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Influence of Campylobacter jejuni and Pseudomonas fragi interaction on survival of C. jejuni
No full textPatogene bakterije Campylobacter jejuni imajo razvite prilagoditvene mehanizme, ki jim omogočajo preživetje v neugodnih okoljskih razmerah in prispevajo k njihovi odpornosti proti neugodnim pogojem, prisotnim v živilski verigi. Bakterije Pseudomonas fragi povzročajo kvar živil in so dobri tvorci biofilmov, tudi s patogenimi bakterijami, kot so bakterije C. jejuni. Tvorba večvrstnega biofilma predstavlja ključno strategijo preživetja bakterij C. jejuni, ki same po sebi slabo tvorijo biofilm. V magistrskem delu smo preučevali interakcije med bakterijami C. jejuni in P. fragi pri različnih temperaturah, atmosferah in časovnih točkah. Biofilm smo ovrednotili z metodo določanja kultivabilnih celic in z določanjem biomase biofilma z metodo barvanja s kristal vijoličnim. Rezultati so pokazali, da so bakterije P. fragi tvorile stabilen biofilm v vseh preučevanih pogojih, medtem ko so bakterije C. jejuni v večvrstnih biofilmih kazale izboljšano preživetje. Ugotovitve potrjujejo, da večvrstni biofilm predstavlja pomembno strategijo za preživetje bakterij C. jejuni in prispeva k njihovi prisotnosti v živilski verigi.Pathogenic bacteria Campylobacter jejuni have developed adaptive mechanisms that enable them to survive in unfavorable environmental conditions and contribute to their resistance to adverse factors present in the food chain. Pseudomonas fragi are spoilage bacteria known for their ability to form biofilms, including multispecies biofilms with pathogenic bacteria such as bacteria C. jejuni. The formation of multispecies biofilms represents a key survival strategy for bacteria C. jejuni, which on its own forms biofilms poorly. In this master’s thesis, we investigated the interactions between bacteria C. jejuni and P. fragi under various temperatures, atmospheric conditions, and time points. Biofilm was evaluated by determining the cultivable cells and by measuring biofilm biomass using the crystal violet staining method. The results showed that bacteria P. fragi formed stable biofilms under all tested conditions, while bacteria C. jejuni showed improved survival in multispecies biofilms. The findings confirm that multispecies biofilm formation represents an important survival strategy for bacteria C. jejuni and contributes to its persistence in the food chain
Comparison of life of Slovene people in the Mauthausen and Arbe concentration camps
No full textKoncentracijsko taborišče Mauthausen so nacisti s pomočjo suženjske delovne sile taborišča Dachau postavili v letu 1938 in tja je vse do evakuacije taborišča v letu 1945 po naporni poti prispelo približno 4153 Slovencev. Te so nemške okupacijske sile aretirale zaradi privrženosti komunizmu, članstva v KPS, nudenja pomoči partizanom ali vključenosti v uporniške akcije. Koncentracijsko taborišče Rab so Italijani odprli v letu 1942, obstajalo je le dobro leto, v tem času pa je bilo na otok poslanih 5087 Slovencev. V magistrskem delu se bom posvetila razlikam in podobnostim vsakdanjega življenja Slovencev, ki so bili proti svoji volji ločeni od svojih družin in odpeljani iz domovine v koncentracijsko taboriče Mauthausen ali Rab. Na podlagi pričevanj in spominov preživelih internirancev se bom osredotočila na grozote, ki so jih tamkaj doživeli, vse od deportacije, vstopnega postopka in življenjskih razmer, ki so jim bili izpostavljeni vsak dan do svoje osvoboditve ter vrnitve nazaj v Slovenijo.The nazis built the Mauthausen concentration camp in 1938 with the help of male slave labour, transported from the Dachau camp. By the evacuation of the camp in 1945, approximately 4153 Slovenes were brought there due to their devotion to communism, membership in the League of Communists of Slovenia, providing aid to the partisans or involvement in various insurgent actions. In 1942, the Italians opened the Arbe concentration camp, which existed little over a year. During this time, approximately 5.087 Slovenes were sent to the island. In my master thesis, I will describe the differences and similarities of everyday life of Slovene people, who were deported from their homeland, separated from their families against their will and taken to Mauthausen or Arbe. Based on the testimonies and memories of the survivals, I will focus on the horrors that they experienced during their deportation, on entering the camp and every day of their internment until the liberation and return back to Slovenia
Strong lensing by galaxy clusters
No full textGalaxy clusters as gravitational lenses play a unique role in astrophysics and cosmology: they permit mapping the dark matter distribution on a range of scalesthey reveal the properties of high and intermediate redshift background galaxies that would otherwise be unreachable with telescopesthey constrain the particle nature of dark matter and are a powerful probe of global cosmological parameters, like the Hubble constant. In this review we summarize the current status of cluster lensing observations and the insights they provide, and offer a glimpse into the capabilities that ongoing, and the upcoming next generation of telescopes and surveys will deliver. While many open questions remain, cluster lensing promises to remain at the forefront of discoveries in astrophysics and cosmology
Quenching through the QCD chiral phase transition
No full textWe present a detailed numerical and analytical study of the out-of-equilibrium dynamics of Model G, the dynamical universality class relevant to the chiral phase transition. We perform numerical 3D stochastic (Langevin) simulations of the O(4) critical point for large lattices in the chiral limit. We quench the system from the high-temperature unbroken phase to the broken phase and study the nonequilibrium dynamics of pion fields. Strikingly, the nonequilibrium evolution of the two-point functions exhibits a regime of growth, a parametrically large enhancement, and a subsequent slow relaxation to equilibrium. We analyze our numerical results using dynamic critical scaling and mean-field theory. The growth of the two-point functions is determined by the nonlinear dynamics of an ideal non-Abelian superfluid, which is a limit of Model G that reflects the broken chiral symmetry. We also relate the nonequilibrium two-point functions to a long-lived parametric enhancement of soft pion yields relative to thermal equilibrium following a quench
Systematic phenotyping and exome sequencing of children and adolescents with idiopathic short stature
No full textOzadje: Nizka rast je pogosto pediatrično klinično stanje in eden najpogostejših razlogov za napotitev k pediatričnemu endokrinologu. Kljub obsežnim kliničnim in laboratorijskim preiskavam, vzrok nizke rasti pri večini bolnikov ostaja nepojasnjen (tj., idiopatska nizka rast, angl. idiopathic short stature - ISS). Ker telesno višino uvščamo med najbolj dedne človeške lastnosti, v etiopatogenezi nizke rasti genetski dejavniki igrajo ključno vlogo. Med njimi imajo najizrazitejši vpliv na rast redke monogenske različice v genih, povezanih z rastjo. Namen doktorske disertacije je bila vpeljava naprednejše genetske diagnostične obravnave otrok in mladostnikov z nepojasnjeno nizko rastjo z uporabo tehnologij sekvenciranja naslednje generacije (angl. next-generation sequencing, NGS).
Metode: Preiskovanci so bili izbrani glede na vnaprej določene vključitvene in izključitvene kriterije. Vključitveni kriteriji so bili: starost med 3 in 20 let, višina ≤ - 2 standardnih odklonov (SDS) ter podpisana privolitev za genetsko testiranje po poučitvi. Izključitveni kriteriji so zajemali: konstitucionalno nizko rast, pomanjkanje rastnega hormona, genetske sindrome oz. klinična stanja z dismorfnimi znaki, skeletne displazije, sistemske, kronične ali endokrinološke bolezni ter zdravljenje z zdravili, ki vplivajo na rast (npr. glukokortikoidi). Pri bolnikih z ISS je bila kot osnovna laboratorijska metoda izvedena analiza celotnega eksoma (angl. whole exome sequencing, WES). Pri bolnikih z negativnim rezultatom WES in izrazito nizko rastjo smo nadaljevali z analizo celotnega genoma (angl., whole genome sequencing, WGS). Analiza sekvenciranja dolgih odčitkov je bila izvedena v izbranih primerih, kjer je bil tak pristop ocenjen kot ustrezen.
Rezultati: Po opravljeni sistematski fenotipizaciji je bilo v raziskavo vključenih 238 preiskovancev, ki so izpoljnjevali vključitvene in izključitvene kriterije. Analiza WES je pri 11% (25/238) dokazala genetski vzrok nizke rasti, pri dodatnih 13 % (32/238) pa je bila opredeljena različica nejasnega pomena (angl., variant of uncertain significance, VUS). Najpogostejši genetski vzrok ISS so predstavljale heterozigotne verjetno patogene (LP)/patogene različice (P) v genu ACAN, ki so bile prisotne v 3%, po pogostosti so jim sledile LP/P različice v genu NPR2 (2%). LP/P različice so bile opredeljene še v genih GHSR, GHR, IGF1R, IGFALS, SHOX, IHH in PTPN11.
Pri preiskovancih z ISS z opredeljenim vzrokom nizke rasti smo ugotavljali variabilno klinično sliko. Pojav nepopolne penetrance je bil opredeljen v genih ACAN, NPR2, GHSR in IGFALS. V skupini preiskovancev z ACAN različico smo opisali nove fenotipske značilnosti, kot so otoskleroza ter pojav sklepnih težav v obdobju otroštva. Pri bolnikih z drugačnosmiselno različico c.794G>A (p.Arg265Gln) v genu PTPN11 je bila prisotna izolirana nizka rast. Pri preučevanju učinkovitosti zdravljenja z rastnim hormonom pri nosilcih z ACAN in NPR2 različicami, so rezultati pokazali zmeren, a klinično pomemben odziv, zlasti kadar je bilo zdravljenje uvedeno zgodaj.
Preko implentacije bioinformatskega delokroga za identifikacijo različic v številu kopij (angl. copy number variation, CNV) so bile na podatkih WES, ugotovljene tri različice CNV, in sicer v genih ACAN, IGFALS in SHOX, kar predstavlja v primerjavi z ugotovljenimi točkovnimi različicami, manjšino ugotovljenih genomskih različic. Analiza celotnega genoma, ki je bila izvedena pri bolnikih z izrazito nizko rastjo in negativnim rezultatom analize WES, dodatnih vzrokov nizke rasti ni opredelila. Pri izbrani družini z avtosomno dominantnim vzorcem nizke rasti in s kariotipom ugotovljeno inverzijo na kromosomu 2 (inv(2)(p11.2p25.2)), smo za določitev točk loma uporabili metodo sekvenciranja dolgih odčitkov, ki se je v tem primeru izkazala za učinkovito. Z omenjeno metodo smo uspešno identificirali natančne točke loma inverzije, z genomskimi koordinatami 4,606,746 do 82,445,479 (GRCh37). Navkljub identifikaciji točk loma, klinični pomen te strukturne najdbe zaenkrat ostaja nejasen.
Zaključek: Namen doktorske disertacije je bil vzpostaviti celovit in napreden diagnostičen pristop h genetski obravnavi otrok in mladostnikov z idiopatsko nizko rastjo, kar predstavlja pomemben napredek pri klinični obravnavi teh otrok v Sloveniji. Na podlagi pridobljenih rezultatov doktorske disertacije smo razvili nov, posodobljen genetski algoritem za obravnavo otrok z ISS in ga vpeljali v rutinsko klinično prakso. Ugotovitve doktorske disertacije so razširile nabor genotipskih in fenotipiskih značilnosti otrok z ISS, kar predstavlja pomemben doprinos k znanosti na tem področju. V doktorski disertaciji smo preučevali tudi odziv na zdravljenje z rastnim hormonom pri preiskovancih z ACAN in NPR2 različicami in ugotavljali v povprečju zmeren, a klinično pomemben odziv na zdravljenje. Ti podatki nakazujejo na pomen pristopov personalizirane medicine, saj bi v prihodnosti v tem primeru lahko genetski profil posameznika pomembno vplival na izbiro terapije ter napoved učinkovitosti zdravljenja.Background: Short stature is a common pediatric clinical condition and one of the most frequent reasons for referral to pediatric endocrinologist. Despite comprehensive clinical and laboratory evaluation, in the majority of cases the underlying cause remains unidentified, a condition referred to as idiopathic short stature (ISS). As height is among the most heritable human traits, genetic factors play a pivotal role in its etiopathogenesis. Within this spectrum, rare monogenic variants in growth-related genes exert the most significant influence on growth. The objective of this doctoral dissertation was to implement an advanced genetic diagnostic evaluation for children and adolescents with idiopathic short stature through the comprehensive application of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies.
Methods: Study participants were selected upon defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria were: age between 3 and 20 years, height (Ht) ≤ −2 standard deviation score (SDS) and written informed consent for genetic testing. Exclusion criteria were: constitutional short stature, growth hormone deficiency, genetic syndromes and dysmorphic conditions, skeletal dysplasia, systemic, chronic or endocrine diseases and medications influencing growth (e.g., glucocorticoids). In patients with ISS, whole exome sequencing (WES) was employed as the primary laboratory method, while in patients with severe short stature whole genome sequencing (WGS) was additionally performed. Long-read sequencing was applied in selected cases where such an approach was deemed appropriate.
Results: Following systematic phenotyping, a total of 238 participants with ISS were selected for comprehensive genetic evaluation. WES identified likely pathogenic or pathogenic variants (LP/P) in 11% of probands (25/238), while an additional 13% (32/238) carried variants of uncertain significance. The most common genetic cause of ISS represented heterozygous LP/P variants in the ACAN gene, accounting for 3% of all ISS cases, followed by the heterozygous LP/P variants in the NPR2 gene in 2% of ISS cases. LP/P variants were detected in additional growth-related genes, i.e., GHSR, GHR, IGF1R, IGFALS, SHOX, IHH and PTPN11.
Among the study participants, we observed a broad spectrum of clinical presentations, with incomplete penetrance noted in the ACAN, NPR2, GHSR, and IGFALS genes. Novel phenotypic features were identified, including otosclerosis and very early-onset articular problems in patients with ACAN variants, as well as isolated short stature associated with the PTPN11 missense variant c.794G>A (p.Arg265Gln). In patients carrying ACAN and NPR2 variants, the efficacy of growth hormone therapy was evaluated. The findings demonstrated a modest response, particularly when treatment was initiated early.
By implementing a copy number variation (CNV) calling framework on WES data, intragenic and whole-gene CNVs were identified in ACAN, IGFALS, and SHOX, representing a minority of the detected variants in our study cohort. In cases of severe short stature with negative WES findings, WGS was subsequently performed, which did not provide a definitive molecular diagnosis in any of the selected participants.
In one selected family with an autosomal dominant pattern of short stature and the inversion on chromosome 2 (inv(2)(p11.2p25.2)), long-read sequencing successfully delineated the precise breakpoints of the inversion, spanning genomic coordinates 4,606,746 to 82,445,479 (GRCh37). The clinical significance of this structural variant remains to be elucidated.
Conclusion: This doctoral dissertation introduced a strategy that integrates systematic phenotyping with comprehensive genetic evaluation, both considered of equal importance, representing a significant advancement in the clinical approach to children and adolescents with ISS in Slovenia. Based on our findings, and in light of recent advances in genomic technologies, including CNV detection from whole exome sequencing and whole genome sequencing, we developed and proposed an updated genetic algorithm for the evaluation of children with short stature. The findings of the doctoral dissertation expanded the known genotypic and phenotypic spectrum of ISS, providing valuable information for clinicians and geneticists worldwide. Moreover, in the doctoral dissertation the response to growth hormone therapy in probands with ACAN and NPR2 variants was evaluated, revealing an overall moderate, but clinically meaningful treatment effect. These findings underscore the importance of a personalized therapeutic approach, as an individual’s genetic profile is expected to substantially influence both - therapy selection and the prediction of treatment efficacy in the future
Training an Explainable Model of Spiral Compression in Spirography
No full textParkinsonova bolezen je počasi napredujoča nevrološka bolezen, pri kateri
pride do odmiranja možganskih celic. Natančna ocena bolnikovega stanja je
ključna za ustrezno terapijo. Eden od testov določanja resnosti simptomov
je digitalna spirografija, pri kateri ima preiskovanec nalogo narisati Arhimedovo
spiralo. Morebitne anomalije (npr. deloma ravni odseki, stisnjenost,
nazobčanost), ki se pojavijo pri risanju, odražajo simptome parkinsonizma.
V diplomskem delu smo se osredotočili na zaznavo stisnjenosti spirale na
razložljiv in človeku razumljiv način. Razvili smo model z arhitekturo transformerja.
Kot je v medicini pogosto, nismo imeli na voljo zadostne količine
označenih podatkov. Zato smo generirali umetno množico podatkov in anomalije
parametrizirali na podlagi njihovih razlag. Model smo vrednotili na
testni množici ter s pomočjo v ta namen razvitega interaktivnega spletnega
vmesnika, ki omogoča risanje spiral ter oceno stisnjenosti z našim modelom.Parkinson’s disease is a slowly progressive neurological disorder in which
brain cells gradually die off. An accurate assessment of a patient’s condition
is essential for appropriate therapy. One test used to evaluate symptom severity
is digital spirography, where the subject is asked to draw an Archimedean
spiral. Any anomalies that appear during drawing (e.g., partially straight
segments, tightening/compression, jaggedness) reflect symptoms of parkinsonism.
In this thesis, we focus on detecting spiral compression in an explainable,
human-understandable way. We developed a transformer-based model.
As is often the case in medicine, we did not have access to a sufficient amount
of labeled data. Therefore, we generated a synthetic dataset and parameterized
the anomalies based on their interpretations. We evaluated the model
on a test set and via an interactive web interface developed for this purpose,
which enables spiral drawing and spiral-compression assessment using our
model
Musicians’ Political Engagement in the 1960s in the USA and the UK
No full textDiplomsko delo obravnava preobrazbo političnega angažmaja glasbenikov v šestdesetih letih prejšnjega stoletja in osvetljuje njeno vpetost v kontekst kapitalističnega sistema. V prvem delu desetletja se je politični angažma glasbenikov izražal predvsem skozi neposredno naslavljanje aktualnega političnega dogajanja. Proti koncu desetletja pa je javno politično udejstvovanje zamenjalo osebno, introspektivno izražanje, ki je pogosto označeno za apolitično. Raziskava pokaže, da ta premik ne pomeni nujno konca političnega angažmaja glasbenikov, temveč spremembo njegovega izraza. Introspekcija in osebna refleksija delujeta kot subtilni, a nič manj pomembni obliki političnega delovanja. V kontekstu širših družbenih sprememb in rastočega vpliva kapitalističnih mehanizmov kulturne produkcije se tako razkrije, da politični angažma ni izginil, temveč se je preusmeril v drugačne, manj neposredne, a še vedno učinkovite oblike.This thesis examines the transformation of musicians’ political engagement in the 1960s and highlights its embeddedness within the context of the capitalist system. In the early part of the decade, musicians’ political engagement was expressed primarily through direct commentary on current political developments. Toward the end of the decade, however, public political activism was increasingly replaced by personal, introspective expression, which is often labeled as apolitical. The study shows that this shift does not necessarily signal the end of musicians’ political engagement but rather a change in its mode of expression. Introspection and personal reflection function as subtle yet no less significant forms of political action. In the context of broader social changes and the growing influence of capitalist mechanisms of cultural production, it becomes evident that political engagement did not disappear but instead shifted into different, less direct yet still effective forms
Factors influencing journalists\u27 career transitions between media houses
No full textMagistrsko delo se ukvarja s kariernim prehajanjem novinarjev med medijskimi hišami,
osredotoča pa se predvsem na dejavnike, ki vplivajo na odločitev novinarjev za karierno
prehajanje. Osrednji cilj je uvid in razumevanje pojava v poklicu, ki je v Sloveniji že desetletja
izpostavljen različnim spremembam in vplivomod osamosvojitve, tranzicije, do izzivov z
lastništvom medijev, digitalizacije, erozije zaupanja in deprofesionalizacijev luči razmer pa
je raziskovanje usmerjeno tudi v iskanje dejavnikov, ki novinarje v poklicu ohranjajo. Preko
teoretičnega okvira spoznavamo profesionalizem, proces profesionalizacije, krizo novinarstva,
procese, ki pospešujejo deprofesionalizacijo novinarstva, teorijo kariernega razvoja in zaznano
organizacijsko podporo. Orisano je tudi stanje novinarstva v Sloveniji, ki služi kot dodaten
temelj razumevanja odločitev novinarjev za karierno prehajanje med medijskimi hišami.
Kvalitativna metoda dolgih intervjujev je bila uporabljena za pogovore z novinarji, ki so v
zadnjih petih letih zamenjali medijsko hišo in razkriva njihova mnenja, razmišljanje in
razumevanje, ob tem v empiričnem delu iščemo odklone in podobnosti v razumevanju razmer
v novinarstvu. Raziskava je pokazala, da so dejavniki, ki pospešujejo deprofesionalizacijo
novinarstva, neločljivo povezani tudi z odločitvami novinarjev za karierno prehajanje med
medijskimi hišami, saj so izpostavljeni kot ključni razlogi. Ugotovljeno je bilo tudi, da četudi
novinarji razmere na področju novinarstva v Sloveniji zaznavajo kot zahtevne, in razmišljajo
o odhodu iz poklica, jih v poklicu ohranja pripadnost, predanost in ljubezen do novinarstva, ki
so jo razvili v letih opravljanja svojega dela.The master\u27s thesis deals with the career transition of journalists between media houses,
focusing primarily on the factors that influence journalists\u27 decisions to transition. The main
objective is to gain insight into and understanding of a phenomenon in a profession that has
been exposed to various changes and influences in Slovenia for decades, from independence
and transition to challenges related to media ownership, digitalisation, erosion of trust and
deprofessionalisation. In light of the situation, the research also focuses on identifying the
factors that keep journalists in the profession. Through a theoretical framework, we learn about
professionalism, the process of professionalisation, the crisis in journalism, the processes that
accelerate the deprofessionalisation of journalism, career development theory and perceived
organisational support. The state of journalism in Slovenia is also outlined, which serves as an
additional basis for understanding journalists\u27 decisions to switch careers between media
houses. A qualitative method of long interviews was used to talk to journalists who have
changed media houses in the last five years, revealing their opinions, thoughts and
understanding, while in the empirical part we look for deviations and similarities in
understanding the situation in journalism. The research showed that the factors accelerating the
deprofessionalisation of journalism are also inextricably linked to journalists\u27 decisions to
switch careers between media houses, as they are highlighted as key reasons. It was also found
that even though journalists perceive the situation in journalism in Slovenia as challenging and
consider leaving the profession, they remain in the profession because of their loyalty,
commitment and love for journalism, which they have developed over the years of performing
their work
Bark beetle-attacked and wind-damaged Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) trees as a potential raw material for extractives recovery
No full textBark beetle infestations and other natural disturbances have increasingly affected Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) forests across Europe resulting in devaluation and decreased applicability of woody biomass of such trees. The aim of this research was to investigate the extractive content of bark beetle-attacked and dead wind-damaged Norway spruce trees relative to healthy trees, in order to assess their potential for extractives recovery. After harvesting, three discs were dissected along the stem height of each tree, and samples of sapwood, heartwood, knots, and bark were collected. Sequential extraction of the samples was performed using cyclohexane and acetone–water mixture in an accelerated solvent extractor. Lipophilic and hydrophilic extractives were determined gravimetrically, while total phenols and proanthocyanidins were measured by UV–Vis spectrophotometry. Results showed that knotwood contained the highest amounts of hydrophilic extractives and total phenols among investigated tissues. Knots of healthy trees contained the highest amount of hydrophilic extractives (52.4% w w−1), while knots of dead wind-damaged trees contained significantly higher content of total phenols (8.8% w w−1). The total phenols in bark beetle-attacked and healthy trees were 7.1% w w−1 and 7.2% w w−1, respectively. The sapwood and heartwood of dead wind-damaged trees had higher content of hydrophilic extractives (3.4% and 2.3% w w−1) than healthy and bark beetle-attacked trees. Bark from healthy trees contained more total phenols (2.7% w w−1) than bark of bark beetle-attacked trees, while proanthocyanidin contents in bark were comparable among three groups of trees. Our findings revealed that woody biomass from bark beetle-attacked and dead wind-damaged Norway spruce trees contains significant levels of phenolics, indicating high potential for extracting valuable compounds in biorefineries
Preservice teachers as citizen scientists using iNaturalist
No full textiNaturalist is a growing citizen science (CS) tool with great potential for biology education. Given the urgency of the biodiversity crisis, it is critical to raise awareness among preservice teachers (PT) as they impact future generations. Citizen Science has proven to be an effective educational tool. Activities with the iNaturalist application were conducted with preservice primary school teachers (PST) and biology teachers (BST) in Slovenian undergraduate programs to assess the educational impact and quality of students’ contributions. 139 PT participated in a month-long data collection (Bioblitz) as part of their science courses. A quantitative approach was used to achieve our research objectives. Quality of the students’ observations and their activity patterns were analyzed using students’ observational data. Subsequently, their interests in nature and science, their self-efficacy in learning and doing science, and their self-efficacy in environmental action were assessed using a Likert scale questionnaire. The results indicate that the PT groups were similar in observation quality and activity patterns. Overall, observation quality was high (score 3.92/5 points) but limited by photo clarity and the lack of multi-angle photos. Both groups showed interest and confidence in the activity, with BSTs demonstrating greater confidence in science-related tasks. 25.2% of participants continued using the application after the activity concluded with significantly more BSTs than PSTs. These findings suggest that iNaturalist can serve as an effective tool for outdoor learning among diverse groups of preservice teachers. With appropriate training, they can use iNaturalist effectively even without an extensive background in biological sciences