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Khent (the fool): an Armenian utopian vision compared to Ottoman-Turkish utopias
No full textThis chapter focuses on the Armenian writer Raffi (Hakob Melik Hakobian) and his novel Khent, the last chapter of which presents a utopian vision of the future of Armenians in the late 19th century. As an early example of the impact of nationalist tendencies on utopian imagination, Raffi’s work bears similar characteristics to Turkish nationalist/Islamist utopian works produced in the early 20th century.
The chapter suggests that Raffi’s work sees Turks as the arch-enemy of the Armenian nation. Several Turkish nationalist/Islamist utopian works that will be referred to, in return, present Armenians and other non-Muslim minorities as the enemy of the Turkish nation. However, although they present each other as their adversaries, their ways of thinking and identity construction strikingly resemble each other
A statistical and predictive framework for evaluating temperature effects on lithium-ion battery lifespan
No full textLithium-ion batteries are fundamentally applied in electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and renewable energy systems. Among operational factors, temperature strongly influences efficiency, safety, and longevity. This study presents a data-driven investigation of the thermal impact on battery performance using life-cycle data from NASA's Prognostics Center of Excellence and the Hawai'i Natural Energy Institute (HNEI). After preprocessing and feature engineering from charge, discharge, and impedance cycles, we performed hypothesis testing with Pearson and Spearman correlations, t-tests, and ANOVA. Results confirm strong inverse relationships between battery temperature and key metrics, including discharge time, capacity, and remaining useful life (RUL). The main contribution is a two-stage predictive modeling pipeline. First, battery temperature is estimated from discharge time and capacity using a multivariate linear regression model (R2 = 0.88, RMSE = 0.25). The predicted temperature is then used in a second model to estimate RUL, achieving high predictive performance (R2 = 0.98, RMSE = 25.95 cycles). Close agreement with an oracle baseline using true temperature confirms that error propagation is minimal and the pipeline is robust. This interpretable framework enables sensorless thermal inference and reliable integration into thermally aware battery management systems. The proposed methodology offers a reproducible framework for predictive diagnostics.
Thermal effects degrade performanceTemperature reduces battery life, efficiency, and discharge performance.Strong inverse trends observedDischarge time and capacity decrease as battery temperature increases.Two-stage predictive model developedBattery lifespan can be predicted from temperature and discharge behavior.Sensor-free temperature estimationA two-step model estimates temperature without thermal sensors.Supports real-world battery managementThis method supports smarter, sensorless battery management systems
Design of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) and poly(ethylene glycol) microneedle arrays for delivering glycosaminoglycan, chondroitin sulfate, and hyaluronic acid
No full textOsteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent joint disorder characterized by cartilage and bone degradation. Medical therapies like glucosaminoglycan (GAG), chondroitin sulfate (CS), and hyaluronic acid (HA) aim to preserve joint function and reduce inflammation but may cause side effects when administered orally or via injection. Microneedle arrays (MNAs) offer a localized drug delivery method that reduces side effects. Thus, this study aims to demonstrate the feasibility of delivering GAG, CS, and HA using microneedles in vitro. An optimal needle geometry is crucial for the successful application of MNA. To address this, here we employ a multi-objective optimization framework using the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) to determine the ideal MNA design, focusing on preventing needle failure. Then, a three-step fabrication approach is followed to fabricate the MNAs. First, the master (male) molds are fabricated from poly(methyl methacrylate) using mechanical micromachining based on optimized needle geometry. Second, a micro-molding with Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is used for the fabrication of production (female) molds. In the last step, the MNAs were fabricated by microcasting the hydrogels using the production molds. Light microscopy (LIMI) confirms the accuracy of the MNAs manufactured, and in vitro skin insertion tests demonstrate failure-free needle insertion. Subsequently, we confirmed the biocompatibility of MNAs by evaluating their impact on the L929 fibroblast cell line, human chondrocytes, and osteoblasts
A behavioural test of depression-related probability bias
No full textIndividuals high in depressive symptom severity show probability bias: they believe negative events are relatively probable, and positive events relatively improbable, compared to those with less severe symptoms. However, this has only ever been demonstrated using self-report measures, in which participants explicitly estimate events’ probabilities: this leaves open the risk that “probability bias” is merely an artefact of response bias. We tested the veracity of probability bias using an indirect behavioural measure, based on a sentence-reading task. Study 1 tested 112 Turkish students; Study 2 tested 117 international users of online groups for people with depressive and anxiety disorders. As predicted, participants with higher depressive symptom scores responded relatively quickly to sentences stating negative events might occur, and relatively slowly to sentences stating positive events might occur, compared to those with lower scores. This effect was only marginal in Study 1, but reached significance in Study 2. However, contrary to predictions, this effect was not moderated by the probability level stated in the sentence. This makes our findings difficult to interpret, and we must present these studies as a failure to convincingly demonstrate depression-related probability bias. We hope this stimulates more work on the nature and veracity of probability bias
The best possible self task has direct effects on expectancies and mood, and an indirect effect on anxiety symptom severity
No full textThe Best Possible Self task (BPS) is one of the best studied positive psychology interventions, and robustly improves optimism (expectancies) and mood. However, few studies have examined whether the task primarily affects expectancies, which then improve mood, or whether it primarily improves mood, which then affects expectancies. From 2023 to 2024, we conducted a well-powered, preregistered randomized controlled trial, with 240 unselected students at a private university in Istanbul. Mediation analyses showed that, at posttest, the BPS had large direct effects on positive expectancies, negative expectancies, and positive mood; and a small indirect effect on negative mood via negative expectancies. At 1-week follow-up (N = 202), the BPS had a small-to-medium effect on positive expectancies, which mediated a similar-sized effect on anxious symptom severity. These results indicate that the BPS affects both expectancies and mood, but its effects on expectancies are longer lasting, and can lead to improvements in anxiety symptoms. More research is needed into the mechanisms of the BPS’s effects in other populations, and especially into its possible benefits for people with anxiety
On the classification of non-exceptional APN functions
No full textAn almost perfect non-linear (APN) function over F2n is called exceptional APN if it remains APN over infinitely many extensions of F2n . Exceptional APN functions have attracted attention of many researchers in the last decades. While the classification of exceptional APN monomials has been done by Hernando and McGuire, it has been conjectured by Aubry, McGuire and Rodier that up to equivalence, the only exceptional APN functions are the Gold and the Kasami–Welch monomial functions. Since then, many partial results have been on classifying non-exceptional APN polynomials. In this paper, for the classification of the exceptional property of APN functions, we introduce a new method that uses techniques from curves over finite fields. Then, we apply the method with Eisenstein’s irreducibility criterion and Kummer’s theorem to obtain new non-exceptional APN functions
Preparation and characterization of chitosan/zeolite composites for Reactive Orange 122 dye removal from aqueous media: isotherm and kinetic studies
No full textThe present study aimed to reduce environmental pollution by using a natural and cheap adsorbent for the removal of Reactive Orange 122, an anionic dye harmful to the environment, from wastewater in the textile industry. The zeolite mineral, abundant in Turkey, easily accessible, and cost-effective, was first utilized for this purpose. However, it was concluded that sufficient adsorption was not provided in the treatment of reactive dyes due to the structure of the natural zeolite mineral. Therefore, to increase the adsorption efficiency of zeolite minerals, published techniques were utilized to modify it with chitosan, and chitosan/zeolite composite was prepared. The adsorbents were characterized by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis. The study also examined the influence of various parameters including pH, contact time, and temperature on the adsorption of RO122 dye. Furthermore, the adsorption equilibrium was analyzed by evaluating kinetic and isotherm models. In comparison to the pseudo first-order model, the pseudo-second-order model was determined to be the best-fitting model with a coefficient of determination of 0.999. The study also examined two isotherm models, namely Langmuir and Freundlich, to adjust the equilibrium data to achieve optimal alignment. The Freundlich model demonstrated superior efficacy as an adsorption isotherm compared to the Langmuir isotherm model, as evidenced by a coefficient of determination (R 2) of 0.9941
Graphene effects on Populus nigra: assessment of sex-specific adaptive responses by in vitro culture
No full textThe application of graphene-related materials (GRMs) has increased considerably in various fields, posing a potential environmental risk. However, little is known about sex-related responses to GRMs in dioecious woody plants and in that regard, callus culture represents a reliable tool for toxicity and tolerance studies. In this work, the effects of different concentrations of graphene oxide (GO) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) on physiological traits of male and female clones of Populus nigra were investigated. After a 3-week treatment, at high concentrations, GO promoted in female calli, an increase in fresh weight and a reduction in protein content, accompanied by a remarkable enhancement of APX and CAT activity while no toxic effect was observed under GNP treatment. Instead, male cells displayed a greater sensitivity at lower GO concentration (25 mg/L), exhibiting a notable reduction in biomass, nutrient uptake and protein content, associated to an increase in APX and CAT activity. Similarly, at 25 mg/L, GNP caused a slight enhancement in lipid peroxidation (MDA) level and a significant decrease in protein content, accompanied by an increase in the production of flavonoids. These findings revealed sexually different responses to GO and GNP, with female clone exhibiting more tolerance compared to male one
Homological Invariants Of Squarefree Powers Of Simplicial Trees
Get PDFIn this thesis, we study the squarefree powers of facet ideals associated with simplicialtrees. Specifically, we examine the linearity of their minimal free resolution andtheir regularity. Additionally, we investigate when the first syzygy module of squarefreepowers of facet ideal of a simplicial tree is generated by linear relations. Finally,we provide a combinatorial formula for the regularity of the squarefree powers oft-path ideals of path graphs
Formal yet ineffective opposition coordination under competitive authoritarianism: nation alliance in Turkey
No full textPre-electoral opposition coordination is the most effective strategy to counter contemporary forms of autocratisation. While scholars have recently begun to explore the factors that lead to the formation of pre-electoral alliances in competitive authoritarian regimes, the high variation in terms of their composition and effectiveness is generally neglected in the existing scholarship. There is a lack of research on why some inter-party coalitions have limited effectiveness in the electoral arena while others nominate optimal candidates through routinised and transparent procedures and run cohesive campaigns. Through a detailed analysis of the Nation Alliance (2018–2023) in Turkey, we argue that in the context of high regime vulnerability, power asymmetry between alliance partners and a high level of leadership control over candidate nomination in opposition parties hinder the potential effectiveness of formal pre-electoral alliances