The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the performance of academic journals: The case of Turkey

Since the beginning of 2020, "Covid-19” has affected the whole world in an unprecedented way in modern times. It is inevitable that this pandemic, which has negatively affected many fields, will also have an impact on academic journals. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the performance of academic journals. In our study, a "Data Envelopment Analysis” methodology with 3 inputs and 3 outputs was used to determine the relative "performance of the journals”. Within the scope of the study, 109 journals published in "Turkey” and scanned in "Web of Science” indexes were examined. Results show that eleven journals were efficient in 2019, while in 2020 this number decreased to seven. Four fields have been positively affected by the pandemic and journals publishing in these fields have increased their efficiencies. Eighteen fields were adversely affected by the pandemic and the efficiency of journal publishing in these fields decreased. Eleven fields and journals publishing in these fields maintained their efficiency both before and during the pandemic. As the Covid-19 pandemic is not over yet, our data is limited. In the coming years, more detailed and comprehensive studies can be carried out with more extensive data and a further number of journals from different countries. © 2022 Pontificia Universidade Catolica de Campinas. All rights reserved.

Analyzing Post-Covid-19 Teaching Methods in Higher Education: A Quality and Experience Based Decision-Making Study

As the world suffers from the Covid-19 pandemic for more than a year, a new way of life has begun for people in their professional as well as private lives. Therefore, previous methods, habits or procedures during the pandemic may no longer be valid. Education, being one of the most affected sectors during this period, together with its broad related environment have been significantly impacted. In this context, the present study focused on higher education. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the different teaching methods after the Covid-19 pandemic period from the point of view of lecturers working in the health services department of a state university in Turkey. Accordingly, two hierarchical models: service quality and experience based were developed and the opinions of lecturers were obtained using one of the multi criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods, namely the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Face-to-face was found to be the optimum teaching method for both the models while the rest of the teaching alternatives were ranked separately in order of importance for these two models. Moreover, criteria were prioritized for the first and the second models, respectively. Limitations of the study including future research directions were identified.

Early Detection of Mortality in COVID-19 Patients Through Laboratory Findings with Factor Analysis and Artificial Neural Networks

In this paper, some biochemical findings of patients who applied to Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine Emergency Service with suspicion of COVID-19 are exam-ined. The common characteristics of the cases regarding mortality status are analyzed via factor analysis (FA). Following the FA, blood parameters related to the severity of the cases are determined. Finally, a multi-layered artificial neural network (ANN) is trained with these parameters. This paper proposes a method that helps early detection of severe cases and determination of non-risk group vaccination priority. Thus, the main contribution is the creation of a decision-support system to start advanced medical support as soon as possible. The data set consists of 105 patients with 19 different input parameters. After FA, 7 parameters are found relevant to one-month mortality. These are HB, AST, BUN, LDH, pH, HCO3 and LAC. The chi-square value was 1252.9552, the p value for the significance level of 0.05 was close to zero (7.3696x10−156 ). An ANN is accurately trained based on this subset of the data. The most successful model of ANN’s training and testing errors as a root sum squared estimate of error (RSSE) are 0.1958 and 0.2402, respectively. This ANN model can be queried for patient data with determined parameters. This paper shows that the early detection of patients who can have the severe or fatal disease can be determined regarding COVID-19. The proposed method can be used to determine vaccination priority, for early intervention to expected severe course of treatment, and medical analysis and analytics of unknown diseases via their outcomes, enriched with numerical laboratory test results. © 2022, Publishing House of the Romanian Academy. All rights reserved.

WHAT MOTIVATES TEACHERS TO WORK FOR THE SOCIETY DURING THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK? A CASE OF VEFA SOCIAL SUPPORT GROUPS

The present study explored the motives of teachers who voluntarily participated in social work in the Vefa Support Groups, which was established to meet the needs of citizens aged 65 and over and those with chronic diseases who were restricted by the nationwide curfews as part of COVID-19 measures. The findings of the research designed as a multiple case study showed that some intrinsic motives and personal characteristics encouraged teachers to participate voluntarily in pro-community activities. Parallel with the related literature, “willingness to help others,” “pro-social values,” “patriotism, loyalty to the country,” “developing the community spirit, strengthening the community image, and setting a role model,” and “enjoying being involved” are the most frequently observed motives. © 2022. Milli Egitim.All Rights Reserved

Are the illness severity and treatment efficacy of the patients followed in the child psychiatry inpatient service during the pandemic period different from the "normal" period?

Objective: COVID-19 pandemic poses a serious threat to health systems and inpatient treatment units. With the increase in the size of the pandemic, it has become a difficult process to carry out routine treatment services. In this study we aimed to compare the clinical profile, illness severity and length of hospitalization of the patients who were hospitalized in the child psychiatry inpatient service during the normal and the pandemic period. Method: The patients who were treated in the child psychiatry inpatient service during the the pandemic period (n=19), and previously normal period (n=149) were compared in terms of clinical profile, illness severity and length of hospitalization. Psychiatric diagnoses were assessed using the K-SADS-PL (Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version). The Clinical Global Impressions-Severity scale (CGI-S) was applied to all patients in both groups at hospitalization and discharge point. Results: We found that median level of CGI-S hospitalization scores in pandemic period was significantly higher than normal period. A significant negative correlation was found between CGI-S discharge scores and length of hospitalization during pandemic period. In addition, a significant difference was found between the groups in terms of the rate of anxiolytic drugs used. Discussion: Anxiety levels of people may increase in disasters such as pandemics, wars, earthquakes. During the pandemic period, patients with higher clinical severity of illness are treated in inpatient treatment units. In these cases, it is important to continue inpatient management without interruption, along with infection-preventive measures.

Has contract farming increased the resilience of farms in the COVID-19 pandemic? A case study from Turkey

This paper examines the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on contract farming (CF), focussing on buckwheat producers in Gumushane province in rural area of Turkey. Our research group was buckwheat producers in Gumushane province in Turkey across Gumushane's three districts (Kelkit, Kose, and Siran). According to empirical literature, CF improves livelihood alternatives and helps the economic development of rural areas. While COVID-19 affects the whole world, its impacts on CF has been a matter of curiosity. Thus, this paper starts with a definition of the phenomenon of CF, recent empirical studies and objectives. In order to understand the perceptions of the farmers engaged in contract farming in Gumushane regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on buckwheat production and marketing, 28 perception statements were presented. This study's findings show that respondents underlined that they strongly agreed with the statements regarding the increase in the cost of agricultural inputs because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has not had a negative impact on buckwheat farmers engaged in contract farming in many ways in the research area. There is still a need for authorities to manage effective crisis management plans and to launch resilience promoting policies like contract farming that aim at enhancing farmers' capabilities.

Ct-severity analysis of covid-19 pneumonia in rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases

Objectives: This study aims to focus on the radiological severity of covid-19 pneumonia in patients with rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases (RMD). Materials and Methods: A total of 342 Polymerase Chain Reaction positive patients were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into two groups in terms of the presence of RMD. Chest Computed Tomography (CT) severity scores, demographic characteristics, hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) requirement, length of stay at the hospital were compared between RMD and non-RMD groups. Typical and atypical findings on CT images were identified with their incidence in both groups of patients. Results: Age and female gender were significantly higher in the RMD group (p=0.001, p=0.041). The average CT-severity score was higher in the RMD group, but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.081). ICU transfer and mortality rates were higher in the RMD, whereas no difference was found in hospitalization rates and length of stay (p=0.002, p=0.036, p=0.280, p=0.168). Ground glass opacities, superimposed consolidation, and crazy paving patterns were the most common typical findings seen on both groups. Atypical CT findings for covid-19 pneumonia were found to be higher in the RMD group than in the non-RMD group. Conclusion: Chronic inflammation and the use of immunosuppressive drugs constitute a vulnerability to infections in RMD patients. In this study, mortality and ICU requirements were found to be higher in patients with RMD. Similarly, the higher rate of atypical chest CT findings in the RMD group may be of particular importance in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of covid-19 pneumonia in this patient group. © 2021 Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University. All Rights Reserved.

Prediction of mortality, hospitalization and mechanical ventilation needs of patients with pneumonia in COVID-19 outbreak

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought considerable loss to the world by means of pneumonia related mortality. In the current study, we aimed to discover the predictors of mortality and other worse outcomes in atypical pneumonia cases during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Initial serum lactate levels of COVID-19 patients

Aim: In this study, we aimed to research whether the serum lactate of the COVID-19 patients presented to the initial emergency department can be used to make prognosis of the patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 39 COVID-19 patients were included in the study. Fourteen (35.8%) patients were over 65 years old (Group 1). Twenty-five patients (64.2%) were under 65 years old (Group 2). The diagnosis was made via the oro-nasopharyngeal swab PCR test. We noted the demographic data (age, gender, comorbidities), initial (emergency service presentation) complete blood count parameters including WBC, Plt/Lymp ratio, CRP, procalcitonin and serum lactate levels. We also noted the hospitalization unit (clinic/intensive care unit), hospitalization length, and the outcomes. Patients were divided into two groups according to 65 years and the groups' laboratory results with the prognosis. Results: The mean age of the study group was 55 years. Fourteen (35.8%) patients were over 65 years old. Serum lactate levels did not significantly differ between groups. Hospital length of stay was significantly longer in patients over 65 years of age. Age and hospitalization length were positively correlated with age in all patients. Discussion: Serum lactate level measurement has recently become an important parameter especially for critically ill patients. It is beneficial for predicting the severity and prognosis in severe infections. Serum lactate levels in COVID-19 patients did not differ between age groups. Hospitalization length was longer in elderly patients.

The psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on cardiologist and their ST segment-elevation myocardial infarction treatment strategies

Background and Aim: In Worldwide, Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is the first line recommended therapy for Acute ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) for many years. During this pandemic period, changes on STEMI treatment protocol has been published. Recommendations were based on each regional system's PCI Center, STEMI referral hospitals and EMS (emergency medical system). Another important point is the new type coronavirus epidemic that shook the world poses a serious threat to cardiologists who perform interventional procedures. Little is known about the psychological effects of this type of disease outbreak on health care workers. This document addresses the evaluation of invasive cardiologists' STEMI treatment strategies with the Impact of Event Scale (IES) during COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey. Methods: This online, questionnaire study conducted via e-mail or WhatsApp message to 1000 cardiologist who works in PCI capable centers in Turkey. Participation was voluntary and participation to the study was expected to be between 10-15%. 136 cardiologists agreed to participate in the study by completing the questionnaire. Self-administered, anonymous questionnaires results were evaluated by a blind researcher. In the study, a 5-point Likert type scale 18 stress-related questions were applied to invasive cardiologists and their STEMI treatment changes during the pandemic were identified by the answers. Results: It's a small sample size study but the power of the study was 98.53%. This study showed that Turkish cardiologists changed their approach to culprit lesions during PPCI in STEMI patients during pandemic based upon to psychological impact of COVID-19 pneumonia stress-related factors. Performing PPCI in STEMI patients during pandemic has statistically significant effects on total IES, F1 (Daily moods), F2 (Willingness and ability to work) and F3 (Anxiety about infection) scores. The cardiologists with higher F3 scores preferred more simple and shorter techniques during PPCI in the study. The participants with higher total IES scores preferred interfering only the responsible coronary artery during PPCI in patients with multivessel disease as the participants with higher F1 scores did in the study. Also, these participants with higher total IES and F1 scores showed statistically significant change in treatment protocol of STEMI patients with multi-vessel disease as rather preferring CABG procedure instead of PCI compared with routine days. Conclusions: This is the unique study evaluating cardiologists STEMI treatment strategies with the IES during COVID-19 pandemic. This study showed that doctors stress-related factors must be added to account while talking in treatment strategies and publishing recommendation reports during the pandemic besides countries health system, EMS, referral hospitals conditions.