Developing Students’ Positive Affective Entry Characteristics towards Mathematics: An Action Research Study

oai:ojs.ijonmes.net:article/189Past research has indicated the vital role of affective factors in mathematics learning. This action research study aimed to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of an action plan, which was implemented to foster students’ positive affective entry characteristics towards mathematics specifically by fixing the deficiencies in prior learning and promoting the allocation of time to study. Thirteen students attending a secondary school participated in the study over a 12-week period. We collected both quantitative and qualitative data through the Affective Entry Characteristics Scale for Mathematics, the Attitude Observation Form towards Mathematics, the research diary, and indirect observation of use traces on student assignments. First of all, the analysis of these data sources confirmed that there was substantial improvement in the students’ affective entry characteristics, indicating the effectiveness of our implementation. On the other hand, the qualitative data analysis of the diary and student assignments also revealed that this effect was not long-lasting for students who lived in a disadvantaged family/home environment. In other words, remedying the deficiencies in prior learning and promoting the allocation of time to study alone were not sufficient for these students. As a result, we came to the conclusion in the study that non-modifiable variables (such as family-home environment) is as important as or even more important than modifiable ones in the development of positive affective entry characteristics towards mathematics

The Investigation of the Attitudes of Preservice Pre-School Teachers Towards Distance Education

This descriptive survey study was conducted to determine the attitudes of pre-service pre-school teachers towards distance education. 181 pre-service teachers studying at Sinop University and Nigde Omer Halisdemir University Preschool Education Program in the 2020-2021 academic year participated in the study. The Personal Information Form and the Attitudes Towards Distance Education Scale were used as the data collection tools. The pre-service teachers to be included in the study were selected using the convenience sampling method. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data on personal characteristics and pre-service pre-school teachers’ attitudes towards distance education. The t-test was used to determine whether the attitudes of the pre-service teachers towards distance education differ according to the university they study at, technological tool with which students follow the online lessons, and convenience of the environment in which students follow the online lessons; Mann Whitney U test to determine whether it differs according to gender and having internet connection at home; the ANOVA was used to determine whether it differs according to grade level. The results revealed that the attitudes of the pre-service pre-school teachers towards distance education were at a moderate level. As a result of the research, it was found that the technological tool with which students follow the online lessons, and the convenience of the environment in which students follow the online lessons showed a significant difference in the total attitude scores of the pre-service teachers towards distance education; ıt was found that the university they study at, gender, grade level and having an internet connection at home did not show a significant difference

The peroneus brevis tendon at its insertion site on fifth metatarsal bone

Background: The differences at the attachment site of peroneus brevis (PB) to the fifth metatarsal bone isimportant in terms of the forces exerted on the bone and hence the mechanism of fractures involving thisstructure. In this study, we investigated the anatomical properties of PB at the insertion site to the base offifth metatarsal bone, its possible intertendinous connections with peroneus tertius (PT) and theirpossible effects on the fracture occurrence at the bony attachment site.Methods: The length and the width of PB tendons at their mid- and end-points were measured andclassified according to the insertion types. Besides, the length and the width of the base of fifth metatarsalbone were assessed. The slips extending from the PB tendons and their relationship with PT were alsoevaluated. The data was compared statistically with each other and between the right and left sides.Results: The length of PB tendon was measured 79.57 15.40 mm on the right side; 81.48 14.31 mm on theleft. The width of PB tendon at the mid-point was 4.46 0.80 mm on the right side; 4.42 0.94 mm on the left.The width of the tendon at its insertion point was measured 14.85 3.40 mm and 15.16 3.42 mm on the rightand left sides respectively. PB was divided into three types according to its attachment to base of fifth metatarsalbone (5thMB). Type I, Type II and Type III were observed at the rates of 59.5%, 28.6% and 11.5% respectively. It wasobserved that the slips to the bone were extending more commonly from PB than from PT and that the largemajority of them were single having their insertions on the base of the proximal phalanx of the fifth toe.Conclusions: Knowing the width and insertional types of PB aids in understanding the mechanism offractures at the site of bony attachment. The existence of slips may help the surgeon in the proceduresinvolving PB or the lateral side of the forefoot

Level of anxiety, depression, self-esteem and quality of life among the women with vaginitis

Background: Present aim is to evaluate anxiety, depression, quality of life and self-esteem in patients with vaginitis (not only specific to candidasis) and also to determine factors affecting vaginitis such as demographic, cultural and psychological causes.Methods: Each patient completed a self-administered questionnaire (Rosenberg’ Self-Esteem Scale, Short-Form 36, Quality of Life Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory, Body Image Scale) and underwent a careful examination of the vulva and vagina. The cross-sectional study was carried out with two groups. The first group consisted of 107 women between the ages 18 and 45 years and had no physical disease but reccurrent vulvovaginitis (≥4 in a year).  The comparison control group consisted of 94 healthy (no vaginitis symptoms in 12 months) age matched volunteer participants.Results: Women with vaginitis had significantly higher anxiety and depression scores. There was no statistically significant difference in body image scale. Regarding type of marriage, arranged type was statistically significantly higher in vaginitis group while flirting type was statistically higher in control group. University school degree and income was statistically significantly lower in vaginitis group. Living residence as rent and vaginal douch was statistically significantly higher in vaginitis group.Conclusions: A better detailed history should be taken into consideration for personal stress sources and treatment support should be provided for patients with vaginitis. Not only gynecologists but also a multidisciplinary team should take part in the treatment and follow up of the patients to cope with recurrency even in non-specific vaginitis

Temperature Effects Explain Continental Scale Distribution of Cyanobacterial Toxins

Insight into how environmental change determines the production and distribution of cyanobacterial toxins is necessary for risk assessment. Management guidelines currently focus on hepatotoxins (microcystins). Increasing attention is given to other classes, such as neurotoxins (e.g., anatoxin-a) and cytotoxins (e.g., cylindrospermopsin) due to their potency. Most studies examine the relationship between individual toxin variants and environmental factors, such as nutrients, temperature and light. In summer 2015, we collected samples across Europe to investigate the effect of nutrient and temperature gradients on the variability of toxin production at a continental scale. Direct and indirect effects of temperature were the main drivers of the spatial distribution in the toxins produced by the cyanobacterial community, the toxin concentrations and toxin quota. Generalized linear models showed that a Toxin Diversity Index (TDI) increased with latitude, while it decreased with water stability. Increases in TDI were explained through a significant increase in toxin variants such as MC-YR, anatoxin and cylindrospermopsin, accompanied by a decreasing presence of MC-LR. While global warming continues, the direct and indirect effects of increased lake temperatures will drive changes in the distribution of cyanobacterial toxins in Europe, potentially promoting selection of a few highly toxic species or strains.Peer reviewe

Evaluation of nutritional status in pediatric intensive care unit patients: the results of a multicenter, prospective study in Turkey

IntroductionMalnutrition is defined as a pathological condition arising from deficient or imbalanced intake of nutritional elements. Factors such as increasing metabolic demands during the disease course in the hospitalized patients and inadequate calorie intake increase the risk of malnutrition. The aim of the present study is to evaluate nutritional status of patients admitted to pediatric intensive care units (PICU) in Turkey, examine the effect of nutrition on the treatment process and draw attention to the need for regulating nutritional support of patients while continuing existing therapies.Material and MethodIn this prospective multicenter study, the data was collected over a period of one month from PICUs participating in the PICU Nutrition Study Group in Turkey. Anthropometric data of the patients, calorie intake, 90-day mortality, need for mechanical ventilation, length of hospital stay and length of stay in intensive care unit were recorded and the relationship between these parameters was examined.ResultsOf the 614 patients included in the study, malnutrition was detected in 45.4% of the patients. Enteral feeding was initiated in 40.6% (n = 249) of the patients at day one upon admission to the intensive care unit. In the first 48 h, 86.82% (n = 533) of the patients achieved the target calorie intake, and 81.65% (n = 307) of the 376 patients remaining in the intensive care unit achieved the target calorie intake at the end of one week. The risk of mortality decreased with increasing upper mid-arm circumference and triceps skin fold thickness Z-score (OR = 0.871/0.894; p = 0.027/0.024). The risk of mortality was 2.723 times higher in patients who did not achieve the target calorie intake at first 48 h (p = 0.006) and the risk was 3.829 times higher in patients who did not achieve the target calorie intake at the end of one week (p = 0.001). The risk of mortality decreased with increasing triceps skin fold thickness Z-score (OR = 0.894; p = 0.024).ConclusionTimely and appropriate nutritional support in critically ill patients favorably affects the clinical course. The results of the present study suggest that mortality rate is higher in patients who fail to achieve the target calorie intake at first 48 h and day seven of admission to the intensive care unit. The risk of mortality decreases with increasing triceps skin fold thickness Z-score

Peer Bullying During Early Childhood

Peer bullying during early childhood is discussed along with the literature reviewed in this article with the purpose of drawing attention to peer bullying during early childhood and its significance, and contributing to studies which are few in number in Turkey. Peer bullying during early childhood was considered with its definition and types, people who play key roles in peer bullying, factors (gender, age, parents, and friendship) that relate to peer bullying, and what should be done before and after peer bullying.Bu makalede okul öncesi dönemde gerçekleşen akran zorbalığı konusu alan yazın ışığında tartışılmaktadır. Bu çalışma ile okul öncesi dönemde akran zorbalığı konusuna dikkat çekilmesi, bu konunun önemi hakkında farkındalık yaratılması ve şu anda yok denecek kadar az sayıda olan yerli çalışmalara bir katkı sağlanması amaçlanmaktadır. Akran zorbalığının tanımı, türleri, akran zorbalığında rol alanlar, ilişkili olduğu etkenler (cinsiyet, yaş, aile ve arkadaşlık) ile yetişkinlerin bu durumla karşılaşmadan önce alabilecekleri önlem ve karşılaştıktan sonra yapabilecekleri müdahale önerilerine değinilmiştir

Analysis of relationship between elementary mathematics teacher candidates' mathematics teaching concerns and mathematics teaching proficiencies

Yüksek Lisans TeziBu araştırmanın amacı, ilköğretim matematik öğretmen adaylarının matematik öğretimine yönelik yeterlik düzeyleri ile matematik öğretimine ilişkin kaygı düzeylerini çeşitli değişkenler açısından incelemek ve aralarında bir ilişki olup olmadığını tespit etmektir. Araştırmanın evreni, 2018-2019 eğitim öğretim yılında Konya ili Necmettin Erbakan Üniversitesi Ahmet Keleşoğlu Eğitim Fakültesi İlköğretim Matematik Öğretmenliği programında öğrenim gören öğrencilerden oluşmaktadır. Araştırmanın örneklemi ise 270 ilköğretim matematik öğretmen adayından oluşmaktadır. Tarama modelinde betimsel bir nitelik taşıyan araştırmada, veri toplamak için kişisel bilgi formu, "Matematik Öğretimi Yeterlikleri" ölçeği ve "Matematik Öğretimi Kaygı Ölçeği" kullanılmıştır. Yapılan analizlerden elde edilen bulgulara göre, ilköğretim matematik öğretmen adaylarının genel akademik not ortalaması, programı tercih sırası ve mezun oldukları ortaöğretim okul türü değişkenlerine göre matematik öğretimi yeterlik ve matematik öğretim kaygı düzeylerinde ölçek toplamları ve alt boyutlarında anlamlı bir farklılık tespit edilmemiştir. Cinsiyet, sınıf düzeyi ve programı tercih nedeni değişkenlerinin ise matematik öğretimi yeterliği ve matematik öğretim kaygısına etkisi olduğu görülmektedir. Bu bulgulara ek olarak, ilköğretim matematik öğretmen adaylarının matematik öğretimi yeterlikleri ve matematik öğretim kaygıları arasında negatif yönde, anlamlı ve orta düzeyde bir ilişki bulunmuştur. Ayrıca çalışmada, ilköğretim matematik öğretmen adaylarının matematik öğretimi yeterlik puanlarındaki değişimin, matematik öğretim kaygı puanlarındaki değişimin %37,5'ini açıklayabildiği tespit edilmiştir. Sonuçta ise araştırma bulgularına dayalı olarak önerilerde bulunulmuştur.The purpose of this study is to examine pre-service elementary maths teachers' teaching competence about mathematics with the levels of anxiety related to mathematics teaching in terms of various variables and determine whether there is a relationship between them. Research population consisted of university students study for Mathematics Teaching Programme at Ahmet Keleşoğlu Education Faculty in Necmettin Erbakan University in Konya in 2018-2019 educational year. Research sampling consisted of 270 pre-service elementary mathematics teachers. Research was a descriptive study,a survey model, used personal information form, 'Mathematics teaching competencies' instrument and "Mathematics Teaching Anxiety Scale" to collect data. According to the results, there was no significant difference between pre-service elementary mathematics teachers' general academic grade point average, program preference order and grade levels of secondary education school graduates according to their mathematics teaching competence and mathematics education anxiety levels. Gender, grade level and program preference reason variables have an effect on mathematics teaching competence and mathematics education anxiety. It has seen that gender, class level and program preference reason variables have an effect on mathematics teaching competence and mathematics education anxiety. Addition to these findings, it was found that there was a negative, significant and moderate relationship between pre-service elementary mathematics teachers' mathematics teaching competencies and mathematics teaching concerns. It was found that the change in mathematics teaching proficiency scores of pre-service elementary mathematics teacher candidates could explain 37.5% of the change in mathematics teaching anxiety scores. Finally, suggestions were made to practitioners and researchers based on the research findings