Learning Wavefront Coding for Extended Depth of Field Imaging

Depth of field is an important factor of imaging systems that highly affects the quality of the acquired spatial information. Extended depth of field (EDoF) imaging is a challenging ill-posed problem and has been extensively addressed in the literature. We propose a computational imaging approach for EDoF, where we employ wavefront coding via a diffractive optical element (DOE) and we achieve deblurring through a convolutional neural network. Thanks to the end-to-end differentiable modeling of optical image formation and computational post-processing, we jointly optimize the optical design, i.e., DOE, and the deblurring through standard gradient descent methods. Based on the properties of the underlying refractive lens and the desired EDoF range, we provide an analytical expression for the search space of the DOE, which is instrumental in the convergence of the end-to-end network. We achieve superior EDoF imaging performance compared to the state of the art, where we demonstrate results with minimal artifacts in various scenarios, including deep 3D scenes and broadband imaging

Market entry strategies in the Turkish automotive industry

Initial and subsequent market entry mode choices of multinational enterprises (MNEs) depend on MNE managers’ perceptions of the potential to capture additional competitiveness by internalizing their unique firm-specific advantages (FSAs), also called ownership (O)-specific advantages, together with the host countries’ country-specific advantages (CSAs) also called location (L)-specific advantages (Dunning 1988; Hennart 2009; Rugman et al. 2012). During the last decade we observe a significant shift of automotive production in Europe from the West to the East, and Turkey has been one of the major beneficiaries of this change. In this paper we analyze the roots of Turkey’s evolving CSAs and try to understand their differing impacts on market entry strategies of MNEs in the automotive industry with the help of the diamond model (Porter 1990). We apply a longitudinal approach in our empirical study and focus on developments in the period between the years 2000 and 2010. We find out that Turkey’s national diamond has improved over the decade led by improving political leadership and stability, as well as institutional reforms and consequent economic stability following the banking crisis in 2001. We also find out that the country’s diamond has strengthened by the implementation of the customs union in 1996 and the beginning of membership negotiations with the European Union (EU) in 2005. Despite the fact that these developments have led to a fast growth of the automotive industry in Turkey, we notice that MNEs have responded differently in their market entry strategies, and these differences rely on the match of their strategic positions and market entry motives with CSAs. Based on our observations we make clear propositions that link market entry choices to generic strategies and market entry motives. We recommend further similar longitudinal research in different countries and industries to test our findings

The effects of social media on public movements in Arab Spring

At the very beginning of the 21st century, social media platforms were the determinants of the social events that took the form of regional uprising, which were triggered by the dictatorial regimes in Egypt, Libya, Syria, Bahrain, Algeria, Jordan, Yemen and particularly Tunisia and which would later be called the "Arab Spring". Talking about its role is inevitable in terms of pointing out the importance of technology for future generations. In addition to the contribution of technology to communication and improvement of human relations in social life, it has also emerged as an undeniable fact that transforming the organizational culture in the point of resistance against oppression

The Determinants of Capital Structure: Evidence from Turkish Panel Data

The aim of thisstudy is to reveal the determinants of capital structure. In the study, thefactors affecting capital structure are examined by testing 75 Turkishmanufacturing firms traded on Borsa Istanbul, with 375 observations from 2010to 2014. This studymakes contribution to the empirical literature in the context of emergingeconomies.In this study, different levels of leverage are employed as proxiesfor capital structure. Using Short Term Debt, Long Term Debt and Total Debt asproxies for capital structure on panel data analysis, the significantrelationship is found between independent variables used in models and capitalstructure. Profitability, size, growth, maturity, dividend yield,tangibility, and non debt tax shield are used as the firm’s specific variablesthat affect a firm’s capital structure decision. General evaluation suggests that the obtained resultsconform to trade off theory better than pecking-order theory.In addition,modified Altman's Z score is employed as proxy for bankruptcy risk. UsingAltman’s Z-score model as a foundation, this study explores whether financialdistress affect on debt capacity or not. According to results of the study,bankruptcy risk is inversely related with capital structure. Consistent withmuch of the previous literature, it is found that riskier firms have lowerleverage.Keywords: Altman Z-Score, Pecking Order Theory,Trade off Theory

The effect of long-term bimanual training on arm selection during reaching tasks

Handedness is viewed either as a preference or an asymmetry in sensorimotor performance. It has been shown that there is a relation between sensorimotor performance and hand selection. This relation is affected by the manipulation of sensory feedback, suggesting an effect of task condition on hand selection, and by a unimanual athletic training. Thus, in the current study, the aim was to find out if arm selection and symmetry were affected by a long-term bimanual practice with respect to motor performance. Right-handed rowers and non-rowers were tested on sensorimotor performance for both arms and its correspondence to plausible changes in the pattern of hand selection during a reaching task. EZ Kinetics KineReach System (2014) was used for data collection. It was hypothesized that the rowers would express less interlimb asymmetry compared to the non-rowers, which in turn, would lead them to display a different pattern of hand selection. Consistent with the hypothesis, the rowers improved their relative performance for both arms, thus performance appeared to be more symmetrical for the rowers than for the non-rowers. Symmetric performance for the rowers led them to have more symmetrical hand choices compared to the non-rowers. Arm selection resulting from interlimb performance differences can be affected by a long-term bimanual practice

The connected graphs obtained from finite projective planes

In this paper, we give a method of obtaining graphs from finite projective planes, by using an approach based method of taking each line of such a plane as a path graph. All the graphs obtained with the help of this method are connected and some properties of these graphs are determined

COMPARISON OF EXAMPLES OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE CASES IN TURKISH AND BRITISH MEDIA: PROTECTION OF CHILDREN’S RIGHTS

This study compares news articles which have documented child sex abuse cases in the Turkish and UK press in terms of their lexical choices and the level of details which they conceal in order to protect the rights of the child. The aim is to shed light on the significance afforded to the protection of children in both countries. Furthermore, the causes and consequences of child sex abuse will be discussed in their social context with mention of the various laws and penalties enforced to deter such acts

TMEM27: A Cleaved and Shed Plasma Membrane Protein That Stimulates Pancreatic Beta Cell Proliferation

The signals and the molecular mechanisms that regulate the replication of terminally differentiated β cells are unclear. In this thesis I report the identification of a gene encoding transmembrane protein 27 (TMEM27) in pancreatic β cells. Expression of Tmem27 is reduced in Tcf1–/– mice, which exhibit defects in proliferation, and is increased in islets of ob/ob, db/db and aP2- Srebp-1c transgenic mice with marked hypertrophy of the endocrine pancreas. Tmem27 is expressed in hormone positive cells at early stages of pancreas development and becomes restricted to pancreatic β cells in the mature pancreas. Biochemical characterization revealed that the Tmem27 exists as a dimer and that its extracellular domain is glycosylated, cleaved and shed from the plasma membrane. The cleavage process of Tmem27 is β cell-specific and does not occur in other cell types. Overexpression of full-length Tmem27, but not the truncated or soluble protein, in MIN6 cells leads to increased thymidine incorporation, whereas silencing of Tmem27 using RNAi results in a reduction of cell replication. Furthermore, transgenic mice with increased expression of Tmem27 in pancreatic β cells exhibit increased β cell mass compared to their control littermates. The following results identify a novel pancreatic β cell-shed protein that regulates cell growth of pancreatic islets

Removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products from aqueous solutions with metal-organic frameworks

This thesis focused on synthesising metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and using them in liquid phase adsorption because of their tunable textural and chemical functional properties. Zirconium based MOFs, Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks (ZIFs) and MIL (Matérial Institut Lavoisier) family of MOFs have gained particular attention for many potential applications owing to their exceptionally high chemical, thermal and mechanical stability. The aim of this research was to determine MOFs`s viability as adsorbents for the remediation of water contaminated with pharmaceuticals, personal care products and also endocrine disrupting compounds, a known emerging class of organic contaminants. Removal of pharmaceutical compounds and endocrine disrupting compounds from water is of utmost importance due to the need for clean water and pollution prevention/mitigation. The selected MOFs, ZIF-8, UiO-66, UiO-67 and MIL-100(Fe) were synthesised. The materials were characterised using standard characterisation techniques including: Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), N2 sorption isotherm at 77 K and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The materials were evaluated by batch adsorption experiments for the adsorptive removal of atrazine (pesticide), carbamazepine (antiepileptic), triclosan (antibacterial) and a binary mixture of carbamazepine and atrazine with having different hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity and kinetic diameter. Moreover, the regenerability of MOFs was investigated for the removal of range of organic contaminants of interest in this thesis. The observed results revealed that the MOF materials have potential use as promising adsorbents in treatment of contaminated water

The Effect of Empathy Levels of Female School of Physical Education and Sports Students on Problem Solving Skill Levels

This research is made in order to find whether the empathy levels of female school of physical education and sports students’ effect on problem solving skills by detecting their empathy and problem solving skills and by exhibiting whether the empathy and problem solving skills differ from according to demographic characteristics. In the research, The Empathic Tendency Scale developed by Dökmen (1988) and The Problem Solving Inventory developed by Heppner and Peterson (1982) adapted into Turkish by Sahin, Sahin, and Heppner (1993) is used on the 167 female students studying at Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University school of Physical Education and Sports in the 2019-2020 academic year. The correlation analysis is done with t and one way Anova tests in the evaluation of the gathered data’s because of the gathered data’s show parametric distribution. As a result of the research, the empathy levels of the students who attended the research is x= 68,8323 and problem solving skills are detected as x=92,2814. Also it is detected that, the female students included in the research have empathy and problem solving skills over intermediate level and empathy levels effect problem solving skills