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Surgical Management of Orbital Floor Fractures and Evaluation of Complications Related to Reconstruction Material
No full textOrbital floor fractures (OFFs) are frequent facial trauma injuries that often lead to complications such as enophthalmos, diplopia, and infraorbital hypoesthesia. Surgical reconstruction involves the use of various materials, including titanium mesh (TM), porous polyethylene (PP), plate/screw fixation, and urinary catheters (UCs). This study aimed to evaluate surgical approaches, reconstruction materials, and postoperative outcomes in patients with OFFs. We retrospectively analyzed 103 patients who underwent OFF repair between January 2019 and December 2024. Data concerning patient demographics, trauma mechanisms, fracture types, surgical approaches, reconstruction materials, and postoperative complications were collected. The study cohort predominantly comprised men (86.4%; median age, 31 years). The most common cause of facial trauma was motor vehicle collisions (48.5%). The median time to surgery was 6.5 days for adults and 6 days for pediatric patients. Surgical approaches varied, as did the reconstruction materials used (TM, PP, plate/screw, and UC). Postoperative complications occurred in 24.2% cases of pure OFFs and in 28.2% cases of combined OFFs, with no significant difference (p=0.85). Logistic regression analysis indicated higher complication risks with PP and UCs than with TM, whereas plate/screw fixation showed a lower risk. In this cohort, TM demonstrated the lowest complication rate. PP and UC showed trends toward higher complication rates, though these findings did not reach statistical significance and must be interpreted with caution due to small subgroup sizes. Plate/screw fixation is advantageous for the treatment of complex fractures; however, further prospective studies are required to confirm these findings.</p
DETERMINING THE STATISTICAL REASONING LEVELS OF GIFTED MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS
No full textThe purpose of this study is to determine the statistical reasoning levels of gifted middle school students, and to examine these levels in terms of variables such as grade level and parental education status. The research was conducted with 150 students attending Science and Art Centres (BİLSEM) in İzmir, and the students' statistical reasoning skills were measured using LOCUS Assessment Questions. A correlational survey model was used in the study. The data were analysed using quantitative methods. The study found that gifted students had low levels of statistical reasoning skills. Furthermore, analysis of grade levels revealed that 7th and 8th grade students performed better than 6th grade students, but there was no significant difference between 7th and 8th grades. No significant difference was observed between parents' educational status and students' reasoning levels. The results reveal that, despite gifted students' high analytical thinking abilities, they struggle to understand complex statistical concepts, and that their education in this area needs to be strengthened in greater depth.</p
Determination of measurement uncertainty in the serology laboratory for anti-HBs, anti-Rubella IgG, and anti-Toxoplasma IgG
No full textThis study calculated the measurement uncertainty (MU) of the anti-HBs, anti-rubella IgG, and anti-toxoplasma IgG assays according to the ISO/TS 20914:2019 guideline. Then, it evaluated the impact of MU on clinical interpretation. Analyses were performed using the Alinity i analyzer (Abbott Diagnostics), based on internal quality control (IQC) data from 2023 to 2024 and manufacturer-provided calibrator uncertainty values. The overall MU estimates were derived by combining the repeatability uncertainty (uRw) and the calibrator uncertainty (uCal) using the square root of the sum of squares method. Expanded uncertainty (U, k = 2) was calculated to provide 95 % coverage. For anti-HBs, the MU was 10 ± 17 mIU/mL at the 10 mIU/mL cutoff and 30 ± 18 mIU/mL at the 30 mIU/mL cutoff. For anti-rubella IgG, the MU was 10 ± 17 IU/mL and 30 ± 19 IU/mL, respectively. For anti-toxoplasma IgG, the MU was 3 ± 3.6 IU/mL at the 3 IU/mL cutoff and 8 ± 5 IU/mL at the 8 IU/mL cutoff. The mean CV values in 2023 and 2024 were 11.77 % and 11.26 % for anti-HBs; 17.83 % and 16.30 % for anti-rubella IgG; and 18.87 % and 21.43 % for anti-toxoplasma IgG. There was no significant interannual variation (p > 0.05). Integrating MU into serological reports creates an "uncertainty zone" around cut-off values, reducing the risk of misclassification and improving patient safety. To our knowledge, this is one of the first studies to demonstrate the routine application of MU estimation in quantitative serological assays, highlighting its potential value in clinical practice
Finite element models for clinching, push-out, and torque-out tests of self-clinching nuts
No full textSelf-clinching nuts are increasingly used in automotive industry for fastening bolts to metal sheets, which are too thin to be threaded directly. To ensure safe and reliable use, this type of nuts must meet defined mechanical performance criteria, such as push-out and torque-out resistance. Finite element analysis plays a crucial role in observing the deformation of the sheet metal during the clinching process and in assessing whether the nuts meet the expected performance standards. This study focused on the development of finite element models for clinching, push-out, and torque-out tests for self-clinching nuts. The accuracy of the developed models was evaluated by comparing their results with corresponding experimental data. The findings of the study revealed that mesh quality significantly affect the accuracy of the simulation results. Additionally, it was observed that the compliance of the testing machine plays an important role in the discrepancy between experimental and simulation outcomes during the clinching process
Artificial intelligence, clean energy, and market integration: Evidence from multi-period quantile dynamics
No full textGenome-wide SNP and mtDNA phylogeny of blind mole rats (Spalacinae Gray, 1821) reflects a complex history of relictualism, expansion, and speciation
No full textThe evolutionary history and systematics of blind mole rats (BMR), subfamily Spalacinae (Gray, 1821), are complicated by uneven geographicsampling and insufficient phylogenetic resolution provided by a few individual gene sequences. We combined genome-wide SNPs (ddRAD-seq)and mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) sequences with cytogenetic and biogeographic context to resolve the key phylogenetic relationships inthis diverse group, using a large set of samples from different parts of the subfamily’s entire geographic range. The previously resolved phylogenywithin the Spalax (Gündenstaedt, 1770) genus is confirmed and refined. In the genus Nannospalax (Palmer, 1903), all sampled populations andchromosomal forms were grouped into four major clades: three of them had originated and diversified in Anatolia and the Northern Levant, whilethe fourth colonized the European subcontinent. Molecular dating suggested that intensive divergence in all branches of the subfamily occurredwithin the past 1 Myr, but there was a pause in the speciation process after the Middle Pleistocene Transition, between approximately 0.6 and 0.4Mya. Presently, multiple and highly divergent subclades are found in small and fragmented geographic ranges, but a few occupy large continuousterritories and demonstrate comparatively low levels of genetic diversity.</p
