The challenges of organizing physics laboratory teaching in distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic

Tämä pro gradu- tutkielma toteutettiin narratiivisena kirjallisuuskatsauksena ja tutkimusaineistona oli yhteensä 15 artikkelia. Tutkimusaineistoa hankittiin Scopus-tietokannasta sekä Google Scholarista. Tutkielman tavoitteena ja tarkoituksena on tutkia fysiikan laboratoriotöiden järjestämisen haasteitta etäopetuksessa koronapandemian aikana sekä miten kokeelliset työt toteutettiin. Lisäksi tutkimuksen tavoitteena on selventää opettajien tieto- ja viestintätekniikkataitoja etäopetuksessa. Tutkimuskysymykset ovat: Mitkä ovat fysiikan laboratorio-opetuksen järjestämisen haasteet etäopetuksessa koronapandemian aikana ja miten kokeelliset työt toteutettiin sekä millaiset ovat opettajien tieto- ja viestintätekniikkataidot. Keväällä 2020 Covid-19-virus aiheutti yllättäen globaalit poikkeusolot, jotka vaikuttivat ihmisten arkeen, työntekoon sekä oppilaitoksiin. Oppilaitokset suljettiin ja ne joutuivat siirtymään lyhyellä varoitusajalla lähiopetuksesta etäopetukseen ja opettajat sekä opiskelijat joutuivat mukautumaan uuteen tilanteeseen. Tämä toi haasteitta ja varsinkin laboratoriotöiden järjestäminen etäopetuksessa oli haastava. Etäopetuksessa opettajat joutuivat käyttämään niitä opetusteknologian käyttötaitoja, joita heillä oli. Vaikka etäopetusta on käytetty koulutusjärjestelmässä jo useiden vuosien ajan, sen toteutus pandemioiden aikana voi olla erilaista ja haastavaa. Tutkimustulosten mukaan osalla opettajista ei ollut aikaisempaa kokemusta tai oli vähän kokemusta etäopetukseen pitämiseen. Osa oppilaitoksista tarjosi opettajille koulutusta tukemaan heidän tieto- ja viestintätekniikan taitoja. Tutkimuksissa nousi esiin se, että laboratoriotyöskentelyn ja laskuharjoitusten läpikäynnin järjestäminen etäopetuksessa oli haastava. Osa tutkimuksista toi esille, että käytännön työtä käytettiin hyvin harvoin, myös sellaisissa aiheissa, jotka olisivat soveltuneet kokeelliseen työhön. Joissakin tutkimuksissa tuli esille, että osa kokeellisista töistä pystyttiin järjestämään sellaisenaan kotoa käsin

Synthesis, characterization, and photophysical and photochemical properties of 3-(4-phenyloxy)coumarin containing metallo- and metal-free phthalocyanines

The synthesis of novel zinc, cobalt, indium, and metal-free phthalocyanines carrying four 3-(4-phenyloxy)couma- rins in the periphery/nonperiphery were prepared by cyclotetramerization of 3-[4-(3,4-dicyanophenyloxy)phenyl]coumarin (2)/3-[4-(2,3- dicyanophenyloxy)phenyl]coumarin (3). The novel chromogenic compounds were characterized by elemen- tal analysis, 1H NMR, mass spectra, F-IR, and UV-vis spectral data. The effects of the coumarin units on the zinc, indium, and metal-free phthalocyanine complexes (2a/3a, 2c/3c, 2d/3d) were also investigated.WOS:0003455598000152-s2.0-8491579148

Evaluation of Peripapillary Nerve Fiber Layer after Dexamethasone Implantation (Ozurdex) in Branch Retinal Vein Occlusions

Purpose. To evaluate the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thicknesses of patients treated with intravitreal Ozurdex implant due to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) related macular edema (ME). Methods. Thirty-three eyes of 33 patients treated with Ozurdex implant due to ME associated with BRVO were included in the study. Ophthalmic examinations including determination of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP), and central macular thickness (CMT) and peripapillary RNFL assessment with optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed before the injection of Ozurdex implant and during the 6-month follow-up period after the injection. Results. The mean age was 55.2 ± 7.4 (range: 40–68) years. The BCVAs were significantly increased and CMTs were significantly decreased at month 3 and month 6 visits compared to baseline values. The mean IOP was significantly increased from baseline at day 1, week 1, and month 1 visits (p1=0.008, p2=0.018, and p3=0.022, resp.). The average and inferior quadrant peripapillary RNFL thicknesses were significantly reduced at month 6 control visit compared to baseline values (both p<0.001). Conclusions. Ozurdex implant improved the BCVA and reduced the CMT in the eyes with RVO related ME. However, IOP elevations occurred within the first month after the injection and the average and inferior quadrant RNFL thinning was found six months after the injection. Further controlled studies are warranted

Effects of dexamethasone implant on multifocal electroretinography in central retinal vein occlusion

Purpose: To investigate the effect of Ozurdex (dexamethasone intravitreal implant) on multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) findings during the treatment of macular edema secondary to the central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Methods: Fifteen eyes of 15 patients who were treated with Ozurdex implant due to CRVO-related macular edema were included in this study. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), and mfERG evaluations were performed for all patients before injection of Ozurdex. After the injection, BCVA and CMT were measured at months 3 and 6 and mfERG test was performed at month 6 for all patients. Results: Pre-implantation mfERG P wave amplitude values of r1, r2, r3, r4 and r5 were 57.8 ± 14.8, 25.1 ± 10.6, 17.2 ± 7.3, 12.0 ± 5.0 and 7.1 ± 3.6 nV/deg2, respectively. They increased to 72.9 ± 33.2, 31.2 ± 9.3, 22.6 ± 7.6, 15.6 ± 7.1 and 10.9 ± 5.7 nV/deg2, respectively, at month 6. However, these increases were not statistically significant (all P > 0.05). Pre-implantation mfERG r1, r2, r3, r4 and r5 P wave implicit times were 40.1 ± 10.9, 39.4 ± 3, 38.4 ± 3.4, 38.2 ± 3.1 and 39.3 ± 2.2 ms, respectively and these values were measured as 38.9 ± 8.2, 38.4 ± 4.7, 37 ± 3.8, 37.5 ± 4.6 and 37.7 ± 4.7 ms at 6 months. Although there were reductions in P wave implicit times in all rings, they were not statistically significant (all P > 0.05). Conclusion: In this prospective study, we found that the Ozurdex implant had no effect on mfERG findings 6 months after insertion for treatment of CRVO-related macular edema

Use of an Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant (Ozurdex) in a Case with Accidental Foveal Photocoagulation by Alexandrite Laser

Alexandrite laser is one of the most common methods of hair removal. Its utilization is gradually increasing due to easy accessibility and high effectiveness. However, the disuse of protective goggles during the application of this laser is a serious problem. In this case report, we presented a 35-year-old male patient who had foveal injury by alexandrite laser. The inflammatory process secondary to the foveal injury and subsequent macular edema were treated with Ozurdex because of its potent antiedematous effect

Prediction of Aspergillus parasiticus inhibition and aflatoxin mitigation in red pepper flakes treated by pulsed electric field treatment using machine learning and neural networks

Presence of aflatoxins in agricultural products is a worldwide problem. Because of their high heat stability and resistance to most of the food processing technologies, aflatoxin degradation is still a big challenge. Thus, efficacy of pulsed electric fields (PEF) by energies ranging from 0.97 to 17.28 J was tested to determine changes in quality properties in red pepper flakes, mitigation of aflatoxins, inactivation of aflatoxin producing Aspergillus parasiticus, reduction in aflatoxin mutagenity, and modelling of A. parasiticus inactivation in addition to aflatoxin mitigation. Maximum inactivation rate of 64.37 % with 17.28 J was encountered on the mean initial A. parasiticus count. A 99.88, 99.47, 97.75, and 99.58 % reductions were obtained on the mean initial AfG1, AfG2, AfB1, and AfB2 concentrations. PEF treated samples by 0.97, 1.36, 5.76, and 17.28 J at 1 μg/plate, 0.97, 1.92, 7.78, 10.80 J at 10 μg/plate, and 0.97, 1.92, 2.92, 4.08, 5.76, 4.86, 6.80, 9.60, 10.80, and 10.89 J at 100 μg/plate were not mutagenic. Modelling with gradient boosting regression tree (GBRT), random forest regression (RFR), and artificial neural network (ANN) provided the lowest RMSE and highest R2 value for GBRT model for the predicted inactivation of A. parasiticus, whereas ANN model provided the lowest RMSE and highest R2 for predicted mitigation of AfG1, AfB1, and AfB2. PEF treatment possess a viable alternative for aflatoxin degradation with reduced mutagenity and without adverse effect on quality properties of red pepper flakes

Influence of posterior capsular opacity and its removal on retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measured with spectral domain optical coherence tomography

AIM:To investigate the influence of posterior capsular opacity(PCO)and its removal on retinal nerve fiber layer(RNFL)thickness measured with spectral domain optical coherence tomography(SD-OCT).METHODS: Fifty patients underwent RNFL measurements using SD-OCT before and after Nd: YAG laser posterior capsulotomy. The patients were divided into groups according to the value of signal to noise ratio(SNR)measured by SD-OCT as group 1: SNR 3 and 4, group 2: SNR 5 and 6 and group 3: SNR 7 and 8. The other eye served as control(control group).RESULTS: The mean BCVA, SNR and RNFL measurements significantly increased in eyes underwent Nd: YAG laser capsulotomy. The preoperative and postoperative mean BCVA, SNR and RNFL measurements were significantly different in group 1 and group 2. Although the preoperative and postoperative mean BCVA and SNR were significantly different, the preoperative and postoperative RNFL thickness weren't significantly different in group 3.DISCUSSION: PCO has an influence on OCT image quality. SNR improved in all cases after removal of the PCO. However, RNFL thickness significantly improved after Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy in patients with preoperative SNR under 7

Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty versus Penetrating Keratoplasty for Macular Corneal Dystrophy: A Randomized Trial

Purpose: To compare outcomes of big-bubble deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) and penetrating keratoplasty (PK) for macular corneal dystrophy. Design: Prospective, randomized, interventional case series. Methods: Setting: Single hospital. Patients: Eighty-two eyes of 54 patients requiring keratoplasty for the treatment of macular corneal dystrophy without endothelial involvement were included. Main outcome measures: Operative complications, uncorrected visual acuity, best-corrected visual acuity, contrast sensitivity function, higher-order aberrations, and endothelial cell density were evaluated. Results: The DALK and PK group consisted of 35 and 41 eyes, respectively. Best-corrected visual acuity after surgery was 20/40 or better 68.5% and 70.7% of the eyes in the DALK and PK groups, respectively (P > .05). No statistically significant differences between groups were found in contrast sensitivity function with and without glare for any spatial frequency (P > .05). Significantly higher levels of higher-order aberrations were found in the DALK group (P < .01). In both groups, a progressive and statistically significant reduction in endothelial cell density was found (P < .01). At the last follow-up, the mean endothelial cell loss was 18.1% and 26.9% in DALK and PK groups, respectively (P = .03). Graft rejection episodes were seen in 5 eyes (12.1%) in the PK group, and regrafting was necessary in 3 eyes (7.3%). Recurrence of the disease was documented in 5.7% and 4.8% of the eyes in the DALK and PK groups, respectively. Conclusions: Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty with the big-bubble technique provided comparable visual and optical results as PK and resulted in less endothelial damage, as well as eliminating endothelial rejection in macular corneal dystrophy. Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty surgery is a viable option for macular corneal dystrophy without endothelial involvement

Efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy for house dust mite allergic rhinitis

In the present study, we investigated the outcomes of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in house dust mite-induced allergic rhinitis (HDM-AR) patients. In this prospective, multicentric study, 186 patients with AR who had positive skin prick test results for HDMs were included. The patients were administered SLIT using Staloral 300 for 1 year. Evaluation of the patients regarding symptom scores, clinical findings and Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) scores was performed at baseline, and then at 6 and 12 months of therapy. Our results showed that, for all of the evaluated items (symptom scores, clinical findings and RQLQ scores), 12-month values were significantly lower than those at 6 months and baseline. Similarly, 6-month values were significantly lower than those at baseline. There were no complications in any of our patients. SLIT for HDM-AR is a treatment modality that can be used safely. We obtained better results than expected, and the treatment showed a positive psychological effect; the patients believed that SLIT was the final step of treatment and, which made them feel better