The Impact of STEM-based laboratory activities on pre-service science teachers’ competence perceptions in 21st-Century Skills and STEM Awareness

This study aims to investigate the impact of laboratory activities prepared based on STEM-based learning on the competence perceptions in 21st-century skills (learning and innovation skills, life and career, information, media, and technology skills) and STEM awareness. The sample group consisted of 53 pre-service science teachers studying in year 2 of a public university. A quasi-experimental design formed the basis of this experimental study conducted as a quantitative research model. Pre-service teachers were randomly assigned, one to the experimental group (n=28) and the other to the control group (n=25). The experimental group was presented with laboratory activities based on STEM-based learning. In contrast, the control group had only laboratory activities (i.e., a group of students who did not conduct STEM-based laboratory activities). The measurement tools were the 21st Century Skills Competence Perception Scale (21st Century SCS) and the STEM Awareness Scale (SAS). All participants in the study expressed their agreement generally on the level of “I agree” for all three dimensions of the 21st Century SCS regarding STEM. As a result of the implementation, the SCS sub-dimension of “information, media and technology skills” and SAS skills of the experimental group students were higher than those of the students in the control group. It was found that the experimental group used the media and technology effectively and to use technology to access, analyze and share information. It was also thought that the individuals' problem-solving, critical, and high-level thinking skills developed more than the control group, thanks to the higher STEM awareness in the experimental group. Finally, some implications were proposed based on the research results from the STEM-based learning laboratory activities

THE EFFECT OF COVID-19 OUTBREAK ON THE MENTAL STATUS OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS IN THE PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may affect the mental status of health care professionals. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the mental health effects of the COVID-19 epidemic on health care professionals in the pediatric intensive care units (PICUs). Subjects and methods: Our study was conducted prospectively between 01.04.20 and 10.04.20. The created questionnaire was applied to health care professionals through online platforms. Thus it was involved in 5 different institutions that participated from different regions of Turkey. With the questionnaire, we applied; the participants\u27 age, gender, the general status of contamination and the level of COVID-19 knowledge were questioned. Besides; Beck Anxiety Scale, Acute Stress Scale (PCL-5), STAI-1 and STAI-2 (State and Trait Anxiety Inventory 1-2) scales were used to determine the anxiety levels. Results: A survey of 210 participants, 86 (41%) doctors, 124 (59%) nurses, were included in our study. When we evaluate the Beck anxiety levels, the majority of the participants (44%) were normal, while about one third had mild anxiety. When we evaluated the acute stress scale, all participants had a certain amount of stress levels. The majority (80 people each (38%)) experienced mild and moderate acute stress. Being female and having chronic disease poses a high risk for anxiety (OR, 0.330; 95% CI, 0.087-1.250, p <0.05 and OR, 0.246; 95% CI, 0.068-1.116, p<0.05), preoccupation (OR, 0.603; 95% CI 0.261-1.395, p<0.05 and OR, 0.433; 95% CI, 0.122-1.538, p<0.05) and acute stress (OR, 0.294; 95% CI, 0.033-2.649, p<0.05 and OR, 0.317; 95 % CI 0.060-1.679, p<0.05). Professional definition, marital status and having a child do not pose any risk factors. Conclusion: Our study has shown that the COVID-19 outbreak affects the mental status of health care professionals working at PICU at various levels

THE EFFECT OF COVID-19 OUTBREAK ON THE MENTAL STATUS OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS IN THE PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may affect the mental status of health care professionals. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the mental health effects of the COVID-19 epidemic on health care professionals in the pediatric intensive care units (PICUs). Subjects and methods: Our study was conducted prospectively between 01.04.20 and 10.04.20. The created questionnaire was applied to health care professionals through online platforms. Thus it was involved in 5 different institutions that participated from different regions of Turkey. With the questionnaire, we applied; the participants\u27 age, gender, the general status of contamination and the level of COVID-19 knowledge were questioned. Besides; Beck Anxiety Scale, Acute Stress Scale (PCL-5), STAI-1 and STAI-2 (State and Trait Anxiety Inventory 1-2) scales were used to determine the anxiety levels. Results: A survey of 210 participants, 86 (41%) doctors, 124 (59%) nurses, were included in our study. When we evaluate the Beck anxiety levels, the majority of the participants (44%) were normal, while about one third had mild anxiety. When we evaluated the acute stress scale, all participants had a certain amount of stress levels. The majority (80 people each (38%)) experienced mild and moderate acute stress. Being female and having chronic disease poses a high risk for anxiety (OR, 0.330; 95% CI, 0.087-1.250, p <0.05 and OR, 0.246; 95% CI, 0.068-1.116, p<0.05), preoccupation (OR, 0.603; 95% CI 0.261-1.395, p<0.05 and OR, 0.433; 95% CI, 0.122-1.538, p<0.05) and acute stress (OR, 0.294; 95% CI, 0.033-2.649, p<0.05 and OR, 0.317; 95 % CI 0.060-1.679, p<0.05). Professional definition, marital status and having a child do not pose any risk factors. Conclusion: Our study has shown that the COVID-19 outbreak affects the mental status of health care professionals working at PICU at various levels

Photodegradation of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxy Acetic Acid on TiO2, ZnO and Fe2O3 by Sunlight

WOS: 000264759000087The photocatalytic degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) in aqueous solution containing a suspension of titanium dioxide (TiO2), zinc oxide (ZnO) and ferric oxide (Fe2O3) was studied under sunlight or concentrated sunlight. As expected, in the presence of TiO2 and ZnO irradiated by concentrated sunlight, the rate of photodegradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid was seen to be faster than that irradiated by direct sunlight. Its degradation was not observed in the absence of catalyst and in the dark. TiO2 and ZnO which possess more higher band gap energy than that of Fe2O3 are effective photosensitizer for the degradation of this pesticide under concentrated sunlight. The band gap energy of reddish brown Fe2O3 (2.2 eV) is lower than that of colourless TiO2 (3.2 eV) and ZnO (3.2 eV). Fe2O3 absorbs more longer wavelength of the sunlight than others, but it is not successful as a catalyst under visible light. The results of all UV absorbtion spectroscopy and HPLC analysis regarding products illuminated showed that the complete degradations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid containing ZnO and TiO2 were observed nearly 99 and 85% only in 45 min under concentrated sunlight.Ege University Research Funds OfficeEge University; Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK)The authors express their appreciation to Ege University Research Funds Office and Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) for financial support of this project. The authors are grateful to Prof Dr. Siddik Icli, Director of Solar Energy Institute and the Institute of Hifzisihha, Izmir for HPLC analysis. Thanks are also due to Selami Solmaz, Belgin Uluocak and Gulser Akbas and other workers in the water research laboratory and the pesticide research laboratory. One of the authors (OS) thanks TUBITAK for scholarship

Synthesis, properties and photodynamic activities of some zinc(II) phthalocyanines against <i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>

Two new zinc phthalocyanine derivatives bearing four 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl (ZnPc1) and 3,5-dimethylphenoxy (ZnPc2) have been synthesized and proved by elemental analyses and UV-vis, 1H NMR, FTIR and MALDI-TOF mass spectra as spectroscopic determination. Thermal stabilities of these neutral Zn -phthalocyanines were performed by thermal gravimetric analysis and, significantly, were found stable up to 373 °C for ZnPc1 and 550 °C for ZnPc2. In addition, the photostability of the sensitizers was quite successful within 240 min. Furthermore, photodynamic therapy has been investigated using these neutral phthalocyanines. Singlet oxygen generation capacities of ZnPc1 and ZnPc2 were studied using 1,3-diphenyl-iso-benzofuran (50.0 μM) as a selective singlet oxygen trap in DMSO and both of them demonstrated very high singlet oxygen generation capacity. Photodynamic therapy is of considerable interest for its potential as an antimicrobial therapy on the grounds that the photodynamic activity of these compounds was tested against a Gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli and a Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus. Suspensions of the microorganisms were irradiated for 240 min in the presence of ZnPc1 (with hydrophilic group) and ZnPc2 phthalocyanines. In order to simulate solar radiation, we used a 750 W xenon lamp. Minimum photosensitizer concentration was used as 0.1 mg.10 mL-1 in 1% dimethylsulfoxide/phosphate buffer saline solution (DMSO/PBS). Moreover, the photostability of these compounds has been investigated and the effect of the amount of DMSO tested against selected bacteria. In the dark, with and without Pcs, bacterial inactivation did not occur. Bacterial inactivation by light with ZnPc1 was observed in response to Gram-negative bacteria E. coli and Gram-positive bacteria S. aureus, whereas the photoinactivation studies with ZnPc2 have revealed that the lack of its activity is due to its poor affinity for either of the organisms. These results suggest that a neutral amphiphilic photosensitizer may be easily used in an application concerning photoinactivation of bacterial cells as well as ionic photosensitizers. </jats:p

Risk Factors for Osteoporosis in Healthy Males

WOS: 000285418300013We investigated the correlation of bone mineral density (BMD) with risk factors and laboratory parameters (e. g., markers of bone turnover, biochemical indicators, and hormonal factors) in males without secondary osteoporosis. A total of 105 males were divided into two groups: Group 1 (n:52) = 60 years. The subjects were evaluated for risk factors (European Vertebral Osteoporosis Study (EVOS) and BMD) and for biochemical (i.e., blood calcium, blood phosphorus, urinary calcium/phosphorus, creatinine clearance, osteocalcin, and deoxypyridinoline) and hormonal markers (follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH], luteinizing hormone [LH], free testosterone [fT], and parathyroid [PTH]) of bone mineral metabolism. In Group 1, no significant relationship was observed between risk factors for both lumbar and femoral neck BMDs and risk factors and laboratory parameters (p>0.05). On the other hand, we observed in Group 2 a significant positive correlation between lumbar BMD and BMI, BMI at 25 years of age, and fT; in the same group, a negative correlation between lumbar BMD and deoxypyridinoline (p<0.05) was seen. We saw a significant positive correlation between femoral neck BMD and BMI, BMI at 25 years of age, and daily activities of life in Group 2. In addition, we saw a negative correlation between femoral neck BMD and height difference, fT, LH, and deoxypyridinoline in Group 2 (p<0.05). Risk factors for male osteoporosis were multifactorial: demographic and clinical data (difference of height, BMI, physical activity) together with biochemical and hormonal data (deoxypyridinoline, fT, LH) were significant, and most of the risk factors analyzed were related to bone loss in the proximal femur

The effect of standard therapy on mean platelet volume in patients with chronic hepatitis C

INTRODUCTION: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection is a systemic disorder that can lead to liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular cancer. The mean platelet volume (MPV) is widely used as an inflammatory marker to evaluate the platelet function and the status of systemic inflammation. AIM: To determine the pre- and post-treatment MPV values in CHC patients who were administered a 48-week antiviral therapy based on systemic inflammation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We enrolled 28 patients, diagnosed with CHC genotype 1b, who received a 48-week antiviral therapy and attended regular follow-up, and 28 healthy individuals. In diagnosing CHC, a positive anti-HCV for a minimum duration of 6 months and a positive serum HCV RNA were accepted as the criteria. The patients were assigned to one of two groups based on their group 1 (pre-treatment values) and group 2 (post-treatment values) after 3 months therapy. We analysed and compared the blood samples of all of the groups. RESULTS: The MPV value was 8.89 ±1.20 in group 1 and 8.00 ±1.07 in group 2, and 8.21 ±1.18 in the control group. The value in group 1 was detected to be statistically significantly different from that in group 2 and the control group (p < 0.0001, p = 0.045, respectively). No statistically significant difference was observed between group 2 and the control group (p = 0.455). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that MPV could represent an inexpensive marker for use in assessing low-grade inflammation in patients with CHC

A Recombinant Humanized Monoclonal Antibody for Treatment of Endometriosis in a Rat Model

Aim Angiogenesis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Thus, the inhibition of angiogenesis may prevent endometriosis. Bevacizumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody against VEGF. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of anti-VEGF therapy on the prophylaxis and treatment of endometriotic foci in a rat model. Methods This experimental study is prospective, randomized, and placebo-controlled. Thirty-six Wistar-Albino female rats were divided into 3 groups. Experimental endometriosis was induced by the implantation of autologous endometrial tissue. The bevacizumab administration route was intraperitoneal. Group A was the prophylaxis group; Group B was the treatment group, and Group C was the control group. The volumes of the implants as well as their VEGF and Ki-67 immunohistochemical staining are main outcome measures. Results The volumes of the lesions were smaller in Group A than Group C [P&lt;.05]. The volumes of endometriotic foci in Group B were smaller than in Group C [P&lt;.05]. Bevacizumab caused regression and atrophy of the endometriotic lesions. After the treatment the histopathologic and immunohistochemical scores in Group B were less than before treatment and less than the scores in Group C. Conclusions Bevacizumab treatment had a regressive effect on the endometriotic implants. As an anti-VEGF agent, bevacizumab has beneficial effects on the prophylaxis and treatment of endometriosis. </jats:sec