Ahi Evran University

About: Ahi Evran University is a education organization based out in Kırşehir, Turkey. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Density functional theory & Ab initio. The organization has 842 authors who have published 2270 publications receiving 21904 citations.

Is spatial variation in food availability an explanation for a Bergmannian size pattern in a North American hibernating, burrowing mammal? An information‐theoretic approach

Abstract: Predictable empirical patterns of variation in body size along spatial and environmental gradients have been documented within many species of mammals. Four main hypotheses, heat conservation, heat dissipation, primary productivity and seasonality, have been proposed to explain these patterns of variation in body size. In this study, we reported an analysis of geographic variation in body size of Richardson's ground squirrels Urocitellus richardsonii, a North American hibernating, burrowing mammal. Firstly, we evaluated whether a Bergmannian size pattern was exhibited by Richardson's ground squirrels. Secondly, we used an information-theoretic approach to test which of the four main hypotheses best explain(s) geographic variation in body size of Richardson's ground squirrels or to assess whether, as proposed by McNab's ‘resource rule’ or Huston and Wolverton's ‘eNPP rule’, the primary productivity hypothesis is the only explanation. Richardson's ground squirrels exhibited a pattern of increasing body size towards the colder areas, that is, more productive and seasonal central Alberta and foothills of the southern Alberta Rocky Mountains, indicative of a Bergmannian size pattern. Plant productivity and seasonality in plant productivity were likely the primary underlying factors generating the observed pattern of geographic variation in body size. Thus, our results supported primary productivity and seasonality hypotheses. From these results, we see that McNab's ‘resource rule’ or Huston and Wolverton's ‘eNPP rule’ (i.e. spatial variation in food availability) is an explanation for a Bergmannian size pattern in Richardson's ground squirrels, but not the only explanation.

Attitudes of Preschool Teachers towards Using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)

Abstract: The aim of the study is to determine the attitudes of preschool teachers towards using technological tools and to analyze it in terms of different variables. The research was conducted based on descriptive study model. Working group was consisted of 103 teachers working at kindergartens in city center of Kirsehir and Malatya in the fall semester of 2014-2015 academic years. A personal information form created by researchers and “The Scale of Attitudes towards Using Technological Tools in Preschool Education "developed by Kol (2012) were used to collect data. Frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation were used in order to analyze the data T-test for independent samples and one-way variance analysis were used in order to determine the relationships between variables. As a result of the study, the teachers showed a very positive attitude towards using technological tools. It was found out that preschool education graduate teachers showed a more positive attitudes towards using technological tools as comparing with the distance education graduate preschool teachers.