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It has been suggested that individuals' technology acceptance are affected by personality traits. This paper aims to emphasise the importance of personality traits beyond BIG 5 on the acceptance and individual usage of Cloud Computing Systems (CCSs) with Perceived Ease of Use (PEU) and Perceived Usefulness (PU). Based on this, a quantitative cross-sectional survey research was designed, and 722 students studying at Sakarya University, Pedagogical Training Certification Program in the academic year of 2016-2017 were involved to the study. A path analysis which is a structural equation model was performed to examine the direct and indirect effects of the variables that are theoretically interrelated in the study. According to the results, while Extroversion (EXT), Agreeableness (AGR), Conscientiousness (CONS), and OE are not predictors of PEU and PU components, Nervousness (NEUR), is a significant predictor of PEU in the model. In addition to this, behavioural intention (BI) is significantly predicted by both PU and PEU, and PEU is a significant predictor of PU and BI on the individual usage of CCSs.

The learning characteristics of each student are different. Differentiated instruction considers individual differences, as such guides the learning journey rather than seeing these differences as a challenge. The purpose of this research was to compare the effects of differentiated instruction and 5E learning cycle in physics classes on the students' academic achievement and self-efficacy. We used the matching -- pre-test/post-test -- control group design to address the research questions. We conducted the study in three different schools, performed three experiments, and had three control groups. 162 10th grade students participated in the study. We used the "Electricity Prior Knowledge Test," "Electricity Achievement Test," and the "Physics Self-Efficacy Scale" to collect data. SPSS version 20 software was used to analyze the obtained quantitative data. Independent samples t-test was used to determine whether there was a significant difference between the control and experimental group students' level of prior knowledge regarding the subject of electricity. The analysis of covariance was used to determine whether there was a significant difference between the control and experimental group students' course achievements after the implementation. Two-factor mixed-measures ANOVA was used to determine whether the experimental and control group students' pre-test and post-test scores on self-efficacy differed. Based on the results, it can be concluded that differentiated instruction improved the academic achievement of the low- and mid-achieving students. When the self-efficacy scores of the students were analyzed, no significant difference was found between the groups. Based on the results of the research, researchers or teachers who want to use differentiated teaching in their classrooms may be recommended to create level groups in the classroom.

Biographies of scientists are often used in the teaching environment, both in textbooks and in course contents - sections from the lives of scientists are often included to encourage students to pursue and enjoy science. This research investigated the effect of social content biographical texts of scientists on students' attitudes towards science courses. The research was a mixed-method study and consisted of 51 science teachers. The participants were determined according to a convenience sampling method. Focus group interviews, repertory grid technique, and individual interviews were used to collect data in the study. Through focus group interviews with teachers, it was discussed what kind of changes biographical texts might make to students' attitudes to science. Later, 51 teachers explained the social biographical texts to their students and observed the changes in the students. Based on their observations, they scored the repertory grids. Finally, an individual interview was held with fifteen teachers. As a result, it has been determined that social biographical texts were able to increase students' interest, motivation and questioning skills, while able to decrease their anxiety.

This study aimed to determine the views of pre-service science teachers about STEM education. A two-hour Arduino based STEM learning activity was conducted for fifteen pre-service science teachers. Afterwards, the views of the participants were investigated by conducting an online survey consisting of open-ended questions. Finally, the obtained data were analysed with the content analysis technique using NVivo 12. As a result of the analysis, it was concluded that pre-service teachers do not know the content of the STEM approach but at the same time, they think that STEM education should be applied in schools, and they want to learn how STEM can be used in classes. Based on the results, it is suggested that it should be beneficial to provide professional development to pre-service teachers regarding the content of the STEM approach.

The aim of this research is to reveal the results in the planning, implementation and evaluation of the process for learning environments to be designed in compliance with 7E learning cycle model in physics lesson. "Action research", which is a qualitative research pattern, is employed in this research in accordance with the aim of the research. The research was implemented at a public high school in Turkey. The research continued for twelve weeks. Two-hour class periods were included on a weekly basis. Study group of the implementation consists of 52 students attending to two different classrooms. The ages of students vary between 15 and 16. Triangulation method was employed in collection and evaluation of data in order to increase research reliability. Observation, interview and peer assessment were used in this study for process description. It is revealed from the observations that the majority of students perceived the lessons as more pleasing by virtue of the discussions in physics lesson.

Aim/Purpose: This study aimed to reveal the effect of the previous Internet-based education (IBE) experiences of the students' readiness, attitude, and self-control/self-management variables towards the e-learning process, and also to determine their opinions. Background: The institutions have made efforts to ensure the continuity of education through their learning management systems and the necessity of addressing the e-learning process from the perspective of students once again showed itself as an undeniable fact. Accordingly, the necessity to consider holistically the variables of readiness, attitude, and self-control/self-management, which affect students' adaptation to e-learning process, has once again emerged based on the relevant literature. Methodology: This research based on the simultaneous mixed method considering the previous IBE experiences of 75 Computer Education and Instructional Technology (CEIT) students taking part in the study in Turkey. The quantitative results of the study were analyzed based on the single-group pretest-posttest weak experimental design. Qualitative results were obtained through the structured interview form and set an example for the case study. Contribution: The results showed that regardless of students' previous Internet-based education (IBE) experience, it is seen that increasing and continuous experience has a significant effect on the readiness, attitude and self-control/self-management variables towards the e-learning process. The main contribution of experimental results showed that IBE experience is effective on individuals' perceptions of internet self-efficacy, and has an impact on the self-learning skills of individuals. In addition to this, the e-learning experience has an impact on individuals' self-evaluation. It is also seen that the certificate presented to learners in the e-learning environment has a positive effect on students' attitudes towards e-learning processes. Finally, the experiences of e-learning processes, the methods used to transfer the content in the learning environment, the motivation and feedback provided to the learner also support the significant difference obtained in terms of readiness, attitude and self-control/self-management. Findings: After the findings were analyzed holistically in depth, it has been observed that; if the contents offered to students in e-learning environments support their professional development, in this case, their attitudes, readiness (excluding the sub-dimension of learner control), and self-control/self-management skills for these environments differ significantly in the posttest. It is also among the results that students having previous IBE experience have not higher awareness levels on online communication self-efficacy, technology use self-efficacy, readiness for e-learning, e-learning predisposition, self-reinforcement, self-control management, although significantly found. The findings regarding the effectiveness of the experimental process are as follows: although it is possible for the students having previous IBE experience to use these experiences within the course for their personal development, it has been seen that the observed differences regarding students' readiness, attitude, and self-control/self-management towards e-learning processes arise from the experimental operation. Recommendations for Practitioners: It is recommended for the policy-makers and practitioners that while e-learning platforms were designing, using different methods for delivering the content is as important as making the interaction meaningful and sustainable. In addition to this, to develop a positive attitude it is recommended that individuals' participation of an e-learning platform should be supported with a certificate. Recommendation for Researchers: Researchers should test the obtained results by a well-structured e-learning platform with their recorded activities on the platform (e.g. in which section was used mostly by a learner etc.). Hence, the impact of IBE experiences might be discussed in an up level framework. Impact on Society: Actually, this study is based on a mix design and the results were also meaningful especially considering the implacable global pandemic. It is clearly understood by this process that e-learning is very important. In line with this, to support the e-learning process (e.g. with the method while delivering the content, well-structured feedback, motivation strategies etc.) and make it sustainable, the increasing of individual's readiness, attitude, and self-control through the IBE would be indispensable. Future Research: Future studies might focus on the longitudinal methods. It is worth to find out how the students experiences affect the sustainability of the course content, and what should the program developer make to improve their course content in line with the findings of longitudinal studies.

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the course materials developed in accordance with 7E model in the unit of electromagnetism in high school physics class on students' conceptual success. The present study was conducted with a total of 52 11th grade students in two separate classrooms at a high school. The action research design was used as the research method. The data of the study were collected through worksheets, open-ended and multiple-choice conceptual achievement tests and individual interviews. The worksheets, which were developed in order to ensure conceptual change and development based on experimental activities, were prepared and administrated in accordance with 7E model. In the research, 6 students with high level, moderate level and low level of conceptual changes were interviewed about their achievements. The activities and materials, which were applied according to the average scores of students, were found to be effective on conceptual development and eliminating existing misconceptions of students about the subject of electromagnetism. Recommendations were made in accordance with the findings obtained.

In this research, the negative perceptions of undergraduate students regarding modern physics course and the causes of their negative perceptions have been investigated. For this investigation, a qualitative and quantitative method (mix method) was chosen for data collection and analysis. The study group of the research consists of a total of 169 (21-25 years old) undergraduate students studying at a state university in Turkey. Focus group interview, repertory grid technique and individual interview were used for gathering data. According to results, seven negative perceptions were determined regarding the modern physics course and four main themes were specified the causes of negative perceptions of students related to modern physics.

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether students are more successful on abstract or illustrated test questions. To this end, the questions on an abstract test were changed into a visual format, and these tests were administered every three days to a total of 240 students at six middle schools located in the Erzurum city center and surrounding districts. After the data obtained from the study were examined, it was concluded that students were more successful in illustrated (visual) tests.

This research aims to investigate the ways in which pre-service physics teachers interact with computers, which, as an indispensable means of today's technology, are of major value in education and training, and to identify any misconceptions said teachers may have about computer-aided instruction. As part of the study, computer-based physics course packages were designed by the researchers and computer-aided assignments were prepared by the pre-service physics teachers. At the end of the study, Physics Achievement Tests were administered to the sample pre-service teachers. The research study group included 50 pre-service physics teachers who were taking classes under the Physics Education Department of Kazim Karabekir Faculty of Education at Atatürk University during the 2015-2016 Fall semester. The research data were analysed using SPSS software packages. The study concluded that the computer-aided science courses were effective, and that pre-service physics teachers had misconceptions about computer-aided instruction.

Background: and Purpose: In the global landscape, quality assurance is paramount for educational institutions to adapt and thrive. The accreditation process involves evaluating an institution's quality according to standards established by experts and officially documenting its level of quality. This study aimed to assess the impact of a single educational session on physiotherapy and rehabilitation students' awareness and understanding of accreditation processes, recognizing their vital role in quality assurance. Methods: A pretest‐posttest design was employed with 211 students from a physiotherapy and rehabilitation department. Data were collected using a questionnaire assessing demographic information, knowledge about accreditation, and thoughts regarding accreditation. The educational session focused on accreditation criteria and processes, involving presentations and interactive discussions. McNemar's analysis was used to compare the response rates given by the students pre‐and post‐session. Results: Analysis after the education session revealed a significant increase in students' knowledge of accreditation concepts (p < 0.05). Positive attitudes towards accreditation were reinforced, with students recognizing its importance in education quality. Despite pre‐existing positive attitudes, the educational intervention enhanced students' understanding and engagement in accreditation processes with a significant increase in three of the eight questions on thoughts about accreditation (p < 0.05). Discussion: This study underscores the efficacy of educational interventions in fostering student engagement and awareness of accreditation. Findings suggest the need for integrating accreditation education into curricula and advocating its significance through seminars and literature support, ultimately enhancing student participation in quality assurance processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the viewpoints of physics teacher candidates at undergraduate level towards the concepts in special theory of relativity and the interpretations they made about these concepts were investigated. The viewpoints of the teacher candidates towards the concepts in the subject of special theory of relativity were revealed with six open ended questions prepared by the writers who are physics teachers as well. The research is a qualitative study and the study was conducted with eighteen teacher candidates. In this study, case study, one of the methods of qualitative research, was used. The study group of the research was chosen by convenience sampling. The data collected via open ended questions was analysed by descriptive analysis method. According to the results of the study, it was revealed that most of the students have not been introduced to the special theory of relativity and the concepts related to them. It could be stated that the candidates had difficulty with the relativity of time and its reference frame. Most of the teacher candidates could not make the interpretation that the speed of light was the limit speed and no other object could reach that speed.

Background: Istanbul is one of the world's most densely populated metropolitan cities, with various geographical areas that possess distinct characteristics. These areas have different climates, vegetation, and host populations that can support the survival of diverse tick species. Turkey is a region with a high risk of Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) disease, making it crucial to screen for this risk, especially in densely populated regions such as Istanbul and its surrounding areas. However, the presence of potential vectors for CCHF virus (CCHFV) in these areas has not been studied in the past 12 years. Materials and Methods: In this study, a total of 676 ticks were collected from 6 centers using the flagging and dragging method. Ticks were identified as Ixodes ricinus (7.85%), Ixodes spp. immature form (73.22%), Haemaphysalis parva (0.89%), Haemaphysalis inermis (0.15%), and Haemaphysalis spp. immature form (17.89%). Pooled samples were screened for the CCHFV genome (S segment) by RT-nested PCR. Results: A total of 14.28% of the samples were found as positive. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all the CCHFV sequences obtained from the positive samples were clustered in clade V: Europe/Turkey genogroup. Conclusion: This study suggests that ixodes spp. and Haemaphysalis spp. may have the potential to pose a biorisk for Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Educational Academic Research is the property of Ataturk University Coordinatorship of Scientific Journals and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background/Aim: Urinary system stone disease creates a significant burden on the health system. Many treatment methods are available, including extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), endourological procedures, and open and laparoscopic procedures. In recent years, in parallel with technological developments, endourological devices have become more usable in the renal system. For this reason, urologists are opting for endourological procedures more frequently. ESWL is the least invasive procedure for urinary system stone disease, and it has a higher success rate in pediatric patients than in adults. In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed the data from the pediatric cases in which we used ESWL treatment in our clinic. We aimed to reveal the effectiveness of ESWL and the factors that will increase the success rate of this procedure in light of the current literature. Methods: The files of patients aged 16 years and under who underwent ESWL at the Urology Clinic of University of Health Sciences Sanliurfa Mehmet Akif Inan Training and Research Hospital between January 2010 and December 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Age, gender, stone area, stone localization, number of sessions, energy and frequency used, complete stone-free status, and secondary intervention requirement were recorded. The absence of stone fragments or the presence of fragments smaller than 3 mm only in imaging after ESWL was considered a success. Results: This study included 433 pediatric patients. The mean age of the patients was calculated as 12.02 (4.67) (range: 1-16) years. The most important factors affecting the number of residual stones were stone localization (P = 0.045) and size (P < 0.001). When stone localization was compared according to patient age, the older patients were found to have a significantly higher rate of stones in the proximal ureter than in the lower calyx of the kidney (P = 0.045) and renal pelvis (P = 0.048). Conclusion: Although there are continual advances in other minimally invasive surgical methods today, ESWL is a treatment method that can be safely applied in pediatric patients. Stone size and stone localization are the two most important factors affecting its success rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the authors aimed to investigate the effects of a client-centered lifestyle intervention for women with fibromyalgia syndrome on the levels of disease severity, occupational participation, anxiety, depression, and life satisfaction. The quasi-experimental controlled study was conducted at Occupational Therapy Department of Hacettepe University in Turkey between January 2018 and May 2018. Based on the literature review and basic assessments, a lifestyle intervention program was designed focusing both on the participants' occupational goals and the effects of fibromyalgia symptoms. The results were measured using the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR), The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Significant differences were found in intervention group compared to control in terms of COPM-Performance (p =.001), COPM-Satisfaction (p =.001), HADS-Anxiety (p =.009), and HADS-Depression (p =.001). Although FIQR and SWLS levels improved positively in the intervention group (respectively; p =.001 and p =.012), there was no difference between the groups. According to these results, the client-centered and occupation-based lifestyle intervention applied to individuals with fibromyalgia could be effective on occupational participation and psychological symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foodborne infections due to Salmonella are still a major concern worldwide. Particularly contaminated egg and egg related products are the primary sources for human salmonellosis. It is necessary to determine the risk factors associated with Salmonella contamination of eggs within the scope of farm to table and environment. The objective of this study was to develop the "National Salmonella Control Program in Laying Hens" and report the prevalence and serotype distribution findings of Salmonella in laying hens and eggs in Turkey. A total of 2122 samples were collected and analysed according to ISO 6579:2002 after the isolation and identification procedures. All Salmonella isolates were serotyped including 726 eggs and 1396 farm specimens from 241 epidemiological units (EpUs) that were located in 9 different provinces between 2015 and 2017. Salmonella contamination was detected in 14.9% of 241 EpUs. The results indicated that almost half of the flocks have multiple contamination sources. The highest contamination rate was obtained from environmental (11%) followed by faeces (7.5%) and the lowest was from water samples (1.6%). The overall contamination rate was detected as 7.46% for farms and 3.3% for eggs. As S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium are the most frequently seen serotypes all over the world, in Turkey S. Typhimurium was not detected and S. Enteritidis was the 5th most common isolated serotype. According to our results it can be concluded that differences in various countries, particularly geographical and egg hatching systems, may affect the contamination rate and serotype distribution of Salmonella. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Urological Surgery is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Papilloma viruses (PVs) induce epithelial tumors in their natural hosts. These tumors are located on the mammary gland of cattle; therefore, PVs are considered viral agents with significant effects, both economical and on the animals' health. Also, knowing the diversity of bovine PV (BPV) and its prevalence in countries worldwide is important to develop optimal diagnostic methods, as well as methods to fight this infection. This study characterized the full-length genome of BPV 1 as the dominant type circulating among cattle in Turkey. It is the authors' opinion that the results of this work provide useful information for further studies on the preventative steps that can be taken against BPV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occupational therapy practices in Turkey are increasing each year, but rehabilitation practitioners working in the occupational therapy field have limited instruments. The aim of this study was to analyze the validity of the Turkish version of the Occupational Self Assessment (OSA), which is based on the Model of Human Occupation. The data were analyzed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to determine construct validity. The Turkish OSA was administered with the World Health Organization Quality of Life–Old (WHOQOL-OLD) and the Functional Autonomy Measurement System (SMAF) to 117 elderly individuals to determine convergent validity. The Turkish OSA has acceptable construct validity scores (exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses). SMAF and WHOQOL-OLD Scales showed a moderately significant relationship with OSA competence total scores (p < .01). The results indicate that the OSA is a valid instrument for determining occupational competence and values in elderly Turkish individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Papillomaviruses (PVs) are epitheliotropic viruses that cause benign proliferative lesions in the skin (warts or papillomas) and mucous membranes of their natural hosts. In bovines specifically, 13 types of Bovine papillomaviruses (BPVs) are currently described in the literature, although the actual number may be greater than 20. BPV types are classified into four genera based on homology within the genomic regions of the L1 ORF, the most conserved sequence. This study conducted molecular typing of BPV in dairy cows with different papillomatosis cases and investigated the presence of co-infections across distinct BPV types in the same sample. After carrying out PCR using degenerate primers and type specific primers, 35 BPV suspected samples were detected as positive for BPV and these samples were used for typing using sequence analysis/PCR with type-specific primers. This analysis identified BPV-1, -2, -3, -4, -6, -7, -9 and -10, new putative types (BPV/BR/UEL6-like viruses) and the previously described putative type viruses (BAPV-6) in the 35 BPV-positive samples. In addition, co-infections across different BPV types were widely detected in the BPV-positive samples. This study shows that PCR assays using degenerate primers to amplify partial fragments of the L1 gene followed by sequencing is useful for genotyping BPV. However, results need confirmation using type-specific primers in order to consider co-infections. In addition, this study identified a new putative type (in the same cluster as BPV/BR/UEL6-like viruses) and the previously described putative type viruses (BAPV-6) in teat papillomatosis of Turkish dairy cows. The study shows that it is essential to identify BPV types and their prevalence/distribution, and also to determine the clinical consequences of infection for the development of prophylactic and/or therapeutic procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors for subclinical heifer mastitis and to create a model that can predict the prevalence of subclinical mastitis of pregnant heifers in farms in Turkey. Lacteal secretion samples were taken from 439 pregnant (6-9 months) heifers and bacteriological analyses were performed. In this study, 37.47% of the samples were determined to be infected. In lacteal secretion samples, the isolation rate of coagulase-negative staphylococci and Staphylococcus aureus was 44.83% and 35.71%, respectively. The incidence of mastitis was calculated as 42.87 ± 4.12%. An eight-question survey was conducted. Using the data collected, a multiple linear regression analysis using backward stepwise method was used to predict the incidence of mastitis. According to the multiple regression model, the number of animals, well-balanced ration, separating the cows in dry periods into different boxes, and contact of heifers with older cows significantly contributed to the model (P < 0.05). Coefficient of determination (R²) for the model was estimated at 93.8%. Today, with the knowledge of risk factors for pregnant heifers, changes in management would be beneficial to prevent mastitis. Additionally, this study showed that predictive models for the incidence of mastitis could be conducted through comprehensive future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to translate and culturally adapt the Sensory Profile (SP), which is used to measure sensory processing abilities of children ages of 3-10 years, and test its reliability and validity for use with Turkish children with autism. A cross-cultural adaptation process was carried out by bilingual experts, following typical guidelines. The test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and construct validity studies of the Turkish SP were done for 144 children with autism. A comparison was also made between results of children with autism and 101 healthy children to test the validity of the Turkish SP. There were significant differences between results of autistic and healthy children on all subsections of the test. The Cronbach's as ranged from .63 to .97 for all subsections except I, J, and N, which had poor internal consistency reliability. Test-retest reliability over a one-week period was excellent (ICC > .90). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of Hordeum vulgare subsp. spontaneum, the wild progenitor of cultivated barley, have mostly relied on materials collected decades ago and maintained since then ex situ in germplasm repositories. We analyzed spatial genetic variation in wild barley populations collected rather recently, exploring sequence variations at seven single-copy nuclear loci, and inferred the relationships among these populations and toward the genepool of the crop. The wild barley collection covers the whole natural distribution area from the Mediterranean to Middle Asia. In contrast to earlier studies, Bayesian assignment analyses revealed three population clusters, in the Levant, Turkey, and east of Turkey, respectively. Genetic diversity was exceptionally high in the Levant, while eastern populations were depleted of private alleles. Species distribution modeling based on climate parameters and extant occurrence points of the taxon inferred suitable habitat conditions during the ice-age, particularly in the Levant and Turkey. Together with the ecologically wide range of habitats, they might contribute to structured but long-term stable populations in this region and their high genetic diversity. For recently collected individuals, Bayesian assignment to geographic clusters was generally unambiguous, but materials from genebanks often showed accessions that were not placed according to their assumed geographic origin or showed traces of introgression from cultivated barley. We assign this to gene flow among accessions during ex situ maintenance. Evolutionary studies based on such materials might therefore result in wrong conclusions regarding the history of the species or the origin and mode of domestication of the crop, depending on the accessions included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Lafora disease (LD) is a type of autosomal recessive, progressive myoclonus epilepsy resulting mostly from mutations in the EPM2A and NHLRC1 genes. Mutational analysis in both genes was initiated with the aim of establishing LD DNA diagnosis in Turkey. Four novel NHLRC1 (p.G131X, p.P69S and p.D82H) and EPM2A (p.V7A) and two recurrent NHLRC1 (p.D146N) and EPM2A (p.R241X) mutations were identified in six families. The delineation of causative mutations in patients provided early disease diagnosis for other family members and contributed to the knowledge of LD pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this study were to determine genotypic and allelic frequencies of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) gene −173 G/C polymorphism in patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) and to evaluate the association of the MIF −173 C allele with the outcome of JRA. Genomic DNA was collected from 67 JRA patients and 153 healthy individuals. To evaluate the association of the MIF −173 polymorphism with the outcome, we analyzed the data concerning the treatment regimen, duration of glucocorticoid treatment, score on the childhood health assessment questionnaire (C-HAQ) and the number of joints with active arthritis. Nonsignificant differences were observed between the study and control groups in the distribution of genotype and allele frequencies of the MIF gene −173 G/C polymorphism. In JRA patients, carrying a MIF −173 C allele, the number of disease modifying antirheumatic drugs required for the treatment was more, the duration of glucocorticoid treatment was significantly longer, and at the last visits the C-HAQ scores and the number of joints with active arthritis were significantly higher. MIF gene −173 C allele frequency did not differ between the controls and JRA patients. MIF −173 C allele did not confer increased susceptibility to JRA in our study group. Carriage of the MIF −173 C allele was found to be a strong predictor of poor outcome in all types of JRA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the vacuum liquid chromatographic (VLC) fractions of the dichloromethane (DCM) extract of the bulbs of Ornithogalum cuspidatum, a native perennial of Iran, Iraq and Turkey, led to the identification of a number of steroidal compounds. The free radical scavenging activity of the DCM extract was assessed by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) assay, and found to be much weaker (RC50 = 0.5197 mg/mL) than that of the positive control Trolox® (RC50 = 3.07 x 10-3 mg/mL). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]