Balloon asisted tracking technique in complex transradial access: A single center experience

Aim: The transradial technique (TRA) has become widely accepted for coronary catheterization. While TRA offers numerous benefits, certain anatomical challenges can lead to access failure. Balloon-assisted tracking (BAT) has emerged as a valuable technique to overcome these challenges and improve success rates. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of BAT during coronary interventions using TRA. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients who underwent diagnostic or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures between September 2020 and May 2023. Patient demographics, clinical data, and procedural information were collected for cases where BAT was employed to overcome radial or brachial arterial complexity. Results: A total of 23 patients encountered anatomical difficulties necessitating BAT during the procedure, both elective and acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Radial artery spasm was the most common indication for BAT, with a high proportion of female patients. Successful completion of coronary intervention using BAT, without the need for femoral artery crossover, was achieved in all cases except one. Also, the complexity of anatomy (such as tortuosity, arterial loop, or small artery crossing) was another reason for BAT use. The mean procedural time was 47.9 minutes, and no complications related to the access site were observed. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that BAT is a safe and effective technique for overcoming complex radial artery anatomical challenges and radial spasm during TRA. The study supports the adoption of BAT in TRA procedures and highlights its potential benefits in both elective and ACS cases

The Correlates of Turkish Preschool Preservice Teachers’ Social Competence, Empathy and Communication Skills

The purpose of the current study was to examine the associations between Turkish preschool pre-service teacher’s personal and educational characteristics, and their social competence, empathy, and communication skills. A total of 385 state university Turkish pre-service teachers (age range 18 to 32 years) from the early childhood education field completed a Demographic Information Form on personal and educational characteristics, the Social Skills Inventory (SSI) Scale measuring their social competence, The Scales of Empathic Tendency for measuring empathy skills, and a Communication Skills Evaluation Scale measuring communication skills. Bivariate Pearson-correlations, independent t tests, and one-way ANOVAs were used to test study hypotheses. Results indicated that women scored higher on empathy and communication skills, and having more friends was related to higher social competence and empathy. Pre-service teachers who were members of a social club scored higher on communication skills than their peers. Additional associations among variables, limitations, and future directions are discussed

Teaching Approaches and Practices of Student Teachers in Early Childhood Education: A Convergent Mixed Methods Study

This study examined the teaching approaches and practices of student teachers in early childhood education using a convergent parallel mixed methods design. The participants were 112 student teachers for the quantitative strand and 29 randomly selected student teachers for the qualitative strand of the study. Participants reported on their teaching approaches in the quantitative strand, and video recordings of teaching practices of student teachers were used in the qualitative strand of the study. Quantitative data were analyzed using cluster analyses, and qualitative data were analyzed using an observational coding of behaviors, following that which the quantitative and qualitative results were merged. Cluster analyses showed that student teachers to be categorized into three groups (traditional, constructivist, and mixed) that reflect their teaching approaches. The qualitative analyses from the video recordings consistently showed that student teachers reflected their perceptions of teaching approaches in their practice. Findings from the current study highlight the importance of understanding student teachers’ teaching approaches and practices in early childhood

DP800 çelik sacların CMT lehimleme yöntemi ile birleştirilebilirliğinin ve mekanik özelliklerin incelenmesi ve analizi

06.03.2018 tarihli ve 30352 sayılı Resmi Gazetede yayımlanan “Yükseköğretim Kanunu İle Bazı Kanun Ve Kanun Hükmünde Kararnamelerde Değişiklik Yapılması Hakkında Kanun” ile 18.06.2018 tarihli “Lisansüstü Tezlerin Elektronik Ortamda Toplanması, Düzenlenmesi ve Erişime Açılmasına İlişkin Yönerge” gereğince tam metin erişime açılmıştır.Son yıllarda enerjiye olan talebin artması ve enerji kaynaklarının azalmasıyla üreticiler daha yüksek mukavemetli çelikleri kullanmaya başlamışlardır. Otomotiv sanayisinde malzeme seçiminde hafiflik, düşük yakıt sarfiyatı, güvenlik ve çevre kirliliği gibi kriterler göz önünde bulundurulmaktadır. Bu nedenle geliştirilmiş olan çift fazlı (DP) çelikleri otomotiv sektöründe çok kullanılmaktadır. Çift fazlı (DP) çelikleri sünekliği sağlayan ferrit fazdan ve mukavemet arttırıcı etkisi bulunan martenzit fazdan oluşmaktadır. Akma dayanımı düşük çekme mukavemeti yüksek olduğundan dolayı kolay şekillendirilebilme özelliğine sahiptir. CMTlehimleme yöntemi geleneksel kaynak yöntemlerine göre çok daha düşük ısı girdisi sunmasından dolayı bu yöntem tercih edilmiştir. Bu çalışmada 1mm kalınlığında galvaniz kaplı DP800 çelik sacı CMT-lehimleme yöntemi ile CuAl8 ilave tel kullanılarak birleştirilmiştir. Birleştirme işlemi alın ve bindirme yöntemleri ile yapılmıştır. CMT-lehimleme işlemi beş farklı parametrede tatbik edilmiştir. Bunlar akım şiddeti, lehim ilerleme hızı, gaz basıncı, torç açısı ve lehim aralığıdır. CMT-lehimleme işlemi yapılmış numunelerin mukavemet özellikleri ve bağlantı noktalarının sertlik değerleri ölçülmüştür. Makro ve mikroyapı incelemelerinde, optik mikroskop, taramalı elektron mikroskobu (SEM) ve noktasal element analizi (EDS) cihazı kullanılmıştır. Anahtar kelimeler: CMT-lehimleme, Çift Fazlı (DP) ÇeliklerManufactures have begun to use high strength steels with the increase in demand for energy in recent years and the reduction of energy. In the automotive industry, criteria such as lightness, low fuel consumption, safety and environmental pollution are considered. Dual phase (DP) steels developed for for this reason are widely used in the automotive industry. Dual phase (DP) steels are composed of ferrite phase which provides ductility and martensite phase which is a strengthening effect. Its yield strength is low and its tensile strength is high. This method is preferred because the CMT-soldering method provides much lower heat input than conventional welding methods. In this study, 1mm thick galvanized coated DP800 steel sheet was joined by using CMT-brazing method using CuAl8 additive wire. The joining process is done by using butt joint and overlap joint. The CMT-brazing process was applied to five different parameters. These are current intensity, travel speeds, shielding gas, torch angle and brazing gaps. The strength properties of CMT-brazed specimens and the hardness values of the connection points were measured. Microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscpy (EDS) analysis were used in macro and microstructure investigations. Keywords: CMT-brazing, Dual phase (DP) steel

Scaffolding as a Tool for Environmental Education in Early Childhood

This paper describes the process of “scaffolding” as a teaching strategy in early childhood education, and demonstrates how scaffolding can promote children’s learning about the natural environment. Examples of scaffolding are provided from seventy-four running record observations made over a two-year period in a nature-based preschool program. Qualitative analysis examined the extent to which scaffolding was used to support children’s learning about nature; the types of scaffolding strategies used by teachers; whether high- and low-support strategies were used in specific types of situations; the effectiveness of scaffolding; and what children learned when teachers engaged them in scaffolding. Examples illustrate specific pedagogical strategies used in scaffolding. Scaffolding was used relatively frequently within the program (21% of events analyzed), and inferential questioning was the most frequently used strategy. Analysis did not reveal a pattern of high- or low-support strategies used in specific types of situations, but teachers flexibly used a variety of scaffolding strategies to support children’s learning about the natural environment. Preparation of physical and social environments for effective scaffolding is discussed, as well as the role of scaffolding in socializing children to engage in a culture of inquiry

Üniversite Öğrencilerinin Özyeterlilik ve Sporda Başarı Motivasyon Düzeylerinin Araştırılması

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of individual self-efficacy of students at the Facultyof Sport Sciences on their success and motivation levels in sports and to determine whether they differaccording to demographic variables. This research consists of 275 students, 210 males and 65 females, studyingin different departments at the Faculty of Sport Sciences in Uşak University. In the research, the 'PersonalInformation Form' prepared by the researcher, 'Sports Specific Success Motivation Scale (SSSMS)' developedby Willis (1982) which was adapted to Turkish by Tiryaki and Gödelek (1997) and reliability - validity studieshave been performed; and the 'Self-Effectiveness-Efficacy Scale' developed by Sherer et al. (1982) which wasadapted to Turkish by Gözüm and Aksayan (1999) were used. Analysis of the data related to the questionnaireand scale used in the research was done by using SPSS 22 statistical program.T-test and ANOVA can be usedin case of total scores obtained from the Sport-Specific Success Motivation scale and the Self-EffectivenessEfficacyscale subscales show normal distribution.Otherwise, nonparametric tests should be used.For thispurpose, “Shapiro Wilk” normality test was applied for total scores.In all statistical tests, it was considered as? = 0.05.As a result of the research; when we look at the effect of individual self-efficacy on the success andmotivation levels of the students at the Faculty of Sport Sciences; there is no significant difference in gender,age, class, parental status, family income level, number of doing sports, being a licenced player but there is asignificant difference in doing regular sports.Spor Bilimleri Fakültesi öğrencilerinin bireysel öz-yeterliliklerinin sporda başarı ve motivasyon düzeyleri üzerine etkisini demografik değişkenlere göre farklılık gösterip göstermediğini belirlemek amacıyla incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Bu araştırma; Uşak Üniversitesi Spor Bilimleri Fakültesi'nin farklı bölümlerinde öğrenim görmekte olan 210 erkek 65 kadın toplam 275 öğrencilerden oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmada veriler, araştırmacı tarafından geliştirilen ‘Kişisel Bilgi formu’Willis tarafından 1982 yılında geliştirilen Tiryaki ve Gödelek (1997) tarafından Türkçeye uyarlaması yapılan, güvenirlik ve geçerlilik çalışması yapılmış olan Spora Özgü Başarı Motivasyonu Ölçeği (SÖBMÖ). 1982 yılında Sherer ve arkadaşları tarafından geliştirilen ve 1999 yılında Gözüm ve Aksayan tarafından Türkçe ’ye uyarlanan Öz-Etkililik-Yeterlik Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Araştırmada kullanılan anket formuna ve ölçeğe ilişkin verilerin analizi SPSS 22 programı kullanılarak yapılmıştır. Spora Özgü Başarı Motivasyonu ölçeği ile Öz Etkililik-Yeterlik ölçeği alt ölçeklerinden elde edilen toplam puanların normal dağılım göstermesi durumunda t-testi ve ANOVA kullanılabilir. Aksi durumda parametrik olmayan testler kullanılması gerekir. Bu amaçla toplam puanlar için “ShapiroWilk” normallik testi uygulanmıştır. Tüm istatistiksel testlerde ?=0.05 olarak alınmıştır. Araştırmanın sonucunda; Spor Bilimleri Fakültesi öğrencilerinin bireysel öz-yeterliliklerinin sporda başarı ve motivasyon düzeyleri üzerine etkisini; cinsiyet, yaş, sınıf, baba eğitim durumu, anne eğitim durumu, ailenin aylık geliri, düzenli spor yapma-spor kulübü, haftalık spor yapılan gün sayısı ve lisanslı sporcu gibi çeşitli değişkenlere göre farklılık gösterip göstermediğine bakıldığında; Cinsiyet, yaş, sınıf, anne-baba örgenim durumu, aile gelir düzeyi, spor yapma sayısı, sporcu lisansı olma düzeylerinde anlamlı sonuca rastlanmaz iken düzenli spor yapma durumunda anlamlı bir farklılığa ulaşılmıştır

Examining the Role of Teacher Presence and Scaffolding in Preschoolers’ Peer Interactions

The current study aimed to examine the associations between teacher presence and social scaffolding and preschool children’s peer interactions. Using a time sampling method, peer interactions of 22 four- and five-year-old preschoolers (12 girls; Mage = 52.95 months) and teacher behavior were observed on two different days during various classroom activities in seven public preschool classrooms. Eco-behavioral analyses revealed that (a) teacher presence was negatively associated with positive peer interactions; (b) teacher absence was positively associated with negative peer interactions; (c) positive change of peer interactions was more likely to occur when the teacher was present; (d) children showed more positive peer interactions during child-directed activities than during adult-directed activities or daily routines and transitions; and (e) teacher’s social scaffolding was positively associated with children’s positive peer interactions although it occurred only for 3.61% of the intervals during which the teacher was in close proximity to children. In addition, although the likelihood for children’s positive interaction was over 2 times higher in child-directed activities in comparison to adult-directed activities, teacher presence still seems very important for inhibiting negative peer interactions

The Impact of R&D Expenditures on Economic Growth in Türkiye: New Evidence from Machine Learning Method

Purpose: This study analyzes the impacts of R&D expenditures on economic growth in Türkiye. Methodology: In this study, we explore the impact of R&D expenditure on economic growth in Türkiye. Annual time series from 1990 to 2021 are considered for this research examination based on the data availability. R&D expenditure, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, gross fixed capital formation, labor force, and tertiary ratio variables are used for the analysis and obtained from the World Bank. Based on machine learning, analyses were conducted using the Kernel Regularized Least Square method. Findings: The empirical analysis using KRLS shows that higher spending on research and development leads to a significant boost in economic growth. Furthermore, labor force participation, school enrolment (tertiary) ratio, and gross fixed capital formation are all significantly and positively associated with economic growth in Türkiye. Originality: The contribution of the paper is twofold: (1) it provides new scientific evidence based on the machine learning econometric method, the Kernel Regularized Least Square (KRLS); (2) many papers in the literature have only examined the relationship between R&D expenditures and economic growth, without controlling for other variables. We have used possible control variables such as labor force participation rate, school enrolment (tertiary) ratio, and gross fixed capital formation, which are also linked to economic growth models