İstanbul Galata Üniversitesi Kurumsal Akademik Arşivi
DSpace@Galata, İstanbul Galata Üniversitesi tarafından doğrudan ve dolaylı olarak yayınlanan; kitap, makale, tez, bildiri, rapor, araştırma verisi gibi tüm akademik kaynakları uluslararası standartlarda dijital ortamda depolar, Üniversitenin akademik performansını izlemeye aracılık eder, kaynakları uzun süreli saklar ve telif haklarına uygun olarak Açık Erişime sunar.
Güncel Gönderiler
Zafirlukast Exacerbates Behavioral Seizure Activity and Blood–Brain Barrier Disruption Despite Modestly Reducing Neuronal Injury Markers in a PTZ‑Induced Early Epileptogenesis Mouse Model
(Springer, 2026) Görgülü, Volkan; Tomruk, Cansın Şirin; Ergün, Pelin; Özdil, Berrin; Sancı, Ebru; Buhur, Aylin; Sözmen, Eser Y.; Köse, Timur; Yavaşoğlu, Nefise Ülkü Karabay; Yavaşoğlu, Altay
Epilepsy is one of the most prevalent neurological disorders worldwide, and approximately 25% of patients remain refractory to pharmacological treatment. Blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption and reactive gliosis are key mechanisms implicated in early epileptogenesis. This study investigated the effects of zafirlukast, a leukotriene receptor antagonist, on BBB permeability, reactive gliosis, and behavioral seizure activity in a pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced early epileptogenesis model in C57BL/6 mice. Zafirlukast was administered twice daily at a dose of 10 mg/kg. Seizure activity was evaluated by behavioral observation in terms of seizure severity, latency, duration, and frequency. BBB permeability was assessed using the Evans Blue assay, and brain tissues were analyzed by biochemical and immunohistochemical methods. The PTZ + ZAFIR group exhibited more severe seizures, characterized by increased seizure frequency and duration, shorter latency, and a higher kindling rate (80% vs. 27%). BBB permeability was also increased, whereas MMP-9 levels remained, suggesting disruption may be linked to direct mechanical effects of recurrent seizures rather than inflammation. Clues suggest that zafirlukast may exert paradoxical effects on two prominent cell types involved in reactive gliosis. While increased GFAP and TGF-β1 expression may reflect enhanced astrocyte activation, changes in IL-1β and Iba1 expression suggest suppression of microglial activation. Notably, pro-inflammatory and oxidative stress markers remained unchanged despite the increase in seizure severity. The observed reduction in neurodegeneration may be attributable to the suppressive effects of zafirlukast on microglial activation and the subsequent reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokine release. These findings indicate a complex role for leukotriene signaling during early epileptogenesis. Further studies using different doses, vehicles, and experimental models are warranted to clarify the effects of zafirlukast on the mechanisms underlying early epileptogenesis. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2026.
Assessing Metabolic and Reproductive Consequences of Prenatal Paracetamol Exposure in Female CD1 Mice
(Wiley, 2026) Entezari, Bita; Bozdağ, Deniz; İnce-Ergüç, Elif; Buhur, Aylin; Tomruk, Cansın Şirin; Sabuncuoğlu, Suna; Yavaşoğlu, Altuğ; Gürer, Orhan Hande
Paracetamol is a widely used analgesic during pregnancy; however, emerging evidence suggests it may act as an endocrine/ metabolism disrupting compound. Using an F1 female CD1 mouse model, this study scrutinized the long-term metabolic and reproductive consequences linked to intrauterine paracetamol exposure. Pregnant dams were administered paracetamol at three dose levels (Cmax/10, Cmax, and Cmax×10) during a critical window of organogenesis (gestational days 7.5–16.5). Offspring were monitored until 17weeks of age to assess growth, glucose homeostasis, lipidomic profiles, and ovarian histology. Prenatal exposure did not significantly affect total body weight but induced a dose-dependent increase in peritoneal adipose tissue mass, particularly in the Cmax×10 group. Metabolic assessments revealed impaired glucose tolerance in the Cmax/10 group and increased insulin sensitivity across all dose groups. Adipose tissue gene expression analysis demonstrated upregulation of adipogenic markers (Pparγ, Lpl, Fasn), while untargeted lipidomics revealed consistent dysregulation of lipid species, including lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs), phosphatidylcholines (PCs), sphingomyelins (SMs), and triacylglycerols (TGs), indicating altered lipid storage and inflammatory signaling. Histological evaluation showed a marked reduction in total follicle number and increased follicular atresia following paracetamol exposure. Degenerative changes in oocytes and granulosa cells were observed, and multi-oocyte follicles (MOFs) were detected exclusively in the Cmax/10. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that intrauterine paracetamol exposure induces persistent developmental reprogramming in female offspring, characterized by visceral adiposity, disrupted lipid homeostasis, and depletion of the ovarian reserve. Notably, several endpoints exhibited non-monotonic dose–response relationships, underscoring the sensitivity of developing systems to even subtherapeutic paracetamol exposure.
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in tourism employment: employees’ perceptions and business strategies
(Emerald Group Publishing, 2026) Kızıldemir. Özgür; Şengel, Ümit; Çakmak, Muzaffer; İbiş, Salim; İnan, Ramazan
Purpose – The study aims to focus on the challenges that artificial intelligence (AI) brings to career decisions among tourism employees, while on the other hand, it focuses on how tourism employees’ AI risk perceptions affect their career decisions. In addition, another aim of the study is to reveal problem-solving strategies and future vision from a sector-based and managerial perspective for possible employment problems. Design/methodology/approach – In the first stage of my study, which used a mixed-method approach, data was obtained from 423 tourism employees (accommodation, food and beverage and travel) in Istanbul through a survey, while in the second stage, data was obtained from 25 managers (accommodation, food and beverage and travel) working in tourism establishments in Istanbul through interview forms. Findings – The results of the study revealed that AI risk perceptions affect tourism employees’ career decisions, while the professional motivation and anxiety levels of employees significantly mediated this effect. For the potential employment problems that these results will reveal, sub-sectors in tourism are trying to produce solutions with strategies such as technology investments and employee adaptation. Originality/value – This study fills an important gap in the literature by revealing that AI, which has the potential to increase service delivery and operational efficiency, affects employees’ career decisions and that businesses act with the mission of producing solutions with this awareness.
Psychological Flexibility and Academic Self-Efficacy
(Hogrefe AG, 2026) Aksoy, Şeyhmus; Konuk, Ayşe; Alkhulayfi, Abdulmohsen Mohammed Abdullah; Gomez-Salgado, Juan; Yıldırım, Murat
Introduction: Despite the beneficial effects of academic self-efficacy, there is a relatively limited focus on the academic self-efficacy of higher education students compared to studies on student self-efficacy in other educational stages. Aim: The present study employs a moderated mediation model to investigate whether well-being literacy mediates the relationship between psychological flexibility and academic self-efficacy, while also exploring how burnout-driven selfstigma is associated with these direct and indirect relationships. Methods: A cross-sectional research design was employed in the present study. The sample comprised 316 students (82.6% female; M = 22.28, SD = 3.38). Participants completed the Academic Self-Efficacy Scale, the Psychological Flexibility Scale, the Well-Being Literacy Scale, and the Burnout-Driven Self-Stigma Scale. Results: Our study indicated that psychological flexibility was associated with reduced academic selfefficacy both directly and indirectly through well-being literacy. However, conditional direct and indirect effect results suggested that higher levels of burnout-driven self-stigma were related to decreased positive direct and indirect effects. Discussion/Conclusion: This study provides evidence to improve our understanding of how psychological flexibility relates to academic self-efficacy. While research on burnout-related self-stigma and well-being literacy remains limited, this study highlights how these variables were examined within the proposed model as potential moderator and mediator constructs.
Asynchronous recovery of medial and lateral gastrocnemius mechanical properties and jump performance following localized plantar flexor fatigue
(BMC, 2026) Şahbaz, Yasemin; İlez, Ali; Batur, Nergiz
Objective: To investigate the acute and short-term (24 h) effects of localized plantar flexion fatigue on muscle mechanical properties, countermovement jump (CMJ) kinetics, and dynamic balance, focusing on recovery profiles of the gastrocnemius medialis (MG) and lateralis (LG). Design: Prospective, repeated-measures experimental study. Methods: Twenty-eight healthy volunteers (n = 28) performed a standardized unilateral isometric plantar flexion fatigue protocol until task failure (Borg CR-10 ≥ 8). Assessments were conducted at baseline, immediately post-fatigue, and 24 h post-fatigue (24 h). Outcomes included myotonometric properties (tone, stiffness, elasticity, relaxation time, and creep) of the MG and LG via MyotonPRO, CMJ kinetics via force plate, and dynamic balance via the Modified Star Excursion Balance Test (mSEBT). Results: Significant Time × Region interactions were found for stiffness (P = 0.038, ηp² = 0.276) and relaxation time (P = 0.024, ηp² = 0.171). Both muscle heads showed an acute decrease in stiffness (P < 0.001); however, LG stiffness recovered by 24 h (P = 0.330), while MG stiffness remained reduced (P < 0.05). Although CMJ height recovered at 24 h (P = 0.842), eccentric and braking phase durations remained prolonged (P < 0.001; ηp² = 0.357 and ηp² = 0.264), indicating altered neuromuscular strategies. For dynamic balance, a delayed impairment was observed in anterior reach distance, which declined only at 24 h compared to baseline (P = 0.021, ηp² = 0.133). Conclusion: Localized plantar flexion fatigue induces region-specific mechanical alterations and asynchronous recovery. Restoration of jump height at 24 h masks persistent deficits in eccentric phase durations and MG stiffness. These findings highlight a “neuromuscular vulnerability window” at 24 h post-fatigue, where delayed impairments in MG mechanics and anterior stability may increase potential susceptibility to injury despite apparent recovery. Practically, monitoring head-specific muscle mechanics, rather than global performance outcomes, is critical during this 24 h window to optimize training modification and guide objective return-to-play decisions. Trial registration: NCT07457398 (Registration date: February 25, 2026). © The Author(s) 2026.
