Efficacy of BNT162b2 and CoronaVac in patients diagnosed with COVID-19

This retrospective observational study is aimed to determine the efficacy of BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) and CoronaVac (Sinovac) vaccines against symptomatic or severe disease in COVID-19-diagnosed patients. The secondary aim was to define the differences between vaccinated and un-vaccinated patients in terms of age, comorbidities and course of the disease, and to determine the survival rates. Of the 1463 PCR-positive patients, 55.3 % were vaccinated, and 44.7 % were unvaccinated. While 959 patients had mild-moderate symptoms, 504 patients had severe-critical symptoms and were treated in the intensive care unit. There was a statistically significant difference in the distribution of the type and doses of vaccines between the patient groups (p = 0.021). The rate of receiving 2 doses of Biontech was 18.9 % in the mild-moderate patient group but lower in the severe patient group (12.6 %). The rate of two doses of Sinovac and two doses of Biontech vaccine (four doses of vaccine) was 5 % in the mild-moderate patient group and 1.9 % in the severe patient group. The mortality rates were statistically significantly different (p < 0.001) between the patient groups: 65.3 % in the severe patient group and 1 % in the mild-moderate patient group. The multivariate model showed that the mortality risk of the unvaccinated patients was 1.5 times higher than the vaccinated ones (p = 0.042). In addition to being unvaccinated, advanced age, coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes mellitus (DM), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and obesity were found to be associated with higher mortality risk. Besides, the reduction in mortality rate was more evident in individuals vaccinated with at least 2 doses of the BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine than in CoronaVac group

A multi-objective route planning model based on genetic algorithm for cuboid surfaces

During a natural disaster, risk management for the evacuation of people in high-rise buildings is very important for saving lives. In the case of fire, all parameters such as detection, lighting, warning systems, etc. for safety must be used interactively. Determination of evacuation conditions and different ways out are important parameters during the fire. In this study, a system is proposed for evacuating people from building with the shortest/safest route, taking into account certain factors to evaluate the current situation of the fire. Travelling Salesman Problem (TSP) may be adapted to this real-life problem to protect people in the shortest time finding optimum route. In this study, the system based on Genetic Algorithm is performed using the online information about smoke, heat and safety level, the location of fire and the potential congestion of people in order to evacuate people from the building with safety route. The system contains two- and three-dimensional surface applications to ensure evacuation with optimum distance inside/outside of the building. Results are evaluated considering the evacuation distance. Compared to other methods in the literature, the solution to this problem is improved by adding the evacuation process for the elevator and inside of the building

3D video bit rate adaptation decision taking using ambient illumination context

3-Dimensional (3D) video adaptation decision taking is an open field in which not many researchers have carried out investigations yet compared to 3D video display, coding, etc. Moreover, utilizing ambient illumination as an environmental context for 3D video adaptation decision taking has particularly not been studied in literature to date. In this paper, a user perception model, which is based on determining perception characteristics of a user for a 3D video content viewed under a particular ambient illumination condition, is proposed. Using the proposed model, a 3D video bit rate adaptation decision taking technique is developed to determine the adapted bit rate for the 3D video content to maintain 3D video quality perception by considering the ambient illumination condition changes. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed technique is capable of exploiting the changes in ambient illumination level to use network resources more efficiently without sacrificing the 3D video quality perception

Are treatment guides and rational drug use policies adequately exploited in combating respiratory system diseases?

SummaryThe aim of the present study was to increase awareness regarding the rational use of medicines. The data were obtained via the Material Resources Management System Module of the Ministry of Health. For the appropriateness of treatments, the Global Initiative for Asthma, the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease, and the guidelines for the rational use of medicines were used. We also investigated whether any de-escalation method or physical exercise was performed. Statistical analyses were performed using descriptive statistics to determine the mean, standard deviation, and frequency. The results showed that healthcare providers ignored potential drug reactions or adverse interactions, and reflecting the lack of adherence to the current treatment guides, 35.8% irrational use of medicines was recorded. Thus, de-escalation methods should be used to decrease costs or narrow the antibiotic spectrum, antibiotic selection should consider the resistance patterns, culturing methods should be analyzed, and monotherapy should be preferred over combination treatments

Serum IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α Levels in Early Diagnosis and Management of Neonatal Sepsis

Aim. To determine serum IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α levels in neonatal sepsis at the time of diagnosis and after therapy, and to show the meaningful on the follow up. Methods. This prospective study was performed on newborns who were hospitalized for neonatal sepsis and who were classified as culture-proven sepsis (n=12), as culture-negative sepsis (n=21), and as healthy newborns (n=17). Results. At the time of diagnosis, serum IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α levels of culture-proven sepsis were significantly higher than those of the control groups (P<.05). At the time of diagnosis, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α levels of culture-proven sepsis and culture-negative sepsis were significantly higher than levels at the seventh day after antibiotic treatment. Conclusion. Serum IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α are mediators of inflammation and can be used at the diagnosis and at the evaluation of the therapeutic efficiency in neonatal sepsis

STEAM Implementation in Preschool and Primary School Education: Experiences from Six Countries

This chapter presents a survey focusing on pre-primary and primary STEAM education in six countries. The survey sought to identify: a] the perceptions of teachers, parents, and professionals from STEM and the Arts (hereafter STEAM professionals) about the STEAM approach; b] teachers’ training needs; c] teachers’, parents’, STEAM professionals’ perceptions of the value of the STEAM’s role in increasing the participation of young girls and disadvantaged students in STEM. Data was collected through focus-group interviews and were qualitatively analyzed. Results showed that teachers, STEAM professionals, and most of the parents had positive perceptions of the STEAM approach; they believed that it increases children’s motivation and engagement in learning, regardless of the child’s gender; it increases creativity, self-confidence and offers good learning opportunities for both boys and girls, taking into consideration their emotional and social abilities. The main difficulties identified were related to curriculum limitations, school infrastructure, and lack of resources, experience, and training in the STEAM approach. Teachers highlighted the need of training on the STEAM philosophy, essential concepts, and specific methods; access to STEAM-specific digital resources/software; practical training/seminars or blended learning training. Student teachers emphasized the need for more STEAM lessons in their initial training

Marmara Seawater Desalination by Membrane Distillation: Direct Consumption Assessment of Produced Drinking Water

Drinking water was produced from Marmara seawater by membrane distillation (MD). The best operating conditions were determined by batch experiments as: 0.45 μm PTFE, 30°C distillate temperature and temperature difference, and 270–360 L/h cross‐flow rates in feed‐distillate. Seawater desalination was carried out with 99.93% solute rejection and 17.2 L/m2h permeate flux in 66% concentration ratio by lab‐scale pilot system. Since the desalinated water contained no organic carbon, turbidity, and nitrate, it seemed to be very suitable for immediate service with quality of 7.3 pH, clear, odor‐free, 76.0 µS/cm, 47.1 mg TDS/L, <0.001 color, and 0.01 mg boron/L. The product water lacked of vital cations, especially Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ that are essentials for promoting osmotic balanced body liquid and healthy development. A holistic management approach towards satisfying specific water quality requirements in direct service of MD effluents to human consumption was proposed that jointly included in injecting into urban potable water, adding appropriate chemicals into the effluent, and mixing effluents with raw or concentrated seawater (1:250/1:1000 for Marmara seawater) or brackish natural waters under hygienic precautions