METU Studies in Development Report of the Editor - 2017

METU Studies in Development is the academic periodical of the Middle East Technical University (METU) Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences (FEAS).Publisher's Versio

Report of the Editor

METU Studies in Development Report of the Editor – 2011Publisher's Versio

METU Studies in Development Report of the Editor – 2012

Publisher's Versio

Evaluation of the Railway Passangers’Satisfaction and an Application

In this study to evaluate the railway passengers’ satisfaction with TCDD (Turkish Government Railways), various survey based analyses have been used. In addition to the theoretical framework and the information about TCDD, a survey has been carried out and presented in this study. Survey questions especially focus on the reasonable aspects of the subjects and the survey used in this article is a f›eld study. Using the survey method, tables, all of which are related to TCDD, have been used in the article and they have been compared with the numerical data. Six hundred questionnaire forms have been handed out to railway passengers. As for as the time and cost is concerned, number of the forms has been kept limited.Turkish Goverment Railways, Satisfaction, Passanger, Customer.

POLICE STRESS FACTORS AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES: A COMPARISON STUDY OF US AND TURKISH POLICE

Policing is one of the most stressful jobs in the world. However, the factors which cause stress (stressors) can be different among the police officers in different countries. This paper focuses on the differences about the police occupational stressors between Turkish National Police (TNP) and the United States Law Enforcement Agencies. Turkey is a developing country bordering between Asia and Europe. Not only does its geographical condition cause some international policy problems, but also it causes a lot of policing problems: Such as being a bridge for drug and gun smugglers, being a bridge for human trafficking, and being a target for terrorist organizations. On the other side, the United States of America is a developed country and also known as the superpower of the world. This study tries to answer the question of “Are there any differences between a developed country’s police force and a developing country’s police force in terms of existing stress factors?

Shaking table study of masonry buildings with reinforced plaster

U radu je prikazano određivanje seizmičkog ponašanja zidanih građevina sa žbukom od armiranog morta, pri čemu je naglasak stavljen na promjenu odziva konstrukcije kada se umjesto obične žbuke koristi žbuka armirana polipropilenom i čelikom. Na vibracijskom stolu analizirana je otpornost na seizmičko opterećenje jednokatnih, jednorasponskih zidanih građevina. U toku ispitivanja, određeni su prirodni periodi, spektri ubrzanja odziva i spektar ovisnosti zidanih građevina. Za ispitane su građevine izrađeni i modeli metodom konačnih elemenata te su rezultati proračuna uspoređeni s rezultatima ispitivanja.The objective of this study is to determine seismic behaviour of masonry buildings with reinforced plaster mortar, with a particular focus on the modification of structural response due to application of the polypropylene and steel reinforced plaster, as compared to an ordinary type of plaster. The resistance of one-storey single-span masonry buildings subjected to seismic load on the shaking table is investigated in the study. Experimental results revealed natural periods, response acceleration spectrums, and spectrum interactions of masonry buildings. In addition, finite element models of test buildings were established, and their results were compared with those obtained during experimental stud

Karakterizacija emisije formaldehida i svojstava gorenja ekoloških kompozitnih ploča za graditeljstvo proizvedenih na bazi ljusaka kikirikija (Arachis hypogaea)

The building sectors are increasingly in need of more wood-based panels. Forests and environments are being destroyed to produce these wood-based panels. The aim of this study is to protect forest assets by recycling peanut (Arachis hypogaea) husk and manufacturing particleboard for green building design. The manufactured composite panels were subjected to combustion and formaldehyde tests. According to the test results, peanut husk reduced the combustion time and increased the combustion temperature. Phenol-formaldehyde adhesive decreased illuminance values and the peanut husk ratio increased the illuminance values. It was understood that, when the peanut husk additive ratio increased, combustion times decreased. Slow-combustion of green building composite panels delays the danger of collapse in case of a fire in a building. The combustion performance of the composite panels can be improved by adding non-combustible materials that do not affect the adhesion performance of the composite panels. When the adhesive type is taken into consideration, it is seen that the FF additive ratio reduces the combustion time. According to the formaldehyde emission test results, 24 hours after the manufacturing process all composite panels met the requirements of the board formaldehyde class E1. These composite panels can be used in green buildings as a sustainable building material. The furniture industry can also use these agro-fiber composite panels as green materials.Građevni sektor ima sve veću potrebu za pločama na bazi drva za čiju se proizvodnju uništavaju šume i okoliš. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je zaštititi šumska dobra recikliranjem ljusaka kikirikija (Arachis hypogaea) i proizvodnjom iverica namijenjenih zelenoj gradnji. Na tako proizvedenim kompozitnim pločama provedena su ispitivanja gorenja i emisije formaldehida. Rezultati su pokazali da se dodavanjem ljusaka kikirikija smanjuje vrijeme gorenja i povećava temperatura izgaranja ploča. Fenol-formaldehidno ljepilo pridonosi smanjenju vrijednosti osvjetljenja, a uz veći udio dodanih ljusaka kikirikija povećava se razina osvjetljenja pri gorenju. Pretpostavljeno je da će se s povećanjem udjela ljusaka kikirikija smanjiti vrijeme gorenja. Sporo gorenje kompozitnih ploča namijenjenih zelenoj gradnji odgađa opasnost od urušavanja u slučaju požara u zgradi. Svojstva gorenja kompozitnih ploča mogu se poboljšati dodavanjem nezapaljivih materijala koji ne utječu na adheziju kompozitnih ploča. S obzirom na vrstu ljepila, ustanovljeno je da se s povećanjem udjela FF ljepila skraćuje vrijeme gorenja. Prema rezultatima ispitivanja emisije formaldehida 24 sata nakon procesa proizvodnje, sve su kompozitne ploče zadovoljile klasu emisije formaldehida E1. Zaključeno je da se ispitivane kompozitne ploče u zelenoj gradnji mogu upotrebljavati kao održivi građevni materijal. Kao ekološki prihvatljive, te se kompozitne ploče na bazi agrovlakana mogu primjenjivati i u industriji namještaja

Production and Characterization of Palm Oil Based Epoxy Biocomposite by RSM Design

In this research, some physical and chemical properties of the biocomposite obtained from synthesized epoxy modified palm oil (MPO) and epoxy resin have been characterized. The experimental study plan is made according to Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and biocomposites with different MPO rates are obtained. The chemical bond structure of MPO and epoxy biocomposite has been evaluated with Fourier Transform Infrared Spektrofotometre (FTIR). The experimental, and RSM model results obtained, the density of the biocomposite rise as the MPO rate increases. It is determined that the Shore D hardness of the biocomposite is inversely proportional to the MPO rate by mass. The thermal conductivity coefficient and thermal stability also rise with the rate of MPO (wt.%) in the biocomposite. In the thermal degradation experiments of the obtained biocomposite, it is observed that the thermal stability of the composite goes up as the MPO rate rises. Activation energies are calculated using the Flynn Wall Ozawa, Kissinger, and Coats Redfern models. The activation energies calculated for the 9th, 2nd, and 13th experiments according to the Flynn Wall Ozawa method are approximately 139.65, 143.56, and 145.28 kJ/mol, respectively. The function with the highest R2 value has been determined according to the Coats Redfern method, and the deviation in Flynn Wall Ozawa and Kissinger model results was below 7%

Confederal union: A new constitutional order for the resolution of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict

Bu çalışma, Gürcü-Abhaz ihtilafını güncel gelişmeler çerçevesinde analiz etmekte ve ihtilafın çözümüne dair bir öneri sunmaktadır. Çalışmamıza göre; koronavirüs salgını sürecinde iki toplum arasında beliren ılımlı atmosfer, kökleşmiş husumetler ve kurumsallaşmış güvensizliklerin giderilmesini sağlayacak yeni bir döneme kapı aralamıştır. Gürcistan ve Abhazya tarafından bu dönem kapsamında anayasal düzlemde ete kemiğe büründürülecek konfederal düzen, var olan husumetlerin ve güvensizliklerin bertaraf edilmesine katkı sunabilir. Konfederalleşmenin kısa vadede Abhazya’nın menfaatine bir durum olacağını kabul eden çalışmamız, uzun vadede tezahür edecek pek çok potansiyel gelişmeyle beraber konfederalleşme adımlarının iki toplum için birlikte yaşamı sürdürebilecekleri kamusal alanı inşa edeceğini savunmaktadır. Gürcü ve Abhaz otoritelerince konfederal uygulamalar eşliğinde pratiğe dökülecek birçok iş birliği ve bütünleşmeci operasyon, kökleşmiş husumetlerin ve kurumsallaşmış güvensizliklerin kademeli olarak yok olmasını ve nihayetinde bölgesel veya ulusal bağlılıkların konfederal bağlılıklara dönüşmesini sağlayabilir. Konfederal bağlılıkların doğal bir uzantısı olarak şekillenen karşılıklı güven atmosferi içerisinde hareket edecek olan iki topluluk, siyasi devlet teşkilatlanmalarını federal yahut üniter bir yapıya evirebilirler. Birliktelikçi ve bütünselci evrilme süreci hem tarihi konfederasyonlarca izlenmiş hem de benzeri güncel yapılanmalar tarafından takip edilmektedir. Güncel Gürcü ve Abhaz yaklaşımlarını değerlendirerek konfederalleşme önerisini dile getiren çalışmamız; (i) küresel salgın döneminde Gürcü ve Abhaz otoritelerince sergilenen karşılıklı ılımlı tavırlar, (ii) yeni Abhaz yönetiminin Gürcistan ile pek çok alanda ortak politika geliştirme arzusu, (iii) Gürcü devletinin mevcut siyasi, ekonomik ve askeri kabiliyetleri ve (iv) Gürcü halkının barışçıl müzakerelerle ihtilafı çözme istemi gibi çeşitli dinamikleri hesaba katarak konfederalleşme önerisini ciddi bir alternatif olarak sunmaktadırThis study examines the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict by taking into account recent developments and comes up with a formula for the resolution of the conflict. According to the study, the moderate atmosphere between the two communities created during the coronavirus pandemic has opened a new era that would provide an opportunity to cease the rooted hostilities and to eliminate the institutionalised doubts. The article argues that a new confederal order taking its shape at the constitutional level would contribute to the cessation of the hostilities and the elimination of the doubts. It is true that Abkhazia would benefit from the confederal order in the short run; however, the order would, in the long run, establish a public realm where the two communities would coexist in a peaceful manner. Collaborationist and integrationist strides made by the Georgian and Abkhaz authorities just after the establishment of the confederal order would gradually cease the hostilities and eliminate the doubts, ultimately resulting in the transformation of regional or national loyalties into confederal allegiances. These allegiances would create an environment of mutual trust stimulating the communities to turn their confederal union into a federation or unitary state. Such unionist and holistic transformation processes have been completed not only by historical confederations, but present confederal organisations are also carrying out these processes. The article scrutinising the present Georgian and Abkhaz perspectives in shaping its confederalist resolution formula recognises the confederalist formula as a worth-examining alternative by considering several current matters, including (i) moderate Georgian and Abkhaz attitudes recorded during the global pandemic, (ii) the willingness of the new Abkhaz administration to cooperate with its Georgian counterpart to develop common policies in many areas, (iii) the current political, financial and military capabilities of the Georgian state and (iv) the demand of the Georgian people to resolve the conflict via peaceful negotiations