The sphere of consensus in a polarized media system: The case of Turkey during the catastrophic coup attempt

How does a highly polarized media system respond to a catastrophic event? The July 2016 coup attempt in Turkey provides fertile ground to examine how a catastrophic event has shaped the editorial policies of news media outlets in a highly polarized media system. This article hypothesizes that, mainly due to the peculiarities of the Turkish media system, even at the time of a catastrophic event, the framing strategies of media outlets converge only to a limited degree on a sphere of consensus. Adopting a content analysis methodology, we analyze the framing strategies of four national newspapers affiliated with specific sociopolitical camps (the pro-government Sabah, the moderate Hürriyet, and the oppositional Sözcü and Cumhuriyet). We reach the counterintuitive conclusion that these news outlets used different framing strategies in the immediate aftermath of the coup attempt and that the gap between them widened over the period of analysis

The US grand strategy and the Eurasian heartland in the 21st century : with special reference to the main Caspian oil export pipeline BTC

This study is a survey of American grand strategy and of the rising strategic significance of the Caspian region and its surroundings, which we define as the “Eurasian Heartland”, to use Sir Halford Mackinder’s term, in the twenty-first century. Its purpose is to examine the geo-strategic dimensions of this region as it relates to US grand strategy in the twenty-first century. Our methodology is based on offensive realism in combination with hegemonic stability theory and balance of threat theory. Therefore, this study assumes that great powers are always looking for opportunities to attain more power, mainly Susan Strange’s ‘structural power’, in order to feel more secure. This outlook has led us to assert that the main objective of US grand-strategy is global hegemony. For the success of this strategy political control over the life blood of modern economies, oil, plays a viable role. We have considered US grand-strategy as a combination of war-time and peace-time strategies and argue that the Eurasian Heartland has several geo-strategic dimensions beyond its wide-rich untapped hydro-carbon reserves. For our purposes, we have relied on peace-time strategy of supporting costly Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline to integrate regional untapped oil reserves to US controlled energy market. This pipeline’s contribution to the US grand-strategy is assessed in relation to Eurasian regional powers, the EU, India, Russia and China.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Microfluidic Compartmentalization for Smart Materials, Medical Diagnostics and Cell Therapy

The organisation of fluids in small compartments is ubiquitous in nature, such as in the cellular composition of all life. This work explores several engineering avenues where microscale fluid compartmentalization can bring novel material properties or novel functionality in life sciences or medicine.  Here, we introduce four unique compartmentalization methods: 1) 3D fluid self-organisation in microscaffolds (FLUID3EAMS), 2) 2D microcapillary arrays on a dipstick (Digital Dipstick), 3) a sliding microfluidic platform with cross-flow (Slip-X-Chip), and 4) compartmentalization by cutting of soft solid matter (Solidify &amp; Cut). These methods were used in a wide range of applications.  Within the area of smart materials, we applied FLUID3EAMS to synthesize materials with temperature-tuneable permeability and surface energy and to establish, in a well-controlled fashion, tissue-like materials in the form of 3D droplet interface bilayer networks. Solidify &amp; Cut was used to form soft composites with a new type of magnetic behaviour, rotation-induced ferromagnetism, that allows easy reprogramming of the magnetization of magnetopolymers.  Within the area of medical diagnostics, we applied Digital Dipstick to perform rapid digital bacterial culture in a dipstick format and obtained clinically relevant diagnostic results on samples from patients with a urinary tract infection. Furthermore, Slip-X-Chip enables particle concentration and washing as new functions in sliding microfluidic platforms, which significantly expands their potential application area.  Finally, within the area of cell therapy, we explored the microencapsulation of high concentrations of therapeutic cells and presented a novel technique to fabricate core-shell microcapsules by exploiting the superior material properties of spider silk membranes. Organisering av vätskor i små fack är allmänt förekommande i nature, t.ex. i den cellulära sammansättningen av allt liv. Det här arbetet utforskar ett flertal ingenjörsmässiga tillvägagångssätt där organisering av vätska på mikroskala kan frambringa nya egenskaper hos material eller uppnå ny funktionalitet i life science eller medicin. Här introduceras fyra unika sätt att dela upp vätskor: 1) 3-Dimensionell självorganisation av vätskor i mikrostrukturer (FLUID3EAMS), 2) Mikrokapillära 2D-matriser på en mätsticka (Digital Dipstick), 3) en glidande mikrofluidisk platform med tvärflöde (Slip-X-Chip), och 4) uppdelning genom skärande av mjuk solid material (Solidify &amp; Cut). De här metoderna användes i flertalet applikationsområden.  Inom området smarta material applicerade vi FLUID3EAMS för att syntetisera material med permeabilitet och ytenergi som kunde styras med temperatur och för att etablera, i välkontrollerade former, vävnadslika material i form av ett nätverk av 3-Dimensionella dubbellager av droppgränssnitt.  Inom området medicinsk diagnostic, applicerade vi Digital Dipstick för att utföra snabb, digital odling av bakteriekulturer i ett mätstickeformat och uppnådde kliniskt relevanta diagnostiska resultat från patienter med urinvägsinfektion. En vidareutveckling av detta koncept, Slip-X-Chip, möjliggör partikelkoncentration och sköljning som tillagda funktioner i glidande mikrofluidiska plattformar, vilket väsentligt utökar deras potentiella användningsområden.   Slutligen, inom området cellterapi, utforskade vi mikro-inkapsling av höga koncentrationer av terapeutiska celler och presenterade en ny teknik att framställa core-shell mikrokapslar genom att utnyttja de överlägsna materialegenskaperna hos silkesmembran från spindlar. QC 20220120</p

Microfluidic Compartmentalization for Smart Materials, Medical Diagnostics and Cell Therapy

The organisation of fluids in small compartments is ubiquitous in nature, such as in the cellular composition of all life. This work explores several engineering avenues where microscale fluid compartmentalization can bring novel material properties or novel functionality in life sciences or medicine.  Here, we introduce four unique compartmentalization methods: 1) 3D fluid self-organisation in microscaffolds (FLUID3EAMS), 2) 2D microcapillary arrays on a dipstick (Digital Dipstick), 3) a sliding microfluidic platform with cross-flow (Slip-X-Chip), and 4) compartmentalization by cutting of soft solid matter (Solidify &amp; Cut). These methods were used in a wide range of applications.  Within the area of smart materials, we applied FLUID3EAMS to synthesize materials with temperature-tuneable permeability and surface energy and to establish, in a well-controlled fashion, tissue-like materials in the form of 3D droplet interface bilayer networks. Solidify &amp; Cut was used to form soft composites with a new type of magnetic behaviour, rotation-induced ferromagnetism, that allows easy reprogramming of the magnetization of magnetopolymers.  Within the area of medical diagnostics, we applied Digital Dipstick to perform rapid digital bacterial culture in a dipstick format and obtained clinically relevant diagnostic results on samples from patients with a urinary tract infection. Furthermore, Slip-X-Chip enables particle concentration and washing as new functions in sliding microfluidic platforms, which significantly expands their potential application area.  Finally, within the area of cell therapy, we explored the microencapsulation of high concentrations of therapeutic cells and presented a novel technique to fabricate core-shell microcapsules by exploiting the superior material properties of spider silk membranes. Organisering av vätskor i små fack är allmänt förekommande i nature, t.ex. i den cellulära sammansättningen av allt liv. Det här arbetet utforskar ett flertal ingenjörsmässiga tillvägagångssätt där organisering av vätska på mikroskala kan frambringa nya egenskaper hos material eller uppnå ny funktionalitet i life science eller medicin. Här introduceras fyra unika sätt att dela upp vätskor: 1) 3-Dimensionell självorganisation av vätskor i mikrostrukturer (FLUID3EAMS), 2) Mikrokapillära 2D-matriser på en mätsticka (Digital Dipstick), 3) en glidande mikrofluidisk platform med tvärflöde (Slip-X-Chip), och 4) uppdelning genom skärande av mjuk solid material (Solidify &amp; Cut). De här metoderna användes i flertalet applikationsområden.  Inom området smarta material applicerade vi FLUID3EAMS för att syntetisera material med permeabilitet och ytenergi som kunde styras med temperatur och för att etablera, i välkontrollerade former, vävnadslika material i form av ett nätverk av 3-Dimensionella dubbellager av droppgränssnitt.  Inom området medicinsk diagnostic, applicerade vi Digital Dipstick för att utföra snabb, digital odling av bakteriekulturer i ett mätstickeformat och uppnådde kliniskt relevanta diagnostiska resultat från patienter med urinvägsinfektion. En vidareutveckling av detta koncept, Slip-X-Chip, möjliggör partikelkoncentration och sköljning som tillagda funktioner i glidande mikrofluidiska plattformar, vilket väsentligt utökar deras potentiella användningsområden.   Slutligen, inom området cellterapi, utforskade vi mikro-inkapsling av höga koncentrationer av terapeutiska celler och presenterade en ny teknik att framställa core-shell mikrokapslar genom att utnyttja de överlägsna materialegenskaperna hos silkesmembran från spindlar. QC 20220120</p

The Adaptation of Writing Disposition Scale into Turkish

WOS: 000274010900009The aim of this study is to adapt the Writing Disposition Scale that was developed by Piazza and Siebert (2008) for Turkish and to show the validity and reliability of the scale. The study group consists of the students studying in the 4th, 5th and 6th grade classes of primary schools in Nigde city center. In this context, data has been obtained from 3533 students from 25 primary schools, and the analysis is completed through 3485 data pieces. The scale is seen to be composed of three dimensions (passion, confidence, persistence). The Cronbach's alpha reliability factor is found to be .893 for the whole scale, .806 for the confidence sub-dimension, .749 for the persistence sub-dimension and .914 for the passion sub-dimension. The scale is shown to be valid and reliable

Soft metamaterial with programmable ferromagnetism

QC 20221219</p

DETECTION OF E. COLI IN A DIGITAL ASSAY

31st IEEE International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) -- JAN 21-25, 2018 -- Belfast, NORTH IRELANDWOS: 000434960900080In this paper, we demonstrate the dipstick-based digitisation and detection of bacterial sample of concentration down to 10(3) CFU/ml. The significance of this work is that we are able to detect concentrations of bacteria relevant for urinary tract infection (UTI) with minimal handling time and without the need for complicated external equipment.IEEEEuropean Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-CurieEuropean Union (EU) [675412]This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 675412

A Digital Dipstick for Multiplexed Bacteria Detection

In this study, we demonstrate a digital bacterial detection assay in a dipstick format that can identify and quantitate Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterococcus faecalis, i.e., three of the most common (&gt;90%) bacteria causing urinary tract infections (UTIs). The operation involves nothing more than dipping the stick in urine for a few seconds and let the stick incubate for 10-12 h before read-out. Each of the 180 miniaturised culture wells in the stick contain chromogenic agar and change colour if they contain a CFU. The colour of the wells identifies the presence of a specific type of bacteria; the number of coloured wells indicates the concentration. This format allows detection and quantification at a potentially low cost and without the need for complicated external equipment or technical skills. QC 20211119New Diagnostics for Infectious Diseases (ND4ID

A Digital Dipstick for Multiplexed Bacteria Detection

In this study, we demonstrate a digital bacterial detection assay in a dipstick format that can identify and quantitate Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterococcus faecalis, i.e., three of the most common (&gt;90%) bacteria causing urinary tract infections (UTIs). The operation involves nothing more than dipping the stick in urine for a few seconds and let the stick incubate for 10-12 h before read-out. Each of the 180 miniaturised culture wells in the stick contain chromogenic agar and change colour if they contain a CFU. The colour of the wells identifies the presence of a specific type of bacteria; the number of coloured wells indicates the concentration. This format allows detection and quantification at a potentially low cost and without the need for complicated external equipment or technical skills. QC 20211119New Diagnostics for Infectious Diseases (ND4ID