Organizational Support, Organizational Citizenship Behavior, And Perceived Performance Analysis Of Crime Scene Investigation Units Of Turkish National Police

Policing is more difficult than ever before in today’s world since types of crime and criminal profiles change as a result of technological development and globalization. Police organizations should review their organizational and operational strategies to improve the fight against contemporary crimes and criminals. Behaviors and performance of police officers are very important in fighting crime. In this struggle, especially today, officers should exhibit organizational citizenship behaviors and perform better. One of the most important factors affecting these two concepts in organizations is organizational support. The literature stresses the social exchange cycle and reciprocity rules in the relationships of organizations and their members. In this cycle, if the organization cares about its members and if members perceive that the organization is supportive, they feel obliged to behave positively, perform better, and help the organization to reach its goals and objectives. If they don’t perceive organizational support, they won’t care about the organization, either. Hypotheses were developed based on these assumptions in the literature. This study tested these assumptions in Crime Scene Investigation units of the Turkish National Police (TNP). Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the relationships among variables of Perceived Organizational Support (POS), Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB), and Perceived Performance (PP). Measurement models for these three latent constructs were developed by deriving the indicators from the literature. Most earlier studies tried to figure out reasons of the OCB. This study has a different perspective that investigates both reasons and results of OCB. A survey was developed to measure the latent variables of the study, and 405 of approximately 3,000 Crime Scene Investigators in the Turkish National Police responded to the iv survey. Results of the study showed that the relationship between POS and OCB is positive and significant. This is consistent with the literature. The relationship between OCB and PP is also positive and significant, and this is also consistent with the literature. However, the relationship between POS and PP is negative and insignificant. This result contradicts the results of previous studies in the literature and can be attributed to the subjective nature of measuring individuals’ perceptions. According to the literature, perceptions are subjective rather than objective; therefore, data coming from reports of individual perceptions may not reflect the actual situation. Demographic information of the participants served as the control variables of the study. Information about the education level, rank, age, gender, size of the unit, and tenure of the respondents was collected by way of the conducted survey, and the effects of these variables were analyzed on the endogenous variable of the study, Perceived Performance. This study found no significant relationships between these control variables and Perceived Performance. Therefore, all these control variables were removed from the Structural Equation Model of the study. This study revealed that the TNP needs to be more supportive toward its members in order to have officers show organizational citizenship behavior and perform better. The TNP should revise its policies, especially regarding rotations from one province to another, working hours, rewards, and overtime pay. These are all indicators of organizational support and will result in a higher performance level among officers

EVIDENCE-BASED CRIME POLICIES: BETTER SOLUTIONS FOR CRIME

The criminal justice policy process is under scrutiny from academicians who relay a notable absence of reliable empirical evidence to produce policy solutions that objectively allocate scare resources. Scholars have argued that the lack of an evidence-based approach has allowed the implementation and continued retention of unproven policies and program. In lieu of the unrealistic leap from status quo to informatics and empirical research, the paper promotes the long-term goal of intensive agency collaboration, systemic review, cost-benefit analysis, crime trend analysis, and informatics standards to increase the capacity of criminal justice policy to reduce crime in the most cost-effective manner

EVIDENCE-BASED CRIME POLICIES: BETTER SOLUTIONS FOR CRIME

The criminal justice policy process is under scrutiny from academicians who relay a notable absence of reliable empirical evidence to produce policy solutions that objectively allocate scare resources. Scholars have argued that the lack of an evidence-based approach has allowed the implementation and continued retention of unproven policies and program. In lieu of the unrealistic leap from status quo to informatics and empirical research, the paper promotes the long-term goal of intensive agency collaboration, systemic review, cost-benefit analysis, crime trend analysis, and informatics standards to increase the capacity of criminal justice policy to reduce crime in the most cost-effective manner

Evaluation of Proline, Chlorophyll, and Carotenoid Contents of Two Globe Artichokes [Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus (L.) Fiori] Leaves Based on the Growing Season

Globe artichoke [Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus (L.) Fiori], a member of the Asteraceae family, has been known since ancient times. Edible parts of this valuable vegetable are rich in antioxidants and polyphenols as well as possessing healing properties against certain diseases. When the life cycle of plants is taken into consideration, the processes which are highly affected by environmental conditions are photosynthesis and cell growth. Chlorophyll level is known as a good indicator of the photosynthesis of plants. Carotenoids, one of the important functions of which protects chlorophyll from photo-oxidation, can prevent the destruction of chlorophyll. Therefore, chlorophyll and carotenoids play an important role in photosynthesis and the protection of photosynthetic pathways against harmful free radicals. The proline concentration present in various plants is increased in many different stress conditions, such as cold, temperature, salinity, drought, UV, and heavy metals, thus, providing better tolerance to stress conditions. The aim of the present study was to comparatively evaluate the proline, chlorophyll (a and b), and carotenoid contents of the young and mature leaves of two OP cultivars (Bayrampaşa and Sakız) based on different growing seasons. Obtained results demonstrated that there were differences between two OP artichoke cultivars based on the growing season and young and mature leaves with regards to proline, chlorophyll (a and b), and carotenoid contents. Findings revealed that proline and chlorophyll b levels in autumn were quite promising, while in terms of chlorophyll a and carotenoid levels winter was prominent. Regarding the young and mature leaves, high proline and chlorophyll a levels were found to be dominant in young leaves. On the other hand, chlorophyll b and carotenoid were more accumulated in mature leaves. Turkey has several other globe artichoke cultivars and the findings of the present study may play a supportive role in determining proline, chlorophyll (a and b), and carotenoid contents for combating several environmental stress factors

Augie: A Picaro Deviation from the Picaresque Genre in the Adventures of Augie March by Saul Bellow

The picaresque novel, as it developed in Spain during the sixteenth century, influenced also modern novels, although it may not contain all the elements of the traditional picaresque genre. This study analyzed the use of picaresque form in The Adventures of Augie March by Bellow in an attempt to evaluate the effectiveness of the form in a modern novel. Judging by the characteristics, The Adventures of Augie March exhibited many of the qualities of the traditional picaresque. Augie is a rogue who moves through a series of adventures, which satirize the society he lives in. However, the difference between this modern picaresque and its prototype lies in the purpose of the novel. Augie, unlike the traditional picaro, is searching for a fate which will include both the full realization of self and love. Thus, his adventures are steps in his quest rather than self-contained satirical episodes. The analysis of the novel supported the idea that picaresque form is a flexible and resourceful vehicle which offers certain definite advantages to the contemporary author in his portrayal of modern life

Augie: A Picaro Deviation from the Picaresque Genre in the Adventures of Augie March by Saul Bellow

The picaresque novel, as it developed in Spain during the sixteenth century, influenced also modern novels, although it may not contain all the elements of the traditional picaresque genre. This study analyzed the use of picaresque form in The Adventures of Augie March by Bellow in an attempt to evaluate the effectiveness of the form in a modern novel. Judging by the characteristics, The Adventures of Augie March exhibited many of the qualities of the traditional picaresque. Augie is a rogue who moves through a series of adventures, which satirize the society he lives in. However, the difference between this modern picaresque and its prototype lies in the purpose of the novel. Augie, unlike the traditional picaro, is searching for a fate which will include both the full realization of self and love. Thus, his adventures are steps in his quest rather than self-contained satirical episodes. The analysis of the novel supported the idea that picaresque form is a flexible and resourceful vehicle which offers certain definite advantages to the contemporary author in his portrayal of modern life.Keywords: Picaro, episodes, picaresque genre, deviation

Green Synthesis and the formation kinetics of silver nanoparticles in aqueous Inula Viscosa extract

In this study, we present the production of silver nanoparticles in aqueous Inula Viscosa extract by the green synthesis approach at room temperature. The structural, morphological properties as well as formation kinetics of the synthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized by UV-VIS, STEM, XRD, Raman and FTIR measurements. Mono-dispersed and very stable silver nanoparticles with size of 15$\pm$5 nm and face-centered cubic crystal structure were synthesized in aqueous Inula Viscosa extract. The kinetic studies of silver nanoparticles formation in Inula Viscosa extract show that silver nanoparticle formation reaction reached the equilibrium within 24 h and fit in the first-order reaction kinetics. The results clearly show that the size of fabricated nanoparticles is independent on the dynamical formation process since the reaction time and initial silver ion concentration did not affect on size and morphology of the produced particles.Comment: 10 pages, 11 figure

Business Model Innovation vs. Business Model Inertia: the Role of Disruptive Technologies

This contribution addresses the impact of disruptive technologies on business model innovation. While such technologies have the potential to significantly alter the way in which businesses operate, business model inertia hinders companies from adopting the new technological possibilities. Little research has focused on the difficulties incumbents face when innovating their business models. By reviewing current literature on business model innovation, this paper summarizes challenges companies face when dealing with potential disruptive technologies and creating viable business models

Inflation Measurement with Scanner Data and an Ever‑Changing Fixed Basket

Statistics Sweden introduced scanner data into parts of the consumer price index several years ago, with the concern to ensure comparability over time and between countries. In this article, we discuss the issue of preserving the fixed basket approach and whether the traditional manual item replacement strategy, with quality and quantity adjustments, is still a relevant method to ensure comparability despite the change in data collection mode and extensiveness of data. Biases from improper quantity adjustments are discussed and illustrated through numeric examples based on real changes in the Swedish market of daily necessity products. Manual adjustments of quality and quantity are implemented by following a small random sample of representative items, i. e. a fixed basket, which therefore leads to imprecision or variance in the consumer price index. This may be a questionable approach given the availability of census-like scanner data, thus the bias-variance trade-off is addressed. The sample size related variance is estimated through a jackknife method and contrasted with quality/quantity adjustments.Tongur Can. Inflation Measurement with Scanner Data and an Ever‑Changing Fixed Basket. In: Economie et Statistique / Economics and Statistics, n°509, 2019. Big Data and Statistics. Part 2. Big Data in the Consumer Price Index. pp. 31-47

Seasonal Adjustment and Dynamic Linear Models

Dynamic Linear Models are a state space model framework based on the Kalman filter. We use this framework to do seasonal adjustments of empirical and artificial data. A simple model and an extended model based on Gibbs sampling are used and the results are compared with the results of a standard seasonal adjustment method. The state space approach is then extended to discuss direct and indirect seasonal adjustments. This is achieved by applying a seasonal level model with no trend and some specific input variances that render different signal-to-noise ratios. This is illustrated for a system consisting of two artificial time series. Relative efficiencies between direct, indirect and multivariate, i.e. optimal, variances are then analyzed. In practice, standard seasonal adjustment packages do not support optimal/multivariate seasonal adjustments, so a univariate approach to simultaneous estimation is presented by specifying a Holt-Winters exponential smoothing method. This is applied to two sets of time series systems by defining a total loss function that is specified with a trade-off weight between the individual series’ loss functions and their aggregate loss function. The loss function is based on either the more conventional squared errors loss or on a robust Huber loss. The exponential decay parameters are then estimated by minimizing the total loss function for different trade-off weights. It is then concluded what approach, direct or indirect seasonal adjustment, is to be preferred for the two time series systems. The dynamic linear modeling approach is also applied to Swedish political opinion polls to assert the true underlying political opinion when there are several polls, with potential design effects and bias, observed at non-equidistant time points. A Wiener process model is used to model the change in the proportion of voters supporting either a specific party or a party block. Similar to stock market models, all available (political) information is assumed to be capitalized in the poll results and is incorporated in the model by assimilating opinion poll results with the model through Bayesian updating of the posterior distribution. Based on the results, we are able to assess the true underlying voter proportion and additionally predict the elections.At the time of doctoral defence the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 3: Manuscript; Paper 4: Manuscripts</p