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Integrated in Vivo and in Silico Evaluation of Antimalarial Compounds From Vernonia Ambigua Leaves Identified by GC-MS Profiling
No full textBackground: Malaria remains a global health challenge, and the emergence of drug-resistant Plasmodium strains has necessitated the search for new antimalarial agents. Vernonia ambigua is used traditionally to treat malaria in parts of Africa, but its pharmacological potential remains underexplored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimalarial activity and chemical constituents of the chloroform leaf extract (CLE) of V. ambigua using in vivo and in silico approaches. Methods: Acute toxicity was evaluated using Lorke's method, and antimalarial activity was assessed via Ryley and Peter's 4-day curative test in Plasmodium berghei-infected Swiss albino mice, followed by GC-MS profiling and in silico analyses (molecular docking and dynamics simulations) of the identified compounds. Results: The CLE showed a 73.8% parasite cure rate at 500 mg/kg, with no observed toxicity up to 5,000 mg/kg. GC-MS profiling revealed thirteen compounds, of which 9H-fluorene-4-carboxylic acid and Tolnaftate showed strong PfLDH binding (docking scores of -7.7 and -7.6 kcal/mol, respectively). Tolnaftate demonstrated potentially modest stability in the active site of PfLDH during MD simulation. ADME/toxicity profiling identified 9H-fluorene-4-carboxylic acid as the most promising compound, combining favorable bioavailability, low predicted toxicity, and good synthetic accessibility. Conclusion: V. ambigua possesses potent antimalarial properties, with 9H-fluorene-4-carboxylic acid and Tolnaftate emerging as promising PfLDH inhibitors. These findings support further investigation and development of its bioactive constituents as antimalarial drug leads
Design and Thermal Analysis of a High-Voltage High-Frequency Transformer
No full textHigh-voltage high-frequency (HVHF) transformers are one of the crucial components in HVDC power supplies. However, they occupy more space, and compared to other components in the system, they experience more energy losses. HVHF transformers need special attention to both thermal and electrical properties, mainly because of the use of ferrite cores. Ferrite materials show temperature-dependent properties, and transformer efficiency, reliability, and safety are enormously affected by the thermal behavior of ferrite cores. At high operating temperatures, the core performance may be reduced, leading to an increase in total losses and a decrease in the insulation life. Therefore, for optimal transformer design, it is very crucial to select an appropriate core material and predict its thermal behavior accurately. This article focuses on the thermal analysis and modeling of a 10 kVA, 500V/11 kV HVHF transformer using ANSYS simulation tools. Finite element analysis (FEA) is used to calculate the core losses and temperature distribution, enabling a deeper understanding of thermal limitations and design choices. © 2025 IEEE
Çocuk Tiyatrosunda Çocuğun Deneyimini ve Özneliğini Merkeze Almak
No full textBu çalışma, çocuk tiyatrosunda çocuğun estetik deneyimi ve özneliğini merkeze alan bir tiyatro anlayışı için çocukların tiyatro sürecine katılım yöntemlerini araştırmaktadır. Modern çocukluk teorisi, çocukların özgürleşmesi konusunda sorgulamaya açık bir söylem üretmiştir. Oysa pek çok teorisyen çocukların modern dünyayla beraber farklı baskı mekanizmalarıyla karşı karşıya geldiğini savunmaktadır. Çocuğun olduğu pek çok alanda özneliği gözetilmemekte ve çocuğun karar verme yetisinin olmadığı varsayılarak 'onun adına' karar verilmektedir. Bununla birlikte çocuklar, kapitalist ekonomik sistem içerisinde üretim sürecine katılmasa da bir tüketici profili olarak ele alınmaktadır. Üretim süreçlerine ilişkin bilgiden yoksun bırakılan çocuk sadece kendisine pazarlanan dünyayla karşı karşıya kalmaktadır. Bu bağlamda, çocuk tiyatrosu da çocukluğa ilişkin bakış açılarından etkilenmektedir. Yalnızca ekonomik çıkar için yapılan üretimlerde çocuğun deneyimi gözetilmemekte, ortaya çıkan temsiller yalnızca vakit geçirtmeye odaklı olmaktadır. Dahası, yetişkin merkezli bir bakış açısıyla çocuk, olgunlaşmaya ihtiyaç duyan eksik bir özne olarak görülmekte ve çocuk tiyatrosunun temel işlevi eğiticilik üzerinden tanımlanarak didaktik üsluplar ön plana çıkmaktadır. Bu bağlamda tez, yetişkin merkezli tasarlanmış bir çocuk tiyatrosu anlayışının önüne geçilebilmesi için çocuğun üretim süreçlerine katılım yöntemlerini drama, tiyatro pedagojisi, devised theatre (ortaklaşa yaratım tiyatrosu) disiplinleri üzerinden araştırmaktadır. Çocuk merkezli bir bakış açısını temel alan, İsveç'te faaliyet gösteren Unga Klara adlı ekibin üretim süreçleri, Tuma ve Lev, skrik, andas adlı oyunları ve bu oyunlar için üretilen pedagojik materyaller; bu disiplinlerle teması, çocuğun deneyimi ve özneliğini merkeze alış şekli üzerinden incelenmiştir. Bunun ardından bahsedilen yöntemlerle Türkiye'de oyunlarını tasarlamış olan ACT Project ekibinin geçirdiği süreç değerlendirilmiş ve Of Ah Oh adlı oyunu incelenmiştir. Bu bağlamda çalışma, çocuk tiyatrosunun öncesi, sırası ve sonrasıyla beraber sürecin odakta olduğu bir anlayışla şekillenmesinin, çocuk tiyatrosunda çocuğun estetik deneyiminin ve özneliğinin merkeze alındığı bir tiyatro anlayışının oluşabilmesi için olanaklar sağladığını savunmaktadır.This study investigates methods of involving children in the theater process for a theater approach that focuses on children's aesthetic experience and subjectivity in children's theater. Modern childhood theory has produced a misleading discourse on the liberation of children. However, many theorists argue that children face different mechanisms of oppression in the modern world. In many areas where children are present, their subjectivity is not considered, and decisions are made 'on their behalf' on the assumption that they lack decision-making ability. At the same time, children are treated as consumers even though they do not participate in the production process within the capitalist economic system. Deprived of information about production processes, children are left to face only the world marketed to them. In this context, children's theater is also influenced by perspectives on childhood. In productions made solely for economic gain, the child's experience is not taken into account, and the resulting representations are focused solely on passing the time. Furthermore, from an adult-centered perspective, the child is seen as an incomplete subject in need of maturation, and the basic function of children's theater is defined in terms of education, with didactic styles coming to the fore. In this context, the thesis investigates methods of involving children in production processes through the disciplines of drama, theater pedagogy, and devised theater to overcome an adult centered view of children's theater. The production processes of Unga Klara, a theatre company based in Sweden with a child-centered approach, their plays Tuma and Lev, skrik, andas and the pedagogical materials produced for these plays are examined in terms of their connection to these disciplines and how they center the child's experience and subjectivity. Afterwards, the process of the ACT Project team, who devised Of Ah Oh using the aforementioned methods, was examined, and the play is analyzed. In this context, the study argues that shaping an approach that focuses on the processes before, during, and after children's theater enables the formation of an understanding that centers on the child's aesthetic experience and subjectivity
Cognitive Reflection Predicts Utilitarian Behavior After 17 Months
No full textAhlaki bilişin İkili İşlem Modeli (İİM) derin düşünmenin sezgisel süreçleri geçersiz kılarak faydacı yargıyı desteklediğini öne sürmektedir. Ancak, İİM'yi destekleyen çalışmaların çoğu, sınırlı dış geçerlilikleri ve psikopatiyle ilişkisi nedeniyle eleştirilen varsayımsal kurban ikilemlerine dayanmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, Zaman 1'de (N = 1,200), Oxford Faydacılık Ölçeği'nin tarafsız iyilik ve araçsal zarar olmak üzere iki boyutunun yanı sıra derin düşünmeyi, düşünme stillerini ve bilişsel yeteneği ölçülmüştür. On yedi ay sonra, Zaman 2'de (N = 321), gerçek ahlaki davranışlarını değerlendirmek için tasarlanmış teşvikli ekonomik oyun olan Parasal Vagon İkilemi'ni oynamak için Zaman 1'deki aynı katılımcılar tekrar davet edilmiştir. Ayrıca karar gerekçelerini (örneğin ahlaksızlık, erdem ahlakı, deontoloji, faydacılık, kadercilik ve eşitsizlikten kaçınma). Sonuçlar, Zaman 1'deki derin düşünme puanlarının Zaman 2'deki faydacı davranışı yordayarak İİM'yi desteklemiştir. Ancak, ne tarafsız iyilik ne de araçsal zarar Zaman 2'deki faydacı davranışı yordamamıştır. Ek olarak, yalnızca faydacı gerekçelendirme faydacı davranışla pozitif olarak ilişkiliyken, tarafsız iyilik faydacı, deontoloji, erdem ahlakı ve eşitsizlikten kaçınma dahil olmak üzere çeşitli gerekçelendirmelerle pozitif olarak ilişkili bulunmuştur. Bu bulgu, tarafsız iyilik alt ölçeğinin faydacı ahlaktan ziyade daha genel bir ahlaki eğilimi yansıtabileceğini düşündürmektedir. Ek olarak, dindarlık derin düşünme ile faydacı davranış arasındaki ilişkide aracı rolü oynamıştır. Bu bulgu ise muhtemelen dindarlar ile olmayanlar arasındaki epistemik normlardaki farklılıklardan kaynaklanıyor olabilir (örneğin, otoriteye ve geleneğe güvenmek ile kanıta dayalı akıl yürütme). Genel olarak bulgular, derin düşünmenin faydacı davranış üzerindeki uzun vadeli yordama gücünü, faydacı karardaki olası epistemik norm farklılıklarını ve ahlak çalışmalarında davranışsal ölçümler kullanmanın önemini vurgulamaktadır.The Dual-Process Model of moral cognition (DPM) argues that reflective thinking promotes utilitarian judgment by overriding intuitive deontological responses. However, most studies supporting the DPM rely on hypothetical sacrificial dilemmas, which have been criticized for their limited external validity and their association with psychopathy. In this study, at Time 1 (N = 1,200), we measured cognitive reflection, thinking styles, and cognitive ability alongside the two dimensions of the Oxford Utilitarianism Scale (OUS): impartial beneficence and instrumental harm. Seventeen months later, at Time 2 (N = 321), the same participants were reinvited to complete an incentivized economic game, the Monetary Trolley Dilemma, which is designed to assess their actual moral behavior. They also reported their decision justifications (e.g., amorality, virtue ethics, deontology, utilitarianism, fatalism, and inequality aversion). Results showed that cognitive reflection scores from Time 1 significantly predicted utilitarian behavior at Time 2, providing support for the DPM. However, neither impartial beneficence nor instrumental harm predicted utilitarian behavior at Time 2. In addition, while only utilitarian justification was positively associated with utilitarian behavior, the impartial beneficence correlated positively with several justifications, including utilitarian, deontological, virtue ethical, and inequality aversion. This suggests that the impartial beneficence subscale may reflect a broader moral tendency rather than strictly utilitarian reasoning. Additionally, religiosity moderated the relationship between cognitive reflection and utilitarian behavior, possibly reflecting differences in epistemic norms between religious believers and non-believers (e.g., reliance on authority and tradition vs. evidence-based reasoning). Overall, our findings highlight the long-term predictive power of cognitive reflection on utilitarian behavior, the possible epistemic norms differences in utilitarian reasoning, and as well as the importance of using behavioral measures in studies of morality
Heritage Geopolitics: Hegemonic Meaning-Making, International Orders, and the Heritagisation of Traditional Archery in Turkey and Beyond
No full textThis piece argues that to understand how cultural heritage functions as a form of power at the international level, it is essential to deconstruct the 'productive politics' that surround and shape the material and symbolic spatial formations of heritage and heritagisation. To this aim, by integrating critical accounts on heritage politics, geopolitics, and biopolitics, this piece deconstructs the dynamics of Turkey's heritagisation of traditional Turkish archery (TTA) in Turkey and beyond. We introduce heritage geopolitics as a novel analytical framework to unpack the role of these multiple intertwined scales of spaces in heritagisation and the 'productive politics' behind it. Heritage geopolitics, explained through the heritagisation of TTA, helps to illustrate how heritagisation becomes a multiscalar hegemonic process that shapes various features of the domestic and international orders, from the biopolitical to the geopolitical, attempting to challenge existing narratives of power and moral authority. We demonstrate that heritage geopolitics differs from other uses of heritage in world politics (such as cultural diplomacy, heritage diplomacy, or soft power) by foregrounding the domestic and embodied moral foundations of biopolitical and geopolitical imaginations embedded in the heritagisation processes
Determination of Sustainable Areas for Ecotourism Using GIS-Based AHP
No full textThe study aims to select locations suitable for ecotourism, which has become an important concept for developing countries because of its significance in biodiversity conservation, the growing awareness of sustainability, and the increasing demand for nature-based experiences. This study determined suitable ecotourism locations using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) within the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) framework in an area with a typical Mediterranean climate. All data used for analysis were open resources. Thirteen criteria were considered to determine suitable areas, while restricted areas were identified based on a literature review and expert opinions. Findings determine that 65.01% of the total areas are unsuitable for ecotourism, 20.28% are moderately suitable, and 14.71% are highly suitable. Areas near forested lands and open water bodies were found to be the most suitable regions, while the distribution of the most favourable places for ecotourism varied by district across the province. The study provides a fundamental framework as a benchmark for ecotourism planning in similar regions and offers valuable information for future sustainable tourism development initiatives
A Smart Medication Dispenser for Enhanced Elderly Care
No full textThe aging population and prevalence of chronic diseases present significant challenges in medication adherence, especially in resource-limited settings where healthcare resources are scarce. This study aimed to develop a cost-effective smart medication dispenser tailored to the needs of elderly patients in these settings. The device integrates pill and syrup dispensing capabilities, featuring audible alarms, hand-sensor technology, and a communication module for notifications to caregivers and healthcare providers. The dispenser was evaluated through a series of trials to assess its accuracy in dispensing pills and syrups and the performance of its notification and alarm systems. The device achieved high accuracy in pill and syrup dispensation. Notification alerts were timely, with delays ranging from 3 to 10 seconds, and the buzzer system showed consistent performance with an average delay of 1.5 seconds. The smart medication dispenser stands as a promising tool for enhancing medication adherence and ensuring the safety and health of elderly individuals. Its affordability and ease of use make it particularly suitable for resource-limited settings, offering a reliable solution to improve health outcomes and reduce the burden on healthcare systems. © 2025 NIPES Pub
Sparse Code Multiple Access With Time Spreading and Repetitive Transmissions
No full textUlgen, Oguz/0000-0003-4923-7191For the next-generation communication systems, to improve spectral efficiency and increase the data rate, new multiple access techniques have been investigated. Orthogonal multiple access techniques are widely used in traditional communication systems while nonorthogonal multiple access (NOMA), proposed in 5G, has been a promising technology for satisfying the demand for future wireless communication networks. Sparse code multiple access (SCMA) is a code-domain NOMA method that provides diversity gain with signal constellation coding. However, to increase the performance of SCMA, there are only limited works provided in the literature in terms of codebook design and receiver design. In this paper, a new multiple-access model is proposed by applying various diversity techniques for downlink SCMA. The performance of the proposed model is evaluated with both computer simulations and theoretical analysis. Results show that the proposed model provides a 1.6 dB gain in terms of the bit error rate (BER) under the Rayleigh fading channel.Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arascedil;timath;rma KurumuThe study was funded by Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Ara & scedil;t & imath;rma Kurumu.Science Citation Index Expande
The Role of the Third Plague Pandemic in Colonial India as the Impetus for the Improvement Trusts and Urban Transformation in Bombay, Mysore, and Calcutta
No full textThis paper explores the intersection of public health crises, urban planning, and colonial governance in British India during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, focusing on the plague epidemic from 1896 to 1911. It examines improvement trusts as precursors to formal town planning, using archival reports, maps, and photographs. Case studies of Bombay, Mysore, and Calcutta reveal how these trusts undertook urban renewal projects such as slum clearance, infrastructure upgrades, and suburban expansion. However, these efforts often displaced marginalized communities, exacerbating housing shortages without providing adequate or affordable alternatives.Improvement trust interventions frequently demolished more housing than rebuilt, forcing displaced populations into peripheral areas with poor living conditions. These measures, framed as public health initiatives, prioritized colonial economic interests over social equity, perpetuated unsanitary environments, and deepened socio-economic inequalities. The 1896 plague marked a turning point, enabling sweeping changes to the urban fabric under the pretext of disease prevention. This study highlights how colonial administrations instrumentalized health crises to consolidate control, leaving a legacy of recurring housing crises and ingrained spatial inequalities. It highlights the intertwined roles of public health and urban interventions in promoting colonial agendas while disregarding the needs of vulnerable populations.Social Science Citation Index - Arts & Humanities Citation Inde
Does Reflection Increase Accuracy Rather Than Bias in the Assessments of Political Fake News
No full textThe literature emphasizes two theoretical frameworks to explain the psychological mechanisms underlying belief in political fake news: motivated vs. reflective reasoning. The motivated reasoning account asserts that individuals are predisposed to accept fake news aligned with their political identity, with reflection further entrenching such beliefs through an identity-protective function. Conversely, the reflective reasoning account argues that reflection improves accuracy by inducing a cognitive decoupling effect, thereby diminishing the acceptance of fake news. However, existing research has not definitively established the causal effect of reflection due to methodological limitations, including reliance on correlational studies and the ineffectiveness of manipulation techniques to activate reflection. In light of these shortcomings, we conducted a high-powered and preregistered experiment employing a strong reflection manipulation (i.e., debiasing training) and equally representing American Democrats and Republicans. Our findings indicate that individuals from both political affiliations are prone to believing and disseminating politically aligned fake news via social media. Despite employing a stronger reflection manipulation in contrast to past research, we failed to replicate the mitigating effect of the reflection on the acceptance of fake news. We observed that reflection reduced Democrats' willingness to spread fake news, yet it did not affect Republicans. These outcomes underscore the significant role of identity in the assessment of fake news and reveal that the mitigating effect of reflection is contingent upon an individual's identity group.Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkiye (TUBITAK)Open access funding provided by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkiye (TUB & Idot;TAK).Social Science Citation Inde