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Trabzon (Türkiye) ballarında polen analizi
This study presents the results of pollen analysis on honey samples collected from 85 different locations across all districts of Trabzon, Türkiye, during the months of June to October between 2009 and 2012. A total of 50 pollen taxa were identified, including 23 families, 25 genera, and 2 species. The most dominant pollen type was Castanea sativa, found in 65 samples, reflecting the regional floral characteristics. Lamiaceae was dominant in only one sample. Secondary pollen types commonly observed included Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Carduus, Cistus, Cynoglossum, Fabaceae, Hedysarum, Laurus nobilis, Rhododendron, and Rosaceae. Four samples were classified as monofloral honeys, all identified as Castanea sativa honey. Rhododendron, known for its toxic effects when present above a certain threshold in honey, was detected in 48 samples, indicating the necessity of evaluating these honeys in terms of consumer health. TPN-10 ranged from 2,845 to 1,525,683 per 10 g of honey. Correlation analysis showed that floral diversity increased with altitude, while cluster analysis indicated that total pollen count was the most influential factor in sample classification. These findings underline both the rich botanical diversity of Trabzon honeys and the impact of ecological variables on honey composition.Bu çalışmada, 2009-2012 yılları arasında Trabzon ilinin tüm ilçelerinde, Haziran-Ekim aylarında 85 farklı bölgeden toplanan bal örnekleri üzerinde polen analizi gerçekleştirilmiştir. Yapılan analizler sonucunda, 23 familya, 25 cins ve 2 tür düzeyinde olmak üzere toplam 50 taksona ait polen varlığı tespit edilmiştir. Bölgenin karakteristik türlerinden Castanea sativa, 65 örnekte dominant polen olarak en yüksek orana ulaşmıştır. Lamiaceae familyası ise yalnızca bir örnekte dominant olarak saptanmıştır. Sekonder polen grubunda ise Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Carduus, Castanea sativa, Cistus, Cynoglossum, Fabaceae, Hedysarum, Lamiaceae, Laurus nobilis, Rhododendron ve Rosaceae taksonları öne çıkmıştır. İncelenen örneklerin 4’ü monofloral bal olarak sınıflandırılmış ve tamamı Castanea sativa balı olarak tanımlanmıştır. Balda belli bir miktarın üzerinde bulunduğunda zehirleme etkileriyle bilinen Rhododendron cinsine ait polenler 48 örnekte belirlenmiş, bu durum balın tüketici sağlığı açısından değerlendirilmesi gerektiğini göstermiştir. TPS-10 g değerine göre polen sayıları 2.845 ile 1.525.683 arasında değişmiştir. Korelasyon analizleri, rakım yükseldikçe balın floristik çeşitliliğinin arttığını ortaya koyarken; kümeleme analizinde örneklerin sınıflandırılmasında en belirleyici unsur toplam polen sayısı olmuştur. Bu bulgular, Trabzon balının floristik zenginliğini ortaya koyarken, aynı zamanda ekolojik değişkenlerin bal kompozisyonu üzerindeki etkilerini de net bir şekilde gözler önüne sermektedir
Religious thought: Its religious economy, transformation, and future
& Idot;shak Arslan's book titled Din Dusuncesi is a distinctive and original study compared to other works on religion in Turkish literature. Rather than focusing on religion itself, Arslan employs the concept of the "religious," which he defines as a form of generalized economy between the individual and the community. According to the author, the religious is structured around a "triadic spiral" composed of sacrifice, moderation, and hope. This triad distinguishes the religious from other forms of belief and spirituality. The book discusses the relationship between religion and economy, the functions of rituals, and the transformation of religion in the modern era. While presenting hedonism as the strongest rival to religion, it does not consider atheism or deism as genuine alternatives. This review highlights certain criticisms but emphasizes that Din D & uuml;& scedil;& uuml;ncesi makes an original and creative contribution to the literature
Development and characterization of a lip balm containing pitaya (Hylocereus costaricensis) peel extract-loaded nanoliposomes
Pitaya (Hylocereus costaricensis) kabuğu, yüksek fenolik bileşik içeriği sayesinde güçlü antioksidan özellik göstermektedir. Bu çalışmada, Hylocereus costaricensis kabuğu sürdürülebilir kozmetik uygulamaları için yenilikçi bir ham madde olarak değerlendirilmiştir. Ancak fenolik bileşiklerin düşük stabilitesi ve biyoyararlanımı, uygulamalarda bazı sınırlamalar oluşturmaktadır. Bu sınırlamaların aşılması amacıyla, Hylocereus costaricensis kabuğu ekstraktı taşıyan nanolipozomlar geliştirilmiş ve bu sistemlerin lipozomal dudak balmı formülasyonlarında kullanımı araştırılmıştır. Ekstraktın elde edilmesinde ultrasonik destekli ekstraksiyon yöntemi kullanılmış ve ekstraksiyon koşulları optimize edilmiştir. Optimum koşullarda elde edilen ekstraktın bileşenleri HPLC-DAD ile tanımlanmıştır. Ekstrakt, ince film hidrasyonu yöntemiyle nanolipozomal sisteme enkapsüle edilmiş ve formülasyon parametreleri optimize edilmiştir. Optimum formülasyonda %83,1 oranında enkapsülasyon etkinliği elde edilmiştir. Lipozomlar; partikül boyutu, ζ-potansiyeli, morfolojisi (TEM, DLS) ve depolama stabilitesi yönünden karakterize edilmiştir. Elde edilen optimum lipozom sistemleri, balmumu ve doğal yağlar ile birleştirilerek dudak balmı formülasyonları geliştirilmiştir. Formülasyonlar, pH, renk ve iletkenlik gibi fizikokimyasal parametreler bakımından değerlendirilmiştir. Antioksidan salım profili ve duyusal özellikleri incelenmiştir. Ayrıca biyolojik etkinlik, HaCaT hücre hattı üzerinde yapılan sitotoksisite ve yara iyileştirme analizleri ile desteklenmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular hem ekstraksiyon hem de enkapsülasyon süreçlerinin başarıyla optimize edilebildiğini ve Hylocereus costaricensis kabuğu ekstraktının dermokozmetik ürünlerde etkili bir antioksidan bileşen olarak kullanılabileceğini ortaya koymuştur. Çalışma, biyolojik değeri yüksek atıkların işlevsel ve sürdürülebilir kozmetik ürünlere dönüştürülmesine katkı sağlamaktadır.The peel of pitaya (Hylocereus costaricensis) exhibits strong antioxidant properties due to its high content of phenolic compounds. In this study, the peel of Hylocereus costaricensis was evaluated as an innovative raw material for sustainable cosmetic applications. However, the low stability and bioavailability of phenolic compounds pose certain limitations for such applications. In order to overcome these limitations, nanoliposomal systems carrying Hylocereus costaricensis peel extract were developed, and the use of these liposomes in liposomal lip balm formulations was investigated. Ultrasonic-assisted extraction was employed for obtaining the extract, and the extraction conditions were optimized. The components of the extract obtained under optimal conditions were identified by HPLC-DAD. The extract was encapsulated in a nanoliposomal system using the thin film hydration method, and formulation parameters were optimized. In the optimal formulation, an encapsulation efficiency of 83.1% was achieved. The liposomes were characterized in terms of particle size, ζ-potential, morphology (TEM, DLS), and storage stability. The optimum liposomal systems were combined with beeswax and natural oils to develop lip balm formulations. The formulations were evaluated in terms of physicochemical parameters such as pH, color, and conductivity. Their antioxidant release profiles, and sensory properties were also examined. Moreover, biological activity was supported by cytotoxicity and wound healing analyses conducted on the HaCaT cell line. The findings demonstrated that both the extraction and encapsulation processes were successfully optimized, and that Hylocereus costaricensis peel extract could be used as an effective antioxidant component in dermocosmetic products. This study contributes to the transformation of biologically valuable waste materials into functional and sustainable cosmetic products
Simulating the impacts of climate change on the hydrology of Doğancı dam in Bursa, Turkey, using feed-forward neural networks
Climate change continues to pose significant challenges to global water security, with dams being particularly vulnerable to hydrological cycle alterations. This study investigated the climate-based impact on the hydrology of the Do & gbreve;anc & imath; dam, located in Bursa, Turkey, using feed-forward neural networks (FNNs). The modeling used meteorological parameters as inputs. The employed FNN comprised one input, hidden, and output layer. The efficacy of the models was evaluated by comparing the correlation coefficients (R), mean squared errors (MSE), and mean absolute percentage errors (MAPE). Furthermore, two training algorithms, namely Levenberg-Marquardt and resilient backpropagation, were employed to determine the algorithm that yields more accurate output predictions. The findings of the study showed that the model using air temperature, solar radiation, solar intensity, evaporation, and evapotranspiration as predictors for the water budget and water level of the Do & gbreve;anc & imath; dam exhibited the lowest MSE (0.59) and MAPE (1.31%) and the highest R (0.99) compared to other models under LM training. The statistical analysis determined no significant difference (p > 0.05) between the Levenberg and Marquardt and resilient backpropagation training algorithms. However, a visual interpretation revealed that the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm outperformed the resilient backpropagation, yielding lower errors, higher correlation values, and faster convergence for the models tested in this study. The novelty of this study lies in the use of certain meteorological inputs, particularly snow depth, for dam inflow forecasting, which has seldom been explored. Moreover, this study compared two widely used ANN training algorithms and applied the modeling framework to a region of strategic importance for Turkey's water security. This study highlights the effectiveness of ANN-based modeling for hydrological forecasting and determining climate-induced impacts on water bodies such as dams and reservoirs
Sex-specific autoimmune comorbidity patterns in pemphigus vulgaris and bullous pemphigoid: A bicenter retrospective case-control study
Background and Objectives: While pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and bullous pemphigoid (BP) have been linked to autoimmune comorbidities, the spectrum and specificity of these associations remain uncertain. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and patterns of autoimmune diseases (AIDs) in patients with PV and BP compared with age- and sex-matched controls. Materials and Methods: We conducted a bicenter, retrospective case-control study including 287 PV patients with 1148 matched controls and 284 BP patients with 1137 matched controls. Autoimmune comorbidities were identified through medical record review, and disease-specific as well as system-level associations between PV, BP, and AIDs were assessed. Results: Overall AID prevalence was lower in PV (9.4%) and BP (8.1%) than in controls (18% and 15%, respectively; p < 0.001 and p = 0.002). PV was associated with Graves' disease (adjusted OR: 3.16, 95% CI: 1.24-8.06), especially in females. BP was associated with Hashimoto thyroiditis (adjusted OR: 2.51, 95% CI: 1.33-4.75), particularly in males. System-level analyses revealed that cutaneous and multisystem AIDs were less frequent in both PV and BP (p < 0.001 for each and p = 0.001 for each, respectively), whereas endocrine AIDs were more frequent in BP (p = 0.038). Thyroid antibody positivity did not differ significantly between patients and controls. Limitations include retrospective design, possible overrepresentation of cutaneous AIDs in dermatology-based controls, and lack of external validation. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that PV and BP may be associated with selective, sex- and phenotype-specific autoimmune comorbidity patterns rather than a generalized autoimmune burden. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these exploratory associations and clarify their temporal relationships
Statistical analysis of the world happiness index by regions
This study aims to evaluate the effects of economic, social and cultural differences on happiness in a statistical framework by examining the happiness levels of countries in different geographical regions. Analyses based on the World Happiness Index data reveal that the happiness levels of African countries are significantly lower than other regions, while European countries have higher happiness levels. As a result of comparisons made with Tukey’s HSD test, statistically significant differences were found between Africa, America, Asia, Europe and Oceania regions. In particular, it was observed that factors such as social support, gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and healthy life expectancy have significant effects on happiness. This study emphasizes the importance of considering regional differences in increasing social welfare and reveals the necessity of development policies aimed at solving the economic problems of underdeveloped and developing countries
Examining the technology addictions and the perceptions of self efficiency in instrument performance management of preservice music teachers
Bu çalışmada müzik öğretmeni adaylarının teknoloji bağımlılıkları ve çalgı performans yönetimi öz yeterlik algılarının cinsiyet, üniversitede eğitim alma yılı, genel akademik başarı düzeyi, mezun olunan lise türü, internet kullanım süresi ve çalgı çalışma süresi gibi değişkenler doğrultusunda incelenmesi ve teknoloji bağımlılığı ile çalgı performans öz yeterlik algıları arasındaki ilişkinin tespit edilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Araştırma, 2024-2025 eğitim-öğretim yılında Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Müzik Öğretmenliği Programında öğrenim gören 104 müzik öğretmeni adayı üzerinde yürütülmüştür. Çalışmada, değişkenler arasındaki ilişkileri incelemek amacıyla ilişkisel tarama modeli kapsamında nicel bir yöntem benimsenmiştir. Veriler Teknoloji Bağımlılığı Ölçeği ve Çalgı Performans Yönetimi Öz Yeterlik Ölçeği ile toplanmıştır. Araştırmada elde edilen veriler, bağımsız örneklem t-testi, tek yönlü varyans analizi (ANOVA), Pearson korelasyon analizi ve basit doğrusal regresyon yöntemi ile değerlendirilmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda; erkeklerin ve internette uzun süre geçiren öğrencilerin daha yüksek teknoloji bağımlılığı puanlarına sahip olduğu belirlenmiştir. Çalgı performans yönetimi öz yeterlik algılarında, sahne yönetimi ve yürütücü biliş/motivasyon yönetimi boyutlarında erkek öğrencilerin lehine anlamlı farklılık bulunmuştur. Üniversite eğitim yılına göre yürütücü biliş ve motivasyon yönetimi alt boyutunda 4. sınıf ve üzeri olanlarda bu becerilerinin daha yüksek olduğu görülmüştür. Genel akademik not ortalamaları yüksek olan öğrencilerin teknoloji bağımlılığı düzeylerinin daha düşük olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Öğrencilerin günlük çalgı çalma süresi arttıkça, çalgı çalışma yönetimi, zaman yönetimi ve kariyer yönetimi becerilerinin de arttığı görülmüştür. Ayrıca GSL/Konservatuvar mezunu olan öğrencilerin kariyer yönetimi ve çalgı çalışma yönetimi becerilerinde daha iyi oldukları tespit edilmiştir. Ayrıca teknoloji bağımlılığı ile çalgı performans yönetimi öz yeterlik algısı arasında negatif yönlü ve anlamlı bir ilişki saptanmıştır. Araştırma bulguları, teknoloji bağımlılığı ve çalgı performans yönetimi öz yeterlik algısının müzik öğretmeni adaylarının mesleki ve bireysel gelişimleri üzerinde önemli etkileri olduğunu ve bu değişkenlerin çeşitli demografik ve bireysel faktörlere göre farklılık gösterdiğini ortaya koymaktadır.This study aimed to examine pre-service music teachers’ technology addiction and their perceptions of self-efficacy instrument performance management in relation to variables such as gender, grade level in the university, grade points average level, type of high school graduated from, internet usage duration, instrument practice duration, and to determine the relationship between technology addiction and perceptions of self-efficacy instrument performance management. The research was conducted with 104 pre-service music teachers enrolled in the Music Teacher Education Program at Bursa Uludağ University Faculty of Education during the 2024-2025 academic year. The study employed a quantitative research method using a correlational survey model. Data were collected using the Technology Addiction Scale and the Perception of Self-Efficiency in Instrument Performance Management Scale. For data analysis, Independent Samples t-test, One-Way ANOVA, Pearson Correlation Analysis and Simple Linear Regression Analysis were used. The results showed that male students and those who spent more time on the internet had higher levels of technology addiction. In musical instrument performance management self-efficacy perceptions, significant differences were found in favor of male students in the sub-dimensions of stage management and executive cognition/motivation management. Higher executive cognition and motivation management skills were also observed among 4’th year and above students. It was determined that students viii with higher overall academic grade point averages had lower levels of technology addiction. As students’ daily instrument practice duration increased, improvements were observed in practice management, time management, and career management skills. Furthermore, students who graduated from Fine Arts High Schools or conservatories were found to have better career management and practice management skills. In addition, a significant negative relationship was found between technology addiction and musical instrument performance management self-efficacy. The findings indicate that technology addiction and musical instrument performance management self-efficacy have important impacts on the professional and personal development of pre-service music teachers, and that these variables vary across different demographic and individual factors
Supercapacitor applications of natural gel electrolytes prepared by bone broth and egg white
Bone broth (BB) and egg white (EW) gel electrolytes are prepared by containing NaCl and KCl salts. pH, conductivity and viscosity values are measured. Mass and energy changes with temperature are determined by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry, respectively. Their molecular structures are investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Their suitability for supercapacitor devices is analyzed using pencil graphite (PGE)/polypyrrole (PPy) and PGE/PPy-Manganese oxide (MnOx) electrodes produced by electrodeposition. The interface between the electrode and the electrolyte is investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The capacitive behavior of the electrodes is investigated by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge-discharge techniques. The highest specific capacitance value of the PGE/PPy-MnOx electrode is calculated as 450 F/g at a scan rate of 5 mV/s in a NaCl-BB gel electrolyte with a potential window between -0.1 and 1.0 V. The double layer and pseudo-capacitance contributions are calculated using Dunn's method. The pseudo-capacitance contribution is generally dominant. PGE/PPy-MnOx//NaCl-BB//PPy-MnOx/PGE and PGE/PPy-MnOx//KCl-EW//PPy-MnOx/PGE supercapacitor devices are fabricated and characterized. The calculated power densities are 320 and 600 W/kg and the cyclic stabilities are 52 % and 88 % after 200 cycles respectively. The values prove that these natural gels are quite suitable for energy storage applications.Bursa Uludag University supported this work under Grant No. both FGA-2023\u20131499. Viscosity measurements were performed at the UNAM-National Nanotechnology Research Center at Bilkent University, and the other measurements were performed at Bursa Uludag University. I want to thank my supervisor Dr. Murside Haciismailoglu for her support in every field
Evaluation of selected biochemical parameters of a group of calves after colostrum intake
Objective The aim of the presented study was to evaluate some selected biochemical values of a group of newborn Holstein calves after colostrum intake. Material and methods Fifteen newborn Holstein calves of both sexes fed with high quality (Brix >= 22%) colostrum were participated in our study. Blood samples were taken at birth (before colostrum intake) and after 24 th hours of feeding with colostrum. Serum samples were analyzed with Reflotron Plus biochemistry device. Analysis results were evaluated at SigmaPlot statistical program. Results It was observed that gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), globulin (GLOB), total protein (TP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total cholesterol (TCHOL) concentrations increased, albumin (ALB) concentration and albumin/globulin ratio (ALB/GLOB) decreased and calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations did not change after colostrum consumption. Conclusion and clinical relevance Although TP, GLOB and GGT levels are commonly used to determine passive immunity status in calves, changes in ALB, AST and TCHOL levels and ALB/GLOB may also be used to determine passive immune transfer in calves
Tariff-sensitive global supply chains: Semi-markov decision approach with reinforcement learning
Global supply chains often face uncertainties in production lead times, fluctuating exchange rates, and varying tariff regulations, all of which can significantly impact total profit. To address these challenges, this study formulates a multi-country supply chain problem as a Semi-Markov Decision Process (SMDP), integrating both currency variability and tariff levels. Using a Q-learning-based method (SMART), we explore three scenarios: (1) wide currency gaps under a uniform tariff, (2) narrowed currency gaps encouraging more local sourcing, and (3) distinct tariff structures that highlight how varying duties can reshape global fulfillment decisions. Beyond these baselines we analyze uncertainty-extended variants and targeted sensitivities (quantity discounts, tariff escalation, and the joint influence of inventory holding costs and tariff costs). Simulation results, accompanied by policy heatmaps and performance metrics, illustrate how small or large shifts in exchange rates and tariffs can alter sourcing strategies, transportation modes, and inventory management. A Deep Q-Network (DQN) is also applied to validate the Q-learning policy, demonstrating alignment with a more advanced neural model for moderate-scale problems. These findings underscore the adaptability of reinforcement learning in guiding practitioners and policymakers, especially under rapidly changing trade environments where exchange rate volatility and incremental tariff changes demand robust, data-driven decision-making