Access Control Within MQTT-based IoT environments

IoT applications, which allow devices, companies, and users to join the IoT ecosystems, are growing in popularity since they increase our lifestyle quality day by day. However, due to the personal nature of the managed data, numerous IoT applications represent a potential threat to user privacy and data confidentiality. Insufficient security protection mechanisms in IoT applications can cause unauthorized users to access data. To solve this security issue, the access control systems, which guarantee only authorized entities to access the resources, are proposed in academic and industrial environments. The main purpose of access control systems is to determine who can access specific resources under which circumstances via the access control policies. An access control model encapsulates the defined set of access control policies. Access control models have been proposed also for IoT environments to protect resources from unauthorized users. Among the existing solutions, the proposals which are based on Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) model, have been widely adopted in the last years. In the ABAC model, authorizations are determined by evaluating attributes associated with the subject, object, and environmental properties. ABAC model provides outstanding flexibility and supports fine-grained, context-based access control policies. These characteristics perfectly fit the IoT environments. In this thesis, we employ ABAC to regulate the reception and the publishing of messages exchanged within MQTT-based IoT environments. MQTT is a standard application layer protocol that enables the communication of IoT devices. Even though the current access control systems tailored for IoT environments in the literature handle data sharing among the IoT devices by employing various access control models and mechanisms to address the challenges that have been faced in IoT environments, surprisingly two research challenges have still not been sufficiently examined. The first challenge that we want to address in this thesis is to regulate data sharing among interconnected IoT environments. In interconnected IoT environments, data exchange is carried out by devices connected to different environments. The majority of proposed access control frameworks in the literature aimed at regulating the access to data generated and exchanged within a single IoT environment by adopting centralized enforcement mechanisms. However, currently, most of the IoT applications rely on IoT devices and services distributed in multiple IoT environments to satisfy users’ demands and improve their functionalities. The second challenge that we want to address in this thesis is to regulate data sharing within an IoT environment under ordinary and emergency situations. Recent emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have shown that proper emergency management should provide data sharing during an emergency situation to monitor and possibly mitigate the effect of the emergency situation. IoT technologies provide valid support to the development of efficient data sharing and analysis services and appear well suited for building emergency management applications. Additionally, IoT has magnified the possibility of acquiring data from different sensors and employing these data to detect and manage emergencies. An emergency management application in an IoT environment should be complemented with a proper access control approach to control data sharing against unauthorized access. In this thesis, we do a step to address two open research challenges related to data protection in IoT environments which are briefly introduced above. To address these challenges, we propose two access control frameworks rely on ABAC model: the first one regulates data sharing among interconnected MQTT-based IoT environments, whereas the second one regulates data sharing within MQTT-based IoT environment during ordinary and emergency situations.IoT applications, which allow devices, companies, and users to join the IoT ecosystems, are growing in popularity since they increase our lifestyle quality day by day. However, due to the personal nature of the managed data, numerous IoT applications represent a potential threat to user privacy and data confidentiality. Insufficient security protection mechanisms in IoT applications can cause unauthorized users to access data. To solve this security issue, the access control systems, which guarantee only authorized entities to access the resources, are proposed in academic and industrial environments. The main purpose of access control systems is to determine who can access specific resources under which circumstances via the access control policies. An access control model encapsulates the defined set of access control policies. Access control models have been proposed also for IoT environments to protect resources from unauthorized users. Among the existing solutions, the proposals which are based on Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) model, have been widely adopted in the last years. In the ABAC model, authorizations are determined by evaluating attributes associated with the subject, object, and environmental properties. ABAC model provides outstanding flexibility and supports fine-grained, context-based access control policies. These characteristics perfectly fit the IoT environments. In this thesis, we employ ABAC to regulate the reception and the publishing of messages exchanged within MQTT-based IoT environments. MQTT is a standard application layer protocol that enables the communication of IoT devices. Even though the current access control systems tailored for IoT environments in the literature handle data sharing among the IoT devices by employing various access control models and mechanisms to address the challenges that have been faced in IoT environments, surprisingly two research challenges have still not been sufficiently examined. The first challenge that we want to address in this thesis is to regulate data sharing among interconnected IoT environments. In interconnected IoT environments, data exchange is carried out by devices connected to different environments. The majority of proposed access control frameworks in the literature aimed at regulating the access to data generated and exchanged within a single IoT environment by adopting centralized enforcement mechanisms. However, currently, most of the IoT applications rely on IoT devices and services distributed in multiple IoT environments to satisfy users’ demands and improve their functionalities. The second challenge that we want to address in this thesis is to regulate data sharing within an IoT environment under ordinary and emergency situations. Recent emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have shown that proper emergency management should provide data sharing during an emergency situation to monitor and possibly mitigate the effect of the emergency situation. IoT technologies provide valid support to the development of efficient data sharing and analysis services and appear well suited for building emergency management applications. Additionally, IoT has magnified the possibility of acquiring data from different sensors and employing these data to detect and manage emergencies. An emergency management application in an IoT environment should be complemented with a proper access control approach to control data sharing against unauthorized access. In this thesis, we do a step to address two open research challenges related to data protection in IoT environments which are briefly introduced above. To address these challenges, we propose two access control frameworks rely on ABAC model: the first one regulates data sharing among interconnected MQTT-based IoT environments, whereas the second one regulates data sharing within MQTT-based IoT environment during ordinary and emergency situations

Psychometric Properties of the Gifted Students’ Coping with Anger and Decision Making Skills Scale

The purpose of this study is to develop the scale concerning gifted children's’ skills for making decisions and coping with anger and to examine the validity and reliability of the scale. A total of 324 students, which 151 were female and 173 were male, studying in 3 different Science and Arts Center’s (BILSEM) in Istanbul during 2014-2015 academic period participated in the study. Content and construct validity tests were conducted for the validity of the scale, internal consistency and test-retest tests were conducted for the reliability and total correlation analysis was conducted. 48.19% of the total variance was explained with the factor analysis. The scale, which consisted of 16 items, demonstrated a two-factor structure titled as coping with anger and decision making. Factor loads of the scale were between .54 and .78.  The Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient was .76 for the whole scale, and .88 and .73 for the coping with anger and decision making sub-scales respectively. The test-retest reliability coefficients for the whole scale was .81, and .88 and .70 for the coping with anger and decision making sub-scales respectively. It was observed that the item-total correlations of the scale ranged between .44 and .72. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the Scale for Gifted Children's’ Coping with Anger and Decision Making Skills is a valid and reliable assessment instrument that can be used for education and psychology. Keywords: Gifted children, coping with anger, decision making, reliability, validit

Modeling emotion regulation and subjective happiness: smartphone addiction as a mediator

This study aimed to investigate the mediational role of smartphone addiction in the relationship between emotion regulation and subjective happiness. Participants were 320 university student volunteers (167 women and 153 men) from two state universities in Turkey. They completed a self-report questionnaire about emotion regulation, smartphone addiction, and subjective happiness. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and bootstrapping were applied to test the mediational role of smartphone addiction in the relationship between emotion regulation and subjective happiness. The results indicated that reappraisal predicted lower smartphone addiction scores and higher subjective happiness scores. On the contrary, suppression predicted higher smartphone addiction scores and lower subjective happiness scores. In addition, smartphone addiction proved to be a partial mediator between emotion regulation strategies and subjective happiness. Therefore, the results of this study support the evidence for the impact of emotion regulation on subjective happiness through smartphone addiction

External shame, loneliness, psychological distress, and well-being: insights from the Turkish adaptation of the Other as Shamer Scale-2

BACKGROUND In this paper, we examine the Other as Shamer Scale-2 (OAS-2), a unidimensional and brief scale to directly assess external shame. In three studies with three independent samples of a Turkish university, we present evidence for OAS-2 validity with respect to well-being outcomes (subjective happiness, flourishing, and subjective well-being) and psychological distress outcomes (depression, anxiety, stress, and loneliness) through direct comparisons with existing measures. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE In Study 1 (N= 311), confirmatory factor analyses. measurement invariance across gender, and Item Response Theory (IRT) were examined. In Study 2 (N= 380), criterion-related validities of the OAS-2 were analyzed. In Study 3 (N = 252), incremental validity was examined using PROCESS. Also, internal consistency, composite reliability, and temporal reliability (n = 89) of the OAS-2 were investigated. RESULTS In Study 1, confirmatory factor analyses supported the unidimensionality of the measure. The results provide support for measurement invariance across gender. All item scores fit the IRT model and were fit with ordered, progressing hierarchies in their step difficulties. In Study 2, criterion-related validity for the OAS-2 was demonstrated through positive correlations with loneliness. and negative correlations with subjective happiness and flourishing. In Study 3, findings indicated the mediation impact of external shame on well-being via psychological distress. The OAS-2 showed satisfactory reliability coefficients. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the OAS-2 proved to be a valuable and reliable tool, which presents a short form to measure external shame. In addition, it was observed that the OAS-2 was related to both well-being and psychological distress

THE TURKISH AND AZERBAIJANI LAWS ON UNFAIR COMPETITION VIA STANDARDISED TERMS OF CONTRACT - ASSESSMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS

This paper presents a comparative analysis between Turkish and Azerbaijani law systems and it attempts to evaluate whether the usage of standardised terms of contract in a way that causes the infringement of the principle of good faith forming unfair competition. Standardised terms are pre-prepared without negotiating with the other contracting parties. The paper highlights that the two countries have strong connections, especially in economic and commercial terms which render even more important convergence of legal regulations. In this respect, upon examining the regulations on standardised terms and unfair competition and considering the fact that the two systems have similar approaches regarding standardised terms, the paper suggests that the usage of standardised terms in a manner that violates good faith should be qualified as unfair competition under Azerbaijani law in accordance with Article 55/1(f) of the Turkish Commercial Code. The paper assesses the issue in conjunction with the Turkish Commercial Code, Turkish Code of Obligations, the Civil Code of Azerbaijan (Mulki Mecelle) and Code on Unfair Competition. The scope of the protection that is envisaged in the relevant Turkish and Azerbaijani codes is studied from consumers’ and merchants’ aspects, respectively. The paper inter alia assesses that protecting all market participants is the most effective way to provide market balance. The paper aims to contribute to the improvement of the economic relations of Turkey and Azerbaijan via its suggestion on harmonising the two law systems in terms of unfair competition regulations.   Keywords: Banks, merchant-consumer, principle of good faith, standardised terms of contract, unfair competition.   Cite as: Gunay, E. D., & Gunay, G. E. (2021). The Turkish and Azerbaijani laws on unfair competition via standardised terms of contract – Assessments and suggestions. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 6(1), 309-322. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol6iss1pp309-32

A study developing character strengths in managing anxiety levels of individuals in emerging adulthood

Character strengths not only increase the well-being of individuals, but also help them to overcome their negative life experiences in a better way. This study aims to increase five-character strengths and at the same time manage anxiety levels of individuals by 13 sessions of a strength-based group psychological counseling program formed by the researchers. 18-21 20 individuals aged between 18 and 21 (60% female, 40% male) from various departments participated in the experimental and control group. Data showed a statistically significant decrease in anxiety levels and an increase in the character strengths of zest for life and hope in the experimental group. Using character strengths as a tool may open a novel way for literature and members of different professions by interdisciplinarity to deal with anxiety. Developmental psychologists, psychological counselors, family counselors, members of the profession who work in parenting education, child development specialists, preschool teachers, and school principals may play vital roles in preventing high anxiety levels at an early life phase. Moreover, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and psychological counselor specialists may help individuals to maintain their well-being and manage their anxiety in an encouraging atmosphere. In this way, psychologically healthier individuals may constitute healthier societies in the long term.Güçlü yönler, bireylerin sadece iyilik hallerini artırmakla kalmaz, aynı zamanda olumsuz yaşam deneyimleri ile daha iyi baş etmelerine de yardımcı olur. Bu çalışmada, araştırmacılar tarafından oluşturulan 13 oturumlu güçlendirme odaklı grupla psikolojik danışma programı ile beliren yetişkinlik dönemindeki bireylerin beş karakter gücünün geliştirilmesi ve böylece kaygı düzeylerinin azaltılması amaçlanmaktadır. Bu çalışma, çeşitli bölümlerde okuyan 18-21 yaş arasındaki 20 katılımcı (%60 kadın, %40 erkek) ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bulgular, bireylerin kaygı düzeylerinde istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir düşüş ve yaşam sevinci ve umut karakter güçlerinde anlamlı düzeyde bir artış olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Karakter güçlerini kaygıyı çalışmada bir araç olarak kullanmak, hem önleyici hem de iyileştirici anlamda çeşitli disiplinler arasında çalışmalara olanak sunmaktadır. Gelişim psikologları, psikolojik danışmanlar, aile danışmanları, aile eğitiminde görev yapan meslek mensupları, çocuk gelişim uzmanları, okul öncesi öğretmenleri, eğitim bilimciler ve okul müdürleri, karakter güçleri konusunda çalışmalar gerçekleştirerek yaşamın erken döneminde kaygı için önleyici hizmet sağlayabilmektedir. Buna ek olarak, psikiyatristler, klinik psikologlar ve uzman psikolojik danışmanlar, karakter güçlerini kendi metodlarında tedavi aracı olarak kullanarak bireylerin yüksek kaygı düzeylerini daha cesaretlendirici bir ortamda çözmelerine yardımcı olabilmektir. Disiplinler arası çalışmaların bu konuda çeşitlendirilmesi, psikolojik olarak sağlıklı bireylerin bir araya gelerek uzun vadede daha sağlıklı toplumların oluşmasına katkı sağlayabilmektedir

Bibliometric analysis of social entrepreneurship in gastronomy tourism

The definition of "entrepreneurship" briefly stands for setting up a new business by taking financial and other risks to gain profits. Phenomenon of "social entrepreneurship" has emerged as a follow up concept of entrepreneurship, as a critical issue in the context of both improvement and wellbeing of societies. Social entrepreneurship focuses on social problems rather than profit maximization and is especially important for gastronomy tourism due to the social local benefits as cultural integration and employment it brings. In order to understand the promising research areas and explore the research gap in the gastronomical social entrepreneurship applications, bibliometric analysis is chosen since studies are limited in the gastronomy tourism as well as social entrepreneurship. The research in subject area consisted on keywords that are used as search items for articles title section to select articles that are more accurate for the aim of the research. The analysis shows that there are 20 articles with the combination of related key word variations. When the methodologies of the related articles is analyzed, it is understood that qualitative research with multiple and comparative case study is chosen for almost all the related articles. The reason might be due to the characteristics of the research topic and novelty, thus, rarity of true to life gastronomical social innovation applications. This study is expected to guide future studies by providing general overview of the studies and the research gap in social entrepreneurship and gastronomy tourism