Aksaray University (Turkish: Aksaray Üniversitesi) is a public higher educational institution established on March 17, 2006, in Aksaray, Central Anatolia in Turkey. Formerly it was a subunit of the Niğde University.The university has seven faculties, two institutes, two colleges and five vocational colleges. Its campus is located on the highway to Adana.The university is a member of the Caucasus University Association.
High-efficiency energy storage systems are a key objective in sustainable clean energy industrial process applications. This study addresses the design, optimization, and evaluation of a high-energy-density lithium-ion battery system with a capacity of 6000 [mAh], designed for clean energy production systems. In the experimental study, the charging-discharging process is modelled using high-resolution electrochemical techniques (including impedance spectroscopy) to accurately control the energy system over independent time scales, utilising the laws of thermodynamics and Coulombic efficiency. Through dynamic validation of experimental current, voltage and power over 1,000 cycles under controlled test conditions, it is observed that the round-trip energy efficiency increases from 43% to 56%. This energy efficiency is stabilised by reducing polarisation losses through voltage and Coulombic efficiency analyses, facilitated by reversible battery operation. This resulting thermal stability has been verified using the finite element method, which was quantitatively implemented through thermocouple measurements (with a difference of less than 2 degrees C between simulations and experiments) and thermal simulations and modelling carried out using SolidWorks and ANSYS. These test measurement results were observed at stable operating temperatures within the optimal range of 25-32 [degrees C]. It was observed that, compared to conventional systems, the optimised cell configurations and designs demonstrated better thermal response, cycle performance and electrochemical stability. The findings of this study also demonstrate that it represents a project that maximises clean energy usage by minimising carbon intensity. Furthermore, this study highlights the feasibility of utilising advanced lithium-ion energy storage stations within sustainable production infrastructures.
The Caucasus region represents the northern edge of the Arabia–Eurasia continental collision and accommodates complex deformation involving crustal shortening, lateral block motion, and strike-slip faulting across multiple tectonic domains, including the Greater and Lesser Caucasus, the Kura Basin, and northwestern Iran block. Despite its tectonic significance, the spatial partitioning of present-day deformation and the role of vertical motions were not completely resolved. In this study, we present a comprehensive geodetic analysis of active deformation across Azerbaijan and the surrounding Caucasus region based on long-term continuous GNSS observations. Ten years (2014–2023) of data from 24 permanent GNSS stations were processed to derive a consistent Eurasia-fixed velocity field. To enhance spatial resolution, these new velocities were integrated with previously published regional GNSS solutions using a common reference frame and transformation strategy, resulting in a unified and unprecedented velocity field of 131 GNSS sites. Strain rates were estimated from the combined velocity field, and fault slip rates and block rotations were quantified through elastic block modeling. The horizontal velocity field indicates N-NE motion of 12 mm/yr relative to Eurasia, with pronounced eastward rotation and velocity increase toward the Caspian margin. Vertical deformation at regional scale with high accuracy, revealing coherent uplift of 4–5 mm/yr along the Greater Caucasus. Apart from the highest spatial resolution of deformation with 131 GNSS sites in the region, the sufficiently accurate vertical deformation rates are presented for the first time in the region through 24 permanent GNSS stations. Strain-rate and block modeling results demonstrate strong deformation partitioning, with thrust-dominated shortening concentrated along the Greater Caucasus and right-lateral strike-slip motion accommodating eastward escape along major fault systems. These results provide refined constraints on the kinematics of the Arabia–Eurasia collision in the Caucasus and offer important implications for regional tectonic evolution and seismic hazard assessment.
Cardinality constrained portfolio optimization is one of the important problems in financial management, where the number of assets in the portfolio is limited. Unlike classical portfolio optimization, this problem is more complex in terms of computation since it also involves asset selection. In the literature, optimization software packages are widely used to solve this problem using exact solution methods. Commonly used software packages are Lingo, Gams/Dicopt, and Gurobi. In this study, the performances of the software programs in terms of solution quality, computational efficiency, and practicality in application were analyzed and compared by using these software programs in solving the cardinality-constrained portfolio optimization problem. The analyses were performed on data sets belonging to the Hang Seng, DAX 100, FTSE 100, S&P 100, and Nikkei 225 stock market indices, which are widely used in the literature. To make acorrect and unbiased comparison, each software program was applied under the same conditions by maintaining consistency in parameters, restrictions, and calculation settings. Additionally, sensitivity analysis was conducted based on the number of assets. As a result of the comparison, it was seen that Gurobi is more successful than other solvers in terms of both computation time and better performance metric values. In addition, Gurobi's good performance and higher adaptability to large data sets are due to its advanced solver algorithms.
In this study, it was aimed to suppress pungency and obtain a new product by using carnauba, beeswax, and their mixture in the encapsulation of hot pepper oleoresin. Melt dispersion technique was used in production and physical, chemical, and structural analyzes of the obtained capsules were examined. The suppression of the pungency sensation was determined by sensory analysis, and it was determined that the beeswax-based capsule (BW50) was the most effective formulation in suppressing pungency perception (0.83). When looking at the sensory and Scoville Heat Units (SHU) results, there is a parallelism, and it can be stated that the pungency sensation is suppressed. The highest encapsulation efficiency values were observed in CW20 (91.92
Virtual instructional tools for tour guidance education remain sparse and underutilized in T & uuml;rkiye. Therefore, the literature on hospitality and tourism education lacks sufficient evidence on whether Turkish tour guidance students accept instructional technologies. To address the gaps, this study developed a 3D artistic tool and investigated the acceptance of 3D technologies as pedagogical tools among tour-guidance students in T & uuml;rkiye. Conducted within the framework of the Extended Technology Acceptance Model (EXTAM) with the introduction of two new variables, the research examines the interactions between educational new virtual technology orientation (ENVTO), perceived ease of use (PEU), perceived usefulness (PU), cognitive attitude (CA), emotional attitude (EA), and intention to use 3D technologies extensively (ITUE). Contributing to the development of digital cultural heritage documentation, this study is a significant step toward supporting the adoption of 3D technologies in the less visible aspect of tourism education: tour-guidance training.
