An Analysis of the Business Accelerator Programs in Turkey

This paper analyses the business accelerator programs in Turkey. Business accelerators are new generations of incubation programs born especially to support technology entrepreneurs and help them reach to the next level. There are six startup accelerators in Turkey out of eighteen which fit into the criteria of accelerator programs. These are Kworks, ITU Seed, SuCool, IOT Telco Labs, Pilot and Starter’s Hub programs. All of these programs only accept technology entrepreneurs and help them grow their businesses. Using the interview method, this study provides an inside look into the models of these six programs. It provides detailed analysis about the general structure of the programs, the characteristics of the entrepreneurs in the programs, how the programs operate, information about the graduates of the programs, the mentor networks, the investment possibilities and the performance criteria of the programs. There are studies about accelerators in highly developed countries but the literature lacks information about accelerators in developing countries. Therefore, this study contributes to the literature by filling this gap

Multimodal freight transportation: sustainability challenges

Due to globalization in trade, the development of multimodal cargo shipments and the related transport needs have created a range of challenges. Interestingly, sustainability of multimodal freight transportation is still subject to minor consideration, on the grounds that economic interests are frequently positioned much higher than social or environmental objectives. This proposed research plan is needed to assess whether and to what extent the multimodal freight system is achieving the results in the sustainability dimensions: economic, social and environmental. Thus, it will carry out a critical appraisal of the multimodal freight transportation sector to provide an up-to-date knowledge on the sustainability challenges and the potential solutions through doctoral research. This paper structured to present a review of existing literature on freight transportation and multimodal freight transport highlighting the sustainability concerns with multimodal freight transport systems. It also highlights the gaps in knowledge with a justification on the need to address these gaps for the system to function optimally. It also covers the methodology that would be applied and the sources of data that would be reviewed to ensure the aim and objectives are clearly addressed. The paper concludes by discussing the significance of the expected findings in the light of sustainability in multimodal freight transport to the academia, policy makers and the freight transportation industry

Accretion Discs with an Inner Spiral Density Wave

In Montgomery (2009a), we show that accretion discs in binary systems could retrogradely precess by tidal torques like the Moon and the Sun on a tilted, spinning, non-spherical Earth. In addition, we show that the state of matter and the geometrical shape of the celestial object could significantly affect the precessional value. For example, a Cataclysmic Variable (CV) Dwarf Novae (DN) non-magnetic system that shows negative superhumps in its light curve can be described by a retrogradely precessing, differentially rotating, tilted disc. Because the disc is a fluid and because the gas stream overflows the tilted disc and particles can migrate into inner disc annuli, coupled to the disc could be a retrogradely precessing inner ring that is located near the innermost annuli of the disc. However, numerical simulations by Bisikalo et al. (2003, 2004) and this work show that an inner spiral density wave can be generated instead of an inner ring. Therefore, we show that retrograde precession in non-magnetic, spinning, tilted CV DN systems can equally be described by a retrogradely precessing and differentially rotating disc with an attached retrogradely precessing inner spiral density wave so long as the wave appears at the same radius as the ring and within the plane of the tilted disc. We find that the theoretical results generated in this work agree well with the theoretical results presented in Montgomery (2009a) and thus with the numerical simulations and select CV DN systems in Montgomery (2009b) that may have a main sequence secondary. Therefore, pressure effects do need to be considered in CV DN systems that exhibit negative superhumps if the accretion discs are tilted and have an inner spiral density wave that is in the plane of the disc

“What’s the Weather Like Today?”: A computer game to develop algorithmic thinking and problem solving skills of primary school pupils

Computer-based games as developments in information technology seem to grow and spread rapidly. Using of these games by children and teenagers have increased. The presence of more beneficial and educational games in contrast to the violent and harmful games is remarkable. Many scientific studies have indicated that the useful (functional) games improve children's cognitive capabilities. This paper examines the effect of a computer-based game developed as Weather Forecast Game on problem-solving abilities of children. The aim of this game design is to make children develop algorithms and create criteria by using simple visual and linguistic templates, and establish relationships between these criteria by making forecasts so that the pupils build forecast models related to game criteria by playing a game and have analytic information about everyday life weather events. At the development stage of this game, maximum importance was given to make it interesting and visual. Repetitive steps and instructions have been avoided. In this study, our guess is based on the research that whether this game brings reasoning, associating, communication and algorithmic thinking capacities to the children aged between "8-10" and if it does so, how it affects the problem-solving skills of them. An experiment was conducted with primary school pupils between ages of "8-10" to test their problem-solving capabilities. According to test measurements of 'one group pre-test, post-test sample experiment method', all group and paired test results (N=45, Chi-Square=143.149, p\le.05) show that Weather Forecast Game has 2.07 times positive effect on problem solving skills of children. The results of measurements before and after playing the Weather Forecast Game show that there is an increase in algorithmic thinking and problem-solving skills of pupils participating in this study

Problem based learning application to teach IT skills to prospective teachers in a faculty of education

To be able to go in parallel with the development of IT we must apply it first to the educational community. The important players of two sites of this community - teachers and learners - must be equipped with IT literacy as soon as possible; especially students at Colleges of Education are more important than others because today's students are educators of the future. As the use of IT receives wider acceptance in education, computer anxiety remains to be challenging concern. Beyond any doubt, teachers need to have necessary training and support to properly integrate computers into their practices: The attitudes of teachers can be influenced and changed positively during their training. Therefore, new teaching and learning environments (such as Rich Environments for Active Learning-REALs) that increase students activity in educational process and reduce computer anxiety even during their training in the universities should be designed and this would help them integrate new technology into their profession. At the government schools and universities in Turkey, technological facilities and manpower are not enough to create flexible environments for active learning. So, if we can motivate students to learn through Problem Based Learning (PBL) method, it will be easier to create a REAL and to promote from conventional learning to active learning. Problem Based Learning (PBL) is considered to be one of the best examples of a constructivist learning environment. PBL has been among the curricular innovations most discussed in higher education over the last 30 years. This paper presents a case study of application of PBL method in order to create a REAL in a basic IT course given to second grade students at the Faculty of Education in Istanbul University

Study to install an information system at the University of the Istanbul Astronomy and Space Sciences Department

University of Istanbul Astronomy and Space Sciences Department's current computing system which no longer adequately meets the needs of its users-astronomers-has to be re-designed to operate like an Information System. Other major factors that have convinced us to design a new system were the establishment of the National Observatory of Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey and an urgent need for on-site scientific data analysis systems. Installation of an Information System started with Initial Investigation and Feasibility Study phases. The needs of users, the scope of the problem, the priority assigned to the project and the resources needed to modify the existing system were accurately estimated through a number of questionnaires. The major modification made was increasing the computing power of the system with two new workstations: DEC Alpha and HP PW. The General and Detailed Design phases determined the technical design of the system. The system is now in its implementation phase

Teaching ICT to teacher candidates using PBL: A qualitative and quantitative evaluation

The idea underlying this study is that the prospective teachers develop their Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills throughout the learning process supported by the Problem Based Learning (PBL), a method that produces independent learners who can, then, continue to learn on their own in their chosen careers. The major goal of the study, conducted in two phases during two academic years, is to investigate the differential effects of PBL and conventional teacher-centred instruction on cognitive and a group of affective variables which have been coined "technophobia". Phase I of the study, entirely qualitative in character, covered a case study in which a total of 111 students from three departments of the Faculty of Education took part. Phase II of the study was quasi-experimental in nature with 79 students taking part. Most of the outcomes from Phase II were based on statistical measurements. At the end of the instruction process, the findings indicated that, while there was no significant difference in the anxiety levels of the two groups, the number of successful students had registered a considerable increase. Furthermore, the students, actively involved in the learning process, solving real problems, viewed the PBL as an effective learning tool rich in motivation. Within this framework, the motivating role of ICT as a method of learning is automatically recognised

A photometric study of SDSS J081256.85+191157.8: Detection of orbital and negative superhump periods

The results obtained from unfiltered photometric CCD observations of SDSS J081256.85+191157.8 made during 3 nights in January 2012 are presented. A period of 0.160151(d) +/- 0.000079 was detected in the data. This period is consistent with the previously proposed orbital period of P P-orb = 0.160151(79) day. A quasi-periodicity of 0.148159(86) day was discovered in all data. This period is a negative superhump period. Therefore we suggest that SDSS J081256.85+191157.8 is classified as a negative superhump system. An improved orbital ephemeris is also determined: T-min (HJD) = 2455929.510163(364) + 0.1600 46(46)*E. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved