A mobile app that uses neurofeedback and multi-sensory learning methods improves reading abilities in dyslexia: A pilot study.

Reading comprehension is difficult to improve for children with dyslexia because of the continuing demands of orthographic decoding in combination with limited working memory capacity. Children with dyslexia get special education that improves spelling, phonemic and vocabulary awareness, however the latest research indicated that special education does not improve reading comprehension. With the aim of improving reading comprehension, reading speed and all other reading abilities of children with dyslexia, Auto Train Brain that is a novel mobile app using neurofeedback and multi-sensory learning methods was developed. With a clinical study, we wanted to demonstrate the effectiveness of Auto Train Brain on reading abilities. We compared the cognitive improvements obtained with Auto Train Brain with the improvements obtained with special dyslexia training. Auto Train Brain was applied to 16 children with dyslexia 60 times for 30 minutes. The control group consisted of 14 children with dyslexia who did not have remedial training with Auto Train Brain, but who did continue special education. The TILLS test was applied to both the experimental and the control group at the beginning of the experiment and after a 6-month duration from the first TILLS test. Comparison of the pre- and post- TILLS test results indicated that applying neurofeedback and multi-sensory learning method improved reading comprehension of the experimental group more than that of the control group statistically significantly. Both Auto Train Brain and special education improved phonemic awareness and nonword spelling.

An evaluation of meniscus tears in lateral tibial plateau fractures and repair results.

BACKGROUND: Soft tissue injuries may co-occur with tibial plateau fractures. These injuries may include medial or lateral ligament ruptures, peroneal nerve lesions, anterior cruciate ligament ruptures, and meniscus tears. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of meniscus tears in lateral tibial plateau fractures and to evaluate the clinical and radiological results of meniscus repairs. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The study included 19 patients who underwent surgery for a closed lateral tibial plateau fracture. Anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of the knee, followed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations, were undertaken for all cases. The clinical and radiological evaluation of the surgical treatment results was performed according to the Rasmussen criteria. RESULTS: Meniscus lesions were found in 10 (52.6%) patients. Nine meniscus tears were found in patients with type 2 fractures, and one meniscus tear was found in a patient with a type 3 fracture. All of the menisci were separated from the peripheral capsule adhesion point. On the MRI examination during follow-up, all of the repaired lateral menisci were determined to be in their original anatomic location. CONCLUSION: For successful outcomes in lateral plateau fractures, it is essential to determine whether there is a meniscus tear. In cases with meniscus tears, meniscus repair can be easily performed and should be considered because it has a positive impact on the treatment outcome.

Hyalonect in the treatment of pseudarthrosis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate union rates and complications of Hyalonect, a knitted mesh composed of HYAFF, a benzyl ester of hyaluronic acid, and a naturally occurring constituent of the extracellular matrix, for the treatment of pseudarthrosis. METHODS: The study included 11 patients (8 male, 3 female; mean age: 44.6 years; range: 23 to 57 years) operated for pseudarthrosis using Hyalonect. Average time between initial treatment and surgical procedure was 12.9 (range: 8 to 48) months. Pseudarthrosis of the tibia, femur and humerus was present in 4, 2 and 5 patients, respectively. All patients had undergone prior surgery (1 to 6 times). Each patient underwent open reduction and internal fixation. Allograft was applied to the pseudarthrosis area and covered with Hyalonect. Mean follow up period was 31 (range: 12 to 48) months. RESULTS: Union was achieved in all patients after an average of 6 (range: 4 to 8) months. One patient had a discharge for two weeks. Another developed an infection which responded well to appropriate antibiotic treatment. No malunion or implant failure was observed. One patient with pre-existing radial nerve palsy maintained the condition. CONCLUSION: Use of Hyalonect appears to be a safe method with a positive impact on union in the surgical treatment of pseudarthrosis, particularly in the absence of any infection.

Synthesis, characterization, biological activities of dimethyltin(IV) complexes of Schiff bases with ONO-type donors.

Four different dimethyltin(IV) complexes of Schiff bases derived from 2-amino-3-hydroxypyridine and different substituted salicylaldehydes have been synthesized. The compounds, with the general formula [Me(2)Sn(2-OArCH=NC(5)H(3)NO)], where Ar=-C(6)H(3)(5-CH(3)) [Me(2)SnL(1)], -C(6)H(3)(5-NO(2)) [Me(2)SnL(2)], -C(6)H(2)(3,5-Cl(2)) [Me(2)SnL(3)], and -C(6)H(2)(3,5-I(2)) [Me(2)SnL(4)], were characterized by IR, NMR ((1)H and (13)C), mass spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Me(2)SnL(3) was also characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis and shows a fivefold C(2)NO(2) coordination with distorted square pyramidal geometry. H(3)C-Sn-CH(3) angles in the complexes were calculated using Lockhart's equations with the (1)J((117/119)Sn-(13)C) and (2)J((117/119)Sn-(1)H) values (from the (1)H-NMR and (13)C-NMR spectra). The in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities of dimethyltin(IV) complexes were also investigated.

A test of Hirschi's social bonding theory: a comparison of male and female delinquency.

In this study, Hirschi's social bonding theory is employed to identify what aspects of the theory can explain male and female delinquency and whether social bonding variables can equally explain male and female delinquency (generalizability problem) in a developing society, Turkey. The data include a two-stage-stratified cluster sample of 1,710 high school students from the central districts of Ankara, the capital of Turkey. The findings suggest that social bonding variables play a more important role for male students than for female students. Furthermore, they indicate that components of the social bonding theory can equally explain both male and female delinquent acts.

A test of Hirschi's social bonding theory: juvenile delinquency in the high schools of Ankara, Turkey.

Travis Hirschi's social bonding theory has mostly been tested in the West. In this study, the theory is tested on juvenile delinquency in a developing country, Turkey. Data were gathered from 1,710 high school students in Ankara by using two-stage stratified cluster sampling. Factor analysis was employed to determine the dimensions of juvenile delinquency (assault, school delinquency, and public disturbance), and regression analysis was used to test the theory. Similar to some other traditional societies, the social bonding theory plays an important role in the explanation of juvenile delinquency in Turkey.

Classic strain theory and gender: the case of Turkey.

A test of classic strain theory on gender in relation to assault, school delinquency, and public disturbance is investigated in high schools in Ankara, the capital of Turkey. Data for the study, including class variables, involve a two-stage stratified cluster sample of high school students. The findings show that various strain and class measures do not appear to be associated consistently with delinquency and gender, except for perceived blocked opportunity for females. The effects of strain and class variables on delinquent acts are similar for both genders, except for the middle social class of males. The most striking finding is that social class is associated positively with juvenile delinquency: Lower-class youth are less likely to commit assault, school delinquency, and public disturbance.

Crystal structure of 2,2-dimethyl succinic acid.

The title compound crystallizes triclinically in space group of P1. The C2-COOH and C3-COOH molecular groups are planar. The crystal structure is stabilized by the formation of intermolecular (O-HO) hydrogen bonds.

trans-Bis[O-2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl (4-methoxyphenyl)dithiophosphonato-kappa(2)S,S']nickel(II).

In the the title compound, [Ni(C(21)H(28)O(2)PS(2))(2)], the Ni atom resides on an inversion centre and is coordinated in a square-planar array by four S atoms, with Ni[bond]S and P[bond]S bond lengths of 2.2336 (12)/2.2351 (13) and 1.9910 (16)/2.0010 (17) A, respectively. The two O-2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl and two 4-methoxyphenyl moieties adopt trans configurations about the central Ni atom.

Determinants of youth smoking--evidence from Turkey.

This paper investigates the determinants of smoking among middle- and high-school students in Ankara, Turkey. Data were collected from 4800 students in the second semester of the 1997-98 academic year to investigate substance use prevalence among young people. In addition to classical independent variables, factors which are not frequently used in the literature--such as school type, neighborhood, family religiosity, and factors reflecting the cultural background of the students--are included in the analysis. The results of binomial logistic regression offer evidence for the effects of school type, a smoking-related attitude, presence of a stepmother, father's use of alcohol, sister and brother who smoke, student's alcohol use, and participation in art activities.