5916 research outputs found
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Exploring the role of cross-stitch craft in development of children's computational thinking: An unplugged approach
No full textCross-stitching, a traditional craft practiced across cultures, holds potential as an educational tool for developing computational thinking (CT) skills in children. While CT is increasingly recognized as essential in modern education, the role of unplugged activities like cross-stitching remains underexplored. This study examines cross-stitching through Kolb's experiential learning theory and key CT categories, including abstraction, decomposition, algorithmic thinking, evaluation and generalization. Using a qualitative approach, data were collected through interviews with cross-stitch instructors, a preschool teacher, and parents of children engaged in cross-stitching. A priori content analysis identified key aspects: (1) numerical thinking and visual representation; (2) task breakdown and progressive learning; (3) sequencing and debugging; (4) problem solving and learning by doing; (5) persistence and pattern recognition. The study offers an exemplar for applying an analytical lens to understand the interplay between unplugged activities and computational thinking
A novel microfluidic-based fluorescence detection method reveals heavy atom effects on photophysics of fluorophores with high triplet quantum yield: A numerical simulation study
No full textThe present study introduces the idea of a novel fluorescence-based imaging technique combined with a microfluidic platform that enables a precise control of dark transient state populations of fluorescent probes flowing over a uniform, top flat supergaussian excitation field with a constant flow rate. To demonstrate the imaging capability of the proposed detection method, numerical simulations have been performed by considering laser, microscope and flow parameters of experimental setup together with photophysical model and electronic transition rates of fluorescent dyes. As an output data to be assessed, fluorescence image data is simulated numerically for bromine-free carboxyfluorescein and its brominated derivatives having different numbers of bromine atoms. Based on the magnitudes of applied excitation irradiances and flow rates, which can be manually controlled by user during experiments, the presence of dark state populations can appear as broadening, shifts and decays in normalized fluorescence intensity signals that are computed from simulated fluorescence images. As such changes in signals become more pronounced upon an increase in the degree of bromination, it is elicited that heavy atom effect can be resolved by properly tuning excitation powers of laser and flow rates. Proposed imaging method has potential to provide invaluable means to conventional fluorescence methods and can open up new perspectives in biomedical research.Publisher versio
How do middle powers act? Turkey's foreign policy and russia's invasion of Ukraine
No full textHow do middle powers respond to complex international challenges while balancing external commitments and domestic interests? This article uses Turkey, specifically it policy towards the invasion of Ukraine, as a case study to explore this question, focusing on two key axes: 1) alliance cohesion, which refers to the degree of unity and commitment among alliance members in responding to shared external threats and 2) domestic interest, which refer to the way domestic actors assess and prioritize risks to national security and regime stability. The analysis shows that these two factors give rise to four distinct patterns of middle power behavior-alignment, autonomy, opportunism, and dissonance. Rather than supporting analyses that claim middle powers consistently behave in a single, fixed manner, we argue that middle powers adopt their behavior based on the specific context, offering a more nuanced understanding of their foreign policy actions.TÜBİTAKPublisher versio
The case for secure miniservers beyond the edge
No full textBeyond edge devices can function off the power grid and without batteries, making them suitable for deployment in hard-to-reach environments. As the energy budget is extremely tight, energy-hungry long-distance communication required for offloading computation or reporting results to a server becomes a significant limitation. Based on the observation that the energy required for communication decreases with shorter distances, this paper makes a case for the deployment of secure beyond edge miniservers. These are strategically positioned, lightweight local servers designed to support beyond edge devices without compromising the privacy of sensitive information. We demonstrate that even for relatively small scale representative computations - which are more likely to fit into the tight power budget of a beyond edge device for local processing - deploying a beyond edge miniserver can lead to higher performance. To this end, we consider representative deployment scenarios of practical importance, including but not limited to agricultural systems or building structures, where beyond edge miniservers enable highly energy-efficient real-time data processing
Can performance pressure hinder service recovery performance? The mediating role of shame and individual contingencies of work meaningfulness and proactivity
No full textHospitality employees have long been experiencing high pressure at work, due to the strict performance requirements from organizations and excessive socioemotional demands from customers. Although "performing well under pressure" is often considered a prerequisite for competent employees, findings from organizational psychologists regarding employees' responses to perceived performance pressure are divergent. To further elucidate this relationship, drawing upon the social self-preservation theory, this research proposes that performance pressure can elicit frontline employees' emotional experience of shame, which in turn, hampers their service recovery performance. Furthermore, we propose two individual contingencies of work meaningfulness and proactivity that alter employees' reactions to performance pressure. In particular, the experience of shame is more salient when employees perceive lower levels of meaningfulness or possess lower levels of proactivity. A mixed-method approach, involving both scenario-based experiment and multi-wave survey, is adopted. The results support our hypotheses. The findings provide a more holistic understanding of hospitality employees' responses to performance pressure by uncovering the rarely investigated emotional pathway following performance pressure and identifying two salient individual boundary conditions.National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC
Rheological enhancement of high-volume fly ash mixes using ternary mineral blends and chemical additives
No full textCement production contributes significantly to global CO2 emissions, creating an urgent need for alternative construction materials. This study proposes a novel ternary mineral-mixed high-volume fly ash (HVFA) system that replaces a significant portion of cement, reducing the reliance on chemical additives and environmental impact. Comparative evaluations were conducted using a commercial viscosity-modifying agent (VMA), sepiolite (SEP), slaked lime (SL), and unslaked lime (UL) as rheology modifiers. A step-by-step mix design assessed the effects of each material on rheological properties, including yield stress, viscosity, and thixotropy. SL and UL improved dynamic and static yield stress with SL showing greater effects. VMA enhanced early-age structural build-up, while SEP exhibited a delayed response, contributing to rheological stability over time. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the combination of SL and VMA mainly influenced the HVFA rheology at early ages. This ternary HVFA system demonstrates the potential to minimize cement consumption and improve fresh-state performance.Young Scientist Awards Program (BAGEP)Publisher versio
Enhancing first-year design education through an active learning strategy: The ARCH 101 Case
No full textThis article investigates the pedagogical effectiveness of an active learning strategy in first-year design education. Focusing on the design and implementation phases of ARCH 101 Design Studio, it examines students' experiences with the strategy, including both positive and negative outcomes. As a qualitative study, this research is grounded in first-hand observations and reflections by studio tutors, complemented by data from an online survey administered to enrolled design students. The active learning strategy developed for ARCH101 Design Studio was based on three tactics: (1) learning by experience, (2) learning by doing, and (3) learning through reflection. The study findings demonstrate that the implemented strategy effectively cultivated critical, creative, abstract and holistic thinking abilities among students. Moreover, it facilitated hands-on learning as a catalyst for abstraction and idea generation. The active learning strategy also facilitated a shift in students' perspectives on learning, encouraging them to reflect on their learning processes within a fundamentally different pedagogical context. Students progressively assumed expanded roles and responsibilities while collaboratively creating a dynamic learning environment within the ARCH 101 Design Studio. This process was characterised by both self-directed and collaborative learning activities. The findings of this study can inform the development of strategies to enhance first-year design students' active engagement in the learning process. By providing insights into students' experiences, this research can contribute to the design pedagogies that effectively address the unique challenges faced by novice design learners
Analyzing Transaction Graphs via Motif-Based Graph Representation Learning for Cryptocurrency Price Prediction
No full textSEMG-based assessment of engagement in VR-integrated BALANSens ankle rehabilitation
No full textThis study investigates participant engagement with various types of virtual reality (VR)-integrated passive ankle robotic rehabilitation offered by the BALANSens platform, using surface electromyography (sEMG) signals to quantitatively assess involvement. The low adherence rates in robotic rehabilitation, often due to the monotonous nature of exercises, highlight the importance of enhancing patient motivation. VR is shown to improve patient engagement by providing immersive and interactive therapy environments, ultimately increasing training time, reducing dropout rates, and enhancing motivation. The role of VR in robotic rehabilitation is further explored through a comparison of motivation-related outcomes across different rehabilitation modalities, such as robot-assisted gait training and upper limb rehabilitation, where VR demonstrates increased patient engagement. Additionally, the study evaluates the cognitive demands of VR during active ankle therapy. By combining subjective self-reports with psychophysiological measurements, including sEMG, the study seeks to offer a comprehensive analysis of how VR-integrated rehabilitation influences patient motivation and adherence. The results are expected to contribute valuable insights into the design of more engaging and effective robotic rehabilitation systems, highlighting the need for dynamic and stimulating therapy environments to sustain long-term patient commitment.TÜBİTA