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The purpose of this research is to investigate how Web based and computer technologies impact studies, in teaching Turkish as a foreign language. Through a qualitative approach the study extensively explores this subject matter. To examine studies related to the use of Web based technology in teaching Turkish, a document analysis technique was employed. Data were collected from scientific journal articles and thesis studies published between 2010 and 2023 with a focus on teaching Turkish as a foreign language using Web based technology. The research specifically looked at studies conducted from 2010 onwards and twelve articles and thesis studies on the subject were examined. These studies demonstrated the effects of Web 2.0 tools and applications like Voki, Kahoot! ChatGPT, blogs and podcasts on language learning processes. The findings indicate that effectively integrating technology into language instruction plays a role in enhancing students language skills and motivation. Furthermore, remote education platforms have the potential to revolutionize language learning experiences. The results also highlight that technology supported experimental studies can be successfully utilized in teaching Turkish as a foreign language. Overall, these findings emphasize the potential of technology and Web based applications, in language instruction.

The objective of this study was to shorten the drying time of wood material using microwave and infrared + microwave drying methods, compare the energy assumption, analyze their improvement in water absorption, and compare the compression strength perpendicular and parallel to fibers. Red pine (Pinus brutia) and Eastern spruce (Picea orientalis) woods were prepared in three groups. The first group was oven dried, the second group was dried by microwave, and the third group was dried by infrared + microwave methods. The analysis results for energy consumption, moisture content, and compression strength perpendicular and parallel to the fibers were performed. Compression strengths were determined with a universal testing device. According to the results obtained, with 15 min microwave drying, 4% moisture content was reached in the wood samples and both time and energy were saved. It was observed that oven drying consumed 93% more energy than 15 min microwave drying. Samples dried with infrared 30 s + microwave 5 min had higher compression strength in the direction perpendicular to the fibers and samples dried with microwave for 5 min had higher compression strength in the direction parallel to the fibers.

The goal of this study was to find a way to shorten wood drying time by using microwave and combined infrared + microwave drying methods and to analyze color and gloss changes. Wood samples prepared in three groups with dimensions of 20×20×30 mm were used in moisture tests and 75×5×150 mm were used in color change and gloss measurements, obtained from Red pine (Pinus brutia) and Eastern spruce (Picea orientalis) woods. The samples were oven dried, dried by microwave, or dried by infrared + microwave drying method. The wood samples all reached the target moisture. Their weight and volume were calculated in accordance with the principles of TS ISO 13061-1. Color change values were determined before and after drying with a portable color reader (Konica Minolta CR-10) device, and gloss measurements were taken with the Gardner brand gloss meter. By microwave drying for 15 min, 4% moisture content was reached in the wood samples, so both time and energy were saved. The moisture content values decreased compared to the whole drying methods. Most color change was observed in the drying methods using infrared for both red pine and eastern spruce.

This study investigated the empathy of humans toward non-biological agents like robots and compared it to their empathy toward their conspecifics. 90 participants watched a human and a robot in painful scenarios (32 short videos created with animation techniques) and rated the intensity of pain experienced by the agent. The scenarios were created by manipulating the type of agent experiencing pain (human or robot), the source of pain (object or person), and the type of pain (physical or emotional). Results showed that humans were perceived to feel more pain than robots. In addition, the perceived pain scores were higher for scenarios where the source of pain was an object compared to a person, however, this depended on the type of pain. Emotional pain scores showed significant differences between the source of pain being an object versus a person, but physical pain scores did not depend on the source of pain.

About 2 million Syrians of approximately 3.6 million who were forced to immigrate to Turkey due to unfavorable conditions in Syria are composed of adults. In order to maintain Syrians' socio-cultural adaptation and minimize adaptation problems that they experience, their learning Turkish has become a need. As is known, the time that adults can spend on learning languages is much more limited compared to children. As an eclectic approach, blended learning arising as a result of minimizing the disadvantages of face-to-face and online learning and combining the advantageous sides of both is accepted as an appropriate model for adult learners. In the present study, the blended and Quantum learning cycle assisted teaching Turkish as a second language program for adult Syrians (at the age of 17 and above) who are under temporary protection in Turkey will be discussed and learners' contribution to program development process will be presented. In the program, by benefitting from Quantum learning cycle, it has been possible to maintain language learning's being dynamic, easy and long-lasting, and teachers' encouraging learner success, learners' experiencing learning and having the opportunity to practice. Considering the specific features of adult learners, the program content has been aimed to be meaningful for learners. Teacher assessments obtained before the application of the program have been significantly impacted the development of the program and their thoughts after the application has contributed a lot. This study can contribute to the literature on the use of blended learning model in language teaching programs for adults.

The study aims to not only detect the presence of herd behavior in the countries studied, but also to examine the effect of cultural dimensions and market/bank-based systems on the herding behavior of financial market investors. The study employs the Cross-Sectional Standard Deviation and Cross-Sectional Absolute Deviation methods to analyze daily data from public companies traded in the capital markets in Emerging Seven and Group of Seven economies. The results suggest that being a member of E7-G7, a Future Oriented (FO), and a Performance Oriented (PO) cultures are the most important factors in explaining herd behavior. Additionally, the study found that the Ridge Classifier and CatBoost Classifier algorithms arethe most superior model for estimating herd behavior periods determined by the CSSD and CASD models, respectively. The feature selection results show that the Assertiveness (A) in-group collectivism (GC) are the three most important explanatory factors of the herd behavior.

Abstract Background Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV‐2) is the most common enteric virus that infects canids. CPV is the causative agent of a contagious disease defined mostly by clinical gastrointestinal signs in dogs. During the late 1970s, CPV‐2 emerged as a new virus capable of infecting domestic dogs and growing across the world. The VP2 gene stands out as a key determinant in the pathogenicity, antigenicity, and host interactions of CPV‐2. Aims The molecular characterization of the VP2 gene is crucial for understanding CPV evolution and epidemiology. Materials & Methods Genes encoding the VP2 protein were sequenced and compared to reference strains worldwide. The maximum likelihood method was used to build a phylogenetic tree using CPV VP2 gene nucleotide sequences. Results Our phylogenetic analysis of the VP2 gene revealed that five strains were very similar and clustered together, and three strains were in the 2b clade, whereas the other two were in the 2a/2b clade. Discussion This paper reports the molecular characterization of two novel CPV‐2a/2b subtypes in dogs with gastrointestinal symptoms. Genetic analysis was conducted on a CPV genomic region encompassing one of the open reading frames (ORFs) encoding the structural protein VP2. Sequence analysis indicates new and unreported sequence changes, mainly affecting the VP2 gene, which includes the mutations Ser297Ala and Leu87Met. This study represents the first evidence of a new CPV‐2a/2b subtype in Türkiye. Due to VP2's crucial role in encoding the capsid protein of CPV‐2 and its significant involvement in the host‐virus interaction, it is critical to closely monitor its evolutionary changes and be cautious while searching for novel or pre‐existing subtypes. Conclusion This study highlights the significance of continuous molecular research for acquiring more insights on the circulation of novel CPV mutants.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the biological effects of “proanthocyanidin” (PA), and “nisin” (Ni), on dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) and LPS-induced DPSCs as well as their antimicrobial effects against S. Aureus and E. coli. Materials and methods: After characterization of DPSCs, cytotoxicity of PA and Ni on DPSCs were evaluated using a water-soluble tetrazolium salt (WST-1). The cytokines and chemokines released by DPSCs and the expression levels of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF alpha were detected with human Cytokine Array C5 and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. The antibacterial activities of PA and Ni were tested using the drop plate method. Results: PA at 75 μg/ml increased cell viability, decreased TNF-α expression of DPSCs, did not show any cytotoxic effects on LPS-induced DPSCs, and also showed a tendency to decrease TNF-α expression. PA at 75 μg/ml exhibited higher expressions of TIMP-2, OPG, IL-7, and IL-8 in LPS-induced DPSCs compared to DPSCs. Ni at 100 μg/ml decreased TNF-α expression in DPSCs with no cytotoxic effects. It provided increased cell viability and a downregulation trend of TNF-α expression in LPS-induced DPSCs. Both Ni and PA provided strong antibacterial effects against S. aureus. Ni at 200μg/ml had strong antibacterial effects against E. coli without affecting negatively the viability of both DPSCs and LPS-induced DPSCs and showed anti-inflammatory activity by decreasing TNF-α expression. PA provided strong antibac-terial effects against E. coli at 200 μg/ml but affected DPSCs viability negatively. Conclusion: PA and Ni at specific concentrations exhibited immunomodulatory activity on DPSCs and LPS-induced DPSCs without any cytotoxic effects and strong antibacterial effects on S. aureus.

Background This study examines spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a neuromuscular disease associated with malnutrition. Our goals are to assess how effectively screening tools can detect malnutrition and evaluate the impact of nutritional interventions on neurological outcomes, particularly motor functions. Methods Thirty-seven genetically diagnosed SMA patients (types 1, 2, and 3) under nusinersen therapy were included in the study. The nutritional status of these patients was assessed by using anthropometric measurements, including height for age (HFA), weight for height (WFH), and body mass index (BMI) before and after the study. Additionally, the risk of malnutrition was determined using screening tools, namely the Pediatric Yorkhill Malnutrition Score (PYMS) and the Screening Tool for the Assessment of Malnutrition in Pediatrics (STAMP). Nutritional counseling followed the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) guidelines and considered the patients’ dietary history, including content and administration method. Motor functions were assessed by validated tests: the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Infant Test of Neuromuscular Disorders (CHOP-INTEND) and the Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale—Expanded (HFMSE). Result The study showed an improvement in HFA, by a change from −0.95 to −0.65 (p = 0.015). Conversely, BMI scores decreased from 0.08 to −0.54 (p = 0.015), while WFH and MUAC showed no significant alterations (p = 0.135, p = 0.307). Following nutritional interventions, HFMSE demonstrated a median increase from 29.5 to 30.5 (p = 0.023). Patients identified as being at high risk for malnutrition based on PYMS and STAMP belonged to the moderate-to-severe malnutrition group (BMI Z-score ≤ −2, p = 0.001). Conclusions Use of screening tools in SMA patients is highly beneficial for the early detection of malnutrition. Future research should highlight the importance of combining nutritional management with nusinersen therapy to potentially alter the disease trajectory, especially in motor and neurological functions.

The warp knitting method is typically used to create hernia mesh. It can add new qualities to the meshes due to the formation of micro/nanofibers, cell proliferation, biocompatibility, non-adhesion, and drug release properties. Within the purview of this work, warp-knitted mesh (polypropylene) with micro/nanofibers was created. On this constructed mesh structure, silk fibroin/polyurethane/levan/curcumin fibers were produced using the centrifugal jet spinning technique. When SEM images were examined, the average fiber diameter was 932 ± 407 nm, and the pore diameter was 20 µm. The nanofiber warp-knitted fabric was measured to have a bursting strength of 182.9 ± 11 kPa. It was determined that the abdominal wall's predicted elasticity value of 15.65% horizontally was enough for both men and women. It was determined that the hybrid mesh structure performed better against E.coli bacteria and that the curcumin-infused mesh had an antibacterial effect. It was found that meshes might be employed as hybrid meshes for the treatment of hernias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to shorten the drying time of wood material using microwave and infrared + microwave drying methods, compare the energy assumption, analyze their improvement in water absorption, and compare the compression strength perpendicular and parallel to fibers. Red pine (Pinus brutia) and Eastern spruce (Picea orientalis) woods were prepared in three groups. The first group was oven dried, the second group was dried by microwave, and the third group was dried by infrared + microwave methods. The analysis results for energy consumption, moisture content, and compression strength perpendicular and parallel to the fibers were performed. Compression strengths were determined with a universal testing device. According to the results obtained, with 15 min microwave drying, 4% moisture content was reached in the wood samples and both time and energy were saved. It was observed that oven drying consumed 93% more energy than 15 min microwave drying. Samples dried with infrared 30 s + microwave 5 min had higher compression strength in the direction perpendicular to the fibers and samples dried with microwave for 5 min had higher compression strength in the direction parallel to the fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]