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Antifungal Activity Of Isolated Compounds From Centaurea Salicifolia Var. Salicifolia Against Candida Species, Including Multidrug-Resistant C. Auris, C. Inconspicua, And C. Dubliniensis, Seli̇n Tufan, Di̇lek Şatana, Nur Tan

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

Natural compounds obtained from plants have always held great potential for drug discovery and, as such, have drawn the attention of researchers as novel antifungal molecules that can be effective against fungal resistance. The antifungal activity of sesquiterpene lactones has been extensively investigated against various fungal strains, but there is limited data on their antifungal activity against Candida species. Sesquiterpene lactones are abundant in the Asteraceae family, and 90% of identified sesquiterpene lactones have been isolated from members of this family. Three extracts obtained from the aerial parts of Centaurea salicifolia var. salicifolia, which had not been investigated prior to …

Chitosan Microparticle-Based Antibacterial Nasal Barrier Formulation And In Vivo Evaluations, Güli̇z Ak, Ayça Erek, Tuğba Karakayali, Şadi̇ye Çeti̇n, Şenay Şanlier

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

Microorganisms remain a major cause of infectious diseases, emphasizing the need for alternative and complementary antimicrobial strategies. In this context, plant-derived materials have attracted increasing attention for their antimicrobial and protective properties. Chitosan, a biocompatible and cationic biopolymer, has emerged as an effective carrier system for encapsulating such plant-derived components. In this study, chitosan microparticles were prepared through ionic gelation followed by spray drying and loaded with thyme oil and olive leaf extract. The resulting microparticles exhibited an average size of approximately 1.8 μm and a total phenolic content of 23 mg GAE/g. These microparticles were incorporated into a glycerin–starch …

The Self-Aware Room: A Framework For Operational Self-Awareness In Evolvable Blended Environments, David B. Smith

Publications and Research

The Self-Aware Room (SAR) is a room-scale research environment developed within the larger Balanced Blended Space and Blended Reality Performance System research trajectory. Rather than treating the room as a conventional “smart” environment composed of fixed automation technologies, SAR approaches it as an evolvable blended environment made from physical, virtual, conceptual, sensory, computational, and performative relationships. Its defining feature is not any particular sensor, model, or output device, but the set of transformations through which physical activity becomes structured observation, bounded representation, interpreted state, governed decision, and mediated response.

This paper develops the conceptual and methodological foundations of SAR as …

Exploring Elite Athletes’ Perceptions Of The Practice Of Mindfulness For Mental Health And Optimal Performance, Omar A. Sesay

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Elite athletes experience physical, cognitive, and emotional demands that affect athletic performance and personal well-being, increasing the risk for anxiety, depression, burnout, attentional difficulties, and maladaptive coping strategies. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) has been examined for its effect on attentional control, emotional regulation, cognitive flexibility, and stress resilience, but limited qualitative research has examined how elite athletes experience the practice of mindfulness. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore elite athletes’ perceptions of the practice of mindfulness for mental health and optimal performance. The theoretical framework draws from mindfulness theory and MBSR principles. Semistructured interviews were conducted …

Selective Loss Of Primary Cilia And Neurotrophic Signaling In G51d Α-Synuclein Mice Highlights A Common Pathway To Parkinson’S Disease, Yu-En Lin, Ebsy Jaimon, Youngdoo Kim, Annabeth Loftman, Aaran Vijayakumaran, Benjamin D W Belfort, Claire Y Chiang, Benjamin R Arenkiel, Huda Y Zoghbi, Suzanne R Pfeffer

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Parkinson's disease is characterized by dopaminergic neuron loss and accumulation of α-synuclein aggregates in the brain. G51D α-synuclein knock-in mice provide a genetically and clinically relevant model of disease, exhibiting early olfactory deficits, age-dependent motor impairment, and progressive phospho-α-synuclein accumulation. In multiple Parkinson's disease models, striatal cholinergic and parvalbumin interneurons, as well as astrocytes, lose primary cilia and the neurotrophic signaling needed to sustain dopaminergic neurons. We show here that G51D α-synuclein mice share these phenotypes. Phospho-Ser129 α-synuclein accumulation correlates with cilia loss in cholinergic interneurons but not in spiny projection neurons that accumulate higher phospho-α-synuclein levels. In the piriform …

Biological And In Silico Evaluation Of Amino Sulfonic Acids With Antioxidant And Cytoprotective Activities, Amir Rahim Khallawi, Kasim Mohammed Hello

Muthanna Medical Journal

Background: Amino-sulfonic derivatives are recognized for their diverse biological roles, particularly in modulating physiological environments and cellular protection. Understanding their interaction with enzyme systems like carbonic anhydrase (CA) is crucial for developing therapeutic strategies against oxidative stress and metabolic imbalances.
Objective: This study aims to systematically evaluate the antioxidant, cytoprotective, and pH-modulating activities of four amino-sulfonic derivatives—taurine (TA), pyridine-3-sulfonic acid (P-3-S), sulfamic acid (SA), and hydroxylamine-O-sulfonic acid (HASA)—using CA-containing systems derived from healthy and leukemia samples.
Materials and methods: Antioxidant capacity was determined through DPPH radical and H₂O₂ scavenging assays. Cytoprotection was assessed via lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) …

Molecular Pathogenesis And Genomic Profiling Of Fusobacterium Nucleatum: A Review Of Virulence Determinants & Antimicrobial Resistance Mechanisms In Dental And Systemic Infections, Mawahb Hatem Mones, Thariat Abdualrahman Al-Joubori, Ibrahim Faisal Ibrahim

Muthanna Medical Journal

Fusobacterium nucleatum is one of the key bacteria in the oral microbiota, which plays a key role in the structural integrity of dental plaque, an anaerobic bacterium. Emerging clinical evidence has increasingly linked this opportunistic pathogen to severe systemic pathologies, notably colorectal cancer and adverse pregnancy outcomes. This review synthesizes current genomic and molecular insights to elucidate the complex mechanisms driving fusobacterial virulence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). We critically discuss the roles of key adhesins, such as FadA and Fap2, in modulating host cell signaling and facilitating immune evasion. Furthermore, we determine the genomic architecture involved in the transfer …

Cover And Contents

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

No abstract provided.

Acetylcholinesterase Immobilization On A Natural Thin Membrane For Stable Biocatalyst Design, Si̇nem Öztürk, Ceyhun Işik, Mustafa Teke

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

This study involved the immobilization of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) onto a natural thin membrane extracted from the inner epidermal layer of Allium cepa, with the aim of enhancing the enzyme’s stability, activity, and reusability for potential biotechnological applications. The membrane, composed of biocompatible polymers and naturally occurring functional groups, was used as a sustainable support in a combined strategy involving adsorption followed by glutaraldehyde-mediated cross-linking. Immobilization conditions were optimized by evaluating key factors such as enzyme concentration, membrane quantity, cross-linker dosage, and contact time to achieve maximal catalytic efficiency. Structural and morphological changes on the membrane surface were assessed via scanning …

Electrochemical Determination Of Terbutaline Using A Sno2 Nanoparticle-Modified Carbon Paste Electrode, Rauf Gulamov, Şenol Alpat, Si̇bel Kilinç Alpat

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

Terbutaline hemisulfate (THS), a selective beta-2 agonist, is preferred as a bronchodilator for the treatment of asthma and bronchitis, as well as a tocolytic agent to delay labor in acute situations during premature birth. The use of beta-2 agonists above a certain dose is considered doping in sports competitions. Therefore, it is important that they be determined with high sensitivity and selectivity within a short analysis time. In this study, a SnO2 nanoparticle-modified carbon paste electrode was developed for the determination of THS. Cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry were employed as electrochemical methods. The operating conditions of the developed …

Acemannan/Alginate Composite Hydrogels Promote Sto Cell Spreading And Metabolic Activity, Hong Yongxing, Tharasanit Theerawat

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Alginate-based hydrogels are widely used as biocompatible scaffolds. However, their limited cell-adhesive properties restrict their application in tissue engineering. This study aimed to fabricate acemannan/alginate (ACE/ALG) composite hydrogels and evaluate their cytocompatibility and ability to support STO cell spreading and metabolic activity. Composite hydrogels were prepared by blending different concentrations of ACE with alginate, followed by Ca²⁺-mediated ionic crosslinking. Rheological analysis showed that ACE incorporation increased both the storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G″) of the hydrogels. Cell viability and morphology were evaluated using Live/Dead staining on day 7, and cellular growth was assessed using an MTT assay on …

Multidrug Resistance, Extended-Spectrum Β-Lactamase (Esbl) Production, And Colistin Resistance In Escherichia Coli From Retail Chicken Meat In Fresh Markets In Bangkok, Thailand, Htet Lin Oo, Nawaphorn Roongrojmongkhon, Suwanee Chalermchainukul, Sirawit Pagdepanichkit

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Contamination of chicken meat with antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, particularly multidrug-resistant (MDR), colistin-resistant, and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli), threatens its safety for human consumption. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles, particularly ESBL production and colistin resistance in E. coli isolated from retail chicken meat in fresh markets in Bangkok, Thailand. A total of 200 (81.6%) E. coli isolates were recovered from 245 chicken meat samples collected from fresh markets across six regions of Bangkok. Among the isolates, 189 (94.5%) exhibited resistance to at least one antimicrobial agent tested, with the …

Ruins And Remedies: Hospital Site Archaeology In Medieval Southeast Asia, Karen Hill

Classical Mediterranean and Middle East Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

Equity In Evaluation: Examining Grading Practices And Student Experiences In Speech-Language Pathology Education, Jennifer Essig

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Traditional grading practices remain the norm in communication sciences and disorders (CSD) education, despite evidence these systems may exacerbate inequities and affect motivation and perceptions of learning. This study examined how traditional and alternative grading practices are experienced by undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in CSD programs. Using a convergent mixed-methods design, survey data were collected from 73 students regarding perceptions of grading, motivation to learn, and emotional responses to assessment. Quantitative analyses indicated that students in alternatively graded classrooms reported significantly higher perceptions of fairness, clarity, and learning than those in traditionally graded settings. Qualitative analysis revealed contrasting emotional …

Seabirds In 3d: A Framework To Evaluate Collision Vulnerability With Future Offshore Wind Developments In The California Current System, Stephanie R. Schneider, Eli Wallach, Charles Chamberlin, David G. Ainley, Scott B. Terrill, Sharon H. Kramer, R. Glenn Ford, Janet Casey, Jarrod A. Santora, Lisa T. Ballance, Sophie B. Bernstein, Sadie Trush, Arne Jacobson

Marine Ornithology

Since the 1970s, numerous vessel and aerial surveys of marine birds, covering many thousands of square kilometers, have been conducted in the California Current System (CCS), providing insights into seabirds' horizontal (2D) diversity and abundance, including the identification of “hotspots.” Addressing knowledge gaps regarding seabird distribution patterns from a 3D (vertical) perspective, however, will be required if California (CA) is to use offshore wind (OSW) facilities to assist in reaching the state's 2045 renewable energy goals. Such an analysis will allow seabirds' vertical distribution to be considered when assessing potential OSW impacts, as collision vulnerability is greatest for birds flying …

Prologue To Special Section, David Ainley

Marine Ornithology

In 1972, the Pacific Seabird Group, “dedicated to the study and conservation of Pacific seabirds and their environment,” was founded by a group of idealistic US and Canadian Early Career Scientists (led by George Divoky, and egged-on by some older mentors) (Fig. 1). It was a heady time, with publication of Rachael Carson's Silent Spring, the first Earth Day, and the enactments of the Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and Clean Water Act. During this time, besides DDT and its effects on marine birds, major marine oil spills occurred in waters off Santa Barabara and San Francisco. …

Conserving Seabirds: Actions Of The Pacific Seabird Group During Its First 40 Years., Craig S. Harrison

Marine Ornithology

The Pacific Seabird Group (PSG), founded in 1972, is “dedicated to the study and conservation of Pacific seabirds and their environment.” During its first 40 years, PSG undertook scores of conservation actions, although as an all-volunteer organization, PSG lacked the capacity to implement many programs or projects. It achieved its conservation goals through leadership, raising issues, bringing the best science to decision makers, and serving as a catalyst for others to act. PSG has been especially influential in six areas: (1) eradicating invasive alien animals from seabird colonies; (2) conserving Marbled Murrelets Brachyramphus marmoratus; (3) protecting seabird colonies in …

Behavioral Insights Into The Galapagos Penguin Spheniscus Mendiculus: A Day In His Life—An Ethological Portrait., Jonathan Cueva, Wilson Iñiguez, Gregory Marshall, Christian Sevilla, Andrea Coloma, Lorena Venegas, Gustavo Jiménez-Uzcátegui

Marine Ornithology

The Galapagos Penguin Spheniscus mendiculus, endemic to the Galápagos Archipelago, faces increasing ecological pressures threatening its population. This study aimed to characterize its daily behavioral patterns to better understand its adaptations and vulnerability to ecosystem changes. In one breeding locality, the Marielas Islets, we mounted a Crittercam on a male penguin to assess interactions with its mate and its behavior over a 24-hr period. Behaviors were classified as Diving, Foraging, Grooming, Intraspecific Interaction, Interspecific Interaction, Loafing, Prospecting, Resting, Surface Dipping, and Swimming. We analyzed behavioral data using chi-square tests and transition heat-maps. Results revealed predominantly surface behaviors—Prospecting (41.2% of …

Breeding Parameters Of The Gull-Billed Tern Gelochelidon Nilotica In Boughrara Lagoon, Southeast Tunisia., Amel Neb, Slaheddine Selmi

Marine Ornithology

We provide, for the first time, data on the breeding parameters of the Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica in Tunisia, at Boughrara Lagoon. From May to July 2024, we monitored a breeding colony located on a small islet in the northern part of the lagoon. In total, 112 nests were monitored: 71 nests initiated in mid-May (early clutches) and 41 in early June (late nests). Clutch size ranged from one to four eggs (mean ± standard deviation [SD] = 2.51 ± 0.06), with no significant difference between early and late nesters. Egg volume ranged from 14.65 to 49.23 cm3 (mean ± …

Sex And Age Characteristics Of Northern Fulmars Fulmarus Glacialis Used In Programs To Monitor Plastic Ingestion., Jan A. Van Franeker, Susanne Kühn

Marine Ornithology

Carcasses of beached or accidentally killed Northern Fulmars Fulmarus glacialis, collected for monitoring plastic ingestion, have shown that the incidence of litter may vary over time and by region. Age, sex, and season of fulmar collection appear to affect the quantity of plastics ingested. More detailed analyses of monitoring data thus require reliable and consistent methods for assessing age and sex. Methods were first described in a monitoring manual in 2004 and later in international guidelines, but age and sex definition required further clarification. A large dataset of 3,790 dissected birds now allows for detailed descriptions of sex and …

Seabirds As Ecosystem Engineers: Providing Arthropod Habitat On Oceanic Islands., Kanon Mizukoshi, Kazuto Kawakami, Takashi Kamijo

Marine Ornithology

Seabirds play several important ecological roles on oceanic islands through their high-density breeding. Their ecosystem functions—such as nutrient cycling through excretion or terrestrial vegetation disturbance through trampling—are well known; however, little is known of their roles as ecosystem engineers. Nests and burrows can be densely concentrated in seabird colonies, by which seabirds can affect adjacent terrestrial ecosystems, especially affecting arthropods that use these structures as food or habitats. However, studies investigating the species composition of arthropods that inhabit seabird nests are limited. To characterize the arthropod faunas in seabird nests, this study surveyed and analyzed 90 nests of three seabird …

Comparing Counts Made From Drone-Based And Boat-Based Photography For Surveying Thick-Billed Murre Uria Lomvia Cliff Colonies., Ewan Macdonnell, Sarah E. Gutowsky, Kyle H. Elliott

Marine Ornithology

Surveys of cliff-nesting seabirds from sea level or ground level often miss individuals hidden by topography, leading to underestimates of abundance. Thick-billed Murres Uria lomvia are especially challenging to survey accurately due to their dense nesting on vertical cliff ledges in remote northern regions. In Canada, updated colony surveys are needed, as currently used population estimates, done from boats, are outdated. Drones offer better vantage points and may reduce availability bias (i.e., the proportion of birds present but not visible), but direct comparisons with boat-based counts are essential. We compared murre counts from drone- and boat-based photographs of six vertical …

Foraging Areas Of Breeding Adult Sooty Terns Onychoprion Fuscatus On Bird Island, Seychelles., Jessica L. Neumann, Ruth E. Dunn, Malcolm A. C. Nicoll, Christine S. Larose, Chris Foster, Gary Brodin, Chris J. Feare

Marine Ornithology

The foraging areas used by adult Sooty Terns Onychoprion fuscatus during incubation and early chick-rearing on Bird Island, Seychelles, were investigated using small GPS loggers. Birds departed the colony mainly during the night and foraged by day. Most foraging trips were completed within 24 hr, but during incubation the longest duration recorded was seven days and 14 hr (during which the bird travelled 2,783 km and reached a maximum of 692 km from the colony). Departures were generally in an arc from south (180°) through westerly to 40°. Sooty Terns foraged frequently in waters over the Seychelles Bank shelf break, …

First Gps Tracking Of The Black Storm Petrel Hydrobates Melania., Jorge Cristerna, Gemma Abaunza, Joel Aarón López-Hernández, Cecilia Soldatini, Yuri Vladimir Albores-Barajas, Federico De Pascalis, Jacopo G. Cecere

Marine Ornithology

The research reported here, conducted at Archipiélago de Espíritu Santo National Park, Baja California Sur, Mexico, establishes the first successful application of biologging on a Black Storm Petrel Hydrobates melania. Results yielded preliminary insights into this population's marine movements during nesting. The device used, weighing less than 3% of the bird's body mass, recorded a 181-km foraging trip. Subsequent trajectory analysis indicated navigation behavior that potentially was optimized to use crosswind assistance. The individual showed no weight loss post-retrieval, a finding that suggests this method is viable and unharmful, demonstrating the feasibility of using miniaturized tracking devices to unravel …

Predicting Suitable Marine Habitat For Pink-Footed Shearwaters Ardenna Creatopus In The Waters Along The Pacific Coast Of Canada., Sonya A. Pastran, Patrick D. O’Hara, Kenneth H. Morgan, Caroline H. Fox, W. Eric Gross

Marine Ornithology

Anthropogenic activities are threatening global marine ecosystems, with seabirds representing a vulnerable group that has experienced pronounced population declines in recent decades. The ability to identify important marine areas for vulnerable seabirds is fundamental to conservation initiatives. The Pink-footed Shearwater Ardenna creatopus (listed as Endangered in Canada) breeds only in Chile, but during the non-breeding season, it ranges northward to waters off Canada's Pacific coast and the northern Gulf of Alaska. Using at-sea survey data spanning from 1992 to 2019, we examined the relationship between the species' distribution and environmental variables using a two-step generalized additive model approach. Cross-validation with …

Tasmanian Records Of Vagrant Penguins, 1991–2025., Eric J. Woehler

Marine Ornithology

During the period 01 January 1991 to 31 August 2025, there were 274 records of vagrant penguins in Tasmania. These records represented three genera: Aptenodytes, Pygoscelis, and Eudyptes. The most frequently reported species were Fiordland Penguin E. pachyrhynchus, Royal Penguin E. schlegeli, and King Penguin A. patagonicus. High numbers of records were reported from 10 years, with a peak in 1999 and a lower peak in 2023. Records from January to March accounted for approximately 42% of all vagrant penguin occurrences and corresponded with the arrival of pre-moult birds of all ages. A range …

Comparative Diet Analysis Of Three Larid Species Nesting At Isla Rasa, Gulf Of California, Mexico., Enriqueta Velarde, Lloyd T. Findley

Marine Ornithology

Isla Rasa, situated in highly productive waters of the Gulf of California, has the largest nesting colony of Royal Terns Thalasseus maximus (as many as 17,000 individuals) in the Mexican Pacific, sharing this site with 300,000 Elegant Terns T. elegans and 260,000 Heermann's Gulls Larus heermanni. During eight breeding seasons between 1996 and 2011, we found that the Royal Tern diet contained over twice the number of prey species as the other two seabirds' diets: the Royal Tern's diet included 36 species of fishes, in 20 families, and pelagic squat lobster Grimothea planipes, whereas the Elegant Tern and …

Evidence For Colony Attendance By Immature Streaked Shearwaters Calonectris Leucomelas During The Chick-Rearing Period., Helen M. Pružina, Akiko Shoji, Masaki Shirai, Sakiko Matsumoto, Ken Yoda, Annette L. Fayet

Marine Ornithology

Many seabird species have a long breeding-deferral period, during which individuals mature and spend most of their time at sea, making them particularly difficult to study. In some species, immatures are known to start visiting colonies before reaching adulthood, presumably to learn the behaviours required to secure a nest and mate for future breeding. However, immature colony attendance remains undocumented in many species, particularly those that are difficult to observe, such as nocturnal, cavity-nesting species and species in which immatures are indistinguishable from adults. Here, we studied the attendance patterns and behaviour of Streaked Shearwaters Calonectris leucomelas on Awashima Island, …

First Record Of Leucism In Kerguelen Shag Leucocarbo Verrucosus, Kevin Guille

Marine Ornithology

The first case of leucism in the Kerguelen Shag Leucocarbo verrucosus was observed on Mayes Island, Kerguelen Archipelago, in the southern Indian Ocean between October 2021 and November 2022. The individual exhibited extensive white plumage with scattered black feathers while maintaining normal eye pigmentation, consistent with leucism rather than albinism. Despite exhibiting typical behavior and social interactions, no breeding activity was recorded. This observation highlights the occurrence of pigment abnormalities in sub-Antarctic seabirds and underscores the importance of continued monitoring to better understand their ecological or genetic implications.

Satellite Tracking Of Galapagos Petrel Pterodroma Phaeopygia Reveals Distribution And Movements During Chick Rearing., Carolina B. Proaño, Sebastian M. Cruz, Josh Adams, Martin Wikelski

Marine Ornithology

We tracked 19 adult Galapagos Petrels Pterodroma phaeopygia during the chick-rearing seasons in 2009 and 2010 (Santa Cruz Island [n = 16] and Floreana Island [n = 3]) in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. Eight petrels performed 27 complete foraging trips lasting 0.6 to 18.8 days. Short trips (3.2 ± 2.1 days; 785 km; max displacement 671 km) and long trips (10.8 ± 3.9 days; 2,856 km; max displacement 1,034 km) resulted in concentrated use of waters off southern and western Isabela Island and within the Galápagos Marine Reserve (GMR). Less concentrated time extended farther southwest and eastward, in …