Evaluation of social personalized adaptive E-Learning environments : end-user point of view

The use of adaptations, along with the social affordances of collaboration and networking, carries a great potential for improving e-learning experiences. However, the review of the previous work indicates current e-learning systems have only marginally explored the integration of social features and adaptation techniques. The overall aim of this research, therefore, is to address this gap by evaluating a system developed to foster social personalized adaptive e-learning experiences. We have developed our first prototype system, Topolor, based on the concepts of Adaptive Educational Hypermedia and Social E-Learning. We have also conducted an experimental case study for the evaluation of the prototype system from different perspectives. The results show a considerably high satisfaction of the end users. This paper reports the evaluation results from end user point of view, and generalizes our method to a component-based evaluation framework

Lobbying and Growth: Explaining Differences among OECD Countries

The paper is an attempt to observe the effects of the development of rent-seeking or lobbying groups on the growth pace of a number of countries. The relationship between the policy suggestions of competing interest groups, and economic policies implemented both at micro and macro level after the 1980s revealed the importance of lobbying effect on policies fostering or inhibiting most of the developing countries’ long-run growth levels. In addition to the vast literature on the positive theory of regulation and the theories of competition among the pressure groups, the current study is to provide some examples of the literature on lobbying and its effects on growth. Taking from Mancur Olson’s inspiring book, The Rise and Decline of Nations, this paper reviews the following literature and discussions with special emphasis on Gary Becker and Kevin M. Murphy’s works while adding an empirical component whether it is a panel or cross-country data analysis. Availability of the relevant data is a major concern due to the inconsistencies in measuring the size and effect of lobbying for each country. A set of countries including only the OECD members will constitute the subject of the empirical investigation. The dataset on the special interest groups is provided from K.G. Saur’s World Guide to Trade Associations as do the previous studies. For the purpose of the further research, some derivations and proposals would be provided to solve the puzzle. The study has the intuition that the development of lobbying powers is closely related to other political factors effective on growth rates such as democracy, civil society. Overall, the paper is to investigate the role of lobbying on growth rates on a multi-country level while implying the effects to change relatively in accordance with country specific effects. Thus the conclusion will state that depending on the country specific patterns, each OECD member exhibits slightly different effects of the relative size –by proxies- and number of business interest groups on growth due to the country specific effects. This work specifically focuses on Turkey which is shown to have negligible effect on the overall club members in terms of special interest groups on growth.Economic Policy, Growth, Development, Lobbying, Interest-group, Rent-seeking, Government Regulation

Assocative Photoproduction of Roper Resonance and ω\omega-Meson

Associative photoproduction of $\omega$-meson and $N^{*}(1440)$ on nucleons, $\gamma+N\to\omega+N^{*}(1440)$, in the near threshold region is investigated in a framework employing effective Lagrangians. Besides $\pi$-exchange in t-channel, baryon exchanges, i.e. N- and $N^{*}$-exchanges, in the s- and u-channels are also taken into account in calculations of differential cross-section and beam asymmetry. Important inputs of this model are the vector and tensor coupling constants of $\omega NN^{*}(1440)$-vertex, which are assumed to be equal to the values of these couplings for $\omega NN$ vertex. Using our previous estimation of $\omega NN$ coupling constants obtained from a fit to available experimental data on photoproduction of $\omega$ meson in the near threshold region, we produce the necessary numerical predictions for different observables in $\gamma+N\to\omega+N^{*}(1440)$. Numerical results shows that at low $|$t$|$ dominant contribution comes from t-channel $\pi$-exchange while effects of nucleon and $N^{*}(1440)$ pole terms can be seen at large $|t|$. Our predictions for the differential cross section and beam asymmetry for the processes $\gamma+N\to\omega+N^{*}(1440)$, where N is proton and neutron at $E_{\gamma}=2.5$ GeV are presented with zero width approximation and also with the inclusion of width effects of $N^{*}(1440)$.Comment: 20 Pages, Latex, 6 ps figure

Effects of single-particle potentials on the level density parameter

The new definition of the energy dependence for the level density parameter including collective effects depends strongly on the semi-classical approach. For this method, defining an accurate single-particle potential is of great importance. The effect of the single-particle potential terms, which are central, spin-orbit, harmonic oscillator, Woods-Saxon and Coulomb potential, both for spherical and deformed cases, on the level density parameter was investigated by examining the local success of the global parameterizations of eight different combinations of these terms. Among these combinations, the sum of the central, spin-orbit, harmonic oscillator and Coulomb potentials, gives the most accurate predictions compared with experimental data. The local selections of the global parameterizations show that the single-particle models, which are based on Woods-Saxon potential as the main term, are more suitable candidates than the models based on harmonic oscillator potential to extrapolate away far from stability. Also it can be concluded that the contribution of the Coulomb interaction, both around the closed and open shells is not neglectable.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures. Accepted for publication in European Physical Journal A (revised version matching the accepted one

Özallar'dan gecikmeli mal bildirimi

Taha Toros Arşivi, Dosya No: 47-Turgut ÖzalUnutma İstanbul projesi İstanbul Kalkınma Ajansı'nın 2016 yılı "Yenilikçi ve Yaratıcı İstanbul Mali Destek Programı" kapsamında desteklenmiştir. Proje No: TR10/16/YNY/010

Family in the context of migration: challenges of inclusion in multicultural Australia

The family is one of the main institutions of society. Virtually everyone, in all societies, is brought up in a family context. They are places where the young are nurtured, where socialisation occurs and where inter-generational legacies are transmitted. Families do not exist in isolation. They need to be situated within the changing socio-economic environment of contemporary societies as well as within processes of cultural and social change. Family structures, practices and behaviours are not simply imposed by governments and other agencies but are chosen, and actively developed, albeit within particular social and cultural contexts and constraints. The systems of migration have an important impact on the family and the kinship relationships. Strict migration laws break up traditional family structures, reduce family support structures and limit the connection between generations. The purpose of this paper is to explore the issues of families of culturally diverse backgrounds in the context of migration and settlement. I will do this by critiquing the definition of family, examining the impact of migration and settlement processes on families and conclude by examining the broader societal factors that impact on families in Australia

Managing democratization: Achievements and limitations in AK Party era

During its first two terms (2002-2012), AK Party adopted a range of constitutional democratization reforms connected with the EU accession process covering issues such as: freedom of thought, faith, expression and assembly, the legal and practical improvements regarding the Kurdish issue, opening process on the Alevite question, a new libertarian stress and vision on minority rights, and diminishing, even eliminating, the prerogatives of the military. Nevertheless, since 2013 there have been big challenges triggered both by internal and external developments, which have caused a rippled path for democratization. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive documentation on the question of democratization on the one hand and a holistic assessment and perspective of the current situation, on the other