Moisture adsorption isotherms and thermodynamics properties of sucuk (Turkish dry-fermented sausage)

Moisture adsorption isotherms of sucuk were determined using the isopiestic method at 10 °C, 20 °C and 30 °C and within the range of 0.2-0.9 water activity. The isotherms of sucuk exhibited Type II behavior according to BET classification. The adsorption data were analyzed using mathematical equations of Halsey, Caurie, Peleg, Smith, Oswin, Henderson, Modified-BET, GAB, Ferro-Fontan and Harkins-Jura. The best fit of experimental data was obtained with Peleg equation in the range of temperatures and water activities investigated. Thermodynamic properties such as differential enthalpy and entropy, enthalpy-entropy compensation, spreading pressure, net integral enthalpy and entropy were determined from moisture adsorption isotherm data of sucuk. The net isosteric heat of sorption and differential entropy decreased with increasing moisture contents in an exponential function. The spreading pressure increased with increasing water activity, and decreased with increasing temperature. The net integral enthalpy decreased with increased moisture content. The integral entropy increased with moisture content, but it was negative in value. The enthalpy-entropy compensation theory was applied to water adsorption of sucuk.     

Highly Efficient,Bright, and Stable Colloidal Quantum Dot Short‐Wave Infrared Light‐Emitting Diodes

Unbalanced charge injection is deleterious for the performance of colloidal quantum dot (CQD) light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) as it deteriorates the quantum efficiency, brightness, and operational lifetime. CQD LEDs emitting in the infrared have previously achieved high quantum efficiencies but only when driven to emit in the low‐radiance regime. At higher radiance levels, required for practical applications, the efficiency decreased dramatically in view of the notorious efficiency droop. Here, a novel methodology is reported to regulate charge supply in multinary bandgap CQD composites that facilitates improved charge balance. The current approach is based on engineering the energetic potential landscape at the supra‐nanocrystalline level that has allowed to report short‐wave infrared PbS CQD LEDs with record‐high external quantum efficiency in excess of 8%, most importantly, at a radiance level of ≈5 W sr^?1 m², an order of magnitude higher than prior reports. Furthermore, the balanced charge injection and Auger recombination reduction has led to unprecedentedly high operational stability with radiance half‐life of 26 068 h at a radiance of 1 W sr^?1 m^?2.     

A probabilistic‐based approach for direction‐of‐arrival estimation and localization of multiple sources

This article contributes to science at two points. The first contribution is at a point of introducing a novel direction‐of‐arrival (DOA) estimation method which based on subspaces methods called Probabilistic Estimation of Several Signals (PRESS). The PRESS method provides higher resolution and DOA accuracy than current models. Second contribution of the article is at a point of localizing the unknown signal source. The process of localization achieved by using DOA information for the first time. The importance of localization exists in a large area of engineering applications. The aim is to determine the location of multiple sources by using PRESS with minimum effort of computation. We used the maximum probabilistic process in this study. Initially, all the signals are collected by the array of sensors and accurately identified using the proposed algorithm. The receiver at the best in test estimates the source location using only the knowledge of the geographical latitude and longitude values of the array of sensors. Several test points with an accurately calculated angle of arrival enable us to draw linear lines towards the transmitter. The transmitter location can be accurately identified with the line of interceptions. Simulation and numerical results show the outstanding performance of both the DOA estimation method and transmitter localization approach compared with many classical and new DOA estimation methods. The PRESS localization method first tested at 19°, 26°, and 35° with an signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) value of ‐5 dB. The PRESS method produced results with an extremely low bias of 0 and 0.00080°. The simulation tests are repeated and produced results with zero bias, which give the exact location of the unknown source.     

PESO: Probabilistic evaluation of subspaces orthogonality for wideband DOA estimation

Multidimensional Systems and Signal Processing - This paper introduces a novel direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation method for the closely related wideband sources. The new method estimates the...     

Effect of salt crystallization on stones of historical buildings and monuments,Konya, Central Turkey

In this study, we investigated the chemical and physical properties of the volcanic rocks used as building stones in historical places and monuments. The chemical weathering effect of salt crystallization on these stones was measured on the laboratory conditions (in most cases, used samples were very small). For this purpose, the dry weight loss (DWL) test was conducted. The rocks of dacite, andesite and tuffs of volcanic origin have different durability against salt crystallization. The most stable rocks are dacites (DWL 2.06%) which were used in the construction of Hittite monuments at Eflatun. The durability of the stones is closely related to their chemical, mineralogical, petrographical and mechanical properties. The stones used in the historical buildings are generally much more stable than present-day building stones.     

Foreign Ownership Restrictions: A Numerical Approach

In this paper, we analyze the reason behind the use of foreign ownership restrictions on inward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). We extend the results developed in Karabay (2005) by changing the condition on share distribution in the model. Due to this change, we are able to analyze the political economy aspect of this restrictive policy, i.e., we can study the effect of the host government’s welfare preference on the optimal foreign ownership restriction. Since the analytical solution to the optimal share restriction policy cannot be specified in general, we use a numerical approach based on collocation to approximate the solution to the problem. Within this framework, under certain conditions, it turns out that the rent extraction-efficiency trade-off is sharper the less the host government favors the local firm. We show that not only economic factors but also political factors play an important role in the determination of the foreign ownership restrictions. The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and are not necessarily reflective of views of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey. All errors are our own.     

An optimized device-to-device (D2D) blockchain network for the insurance industry

Blockchain, a popular technology, remains the decentralized data management framework approved for use by many industries. The application to the insurance industry needs to offer mobility using the wireless network. The wireless network has many limitations to overcome. This paper focuses on such problems and introduces three levels of a solution to the problem. The first level is resolved using the edge computers as storage at the agencies and the partners. The second level of economic operation is solved by introducing a D2D network solution. The third level of high transactions over the network is considered using a two-stage optimization method. The introduced optimization algorithms are simulated, and results are compared with a classical step-by-step calculation method that is not feasible under real-time application. The optimization methods successfully determine the maximum channel rate with the interferences influencing the operation of such a system.     

Evaluation of Natural Gas Supply Security in Turkey with Future Projection

Natural gas is one of the key energy resources for Turkey due to fact that 32% of annual primary energy supply and 45% of annual electricity production is obtained from natural gas with also common usage of residential and industrial zones. In this study, the supply security of natural gas was taken into consideration with strategic criteria of energy policy with the SWOT （strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats） analysis and the future projection for Turkey. It has been concluded on geopolitics criteria, domestic production and research for resources must be stimulated as high as possible and participation to abroad resources must be implemented.     

ANFIS-based prediction of moment capacity of reinforced concrete slabs exposed to fire

Reinforced concrete slabs, just as the other structural elements, are highly affected by the high temperatures. Due to the decrease in strength of reinforced concrete members under high temperature, bearing moment capacity of reinforced concrete slabs also decreases. In this study, a prediction model is investigated in order to determine the bearing moment capacities of reinforced concrete slabs under high temperature. Pre-calculated moment capacities of slabs exposed to fire are predicted by the implementation of adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and the prediction performance of ANFIS model is investigated. The bending capacities of slabs with different concrete characteristics and different times of exposure are calculated. High temperature resulting from the duration of fire exposure is calculated as a function of time in accordance with ISO 834. The temperature distribution inside the slab is determined by the adoption of a steady-state one-dimensional heat transfer. The slab was separated into slim slices and the heat in each slice is determined depending on the time of exposure. Forces and resistance of materials under fire exposure are calculated by applying the reduction coefficients in Eurocode 2. Results confirm the high prediction capability of ANFIS model.     

Regulation strictness and supply in the platform economy: the case of Airbnb and Couchsurfing

ABSTRACT

To what extent is regulation associated with supply in the platform economy (PE)? We address this research question by analyzing the relationship between the strictness of rules/laws in 59 U.S. cities and the number of short-stay accommodation offerings. We find that the stricter regulation is, the higher the supply in these platforms. We also investigate how the presence (or lack thereof) of money transactions in the platform affects this relationship. We discover that the presence of money transactions in these platforms negatively moderates the positive relationship between regulation strictness and the supply of short-stay accommodations. This paper contributes to the literature by investigating how aggregate supply in the PE is affected by legal uncertainties, thereby joining the debate on how digital platforms are reforming labor practices in major parts of the economy and industrial value chains.