Assessing the Relative Performance of University Departments: Teaching vs. Research

Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is known as a non-parametric method to evaluate the relative efficiencies of a set of homogenous decision-making units (DMUs) (i.e., banking, health, education, etc.) that use multiple inputs to produce multiple outputs. DEA models also have applications for universities or specifically, departments of a university. In practice, determining input and output measures may be based on the available data. However, lack of defining an important measure or use of invalid data may mislead the decision maker. Therefore, this study aims to assess the affect of missing values such as by discarding of outputs on DMU’s efficiency values. The up-to-date data for the departments of an engineering faculty are considered and their performances are presented based on teaching and research oriented measures.Data Envelopment Analysis, Higher Education, University Departments, Teaching, Research

Improvements in Geometry-Based Secret Image Sharing Approach with Steganography

Protection of the sensitive data is an important issue because of the fast development of applications that need exchange of the secret information over the Internet. Secret sharing is an idea proposed by Shamir and Blakley separately with different implementations in 1979. Lin and Tsai proposed a method that uses Steganography to create meaningful shares by using Shamir's secret sharing scheme in 2004. In recent years, researchers work to remove some of the weaknesses of this method. However, all of these methods need cover images four times bigger than the secret image. This arises two problems: increased storage and bandwidth need for shares. We used cover images with the same size as the secret image by using both Blakley's secret sharing approach and Steganography. Therefore, we achieved reduced storage and transmission bandwidth for shares. Besides, the proposed method creates meaningful shares by using Steganography instead of noise-like shares, different from other studies that use Blakley's approach

Koncentracije serumskog prokalcitonina i C-reaktivnog proteina u pasa s degenerativnom bolešću mitralnog zaliska i infektivnim endokarditisom

This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) concentrations in dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD) and infective endocarditis. It also aimed to evaluate whether there is a relationship between the degree of disease and serum PCT and CRP concentrations. A total of 100 dogs with MVD were prospectively recruited into the study. According to clinical/laboratory signs and echocardiography, the dogs were divided into infective and degenerative groups. The degenerative group was also classified into four stages based on the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) guidelines (Stages A-D). Serum PCT and CRP concentrations were determined with dog-specific commercial test kits. The serum CRP (P<0.05) and PCT (P<0.001) concentrations in the infective group were significantly higher than the degenerative group. In the degenerative group, the serum CRP concentration of stage D dogs was significantly higher than the other stages (P<0.001), and the degree of disease correlated significantly positively with serum CRP concentration (r=0.531 P=0.000). In conclusion, serum CRP and PCT concentrations may aid traditional diagnostic techniques to differentiate infective and degenerative mitral valve disease. This study also demonstrated that serum CRP concentrations were elevated in Stage D dogs, and that there is a positive correlation between the degree of disease and serum CRP concentration. This can be useful in determining the severity of the inflammatory state in dogs with DMVD.Cilj rada bio je istražiti kliničku važnost serumskih koncentracija C-reaktivnog proteina (CRP) i prokalcitonina (PCT) u pasa s degenerativnom bolešću mitralnog zaliska (DMVD) i infektivnim endokarditisom. Također, cilj je bio i procijeniti postoji li povezanost između stupnja bolesti i serumskih koncentracija PCT-a i CRP-a. U prospektivno istraživanje uključeno je ukupno je 100 pasa s MVD-om. Prema kliničko laboratorijskim znakovima i ehokardiografiji psi su podijeljeni u skupinu s infektivnom i skupinu s degenerativnom bolešću. Psi s degenerativnom bolešću razvrstani su u četiri stadija (A-D) prema smjernicama American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM). Koncentracije serumskog PCT-a i CRP-a određene su komercijalnim testnim setovima specifičnima za pse. Koncentracije serumskog CRP-a i PCT-a u skupini pasa s infektivnom bolešću bile su znakovito više (P<0,05 i P<0,001) nego one u skupini pasa s degenerativnom bolešću. U skupini s degenerativnom bolešću serumske koncentracije CRP-a u pasa sa stadijem D bile su znakovito više nego u pasa s ostalim stadijima (P<0,001). Stupanj bolesti bio je u znakovitoj pozitivnoj korelaciji sa serumskim koncentracijama CRP-a (r = 0,531, P=0,000). Zaključno, serumske koncentracije CRP-a i PCT-a mogu pomoći tradicionalnim dijagnostičkim metodama u razlikovanju infektivne i degenerativne bolesti mitralnog zaliska. Istraživanje je pokazalo i povišene serumske koncentracije CRP-a u pasa sa stadijem D te pozitivnu korelaciju između stupnja bolesti i koncentracije CRP-a. Navedeno može biti korisno pri procjeni težine upalnog stanja u pasa s DMVD-om

Seismic Hazard Analysis Of Van Province Of Turkey

Within the framework of the performance based earthquake engineering, the seismic hazardanalysis for the Van province in Turkey is performed in probabilistic manner. It is noteworthy that, in probabilistic seismic hazard assessment, as a first stage, data from geological studies and records from the instrumental period were compiled to make a seismic sourcecharacterization for the study region. Then, a seismic hazard model by using EZ-FRISKsoftware is implemented and the probabilistic seismic hazard curves were developed based onthe selected appropriate attenuation relationships, at rock sites, with a probability ofexceedance of 2%, 10% and 50% in 50-year periods. The results of probabilistic seismic hazard analyses revealed peak acceleration values for a typical rock site as 0.47g for 50%probability of exceedance in 50 years, 1.09g for 10% probability of exceedance in 50 yearsand 1.91 g for 2% probability of exceedance in 50 years. The obtained results are comparedwith N-S&amp;E-W component taken from Muradiye station after the earthquake which occurred on 23.10.2011 in Van, N-S &amp; E-W component taken from Van station after thee arthquake which occurred on 9.11.2011 in Van, and the spectral responses proposed forseismic evaluation and retrofit of building structure in Turkey Earthquake Code, Section 7.At the end of this study, it is apprehended that for the performance evaluation of the existing structures Code proposed earthquake response spectra are not sufficient and the currente stimations show that the potential seismic hazard in research area of the Turkey is not well estimatedin the code.

Using Storybooks as a Character Education Tools

This study aims to investigate the views and implementations of preschool teachers in “giving character education through picture storybooks”. Descriptive review method was used in the research and supported with focus group interviews. For this reason data were took from two study groups (for the descriptive study group n=245, for the focus group n=24 teachers). Study results show that character education is the important for the teachers, teachers use picture storybooks that support character education,  however they find themselves partly competent in giving character education with picture storybooks, and think story books useful and effective in terms of character education, believe that teachers should be a role model in character education, and methods like drama, play, question-answer, and brainstorming are much preferred for an effective character education. Upon these results, enhancement of books that support character education in children’s literature and courses aimed at character education in preschool teaching departments can be suggested. Keywords: Picture storybooks, values, character education, preschool education

Reliability and Validity of the “Decision-making Skills Instrument for Children”

The purpose of this study is to develop a valid and reliable data collection tool to assess the decision-making skills of children at the age of 5 to 6. The study group is composed of 300 children attending independent pre-schools located in the central district of Amasya province and their parents. In the study, four-factor and 29-item “Decision-Making Skills Instrument-Child Form” involving “yes” and “no” answers and Likert-type single-factor and nine-item “Decision-Making Skills Instrument-Parent Form” aimed at assessing children’s decision making skills based on the parents’ impressions involving the answers “never”, “sometimes”, “sometimes”, “often”, and “always” were developed. The findings showed that ““Decision-Making Skills Instrument-Child Form” consisting 29 items and “Decision-Making Skills Instrument-Parent Form” consisting 9 items are reliable and valid measurement tools

Detection of Antibacterial Effects of Various Fruit Species on Motile Aeromonas species

The aim of this study is to determine the antimicrobial effects of extracts prepared from orange (Citrus sinensis L.), lemon (C. limon L.) and pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peels on motile Aeromonas species including Aeromonas hydrophila, A. caviae and A. allosaccharophila using disc diffusion and broth dilution techniques. In addition, the antibacterial effects of edible films and coatings prepared from orange, lemon and pomegranate peels on these bacteria were also investigated with the well agar diffusion technique in the current study. The essential oils (EOs) used in the study were obtained from the fruit peels by the distillation method. To test the antibacterial susceptibilities of essential oils, sterile discs were placed on the surface of the Petri dishes which were inoculated by bacteria. The dishes were incubated at 37 °C for 24 h. At the end of the incubation period, the zone diameters observed around the discs were measured. Florfenicol, flumequine and oxytetracycline were used as control antibiotics in the study. Antibacterial susceptibilities of fruit peels were also determined by broth dilution technique. The Minimum Inhibition Concentration (MIC) values of the fruit peels were found and the lowest concentration where turbidity which was not observed was accepted as MIC for that bacterial species. Carragenean, xanthan, starch and carop were used as matrix in the preparation of edible films and coatings. According to the results of the study, it was found that EO extract prepared from lemon peels was more effective on A. hydrophila, A. caviae and A. allosaccharophila than EO extracts prepared from pomegranate and orange peels in disc diffusion test. Also, it was found that edible films prepared from pomegranate peels had the most antibacterial effect on the three bacterial species

A DEVELOPMENT OF THE SCALE FOR PROBLEM SOLVING IN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION: THE STUDY OF VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY

This study aims to develop a valid and reliable instrument to assess the problem solving skills of five-year-old children receiving environmental education. The study included 156 children selected from the study population using the simple random sampling method. The literature was reviewed for Turkish and foreign studies on environmental education for children, improvement of problem solving skills, environmental education and problem solving skills to develop the Scale for Problem Solving in Environmental Education (SPSEE). Specialists' opinions were obtained, exploratory factor analysis was performed, and total item correlation, bottom and top group mean difference, Cronbach's Alpha internal consistency coefficient and test-retest correlation coefficients were calculated. The data were analysed using the SPSS 22 package. The exploratory factor analysis showed that the scale has 14 questions and two factors. Questions were prepared for each activity and the answers for these questions were formed in a three-point Likert-type scale. One of the researchers applied this scale to each child. The researchers prepared a guidebook, activities, a CD including these activities and a booklet including pictures to apply the scale. The pictures in the booklet were obtained from various activity books used in preschool education. The first researcher applied the scale by asking the questions in the booklet. The items of the SPSEE were found to sufficiently discriminate the individuals according to the scale's factor loads and total item correlation, and the study sample was determined to be appropriate and sufficient for factor analysis. The significant difference (p&lt;0.01) between the mean scores of the bottom 27% and top 27% groups was used to determine how the SPSEE subscales discriminated the individuals who have the characteristic to be assessed at a higher and lower level. Test-retest correlation and the Cronbach's Alpha coefficient were used for the reliability analyses of the SPSEE. The Cronbach's Alpha coefficient was found to be 0.77 for the scale. During the test-retest analysis, a high correlation was observed between the scores of the two tests performed at a 20-day interval concerning the subscale and total scores. The validity and reliability analyses indicated that the Scale for Problem Solving in Environmental Education (SPSEE) is valid and reliable for five-year-old children.  Article visualizations

Assessing the efficiency of airports considering health and safety issues: A pilot study for Turkey

Purpose: Airport management is influenced by several related critical decisions on financial and technical operations. Optimum utilization of resources, including assets and personnel, is critical to achieve better service quality for the passengers and an efficient airport. Due to its importance, this paper aims to assess the performance of airports based on security, safety, and possible work-related health problems by considering the uncertain and unclear number of passengers and their baggage. Design/methodology: The efficiency of 30 airports in Turkey is evaluated with a basic Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model with two inputs and five outputs. Then, the model is redefined with an undesired output. High, medium, and low seasons are defined in the second DEA model to estimate the number of passenger baggage. The third model utilizes the principles of Fuzzy DEA (F-DEA) that aims to handle the uncertainty for the undesired output data. Findings: The results of three models confirm that the number and weight of baggage and consequently health and safety issues in airports should not be overlooked when optimizing airport efficiency. Utilizing the fuzzy theory has the potential to help managers to improve the operational efficiency of airports when dealing with an uncertain number of passengers and estimating the workload of baggage handlers. Research limitations/implications: No permission was given to make interviews with the ground handling personnel and gather real-life data to analyze task durations and workers’ body movements. Practical implications: Inputs, outputs, and undesired output defined in this study can be used to assess the airports in any other country. Social implications: The importance of health and safety issues for passengers, airport personnel, baggage handlers, and the residents who live close to the airports is considered. Originality/value: This study contributes to the airport performance assessment literature by considering the uncertain and dynamic data related to health and safety issues. This pioneering study, up-to-best knowledge, is the first to assess the airports in Turkey by DEA with the defined undesired output (baggage handler workload) and also utilizing the fuzzy model for the uncertain data.Peer Reviewe