Bingöl University

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the optimal region-of-interest (ROI) pixel size for fractal dimension analysis on panoramic radiographs that best reflects implant stability assessed by resonance frequency analysis (ISQ) and to investigate whether implant stability can be directly estimated from radiographic images. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included 65 patients for whom panoramic radiographs and resonance frequency analysis measurements were available. All panoramic images were converted to TIFF format and standardized to a resolution of 2627 × 1646 pixels. All radiographic images were obtained using the same panoramic imaging device and standardized acquisition protocol. Exposure parameters were adjusted within the manufacturer’s recommended range to ensure optimal image quality while maintaining methodological consistency across patients. During ROI selection, care was taken to avoid cortical bone margins, overlapping anatomical structures, and radiographic artifacts in order to ensure that the analyzed regions represented trabecular bone adjacent to the implant surface. Fractal dimension analysis was performed in the cervical peri-implant bone region, starting from the first bone–implant contact and extending apically, using three different ROI configurations. The ROI size was defined as 30 pixels apically and 10 pixels horizontally for FMD1, 30 × 20 pixels for FMD2, and 30 × 30 pixels for FMD3. Implant stability was assessed using ISQ values. Data distribution was evaluated using the Shapiro–Wilk test. Associations between ISQ and fractal dimension measurements were analyzed using Pearson and Spearman correlation analyses. Multiple linear regression models adjusted for age and sex were constructed to assess independent associations. Results: The mean age of the participants was 50.0 ± 9.9 years, and the mean ISQ value was 78.6 ± 5.9. The mean fractal dimension values were 1.466 ± 0.055 for FMD1, 1.595 ± 0.031 for FMD2, and 1.655 ± 0.046 for FMD3. No significant association was found between ISQ and FMD1 or FMD3. A weak positive correlation was observed between ISQ and FMD2; however, this association did not remain statistically significant after correction for multiple comparisons. In multiple linear regression analysis, ISQ was identified as an independent predictor of FMD2, but not of FMD1 or FMD3. Age and sex had no significant effect on fractal dimension measurements. Conclusions: Fractal dimension measurements derived from panoramic radiographs showed a weak association with implant stability that was dependent on the selected ROI pixel size. Among the evaluated configurations, the 30 × 20-pixel ROI at the cervical peri-implant region demonstrated the strongest association with ISQ values, suggesting that this ROI configuration showed the most consistent association with ISQ values among the tested ROI sizes.

This study aims to investigate the relationship between return on assets (ROA) and capital structure ratio (CSR). It uses annual data for the years 2010-2024 and implements a heterogenous panel data analysis. The dependent variable of focus is ROA, obtained through the net profit-to-total asset ratio, while the independent variable is the ratio Total Debt/Total Assets (CSR) representing the capital structure. The econometric analyses were conducted using the Stata 14.0 software package. The outcome suggests a persistent and positive effect of CSR on ROA in the long term. A rise of one unit in CSR correlates with an increase of 0.09 units in ROA, confirming the Net Income Theory’s assertion that leveraging higher debt levels can effectively reduce financing costs, as evidenced by firms in the BİST Food Sector.

Purpose This study aims to evaluate neuroscience in the tourism context not merely as a set of measurement tools but as a conceptual framework for explanation and evidence generation that links the touristic experience across biological, cognitive and behavioral levels. Design/methodology/approach Adopting a conceptual evaluation and literature-based discussion approach, the study connects major subfields of neuroscience to the needs of tourism scholarship. It also clarifies the appropriate applications and limitations of the main neurophysiological and psychophysiological techniques used in tourism research (e.g. electroencephalography, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), eye tracking, galvanic skin response (GSR)/electrodermal activity and heart rate) and explains how these data can be interpreted in conjunction with self-report measures. Findings The findings suggest that neuroscientific measurements, rather than generating “more data” in tourism, strengthen the explanation of the experience through instantaneous process evidence (attention–emotion–memory, cognitive load and approach–avoidance tendencies). However, the development of the field depends on strengthening theoretical integration, multi-method designs, dynamic/field approaches that enhance ecological validity and the need for reporting and standardization. From an ethical standpoint, principles such as privacy and informed consent are of critical importance. Originality/value This study positions neuroscience in tourism not as a technical innovation but as a conceptual framework that provides depth of explanation at the process level in a manner consistent with theory. It comprehensively presents the field's strengths, vulnerabilities and methodological conditions for cumulative knowledge production.

This experimental study investigates the feasibility of recycling the autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) waste as a fine aggregate in fly ash/silica fume-based geopolymer composites to address the environmental challenges of AAC disposal. In this regard, the microstructural and engineering characteristics were evaluated in detail. To produce geopolymer composites, natural sand was partially replaced with recycled AAC (r-AAC) sand in 10% increments, up to 60% by volume. Three different particle size distributions (0.125–4 mm, 0.125–2 mm, and 0.125–1 mm) were examined to assess the influence of aggregate size on composite performance. To mitigate potential degradation due to the incorporation of r-AAC sand, 10% silica fume (SF) was incorporated as a precursor by mass. A total of 38 geopolymer mixtures were produced using a mixture of sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate as an alkaline activator. The engineering properties, including workability, unit weight, and compressive strength, were evaluated alongside comprehensive microstructural analyses using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDX), mapping, and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). Results indicated that increasing r-AAC content and decreasing the particle size led to a decrease in 28-day compressive strength; however, the addition of SF enhanced the mechanical performance. Microstructural findings confirmed a reduction in matrix compactness with higher r-AAC replacement, directly impacting the material performance. The study demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing r-AAC in geopolymers while highlighting the critical role of particle size and SF addition.

This study focuses on Rençber Azîz, one of the political examples of Kurdish protest music. Within the scope of the study, the artist's musical production is examined around four main thematic axes: political murders, the search for identity, the experience of loss/disappearance, and social mourning and the longing for an imaginary homeland. Rençber Azîz's selected works are analyzed in terms of both their lyrical structure and socio-political context, with the aim of providing a conceptual framework for the historical function and contemporary meaning of Kurdish protest music. In this context, the study will evaluate in detail how music functions as a tool for rebuilding a people's identity, expressing their grief, and constructing their utopia for the future. The importance of the study stands out in several dimensions: it provides an opportunity for the expression of collective memory on a musical plane; it addresses Zazaki and the Zazas through an artist who is valued on a local and national scale; and, with this quality, it is a first in the context of Zaza music. Methodologically, the study is based on a qualitative research approach, adopting thematic content analysis as its analytical technique. The findings obtained from the study are as follows. Rençber Azîz’s music not only reflects the historical traumas of the Kurdish people but also transforms them into an aesthetic means of coping. The artist constructs his political discourse not through direct messages but through indirect forms such as irony, metaphor, and folk narrative. His multilingual production represents cultural plurality while challenging singular notions of identity. Moreover, by addressing themes such as political assassinations, the search for identity, loss, and the longing for an imagined homeland, he offers a unique example that shapes the aesthetics of resistance within Kurdish protest music.

ABSTRACT The widespread use of smartphones and tablets has greatly increased screen exposure among preschoolers. Since early childhood is crucial for cognitive, behavioural and social development, excessive screen time represents a major public health concern. Identifying factors influencing young children's screen use is vital for creating effective family guidance and health policies. Using convenience sampling, this study collected data from 633 parents across 31 countries to examine how family composition, parental and child characteristics affect the screen time of preschoolers (aged 1–5 years). The model, based on Ordinary Least Squares regression, explained 42% of the variance in children's screen time. Parental device‐giving frequency emerged as the strongest predictor, with more frequent giving linked to greater exposure. Screen time also increased with child age and the number of children in the family. Children supervised by mothers had significantly less screen time than those supervised by fathers. Parental age, number of adults in the home, child's sex and temperament were not significant predictors. These findings highlight the significant impact of parental behaviour and household dynamics on preschoolers' screen habits. Interventions should directly target these factors, and family screen time guidelines must evolve to reflect the modern technology landscape, promoting balanced and healthy use.

Throughout history, states’ ability to sustain military power has depended on their capacity to absorb the costs of war. In the early modern period, the growing scale and continuity of warfare placed increasing strain on fiscal structures in both Europe and the Ottoman Empire. During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the Ottoman state faced mounting fiscal pressures arising from rising military expenditures, expanding troop numbers and constrained resources. This article examines the economic and administrative strategies adopted by the Ottoman administration during campaign periods to manage these pressures. It focuses on troop inspections, limits on recruitment, regulation of military pay, austerity measures, the redirection of provincial revenues and the use of monetary instruments such as copper coinage, mint policies and exchange-rate interventions. The article argues that, rather than relying on institutionalized public debt, Ottoman campaign finance operated through a flexible crisis-management model based on fiscal restraint and extraordinary resource mobilization under centralized supervision.

This study investigates the impact of economic policy uncertainty (EPU) on foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows and examines how this relationship is moderated by institutional quality. The analysis is based on data from 37 developing countries over the period of 2002–2021. The World Uncertainty Index (WUI) and Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) serve as the primary data sources. Employing a two-step system Generalised Method of Moments (GMM) estimation for dynamic panel data, the study yields two key findings. First, policy uncertainty significantly reduces FDI inflows. Second, institutional quality – measured by the average of WGI dimensions – alleviates this negative effect. Robustness checks, including OLS estimation and analyses based on individual WGI components, confirm these results. Overall, the findings suggest that the adverse impact of policy uncertainty on FDI is conditional on the host country’s institutional strength; in countries with stronger institutions, FDI inflows are less susceptible to uncertainty.

There is no study in the literature examining whether quality of life plays a mediating role in the relationship between teachers' participation in physical activity and self-efficacy. The aim of this study is to examine the mediating role of quality of life in the relationship between teachers' participation in physical activity and their perceived empathic and social self-efficacy. The participants were between 23 and 40 years old, with a mean age of 29.3 ± 7.79 years. As data collection instruments, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form adapted into Turkish by Öztürk (2005), the Quality of Life of Employees Scale developed by Stamm (2005) and adapted into Turkish by Yeşil, Ergün, Amasyalı, Er, Olgun, and Aker (2010), and the Perceived Empathic and Social Self-Efficacy Scale developed by Di Giunta et al. (2010) and adapted into Turkish by Akın and Başören (2015) were used. Construct validity of the scales was tested using confirmatory factor analysis, and the analyses were conducted via SPSS, AMOS, and the PROCESS Macro plugin. The results revealed moderate positive relationships between job satisfaction and both empathic and social self-efficacy. Mediation findings indicated that quality of life (job satisfaction) played a significant mediating role in the relationship between physical activity and empathic self-efficacy, as well as in the relationship between physical activity and social self-efficacy.