The use of computers on students’ mathematics achievement: Finding from PISA 2003

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of computer using on mathematics achievement. The sample was prepared from students who participated in Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) in Turkey. These data consisted of 3326 15 year-old Turkish students in 157 schools. Analysis was done with hierarchical linear model. Furthermore, it was shown that frequencies of the aims of students’ computer use. Two-level model was used to estimate coefficients and modeled differences across school types. Results from this study indicated  that male students, computer facilitates at home, cultural possessions, economic social and cultural status and quality of schools’ educational resources variables had significantly positive effects and attitudes towards computers variable was no significant role in students’ mathematical performance. Students who never use a home computer for learning in education obtained lower scores in mathematics

Expression of antimicrobial peptides in recurrent adenotonsillitis

Kilic, Murat/0000-0002-1377-2021; aydin, sedat/0000-0003-4939-5026; demir, mehmet/0000-0002-0609-6782WOS: 000393197500008Background: Recurrent acute tonsillitis is one of the most frequent otorhinolaryngology clinic referrals, yet its pathogenesis remains poorly understood. Antimicrobial cationic peptides are components of the innate system. They are generally small, highly positively charged peptides with broad spectrum antimicrobial activity which function as the body's "natural antibiotics". Our aim is to investigate the role of antimicrobial cationic peptides in the susceptibility of patients to recurrent acute tonsillitis. Materials and methods: The study is done with 100 children who had a history of recurrent adenotonsillitis as subject group and 100 children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy as control group. Tonsillar and adenoid tissues are dissected into parts as deep and surface epithelium and investigated semiquantitatively with immunohistochemistry. Human beta defensin (hBD) 1-3 and cathelecidin (LL-37) levels are compared with microscopically. Results: Immunohistochemistry revealed a strong expression of hBD-1, hBD-2 and hBD-3 in tonsillar tissue. Quantification of hBD-1, hBD-2 and hBD-3 expressions are shown more in tonsillar tissue than in adenoids. LL-37 is one of the antimicrobial peptides found in human tonsillar tissue and adenoids, that participates in the innate immune system of these tissues. Statistically, hBD-1, hBD-3 and LL-37 expressions were different in recurrent tonsillitis tissue than control (p < 0.05). Moreover hBD-2 expression was different in adenoid tissue than control (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Antimicrobial peptides have key role in adenotonsillar infections and this defense mechanism increases susceptibility to recurrent infections in upper respiratory tract

Improvement in Attention and Executive Functions During Isotretinoin Treatment in Patients With Acne

Background and Design: We assessed attention, memory, verbal-linguistic ability, and executive functions in acne vulgaris patients before and during isotretinoin treatment.Materials and Methods: Fifty-two treatment-naive acne patients at baseline and 24 at the second visit were evaluated. A neurocognitive battery including the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning and Memory Test, Auditory Consonant Trigram Test, Controlled Word Association Test, Digit Span Test, Trail Making Test A and B and the Stroop Test was used. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) were also applied.Results: We found improvements in attention and executive functions at the second visit in comparison with the baseline evaluations. No alteration was found in verbal episodic memory, learning, working memory, and phonemic verbal fluency (Digit Span Forwards Test p=0.003, Trial Making-A Test p=0.002, Trial Making –B Test p=0.000, Stroop test p=0.028).Discussion: The positive effects of isotretinoin on cognitive functions may be related to the decline in acne lesions and less mental occupation with the social impacts of acne

Annelerin 0-24 Aylık Çocuklarını Besleme Davranışları: Kırıkkale İli Örneği

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, Kırıkkale İl sınırları içinde yaşayan 0 -24 aylık çocukların anne sütü alma ve ek besinlere başlama duru-munda annelerin davranışlarını belirlemektir.Yöntem: Tanımlayıcı tipte olan bu çalışma, Kırıkkale İli merkez ve köylerinde yaşayan, 0-24 aylık çocuğu olan ve araştırmaya katılma-yı kabul eden 200 anneye 36 soru ve 5 bölümden oluşan bir anket formu uygulanmıştır.Bulgular: Annelerin %52’si kent merkezinde yaşamaktadır. Araştır-maya katılan annelerin %72.5’inin doğum sonrası ilk besin olarak bebeğine anne sütü verdiği, %57.5’inin çocuklarına ilk 6 ay anne sütü verdiği, annelerin %92.5’i anne sütü hakkında bilgi aldığı sap-tanmıştır. Annelerin %47.5’nin hemşire/ebelerden bilgi aldığı be-lirlenmiştir. Annelerin %36’sının 6 ay ve üzeri zamanda ek gıdaya başladığı saptanmıştır. Sonuç: Sonuç olarak, annelerin yarıdan fazlasının çocuklarına ilk altı ay sadece anne sütü verdiği, 6. aydan sonra ek gıdalara başla-dığı saptanmıştır

Bromido[1-(η6-4-tert-butyl­benz­yl)-3-(2,4,6-trimethyl­benz­yl)benzimidazol-2-yl­idene]chloridoruthenium(II)

A new ruthenium complex, [RuBrCl(C28H32N2)], has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, IR-spectroscopy and a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. The Ru atom in this complex is best described as having a considerably distorted octa­hedral coordination environment with the arene occupying three coordination sites. Two further coordination sites are occupied by chloride and bromide ligands, while the sixth site is occupied by the carbene. The carbene portion of the ligand is a benzimidazole ring. This ring is connected to the C6H4C(CH3)3 arene by a CH2 bridge. This leads to a system with very little apparent strain. The two halogen atoms are disordered between Br and Cl. Two partial Cl atoms share the same sites as two partial Br atoms so that the title compound effectively has one Cl and one Br atom. C—H⋯X (X = Cl, Br) hydrogen bonds help to stabilize the crystal structure

1-(1H-Benzimidazol-1-ylmeth­yl)-3-[2-(di­isopropyl­amino)eth­yl]-1H-benzimid­azolium bromide 0.25-hydrate

The title N-heterocyclic carbene derivative, C23H30N5 +·Br−·0.25H2O, was synthesized using microwave heating and was characterized by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy and a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. The structure of the title compound are stabilized by a network of intra- and inter­molecular C—H⋯Br hydrogen-bonding inter­actions. The crystal structure is further stabilized by π–π stacking inter­actions between benzene and imidazole fragment rings of parallel benzo[d]imidazole rings, with a separation of 3.486 (3) Å between the centroids of the benzene and imidazole rings. There is also an inter­molecular C—H⋯π inter­action in the crystal structure. The C—N bond lengths for the central benzimidazole ring are shorter than the average single C—N bond, thus showing varying degrees of double-bond character and indicating partial electron delocalization within the C—N—C—N—C fragment. The isopropyl group is disordered over two sites with occupancies of 0.792 (10) and 0.208 (10)

Volume CXIV, Number 4, November 7, 1996

Objective: Turner syndrome (TS) is a chromosomal disorder caused by complete or partial X chromosome monosomy that manifests various clinical features depending on the karyotype and on the genetic background of affected girls. This study aimed to systematically investigate the key clinical features of TS in relationship to karyotype in a large pediatric Turkish patient population.Methods: Our retrospective study included 842 karyotype-proven TS patients aged 0-18 years who were evaluated in 35 different centers in Turkey in the years 2013-2014.Results: The most common karyotype was 45,X (50.7%), followed by 45,X/46,XX (10.8%), 46,X,i(Xq) (10.1%) and 45,X/46,X,i(Xq) (9.5%). Mean age at diagnosis was 10.2±4.4 years. The most common presenting complaints were short stature and delayed puberty. Among patients diagnosed before age one year, the ratio of karyotype 45,X was significantly higher than that of other karyotype groups. Cardiac defects (bicuspid aortic valve, coarctation of the aorta and aortic stenosis) were the most common congenital anomalies, occurring in 25% of the TS cases. This was followed by urinary system anomalies (horseshoe kidney, double collector duct system and renal rotation) detected in 16.3%. Hashimoto's thyroiditis was found in 11.1% of patients, gastrointestinal abnormalities in 8.9%, ear nose and throat problems in 22.6%, dermatologic problems in 21.8% and osteoporosis in 15.3%. Learning difficulties and/or psychosocial problems were encountered in 39.1%. Insulin resistance and impaired fasting glucose were detected in 3.4% and 2.2%, respectively. Dyslipidemia prevalence was 11.4%.Conclusion: This comprehensive study systematically evaluated the largest group of karyotype-proven TS girls to date. The karyotype distribution, congenital anomaly and comorbidity profile closely parallel that from other countries and support the need for close medical surveillance of these complex patients throughout their lifespa

Research on some biological features of Aspidiotus nerıı bouche (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) and its parasitoid Aphytıs melinus DeBach (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) at different relative humidity level.

TEZ8152Tez (Yüksek Lisans) -- Çukurova Üniversitesi, Adana, 2010.Kaynakça (s. 35-40) var.xi, 41 s. : rnk. res., çizelge ; 29 cm.In this study was investigated that effect of relative humidity to successful mass rearing of Aphytis melinus which is an effective biological control agent on Aonidielia aurantii' (Maskell) citrus areas in Region of East Mediterranean and its host Aspidiotus nerii. For these purpose were studied some biological features of A. melinus and A. nerii easily produced of A. melinus at %40, %60 and %80 RH. The developmental time (egg to adult) of A. nerii is shortest 27.0 days at % 60 RH, the longest 33.0 days at % 40 RH. The mortality rate is determined minimum at %40, maximum at %80. Longevity of female is longest 51.2 days at %40, shortest 34.5 days at %60. Although total fecundity of female is maximum 83.1 eggs/female at %40 parallel to female longevity, minimum 58.0 eggs/female at % 80. Body size of A. nerii is getting bigger with increasing relative humidity. The developmental time of A. melinus increased with increasing humidity. While rate of female to male is in favor of female at % 40 RH, It is in favor of male at % 60 and %80 RH. Body size of A. melinus is minimum at %80 RH which was observed the longest development time.Doğu Akdeniz Bölgesi turunçgil alanlarında önemli bir zararlı olan Aonidielia aurantii' (Maskell)'nin biyolojik mücadelesinde etkin bir doğal düşman olan Aphytis melinus'un ve konukçusu Aspidiotus nerii'nin daha başarılı bir kitle üretimine orantılı nemin etkisini belirlemek amacıyla bu çalışma yürütülmüştür. Bu amaçla A. melinus ve bu parazitoitin üzerinde kolay üretildiği A. nerii'nin %40, %60 ve %80 nem derecelerinde bazı biyolojik özellikleri araştırılmıştır. Yapılan çalışma sonucunda A. nerii'nin ergin öncesi gelişimini en kısa 27.0 gün ile % 60 orantılı nemde, en uzun 33.0 gün ile % 40 nemde tamamladığı ortaya çıkarılmıştır. Ölüm oranının ise en düşük %40, en yüksek % 80 nemde olduğu belirlenmiştir. A. nerii'nin dişi ömürü 51.2 gün ile en uzun %40 nemde, en kısa 34.5 ile % 60 nemde olduğu ortaya konulmuştur. Dişi ömrüne paralel olarak ömürleri boyunca bıraktıkları larva sayıları % 40'ta 83.1 dişi/ömür ile en yüksek olmasına rağmen; en düşük % 80 nemde 58.0 dişi/ömür olmuştur. A. nerii'nin vücut iriliği nem artışıyla birlikte artış göstermiştir. A. nerii'nin parazitoiti A. melinus'un gelişme süresi nem artışına paralel olarak artmıştır. Dişi erkek oranının ise % 40 nemde dişi lehine iken; % 60 ve %80 nemde erkek lehine olduğu belirlenmiştir. A. melinus' un vücut iriliği ise en uzun gelişme süresinin gözlendiği %80 nemde en az olmuştur.Bu çalışma Ç.Ü. Bilimsel Araştırma Projeleri Birimi tarafından desteklenmiştir. Proje No: ZF2009YL25

Iki yönlü edimsel aktarım : İngilizce bilen Türk öğrenciler üzerine bir araştırma

This study investigated the existence of bi-directional transfer in pragmatic abilities of Turkish users of English in their refusal strategies in terms of the frequency of direct and indirect refusal strategies, types and frequencies of the indirect strategies, and the role of the interlocutor's status in strategy choice. To this end, 30 Turkish users of English were given a discourse completion questionnaire in English and 30 Turkish users of English were given the Turkish translation iiiof the same questionnaire in Turkish which consisted of 12 situations which may require a refusal: three suggestions, three invitations, three requests, and three offers. For each of these four groups of situations, the subjects were in interaction with one higher, one equal, and one lower status interlocutor. In order to be able to investigate the existence of transfer, 30 native speakers of English and 30 native speakers of Turkish were given the same questionnaire, in English and in Turkish, respectively. Then, the data obtained from these four respondent groups were compared with regard to the points of investigation. The results showed that, even though some similarities are observed among the subject groups, generally, Turkish users of English employed similar refusal strategies in both their target and native language responses, in a manner different from the native speakers of either language. In addition, it was observed that the interlocutor's status was an important factor in strategy choice for all respondent groups.Bu çalışma İngilizce kullanan Türklerin reddetme stratejilerindeki edimsel yeteneklerinde, dolaysız ve dolaylı reddetme stratejilerindeki kullanım sıklığı, dolaylı stratejilerin çeşitleri ve hangi sıklıkla kullanıldıkları, ve iletişimde bulundukları insanın sosyal statüsünün strateji seçimindeki rolü açılarından iki yönlü bir aktarım olup olmadığını araştırmıştır. Bu amaçla, 30 İngilizce kullanan Türke bir söylem tamamlama anketi İngilizceolarak uygulanmış, diğer 30 İngilizce kullanan Türke ise bu anketin Türkçe çevirisi verilmiştir. Uygulanan söylem tamamlama anketi reddetme gerektirebilecek 12 farklı durumdan oluşmuştur: üç tavsiye, üç rica, üç öneri, ve üç davet. Her bir gruptaki durumda denekler kendilerinden biri yüksek, biri düşük ve biri de kendilerine eşit sosyal statüdeki insanla iletişim kurmuşlardır. İki yönlü aktarımın varlığını inceleyebilmek için ana dili İngilizce olan ve ana dili Türkçe olan 30'ar deneğe aynı anketler kendi ana dillerinde verilmiştir. Daha sonra, bu dört gruptan toplanan veriler araştırılan konular açısından birbirleriyle karşı faştın fmı şttr. Denek grupları arasında bazı benzerlikler gözlenmesine rağmen, sonuçlar genel olarak İngilizce kullanan Türklerin hem ana hem de yabancı dillerinde birbirine benzer reddetme stratejileri kullandıklarını ve bu stratejilerin ana dili Türkçe ve İngilizce olan deneklerden farklı olduğunu ortaya çıkarmıştır. Ayrıca, iletişimde bulunulan kişinin sosyal statüsünün bütün grupların strateji seçimlerinde önemli bir rol oynadığı gözlenmiştir.M.A. - Master of Art

Romatid artrit hastalarında orta ve iç kulak fonksiyonlarının değerlendirilmesi

Romatoid artrit (RA), CD4 (+) T hücreleri ve monositlerin, damardan inflamasyonlu sinoviyal dokuya ve sinoviyal sıvıya geçmesiyle karakterize, otoimmün bir hastalıktır. Çalışmamızın amacı; Romatoid artrit hastalarında orta kulak, iç kulak ve eferent işitme sistemini, multifrekans timpanometri, geçici uyarılmış otoakustik emisyon (TEOAE) ve kontralateral supresyon testi ile detaylı olarak incelemektir. Çalışmaya 35 romatoid artrit hastası ve 40 sağlıklı birey olmak üzere toplam 75 kişi dahil edilmiştir. Katılımcıların immitansmetrik ölçümleri yapıldıktan sonra saf ses odyometri ile işitme eşikleri ölçülmüştür. Daha sonra her iki grubun geçici uyarılmış otoakustik emisyon testiyle değerlendirmesi: kontrolateral akustik stimülasyon (KAS) verilmeden önce ve 70 dB dar band KAS verilirken olacak şekilde iki aşamalı olarak ölçülmüştür. Romatoid artrit hastalarının yaş ortalaması 44,31±10,4, Kontrol grubunun yaş ortalaması 41,48±12,5 olup fark istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bulunmadı (p=0,293). 125Hz-16000 Hz frekansları arasında romatoid artrit ve kontrol grubu saf ses işitme eşikleri karşılaştırıldığında, bütün frekanslarda romatoid artrit hastalarının saf ses işitme eşikleri daha yüksek olarak bulundu. Bu fark, sağ kulakta 2000 Hz, 14000 Hz ve 16000 Hz, sol kulakta 16000 Hz frekansları haricinde tüm frekanslarda istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bulundu (p<0,05). Bireylerin tamamında timpanogram sonuçları normal sınırlarda bulundu. Multifrekans timponometri testinde hasta ve kontrol grubunun sağ kulak rezonans frekansları değerleri sırasıyla 748,86 ± 188,06; 830,00 ± 122,37, sol kulak değerleri sırasıyla 772,86 ±157,80; 847,50 ± 140,94 Hz bulundu. Fark istatistiksel açıdan anlamlı idi (p<0,05). Otoakustik emisyon testiyle yapılan değerlendirmede, iki grup TEOAE sonuçları karşılaştırıldığında romatoid artritli hastalardan alınan emisyon yanıtları kontrol grubuna göre 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, 2800 Hz, 4000Hz frekanslarında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı düşüş saptandı. (p<0,05). Kontralateral supresyon seviyelerini değerlendirmek amacıyla, kontralateral akustik uyaran (KAS) verilmeden ve KAS verilirken yapılan TEOAE ölçümleri karşılaştırıldığında; hasta grubunda 2800 ve 4000 Hz frekansları dışında, kontrol grubunda tüm frekanslarda emisyon değerlerinde istatistiksel olarak anlamlı düşüş saptandı (p<0,001). Her iki gruptaki kontralateral supresyon seviyeleri (dB) karşılaştırıldığında ise fark istatistiksel olarak anlamlı değildi (p>0,05). Sonuç olarak elde ettiğimiz bulgular, romatoid artrit hastalığında işitsel disfonksiyon varlığını göstermektedir. Romatoid artrit tanısı konulduğunda hastaların odyolojik değerlendirmesi de yapılmalı ve hastalar olası otolojik tutulum hakkında bilgilendirilmelidir. Romatoid artrit hastalarında orta ve iç kulak fonksiyonlarının etkilenimi ve bu olası etkilenimler ile ilişkili olabilecek hastalık özelliklerine yönelik çalışmalara devam edilmelidir. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease which is characterized by the passage of primarily CD4 (+) T cells and monocytes into the intravenous inflamed synovial tissue and synovial fluid. The aim of our work was to examine middle ear, inner ear and efferent auditory system by using multifrequency tympanometry, transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) and contralateral suppression test in detail. A total of 75 subjects; 35 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 40 healthy subjects participated in the study. Immitansmetric measurements of participants were performed, and then their hearing levels were measured applying pure tone audiometry. The evaluation of each group with otoacoustic emission test was performed in two stages: before giving contralateral acoustic stimulation (CAS) and during 70 dB narrow band contralateral acoustic stimulation. Mean age of patients with rheumatoid arthritis was 44,31±10,4, mean age of control group was 41,48±12,5 and the difference between groups was not statistically significant (p=0,293). By comparison pure tone hearing levels between rheumatoid arthritis and control group at 125Hz-16000 Hz frequency, pure tone hearing levels of rheumatoid arthritis patients at all frequencies were higher. These differences were found statistically significant except for 2000 Hz, 14000 Hz and 16000 Hz in right ear, 16000 Hz in left ear (p<0,05). Tympanogram results in all of the subjects were within normal limits. The value of the resonant frequency of the patient and control group were respectively for right ear 748,86 ± 188,06 ; 830,00 ± 122,37, for left ear 772,86 ±157,80; 847,50 ± 140,94 Hz. The difference was statistically significant (p<0,05). When compared two groups‟ TEOAE results, emission results obtained from rheumatoid arthritis patients were statistically significantly lower than control group at 1000Hz, 2000Hz, 2800Hz and 4000Hz frequencies (p<0,05). When TEOAE measurement before and during contralateral acoustic stimulation (CAS) were compared to evaluate the contralateral suppression level, it was detected that there was decline in emission values except for 2800 and 4000 Hz at all frequencies in study group and there was decline in emissions values all frequencies control group (p<0,001).There was no statistically significant difference between contralateral suppression levels in both groups (p>0,05). As a result, our findings indicate the presence of auditory dysfunction in rheumatoid arthritis. When the rheumatoid arthritis is diagnosed, the patients should be undergo audiologic evaluation and informed about possible pathological involvement. Future studies should continue about middle and inner ear condition in rheumatoid arthritis patients and potential interactions that may be associated with disease characteristics