Teacher feedback and student learning-The students' perspective.

INTRODUCTION: Feedback from teachers to students plays an important role in informing students about the outcome of their assessments. It contributes to students' ongoing learning. The aim of this study was to investigate dental students' perceptions of the feedback given to them by their teachers in Europe. MATERIALS & METHODS: An online questionnaire was completed by dental students throughout Europe in this quantitative study. Data were collected via Google Forms, transferred to an excel spreadsheet and analysed using SPSS software Version 24. RESULTS: 234 students studying in 9 different European countries completed the questionnaire. These students were born in 36 different countries within and beyond Europe. 84% (n = 197) were undergraduate students. 20.3% (n = 48) students reported receiving feedback following summative assessments. 81.2% (n = 190) students reported constructive criticism as their preferred mode of receiving feedback. 11.3% (n = 26) students did not know who delivered the feedback to them. 71% (n = 166) students felt that the feedback they received had a significant impact on their future learning. CONCLUSION: It would appear that there is some diversity in dental students' perceptions of: i) who delivers feedback, ii) when feedback is given, iii) the consistency of feedback received, and iv) the style of feedback they preferred compared to that delivered by tutors. Feedback is being provided to dental students in an appropriate and helpful manner, although there is still room for improvement. Students were aware of the significance of feedback and its impact on future learning. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Most European dental students prefer to receive constructive feedback. Feedback was seen to have a significant impact on future learning despite over one in five students not knowing who had delivered their feedback. Feedback following clinical teaching should have a positive effect on students' skills and motivation to learn.

Normative and subjective need for orthodontic treatment within different age groups in a population in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the normative and subjective need for orthodontic treatment within different age groups in Turkey. METHODS: One thousand and sixteen patients from seven different demographic regions of Turkey (Marmara, Black Sea, East Anatolia, Southeastern Anatolia, Mediterranean, Aegean, and Central Anatolia Region) (mean age ± SD: 12.80 ± 3.57 years) were randomly selected and divided into six age groups (7-8,9-10,11-12,13-14,15-16, and 17-18 year-olds) and categorized according to the dental health component (DHC) of the index for orthodontic treatment need (IOTN). Additionally, the patients were asked to indicate the photograph that was most similar to their own dentition from the 10-point scale of the aesthetic component of IOTN. RESULTS: The DHC of IOTN was not significantly different between the six age groups (P > 0.05). However, no/slight need (aesthetic component 1-4) for orthodontic treatment according to AC of IOTN was significantly higher in 13-14,15-16, and 17-18 age groups than 7-8, 9-10, and 11-12 age groups (P < 0.05). No sex differences were found in both DHC and aesthetic component of IOTN between age groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The normative need distribution was homogeneous within all the age groups according to DHC. However, the subjective need for orthodontic treatment was higher in the younger age groups.

Widespread Distribution of Apple mosaic virus on Apple in Turkey.

From 2002 to 2003, symptoms suggestive of Apple mosaic virus (ApMV; a member of the genus Ilavirus) infection on apple (Malus pumila L.) trees were observed in orchards in the central Anatolia Region of Turkey. Symptoms on leaves included pale-to-bright cream spots, mosaic, and yellowing on the leaves. A survey was conducted during May and June in three provinces (Isparta, Karaman, and Nigde) for disease symptoms. Leaf samples from apple cvs. Anna, Gala, Gold Star, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Jonathan, Starking, and Rajka were collected and tested for the presence of ApMV with specific antisera (Agdia, Elkhart, IN) using the manufacturer's protocol for double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA). ApMV was found in 68.3% of 461 samples tested. The number of samples for each cultivar tested and percent positive for ApMV were as follows: 22 (9.1%), 34 (8.8%), 22 (13.6%), 30 (73.3%), 270 (95.5%), 46 (54.3%), and 22 (9.1%) for cvs. Anna, Gala, Gold Star, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Starking, and Rajka, respectively. All 15 samples tested of cv. Jonathan were negative using DAS-ELISA. Samples that tested positive for ApMV were mechanically inoculated onto Chenopodium amaranticolor, C. quinoa, and Cucumis sativus leaves using an inoculum prepared by homogenizing leaves in phosphate buffered saline containing 2.5% (vol/vol) nicotine. Inoculated C. quinoa showed inconspicuous mottling, and Cucumis sativus showed chlorotic local lesions that progressed to systemic chlorosis and stunting. No symptoms were observed on inoculated C. amaranticolor as previously reported for ApMV (3,4). The presence of ApMV in C. quinoa and Cucumis sativus were verified using DAS-ELISA, but ApMV was not detected in C. amaranticolor. Although ApMV has been reported in several different crops in Turkey, there have been only two unsubstantiated reports of ApMV-infected apple in the country (1,2). This study conclusively demonstrates ApMV infection of apples in Turkey and suggests that it is widely spread. References: (1) Ü. Fidan. J. Turk. Phythopathol. 23:3, 127, 1994. (2) M. Özkan and S. Kurçman. Bitki Koruma Bül. 16:106, 1976. (3) S. J. Petybridge et al. Ann. Appl. Biol. 141:77, 2002. (4) T. Sano et al. Ann. Appl. Biol. 106:305, 1985.