5862 research outputs found
Sort by
Fine Motor Tasks in Virtual Reality: the Impact of Haptic Feedback and Object Characterization
No full textFine motor tasks in Virtual Reality (VR) are often constrained by the lack of natural sensory cues, particularly the sense of touch. Previous studies have shown that object characteristics (e.g., shape and size) influence how users perceive and interact with objects. However, the literature lacks insight into how these factors affect each other. This study investigates how different haptic feedback modalities and object characteristics influence user performance during fine motor tasks in VR. We conducted a user study with 25 participants as SenseGlove Nova 1 rendered alternative haptic feedback conditions: combined (force and vibration), force-only, vibration-only, and no feedback. Participants grasped and inserted virtual objects of different shapes (cube, cylinder, pentagon, triangle) and sizes (small, medium, large) into a toybox. Our results show that combined feedback consistently led to greater precision, fewer collisions, and an improved manipulation experience, particularly with larger and more complex objects. Object characteristics also significantly influenced performance: medium-sized and simpler-shaped objects created the best results. Additionally, object characteristics also influenced performance, with medium-sized and simpler-shaped objects leading to better performance. Our findings indicate the need to choose haptic feedback modalities based on object-specific characteristics for better user performance and experience.Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknik Arastirma Kurum (TUBITAK) [121C147]This work was supported by Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknik Arastirma Kurum (TUBITAK) under Project 121C147.Science Citation Index Expande
Sparse Deconvolution of Cell Type Medleys in Spatial Transcriptomics
No full textSogunmez Erdogan, Nuray/0000-0003-0909-064X;Mapping cell distributions across spatial locations with whole-genome coverage is essential for understanding cellular responses and signaling However, current deconvolution models aim to estimate the proportions of distinct cell types in each spatial transcriptomics spot by integrating reference single-cell data. These models often assume strong overlap between the reference and spatial datasets, neglecting biology-grounded constraints such as sparsity and cell-type variations, as well as technical sparsity. As a result, these methods rely on over-permissive algorithms that ignore given constraints leading to inaccurate predictions, particularly in heterogeneous or unmatched datasets. We introduce Weight-Induced Sparse Regression (WISpR), a machine learning algorithm that integrates spot-specific hyperparameters and sparsity-driven modeling. Unlike conventional approaches that neglect biology-grounded constraints, WISpR accurately predicts cell-type distributions while preserving biological coherence, i.e., spatially and functionally consistent cell-type localization, even in unmatched datasets. Benchmarking against five alternative methods across ten datasets, WISpR consistently outperformed competitors and predicted cellular landscapes in both normal and cancerous tissues. By leveraging sparse cell-type arrangements, WISpR provides biologically informed, high-resolution cellular maps. Its ability to decode tissue organization in both healthy and diseased states highlights WISpR's practical utility for spatial transcriptomics, particularly in challenging settings involving noise, sparsity, or reference mismatches.TUBITAK [222S096, 118C236]; TUSEB [40026]; UKRI [EP/Z002656/1]; BAGEP Award of the Science AcademyWork by N.S.E was supported by TUBITAK (Grant No. 222S096) and TUSEB (Grant No. 40026). Work by D.E. was partially supported by TUBITAK (Grant No. 118C236), UKRI (EP/Z002656/1), and the BAGEP Award of the Science Academy. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Science Citation Index Expande
BERT İle Harmonik Zaman Serisi Modelleme: Çok Amaçlı İnce Ayar Yaklaşımı
No full textThis study demonstrates the potential of a BERT-based transformer model in harmonic signal modeling using synthetic sinusoidal data. The model was trained through a three-stage fine-tuning process (reconstruction, linear analysis, full tuning) with a masked language modeling approach. In the first stage, the model successfully filled in missing data and learned the basic features, while in subsequent stages, its ability to capture temporal dependencies and sequential patterns was enhanced. Additionally, patch, time, and station embedding strategies effectively represented the harmonic structure of the signal. The results indicate that pre-training with synthetic data can overcome the limited access to real-world data, allowing transformer models to be efficiently used in these types of problems
Correction: Securing and Optimizing IoT Offloading with Blockchain and Deep Reinforcement Learning in Multi-User Environments (Wireless Networks, (2025), 31, 4, (3255-3276), 10.1007/S11276-025-03932-4)
No full textIn this article the affiliation details for Mohammad Ali Jabraeil Jamali and Dr. Shahin Akbarpour were incorrectly given as ‘Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar’ but should have been ‘Department of Computer Engineering, Shabestar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shabestar, Iran’. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2025.Science Citation Index Expande
Turkey-EU Relations in the AKP Era: Emotions and Foreign Policy
No full textBu tez, Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi (AKP) döneminde Türkiye-AB ilişkilerinde bir duygu tipolojisi geliştirerek, duygusal dinamiklerin siyasi gelişmelerle birlikte nasıl evrildiğine odaklanmaktadır. Yedi AKP'li siyasetçinin 1739 konuşmasını analiz eden bu çalışma, üç dönem boyunca ifade edilen baskın duyguları sistematik olarak kategorize etmek ve yorumlamak için Duygu Söylem Analizi (DSA) ve içerik analizi kullanmaktadır: Avrupalılaşma (2002-2005), Avrupasızlaşma (2005-2016) ve Transaksiyonel İlişkiler (2016-2023). Avrupalılaşma döneminde, beklenti, güven ve iyimserlik gibi olumlu duygular baskındır ve Türkiye'nin AB'ye katılım konusundaki umutlu bakış açısını yansıtmaktadır. Avrupasızlaşma dönemi ise daha karmaşık bir duygusal manzara ortaya koymaktadır. Bu dönemde kızgınlık ve hayal kırıklığı, süregelen beklenti ve iyimserliğin yanında ortaya çıkmakta ve gergin de olsa devam eden bir bağlılığa işaret etmektedir. Transaksiyonel İlişkiler dönemi, pragmatik ve mesafeli bir yaklaşımı pekiştiren yüksek kızgınlık, öfke ve kırgınlık ile karakterize edilirken, beklenti ve güven izleri de devam etmekte ve seçici iş birliğine yönelik hesaplanmış bir ilgiye işaret etmektedir. Bu tipolojiyi oluşturarak, bu tez, Türkiye-AB ilişkileri örneği üzerinden Uluslararası İlişkilerde (Uİ) duyguların incelenmesine yeni bir bakış açısı sunmaktadır. Bu çalışmada geliştirilen tipoloji, diğer uluslararası bağlamlarda duyguların rolünü inceleyen çalışmalara uygulanabilecek metodolojik bir katkı sunmaktadır. Bulgular, Türkiye-AB ilişkilerinde süregelen dönemselleştirmelere duygular açısından bakarak duyguların sabit dönemlemelere düzgün bir şekilde uymadığını, aksine onların dönemlerle dinamik bir şekilde örtüştüğünü ve geliştiğini göstermektedir.This dissertation develops a typology of emotions in Turkey-EU relations during the Justice and Development Party (AKP) era, contributing to a deeper understanding of how emotional dynamics have evolved alongside political developments. By analyzing 1739 speeches from seven AKP politicians, this study employs Emotion Discourse Analysis (EDA) and content analysis to systematically categorize and interpret the dominant emotions expressed across three periods: Europeanization (2002–2005), de-Europeanization (2005–2016), and Transactional Relations (2016–2023). In the Europeanization period, positive emotions such as anticipation, trust, and optimism dominate, reflecting Turkey's hopeful outlook on EU accession. The de-Europeanization period presents a more complex emotional landscape, where annoyance and frustration emerge alongside lingering anticipation and optimism, suggesting a continued—albeit strained—engagement. The Transactional Relations period is characterized by heightened annoyance, anger, and resentment, reinforcing a pragmatic and distant approach. However, traces of anticipation and trust persist, indicating a calculated interest in selective cooperation. By creating this typology, this dissertation provides a unique perspective on studying emotions in International Relations (IR) through the case of Turkey-EU relations. Beyond this specific case, the typology developed here offers a methodological contribution that may apply to scholars studying the role of emotions in other international contexts. The findings challenge simplistic periodizations of Turkey-EU relations, demonstrating that emotions do not neatly conform to fixed phases but overlap and evolve dynamically. Furthermore, this research contributes to broader debates in IR by emphasizing the significance of emotions in discourse and diplomatic interactions
The Floor Is (Y)ours: Auxiliary Staff Voices Their Persona
No full textThe current study investigated the perspectives of auxiliary staff regarding their profession. This study used a holistic multiple-case study design and a qualitative research method. The sample consisted of 45 auxiliary staff who worked in various K12 public schools in the central districts of a city in Turkey and voluntarily participated in the study. The study's participants, which was designed using a case study design, consisted of 45 auxiliary staff working in 11 K12 public schools in the central districts of a province in Turkey who voluntarily participated in the study. A maximum variation sampling strategy, a purposeful sampling technique, was employed for sample selection. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with each participant to gather data for this study. An inductive content analysis method was used to analyze the collected data, and the findings were interpreted accordingly. The results revealed that auxiliary staff perform multiple roles, such as sanitation, kitchen duties, environmental monitoring, administrative tasks, and technical work. Moreover, the auxiliary staff perceived that their various roles contributed to the overall well-being of the school community in schools. © 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.Social Science Citation Inde
An Interval Rough Improved Ordinal Priority Approach-Based Decision Support System To Redesign Postal and Logistics Networks
No full textPamucar, Dragan/0000-0001-8522-1942; Simic, Vladimir/0000-0001-5709-3744Postal and logistics companies are essential subjects in the economy, providing services of the corresponding assortment for a wide range of business and private users. Service providers strive to meet the needs of users and, at the same time, make as much profit as possible. The efficiency of each of the subsystems in companies from this area significantly impacts the sustainability of postal and logistics systems. Rural areas, which are characterized by a smaller number of users and services and a low level of system efficiency, can have an additional negative impact on sustainability. As a result, optimization tasks become complex but also necessary to solve. The paper proposes an interval rough improved Ordinal Priority Approach - Power Schweiyer-Sklar Combined Compromise Solution (I-OPA - PSS'CoCoSo) methodology for prioritizing different models of solving the problem of inefficient network units. Methodological novelties are: a) A new approach for defining the lower and upper limits of interval rough numbers is proposed, which is based on nonlinear Bonferroni functions; b) The classic OPA linear model is improved through the implementation of a new concept for defining relational relationships between criteria; c) The CoCoSo method is improved through the implementation of nonlinear PSS and implementation of a novel function for the integration of aggregate strategies. The application of the interval rough IOPA - SSP'CoCoSo methodology is demonstrated through a case study on the example of a public postal operator operating in the territory of the Republic of Serbia. Since this is a system with a highly developed infrastructure and network throughout the entire country, this further implies the applicability of the methodology to smaller systems or sectors within larger companies that deal with parcel deliveries and other logistics activities. A new aggregation function is introduced to define the compromise index of the alternatives as well as eliminate the anomaly of the original function. The simulation of different scenarios is enabled depending on the degree of risk. The proposed methodology enables decision-making in conditions of incomplete and imprecise criteria values. In accordance with the aforementioned, this approach contributes to improving the accuracy of modeling expert opinions, and consequently, in making the final decision.Social Science Citation Inde
Placemaking Through Guerilla Gardens at the Toki Mass Housing Grounds in Bor (Niğde)
No full textThis paper investigates the guerilla gardens at the TOKI compound in Bor, Niğde, that add a vernacular touch to modern mass housing. TOKI, short for Turkish Republic Mass Housing Administration, was established to eradicate gecekondu, informal settlements that emerged in metropolitan cities in the 1950s due to rural-to-urban migration. Tasked with providing affordable housing for low-income families, TOKI implements standardized designs across Turkey's cities and towns, including the Bor (Niğde) complex. As opposed to the rigidity and uniformity of TOKI blocks, the architecture of guerilla gardens displays the spontaneity and ingenuity that characterized the original gecekondu. The research seeks answers to the questions of why guerilla gardens emerge at the Toki grounds, especially because TOKI was initially designed to eradicate vernacular gecekondu and what needs of the inhabitants these gardens accommodate. To answer these questions, ethnographic inquiry is conducted with the users of the guerilla gardens. Through the lens of the Bor TOKI residents' initiative, this paper offers insights into how vernacular input can inform future mass housing projects, possibly leading to more inclusive models that prioritize environmental sustainability while also respecting local lifestyles. © The Author(s) 2025.Bor Toki Compound
Cradle-To Life Cycle Assessment of Heavy Machinery Manufacturing: a Case Study in Türkiye
No full textPurpose Amidst accelerated industrialization and urbanization, the surge in heavy equipment production, crucial for con struction, mining, industry, and transportation, necessitates a comprehensive examination of its environmental implications from a sustainability standpoint. This study aims to scrutinize the environmental impacts of manufacturing forklifts and semi-trailers in Türkiye, employing the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology.
Methods The life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology is the foundational framework for evaluating the environmental impacts associated with forklift and semi-trailer manufacturing. A cradle-to-gate approach was employed. CCaLC2 software alongside the Ecoinvent 3.0 database and CML LCIA methodology was used.
Results The carbon footprint analysis reveals that the production of a single forklift and semi-trailer generates 10.8 tons CO2eq. and 24.9 tons CO2eq. of emissions, respectively. Considering the mass of the machinery, these fgures translate to 2.8 ton CO2eq./ton machinery and 1.57 ton CO2eq/ton machinery for the forklift and semi-trailer, respectively. These results were found to be consistent with values reported for similar (but not identical) heavy machinery. Notably, the predominant share of environmental impact stems from raw material acquisition for both products, with subsequent contributions from various production stages. Steel utilization emerges as the primary contributor to all environmental impact categories, constituting an average contribution of 75%. Noteworthy exceptions include the acidifcation potential of forklift production, where the incorporation of the engine emerges as the primary hotspot with a signifcant 38% contribution.
Conclusions The fndings present the environmental footprint associated with forklift and semi-trailer manufacturing, empha sizing the pivotal role of raw material acquisition, particularly steel utilization. Insights derived from this environmental impact assessment provide invaluable guidance for enhancing environmental sustainability. Decision-makers and industry
stakeholders can leverage these conclusions to implement targeted measures, such as exploring alternative materials or refining production processes, to mitigate the environmental consequences of resource-intensive heavy equipment manufacturing, aligning with broader sustainability objectives.PurposeAmidst accelerated industrialization and urbanization, the surge in heavy equipment production, crucial for construction, mining, industry, and transportation, necessitates a comprehensive examination of its environmental implications from a sustainability standpoint. This study aims to scrutinize the environmental impacts of manufacturing forklifts and semi-trailers in T & uuml;rkiye, employing the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology.MethodsThe life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology is the foundational framework for evaluating the environmental impacts associated with forklift and semi-trailer manufacturing. A cradle-to-gate approach was employed. CCaLC2 software alongside the Ecoinvent 3.0 database and CML LCIA methodology was used.ResultsThe carbon footprint analysis reveals that the production of a single forklift and semi-trailer generates 10.8 tons CO2eq. and 24.9 tons CO2eq. of emissions, respectively. Considering the mass of the machinery, these figures translate to 2.8 ton CO2eq./ton machinery and 1.57 ton CO2eq/ton machinery for the forklift and semi-trailer, respectively. These results were found to be consistent with values reported for similar (but not identical) heavy machinery. Notably, the predominant share of environmental impact stems from raw material acquisition for both products, with subsequent contributions from various production stages. Steel utilization emerges as the primary contributor to all environmental impact categories, constituting an average contribution of 75%. Noteworthy exceptions include the acidification potential of forklift production, where the incorporation of the engine emerges as the primary hotspot with a significant 38% contribution.ConclusionsThe findings present the environmental footprint associated with forklift and semi-trailer manufacturing, emphasizing the pivotal role of raw material acquisition, particularly steel utilization. Insights derived from this environmental impact assessment provide invaluable guidance for enhancing environmental sustainability. Decision-makers and industry stakeholders can leverage these conclusions to implement targeted measures, such as exploring alternative materials or refining production processes, to mitigate the environmental consequences of resource-intensive heavy equipment manufacturing, aligning with broader sustainability objectives.Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkiye (TUBIdot;TAK); TUBIdot;TAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkiye) [122M210]Open access funding provided by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkiye (TUB & Idot;TAK). This work was supported by TUB & Idot;TAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkiye) no. 122M210 entitled "Developing Circular Economy and Industrial Symbiosis for Transforming Adana Hac & imath; Sabanc & imath; Organized Industrial Zone into an Eco-Industrial Park to Comply with the European Green Deal."Science Citation Index Expande
