Learning management system implementation: a case study in the Kyrgyz Republic

ABSTRACT

In this paper, the determinants of the intention to use online learning management system (LMS) among students in one of universities in the Kyrgyz Republic were studied, using quantitative and qualitative analysis. A total of 541 responses from students, enrolled in online courses during the fall and spring semesters 2016–2017, were used to examine students attitude toward online education. In addition, interviews with six instructors were conducted. Results showed that success of students in e-courses depend on year of education and the academic major of students. Factors, defined in the scope of this work, namely, technical characteristics of LMS, ease of use, feedback options of LMS and advantages of LMS use, were also found to be significant for students in their success in online courses. In interviews with instructors, three main points were highlighted, namely, problem with students’ perception of online courses, lack of online education experience among instructors and administrative issues.     

Government Publications and Gray Literature in Turkey

This paper investigates bibliographic control of government publications and gray literature in Turkey, in order to determine what further measures are needed to support researchers in both Turkey and abroad. It reports the circumstances surrounding the creation of The Bibliography of Government Publications prepared in 1971, and outlines how gray literature was collected in various bibliographies and thesis centers according to types and made available to researchers. The development of systems for publication and access to government publications and gray literature are evaluated in the context of current studies and past endeavors to provide for bibliographic control and access to these sources.     

Using Hands-On and Virtual Laboratories Alone or Together―Which Works Better for Acquiring Knowledge and Skills?

Journal of Science Education and Technology - Although hands-on laboratory experiments are traditionally used in schools, virtual laboratories have entered today’s classrooms, due to their...     

Correlation between mean platelet volume and B-type natriuretic peptide concentration in emergency patients with heart failure

Background

In heart failure patients, mean platelet volume (MPV) may reflect increased platelet activation or increased numbers of large, hyper-aggregable platelets. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentration in blood is a sensitive and specific marker of heart failure, correlating with the severity and prognosis of illness, in patients presenting with acute dyspnea to the emergency department. This study evaluated the correlation between BNP concentration and MPV.

Material and methods

Data were collected from 319 patients admitted to the emergency department of a cardiology hospital from January–July 2014. EDTA blood samples drawn at admission were analyzed using automated hematology system, and BNP concentration was measured using a fluorescence immunoassay.

Results

The study included 190 patients with and 129 without acute heart failure (AHF). These groups had BNP concentration of 200-5000 ng/L and 5-98 ng/L, respectively. MPV levels were significantly higher in the AHF group (P < 0.001). BNP concentrations were positively correlated with MPV (r = 0.41, P < 0.001) and neutrophil / lymphocyte ratio (r = 0.38, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Increased MPV values correlate with BNP concentration, an indicator of HF severity and clinical status, in patients with AHF admitted to the emergency department.Key words: natriuretic peptide, brain; heart failure; platelet; mean platelet volume     

Guidelines for standard photography in gross and clinical anatomy

Photography has a widespread usage in medicine and anatomy. In this review, authors focused on the usage of photography in gross and clinical anatomy. Photography in gross and clinical anatomy is not only essential for accurate documentation of morphological findings but also important in sharing knowledge and experience. Photographs of cadavers are supposed to demonstrate the required information clearly. Thus, photographs should be taken with certain techniques in order to obtain high quality and standardization. Camera, lens, lighting, background, and certain photographic techniques are among the factors to achieve precise images. A set of suggested guidelines for accomplishing these standards are given for anatomists.     

Pre-service teachers’ acceptance of mobile-technology-supported learning activities

The purpose of this study was to develop a mobile learning acceptance model for pre-service teachers and to examine the relationships among technology acceptance factors. The literature on mobile learning acceptance lacks studies on pre-service teachers and studies that include concrete mobile learning scenarios. To overcome these problems, we have developed and implemented a mobile-technology-enabled information technology course. The data collection and analysis were conducted in two separate studies. First, we developed a mobile learning acceptance scale and applied confirmatory factor analysis with 408 participants. The final instrument included 28 items measuring eight technology acceptance factors, namely behavioral intention, attitude towards use, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, social influence, facilitating conditions, self-efficacy, and anxiety. After this, we collected a new set of data from 316 participants to examine the relationships among the factors using structural equation modeling. In both studies, we investigated the respective models’ invariance across gender and discipline groups, and both models fulfilled invariance requirements. The results indicated that perceived ease of use and social influence have direct effects on behavioral intention, whereas self-efficacy has an indirect effect. Depending on the group, the explained variance of behavioral intention ranged between 18.1% and 60.6%.

     

The Effect of Augmented Reality based applications on achievement and attitude towards science course in distance education process

Education and Information Technologies - This study aims to enrich a theme in the science course in the distance education process with augmented reality-based applications and to examine the...     

Evaluation of the Steelex M600H coagulometer prothrombin time-international normalized ratio assay with Steelex test reagents

Introduction

The aim of the present study was to validate prothrombin time (PT) international normalized ratio (INR) results obtained using Steelex test reagents and a Steelex coagulometer (Steelex Scientific Instrument Company, Beijing, China), in comparison with use of a well-established standard test employing Pacific Hemostasis reagents (Fisher Diagnostics, Middletown, VA, USA) and Teco Coatron A4 coagulometer (Teco Medical Instruments GmbH, Neufahrn, Germany).

Materials and methods:

Between- and within-day coefficients of variation (CVs) of both assays were calculated using control samples provided by the test manufacturers. Samples from 90 subjects were collected and INR values were determined in a double-blind parallel manner employing both systems.

Results:

The within-day coefficients of variation (CVs) in INR estimates ranged from 2.6% (INR = 1.12) to 3.1% (INR = 2.51) for the Steelex system and from 2.1% (INR = 1.09) to 1.8% (INR = 2.8) for the Pacific test; the between-day values ran from 3.4% (INR = 1.16) to 7.9% (INR = 2.64) and from 3.3% (INR = 1.1) to 2.3% (INR = 2.7), respectively. Passing-Bablok fit of the of the Steelex and Pacific methods yielded the equation: Steelex INR = 0.85 (0.79–0.91) × Pacific INR + 0.12 (−0.02–0.21), whereas the CUSUM linearity P value was < 0.01. The mean bias as determined by the Bland-Altman test was −0.156 (−0.912–0.600).

Conclusion:

The results obtained using Steelex reagents and the M600H coagulometer are not equivalent to those obtained using Pacific Hemostasis reagents and a Teco Coatron A4 coagulometer, at least in the therapeutic range.