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Abstract In today’s knowledge economy, it is critical to make decisions based on high-quality evidence. Science-related decision-making is thought to rely on a complex interplay of reasoning skills, cognitive styles, attitudes, and motivations toward information. By investigating the relationship between individual differences and behaviors related to evidence-based decision-making, our aim was to better understand how adults engage with scientific information in everyday life. First, we used a data-driven exploratory approach to identify four latent factors in a large set of measures related to cognitive skills and epistemic attitudes. The resulting structure suggests that key factors include curiosity and positive attitudes toward science, prosociality, cognitive skills, and openmindedness to new information. Second, we investigated whether these factors predicted behavior in a naturalistic decision-making task. In the task, participants were introduced to a real science-related petition and were asked to read six online articles related to the petition, which varied in scientific quality, while deciding how to vote. We demonstrate that curiosity and positive science attitudes, cognitive flexibility, prosociality and emotional states, were related to engaging with information and discernment of evidence reliability. We further found that that social authority is a powerful cue for source credibility, even above the actual quality and relevance of the sources. Our results highlight that individual motivating factors toward information engagement, like curiosity, and social factors such as social authority are important drivers of how adults judge the credibility of everyday sources of scientific information.

ABSTRACTBackground Gingivitis, i.e. inflammation of the gums, is often induced by dental plaque. However, its exact link to the oral microbiota remains unclear.Methods In a case-control study involving 120 participants, comprising 60 cases and 60 controls (mean age (SD) 36.6 (7.6) years; 50% males), nested within a prospective multicentre cohort study, we examined the oral microbiome composition of gingivitis patients and their controls using shotgun metagenomic sequencing of saliva samples. Participants underwent clinical and radiographic oral health examinations, including bleeding on probing (BOP), at six tooth sites. BOP ≥33% was considered ‘generalized gingivitis/initial periodontitis’(GG/IP), and BOP

Selection for traits of economic importance is crucial for improving productivity and reproductivity in livestock, including cattle. We investigated the prospects of using growth traits; viz: live-body weight (BW), absolute growth rate (AGR), relative growth rate (RGR), absolute maturing rate (AMR), and Kleiber ratio (KR) as bases for selection in Nilotic cattle, by examining the phenotypic correlations among these traits, using 125 male and 136 female calves reared under traditional husbandry system. In the experimental procedure, the heart girth (HG) and body length (BL) of each calf was measured at birth, and at the age of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 months; then the BW at each age was derived, and used for estimating AGR, RGR, AMR, KR, and dry matter intake for maintenance (DMIm). AGR, RGR, AMR, or KR was calculated from 0~8 months (AGRα, RGRα, AMRα, KRα), 8~12 months (AGRβ, RGRβ, AMRβ, KRβ), and 12~16 months (AGRγ, RGRγ, AMRγ, KRγ). Phenotypic correlations were determined using the Pearson's correlation method. The results revealed that, BW, AGR, RGR, AMR, KR, and DMIm were inter-correlated. In particular, calf weaning weight (CWW at 8 months), and post-weaning AGRβ, RGRβ, AMRβ, and KRβ (all at 8~12 months` interval) were positively correlated among themselves and with post-weaning BW, but negatively correlated with birth weight and DMIm, and thus, considered the most appropriate selection indices in Nilotic cattle, since these would decrease calf birth weight, thereby reducing dystocia incidences, and increase post-weaning growth, with less DMIm. These results provide the first evidence for possible selection using growth traits to improve productive efficiency in Nilotic cattle.

Objectives The COVID-19 pandemic has globally affected healthcare workers’ (HCWs) health and wellbeing. Most studies on COVID-19 have focused on tertiary healthcare. The aim of this study was to increase the knowledge on the effects of the pandemic on working conditions in tertiary and primary healthcare. Material and Methods The comparative cross-sectional study consisted of an online questionnaire sent to HCWs of the City of Helsinki (primary healthcare) and Helsinki University Hospital (tertiary healthcare). Altogether 1580 HCWs with direct patient contact participated in the study: 895 from tertiary and 685 from primary healthcare. Statistical analysis used SPSS 25 from IBM. The tests used were the χ 2 test, Fisher’s exact test, and binary logistic regression analysis. Results Primary HCWs were less likely to treat COVID-19 patients (OR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.37–0.56). However, both groups reported a similar number of COVID-19 infections, primary HCWs 4.9% and tertiary HCWs 5.0%, and workrelated quarantine was significantly more prevalent (OR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.38–2.79) among primary HCWs. In addition, work-related wellbeing was poorer among primary HCWs than tertiary HCWs in terms of feeling more stressed at work (OR = 3.20, 95% CI: 2.55–4.02), not recovering from work (OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.39–0.62), reported mental wellbeing below normal levels (OR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.26–2.00), and increased working hours (OR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.25–2.12). Conclusions The study demonstrates how the pandemic has affected the wellbeing and working conditions of not only tertiary but also less studied primary HCWs. The authors’ findings suggest that the challenges identified during the COVID-19 pandemic in the health and wellbeing of healthcare workers are even greater in primary care than in tertiary care. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(1):139–50

Abstract During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers (HCWs) have faced unprecedented workloads and personal health risks leading to mental disorders and surges in sickness absence. Previous work has shown that interindividual differences in psychological resilience might explain why only some individuals are vulnerable to these consequences. However, no prognostic tools to predict individual HCW resilience during the pandemic have been developed. We deployed machine learning (ML) to predict psychological resilience during the pandemic. The models were trained in HCWs of the largest Finnish hospital, Helsinki University Hospital (HUS, N = 487), with a six-month follow-up, and prognostic generalizability was evaluated in two independent HCW validation samples (Social and Health Services in Kymenlaakso: Kymsote, N = 77 and the City of Helsinki, N = 322) with similar follow-ups never used for training the models. Using the most predictive items to predict future psychological resilience resulted in a balanced accuracy (BAC) of 72.7–74.3% in the HUS sample. Similar performances (BAC = 67–77%) were observed in the two independent validation samples. The models' predictions translated to a high probability of sickness absence during the pandemic. Our results provide the first evidence that ML techniques could be harnessed for the early detection of COVID-19-related distress among HCWs, thereby providing an avenue for potential targeted interventions.

Abstract The prevalence of microplastic pollution in nature and foodstuffs is fairly well identified. However, studies of micro- or nanoplastics’ cell membrane permeation and health effects in humans are lacking. Our study focuses on examining the interactions of polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with bilayer membranes. We have performed molecular dynamics simulations to study how plastic oligomers behave in bilayers. In addition, we have studied membrane permeation of PE and Bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET), a type of PET monomer, with Parallel Artificial Membrane Permeability Assay (PAMPA). As a result, in simulations the molecules exhibited different movements and preferred locations in membrane. PAMPA studies suggested similar preferences in membrane, especially for PE plastic. Our results suggest that passive diffusion could be an important transport mechanism into cells for some small plastic oligomers. Both molecular dynamics simulations and PAMPA have potential for micro- and nanoplastics research.

ObjectivesThe COVID-19 pandemic has posed several risk factors to healthcare workers' (HCWs') emotional distress. The purpose of the study was to enhance understanding of the experiences and feelings of HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic, with specific reference to infection prevention and control (IPC) practices and guidance, focusing on the quality and availability of personal protective equipment (PPE), guidelines, and management. With a qualitative approach, we aimed to enable a wider narrative; to gain a more detailed understanding related to PPE use and identify experiences that can be overlooked in forced-choice questionnaires.MethodsAn online questionnaire was conducted among HCWs of the City of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital between 12.6.2020 and 5.4.2021. Altogether 1,580 HCWs participated in the study, from whom 579 shared 1,666 free-text responses. These responses were analyzed qualitatively, and the results were combined with statistical data on the participants' working conditions and backgrounds.ResultsWe identified problems in PPE availability and changing guidelines as factors causing the most distress in the participants. Regarding availability, running out of masks and respirators emerged as the most worrying issue, and inadequate PPE was associated with the excessive workload (OR 1.51, CI 95% 1.01–2.25). The results also highlight the importance of transparent and clear communication regarding IPC instructions and guidance, and clear IPC guidance was associated with better levels of reported recovery from work (OR 1.51, CI 95% 1.06–2.14).ConclusionsOur study highlights the importance of adequate PPE provision, transparent communication, clear guidance, and supportive supervisory work in this ongoing pandemic and potential new ones. We suggest more rigorous preparation, with crisis communication planning and emergency storage of PPE.

The evolution of learning design continues, focusing on blended laboratory approaches incorporating technology. The Sophisticated Thinking Laboratory (STB-LAB) and Gather Town are key tools in implementing collaborative learning in this context. This study assesses the effectiveness of blended laboratory implementation using STB-LAB and Gather Town as a gamification tool, utilizing the Assessment Based on Teaching and Learning Trajectory (AABTLT) with Student Activity Sheets (SAS). The results reveal the successful execution of STB-LAB syntax in blended laboratory activities. Additionally, STB-LAB and Gather Town significantly enhance students' collaborative skills, as indicated by a substantial Cohen's D Effect Size. For physics education majors, the effect size is 1.736 in the experiment group and 0.754 in the control group, while for biology education majors, it is 1.522 in the experiment group and 0.541 in the control group. This study highlights the positive impact of blended laboratories with STB-LAB and Gather Town on collaborative skill development, further emphasizing the role of technology in contemporary learning design. [Note: The page range (66-77) shown on the PDF citation is incorrect. The correct page range is 67-78.]

Nutrition facts are the details on food packaging that describe its nutritional value, including serving size, calories, macronutrients like carbohydrates, protein, and fat, and micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals. These facts have mathematical concepts that can be utilized as a context for prospective teachers to create mathematical problems. By leveraging this real-world data, educators can contribute to multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), by promoting nutritional awareness, and SDG 4 (Quality Education) by enhancing student engagement and understanding through relatable examples. This study examines the profile of mathematical tasks created by prospective mathematics teachers using nutrition facts as a context that meets numeracy task criteria. Data were collected from 62 mathematical tasks created by 31 prospective teachers attending a realistic mathematics education course on numeracy based on a problem-posing task at a public university in Surabaya, Indonesia. The posed tasks were categorized into solvable or unsolvable tasks and the domains of the level of context use and the level of cognitive processes. Results revealed that the level of context use in the posed tasks varied from zero to second order. Surprisingly, most of the tasks were in the first-order level context. Most posed tasks reached the application level, with only a few identified as reasoning tasks. Interestingly, some tasks coded as second-order context were classified as reasoning tasks. The study provides implications for designing numeracy tasks using nutrition facts and interventions in teacher education related to numeracy task design.

Abstract Cases of maternal near miss are those in which women survive severe maternal complications during pregnancy or the puerperium. This ecological study aimed to identify the temporal trend of near-miss cases in different regions of Brazil between 2010 and 2018, using data fromtheHospital Information System(HIS) of theUnified BrazilianHealth System (SUS, in the Portuguese acronym). Hospital admission records of women between 10 and 49 years old with diagnosis included in the 10th Revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) and codes indicating nearmiss events were selected. From 20,891,040 admissions due to obstetric causes, 766,249 (3.66%) near-miss cases were identified, and 31,475 women needed admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). The cases were found to be more predominant in black women over 35 years old from the North and Northeast regions. There was a trend of increase in near-miss rates of ~ 13.5% a year during the period of the study. The trend presented a different behavior depending on the level of development of the region studied. The main causes of near miss were preeclampsia (47%), hemorrhage (24%), and sepsis (18%).

O presente artigo analisa as divergências em torno da concepção do dano moral. Demonstra que o reconhecimento normativo do dano moral no Brasil foi importante avanço, mas que, ainda hoje, há indesejáveis divergências quanto ao seu conceito. Apresentam-se as principais correntes doutrinárias sobre dano moral para, na sequência, sustentar que a dor – afetação do estado anímico – constitui-se, em última análise, em violação a direito autônomo à integridade psíquica. Sustenta-se que o dano moral, em alguns casos, nada mais é do que ofensa isolada a este direito. Em tantas outras situações, o mesmo fato lesivo pode afetar mais de um direito da personalidade, além de gerar danos materiais.

Background Low‐grade inflammation in the young may contribute to the early development of cardiovascular disease. We assessed whether circulating levels of glycoprotein acetyls (GlycA) were better able to predict the development of adverse cardiovascular disease risk profiles compared with the more commonly used biomarker high‐sensitivity CRP (C‐reactive protein). Methods and Results A total of 3306 adolescents and young adults from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (mean age, 15.4±0.3; n=1750) and Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (mean age, 32.1±5.0; n=1556) were included. Baseline associations between inflammatory biomarkers, body composition, cardiovascular risk factors, and subclinical measures of vascular dysfunction were assessed cross‐sectionally in both cohorts. Prospective risk of developing hypertension and metabolic syndrome during 9‐to‐10‐year follow‐up were also assessed as surrogate markers for future cardiovascular risk. GlycA showed greater within‐subject correlation over 9‐to‐10‐year follow‐up in both cohorts compared with CRP, particularly in the younger adolescent group (r=0.36 versus 0.07). In multivariable analyses, GlycA was found to associate with multiple lifestyle‐related cardiovascular disease risk factors, cardiometabolic risk factor burden, and vascular dysfunction (eg, mean difference in flow‐mediated dilation=−1.2 [−1.8, −0.7]% per z‐score increase). In contrast, CRP levels appeared predominantly driven by body mass index and showed little relationship to any measured cardiovascular risk factors or phenotypes. In both cohorts, only GlycA predicted future risk of both hypertension (risk ratio [RR], ≈1.1 per z‐score increase for both cohorts) and metabolic syndrome (RR, ≈1.2–1.3 per z‐score increase for both cohorts) in 9‐to‐10‐year follow‐up. Conclusions Low‐grade inflammation captured by the novel biomarker GlycA is associated with adverse cardiovascular risk profiles from as early as adolescence and predicts future risk of hypertension and metabolic syndrome in up to 10‐year follow‐up. GlycA is a stable inflammatory biomarker which may capture distinct sources of inflammation in the young and may provide a more sensitive measure than CRP for detecting early cardiovascular risk.

The use of systemic antibiotics may influence the oral microbiota composition. Our aim was to investigate in this retrospective study whether the use of prescribed antibiotics associate with periodontal status, oral microbiota, and antibodies against the periodontal pathogens. The Social Insurance Institution of Finland Data provided the data on the use of systemic antibiotics by record linkage to purchased medications and entitled reimbursements up to 1 year before the oral examination and sampling. Six different classes of antibiotics were considered. The Parogene cohort included 505 subjects undergoing coronary angiography with the mean (SD) age of 63.4 (9.2) years and 65% of males. Subgingival plaque samples were analysed using the checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridisation. Serum and saliva antibody levels to periodontal pathogens were analysed with immunoassays and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activity with the LAL assay. Systemic antibiotics were prescribed for 261 (51.7%) patients during the preceding year. The mean number of prescriptions among them was 2.13 (range 1–12), and 29.4% of the prescriptions were cephalosporins, 25.7% penicillins, 14.3% quinolones, 12.7% macrolides or lincomycin, 12.0% tetracycline, and 5.8% trimethoprim or sulphonamides. In linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, current smoking, and diabetes, number of antibiotic courses associated significantly with low periodontal inflammation burden index (PIBI, p

Background Translocation of lipopolysaccharide from gram‐negative bacteria into the systemic circulation results in endotoxemia. In addition to acute infections, endotoxemia is detected in cardiometabolic disorders, such as cardiovascular diseases and obesity. Methods and Results We performed a genome‐wide association study of serum lipopolysaccharide activity in 11 296 individuals from 6 different Finnish study cohorts. Endotoxemia was measured by limulus amebocyte lysate assay in the whole population and by 2 other techniques (Endolisa and high‐performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry) in subpopulations. The associations of the composed genetic risk score of endotoxemia and thrombosis‐related clinical end points for 195 170 participants were analyzed in FinnGen. Lipopolysaccharide activity had a genome‐wide significant association with 741 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms in 5 independent loci, which were mainly located at genes affecting the contact activation of the coagulation cascade and lipoprotein metabolism and explained 1.5% to 9.2% of the variability in lipopolysaccharide activity levels. The closest genes included KNG1, KLKB1, F12, SLC34A1, YPEL4, CLP1, ZDHHC5, SERPING1, CBX5, and LIPC. The genetic risk score of endotoxemia was associated with deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary heart disease, and venous thromboembolism. Conclusions The biological activity of lipopolysaccharide in the circulation (ie, endotoxemia) has a small but highly significant genetic component. Endotoxemia is associated with genetic variation in the contact activation pathway, vasoactivity, and lipoprotein metabolism, which play important roles in host defense, lipopolysaccharide neutralization, and thrombosis, and thereby thromboembolism and stroke.

Our aim was to analyze whether endotoxemia, i.e. translocation of LPS to circulation, is reflected in the serum metabolic profile in a general population and in participants with cardiometabolic disorders. We investigated three Finnish cohorts separately and in a meta-analysis ( n = 7178), namely population-based FINRISK97, FinnTwin16 consisting of young adult twins, and Parogene, a random cohort of cardiac patients. Endotoxemia was determined as serum LPS activity and metabolome by an NMR platform. Potential effects of body mass index (BMI), smoking, metabolic syndrome (MetS), and coronary heart disease (CHD) status were considered. Endotoxemia was directly associated with concentrations of VLDL, IDL, LDL, and small HDL lipoproteins, VLDL particle diameter, total fatty acids (FA), glycoprotein acetyls (GlycA), aromatic and branched-chain amino acids, and Glc, and inversely associated with concentration of large HDL, diameters of LDL and HDL, as well as unsaturation degree of FAs. Some of these disadvantageous associations were significantly stronger in smokers and subjects with high BMI, but did not differ between participants with different CHD status. In participants with MetS, however, the associations of endotoxemia with FA parameters and GlycA were particularly strong. The metabolic profile in endotoxemia appears highly adverse, involving several inflammatory characters and risk factors for cardiometabolic disorders.

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the subgingival microbiota of people with Alzheimer´s disease (AD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and cognitively healthy individuals. Materials and methods: The study population was recruited from 2013 to 2017 and comprised 132 cases recently diagnosed with AD (n = 46), MCI (n = 40) or SCD (n = 46), and 63 cognitively healthy controls. Subgingival samples were collected, and the microbiotas were characterized by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results: The relative abundance of the ten most common genera did not differ between the cases and control groups. However, the microbial richness and evenness were higher in cases than in controls and differed across the four groups. The variables with the greatest influence on the microbial community composition were related to periodontal disease followed by body mass index, study group affiliation and smoking. Ten taxa exhibited significant differences between case participants and controls. Two Operational Taxonomic Units were particularly abundant in AD compared to controls: Slackia exigua, which was also associated with deep periodontal pockets, and a Lachnospiraceae [G-7] bacterium. Conclusion: It is concluded that in individuals with cognitive impairment or AD, the subgingival microbiota exhibits shifts typical of periodontal disease.

INTRODUCTION:Periodontitis is associated with increased serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activity, which may be one mechanism linking periodontitis with the risk of cardiovascular diseases. As LPS-carrying proteins including lipoproteins modify LPS-activity, we investigated the determinants of serum LPS-neutralizing capacity (LPS-NC) in ischemic stroke. The association of LPS-NC and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, a major microbial biomarker in periodontitis, was also investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS:The assay to measure LPS-NC was set up by spiking serum samples with E. coli LPS. The LPS-NC, LPS-binding protein (LBP), soluble CD14 (sCD14), lipoprotein profiles, apo(lipoprotein) A-I, apoB, and phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) activity, were determined in 98 ischemic stroke patients and 100 age- and sex-matched controls. Serum and saliva immune response to A. actinomycetemcomitans, its concentration in saliva, and serotype-distribution were examined. RESULTS:LPS-NC values ranged between 51-83% in the whole population. Although several of the LPS-NC determinants differed significantly between cases and controls (PLTP, sCD14, apoA-I, HDL-cholesterol), the levels did not (p = 0.056). The main determinants of LPS-NC were i) triglycerides (β = -0.68, p

Resumo Introdução A implantação do Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência (SAMU), com a definição do seu financiamento para investimento e custeio, representou um importante avanço para o Sistema Único de Saúde, tendo em vista o quadro de morbimortalidade relacionado às urgências no Brasil. Métodos A pesquisa tomou como base de coleta o Sistema de Informações sobre Orçamentos Públicos em Saúde. Os dados foram analisados com o auxílio do método das Contas Nacionais de Saúde. Resultados A participação do SAMU no bloco de financiamento federal da Média e Alta Complexidade (MAC) saiu de 3,27% em 2009 para 6,67% em 2012, atingindo R$ 200 milhões no Estado. O aumento de 110%, no período, ocorreu mesmo com o crescimento irrisório dos aportes da MAC. Metade das regiões de saúde não apresentou registros de repasse financeiro específico, indicando distribuição desigual desse importante serviço. O gasto municipal per capita variou entre R$103,04 e R$5,47, concentrando maiores valores em municípios de pequeno porte, diferença não justificável do ponto de vista do custo da oferta. Conclusão Subfinanciamento e desigualdades regionais reclamam reajustes distributivos e avaliação contínua, de modo a evitar que populações fiquem sem acesso à proteção garantida pela Política Nacional de Atenção às Urgências.

O SIAGAS (Sistema de Informações de Águas Subterrâneas) é um sistema que armazena, sistematiza e disponibiliza informações georreferenciadas sobre poços no Brasil. Ele oferece apoio operacional ao cadastramento dos poços e é uma ferramenta útil às atividades de planejamento estratégico e gestão dos recursos hídricos subterrâneos. O Mapa de Domínios/Subdomínios Hidrogeológicos do Brasil, concluído em 2007, propõe um agrupamento de unidades geológicas com afinidades hidrogeológicas, tendo como base principalmente as características litológicas das rochas. Desse agrupamento, foram classificados 7 domínios. O presente trabalho visa, portanto, propor indicadores para o uso de águas subterrâneas (Vazão Estática, Rebaixamento, Vazão Específica e Custo-Benefício) utilizando o banco de dados disponível pelo SIAGAS para todo o território brasileiro, separados por tipo de domínio hidrogeológico. Foram calculadas a mediana, média e desvio padrão para cada indicador. Os indicadores apresentaram distribuição assimétrica positiva, com muitos casos abaixo da média e alguns poços com valores extremamente altos. De uma maneira geral, o padrão dos indicadores apresenta conformidade com os padrões esperados, sendo melhores nos carbonatos/metacarbonatos, seguidos dos de formação cenozóica, bacias sedimentares, poroso-fissural, vulcânicas, metassedimentos/metavulcânicas e cristalino. Os poços de formação cenozóica apresentaram os maiores desvios padrões de vazão de estabilização, enquanto os poços em domínio cristalino apresentaram o maior desvio padrão quanto ao rebaixamento. Os indicadores levantados apresentam diversas limitações, portanto, os mesmos deveriam ser complementados por estudos mais aprofundados. Por exemplo, estimativas de recarga, volume das reservas e demanda seriam relevantes complementações. Todavia, esses indicadores apresentam um bom ponto de partida de análise, especialmente em regiões com carência de outros estudos hidrogeológicos mais detalhados.

Proportional reasoning has been greatly influencing the development of students' mathematical abilities. Along with the area conservation ability, it helps elementary students comprehend area measurement. This exploratory study aimed to produce qualitative-descriptive data on elementary students' proportional reasoning in solving the conservation of plane figures. The study used guided-unguided area conservation problems using a proportional reasoning level as the analysis framework. Data were collected from 4 primary school students in Sidoarjo, Indonesia, who were in fifth-grade class. The students' strategies used were identified to analyze the students' proportional reasoning in solving area conservation. Results show that the level of proportional reasoning varies from zero to two. Regarding the students' proportional reasoning levels, most of the students' strategies use visual clues and cute paste strategies. Only one student can reach the level of quantitative reasoning by using a formula to compare both area measurements. Interestingly, the problem of the conservation of plane figures failed to reveal students' formal proportional reasoning due to their insufficient knowledge of fractions, division, multiplication, and decimals. Some implications regarding students' proportional reasoning and interventions in the area conservation problem are discussed.

Higher education students in Finland and all over the world are often engaged in a paid job alongside their studies. The purpose of the present study is to explore how humanities students' work experience is related to their career engagement and metacognitive awareness. More precisely, the aim is to investigate how the nature and amount of work are associated with career engagement and metacognitive awareness. A total of 302 master's students filled out the questionnaire. The data were analysed by exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, Pearson correlations, independent samples t-test and One-Way ANOVA. The results showed that working students had higher scores on networking than non-working students. In addition, the study revealed that the amount of work and work related to the study field were positively related to career engagement (career planning and networking). Regarding metacognitive awareness, the amount of work matters. Full-time working students had higher scores on both dimensions of metacognitive awareness, namely knowledge of cognition and regulation of cognition. In addition, work related to one's own study field was connected with the perceived relevance of work. The present study indicates that students' working can enhance students' career engagement and their metacognitive awareness.

The aim of this quantitative survey study (N = 287) was to investigate the assessment conceptions of three different pre-service teacher groups (classroom teachers, subject teachers and special needs teachers). Assessment conceptions were best described by the following three main factors: 1) assessment of learning, 2) assessment for teaching and learning and 3) assessment as a harmful action. These main factors were clustered into three assessment conception profiles -- assessment-cautious, assessment-positive and assessment-critical. Pre-service special needs teachers showed more assessment-oriented conceptions emphasising both the assessment of learning and assessment for learning than the other pre-service teacher groups. However, within every pre-service teacher group, the existing assessment conceptions varied from assessment-positive to assessment-cautious and even assessment-critical. The results are discussed to suggest development in teacher education.

The cumulative risk score (CRS) is a mathematical salivary diagnostic model to define an individual’s risk of having periodontitis. In order to further validate this salivary biomarker, we investigated how periodontal bacteria, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and systemic and local host immune responses relate to CRS. Subgingival plaque, saliva, and serum samples collected from 445 individuals were used in the analyses. Plaque levels of 28 microbial species, especially those of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Porphyromonas endodontalis, Prevotella intermedia, and Tannerella forsythia, and serum and salivary levels of IgA and IgG against these five species were determined. Additionally, LPS activity was measured. High CRS associated strongly with all IgA/IgG antibody and LPS levels in saliva, whereas in serum the associations were not that obvious. In the final logistic regression model, the best predictors of high CRS were saliva IgA burden against the five species (OR 7.04, 95% CI 2.25–22.0), IgG burden (3.79, 1.78–8.08), LPS (2.19, 1.38–3.47), and the sum of 17 subgingival Gram-negative species (6.19, 2.10–18.3). CRS is strongly associated with microbial biomarker species of periodontitis and salivary humoral immune responses against them.

Background: The growing use of psychotropic drugs has been attributed to a higher frequency of psychiatric disorders diagnosed, interaction of new drugs on the pharmaceutical market, and new therapeutic indications of existing drugs. Given this scenario, the adequacy of the use of psychotropic drugs needs to be analyzed considering the scientific evidences. Objectives: To assess the appropriateness of drug prescriptions used by psychiatric patients in a public hospital in Sorocaba, according to the best available scientific evidence, and to describe the profile of this population. Methods: This cross-sectional study collected data from clinical records of patients with psychiatric disorders hospitalized in the psychiatric sector of the Sorocaba Hospital Complex, state of São Paulo, Brazil, between August 2015 and December 2016. The outcomes measured were: inappropriate use, presence of contraindication and serious or contraindicated drug interactions, according to the information available on the Dynamed® and Micromedex® 2.0 databases. Results: Patients were predominantly adults, and diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia or bipolar affective disorder. Antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and lithium accounted for 84.0% (n=2,938) of the 3,500 drugs prescribed for mental disorders. There were 2,157 (61.6%) inappropriate prescriptions, of which 81.9% corresponded to antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and lithium. There were 1,712 prescriptions with drug combinations that risked causing drug interactions, predominantly involving antipsychotic use (67.0%). Conclusion: The study revealed a high number of inappropriate prescriptions, pointing to a need for greater prescription adequacy to ensure effective safe treatment for psychiatric patients.