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Modernist İkiliklerin Reddinin Yeni Ortak Akıl Olarak Kabulü: Modern Fizik ve Kültürel Çalışmalarda Kanonlaşma
Modernist dikotomilerin, özellikle de Kartezyen özne-nesne ayrımının reddi, çağdaş bilim ve bilgi çalışmalarında, yeni materyalizm içinde ise daha belirgin olmak üzere, baskın bir tema haline gelmiştir. Birçok çağdaş kuramcı, hem doğa bilimleri ile beşeri bilimler arasındaki ortak söylemsel alanı vurgulayarak hem de modernist ikiliklerin karşılıklı reddine işaret ederek, bu alanlar arasında epistemolojik bir kesişim noktası kurmayı amaçlamaktadır. Kültürel çalışmalar ve kuantum fiziği, moderniteye kök salmış olan bu ikilikleri aşan disiplinler olarak sıklıkla görülür. Benim araştırmam, böyle bir bilimsel dönüşümün anlatılıp anlatılmadığını ve eğer anlatılıyorsa, bunun nasıl tasvir edildiğini sorgulamaktadır. Yeni materyalist yaklaşımların aksine, ki bunlar sıklıkla bilimi soyut haliyle inceler, bu çalışma, yaygın olarak kullanılan akademik ders kitapları aracılığıyla bilginin kanonlaşma sürecine odaklanmaktadır. Bu amaçla, iki temel ders kitabı analiz edilmiştir: Arthur Beiser'ın Concepts of Modern Physics (Modern Fizik Kavramları) ve Longhurst ve diğerlerinin Introducing Cultural Studies (Kültürel Çalışmalara Giriş). Bu makale, Gaston Bachelard'ın analitik çerçevesini, özellikle de "epistemolojik engel" ve "epistemolojik kopuş" kavramlarını kullanarak, söz konusu kitapların bilgi üretimindeki dönüşümü, özellikle de modernist paradigmalardan çağdaş anlayışlara geçişi nasıl anlattığını incelemektedir. Analizden üç temel bulgu ortaya çıkmaktadır. İlk olarak, her iki ders kitabı da modernist, Kartezyen özneden bir kopuşu anlatır. Ancak, her ikisi de açıklamalarının altında yatan mantıkta modernist perspektife sıkı sıkıya bağlı kalmaya devam eder. Son olarak, modernist mantık sürerken, başlangıçta modernist olan kavramlar, çoğullaştırma ve tikelilleştirme yoluyla önemli dönüşümlere uğrar. Longhurst'un kitabında, sosyal olguların karmaşıklığı sıklıkla yaş, cinsiyet, sınıf ve ırk gibi sabit kimlikler olarak ele alınan, özcüleştirilmiş bir dizi değişkene indirgenir. Beiser'ın kitabında ise, kuantum olgularının belirsiz ve koşullu karakteri, Planck sabiti gibi birkaç mutlak sabite ve bu sabitlerden türetilen, foton soğurumu, salım modları ve atomik orbital enerji seviyeleri gibi önceden tanımlanmış etkilere damıtılmıştır. Amacım, modernist mantığın reddinin, ders kitaplarında kanonlaşmış yeni ortak akıl olduğunu, ancak bu sürecin basit bir reddetme yerine, modernist kavramların karmaşık bir şekilde yeniden üretilmesini ve tikelilleştirilmesini içerdiğini göstermektir.The rejection of modernist dichotomies, particularly the Cartesian subject-object divide, has become a dominant theme in contemporary science and knowledge studies, especially within new materialism. Many contemporary theorists seek to establish an epistemological intersection between the hard sciences and the humanities by emphasizing their shared discursive space and mutual rejection of modernist binaries. Cultural studies and quantum physics are often seen as disciplines that transcend the binaries rooted in modernity. My research asks whether such a scientific transformation is narrated and, if so, how it is portrayed. Unlike new materialist approaches, which frequently study science in its abstract form, this research focuses on the canonization of knowledge through widely-used scholarly textbooks. To this end, two seminal textbooks are analyzed: Concepts of Modern Physics by Arthur Beiser and Introducing Cultural Studies by Longhurst et al. Using Gaston Bachelard’s analytical framework, particularly his concepts of the "epistemological obstacle" and "epistemological break," this paper explores how these texts narrate the transformation of knowledge production, especially in the shift from modernist paradigms to contemporary understandings. Three key findings emerge from this analysis. First, both textbooks narrate a break from the modernist, Cartesian subject. However, they remain firmly rooted in the modernist perspective within the underlying logic of their explanations. Lastly, while the modernist logic persists, the originally modernist concepts undergo significant transformations through multiplication and particularization. In Longhurtst’s textbook, the complexity of social phenomena is often reduced to a set of essentialized variables—such as age, gender, class, and race—which are treated as fixed identities. In Beiser’s textbook, the indeterminate and contingent characteristics of quantum phenomena are distilled into a few absolute constants—such as Planck's constant—and pre-defined effects derived from these constants, including photon absorption, emission modes, and atomic orbital energy levels. I aim to show that the rejection of modernist logic is the new common-sense canonized in textbooks but this process involves the complex reproduction and particularization of modernist concepts instead of simple rejection.</section
Numerical investigation of single and multiple DBD plasma actuators integration on airfoils at low Reynolds number
The growing interest in unmanned air vehicles necessitates effective flow control techniques for the low Reynolds number regime. While Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) plasma actuators offer a promising solution, the current understanding of their use in this regime is limited and less comprehensive, as most research has focused on higher Reynolds numbers. This study numerically investigates the flow control potential of DBD plasma actuators on an airfoil at a low Reynolds number, focusing on both single and multiple actuator configurations. For a single actuator, positioning near the trailing edge resulted in an approximately \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}\end{document} increase in the maximum lift coefficient and reduced the stall angle from 10 to \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}\end{document}. A multiple actuator configuration consisting of seven electrode pairs produced a lift coefficient increase of at least \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}\end{document} compared to the actuator off case, while the maximum lift coefficient was enhanced by \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}\end{document}. This configuration also delayed stall by an additional \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}\end{document} and reduced pressure drag at deep stall angles by approximately \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}\end{document}
Sedimentation rate and chronology of Çınarcık Basin, the Marmara Sea
The Çınarcık Basin, the deepest point of the sea at 1270 m, is an important area for the accumulation and preservation of sediments and serves a natural archive for environmental change. In this study, unlike previous studies, short-term sedimentation trends in the basin are presented for the last century. To establish a reliable 210Pb chronology, CRS and CIC Models were applied to process the 210Pb data and validation was done from records of fallout 137Cs. Models CRS and CIC were used because the profile distribution of lead does not decay exponentially. The mean sedimentation rates obtained from 210Pb dating were calculated as 0.36 cmy−1 (CRS) and 0.39 cmy−1 (CIC). 137Cs dating indicated rates of 0.39 cmy−1 at 14 cm depth (1986) and 0.33 cmy−1 at 19 cm depth (1963). In parallel with the developing industry in the region, sediment accumulation rates have shown an increasing trend in the last three decades
Exploring Conceptual Integration in Stem Education Through Scenario-Based Analysis
Conceptual Blending Theory (CBT), developed by Fauconnier and Turner (2002), provides a cognitive framework for understanding how individuals integrate knowledge from diverse domains to generate innovative solutions. This study applies CBT to analyze differences in conceptual integration levels among high school students enrolled in the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum and those following the national curriculum in Turkey. The research employs a scenario-based methodology, assessing students' interdisciplinary problem-solving skills in real-world STEM contexts. In addition, with this study the number of STEM disciplines that students draw upon when solving case-based problems will be analyzed. Findings contribute to discussions on curriculum design and interdisciplinary STEM education.STEM education plays a crucial role in preparing students for complex global challenges by fostering interdisciplinary competencies (National Research Council, 2014). While many countries, including the UK, Finland, and Belgium, have integrated STEM education policies (Banks & Barlex, 2020; Nadelson & Seifert, 2017), variations in curriculum structure significantly impact students' ability to connect knowledge across disciplines. This study examines the role of CBT in understanding these differences by comparing students from the IB and national curricula in Turkey.</p
Karl Polanyi and the “International Inequality Thesis”: Expounding the Thomas Piketty Connection
Resurgence of inequality as a major concern for economists after Thomas Piketty has not yet had its repercussions in the works that investigate the international picture from a political-economy perspective. While inequality is a “measurable” concept, analyzed usually by quantitative methods, we approach it through a complementary framework that pertains to “historical political economy.” The bases of what we consider the “international inequality thesis” (after the ever insightful Adam Smith) are the Marxian theory of value, the Prebisch-Singer thesis, and the concept of “uneven development” within the Structuralist and Dependency schools. These otherwise diverse foundations join forces in ascribing the source of international inequality to economic factors. After elaborating these foundations, Karl Polanyi’s The Great Transformation is re-read in this article to provide a basis for the study of inequality at the international level. Polanyi had three specific critiques of: i) the economistic treatment of “social costs” as exploitation, ii) the labor theory of value, and iii) the standard theory of international trade. Polanyi’s critiques are spelled out by mapping his “global institutionalism” with an emphasis on their implications for the study of global inequality, as distinct from and beyond international inequality. Polanyi’s vision is then associated with Piketty’s contribution
Inverse Airfoil Design Using Attention-Enhanced Deep Neural Networks
This paper presents an attention-enhanced deep learning-based framework for airfoil inverse design that leverages the PARSEC parameterization methodology. A model is developed to predict the PARSEC parameters that define a given airfoil shape using various aerodynamic coefficients as inputs. The model is obtained by training a neural network utilizing an aerodynamic database generated using XFOIL. The proposed model successfully predicts airfoil shapes, demonstrating its ability to capture the relationship between aerodynamic coefficients and airfoil geometries. By leveraging the attention mechanism, the model identified and prioritized critical input features, enhancing its robustness. Results showed that the model could generalize well across a variety of airfoil shapes
Data Mining on the Fundamental Factors Influencing Mathematics Achievement: Traditional and Modern Perspectives
Assessing achievement is a complex task due to its dependence on multiple factors and the hierarchical structure of educational data, yet surveys like TIMSS offer valuable insights into its determining factors like students' mathematics anxiety. However, disregarding the nested structure of data and ignoring the assumptions of models causes poor performance such as inaccurate predictions and biased estimates. Our research utilises linear mixed models (LMMs) and machine learning (ML) techniques (e.g., REEM-tree and GP boosting) especially chosen for their abilities to model nested data and capture non-linear relationships. This study is a pioneer in the literature as these ML algorithms are implemented for the first time in TIMSS. Accordingly, mathematical tendency and emotional factors are the two primary predictors of mathematics achievement across all methods, acknowledging the possibility of potential bias due to reliance on self-report responses. However, there are variations in the effect size of the students' origins among the methods. This indicates different algorithms yield distinct results according to their inner processes and priorities, such as revealing statistical significance of predictors or contributing to predictive performance. Moreover, gender has a negligible impact across all models in our analysis, caused by cultural differences in the sample. Overall, while LMMs are widely accepted, ML methods remain competitive alternatives in prediction and flexibility. All three methods yield similar benchmarks, yet ML methods offer slightly better performance in RMSE, MAE, and MAPE while exhibiting high predictive power and capturing nonlinearity and interaction. Although they take more computation time, parallel processing mitigates this in larger datasets. Consequently, ML methods and LMMs concurrently provide broader and more precise insights in terms of predictive and inferential gains