Search

This study explored the effects of explicit and implicit epistemologically enhanced instructions probing 9th-grade students' personal epistemologies on their physics-related personal epistemology (PPE) and physics achievement in the heat and temperature unit. In the implicit epistemologically enhanced instruction (IEEI), different dimensions of personal epistemologies were implicitly embedded into the instructional design without an explicit reference to personal epistemologies. On the other hand, in explicitly enhanced epistemological instruction (EEEI), the same instructional design was used with an explicit reference to personal epistemologies through discussions, students' reflections, and teacher talks. A conventional instruction (CI), which included neither implicit nor explicit reference to personal epistemologies, was also used as a control group. A quasi-experimental research design was adopted to explore the effects of IEEI and EEEI on the students' physics-related personal epistemology and physics achievement, with 186 ninth graders participating in the study. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was used to determine the differences between the groups exposed to three different instructional methods. The results showed that EEEI was the most effective method of instruction in improving students' physics-related personal epistemologies and achievement. The findings indicated that implicit/explicit epistemological enhancement strengthens the achievement in physics.

As a pedagogical approach aiming at increasing the quality of classroom talk, dialogic teaching and learning puts an emphasis on students' understanding and thinking and supports their learning process in numerous ways. As recent studies show, alongside promoting students' cognitive, social, and emotional development, dialogic teaching and learning pedagogy supports the acquisition of 21st-century skills as well as contributing to the internalisation of democratic values and active citizenship. Nevertheless, despite its importance for student learning, the present research literature also indicates that productive forms of dialogue are still not prevalent in most classrooms. Considering that one of the reasons for the limited adoption of this approach can be related to the tendency of considering dialogic pedagogy solely from a cognitive perspective (i.e. conceptualising dialogue as specific forms of verbal interactions and moves) while mostly ignoring its socio-emotional dimensions (e.g. classroom climate and ethos, interpersonal relations, emotions), this conceptual review study looks into well-known models and relevant literature to uncover and highlight the common characteristics of cognitive and socio-emotional dimensions of dialogic teaching and learning approach. It is hoped that this review study will be helpful for researchers and educators who wish to study and implement dialogic pedagogy in classrooms. [This article includes an extended summary in Turkish.]

Abstract Background Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a widely used marker for estimating ovarian reserve, and it may predict response to ovarian stimulation. While AMH is considered a stable, cycle-independent marker, studies have shown it can exhibit significant fluctuations based on factors like age, reproductive stage, and menstrual cycle phase. The fluctuations in AMH levels can make it challenging to predict individual responses accurately, particularly when the AMH is not measured in the COS cycle. The aim of this study was to assess the inter-cycle variability of serum AMH levels in two consecutive menstrual cycles and their correlation with response to controlled ovarian stimulation outcome in the latter. Methods In this single-centre retrospective cohort study, data of normal and low responder patients who underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection following a GnRH antagonist cycle at a university hospital infertility clinic between January 2022 and December 2023 were reviewed. Serum AMH levels were measured in the early follicular phase of two consecutive menstrual cycles with Elecsys-AMH Roche® system (Roche Diagnostics, Meylan, France). Correlations between AMH levels and controlled ovarian stimulation outcomes, including total oocyte and mature oocyte (MII) counts, were assessed. The study included normal and poor responder women to maintain data integrity. Results A total of 79 patients were included in the final analyses. Significant cycle-to-cycle variation in serum AMH levels was observed, with a median variation of 44.3%. Normal responders exhibited a mean change of 0.60 ± 0.46 ng/ml, while poor responders had a mean change of 0.28 ± 0.28 ng/ml. Approximately 20% of patients were reclassified between normal and poor responder categories based on the second AMH measurement. The controlled ovarian stimulation cycle AMH levels showed a stronger correlation with both total oocyte count (r = 0.871, P

Objective: This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the literature on periprosthetic fracture since 1990. The goal is to uncover prevalent themes, key authors, and geographical trends. Periprosthetic fractures are significant complications in patients undergoing geriatric arthroplasty. Although traditional literature reviews on this subject exist, bibliometric methods may uncover previously unseen trends and nuances that may have been overlooked. Method: The Web of Science database was searched from January 1990 to December 2022, retrieved 2445 articles and reviews. Data were imported into CiteSpace and VOSviewer for keyword, authorship, citation burst analysis, and co-citation clustering. Results: An exponential growth in periprosthetic fracture literature since the late 1990s was noted. The United States led in research output, followed by the United Kingdom and Germany. Prominent authors experiencing citation bursts included Lewallen, Berry, Duncan, Masri, and Abdel. Co-citation analysis revealed ten prominent clusters, with high silhouette values indicating strong thematic cohesion. Conclusion: This study provides a holistic view of the evolution and current state of periprosthetic fracture research. The study highlights the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and Germany as leaders but notes increasing contributions from other countries. This study reveals the changing landscape as well as influential authors and thematic clusters in this field.

Within the achievements of life science, a course in primary education; students are expected to have knowledge and skills about cultural heritage elements in their immediate surroundings, family cooperation and solidarity, the Turkish flag and the National Anthem, Atatürk's childhood, cooperation and participation in group activities, natural events and measures to be taken against natural disasters. In line with these achievements, it is aimed to quantitatively investigate the effect of a project-based learning (PjBL) approach on students' academic achievement (AA). This study was carried out with 41 students attending the 2nd grade and taking the life studies course in a primary school in Türkiye. First of all, the unit of "Life in Our Country" was briefly explained as preliminary information on the current curriculum and the AA test prepared by the researcher, which we called the pre-test, was applied to this group of students. Afterward, the project topics prepared by the researcher by the unit gains were given to the students and they were asked to complete these project assignments giving them a certain time. After completing and presenting the given project assignments, the AA test was applied again to the same student group as a post-test. In addition, feedback was received in this process to determine whether the students did their project assignments themselves and from whom they received help. With the help of the data obtained, the student's AA was calculated according to their support status.

While many university health science programs include physics courses to raise knowledge and understanding of physical science concepts, they are still far from addressing the needs of that science health profession. This study aimed to investigate the effect of an introductory physics course on first-year physiotherapy and rehabilitation (PR) students' conceptual understanding of simple electric circuits. The study participants were students enrolled in the Physics II course. Eighty-two students registered for the course. Sixty students (73%) took the pretest, and 67 (81%) completed the posttest. 53 students (64%) took the pretest and posttest. This study adopts an exploratory research methodology that includes a one-group pretest-posttest design. The Simple Electric Circuits Diagnostic Test (SECDT) was used to assess students' conceptual understanding. The prevalence of misconceptions was relatively low (before and after instruction), and very few students developed sound conceptual understanding after instruction. The local reasoning model was the most frequent misconception PR students held. After instruction, students' overall confidence in their SECDT responses increased significantly. Interestingly, when the students were grouped into three achievement groups, the medium-achievement group fell into more misconceptions as their achievement increased compared to low- and high-achievement groups. These findings suggested that students' low SECDT scores were due to a lack of knowledge rather than misconceptions.

Under varying flow rate conditions, the transport and retention of polydisperse microplastics (MPls), with an average particle size of 16 ± 6 µm, were investigated in saturated porous media. First-order reversible and irreversible kinetic sorption models were used to describe the sorption kinetics. Sensitivity analyses provided insight into the effects of each sorption parameter. Both numerical modeling and experimental measurements were utilized to evaluate the retention rates of sand filters. The influence of flow rate on sorption was reflected in variations in the distribution coefficient (Kd), the mass transfer coefficient (β), and the irreversible sorption rate (K1). Lower flow rates were associated with higher Kd and β values, indicating increased sorption and reduced mass transfer rates. An increase in Kd resulted in a more gradual sorption process, with a decrease in peak concentration, whereas changes in β had a comparatively smaller impact on sorption rate and peak concentration. Lower K1 values were linked to higher peak concentrations and decreased retention efficiency. Numerical modeling revealed retention rates of 28 ± 1% at a flow rate of 31 mL min−1 and 17 ± 1% at 65 mL min−1. The introduction of MPls into saturated sand environments modifies the transport dynamics within the medium. Consequently, these alterations affect the hydrological characteristics of porous media, impacting groundwater quality and agricultural output. The mean absolute error (MAE) of 6% between the modeled and observed retention rates indicated a high level of accuracy. This study underscores the importance of examining retention efficiency and the accuracy of numerical models in understanding MPl transport in porous media.

Objective: Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19), has affected the whole world and is still an important disease with its mutations. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of antithrombotic agents [acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), P2Y12 inhibitors, oral anticoagulants (OACs)] and statin treatments used before hospitalization on COVID-19 mortality and clinical severity.Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 5577 patients hospitalized with positive swab tests or findings consistent with COVID-19 on computed tomography. The 6-month mortality, in-hospital mortality, need for intensive care and intubation, and recurrent hospitalization outcomes of patients receiving chronic ASA (n=1210), P2Y12 inhibitors (n=357), OACs (n=1192), and statin (n=607) treatment were evaluated.Results: The 6-month mortality rate was 13.5% (n=754), in-hospital mortality rate was 11.2% (n=627), the rate of admission to the intensive care unit was 16.1% (n=897), the need for intubation was 8.8% (n=493), and the rate of recurrent hospitalization was 10.4% (n=579). ASA and OACs reduced all outcomes. P2Y12 inhibitors provided benefit in other endpoints except intubation. Statins used before hospitalization did not provide a statistically significant decrease in 6-month mortality (p: 0.06), but were associated with a decrease in the rates of in-hospital mortality, need for intensive care, recurrent hospitalization, and intubation. Conclusion: We found that long-term ASA, P2Y12 inhibitors, OACs and statin treatments used before hospitalization in patients hospitalized with COVID-19, reduced COVID-19 mortality and clinical severity. We think that these treatments may be beneficial in selected patient groups where post-COVID effects are observed.

Objective: To evaluate the development of anti-drug antibodies (ADAb) against tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) therapy during a 2-year period and search the factors linked to patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Methods: Biologic-naive patients with axSpA were included in this observational study. Serum drug levels and ADAb were measured at weeks 12, 24, 52, and 104 of treatment by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The development of ADAb and factors related to ADAb over time were investigated using generalized estimating equations (GEE). Results: A total of 180 patients with axSpA (116 male, mean (±SD) 45.6 (±11.9) years) who started TNFi treatment (etanercept (32.2%), adalimumab (27.2%), golimumab (20.6%), infliximab (20%)) were included. In the etanercept treatment group, only 1 patient had ADAb at 12 weeks and 24 weeks. Anti-drug antibodies against TNFi drugs were present in the adalimumab group in 32.7% of patients and in the infliximab group in 21.2% of patients at 12 weeks, and the proportion of ADAb-positive patients were found to be stable throughout the follow-up for adalimumab- and infliximab-treated patients. In the golimumab group, one patient had ADAb against golimumab at 12 weeks and the proportion of ADAb-positive patients increased throughout follow-up. In longitudinal analysis, baseline age, TNFi type, longitudinal Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and ASDAS-CRP scores, serum C-eeactive protein (CRP) levels, presence of adverse events and treatment discontinuation were associated with the presence of ADAb. Conclusion: The development of ADAb against TNFi therapy is associated with younger age, high disease activity, the development of adverse events and more common treatment discontinuation in patients with axSpA during 2-year follow-up.

Abstract Background Dental anxiety is a prevalent concern affecting patients undergoing various dental procedures, particularly surgical interventions. Understanding the impact of patients’ anxiety levels on their physiological responses during dental surgeries, such as third molar impaction surgery, is crucial for optimizing patient care and outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of patients’ anxiety levels on vital signs during third molar teeth impaction surgery. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted, including 45 randomly selected, healthy patients. Demographic information was recorded after obtaining consent from the patients prior to surgical intervention. Preoperative anxiety levels were determined using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS). Pupil measurements were taken from the patients before surgery, at 10 min after the surgery began, and at 10 min after the surgery ended. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure, pulse rate, temperature, and haemoglobin oxygen saturation (SpO2) values were recorded. Results The MDAS test results were statistically significantly higher in women compared to men (p

Abstract Background This study was performed to determine the therapeutic effects of diosgenin (DG) which is a steroidal saponin, administered at different doses on alveolar bone loss (ABL) in rats with experimental periodontitis using immunohistochemical and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods Thirty-two male Wistar rats divided into four equal groups: control (non-ligated), periodontitis (P), DG-48, and DG-96. Sutures were placed at the gingival margin of the lower first molars to induce experimental periodontitis. Then, 48 and 96 mg/kg of DG was administered to the study groups by oral gavage for 29 days. At day 30, the animals were sacrificed and ABL was determined via CBCT. The expression patterns of osteocalcin (OCN), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), type I collagen (Col-1), B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl 2), Bcl 2-associated X protein (Bax), bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2), and receptor activator of NF κB ligand (RANKL) were examined immunohistochemically. Results Histopathologic examination showed all features of the advanced lesion in the P group. DG use decreased all these pathologic changes. It was observed that periodontitis pathology decreased as the dose increased. DG treatment increased the ALP, OCN, Bcl 2, Col-1, and BMP-2 levels in a dose-dependent manner, compared with the P group (p

This study analyzes the economic factors affecting public health expenditure in Türkiye from 2002 to 2022. The main objective is to identify the economic reasons for the decreasing share of public health expenditure in Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It examines macroeconomic variables such as GDP per capita, unemployment rate, labor force participation rate, consumer price index, tax revenue, and exchange rate using principal component analysis (PCA). The results show that GDP per capita, exchange rate, and tax revenue significantly impact public health expenditure, indicating a direct relationship between economic growth and health spending. The unemployment rate does not directly affect public health expenditure, while an increase in labor force participation rate can reduce it. This study underscores the importance of macroeconomic stability and effective economic policies for sustainable health financing in Türkiye. By using long-term data, it provides a comprehensive analysis of how economic factors impact health expenditure, distinguishing it from other studies in the literature. The findings emphasize that a healthy economy leads to increased public investment in health services.

Background: Radiotherapy affects salivary glands more intensely than it does other organs, and salivary gland dysfunction can continue during or after treatment. The aim of this study was to examine structural alterations in submandibular glands through ultrasonography following head-neck radiotherapy in patients and to evaluate the impact of radiation dose on these modifications. Methods: Forty-six submandibular glands were assessed ultrasonographically for the changes in echogenicity, echotexture, and margin and the influence of the radiation dose on these changes before radiotherapy at 3 time points: the second and sixth months following starting treatment. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using a chi-square test. Results: Significant relationship in 3 ultrasonographic structural characteristics—echogenicity, echotexture, and margin— of submandibular glands (P < .001, P < .001, and P < .001, respectively) were observed before and at the second and sixth months after radiotherapy. There was found a significant correlation between the radiation dose groups in the change of echotexture at 2 different time periods after radiotherapy (P < .001, P < .05, respectively) and in the change of margin at the second month after radiotherapy onset (P < .05). Conclusion: Preceding radiotherapy, submandibular glands typically exhibited hyperechoic echogenicity, homogeneous ecotextures, and regular margins. However, after radiotherapy, there was an observable transformation characterized by isoechoic/hypoechoic features, heterogeneous textures, and irregular margins. With the passage of time following radiotherapy, there was a tendency for the parenchyma structure to gradually revert to a normal state. Also, the radiation dose generally has an effect on the structural changes of the submandibular glands.

Aim: Kidney disease is common in older adults due to age-related structural and functional changes in the kidneys, higher rates of chronic disease, and increased drug use. As societies age, there is a rise in the prevalence of renal disease and the number of kidney biopsies being performed in older patients. This study aimed to investigate renal biopsy indications, complications, pathology results, and subsequent treatment among older adults in Turkey. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from patients aged 65 and over who underwent renal biopsy in a university nephrology department between 2004 and 2023. The patients’ demographic information, chronic comorbidities, biopsy indications, pre-biopsy laboratory values, post-biopsy complications, pathology results, and post-biopsy treatments were obtained by reviewing their medical records and biopsy reports. Results: A total of 66 patients were included in the study. The median age was 73.0 years (IQR: 68.8-79.0 years) and 66.7% of the patients were men. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (83.3%), diabetes mellitus (24.3%), coronary artery disease (22.7%), and chronic kidney disease (21.2%). The most common indication for renal biopsy was nephrotic-range proteinuria (56.1%), followed by acute kidney injury (24.2%). When the pathology results were examined, primary glomerulonephritis (62.1%) was the most common result, followed by secondary glomerulonephritis (21.2%) and tubulointerstitial nephritis (12.1%). The most common histopathological diagnoses in primary glomerulonephritis were membranous glomerulonephritis (39.4%) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (12.1%), while those in secondary glomerulonephritis were secondary amyloidosis (9.1%) and lupus nephritis (4.5%). After biopsy, 54.5% of the patients received immunosuppressive therapy and 34.8% received renal replacement therapy. No post-biopsy complications were observed. Conclusion: Although the most common indication for kidney biopsy in older adults is nephrotic-range proteinuria. Kidney biopsy is the gold standard method for the diagnosis of renal parenchymal diseases and is a safe procedure in older patients, with low complication rates. Kidney biopsy should not be avoided in geriatric patients if deemed clinically necessary.

Beta-blockers are commonly used medications for cardiovascular diseases. Beta-blockers are effective antiarrhythmic agents, and they are class 2 agents in the Vaughan-Williams classification. In this review, we first attempt to mention the physiology of beta-adrenergic activation in the myocardium and the role of excessive beta-adrenergic activation in arrythmiagenesis. Then, we will summarize the pharmacological properties of beta blockers and their use in specific arrhythmias. Special emphasis will be given to nebivolol, a new generation cardioselective beta-blocker with vasodilator activity, given the limited data regarding its use in arrhythmias.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of the analytical chemistry laboratory (ACL) course, designed, and conducted according to the flipped learning approach (FL) on prospective science teachers' (PSTs) meaningful understanding and interpretation of knowledge in the context of the environment. Seventy-three second grade PSTs participated in this action research, and the interventions lasted for 13 weeks. The ACL course was reorganized by replacing the traditional laboratory approach with the FL approach that established the context with the environment. The data were obtained through a conceptual understanding test (CUT) which was developed by the researchers, which consisted of five open-ended questions. The CUT was used as a pre-test and post-test along with an interview form. Results showed that the reorganization of the traditional laboratory course in accordance with the nature of action research and its integration with the FL approach had a positive effect on the prospective teachers' learning and opinions about the course. Furthermore, it was determined that PSTs' interpretation ability related to environmental problems in the chemical dimension improved significantly. However, despite this increase, it was concluded that they could not reach a sufficient level in terms of producing solutions to environmental problems. Considering that the effectiveness of FL practices both teaching subjects and environmental problems in ACL course, it is thought to be beneficial to use this approach in another laboratory course.

The present study aimed to remediate pre-service teachers' misconceptions about sampling distributions and to develop their conceptual understanding through the use of conceptual change texts (CCTs). The participants consisted of 84 pre-service teachers. To determine the pre-service teachers' conceptual understanding of sampling distributions, an achievement test was utilized. Five conceptual change texts were prepared. In this study, the number of correct responses of pre-service teachers increased from pretest to post-test and delayed test. This increase was statistically significant in favor of the post-test and delayed test. The results demonstrated that, due to the knowledge gained from the CCTs, the pre-service teachers improved their conceptual understanding about sampling distributions. Moreover, this study represents an important effort to integrate CCTs in mathematics and statistics education.