Elementary School Teachers\u27 Integration Of Digital Literacy During Collaborative Planning Sessions In a Project-Based School

The notions of literacy and literacy instruction have changed in profound ways as new technology and the Internet become central to the use of information and the acquisition of knowledge (Lankshear & Knobel, 2003; Leu, Kinzer, Coiro & Cammack, 2004). The social, cultural and technological changes point out the importance of integrating new literacies into classrooms literacy instruction in order to prepare students for 21st century work, life and career opportunities (Ito et al., 2013; Leu & Kinzer, 2000). To support the development of digital literacy, a need exists to find effective ways to integrate technology within classroom instruction. Teachers play a central role in ensuring this need is met, particularly for students who attend school in low SES urban areas. This study addressed need by examining the complex situation of teachers’ understanding of digital literacy integration as revealed during their collaborative planning sessions while they designed a project-based learning (PBL) unit. This qualitative study used a case study design. Participants included third-grade teachers from an urban charter school that serves a low-income community. Data collection included observations of planning sessions, teacher interviews, researcher reflections and memos. Data were analyzed using constant comparative methods. This study indicated that the planning process was a dynamic, non-linear and an iterative process that required revisions and edits during the project planning and implementation period. Planning was a dynamic process created by multiple internal and external factors. This study illuminated the nature of the interactions of the teachers during planning meetings. Planning for the teachers was expressed in three different ways: collaborative, pair, and individual planning. This study revealed teachers demonstrated the shift in understanding of what it means to be literate in the 21st century. The third-grade team’s insights about digital literacy encompassed developing 21st century skills, changing the definition of what means to be literate, becoming a digital citizen, creating relevance to students’ lives, using technology for pleasure as well as teaching. The examination of the five teachers’ collaborative interactions as they planned to use digital technology offers insights into how to assist other teachers in those efforts

A New Formulation For The Fundamental Period Of Reinforced Concrete Planar Shear Walls

The reinforced concrete shear wall system has become a popular structural component for lateral resistance in buildings and base shear of these structures has a vital effect on the earthquake induced lateral forces. The fundamental period of structures is used in most building codes to determine the lateral forces. However, accurate computation of period is not an easy task at the design stage. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the empirical easy-to-use equation for the calculation of fundamental periods of concrete planar shear walls. Genetic programming has been used to generate the proposed formula. Finite element analysis, were carried out for various shear walls having a variety of height and length and the results were used to develop the proposed formula. The outcomes of formula are compared with the results from equations in the seismic codes and finite element analysis. The comparison results indicate good agreement with finite element analysis and show better performance than codes

Stężenia adropiny i albuminy modyfikowanej niedokrwieniem w surowicy w zależności od występowania zespołu policystycznych jajników i wartości BMI

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and body mass index (BMI) on serum adropin and ischemia modified albumin (IMA) levels. Materials and methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was performed with a total of 120 women [group1; non-PCOS = 60 (BMI < 25 = 30, BMI ≥25 = 30) and group 2; PCOS = 60 (BMI < 25 = 30, BMI ≥25 = 30)]. Blood samples were collected between the third and fifth days of the women’s menstrual cycles after a night of fasting. Results: There were no differences between the groups in relation to age, basal follicle stimulating hormone, estradiol, thyroid stimulating hormone, prolactin, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels, systolic and diastolic blood pressures. A significant difference was found in basal luteinizing hormone, fasting glucose, insulin, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, free testosterone levels, waist-to-hip ratios and the Ferriman-Gallwey scores between the PCOS and non-PCOS patients in the lean and overweight groups (p < 0.05). The serum adropin levels in the lean PCOS group were lower than in the lean non-PCOS group (p < 0.05) and were lower in the overweight PCOS group than in the overweight non-PCOS group (p < 0.05). There was also a statistically significant difference in serum IMA levels in the PCOS group than in the non-PCOS group in both the lean and overweight groups (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Although serum adropin levels were significantly decreased in the PCOS group, IMA levels increased. Further studies are needed to determine the effects of adropin and IMA in women with PCOS and to use a new marker to monitorize treatment outcomes. Wstęp: Badanie przeprowadzono w celu oceny wpływu zespołu policystycznych jajników (polycystic ovary syndrome, PCOS) i wskaźnika masy ciała (body mass index, BMI) na surowicze stężenia adropiny i albumin modyfikowanej niedokrwieniem (ischemia modified albumin, IMA). Materiał i metody: To prospektywne badanie przekrojowe obejmowało 120 kobiet [grupa 1: osoby bez PCOS — n= 60 (BMI &lt; 25 — n= 30; BMI ≥ 25 — n = 30) oraz grupa 2: osoby z PCOS — n= 60 (BMI &lt; 25 — n= 30, BMI ≥ 25 —n = 30)]. Próbki krwi pobierano między trzecim a piątym dniem cyklu menstruacyjnego badanych kobiet, rano na czczo. Wyniki: Grupy nie różniły się pod względem wieku, podstawowego stężenia hormonu folikulotropowego, stężeń estradiolu, tyreotropiny, prolaktyny, cholesterol frakcji HDL, testosteronu całkowitego i siarczanu dehydroepiandrosteronu ani skurczowego i rozkurczowego ciśnienia tętniczego. Stwierdzono natomiast istotne różnice między grupą z PCOS i bez PCOS w podgrupach osób szczupłych i otyłych w zakresie podstawowego stężenia hormonu luteinizującego, glikemii na czczo, wskaźnika insulinooporności w modelu homeostazy, stężeń cholesterolu całkowitego, cholesterolu frakcji LDL, triglicerydów i wolnego testosteronu, a także wskaźnika talia-biodra oraz oceny w skali Ferrimana-Gallweya (P &lt; 0,05). Stężenia adropiny w osoczu były niższe w grupie szczupłych kobiet z PCOS niż u szczupłych osób niechorujących na PCOS (P &lt; 0,05) oraz były niższe u otyłych osób z PCOS niż u otyłych osób z grupy bez PCOS (P &lt; 0,05). Stwierdzono również statystycznie istotną różnice w stężeniach IMA w surowicy między kobietami z PCOS i bez PCOS, zarówno w podgrupie osób szczupłych, jak i otyłych (P &lt; 0,05). Wnioski: Mimo że surowicze stężenia adropiny były istotnie niższe w grupie z PCOS, stężenia IMA były podwyższone w tej grupie badanych. Konieczne są dalsze badania w celu określenia wpływu adropiny i IMA u kobiet z PCOS i stosowanie nowych wskaźników do monitorowania efektów leczenia

Corneal properties in children with congenital isolated growth hormone deficiency

<b>AIM:</b>To compare the corneal parameters of children with congenital isolated growth hormone deficiency and healthy subjects.<b>METHODS:</b> In this cross-sectional, prospective study, 50 cases with growth hormone (GH) deficiency treated with recombinant GH and 71 healthy children underwent a complete ophthalmic examination. The corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF), Goldmann-correlated intraocular pressure (IOPg) and corneal-compensated intraocular pressure (IOPcc) were measured with the Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA). Central corneal thickness (CCT) was measured by a ultrasonic pachymeter.<b>RESULTS:</b> The mean age was 13.0±3.0 years in the GH deficiency group consisting of 21 females and 29 males and 13.4±2.4 years in the healthy children group consisting of 41 females and 30 males. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups for gender or age (Chi-square test, <i>P</i>=0.09; independent <i>t</i>-test, <i>P</i>=0.28, respectively). The mean duration of recombinant GH therapy was 3.8±2.4y in the study group. The mean CH, CRF, IOPg and IOPcc values were 11.0±2.0, 10.9±1.9, 15.1±3.3, and 15.1±3.2 mm Hg respectively in the study group. The same values were 10.7±1.7, 10.5±1.7, 15.2±3.3, and 15.3±3.4 mm Hg respectively in the control group. The mean CCT values were 555.7±40.6, 545.1±32.5 µm in the study and control groups respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups for CH, CRF, IOPg, IOPcc measurements or CCT values (independent <i>t</i>-test, <i>P</i>=0.315, 0.286, 0.145, 0.747, 0.13 respectively).<b>CONCLUSION:</b> Our study suggests that GH deficiency does not have an effect on the corneal parameters and CCT values. This observation could be because of the duration between the beginning of disease and the diagnosis and beginning of GH therapy

The Cytotoxicity and Insecticidal Activity of Extracts from Delphinium formosum Boiss. & Huet

Delphinium species are well-known toxic plants with diterpenoid alkaloid contents. There has been no previous investigation on the cytotoxicity of Delphinium formosum. The extracts of the different parts of D. formosum, an endemic species in Turkey, were investigated for their cytotoxic activity against the human liver carcinoma cell line (HepG2) and primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The cytotoxic effects of twelve extracts and subfractions were determined against HepG2 cells using the MTT assay. The only active extract was applied to the HUVEC as a model for healthy cells. Only one of the alkaloidcontaining extracts from the aerial parts was toxic (IC50=244,9 µg/mL against HepG2 and 144,4 µg/mL against HUVEC), while the root extracts were inactive. The results were improbable although it is predicted secondary metabolites, such as diterpene alkaloids (methyllycaconitine, browniine, lycoctonine, avardharidine, antranoyllycoctonine, delsemine A/B and lycoctonine). Based on previous studies in the literature, the cytotoxic plants were also expected to exhibit insecticidal activity. Therefore, the cytotoxic extract of D. formosum was examined for its adulticidal and larvicidal activity against the yellow fever, dengue fever and the Zika virus vector Aedes aegypti L

AN AUTOMATED MULTI-OBJECTIVE INVIGILATOR-EXAM ASSIGNMENT SYSTEM

This paper is concerned with the invigilator-exam assignment problem. A web-based Automated Invigilator Assignment System (AIAS), consists of a mathematical model; a database storing the information and web-based user interfaces is constructed to solve the problem by providing an environment for a practical usage. The core of the system is the mathematical model developed for obtaining the exact solution. We conclude the paper by presenting a real-life problem solved by the proposed approach.Invigilator assignment, multi-objective programming, web-based automated assignment system

Evaluation of Salesperson Candidate’s with Fuzzy TOPSIS

Because of the heavy competition and uncertainty in market conditions, attainment of complete and certain information flow becomes harder for businesses. In such environments, decision making with fuzzy data is rather important. Problems’ structures in practice are usually complicated and they include more than one criterias and alternatives. The aim of this study is to investigate the applicability of Fuzzy TOPSIS (Technique For Order Performance By Similarity To Ideal Solution) Algorithm for salesperson selection in fuzzy environments where linguistic uncertainty exist. In fuzzy environments, operations with imprecise data are so important in terms of decision making. Fuzzy TOPSIS Algorithm is a multiple criteria decision making tool. This method supports group decision making and evaluation of quantitative and qualitative criterias simultaneously. In the study, a firm’s salesperson selection process is analyzed. This firm has 17 sale stores with high, medium and low concept levels in Turkey’s various regions. Trapezoidal fuzzy numbers used for more sensitive decision making. This study represented that Fuzzy TOPSIS Algorithm is efficiently applicable for salesperson selection in a Fuzzy Multiple Criteria Decision Making Problem.Fuzzy Sets; Trapezoidal Fuzzy Numbers; Fuzzy Multiple Criteria Decision Making; Fuzzy TOPSIS; Salesperson Selection in Fuzzy Environment

Death anxiety in elderly cases

WOS: 000290031900007Objective: The purpose of this study was to find out the level of death anxiety evaluate its relationship with several sociodemographic and clinical variables among elderly patients who have been referred to psychiatry outpatient clinics with consultation from other outpatient clinics in an university hospital. Methods: Two hundred patients (117 male, 83 female) who have been referred to Cukurova University Medical Faculty Psychiatry out-patient clinics via consultation were included in the present study. A formal psychiatric interview were conducted with all cases, and demographic and clinical variables were recorded thereafter. After the interview, all patients completed Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Templer Death Anxiety Scale (DAS), Death Depression Scale (DDS) and Short Form-36 (SF-36) quality of life scale. Results: Of all patients included in the present study, 58,5% were female with an average age of 67.16 +/- 5.0 for whole group. The mean DAS score for whole group was 7.7. There was a mild positive correlation between SF-36 and DAS scores. The same correlation was alos valid between SF-36 and DDS scores. Evaluation of the relationship between demographic variables and scale scores revealed positive correlation between DAS score and the number of children of the patients, while a negative correlation was present between DAS and length of education. There were no significant differences in DAS and DDS scores with regards to physical disorder type. The presence of bereavement within one year time was not a significant factor for change in DAS scores while there was a significant increase in death anxiety among patients who had frequent death thoughts in the last month. Conclusion: The results of this study presented significant relationship between death anxiety and length of education, number of children and frequency of death thoughts among elderly patients. No such relationship could be determined for the type of physical disease. Prospective studies carefully searching for different variables in elderly cases would reveal and help us to understand the importance of death anxiety and its impact on courses of physical and mental disorders. (Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry 2011; 12:37-43

Is health care a luxury or a necessity or both? Evidence from Turkey

This study investigates the effect of per capita income on per capita health expenditures in Turkey over the period 1975-2007 by using ARDL bounds test approach to the cointegration considering both demand and supply side variables. Since we reject the null hypothesis that there is no cointegration among the series, we estimate long run and short run elasticities. The results show that while income has no effect on health expenditures in the long run, it is a necessity good in the short run that is a 1% increase in per capita income creates an 0.75% increase in per capita health expenditures. On the other hand, by examining the coefficient of demand and supply side variables, we found that average length of stay and number of physicians has negative effect, percentage of older people has positive effect and infant mortality rate has no effect on health expenditures in both short and long runs