Religious Heritage Tourism: The St. Paul Trail Project in Troas

Today many tourists wish to explore different cultures, and thus, visit cultural, historical and religious sites. The WTO estimates that each year between 300-330 million tourists visit the most important religious sites in the world. Religious tourism is purported to foster socio-economic development of host communities and promote awareness of the historical, cultural, traditional, and artistic heritage values of destinations. Host destinations increasingly create and offer cultural and religious routes as tourism products, so that the staying duration of tourists can be extended and revenues can be increased. One such destination, where religious / pilgrim tourism is growing in popularity is Turkey. This paper is a preparatory work of a project called ‘The St. Paul Trail in Troas’. St. Paul was responsible for the spread of Jesus’ message and Christianity throughout Asia Minor and Western Europe. St. Paul had 3 Missionary Journeys and one voyage to Rome. In his 2nd Missionary Journey to Greece (AD 50-52 or 49-52) (Acts 15:3618:22) and his 3rd Missionary Journey, Paul travelled to Asia and Greece. In AD 53-58 (or 54-58) (Acts 18:23-21:15) he visited and passed through the Troas region (today’s Canakkale), raising a young Eutychus from the dead and meeting with Luke in Assos. The project has been accepted as a ‘Future is in Tourism Project’ which is supported by the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, and Anadolu Group, as an important stage of the ‘Troy Culture Route’. The St. Paul Trail starts from the ancient port of Alexandria Troas (Dalyan), where he landed on his 3rd Missionary Journey and follows his footsteps to the temple of Apollo Smintheion, ending at the ancient port of Assos where he boarded a boat to go to Lesbos. The trail will be about 60kms and in some places, it follows an original Roman route. The general objectives of the project are: the development of sustainable tourism in the region; supporting local development, to ensure not only economic growth but also socio-cultural development, and; to ensure the spread of tourism in all seasons. It is expected that a successfully constructed and promoted trail will attract many tourists from all over the world who wish to trace the history of their religion, visit Biblical places, and places linked to Homer\u27s epic tales (The Iliad and Odysseus)

Modeling and simulations of single stranded rna viruses

The presented work is the application of recent methodologies on modeling and simulation of single stranded RNA viruses. We first present the methods of modeling RNA molecules using the coarse-grained modeling package, YUP. Coarse-grained models simplify complex structures such as viruses and let us study general behavior of the complex biological systems that otherwise cannot be studied with all-atom details. Second, we modeled the first all-atom T=3, icosahedral, single stranded RNA virus, Pariacoto virus (PaV). The x-ray structure of PaV shows only 35% of the total RNA genome and 88% of the capsid. We modeled both missing portions of RNA and protein. The final model of the PaV demonstrated that the positively charged protein N- terminus was located deep inside the RNA. We propose that the positively charged N- terminal tails make contact with the RNA genome and neutralize the negative charges in RNA and subsequently collapse the RNA/protein complex into an icosahedral virus. Third, we simulated T=1 empty capsids using a coarse-grained model of three capsid proteins as a wedge-shaped triangular capsid unit. We varied the edge angle and the potentials of the capsid units to perform empty capsid assembly simulations. The final model and the potential are further improved for the whole virus assembly simulations. Finally, we performed stability and assembly simulations of the whole virus using coarse-grained models. We tested various strengths of RNA-protein tail and capsid protein-capsid protein attractions in our stability simulations and narrowed our search for optimal potentials for assembly. The assembly simulations were carried out with two different protocols: co-transcriptional and post-transcriptional. The co-transcriptional assembly protocol mimics the assembly occurring during the replication of the new RNA. Proteins bind the partly transcribed RNA in this protocol. The post-transcriptional assembly protocol assumes that the RNA is completely transcribed in the absence of proteins. Proteins later bind to the fully transcribed RNA. We found that both protocols can assemble viruses, when the RNA structure is compact enough to yield a successful virus particle. The post-transcriptional protocol depends more on the compactness of the RNA structure compared to the co-transcriptional assembly protocol. Viruses can exploit both assembly protocols based on the location of RNA replication and the compactness of the final structure of the RNA.PhDCommittee Chair: Stephen C. Harvey; Committee Member: Adegboyega Oyelere; Committee Member: Loren Williams; Committee Member: Rigoberto Hernandez; Committee Member: Roger Wartel

Integration in Tourism Distribution Channels and Bargain Power Of Tour Operators Over Accommodation Establishments: TUI and Thomas Cook Cases

Nowadays, large international tour operators, play an important role in tourism distribution channels. They can significantly affect international tourism flow and dominate accomodation establishments and other businesses particularly in mass leisure tourism. Through mergers and acquisitions in tourism industry market structure also changes. This study is supported by secondary research focusing on mass tourism distribution channels and the pricing problems arising between tour operators and accomodation establishments. First of all, vertical and horizontal integration in tourism industry is stated through TUI Group and Thomas Cook Group cases which are two of the largest tour operators in Europe. Afterwards, bargain power of tour operators over accommodation establishments is tried to expose. In conclusion, some recommendations are given in the light of literature

Effect of Temperature on AZ31 Alloys Production by Gas Atomization Method

This study experimentally investigates the effect of temperature on the size and shape of the AZ31 alloy powder made by the gas atomization method. A constant nozzle diameter of 2mm was used during the tests at a gas pressure of 35 bar and three different temperatures of 790, 820, and 850°C. Argon gas was used for the atomization of the melt while the shape of the powder produced was determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, XRD and XRF analyses were adopted to determine the phases of the powders' internal structure as well as the percentages of each phase. Furthermore, a laser-assisted measurement device was utilized for powder size analysis. The results revealed that most of the AZ31 alloy powders got into flake and spherical forms and few in the form of ligaments, rods or droplets depending on the temperature. Moreover, the finest powder was obtained at a temperature of 790 °C with powder shape of both droplet and spherical

Etkinlik turizmi çeşidi olarak festivaller: Bozcaada yerel tatlar festivali örneği

In today’s world, alternative tourism activities and tourism product diversification started to gain more importance due to the increase in the number of people participating in tourism and the change in the demands and the needs of the touristsFestivals, as an alternative form of tourism, increase the number of tourists, contribute to the promotion of the region and play an important role in the development of the destination. In this study, the impacts of Tenedos Local Flavours Festival were examined, travel purposes of the tourists were specified, the demographic characteristics of the local residents and the tourists were identified, their perceptions of Local Flavours Festival were assessed and some recommendations were made to achieve more effective results. The research findings show that Local Flavours Festival has positive effects on the promotion of Tenedos and also has economic, socio-cultural and environmental impact on local community. However, the research also concluded that the promotional actions of the festival and the activities organized during the event were insufficient.Günümüzde turizme katılan kişi sayısının artması ve bu doğrultuda turist istek ve ihtiyaçlarında görülen değişiklikler gibi nedenlerden dolayı turizm çeşitlendirmesi ve alternatif turizm faaliyetleri önem kazanmaya başlamıştır. Alternatif turizm çeşitlerinden biri olan festivaller de, gerçekleştirildiği destinasyondaki turist sayısını arttırmakta, destinasyonun tanıtımına katkıda bulunmakta ve destinasyonun kalkınmasında önemli rol oynamaktadır. Bu çalışmada, Yerel Tatlar Festivali’nin Bozcaada’ya etkileri incelenmiş, yerel halkın ve festivale katılan turistlerin demografik özellikleri, seyahat amaçları, Yerel Tatlar Festivali’ne ilişkin algıları değerlendirilerek festivalin daha etkin gerçekleştirilebilmesi için bazı önerilerde bulunulmuştur. Araştırma sonuçları Yerel Tatlar Festivali’nin Bozcaada’nın tanıtımına olumlu etkileri olduğunu ve bölgede yaşayan yerel halka ekonomik, sosyo-kültürel ve çevresel açılardan birçok etkisi olduğunu göstermektedir. Bununla birlikte festivalle ilgili yapılan tanıtım faaliyetlerinin ve festival etkinliklerinin yetersiz olduğu sonuçlarına da ulaşılmıştır

COVID-19 and urology: A bibliometric analysis of the literature

Aim The aims of this research were to analyse the urological literature published during the COVID-19 pandemic and to guide future research. Material and methods Between 2019 and 2021, the Web of Science (WoS) All Databases collection was searched for publications related to COVID-19 and Urology. The keywords used during this search were coronavirus-19, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, novel coronavirus, 2019-nCoV, pandemic and/or urology. The top 50 cited (T50) publications were also identified and summarized. Exported Microsoft Excel files, Visualization of Similarities viewer (VOSviewer) software and descriptive assessment were used for bibliometric and statistical analyses of the publications. Results In total, 582 publications related to COVID-19 and urology were identified. In these publications, the most active author, journal, country and organisation were Francesco Porpiglia, European Urology, the United States of America (USA) and La Paz University Hospital, respectively. The most commonly used keywords were telemedicine-telehealth, SARS-CoV-2, coronavirus, pandemic, residency, testicle, semen, kidney transplantation, endourology and surgery. The most worrying issues in the articles are the negative impact of COVID-19 on resident training and permanent damage to urological organs. Conclusions We analysed all the articles related to COVID-19 and urology published to date in the WoS All Databases collection. The most commonly published articles were based on clinical and outpatient practice, telemedicine, residency training, transplantation, and testicles. The long-term adverse effects of the pandemic on urology practice and especially urological organs will need to be assessed further in future research

Turizm Destinasyonunun Sürdürülebilir Rekabet Avantajı Sağlayabilmesinde Doğal ve Tarihi Çevrenin Önemi: Çanakkale Örneği

Yurtiçi ve uluslararası turizm hareketlerinin artması ile birlikte, turizmden gelir elde etmek isteyen yeni destinasyonlar da turizm pazarına girmekte, ülkeler ve destinasyonlar arasındaki rekabet gün geçtikçe artmaktadır. Araştırmanın temel sorularını, turizm destinasyonunun sürdürülebilir rekabet avantajı sağlayabilmesinin şartları nelerdir? Bu konuda doğal ve tarihi çevrenin önemi nedir? Konuları oluşturmaktadır. Çalışmanın araştırma yöntemi; nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden arşiv / doküman taraması ve gözleme dayanmaktadır. Bu çalışmada ilk olarak, literatür taraması yapılarak rekabet, sürdürülebilir rekabet, bir turizm destinasyonun rekabet avantajı sağlayabilmesi için yapılması gerekenler, doğal ve tarihi çevrenin sürdürülebilir turizmdeki önemi üzerinde durularak, turizm destinasyonu olarak Çanakkale’nin avantajlı ve dezavantajlı yönleri ortaya konulmaya çalışılmaktadır. Daha sonra, arşiv/doküman taraması ve gözlem yapılarak, ildeki maden arama ve işleme çalışmalarının, kurulan ve kurulmak istenen termik santrallerin, turizm destinasyonu olarak, Çanakkale’nin doğal ve tarihi çevresini nasıl etkileyebileceği ortaya konulmaya çalışılmaktadır. Araştırma sonuçlarına göre, Çanakkale ilindeki yoğun madencilik faaliyetleri ve termik santral yatırımları, ilin doğal dokusuna ve tarihi mirasına zarar vermektedir. Uzun vadede ortaya çıkabilecek, hava, su, toprak kirliliği, toprak kaybı gibi sonuçlar, hem halk sağlığını ve yaşam kalitesini hem de sürdürülebilir turizm kalkınmasını olumsuz olarak etkileyecektir

The analysis of different techniques for speed control of permanent magnet synchronous motor

U radu se predstavljaju tehnike reguliranja brzine primjenom proporcionalnog integrala (PI), derivacije proporcionalnog integrala i fuzzy logike u pogonu sinkronog motora s permanentnim magnetima. PI i PID regulatori zahtijevaju precizni linearni matematički model sustava. S druge strane, FL zahtijeva lingvistički opis sustava. Analizirana je dinamička reakcija PMSMa na regulatore pri različitim opterećenjima. Uspoređena je učinkovitost reguliranja fuzzy logikom i uobičajenim načinima pomoću PI i PID. FL regulatori su reagirali bolje od uobičajenih tehnika pri prelaznim uvjetima opterećenja te postigli bržu regulaciju.This paper presents the use of proportional integral (PI), proportional integral derivative (PID) and fuzzy logic (FL) speed controller techniques in the permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) drive. PI and PID controllers require precise linear mathematical model of the system. On the other hand, FL needs linguistic description of the system. The dynamic response of PMSM with the controllers was studied under different load disturbances. The effectiveness of the fuzzy logic controller was compared with the conventional PI and PID controllers. The FL controller responded better than conventional techniques under transient load conditions and also achieved faster settling response