Barzakh : for string quartet

Repository copy includes the score of 16 pages, including 1 page of performance instruction, in a pdf format from the original, edited in Sibelius 8.2.0.Barzakh means separation in Arabic. Moreover, in the Islamic eschatology, it is a barrier between the physical and spiritual worlds. In this piece, I am using this idea as an inspiration to my creation so that a disrupting sound and its developments are separating the sound worlds and opening new dimensions for new musical spaces. The piece is composed for string quartet and its duration is approximately 9 minutes

ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF ENDEMIC BALLOTA NIGRA SUBSP. ANATOLICA AGAINST SOME HUMAN EYE PATHOGENS FROM TURKEY

ABSTRACT Objective: The ethanol extracts obtained from the leaves of Ballota nigra subsp. anatolica P.H. Davis (Lamiaceae) were evaluated for their antibacterial activity against some human eye pathogens. Methods: Hospital isolates of Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus capitis, S. aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Moraxella nonliquefaciens, and Propionibacterium acnes were obtained. Antibacterial activity was determined in the extracts using disc diffusion method. Some antibacterial antibiotics were used as a positive reference standard to determine the sensitivity of the isolates. Results: The extracts showed strong antibacterial activity against M. nonliquefaciens and P. acnes, with inhibition zones of 18.2 mm and 19.2 mm, respectively. The extracts also exhibited moderate activity against the other isolates. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that the leaf extract of the plant has significant activity and suggest that it may be useful in the treatment of eye infections. Keywords: Ballota nigra subsp. anatolica, Antibacterial activity, Eye pathogens

Antifungal Activity of Hypericum havvae Against Some Medical Candida Yeast and Cryptococcus Species

Purpose: To investigate the antifungal activities.of the individual as well as the combined hydroalcohol leaf and root extracts of endemic Hypericum havvae A. Guner (Hyperiaceae).Methods: Each dry powdered plant material (20 g) was soaked in 150 ml of aqueous ethanol (50: 50 %v/v) until complete saturation of the plant material. After the extracts were filtered and evaporated, the antifungal activity of the extracts was tested against medical yeast, Candida (C. albicans ATCC 10231, C. tropicalis ATCC 13808, C. guilliermondii ATCC 6260) and Cryptococcus (C. neoformans ATCC 90112 and C. laurentii 34142) species by visual broth microdilution method. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extract was derived from the results.  Ketoconazole was used as the reference standard. Results: MIC values ranged from 3.12 to 25.00 mg/ml. The extracts exhibited strong antifungal effect against the yeast cultures but the  combination of the plant extracts (leaf + root) possessed stronger antifungal potency against Candida albicans and Cryptococcus laurentii, with the same MIC value of 1.56 mg/ml.Conclusion: Our findings support the use of Hypericum havvae in  traditional medicine for the treatment of fungal infections, especially Candidiasis.Keywords: Antifungal activity, Candida, Hypericum havvae, Candidiasi

Multiple Model Adaptive Estimation for Time Series Analysis

Multiple Model Adaptive Estimation (MMAE) is a Bayesian technique that applies a bank of Kalman filters to predict future observations. Each Kalman filter is based on a different set of parameters and hence produces different residuals. The likelihood of each Kalman filter\u27s prediction is determined by a magnitude of the residuals. Since some researchers have obtained good forecasts using a single Kalman filter, we tested MMAE\u27s ability to make time series predictions. Our Kalman filters have a dynamics model based on a Box-Jenkins Auto-Regressive Moving Average (ARMA) model and a measure model with additive noise. The time-series prediction is based on the probabilistic weighted Kalman filter predictions. We make a probability interval about that estimate also based on the filter probabilities. In a Monte Carlo analysis, we test this MMAE approach and report the results based on many different criteria. Our analysis tests the robustness of the approach by testing its ability to make predictions when the Kalman filter dynamics models did not match the data generation time-series model. Our analysis indicates benefits in applying multiple model adaptive estimation for time series analysis

Using graphs to represent physical phenomena in a fourth grade classroom

This study examined to what extent inquiry-based instruction supported with real-time graphing technology improves fourth grader\u27s ability to interpret graphs as representations of physical science concepts such as motion and temperature. This study also examined whether there is any difference between inquiry-based instruction supported with real-time graphing software and inquiry-based instruction supported with traditional laboratory equipment in terms of improving fourth graders\u27 ability to interpret motion and temperature graphs. Results of this study showed that there is a significant advantage in using real-time graphing technology to support fourth graders\u27 ability to read and interpret graphs

THE EFFECTS OF NURSE NAVIGATION PROGRAM ON SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT AND PSYCHOSOCIAL ADJUSTMENT APPLIED TO PATIENTS WITH COLORECTAL CANCER

Introduction and Aim: This study aimed to examine the effect of nurse navigation program applied to colorectal cancer patients on symptom management and psychosocial adjustment. Material and methods: The sample of the randomized controlled experimental study with pretest-posttest control group consisted of 60 colorectal cancer patients. Within the nurse navigation program, a program covering multiple interventions such as individualized colorectal cancer education, psycho-oncological counseling, and nurse-directed telephone support hotline service was applied to the experimental group. Data were collected before (once), during (twice) and after (once) administration using “the Descriptive Characteristics Information Form, The Nightingale Symptom Assessment Scale and the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale”. Descriptive statistical methods and parametric test methods were used in the evaluation of the data. Results and discussion: Compared to the control group, the psychosocial adjustment scores of the experimental group showed a significant improvement in the sub-dimensions of health care compliance and extended family relationships (p0.05). Conclusion: It has been concluded that the nurse navigation program applied to patients with colorectal cancer was effective in improving the psychosocial adjustment of the patients, while it is insufficient in improving symptom management. In line with these results, it is recommended to include the nurse navigation program in standard care, to expand the application content and to conduct more research in this area

Antifungal Activity of Endemic Salvia tigrina in Turkey

Purpose: The ethanol extracts obtained from the leaves, rootstock and the combined formulation of endemic Salvia tigrina Hedge & Hub.-Mor. (Labiatea) have been investigated for their antifungal activities. Method: The antifungal activity of the extract was tested against Candida species (C. albicans ATCC 10231, C. tropicalis ATCC 13803 and C. guilliermondii ATCC 6260 and Cryptococcus species (C. neoformans ATCC 90112 and C. laurentii 34142), Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium frequentans, Botrytis cinerea, Geotrichum candidum, Fusarium oxysporum and Alternaria alternara by the visual broth macrodilution method. Ketoconazole was used as a positive reference standard to determine the sensitivity of the strains. Results: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranged from 3.12 to 25 mg/mL. All the extracts exhibited a strong antifungal effect against the fungal cultures. The extracts exhibited greater antifungal effect against C. albicans, C. neoformans and B. cinarea. Conclusion: The findings provide support for the use of this plant in traditional medicine for fungal infections especially against candidiasis. Keywords: Antifungal activity, Salvia tigrina, Plant extracts, Minimum inhibitory concentration Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Vol. 7 (3) 2008: pp. 1051-105

Antimicrobial Activity of the Leaves of Endemic Stachys pseudopinardii in Turkey

Purpose: The ethanol extract of the leaves of Stachys pseudopinardii R. Bhattacharjee and Hub.–Mor. (Lamiaceae) were investigated for their antimicrobial activities.Methods: The antimicrobial activity of the leaf extract of the plant was tested against Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, Bacillus cereus  ATCC 7064, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538P, Escherichia coli ATCC 10538, Proteus vulgaris ATCC 6899, Salmonella typhimurium CCM 5445 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, as well as Candida albicans ATCC 10239, Debaryomyces hansenii DSM 70238, Kluyveromyces fragilis ATCC 8608 and Rhodotorula rubra DSM 70403, by disc diffusion and microdilution methods. Selected antibacterial agents (penicillin, tobramycin and ampicillin) and antifungal agents (nystatin, clotrimazole and ketoconazole) antibiotics were used as positive reference standards in the tests.Results: The extracts showed strong antibacterial activity against Bacillus cereus ATCC 7064, with an inhibition zone of 25.0 mm, and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 16 and 32 μg/mL, respectively. Debaryomyces hansenii DSM 70238 was among the most susceptible of the yeast cultures, with an inhibition zone of 17.0 mm and MIC and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of 32 and 32 μg/mL, respectively. The extract exhibited moderate activity against the other test microorganisms.Conclusion: The results demonstrate that the ethanol extract of the leaves of Stachys pseudopinardii has significant antimicrobial activity and suggest that it may be useful in the treatment of infections