AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE MEASUREMENT INVARIANCE OF PISA 2012 MATHEMATICAL LITERACY TEST

The aim of this study is to investigate the measurement invariance of PISA 2012 mathematical literacy among the OECD member countries, and gender and region groups in Turkey. Among cognitive test booklets implemented in PISA 2012, booklet 8 which was used commonly by all countries was selected for this correlational survey study. The study was conducted using the dataset belonging to 23.311 students that took booklet 8 in the OECD member countries and 377 students that took this booklet in Turkey. Initially, measurement models were verified for all groups by performing a confirmatory factor analysis separately for OECD member countries, gender and region groups. The research then proceeded with the phase of testing the measurement invariance by testing the equivalence of covariance matrices for all groups. The measurement invariance was tested by means of a multi-group confirmatory factor analysis. The results revealed that the measurement invariance held true for the gender and region groups in Turkey, but not for the OECD member countries, and that the strong factorial invariance model was the one that worked most successfully among the models of measurement invariance.  Article visualizations

Effect of dental treatment under general anesthesia on oral health related quality of life in children with severe early childhood caries

Giriş ve Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, şiddetli erken çocukluk çağı çürükleri (Ş-EÇÇ) görülen çocuklarda genel anestezi (GA) altında gerçekleştirilen diş tedavilerinin çocukların ağız sağlığı ile ilişkili yaşam kalitesi üzerindeki etkisini (OHRQoL) belirlemektir. Yöntem ve Gereçler: Ş-EÇÇ nedeniyle GA altında diş tedavisi görmüş 72 aydan daha küçük çocuk hastalar ve ebebeynleri bu prospektif çalışmaya dahil edildi. Çocukların ay olarak yaşı, cinsiyeti, Amerikan Anesteziyoloji Derneği (ASA) sınıflamasına göre hasta grubu, dmft indeksi, yapılan tedavi tipleri, işlem süresi, katılımcı ebeveyn bilgileri, ebeveynin eğitim düzeyi gibi demografik bilgiler kaydedildi. Çocukların OHRQoL’sini ölçmek amacıyla Erken Çocukluk Çağı Ağız Sağlığı Etki Ölçeği (ECOHIS), çocukların diş tedavisi öncesinde ve 1 ay sonrasında ebeveynler tarafından yanıtlandı. İstatistiksel analizde bağımsız örneklem t-testi ve Wilcoxon işaretli sıralar testi kullanıldı. Bulgular: Toplam ECOHIS skoru ve alt alanlara ait skorlar, GA tedavisinden sonra istatistiksel olarak anlamlı şekilde azalmıştır (p<0.05). “Çocuk benlik bilinci/sosyal etkileşim’’ ile “aile fonksiyon’’ alt alanlarında orta düzeyde değişim saptanırken diğer alt alanlarda büyük düzeyde değişim saptanmıştır. Tartışma ve Sonuç: Ş-EÇÇ’den yakınan çocuklarda, kapsamlı diş tedavilerinin GA altında gerçekleştirilmesi çocukların OHRQoL’sini ve ebeveynleri olumlu yönde etkilediği tespit edilmiştir.Introduction: This study aims to evaluate oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) for children requiring dental treatment due to severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) following dental treatment under general anaesthesia (GA). Methods: Child patients under 72 months old who have received dental treatment under GA due to S-ECC, and their parents have been included in this study. Demographic information such as; age of the children in months, gender, The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status, dmft index, treatment types, procedure length, participating parent information, parents’ education level have been recorded. Parents have been asked to fill the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) to measure QHRQoL of children on baseline and the following month. Independent samples t-test and Wilcoxon signed rank test have been used for statistical analysis. Results: Total ECOHIS score and scores of subscale domains have reduced following treatment, and this reduction was found statistically significant (p<0.05). A large improvement was observed in all of the domains except the child self-image/social interaction and family function which exhibited a moderate effect size. Discussion and Conclusion: This study concluded that in cases where children suffer from S-ECC, extensive dental treatment under GA effects children’s QHRQoL and their parents positively

EFFECT OF EIGHT WEEKS EXERCISE ON BODY COMPOSITION AND SOME BLOOD VALUES IN WOMEN

Purpose: In this study, it was aimed to investigate the effect of eight weeks exercise on body composition and some blood values in women. Methods: A total of 16 volunteer women with an age mean of 30,81 ± 9,44 years and an age mean of 159,44 ± 6,61 cm were participated in the study. Blood samples of the participants were taken at the health facility while they were hungry before starting the exercise program. After applying the eight-week and 3 days a week exercise program, blood samples of subjects were taken again. The results which obtained from the study were analyzed with the SPSS 23.0 package program. In the analysis of the data, independent samples t test was applied to determine the difference between the groups. Results: As a result of the analyzes, while no significant difference was found between glucose and urea, creatine, total crystallinity, pre-test and post-test values of direct crystallization (p>0,05), body weight, BMI, chest circumference, waist circumference, waist circumference / height ratio, baseline area, and uric acid were significantly different between the pretest and posttest measurements (p<0,05). Conclusion: As a result of the study, it was observed that the eight-week exercise had differences in body weight, BMI, chest circumference, waist circumference, waist circumference, and baseline region and uric acid levels. It can be said that the exercise played an important role in the formation of this difference

Pressure-Spun Fibrous Surgical Sutures for Localized Antibacterial Delivery: Development, Characterization, and In Vitro Evaluation

Surgical sutures designed to prevent infection are critical in addressing antibiotic-resistant pathogens that cause surgical site infections. Instead of antibiotics, alternative materials such as biocides have been assessed for coating commercially used sutures due to emerging antibiotic resistance concerns worldwide. This study has a new approach to the development of fibrous surgical sutures with the ability to deliver localized antibacterial agents. A new manufacturing process based on pressure spinning was used for the first time in the production of fibrous surgical sutures by physically blending antibacterial triclosan (Tri) agent with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) polymers. Fibrous surgical sutures with virgin PLGA, virgin PEO, different ratios of PLGA-PEO, and different ratios of Tri-loaded PLGA-PEO fibrous sutures were produced to mimic the FDA- and NICE-approved PLGA-based sutures available in the market and compared for their characteristics. They were also tested simultaneously with commercially available sutures to compare their in vitro biodegradation, antibacterial, drug release, and cytotoxicity properties. After in vitro antibacterial testing for 24 h, sutures having 285 ± 12 μg/mg Tri loading were selected as a model for further testing as they exhibited antibacterial activity against all tested bacteria strains. The selected model of antibacterial fibrous sutures exhibited an initial burst of Tri release within 24 h, followed by a sustained release for the remaining time until the sutures completely degraded within 21 days. The cell viability assay showed that these surgical sutures had no cytotoxic effect on mammalian cells

Effects of traumatic dental injuries, malocclusions and dental caries on oral health-related quality of life in early childhood

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, travmatik diş yaralanmalarının (TDY) ve diş çürüğünün okul öncesi çocukların Ağız Sağlığı ile İlişkili Yaşam Kalitesi (OHRQoL) üzerindeki etkisini değerlendirmektir. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Ağız Sağlığı ile İlişkili Yaşam Kalitesini ölçmek için 206 okul öncesi çocuğun velisine 13 soruluk Erken Çocukluk Çağı Ağız Sağlığı Etki Ölçeği (ECOHIS) uygulanmıştır. Çocukların travmatik diş yaralanmaları, diş çürüğü (dmft skorları) ve ön bölge maloklüzyon özelliklerine bakılmıştır. Bulgular: Çocukların yaş ortalaması 4.09 ± 0.97 bulunmuştur. Diş çürüğü, Ağız Sağlığı ile İlişkili Yaşam Kalitesi üzerinde olumsuz bir etki göstermiştir. Diş çürüğü; Ağız Sağlığı ile İlişkili Yaşam Kalitesi ortalaması, semptomları, fonksiyonu, psikolojisi, ailesel sıkıntı ve aile fonksiyon alanları üzerinde olumsuz bir etki göstermiştir. Ön bölgede maloklüzyon varlığı sadece sosyal etkileşim alanı üzerinde olumsuz bir etki göstermiştir. Komplike travmatik diş yaralanmaları, komplike olmayan travmatik diş yaralanmalarına göre semptomlar açısından daha olumsuz bir etki göstermiştir. Sonuç: Travmatik dental yaralanma ve maloklüzyon gözlenen dişin varlığı, okul öncesi çocukların Ağız Sağlığı ile İlişkili Yaşam Kalitesi üzerinde yalnızca çocuk alanında olumsuz bir etkiye sahiptir; ancak, diş çürüğü, hem çocuk alanında hem aile alanında Ağız Sağlığı ile İlişkili Yaşam Kalitesi ile güçlü bir ilişkiye sahiptir.Background: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of traumatic dental injuries and dental caries on the Oral Health- Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) of preschool children. Methods: The 13 questions and six domains of Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) were administered to 206 preschool children’s parents to measure Oral Health-Related Quality of Life. Type of traumatic dental injuries, dental caries (dmft scores), and anterior malocclusions traits of the children were recorded after the oral examination. Results: The children’s mean age was 4.09±0.97. Dental caries showed a negative impact on the overall Oral Health-Related Quality of Life mean and symptoms, function, psychological, parental distress, and family function domains. The presence of anterior malocclusion traits showed a negative effect only on the social interaction domain. Complicated traumatic dental injuries showed a negative effect on symptoms domain than uncomplicated traumatic dental injuries. Conclusion: Having a tooth with traumatic dental injuries and malocclusions have a negative impact on the Oral Health- Related Quality of Life of preschool children only one domain (child domain), although dental caries, has a strong association (child domain+family domain) with the Oral Health- Related Quality of Life of preschool children and their parents

Generating Lifetime-Enhanced Microbubbles by Decorating Shells with Silicon Quantum Nano-Dots Using a 3-Series T-Junction Microfluidic Device

Long-term stability of microbubbles is crucial to their effectiveness. Using a new microfluidic device connecting three T-junction channels of 100 μm in series, stable monodisperse SiQD-loaded bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein microbubbles down to 22.8 ± 1.4 μm in diameter were generated. Fluorescence microscopy confirmed the integration of SiQD on the microbubble surface, which retained the same morphology as those without SiQD. The microbubble diameter and stability in air were manipulated through appropriate selection of T-junction numbers, capillary diameter, liquid flow rate, and BSA and SiQD concentrations. A predictive computational model was developed from the experimental data, and the number of T-junctions was incorporated into this model as one of the variables. It was illustrated that the diameter of the monodisperse microbubbles generated can be tailored by combining up to three T-junctions in series, while the operating parameters were kept constant. Computational modeling of microbubble diameter and stability agreed with experimental data. The lifetime of microbubbles increased with increasing T-junction number and higher concentrations of BSA and SiQD. The present research sheds light on a potential new route employing SiQD and triple T-junctions to form stable, monodisperse, multi-layered, and well-characterized protein and quantum dot-loaded protein microbubbles with enhanced stability for the first time

Aquaporin 5 Interacts with Fluoride and Possibly Protects Against Caries

Aquaporins (AQP) are water channel proteins and the genes coding for AQP2, AQP5, and AQP6 are clustered in 12q13. Since AQP5 is expressed in serous acinar cells of salivary glands, we investigated its involvement in caries. DNA samples from 1,383 individuals from six groups were studied. Genotypes of eight single nucleotide polymorphisms covering the aquaporin locus were tested for association with caries experience. Interaction with genes involved in enamel formation was tested. The association between enamel microhardness at baseline, after creation of artificial caries lesion, and after exposure to fluoride and the genetic markers in AQP5 was tested. Finally, AQP5 expression in human whole saliva, after exposure to fluoride in a mammary gland cell line, which is known to express AQP5, and in Wistar rats was also verified. Nominal associations were found between caries experience and markers in the AQP5 locus. Since these associations suggested that AQP5 may be inhibited by levels of fluoride in the drinking water that cause fluorosis, we showed that fluoride levels above optimal levels change AQP5 expression in humans, cell lines, and rats. We have shown that AQP5 is involved in the pathogenesis of caries and likely interact with fluoride.Fil: Anjomshoaa, Ida. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Briseño Ruiz, Jessica. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Deeley, Kathleen. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Poletta, Fernando Adrián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. CEMIC-CONICET. Centro de Educaciones Médicas e Investigaciones Clínicas "Norberto Quirno". CEMIC-CONICET.; ArgentinaFil: Mereb, Juan C.. Provincia de Río Negro. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital de Área El Bolsón ; ArgentinaFil: Leite, Aline L.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Barreta, Priscila A. T.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Silva, Thelma L.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Dizak, Piper. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Ruff, Timothy. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Patir, Asli. İstanbul Medipol Üniversitesi; TurquíaFil: Koruyucu, Mine. İstanbul Üniversitesi; TurquíaFil: Abbasoğlu, Zerrin. Yeditepe Üniversitesi; TurquíaFil: Casado, Priscila L.. Universidade Federal Fluminense; BrasilFil: Brown, Andrew. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Zaky, Samer H.. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Bayram, Merve. İstanbul Medipol Üniversitesi; TurquíaFil: Küchler, Erika C.. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Cooper, Margaret E.. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Liu, Kai. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Marazita, Mary L.. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Tanboğa, İlknur. Marmara Üniversitesi; TurquíaFil: Granjeiro, José M.. Universidade Federal Fluminense; Brasil. Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia; BrasilFil: Seymen, Figen. İstanbul Üniversitesi; TurquíaFil: Castilla, Eduardo Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. CEMIC-CONICET. Centro de Educaciones Médicas e Investigaciones Clínicas "Norberto Quirno". CEMIC-CONICET.; Argentina. Fundación Oswaldo Cruz; BrasilFil: Orioli, Iêda M.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Sfeir, Charles. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Owyang, Hongjiao. Marmara Üniversitesi; TurquíaFil: Rabelo Buzalaf, Marilia Afonso. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Vieira, Alexandre R.. University of Pittsburgh; Estados Unido

Role of estrogen related receptor beta (ESRRB) in DFN35B hearing impairment and dental decay

BACKGROUND: Congenital forms of hearing impairment can be caused by mutations in the estrogen related receptor beta (ESRRB) gene. Our initial linkage studies suggested the ESRRB locus is linked to high caries experience in humans. METHODS: We tested for association between the ESRRB locus and dental caries in 1,731 subjects, if ESRRB was expressed in whole saliva, if ESRRB was associated with the microhardness of the dental enamel, and if ESRRB was expressed during enamel development of mice. RESULTS: Two families with recessive ESRRB mutations and DFNB35 hearing impairment showed more extensive dental destruction by caries. Expression levels of ESRRB in whole saliva samples showed differences depending on sex and dental caries experience. CONCLUSIONS: The common etiology of dental caries and hearing impairment provides a venue to assist in the identification of individuals at risk to either condition and provides options for the development of new caries prevention strategies, if the associated ESRRB genetic variants are correlated with efficacy.Fil: Weber, Megan L.. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Hsin, Hong Yuan. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Kalay, Ersan. Karadeniz Technical University; TurquíaFil: Brožková, Dana Š. Charles University; República Checa. University Hospital Motol; República ChecaFil: Shimizu, Takehiko. Nihon University. School of Dentistry; JapónFil: Bayram, Merve. Medipol Istanbul University; TurquíaFil: Deeley, Kathleen. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Küchler, Erika C.. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Forella, Jessalyn. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Ruff, Timothy D.. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Trombetta, Vanessa M.. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Sencak, Regina C.. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Hummel, Michael. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Briseño Ruiz, Jessica. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Revu, Shankar K.. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Granjeiro, José M.. Universidade Federal Fluminense; BrasilFil: Antunes, Leonardo S.. Universidade Federal Fluminense; BrasilFil: Antunes, Livia A.. Universidade Federal Fluminense; BrasilFil: Abreu, Fernanda V.. Universidade Federal Fluminense; BrasilFil: Costabel, Marcelo C.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Tannure, Patricia N.. Veiga de Almeida University; Brasil. Salgado de Oliveira University; BrasilFil: Koruyucu, Mine. Istanbul University; TurquíaFil: Patir, Asli. Medipol Istanbul University; TurquíaFil: Poletta, Fernando Adrián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. CEMIC-CONICET. Centro de Educaciones Médicas e Investigaciones Clínicas ; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Mereb, Juan C.. Estudio Colaborativo Latino Americano de Malformaciones Congénitas; ArgentinaFil: Castilla, Eduardo Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. CEMIC-CONICET. Centro de Educaciones Médicas e Investigaciones Clínicas ; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Orioli, Iêda M.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Marazita, Mary L.. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Ouyang, Hongjiao. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Jayaraman, Thottala. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Seymen, Figen. Istanbul University; TurquíaFil: Vieira, Alexandre R.. University of Pittsburgh; Estados Unido

Efficacy of subsequent treatments in patients with hormone-positive advanced breast cancer who had disease progression under CDK 4/6 inhibitor therapy

Background: There is no standard treatment recommended at category 1 level in international guidelines for subsequent therapy after cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor (CDK4/6) based therapy. We aimed to evaluate which subsequent treatment oncologists prefer in patients with disease progression under CDKi. In addition, we aimed to show the effectiveness of systemic treatments after CDKi and whether there is a survival difference between hormonal treatments (monotherapy vs. mTOR-based). Methods: A total of 609 patients from 53 centers were included in the study. Progression-free-survivals (PFS) of subsequent treatments (chemotherapy (CT, n:434) or endocrine therapy (ET, n:175)) after CDKi were calculated. Patients were evaluated in three groups as those who received CDKi in first-line (group A, n:202), second-line (group B, n: 153) and ≥ 3rd-line (group C, n: 254). PFS was compared according to the use of ET and CT. In addition, ET was compared as monotherapy versus everolimus-based combination therapy. Results: The median duration of CDKi in the ET arms of Group A, B, and C was 17.0, 11.0, and 8.5 months in respectively; it was 9.0, 7.0, and 5.0 months in the CT arm. Median PFS after CDKi was 9.5 (5.0–14.0) months in the ET arm of group A, and 5.3 (3.9–6.8) months in the CT arm (p = 0.073). It was 6.7 (5.8–7.7) months in the ET arm of group B, and 5.7 (4.6–6.7) months in the CT arm (p = 0.311). It was 5.3 (2.5–8.0) months in the ET arm of group C and 4.0 (3.5–4.6) months in the CT arm (p = 0.434). Patients who received ET after CDKi were compared as those who received everolimus-based combination therapy versus those who received monotherapy ET: the median PFS in group A, B, and C was 11.0 vs. 5.9 (p = 0.047), 6.7 vs. 5.0 (p = 0.164), 6.7 vs. 3.9 (p = 0.763) months. Conclusion: Physicians preferred CT rather than ET in patients with early progression under CDKi. It has been shown that subsequent ET after CDKi can be as effective as CT. It was also observed that better PFS could be achieved with the subsequent everolimus-based treatments after first-line CDKi compared to monotherapy ET.Breast Cancer Consortiu

An embedding technique to determine ττ backgrounds in proton-proton collision data

An embedding technique is presented to estimate standard model tau tau backgrounds from data with minimal simulation input. In the data, the muons are removed from reconstructed mu mu events and replaced with simulated tau leptons with the same kinematic properties. In this way, a set of hybrid events is obtained that does not rely on simulation except for the decay of the tau leptons. The challenges in describing the underlying event or the production of associated jets in the simulation are avoided. The technique described in this paper was developed for CMS. Its validation and the inherent uncertainties are also discussed. The demonstration of the performance of the technique is based on a sample of proton-proton collisions collected by CMS in 2017 at root s = 13 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 41.5 fb(-1).Peer reviewe