The Effects of Extensive Reading on Turkish Learners’ L2 Reading/Writing Performance and Foreign Language Self-Concept

Melda Yılmaz,Derin Atay,Mustafa ER 아시아영어교육학회 2020 The Journal of Asia TEFL Vol.17 No.1

This study investigates the impact of extensive reading (ER) program, which integrates extensive reading with in-class follow-up writing activities, on Turkish EFL learners’ L2 reading/writing and foreign language self-concept (FLSC). In this research, conducted in a Turkish university, experimental design was used and the experimental group was exposed to ER for six weeks different from the control group. Data was collected by means of L2 reading and writing tests and Foreign Language Self-concept Scale (FLSCS) (Er, 2007) given at the beginning and at the end of the intervention, and by means of focus group interviews carried out with 10 randomly chosen experimental group students. Analyses of the data showed a significant difference between control and experimental groups regarding their L2 reading and writing performance. The difference between the groups’ FLSC was found to be insignificant, though within group analyses indicated that ER affected the students’ FLSC positively. Qualitative data, interviews, supported the quantitative data and revealed that the project also improved students’ motivation and self-confidence as well as various aspects of L2 language ability and fostered their positive self images as EFL learners. The insights gained from the study provide important implications for English language teaching programmes in EFL context.

Bilateral and pseudobilateral tonsilloliths: Three dimensional imaging with cone-beam computed tomography

Melda Mısırlıoglu,Rana Nalcaci,Mehmet Zahit Adisen,Selmi Yardımcı 대한영상치의학회 2013 Imaging Science in Dentistry Vol.43 No.3

Purpose: Tonsilloliths are calcifications found in the crypts of the palatal tonsils and can be detected on routine panoramic examinations. This study was performed to highlight the benefits of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in the diagnosis of tonsilloliths appearing bilaterally on panoramic radiographs. Materials and Methods: The sample group consisted of 7 patients who had bilateral radiopaque lesions at the area of the ascending ramus on panoramic radiographs. CBCT images for every patient were obtained from both sides of the jaw to determine the exact locations of the lesions and to rule out other calcifications. The calcifications were evaluated on the CBCT images using Ez3D2009 software. Additionally, the obtained images in DICOM format were transferred to ITK SNAP 2.4.0 pc software for semiautomatic segmentation. Segmentation was performed using contrast differences between the soft tissues and calcifications on grayscale images, and the volume in mm3 of the segmented three dimensional models were obtained. Results: CBCT scans revealed that what appeared on panoramic radiographs as bilateral images were in fact unilateral lesions in 2 cases. The total volume of the calcifications ranged from 7.92 to 302.5mm3. The patients with bilaterally multiple and large calcifications were found to be symptomatic. Conclusion: The cases provided the evidence that tonsilloliths should be considered in the differential diagnosis of radiopaque masses involving the mandibular ramus, and they highlight the need for a CBCT scan to differentiate pseudo- or ghost images from true bilateral pathologies.

Leather Purpil Lampshade

Melda Ozdemir 한국디자인학회 2020 한국디자인학회 국제초대전도록 Vol.2020 No.11

Is Ankle Kinesio Taping Effective to Immediately Change Balance, Range of Motion, and Muscle Strength in Healthy Individuals? A Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial

Melda Soysal Tomruk,Murat Tomruk,Emrullah Alkan,Nihal Gelecek 대한가정의학회 2022 Korean Journal of Family Medicine Vol.43 No.2

Background: The ankle–foot complex plays a key role in maintaining balance because it collects proprioceptive data. Kinesio taping (KT) is a rehabilitative method performed by the cutaneous application of a special elastic tape. The mechanical correction technique of KT was suggested to reposition the joints and alter balance parame-ters. The aim was to reveal the pure effects of ankle KT on balance, range of motion (ROM), and muscle strength in healthy individuals.Methods: Forty healthy students were recruited for this randomized, sham-controlled study at a local university. Participants were divided into two groups—experimental and sham application groups. The primary outcome measures were balance parameters. Athlete Single Leg (ASL), Limits of Stability (LoS), and Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction and Balance (CTSIB) were used to measure single-leg dynamic balance, dynamic postural control, and sensory interaction of balance, respectively. Dorsiflexion ROM and dorsiflexor muscle strength were the secondary outcomes.Results: The ASL score showed significant improvement only in the experimental KT group (P=0.02); however, the LoS score increased significantly in both groups (P<0.05). CTSIB scores, dorsiflexion ROM, and dorsiflexor muscle strength for both ankles did not change in any of the groups after intervention (P>0.05). Moreover, there was no su-periority of one intervention over the other in improving any of the variables (P>0.05).Conclusion: The mechanical correction technique of KT can be useful in providing immediate improvement in single-leg dynamic balance in healthy individuals. However, it may not be effective to significantly change the sen-sory interaction of balance, dorsiflexion ROM, and muscle strength.

Bilateral and pseudobilateral tonsilloliths: Three dimensional imaging with cone-beam computed tomography

Misirlioglu, Melda,Nalcaci, Rana,Adisen, Mehmet Zahit,Yardimci, Selmi Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology 2013 Imaging Science in Dentistry Vol.43 No.3

Purpose: Tonsilloliths are calcifications found in the crypts of the palatal tonsils and can be detected on routine panoramic examinations. This study was performed to highlight the benefits of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in the diagnosis of tonsilloliths appearing bilaterally on panoramic radiographs. Materials and Methods: The sample group consisted of 7 patients who had bilateral radiopaque lesions at the area of the ascending ramus on panoramic radiographs. CBCT images for every patient were obtained from both sides of the jaw to determine the exact locations of the lesions and to rule out other calcifications. The calcifications were evaluated on the CBCT images using Ez3D2009 software. Additionally, the obtained images in DICOM format were transferred to ITK SNAP 2.4.0 pc software for semiautomatic segmentation. Segmentation was performed using contrast differences between the soft tissues and calcifications on grayscale images, and the volume in mm3 of the segmented three dimensional models were obtained. Results: CBCT scans revealed that what appeared on panoramic radiographs as bilateral images were in fact unilateral lesions in 2 cases. The total volume of the calcifications ranged from 7.92 to $302.5mm^3$. The patients with bilaterally multiple and large calcifications were found to be symptomatic. Conclusion: The cases provided the evidence that tonsilloliths should be considered in the differential diagnosis of radiopaque masses involving the mandibular ramus, and they highlight the need for a CBCT scan to differentiate pseudo- or ghost images from true bilateral pathologies.

Prediction of rebound in shotcrete using deep bi-directional LSTM

Ahmet A. Süzen,Melda A. Çakıroğlu 사단법인 한국계산역학회 2019 Computers and Concrete, An International Journal Vol.24 No.6

During the application of shotcrete, a part of the concrete bounces back after hitting to the surface, the reinforcement or previously sprayed concrete. This rebound material is definitely not added to the mixture and considered as waste. In this study, a deep neural network model was developed to predict the rebound material during shotcrete application. The factors affecting rebound and the datasets of these parameters were obtained from previous experiments. The Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) architecture of the proposed deep neural network model was used in accordance with this data set. In the development of the proposed four-tier prediction model, the dataset was divided into 90% training and 10% test. The deep neural network was modeled with 11 dependents 1 independent data by determining the most appropriate hyper parameter values for prediction. Accuracy and error performance in success performance of LSTM model were evaluated over MSE and RMSE. A success of 93.2% was achieved at the end of training of the model and a success of 85.6% in the test. There was a difference of 7.6% between training and test. In the following stage, it is aimed to increase the success rate of the model by increasing the number of data in the data set with synthetic and experimental data. In addition, it is thought that prediction of the amount of rebound during dry-mix shotcrete application will provide economic gain as well as contributing to environmental protection.

The Evaluatıon of Contralateral Breast Lesıons in Breast Cancer Patıents Usıng Reductıon Mammoplasty

Lutfi Dogan,Mehmet ali Gulcelik,Melda Bulut,Niyazi Karaman,Gamze Kiziltan,Cihangir Ozaslan 한국유방암학회 2011 Journal of breast cancer Vol.14 No.3

Purpose: This study evaluated the importance of routine pathological examination of contralateral breast specimens in breast cancer patients using reduction mammoplasty. Methods: The weight of breast tissue resected from the contralateral breast in 71 patients and the number of slices used for pathological evaluation were recorded. Breast lesions found in the contralateral breast and accompanying lesions with tumors were examined. Results: High risk proliferative lesions were reported in the contralateral breast of eight (11.2%) patients, and low-risk lesions were detected in 18 (25%). While the mean age of the patients with high-risk lesions was 45.6, it was 52.8 for the other patients (p=0.036). Conclusion: Bilateral reduction mammoplasty may be beneficial to delineate some pathologies in contralateral breasts even in those patients with normal clinical and radiological findings. The incidental discovery of these pathologies is much more likely in young breast cancer patients.

Health-Promoting Behaviors, Health Literacy, and Levels of Knowledge about Smoking-Related Diseases among Smokers and Non-smokers: A Cross-Sectional Study

( Cihat Celebi ),( Ebru Calik-kutukcu ),( Melda Saglam ),( Cemile Bozdemir-ozel ),( Deniz Inal-ince ),( Naciye Vardar-yagli ) 대한결핵 및 호흡기학회 2021 Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases Vol.84 No.2

Background: For generations, cigarette smoking has presented an important public health concern. This study aimed to compare the health-promoting behavior, exercise capacity, physical activity level, health literacy, and knowledge level of smoking-related diseases between smokers and non-smokers. Methods: The study included 71 smokers (mean age, 32.69±8.55 years) and 72 non-smokers (mean age, 31.88±9.94 years) between the ages of 20 and 60 years. Assessments included a 6-minute walking test (6MWT), Godin Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire, Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II), Cardiovascular Risk Factors Knowledge Level Scale (CARRF-KL), Asthma/COPD Awareness Questionnaire, the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Bref questionnaire (WHOQoL-Bref [TR]), and Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ). Results: The results from the study show that the number of coronary artery disease risk factors measured significantly higher among the smoker group members when compared to that of the non-smoker group members (p=0.001). Smokers had significantly lower %6MWT distance than non-smokers (84.83±4.72 and 93.45±7.16, respectively; p< 0.05). However, there were no significant differences between the smokers and non-smokers in terms of physical activity, CARRF-KL, HLQ, WHOQoL-Bref, and HPLP-II subscales or total scores (p >0.05). Additionally, while only forty-one smokers (57.7%) were active, 48 of the non-smoker group was active (66.7%). Conclusion: Smokers suffer greater negative effects to their exercise capacity in comparison to non-smokers. Although smokers and non-smokers have similar levels of health literacy and similar levels of knowledge about cardiovascular disease risk factors and obstructive lung diseases, health professionals could continue to further increase individuals’ awareness of smoking-related risk factors and continue to emphasize the importance of physical activity and exercise for protecting cardiopulmonary health.

Associations among Physical Activity, Comorbidity, Functional Capacity, Peripheral Muscle Strength and Depression in Breast Cancer Survivors

Vardar-Yagli, Naciye,Sener, Gul,Saglam, Melda,Calik-Kutukcu, Ebru,Arikan, Hulya,Inal-Ince, Deniz,Savci, Sema,Altundag, Kadri,Kutluk, Tezer,Ozisik, Yavuz,Kaya, Ergun Baris Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.2

Physical inactivity may an important outcome in the prognosis of breast cancer. Physical activity levels decrease significantly for breast cancer patients following the treatment and remain low after oncology treatment is completed. The aim of this study was to determine physical activity levels and to examine associations among physical activity, comorbidity, functional capacity, peripheral muscle strength, and psychosocial status in breast cancer patients. Forty breast cancer survivors were included in this study. Demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded. Physical activity was assessed with a short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). We defined comorbid diseases according to the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Functional capacity was evaluated with a six-minute walk test (6MWT). Peripheral muscle strength was measured for quadriceps femoris muscle with a hand-held dynamometer. Psychosocial status was measured with the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS). Forty percent of patients were inactive. The IPAQ total score was significantly related with quadriceps muscle strength (r=0.492; p<0.001) and HADS depression score (r=0.341; p<0.05). Marked correlations were also observed between IPAQ walking score and quadriceps muscle strength (r=0.449; p<0.001), HADS depression score (r=0.341; p<0.05), and CCI (r=-0.433; p<0.001). The CCI score was also markedly associated with quadriceps muscle strength (r=-0.413; p<0.001). 6MWT distance was not significantly correlated with any of the parameters. Regression analyses revealed that psychosocial status and peripheral muscle strength were significant predictors of physical activity estimated with the IPAQ short form and when combined, they explained 35% of the variance. Comorbidities, peripheral muscle strength and psychosocial status partially explain the variability of physical activity level in breast cancer survivors. These results suggest that physical inactivity contributes to worsening health in breast cancer survivors.

Knowledge and Attitudes about Human Papillomaviruses and Immunization among Turkish Pediatricians

Ozsurekci, Yasemin,Oncel, Eda Karadag,Bayhan, Cihangul,Celik, Melda,Ozkaya-Parlakay, Aslinur,Arvas, Mehmet,Ceyhan, Mehmet Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.12

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infectious agents, and the effectiveness of vaccine delivery programs will depend largely upon whether providers recommend vaccines. The objectives of this study were to examine pediatrician characteristics, knowledge, and attitudes associated with HPV and HPV immunization. Materials and Methods: Attendees of the national pediatric meeting in 2011, were asked to complete a questionnaire that, aside from demographic information, elicited level of agreement with statements regarding HPV, its related diseases, and HPV vaccination. It also documented attitudes and beliefs about HPV vaccination. Results: Of the 480 attendees, 226 (47%) filled in the questionnaire. The level of pediatrician HPV-related knowledge varied. The majority (78%) were aware that HPV infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection, while 51% were unaware that a condom is ineffective protection against HPV infection. Between 60-80% of respondents were aware of the effectiveness of HPV vaccination for women. On the other hand, only 10% were aware of reasons why men should be vaccinated against HPV. The majority (75%) of Turkish pediatricians were likely to recommend HPV vaccination to their daughter, if they had one. Seventy percent of pediatricians agreed that the HPV vaccination should be added to the National Immunization Program (NIP) in Turkey. However, the respondents documented concerns about the cost of the vaccination. Conclusions: Increasing pediatricians' knowledge and awareness of HPV and HPV vaccination may assist with the implementation of an effective NIP.