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The purpose of this research was to identify the need for gender equality education. For this purpose, the views of mathematics, science, and information technology teachers on the current situation of gender equality in schools were determined. In addition, the awareness of sixth, seventh and eighth grade middle school students on gender equality was examined. This study was a descriptive research conducted in a qualitative context. In data collection, an interview form on teachers' views and a written view form on students' awareness about gender equality were used. Research data were collected in the spring semester of the 2017-2018 academic year. As a result of the research, it is thought that an interdisciplinary gender equality education will be beneficial to improve students' awareness.

The general aim of the study was to improve students' awareness of gender equality. An instructional design was developed in which mathematics, science, information technologies and software (ITS) courses were integrated, with the theme of gender equality at the center. The method of the study was determined as a case study. The participants of the study were 21 sixth-grade students at a public school in Turkey. Research data were collected using the "Views Form on Gender Equality" and "Practice Evaluation Form" developed by the researchers. According to the students' views, it was determined that an interdisciplinary education on gender equality had positive effects on improving students' awareness of gender equality. When the students' views about the practice process were examined, it was seen that the positive opinions about the process were high in number, and students presented few negative views.

With the intent of facilitating the professional development of English-as-a-foreign language (EFL) teacher trainees, the impetus of this qualitative study is to evaluate the depth and breadth of teacher reflection using vignettes within an initial teacher education program. To this end, this study utilized the vignette technique to reveal 12 EFL teacher trainees' reflectivity from a collegial perspective. Over a nine-week time period, the participants worked in pairs, and each pair first created vignettes based on their observations or teachings in practicum. Afterwards, they generated reflective responses to the pre-designed questions, which led them to think about the problematic or critical issues raised in the vignettes of their pairs. At the end of the process, a total of 108 vignettes were gathered. The whole qualitative data was exposed to the analysis in light of the two-dimensional framework of Fund et al. (2002), which focuses on both the depth and breadth of teacher reflection. Results indicate that the vignette-based reflections showed more balanced variety in breadth, whereas they did not contain a great number of comments made at deeper levels of reflection. Therefore, it is recommended that all the stakeholders should take more active roles to foster reflectivity and criticality toward educational matters raised in the vignettes.

The aim of this study is to reveal experienced primary school teachers' pedagogical content knowledge (PCK), sub-components of PCK, and their possible interactions with science teaching. To this aim, a multiple holistic case study design was used. The research used a comprehensive PCK model consisting of 5 categories and 28 subcategories to reflect the knowledge base of teachers. Among the volunteered teachers, four experienced primary school teachers were randomly selected for research. Data triangulation, which utilizes interview, observation, and document analysis together, along with a subject matter knowledge test (SMKT) developed by the researchers, was used to explore teachers' PCKs in-depth. According to the results of the research, it was concluded that instead of making standard generalizations about teachers' PCK, explaining the situation over sub-categories and making comparisons on the basis of teacher competencies can guide our PCK understanding. Due to PCK's complexity and depth, several results were obtained in this study. One of the basis result of the study, the PCK category, in which experienced primary school teachers are the best compared to other categories, is "pedagogical knowledge" which is consistent between teachers and within each teacher's own levels of sub-categories. The weakest PCK categories of teachers were "knowledge of assessment in science" and "curriculum knowledge of science," this situation also leads to inadequacies in using appropriate contemporary learning-teaching processes, strategies, alternative assessment methods and rubrics. Therefore, the PCK model of the research can be recommended as an explanation guide for future studies.

In this study, the aim is to elucidate the relationship between digital technologies and the concept of leisure time. Digital leisure time can be defined as the time spent by individuals using digital tools and platforms for entertainment, recreation, acquiring knowledge, communication, socialization, and escaping from a negative mood state during their free time. It is anticipated that this research will provide a foundation for researchers working on digital leisure time to engage in innovative studies that integrate different disciplines and theories. Furthermore, through the development of a measurement tool incorporating different information paradigms and diverse samples, the concept of digital leisure time will progress towards becoming a distinct field of study.

The article presents the development and validation of a new measurement tool, the scale of Jealousy in romantic relationship (JRRS), designed to assess romantic jealousy in individuals aged 18 and above with or without a romantic relationship. The scale was developed through a literature review and tailored to the Turkish culture. The exploratory factor analysis revealed a three-dimensional structure, with the first dimension explaining 32.94% of the total variance, the second dimension explaining 11.34%, and the third dimension explaining 9.21%. The total variance explained by all three dimensions was 53.50%. The moderate correlation between the Anxious Attachment subdimension of the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale-Short Form (ECRS-SF) and the JRRS provided evidence of criterion-related validity, consistent with previous findings in the literature. As a result of the reliability analysis, the reliability value of the measurement tool was found to be 0.85 according to the Cronbach alpha. According to the sub-dimensions, reliability results were obtained as 0.83 for the social environment and past relationships factor, 0.83 for the jealousy perception factor and 0.71 for the perception of the waist factor. The JRRS was compared to other established scales measuring jealousy in romantic relationships, and the results further supported its reliability and validity. Overall, the study showed that the JRRS is a valid and reliable tool for assessing romantic jealousy in individuals.

Given the urgency of global energy transition, small- and medium-sized cities often undergo rapid changes. What is often missing, however, is a better understanding of how residents of those places perceive, and relate to the various aspects of local energy transition process and spatial outcomes. This study focuses on the Hoogkerk district of Groningen in the Northern Netherlands, where we used Q-Methodology to identify shared viewpoints. Our findings reveal three main viewpoints: a) the importance of protecting local spatial and environmental values, b) prioritising energy-saving approaches notably for the vulnerable segments of the society, and finally c) the need for comprehensive district-level planning led by the municipality. These findings underscore the importance of integrated approaches that address both spatial and process aspects of local energy transition. We argue that these insights can support policymakers and the local citizen initiative towards the development of an integrated local energy vision.

In this study, we establish a new class of Kantorovich-Stancu type [Formula: see text]Bernstein operators via an adaptation of Bézier bases which are formulated with the inclusion of the shape parameters [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and a positive parameter [Formula: see text] First, we present a uniform convergence result for these operators and, subsequently, examine the convergence properties by utilizing the weighted [Formula: see text]-statistical convergence notion. Furthermore, we estimate the rate of the weighted [Formula: see text]-statistical convergence of these operators. We conclude our work by providing a numerical example with explanatory graphs to show their approximation behaviours.

Abstract Background Motor imagery (MI) has increasingly been used in physiotherapy. Oral rehabilitation may be a potential application area for MI. The aim of this study is to investigate the acute effects of orofacial and tongue muscle strengthening exercises in the form of physical exercise and motor imagery on pain and tongue strength in healthy adults. Thirty asymptomatic adults were included in this trial. MI skills were evaluated using the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-Revised and the mental chronometer. The pain and strength were assessed using an algometer and a tongue pressure device. Following the baseline evaluations, three interventions: physical exercise, kinesthetic motor imagery, and visual motor imagery, were applied randomly on different days. Pain and tongue strength were re-evaluated immediately after the interventions. Results The physical exercise program did not significantly improve pain and tongue strength (p > 0.05). Following the kinesthetic MI training, a significant increase was detected (p = 0.016, d = 0.51) in the left masseter muscle pain threshold. Visual MI training resulted in improvements in anterior tongue strength (p = 0.002, d = 0.66) and left masseter muscle pain (p = 0.024, d = 0.40). Conclusions The present study suggests that different motor imagery strategies may have different effects on tongue muscle strength and pain threshold in healthy adults.

Abstract Due to the heterogeneous nature of depression, the underlying etiological mechanisms greatly differ among individuals, and there are no known subtype-specific biomarkers to serve as precise targets for therapeutic efficacy. The extensive research efforts over the past decades have not yielded much success, and the currently used first-line conventional antidepressants are still ineffective for close to 66% of patients. Most clinicians use trial-and-error treatment approaches, which seem beneficial to only a fraction of patients, with some eventually developing treatment resistance. Here, we review evidence from both preclinical and clinical studies on the pathogenesis of depression and antidepressant treatment response. We also discuss the efficacy of the currently used pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches, as well as the novel emerging therapies. The review reveals that the underlying mechanisms in the pathogenesis of depression and antidepressant response, are not specific, but rather involve an interplay between various neurotransmitter systems, inflammatory mediators, stress, HPA axis dysregulation, genetics, and other psycho-neurophysiological factors. None of the current depression hypotheses sufficiently accounts for the interactional mechanisms involved in both its etiology and treatment response, which could partly explain the limited success in discovering efficacious antidepressant treatment. Effective management of treatment-resistant depression (TRD) requires targeting several interactional mechanisms, using subtype-specific and/or personalized therapeutic modalities, which could, for example, include multi-target pharmacotherapies in augmentation with psychotherapy and/or other non-pharmacological approaches. Future research guided by interaction mechanisms hypotheses could provide more insights into potential etiologies of TRD, precision biomarker targets, and efficacious therapeutic modalities.

Abstract Preeclampsia (PE) occurs due to inadequate spiral artery/trophoblast remodeling in early pregnancy. Endometases are involved in the remodeling of spiral arteries and placental trophoblasts. This study aimed to investigate differences in blood endometase levels between pregnant women with hypertensive disorders (PE and gestational hypertension [GHT]) and healthy pregnant women and to evaluate whether plasma endometase values ​​could play a predictive role in PE or GHT diagnosis. A total of 90 pregnant women (n(PE) = 30, n(GHT) = 30, n(healthy pregnant) = 30) who presented at the hospital between December 2023 and May 2024 and were 26–32 years of age and > 20 weeks pregnant were included in the study. The endometase levels in all pregnant women were determined in maternal blood plasma via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The endometase values were recalculated according to albumin values, and corrected endometase (cEndo) values were determined. No significant differences in blood endometase levels were observed between the groups (p > 0.05). The cEndo value was significantly lower in the PE and GHT groups than in the control group (p 0.05). A statistically significant negative linear relationship was detected between cEndo values and mean systolic blood pressure and mean diastolic blood pressure (p 0.05). Maternal blood cEndo values may play a successful role in distinguishing hypertensive diseases of pregnancy (PE + GHT) from healthy pregnant women. cEndo does not play an effective role in the differential diagnosis between pregnant women with PE and those with GHT. Studies with larger patient populations are needed.

Summary: Background: Refractory IGM causes patients to use antibiotics, steroid therapy, immunosuppressive agents for a very long time and even leads to surgical procedures resulting in the loss of breast tissue. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a frequently used method in the treatment of wounds that are difficult to heal. We thought that HBOT would be an alternative treatment method for refractory IGM patients. Methods: It is a retrospective cohort study on refractory IGM patients conducted at three tertiary care treatment centers between January 2021 and July 2023. The patients were evaluated in two groups: those who only took steroid treatment and those who received HBOT and steroid treatment. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, the types of treatment applied and their responses to treatment were evaluated. Results: There were no significant differences generally in the demographic and clinical features in both groups. The incidence of multicentric GM was found to be higher in the HBOT group (66.67 %; p = 0.044). Although the recovery results were similar in both groups, the average daily steroid dose and duration of drug use were found to be higher in the group receiving only steroid treatment (16 mg vs. 4 mg and 270 days vs. 30 days) (p

The main aim of the study is to examine the relationship between the secondary school students' perceptions of the school's moral atmosphere and their engagement with school. The School Engagement Scale and School Moral Atmosphere Scale were applied to 872 students attending the secondary schools in the 2016-2017 academic year. The study revealed that the school engagement levels showed a significant difference in favor of female students in terms of gender. Based on the multiple regression analysis, it was determined that school moral atmosphere is a significant predictor of school engagement. The results of this study suggest that school moral atmosphere is one of the key determinants of students' engagement with school, and hence it can be useful to improve school moral atmosphere to increase students' affective, cognitive, and behavioral engagement.

Bisphosphonates are widely used to treat several clinical conditions. Zoledronic acid is one of these classes, commonly used for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis, hypercalcemia of malignancy, Paget’s disease, and multiple myeloma. Side effects associated with zoledronic acid include fever, fatigue, arthralgia, myalgia, nausea, and bone pain. Liver damage caused by bisphosphonate is rare. No cases of acute pancreatitis have been described in the literature. We describe a 74-year-old woman who presented with features of acute pancreatitis 3 days following the first dose of intravenous zoledronic acid infusion administered to treat postmenopausal osteoporosis. Supportive treatment was given for 5 days. She was discharged without any problems.

Abstract Background The aim of combining hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy (HITHOC) with surgery is to achieve local control in patients with pleural malignancies. Liver and kidney dysfunction resulting from this procedure have been reported in the literature. The objective of the study is to examine whether the laboratory abnormalities observed during the initial period persist until day 30. Methods The study conducted a retrospective analysis of the blood glucose levels, renal function markers, and hepatic function markers of 30 patients who underwent pleurectomy-decortication and HITHOC for pleural mesothelioma from January 2010 to April 2022. The measurements were taken in the postoperative period on the first four and 30th days. The study analyzed the initial and final laboratory results caused by the procedure. Results Out of the total of 30 patients, 29, 28, 14, and 12 patients had elevated glucose levels on the first four days after the surgery, respectively. There was no association between glucose abnormalities and preoperative-postoperative diabetes mellitus. A minority of patients experienced atypical alterations in kidney and liver functions during the initial postoperative period. There was no apparent relationship between the renal and hepatic functions in the early and late periods after the surgery. Conclusion Although there were fluctuations in glucose levels and renal and hepatic functions in the early period after surgery, there were no persistent alterations in these parameters by day 30. Elevated glucose levels during the early period were not associated with the development of newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus after surgery. The findings of our study provide evidence that HITHOC is a favorable and well-tolerated treatment option for mesothelioma.

Abstract The discovery of (meta)stable pre-nucleation species (PNS) challenges the established nucleation-and-growth paradigm. While stable PNS with long lifetimes are readily accessible experimentally, identifying and characterizing early-stage intermediates with short lifetimes remains challenging. We demonstrate that species with lifetimes ≪ 5 s can be characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy when boosted by ‘Bullet’ dynamic nuclear polarization (Bullet-DNP). We investigate the previously elusive early-stage prenucleation of calcium carbonates in the highly supersaturated concentration regime, characterizing species that form within milliseconds after the encounter of calcium and carbonate ions and show that ionic pre-nucleation species not only govern the solidification of calcium carbonates at weak oversaturation but also initiate rapid precipitation events at high concentrations. Such, we report a transient co-existence of two PNS with distinct molecular sizes and different compositions. This methodological advance may open new possibilities for studying and exploiting carbonate-based material formation in unexplored parts of the phase space.

Abstract In the context of the mounting crisis of waste management and environmental sustainability, coal bottom ash (CBA) emerges as a pioneering solution in the field of construction. This study, which is a pioneering investigation, delves into the transformative impact of integrating CBA into the fabric of various concrete compositions, which range from traditional mortar to avant-garde geopolymer concrete. A comprehensive evaluation of mechanical properties, including compressive strength, flexural strength, and modulus of elasticity, is conducted alongside a spectrum of durability indicators such as water absorption, chloride ion resistance, and sulfate fortitude. Benchmarks set by global standards such as ASTM and EN serve as our yardstick, revealing that a strategic substitution of up to 10% of sand with CBA not only aligns with these rigorous norms but occasionally surpasses them. For cement, concrete, and geopolymer, the optimal replacement levels of CBA are between 10 and 30%. This enhances mechanical properties and promotes environmental sustainability. Our findings demonstrate the dual benefits of CBA: enhancing the structural integrity and durability of concrete while promoting ecological stewardship. This study not only validates the suitability of CBA as a superior construction material but also encourages the construction industry to pursue a more sustainable and waste-minimizing future.

In Anatolia, where traditional lifestyles have been maintained for centuries, there are many traditional tangible or intangible elements that communities have developed and kept alive with their own culture and teachings. With the changing lifestyles due to globalization and technological developments, the fact that these elements are subject to change, deterioration and are under threat of extinction are current and frequently discussed issues. In this context, corruption can be prevented by documenting the unique features of clothing products, which are among our tangible/material cultural heritage, and will contribute to strengthening cultural awareness by transferring them to the future. In this study, it was aimed to determine the formal characteristics of the traditional women’s clothing of Çanakkale Karıncalık Village Tahtacı Turkmens. During the field study, direct observations were made by the researchers, source people were interviewed with a structured interview form, data on Tahtacı Turkmen clothing was determined and 12 original clothes were included in the scope of the research. Formal drawings of the clothes grouped under the title of those worn on the body and the head were made, and each piece of clothing was examined in terms of form, material, color and ornamentation features according to the field systematics, and the changes they underwent were interpreted, supported by the information obtained from the source persons. According to the results of the research, it has been seen that these clothes are used for nostalgic or cultural purposes on special occasions today, that the clothing pieces are the main pieces that make up the layered clothing style used by women in Turkish folk clothing, and that they reflect the basic characteristics of Turkish folk clothing with their cutting features. According to the results of the research, it has been seen that these clothes are used for nostalgic or cultural purposes on special occasions today, that the clothing pieces are the main pieces that make up the layered clothing style used by women in Turkish folk clothing, and that they reflect the basic characteristics of Turkish folk clothing with their cutting features. It has been determined that people’s wishes are effective in the changes in the clothes produced today and since the changes are accepted as a feature specific to the region, corruption continues.

Background and Aim: The structure and function of the left heart cavity have important prognostic value in heart diseases, and heart rate (HR) control is an important treatment goal. In this study, we investigated the effects of HR on left heart structure and function in hypertensive patients with normal left ventricular (LV) systolic function. Materials and Methods: This was a single-center, prospective, observational (case-control) study. A total of 153 patients were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups according to their HR (70 beats/min and below and above 70 beats/min). LV and atrial strain analyses were performed during echocardiographic evaluation. Results: Patients with a resting HR of 70 beats/min or less were included in group 1 (64.2±4.5) and patients with a resting HR above 70 beats/min were included in group 2 (79.1±6.8). There is a significant difference between group 1 and group 2 in left atrial maximum volume (60.8±15.5 mL vs. 52.9±16.3 mL P = 0.007), left atrial minimum volume (28.8±9.5 vs. 22.6±7.9 P < 0.001), left atrial emptying fraction (52.8±8.5% vs. 56.1±8.5% P = 0.035), left atrial expansion index (1.19±0.44 vs. 1.36±0.47 P = 0.044), pLASRcd (-1.3±0.38 vs. -1.5±0.61 P = 0.031), and global longitudinal strain (-19.3±3 vs. -18.2±2.7 P = 0.07). In the multivariable regression analysis, beta-bloker [odds ratio (OR): 0.291, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.105-0.810, P = 0.018], mean high diastolic blood pressure (OR: 1.054, 95% CI 1.009-1.101, P = 0.018), left atrial minimum volume (OR: 0.870, 95% Cl 0.809-0.938, P < 0.001), S’ (OR: 10.6, 95% CI 1.1-104, P = 0.041), left atrial expansion index (OR: 0.870, 95% CI 0.809-0.930, P < 0.033) were determined as independent predictors of high resting HR. Conclusion: HR control is an important goal in patients with hypertension who have preserved LV systolic function. Mortality and morbidity can also be improved by HR control.

Introduction: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe gastrointestinal problem that predominantly affects premature babies. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate patients who underwent surgical treatment for NEC and newborns who initially recovered with medical treatment but later developed a stricture and required surgery. Materials and Methods: We analyzed patients diagnosed with NEC between January 2009 and December 2021. Our study included patients who developed strictures after initially receiving medical treatment for NEC and subsequently underwent surgery. Demographic findings, mother’s age, gestational weeks, birth weight, type of birth, postnatal age at NEC diagnosis, pH, first C-reactive protein (CRP) after onset of symptoms, leukocytes, hemoglobin and thrombocytes at the onset of NEC, echocardiography results, age at surgery, blood values before surgery, surgery technique, and outcomes were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Out of 40 patients who underwent primary surgery for NEC during the newborn period, 6 patients underwent surgery after initially receiving medical treatment. The female-to-male ratio was 15/31, and the median gestational age was 29 weeks. The median mother’s age was 30 years, and the median birth weight was 1097g. The median postnatal age at NEC onset was 6 days (range 2-39). Echocardiography was performed in 43 patients, with 6 showing normal results and 28 having congenital cardiac anomalies. The median surgery day for patients who underwent primary surgery for NEC was 19 days (range 2-90). Ileostomy was performed in 26 patients, colostomy in 8 patients, and ileostomy plus colostomy in 1 patient. Surgery was conducted in 6 out of 392 patients who developed post-NEC strictures after initial medical treatment. Comparison between post-NEC stricture patients and those who underwent surgery for NEC revealed significant differences only in the age at surgery (p=0.024). Conclusion: Patients who clinically experience NEC should be considered for the development of strictures, especially in cases of prolonged feeding intolerance, distention, gastric residual, and rectal bleeding. Therefore, close follow-up and multidisciplinary approaches are crucial, and contrast barium radiography should be the initial diagnostic step.