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Background: Tularemia is a zoonotic disease (reservoir is usually rodents) caused by Francisella tularensis, especially seen in the northern hemisphere. Hunters are in the risk group for this disease. In this study, it was aimed to determine the seroprevalence of tularemia among hunters and determine the risk factors of tularemia in our country. Methods: The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is divided into four regions (Nicosia, Kyrenia, Famagusta/Trikomo, and Morphou/Lefka) and 100 volunteer hunters randomly selected from these regions were included in our study. Tube agglutination test (TAT) and F. tularensis IgG and IgM (ELISA method) were applied in all sera. All hunters were filled with a pre-prepared questionnaire to determine risk factors for tularemia. Results: TAT positivity was found in 11%. While F. tularensis ELISA IgG positivity was 17%, IgM positivity was not found in any hunters. Hunters with positive F. tularensis ELISA IgG test (17%) were accepted as seropositive in terms of tularemia. There was no statistically significant difference between the mean age of IgG-positive and negative hunters (p= 0.915). Of the 86 hunters who kept at least one hunting dog in their garden, 15 (17.4%) were IgG-positive. There was no significant relationship between feeding hunting dogs and tularemia (p= 0.561). Conclusion: Our study showed that the seroprevalence of tularemia was high (17%) among hunters, who are considered a risk group, in our country. We think that more epidemiological research should be done on tularemia infection and it should not be overlooked in the clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to identify the environmental knowledge and the environmental awareness level of the university students. With this aim it is considered to compare the thoughts and the point of views between the international and domestic students' environmental knowledge about North Cyprus. The case study has been used as a design of the study with qualitative research method. This study was conducted with 42 students from a university in Northern Cyprus. The sample has been stated in two groups; the international students group that composed from 21 international students from different countries and the domestic students group that composed from 21 students from Northern Cyprus. The research data were collected through interviews. Content analysis was used as a data analysis technique. Research findings show in general that the international students have less environmental awareness from the domestic students. In the light of the answers of the students and the results of the study, it has been suggested that the basic solution for creating a good environmental consciousness is environmental education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pre-school science education is one of the most important educational processes that enables inquiry, problem-solving, exploring and commenting in children. With a qualified science education, children can develop their curiosity and appreciation for nature while becoming science literate. Furthermore, children who learn to transfer their knowledge of daily life also develop scientific process skills and problem-solving abilities. These competencies are acquired through pre-school education when the child actively participates in the process. The child solves and explains the complex activities surrounding him/her with the support of science activities he/she sees as a game in the science education process. Thus, it is recommended to gain an individual who has developed a sense of research and interpretation. In this study, the aim is to examine the Pre-School Education Program of the Ministry of National Education which is being taught in Turkish Republic of North Cyprus and Republic of Turkey with a specific focus on science activities. In the study, the activities in the program are examined in terms of number, subject, scope, achievement and applicability in accordance with qualitative research and document analysis. Additionally, alternative science activities have been proposed in parallel with the topics in the study. As a result, it has been determined that the number of science activities is kept low in both programs, the subjects which are important outcomes of contemporary life such as environment, animal, soil are not included in programs too much, and the activities are not able to respond to all of the determined achievements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, the life satisfaction of adolescents who live in Northern Cyprus is examined. Demographic variables of adolescents have been taken into consideration while life satisfaction has been determined. The study has been completed in a way of scan pattern in accordance with quantitative method. The reachable universe of this study included the students attending 9, 10, 11, and 12th grade in the province of Kyrenia Northern Cyprus. The samples of research group included 436 students composed of 209 boys (%47,8) and 227 girls (%52,2). The data collection tools used during the research were, Personal Information Form which consists of demographic data and Multidimensional Life Satisfaction Scale. Multidimensional Life Satisfaction Scale consists of friend satisfaction, school satisfaction, environment satisfaction and self satisfaction sub-dimensions. The data has been analyzed with SPSS 20 package program. As a conclusion, within the sub-dimensions of the scale, friend satisfaction sub-dimension level of participants was found to be higher when compared to school, environment and self-satisfaction sub-dimension levels. Additionally, the life satisfaction points of 436 adolescents have shown a meaningful differentiation according to the school type, attended grades and education levels of mother and father. However, there has been no meaningfull differentiation regarding gender, age, number of siblings, the rank of birth, and the working status of mother and father. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]