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

A comparative study on the fatty acid profiles of total lipid, neutral and polar lipids in the liver and muscle of Capoeta sieboldii (Steindachner, 1864) and Capoeta baliki (Turan, Kottelat, Ekmekçi, Imamoğlu, 2006) from Tödürge lake (Sivas, Turkey)

The fatty acid compositions of the total lipid, neutral and polar lipid fractions in the liver and muscle of Capoeta sieboldii and Capoeta baliki from Tödürge Lake were determined. Major fatty acids found in total lipid (TL) and neutral lipid (NL) in liver and muscles were C16:0, C16:1 n-7, C18:1 n-9, C18:1 n-7, C20:4 n-6, C20:5 n-3, C22:5 n-3, and C22:6 n-3. Beside these acids, C18:0 was another notable fatty acid in polar lipid (PL) fraction of the tissues investigated. The n-3/n-6 ratio, which is an indicator of health benefits of fish oils, was between 2.89 (PLs of liver) and 5.84 (PLs of muscle) in C. baliki, while it was found between 1.43 (PLs of liver) and 2.52 (NLs of muscle) in C. sieboldii. C. baliki was the excellent species in terms of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels in TL (43.92% in muscle) and PLs (52.94% in muscle) and C22:6 n-3 amounts (docosahexaenoic acid; DHA) were responsible for these high percentages. These results suggest that Capoeta species investigated have high nutritive value in terms of polyunsaturated fatty acids for human nutrition

Determinants of Competitiveness in European Regions: A Test of the Emerald Model

This study assesses the impact of the dimensions of the emerald model on regional competitiveness and contributes to the competitiveness literature in moving ahead to establishing causal links with its determinants. Data is collected from 2000 to 2011 for 97 NUTS-1 regions in Europe, and multiple regression analysis is performed. The results suggest that in the long term (eight-year time period) ownership attractiveness is the most influential dimension of the model, followed by talent attractiveness, educational attractiveness, R&D and innovation attractiveness, cluster attractiveness in technology & knowledge-based sectors, and environmental attractiveness. Cluster attractiveness in all sectors does not have a significant impact, while knowledge dynamics has a negative impact on competitiveness

Women in Management Research: Theoretical Perspectives

Abstract: The purpose of this literature review is to analyze the different theoretical approaches in female leadership in the global arena. The literature review comprises peer-reviewed journal articles, white papers, conference proceedings and institutional reports by multilateral organizations on the topic of women in management and career barriers for women. Firstly, we examine the theory of Fagenson, and afterward biological models, socialization models, and structural/cultural models in an organization will be discussed

The south-eastern Anatolia project (GAP) in Turkey and Middle East in terms of economic, strategic and politic

The South-eastern Anatolia Region has political, economic, commercial and strategically importance as well as religious due to the fact that it has been used as settlement, and hosted for divine religions. This region is on the historical Silk Road, and Turkey part of the Mesopotamia, which means to the land between two rivers in Latin, composed of fertile soil and located in a geographical place where the energy resources roads crosses. There have been significant delays in the realization of the South-eastern Anatolia Project (GAP) due to the some external factors. In this study, we discuss political, economic, and strategically importance of the GAP project. In Turkey, background of the GAP is based on the Keban Dam Project in 1930s. GAP was firstly planned as irrigation and hydroelectric power plant (HEPP) projects on the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. This project was transformed to multipurpose regional development program after 1980s. The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers represent over 28% of the nation’s water supply by rivers, and the economically irrigable areas in the region make up 20% of those for the entry country. Turkey has a total gross hydropower potential of 433 billion kWh/year, but only 125 billion kWh/year of the total hydroelectric potential of Turkey can be economically used. By the construction of new hydropower plants, 36% of the economically usable potential of the country would be tapped. The GAP region has a 22% share of the country’s total hydroelectric potential, with plans for 22 dams and 19 hydroelectric power plants, installed capacity with 7500 MW. Once completed, 27 billion kWh of electricity will be generated annually. GAP also constitutes 21% irrigation potential of Turkey together with the irrigation area having approximately two millions hectare

Development of hydropower energy in two adjacent basins (northeast of turkey)

The main objective in doing the present study is to investigate the sustainable development ofhydropower plants in two adjacent basins being located in northeast of Turkey, which are the Coruhriver basin being the least problem river of Turkey in respect to international cooperation as comparedwith Turkey's other trans-boundary waters and the Eastern Black Sea Basin (EBSB) having greatadvantages from the view point of small hydropower potential or hydropower potential without storage among 25 hydrological basins in Turkey. The contribution of the hydropower energy potentialin these basins to reconstruction of Turkey electricity structure is investigated and a comparison inbetween is carried out. Finally, it is found that the EBSB will be corresponded from 8.3% and 10.3%of nowadays total electricity energy production and net electricity consumption of Turkey, while Coruh river basin will provide 7.40% and 9.19% of total electric generation and electricity consumption of Turkey, respectively, after all hydropower projects within these basins are commissioned. In other words, one-fifth of Turkey's electricity consumption will be met from northeast of Turkey. For this reason, development studies and investments in the hydropower sector should be encouraged and supported and projects within these basins should be put into operation assoon as possible

The pattern of malocclusion in a sample of orthodontic patients from Turkey

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of individual traits of malocclusion in a sample of Turkish orthodontic patients. Study design: The present study was based on the examination of dental casts, intraoral photographs and panoramic radiographs of 1507 orthodontic patients (884 females and 623 males). The relationship of the first upper and lower molars according to the Angle?s classification, overjet, overbite, crowding, spacing, posterior crossbite, scissor bite, maxillary median diastema were examined. The Pearson chi-squared and Fisher?s Exact tests were used to determine potential differences in the distribution of malocclusion when stratified by gender. Results: The study demonstrated that only 52 (3.5%) of the subjects had normal occlusion. Class I malocclusion was found in 626 (41.5%), Class II Division 1 in 435 (28.9%), Class II Division 2 in 142 (9.4%) and Class III malocclusion in 252 (16.7%) subjects of all examined. Normal overbite, normal overjet, crossbite on both sides and severe crowding in the upper dental arch were observed more frequently in females (P<.05), however, increased overbite and moderate crowding in the upper dental arch were observed more frequently in males (P<.05). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that crowding in the upper and lower dental arches in a sample of Turkish population was the most frequent of all anomalies recorded with ranges of 70.0% and 47.3%, respectively

Domain Walls and Anchoring Transitions Mimicking Nematic Biaxiality in the Oxadiazole Bent-Core Liquid Crystal C7

We investigate the origin of secondary disclinations that were recently described as a new evidence of a biaxial nematic phase in an oxadiazole bent-core thermotropic liquid crystal C7. With an assortment of optical techniques such as polarizing optical microscopy, LC PolScope, and fluorescence confocal polarizing microscopy, we demonstrate that the secondary disclinations represent non-singular domain walls formed in an uniaxial nematic during the surface anchoring transition, in which surface orientation of the director changes from tangential (parallel to the bounding plates) to tilted. Each domain wall separates two regions with the director tilted in opposite azimuthal directions. At the centre of the wall, the director remains parallel to the bonding plates. The domain walls can be easily removed by applying a modest electric field. The anchoring transition is explained by the balance of (a) the intrinsic perpendicular surface anchoring produced by the polyimide aligning layer and (b) tangential alignment caused by ionic impurities forming electric double layers. The model is supported by the fact that the temperature of the tangential-tilted anchoring transition decreases as the cell thickness increases and as the concentration of ionic species (added salt) increases. We also demonstrate that the surface alignment is strongly affected by thermal degradation of the samples. The study shows that C7 exhibits only a uniaxial nematic phase and demonstrate yet another mechanism (formation of secondary disclinations) by which a uniaxial nematic can mimic a biaxial nematic behaviour.Comment: 21 pages, 9 Figures, 1 Tabl

Formiranje policikličkih ugljikohidrata tijekom procesa dimljenja sira

The smoking process determines the characteristic flavour, odour, colour and texture of several cheese varieties. Some smoke compounds are known to have bacteriostatic and antioxidant effects, and may act as preservatives. Smoked cheese is appreciated by consumers due to its sensorial properties. However, with smoking process there is a risk of formation of toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This review emphasises the occurrence of polycyclic hydrocarbons on smoked cheeses and their health impacts.Dimljenje određuje specifičnost arome, mirisa, boje i tekstura nekim vrstama sira. Poznata su bakteriostatska i antioksidativna svojstva za neke spojeve dima, te mnogi među tim spojevima imaju konzervirajući učinak. Dimljeni su sirevi cijenjeni među konzumentima zbog svojih senzorskih osobina. Međutim, postupkom dimljenja postoji određeni rizik za nastajanje otrovnih policikličkih aromatskih ugljikohidrata (PAU). Ovaj pregledni članak naglašava pojavu policikličkih ugljikohidrata u sirevima i njihov utjecaj na zdravlje konzumenata