IYTE GCRIS Database (Izmir Institute of Technology)
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Residues of the British Informal Empire: the Smyrna-Aydın Railway's Punta Square as the Future Centre of "Colonial" Smyrna
No full textRailways played a pivotal role in the Industrial Revolution, inspired by the expansion of colonial ambitions. They were often accompanied by infrastructural landmarks as postal offices, churches, and hospitals, representing imperial authority and connectivity. While the presence of these enclaves within colonies has been extensively studied, their significance in non-colonised regions, particularly within the Ottoman Empire, has received insufficient attention. The transformation of Smyrna (modern-day Izmir, Turkey) in the late nineteenth century reflects a reorganisation that aligned with Britain's gentlemanly capitalism and imperialism. This paper aims to shed light on this subject through a detailed analysis of the Punta Railway Station and its surrounding area. Often relegated to a footnote in historical narratives as a "Little British Town," the study area warrants re-evaluation in the context of informal imperialism. It illustrates how British colonial influence shaped Punta's spatial and functional dynamics, embodying the concept of colonised spaces without formal colonisation
In-Depth Analysis of Drought Trend in Semiarid Saïs Plateau and Middle Atlas Region in Morocco
No full textThis study explores the spatiotemporal properties of droughts and their evolution in the semiarid Sa ; iuml;s Plateau and the Middle Atlas regions in Morocco. The methodology includes the analysis of 36 years of precipitation data recorded at 16 meteorological stations, the use of the standardized precipitation index (SPI) at different temporal scales of short term (1 and 3 months), medium term (6 months), and long term (12 and 24 months) to capture historical droughts, and the application of the Mann-Kendall test to assess the drought trends. The wet and dry periods in the Sa ; iuml;s Plateau and Middle Atlas regions are almost evenly distributed, with 65% in the "near-normal" condition. The "extremely dry" period, with a value of 1%, was lower than the "extremely humid" period (1.65%). There is no topographically and climatically significant difference between the Sa ; iuml;s Plateau and the Middle Atlas in terms of droughts, which are found to decrease over time in both regions. The results of Mann-Kendall test reveal that the short-term trends are generally positive, except at the Boulemane station (- 0.06 for SPI-1, - 0.13 for SPI-3). The long-term precipitation increases in the Middle Atlas region, particularly at the Ait Khabach (0.33 for SPI-24) and the Imouzzer (0.36 for SPI-24) stations. On the Sa ; iuml;s Plateau, the trends are positive at the stations of Fez City (0.16 for SPI-24) and Dar Elarsa (0.27 for SPI-24). Significant trends are more pronounced at longer time scales
Evaluation of the Effects of Carbamazepine-Loaded Chitosan-Coated Plga-Zein Nanoparticles on Pilocarpine-Induced Seizure Model in Zebrafish Larvae: Developmental Toxicity and Behavioral Assays
No full textEpilepsy, the most common neurological disorder worldwide, is characterized by sudden paroxysmal brain activity, which can be generalized or focal. Extensive research has explored various treatment strategies for this condition. Our study used a pilocarpine (PL)-induced seizure model in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos and larvae to assess the effects of carbamazepine (CBZ)-loaded chitosan-coated PLGA-Zein nanoparticles (NPs) over 96 hr. We evaluated the developmental toxicity (mortality, malformation, and larval hatching), behavioral changes (sensorimotor reflexes), and histopathological and immunohistochemical alterations in brain tissue, focusing on 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 4 (5HT4), and brain and muscle ARNT-like 1 (BMAL1) expressions. Our findings revealed high mortality and malformation rates in groups treated with pure CBZ (PL + CBZ 50 and PL + CBZ 100). These groups also exhibited delayed hatching and impaired sensorimotor reflexes. In contrast, the CBZ-NP-treated groups (PL + CBZ NP 50 and PL + CBZ NP 100) showed hatching rates comparable with the control group, with significantly lower mortality and malformation rates compared with pure CBZ-treated groups. Moreover, intense cytoplasmic expression of 5HT4 and BMAL1 was observed in neuropils of the PL + CBZ 100 group. This study highlights the potential of CBZ-loaded NPs in reducing developmental toxicity and adverse neurological effects associated with pure CBZ treatment in seizure models. © The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. All rights reserved
Unlocking the Biological Potential of Emulsion-Templated Matrices Through Surface Engineering for Biomedical Applications
No full textEmulsion templating is a highly advantageous route for the fabrication of porous materials, enabling the development of matrices with high porosity, high interconnectivity, and precise morphological control. Synthetic polymers are most widely used in the fabrication of emulsion-templated tissue engineering scaffolds due to their superior mechanical strength, ease of fabrication, control over polymer properties, and batch-to-batch stability. The biological response is strongly associated with the surface properties of the biomaterials; however, scaffolds constructed from synthetic polymers often lack cell recognition sites and exhibit limited bioactivity. Thus, synthetic polymer-based porous matrices commonly require surface post-modification to improve cell adhesion, proliferation, migration, gene expression, and differentiation processes. To date, extensive work has been carried out investigating surface modification of scaffolds fabricated via traditional scaffold fabrication techniques. Still, studies addressing the post-modification of emulsion-templated matrices are comparatively limited despite an exponential increase in the number of publications on emulsion templating for tissue engineering in recent years. This review will first examine the fundamentals of emulsion templating, then describe cell adhesion and the characteristics of scaffolds that influence cell-material interactions. It will then provide a comprehensive analysis of surface modification techniques and recent advancements in surface-modified emulsion-templated matrices for tissue engineering applications. Finally, we address the challenges and future directions in this rapidly evolving field. We anticipate that this comprehensive literature review will present the current state-of-the-art and serve as a valuable roadmap for researchers seeking to enhance the biological performance of their emulsion-templated scaffolds through surface modifications. Such scaffold optimisation strategies not only improve cell-material interactions but also hold translational potential for advancing human healthcare through more effective regenerative therapies
Spiral-Shaped Dual-Port Microstrip Antenna for 5G/6G Applications With Wideband-To Transition Using Shape-Memory Alloy
No full textWe propose a compact, thermally reconfigurable dual-port microstrip antenna featuring a spiral-shaped design and shape-memory alloy (SMA) that enable switching between wideband and narrowband operation for 5G/6G communication systems. The SMA's thermally induced shape-memory behavior allows reconfiguration in response to temperature changes without the need for electronic or optical control circuits, thus avoiding issues such as self-interference problem, high costs, regular maintenance requirements, and durability concerns. In the wideband mode, measured results show that Port 1 covers 4.7-10.5 GHz and Port 2 covers 4.5-8.3 GHz, which closely agrees with simulations. When the SMA is activated by heat, the antenna switches to the narrowband mode, where Port 1 operates at 7.6 and 9.5 GHz, and Port 2 operates at 8.9 GHz. A ground-plane isolation element ensures low coupling between the ports, with the envelope correlation coefficient remaining below 0.1 across all configurations. The antenna reaches a peak gain of 5.2 dBi and maintains consistent performance through repeated switching. By combining spiral-shaped geometry with a responsive smart material, this work presents a novel and efficient approach for designing reconfigurable dual-port antennas suitable for future wireless technologies
A Novel MIP Electrochemical Sensor Based on a CuFe2O4NPs@rGO Nanocomposite and Its Application in Breast Milk Samples for the Determination of Fipronil
No full textBackground: fipronil, a widely utilized insecticide in agriculture, has been shown to have potential health implications as it can accumulate in the environment and affect human health. Electrochemical sensors, specifically those incorporating molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), provide an efficient way for the detection of fipronil because of their selectivity and specificity. The combination of CuFe2O4NPs and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) exhibits a synergistic effect that enhances sensitivity and selectivity. The composite's effective properties provide a robust platform for fipronil determination in various matrices. This study detected fipronil using an electrochemical sensor based on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with MIP@CuFe2O4NPs@rGO. Results: the synthesized MIP@CuFe2O4NPs@rGO material was characterized using various techniques such as Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The modified GCE showed enhanced electrochemical behavior for fipronil, as demonstrated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) techniques. Optimization of parameters such as pH, pyrrole concentration, and template concentration further improved sensor performance. The sensor exhibited a linear dynamic range of 1 to 6 nM, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.30 nM (S/N = 3) and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 1.08 nM (S/N = 10), highlighting its sensitivity and reliability. The precision of the method was excellent, with a relative standard deviation of less than 4.0%. When applied to quantify fipronil in breast milk samples, the sensor showed high accuracy and precision, with recoveries ranging from 96.24% to 97.75%. Significance: the sensor offers several advantages, including high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. Its ability to detect fipronil in complex matrices such as breast milk highlights its potential for real-world applications in environmental and health monitoring. Overall, this research paves the way for the development of efficient, rapid and eco-friendly sensors for detecting pesticide residues in various environmental and biological samples
Measuring Light Exposure in Daily Life: a Review of Wearable Light Loggers
No full textWearable light loggers are increasingly available for various applications, including consumer, research and clinical contexts. This study employed a survey design to systematically outline available wearable light loggers, focusing on their key characteristics and usability. Through expert meetings and iterative discussions, we developed a comprehensive survey instrument covering device properties, sensor characteristics, calibration methods, and applications. Data were collected from manufacturer-provided information and public sources for 53 wearable light loggers. Our findings highlight the diversity among wearable light loggers in terms of their device characteristics. A notable increase in the number and sophistication of wearable light loggers is visible over the past decade. However, the variability in the quality and completeness of reported device performance and validation methods emphasizes the importance of standardized practices and improved collaboration between researchers and manufacturers to enhance the reliability and usability of wearable light logging technologies in scientific research
Design, Synthesis, Characterization and Biological Evaluation of Cobalt-Ferrite Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications
No full textCobalt-Ferrite nanoparticles (CF NPs) are increasingly used in biomedical applications due to their unique magnetic properties and biocompatibility. In this study, CF NPs were synthesized via co-precipitation, both in the presence and absence of oleic acid (OA) as a surfactant. Plackett-Burman Design was employed to study the influence of reaction conditions on the particle size distribution of bare and OA-coated CF NPs. Representative bare and OA-coated CF NP samples were characterized for morphology, composition, thermal stability, and optical and magnetic properties using TEM, XRD, FTIR, TGA, UV-Vis, and VSM. The highest saturation magnetization value (similar to 44 emu/g) was observed for bare CF NPs of smaller sizes. MTT assay results indicated that none of the tested samples showed significant cytotoxicity at the concentrations tested (1, 10, and 100 mu g/mL), except for the bare CF NPs, which reduced viability of A549 cells to approximately 50 % following 72-hour exposure at 100 mu g/mL. Following incubation in a cell culture medium for 48 h, proteins bound to the surface of CF NPs were analyzed using SDS-PAGE, revealing bovine serum albumin, apolipoprotein A-I and fibronectin as the most abundant proteins across samples. Overall, OA-coating slightly improved colloidal stability and reduced cytotoxicity, without significantly compromising the magnetic or protein-binding properties
Geographies of Place-Affective Trans-Becoming: an Ethnography of Drag in Istanbul
No full textThis paper presents an ethnographic study of Dudaklar ; imath;n Cengi, a drag and queer performing event series in Istanbul, where a community of predominantly trans and non-binary performers create a place of collectivity for self-expression and gender exploration. Drawing on trans and feminist geographical perspectives, we examine how the participants use drag as a way of creating shared imagery, exploring themselves in relation to gender, and producing places in the city through their performances beyond the stage. We conceptualise Dudaklar ; imath;n Cengi as a place-as-becoming that emerges from the intensities of social ties, flows, narratives, and sensations. We also propose a geographical understanding of gendered embodiment to account for transness in new spatial ways that enable the interrogation of phenomena that do not immediately yield their relevancy to the category of gender. The data was collected in over three years of presence within the field through situated and reflexive participant observation, informal conversations, in-depth interviews, and the participants' written narratives. We analyse the data with iterative cycles of grounded theory completed with continuous collaborative theorisation with participants. Through this collaborative theorisation, a series of concepts emerge that explain the experiences of the participants: opening drag, collectivising the stage, socialising in drag, urban navigation of gender, and an unfolding sense of drag. Together, these concepts help explain a novel understanding of place-affective trans-becoming
Subinjectivity Relative To Cotorsion Pairs
No full textIn this paper, we define and study the X-subinjectivity domain of a module M where X=(A,B) is a complete cotorsion pair, which consists of those modules N such that, for every extension K of N with K/N in A, any homomorphism f:N -> M can be extended to a homomorphism g:K -> M. This approach allows us to characterize some classical rings in terms of these domains and generalize some known results. In particular, we classify the rings with X-indigent modules-that is, the modules whose X-subinjectivity domains are as small as possible-for the cotorsion pair X=(FC,FI), where FI is the class of FP-injective modules. Additionally, we determine the rings for which all (simple) right modules are either X-indigent or FP-injective. We further investigate X-indigent Abelian groups in the category of torsion Abelian groups for the well-known example of the flat cotorsion pair X=(FL,EC), where FL is the class of flat modules