development. Therefore, it may be more functional to provide the need-based in-service training to small groups rather than providing in-service training to very large and crowded groups. It is beneficial to develop continuous in-service training programs that will provide the participation of all teachers, although they contribute more to teachers who participate in the in-service training voluntarily. © The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology