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Abstract Background: Worldwide, esophageal cancer (EC) is a common cancer in term of incidence and mortality and is the 4th common cancer in Afghanistan. Current study aimed to evaluate the profile of risk factors for EC among patients diagnosed at tertiary level in Afghanistan. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out between January 2019 up to February 2021 including all esophageal cancers diagnosed at pathology department of French Medical Institute for Mothers and Children, Afghanistan. Result: 240 diagnosed cases were analyzed, in which 59.40% of squamous cell carcinoma and 41.07% Adenocarcinoma. Both histopathological type of were predominantly diagnosed in males. The majority of the patients were residents of rural areas. More than 80% of the patients were illiterate with only less than 2% completing higher education. Majority of the patients were laborers and farmers while less than 10% were employed. According to income assessment, more than 80% were from low-income household, the rest from middle-income and none from high-income family. Oral snuff consumption was noted in 33.9% of squamous cell carcinoma patients and 40% adenocarcinoma patients whereas, family history of esophageal cancer was observed in 37.8% and 36.7% in both types of carcinomas, respectively. More than 60% of both types of carcinomas patients were hot tea drinkers. Conclusion: Current study demonstrated that most patients diagnosed with esophageal cancers were male, uneducated, belongs to low-income groups, lives in rural areas. These findings suggest distribution of esophageal cancer in specific socioeconomic groups, clearly demonstrating the need further analytical study.

The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between schools' levels of having teacher leadership culture and teachers' professional behaviors. A total of 254 teachers working in primary and secondary schools located in Üsküdar district of Istanbul province participated in the study. The "Teacher Leadership Culture Scale" and the "Teacher Professionalism Scale" were used to collect the research data. The arithmetic mean, Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient and Multiple Linear Regression analysis were used in the analysis of the data. In the study, schools' levels of having teacher leadership culture and the professionalism characteristics of teachers were found to be above the medium level. Furthermore, significant positive relationships were found between professional cooperation, school administrator's support and the level of having a supportive working environment of the schools' levels of having teacher leadership culture and teacher professionalism. The results of the study revealed that the dimensions of supportive working environment and professional cooperation from among teacher leadership culture characteristics were significant predictors of teacher professionalism. The results of the study were discussed in relation to the relevant literature, and some suggestions were made.

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between school administrators' instructional leadership behaviours, and organizational health of schools. The participants were 538 teachers working in elementary, middle and high schools located in the Umraniye district of Istanbul. The data was gathered through the "School Principals' Instructional Leadership Behaviours Questionnaire" and the "Organizational Health Inventory". In data analysis, the arithmetic mean, Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient, and Multilinear Regression Analysis were used. The results showed that the school principals performed the instructional leadership behaviours of determining and sharing the objectives of the school at the highest level. Among the organizational health dimensions of the schools, initiating structure was perceived at the highest level, while resource support and academic emphasis were perceived at lower levels compared to other dimensions. In the study, positive and significant correlations were found between the sub-dimensions of instructional leadership behaviours and those of organizational health of schools. The sub-dimensions of instructional leadership together explained 49% of the variance in organizational health. On the other hand, only determining and sharing the objectives of the school and forming a regular instructional-learning environment and positive school climate among the instructional leadership behaviours were positive and significant predictors of organizational health of schools.

This study aims to examine teachers' opinions regarding the activities that can be performed at schools to ensure leadership development in students. Accordingly, an attempt to reveal what the leadership qualities of students should be, the activities that can be performed for the acquisition of leadership qualities and the applicability level of these activities was made within the scope of the present study. This study is a descriptive study designed in mixed model. Therefore, qualitative and quantitative research methods were used together in the present study. The study was carried out with 13 teachers in the qualitative part and with 304 teachers in the quantitative part. While the data were collected by a semi-structured interview in the qualitative part of the study, the "Teachers' Activities for the Acquisition of Leadership Qualities in Students Questionnaire" was used in the quantitative part. Results showed that activities should be performed for in-class and out-of-class purposes and the conceptual understanding of leadership for the acquisition of leadership qualities; and that these studies were at the applicable level. Furthermore, it was found out that to make students acquire communication skills, problem-solving skills, responsibility, honesty and ability to set goals are important. In this context, the findings obtained from the present study were discussed in relation to the relevant literature and some suggestions were proposed.

The objective of this study is to examine the relationships between the levels of schools for being professional learning communities and teacher professionalism based on teachers' perceptions. The participants were a total of 543 teachers working at elementary, middle and high schools in the Eyüp District of Istanbul. The data were gathered through the "Professional Learning Community Scale" and the "Teacher Professionalism Scale". The results showed that the teachers' perceptions on schools becoming professional learning communities and teacher professionalism were above moderate level. There were positive and significant correlations between all dimensions regarding the levels of schools for being professional learning communities, and teacher professionalism. Besides, the only significant and positive predictor of teacher professionalism was found to be the dimension "collective learning and applications" of professional learning community scale.

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between teachers' individual innovativeness and their teacher professionalism. The participants were 567 teachers working in elementary, middle and high schools located across Istanbul. The data were gathered through the "Individual Innovativeness Scale" and the "Teacher Professionalism Scale". In data analysis, arithmetic means and Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Analysis were used. The results of the study showed that the teachers' characteristics of individual innovativeness fell into the group of early majority. The teachers' innovativeness was found to be at the highest level in the dimension of openness to experience. There was a weak positive relationship between the individual innovativeness characteristics of openness to experience and opinion-leading, and teacher professionalism, which was significant.

Present study is a descriptive and applied study from different sides. It was aimed to make the applications prepared for the usability of Erzurum's folk songs available in music and instrument education. First literature review was conducted and totally 240 folk songs were determined to belong to Erzurum province. Among the songs determined, three were selected randomly and analysed for their modal structure and adjusted to viola. Pre- and post-test control group experimental model was used in the study. It was found from the result of the study that Erzurum's local folk songs adjusted to viola can contribute greatly to vocalisation and performance and at the same time motivations of students. As in the present study, the use of folk songs in other provinces than Erzurum in music and instrument education is very important for students to know and evaluate their own cultures.

Teaching in the 21st century poses many challenges for teachers, and thus, they need to take on more roles in their schools to meet the expectations of students, parents and the school community. In this regard, this study examined the relationship between teachers' self-efficacy beliefs and their job satisfaction. Participants of the study were 489 elementary, middle and high school teachers in the district of Beyoglu, Istanbul. 295 (61%) of the participants were female and 194 (39%) were male. The average age of the participants was 34. Their teaching experience varied between 1-29 years. The results revealed a significant positive relationship between teacher self-efficacy and job satisfaction, and teacher self-efficacy was found to be a significant predictor of job satisfaction.

A variety of optical applications rely on the absorption and reemission of light. The quantum yield of this process often plays an essential role. When the quantum yield deviates from unity by significantly less than 1%, applications such as luminescent concentrators and optical refrigerators become possible. To evaluate such high performance, we develop a measurement technique for luminescence efficiency with sufficient accuracy below one part per thousand. Photothermal threshold quantum yield is based on the quantization of light to minimize overall measurement uncertainty. This technique is used to guide a procedure capable of making ensembles of near-unity emitting cadmium selenide/cadmium sulfide (CdSe/CdS) core-shell quantum dots. We obtain a photothermal threshold quantum yield luminescence efficiency of 99.6 ± 0.2%, indicating nearly complete suppression of nonradiative decay channels.

Charge transport in conjugated polymer semiconductors has traditionally been thought to be limited to a low-mobility regime by pronounced energetic disorder. Much progress has recently been made in advancing carrier mobilities in field-effect transistors through developing low-disorder conjugated polymers. However, in diodes these polymers have to date not shown much improved mobilities, presumably reflecting the fact that in diodes lower carrier concentrations are available to fill up residual tail states in the density of states. Here, we show that the bulk charge transport in low-disorder polymers is limited by water-induced trap states and that their concentration can be dramatically reduced through incorporating small molecular additives into the polymer film. Upon incorporation of the additives we achieve space-charge limited current characteristics that resemble molecular single crystals such as rubrene with high, trap-free SCLC mobilities up to 0.2 cm2/Vs and a width of the residual tail state distribution comparable to kBT.

This study investigated the protective characteristics of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) and thymoquinone (TMQ) against the effects of cigarette smoke in recovery from bone fractures. Sixty Wistar albino rats were divided into six groups (n = 10). The rats’ femur bones were fractured and then fixed with microplates and microscrews. In the CAPE group, CAPE was given by intraperitoneal injection for 30 days at a dose of 10 μmol/kg once a day. In the TMQ group, TMQ was given orogastrically for 30 days at a dose of 10 mg/kg once a day. In the cigarette groups, CAPE was given by intraperitoneal injection for 30 days at a dose of 10 μmol/kg once a day (CAPE-CG), TMQ was given orogastrically for 30 days at a dose of 10 mg/kg once a day (TMQ-CG), and controls were exposed to cigarette smoke three times a day for 8 min each time for 30 days. The controls received no postoperative treatment. The rats were sacrificed on the 30th day following surgery. According to the histopathological and immunohistochemical results, cigarette smoke had a negative impact on bone healing. TMQ and CAPE increased bone formation and reduced bone destruction. Therefore, TMQ and CAPE were found to be partially protective against the adverse effects of smoking on bone tissue.

Background & Objective: Holistic care is provided by the ability to communicate effectively with patients from different cultures. In this respect, multicultural sensitivity helps communicate effectively with the patient. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the multicultural sensitivity of nursing students and the factors affecting it during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional correlation study was conducted on 245 nursing students of the Zanjan University of Medical Sciences in 2021. Data were collected using two questionnaires of demographic information and multicultural sensitivity. The multicultural questionnaire scored multicultural sensitivity on a Likert scale in the range of 1 to 5. Scores ≤ 3 were unfavorable multicultural sensitivities > 3 were desirable cultural sensitivities. Data analysis was performed using an independent t-test, analysis of variance, and logistic regression in the SPSS statistical software. Results: The mean total score of multicultural sensitivity was 3.64 ± 0.48. Also, the mean of multicultural sensitivity based on gender, residence, religion, bilingualism, semester, and field of study did not show a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). The logistic regression model showed that gender and field of study could predict 3 to 6% of changes in multicultural sensitivity. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that the multicultural sensitivity of students is favorable, despite their distance from the university environment. However, it is recommended to conduct training to make them more familiar with the cultural habits and health of Iranian ethnic groups.

In line with the needs emerging in education day by day, the integration of teaching technologies into education is becoming increasingly important. In this direction, instructional technologies are used to make education more effective and efficient. One of these technologies is Augmented Reality. Augmented Reality (AR) applications, an up-to-date application-based technology that adds extra virtual information in real time on the real world perception, can be used within the framework of the needs of students with special needs. Within the scope of this research, postgraduate theses and AR studies published in peer-reviewed journals, which aim to provide students with special needs with academic skills, were examined. While determining the studies to be included in this research basic selection criteria were employed. A comprehensive search was carried out on the basis of electronic databases, journal indexes and research references. In this direction, eight studies meeting the criteria were obtained. Articles and theses included in the research were evaluated with variables. When the research findings were examined, it was seen that augmented reality applications were used in the fields of mathematics, science and reading to teach basic academic skills to students with special needs, albeit limited. The research findings were discussed within the framework of the relevant literature and suggestions for further research were made.

The question of why the works of Michel Foucault, Pierre Bourdieu and Jacques Derrida are often attributed to France by HE lecturers and students when the origins or developments of their key ideas come from northern Africa is examined from critical and personal standpoints. The article joins the call for the decolonisation of the HE curriculum and describes how the theory of these oft-cited thinkers and philosophers comes 'out of Africa' through an examination of their experiences in the Moorish regions of Tunisia and Algeria. Reasons for the attribution of the ideas to France include Eurocentrism, Wikipedisation of theory and the mythologisation of France. The article combines theoretical debate with personal reflection on what it means to be Algerian and witness a homeland disenfranchised in teaching and learning at HE. It also provides a way of contributing to the decolonisation of HE syllabuses through accurate attribution of knowledge.

Museum education course has been made available as a course of professional knowledge in faculties of education since 2018 so that prospective teachers can use museums as learning environments and so that they can plan and do learning activities in those places. This paper aims to analyse prospective elementary school teachers’ views on the elective museum education course. The study was designed as a case study- one of the qualitative research designs. The study group was formed in convenience sampling method. 27 prospective elementary school teachers were included in the study. The research data were collected through the participants’ diaries, open-ended survey questions and focal group interviews; and the data were analysed in the descriptive analysis technique. The research results demonstrated that the prospective teachers developed positive perspectives on museums after taking the museum education course. They thought that the course had inculcated in them personal skills and pedagogical skills. Besides, they also stated that they could benefit from museum education activities in creating effective learning environments in the life of teaching.

Background: Recently, screening of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients for mismatch repair/microsatellite instability (MMR/MSI) status is widely practiced due to its potential predictive and prognostic roles and a screening tool to reveal Lynch Syndrome (LS). The purpose of the study was to evaluate concordance between immunohistochemistry (IHC) and MSI analysis methods for detection of MMR/MSI status in colorectal cancer patients in Kuantan, Pahang. Methods: Fifty selected CRC cases of deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) and proficient mismatch repair (pMMR) which were identified immunohistochemically in the previous study were subjected to MSI analysis. MSI Analysis System 1.2 (Promega) was utilized. Results: The results of MSI analysis method showed MSI-High: 26% (13/50), MSI-Low: 6% (3/50), and Microsatellite Stable: 68% (34/50). The concordance was perfect (0.896, Kappa value) between MSI analysis and IHC methods for the assessment of MMR/MSI status in CRC patients. The discordance was only 4% (2/50). MSI analysis identified all dMMR cases determined by IHC except one case. The obtained frequency of dMMR and pMMR patients was 11.4% (14/123) and 88.6% (109/123) by IHC method, respectively. Conclusion: Our findings support the universal practice of evaluating the MMR/MSI status in all newly diagnosed CRC patients. Based on the perfect concordance of two methods, the method of choice is based on the availability of expertise and equipments. IHC is highly appreciable method due to its feasibility and reproducibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnesium and calcium play crucial roles in many physiological processes and have been carried by serum albumin in blood plasma. This protein also helps to regulate the distribution of these ions in cells and tissues. Serum albumin also carries many compounds such as drugs, hormones, and fatty acids. Therefore, binding regime of a drug with albumin may affect the serum albumin level and a certain amount of calcium and magnesium in plasma. Also, the calcium and magnesium concentrations of blood influence the binding properties of all transported materials. Quinoxalines have a significant potential in pharmaceutical chemistry. In this study, we reported the synthesis and characterization of novel quinoxaline bridged bis(benzimidazolium) salts with trifluoromethyl substituents. New compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, 1H‐NMR, 13C‐NMR, and IR spectroscopy. The interactions of quinoxaline bridged bis(benzimidazolium) salts with BSA were investigated. The changes of the interactions with the presence of Ca2+ and Mg2+ were also studied. The binding constants in the presence of Ca2+ and Mg2+ are approximately 104 level. Additionally, the interactions between the optimized molecules and BSA were detailed with molecular docking methods. The highest interaction was detected for 2c with −8.33 kcal/mol binding affinity. The binding affinities of other molecules are listed as 2a > 2e > 2d > 2b. H‐bonds were detected for all molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, for the first time in the literature, a 2-(3-methoxyphenylamino)-2-oxoethyl acrylate (3MPAEA) molecule was synthesized in two steps, and a 2-chloro-N-(3-methoxyphenyl)acetamide (m-acetamide) was obtained in the first step. Experimental results were obtained using FTIR, 1H, and 13C NMR spectroscopy methods for m-acetamide and 3MPAEA compounds created in the laboratory environment and compared with theoretical results. Band gap (BG) energy, chemical hardness, electronegativity, chemical potential, and electrophilicity index were calculated. With vibration spectroscopic analysis, atom–molecule vibrations of the theoretical and experimental peaks of the spectrum were observed. The locations of C and H atoms were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The green, blue, and red regions of the potential energy map (MEP) map were examined. Some observed that the energy thermal, heat capacity, and entropy graphs increased in direct proportion to increasing the temperature in Kelvin, which is known as thermochemistry. The changes in the rotation, translation, and vibration of the molecule as its temperature increased were examined. When the thermochemistry surface map was examined, some observed that the temperature was high in the middle binding site of the molecules. Covalent interactions were graphed using the non-covalent interactions (NCIs) calculation method. In silico toxicity studies were carried out for m-acetamide and 3MPAEA molecules: fathead minnow LC50 (96 h), Daphnia magna LC50 (48 h), Tetrahymena pyriformis IGC50 (48 h), oral rat LD50, water solubility, bioconcentration factor, developmental toxicity, mutation, normal boiling point, flash point, melting point, density, thermal conductivity, viscosity, vapor pressure, etc. parameters were investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]