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“Looking behind the curtain”: Preservice visual arts teachers’ experiences on culture jamming learning-teaching process
No full textScholars have examined the pedagogical implications of culture jamming as a challenge to the normalisation of consumer culture, but there is limited empirical research exploring its practical applications in learning and teaching. This case study involved fifteen preservice visual arts teachers from a state university's undergraduate arts and crafts teacher education programme in Türkiye. The classroom activities focused on critical inquiry and artistic production related to advertisements and broader cultural issues. The findings suggest that culture jamming appeared to foster an experimental and contextual learning environment, promoting critical engagement, empowerment, and creative expression
Determining the opinions of prospective teachers regarding the use of artificial intelligence in learning German as a foreign language
No full textDiese Studie zielt darauf ab, die Auswirkungen von KI-Anwendungen im Bereich Deutsch als Fremdsprache auf die Lernprozesse und Sprachkompetenzen von Lehramtsstudierenden zu untersuchen. Das Hauptziel der Forschung besteht darin, die Erfahrungen, Einstellungen und Wahrnehmungen der Lehramtsstudierenden im Hinblick auf den Einsatz von KI-Technologien im Sprachunterricht systematisch darzustellen. In der Studie wurde eine quantitative Forschungsmethode angewendet, und als Datenerhebungsinstrument diente ein Fragebogen mit Multiple Choice Fragen. Ergänzend dazu wurden zwei Gruppeninterviews mit Lehramtsstudierenden im zweiten und vierten Studienjahr des Fachbereichs DaF - Lehramt Studierende durchgeführt, um tiefere Einblicke in ihre Erfahrungen und Perspektiven hinsichtlich des Einsatzes von KI im Sprachlernprozess zu gewinnen. Die Stichprobe der Studie besteht aus 49 Lehramtsstudierenden aus den Studiengängen Deutsch und Englisch. Die Daten wurden mit dem Statistikprogramm SPSS 21.0 auf der Basis von Häufigkeits- und Prozentverteilungen analysiert. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Lehramtsstudierenden den Einsatz von KI-Anwendungen im Allgemeinen positiv bewerten. Die Teilnehmenden gaben an, dass KI insbesondere zur Entwicklung von Sprachfertigkeiten wie Wortschatz, Grammatik, Leseverständnis und Schreiben einen wichtigen Beitrag leistet. Zudem wurde hervorgehoben, dass KI - Technologien das Lern en unterhaltsamer und motivierender gestalten, die Arbeitsbelastung der Lehrkräfte verringern und individualisiertes Lernen ermöglichen. Im Gegensatz dazu konnte hinsichtlich der Nachhaltigkeit des Lernens und ethischer Risiken kein Konsens erzielt werden, was auf ein Bewusstsein und Regulierungen in diesen Bereichen hinweist. Zusammenfassend wird festgestellt, dass KI-Technologien im Fremdsprachenunterricht pädagogisch bedeutende Chancen bieten, jedoch umfassende Schulungen, die Entwicklung zielsprachenspezifischer Inhalte und die Etablierung ethischer Standards für eine effektive und ethisch vertretbare Nutzung unerlässlich sind. Für zukünftige Forschungen wird empfohlen, die Auswirkungen von KI auf Sprachlernprozesse vertieft zu untersuchen, um zur Gestaltung von Bildungspraktiken und Bildungspolitiken beizutragen.Bu çalışma, Yapay Zekâ (YZ) uygulamalarının Yabancı Dil olarak Almanca alanındaki öğrenme süreçleri ve dil yeterlilikleri üzerindeki etkilerini incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Araştırmanın temel amacı, öğretmen adaylarının dil öğretiminde YZ teknolojilerinin kullanımına ilişkin deneyimlerini, tutumlarını ve algılarını sistematik bir şekilde ortaya koymaktır. Çalışmada nicel bir araştırma yöntemi kullanılmış ve veri toplama aracı olarak çoktan seçmeli sorulardan oluşan bir anket uygulanmıştır. Buna ek olarak, dil öğrenme sürecinde YZ kullanımına ilişkin deneyimlerine ve bakış açılarına dair daha derinlemesine bilgiler elde edebilmek amacıyla, Yabancı Dil Olarak Almanca (DaF) öğretmenliği bölümünün ikinci ve dördüncü sınıfında öğrenim gören öğrencilerle iki grup görüşmesi gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırmanın örneklemi, Almanca ve İngilizce öğretmenliği bölümlerinde öğrenim gören toplam 49 öğretmen adayından oluşmaktadır. Veriler, SPSS 21.0 istatistik programı kullanılarak, frekans ve yüzde dağılımları temelinde analiz edilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular, öğretmen adaylarının YZ uygulamalarının kullanımını genel olarak olumlu değerlendirdiğini göstermektedir. Katılımcılar, YZ’nin özellikle kelime bilgisi, dil bilgisi, okuduğunu anlama ve yazma gibi dil becerilerinin geliştirilmesine önemli katkılar sağladığını belirtmişlerdir. Ayrıca, YZ teknolojilerinin öğrenmeyi daha eğlenceli ve motive edici hâle getirdiği, öğretmenlerin iş yükünü azalttığı ve bireyselleştirilmiş öğrenmeyi mümkün kıldığı vurgulanmıştır. Buna karşılık, öğrenmenin sürdürülebilirliği ve etik riskler konusunda ortak bir görüş birliği sağlanamamış, bu durum bu alanlarda farkındalık ve düzenlemelere ihtiyaç olduğunu göstermektedir. Sonuç olarak, YZ teknolojilerinin yabancı dil öğretiminde pedagojik açıdan önemli fırsatlar sunduğu, ancak etkili ve etik açıdan kabul edilebilir bir kullanım için kapsamlı eğitimlerin, hedef dile özgü içeriklerin geliştirilmesinin ve etik standartların oluşturulmasının zorunlu olduğu sonucuna varılmıştır. Gelecekte yapılacak araştırmalar için, YZ’nin dil öğrenme süreçleri üzerindeki etkilerinin daha ayrıntılı biçimde incelenmesi ve bu yolla eğitim uygulamalarının ve eğitim politikalarının şekillendirilmesine katkı sağlanması önerilmektedir.This study aims to examine the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) applications on the learning processes and language competencies of pre-service teachers in the context of German as a foreign language. The main objective of the study is to systematically present the experiences, attitudes, and perceptions of pre-service teachers regarding the use of AI technologies in language instruction. A quantitative research method was applied, and a multiple-choice questionnaire developed by the researchers was used as the data collection tool. In addition, two focus group interviews were conducted with second- and fourth-year pre-service teachers from the German Language Teaching Department to gain deeper insights into their experiences and perspectives on the use of AI in language learning. The sample of the study consists of 49 pre-service teachers enrolled in German and English language teaching programs. The data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0 based on frequency and percentage distributions. The findings indicate that pre-service teachers generally evaluate the use of AI applications positively. The participants stated that AI contributes significantly to the development of language skills such as vocabulary, grammar, reading comprehension, and writing. Moreover, it was emphasized that AI technologies make learning more enjoyable and motivating, reduce teachers’ workload, and enable individualized learning. However, no consensus was reached regarding the sustainability of learning and potential ethical risks, pointing to the need for greater awareness and regulation in these areas. In conclusion, it can be stated that AI technologies offer pedagogically significant opportunities in foreign language teaching. Nevertheless, for their effective and ethically responsible use, comprehensive training, the development of target - language - specific content, and the establishment of ethical standards are essential. It is recommended that future research explore the effects of AI on language learning processes in greater depth, thereby contributing to the development of educational practices and policies
Simulation-based power strategy optimization in a diesel hybrid vehicle
No full textThis study includes comparing fuel-energy consumption, consumption cost, and vehicle dynamic performance of a diesel hybrid electric vehicle created by combining virtual diesel and electric vehicle models in MATLAB/Simulink and correlated with real-world driving data. In the diesel hybrid vehicle model, electric power initiates the acceleration until the hybrid mode transition threshold speed, and after, the diesel traction system maintains the motion. The hybrid mode transition threshold speeds were determined as 10 km/h, 15 km/h, 20 km/h, and 25 km/h. The virtual tests were repeated according to different vehicle masses as 3500 kg, 4000 kg, 4500 kg, and 5000 kg. As a result, this study achieved the best dynamic performance and the lowest total energy consumption with the hybrid mode transition threshold of 10 km/h. Also, diesel hybrid combinations mostly showed better dynamic performance than pure diesel and battery electric vehicles
Is coexistence of autoimmunity more ruinous on ovarian reserve in endometriosis? A prospective observational study
No full textObjective: To determine the incidence of autoimmunity in women with endometriosis and examine whether autoimmunity has any additional negative effects on ovarian reserve beyond the influence of endometriosis alone.Design: The study included women with endometriosis from January 2022 to January 2023. All enrolled patients underwent physical examinations and routine ultrasound checks. The diagnosis of endometriosis was established based on these assessments or confirmed by prior surgeries. Blood samples were collected from the participants, including measuring serum anti-M & uuml;llerian hormone (AMH) levels and an immunologic panel that comprised tests for anti-nuclear antibody profile, lupus anticoagulant antibody, and thyroid antibodies. A total of 104 patients were included in the analysis, divided into two groups based on the presence of autoimmune antibodies.Results: The study revealed 56 patients with negative test results (autoimmune (-) group) and 48 patients with at least one positive antibody (autoimmune (+) group), yielding an overall autoimmunity rate of 46%. Demographic parameters were comparable between the two groups. The autoimmune (+) group exhibited significantly lower levels of anti-M & uuml;llerian hormone, with respective interquartile ranges of 0.8 ng/ml (0.2-3.2) versus 1.7 ng/ml (0.6-4.8) in the autoimmune (-) group (p = 0.01).Conclusions: The present study disclosed that almost half of the endometriosis patients tested positive for autoimmune antibodies. The observed rate of autoimmunity aligned with existing data. However, exploring the impact of autoimmune antibodies on ovarian reserve in endometriosis is a relatively new research avenue. This pilot study suggests that the presence of autoimmunity may have a more detrimental effect on ovarian reserve in endometriosis
Qspr modeling of some covid-19 drugs using neighborhood eccentricity-based topological indices: A comparative analysis
No full textCOVID-19, which emerged in 2019, is a disease caused by a new coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2), and has caused a worldwide epidemic. During and after this outbreak, it has been confirmed once again that finding a drug to prevent and end such diseases as soon as possible is an important issue. However, drug discovery and to determine a molecule's physical characteristics in a lab takes effort and time and is a costly process. Relevant information about molecules can be obtained by calculating topological indices, which are molecular descriptive numerical values corresponding to the physical properties of the chemical structure of a molecule. In this paper, we consider recently used drugs such as arbidol, chloroquine, hydroxy-chloroquine, lopinavir, remdesivir, ritonavir, thalidomide and theaflavin in treatment of COVID-19. This article examines neighborhood eccentricity-based topological descriptors that are used to analyze the structures of potential drugs against COVID-19. Eccentricity-based topological indices are advancing the field of chem-informatics and helping scientists better understand structure-activity correlations across a wide range of chemical compounds. The purpose is to identify structural components that have a significant impact on physico-chemical properties. In this context, the chemical structure and the corresponding molecular graph of the drugs under consideration are given in order to calculate the neighborhood eccentricity values. QSPR models are studied using linear and cubic regression analysis with topological indices for boiling point, enthalpy of vaporization, flash point, molar refraction, polar surface area, polarizability, molar volume and molecular weight properties of these drugs. Regression analysis is applied to find potential correlation between different drug characteristics such as bio-availability and efficacy. The results show that topological indices and applied regression models are useful in predicting significant characteristics of drugs used for the treatment of COVID-19. Additionally, a comparison of the known values and the calculated values from the regression models discussed is obtained.Taif University
TU-DSPP-2024-4
Anaerobic bacteria from bloodstream infections: Identification and antibacterial susceptibility testing in a single center in Türkiye
No full textThis study aimed the identification of anaerobic bacteria isolated from blood cultures and the determination of antibacterial susceptibility of the isolates. The study material comprised of 5,282 blood samples taken between 2018 and 2020. The samples were incubated in a BacT/ALERT system. The species identification of the isolates was performed by three methods namely, BBL Crystal Anaerobe system, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Antibacterial susceptibility testing was performed using the disk diffusion method with benzylpenicillin, clindamycin, piperacillin-tazobactam, meropenem, and metronidazole disks. In the BacT/ALERT system, 45 anaerobic bacterial isolates were recovered from 39 (0.74%) of the samples that showed growth signs in blood culture bottles. The BBL Crystal Anaerobe system and 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses enabled the genus and species identification of all 45 isolates (100%), whereas with MALDI-TOF MS, only 37 (82.2%) of the isolates were able to be identified. Antibacterial resistance rates of the isolates to piperacillin/tazobactam, clindamycin, benzylpenicillin, meropenem, and metronidazole were detected as 100%, 73.8%, 40%, 9.8%, and 5.5%, respectively. MALDI-TOF MS showed a higher level of compatibility with 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses, compared to the BBL Crystal Anaerobe system. The high rates of susceptibility to meropenem and metronidazole suggested that these antibiotics are options for the empirical treatment of anaerobic bacterial infections
Can new laboratory parameters be added for clinical scoring systems to determine the severity of RSV bronchiolitis?
No full textObjectives In this study, the aim is to investigate the clinical findings as well as laboratory and echocardiographic differences in infants with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis hospitalized in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) compared to those hospitalized in the general pediatric ward and thus contribute to the establishment of a novel evidence-based medical scoring.Methods The study was conducted by retrospectively reviewing the files of 58 infants aged 1-12 months who were hospitalized in the PICU and general pediatric ward of Health Sciences University of Bursa City Hospital with a definite diagnosis of RSV bronchiolitis between September 2022 and April 2023.Results There were significant differences in clinical findings (Bronchiolitis Score of Sant Joan de D & eacute;u up arrow), laboratory tests [blood gas (pH down arrow-PaCO2 up arrow-lactate up arrow) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP up arrow)] and echocardiographic parameters [systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP up arrow), right ventricular Tei index (RVTX up arrow), left ventricular systolic eccentricity index (LVEls up arrow) and tricuspid annular planar systolic excursion (TAPSE down arrow)] in infants hospitalized in PICU compared to those hospitalized in general pediatric ward. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that the best indicator to add to the clinical score in terms of PICU hospitalization was NT-ProBNP (OR: 1.007, 95 % CI 1.002-1.011, p=0.003).Conclusions The severity of RSV bronchiolitis can be evaluated more objectively with new scoring methods to be developed by adding laboratory and echocardiographic parameters, especially NT-proBNP, to clinical scoring systems
Sustainable energy future: Investigation of biogas production with livestock waste and energy potential
No full textYapılan birçok çalışma göstermiştir ki günümüzde sürdürülebilir ve ekonomik bir enerji kaynağı olan biyokütle birçok fosil yakıtların yerine geçebilecek potansiyele sahiptir. Özellikle hayvancılığın yoğun olduğu ülkelerde, hayvansal atıklardan biyogaz üretimi, enerji güvenliğini artırırken çevresel sorunları hafifletir ve yenilenebilir enerjiye geçişi hızlandırır. Hayvancılık faaliyetlerinin yoğun olduğu ülkelerde biyogaz tesislerine yönelik yatırımların artırılması, atık yönetimini kolaylaştırmakla birlikte, enerji üretimini de destekleyerek sürdürülebilir bir çevre ve ekonomik kalkınma için önemli bir adım olacaktır. Bu yaklaşım, enerji sistemine çevreci ve yenilikçi çözümler sunar. Bu çalışmada, Van ili ve ilçelerinde hayvansal atıklardan biyogaz üretim potansiyeli analiz edilmiştir. Çalışmada 2023 yılı Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK) verileri temel alınarak büyükbaş, küçükbaş ve kanatlı hayvanlardan kaynaklanan atık miktarları hesaplanmıştır. Agro-Waste yöntemi kullanılarak atıkların biyogaz potansiyelleri değerlendirilmiştir. Sonuç olarak; biyogaz üretiminde büyükbaş hayvan atıkları % 63,68, küçükbaş hayvan atıkları % 36,11 ve kanatlı hayvan atıkları % 0,22 oranında katkı sağladığı tespit edilmiştir. En yüksek potansiyele sahip ilçeler arasında Erciş, Tuşba ve İpekyolu ilçeleri öne çıkmakta olup, yapılan araştırma Van ilinin toplam biyogaz potansiyelinin 50.004.441,08 m³ olduğunu göstermektedir. Bu değer, 59.005.240,47 m³ ile doğal gaza, 73.006.483,97 kg ile kömüre ve 235.020.873,05 kWh ile elektrik üretimine eşdeğerdir. Bu veriler, Van ilinde biyogaz üretiminin yalnızca enerji ihtiyacını karşılamakla kalmayıp, geleneksel enerji kaynaklarına güçlü bir alternatif sunduğunu, çevresel sürdürülebilirlik ve ekonomik kalkınma hedeflerine ulaşmada önemli bir fırsat sunduğunu göstermektedir.Many studies have shown that biomass, which is a sustainable and economical energy source today, has the potential to replace many fossil fuels. Especially in countries where animal husbandry is intense, biogas production from animal waste increases energy security, alleviates environmental problems and accelerates the transition to renewable energy. Increasing investments in biogas facilities in countries where animal husbandry activities are intense will be an important step for sustainable environment and economic development by facilitating waste management and supporting energy production. This approach offers environmentally friendly and innovative solutions to the energy system. In this study, the potential for biogas production from animal waste in Van province and its districts was analyzed. In the study, the amounts of waste originating from cattle, sheep and poultry were calculated based on the 2023 Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK) data. The biogas potentials of the wastes were evaluated using the Agro-Waste method. As a result; It was determined that cattle waste contributed 63.68%, sheep waste 36.11% and poultry waste 0.22% in biogas production. Among the districts with the highest potential, Erciş, Tuşba and İpekyolu districts stand out, and the research shows that the total biogas potential of Van province is 50 004 441.08 m³. This value is equivalent to 59 005 240.47 m³ of natural gas, 73 006 483.97 kg of coal and 235 020 873.05 kWh of electricity production. These data show that biogas production in Van province not only meets the energy need, but also offers a strong alternative to traditional energy sources, and offers an important opportunity to achieve environmental sustainability and economic development goals
A novel softsign fractional-order controller optimized by an intelligent nature-inspired algorithm for magnetic levitation control
No full textThis study presents a novel softsign-function-based fractional-order proportional-integral-derivative (softsign-FOPID) controller optimized using the fungal growth optimizer (FGO) for the stabilization and precise position control of an unstable magnetic ball suspension system. The proposed controller introduces a smooth nonlinear softsign function into the conventional FOPID structure to limit abrupt control actions and improve transient smoothness while preserving the flexibility of fractional dynamics. The FGO, a recently developed bio-inspired metaheuristic, is employed to tune the seven controller parameters by minimizing a composite objective function that simultaneously penalizes overshoot and tracking error. This optimization ensures balanced transient and steady-state performance with enhanced convergence reliability. The performance of the proposed approach was extensively benchmarked against four modern metaheuristic algorithms (greater cane rat algorithm, catch fish optimization algorithm, RIME algorithm and artificial hummingbird algorithm) under identical conditions. Statistical analyses, including boxplot comparisons and the nonparametric Wilcoxon rank-sum test, demonstrated that the FGO consistently achieved the lowest objective function value with superior convergence stability and significantly better (p < 0.05) performance across multiple independent runs. In time-domain evaluations, the FGO-tuned softsign-FOPID exhibited the fastest rise time (0.0089 s), shortest settling time (0.0163 s), lowest overshoot (4.13%), and negligible steady-state error (0.0015%), surpassing the best-reported controllers in the literature, including the sine cosine algorithm-tuned PID, logarithmic spiral opposition-based learning augmented hunger games search algorithm-tuned FOPID, and manta ray foraging optimization-tuned real PIDD2. Robustness assessments under fluctuating reference trajectories, actuator saturation, sensor noise, external disturbances, and parametric uncertainties (+/- 10% variation in resistance and inductance) further confirmed the controller's adaptability and stability under practical non-idealities. The smooth nonlinearity of the softsign function effectively prevented control signal saturation, while the fractional-order dynamics enhanced disturbance rejection and memory-based adaptability. Overall, the proposed FGO-optimized softsign-FOPID controller establishes a new benchmark in nonlinear magnetic levitation control by integrating smooth nonlinear mapping, fractional calculus, and adaptive metaheuristic optimization
Evaluation of remote working wıthin the scope of occupational health and safety
No full textGünümüz iş dünyası, COVID-19 salgınının etkisi ve teknolojik ilerlemelerle birlikte esneklik kültürünü teşvik eden uzaktan çalışma modeline geçiş süreci yaşamaktadır. İşyerlerinin uzaktan çalışma modeline geçişinde genel varsayım, iletişim teknolojileri ve internet bağlantısı sağlandığında uzaktan çalışmanın tam işlevsel ve sorunsuz olacağıdır. Ancak uzaktan çalışmanın yaygınlaşmasıyla birlikte ev ortamında çalışanların sağlığı, güvenliği ve genel refahı gibi başka sorunların da gerçekten endişe verici olduğu ortaya çıkmıştır. Bu durum iş sağlığı ve güvenliği konularının yeni bir perspektifle ele alınmasını gerektirmektedir. Tezin temel amacı, uzaktan çalışma risklerinin, çalışanların sağlığı ve güvenliği üzerindeki etkilerini ortaya koymak, özellikle işverenin yükümlülükleri olmak üzere tarafların sorumluluklarını değerlendirmek ve uzaktan çalışma koşullarını optimize etmek için öneriler sunmaktır. Tez, literatür taraması yöntemi kullanılarak uzaktan çalışmanın iş sağlığı ve güvenliği açısından nasıl ele alındığını incelemektedir. Uzaktan çalışma, çalışanların iş değişkenlerini ve işyeri ortamını kontrol etmelerine olanak tanırken, aynı zamanda izolasyon, psikososyal stres ve iş-yaşam dengesi sorunları gibi yeni riskleri de beraberinde getirmiştir. Uzaktan çalışma koşullarının optimize edilmesi için, işverenlerin iş sağlığı ve güvenliği politikalarını gözden geçirmeleri, çalışanların eğitimine önem vererek farkındalığı artırmaları, ergonomik çalışma alanları sağlamaları, düzenli mola ve dinlenme sürelerini teşvik etmeleri gerekmektedir. Ayrıca, işverenlerin ve çalışanların iş sağlığı ve güvenliği konularında işbirliği yapmaları ve iletişim kanallarını açık tutmaları önemlidir.Today's business world is experiencing a transition to a remote working model that promotes a culture of flexibility combined with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and technological advances. The general assumption in the transition of workplaces to a remote working model is that remote work will be fully functional and hassle-free when communication technologies and internet connection are provided. But with the spread of remote work, other issues such as the health, safety, and overall well-being of employees in the home environment have also turned out to be really concerning. This requires addressing occupational health and safety issues with a new perspective. The main objective of the thesis is to reveal the effects of remote work risks on the health and safety of employees, to assess the responsibilities of the parties, especially the obligations of the employer, and to provide recommendations for optimizing remote working conditions. The thesis examines how remote work is handled in terms of occupational health and safety using the literature review method. While remote work allows employees to control work variables and the workplace environment, it has also introduced new risks such as isolation, psychosocial stress, and work-life balance issues. In order to optimize remote working conditions, employers need to review occupational health and safety policies, raise awareness by placing emphasis on employee training, provide ergonomic work spaces, and encourage regular breaks and rest periods. It is also important for employers and employees to collaborate on occupational health and safety issues and keep communication channels open