Differential Item Functioning in PISA Due to Mode Effects

One of the most important goals of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is assessing national changes in educational performance over time. These so-called trend results inform policy makers about the development of ability of 15-year-old students within a specific country. The validity of those trend results prescribes invariant test conditions. In the 2015 PISA survey, several alterations to the test administration were implemented, including a switch from paper-based assessments to computer-based assessments for most countries (OECD 2016a). This alteration of the assessment mode is examined by evaluating if the items used to assess trends are subject to differential item functioning across PISA surveys (2012 vs. 2015). Furthermore, the impact on the trend results due to the change in assessment mode of the Netherlands is assessed. The results show that the decrease reported for mathematics in the Netherlands is smaller when results are based upon a separate national calibration.</p

B-cell lymphoma in retrieved femoral heads: a long term follow up

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A relatively high incidence of pathological conditions in retrieved femoral heads, including a group of patients having low grade B-cell lymphoma, has been described before. At short term follow up none of these patients with low-grade B-cell lymphoma showed evidence of systemic disease. However, the long term follow up of these patients is not known.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>From November 1994 up to and including December 2005 we screened all femoral heads removed at the time of primary total hip replacement histopathologically and included them in the bone banking protocol according to the guidelines of the American Associations of Tissue Banks (AATB) and the European Association of Musculo-Skeletal Transplantation (EAMST). We determined the percentage of B-cell lymphoma in all femoral heads and in the group that fulfilled all criteria of the bone banking protocol and report on the long-term follow-up.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of 852 femoral heads fourteen (1.6%) were highly suspicious for low-grade B-cell lymphoma. Of these 852 femoral heads, 504 were eligible for bone transplantation according to the guidelines of the AATB and the EAMST. Six femoral heads of this group of 504 were highly suspicious for low-grade B-cell lymphoma (1.2%). At long term follow up two (0.2%) of all patients developed systemic malignant disease and one of them needed medical treatment for her condition.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In routine histopathological screening we found variable numbers of low-grade B-cell lymphoma throughout the years, even in a group of femoral heads that were eligible for bone transplantation. Allogenic transmission of malignancy has not yet been reported on, but surviving viruses are proven to be transmissible. Therefore, we recommend the routine histopathological evaluation of all femoral heads removed at primary total hip arthroplasty as a tool for quality control, whether the femoral head is used for bone banking or not.</p

Development and calibration of the student opportunities for deeper learning instrument

This article describes the development and calibration of the student opportunities for deeper learning instrument (SODLI). The SODLI is designed to measure the amount of learning opportunities intended to support higher‐order thinking that students are exposed to through student self‐report, and is expected to be widely useful in psychological research in schools. Here, the psychometric functioning of the SODLI is investigated in a relatively large sample of U.S. high‐school students (N = 963). Using multidimensional item‐response theory methods, a nine‐factor correlated model is determined to fit the data best, and to produce reliable estimates of SODLI dimensions. The SODLI is also shown to exhibit scalar‐invariant measurement properties across sex, race/ethnicity, and language‐background groups, although latent mean differences on some of the SODLI dimensions across those groups were identified

Tension band wiring for simple olecranon fractures: evaluation of surgical technique

Background: In some settings, specific techniques for open reduction and internal fixation are preferred based on the eminence of a surgeon or professional organization. An emphasis on technical aspects of surgery that are not proved superior and vary substantially from surgeon to surgeon can be confusing for trainees. This study applied a numerical grading of the technical aspects of tension band wire (TBW) fixation for olecranon fracture; assessed the interobserver agreement of each criterion; and measured the correlation of the technical grading and objective and subjective long-term outcomes. Materials and methods Forty observers were invited to rate the technical aspects of TBW fixation of the olecranon on 26 post-operative radiographs. The interobserver reliability of the rating was measured using the intra-class correlation coefficient. The correlation between the rating and motion, Mayo elbow performance index, and disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand score was tested with the Spearman’s rank correlation test. Results: None of the figure-of-eight TBW constructs were considered perfect according to the numerical grading: the majority of observers found three deviations per fixation. The interobserver agreement was only fair for the total number of deviations and no correlation between the number of deviations and long-term objective and subjective outcome was found. Conclusions: A rating of the technical aspects of TBW for olecranon fractures was unreliable and did not correlate with subjective and objective outcomes. Emphasis on specific technical aspects of fixation might be confusing for trainees and could distract them from the principles of effective treatment. Level of evidence Level IV diagnostic study

Adverse reactions and events related to musculoskeletal allografts : reviewed by the World Health Organisation Project NOTIFY

The use of bone and connective tissue allografts has grown rapidly and surpassed the use of autografts in many countries. Being of human origin, bone and tendon allografts carry the risk of disease transmission and complications have been reported. As part of the Project NOTIFY led by the World Health Organisation, an effort to improve recognition, reporting, tracking and investigation of adverse outcomes of allografts was initiated, achieving a comprehensive review of associated disease transmission and failures. Those involving the use of musculoskeletal allografts are reported here. A major objective is to involve orthopaedic surgeons in the improvement of the safe use of the musculoskeletal allografts.Journal ArticleSCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe