ABSTRACT
Artificial intelligence and machine learning have the potential to address many of the problems that have emerged in higher education due the rapid and haphazard transition to online learning brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. These problems include students' struggle to self-regulate their learning, the increase in curriculum planning and administrative workload for teachers, and the loss of personalized interaction between students and teachers. This chapter explores how artificial intelligence can be used to help students and teachers to adapt to the new realities of online learning, and how these technologies could further transform higher education in the future. By providing more personalized, flexible, inclusive, and engaging learning experiences, artificial intelligence has the potential to re-invigorate students and teachers both and to make virtual classrooms more meaningful and productive.
ABSTRACT
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, especially, the transmission of the virus via infected contact surfaces, has put increased emphasis on the need to fabricate antimicrobial surfaces to protect against various deadly pathogens. Laser surface texturing (LST), one of the common surface modification techniques, has been successful for antifouling applications to improve resistance against bacterial adhesion. In this short review, we aim to explore the possibilities of using LST for fabricating surfaces against viruses. The characteristics influencing the interaction of surfaces with virus and bacteria and an overview of antibacterial surfaces created by LST are briefly described first before assessing the current limitations with LST for fabricating antiviral surfaces. Finally, we highlight the potential directions using LST to realize the nanoscale surface features necessary for antiviral surfaces.
ABSTRACT
Background/aim: Our aim is to investigate the relationship of psychogenic erectile dysfunction(pED) that develops during the new coronavirus disease(COVID-19) pandemic with coronavirus anxiety using the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale(CAS) and the International Index of Erectile Function-5(IIEF-5) questionnaire. Materials and methods: This study was conducted in Elazig Fethi sekin city hospital during January 2021 to March 2021. Medical history of male patients who were admitted to urology outpatient clinics were taken and physical examinations were performed. Morning serum fasting glucose, total testosterone and prolactine levels were measured. IIEF-5 questionnaire was filled by the patients. Two groups were formed as pED and control group. Both groups filled the CAS questionnaire and the results were compared statistically. Results: IIEF-5 scores were 15.86±7.53 and 24.26±0.82 in the pED group and the control group, respectively. The CAS scores were 7.53±2.02 and 0.40±0.62 in the pED group and in the control group, respectively. There was a significant difference between these findings. There was a significant negative correlation between IEF-5 scores and CAS scores. (p*=0.00) IIEF-5 scores were significantly lower in the pED group compared to the control group. (p*=0.00) CAS scores were significantly higher in the pED group compared to the control group. (p*=0.00) While there was a statistically significant difference between moderate pED and mild moderate pED in terms of CAS scores (p*=0.02, p*=0.00), there was no statistically significant difference between mild moderate pED and mild pED. (p=0.27). Conclusion: In addition to high contagiousness and mortality rates, COVID-19 causes economic burden and financial losses, leading to negative individual and global psychosocial impact and increased anxiety. Since anxiety is one of the etiological causes of pED, pED encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic is also associated with coronavirus anxiety. Psychiatric support for coronavirus anxiety should be added to pED treatment. © 2021 A. CARBONE Editore. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the insomnia severity of healthcare workers in Turkish society during the COVID-19 epidemic according to demographic data, working conditions and other variables. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out in Turkey, a total of 277 medical employees, including 107 men and 170 women providing active service in various health centers. Healthcare workers were asked to fill in the personal information form and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) to determine the insomnia level. The prepared questionnaires were applied online to healthcare workers who agreed to participate in the study. Mann-Whitney U ve Kruskal Wallis test were used in the statistical analysis of the data. The significance level was accepted as P<0.05 in these analyzes.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To evaluate the behaviors and attitudes of healthcare workers toward COVID-19. Methods: A total of 280 healthcare workers (172 females and 108 males) answered an online questionnaire about the biosafety procedures for and their attitudes about COVID-19. The average age of participants was 33.57 ± 7.78. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods and the chi-square test. Results: The study sample consisted of 39.5% medical doctors, 32.1% dentists, 14.3% nurses, 4.6% technicians, 2.9% physiotherapists, 3.6% secretaries, and 3.2% auxiliary staff. Of these healthcare workers, 151 (53.9%) had children. A great majority of the participants (91.8%) stated that they were afraid of being infected with the COVID-19 virus. There was no significant difference by gender, but the difference between having a child (95.4%) and not having a child (87.6%) was statistically significant (p=0.042). A little more than half (54.3%) of the participants answered yes to the question of whether they quarantined themselves, and this was found to be significantly higher in those who had children (42.4%) than those who did not (33.3%)(p=0.001). The precautions worn by healthcare workers while working were as follows: masks (89.3%), gloves (80.1%), N95/FFP2 masks (17.4%), face protective shields (39.1%), glasses (28.5%), and bonnets (33.1%). Sources of information for health workers about COVID-19 included the websites or social media accounts of professional organizations such as the Ministry of Health, the Association of Dentists, and the World Health Organization (82.2%);published scientific articles (47.3%);and social media accounts like Instagram and Twitter (48%). Conclusions: While healthcare workers responded well to the standard measures and attitudes they have to protect themselves against COVID-19 contamination, their practice on the extra measures they can take should be improved. In addition to personal protective equipment, efforts should be made to protect the immunity and mental health of healthcare workers.