Foreign Language Speaking Anxiety and its Link to Speaking Self-Efficacy, Fear of Negative Evaluation, Self-Perceived Proficiency and Gender

This research study aimed to explore the speaking anxiety of Turkish learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) and its relation to EFL speaking self-efficacy, fear of negative evaluation (FNE), self-perceived English speaking proficiency, and gender. 293 (132 females, 161 males) university-level EFL students completed the EFL speaking anxiety scale, EFL speaking self-efficacy scale, and FNE scale. Four main findings were obtained as a result of the statistical analyses: (i) students’ speaking anxiety had a negative relationship with both self-perceived oral English proficiency and speaking self-efficacy, (ii) a positive relationship was determined between FNE and speaking anxiety, (iii) EFL speaking anxiety was found to be lower in boys than in girls, and (iv) speaking self-efficacy, FNE, and self-perceived oral proficiency were identified as meaningful predictors of students’ EFL speaking anxiety. In light of these findings, the study offers some pedagogical implications

Batı Karadeniz Bölgesi heterocera (Lepidoptera) faunası

This study was carried out in 2001-2004 in Western Black Sea Region in order to determine Heterocera (Lepidoptera) fauna and to contribute to the distributional data of species. The study material obtained from 50 different localities were collected using light traps during night and using a sweep net during the day. 218 species within 166 genera belonging to 12 families were identified. 47 of these species are first records for the region.Batı Karadeniz Bölgesi’nde 2001-2004 yılları arasında sürdürülen çalışma Heterocera (Lepidoptera) faunasının tesbiti ve türlerin dağılımlarına katkı amacıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Materyal, araştırma bölgesinde 50 farklı lokaliteden, gece ışık tuzakları, gündüz ise atrap yardımıyla elde edilmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda 12 familyaya ait 166 cinse bağlı 218 tür tesbit edilmiştir. Bu türlerden 47’si bölge için ilk kayıttır

Vocabulary Learning Strategies of Turkish EFL Learners: A Focus on Gender

This study aimed to (a) identify vocabulary learning strategies (VLSs) employed by Turkish EFL learners; (b) determine whether the use of VLSs varies by gender. To achieve these aims, the vocabulary learning strategies scale developed by Kocaman and Kizilkaya Cumaoglu (2014) was administered to preparatory school students (n=209) at a state university in Turkey. Descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations) and an independent-samples t-test were used for statistical analyses. The results revealed that the frequency of VLS use was at a medium level. In addition, analysis of the sub-dimensions of the scale showed that memory, cognitive, compensation, and social strategies were used at a medium frequency level, while metacognitive and affective strategies were used at a high frequency. When VLS use was analyzed with respect to gender, a significant difference was seen between males and females, with female students having a higher total mean score than male students. Also, female students reported more use of memory, cognitive, compensation, metacognitive, and affective strategies; however, no statistically significant gender difference was found regarding the frequency of the use of social strategies

A Turkish password cracker for UNIX based operating systems

Thesis (Master)--Izmir Institute of Technology, Computer Engineering, Izmir, 2001Includes bibliographical references (leaves: 47-48)Text in English; Abstract: Turkish and Englishx, 48 leavesUNIX and UNIX-based operating systems have been widely utilized in local area and wide area network systems that supply application and development chain of users through remote access as well as online connections. Although UNIX operating system has got powerful tools which have secure methods for user authentication, user management and for password storage, weak password choices of the users affect the entire system security negatively. This study aims to crack the password hashes which are encrypted by DES using the method of dictionary attack. The developed application is introduced and compared with the previous utilities. Password encryption, password storage, and the structure which was developed against a possible dictionary attack of UNIX are examined. The good password choosing method for the users and the system administrator are given

Cantilever beam microactuators with electrothermal and electrostatic drive

Microfabrication provides a powerful tool for batch processing and miniaturization of mechanical systems into dimensional domain not accessible easily by conventional machining. CMOS IC process compatible design is definitely a big plus because of tremendous know-how in IC technologies, commercially available standard IC processes for a reasonable price, and future integration of microma-chined mechanical systems and integrated circuits. Magnetically, electrostatically and thermally driven microactuators have been reported previously. These actuators have applications in many fields from optics to robotics and biomedical engineering. At NJIT cleanroom, mono or multimorph microactuators have been fabricated using CMOS compatible process. In design and fabrication of these microactuators, internal stress due to thermal expansion coefficient mismatch and residual stress have been considered, and the microactuators are driven with electro-thermal power combined with electrostatical excitation. They can provide large force, and in- or out-of-plane actuation. In this work, an analytical model is proposed to describe the thermal actuation of in-plane (inchworm) actuators. Stress gradient throughout the thickness of monomorph layers is modeled as linearly temperature dependent Δσ. The nonlinear behaviour of out-of-plane actuators under electrothermal and electrostatic excitations is investigated. The analytical results are compared with the numerical results based on Finite Element Analysis. ANSYS, a general purpose FEM package, and IntelliCAD, a FEA CAD tool specifically designed for MEMS have been used extensively. The experimental results accompany each analytical and numerical work. Micromechanical world is three dimensional and 2D world of IC processes sets a limit to it. A new micromachining technology, reshaping, has been introduced to realize 3D structures and actuators. This new 3D fabrication technology makes use of the advantages of IC fabrication technologies and combines them with the third dimension of the mechanical world. Polycrystalline silicon microactuators have been reshaped by Joule heating. The first systematic investigation of reshaping has been presented. A micromirror utilizing two reshaped actuators have been designed, fabricated and characterized

AN INVESTIGATION INTO TURKISH EFL LEARNERS’ STEREOTYPED THOUGHTS AND EXPOSURE TO ENGLISH: A CORRELATIONAL STUDY

This study aims to investigate tertiary EFL learners’ stereotyped thoughts about foreign languages, the extent of their exposure to English, and the potential relationships between these variables, also in relation to their proficiency level. 124 EFL students in the preparatory school of a state university in Turkey participated in the study. Two quantitative data collection instruments were distributed to the participants: Stereotyped Thoughts About Foreign Languages Scale (Ünal, 2015) and Exposure to English Scale (Gökcan & Çobanoğlu-Aktan, 2016). Descriptive statistics and correlations were used to analyze the data. The results showed that the participants held a moderate level of stereotyped thoughts and exposure to English. Moreover, significant and positive relationships were revealed between L2 exposure and (1) proficiency level and (2) the two dimensions of stereotyped thoughts: collectivity at a weak level and trying to change people at a moderate level. However, L2 exposure correlated significantly and negatively with taking it personally and exaggerated generalization at a weak level. Concerning the relationships between proficiency level and the dimensions of stereotyping, the “Must” rule, taking it personally and excessively self-sacrificing showed significant and negative relationships with proficiency level weakly, while exaggerated generalization correlated with proficiency at a moderate level. Keywords: L2 exposure, stereotypes, foreign languages, attitude

A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF NEGATIVE EVIDENCE AND ENRICHED INPUT ON LEARNING OF VERB-NOUN COLLOCATIONS

This study compared the effectiveness of negative evidence and enriched input on learning the verb-noun collocations. There were 52 English as Foreign Language (EFL) learners in this research study and they were randomly assigned to the negative evidence or enriched input groups. While the negative evidence group (n=27) was provided with instruction about what was not acceptable for verb-noun collocation structure, the enriched input group (n=25) was exposed to the target verb-noun collocations many times without any instruction or feedback. In order to determine the effects of the implementation, pre- and post- form recognition tests and pre-and post-production tests were administered to the participants. Wilcoxon signed rank test for paired samples and Mann Whitney U tests were conducted since the data did not meet normality assumptions. The Wilcoxon test results indicated that the negative evidence group achieved significant improvement in both their recognition and production test results. As for the enriched input group, the students presented a considerable improvement in terms of the production test; however, their performance was not very significant on the recognition test results. To compare both groups, Mann Whitney U test was run and it was evident that both the negative evidence and enriched input groups had positive effects on the production of verb-noun collocations. On the other hand, the form recognition test results revealed that the negative evidence group outperformed the enriched input group

Edirne civarında (Trakya Üniversitesi Arboretumu) bazı rosaceae bitkileri ile birlikteliğe sahip predatör böcek türleri

This study was performed to determine the predatory insects associated with Rosaceae species. Field surveys were carried out in March-June 2013 in Edirne province (Trakya University Arboretum) of European Turkey. Predatory insects were observed and collected in different stages of their life cycles, and larval-pupal samples were reared in laboratory conditions. As a result of this study, predatory insect species which are inhabitants of the Rosaceae species to provide their preys were recorded and 11 predatory insects belonging to 6 families (Chrysopidae, Coccinellidae, Formicidae, Geocoridae, Pentatomidae, Syrphidae) were determined on 5 Rosaceae species. The observations and short information about the recorded species were also presented.Rosaceae türleri ile etkileşime sahip predatör böcek türlerini belirlemek amacıyla, 2013 yılı Mart-Haziran periyodunda, Trakya Bölgesi sınırları içinde yer alan Edirne ilinde (Trakya Üniversitesi Arboretumu) arazi çalışması ve toplanan örneklerle ilgili olarak laboratuar çalışması yapılmıştır. Arazi çalışması sırasında predatör böcekler çeşitli yaşam evrelerinde gözlemlenmiş ve toplanmıştır. Toplanan örneklerden larva/pupa aşamasında olanlar laboratuar şartlarında yetiştirilmiştir. Çalışma sonucunda alanda bulunan Rosaceae türleri üzerinde konaklayan ve besinini sağlayan predatör böcekler tanımlanarak belirlenmiş ve 5 bitki türü üzerinde, 6 familyaya ait 11 predatör böcek türü (Chrysopidae, Coccinellidae, Formicidae, Geocoridae, Pentatomidae, Syrphidae) kaydedilmiştir. Tespit edilen türler hakkında yapılan gözlemler ve kısa literatür bilgileri de belirtilmiştir

Implementation of boundary conditions in modeling the femur is critical for the evaluation of distal intramedullary nailing

In previous numerical and experimental studies of the intramedullary nail implanted human femur several simplifications to model the boundary and loading conditions during pre-clinical testing have been proposed. The distal end of the femur was fixed in the majority of studies dealing with the biomechanics of the lower extremity, be it numerical or experimental, which resulted in obviously non-physiological deflections. Per contra, Speirs et al. (2007) proclaimed physiological deflections as a result of constraining the femur in a novel statically determinate fashion in combination with using a complex set of muscle forces. In tandem with this, we have shown that not only the deflections but also the stress and strain predictions turn out to be much lower in magnitude, as a result of using the latter approach. To illustrate the dramatic change in results, we compared these results with those of two other models employing commonly used boundary and loading conditions in retrograde stabilization of a distal diaphyseal fracture. The model used herewith resulted in more realistic femoral cortical strains, lower stresses on both the nail and the screws, as well as such deflections in the overall structure