How Banking Time intervention works in Turkish preschool classrooms for enhancing student–teacher relationships

In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the effects of a relationship-based intervention called Banking Time (BT) on child–teacher relationships in preschool period. Five- and six-year-old children (N = 93) attending full-time private preschool and their teachers (N = 8) were included in the participant group. It was pretest–intervention–posttest design and data were collected using Semi-Structured Play Interview and Student–Teacher Relationship Scale to assess whether or not BT intervention would be effective on child–teacher relationship perceptions. It was hypothesized that both children and teachers in the experimental group would perceive more positive relationships than the control group. The analysis showed that BT intervention differentiated relationship perceptions of children between the experimental and the control group. However, BT intervention did not improve the relationship perception of teachers with children in the experimental group as compared to the control group. © 2019, The Author(s)

Spectral Analysis Methods for Spike-Wave Discharges in Rats with Genetic Absence Epilepsy

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Comparison of Tensile Properties of Nb Grain Refined A206 Alloy by Gravity and Tilt Casting

Turbulent filling of a mould is one of the ways to introduce extrinsic defects into the cast part that could deteriorate many properties of any casting. The turbulence can be easily eliminated by counter gravity casting. In gravity casting, tapered downsprue, tapered runner is needed such that the mould cavity is filled counter-gravity from the bottom which is the only best way to eliminate turbulence during filling. Tilt casting method also exists which has the potential to quiescently transfer the liquid into the mould cavity. In this work, gravity and tilt casting methods were used to evaluate the tensile properties of Nb grain refined 206 alloy. Three different Nb contents were investigated: 0.025, 0.05 and 0.1 wt% ratios and it was found that 0.05 wt% revealed the highest tensile properties. On the other hand, when the intrusion of surface folded oxides was eliminated during filling, it was found that mechanical properties were increased significantly, and particularly, the toughness was increased by two folds when tilt casting was applied compared to gravity casting

Original Article Expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1, fibroblast growth factor 2, phosphatidyl inositol 3 phosphate kinase and their clinical and prognostic significance in early and advanced stage of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung

Abstract: Aim: Non-small cell lung carcinoma is the leading cause of cancer related to death in the world. Squamous cell lung carcinoma (SqCLC) is the second most frequent histological subtype of lung carcinomas. Recently, growth factors, growth factor receptors, and signal transduction system-related gene amplifications and mutations are extensively under investigation to estimate the prognosis and to develop individualized therapies in SqCLC. In this study, besides the signal transduction molecule phosphatidyl inositol-3-phosphate kinase (IP3K) p110α, we explored the expressions of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) and receptor-1 (FGFR1) in tumor tissue and also their clinical and prognostic significance in patients with early/advanced SqCLC. Materials and methods: From 2005 to 2013, 129 patients (23 early, 106 advanced disease) with a histopathological SqCLC diagnosis were selected from the hospital files of Cukurova University Medical Faculty for this study. Two independent pathologists evaluated FGFR1, FGF2, and PI3K (p110α) expressions in both tumor and stromal tissues from 99 of the patients with sufficient tissue samples, using immunohistochemistry. Considering survival analysis separately for patients with both early and advanced stage diseases, the relationship between the clinical features of the patients and expressions were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: FGFR1 expression was found to be low in 59 (60%) patients and high in 40 (40%) patients. For FGF2; 12 (12%) patients had high, 87 (88%) patients had low expression and for IP3K; 31 (32%) patients had high and 66 (68%) patients had low expressions. In univariate analysis, overall survival (OS) was significantly associated with stage of the disease and the performance status of the patient (P<0.0001 and P<0.001). There was no significant difference in OS of the patients with either low or high expressions of FGFR1, FGF2, and IP3K. When the patients with early or advanced stage disease were separately taken into consideration, the relationship did not differ, either. Any of FGFR1, FGF2 or IP3K expressions was not found predictive for the treatment of early or advanced staged patients. On the other hand, the expressions of both FGFR1 and FGF2 were significantly different with respect to smoking, scar of tuberculosis and scar of radiotherapy (P=0.002; P=0.06 and P=0.05, respectively). Discussion: There has not been identified an effective individualized treatment for SqCLC yet. Therefore, in order to be able to develop such a treatment in the future, it is essential to identify the genetic abnormalities that are responsible for the biological behaviors and carcinogenesis of SqCLC. Although we could not show the prognostic and predictive significance of FGFR1, FGF2 and IP3K expressions in SqCLC, we determined the expression rates of FGFR1, FGF2 and IP3K as a reference for Turkish patients. In conclusion, we want to put some emphasis on the fact that, pulmonary fibrosis which is a late complication of radiotherapy at stage III disease, and the scar of tuberculosis could be associated with FGFR1 and FGF2 expressions

The Acute Environment, Rather than T Cell Subset Pre-Commitment, Regulates Expression of the Human T Cell Cytokine Amphiregulin

Cytokine expression patterns of T cells can be regulated by pre-commitment to stable effector phenotypes, further modification of moderately stable phenotypes, and quantitative changes in cytokine production in response to acute signals. We showed previously that the epidermal growth factor family member Amphiregulin is expressed by T cell receptor-activated mouse CD4 T cells, particularly Th2 cells, and helps eliminate helminth infection. Here we report a detailed analysis of the regulation of Amphiregulin expression by human T cell subsets. Signaling through the T cell receptor induced Amphiregulin expression by most or all T cell subsets in human peripheral blood, including naive and memory CD4 and CD8 T cells, Th1 and Th2 in vitro T cell lines, and subsets of memory CD4 T cells expressing several different chemokine receptors and cytokines. In these different T cell types, Amphiregulin synthesis was inhibited by an antagonist of protein kinase A, a downstream component of the cAMP signaling pathway, and enhanced by ligands that increased cAMP or directly activated protein kinase A. Prostaglandin E2 and adenosine, natural ligands that stimulate adenylyl cyclase activity, also enhanced Amphiregulin synthesis while reducing synthesis of most other cytokines. Thus, in contrast to mouse T cells, Amphiregulin synthesis by human T cells is regulated more by acute signals than pre-commitment of T cells to a particular cytokine pattern. This may be appropriate for a cytokine more involved in repair than attack functions during most inflammatory responses

Modeling Light Propagation in Luminescent Media

This study presents physical, computational and analytical modeling approaches forlight propagation in luminescent random media. Two different approaches are used, namely(i) a statistical approach: Monte-Carlo simulations for photon transport and (ii) a deterministic approach: radiative transport theory. Both approaches account accurately for themultiple absorption and reemission of light at different wavelengths and for anisotropicluminescence. The deterministic approach is a generalization of radiative transport theoryfor solving inelastic scattering problems in random media. We use the radiative transporttheory to study light propagation in luminescent media. Based on this theory, we also studythe optically thick medium. Using perturbation methods, a corrected diffusion approximation with asymptotically accurate boundary conditions and a boundary layer solution arederived. The accuracy and the efficacy of this approach is verified for a plane-parallel slabproblem. In particular, we apply these two approaches (MC and radiative transport theory) to model light propagation in semiconductor-based luminescent solar concentrators(LSCs). The computational results for both approaches are compared with each other andfound to agree. The results of this dissertation present practical and reliable techniques touse for solving forward/inverse inelastic scattering problems arising in various research areas such as optics, biomedical engineering, nuclear engineering, solar science and materialscience

Pre-schoolers, pre-school teachers, and interpersonal problem-solving skills:a comparative study in Turkey and Belgium

Interpersonal cognitive problem solving, one of the most crucial social skills, is a life-long competency that must be supported from the early years of life. In this study, the opinions of 55 Turkish pre-school teachers and 53 Flemish pre-school teachers who work with 3-6-year-old children in private and public pre-schools in metropolitan cities of both countries were obtained using the Teacher's Interpersonal Problem Solving Questionnaire. When the results were considered, it was noticed that Turkish pre-school teachers tend to solve problems as soon as they emerge. They usually prefer to suggest a solution to the problem or give advice. On the contrary, pre-school teachers in Belgium express that they analysed problems together with the children and guided children to produce various solutions. It was revealed that few Turkish and Flemish teachers have specific training in improving interpersonal problem-solving skills in children. © 2011 ASPE