The Effect of Reading Comprehension and Problem Solving Strategies on Classifying Elementary 4th Grade Students with High and Low Problem Solving Success

In this study, the effect of fluent reading (speed, reading accuracy percentage, prosodic reading), comprehension (literal comprehension, inferential comprehension) and problem solving strategies on classifying students with high and low problem solving success was researched. The sampling of the research is composed of 279 students at elementary school 4th grade. In the research, in order to figure out reading accuracy percentage and reading rate, 5 scales were used: a reading text, prosodic reading scale, literal comprehension scale, inferential comprehension scale and problem solving scale. In order to see the effect of fluent reading and comprehension skills on classifying students with high and low problem solving success, logistic analysis was conducted while discriminant analysis was conducted to determine the effect of problem solving skills. At the end of the study, it was seen that fluent reading skills had no effect on classifying students according to their problem solving success. It was concluded that both comprehension skills are 77% effective in classifying problem solving success, but inferential comprehension is more effective than literal comprehension. It was found that problem solving strategies were effective on classifying students with high and low problem solving success problem at 88% level; that the most important factors while classifying were estimation and control, systematic listing, looking for a pattern and drawing figures and diagrams respectively; and that backward-studying strategies were inadequate in classifying successful and unsuccessful students. At the end of the study, mathematical sentence writing strategy appeared to be the most important strategy in classifying students with high and low problem solving success, but it had a negative correlation. In other words, a rise in the usage rate of this strategy increased the likelihood for individuals to be in the group with low problem solving success

Examining the Mathematical Modeling Processes of Primary School 4th-Grade Students: Shopping Problem

Abstract The purpose of this study is to identify primary school students' thinking processes within the mathematical modeling process and the challenges they encounter, if any. This is a basic qualitative research study conducted in a primary school in the city of Kütahya in the academic year of 2015-2016. The study group of the research was composed of 22 students at 4th-grade who were selected with criterion sampling which is a purposive sampling method. The study data were collected with the clinical interview method and reported using the content analysis. It was consequently found that the students constituted two groups as those who provided a realistic solution and those who could not. There were more students who could not provide a realistic solution. Those who couldn't provide realistic solution tried to construct the mental representation of real situation through literal comprehension, which became insufficient in revealing the hidden situations involved in the problem text. Not noticing the hidden actions in the text led them to form a mathematical equation without structuring the problem and thus their solutions were unrealistic. Those who could provide realistic solutions, on the other hand, decide their operations within the context of the characters, time, place and relation between the events in the problem, which enabled the mental representation of the problem text to be critical reading and inferential comprehension focused as well as literal comprehension focused and thus allowed the students to reveal the hidden situations in the text. Accordingly, students posed new problems by gathering the required extra information according to these hidden situations and went for the real model. Thus, analyzing the problem situation is various contexts, students solved according to multiple conditions. It was also seen that students with realistic solutions utilized the validation process to determine the consistencies and inconsistencies of their solutions in real life context while those with unrealistic solutions utilized it to check their operations

Determining the Errors of Primary School 5th Grade Students in Non-Routine Problem Solving

The aim of this study is to determine the errors of 5th grade students in non-routine problems. In this study, descriptive survey method was used and clinical interview method was used in order to determine the source of the errors of 5th grade students in non-routine problems. The study group of descriptive survey model was composed of 467 primary school 5th grade students in 13 classes in 7 different primary schools in the city of Kütahya chosen according to cluster sampling method, while the study group of clinical interview method was composed of 70 students chosen among those who had made the error themes determined. As a result of the research, it was determined that the students made mostly comprehension-related errors (45.50%); this comprehension based errors mostly resulted from miscomprehension (27.28%), followed by irrelevant operation (10.42%) and incomplete comprehension (7.39%). It was also determined that the errors stemmed from the following: performing the strategy (5.72%), reading (3.77%), performing the operation (2.62%) and choosing the right strategy (2.36%), respectively.Bu araştırmanın amacı ilköğretim 5.sınıf öğrencilerinin problem çözme sürecinde yaptıkları hata türlerinin belirlenmesidir. İlköğretim 5. sınıf öğrencilerinin rutin olmayan problemlerde yaptıkları hataların kaynağını belirlemek amacıyla betimsel tarama ve klinik mülakat metodundan faydalanılmıştır. Betimsel tarama modelinin çalışma grubunu küme örnekleme yöntemiyle seçilmiş Kütahya ili yedi farklı ilköğretim okulunun 13 şubesinde eğitim gören toplam 467 İlköğretim 5. sınıf öğrencisi oluşturmaktadır. Klinik mülakat yönteminin çalışma grubunu belirlenen hata temalarını yapan öğrenciler arasından seçilen 70 öğrenci oluşturmaktadır. Araştırma sonucunda öğrencilerin en fazla anlama kaynaklı (%45.50) hata yaptıkları; anlama kaynaklı hataların en fazla yanlış anlama kaynaklı (%27.28) olduğu, yanlış anlama kaynaklı hataları ilgisiz işlem (%10.42) kaynaklı ve eksik anlama (%7.39) kaynaklı hataların takip ettiği görülmüştür. Anlama kaynaklı hataların haricinde yapılan hataların sırasıyla yanlış stratejinin yürütülmesi (%5.72), eksik ya da yanlış okuma (%3.77), yanlış hesaplama yapılması (%2.62) ve hatalı strateji seçiminden (%2.36) kaynaklandığı belirlenmiştir

The effect of government social spending on income inequality in oecd: a panel data analysis

Income inequality is one of the issue which is most discussed and struggled for its solution throughout the history of economics. Since the 1990s, income inequality has increased in most of the OECD (The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries as in the whole world. Government social spending is one of the most important means of directly regulating income inequality. This study investigated the effect of goverment social spending on income inequaltiy for 21 OECD countries by analyzing Panel Data. According to the findings obtained, government social spending affect income inequality positively. Income inequality decreases when the government social spending increase. It has been proved that government social spending was more effective than education expenditures in regulating income inequality. It is also understood that unemployment and population growth affected the income inequality negatively. Besides, there is a negative relationship between openness, education expenditures, elderly population, education participation and income inequality

The effect of government social spending on income inequality in oecd: a panel data analysis

Income inequality is one of the issue which is most discussed and struggled for its solution throughout the history of economics. Since the 1990s, income inequality has increased in most of the OECD (The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries as in the whole world. Government social spending is one of the most important means of directly regulating income inequality. This study investigated the effect of goverment social spending on income inequaltiy for 21 OECD countries by analyzing Panel Data. According to the findings obtained, government social spending affect income inequality positively. Income inequality decreases when the government social spending increase. It has been proved that government social spending was more effective than education expenditures in regulating income inequality. It is also understood that unemployment and population growth affected the income inequality negatively. Besides, there is a negative relationship between openness, education expenditures, elderly population, education participation and income inequality

Determining the Mental Estimation Strategies Used by Fourth-Grade Elementary Students in Four Basic Mathematical Operations

It is aimed to determine the strategies used by the fourth-grade elementary students during the operational estimations in this research which is designed by using basic qualitative analysis. The study group consists of 26 fourth-grade students selected through convenience sampling method and attending at a state school which was located in the centre of Kütahya province during the 2016/2017 academic year. In order to determine the strategies used by the students while estimating the results of the basic mathematical operations, a 20-question scale consisting of 5 questions from each of the addition, subtraction, multiplication and division operations was developed. The research data were collected via semi-structured in-terview method. In the process of the data collection, students were asked to solve each question through using a method of thinking aloud and the interviews were recorded by a camera. The obtained records were sorted out as a part of elementary school program developed by the Ministry of National Education (MEB, 2005) by three specialists in elementary mathematics teaching according to strategies such as suggested rounding, grouping, using the front-end orders, using matched numbers, distribution, adjusting-rearranging and using algorithmic calculation. As a result of the research, it has been seen that the fourth-grade students mostly prefer the strategy of algorithmic calculation when making estimations in four basic operations. It has been also seen that fewer students used rounding, matched numbers, adjusting-rearranging in addition; rounding, adjusting-rearranging strategies in subtraction, multiplication and division mentioned by MEB (2005). It has been seen that students who obtained solutions using the strategies determined by MEB (2005), were realistic and estimated the result of the operation in a very short time, whereas students who preferred algorithmic calculation strategy, often had unrealistic results and long estimation spans

Do MEFV mutations influence arterial stiffness in FMF patients?

Background: Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is the most used technique to evaluate the arterial elasticity, which is an early indicator of atherosclerosis. We aimed to evaluate if MEFV Mutations influence arterial stiffness in patients with Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) Methods: 70 patients diagnosed with FMF and 50 age-and sex-matched controls were included in the study. Genetic analysis of the patients was performed. After the measurement of PWV; the presence of AS was determined. Results: Mean PWV value and arterial stiffness frequency of FMF patients were significantly higher than the control group (p <0.001, p <0.001) respectively. In addition, FMF patients with M694Vmutations had higher PWV values and arterial stiffness frequency than those with other mutations. (p=0.045), (p=0.001). There were no differences within all genetic mutation types in terms of arterial stiffness frequency.Conclusions: As a result, due to subclinical inflammation in FMF patients, they have risk for cardiovascular complications. These patients especially those with M694Vmutations have to be followed more closely because of increased cardiovascular risk and PWV measurements may be a good tool to detect early development of atherosclerosis.

Effects of resins on mechanical performance of polymer concrete

Industrija cementa je danas odgovorna za najveće razine emisije ugljičnog dioksida (CO2) i potrošnje energije u građevinskoj industriji. Stoga je u današnje vrijeme primjena održivih vezivnih materijala kao zamjene za cement postalo pitanje od globalnog značenja. Iz prethodnih se radova vidi da su polimeri pouzdana i održiva alternativa cementu u graditeljstvu, a dugoročno gledano, polimerni betoni (PC) smatraju se najprikladnijom zamjenom tradicionalnih betona s cementom. U ovom se radu kao glavni cilj postavlja istraživanje utjecaja smola, koje se koriste kao vezivne komponente u polimernom betonu, na mehanička svojstva polimernih betona. U tom se smislu u radu analizira deset ortoftalnih nezasićenih poliesterskih smola (OUPR) koje se često koriste u građevinarstvu, te se provode ispitivanja svježeg i očvrsnulog betona u obliku ploča koje sadrže navedene smole. Nakon analize, svakom se tipu smole dodjeljuje indeks učinkovitosti. Eksperimentalni rezultati pokazuju da vrsta smole bitno utječe na mehanička svojstva polimernog betona.Cement manufacturing is currently responsible for one of the highest levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and energy consumption in construction industry. Thus, the use of sustainable binder materials instead of cement has become a worldwide issue. Previous studies have shown that polymers are a reliable and sustainable alternative to cement in construction, while polymer concretes (PCs) are seen as the biggest alternative to conventional cement concretes in the long term. In this study, the main objective is to investigate the effects of resins, which are used as binder components in polymer concrete, on the mechanical properties of the PCs. To achieve this, ten different orthophthalic unsaturated polyester resins (OUPR) that are commonly used in construction industry are considered, and fresh concrete tests and hardened concrete tests are performed on deck plates prepared with these resins. Based on the analysis results, each resin is given a performance index. The experimental results indicate that the type of resin has a significant impact on mechanical properties of polymer concrete

Positive effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, captopril, on pentylenetetrazole-induced epileptic seizures in mice

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, captopril, on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures and post-seizure hippocampal injury. Materials: Thirty-five male Balb-c mice weighing 30 - 33 g were divided into control, saline PTZ, s(erum physiologic 1 ml/kg as solvent), positive control (valproic acid 200 mg/kg), captopril (25 mg/kg/day for 7 days), and captopril (50 mg/kg/day for 7 days) groups. PTZ (60 mg/kg) was administered thirty minutes after medication administration to induce epileptic seizures. The animals were observed for 30 min to record Racine stages, the time of the first myoclonic jerk (FMJ), and the occurrence of the first generalized tonic-clonic seizure (GTCS). Cornu Ammonis (CA)1, CA2, CA3, and the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus underwent histopathological examinations. The levels of total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress markers (total antioxidant status, TAS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) were measured in the brain tissue. Results: Compared to PTZ group, 25 mg/kg captopril decreased seizure scores and delayed FMJ and GTCS (p &lt; 0.05). Histopathological assessment demonstrated that both 25 and 50 mg/kg captopril alleviated neuronal injury in CA1, CA2, CA3, and DG compared to PTZ (p &lt; 0.05). Also, TOS and OSI levels in the brain tissue were reduced by both 25 and 50 mg/kg doses of captopril (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: Captopril favorably improves epileptic seizure parameters and acts against post-seizure neuronal injury in the hippocampus. Captopril may be a drug of choice in epileptic individuals with hypertension. Keywords: Captopril, Angiotensin-converting enzyme, Epilepsy, Pentylenetetrazole, Neuronal damag