5862 research outputs found
Sort by
Differential Modulation of Low- and High-Frequency Mu Oscillations During the Observation of Manual, Facial, and Non-Biological Movements
No full textMu suppression - desynchronization of neural oscillations in central EEG electrodes during action execution and observation - has been widely accepted as a marker for neural mirroring. It has been conventionally and predominantly quantified in the 8-13 Hz range, corresponding to the alpha frequency band, although few studies reported differences in lower and higher subbands that together constitute the mu frequency band. In the present study, we adopted a comprehensive analytical approach to examine the spectral and temporal dynamics of mu suppression when participants watched videos depicting hand and face actions and artificial pattern movements. Our analyses in central EEG electrodes revealed that neural oscillations were significantly suppressed during action observation only in the lower (8-10.5 Hz), not in the higher (10.5-13 Hz), subband. No such subband differentiation was observed for the alpha oscillations in the occipital electrodes. In addition, in the lower subband, significantly stronger suppressions were selective for hand actions in the central EEG electrodes placed over the hand region of the sensorimotor cortices and for facial actions in the frontotemporal electrodes placed over the face region of the sensorimotor cortices. In the higher subband, such stimulus selectivity was only observed for facial actions in the frontotemporal electrodes. Furthermore, the neural oscillations in the lower, but not the higher, subband followed the precise temporal patterning of biological motion in the videos. These results indicate that neural oscillations in the lower subband show the characteristics of neural mirroring processes, whereas those in the higher subband might reflect other mechanisms.Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkiye (TUBITAK) ARDEB 1002 [221K283]This work was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkiye (TUBITAK) ARDEB 1002 grant (221K283) to Efe Soyman.Science Citation Index Expande
Powered by Secrecy: Contesting Imaginaries of Migration Governance in Turkey
No full textIn light of a growing body of literature on migration and border governance engaging with the legal and institutional production of heterogenous forms of non-knowledge, this article aims to contribute to this scholarship by attending to the role of secrecy through the case of Turkey. This paper turns the spotlight on the migration governance in Turkey by investigating the ways in which secrecy is perceived, contested, and reconfigured by civil society actors. The article argues that the extensive use of secrecy engenders perceptions that vacillate between two opposing imaginaries: the central migration authority as an incompetent entity and as a security agency with an aura of omnipotence. By drawing on and subverting Luc Boltanski’s notion of domination as a reality-stabilising function, we propose that the undecidable nature of the migration governance enables a form of domination hinging on the destabilisation of reality in the eyes of subjects that are paralysed, disarmed, and disabled to cope with the policies in practice. © 2024 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.Istanbul Policy Center; Sabancı Üniversitesi, SUSocial Science Citation Inde
Can Reflection Mitigate Covid-19 Vaccine Conspiracy Beliefs and Hesitancy
No full textObjective design: Periods of social turmoil, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, tend to amplify conspiracy beliefs, evidenced by increased vaccine hesitancy. Despite this trend, effective interventions targeting vaccine-related conspiracy beliefs remain scarce, partly due to underexplored cognitive processes. Three competing theoretical accounts offer differing predictions about the role of reflective thinking in supporting conspiracy beliefs: the Motivated Reasoning Account suggests reflection strengthens commitment to pre-existing attitudes; the Reflective Reasoning Account posits that reflection enhances belief accuracy; and the Reflective Doubt Account proposes reflection fosters general scepticism. Main outcome measures: Utilising open science practices and a validated technique to activate reflection, we conducted an experimental investigation with a diverse sample (N = 1483) segmented by vaccine attitudes. We investigated the impact of reflection on specific and generic COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs and vaccine-support behaviours across pro-vaccine, neutral, and vaccine-hesitant groups, while examining the moderating effects of scientific literacy, intellectual humility, and actively open-minded thinking. Results: The confirmatory analysis provided no direct support for the theoretical predictions. However, findings indicated that intellectual humility significantly moderated the effect of reflection, enhancing vaccine-support behaviour among participants with high intellectual humility, highlighting the complex interplay of cognitive style and prior attitudes in shaping responses to conspiracy beliefs and vaccine-support actions. Conclusion: The study highlights that while reflective thinking alone did not directly influence vaccine support behavior, its positive effect emerged among individuals with higher intellectual humility, emphasizing the importance of individual differences in shaping belief-related outcomes. © 2025 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.Social Science Citation Inde
The Nexus Between Migration and Environmental Degradation Based on Fundamental Climate Variables and Extreme Climate Indices for the Mena Domain
No full textEnvironmental migration has recently become primary source of population growth and environmental degradation from extreme events has created the environmental refugee concept with a variety of manners affecting lives. For understanding of the environmental degradation impact on migration, a hybrid approach (regional climate modelling, RegCM4.4 and statistical modelling, ordered logit) has been applied for 65 countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for the periods of 2021-2050 and 2051-2080. It is aimed to examine how climate change affect migration by applying fundamental climate variables (i.e., maximum temperature, minimum temperature, and precipitation) and the control variables (i.e., the hot days, the tropical nights, and the dry days) in the MENA. While key findings indicate an increase in the minimum temperatures (Tmin) in future in all populous cities, the water amount may further decrease in the mid-latitude and Mediterranean with temperate climates due to precipitation change. While it may pose a high risk in the regions having experienced extreme temperatures e.g., tropical nights (Tn), it may further adversely affect ones not having experienced extremes. Considering statistically significant positive relationship between Tmin, and net migration rate (NMIG), and negative relationship between precipitation and NMIG, it may encourage migration to cooler regions.Science Citation Index Expanded - Social Science Citation Inde
Developing Ai Literacy in the Classroom: Ai–human Collaboration and Ethical Ai
No full textThis study aims to exemplify the development of AI literacy in the classroom in an undergraduate setting in Turkey. Learning methods, competencies, and ethical concerns regarding AI literacy are discussed through the assignments, assignment questions, and an after-class survey. Results show that students are aware of AI tools but they do not have a full grasp on writing to-the-point prompts to acquire the results they desire. Though they are eager to embrace AI tools because of the easy and time-efficient ways of reading, doing research, editing, and getting inspiration, they are hesitant because of ethical concerns such as plagiarism, restrictions on creative thinking, biases, false information, and laziness that might arise because of the ease and speed with which they can gather information. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2025
Exploring the Potential of Virtual Reality for Motor Skills Training in Children With Special Educational Needs: Perspectives From Experts From Five Countries
No full textVirtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising tool for enhancing motor skill training in children with special educational needs (SEN). This qualitative case study explored the perspectives and experiences of experts regarding the integration of VR technology into motor skill training for children with SEN. This study investigated VR's perceived benefits, challenges, and adaptability of VR in supporting motor skill development in diverse educational and therapeutic settings. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 purposively sampled experts including special education teachers and occupational therapists. A thematic analysis of the interview data revealed several key themes, including the potential of VR to provide engaging, personalized, and repetitive practice opportunities; the challenges of cost, accessibility, and teacher training; and the need for adaptability to accommodate various types of SEN. The participants emphasized the importance of collaboration between educators, therapists, and technology developers in creating effective VR interventions. These findings suggest that, while VR offers unique advantages for motor skill training, its successful implementation requires careful consideration of individual needs, resource availability, and professional development.Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkiye (TUBITAK); ERASMUSKA220-SCH-Cooperatimath;on Partnershimath;ps in School Educatimath;on [2023-2-TR01-KA220-SCH-000174004]Open access funding provided by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkiye (TUBITAK). This work was supported by ERASMUSKA220-SCH-Cooperat & imath;on Partnersh & imath;ps in School Educat & imath;on within the scope of the project numbered Project Nr. 2023-2-TR01-KA220-SCH-000174004: "Improving Motor Skills In Special Needs Children Through Virtual Reality Exercises.Social Science Citation Inde
Privacy Preservation for Machine Learning in Iiot Data Via Manifold Learning and Elementary Row Operations
No full textModern large-scale production sites are highly data-driven and need large computational power due to the amount of the data collected. Hence, relying only on in-house computing systems for computational workflows is not always feasible. Instead, cloud environments are often preferred due to their ability to provide scalable and on-demand access to extensive computational resources. While cloud-based workflows offer numerous advantages, concerns regarding data privacy remain a significant obstacle to their widespread adoption, particularly in scenarios involving sensitive data and operations. This study aims to develop a computationally efficient privacy protection (PP) approach based on manifold learning and the elementary row operations inspired from the lower-upper (LU) decomposition. This approach seeks to enhance the security of data collected from industrial environments, along with the associated machine learning models, thereby protecting sensitive information against potential threats posed by both external and internal adversaries within the collaborative computing environment. © 2025 by SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, Lda.European Union in the Framework of ERASMUS, (101082683
Green Transition for Turkey: Growth, Employment, and Trade Deficit Effects
No full textThis study examines the potential economic impacts of Turkey's energy transition by focusing on the effects of solar and wind energy investments. With Turkey aiming for "net zero" emissions by 2053, this research evaluates the impacts on total emissions, economic growth, employment, and the trade deficit under various scenarios. Utilizing input-output analysis and the employment factor approach, we analyze the macroeconomic and emission outcomes of a 10-year clean energy investment project targeting the transformation of the energy sector. Our findings indicate that investing in solar and wind energy could reduce Turkey's greenhouse gas emissions by 28-77 percent of 2020 emission levels. These investments are projected to enhance economic growth, contributing an additional 0.6%-1.8% of 2020 GDP annually on average. The employment effects are also significant, with total potential job creation amounting to a total of 1.3%-3.4% of Turkey's labor force in 2020. Furthermore, the investments are expected to improve the trade balance by 6.9-14.6 billion dollars over 10 years. The results suggest that green energy investments can simultaneously achieve environmental goals and promote economic stability through job creation and improve trade balances.Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey [122G063]This research was partly funded by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey. Project title: Turkey's Green Transition and its Economic and Social Impacts: Environment, Employment, Produc-tion and Foreign Trade. Project number: 122G063.Science Citation Index Expanded - Social Science Citation Inde
Eye-Hand Coordination and Fine Motor Control in Virtual Reality: Evaluation Metrics and Haptic Feedback Strategies
No full textSanal Gerçeklik (SG), eğitim ve motor beceri gelişimi için bir platform olarak giderek daha fazla kullanılmaktadır. Bununla birlikte, sanal gerçeklikte görev performansı için kritik öneme sahip olan etkili ince motor kontrolü ve El-Göz koordinasyonunun (EGK) sağlanmasında zorluklar devam etmektedir. Bu tez, sanal gerçeklikte EGK'yi iki tamamlayıcı perspektiften incelemektedir: performans değerlendirmesi ve Haptik geri bildirim yoluyla motor iyileştirme. İlk olarak, farklı görev talimatlarının (doğruluk, hata veya nötr odaklı) zaman içinde performansı nasıl etkilediğini incelemek için çeşitli fiziksel yeteneklere sahip 36 katılımcıyla uzunlamasına bir kullanıcı çalışması gerçekleştirdik. Daha sonra, SG tabanlı EGK Eğitiminde (EGKE) yaygın olarak kullanılan performans ölçümlerini değerlendirdik. Analizimiz, Throughput'un özellikle hız-doğruluk ödünleşiminin varlığında performansı doğru bir şekilde yakalamadaki sınırlamalarını ortaya koydu. Sonuç olarak, EGKE performansını daha etkili bir şekilde değerlendiren alternatif ölçütler önerdik. İkinci olarak, ince motor görevleri sırasında Haptik geri bildirimin kullanıcı etkileşimi üzerindeki rolünü inceledik. Haptik geri bildirim sağlamak için SenseGlove Nova 1 kullandığımız ve 24 katılımcının yer aldığı bir kullanıcı çalışması gerçekleştirdik. Bu çalışmada, farklı haptik modalitelerin (birleşik, yalnızca kuvvet, yalnızca titreşim ve hiçbiri) ve nesne özelliklerinin (boyut ve şekil) görev performansı üzerindeki etkilerini değerlendirdik. Bu çalışmanın sonuçları, kombine geri bildirimin hassasiyeti önemli ölçüde artırdığını, çarpışmaları azalttığını ve özellikle daha büyük ve daha karmaşık nesne şekilleri için genel manipülasyon deneyimini iyileştirdiğini gösterdi.Virtual Reality (VR) is increasingly used as a platform for training and motor skill development. However, challenges remain in achieving effective fine motor control and eye-hand coordination (EHC), which are critical factors for task performance in VR. This thesis investigates EHC in VR through two complementary perspectives: performance evaluation and motor improvement through Haptic feedback. First, we conducted a longitudinal user study with 36 participants with varying physical abilities (healthy individuals, athletes, and those with limited movement) to examine how different task instructions (accuracy-focused, error-focused, or neutral) influence performance over time. We, then, evaluated performance metrics commonly used in VR-based Eye-Hand Coordination Training (EHCT). Our analysis revealed the limitations of Throughput in capturing performance accurately, especially in the presence of a speed-accuracy trade-off. As a result, we proposed alternative metrics that more effectively assess EHCT performance. Second, we inspected the role of haptic feedback on user interaction during fine motor tasks. We conducted a user study involving 24 participants, and we used SenseGlove Nova 1 to deliver haptic feedback. In this study, we evaluated the effects of different haptic modalities (combined, force-only, vibration-only, and none) and object characteristics (size and shape) on task performance. Results of this study showed that combined feedback significantly improved precision, reduced collisions, and improved the overall manipulation experience, particularly for larger and more complex object shapes
A Performative Research on 'Night' Along With the Narratives of the Kadife Sokak aka Bars Street Regulars
No full textAraştırma, Istanbul gece hayatının belli bir döneminin kültür ve kimlik poltikalarının da etkisiyle bugünün nostaljik bir ideali haline getirilmesini sorunsallaştırıp; gece hayatını, zamanların, mekânların ve kimliklerin çoğaltıldığı akışkan sosyal bir yapı olarak kolektif bellek ve anlatılarındaki sosyal koreografiler üzerinden incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Bahsi geçen nostaljik İstanbul gece hayatı temsili, tez çalışmasında, erken 90'larla 2000'ler sonu arasında gezinen 'altın dönem'i kapsamaktadır. Çalışma kapsamında, 'altın dönem' fenomenini açığa çıkarmak ve döneme çizgisel olmayan bir tarih okumasıyla yaklaşabilmek adına Cumhuriyet ve Milliyet gazetelerinin 1970-2018 arası arşivinin analizinden, ilgili akademik literatür taraması ve dönem dergilerinin incelemesinden, eski gece hayatı çalışanlarının yayınlanmış açıklamalarından düzenlenen bir haritalama çalışması oluşturulmuştur. Tartışma, Svetlana Boym'un nostalji üzerine olan kuramsal çalışmaları ve Jan Assmann'ın kolektif bellek çalışmaları ile derinleştirilmiştir. Assmann belleği kimlik endeksli bilgi olarak tanımlamaktadır, dolayısıyla hatırlama eyleminin aidiyetin farkına varma olarak almaktadır. Bu doğrultuda, araştırmanın açığa çıkardığı üzere ilgili döneme ait ifadeler Beyoğlu etrafında oluşmasına rağmen Kadıköy baskın mahalle kültürüyle aidiyeti daha görünür kılabilme potansiyelinden dolayı araştırma alanı olarak seçilmiştir. Mahalledeki Kadife Sokak'ın, namıdiğer barlar sokağının, müzikal kimliği ve altkültürlere sağladığı özgür ortam ile 90'ların başında İstanbul gece hayatına giriş yapmıştır ve anlatılarda gittikçe daha da önemli bir yer edinmiştir. Çalışma sokak müdavimlerinin kendilerinin ve gece rutinlerine dair pratiklerinin anlatısıyla kolektif bir Kadife Sokak gecesini hatırlamaya ve canlandırmaya çalışan performatif ve deneysel bir araştırmadır. Kadife Sokak gecelerine yapılan bu yolculukla; gecenin içerdiği zamanlar, mekânlar ve kimlikler üzeri çeşitlikler kimi zaman 'altın dönem'i ziyaret edip kimi zaman kendini hatırlayan beden üzerinden özgürleştirmek amaçlanmıştır. Bahsedilen arşiv çalışmasının yanı sıra, proje Kadife Sokak müdavimleriyle 2 adımda gerçekleştirilen yarı yapılandırılmış röportajlar ve katılımcıların anlatılarıyla vücut dillerine odaklanan 'Bir Gece Performansı' isimli video işinden oluşmaktadır. Bu çalışma İstanbul gece hayatının, sosyal bir yapı olarak hatırlanması ve ona dair nostaljik imgesi dışında hikayeler anlatma denemesidir. Anahtar Sözcükler: İstanbul Gece Hayatı, Kadife Sokak, reflektif nostalji, öz anlatı, sosyal koreografi, kolektif bellek, kent ritüelleri, dışarı çıkma pratikleri, müdavim, hatırlayan bedenThe research questions whether the Istanbul nightlife becomes an idealized nostalgic image through identity and cultural politics; or if is it possible to approach it as a fluid social construct that is created with the multiplicity of places, communities, and identities that are uncovered through social choreography and its improvisations. Within the thesis, it is claimed that today's Istanbul nightlife image became prominent with the so-called 'Golden Era', starting around the early 90s to the late 00s, with a major feeling of nostalgia. This term is justified through archival analysis created via a mapping method that laid the groundwork forming the Golden Era phenomenon while contributing a non-linear reading of historical information, gathered from analysis of Cumhuriyet and Milliyet newspapers of 1970-2018, a review of the previous academic literature and magazine articles. In addition, a collection of former night workers' and regulars' personal expressions are obtained from previously published interviews. To deepen the discussion, theoretical concepts of nostalgia and collective memory are incorporated, focusing on Svetlana Boym's and Jan Assmann's studies. Even though the narratives of the era are formed around Beyoğlu neighbourhood; Kadıköy neighbourhood, which comes into the night scene with Kadife Sokak, aka Bar Street, in the early 1990s with its musical identity and open space for subcultural expressions, is chosen as the research site. The study focuses on night-out experience in Kadife Sokak through remembering and performing, while Kadife Sokak regulars are narrating themselves and practices included in their nocturnal routines. The research gains its performative approach from two sets of semi-structured interviews carried out with Kadife Sokak regulars and the video work, Performance of a Night, which focuses on the gestures of the interview participants. Through the interviews, Kadife Sokak nights are reconstructed socially while telling and multiplying stories. Keywords: Istanbul Nightlife, Kadife Sokak, reflective nostalgia, narration of self, social choreography, collective memory, urban rituals, going out practices, being a regular, remembering bod