Rural development is a concept that has garnered increased emphasis in contemporary development plans. This phenomenon, which should be approached from a different perspective compared to urban development, entails a strategy that enhances the living standards of the rural population through the implementation of central policies. This study seeks to ascertain the priority of rural development programs (RDP) coordinated by the Agriculture and Rural Development Support Institution (ARDSI) in Türkiye. The weight of the criteria utilized to determine these priorities is calculated using the DIBR (Defining Interrelationships Between Ranked criteria) method. It has been determined that the criterion with the highest degree of importance is the Total Financial Support Value. Subsequently, the RAWEC (Ranking Alternatives with Weights of Criterion) method is utilized to establish the efficiency ranking of the seventeen rural development programmes implemented during the IPARD-II (Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance Rural Development) period. According to the analysis conducted, it has been determined that the most effective rural development program is "Red Meat Producing Agricultural Enterprises". To assess the stability of the rankings obtained through the RAWEC method, the sensitivity of these rankings to different criterion weights is tested by gradually altering these weights.

Beacon devices, which have Bluetooth infrastructure, can be turned on and off with a single button, are small and portable, and can operate for long periods of time with low energy, have become very popular in reCcent years. It is used in many areas, especially in promotion and location-based projects. In particular, the distance between the Beacon device and the user can be determined by utilizing the change in the strength of the Bluetooth signals sent by the Beacons. This distance information is used as a basic parameter in positioning algorithms. The distance between the Beacon and the user is automatically presented to the users by using the data obtained by the Beacon manufacturers with standard ambient conditions. The user can also calculate this distance by using the data created by the user according to the ambient conditions. In this study, Bluetooth signals from Beacons in an indoor environment were recorded and the distance between the Beacon and the user was calculated by polynomial interpolation and artificial neural network methods. The results obtained were compared with the distance information automatically presented to the user by the Beacons. The best result was achieved by 10th order polynomial interpolation, which was 1.21m better than the distance information automatically received from the Beacons.

In our study, we investigated the effects of the Levenshtein distance algorithm on the eye-blink communication system that we developed based on EEG signals for people with severe motor disabilities, such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, stroke, and locked-in syndrome. The developed system analyzes eye-blink signals to extract information and vocalize it. EEG signals were obtained from an electrode above the left eye using a NeuroSky MindWave Mobile device. Morse-coded eye-blink words were input to the system and feature vectors were extracted using the Wavelet Transform method. Vector support machines were trained with these vectors and the Levenshtein distance algorithm was used to reduce classification errors. Finally, the system was completed with a text-to-speech synthesis algorithm. The experiments, which used 20 words for self-expression, obtained highly successful results.

A novel multiple-input, single-output (MISO) Voltage-Mode (VM) analog filter configuration composed of two plus-type differential voltage current conveyors (DVCC+) as active components moreover two capacitors and three resistors as passive elements is proposed in this paper. By selecting input voltage nodes in different orders, it is able to provide all five standard second-order filter responses in one topology. Only grounded passive elements are employed in the structure of proposed filter; therefor, it does not need any passive element matching condition. Further, it offers orthogonal control of quality factor (Q) and angular frequency (ω0), can be adjusted electronically. Further, to confirm the theoretical analysis, simulation results are investigated. TSMC 0.13 µm process parameters is applied to the circuit and voltage sources are selected as ±0.75 V and 0.2 V for VB, in this case the power consumption is found as 0.65 mW.

Dehazing is an important branch of computational photography aiming to enhancing image clarity by removing atmospheric haze and scattering effects, crucial for improving visibility in applications such as unmanned aerial vehicles, traffic control, and autonomous driving. However, most of the studies in this particular field lack an assessment of the developed algorithm in context of object detection (OD). In this study, we aim to quantify and evaluate the contribution of several state-of-the-art dehazing methods (C2PNet, D4, Dehamer, gUNet) on OD using YOLOv8, known for its superior performance. For this purpose, we utilized the test portion of the VisDrone-DET dataset including 548 haze-free aerial images as the data source. For a more comprehensive assessment, we evaluated these approaches to object detection under different haze levels and resolutions. Since it is inherently impossible to obtain hazy and clean images simultaneously, we (1) generated synthetically hazed images involving varying haze densities and (2) resized to 640p and 1280p resolutions. Next, we used YOLO8 and YOLO10 models to evaluate the OD performance in (i) haze-free ground truth, (ii) three different hazed versions, and (iii) their dehazed counterparts through several metrics. Our experiments showed that the gUNET approach, incorporating a variant of the U-Net model inspired by GCANet and GridDehazeNet outperformed the others in terms of OD performance. Surprisingly, the Dehamer negatively affected the OD performance due to the artifacts it produced. This assessment not only provides valuable findings into the effectiveness of these methods but also sheds light on how to benefit them when it comes to object detection under hazy atmospheric conditions.

This paper deals with some structural and non-structural measures that should be taken for civil engineering structures to be adaptable to climate change. Various measures to be taken to mitigate the impact of climate change in different civil engineering implements are presented from a broad perspective. The service life of existing structures is shortened by increasing temperature differences due to climate change, changing precipitation regimes, and rising sea levels. In addition, climate change will complicate the planning, design, calculation, and implementation stages of new structures for engineers in the long term. The aim of this study is to present measures to adapt infrastructure and superstructures to the effects of climate change. In the study, mitigation measures against factors such as changing climate parameters, floods, overflows, rising sea levels, and CO2 reduction measures in construction activities are explained for existing or new buildings. In addition, the role of civil engineers in reducing the effects of climate change is also discussed in the study. Additionally, this study explains how civil engineers can guide decision makers in strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change. As a result, when different literature studies are examined, measures such as the use of waste materials in the production of construction materials, constructing drainage systems, using long-term precipitation forecasts, elevating infrastructure and structures, re-analyzing the dimensions of the bearing elements of the structures, building barrier systems, reorganizing existing water and marine structures, updating design standards, and preparing risk maps in river and coastal areas have been identified. In addition, it is understood that civil engineers have an important role in determining adaptation strategies against climate change in coastal areas and cities.

The negative impacts of climate change on water resources are a major concern today. Especially in drought-prone regions such as Southeastern Anatolia, effective planning and management of water resources is of vital importance. In this study, a comprehensive drought risk analysis was conducted for 18 different stations using meteorological and hydrogeological data to determine the drought status of this region. Firstly, missing data were complemented with regional analyses. Then, specific indices such as Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Reconnaissance Drought Index (RDI) were defined. Based on these indices, drought severity and magnitude were calculated. As a result of the analysis, it was determined which drought class the regions of each station fall into. In addition, the lowest and highest values were determined by examining all SPI and RDI values, thus identifying the driest and wettest months. This study provides an important contribution to drought mitigation and sustainable management of water resources and will help effective water resources planning for the Southeastern Anatolia Region.

This study presents a statistical analysis of the relationship between mineralogical properties and mechanical strength parameters of different components. Important strength characteristics, such as compressive strength and flexural strength, were analyzed on sample materials. Two different correlation methods, Pearson Correlation Coefficient and Spearman Correlation Coefficient, were used to evaluate the relationship between mineralogical components and strength parameters.
The results indicate that some mineral components exhibit significant positive or negative correlations with mechanical strength properties. Specifically, lime (CaO) showed an excellent positive linear relationship with compressive strength (Pearson coefficient = 0.917, Spearman coefficient = 0.828). Similarly, silica (SiO2) content exhibited a strong positive monotonic relationship with flexural strength (Pearson coefficient = 0.566, Spearman coefficient = 0.784). Additionally, Na2O content also demonstrated a strong positive correlation with flexural strength (Pearson coefficient = 0.902, Spearman coefficient = 0.817). The results of this study offer valuable guidance for understanding the role of mineralogical components in material selection and structural design.

This study investigates the removal of Telon Blue (TB) dye from aqueous solutions using powder of tree cone stalks (KST), which is readily available in nature. The factors affecting TB removal, including pH (3-11), amount of adsorbent (3-10 g/L), stirring speed (50-250 rpm), contact time (5-90 min), initial dye concentration (25-400 mg/L), and temperature (25-55°C), were examined. The pHpzc value of KST was determined using the pH drift method to evaluate the effect of pH on the adsorption process and found as 5,4. The 87.6% of maximum efficiency for dye removal was achieved under the following conditions: pH 3, 5 g/L of adsorbent, 200 rpm stirring speed, 10 minutes of contact time, and a temperature of 25°C. To comprehend the adsorption mechanism, kinetic and isothermal models were applied and found to be more compatible with the pseudo-second-order(R2=0.99) kinetic and Temkin (R2=0.99) isothermal models. The thermodynamic studies revealed that the adsorption process is exothermic, as indicated by the negative value of ΔH°. It has been proven through experiments that KST absorbs TB from the dye mixture with high ratio. The study revealed that KST is an effective and highly reusable adsorbent in removing TB dye from aqueous solutions.

The study aims to optimise microwave (MW) pretreatment of peach pulp wastes to obtain fermentable sugar for producing valuable products like acetone, ethanol and organic acids by fermentation. The Box-Behnken response surface experimental design method was employed for the optimization of MW hydrolysis process parameters. pH (2.0-5.50), particle diameter (180-250 µm) and peach pulp concentration (20-40 g/L) were the independent variables for total sugar concentration (TSC) considered in the study. Statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA) resulted in particle diameter and peach pulp concentration as the only significant variable among the studied independent variables. Product maximization (TSC) was achieved at pH= 5.50, particle diameter= 246.9 µm and peach pulp concentration= 39.5 g/L resulting in TS= 24.3 g/L with a hydrolysis yield of 61% (w/w).
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Conventional agricultural practices have led to widespread environmental degradation, prompting the need for sustainable alternatives like permaculture that offer resilience and ecological harmony. As a holistic approach, permaculture emphasizes the creation of self-sustaining agricultural systems that work in concert with natural ecosystems. This study aims to assess the viability of permaculture practices in the Ankara Stream Basin, located in Central Anatolia, Türkiye, which is known for its challenging agricultural conditions due to poor soil quality and low rainfall, by utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) technologies. The analysis integrates climatic data (precipitation, humidity, average temperature), topographical factors (elevation, slope, aspect), and soil characteristics (texture, fertility, erosion) to identify potential permaculture zones. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and weighted overlay analysis were used to evaluate these factors. Results indicate that areas around Ova Stream and the northern parts of Çubuk Stream exhibit high suitability for permaculture due to favorable climate, topography, and productivity. Conversely, urban areas, regions with significant erosion, and low soil fertility are deemed unsuitable. The study highlights that permaculture could enhance production and rehabilitate systems damaged by conventional agriculture, providing a sustainable alternative for the region's ecological and economic development.

Bituminous claystones in the Ilgýn area, which are rich in organic matter (%TOC, average 31.24), are located above the upper coal layer. The abundance of organic matter in bituminous rocks serves as an indicator of biological productivity within the upper water column. Quartz (SiO2) in sedimentary rocks can be originated from both detrital and biological origin. Detrital quartz (SiO2) is associated with the quartz mineral found in siltstones and sandstones, posing a detrimental impact on the preservation and enrichment of organic matter. Biological silica (SiO2) serves an indicator of biological productivity, along with a presence of phosphorus (P), which acts a nutrient for planktonic organisms inhabiting the upper water column. In bituminous claystone samples from the Ilgýn area, the Si/Al demonstrates a different trend compared to Zr/Nb and Ti/Al. In the examined samples, SiO2 exhibits a very weak correlation with Zr (r = 0.1148) and a weak correlation with Al (r = 0.290117). The average Si/Zr ratio (1.49-12.32) in bituminous claystone samples is 5.71; This ratio is significantly exceeds the PAAS standard (Si/Zr ratio 0.31). In addition, the close relationship between P/Al and Si/Zr ratios in the samples, as well as similar increasing trends suggest that the source of Silica in the rocks is biological, indicating notably high biological productivity within the upper water column of the lake.

This study focuses on the geochemistry and hydrothermal alteration of the Hanle geothermal field (Djibouti-East Africa). Water from five drinking water wells, a hot spring and a steam condensate in the Hanle graben was analyzed for major and minor hydrogeochemical parameters. Analyzed items for water samples (hot spring water, groundwater, and steam condensate) are PH, electric conductivity (EC)SiO2, Cl, SO4, HCO3, F, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Al, Fe, B, As, δD, δ18O. Using the chemical compositions of the hot springs and the Phreeqc, the reservoir temperature was estimated at around 120 to 125°C. Based on the XRD analysis, the clay minerals smectite, chlorite and illite, as well as quartz, calcite, and alunite, were determined as alteration minerals in this region, which represent high temperature environment (>180°C). The obtained data suggest that the water in the Hanle region was likely formed either by the mixing of groundwater and heated fossil seawater, or by the dissolution of evaporite by heated groundwater.

Karstic aquifers are heterogeneous groundwater systems by means of recharge (diffuse and concentrated), storage (matrix and conduit), flow (local or regional), and discharge (laminar and turbulent) characteristics, hence giving quicker responses to both natural and artificial threats while compared to the porous aquifers. Considering the most devastating threats of climate change and increasing population, the stress on the karst groundwater is increasing inevitably. Sustainable usage of these groundwater systems could only be possible by developing the numerical models. Numerical models of the karst aquifers could be developed by using (i) black-box models, (ii) conceptual models, and (iii) physical models from simple to complicated, respectively. This study is explaining how to build a successful numerical model to a karst aquifer by using the conceptual modelling approach from the very basic concepts such as data requirements and data collection methods, data processing techniques, structural adequacy of the model, and finally the application procedures. The given methodology is explained by the results of a case study of the Pýnarbaþý spring, Susuz karst aquifer, Central Taurus karst belt.

In recent years, considering production technologies and consumption habits in textiles, the issue of recycling textile waste has attracted great attention from the researchers. Textile waste have been re-used as raw materials during the production processes to maintain the benign effects for economical and ecological sides. In this study, determined performance features of woven blankets including recycled yarns are investigated in terms of different production parameters. In the production of blankets, the yarns used in the weft direction consist of 35%/35%/30% acrylic/cotton/polyester recycling fibers. The warp yarn consists of 70%/30% acrylic/cotton and contains a total of 85% recycled fiber. In the study, the blankets were produced in 3 different weft density: plain and twill weave. In order to investigate the effect of the raising process, samples were prepared as raised and non-raised. The air permeability, tensile strength and elongation and bending rigidity performances of the blankets are determined by standard test methods and the results are statistically evaluated. As a result of the evaluations, it was observed that these examined properties were affected by the fabric parameters in different ways. Concidering the results, recycled fibers have become prominent in textile production processes where they provide the target durability by determining the appropriate usage areas.

In this study, the production of corundum ceramic sand by sol-gel method with the addition of different amounts of magnesia and zirconia additives and the process parameter boehmite was examined by the experimental design method. The effects of additive and process parameters on the hardness, single particle compressive strength, density and microstructural properties of the final alumina ceramic sand were investigated. Using boehmite and additives together, the highest single particle compressive strength value of 105.90 N was achieved in sands sintered at 1400°C. Compressive strength test results were grouped by the Tukey method, and in pairwise comparisons of the experiments, both different results and also similar results were observed. In SEM examinations, it was observed that the microstructure of the sands consisted of a closed porous structure with a homogeneous distribution in 100 nm dimensions. Density values were measured as 4.00 g/cm3 in experiment number 9 sintered at 1500°C, where all additives and the amount of boehmite were highest levels. The lowest density values were measured in control experiments sintered at the same temperature.

Water is indispensable for the continuation of life. However, fresh water resources in the world are decreasing day by day. For this reason, effective management of existing water resources and treatment of wastewater becomes important. In this study, two prominent membrane filtration processes in water treatment, reverse osmosis and nanofiltration processes, were compared. In this comparison, commercial NF90 nanofiltration membrane and BW30 reverse osmosis membrane from the same manufacturer were used. Tap water, 2000 ppm NaCl and ultrafiltration filtrate of synthetic oily solution were chosen as the feed solution. Only pretreatment was carried out by ultrafiltration process. Although the total dissolved solids rejection rates of both membranes are close to each other, the flux obtained with the NF90 membrane is approximately twice the flux obtained with the BW30 membrane at all pressure values. Since both membranes consume the same amount of energy in water treatment, it has been concluded that water treatment with NF membranes is more economical.

This study aimed to determine some physicochemical and bioactive properties of the cone molasses, which was origin Black Pine (Pinus nigra), Fir (Abies nordmanniana) and Scotch Pine (Pinus sylvestris) trees, to evaluate them in terms of quality standardization and food safety. pH values varied from 3.47 to 4.75. Total acidity changed between 1.28 and 2.56%. The viscosity varied from 150.42 to 11164.67 cP, °Brix values varied from 64.63 to 78.68%, and electrical conductivity varied from 376.67 to 944.67 (µS/cm), respectively.The ash contents of cone molasses ranged from 0.24 to 0.96%. Regarding the minerals, all the molasses samples was rich in especially K (208.0-4146.9 mg/kg) and Ca (27.5-1580.0 mg/kg) and also P, Mg, and Na, while Zn, Fe, and Mn levels were the lowest.. The color values were found between 0.41 and 29.04 for L*, 6.54 and 44.11 for a*, 3.16 and 36.45 for b*. The sugar contents of cone molasses samples ranged remarkably. The fructose level was between 5.92-30.23%, glucose level was 12.03-36.48%, saccharose content was 4.67-45.32%, total sugar amount was 49.31-75.80%, invert sugar amount was 17.95-66.71%. Total phenolic contents varied from 875.00 to 2750.00 at µg GAE/g level, antioxidant activities from 44.06 to 89.77%, and the hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) contents in the wide range of 4.54-1101.58 mg/kg. Although the results obtained makes this product’s functionality related to the qualities of bioactive valuable, the fact that lack of the standardization, especially in terms of high temperature, long process time, and sugar content in the production of cone molasses caused significant changes in the quality parameters. Considering that it does not belong to a specific product group regarding regulations, it is not compared according to the quality limits. However, the results obtained within the scope of this study were evaluated according to current regulations.To develop the production techniques of cone molasses produced with independent recipes and conventional methods and to provide sustainable standardization in terms of quality propeties, it is necessary.

In this study, the active film (AF) was produced from sodium caseinate-starch mixture (1: 1) by adding salt, garlic extract, black pepper, and bay laurel oil. AF exhibited significant antibacterial activity against Salmonella. Coating chicken meats with active film reduced the total number of mesophilic and coliform bacteria by about 2.6 log cfu/g units during refrigerated storage. After 19 days, the psychrophiles count of the unwrapped meat increased from 6.80 cfu/g to 10.67 cfu/g, while the psychrophiles count of the AF-coated sample increased only to 8.13 cfu/g. Plane sodium caseinate-starch film (PF) and AF coatings increased the shelf life of chicken meat stored at +4°C from 8 days to 11 and 19 days, respectively. On day 4, the samples were roasted at 200°C for 30 minutes. Both PF and AF film reduced cooking loss, instrumental tenderness. While Chicken meat pre-coated with PF was evaluated as softer, meat coated with AF was considered more delicious by the panelists.