The analysis of risk assessment for the transmission of COVID-19 by using PROMETHEE and ELECTRE methods

Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods help researchers in solving many prob-lems in terms of numerical analysis. However, MCDM methods have not been very popular in the health sector. In this study, five ones of Turkey's most intense and highly populated cities were selected and the risk of the spread of Covid-19 disease was evaluated on the basis of seven criteria. The PROMETHEE and the ELECTRE methods were conducted to rank the cities in terms of the spread of Covid-19. The PROMETHEE method correctly ranked the most risky city as Istanbul, but ELECTRE ranked Istanbul the second most risky. The results of the meth-ods are compared with real data. PROMETHEE gave more convenient results than ELECTRE. Also, this paper offers a new field of study to the literature.Cite this article as: Pekel ozmen E, Demir B. The analysis of risk assessment for the trans-mission of COVID-19 by using PROMETHEE and ELECTRE methods. Sigma J Eng Nat Sci 2023;41:2:232-242.

Novel chlorine-extending polymer coating with prolonged antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2.

We previously reported a novel polymeric surface coating, namely, HaloFilm™ that can immobilize and extend the antimicrobial activity of chlorine on surfaces. In this study, we demonstrated the continuous antiviral efficacy of HaloFilm when applied on stainless steel and cotton gauze as two representative models for non-porous and porous surfaces against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Forty-eight hours post HaloFilm application and chlorination and 2 h post the viral challenge, the inoculum titre was reduced by 2.25 ± 0.33 and ≥4.36 ± 0.23 log10 TCID50 on non-porous and porous surfaces, respectively. The half-life of the virus was shorter (13.86 min) on a HaloFilm-coated surface than what has been reported on copper (46.44 min).

The Attitudes of Teacher Candidates towards the Gamification Process in Education

In this study, pre-service teachers' attitudes towards the gamification process were discussed. Descriptive scanning method, one of the quantitative methods, was used in the study, and the data were analyzed and tabulated. The Gamification process scale developed by Baydas and Cicek was used to collect the data to be used. A total of 67 teacher candidates, including 42 special education and 25 classroom teachers, participated in the study. The data obtained from the pre-service teachers were taken online via Google Form due to the Covid 19 pandemic. The teacher candidates gave answers to the 6 dimensions of the scale regarding Competition, Fun, Busy, Outcome Expectation, Effect on Learning and Intention to Use in the Future.

Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Diagnosis of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers: A Retrospective Case Control Study

Objective: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused delays in the diagnosis and treatment of some oncological diseases. This study aimed to reveal the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the frequency of diagnosis of non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) and the demographic characteristics of patients. Material and Methods: Patients aged over 18 years, who were histopathologically diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) between March 12, 2019 and March 11, 2021 were included in the study. The demographic characteristics of these patients, the number of total skin biopsies, and the number of BCC and SCC biopsies were compared between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods, based on the date of March 12, 2020, when the pandemic measures began to be implemented in Turkey. Results: With the pandemic, there was a 26.7% decrease in the total skin biopsies and a 21% decrease in the total NMSC biopsies. Despite a 34% decrease in the number of biopsies for the diagnosis of BCC, a 15.8% increase was observed in the number of biopsies for the diagnosis of SCC. The frequency of excisional biopsies was observed to increase among the patients with BCC and SCC during the pandemic period (p=0.004 and p=0.001, respectively). Conclusion: The number of total skin biopsies and total NMSC biopsies significantly decreased during the pandemic period. The health system should be reorganized to effectively handle pandemics and similar crisis periods, and new strategies should be determined regarding patient education, early diagnosis, and treatment approaches for NMSC.

Fluctuations in worry, stress, anger, and fear during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey: Findings of a serial cross sectional study

Objective: This study aims to follow the fluctuations in affective responses to COVID-19 such as anxiety, stress, anger, and fear of the community parallel to the changes in the regulations and the course of the pandemic. Method: In a serial cross-sectional study, online data were collected on COVID-19-related anxiety, stress, anger, and fear. 5474 participants, who were aged between 18-73 and residing in different regions of Turkey, are included in the analyses. Emotional fluctuations across five waves were analyzed with four separate one-way ANOVAs for all emotions. Results: Statistically significant differences were observed between waves in terms of COVID-19 related anxiety, stress, anger, and fear (p < .05). As all emotions tended to increase up until the third wave, where all emotions tended to decrease except anger after the third wave. Discussion: Changes in the contextual factors, such as managing the pandemic, uncertainty, and vaccination, emerge as stressors and create an atmosphere of fear and worry, and affect individuals emotionally. Consequently, psychological problems such as mood and anxiety disorders may increase in the coming years.

Fluctuations in worry, stress, anger, and fear during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey: Findings of a serial cross sectional study

Objective: This study aims to follow the fluctuations in affective responses to COVID-19 such as anxiety, stress, anger, and fear of the community parallel to the changes in the regulations and the course of the pandemic. Method: In a serial cross-sectional study, online data were collected on COVID-19-related anxiety, stress, anger, and fear. 5474 participants, who were aged between 18-73 and residing in different regions of Turkey, are included in the analyses. Emotional fluctuations across five waves were analyzed with four separate one-way ANOVAs for all emotions. Results: Statistically significant differences were observed between waves in terms of COVID-19 related anxiety, stress, anger, and fear (p <.05). As all emotions tended to increase up until the third wave, where all emotions tended to decrease except anger after the third wave. Discussion: Changes in the contextual factors, such as managing the pandemic, uncertainty, and vaccination, emerge as stressors and create an atmosphere of fear and worry, and affect individuals emotionally. Consequently, psychological problems such as mood and anxiety disorders may increase in the coming years. © 2021 ANP Publishing. All rights reserved.

Acute Abdomen-A Clinical Presentation of MIS-C in Children

Objective Multisystemic inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is characterized by persistent fever, systemic hyperinflammation, and multiple-organ dysfunction. There are a few reports about MIS-C presenting with acute abdomen. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the clinical characteristics and treatment options for MIS-C-related acute abdomen and appendicitis. Methods This was a retrospective study conducted between April 2020 and October 2020 in our pediatric intensive care unit in Turkey. Patients between the ages of 1 month and 18 years who presented with acute abdomen and were ultimately diagnosed with MIS-C were included. Results Seven patients with a median age of 12.5 (interquartile range 10.5-13) years were enrolled. Four were females. The most frequent symptoms were fever, abdominal pain, and vomiting. Three patients had involvement of the appendix that required surgical intervention. All pathology reports were compatible with appendicitis. The other patients also had an acute abdomen. One patient had malignant hyperthermia during induction of anesthesia, so surgery was postponed and medical management was commenced. The clinical picture regressed with immunomodulation. All patients were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and steroids. Four patients with acute abdomens improved with immunomodulation, and surgery was not needed. Conclusion MIS-C may present with an acute abdomen. Immunomodulation should be considered instead of surgery if the clinical course is not complicated.

The First Case of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children Successfully Treated with Combined Therapies Including Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation and Plasmapheresis

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a severe disease that can lead to death. There is no definitive treatment for MIS-C yet. It has been reported that intravenous immunoglobulin, intravenous methylprednisolone, fluid supplements, antibiotics, inotropics, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), plasmapheresis, biological therapy, and anticoagulation therapy can be used for treatment. In this article, we presented an 8-year-old girl child patient who survived due to timely administered ECMO and combined therapies including plasmapheresis without any sequela despite her life-threatening condition due to MIS-C.

Efficacy of pulse steroid therapy in patients critically ill with COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of pulse steroid therapy administered to patients critically ill with COVID-19 progressing into severe pneumonia. METHODS: A total of 600 patients included in this retrospective study were divided into three groups. Group 1 (control group): 200 patients who did not receive steroid treatment, Group 2: 200 patients who received dexamethasone 1x8 milligram (mg) or methylprednisolone 1x80 mg, Group 3: (pulse steroid therapy group): 200 patients who received 1 g methylprednisolone followed by 1x80 mg methylprednisolone. Demographic and laboratory data were recorded. RESULTS: Mortality rates in groups 1, 2 and 3 were 77 %, 53.55 %, and 58.5 %, respectively. The ratios of intubated patients in groups 1, 2 and 3 were 70 %, 45.5 % and 56 %, respectively. The numbers of patients whose D­dimer values were above 2,250 ng/mL (cut-off value for D-dimer in this study) in groups 2, 1 and 3 were 65, 107, and 105, respectively. CONCLUSION: Pulse steroid therapy does not shorten the duration of hospital stay, does not reduce the need for intubation and increases the risk of thrombosis by significantly increasing the level of D-dimer among patients critically and severely ill with COVID-19 (Tab. 4, Fig. 3, Ref. 20) Keywords: COVID-19, pulse steroid therapy, thrombosis, d-dimer, corticosteroid.

Pre-Service Teachers' Readiness Levels for Mobile Learning

The purpose of this research is to determine how active the students are participating in the mobile learning process, as well as how active the distance education mobile learning and technological tools are in education due to the Covid-19 epidemic in today's world, determination. With this, the Mobile Learning Readiness Scale adapted by Sata, Corbaci and Koyuncu (2019) was used in this study. The scale consists of three dimensions: optimism towards mobile learning, self directed learning and self efficacy. The participants of the study, on the other hand, consist of 25 Primary Education students and 42 Special Education students who are continuing their education lift in the Northern Cyprus. It was concluded that their readiness for mobile learning was high.

COVID-19: risk factors, drugs used in treatment and mortality rate

Objective: The disease caused by Coronavirus 19 is a pandemic disease that emerged at the end of 2019 and has spread worldwide. Although it progresses as a classical upper respiratory tract infection in mild cases, it causes death by causing pneumonia and respiratory distress in severe cases. Although various drugs have been tried, there is still no specific drug treatment. The aim of this study is to investigate the demographic characte-ristics, risk factors, drugs used and the effects of these drugs on mortality of patients who were infected with Coronavirus 19. Materials and Methods: A total of 71 patients hospitalized in Malatya Training and Research Hospital with the diagnosis of COVID-19 due to positive test results between March 2020 and May 2020 were retrospectively re-viewed and recorded from the hospital's database and the Public Health Management System. The demog-raphic characteristics of these patients, the service they were hospitalized, the duration of hospitalization, additional diseases, survival status, and the drugs they used were recorded. statistical analyses were performed by using SPSS (IBM SPSS for Windows, ver.24) and Minitab (Statistical Software for Windows, ver.17) statisti-cal package programs.

Analysing flow experience on repurchase intention in e-retailing during COVID-19

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to analyse the effects of flow experience on repurchase intention. In this context, this paper examines the mediating role of e-customer satisfaction during COVID-19 pandemic. This study is based on flow theory using two consequent factors, which have not been investigated together previously. Design/methodology/approach: A questionnaire consisted of flow experience dimensions and e-customer satisfaction, repurchase intention. An online survey was conducted with 478 consumers who experienced flow in online shopping. Exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modelling were used to test research hypotheses. The research study data were collected between 20 March and 31 May 2020, during the spread of COVID-19. Findings: Telepresence, concentration and control dimensions of flow experience have a significant effect on e-customer satisfaction. In addition, it was determined that the change in repurchase intention was caused by concentration and telepresence dimensions of flow experience. Therefore, it was found that e-customer satisfaction has a significant effect on repurchase intention. As a result, it was determined that e-customer satisfaction has a partial mediating role in the effect of flow experience dimensions of telepresence, concentration and control, and a full mediating role in the effect of flow experience dimension of time distortion on repurchase intention. Research limitations/implications: The limitations of the study are that research was conducted on only one retail company and a limited number of participants were reached. In addition, some flow experience dimensions were excluded in the study, constituting another limitation. Originality/value: This paper contributes flow theory literature by modelling flow dimensions as an independent variable that affects e-customer satisfaction and repurchase intention. In addition, different dimensions of flow experience in online retailing have been discussed, and no study has been found that discusses flow experience dimensions (goal clarity, enjoyment, curiosity, control, telepresence, time distortion, concentration) together. This study conducted during COVID-19 pandemic would produce a different perspective on flow experience in e-retailing © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Trade finance matters: Evidence from the COVID-19 crisis

This study documents a substantial decline in the exports of major trading nations taking place in March 2020. Accounting for product-specific seasonality and annual trends, the data suggest a drop by 38 per cent in France, about a quarter in Turkey and Germany, and 12 per cent in the US, relative to their historical averages. Detailed export data from Turkey, disaggregated by financing terms, show another striking pattern. Flows using bank intermediation which eliminates or reduces the risk of non-payment or non-arrival of prepaid goods, such as letters of credit or documentary collection, appear to have been much more resilient to the current downturn relative to flows using other financing terms. These findings suggest that access to trade finance is vital during times of heightened uncertainty. © The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press. For permissions please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com