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Abstract Background To predict the long-term performance of restorative materials in the oral environment, it is important to evaluate their resistance to chemical and mechanical degradation and to know the toxic potential of the type and amount of ions eluted from the filling material. In this study, home bleaching was applied to dental materials with different contents and it was aimed to determine the type and amount of ions released from these materials. Methods In this study, amalgam, posterior composite resin, anterior composite resin, bulk fill composite resin, indirect composite resin, hybrid ceramic and all-ceramic were used as restorative materials. 10 specimens of each material were prepared according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Each material group was divided into two subgroups as the bleached group and the control group. After bleaching, all specimens were stored in 1 ml of 75% ethanol/water solution. Solutions were renewed after 1, 14 and 28 days. The type and amount of ions released from the materials were determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS). Data were analyzed using the Friedman, Wilcoxon Signed Ranks, and Mann-Whitney U tests (α = 0.05). Results It was determined that the amount of ions release from the restorative materials decreased over time (p 0.05). Conclusion Within the limits of this study, home bleaching system does not have a significant effect on ion release from restorative materials.

Objective: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a hereditary disorder with progressive muscle weakness and atrophy. Nusinersen is an antisense oligonucleotide directed against SMN2 and has been shown in studies to improve the motor skills of patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of nusinersen treatment in patients with SMA type 2 and type 3 using the Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale Expanded (HFMSE) score. Method: The diagnosis and differentiation of SMA type 2 and type 3 were based on clinical findings and genetic tests. The HFMSE scores of all patients were evaluated in detail before nusinersen doses. Results: Evaluation was made of a total of 15 patients, 12 SMA type 2 and 3 SMA type 3, with a median age of 13 years. None of the patients had regression of acquired abilities after nusinersen treatment. The median HFMSE score of SMA type 2 patients before treatment was 9. After nine doses of nusinersen, the HFMSE score showed a significant increase from 9 to 30 points. Although none of the patients could walk, their motor skills improved significantly. The median HFMSE score of SMA type 3 patients before treatment was 60. After 3 doses of nusinersen treatment, HFMSE scores were found to be 63. Conclusion: Nusinersen is an effective and safe treatment for patients with late-onset SMA. It can be suggested that different motor scales should be applied and developed for SMA type 2 (sitter) and type 3 (walker) patients due to differences in the clinical characteristics of SMA types.

INTRODUCTION: Depressive disorder is a common public health problem that significantly impairs quality of life and has a high risk of mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study was to investigate circadian rhythm differences, stressful life events and coping styles in patients with depression. METHODS: The study involved 100 participants, including 50 patients with depression and 50 healthy controls, recruited from the psychiatric clinic of one-university hospital. The participants completed a sociodemographic information form, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Life Events Checklist (LEC-5), Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations-Short Form (CISS-21) and Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ). RESULTS: The mean age of the patients with depression was 31.88+-10.6 years, and the control group was 29.84+-8.02 years. Emotional coping was significantly higher in patients with depression compared to the control group, whereas task-oriented coping was significantly lower than the control group (p

Objective: Sleep disturbances may occur more frequently during pandemics due to socioeconomic and psychological factors. Infections may also cause a number of long-lasting complications that can be easily overlooked. In this study, we aimed to examine whether the sleep status of the patients who recovered from coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection differs from the individual who lived in the same sociocultural environment but did not have any COVID-19 infection in the same period, or not. Materials and Methods: Two hundred forty-three patients with COVID-19 disease who recovered at least one month before the study enrollment (patient group) and 132 individuals without a history of COVID-19 in the same period (control group) were included. Sociodemographic and medical characteristics of two groups were recorded and a self-assessment form consisting of 17 items was used for sleep evaluation in both groups. Results: Self-assessment scores for the quality of sleep status were lower in patient group (p

Background/Aims: Peutz–Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is a rare hereditary disorder linked to increased cancer risk due to specific genetic variants in the STK11 gene. This study aimed to assess disease manifestations, genetic profiles, and genotype–phenotype correlations in PJS patients. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients from 14 families with PJS who were followed up at our clinic between 2011 and 2021 were included. Genetic susceptibility to hereditary cancers was assess–ed using targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) of the STK11 gene. Clinical data were also collected and analyzed in conjunction with the genetic findings. Results: Initial symptoms appeared around 18.9 years, predominantly abdominal pain and intussusception. Mucocutaneous lesions were found in 85%, and hamartomatous polyps in 90%. Dysplastic polyps were found in 4 patients, with 3 cases of malignancy. Nextgeneration sequencing identified 11 pathogenic and 3 likely pathogenic mutations, including 3 novel STK11 variants (LRG_319: c.598- 8_601del, LRG_319: c.708_718del, and LRG_319: c.146_147del). Next-generation sequencing diagnostic rate was 78.5% (11/14), and the overall diagnostic rate with NGS and MLPA studies was 85.7% (12/14). Patients without STK11 mutations had later symptom onset and potentially lower cancer risk. Truncated mutations are associated with earlier symptoms and elevated cancer risk. Conclusion: This is the first PJS case series in Turkey using the NGS and MLPA methods. It reports 3 novel mutations and emphasizes the genotype–phenotype relationship of PJS. With further studies, the genotype–phenotype relationship of STK11 variants will be better understood.

Objective To investigate markers of systemic inflammation and the effect of thyroid dysfunction on these parameters in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT). Methods Patients with HT and volunteer healthy individuals admitted to the general surgery outpatient clinic between January 2020 and June 2023 were enrolled into the study. Patients with HT were divided into euthyroid, hypothyroid, and hyperthyroid subgroups. All participant data were retrospectively extracted from the hospital database. Results A total of 268 patients (euthyroid, n = 131; hypothyroid, n = 83; and hyperthyroid, n = 54) and 124 controls were included. The platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio was lower in the euthyroid group versus control group, and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was lower in controls than the three patient subgroups. Euthyroid and hypothyroid patients with HT exhibited a higher systemic inflammation index than the control group. The pan-immune inflammation index was lower in controls than in euthyroid, hypothyroid, and hyperthyroid patients with HT. In patients with HT, inflammation markers did not significantly differ between subgroups. Conclusions Markers of systemic inflammation provide meaningful and reliable information in patients with HT, but do not differentiate between euthyroid, hypothyroid, or hyperthyroid patients.

Background: Aim of this study is to assess the color matching in class III restorations made with single-shade resin composite after bleaching with different carbamide peroxide concentrations. Methods: In this study, 20 human incisors that were free of caries or enamel abnormalities and freshly extracted for periodontal or orthodontic reasons were cleaned of blood, debris, and calculus. Mesial and distal surfaces were restored with single-shade composite (Omnichroma, Tokuyama, Japan). All samples were randomly divided into two groups, all of the mesial surfaces were isolated, and distal surfaces were coated with %10 and %15 carbamide peroxide (Opalescence PF; Ultradent Products, Inc, USA). Polishing discs (Zenit Flex, President Dental, Germany) were used the composite restoration. Color matching was evaluated on photographs with a digital colorimeter. SPSS software program was used to perform statistical analysis (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results: Statistically significant difference was found between the color matching of the restorations after the 5th treatment with 15% carbamide peroxide (p = 0.004), and at the end of 10th treatment with 10% carbamide peroxide (p = 0.028). Depending on the carbamide peroxide concentration, after the 5th treatment a statistically significant difference was found between 15% and 10% carbamide peroxide (p = 0.000), but no statistically significant difference after the 10th treatment (p > 0.05). Conclusions: After carbamide peroxide bleaching, hard tissue color became lighter. Since there is no color pigment in single-shade composites, color might be lighter after bleaching. Therefore, these composites may be considered safer in bleaching. Keywords: Bleaching, Color Match, Composite

Abstract Central nervous system (CNS) metastases can be seen at a rate of 30% in advanced stages for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Growing evidence indicates the predictive roles of driver gene mutations in the development of brain metastases (BM) in recent years, meaning that oncogene-driven NSCLC have a high incidence of BM at diagnosis. Today, 3rd generation targeted drugs with high intracranial efficacy, which can cross the blood–brain barrier, have made a positive contribution to survival for these patients with an increased propensity to BM. It is important to update the clinical and pathological factors reflected in the survival with real-life data. A multi-center, retrospective database of 306 patients diagnosed with driver mutant NSCLC and initially presented with BM between between November 2008 and September 2022 were analyzed. The median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 12.25 months (95% CI, 10–14.5). While 254 of the patients received tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), 51 patients received chemotherapy as first line treatment. The median intracranial PFS (iPFS) was 18.5 months (95% CI, 14.8–22.2). The median overall survival (OS) was 29 months (95% CI, 25.2–33.0). It was found that having 3 or less BM and absence of extracranial metastases were significantly associated with better mOS and iPFS. The relationship between the size of BM and survival was found to be non-significant. Among patients with advanced NSCLC with de novo BM carrying a driver mutation, long-term progression-free and overall survival can be achieved with the advent of targeted agents with high CNS efficacy with more conservative and localized radiotherapy modalities.

INTRODUCTION: The link between depression and childhood traumas has been emphasized for many years. This study investigates the impact of childhood traumas on posttraumatic growth in patients with depression. METHODS: A total of 120 participants who had experienced childhood trauma at least once in their lives (75 patients with depression and 45 healthy controls) were included in the study. Participants were administered sociodemographic information form, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire 28 (CTQ-28) and Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). RESULTS: Childhood traumas and rates of posttraumatic growth were high in both the patient and control groups, and there was no statistically significant difference between them. (p=0.63, p=0.68). The statistical analysis revealed that participants in the depression group had significantly higher scores on the physical abuse subscale of the CTQ-28 compared to the control group (p

Beekeeping is one of the significant activities that contribute to sustainability in environmental, social, and economic aspects. Honeybees provide multifaceted contributions to humanity, with 90% attributed to pollination services and 10% to bee products (honey, propolis, wax, etc.). The preservation of these services plays a key role in achieving ecological and economic sustainability, ensuring a healthy future for human life. According to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) under the United Nations, more than 80 million beehives contribute to an estimated annual honey production of 1.6 million tons. Honeybees can travel distances ranging from 600 meters to 11.3 kilometers to pollinate in bee forests. The bee products obtained from these areas provide income sources for forest communities, supporting sustainable development. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), one-third of global food production relies on pollination services by bees. Pollination services are critical for maintaining food security and increasing agricultural productivity. These services create a significant impact on biodiversity support, landscape diversification, enrichment of forest cover, and expansion of wildlife habitats, as well as erosion control—effects that are often imperceptible to humans. Bees contribute to human well-being and cultural sustainability by providing food, medicine, genetic resources, and related materials. The ecosystem services provided by bees make substantial contributions to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including No Poverty (SDG1), Zero Hunger (SDG2), Good Health and Well-being (SDG3), Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG7), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG8), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG12), Climate Action (SDG13), and Life on Land (SDG15). This study discusses the importance of beekeeping and bee products in terms of ecosystem services for sustainable development and addresses environmental risks.

The use of nutritional supplements provides support to the athlete, while the use of wrong and inappropriate supplements may adversely affect the performance of the athlete. This study investigated the relationship between the nutritional knowledge and nutritional supplement belief levels and athletic performances of elite cross-country skiers. A total of 19 elite cross-country skiers, 8 females and 11 males (mean age of 16.1±1.00 years) competing in the U-16 and U-18 categories, participated in the study. Inbody 120, 10 m, 20 m and 30 m sprint, agility, 20m shuttle run and hand grip tests were used to assess physical and psychological factors. Moreover, the Nutrition for Sports Knowledge Questionnaire (NSKQ) and the Sports Supplements Belief Scale (SSBS) were applied to the athletes. No significance was found in the comparison of the athletes in terms of Body Mass Index (BMI) classification (p>0.05). A positive relationship was found between the NSKQ and age (r=0.466; p=0.044), body fat percentage (r=0.505; p=0.027), and body fat mass (r=0.642; p=0.003) values. On the other hand, a positive relationship was found between the SSBS scale and body weight (r=0.136; p=0.009), body muscle mass (r=0.681; p=0.001), total body water (r=0.647; p=0.003), hand grip strength (right hand r=0.621; p=0.005; left hand r=0.635; p=0.003), while a negative relationship was found between the SSBS scale and 10m sprint (r=-0.589; p=0.008), 20m sprint (r=-0.606; p=0.006), 30m sprint (r=-0.480; p=0.037) and agility values (r=-0.533; p=0.019). These findings demonstrate that the sports nutrition knowledge level does not have a positive effect on athletic performance, but it has a positive effect on body muscle mass, strength, sprint, and agility values that affect athletes’ athletic performances as athletes’ nutritional supplements belief levels increase.

The chronotype, which reflects the circadian rhythm preferences of individuals in their daily activities and sleep-wake cycles, can be considered on a dimension of extreme morningism and extreme eveningism. Individuals with extreme morning and extreme evening chronotypes face many physical and psychological dangers due to accumulated sleep debt, short total sleep time and insufficient sleep efficiency. In extreme chronotypes, especially in extreme evening people, the social jet-lag effect due to the mismatch between social and circadian clocks is thought to exacerbate these dangers. More recent studies have suggested that social jet-lag and chronotype have many negative effects on cognitive functioning. The aim of this article is to review the impact of social jet-lag and chronotype on cognitive functioning.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the color stability, translucency and hardness of eight different composite resins, after thermal cycling and immersion in beverages. Six light-cured dimethacrylate-based composite (Clearfil Majesty Esthetic, Clearfil Majesty Posterior, Grandio, Grandio Flow, Arabesk Top, Valux Plus), an ormocer (Admira) and a silorane-based composite (Filtek Silorane) were tested in this study. Fifteen samples (8x2 mm) from each composite were prepared. All samples were subjected to thermal cycling [(5.0 ± 0.5)~(55.0 ± 1.0) °C, 1000 cycles]. After thermal cycling, fifteen specimens in each group were divided into three subgroups (n = 5): distilled water (control), coffee, and red wine at 37°C for 30 days. With a spectrophotometer, the △E and Translucency Parameter (TP) were calculated against white and black backgrounds. Color, translucency and hardness of all samples were remeasured baseline, after thermal cycles and after immersion in beverages. The data were analyzed using repeated measured analysis of variance and Bonferroni multiple-comparison test (P3.3). The effect of thermal cycles on color and transluceny was not statistically significant (P>0.05). TP values generally decreased especially after immersion in red wine (P

This study aims to determine the prognostic significance of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in triple- negative breast cancer (TNBC). PD-L1 expression and TIL percentage were determined in TNBCs that did not receive neoadjuvant therapy. The relationship between PD-L1 expression and the percentage of TILs with survival was investigated. The presence of intratumoural PD-L1-positive tumour-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) in tumours with ≥ 1% PD-L1 expression was identified as a new PD-L1 evaluation parameter. The presence of intratumoural PD-L1-positive TIICs as a new parameter in PD-L1-positive cases increased overall survival. The percentage of TILs increased in both overall and distant metastasis-free survival (p = 0.040 and p = 0.006, respectively). As a result, it was found that the risk of death was increased 5.18-fold (p = 0.013) in patients without intratumoural PD-L1-positive TIICs. This risk of death was calculated to be 5.40-fold higher in patients with TIL percentage ≤ 10% than in those with > 40% (p = 0.024), and the risk of distant metastasis was calculated to be 11.95 times higher. In our study, we discovered that the percentage of TILs made a statistically significant difference in TNBC survival. The presence of intratumoural PD-L1-positive TIICs in PD-L1-positive cases significantly increased survival.

IntroductionLung cancer (LC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Approximately 80% of LC cases are of the non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) type, and approximately two-thirds of these cases are diagnosed in advanced stages. Only systemic treatment methods can be applied to patients in the advanced stages when there is no chance of surgical treatment. Identification of mutations that cause LC is of vital importance in determining appropriate treatment methods. New noninvasive methods are needed to repeat and monitor these molecular analyses. In this regard, liquid biopsy (LB) is the most promising method. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of LB in detecting EGFR executive gene mutations that cause LC.MethodsOne hundred forty-six patients in stages IIIB and IV diagnosed with non-squamous cell non-small cell LC were included. Liquid biopsy was performed as a routine procedure in cases where no mutation was detected in solid tissue or in cases with progression after targeted therapy. Liquid biopsy samples were also obtained for the second time from 10 patients who showed progression under the applied treatment. Mutation analyses were performed using the Cobas® EGFR Test, a real-time PCR test designed to detect mutations in exons 18, 20, and 21 and changes in exon 19 of the EGFR gene.ResultsMutation positivity in paraffin blocks was 21.9%, whereas it was 32.2% in LB. Solids and LB were compatible in 16 patients. Additionally, while no mutation was found in solid tissue in the evaluation of 27 cases, it was detected in LB. It has been observed that new mutations can be detected not only at the time of diagnosis, but also in LB samples taken during the follow-up period, leading to the determination of targeted therapy.DiscussionThe results showed that “liquid biopsy” is a successful and alternative non-invasive method for detecting cancer-causing executive mutations, given the limitations of conventional biopsies.

Objective To assess the effect of cabergoline on endometrial vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) immunoexpression in an ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) rat model.Material and Methods Twenty-one immature female Wistar rats were assigned into three groups: group 1, the control group; group 2, stimulated with gonadotropins to mimic OHSS; and group 3, in which an OHSS protocol was induced and thereafter treated with cabergoline (100 μg/kg/day). Body weight, ovarian volume, corpora lutea numbers, and endometrial VEGFR-2 expression were compared between the groups.Results Weight gain and ovarian volume were highest in the OHSS-placebo group, while cabergoline administration significantly reversed those effects (p = 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). VEGFR-2 stained cells were significantly lower in groups 2 and 3 compared to group 1 (p = 0.002). Although VEGFR-2 expression was lowest in group 3, the difference was not statistically significant. Corpora lutea numbers were also similar (p = 0.465).Conclusion While successful implantation requires a vascularized receptive endometrium, impaired expression of VEGFR-2 and disrupted endometrial angiogenesis due to cabergoline administration may be associated with IVF failure in fresh OHSS cycles. The insignificant decrease in endometrial VEGFR-2 expression observed in this research needs to be investigated by further studies involving additional techniques such as immunoblotting and/or RT-PCR analyses.

Abstract Objective Hyperglycaemia in Type 1 diabetes (T1D) results from an absolute insulin deficiency. However, insulin resistance (IR) may exacerbate glycaemic instability in T1D and contribute to long‐term cardiovascular complications. We previously showed that IR in teenagers with obesity is associated with sex‐dependent derangements in the catabolism of branched‐chain amino acids (BCAA) and fatty acids. Here we hypothesized that byproducts of BCAA and fatty acid metabolism may serve as biomarkers or determinants of glycaemic control and IR in prepubertal or early pubertal children with T1D. Methods Metabolites, hormones and cytokines from fasting blood samples were analysed in 28 children (15 females, 13 males; age 6–11 years) with T1D. Principal components analysis (PCA) and multiple linear regression models were used to correlate metabolites of interest with glycaemic control, total daily insulin dose (TDD, units/kg/d), adiponectin and the triglyceride (TG) to high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio. Results Males and females were comparable in age, BMI‐z, insulin sensitivity, glycaemic control, inflammatory markers, BCAAs and C2/C3/C5‐acylcarnitines. The majority of components retained in PCA were related to fatty acid oxidation (FAO) and BCAA catabolism. HbA1c correlated positively with Factor 2 (acylcarnitines, incomplete FAO) and Factor 9 (fasting glucose). TDD correlated negatively with C3 and C5 and Factor 10 (BCAA catabolism) and positively with the ratio of C2 to C3 + C5 and Factor 9 (fasting glucose). Conclusions These findings suggest that glucose intolerance in prepubertal or early pubertal children with T1D is accompanied by incomplete FAO while TDD is associated with preferential catabolism of fats relative to amino acids.

Various physiological systems and behaviors such as the sleep-wake cycle, vigilance, body temperature, and the secretion of certain hormones are governed by a 24-hour cycle called the circadian system. While there are many external stimuli involved the regulation of circadian rhythm, the most powerful environmental stimulus is the daily light-dark cycle. Blind individuals with no light perception develop circadian desynchrony. This leads to non-24-hour sleep-wake rhythm disorder, which is associated with sleep-wake disorders, as well as mood disorders and loss of appetite and gastrointestinal disturbances due to disrupted circadian hormone regulation. As the diagnosis is often delayed because of under-recognition in clinical practice, patients must cope with varying degrees of social and academic dysfunction. Most blind individuals report that non-24-hour sleep-wake rhythm disorder affects them more than blindness. In the treatment of totally blind patients suffering from non-24-hour sleep-wake rhythm disorder, the first-line management is behavioral approaches. Drug therapy includes melatonin and the melatonin agonist tasimelteon. Diagnosing blind individuals’ sleep disorders is also relevant to treatment because they can be improved with the use of melatonin and its analogues or by phototherapy if they have residual vision. Therefore, assessing sleep problems and planning treatment accordingly for individuals presenting with blindness is an important issue for ophthalmologists to keep in mind.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to investigate the relationships between neurological soft signs (NSS), circadian preferences, and emotional regulation difficulties in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and their unaffected first-degree relatives (FDRs). METHODS: A total of 105 people (35 BD patients, 35 FDRs, and 35 healthy controls) enrolled in the study. They completed a sociodemographic information form, the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and Neurological Evaluation Scale (NES). RESULTS: NES motor coordination, complex motor movements, other subscale and total scores were significantly higher in BD and FDRs compared to the control group. The subscales of the DERS including nonacceptance, goals, impulse, strategies, accessibility, and total DERS scores were also significantly higher in patients than the relative and control groups. A statistically positive, weak, and significant relationship emerged between the patient group's other NES sub-dimension and the DERS sub-dimensions of impulse and awareness. Meanwhile, significant relationship was found in the FDRs between NSS and the NES sub-dimensions emotional integration and complex motor movements. A significant relationship was also found between the DERS sub-dimension nonacceptance and the NSS sub-dimension complex motor movements. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This study discovered that NSS are associated with negative emotional regulation strategies in patients with BD during in euthymic period and FDRs. NSS and circadian preferences may be endophenotype candidates for BD.

The field of sleep research is both broad and rapidly evolving. It spans from the diagnosis of sleep-related disorders to investigations of how sleep supports memory consolidation. The study of sleep includes a variety of approaches, starting with the sole focus on the visual interpretation of polysomnography characteristics and extending to the emergent use of advanced signal processing tools. Insights gained using artificial intelligence (AI) are rapidly reshaping the understanding of sleep-related disorders, enabling new approaches to basic neuroscientific studies. In this opinion article, we explore the emergent role of AI in sleep research, along two different axes: one clinical and one fundamental. In clinical research, we emphasize the use of AI for automated sleep scoring, diagnosing sleep-wake disorders and assessing measurements from wearable devices. In fundamental research, we highlight the use of AI to better understand the functional role of sleep in consolidating memories. While AI is likely to facilitate new advances in the field of sleep research, we also address challenges, such as bridging the gap between AI innovation and the clinic and mitigating inherent biases in AI models. AI has already contributed to major advances in the field of sleep research, and mindful deployment has the potential to enable further progress in the understanding of the neuropsychological benefits and functions of sleep.

Aim: The objective of this systematic review was to offer quantitative evidence regarding the influence of surface properties on the mechanical stability of miniscrews. Materials and Methods: The comprehensive search strategy involved querying databases, namely PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. PRISMA guidelines were followed to determine relevant studies according to specific eligibility criteria. The final search was conducted on 30 August 2023. In this systematic review, in vivo studies published in the English language were included. Results: A total of 364 articles were viewed, and 17 of them were considered for evaluation. Two of the articles are about human studies, while the rest are about animal studies. The number of miniscrew samples ranged between 18 and 144 (totaling 1097 with a mean of 64.52). Among the surface modifications in the articles, the sandblasting with large grit and acid etching (SLA) method was most frequently applied, followed by acid etching in second place. The control groups’ (machined surface) maximum removal torque (MRT) values varied from 2.05 to 50.50 Ncm, while maximum insertion torque (MIT) values varied from 7.23 to 19.25 Ncm. Conclusions: The development of novel applications to improve the surface properties and survival rates of miniscrews is ongoing. In future studies, emerging surface modifications should be evaluated clinically, taking into account their cost and associated harm to the environment.

Bu çalışmanın amacı, dijital öykü çalışmalarının dil becerilerine yansımalarını ortaya koymaktır. Araştırmada, temel nitel araştırma yaklaşımından yararlanılmıştır. Araştırmanın çalışma grubunu, 2005-2021 yılları arasında yapılmış, bulguları arasında temel dil becerilerine katkısı bulunan dijital öykü çalışmaları ve yurt içinde sınıf eğitimi alanında, dijital öykü konusunda lisansüstü tez yazmış 7 araştırmacı oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmanın verileri, doküman incelemesi ve yarı yapılandırılmış görüşmeler aracılığıyla elde edilmiştir. Verilerin çözümlemesinde, betimsel analizden yararlanılmıştır. Gerçekleştirilen analizler sonucunda araştırma bulguları Dinleme, Konuşma, Okuma ve Yazma Becerisi olarak 4 ana tema etrafında toplanmıştır. Araştırmacılarla yapılan görüşmeler sonunda, dijital öykü çalışması yapacak araştırmacılar için ön hazırlık çalışmasının yapılması gerektiği, teknolojik okuryazarlığın ve teknolojik altyapının önemli olduğu belirlenmiştir. Araştırmanın sonunda, dijital öykü etkinliklerinin dinleme, okuduğunu anlama ve yazma stratejilerini, konuşma motivasyonunu olumlu yönde desteklediği sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.

İhracata yönelik büyüme hipotezi pek çok kez incelenmiş ve bu konuda başta Uzak Doğu Ülkeleri olmak üzere genellikle destekleyici sonuçların ortaya konulduğu geniş bir literatür oluşmuştur. İlgili literatürde 1990’lı yıllarla birlikte serbest piyasa ekonomisine geçen ve genellikle 2000’li yıllardan itibaren İhracata yönelik büyümeyi hedefleyen politikaları takip eden Merkezi ve Doğu Avrupa ülkeleri özelinde ise son derece sınırlı araştırmaların olduğu görülmektedir. Bu çalışmada seçilmiş 11 Merkezi ve Doğu Avrupa ülkesi için 2010M01-2018M08 dönemi ihracat ve ekonomik büyüme verileri kullanılmakta ve Emirmahmutoğlu & Köse (2011) ve Hatemi-J (2011) panel nedensellik analizleri ile ihracat ve ekonomik büyüme ilişkileri çerçevesinde araştırılmaktadır. Analiz sonuçlarımız, ülkelerin ihracat ve büyüme potansiyellerine bağlı olarak ihracat bazlı büyüme veya büyüme bazlı ihracat olgularının ülkeler arasında farklılık gösterdiğini ortaya koymakla birlikte panel grubu ülkelerin geneli için her iki nedensellik testinin sonuçlarını bir arada değerlendirdiğimizde genel olarak ihracata dayalı büyüme hipotezinin geniş ölçekte desteklendiğine işaret etmektedir. Bu sonucun yanı sıra elde edilen veriler, ekonomik büyümenin de ihracat üzerinde ayrıca olumlu etkilerinin bulunduğuna işaret etmektedir. İhracat ve ekonomik büyüme arasında bir geri besleme (feedback) olayına dayalı etkileşimli bu ilişkinin varlığı gerek Emirmahmutoğlu & Köse (2011) gerekse Hatemi-J (2011) nedensellik analizleri ile de desteklenmiştir.

Imazamox is an imidazolinone herbicide; it is an acetalactacetase (ALS) / acetylhydroxyacid (AHAC) inhibitor and is widely used for weed control. In this study, the genotoxic effect of the commercial formulation of imazamox was investigated in zebrafish peripheral blood cells in vivo using the micronucleus (MN) method. Fishes were treated at three different concentrations of imazamox (3, 6, 12 mg L-1) for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours. At the highest concentration (12 mg L-1), it was observed that all fish died in all treatment periods. According to 24, 48 and 96 h treatment results; compared to the negative control, it was determined that the MN frequency increased as the concentration increased. These results show us that imazamox herbicide may have genotoxic potential for aquatic organisms. Further studies should be conducted to investigate the mechanisms that are effective in the genotoxicity of imazamox.

The purpose of this study was to reveal the bibliometric and contextual features and problems of postgraduate theses (master's and doctoral theses) made in the field of classroom teaching in Turkey between 2010-2019. The study was carried out with content analysis method, which is one of the synthesis research methods. The scope of the study included 1083 postgraduate theses related to classroom teaching in the database of the Higher Education Council (HEC) National Thesis Center (NTC). In determining the theses to be included in the scope of the study, the following criteria were taken into account: the theses would be related to classroom teaching, and the publication date of the theses would be between 2010-2019. Data analysis in content analysis research is different from qualitative data analysis. In this study, which was carried out with content analysis, firstly, the theses were handled as the analysis unit. The basic features of the theses were digitized, and codes and categories were determined to examine the theses in depth. Out of 1083 postgraduate theses examined, 956 of them were master's theses, and 127 were doctoral theses. With 181 theses, the year with the most theses was 2019. The year with the fewest theses was 2017. In the theses examined, it was seen that the course of "Turkish Language" was studied most, and the course of "Free Time Activities" was studied least. In addition, it was revealed that there were mistakes in method, sampling, data collection tool and content in some of the theses examined.

The purpose of the current study is to examine the ways in which preservice middle school mathematics teachers (PMSMT) apply and represent algebraic reasoning in their solution processes for the problems in the concept of sets. This model provides detailed information about the reasoning made through the process of the solution of set problems. The study group of this case study was composed of 20 preservice mathematics teachers. The data were collected through written documents and whole class discussions. Based on the findings of the study, three ways to represent algebraic reasoning in sets emerged; context-based representation of algebraic reasoning, generalization-based representation of algebraic reasoning and formulization-based representation of algebraic reasoning. These ways determined based on the argumentations that they formed. They produced different warrants since they reasoned differently.

Graph or network embedding is a powerful method for extracting missing or potential information from interactions between nodes in biological networks. Graph embedding methods learn representations of nodes and interactions in a graph with low-dimensional vectors, which facilitates research to predict potential interactions in networks. However, most graph embedding methods suffer from high computational costs in the form of high computational complexity of the embedding methods and learning times of the classifier, as well as the high dimensionality of complex biological networks. To address these challenges, in this study, we use the Chopper algorithm as an alternative approach to graph embedding, which accelerates the iterative processes and thus reduces the running time of the iterative algorithms for three different (nervous system, blood, heart) undirected protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks. Due to the high dimensionality of the matrix obtained after the embedding process, the data are transformed into a smaller representation by applying feature regularization techniques. We evaluated the performance of the proposed method by comparing it with state-of-the-art methods. Extensive experiments demonstrate that the proposed approach reduces the learning time of the classifier and performs better in link prediction. We have also shown that the proposed embedding method is faster than state-of-the-art methods on three different PPI datasets.

Purpose: The measurements’ reference points associated with foramen magnum (FM) and cranium were examined in this retrospective study. Also, the relation between FM and cranium harmony were calculated both on dry skull and in healthy subjects performed on computed tomography (CT). Materials and Methods: The present study was carried out on 185 healthy adult subjects (90 females; 95 males) aged between 18–67 years and 15 dried skull of unknown gender of an Anatolian population. The shapes of the FM were classified as two semicircle, oval, round, egg, tetragonal, pentagonal, hexagonal and irregular shapes. The anteroposterior length and transverse width of the FM and cranium were measured on both photos and CT. Results: The means and standard deviations of the measurements were given for three groups. To control the accuracy of FM width (FMW) and length (FML) results, a formula was used for three groups including dried skull and CT measurements of females and males, seperately (FMW=Cranial width (CW)/4.26 for group 1, CW/4.66 for group 2 and CW/4.66 for group 3; and FML=Cranial length (CL)/4.51 for group 1, CL/4.33 for group 2 and CL/4.16 for group 3). The oval type FM was predominant (26.67%) in dried skull and (23.33%) in females and (28.42%) in males. Conclusion: The present study presents noteworthy data about FM and cranium harmony of the adult Turkish population and dry skulls that will show a harmony between cranium and foramen magnum in clinical practice. There was no tetragonal and hexagonal FM types in dried skulls and tetragonal type FM was the least seen type in females and males.

Abstract Background Host inflammation has been studied in patients with ischemic stroke (IS) due to large vessel occlusions. Inflammatory markers were shown to correlate with large artery atherosclerosis and worse outcomes after ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusions. However, the association between inflammation and cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is controversial. Mostly studied are the white matter hyperintensities; however, results regarding association of white matter hyperintensities with inflammatory markers are conflicting. We aimed to investigate the association between cerebral microbleed (CMB) load, as an indicator of SVD, and inflammation indices in patients with IS. Results We identified 127 patients with IS admitted within 7 days of symptom onset. CMBs were detected in 37% (n: 47) of patients. Patient’s age and Fazekas score were independently associated with CMB load. Inflammatory biomarkers were not associated with the presence or quantitative burden of CMBs. Conclusions White matter damage and patient’s age predicted CMB presence and number, respectively, in IS patients. However, inflammatory markers failed to show any association with such SVD signs. Prospective studies with a higher number of stroke patients are needed in order to justify our findings.

In the study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were successfully synthesized by an environmentally friendly synthesis method using Seseli resinosum Freyn & Sint extract. The synthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized by ultraviolet/visible light absorption spectrophotometer (UV-Vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. As a result of the characterization, it was determined that 33 nm spherical nanoparticles were formed, showing a spectrum at ~420 nm wavelength. Silver nanoparticles showed a bacteriocidal effect against all bacterial strains. DPPH and ABTS methods were used to examine the antioxidant activities of plant extracts and AgNPs. In DPPH removal activity, AgNPs obtained by green synthesis provided a high rate of inhibition removal compared to the extract. According to this percentage, while silver nanoparticles provided 22% removal, the extract provided 15% removal. In ABTS removal activity, when AgNPs were obtained by green synthesis compared to the extract, silver nanoparticles provided 25% removal, while the extract provided 18% removal. The characterization of silver nanoparticles synthesized by the green synthesis method and their antioxidant activity were investigated, and the obtained values indicate the presence of an antioxidant capacity. In addition, the inhibitory effects of the extract and AgNP on lipoxygenase activity, which has an important place in health, were investigated. It was determined that the aqueous extract of S. resinosum and the AgNP synthesized from the extract had lipoxygenase enzyme inhibitory activity.

Objective:This research was carried out to determine the university students’ views and attitudes on sexual myths/rape myths.Methods:The research was carried out as descriptive. The sample consisted of 140 students studying at the faculty of engineering-architecture, the faculty of science and literature, and the school of health sciences. Data collection tools consisted of two parts. In the first part, there were questions about sociodemographic characteristics and sexuality. In the second part, there were 15 myths about sexual myths and sexual assault myths created by researchers with the aid of literature.Results:The mean age of the students participating in the study was 21.98±1.70 years, and 48.6% (n=68) were female and 51.4% were male. 32.1% (n=45) of them were in the nursing department of SBYO, 25.7% (n=36) were in the departments of the engineering-architecture faculty, and 42.1% (n=59) were in the departments of the faculty of science and literature. It was observed that the students got information about sexuality mostly from communication tools (44.2%) and 48.6% (n=68) had negative thoughts about sexual intercourse before marriage. It was concluded that men, nursing and engineering-architecture faculty students and those who had a negative opinion about sexual intercourse before marriage were significantly more likely to agree with some sexual myths/sexual assault myths.Conclusion:There are those who accept these myths as true, albeit at a low rate, among university students. This may be due to gender roles, restrictive cultural norms, and the inadequacy of education and information on sexual assault and sexuality in the education system. Shaping the education system will provide university students’ awareness about sexual myths and sexual assault myths and will help students acquire and internalize correct information.

In this paper, functional confusion defined as clinical condition which is the patient can not focus on a certain issue, reply the questions and explain his/her story during psychiatric interview is focused. It is hypothesized that functional confusion seem most prevelant in patients with borderline personality disorder and somatic symptom and related disorders. Relationship between inability of mentalization, dissociation, cognitive disturbances and functional confusion seen in patients with borderline personality disorder is emphasized. Similarities are explained between alexitimia and can not expression of emotional complaints in the patients with somatic symptoms and related disorders. Relationship between somatoform dissociation and confusion has been discussed. In the article, also it has been argued that childhood traumatic experiences might play a role on vulnerability to functional confusion. Functional confusion may contribute to emergence of clinical conditions and severity of illness in adulthood period. Patients with functional confusion should be treated with psychotropic medications including low dose antipsychotic drugs rather than psychotherapeutic interventions.

Abstract Objectives Insulin resistance (IR) in adolescents with obesity is associated with a sex‐dependent metabolic ‘signature’ comprising the branched‐chain amino acids (BCAAs), glutamate/glutamine, C3/C5 acylcarnitines and uric acid. Here, we compared the levels of branched‐chain α‐keto acids (BCKAs) and glutamate/glutamine, which are the byproducts of BCAA catabolism and uric acid among adolescents with obesity prior to and following a 6‐month lifestyle‐intervention program. Methods Fasting plasma samples from 33 adolescents with obesity (16 males, 17 females, aged 12–18 year) were analysed by flow‐injection tandem MS and LC–MS/MS. Multiple linear regression models were used to correlate changes in BCKAs, glutamate/glutamine and uric acid with changes in weight and insulin sensitivity as assessed by HOMA‐IR, adiponectin and the ratio of triglyceride (TG) to HDL. In predictive models, BCKAs, glutamate/glutamine and uric acid at baseline were used as explanatory variables. Results Baseline BCKAs, glutamate/glutamine and uric acid were higher in males than females despite comparable BMI‐metrics. Following lifestyle‐intervention, α‐keto‐β‐methylvalerate (α‐KMV, a metabolic by product of isoleucine) decreased in males but not in females. The ratio of BCKA/BCAA trended lower in males. In the cohort as a whole, BCKAs correlated positively with the ratio of TG to HDL at baseline and HOMA‐IR at 6‐month‐follow‐up. Glutamate/glutamine was positively associated with HOMA‐IR at baseline and 6‐month‐follow‐up. A reduction in BCKAs was associated with an increase in adiponectin, and those with higher BCKAs at baseline had higher adiponectin levels at 6‐month‐follow‐up. Interestingly those adolescents with higher uric acid levels at baseline had greater reduction in weight. Conclusions BCKAs and glutamate/glutamine may serve as biomarkers of IR in adolescents with obesity, and uric acid might serve as a predictor of weight loss in response to lifestyle‐intervention. Differential regulation of BCAA catabolism in adolescent males and females implicates critical roles for sex steroids in metabolic homeostasis.