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This study investigated the perceptions of EFL teachers' regarding written corrective feedback and the relationship between written corrective feedback preferences, self-efficacy beliefs and burnout levels. To investigate the effect of these contextual factors related to choices and perceptions of teachers, a mixed-methods design integrating qualitative and quantitative data collection and analyzing techniques and methods was used. A total of 36 instructors teaching English at various state universities in Turkey are involved in the study. To collect data, a semi-structured interview and three different questionnaires were used. Results demonstrated a significant correlation between written corrective feedback preferences and burnout levels of the participant teachers. They also indicated a significant correlation between written corrective feedback preferences of teachers and their self-efficacy levels. Among other results, explicit and unfocused written feedback preferences of teachers and the relationship between their preferences and their experience levels were significant.

One of the main purposes of foreign language teaching is currently identified by many researchers as developing intercultural communicative competence (ICC) of foreign language learners. Facebook is one of the easiest and quickest ways to communicate with other people, therefore it may potentially be used to promote intercultural communicative effectiveness (ICE), one of the subcomponents of ICC. Within this scope, the aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Facebook on ICE among English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students. A mixed-methods research was employed, the data were gathered from multiple sources including pre- and post-administration of intercultural effectiveness scale, semi-structured interviews, and students' essays. Three conclusions were reached in this study. First, the intercultural instruction had a significantly positive effect on learners' ICE. Second, the discussion on Facebook group had significantly higher ICE scores than the in-class discussion group. Third, most of the students had positive attitudes and feelings towards the intercultural instruction and the use of Facebook for developing ICE.

Between April 7 and April 10, 2013, a cyclone with a value of 995 hPa that developed in the central Mediterranean transported dust from the Sahara Desert towards Turkey. At 13 airports in Turkey, dust haze and widespread dust were seen during different occasions in this period and caused the observation of so-called "Blowing dust events." This cyclone blew dust towards the Cappadocia airport, and the prevailing visibility decreased to 3800 m, making it the lowest value measured during the transition of this cyclone. In this study, Aviation Routine Weather Report (Metar) and Aviation Selected Special Weather Report (Speci) observations of airports in North Africa and Turkey were evaluated for the period between April 3 and April 11, 2013. With this cyclone the prevailing visibility at Benina Airport in Libya decreased to 50 m on April 6, 2013. This study aims to evaluate long-distance dust transport's effects on meteorological visibility at airports in Turkey and examine the episodic changes of PM10 values measured by air quality monitoring stations. Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model outputs were used to determine the trajectories of long-distance dust particles. Powder red, green, and blue (RGB) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite images, Cloud–Aerosol LIDAR Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) images, the Barcelona Supercomputing Center-Dust Regional Atmosphere Model (BSC-DREAM8b) outputs, and Global Forecast System (GFS) synoptic maps were used for analysis. In addition, PM10 values obtained from air quality monitoring stations were examined. According to the data obtained from the CALIPSO images, the dust concentration on the Eastern Mediterranean reaches up to 5 km. The episodic values obtained from certain air quality measurement stations are Adana 701, Gaziantep 629, Karaman 900, Nevşehir 1343, and Yozgat 782 µg/m3 on an hourly average. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adverse effects of metropolis life have caused physical, mental, and spiritual wear on people. Recreational activities have become necessary to eliminate these wears or reduce their impact, mainly in natural areas. This study aimed to reveal the demands and expectations of people in Istanbul, a population of 15 million and one of the few metropolises globally from recreation areas. Within this study, 404 subjects were interviewed, and a survey study was carried out according to the random sampling method. The data were evaluated with various statistical techniques. Nature-based sports, botanical gardens, multi-purpose sports areas, and nature education activities have been determined to be the most desired functions in recreation areas in Istanbul. In terms of nature-based sports activities, it can be said that walking, cycling, and camping activities are the most preferred activities. The natural environment is the most crucial resource in meeting recreational needs. Also, unique personal features, characteristics of recreational areas, social value judgments, the population density of cities, and the amount of green space per person, etc., significantly affect recreational demands and expectations. Both were increasing the quality of existing recreation areas. The ability to carry out recreational activities that cannot be done due to the lack of space by improving the quality of current recreation areas and opening and evaluating potential recreation areas will ensure that the city people's recreational expectations and demands are met. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PM10, one of the air pollutants, occurs regularly in İstanbul during the winter months, namely in December, January, and February. PM10 pollutant is affected by numerous factors. Among these factors are various meteorological variables and climatological factors. This article aims to determine the relationship between PM10 and meteorological variables (wind speed, wind direction, temperature, and relative humidity) and to interpret these results. PM10 and meteorological data were examined between 2011 and 2018. To determine the relationship, multiple linear regression, Pearson's correlation coefficient (PCC), Spearman's rank correlation, Kendall Tau correlation, autocorrelation function (ACF), cross-correlation function (CCF), and visuals were determined using the R program (open-air) packages. In the study, the relationship between wind, temperature, and relative humidity with PM10 was determined, and it was observed that the PM10 concentration was maximum between January and February. PM10 concentrations have a positive relationship with relative humidity and wind direction, while a negative relationship with wind speed and temperature was observed. The correlation values for relative humidity and temperature were found to be 0.01 and − 0.15, respectively. Furthermore, the relationship between wind speed and PM10 was calculated from multiple linear regression model, and the estimated value was − 0.12 while looking at the wind direction value, it was approximately 0.03. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]