Utilising Technology for Intercultural Communication in Virtual Environments and the Role of English

AbstractThe present paper provides a review related to online communication, cultural dimensions, and the role of English in intercultural communication that takes place in virtual environments facilitated by technological artefacts. The study aims at displaying a picture of the virtual environments and engagements that trigger intercultural communication. The study explores the differences in the pragmatic systems and linguistic tendencies of Eastern and Western cultures within the scope of the ‘high-context’ and ‘low-context’ framework proposed by Hall (1976), and the impact of online communication on these cultures. The study also discusses the pedagogical possibilities that the digital world offers in support of foreign language learning and teaching, in the light of innovative educational philosophies and approaches to foreign language education. The paper concludes that there is a basic need for societies to adopt a postmodern view in order to improve global tolerance and communication

Enhancing Foreign Language Learners’ Listening Skills through Technology: A Sample Lesson

In recent years, technology has become an integral part of language education, and its potential in supporting listening skills has been widely recognized. The use of technology allows language teachers to incorporate a range of authentic materials and interactive activities that can enhance learners’ engagement and motivation. Furthermore, the availability of multimedia resources and software tools has made it easier to design effective listening activities that can cater to learners’ different needs and preferences. This article aims to provide language teachers with practical ideas and strategies to design technology-enhanced listening activities that can help foreign language learners develop their listening skills more effectively. The article begins with a brief literature review, which highlights the benefits of using technology in language education, particularly in enhancing listening skills. The article then presents a sample lesson designed to demonstrate the potential of technology in supporting not only learners but also teachers. Finally, the article concludes with a discussion of the implications of the study and provides suggestions for further research in this area

THE EFFECT OF THE SKYPE TM CONFERENCE CALL ON ENGLISH SPEAKING ANXIETY

As a result of the globalized world, technology has become the center of our lives and changes a lot of things such as our education and communication.  Educational institutions have started to use some online communication platforms such as Skype TM while teaching a second language. This research examines the effect of Skype TM on foreign language learners’ speaking anxiety levels and tries to find out the differences in foreign language speaking anxiety levels between the traditional speaking lesson and the Skype TM Conference Call lesson. Twenty-one B1-B2 level adult English language learners participated in this study and a true experimental research design was used. The data were analyzed by paired samples t-test analysis of pre- and post-tests of participants. The results indicated that Skype TM had an impact on foreign language learners’ speaking anxiety because it reduced the anxiety levels of learners in the experimental group

Turkish EFL teachers' attitudes towards online instruction throughout the Covid-19 outbreak

The purpose of the present study is to shed light on the attitudes of Turkish EFL teachers towards online instruction (OI), the impact of training on their attitudes, the obstacles they encounter, and the strategies to deliver OI more successfully throughout the Covid-19 outbreak. The participants were 70 EFL teachers (52 female, 18 male). The data was collected through a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed by using SPSS 26. Descriptive statistics of each item was calculated and an independent sample t-test was conducted to answer the research questions. For the analysis of the interview data, the responses of the participants were transcribed and the recurring themes were identified. The results revealed that the attitudes of Turkish EFL teachers, who experienced online instruction during the Covid-19 outbreak, are not as positive as expected regarding some of the results of the related research in the literature. The interview findings revealed that EFL teachers do not feel capable of delivering online instruction effectively since they do not have adequate knowledge and necessary skills to do that. In view of the findings, it's suggested that online instruction methodology should be integrated into teacher training programs and teachers should receive an in-service training about the related subject

The value of the BIOCHIP mosaic-based indirect immunofluorescence technique in the diagnosis of pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid in Turkish patients

Autoimmune bullous diseases (ABD) are a rarely seen group of diseases, of which pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid (BP) are the major groups. Diagnosis is generally based on the combination of clinical features, histopathologic and immunofluorescence (IF) findings, and/or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Aims of the work were to determine the value of the innovative BIOCHIP mosaic-based indirect IF technique in the diagnosis of pemphigus and BP in Turkish patients. A total of 63 patients (45 pemphigus and 18 BP) in the active phase of the disease alongside 35 healthy controls were included in the study. All sera from patients and controls were tested using the BIOCHIP technique, and the results were compared with direct IF and/or ELISA. The sensitivity and specificity of this new technique were calculated for validity. The sensitivity and specificity of BIOCHIP in the diagnosis of pemphigus was found to be 91.1% and 97.1%, respectively. In detection of anti-Dsg1 and anti-Dsg3 autoantibodies, the correlation between BIOCHIP and ELISA was statistically significant (P&lt;0.01). The sensitivity and specificity of BIOCHIP in the diagnosis of BP was found to be 94.4% and 94.3%, respectively. In detection of anti-BP180 autoantibodies, the correlation between the BIOCHIP and ELISA was statistically significant (P&lt;0.01). The main limitations are the relatively low number of samples and testing with only one dilution. Direct IF was not performed in all patients, and the low rate of DIF positivity also can be a bias in comparison with BIOCHIP. The new BIOCHIP technique is a highly sensitive and specific tool in the diagnosis of pemphigus and BP.  </p

Comparison of Vinorelbine-Cisplatin with Gemcitabine-Cisplatin in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Purpose The objective of this trial was to compare cisplatin-plus-vinorelbine regimen with cisplatin-plus-gemcitabine regimen in patients with stage IIIB-IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients and Methods Chemonaive patients with stage IIIB-IV NSCLC received either vinoelbine 30 mg/m 2 (days 1 and 8) plus cisplatin 80 mg/m 2 (day 1) every 21 days (VC arm) or gemcitabine 1250 mg/m 2 (days 1 and 8) plus cisplatin 80 mg/m 2 (day 1) every 21 days (GC arm). Results One hundred thirtyfour patients (67 VC and 67 GC) were included to the study. Overall response rates for the VC arm (31.2%) were not significantly different from that of the GC arm (34.3%). There were no differences in overall survival and one-year survival rates. Median survival and one-year survival rates for the VC and GC groups were 10.6 and 11.5 months, 45% and 46.8%, respectively. Grade 3-4 thrombocytopenia was significantly higher on the GC arm (VC 1.4% v GC 8.9%, p < 0.05), as was febrile neutropenia on the VC arm (VC 8.9% v GC 1.4%, p < 0.05). Conclusion VC and GC demonstrated similar efficacy but there were differences in toxicity profiles

Role of bacteria in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Levent Erkan, Oguz Uzun, Serhat Findik, Didem Katar, Ahmet Sanic, Atilla G AticiOndokuz Mayis University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Samsun, TurkeyBackground and study objective: Infections are major causes of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which result in significant mortality and morbidity. The primary aim of the study was to determine the microbiological spectrum including atypical agents in acute exacerbations. The secondary aim was to evaluate resistance patterns in the microorganisms.Methods: The sputum culture of 75 patients admitted to our clinic from January 1, 1999 to December 31, 2002 was evaluated prospectively, for aerobic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and serologically for Chlamydophila pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Sensitivity patterns in potentially pathogenic microorganisms (PPMs) were also investigated.Results: An infectious agent was identified in 46 patients, either serologically or with sputum culture. Pathogens most commonly demonstrated were: Haemophilus influenzae (30%), Chlamydophila pneumoniae (17%), and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (9%). Mixed infections were diagnosed in 9 patients. PPMs showed a high resistance rate to commonly used antibiotics.Conclusion: We have shown that microorganisms causing acute exacerbations of COPD are not only typical bacteria (46%) but also atypical pathogens (26%), with unpredictable high rates. Typical agents showed a high resistance to commonly used antibiotics.Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute exacerbation, infection, atypical pathogens, Haemophilus influenza

Preoperative Embolization in Surgical Treatment of a Primary Hemangiopericytoma of the Rib : A Case Report

Primary hemangiopericytoma of the rib is extremely rare and only a few cases have been reported. A 62-yr-old man presented with an aching chest pain and dyspnea. Thoracic computed tomography revealed a homogenous mass expanding the right seventh rib. A diagnosis of hemangiopericytoma was established by percutaneous needle biopsy. Preoperative embolization of the feeding vessels of the tumor was performed in order to prevent perioperative bleeding. There was no significant bleeding during the surgery, where complete resection of the tumor with 7th to 9th ribs with a surgical margin of 5 cm was performed. Postoperative course was uneventful and there has been no recurrence for thirteen months. To our knowledge, there has been no report to apply a preoperative embolization of a primary hemangiopericytoma of the rib

Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Cytokine Balance in Major Depression: Effect of Sertraline Therapy

The specific associations between antidepressant treatment and alterations in the levels of cytokines remain to be elucidated. In this study, we aimed to explore the role of IL-2, IL-4, IL-12, TNF-α, TGF-β1, and MCP-1 in major depression and to investigate the effects of sertraline therapy. Cytokine and chemokine levels were measured at the time of admission and 8 weeks after sertraline treatment. Our results suggest that the proinflammatory cytokines (IL-2, IL-12, and TNF-α) and MCP-1 were significantly higher, whereas anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and TGF-β1 were significantly lower in patients with major depression than those of healthy controls. It seems likely that the sertraline therapy might have exerted immunomodulatory effects through a decrease in the proinflammatory cytokine IL-12 and an increase in the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and TGF-β1. In conclusion, our results indicate that Th1-, Th2-, and Th3-type cytokines are altered in the depressed patients and some of them might have been corrected by sertraline treatment

Cannulated screw and hexapodal fixator reconstruction for compound upper tibial fractures

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the treatment of tibial plateau fractures is to obtain a pain-free and fully functional knee with closed reduction, percutaneous cannulated screw fixation and hexapodal external fixator reconstruction for high energy compound upper tibial fractures. METHODS: Patients with comminuted tibial plateau fractures underwent closed reduction, percutaneous fixation with cannulated screws, and reconstruction with hexapodal external fixator. The follow-up period was 24 months. RESULTS: The clinical and radiological results were good or excellent. The average knee flexion was 125°. CONCLUSION: Our results are successful in the initial stage, however, it should be pointed out that during the long term follow-up osteoarthritis may develop leading to worsening of the condition. Level of Evidence IV, Case Series