Parental Influence on Students’ Mathematics Achievement: The Comparative Study of Turkey and Best Performer Countries in Timss 2011

AbstractThis paper assessed the impact of students’ background and parents’ attitude towards their children on mathematics achievement across four countries which were participated to Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2011. Since Republic of Korea, Singapore and Chinese Taipei were ranked as the first three countries in terms of the achievement in mathematics scores, they were selected for the comparison with Turkey. Multilevel logistic regression model was used to estimate coefficients and to model differences in mathematics achievement within and between schools for each country. Gender, student-parent relationship, possessions of computer, room and internet were taken as student level variables, while school composition by student economical background, discipline and safety of school climate were taken as school level variables. According to results, owning a desk was the most effective factor on achievement of students for both Turkey and Republic of Korea, at the student level. Furthermore, at school level, the most effective factor on achievement was found the school composition by student economical background for all countries

Primjena Taguchijeve analize za optimizaciju procesa ekstrakcije drva na načelima zelene kemije

Extractive composition of Pinus pinaster (Maritime pine) wood was studied with choline chloride based deep eutectic solvents (DES). Two different eutectic mixtures (ChCl: Et-Gly; ChCl:Urea 1:2 molar ratio), two different extraction methods (hot water bath, ultrasound assisted extraction), and temperature (40 – 60 °C), time (30 – 60 min.) and solid:liquid ratio (1:10 – 1:20 g/mL) parameters were applied. For the optimization of operation conditions, Taguchi analysis was performed. Resin acids formed the chemical composition of Pinus pinaster (Maritime pine) wood. Dehydroabietic acid, abietic acid and isopimaric acid were found to be the major compounds. The impact of parameters on the performance of the system was determined as follows: DES type > solid:liquid ratio > extraction method > temperature > time. So, for the extraction of lipophilic compounds in Maritime pine wood, the optimum conditions were determined as hot water bath extraction at 60 °C with ethylene glycol and 1:10 solid liquid ratio for 60 min.U radu su istražene ekstraktivne tvari drva primorskog bora (Pinus pinaster) izolirane primjenom eutektičkog otapala (DES) na bazi kolin klorida. Pritom su primijenjene dvije eutektičke mješavine (ChCl: Et-Gly i ChCl: Urea, molarni omjer 1:2) i dvije metode ekstrakcije (vrućom vodom i uz primjenu ultrazvuka), pri temperaturi 40 i 60 °C i s vremenom ekstrakcije od 30 i 60 minuta, uz varijabilni odnos kruto – tekuće 1 : 10 i 1 : 20 g/mL. Za optimizaciju procesa ekstrakcije primijenjena je Taguchijeva analiza. Rezultati istraživanja pokazuju da se ekstraktivne tvari drva primorskog bora (Pinus pinaster) uglavnom sastoje od smolnih kiselina s dehidroabietinskom, abietinskom i izopimarnom kiselinom kao glavnim spojevima. Usto je utvrđen i utjecaj pojedinog parametra na efikasnost procesa ekstrakcije kako slijedi (rangirano od onoga s najvećim prema onome s najmanjim utjecajem): vrsta eutektičkog otapala > odnos kruto – tekuće > metoda ekstrakcije > temperatura ekstrakcije > vrijeme ekstrakcije. Na temelju analize dobivenih podataka određeni su optimalni parametri za ekstrakciju drva primorskog bora. To su: ekstrakcija vrućom vodom pri 60 °C, uz upotrebu etilen glikola i omjer kruto – tekuće 1:10 tijekom 60 minuta

Isolated Subclavian Vein Injury: A Rare and High Mortality Case

Isolated subclavian vein injuries are rarely seen without concomitant arterial injury, bone fracture, damage to brachial plexus, and thoracal traumas. Our case was brought to the emergency service 6 hours after he had been shot at the shoulder with a firearm. After detection of extravasation from the left axillary and subclavian vein on arteriographic and venographic examinations, he was operated on. An autogenous saphenous vein graft was interposed between subclavian and axillary veins. Cardiac arrest developed twice because of hypovolemia, which was resolved with medical therapy. Subclavian vein injuries have a more mortal course when compared with the injuries to the subclavian arteries. Its most important reason is excessive blood loss and air embolism because of delayed arrival to hospital. As is the case in all vascular injuries, angiography is the most important diagnostic examination. If the general health state of the patient permits, arteriography and venography should be performed in patients potentially exposed to vascular injuries. In patients with extreme blood loss and deteriorated health state, direct surgical exploration of the injury site, containment of the bleeding, and venous repair are life-saving approaches

Higher-order aberrations following wavefront-guided photorefractive keratectomy and laser in situ keratomileusis

Background: We aimed to evaluate higher-order aberrations (HOAs) following wavefront-guided photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) in patients with myopia and myopic astigmatism. Methods: This retrospective observational case-control study included patients who underwent wavefront-guided PRK (40 eyes of 20 patients) or LASIK (40 eyes of 20 patients) between August 2018 and November 2018 at the refractive surgery unit of Kayseri City Hospital Eye Clinic, Turkey. The corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), manifest refraction, corneal topography, and HOAs were evaluated preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively in all patients. Results: The mean age ± standard deviation (SD) was 27.13 ± 5.54 years and 29.10 ± 4.38 years in the PRK and LASIK groups, respectively (P = 0.06). Both groups had a mean CDVA of 1.00. The mean ± SD of spherical and spherical equivalent values was -2.09 ± 1.56 diopter (D) and -3.03 ± 1.72 D in the PRK group and -2.23 ± 1.69 D and -3.35 ± 1.71 D in the LASIK group, respectively (P = 0.58). When the preoperative and postoperative HOAs and root mean square (RMS) values (for a 6-mm pupil diameter) were compared in the PRK group, a significant difference was found in vertical coma and total RMS values (P = 0.003 and P ˂ 0.001, respectively); in the LASIK group, there was a significant difference in preoperative and postoperative vertical coma and total RMS values (P = 0.0.001 and P ˂ 0.001, respectively). There was no significant difference in preoperative and postoperative vertical coma values between the two groups (P = 0.735 and P = 0.583, respectively). Conclusions: In terms of HOAs, total RMS values decreased significantly and vertical coma values increased significantly at 3 months postoperatively in both PRK and LASIK groups. However, there were no differences between the two groups

Investigation of Synthesis Methods and Dope Type Effect on Conductivity and Luminescence Properties for CeO2 Compounds

The aim of this study is to investigate how the materials synthesized by both methods affect the luminescence andelectrical properties. Also, another purpose is to examine the effect of doping types on optics and conductivity. At the end ofthe synthesis, X-Ray diffractometer (XRD) was used to examine the crystal structure and the possible different phases thatmay occur, Raman spectroscopy analysis was used to obtain information about the symmetry properties of the formedstructure and the appearance of different vibration modes and the degradation (defect) formed in the structure.Photoluminescence (PL) Spectroscopy measurements at room temperature were employed. The peaks in the excitationspectrum at approximately 446 nm (5I8 → 5G6) correspond to the 4f-5d transition of the Ce3 + ion. Specific surface areaanalysis was performed using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET). FE-SEM image was taken for morphological analysis of thestructure. The ionic conductivity of the pelletized powder ceramic undoped CeO2 and La3+, and Ho3+ doped CeO2 electrolytewas measured by impedance spectroscopy. The temperature value of the Ce0.85La0.10Ho0.05O2 sample synthesized by the highconductivity hydrothermal method was found as 5.64x10-3 Ω.cm-1 at 750 with the best conductivity result

Procoagulant and Anticoagulant Factors in Childhood Hypothyroidism

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of thyroid hormone deficiencies in childhood on the elements of coagulation proteins. Consecutive 54 children with hypothyroidism and 55 healthy controls aged 1 month–16 years were enrolled. One year after Na-L-thyroxine treatment, the study parameters were reevaluated. Thyroid function tests, procoagulant and anticoagulant proteins were performed for children with hypothyroidism and healthy controls. Significant decreased results were found in children with hypothyroidism in terms of fibrinogen, TT, and anticoagulant proteins including AT, PC, PS, and fPS. Significant increases were found with respect to APTT, fibrinogen, and TT. In the evaluation of posttreatment changes a statistically significant increase was found in vWF, FVIII, AT, PC, PS, and fPS. A positive correlation was found between fT4 and vWF, FVIII, PC, and PS. We would like to emphasize that the coagulation system especially vWF and FVIII, and particularly the anticoagulant system, should be monitored closely in patients followed up for hypothyroidism. Thyroid hormones should be examined and, if necessary, hormone replacement therapy should be administered in patients followed up for a predisposition to coagulation. Additionally, further studies with larger series are needed to investigate the effects of hypothyroidism on the coagulation system

Differential expression of Caveolin-1 in hepatocellular carcinoma: correlation with differentiation state, motility and invasion

WOS: 000264914000001PubMed ID: 19239691Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Council (TUBITAK)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [SBAG-107S026]; Dokuz Eylul University Research FoundationDokuz Eylul University [05.KB.SAG.071]We thank Prof. Mehmet Ozturk for providing us HCC cell lines and for his critical reading of the manuscript; and Prof. Aykut Uren for his helpful discussions on the manuscript. We also thank to Evin Ozen for her technical assistance. This work was supported by grants to Nese ATABEY from the Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Council (TUBITAK, SBAG-107S026) and Dokuz Eylul University Research Foundation (05.KB.SAG.071)

Analysis of intestinal and nasopharyngeal microbiota of children with meningococcemia in pediatric intensive care unit: INMACS-PICU study

This article belongs to the Special Issue Pediatric Diagnostic Microbiology.Microbiota composition might play a role in the pathophysiology and course of sepsis, and understanding its dynamics is of clinical interest. Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is an important cause of community-acquired serious infection, and there is no information regarding microbiota composition in children with meningococcemia. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the intestinal and nasopharyngeal microbiota composition of children with IMD.[Materials and Methods]: In this prospective, multi-center study, 10 children with meningococcemia and 10 age-matched healthy controls were included. Nasopharyngeal and fecal samples were obtained at admission to the intensive care unit and on the tenth day of their hospital stay. The V3 and V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene were amplified following the 16S Metagenomic Sequencing Library Preparation.[Results]: Regarding the alpha diversity on the day of admission and on the tenth day at the PICU, the Shannon index was significantly lower in the IMD group compared to the control group (p = 0.002 at admission and p = 0.001, on the tenth day of PICU). A statistical difference in the stool samples was found between the IMD group at Day 0 vs. the controls in the results of the Bray–Curtis and Jaccard analyses (p = 0.005 and p = 0.001, respectively). There were differences in the intestinal microbiota composition between the children with IMD at admission and Day 10 and the healthy controls. Regarding the nasopharyngeal microbiota analysis, in the children with IMD at admission, at the genus level, Neisseria was significantly more abundant compared to the healthy children (p < 0.001). In the children with IMD at Day 10, genera Moraxella and Neisseria were decreased compared to the healthy children. In the children with IMD on Day 0, for paired samples, Moraxella, Neisseria, and Haemophilus were significantly more abundant compared to the children with IMD at Day 10. In the children with IMD at Day 10, the Moraxella and Neisseria genera were decreased, and 20 different genera were more abundant compared to Day 0.[Conclusions]: We first found alterations in the intestinal and nasopharyngeal microbiota composition in the children with IMD. The infection itself or the other care interventions also caused changes to the microbiota composition during the follow-up period. Understanding the interaction of microbiota with pathogens, e.g., N. meningitidis, could give us the opportunity to understand the disease’s dynamics.This study was supported by the Eskisehir Osmangazi University Scientific Research Grant (2018/11046).Peer reviewe

A comprehensive molecular study on Coffin-Siris and Nicolaides-Baraitser syndromes identifies a broad molecular and clinical spectrum converging on altered chromatin remodeling

Chromatin remodeling complexes are known to modify chemical marks on histones or to induce conformational changes in the chromatin in order to regulate transcription. De novo dominant mutations in different members of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex have recently been described in individuals with Coffin-Siris (CSS) and Nicolaides-Baraitser (NCBRS) syndromes. Using a combination of whole-exome sequencing, NGS-based sequencing of 23 SWI/SNF complex genes, and molecular karyotyping in 46 previously undescribed individuals with CSS and NCBRS, we identified a de novo 1-bp deletion (c.677delG, p.Gly226Glufs*53) and a de novo missense mutation (c.914G>T, p.Cys305Phe) in PHF6 in two individuals diagnosed with CSS. PHF6 interacts with the nucleosome remodeling and deacetylation (NuRD) complex implicating dysfunction of a second chromatin remodeling complex in the pathogenesis of CSS-like phenotypes. Altogether, we identified mutations in 60% of the studied individuals (28/46), located in the genes ARID1A, ARID1B, SMARCB1, SMARCE1, SMARCA2, and PHF6. We show that mutations in ARID1B are the main cause of CSS, accounting for 76% of identified mutations. ARID1B and SMARCB1 mutations were also found in individuals with the initial diagnosis of NCBRS. These individuals apparently belong to a small subset who display an intermediate CSS/NCBRS phenotype. Our proposed genotype-phenotype correlations are important for molecular screening strategie

Impaired IL-23-dependent induction of IFN-gamma underlies mycobacterial disease in patients with inherited TYK2 deficiency

Human cells homozygous for rare loss-of-expression (LOE) TYK2 alleles have impaired, but not abolished, cellular responses to IFN-alpha/beta (underlying viral diseases in the patients) and to IL-12 and IL-23 (underlying mycobacterial diseases). Cells homozygous for the common P1104A TYK2 allele have selectively impaired responses to IL-23 (underlying isolated mycobacterial disease). We report three new forms of TYK2 deficiency in six patients from five families homozygous for rare TYK2 alleles (R864C, G996R, G634E, or G1010D) or compound heterozygous for P1104A and a rare allele (A928V). All these missense alleles encode detectable proteins. The R864C and G1010D alleles are hypomorphic and loss-of-function (LOF), respectively, across signaling pathways. By contrast, hypomorphic G996R, G634E, and A928V mutations selectively impair responses to IL-23, like P1104A. Impairment of the IL-23-dependent induction of IFN-gamma is the only mechanism of mycobacterial disease common to patients with complete TYK2 deficiency with or without TYK2 expression, partial TYK2 deficiency across signaling pathways, or rare or common partial TYK2 deficiency specific for IL-23 signaling.ANRS Nord-Sud ; CIBSS ; CODI ; Comité para el Desarrollo de la Investigación ; Fulbright Future Scholarshi