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DNA methylation analysis of NOTCH1 variants reveals the first episignature for non-syndromic congenital heart defects
No full textBackground Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are the most common malformation amongst newborns, with a prevalence of approximately 0.8–2%. The etiology of CHD is highly complex and can be linked to genetic and nongenetic factors. The molecular basis remains partially unclear, and only a minority of patients can be assigned to clear monogenic causes. Methods Here we analyzed a cohort of 3907 CHD cases and population-matched controls using exome sequencing. In addition, we employed epigenetic profiling on a subset of cases that harbored rare NOTCH1 variants. Results We identified 24 pathogenic or likely pathogenic single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in NOTCH1 in our exome cohort, as well as a further 15 variants of uncertain significance (VUS) likely to have a deleterious effect. Although the cardiac phenotypes showed some heterogeneity, non-syndromic Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) and related malformations were the most frequent finding in 56% (22/39). In particular, missense variants altering cysteine residues involved in forming disulfide bridges were identified, specifically in TOF patients. Altogether, NOTCH1 -haploinsufficiency represented the most common monogenic cause in our cohort and accounted for an estimated 1% of CHD cases. Combined with additional cases assembled through collaborations, we present 67 individuals with ultrarare variants affecting NOTCH1 . This prominent role of NOTCH1 calls for an accurate and accessible evaluation of variants. To this end we explored DNA methylation testing and successfully established a NOTCH1 -specific episignature. This signature also displays a robust specificity in relation to 99 other episignatures. Taken together, we found that truncating, splice-altering, as well as missense NOTCH1 variants, can generate a distinct DNAm episignature. Conclusions We identified that NOTCH1 -haploinsufficiency variants represented the most common monogenic cause in our cohort and accounted for an estimated 1 % of CHD cases. Furthermore, we conclude that methylation profiling can contribute to (NOTCH1) variant interpretation and improve the diagnostic management of CHD patients. Lastly, we established a NOTCH1 -specific episignature, which represents the first non-syndromic signature, significantly extending the scope of patients that can benefit from methylation analysis.Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg (3092
Phone contact with parents contributed to emotional closeness and life satisfaction of Israeli and German students during 2010–2014
No full textIntroduction This study explored the contribution of various contact modes of adult children with their parents to the children's emotional closeness with parents and to the children's life satisfaction. Methods Students at colleges and universities in Israel ( N = 557) and in Germany ( N = 535) were recruited during 2010-2011 and 2013-2014, respectively, through convenience sampling and completed web-based questionnaires reporting on the frequency of each contact mode with their parents (phone, in-person, and digital), their emotional closeness with their parents and their own satisfaction with life. Structural equation models tested the associations between the study variables among the Israeli and German samples while comparing them across the samples. Results The results in both samples showed positive associations between the adult children's phone contact and emotional closeness with both parents and between in-person contact and emotional closeness with fathers. Among both samples, phone contact emerged as the strongest contributor to higher emotional closeness. Digital contact was associated with higher emotional closeness with both parents in the German sample only. Emotional closeness with either parent was associated with adult children's higher life satisfaction in both countries. Discussion During the pre-COVID-19 era, in both Germany and Israel, direct and synchronous vocal communication contributed to intergenerational connections and wellbeing.The author(s) declare that no financial support was received for the research and/or publication of this article
The assistive gait devices and their implementation in activities of daily living for patients with neuromuscular disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textBackground: To date, assistive gait devices (AGDs) for people with neuromuscular diseases (NMDs) have not been systematically evaluated. Objective: This systematic review evaluated AGDs for people with NMDs. Methods Suitable tools were used to assess the study quality and the certainty of evidence. If feasible, a descriptive and quantitative synthesis was conducted. Results: Forty studies were included on: gait-assisting exoskeletons (GAEs), orthopaedic footwear (OF), knee and/or ankle-foot-orthoses (AFOs) and non-invasive neuroprostheses that provide functional electrical stimulation (FES). Pairwise meta-analysis could not be performed due to a lack of homogenous data. The within-group pre-post meta-analysis in GAE studies showed an improvement in 2-min walk test (2MWT) (m) (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.36, 95%-CI: 0.17 to 0.54), but not in 10-meter walk test (10MWT) (sec) (SMD = 0.33, 95%-CI: −0.10 to 0.76) and in functional independence measure (FIM) (SMD = −0.002, 95%-CI: −0.21 to 0.21). In AFO studies, there was no improvement in 10MWT(m) (SMD = −0.11, 95%-CI: −0.76 to 0.53). A single session with AFO or OF vs no-AFO or OF post-intervention meta-analysis did not reveal an improvement in walking speed (m/s) (SMD = 0.39, 95%-CI: −0.03 to 0.83). Discussion: GAEs seem to help patients to walk longer. The meta-analyses showed no significant results to support the effect of AFOs or OF. Neuroprostheses and knee orthoses showed no evidence. Conclusion: No clear conclusions can be drawn on how AGDs affect NMDs. The positive AGD effects are based on very low certainty of evidence
Who is savvy about digital ethics? Differences between teacher education, law, and computer science students
No full textLearning in the digital world requires not only technological skills for using digital tools but also ethical skills to critically reflect on (in)adequate digital media use and potential negative consequences. These skills are particularly crucial in professions dealing with public welfare and societal issues. Inter alia, those are teachers who educate the youth, legal professionals who judge (il)legal behavior regarding media, or computer scientists who bear responsibility when developing algorithms. Accordingly, higher education students studying teacher education, law studies, or computer science studies should develop ethical skills for the digital world. This study examined how higher education students perceive problematic media behaviors and which digital competences they regard relevant for ethical issues. In addition, the study investigated whether students of teacher education, law studies, and computer science studies differ in their perceptions. To this end, an online survey with N = 461 participating students was conducted. Study results indicated that higher education students perceived problematic media behaviors as such with posting inappropriate content identified as the most problematic. Furthermore, students considered several digital competences as relevant for ethical issues with protecting and acting safely as most relevant. In-depth analyses uncovered subject-specific differences with computer science students being most ethically savvy, albeit differences were only of small effect size. The study provides valuable insights into the intersection of digital competences, ethical considerations, and academic disciplines. In the future, longitudinal and training studies will help to understand how differences emerge and whether students of different study subjects benefit from digital ethics training.Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften Ansbach (3307
Ein integrierter systemischer Ansatz (ISA) für Studierende mit hochfunktionalem Autismus (HFA)
No full textIn this work, I introduce the Integrated Systemic Approach (ISA). This novel theoretical approach addresses the complex academic, cognitive, social, and psycho-emotional needs of students with high-functioning autism (HFA) who are also identified as twice-exceptional (2eA). ISA identifies and addresses the limitations inherent in the Actiotope Model of Giftedness (AMG) by integrating cognitive, emotional, social, and physiological dimensions into a unified system emphasizing talent development and holistic well-being. The research employs a dual-structured methodology: (1) a comprehensive narrative review of 260 peer-reviewed articles synthesizing current evidence on 2eA interventions and (2) the development of ISA as a new systemic framework for talent development.ISA builds upon the Actiotope Model of Giftedness (AMG) but expands its scope by integrating emotional regulation, executive functioning, attentional control, and self-awareness—often overlooked in earlier models. This approach emphasizes the importance of reducing masking behaviours, which contribute to anxiety and hinder talent expression in students with HFA. ISA addresses critical psycho-emotional barriers to learning by promoting self-regulation and authentic engagement. The ISA incorporates specialized strategies: 1. Assessment and understanding of the individual. 2. Application 2: Develop a holistic, systemic view 3: Application 3: Identify strengths and interests 4: Application 4: Design tailored interventions 5:Monitoring and Adjustment Application 6: Collaborative Integration These six applications enhance metacognitive skills to promote cognitive growth, psycho-emotional well-being, and social development, offering a comprehensive approach that aligns with the multifaceted needs of 2eA students.
Keywords: The Integrated Systemic Approach (ISA), High-Functioning Autism (HFA), Actiotope Model of Giftedness (AMG), Talent Development, Promote Cognitive Growth, Psycho-Emotional Well-being, Social Developmen
Design und Validierung eines molekularen An-/Aus-Schalters auf Basis des humanen Estrogenrezeptors α für die zukünftige Anwendung als Aktivitätskontrolle bei der CAR-T-Zell-Therapie
No full textMalignant neoplasms (cancer) are the second leading cause of death globally, causing nearly 10 million deaths in 2020 alone. Cancer immunotherapy, in particular CAR T cell therapy, has shown impressive results in the treatment of haematological malignancies, offering an alternative to traditional methods such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) enable modified T cells to recognize tumor cells and induce cell death. However, CAR T cell therapy can cause life-threatening side effects such as cytokine release syndrome or neurotoxicity. Moreover, the injection of the modified T cells is irreversible and their proliferation and activity in the patient can not be controlled. To address this problem, a molecular switch to modulate CAR T cell activity with small molecule agonists and antagonists was designed. Therefore, the domains of a conventional CAR were divided into two separate chains. Thus, signal transduction is only possible, when mediated by the molecular switch, a heterodimer of the two units is formed. The ligand-binding domain of the human estrogen receptor α (hERα), an inherent molecular switch, was used as a template. hERα interacts allosterically controlled with coregulatory proteins, regulated by small molecule effectors. As hERα is a human hormone receptor, which is expressed in a variety of tissues, the modulation of the CAR T cell switch with its natural ligands could cause side effects. To minimize cross reactivity, hERα was reprogrammed to a new class of ligands with minimal pharmacological effects, the flavanones and flavones. First, the protein was optimized, using the PROSS server, to ensure sufficient stability and expression of the mutants in the design process. The introduced 24 amino acid substitutions of the resulting variant ERPRS* increased the thermal stability by 23 °C. The extensive validation of the fold and function of ERPRS* showed that the allosteric regulation is fully preserved. The in silico redesign of the binding pockets to interact with the initial target agonist naringenin (NAR), was done with the protein design program MUMBO. Side chain-packing algorithms like MUMBO are based on highly simplified models of physics and solvent is usually considered implicitly. Since water-mediated interactions often contribute significantly to affinity and specificity of protein-ligand interactions, these simplifications can be inappropriate, especially when designing ligand-binding pockets. In addition, in the case of hERα, there is a conserved water molecule involved in ligand binding. To sort out this problem, a MUMBO version was used, which was enhanced by a novel algorithm, allowing the prediction of water-mediated interactions. To achieve this, the binding characteristics of 60,000 water molecules from high resolution crystal structures were analyzed and the findings from this analysis were used to optimize the algorithm. The water prediction capabilities of the resulting algorithm were extensively validated by rebuilding experimental structures. For bridging waters, a recovery rate of 67% and for fully coordinated waters even 86% were achieved. The ability of the algorithm to predict water-mediated interactions between proteins and ligands was exemplarily evaluated by rebuilding the structures of three protein-ligand complexes, resulting in a recovery rate of 91% for waters that mediated interactions between the ligands and the protein. With this new version of MUMBO, NAR binding to ERPRS* was optimized, by multiple iterative cycles of computational design and experimental validation, including high-resolution crystal structures and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) measurements. In this process, mutations at position 421 of ERPRS* were determined to be exceptionally beneficial for NAR binding. Interestingly, the substitution of the native methionine with a large hydrophilic amino acids, does not lead to a direct interaction between the mutated amino acid and the ligand, but to a rearrangement of a flexible loop, causing another amino acid to form a hydrogen bond with NAR. Validation with ITC showed that compared to the wildtype, the most promising ERPRS* variants with the substitutions at position 421 in combination with additional beneficial mutations, reached estrogen-like affinities to NAR, but with significantly increased selectivity for NAR. Preliminary data generated with a cooperative fluorescence polarization assay indicate that the allosteric modulation is retained in most of the variants and that the assay can be used to screen for potent agonists and antagonist
Untersuchung physikalischer Prozesse in Brennstoffzellen mittels elektrochemischer Impedanzspektroskopie und Analyse der Relaxationszeitenverteilung
No full texthis thesis investigates the application of Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and
Distribution of Relaxation Times (DRT) analysis in both established and novel fuel cell technologies.
Firstly the investigation establishes a methodological framework for utilizing EIS and DRT in Solid
Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs), correlating DRT plot peaks with specific polarization resistances. This
correlation facilitates a nuanced interpretation of EIS data, yielding critical insights into operational
parameters that significantly affect SOFC performance under real conditions. Key findings reveal
significant reductions in gas diffusion resistance and overall impedance when optimizing parameters
such as fuel flow, temperature or gas composition. In addition, the thesis discusses the adaptation of EIS techniques for Enzymatic Fuel Cells (EFCs), specifically focusing on glucose oxidase
(GOx)-bilirubin oxidase (BOD)-based fuel cells using ferrocene methanol (FcMeOH) as an anodic
and 2,2’-Azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) as a cathodic mediator to enhance
electron transfer. A preliminary EIS analysis highlights the unique challenges and opportunities within
these novel systems. It demonstrates how EIS can effectively assess critical parameters, including
enzyme immobilization and substrate concentration. Notably, the findings indicate that electrodes
constructed from ordered mesoporous carbon CMK-3 sieves outperform multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in anodic reactions, while the latter show slightly better performance in cathodic
reactions. This insight underscores the potential for optimizing both bioanode and biocathode performance. Building upon these insights, the thesis effectively transfers the systematic pproach via
EIS and DRT for EFCs, demonstrating the identification of critical performance parameters specific
to GOx-loaded bioanodes. DRT analysis delineates key regions within the impedance spectra: region 1 correlates with high-frequency ionic conduction and substrate concentration; region 2 is
associated with charge transfer kinetics; and region 3 pertains to diffusion processes influenced by
mediator concentration and temperature. These findings provide insights into optimization potentials
for EFCs and establish a foundation for future experimental investigations. In summary, this research
advances the understanding and application of EIS and DRT in both established and emerging fuel
cell technologies, supporting the development of efficient and sustainable energy solutions
Strukturell modifizierte Grubbs-Katalysatoren für stimuli-responsive Olefinmetathese
No full textThis thesis focuses on the development of structurally modified Grubbs-type olefin metathesis catalysts for applications in biologically relevant environments. The first part explores synthetic strategies to introduce tertiary amines and Schiff-base functionalities to the ligand framework, enabling pH-responsive behaviour and lysosomal retention through protonation under acidic conditions. These modifications aim to improve localisation, stability, and potential applicability of the catalysts in intracellular settings. The second part examines catalytic performance, activation behaviour, and substrate reactivity under standard laboratory conditions, with emphasis on ligand dissociation, initiation characteristics, and structure–reactivity relationships. Together, these studies contribute to advancing metathesis catalysis toward targeted and stimuli-responsive applications, with long-term perspectives in chemical biology and therapeutic contexts
Reaktives DC-Magnetronsputtern zur Abscheidung von Halbleiter-Dünnschichten für den Einsatz in photoelektrochemischen und photokatalytischen Anwendungen
No full textThe optimization of semiconductor thin films is of paramount importance for advancing photoelectrochemical (PEC) and photocatalytic applications. This thesis investigates titanium dioxide (TiO2) layers as an n-type semiconductor and copper oxide (CuO) thin films, a p-type semiconductor, deposited via reactive direct current (DC) magnetron sputtering (MS), focusing on enhancing their functional performance through innovative deposition and post processing techniques.
For TiO2 photoanodes, a titanium (Ti) interlayer was introduced on the substrate to improve charge transfer and preserve anatase crystallinity during annealing, thereby enhancing PEC performance. The interlayer facilitated the formation of the anatase phase even at elevated annealing temperatures (e.g., 800 °C), suppressing the transformation to rutile. The formation of anatase results in improved crystallinity and favorable electronic structure, supporting efficient charge separation and transfer. In particular, its band edge positions are thermodynamically well-aligned with the water redox potentials, enabling effective carrier extraction during PEC operation. Photocurrent response and wavelength-dependent IPCE were systematically analyzed as indicators of charge transfer efficiency and overall PEC performance. The optimized TiO2 layers were further studied for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity, where platinum (Pt) single-atom (SA) co-catalysts were deposited onto the surface. This significantly improved HER performance, and the relationship between Pt SA loading and photocatalytic efficiency was quantitatively assessed. Beyond co-catalyst effects, the light absorption properties—governed by film thickness, annealing-induced crystallinity, and excitation wavelength—were comprehensively examined to maximize photon-to-H2 conversion.
For CuO photocathodes, the oxygen partial pressure during sputter deposition was systematically varied to produce distinct copper oxide phases, including CuO, Cu2O, and Cu4O3. The phase formation is governed by the oxygen chemical potential, reflecting the thermodynamic stability ranges of these oxides under reactive sputtering conditions. Among the as-deposited films, CuO exhibited superior photoelectrochemical properties due to its narrow band gap (1.3–1.7 eV), strong visible light absorption, and favorable band alignment for water reduction. Post-deposition air annealing was then employed to convert all phases into phase-pure CuO, enhancing crystallinity and carrier mobility and leading to significantly improved photocurrent generation. However, annealing at excessively high temperatures induced Sn diffusion from the FTO substrate into the CuO layer, which introduced recombination centers and deteriorated PEC performance. The incident photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE) of the annealed films was evaluated to assess spectral photoresponse, and further optimization of annealing temperature and film thickness was carried out to balance light absorption with carrier transport, maximizing photoelectrochemical efficiency while minimizing recombination and interfacial degradation.
This work highlights the versatility of reactive DC magnetron sputtering as a powerful technique for fabricating high-performance semiconductor thin films of TiO2 and CuO. The ability to precisely control key deposition parameters—such as thin metal interlayers, oxygen partial pressure, and sputtering duration—enables thermodynamic control over phase formation and the tuning of crystallinity, thickness, and optical absorption. These features support optimization of the electronic structure and interfacial properties, leading to improved charge separation and transfer. When combined with post-deposition strategies such as annealing and co-catalyst integration, this approach supports the development of efficient and stable materials for both photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic applications. Overall, the integration of reactive sputtering and targeted post-treatment provides a scalable and controllable route toward high-efficiency thin film systems for solar-driven energy conversion.Die Optimierung von Halbleiter-Dünnschichten ist von zentraler Bedeutung für die Weiterentwicklung photoelektrochemischer (PEC) und photokatalytischer Anwendungen. In dieser Arbeit werden Titandioxid- (TiO2) Schichten als n-Typ-Halbleiter sowie Kupferoxid- (CuO) Dünnschichten als p-Typ-Halbleiter untersucht, die mittels reaktivem Gleichstrom-(DC)-Magnetronsputtern abgeschieden wurden. Der Fokus liegt auf der Verbesserung ihrer funktionellen Eigenschaften durch innovative Abscheidungs- und Nachbehandlungsverfahren.
Für TiO2-Photoanoden wurde eine Titan- (Ti) Zwischenschicht auf dem Substrat eingeführt, um den Ladungstransfer zu verbessern und die Anatase-Kristallinität während der Temperung zu erhalten, wodurch die PEC-Leistung gesteigert wurde. Die Zwischenschicht erleichterte die Bildung der Anatas-Phase selbst bei erhöhten Tempertemperaturen (z. B. 800 °C) und unterdrückte die Umwandlung in Rutil. Die Bildung von Anatas führt zu verbesserter Kristallinität und einer günstigen elektronischen Struktur, was eine effiziente Ladungstrennung und -übertragung unterstützt. Insbesondere sind die Bandkantenpositionen thermodynamisch gut abgestimmt, was eine effektive Ladungsträgereinspeisung während des PEC-Betriebs ermöglicht. Der Photostrom und die wellenlängenabhängige IPCE wurden systematisch als Indikatoren für die Effizienz des Ladungstransfers und die gesamte PEC-Leistung analysiert. Die optimierten TiO2-Schichten wurden weiter auf ihre photokatalytische Aktivität bei der Wasserstoffentwicklungsreaktion (HER) untersucht, wobei Platin- (Pt) Einzelatom- (SA) Kokatalysatoren auf die Oberfläche abgeschieden wurden. Dies verbesserte die HER-Leistung deutlich, und der Zusammenhang zwischen Pt-SA-Beladung und photokatalytischer Effizienz wurde quantitativ bewertet. Über die Effekte der Kokatalysatoren hinaus wurden die Lichtabsorptionseigenschaften – bestimmt durch Schichtdicke, temperinduzierte Kristallinität und Anregungswellenlänge – umfassend untersucht, um die photonisch erzeugte Wasserstoffumwandlung zu maximieren.
Für CuO-Photokathoden wurde der Sauerstoffpartialdruck während der Sputterabscheidung systematisch variiert, um verschiedene Kupferoxidphasen wie CuO, Cu2O und Cu4O3 zu erzeugen. Die Phasenbildung wird durch das Sauerstoffangebot während der Abscheidung gesteuert, da jede Phase unter spezifischen Sauerstoffbedingungen thermodynamisch stabil ist. Unter den abgeschiedenen Filmen zeigte CuO aufgrund seiner geringen Bandlücke (1,3–1,7 eV), starken Absorption im sichtbaren Bereich und günstigen Bandanordnung für die Wasserreduktion überlegene photoelektrochemische Eigenschaften. Anschließend wurde eine Temperung in Luft durchgeführt, um alle Phasen in phasenreines CuO umzuwandeln, was die Kristallinität und die Ladungsträgermobilität verbesserte und zu deutlich erhöhten Photoströmen führte. Eine zu hohe Tempertemperatur führte jedoch zur Sn-Diffusion aus dem FTO-Substrat in die CuO-Schicht, was Rekombinationszentren erzeugte und die PEC-Leistung verschlechterte. Die IPCE der getemperten Filme wurde zur Bewertung der spektralen Photoantwort untersucht, und eine weitere Optimierung der Tempertemperatur und Schichtdicke wurde durchgeführt, um Lichtabsorption und Ladungsträgertransport auszubalancieren, wodurch die photoelektrochemische Effizienz maximiert und Rekombination sowie Grenzflächendegradation minimiert wurden.
Diese Arbeit unterstreicht die Vielseitigkeit des reaktiven DC-Magnetronsputterns als leistungsstarke Methode zur Herstellung leistungsfähiger Halbleiter-Dünnschichten aus TiO2 und CuO. Die präzise Kontrolle zentraler Abscheidungsparameter – wie metallischer Zwischenschichten, Sauerstoffpartialdruck und Sputterdauer – ermöglicht eine thermodynamische Steuerung der Phasenbildung sowie die Anpassung von Kristallinität, Schichtdicke und optischer Absorption. Diese Eigenschaften unterstützen die Optimierung der elektronischen Struktur und der Grenzflächeneigenschaften und führen zu verbesserter Ladungstrennung und -übertragung. In Kombination mit Nachbehandlungsstrategien wie Temperung und Kokatalysatorintegration unterstützt dieser Ansatz die Entwicklung effizienter und stabiler Materialien für photoelektrochemische und photokatalytische Anwendungen. Insgesamt bietet die Kombination aus reaktivem Sputtern und gezielter Nachbehandlung einen skalierbaren und kontrollierbaren Weg zu Dünnschichtsystemen mit hoher Effizienz für die solarbetriebene Energieumwandlung
Consistent Responses on Concept Items Reflect Confidence, and Vice Versa
No full textIn educational research and practice, conducting concept tests is crucial for designing effective learning environments. Various ways have emerged to enhance concept items by adding a second tier and assessing additional variables, sparking an ongoing debate on their interplay and the implications for test development. This study compares two of those variables that are widely used across numerous research fields: On the one hand, confidence ratings have been added to test items, where learners self-assess their certainty and wrong answers that are given confidently are seen as indicative of conceptual misunderstandings. On the other hand, isomorphic prompts have been employed, which present pairs of structurally similar problems, highlighting the presence of possible misconceptions whenever learners consistently select wrong answer options, i.e. making the same mistake in different scenarios. So far, the measurement of confidence and consistency has coexisted in the literature, with minimal effort to contrast both approaches. The purpose of this study is to shed light on whether there is a methodological redundancy or whether the approaches differ significantly. Specifically, we investigated whether confident students are more likely to be consistent in their answers to isomorphic prompts, and conversely, whether students who answered the isomorphic prompts in a more consistent manner are also more likely to be confident. To this end, we operationalised confidence as well as consistency and analysed their relationship through the lens of an abstract algebra test instrument administered to N = 112 participants, comprised of undergraduate mathematics students and pre-service mathematics teachers. Our results show a strong and statistically significant correlation ( ρ = 0 . 76 , p < 0 . 001) between the two variables. Further analysis using a Mann–Whitney-U-test reveals that participants who tend to answer consistently on isomorphic prompts also tend to be more confident ( r = 0 . 78 , p < 0 . 001), and vice versa ( r = 0 . 73 , p < 0 . 001), suggesting that consistency and confidence may capture overlapping constructs, thus introducing methodological redundancy. Implications for test development, assessment methods of misconceptions and future research are discussed.Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.Universität Leipzig (1039