1,250 research outputs found
The relative effects of explicit correction and recasts on two target structures via two communication modes
No full textThis study investigated the effects of negative feedback type (i.e., explicit correction vs. recasts), communication mode (i.e., face-to-face communication vs. synchronous computer-mediated communication), and target structure salience (i.e., salient vs. nonsalient) on the acquisition of two Turkish morphemes. Forty-eight native speakers of English with no Turkish background carried out two communicative tasks during which their errors on the target structures were treated according to their feedback group. Oral production, comprehension, and recognition tests were used to measure learners resulting performance. A clear advantage was found for explicit correction over recasts in the oral production and comprehension tasks on both immediate and delayed posttests. Results also showed that neither communication mode nor target structure salience moderated the difference between the negative feedback types but both factors made independent contributions to feedback effectiveness
Transition to Knowledge Society in Turkey: Current State and Future Perspectives
No full textThe purposes of this study are to evaluate the phase Turkey is in with regard to the transition to a knowledge society and to discuss the priorities in relation to this process in the future. In this task, first, the concept of knowledge society is examined according to various views along with the properties that such a sociological structure needs to have. Then, the current state of Turkey is assessed. This is carried out on the basis of different studies published by International Telecommunication Union, United Nations, and Turkish State Planning Organization. In the last section, it is discussed how the transition process to a knowledge society in Turkey can be managed in a more effective and efficient way. This study points out that in Turkey important improvements especially with regard to infrastructure and education have to be achieved
Evaluation metrics for measuring bias in search engine results
No full textSearch engines decide what we see for a given search query. Since many people are exposed to information through search engines, it is fair to expect that search engines are neutral. However, search engine results do not necessarily cover all the viewpoints of a search query topic, and they can be biased towards a specific view since search engine results are returned based on relevance, which is calculated using many features and sophisticated algorithms where search neutrality is not necessarily the focal point. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the search engine results with respect to bias. In this work we propose novel web search bias evaluation measures which take into account the rank and relevance. We also propose a framework to evaluate web search bias using the proposed measures and test our framework on two popular search engines based on 57 controversial query topics such as abortion, medical marijuana, and gay marriage. We measure the stance bias (in support or against), as well as the ideological bias (conservative or liberal). We observe that the stance does not necessarily correlate with the ideological leaning, e.g. a positive stance on abortion indicates a liberal leaning but a positive stance on Cuba embargo indicates a conservative leaning. Our experiments show that neither of the search engines suffers from stance bias. However, both search engines suffer from ideological bias, both favouring one ideological leaning to the other, which is more significant from the perspective of polarisation in our society
Bioassay-guided isolation of wound healing active compounds from Echium species growing in Turkey
No full textEthnopharmacological relevance: The roots and root barks of Echium sp. have been used to treat ulcers, burns and wounds in traditional Turkish medicine. Aim of the study: On the basis of them traditional use and literature references, four Echium species were selected for evaluation of them wound healing potential. Isolation of active component(s) from the active extracts through the bioassay guided fractionation procedures. Material and methods: In vivo the wound healing activity of the plants was evaluated by linear incision experimental models. The chloroform extract of Echium italicum L. was fractionated by successive chromatographic techniques. Wound healing activity of each fraction was investigated following the bioassay-guided fractionation procedures. Moreover, the tissue samples of isolated compounds were examined histopathologically. The healing potential was comparatively assessed with a reference ointment Madecassol (R), which contains 1% extract of Centella asiatica. Results: Significant wound healing activity was observed from the ointment prepared with ethanol extract at 1% concentration. The ethanol root extract treated in groups of animals showed a significant increase (37.38%, 40.97% and 35.29% separately for E. italicum L, Echium vulgare Land Echium angustifolium Miller) wound tensile strength in the incision wound model. Subfractions showed significant but reduced wound healing activity on in vivo wound models. Shikonin derivatives "Acetylshikonin", "Deoxyshikonin" and "2-methyl-n-butyrylshikonin+lsovalerylshikonin", were isolated and determined as active components of active final subtraction from E. italicum L. roots. The results of histopathological examination supported the outcome of linear incision wound models. Conclusion: The experimental study revealed that Echium species display remarkable wound healing activity. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.Gazi University Scientific Research Foundation [02-2010/2011]This study was financially supported by Gazi University Scientific Research Foundation (Grant no: 02-2010/2011). The authors are very grateful to Professor Osman AYKUT, research assistant Gozde YUCEL and Asso. Professor Gulderen YILMAZ for their technical assistance
Task Effects on Focus on Form in Synchronous Computer-Mediated Communication
No full textPrevious research on synchronous computer-mediated communication (SCMC) has shown that SCMC interaction could draw learners' attention to form in ways that are similar to face-to-face interaction. However, the role of task type in focusing learners' attention on form has not been widely researched. In a repeated-measures design, this study investigated if task type had any effect on the number and characteristics of focus-on-form instances of 54 English-as-a-foreign-language learners. Two jigsaw-dictogloss task pairs were designed and matched for content. Following a practice task session, randomly formed dyads performed each of the tasks using MSN Messenger and CoWord software. Language-related episodes (LREs) were identified and categorized according to their focus, outcome, and type. Results showed that the dictogloss task elicited a higher number of LREs than the jigsaw task. Tasks also displayed some differences with respect to the characteristics of LREs. Whereas the dictogloss was characterized by orthographic, solved correctly, and negative feedback LREs, the jigsaw was characterized by unresolved LREs. The results are discussed in light of the arguments about the effects of limited information-processing capacity on task performance (Skehan, 1998)
Democracy Through Learner-Centered Education: a Turkish Perspective
No full textAimed at documenting the problems and constraints confronting learner-centered instruction in Turkey, this article first explains the link between democracy and education and the role of learner-centered instruction in realizing democratic ends. By drawing on John Dewey's ideas and Turkish scholars' perspectives on Turkish education, the article then presents the problems and constraints that pose threats to the implementation of learner-centered instruction in Turkey. The author also explains the problems within the Turkish educational system and teacher education programmes, and the challenges that in-service teachers and students may experience with learner-centered instruction. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2008
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT IN E-LEARNING PRACTICES
No full textThanks to extension of IT in educational activities, the difficulties based on time and space are disappearing and the management and the execution of these activities can be implemented more effectively and beneficially. Even though there are significant developments about e-learning both in academic and professional platforms, there are some main questions that must be considered like: How can e-learning and knowledge management be integrated? Do these present e-learning systems fulfill the requirements of knowledge management? Are provided facilities from these systems being utilized in knowledge management accurately? In this paper, firstly e-learning, and then knowledge and knowledge management concepts are considered with their major points. In the next section it is considered that how e-learning systems can be integrated with knowledge management; under the subjects of knowledge management models, system features, and requirements of knowledge management
Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Score is an Independent Predictor of Right Ventricular Dysfunction in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
No full textObjectiveNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and impaired left ventricular (LV) function, yet the impact of NAFLD on right ventricular (RV) function remains unclear. We investigate the RV functional properties in patients with NAFLD. MethodsNinety consecutive patients with the diagnosis of biopsy-proven NAFLD and 45 age- and sex-matched controls were included. All patients underwent an echocardiographic examination. RV function was evaluated by two-dimensional (2D) speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE). ResultsMean fibrosis stage and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) scores were 1.31.1 and 5.2 +/- 1.6, respectively. NAFLD patients displayed decreased RV function compared to controls. NAFLD patients with liver fibrosis (67 patients) had significantly lower RV function assessed by GLS (global longitudinal strain) compared to patients without liver fibrosis (18.9 +/- 3.4% vs. 21.6 +/- 2.3%, P<0.001). NASH score 5 was associated with lower RV-GLS (18.9 +/- 3.1% vs. 21.0 +/- 3.4%, P=0.006). NASH score inversely correlated with RV-GLS (r=-0.370, P<0.001) such as patients with impaired RV-GLS (<19%) showed significantly higher NASH score compared to normal RV-GLS group (5.8 +/- 1.4 vs. 4.8 +/- 1.7, P=0.009). Logistic regression analysis revealed that NASH score was an independent predictor of impaired RV function in patients with NAFLD. ConclusionsPatients with NAFLD have impaired RV function. NASH score inversely correlates with RV-GLS and independently predicts impaired RV function in patients with NAFLD
Arterial stiffness in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is related to fibrosis stage and epicardial adipose tissue thickness
No full textObjective: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with atherosclerosis and reduced vascular compliance. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between arterial stiffness measures, the histological severity of NAFLD, and epicardial fat thickness (EFT). Methods: A total of 100 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and 50 age-and sex-matched controls were enrolled. The histological severity was assessed in all NAFLD patients. Measurements of arterial stiffness [pulse-wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx)] were carried out using a Mobil-O-Graph arteriograph system. EFT was assessed by means of echocardiography. Results: Compared with controls, NAFLD patients had significantly higher PWV and AIx values. Stepwise linear regression analysis demonstrated that the liver fibrosis score and EFT were independent predictors of both PWV and AIx values in NAFLD patients. Conclusions: Patients with NAFLD have an increased arterial stiffness, which reflects both the severity of liver fibrosis and increased EFT values. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved
Geological Correlation Between Northern Cyprus And Southern Anatolia
No full textThe island of Cyprus constitutes a fragment of southern Anatolia separated from the mainland by left-oblique transtension in late Cenozoic time. However, a geological framework of offset features of the south-central Anatolia, for comparison of Cyprus with a source region within and west of the southeastern Anatolian suture zone, has not yet been developed. In this paper, I enumerate, describe, and compare a full suite of potentially correlative spatial and temporal elements exposed in both regions. Northern Cyprus and south-central Anatolia have identical tectonostratigraphic units. At the base of both belts, crop out ophiolitic mlange-accretionary complex generated during the northward subduction of the NeoTethyan Oceanic lithosphere from the Late Cretaceous until the end of middle Eocene. The nappes of the Taurus carbonate platform were thrust above this internally chaotic unit during late Eocene. They began to move as a coherent nappe pile from that time onward. An asymmetrical flysch basin was formed in front of this southward moving nappe pile during the early Miocene. The nappes were then thrust over the flysch basin fill and caused its tight folding. Cyprus separated from Anatolia in the Pleistocene-Holocene when, transtensional oblique faults with dip-slip components caused the development of the Adana and Iskenderun basins and the separation of Cyprus from Anatolia.The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the pdf file of the accepted manuscript may differ slightly from what is displayed on the item page. The information in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript reflects the original submission by the author
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