Relationship between middle school students’ metacognition and problem-posing performance: A serial mediation analysis

This study tests a model that predicts the problem-posing performance of sixth-grade students (independent variable metacognition, mediator variables mathematics and native language course success scores at the end of the year). The research was conducted with the relational model. The results regarding the mediation effect indicated that the mathematics course success scores and the native language course success scores were separately full mediators in the effect metacognition has on problem-posing performance. The results regarding serial mediation effect revealed that the mathematics course success scores and native language course success scores had a full mediating effect on the effect of metacognition on problem-posing performance. &nbsp

The effect of body mass index on traditional 226 Hz tympanometry and wideband tympanometry test results

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effects of body mass index (BMI) on traditional 226 Hz tympanometry and wideband tympanometry (WBT) to gain a better understanding of resonance frequency. Patients and Methods: A total of 158 ears of 79 volunteers (19 males, 60 females; mean age: 20.5 years; range, 18 to 27 years) who had normal hearing and normal otoscopic examination findings were included in the study between October 2019 and June 2020. By measuring the weight and height of the participants, their BMI values were classified into three groups: ≤18.5 kg/m2 (underweight), 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m2 (normal weight), and ≥25.0 kg/m2 (overweight). Tympanometric evaluations were conducted using the Interacoustics-Titan WBT. Results: The difference of ear canal volume (ECV) was significant between the two sexes (p<0.05), while there was no significant difference in the tympanometric peak pressure, compliance, gradient, and resonance frequency between the sexes (p>0.05). A significant difference was found in the ECV and resonance frequency among the three BMI groups (p<0.05). Accordingly, as the BMI increased, the ECV increased and the resonance frequency decreased (p<0.05). Conclusion: The BMI may affect ECV and resonance frequency values which should be considered during the examination

Integrated decision support model for performance evaluation of public staff: Using AHP and fuzzy TOPSIS

Küreselleşmenin ve teknolojinin hızla gelişmesi insan kaynağında da yeni ihtiyaçlar oluşturmuştur. Bu ihtiyaçları karşılayabilmenin ve nitelikli iş gücünü elde tutmanın bir yolu da kurumların çalışanlarının performansını değerlendirmesi ile gerçekleşir. Kamu kurumları, verimliliği ve hizmet kalitesini etkileyen kriterleri göz önünde bulundurarak bu değerlendirme sürecini yönetir. Bu çalışmada, kamu performans gereklilikleri dikkate alınarak belirlenen dört ana ve yirmi alt kriter altında bir belediye bünyesinde çalışan yüz personelin performans değerlendirilmiştir. Çalışmada, Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) ile kriterlerin ağırlıklandırılması ve bulanık Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) kullanılarak personelin performans değerlendirmesi yapılmıştır. Ayrıca, bu çalışmada ilgili personelin mevcut performans değerlendirmesi sonuçları ile kullanılan modelden elde edilen sonuçlar lineer regresyon kullanılarak karşılaştırılmıştır. Elde edilen bulgular sonucunda AHP entegreli bulanık TOPSIS modelinin performans değerlendirmede mevcut değerlendirmeden farklı ve etkin sonuçlar elde edebileceği ortaya çıkmıştır. Bu çalışmanın karar vericilere personel değerlendirmesinde objektif kararlar verilmesi ve adil değerlendirmelerin yapılması adına katkı sağlaması beklenmektedir.The rapid development of globalization and technology has created new needs in human resources. One of the ways to meet those needs and retain qualified workforce is by evaluating personnel performance in institutions. Public institutions manage this evaluation process by considering the criteria affecting efficiency and service quality. In this study, performance evaluation of one hundred personnel working in a municipality was carried out under four main and twenty sub-criteria determined by considering public performance requirements. In the study, Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to weight criteria and fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) to evaluate personnel performance. In addition, in this study, the current performance evaluation results of the relevant personnel and the results obtained from the model used were compared using linear regression. The findings revealed that the AHP integrated fuzzy TOPSIS model can achieve different and effective results in performance evaluation than the current evaluation. It is expected that this study will contribute to decision makers to make objective decisions in personnel evaluation and to make fair evaluations.WOS:0007673163000082-s2.0-8512877477

Circadian dysfunction in adipose tissue: Chronotherapy in metabolic diseases

Essential for survival and reproduction, the circadian timing system (CTS) regulates adaptation to cyclical changes such as the light/dark cycle, temperature change, and food availability. The regulation of energy homeostasis possesses rhythmic properties that correspond to constantly fluctuating needs for energy production and consumption. Adipose tissue is mainly responsible for energy storage and, thus, operates as one of the principal components of energy homeostasis regulation. In accordance with its roles in energy homeostasis, alterations in adipose tissue's physiological processes are associated with numerous pathologies, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. These alterations also include changes in circadian rhythm. In the current review, we aim to summarize the current knowledge regarding the circadian rhythmicity of adipogenesis, lipolysis, adipokine secretion, browning, and non-shivering thermogenesis in adipose tissue and to evaluate possible links between those alterations and metabolic diseases. Based on this evaluation, potential therapeutic approaches, as well as clock genes as potential therapeutic targets, are also discussed in the context of chronotherapy

Alleviation of Aluminum-Induced Oxidative Stress, Trace Element, and Mineral Levels in Rat Tissues Protective Role of Pomegranate Juice (Punica Granatum L.)

The present investigation examined the impact of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) juice on trace elements, minerals, and oxidative stress in relation to the potential harm inflicted by aluminum chloride (AlCl3) in rats. Rats were split into four groups at random for this purpose: control (C), pomegranate juice (PJ), aluminum chloride (A), and PJ + A. For 30 days, PJ was orally administered by gavage at a rate of 4 mL/kg every other day, whereas AlCl3 was administered intraperitoneally at 8.3 mg/kg. Spectrophotometric analysis was used to measure the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) enzyme activity in various tissues. In addition, high-resolution continuum source flame atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS FAAS) was used to determine the amounts of the elements Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Ca, and Mg in the tissues. It was discovered that when PJ therapy was applied to all tissues, the antioxidant enzymes SOD and CAT activity increased, the GSH level rose, and the MDA level, a sign of lipid peroxidation, decreased. Al and Ca levels increased in the A group relative to the C group in all tissues, whereas they decreased in the A + PJ group relative to the A group. Group A exhibited a proportionate increase in Fe levels in the liver and renal tissues compared with group C. Furthermore, the A group’s brain tissue had a higher Fe level than the C group’s. The A + PJ group’s brain tissue had a lower Fe level than the A group’s. Our findings demonstrate that PJ therapy greatly decreased Al buildup and oxidative stress in tissues while controlling variations in trace element levels. In addition, it is concluded that PJ might have value as a strong chelating agent to prevent Al poisoning. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

Biomaterials in used dental application

Genel sağlık için ağız ve diş sağlığı oldukça önemlidir. Ağız ve diş hastalıkları dünyada en yaygın görülen sağlık problemlerinin başında gelmektedir. Diş eti hastalıkları; dişi çevreleyen ve dişi destekleyen kemiğe kadar ilerleyen, dişeti iltihabı ve diş problemlerini kapsamaktadır. Tedavi süresince dental birçok işlemde biyomalzeme kullanılmaktadır. Tedavinin etkinliğini değiştiren unsurlar arasında kullanılan malzemeler, malzemelerin kalitesi ve biyouyumu önem arz etmektedir. Vucüt dışarıdan yapısına katılan, yabancı maddelere karşı tepki göstermesine rağmen; dokulara göre geliştirilmiş biyouyumluluk gösteren biyomalzemeleri kabul etmektedir. Doku ortamı içerisinde herhangi bir hasara karşı; yüzey konfigürasyonu geliştirme, dokuyu indükleme ve inflamasyona karşı red cevabı oluşturma, biyomalzemelerin en önemli fiziksel özellikleri arasındadır. Bu makale de amaç, dental uygulamalarda kullanılan biyomalzemeleri tanımlamak, sınıflandırmak ve görevlerini araştırmaktır.Oral and dental health is very important for overall health. Oral and dental diseases are among the most common health problems in the world. Gum diseases involve gingivitis and dental problems, extending to the surrounding and supporting bone. During treatment, biomaterials are used in many dental procedures. There are important factors that change the effectiveness of the treatment like the materials that are used, the quality of those materials, and their biocompatibility. Although the body reacts against foreign substances that are implanted into its structure, the body accepts the biocompatible biomaterials developed for tissues. Against any damage in the tissue environment, improving surface configuration, inducing tissue, and create a rejection to inflammation are among the most important physical properties of biomaterials. The aim of this article is to identify, classify and investigate the biomaterials used in dental practices

Diurnal changes in capecitabine clock-controlled metabolism enzymes are responsible for its pharmacokinetics in male mice

The circadian timing system controls absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination processes of drug pharmacokinetics over a 24-h period. Exposure of target tissues to the active form of the drug and cytotoxicity display variations depending on the chronopharmacokinetics. For anticancer drugs with narrow therapeutic ranges and dose-limiting side effects, it is particularly important to know the temporal changes in pharmacokinetics. A previous study indicated that pharmacokinetic profile of capecitabine was different depending on dosing time in rat. However, it is not known how such difference is attributed with respect to diurnal rhythm. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated capecitabine-metabolizing enzymes in a diurnal rhythm-dependent manner. To this end, C57BL/6J male mice were orally treated with 500 mg/kg capecitabine at ZT1, ZT7, ZT13, or ZT19. We then determined pharmacokinetics of capecitabine and its metabolites, 5 '-deoxy-5-fluorocytidine (5 ' DFCR), 5 '-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5 ' DFUR), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), in plasma and liver. Results revealed that plasma C-max and AUC(0-6h) (area under the plasma concentration-time curve from 0 to 6 h) values of capecitabine, 5 ' DFUR, and 5-FU were higher during the rest phase (ZT1 and ZT7) than the activity phase (ZT13 and ZT19) (p < 0.05). Similarly, C-max and AUC(0-6h) values of 5 ' DFUR and 5-FU in liver were higher during the rest phase than activity phase (p < 0.05), while there was no significant difference in liver concentrations of capecitabine and 5 ' DFCR. We determined the level of the enzymes responsible for the conversion of capecitabine and its metabolites at each ZT. Results indicated the levels of carboxylesterase 1 and 2, cytidine deaminase, uridine phosphorylase 2, and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (p < 0.05) are being rhythmically regulated and, in turn, attributed different pharmacokinetics profiles of capecitabine and its metabolism. This study highlights the importance of capecitabine administration time to increase the efficacy with minimum adverse effects.Istanbul Universit

Histopathological view of benign essential blepharospasm: Orbicularis oculi hormone receptor levels

Objectives: Benign essential blepharospasm (BEB) is a focal dystonia characterized by involuntary contractions of the orbicularis oculi and periocular muscles. We aimed to investigate the effects of muscle receptor levels on the etiopathogenesis of blepharospasm by evaluating the orbicularis oculi estrogen receptor (ER) and androgen receptor (AR) levels. Methods: Four blepharospasm patients (2 females and 2 males) who underwent upper lid blepharoplasty and/or orbicularis myomectomy and 4 healthy cases (2 females, 2 males) that had upper lid blepharoplasty were included. The pretarsal, preseptal, and orbital parts of the orbicularis muscles of the patients who underwent orbicularis myomectomy and the waste muscle tissue materials taken from the preseptal orbicularis muscles of the patients who had only upper blepharoplasty were analyzed. Immunohistochemical staining was performed with estrogen alpha and androgen. Results: In healthy men, the orbicularis oculi muscle was stained with ER at a moderate intensity and with AR at a high intensity. In men with blepharospasm, the orbicularis oculi were not stained with ER at all, but at a high intensity with AR. In healthy women, the orbicularis oculi were stained with ER and AR at a high intensity (>50%). In women with blepharospasm, the staining intensities of both receptors were moderate. Conclusion: We determined a decrease in ER and AR in females and almost the absence of ER in males with BEB. This decrease in ER may be associated with a functional abnormality in mitochondria and the decrease in hormonal receptors may be associated with sarcopenia in orbicularis oculi muscle fibers

İki Pozitif Azot Atomu İçeren Di-katyonik Yüzey Aktif Maddelerin Sentezi ve 1.0 M HCl Ortamında Korozyon İnhibisyon Etkinliklerinin İncelenmesi

Bu çalışmada, kimyasal yapısında iki adet pozitif yüklü kuaterner amonyum azotu içeren üç tane di-katyonik yüzey aktif madde sentezlenmiştir. Sentezlenen yüzey aktif maddelerin kimyasal yapıları çeşitli spektroskopik yöntemlerle (FT-IR, 1H NMR ve 13C NMR) ispatlanmıştır. Sentezlenen ve moleküler yapıları aydınlatılan 3 adet ürünün, 1.0 M HCl asidik ortamda, kütle kaybı yöntemi kullanılarak yumuşak çeliğin korozyonuna karşı inhibisyon etkinlikleri belirlenmiştir. Farklı inhibitör konsantrasyonlarına sahip asidik çözeltilere, metal kuponların, oda sıcaklığında 24 saat süreyle daldırılması suretiyle yapılan korozyon testleri sonucunda, her üç yüzey aktif madde için, birbirine yakın ve etkin inhibisyon verimleri elde edilmiştir. Moleküler yapılarında bulunan uzun karbon zincirindeki karbon sayısının fazlalığı korozyona karşı korumada etkin bir faktör olduğu gösterilmiştir. Uzun zincirindeki karbon sayısı en fazla olan inhibitörün asit ortamındaki korozyon inhibisyon etkinliğinin diğerlerine göre biraz daha yüksek olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Bunun yanı sıra, korozyona karşı etkinlikleri ile ilişkilendirmek adına, söz konusu di-katyonik yüzey aktif maddeler için kritik misel konsantrasyonu, bu konsantrasyondaki yüzey gerilimleri, misel oluşum serbest enerjisi, köpük kararlılığı gibi bazı fizikokimyasal parametreleri de hesaplama yoluna gidilmiştir. Yüzey aktif maddelerin metal yüzeyine adsorbe olarak yüzeyi korozyondan koruduklarının önemli bir destekleyici delili olan taramalı elektron mikroskobu (SEM) ile yüzey görüntüleri de alınmış ve asit çözeltisine daldırılan metal yüzeylerindeki pürüzlülük halleri belirlenmiştir

Validity and Reliability of Turkish version of the Schizophrenia Hope Scale

This study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Schizophrenia Hope Scale (SHS). This methodological study was carried out with 214 participants diagnosed with schizophrenia who were followed up in the psychiatry outpatient clinics of a university hospital between August 2021 and August 2022. Data were collected using an Information Form and the Schizophrenia Hope Scale (SHS). Language and content validity, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, item-total correlation, Cronbach alpha coefficient, and test-retest reliability methods were used in the validity and reliability analysis of the scale. As a result of the exploratory factor analysis, no item was excluded from the scale and it was determined that the scale has nine items and a single-factor structure. The single-factor structure of the scale was confirmed with the confirmatory factor analysis. The Cronbach Alpha coefficient of the scale was 0.901 and the factor loads ranged between 0.70 and 1.0. The test-retest correlation coefficient was r=0.959. The Turkish version of the scale was found to be valid and reliable. SCH is important since it represents the subjective meaning of hope from schizophrenic patients’ perspective and allows an easier measurement of the level of hope in this population. Mental health professionals can use SHS to determine or increase the level of hope of schizophrenia patients in their studies