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Scientific Research In Cuba: A General Analysis With A Special Focus On Energy, Agriculture And Technology, Henri Dou, Pierre Fournie

International Journal of Islands Research

An analysis of science in Cuba is carried out using data from the OpenAlex database. Examples are developed: agriculture, rice, technology in relation to the current situation: national food supply, energy and medicine. The predominance of research in biology and medicine and the low commitment in the fields of agriculture, energy, medicinal plants and technology are highlighted. Various development schemes are proposed. The conclusion is that research must be directed towards strategic areas: food and energy, must be less dispersed and that technology must be better taken into account. Three proposals are made: the development of a chemical analysis platform …

Iron-Based Nanoparticles As Delivery Tools, Keykavous Parang, Rajesh Vadlapatla, Ajoy Koomer, Victoria Moran, Lanie Jackson, Amir Nasrolahi Shirazi

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Iron-based nanoparticles, particularly iron oxide nanostructures (IONPs), have emerged as versatile and clinically relevant platforms for drug delivery and theranostic applications. Among these, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), including magnetite (Fe₃O₄) and maghemite (γ-Fe₂O₃), are the most extensively investigated due to their biocompatibility, magnetic responsiveness, and established safety profiles. Their unique superparamagnetic behavior enables external magnetic-field-guided targeting, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast enhancement, and magnetically triggered hyperthermia, enabling simultaneous diagnosis and therapy. Surface functionalization with polymers, silica, lipids, peptides, and biomolecules further improves colloidal stability, circulation time, targeting specificity, and controlled drug …

Advancing Caregiver Support In Community-Based Care: Advocacy, Resources, And Education Supporting Nicu Transition And Families With Complex Needs, Leah G. Rickard-Breeden

OTD Capstone Projects

This capstone project was completed in partnership with Nurses for Newborns (NFN), a nonprofit organization that is seeking to improve maternal and infant health outcomes across Middle Tennessee through free, in-home nursing visits. They provide education, health assessments, and connections to community resources for prenatal and postpartum mothers and their infants; specifically, those facing medical, emotional, or social barriers. The focus of this project was to create a comprehensive resource to support caregivers of infants through their transition from the NICU to home. A needs assessment revealed that families would benefit from additional support and resources to help bridge the …

Nutrition And Meal Preparation Programming And Development At E.L.I.'S House, Kara E. Nienhaus

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed through a partnership with E.L.I.’s House in Franklin, Tennessee. E.L.I.’s House is a nonprofit organization that exists to help women and their children thrive after trauma. The desired outcome of this project was to create programming to provide education and life skills training to participants, and to develop manageable systems for grocery shopping and nutrition in the site handbook. Goals promoted occupational therapy-based skills such as meal preparation, nutrition management, cognitive flexibility, and task sequencing. The project involved creating a house recipe book with balanced meals, accessible information on basic nutritional needs for adults …

Cover And Contents, Editors Of Turkish Journal Of Agriculture And Forestry

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

No abstract provided.

​Functional Characterization Of Stmtpsl Terpene Synthase-Like Genes And Their Role In Pathogen Resistance In Selaginella Tamariscina, Zhijie He, Bo Bi

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The biological activity and function of microbial terpene synthase-like genes from Selaginella tamariscina (StMTPSL) were investigated using molecular and biochemical approaches. After isolating and amplifying StMTPSL genes (StMTPSL1-StMTPSL6), both native and site-directed mutant forms were expressed in tobacco via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The resulting transgenic plants had increased expression of StMTPSL genes, enhanced monoterpene production (as confirmed by GC-MS), and significantly improved resistance to Pseudomonas syringae infection compared to nontransgenic controls. These results show that StMTPSL genes are functionally active in plants and contribute to pathogen resistance through elevated terpene biosynthesis. This study provides new insights into the role of MTPSL …

Effect Of Some Organic Fertilizers On Yield And Quality Of Olive Oil In Semiarid Conditions, İshak Bayyi̇ği̇t, Ebru Sakar

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

This two-year field experiment evaluated the effects of different organic fertilizers on olive oil quality of the Gemlik cultivar grown under semiarid conditions in Mardin, Türkiye. Treatments of olive pomace (P1: 4, P2: 8, P3: 12 kg tree⁻¹), leonardite (L1: 1.5, L2: 3.0, L3: 4.5 kg tree⁻¹), and vermicompost (SG1: 3, SG2: 6, SG3: 9 kg tree⁻¹) were applied in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Oils were analyzed for free acidity (FA), peroxide value, and phenolic profile using high-pressure liquid chromatography. FA ranged from 0.27% to 0.42% (as oleic acid), remaining well below the International Olive Council …

Revolutionizing Corporate Accountability: The La Oroya Case And The Right To A Healthy Environment In The Inter-American System, Teresa Jacques Valenzuela

University of Miami Inter-American Law Review

La Oroya v. Perú marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of Business and Human Rights and the Right to a Healthy Environment (R2HE) under the Inter-American legal framework. This paper examines the groundbreaking judgment of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, which established new standards for state responsibility in regulating and supervising corporate activities to prevent environmental harm. By integrating principles of environmental law with human rights obligations, the case highlights the transformative potential of judicial action in addressing corporate accountability. While the judgment sets a precedent for advancing corporate responsibility, it exposes enduring challenges, including jurisdictional limitations, corporate …

Vanadium’S Journey From Essential Trace Metal To Emerging Environmental Pollutant In The Anthropocene Era, Tanu Arora, Nivedita Agnihotri, Mohammad Azam

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

Vanadium, previously considered a minor trace element, is gaining global environmental attention due to its expanding applications in metallurgy, energy storage, catalysis, and agriculture. With this rise in its industrial and technological uses, however, anthropogenic emissions of vanadium into the atmosphere, soils, and water bodies have also escalated. Unlike many heavy metals, vanadium exhibits complex redox behavior, primarily existing as V(IV) and V(V) species, which significantly impacts its environmental mobility, bioavailability, and toxicity. Vanadium exhibits complex behavior that necessitates an integrated research approach to better understand its various roles in scientific fields. This review summarizes the current knowledge on vanadium’s …

Computational And Experimental Analysis Of Oleanolic Acid As An Allosteric Activator Of Sirt1, Emrah Sariyer, Eda Dokumacioğlu, Hati̇ce İskender

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) is a member of the sirtuin protein family and the biological effects of SIRT1 encompass various areas such as the ageing process, metabolism regulation, and cellular stress response. SIRT1 activators are compounds that enhance the activity of SIRT1 enzyme. These activators can be natural or synthetic compounds and have the potential to provide health benefits by augmenting the biological effects of SIRT1. Oleanolic acid (OA) is a triterpenoid compound that has antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and glucose and lipid metabolism-regulating properties naturally found in many plants. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of OA …

Comparative Evaluation Of Curd Enriched With Essential Oils Derived From Dill, Caraway, And Cumin, Hafize Fidan, Toncho Kolev, Denis Dervish, Ivayla Dincheva, Ira Taneva, Serkan Yilmaz, Yusuf Şavşatli, Albena Stoyanova

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Curd cheese is a traditional dairy product that, in recent years, has increasingly been supplemented with various functional additives aimed at enhancing its aroma and flavor profile, improving overall quality, and extending shelf-life. The objective of the present study was to conduct a comparative evaluation of changes in selected physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory parameters of curd cheese enriched with 0.01% essential oils derived from dill (Anethum graveolens L.), cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.), and caraway (Carum carvi L.) fruits. Fatty acid profiling revealed a reduction in saturated fatty acids and an increase in oleic and linoleic acids in essential oil-enriched curds …

Silicon-Mediated Enhancement Of Wheat Tolerance To Drought Stress: A Comparative Study Of Antioxidant Activity, Photosynthesis, Secondary Metabolites, And Yield, Abida Kausar, Rida Yasmeen, Shahid Iqbal, Muhammad Bilal Hafeez, Asif Mukhtiar, Sadia Azeem, Ali Raza, Samreen Nazeer, Muhammad Zubair Akram, Muhammad Kamran, Fahd Rasul, Noreen Zahra

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Drought stress (DS) is a major constraint on optimal plant growth and yield. Agricultural researchers have been actively exploring fertilizers that can enhance crop production under DS conditions. Silicon (Si) application has emerged as a promising strategy for managing DS in various crops. This study investigated the potential of Si soil drenching to mitigate the adverse effects of varying levels of DS (at 100%, 70%, and 40% field capacity) in wheat. Two varieties (Ujala-2016 and FSD-2008) were used to evaluate the influence of Si (2.5 mM) on antioxidant activity, oxidative burst, secondary metabolites, growth, and yield. The results indicated that …

Quantifying Sleep Wake Rhythms In The Hospital Environment With Digital Technologies, Carsten Skarke, Nadim El Jamal, Michael V. Genuardi, Thomas G. Brooks, Antonijo Mrčela, Nicholas F. Lahens, Makayla Cordoza, Sean Sarles, Amarachi Mbadugha, Dineth R. Karunamuni, Shikhar Gupta, Charles J. Bae, Amita Sehgal, Thomas P. Cappola, Jacob T. Gutsche, Pavan Atluri, Nimesh D. Desai, Michael A. Acker, Gregory R. Grant, Richard J. Schwab, Ilene M. Rosen, Garret A. Fitzgerald

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

Postoperative clinical care is prone to circadian desynchronization that may influence health outcomes. In an exploratory, feasibility-oriented and signal-exploration effort, we collected 1.8 million data points using 11 remote sensors during preoperative, in-hospital and post-discharge settings in 13 elective cardiac surgery patients (5.2% enrolled from 252 screened). We found that room traffic continued during nighttime with ≥1 visit/h. Sound levels exceeded the recommended 45 dBA threshold (51.9 ± 3.3 vs. 48.3 ± 4.2 dBA during nighttime). Brightness dropped at night (89.9 ± 87.7 to 3.7 ± 9.8 lux), but bright light exposures occurred. Ambient room temperature lacked sleep-inducing diurnal variability. …

Investigating The Intra-Host Relationships Of The Microbiota At Multiple Sites, Ariel Jose Hernandez-Leyva

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The human body hosts an abundance of microbial communities that, through complex and multi-faceted interactions, interface with host physiology and help govern health and disease. Many of these interactions are beneficial and help maintain host homeostasis or contribute to the metabolic capacity of the host. Some are detrimental, potentially inducing or further exacerbating disease. All are complicated by the vast diversity of microbes that comprise the microbiota at any given site. Identifying microbes or microbial functions that influence health and disease for study and potential use as biomarkers is tantalizing, though difficult. The vast diversity of potential community compositions, redundancy …

Ultrasound-Assisted Enzymatic Extraction Improves The Antiinflammatory Activity Of Red Dragon Fruit Peel Pectin, Bao Le, Seung Hwan Yang, Hoang Dang Khoa Ta

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by excessive immune activation, primarily mediated by nitric oxide and proinflammatory cytokines. This condition encompasses ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, both of which significantly impair patients’ quality of life and pose persistent challenges in clinical management. Pectin, a complex carbohydrate found in plant cell walls, has shown promise in reducing inflammation. Materials and methods: In this study, pectin was extracted from red dragon fruit peel using two methods: ultrasound-assisted extraction and ultrasound-assisted enzymatic extraction. The structural characteristics and antiinflammatory effects of the extracted pectin were evaluated in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 …

The Hate Circuit: A Collection Of Essays On Hate And Healing, Vivian Murphy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The Hate Circuit: A Collection of Essays on Hate and Healing is a lyric essay collection tracing the neuroscience, psychology, and lived experience of hatred and its slow unraveling. Rooted in the author’s relationship with her alcoholic mother, the essays move between memoir and scientific inquiry, examining how hatred forms in the brain, how it is inherited across generations, and what it costs to sustain it. Drawing on research in neuroscience, attachment theory, and the psychology of forgiveness, the collection argues that hatred is not simply an emotion but a circuit—one that can, with effort, be rewired. The essays ultimately …

Promoting Occupational Skills For Safe And Independent Aging, Alandry Vise

OTD Capstone Projects

This capstone project was completed in collaboration with BrightStone, a nonprofit organization in Franklin, Tennessee, that provides vocational, social, and residential programming for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The purpose of this project was to address the increasing needs of the organization’s aging student population by promoting safety, independence, and occupational engagement across day and residential settings. A needs assessment guided the development and implementation of an 8-week educational curriculum addressing aging-related topics, including physical changes, nutrition, mental health, cognitive changes, fall prevention, home safety, and healthy routines. Additional deliverables included staff training to support long-term sustainability of aging-related …

2026 Undergraduate Research Symposium Program, Coastal Carolina University

Undergraduate Research Symposium Programs

17th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, April 21-22, 2026.

The 2026 CCU Undergraduate Research Symposium included 72 oral presentations, 127 poster presentations, and 22 team pitch presentations comprising 50 students who participated in the Wall College’s Chant’s Tank Pitch Competition.

Presentations at the Undergraduate Research Symposium were judged by almost 90 faculty and staff, and prizes were awarded in three categories: Best Oral Presentation, Best Poster Presentation, and Best Chant’s Tank Pitch Presentation. Here are the following award winners and their mentors in their respective categories:

Best Oral Presentation:

• 1st Place: Ryan Ryan Avallone, Applied Mathematics. Faculty Mentor: Bong Jeong (Management …

Investigation Of The Enzyme-Inhibitory, Antibacterial, And Anticancer Properties Of Metal Phthalocyanines, Meryem Topal, Fevzi̇ Topal, Firat Yilmaz, Esra Bulut Atalay, Ümi̇t Muhammet Koçyi̇ği̇t, Emre Güzel

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

In this study, the enzyme inhibitory, antibacterial, and anticancer activities of a phthalonitrile derivative and its metal phthalocyanines (Pcs; indium, zinc, copper, cobalt, and manganese; 1–6) were investigated. The cobalt and manganese Pcs were synthesized for the first time in this study. The inhibitory activities of the symmetric Pcs, which were expected to interact with acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) via their 4-(isopropylbenzyl)oxy substituents through host–guest interactions, were investigated. More selective inhibition of AChE than BChE was observed for these compounds. For AChE, CoPc was identified as the most potent inhibitor (IC50 = 14.81 nM), whereas for BChE, InPc was …

Jtc 26: A Community Builder With A Cause, Staff Report

University of Mississippi News

This story is part of the 2026 Journey to Commencement series, which celebrates the pinnacle of the academic year by highlighting University of Mississippi students and their outstanding academic and personal journeys from college student to college graduate.

Protective Effect Of Pinocembrin On Zearalenone-Induced Hepatotoxicity Via Pi3k/Akt And Nrf2 Signaling In Albino Mice, Sujatha Tejavat

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Zearalenone (ZEA) is a Fusarium-derived mycotoxin that frequently contaminates food and feed and induces hepatotoxicity in humans and animals through oxidative stress and inflammation. Pinocembrin (PCM), a naturally occurring flavonoid, has potent antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties. This study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of PCM against ZEAinduced liver injury in albino mice, with a focus on the nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (NRF2) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathways. Materials and methods: Twenty-four albino male mice were allocated into four groups: (1) control (vehicle 0.05% dimethyl sulfoxide), (2) ZEA-treated (40 mg/kg body weight), (3) PCM-treated (50 mg/kg …

Psychosocial Characteristics Of North American Male Cannibals, Sheila A. Murphy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Criminal cannibalism is a rare form of violent offending that remains understudied despite public attention. This gap limits understanding of the psychosocial characteristics and life experiences of individuals who engage in cannibalistic behavior. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore psychosocial characteristics within the life experiences of North American males who engaged in cannibalistic behavior and identify common themes. Grounded in social control theory and self-control theory, the study examined how weakened social bonds and diminished self-regulation may relate to extreme deviance. The guiding research question focused on identifying common psychosocial characteristics within this population. A descriptive phenomenological …

Shift Work And Shift Change And Police Officers’ Subjective Well-Being, Macey Silano

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of police officers working second and third shifts and how these schedules impacted their subjective well-being, mental health, relationships, and life satisfaction. This study addressed an important research problem because limited research has examined how night shifts and shift changes impact police officers’ well-being. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine how police officers experienced shift work and shift changes while working second and third shifts and how they made meaning of these experiences in relation to subjective well-being. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, this study was grounded in restorative rest and …

Using Geospatial Environmental And Income Variables As Predictors Of Diabetes In Appalachia, John Kunicki Huth

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Diabetes remains disproportionately prevalent in Appalachia, and macroenvironmental contributors remain poorly understood. Guided by spatial epidemiology, this quantitative, cross-sectional ecological study examined whether county-level environmental factors including distance to mine, distance to landfill, distance to water, mean annual precipitation, mean annual temperature, forest classification, distance to impervious surface, and median income were independently and collectively associated with diabetes cases per capita in West Virginia, used as a surrogate for Appalachia. Research questions addressed environmental predictors of diabetes cases per capita with and without controlling for median income. Publicly available county-level data from 53 West Virginia counties representing adults aged 20 …

Perceived Inadequate Neighborhood Food Shopping And Cardiovascular Disease Risk: The Multi-Ethnic Study Of Atherosclerosis, Amier Haidar, Ghadi Ghanem, Rishi Rikhi, Karol E Watson, Shreela V Sharma, Michael D Shapiro

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Individuals with access to healthy food have healthier diets, improved cardiometabolic risk profiles, and decreased cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, previous studies have focused on the neighborhood food environment as distance to and density of food retailers. Our study examines the association between an individual's perceived adequacy of neighborhood food shopping and incident CVD.

Methods: We analyzed data from 6814 participants in the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis), a prospective cohort study of individuals aged 45 to 84 who were enrolled in the study between 2000 and 2002 and followed longitudinally. Cox proportional hazards models estimated hazard ratios (HRs) for …

​Spectrophotometric Detection Of Food Additives And Pesticides By Magnetite Cross-Linked Tyrosinase Aggregates (Mcltas)​, İlker Polatoğlu

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

In this study, tyrosinase enzyme was cross-linked with glutaraldehyde to form aggregates on the surface of activated magnetite nanoparticles, without the need for a separate support matrix. For the first time, this novel aggregate was employed for the spectroscopic detection of ascorbic acid (AA) and diazinon, as model food additives and pesticides, respectively. This technique, developed as an alternative to optical sensors, not only eliminates their drawbacks but also facilitates the recovery of cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEA) from the reaction medium using the incorporated magnetite nanoparticles. A spectrophotometric technique was used to measure the enzyme activity of the aggregates to …

Mitigation Of Salinity Stress In Carnation Plants Through Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: Growth, Physiological, And Biochemical Responses, Adel A. Rezk, Ishtiaq Ahmad, Maryam, Muhammad Saleem, Othman Al-Dossary, Hossam S. El-Beltagi, Mohammed Aldaej, Bader Y. Alsubaie, Hati̇ce Gülen, Tarek Shalaby, Riaz Ahmad

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) growth and floral yield are severely reduced when grown in soils with excessive salinity. Mitigation of adverse effects from salinity-induced stress is necessary for sustainable carnation cultivation. Although various approaches have been developed, the use of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) to ameliorate these effects remains scarcely explored. The current study explored the potential of ZnO-NPs to alleviate salinity-induced stress by examining their effects on morphophysiological and biochemical traits. A controlled pot experiment was conducted using a factorial design with three concentrations of sodium chloride (0, 50, and 100 mM) and three of ZnO-NPs (0, 50, and …

Development Of Telenutrition Education And Counseling Protocol To Improve Diet Quality In Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury, Adrianne Widaman, Benjamin Dirlikov, Ramya Gopalan, Shelley Wood, Maria Sol Casas, Kazuko Shem

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Background: Cardiometabolic disease (CMD) is a leading cause of death for individuals living with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI), with a mortality rate due to CMD being higher than individuals without SCI. Telenutrition (TN) interventions tailored to health and accessibility needs of individuals with SCI may mitigate cardiometabolic risks. Objectives: To describe the development and validation of a telehealth-based medical nutrition therapy (MNT) within a clinical trial investigating the effectiveness of modifying diets to improve cardiometabolic health in persons with chronic SCI. Methods: The adaptive module-based MNT education content was developed in 3 phases by a multidisciplinary team. The first …

The Effects Of Ultra- Processed Foods On Metabolic Health Among Young Adults, Cynthia Ilechukwu, Atika Ali, Fadzai Nyarugwe, Ifeoluwanimi Shobayo, Krista Coipel, Naa Komley Commey, Tahirou Diallo

Liberty University Research Week

Introduction/Background

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs), as defined by the NOVA classification system, are industrially produced foods that are high in added sugar, sodium, unhealthy fats, and additives while being low in fiber and essential nutrients. Young adulthood is a crucial period for developing long-term dietary habits, yet many young adults consume a disproportionately high amount of UPFs. Evidence suggests that diets high in UPFs can negatively affect metabolic health, increasing the risk of obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) at relatively early ages. Understanding the impact of UPFs in this age group is important for developing preventive strategies …

Barriers To Breastfeeding In Marginalized Communities In The U.S, Naa Komley Commey, Wuraola Awosan

Liberty University Research Week

Background: Breastfeeding is widely recognized as the optimal method of infant nutrition, offering numerous health benefits for both mothers and infants. Breastfeeding initiation and continuation rates in the U.S. vary significantly based on factors such as age, income, education, and race, because marginalized communities encounter various barriers that hinder breastfeeding success. Addressing these barriers is crucial for promoting breastfeeding as a public health imperative. This study aims to investigate the primary barriers to breastfeeding in marginalized populations in the U.S.

Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases were searched using predetermined search terms for literature published between 2020 and 2025. The …