Seeing Sounds: The Effect of Computer-Based Visual Feedback on Intonation in Violin Education

The fact that the violin is a fretless instrument brings along intonation problems both in its performance and in its education. The introduction of technology into educational environments day by day, has led to the need to try different methods besides the traditional methods for solving intonation problems. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of computer-based visual feedback on the student’s intonation on the violin. For this purpose, an 8-week experimental process was carried out with 8 violin students studying in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th grades of the music teaching undergraduate program in the 2021-2022 academic year. In the quantitative dimension of the research, which was designed with mixed method design, a pretest – post-test single-group experimental design was used. The quantitative data were collected with the intonation evaluation form and the qualitative data were collected with diaries and a semi-structured interview form. The dependent samples t-test was used in the analysis of the quantitative data, and descriptive analysis technique was used in the analysis of the qualitative data. In the implementation process of the study, students were given visual feedback only with Cubase VariAudio software. At the end of the study, it was seen that computer-based visual feedback contributed positively to the intonation skills of the students. The students stated that the study made an abstract situation concrete, offered an opportunity to make self-evaluation, contributed positively to the motivation and limited class hours, and that they wanted to use it while practicing on their own

Lornoxicam use to reduce the pain associated with propofol injection

Aim: To investigate the efficacy of lornoxicam in the prevention of the pain associated with propofol injection.Material and method: Approval for this study was granted by the ethics committee of our hospital. Using a computer randomisation software, 120 patients undergoing elective surgery were assigned to four equal groups. In Group I (control group), immediately before anaesthesia induction, 10 ml of isotonic 0.9% NaCl solution (placebo) was administered intravenously (IV). In Groups II, III and IV, the same injection contained 2 mg, 4 mg and 8 mg of lornoxicam respectively. A tourniquet was then applied to the forearm for two minutes. Pain evaluation was made using a verbal pain score.Results: Differences in pain severity scores were statistically significant between Groups I and II, Groups I and III, Groups I and IV and between Groups II and III (p < 0.05). However, no significant difference was determined between Groups III and IV (p = 0.401).Conclusion: In all groups administered with lornoxicam, there was a significant reduction in the severity of pain associated with propofol injection, in comparison with the control group. Maximum effect is obtained with a dose of 4 mg

The importance of perfusion index monitoring in evaluating the efficacy of stellate ganglion blockage treatment in Raynaud’s disease

Stellate ganglion blockage (SGB) is a method used for treating Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP). This study primarily aimed to determine whether the perfusion index (PI) can be used an alternative to Horner’s signs in evaluating the efficacy of SGB in patients diagnosed with RP. In a total of 40 patients, aged 18–65 years and diagnosed with primary RP, SGB was applied for 5 days on the same side with the 2-finger method, using 6 mL of 5% levobupivacaine at the 7th cervical vertebra level. The PI values were recorded from the distal end of the 2nd finger of the upper extremity on the side applied with the block at baseline and at 5, 15, 30, 60 and 120 min. The onset time of Horner findings was recorded. The PI values and visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores were recorded pre-treatment and after 2 weeks.When the PI values of the 40 patients were examined, a 62.7% increase was observed from baseline to the first session at 5 min (p < 0.05). When all sessions were evaluated, a statistically significant increase was determined in the PI values measured at 5, 15, 30, 60 and 120 min compared with the baseline PI values. There was a statistically significant decrease in the post-treatment VAS pain scores and a statistically significant increase in the post-treatment PI values (p < 0.05). By eliminating peripheral vasospasm with the application of SGB in patients with RP, the distal artery blood flow and PI are increased. PI measurement is a more objective method and therefore could be used as an alternative to Horner findings in evaluating the success of SGB. PI is a non-invasive and simple measurement and also an earlier indicator in evaluating the success of SGB than Horner’s signs.Keywords: Raynaud’s phenomenon; perfusion index; stellate ganglion blockage; pain; Horner's sig

Atherosclerosis in geriatric patients known to be healthy

Background: The aim of the present study is to determine the presence of atherosclerosis in geriatric patients who are known to be healthy and examine sociodemographic and laboratory parameters affecting the presence of atherosclerosis.Method: 90 healthy volunteers including 66(73.3%) non-geriatric ones and 24(26.7%) geriatric ones were included in the study. It was analyzed whether there was a correlation between the two groups in terms of the parameters of gender, age average, alcohol consumption, smoking, carotid intima-media thickness (CA-IMT), and pulse wave velocity (PWV). Sociodemographic and laboratory parameters of the volunteers with and without atherosclerosis in the geriatric group were examined. Results: Among geriatric volunteers (Group 1), 13(54.2%) were male; whereas, among non-geriatric volunteers (Group 2), 41(62.1%) were male. CA-IMT was determined to be higher in Group 1 (averagely 0.80±0.12 mm) than Group 2 (averagely 0.62±0.14 mm) (p:<0.001). PWV was significantly higher in Group 1 (averagely 10.32±1.44 m/s) than Group 2 (6.26±1.09 m/s) (p:<0.001). After PWV or CA-IMT examination, atherosclerosis findings were determined in 12 healthy geriatric volunteers (50%) in Group 1.Conclusion: It should be remembered that even though atherosclerosis can be frequently observed in geriatric individuals who are known to be healthy, it may also go unnoticed. Determination of atherosclerosis with noninvasive methods will be helpful in preventing complications that might be caused by atherosclerosis.

Decreased serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in schizophrenic patients with deficit syndrome

BACKGROUND: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a well-established neurotrophin that plays a role in the pathophysiology of numerous psychiatric disorders. Many studies have investigated the serum BDNF levels in patients with schizophrenia. However, there are restricted data in the literature that compare the serum BDNF levels in patients with deficit and nondeficit syndromes. In this study, we aimed to compare the serum BDNF levels between schizophrenic patients with deficit or nondeficit syndrome and healthy controls. METHODS: After fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 58 patients with schizophrenia and 36 healthy controls were included in the study. The patients were grouped as deficit syndrome (N=23) and nondeficit syndrome (N=35) according to the Schedule for the Deficit Syndrome. Three groups were compared in terms of the sociodemographic and clinical variants and serum BDNF levels. RESULTS: The groups were similar in terms of age, sex, body mass index, and smoking status. The serum BDNF levels in patients with deficit syndrome were significantly lower than those in healthy controls. In contrast, the serum BDNF levels in patients with nondeficit syndrome were similar to those in healthy controls. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that decreased BDNF levels may play a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenic patients with deficit syndrome. Nonetheless, additional studies using a larger patient sample size are needed to investigate the serum BDNF levels in schizophrenic patients with deficit syndrome

Osmanlı Devleti’nde kız öğretmen okulları (Darülmuallimat) ve kadının meslek hayatına katılması (1870-1920)

In this study, the classical Ottoman education system, the educational reforms in the Tanzimat period and the effects of the girls' teacher training schools (Darülmuallimât) in the Ottoman state and the effect of these schools on the women's participation to professional life (1870-1920) were examined. The first steps, on girls’ education, were taken during the period of Tanzimat. The first Darülmuallimât School in the Ottoman state was opened in Istanbul in 1870 in the reign of Sultan Abdülaziz. After the Tedrisat-ı İptidaiye Kanunu-i Muvakkati (Temporary Act on Primary Education) was put in force in 1913, the girls teacher training school began to be established in the other Ottoman Provinces. During the First World War, the number of Darülmuallimât schools reached eleven in the provinces. At the end of the Ottoman state, only five Darülmuallimât existed in the provinces and reached to the Republican period. The first legal arrangement that deals with issues such as the functioning of the schools of Darülmuallimât, institutional structure, student and teacher staff, curriculum is the Maârif-i Umûmiye Nizamnâmesi dated 1869. Then, a more detailed legal arrangement was made with "Instruction for Partial Reserve with Darulilmuallimat (Special Regulation for Reserve Part)" dated 1895. In the 2nd Constitutional Monarchy, a fundamental and structural change was made with the "Darulmuallimin and Darülmuallimât Nizamnâmesi (regulation)" dated 1915. In 1915 the curriculum of Darülmuallimât was renewed. The details of how to implement the "Darülmuallimîn and Darülmuallimât-ı İptidaiye Instructions" are explained in detail with 148 articles in 1916. The discussions on the education of girls seems to have reached the highest level in the late Tanzimat period and at the beginning of the Second Constitutional era. These debates have extended from the education given in girls' schools to Darulmuallimat and reached to the enhancement of the quality of education in Darülmuallimât. In the period of Second Constitution, these debates ended with the woman's first acquiring university education right. During this time, Darülmuallimât provided the participation of women in the public and social life with the teachers she trained. It is seen that this participation increased after the declaration of the Second Constitutional Monarchy.Bu çalışmada, klasik dönem Osmanlı eğitim sistemi, Tanzimat döneminde eğitim alanındaki reformlar ile Osmanlı Devleti’nde kız öğretmen okulları (Darülmuallimât) ve bu okulların kadının meslek hayatına katılması sürecine etkisi (1870-1920) incelenmiştir. Kız çocuklarına eğitimine dair ilk çalışmalar Tanzimat ile başlamıştır. Osmanlı Devleti’ndeki ilk Darülmuallimât ise, 1870’te Sultan Abdülaziz döneminde İstanbul’da açılmıştır. Vilayetlerde, 1913’te yayımlanan Tedrisat-ı İptidaiye Kanun-ı Muvakkati (İlköğretim Geçici Kanunu) ile Darülmuallimât açılmasına izin verilmesinden sonra olarak açılmaya başlandığı görülür. I. Dünya Savaşı yıllarında Darülmuallimât sayısı vilayetlerde on bire ulaşmıştır. Osmanlı Devleti’nin sonunda vilayetlerde sadece beş Darülmuallimât varlığını devam ettirerek Cumhuriyet dönemine ulaşmıştır. Darülmuallimât okulllarının işleyişi, kurumsal yapısı, öğrenci ve öğretmen kadrosu, eğitim müfredatı gibi konuları ele alan ilk yasal düzenleme, 1869 tarihli Maârif-i Umûmiye Nizamnâmesidir. Ardından 1895 tarihli “Darülmuallimât ile İhtiyat Kısmına Mahsus Talimat (Yedek Kısmına Özel Yönetmelik)” ile daha detaylı bir yasal düzenleme yapılmıştır. II. Meşrutiyet döneminde ise, 1915 tarihli “Darulmuallimin ve Darülmuallimât Nizamnâmesi” ile köklü ve yapısal bir değişime gidilmiştir. 1915’te Darülmuallimâtın ders programı yenilenmiştir. 1916’daki “Darülmuallimîn ve Darülmuallimât-ı İptidaiye Talimatnâmesi”nde Nizamnâmenin nasıl uygulanacağı 148 maddeyle ayrıntılı olarak ortaya konulmuştur. Kızların eğitimi üzerine yapılan tartışmaların Tanzimat dönemi sonlarında ve II. Meşrutiyet dönemi başlarında en üst seviyeye ulaştığı görülmektedir. Bu tartışmalar, kız okullarında verilen eğitimden Darülmuallimâta ve Darülmuallimâttaki eğitimin niteliğinin arttırılmasına kadar uzanmıştır. II. Meşrutiyet döneminde kızların ilk kez üniversite eğitimi almaya başlaması bu tartışmaların olumlu sonuçlarındandır. Bu süreçte Darülmuallimât yetiştirdiği öğretmenlerle kadının kamusal ve sosyal hayata katılımını sağlamıştır. Bu katılımın II. Meşrutiyetin ilanından sonra arttığı görülür