Factors affecting Turkish students＇ achievement in mathematics

Following past researches, student background, learning strategies, self-related cognitions in mathematics and school climate variables were important for achievement. The purpose of this study was to identify a number of factors that represent the relationship among sets of interrelated variables using principal component factor analysis and examine the contribution of each factor to the explanation of the variance in the students＇ mathematics score using multiple regression analysis. The sample was prepared from students who participated in Programme for International Student Assessment （PISA） in Turkey. These data consisted of 3765 15 year-old Turkish students in 158 schools. The results showed that four factors under study totally accounted for approximately 34 percent of the variance in mathematics achievement. All of the factors had statistically significant effects on the achievement. The findings are very important for Turkish education system because the fact that changing school climate and improving the learning strategies are much easier to achieve than changing background factors affecting students＇ performance.     

The effect of manufacturing strategy on organizational performance

The research reported in this article investigated the effect of manufacturing strategy on organizational performance in the Malaysian electrical and electronic sector. It was revealed that a cost‐based strategy greatly affected the performance of organizations participating in this study. This result implied that a cost‐based strategy is still a dominant concern for manufacturing firms. The information gathered through this study is useful for strategy formulation and for understanding how a strategy can lead to improved organizational performance in general.     

Plasma proteinase inhibitory activity in ectopic and molar pregnancy

Antitryptic, antichymotryptic and alpha 2- macroglobulin activities were measured in sera of normal nonpregnant and normal pregnant women and women with tubal ectopic pregnancy and molar pregnancies in the first 5 to 7 weeks of pregnancy calculated from the last menstrual period. While alpha 2-macroglobulin decreased in early normal pregnancy compared to nonpregnant state (p<0.001), in ectopic and molar pregnancies there was an increase in alpha 2- macroglobulin activity (p < 0.001), as compared to nonpregnant and normal pregnant women. Antitryptic activity did not increase in normal and ectopic pregnancy, however was increased in molar pregnancy (p < 0.01). Antichymotryptic activities did not show a change either in normal pregnancy or in cases of ectopic and molar pregnancy. Drop in alpha 2- macroglobulin activity to near normal levels in ectopic, 6 weeks post surgery, correlated well with the decrease in β-hCG. However, in molar pregnancy, alpha 2- macroglobulin remained elevated even when the β-hCG levels in serum returned to zero 10 weeks after surgery. The studies suggest a major role for circulating proteinase inhibitors especially alpha 2-macroglobulin in regulating proteinase activity in normal, ectopic and molar pregnancy.     

Violence and schools in the USA: implications for counseling

This article focuses on school violence in the UnitedStates, kindergarten (k) through 12^th grade, andit addresses the following topics: (a) a briefbackground of school violence in the USA, (b) etiologyand consequences of school violence, (c) preventionprograms and efforts, (d) preventive counseling andconsultation, (e) counseling the violence prone andviolence victim, (f) international and cross-culturalimplications, and (g) discussion.     

Role of water molecules in sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate reversed micelles in n-heptane

Recently molecular modeling was employed on the metal-extracted aggregates that form during the liquid/liquid extraction of transition metals. During the extraction process, the aqueous phase pH is adjusted with sodium hydroxide. In additional to the formation of the transition metal-extractant reversed micelles, sodium-bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (NaDEHP) reversed micelles can also form. According to the classical model of reversed micelles, water molecules act as promoters for the formation of reversed micelles. Water molecules act as “gluing” agents for micellization in apolar media. Here we report a unique finding about the role of water molecules in reversed micellar aggregates using molecular modeling. The molecular modeling of the reversed micellar system of NaDEHP in n-heptane clearly shows that water molecules can act as an “antimicellization” agent. Water molecules have no gluing effect on the formation of NaDEHP reversed micelles. In fact, large NaDEHP reversed micelles are formed in “dry” conditions.     

The education of an industrial middle class in Arab-Islamic countries

The absence of an industrial middle class in Arab Islamic countries has been, and still is, a major obstacle to national development. These countries, like others in the Third World, mostly inherited their systems of industrial education from former colonial or mandated powers, that is, from industrial nations, without taking into consideration the different social and socio-economic situation. A model is proposed here for a kind of industrial university, the Djamiat Al-Sináh. The name alludes to the Mosque as a centre of common activity, and tries to express the cultural and social contexts, and the target groups, of the institution. The model relies on social and industrial evolution, and meets the urgent need of Arab societies for an alternative to Eurocentric models. In the Djamiat, a practice-oriented education is to be provided, based on principles of professional efficiency and creativity, competence and entrepreneurial initiative. The students are to become co-ordinators, organizers, technicians and industrial trainers as well as independent small businessmen. The model is understood as a contribution to the education of an industrial middle class and to the promotion of trade and industry.

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Zusammenfassung Das Fehlen einer industriellen Mittelschicht in den arabischislamischen Ländern war und ist ein Haupthindernis für die nationale Entwicklung. Diese Länder haben ebenso wie andere Dritte-Welt-Länder ihre Systeme industrieller Ausbildung von früheren Kolonialherren oder Mandatsländern übernommen, das heißt von den Industrieländern ohne Rücksicht auf die geänderte soziale und sozialökonomische Situation. Es wird hier ein Modell für eine industrielle Universität vorgeschlagen, die Djamiat Al-Sináh. Der Name deutet auf die Moschee als Zentrum allgemeiner Aktivitäten hin und versucht, die kulturellen und sozialen Zusammenhänge und die Zielgruppen der Institution auszudrücken. Das Modell basiert auf der sozialen und industriellen Evolution und erfüllt das dringende Bedürfnis arabischer Gesellschaftssysteme nach einer Alternative zu eurozentrischen Modellen. In der Djamiat soll eine praxisorientierte Bildung angeboten werden, die auf den Prinzipien professioneller Effizienz und Kreativität, Kompetenz und unternehmerischer Initiative basiert. Die Studenten sollen Berufe wie Koordinatoren, Organisatoren, Techniker und industrielle Ausbilder, sowie unabhängige Kleinunternehmer ergreifen. Das Modell wird als ein Beitrag zur Ausbildung einer industriellen Mittelschicht und zur Förderung von Handel und Industrie verstanden.

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Résumé L'absence d'une classe industrielle moyenne dans les pays arabes islamiques a été, et est toujours, un obstacle majeur au développement national. Ces pays, comme d'autres du Tiers Monde, ont pour la plupart hérité leurs systèmes d'éducation industrielle des anciennes puissances coloniales ou mandataires, c'est-à-dire des nations industrielles, sans qu'on ait pris en considération leur situation sociale et socio-économique différente. On propose ici un modèele d'université industrielle, appelé Djamiat Al-Sináh. Ce nom compare la mosquée à un centre d'activité commune et s'efforce d'exprimer les contextes culturels et sociaux, et les groupes-cibles, de l'institution. Ce modèle repose sur l'évolution sociale et industrielle, et répond au besoin urgent des sociétés arabes d'une solution de remplacement aux modèles centrés sur l'Europe. Au Djamiat, l'enseignement doit être orienté vers la pratique et se fonder sur les principes de l'efficacité professionnelle et de la créativite, de la compétence et du sens de l'entreprise. Les étudiants y sont formés pour devenir des coordinateurs, des organisateurs, des techniciens et des formateurs industriels ainsi que de petits hommes d'affaires indépendants. Ce modèle est considéré comme une contribution à la formation d'une classe industrielle moyenne et à la promotion du commerce et de l'industrie.

     

Dynamics of the Sun-Earth-Moon system

The dynamics of the Sun-Earth-Moon system is discussed with special attention to the effects of Sun’s perturbations on the Moon’s orbit around the Earth. Important secular effects are the regression of the nodes, the advance of the perigee and the increase in the Moon’s mean longitude. We discuss the relationship of the first with the occurrence of eclipses, the second with the fluctuations in the moon’s synodic period, and the third with the slowing down of the Earth’s rotation due to tidal friction. The Sun-Earth-Moon system is compared with other triple celestial systems with regard to the intensity of tidal effects. S M Alladin is a retired professor of Astronomy, Osmania University, Hyderabad. He specialized in dynamical astronomy and did research on the dynamics of colliding and merging galaxies. He is interested in the interaction between religion and science. G M Ballabh is a retired professor of Astronomy, Osmania University, Hyderabad. His field of research includes dynamical astronomy and positional astronomy. At present he is the Chairman of the Standing Advisory Committee for the Positional Astronomy Centre, Kolkata     

Linking Biochemistry Concepts to Food Safety Using Yogurt as a Model

This laboratory activity was designed to strengthen our Food and Nutritional Science students’ knowledge of biochemistry concepts and the relationship between these concepts and food science. The result was a laboratory experience in which biochemistry concepts are taught using yogurt as a model, in order to link those concepts to food safety, an important area of food science. The students employed a colorimetric method to measure the lactase activity of bacterial strains found in commercial yogurts and were encouraged to relate the activity to bacterial lactic acid production, fermentation, and food safety. Students were assessed with pre‐ and post‐test exams, laboratory reports, class performance rubrics, and the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI). The result demonstrated that the students successfully completed the learning objectives and were motivated during the activity. This exercise could be used as a template for a simplified and engaging way to introduce food science majors, as well as other students, to complex biochemistry and molecular biology concepts using food, particularly yogurt, as a model.     

Review on development progress of automatic manual transmissions control

In recent years, the sustainable development of automatic manual transmissions (AMTs) control in vehicles is conspicuous. The control applications have grown fast and steadily due to the tremendous progress in power electronics components and the control software that enhance the requirements for delivering higher vehicles performance. AMTs control strategies achieve a reduction in the driveline dynamic oscillations behavior during gear shifting and clutch starting up processes. AMTs future expectations are an increase of torque capacity, more speed ratios and the development of advanced and efficient electronic control systems. This paper concerns with the progressing view of AMTs in the past, today and future, gives an overview of the potential dynamic problems concerned with AMTs and some control strategies used to solve those problems.