The Views of Science Pre-service Teachers about the Usage of Basic Information Technologies (BIT) in Education and Instruction

In this study aiming to present a description based on science pre-service teachers’ views related to use of Basic Information Technologies (BIT) in education and training, an interview is carried out with 21 pre-service science teachers who study in different classes in Faculty of Education, Niğde University. For this aim, improved interview form is used with literature review, the experts of researchers and the views of other experts related to the area. The data acquired with interview form including four sub-dimensions in the way “Computer Aided Education (CAE)”, “Hypermedia Use”, “Distance Education (DE)” and “Database Management”, are solved with content analysis method. As a result of research, it is determined that pre-service teachers generally have fund of knowledge also in body of literature in terms of educational and training dimension. The other works performed practically that will present use cases of BIT of pre-service science teachers in the process of education and training in the way to support this work indicating the current situation, are suggested

An Investigation of Pre-service Science Teachers’ Level of Efficacy in the Undergraduate Science Teacher Education Program and Pedagogical Formation Program

The purpose of this research is to comparatively investigate the efficacy levels of pre-service science (Science, Biology, Physics, and Chemistry) teachers enrolled at the Undergraduate Program of Science Teacher Education and Pedagogical Formation Program. A total of 275 pre-service teachers who were studying in different programmes in the Faculty of Education, Ömer Halisdemir University composed the study group of the research in which the general survey model was used. “Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale” developed by Tschannen-Moran & Hoy (2001) and adapted to Turkish by Çapa, Çakıroğlu & Sarıkaya (2005) was used as the data collection tool in the research. As a result of the study, it was concluded that pre-service teachers’ level of professional efficacy was high. In addition, it was determined that while pre-service teachers’ level of professional efficacy did not significantly differ based on gender, their efficacy showed differences depending on the program they were studying at and their active teaching status. Keywords: pre-service teachers, pedagogical formation program, teacher efficac

Exact solutions and heuristics for multi-product inventory pricing problem

Ankara : The Department of Industrial Engineering and Science of Bilkent University, 2014.Thesis (Master's) -- Bilkent University, 2014.Includes bibliographical references leaves 56-58.We study the multi-product inventory pricing problem under stochastic and price sensitive demand. We have initial inventory of m resources whose different combinations form n products. Products are perishable and need to be sold by a deadline. Demand for each product is modeled as a non-homogeneous Poisson process whose intensity is a function of the current price of the product itself. The aim is to set the price of each product over the selling period to maximize the expected revenue. This problem is faced in various industries including retail, airlines, automobile, apparel, hotels and car rentals. Our contributions are twofold. First, we provide a closed form solution for the special case of exponential price response where the elasticity parameter of the demand function of all products are equal. Second, we develop two classes of dynamic pricing heuristics: one using the value approximation approach of dynamic programming and the other using the deterministic version of the problem. Our numerical analysis indicates that dynamic pricing yields significantly higher revenues compared to fixed price policies. One of the dynamic pricing heuristics based on the deterministic problem provides around 5−15% additional revenue compared to fixed price policies. Moreover, two value approximation heuristics that we suggest result in at most ∼ 0.5% and ∼ 3.4% gaps in the expected revenue compared to the optimal dynamic pricing policy for general form of exponential price response. These additional revenues can have a profound effect on the profitability of firms, so dynamic pricing should be preferred over fixed price policies in practice.Çetin, OğuzM.S

Öğretmenlerin Sürdürülebilir Kalkınma Kavramına İlişkin Algıları

Bu çalışmada öğretmenlerin sürdürülebilirlik kavramına ilişkin algıları ele alınmış, öğretmenlerin bu kavrama ilişkin neler algıladıkları, kavramın eğitim içerisindeki rolü ve kavramın eğitim müftedatında yeteri kadar yer alıp almadığının belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Araştırma 9 erkek ve 13 kadından oluşan bir araştırma grubu ile yürütülmüş, veriler katılımcılardan görüşme yöntemi ile toplanıp, verilerin analizinde içerik analizi yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Nitel araştırma yöntemi ile yürütülen bu çalışma sonunda kavramın mesleki açıdan önemli olduğu, müfredat içerisinde ise yeterince yer almadığı bulgularına ulaşılmıştır. Ayrıca sürdürülebilir kalkınmaya yönelik eğitimlerin erken yaştan itibaren öğretilmeye başlanması gerektiği ve öğretmenlerin sürdürülebilirlik temalı projelerde yeteri kadar yer almaması da araştırmada elde edilen diğer bulgular arasındadır

Effect of Neuroplasticity-based BrainFit® Mind Exercises on Attention Skills of Primary School Students

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of BrainFit® mind exercises based on neuroplasticity on the affective characteristics of primary school students, such as impulsivity, auditory - visual attention periods and focussing skills. Quasi-experimental design was used in the study. In practice, BrainFit® mind exercises were performed for a period of four months to 32 students, as an experimental group, selected from various elementary schools in İzmir. For the control group of 28 students, no exercise program was applied. It has been deemed appropriate for elementary school students who have gained literacy skills and who are studying at the 3rd and 4th grade levels, who have developed characteristics such as perception, memory, reasoning and reasoning, to participate in the study. “IVA + PLUS (Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test) (CPT)” was applied to both groups before and after the implementation. At the end of the research, it is found that, the experimental group’s impulse and hyperactivity controls, the auditory and visual attention levels and speeds increased significantly. Keywords: neuroplasticity, mental development, attention skill

Nd:yag lazer kaynağı ile birleştirilen farklı türdeki dp600-dp1000 çeliklerinde mekanik ve mikroyapı özellikleri

In this study, the DP600 and DP1000 steel sheets were joined with the pulsed Nd:YAG (Neodymium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Y3Al5O12)) laser welding and, mechanical and microstructure properties of the dissimilar welds were experimentally investigated. As known, there is a demand in modern automotive industry for performing dissimilar weld of DP steel sheets. In the laser welding operation, the selection of welding parameters affects the final properties of welds substantially. So, the main aim of this study was determining the influence of pulse frequency on the mechanical properties of pulsed Nd:YAG laser welded DP600-DP1000 steel sheet joints. For this purpose, dissimilar (DP600-DP1000) steel sheets were doublesided welded with the butt joint. To analyze the welding performance, microstructural studies, tensile tests and microhardness measurements were carried out. The weld cross-sections of the joints revealed three main distinct macrostructural zones: Base metal and heat affected zone of both steels, and fusion zone. Moreover, a transition zone was observed between the base metal and heat affected zone on the DP1000 sides. Higher pulse frequency led to deeper penetration and larger fusion zone and heat affected zone. The laser welded joints without filler material had macro porosities in the fusion zones. The tensile strength of the joints significantly increased with increasing pulse frequency. The tensile strengths obtained in this study may be quite satisfactory for automotive industrial applications. Fusion zone had the highest microhardness values. However, the lower microhardness values than base material were measured in the transition zone on DP1000 side.Bu çalışmada DP600 ve DP1000 çelik sacları darbeli Nd:YAG (Neodymium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Y3Al5O12)) lazer kaynağı ile birleştirilmiş ve farklı türdeki sacların kaynağında mekanik ve mikro yapı özellikleri deneysel olarak incelenmiştir. Bilindiği gibi modern otomotiv endüstrisinde farklı türdeki DP çeliklerimin birleştirilmesine talep vardır. Lazer kaynak işleminde kaynak parametrelerinin seçimi kaynak nihai özelliklerini önemli ölçüde etkiler. Bu yüzden bu çalışmanın amacı Nd:YAG lazer kaynaklı DP600- DP1000 çeliklerinde darbe frekansının mekanik özelliklere etkilerinin belirlenmesidir. Bu amaçla farklı türdeki (DP600-DP1000) çelik saclar çift taraflı olarak alın kaynağı ile birleştirilmiştir. Kaynak performansını analiz etmek için mikro yapı çalışmaları, çekme testleri ve mikro sertlik ölçümleri gerçekleştirilmiştir. Kaynak kesitinde temel malzeme, ısı tesiri altındaki bölge ve ergime bölgesinden oluşan 3 farklı makro yapısal bölge ortaya çıkmıştır. Ayrıca DP1000 tarafında ısı tesiri altındaki bölge ile temel malzeme arasında bir geçiş bölgesi gözlenmiştir. Yüksek darbe frekansı derin penetrasyon ve daha geniş ergime bölgesi ve ısı tesiri altındaki bölgeye neden olmuştur. Dolgu teli olmadan gerçekleştirilen kaynaklar ergime bölgesinde makro gözenekler içermektedir. Kaynaklı birleştirmenin mukavemeti darbe frekansındaki artışla beraber önemli ölçüde artmıştır. Bu çalışmada elde edilen çekme mukavemetleri otomotiv endüstrisi için oldukça tatmin edicidir. Ergime bölgesi en yüksekmikro sertlik özelliklerine sahiptir. Fakat DP1000 geçiş bölgesinde temel malzemeden daha düşük sertlik değerleri ölçülmüştür

Fen Öğretiminde Yapılandırmacılık Kuramının Öğrencilerin Başarılarına ve Bilgiyi Yapılandırmalarına Olan Etkisi

The aim of this research is to examine the effects of interactive group work and using different active learning methods leaning against constructivist theory on students’ achievement and their way of constructing the knowledge by using the unit ‘What are the things present in our body? How do we perceive our environment?’ which is placed in 6th grade of science lesson in elementary education. In this research, the experimental group was taught by active teaching methods and techniques and cooperative learning which was based by constructivist theory. However the control group was taught traditionally. Before and after the application, each group was given achievement tests designed by the researcher. An interview was made with both of the groups in order to understand how the students construct the knowledge. Besides, each group received a last test of two-tier questions after the application. Finally, the effects of constructivism on the students’ achievement and their way of constructing the knowledge were examined and it is seen that there are significant differences in favor of experimental group.Bu çalışmada, ilköğretim 6. sınıf Fen Bilgisi dersinde yer alan “Vücudumuzda Neler var? Çevremizi Nasıl Algılıyoruz?” ünitesi, Yapılandırmacılık Kuramı’na dayalı olarak grup çalışmaları ve çeşitli aktif öğrenme yöntemleri ile işlenerek öğrencilerin başarılarına ve bilgiyi yapılandırmalarına olan etkisi belirlenmeye çalışılmıştır. Uygulamada, deney grubuna Yapılandırmacılık Kuramı’na dayalı aktif öğretim yöntem ve teknikleri ile işbirliğine dayalı öğretim yapılmıştır. Kontrol grubunda ise geleneksel öğretim yapılmıştır. Uygulama öncesi ve sonrasında her iki gruba araştırmacı tarafından geliştirilmiş fen bilgisi başarı testi uygulanmıştır. Öğrencilerin bilgiyi yapılandırmalarını anlamak amacı ile de her iki gruptaki öğrenciler ile görüşme yapılmıştır. Ayrıca yine her iki gruba uygulama sonrası iki aşamalı (two-tier) sorular sontest olarak uygulanmıştır. Böylece, Yapılandırmacılığın öğrencilerin başarılarına ve bilgiyi yapılandırmalarına olan etkisi incelenmiş ve deney grubunun lehine anlamlı farklar görülmüştür

Örgütsel Bağlılığın Tükenmişlik İle İlişkisi: Öğretmenler Üzerine Bir Araştırma

Günümüzde insan faktörünün örgütsel bağlamdaki rolünün artmasıyla birlikte, çalışan ile örgüt arasındaki uyumun bir göstergesi olan örgütsel bağlılık kavramının giderek önem kazandığıgörülmektedir. Bununla birlikte, modern çağın ortaya çıkardığısürekli değişim ve belirsizlik ortamı, çalışan ile örgüt arasındaki uyumlu ilişkiyi etkileyerek, tükenmişlik kavramının bu süreçteki rolünün dikkate alınmasınıadeta zorunlu kılmaktadır. Bu doğrultuda çalışanların örgütsel bağlılık duygularıyla tükenmişlik duygularıarasındaki ilişkilerin ortaya çıkarılmasıve irdelenmesi gerekmektedir. Bu çalışmada Allen ve Meyer 1990 tarafından ortaya konan örgütsel bağlılık boyutlarıile Maslach ve Jackson 1981 tarafından geliştirilen tükenmişlik boyutlarıarasındaki ilişkinin araştırılmasıamaçlanmıştır. Araştırmanın örneklemi 13 ayrıilköğretim okulunda görevli ve yaşaralığı22 ile 64 arasında değişen toplam 349 öğretmenden oluşmaktadır. Araştırmada örgütsel bağlılık ve tükenmişlik boyutlarıarasındaki ilişkilerin incelenmesi için anket yöntemi kullanılmışolup, Allen ve Meyer Örgütsel Bağlılık Ölçeği ve Maslach Tükenmişlik Envanteri ile elde edilen veriler SPSS 15.0 ve LISREL 8.30 istatistik programlarıkullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Araştırma sonunda elde edilen bulgular, örgütsel bağlılık boyutlarıve tükenmişlik boyutlarıarasında çeşitli seviyelerde anlamlıilişkilerin olduğunu göstermiştir. Özellikle duygusal bağlılığın, tükenmişlik boyutlarından duygusal tükenme, duyarsızlaşma ve kişisel başarıhissi azalmasını; devam bağlılığının ise, duygusal tükenme, duyarsızlaşma ve kişisel başarıhissi azalmasınıyordadığıbelirlenmiştir. Diğer taraftan, normatif bağlılığın, tükenmişlik boyutlarından sadece duygusal tükenme boyutu üzerinde yordama becerisine sahip olduğu ortaya çıkmıştır. Tüm bu bulgular tükenmişlik boyutlarının açıklanmasında örgütsel bağlılık değişkeninin önemli etkileri olduğunu göstermişve çalışma sonucunda elde edilen tüm bu bulgular ilgili yazında yapılan çeşitli çalışmalardaki bulgular ışığında tartışılmıştır

Predictive value of CHA2DS2-VASc and CHA2DS2-VASc-HS scores for failed reperfusion after thrombolytic therapy in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Background: Thrombolytic therapy is recommended for patients with acute ST-segment elevation myo- cardial infarction (STEMI) who cannot undergo primary percutaneous coronary intervention within the first 120 min. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the value of CHA2DS2-VASc and CHA2DS2- -VASc-HS scores in predicting failed reperfusion in STEMI patients treated with thrombolytic therapy.  Methods: A total of 537 consecutive patients were enrolled in the study; 139 had failed thrombolysis while the remaining 398 fulfilled the criteria for successful thrombolysis. Thrombolysis failure was defined with the lack of symptom relief, < 50% ST resolution-related electrocardiography within 90 min from initiation of the thrombolytic therapy, presence of hemodynamic or electrical instability or in-hospital mortality. CHA2DS2-VASc and CHA2DS2-VASc-HS scores, which incorporate hyperlipi- demia, smoking, switches between female and male gender, were previously shown to be markers of the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). Results: History of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, heart failure, smoking, and CAD were significantly common in failed reperfusion patients (for all; p < 0.05). For prediction of failed rep- erfusion, the cut-off value of CHA2DS2-VASc score was ≥ 2 with a sensitivity of 80.90% and a specificity of 41.01% (area under curve [AUC] 0.660; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.618–0.700; p < 0.001) and the cut-off value of CHA2DS2-VASc-HS score was ≥ 3 with a sensitivity of 76.13% and a specificity of 67.63% (AUC 0.764; 95% CI 0.725–0.799; p < 0.001). The CHA2DS2-VASc-HS score was found to be statistically and significantly better than CHA2DS2-VASc score to predict failed reperfusion (p < 0.001).  Conclusions: The findings suggest that the CHA2DS2-VASc and especially CHA2DS2-VASc-HS scores could be considered as predictors of risk of failed reperfusion in STEMI patients.

Factor XIII Val34Leu polymorphism in patients with cardiac syndrome X

Background: The aim of the study was to examine the frequency of factor XIII polymorphism among patients with cardiac syndrome X (CSX).Methods: This study was designed as a cross-sectional and observational study. Forty-eight female patients with CSX and 36 controls matched by age, gender, diabetes, and hypertension were studied. CSX was defined as typical chest pain during rest or effort, abnormal test result for exercise ECG, and presence of angiographically normal epicardial coronary arteries after ruling out inducible spasm. Factor XIII gene polymorphism was investigated by using CVD Strip Assay (ViennaLab Diagnostic GmbH) commercial kit.Results: The frequency of factor XIII (Val/Leu + Leu/Leu) mutation was significantly higher in patients with CSX (43%) than in controls (19%) (p = 0.02). Frequency of the Leu allele was significantly higher in the patient group (23.5% vs. 11.1%, p = 0.04). Factor XIII (Val/Leu + Leu/Leu) mutation (p = 0.01, OR = 3.42; 95% CI 1.22–9.58) and smoking (p = 0.04, OR = 3.33, 95% CI 1.05–10.58) were identified as independent predictors of the disease in multivariate regression analysis.Conclusions: This study indicates that there is an evidence for association between factor XIII Val34Leu polymorphism and CSX