Interfacial characteristics of BIOfactor MTA and Biodentine with dentin.

The objective of this study was to characterize the interface between dentin and MTA-Angelus (Angelus, Londrina, Brasil), Biodentine (Septodont, France) and BIOfactor MTA (Imicryl, Konya, Turkey) using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy disperse X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Fifteen dentin segments were obtained from previously extracted single-rooted human teeth. Canal lumens were instrumented with diamond burs and then randomly filled with MTA-Angelus, Biodentine or BIOfactor MTA and placed in distilled water or Hanks' Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) for 28-days. The samples were examined with SEM and the thickness of the interfacial layer measured. SEM-EDS analysis was performed to determine principal elemental composition of the material, dentin, and interfacial area. The marginal adaptation of cements to dentin was assessed by confocal microscopy and the percentage of material penetration was calculated. An interfacial layer was evident in approximately 70% of SEM images in both MTA-Angelus and BIOfactor samples. The thickness of interfacial layer was significantly higher in HBSS than in distilled water for all groups. MTA Angelus resulted in the thickest interfacial layer in distilled water while Biodentine had the thickest interfacial layer in HBSS. Calcium levels within the BIOfactor MTA-dentin interface were higher than both dentin and cement. Dentin penetration was higher in BIOfactor MTA and silicon was evident in all material-dentin interfaces. All calcium silicate-based materials promoted the formation of an interfacial layer. BIOfactor MTA exhibited promising characteristics with its good marginal adaptation even though it presented a moderately thick interfacial layer. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: A distinguishable interfacial layer was observed in most of the samples within the BIOfactor MTA, MTA-Angelus and Biodentine groups. The elemental constitution of the interfacial layer was different from that of the calcium silicate based materials.

Mathematics-gender stereotype endorsement influences mathematics anxiety, self-concept, and performance differently in men and women.

Mathematics anxiety (MA) is negatively associated with mathematics performance. Although some aspects, such as mathematics self-concept (M self-concept), seem to modulate this association, the underlying mechanism is still unclear. In addition, the false gender stereotype that women are worse than men in mathematics can have a detrimental effect on women. The role that the endorsement of this stereotype (mathematics-gender stereotype (MGS) endorsement) can play may differ between men and women. In this study, we investigated how MA and mathematics self-concept relate to arithmetic performance when considering one's MGS endorsement and gender in a large sample (n = 923) of university students. Using a structural equation modeling approach, we found that MA and mathematics self-concept mediated the effect of MGS endorsement in both men and women. For women, MGS endorsement increased their MA level, while in men, it had the opposite effect (albeit weak). Specifically, in men, MGS endorsement influenced the level of the numerical components of MA, but, unlike women, it also positively influenced their mathematics self-concept. Moreover, men and women perceived the questions included in the considered instruments differently, implying that the scores obtained in these questionnaires may not be directly comparable between genders, which has even broader theoretical and methodological implications for MA research.

Is there a correlation between the clinical findings and the radiological findings in chronic maxillary sinus atelectasis?

OBJECTIVE: Silent sinus syndrome (SSS) is a clinical syndrome that occurs as a result of chronic maxillary sinus atelectasis (CMA) and is seen with progressive enophthalmos and hypoglobus. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between radiological findings and clinical findings in patients with radiologically asymmetrical reduced maxillary sinus volume. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A comparison was made of patients with CMA through evaluation of paranasal sinus computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging examination of maxillary sinus volume of the CMA side and the contralateral side, thickness of the retroantral fat tissue, infraorbital bone curve, uncinate process lateralisation measurement, middle concha diameter, and calculation of the change in location of the inferior rectus muscle. RESULTS: The study included 16 patients. Although a statistically significant difference was determined between the healthy and the pathological sides in respect to maxillary sinus volume, thickness of the retroantral fat tissue, infraorbital bone curve, uncinate process lateralisation measurement, and middle concha diameter (p = 0.00, p = 0.002, p = 0.020, p = 0.020, p = 0.007), no significant difference was determined in respect to the change in location of the inferior rectus muscle (p = 0.154). A positive correlation was determined between the increase in sulcus depth and maxillary sinus volume and inferior orbital bone curve (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In CMA patients suspected of having SSS, radiological maxillary sinus volume analysis, determination of retroantral fat thickness, measurement of the infraorbital bone curve, and measurement of the uncinate process lateralisation can be used as objective tests. However, it should be kept in mind that radiological findings may not always be compatible with the ophthalmological examination findings.