The effects of critical thinking instruction through asynchronous learning tools on writing

In writing classes, besides mastering the language items and writing rhetoric, students are required to use some high order thinking skills to be able to write academically. Hence, this study basically aims to see the effectiveness of the use of critical thinking skills on writing achievements of the Turkish EFL students. The purpose of the study is to see if online critical thinking treatment affects students’ use of critical thinking skills in their writings. In addition, students’ attitudes towards asynchronous learning tools during the study were observed. At the beginning and end of the study, 16 students in control group and 16 students in experimental group answered the questions in the critical thinking disposition scale. In addition to this, their writing performances were evaluated before and after the study. Meanwhile, experimental group students were exposed to 8-week online critical thinking treatment. The data gathered were statistically analysed and the results indicate that while the students’ writing performances do not differ significantly before and after the online critical thinking treatment, it has significantly contributed to the studentS’ use of critical thinking skills while writing

Presentation of a case: corpus callosum ınfarct associated with hypoglycemia, presenting with psychiatric finding

A 54 years old female patient, presenting with psychiatric symptoms, after which corpus callosum infarct was detected is presented with the clinical, laboratory and radiological findings here. The patient, who did not have any psychiatric complaints before was evaluated because of personality changes and sleepy state starting 3 days before and disturbance in gait and speech of one day's duration. Previously she had a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. Blood glucose was 45 mg/dL. An increase in signal intensity reciprocal to ADC in the corpus callosum was detected in cerebral diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The psychiatric findings in this case were considered as “acute and temporary schizoid personality disorder” that may be explained by an underlying organic cause according to DSM-IV. The clinical symptoms that arise from corpus callosum abnormalities are variable. A psychiatric picture develops in approximately one thirds of the cases. On the other hand, corpus callosum infarct presenting with pure psychiatric findings are rarely observed in the literature. This case was considered interesting because of the temporal association between corpus callosum infarct and psychiatric symptoms in the context of coexistent hypoglycemia and left anterior cerebral artery occlusion

Validity and reliability of the assessment tool for Asthma (ATA) questionnaire: the ATA study

OBJECTIVES: A multicenter trial was designed to validate the “Assessment Tools for Asthma (ATA)” questionnaire, a newly developed questionnaire, which evaluates both asthma control and risk factors associated with asthma control with a single instrument. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 810 cases from 14 clinics in 9 Turkish cities. The ATA questionnaire and Asthma Control Test (ACT) were administered. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the control status of 100 randomized cases. ATA is an eight-item physician-administered questionnaire. It comprises the following two sections-ATA1, assesses symptomatic control criteria, and the remaining section, queries the flre-up of asthma, control of comorbidities, treatment adherence, and inhaler technique. RESULTS: The mean scores for ATA1, ATA total, VAS, and ACT were 24.7±14.8, 53.8±19, 7.1±3, and 18.8±5.5, respectively. According to the ATA questionnaire, among all patients, 34.3% had controlled, 18.8% had partly controlled, and 46.9% had uncontrolled asthma. Furthermore, 16.6% patients had flre-ups between visits, 96.4% patients had uncontrolled comorbidity, 17% patients had irregular asthma treatment, and only 8.4% patients used the incorrect inhaler technique. The ATA questionnaire showed internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha coeffiient=0.683). ACT, ATA1, and two specialists’ evaluations using VAS correlated strongly with the ATA total scores (Spearman correlation coeffiient (r) values: 0.776, 0.783, and 0.909, respectively; p-values: p<0.001, p<0.001, and p<0.001, respectively). According to Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis, the cut-off value of ATA was 50 (sensitivity=84.4%, specifiity=82.40%). CONCLUSION: The validated ATA questionnaire may be a practical tool for physicians in asthma management

The importance of Lefkosa Mawlavi house fort he political and cultural life of Cyprus Turkish community

Mevlevilik, uzun asırlar boyunca İslâm kültürünün şekillenmesinde belli ölçüde rol oynamıştır. Kıbrıs’ta başkent Lefkoşa’da kurulan Mevlevihane de uzun asırlar boyunca Mevleviliğin düşünüş sistemini ve Mevlana’nın fikirlerini Kıbrıs’ta yaşayan Türk toplumuna ulaştırmış ve yaymıştır. Lefkoşa Mevlevihanesi, dini bir kurum olmasının yanı sıra Kıbrıs Türk toplumunun siyasi ve kültürel hayatında da derin izler bırakmış ve bu nedenle bugüne kadar varlığını devam ettirmiştir. Lefkoşa Mevlevihanesi’nin Kıbrıs Türk toplumunun siyasi ve kültürel hayatına etkilerini anlayabilmek için öncelikli olarak kısaca tarihçesine bakmak gerekmektedirThe order of Mevleviyeh, to a certain degree, has played a role in shaping Islamic culture for many centuries. In the Mevlevi lodge established in Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, the system of Mevlevi thoughts and Mevlana's ideas reached and spread among the Turkish community living on Cyprus for centuries. Aside from being a religious order, the Mevleviyeh in Nicosia left lasting impressions on the political and cultural life on the Turkish community in Cyprus and for this reason has continued its existence until today. In order to understand the political and cultural effects the Nicosia Mevleviyeh has had on the Turkish Cypriot community, it is necessary to look briefly at its history

Efficacy Of 180° Cyclodiode Transscleral Photocoagulation For Refractory Glaucoma

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (TS-CPC) limited to 180° of ciliary body ablation in patients with various forms of refractory glaucoma. Materials and Methods: Thirty eyes with refractory glaucoma treated with 180° TS-CPC were retrospectively analyzed for intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction and success rates. Patients’ age, gender, type of glaucoma, number of diode laser treatment sessions, postoperative complications, number of hypotensive medications required to control IOP, and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were evaluated. The criteria for success were defined as postoperative IOP 20% decrease in IOP with or without additional medical treatment. Results: The mean age of all patients was 51.3±26.9 years (range,1-84 years). The mean postoperative IOP level (23.9±8.5 mmHg) was significantly lower than preoperative IOP (39.2±8.9 mmHg) (p<0.001). The success rate was 66.6% after the first laser treatment and reached 86.7% following repeat laser treatments over an average follow-up period of 22.2±19.9 months. The need for topical hypotensive medications decreased from 2.8±1.0 preoperatively to 2.4±1.3 following TS-CPC (p=0.048). Two patients (6.6%) had a one-line decrease in their BCVA following TS-CPC. Transient hypotony and hyphema developed in 4 patients (13.3%). Total laser energy delivered did not correlate with either preoperative (rho=0.10; p=0.594) or postoperative IOP (rho=0.21; p=0.260). Conclusion: TS-CPC limited to 180° of ciliary body ablation is associated with a reasonable success rate and low incidence of adverse effects in patients with refractory glaucoma.PubMedScopu

Serological testing for celiac and autoimmune thyroid diseases in infertile women suffering from endometriosis, unexplained infertility and recurrent miscarriage

30th Annual Meeting of the European-Society-of-Human-Reproduction-and-Embryology (ESHRE) -- JUN 29-JUL 02, 2014 -- Munich, GERMANYWOS: 000359745300517…European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryolog

Effects of supplementary feeding levels during mating period on reproductive performance of Karakaş ewes

A total of 78 Norduz ewes and their lambs were used in the study. Group 1 (control) was grazed only on pasture and Group 2, 3 and 4 were supplied with 200, 300, 600 g-1 head day -1 rolled barley, respectively, in addition to pasture. There were increases in live weights in Norduz ewes in response to supplementary feeding during feeding period (P<0.01). Feed supplementation during mating period did not affect reproductive traits. The effect of ewe age on the twinning rate and litter size (P<0.01) and fecundity (P<0.05) was significant. The mean lamb birth weight, weaning weight, daily live weight gain and survivability at weaning were 4.65 kg, 19.29 kg, 192 g and 96.43%, respectively. In conclusion, supplementary feeding in addition to grazing during breeding season affected live weight in Norduz ewes but not other reproductive traits. Further detailed studies should be carried out in order to determine the effects of supplementary feeding on reproductive traits in this breed

Change in species distribution and antifungal susceptibility of candidemias in an intensive care unit of a university hospital (10-year experience)

Candidemia is a nosocomial infection mostly found in critically ill patients. Our objectives were to evaluate the change in distribution and resistance profile ofCandidaspp. isolated from candidemic patients in our intensive care unit over two 5-year periods spanning 15 years and to evaluate the risk factors. Records from the microbiology laboratory were obtained, from January 2004 to December 2008 and from January 2013 to December 2017, retrospectively. Antifungal susceptibility was performed by E-test and evaluated according to EUCAST breakpoints. A total of 210 candidemia cases occurred; 238Candidaspp. were isolated in 197 patients (58.8% male; mean age, 59.2 +/- 19.6 years). The most predominant risk factor was central venous catheter use. Species distribution rates were 32%, 28%, 17%, and 11% forC. albicans(n = 76),C. parapsilosis(n = 67),C. glabrata(n = 40), andC. tropicalis(n = 27), respectively. Resistance rate to anidulafungin was high inC. parapsilosisover both periods and increased to 73% in the second period. Fluconazole showed a remarkable decrease for susceptibility inC. parapsilosis(94 to 49%). The prevalence of MDRC. parapsilosis(6%/33%) andC. glabrata(0%/44%) increased in the second period. We observed a predominance of non-albicansCandidaspp., withC. parapsilosisbeing the most frequent andC. glabratainfections presenting with the highest mortality. High level of echinocandin resistance inC. parapsilosisand increasing prevalences of MDRC. parapsilosisandC. glabrataseem emerging challenges in our institution