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Article Knee Hyperextension in Chronic Stroke: Associated Biomechanical and Neuromuscular Factors(Elsevier Sci Ltd, 2025) Korkusuz, Sueleyman; Korkusuz, Busra Seckinogullari; Ozgoren, Nihat; Aritan, Serdar; Ceren, Ali Naim; Topcuoglu, Mehmet Akif; Balkan, Ayla FilBackground: This study aimed to determine the gait phase in which knee hyperextension occurs in stroke patients and to investigate the factors associated with knee hyperextension. Methods: This study included 30 stroke patients aged between 40 and 70 years with maximum knee hyperextension during the stance phase of gait. Muscle strength was evaluated with manual muscle test, and muscle tone was assessed with the Modified Ashworth Scale. Kinematic evaluation of the patients was made using the motion analysis system. Additionally, categorisation was made according to the stance phase of gait, where knee hyperextension was at its highest. Findings: A weak relationship was found between maximum knee hyperextension angle and gastrocnemius spasticity, a moderate relationship between knee flexor muscle strength, and a moderate relationship between ankle dorsiflexor muscle strength. In addition, a weak relationship was found between the maximum knee hyperextension and pelvic retraction angles. According to this clustering, it was observed that 66.67 % of the participants (20 people) showed maximum knee hyperextension in the single support phase. It was observed that the participants who had maximum knee hyperextension, especially after the mid-stance phase, had higher mean gastrocnemius spasticity. It was also observed that participants in Cluster 4, with a greater amount of maximum knee hyperextension, had the worst clinical parameters. Interpretation: Our study observed that the degree of maximum knee hyperextension was related to knee flexor and ankle dorsiflexor muscle strengths, gastrocnemius spasticity and pelvic retraction. As clinical parameters worsened, maximum knee hyperextension was thought to occur late in the stance phase. Clinical Trial code: NCT05679700Article Citation - WoS: 2Citation - Scopus: 2An Investigation of Recycled Rubber Composites Reinforced With Micro Glass Bubbles: an Experimental and Numerical Approach(Taylor & Francis Ltd, 2024) Kabakci, Gamze Cakir; Bayraktar, Emin; Aslan, OzgurRecycled rubber is widely used for its lightweight and cost-effective properties but often has limited mechanical strength, restricting its applications. This study enhances the mechanical performance of devulcanised recycled rubber by reinforcing it with micro glass bubbles (GBs) featuring a density of 0.65 g/cm(3) and an elastic modulus of 3.5 GPa, offering a high strength-to-density ratio. Uniaxial compression tests were conducted on samples with GB volume fractions of 5%, 10%, and 15%. Results were validated through finite element analysis (FEA) in ABAQUS/Standard, incorporating randomised GB distributions. A 2D representative volume element (RVE) with randomly distributed GBs was modelled, applying periodic boundary conditions to simplify the composite into an equivalent homogeneous material. Numerical simulations assessed the effects of GB diameters (30, 40, and 50 mu m) and inclusion size ranges (20-50 mu m and 10-60 mu m), finding minimal impact on results. The RVE, sized at 238 mu m, accurately represented macroscale composite behaviour. Stress-strain behaviour was analysed using average stress and strain tensors. The strong agreement between experimental and numerical results validates the proposed method, demonstrating its accuracy in predicting the mechanical behaviour of the reinforced composite material.Article Citation - WoS: 25Citation - Scopus: 25A Model for the Prediction of Thermal Runaway in Lithium-Ion Batteries(Elsevier, 2024) Azuaje-Berbeci, Bernardo J.; Ertan, H. BulentThe increasing popularity of electric vehicles is driving research into lithium -ion batteries (LIBs). Thermal runaway (TR) in LIBs is a serious concern for the safe operation of these high-energy-density batteries that is yet to be overcome. A reliable model is needed to predict voltage variation, heat generation, temperature rise, and the process leading to TR of a LIB battery under its operating conditions (charging-discharging). Such a model can be used to design battery packs more resilient to thermal runaway or assess how a battery pack would perform under hazardous conditions. Furthermore, it can be used for generating a warning signal if there is a possibility of the battery going towards TR. This paper presents an approach to solving this problem, which is not currently well addressed in the literature. The approach adopted in this paper is based on a numerical analysis of a multilayered electrochemical-thermal model of LIB. Tuning the parameters of a LIB for accurate results from this numerical model is presented, as well as the details of the approach in the paper. Experiments are performed under several LIBs, and their voltage and surface temperature variations are measured under various operating conditions, including thermal runaway. The results of the experiments are compared with the predictions of the numerical simulations. An excellent agreement is observed with the experimental results, proving the accuracy of the proposed approach. This approach can be configured to give results in a few minutes. The paper also discusses how the developed approach can be used to create a TR warning during operating conditions or to change the mode of operation of a LIB before a hazard occurs.Article Citation - WoS: 1Citation - Scopus: 1Growth and Optical Properties of (na0.5bi0.5< (x=0.25) Single Crystal: a Potential Candidate for Optoelectronic Devices(Springer, 2024) Guler, I.; Isik, M.; Gasanly, N.Double tungstates (DT) and double molybdates (DM) have significant importance because of their optoelectronic applications. Regarding the importance of DT and DM, we investigated experimentally structural and optical properties of (Na0.5Bi0.5)(Mo1-xWx)O-4 (x = 0.25) crystal that belongs to the NaBi-DT and DM crystals group. Czochralski method was used to grow the single crystals. The structure of the crystal was identified using X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. Two sharp peaks associated with tetragonal crystal structure appeared in the pattern. Vibrational modes of the studied crystal were obtained from the Raman experiments. By the help of the Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR) measurements, infrared transmittance spectrum of the studied compound was recorded. Band gap energy wase found around 3.04 eV using two methods, Tauc and derivative analysis, based on transmission spectrum. Based on the analysis of absorption coefficient, Urbach energy was obtained as 0.22 eV. The revealed structural and optical properties of the crystal indicated that the material may be a candidate for optoelectronic devices in which NaBi(MoO4)(2) and NaBi(WO4)(2) materials are utilized.Review Citation - WoS: 41Citation - Scopus: 57Drawing the Big Picture of Games in Education: a Topic Modeling-Based Review of Past 55 Years(Pergamon-elsevier Science Ltd, 2023) Ekin, Cansu C.; Polat, Elif; Hopcan, SinanThe literature of games in education has a rich and multidisciplinary content. Due to the large number of studies in the field, it is not easy to analyze all relevant studies. There are few studies exploring the big picture of research trends in the field. For this reason, the purpose of this study is to examine longitudinal trends of game-based research in education using text mining tech-niques. 4980 publications were retrieved as an experimental dataset indexed by the SCOPUS database in the period 1968 to mid-2021. The results include descriptive statistics of game-based research, trends of the research topics, and trends in the frequency of each topic over time. They show that the number of studies focusing on the use of games in education has increased, particularly since the 2000s when Internet use accelerated and became widespread. Approxi-mately 70% of all the studies were conducted in the last 10 years. One third of the studies is related to the main topic of game-based learning. It is significant that in the last three decades the topic of serious games has been among the top three trends. Considering usage acceleration of the topics, the highest values belong to game-based learning, serious games and student science games, in that order. The findings of this study are expected to guide the field by providing a better understanding of the trends of games in education and offer a direction for future research.Article On the Lupas q-transform of Unbounded Functions(Walter de Gruyter Gmbh, 2023) Ostrovska, Sofiya; Turan, MehmetThe Lupa , s q-transform comes out naturally in the study of the Lupa , s q-analogue of the Bernstein operator. It is closely related to the Heine q-distribution which has a numerous application in q-boson operator calculus and to the Valiron method of summation for divergent series. In this paper, the Lupa , s q-transform (lambda(q)f)(z), q is an element of (0, 1), of unbounded functions is considered in distinction to the previous researches, where only the case f is an element of C[0, 1] have been investigated. First, the condition for a function to possess the Lupa , s q-transform is presented. Also, results concerning the connection between growth rate of the function f (t) as t -> 1(-) and the growth of its Lupa , s q-transform (lambda(q)f)(z) as z -> infinity are established. (c) 2023 Mathematical Institute Slovak Academy of SciencesArticle Citation - WoS: 3Citation - Scopus: 7Artificial Intelligence in Education: a Text Mining-Based Review of the Past 56 Years(Springer, 2025) Ekin, C.C.; Cantekin, Ö.F.; Polat, E.; Hopcan, S.Artificial Intelligence in Education (AIED) is a broad and multifarious area of study that spans across various academic fields. Due to the high numbers of studies in this field, it seems too challenging to analyze all of them in depth in a single study. Additionally, there is a lack of research that provides a comprehensive overview of the main trends and topics in AIED. This study, hence, aims to fill this gap by using text mining techniques to examine how artificial intelligence (AI)-related research in education has evolved over time. To this end, a total of 11,027 articles indexed by the Scopus database in the field of education between 1967 and 2023 were examined. Based on the findings, there has been a significant increase in AIED since 2014, covering 73% of the publications. Over the past three decades, AIED research has increasingly concentrated on engineering student populations and conference proceedings. Notably, AI solutions are extensively employed in education, with a strong focus on personalization, assessment, and evaluation. They also play a prominent role in research review processes, such as text mining and topic modeling for summarizing research findings. The findings contribute to the field, enhancing our understanding of the patterns of AI’s integration into education and offering guidance for prospective research endeavors. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2024.Article Citation - WoS: 1Citation - Scopus: 1Flame Retarded Plasticized Poly(lactic Acid) Using Phosphorus-Based Additives(Sage Publications Ltd, 2024) Yesil, Sertan; Aytac, Ayse; Selim, FatmaIn this study, the synergistic effect of the flame-retardant additives on the properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) was investigated and at the same time, it was tried to increase the toughness of PLA by adding small amounts of phosphate-based additives to plasticized PLA as binary and ternary mixtures. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) was used as a plasticizer. As flame retardant additives, ammonium polyphosphate (APP), tri-phenyl phosphate (TPP), and boron phosphate (BP) were used. Characterization of the composites was carried out by tensile test, impact test, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal gravimetric analyses (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), limiting oxygen index (LOI), and UL-94 horizontal burning tests. In addition, TGA-FTIR analyses were carried out to understand the thermal degradation mechanism of composites during combustion. According to the SEM micrographs of the burnt surfaces of the samples, a smooth and flat structure is observed in PLA/PEG/5TPP-5BP sample, while a porous structure and branching formations are observed in other composite samples. Among the composite samples, the best flame retardancy features were observed in the composite containing PLA/PEG/5APP-2.5TPP-2.5BP sample, and the highest impact strength and elongation at break values were obtained in the composite containing PLA/PEG/5APP-5TPP sample.Article Neopatrimonial Rule Through Formal Institutions: The Case of Turkey(Cambridge University Press, 2025) Bektas, EdaThis study examines how formal institutions in hybrid regimes, particularly presidentialism, party organization and electoral rules, actively foster and sustain clientelistic networks, leading to particularistic outcomes. While existing literature highlights the weakening of formal institutions and pervasive clientelism as drivers of democratic breakdown, this study uses the concept of neopatrimonialism to analyse how formal institutions themselves consolidate patron-client relationships to maintain power and stability. Focusing on Turkey, the analysis demonstrates that the institutional incentive structure consolidates the president's role as the central ‘patron’, controlling resources and offices, and encourages clientelistic networks to coalesce around the presidency. The discretionary allocation of resources through patron-client relationships sustains neopatrimonial authority as long as clients' loyalty is rewarded. However, this governance increases clients' dependence on the patron, binding them at the expense of representation and responsiveness. The analysis offers insights into how such institutional configurations contribute to authoritarianism and particularistic governance in hybrid regimes. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.Article Citation - WoS: 30Citation - Scopus: 39A Transformative Solution for Construction Safety: Blockchain-Based System for Accident Information Management(Elsevier, 2023) Ahmadisheykhsarmast, Salar; Aminbakhsh, Saman; Sonmez, Rifat; Uysal, FurkanEffective management of accident information is a crucial component of safety management within the construction industry, as it reflects the safety performance of the company and allows them to identify the root causes of accidents and prevent similar accidents in the future. However, existing safety information systems provide self-owned, isolated, and centralized environments and fail to present a secure, transparent, and trustworthy platform for monitoring and management of accident information. To address these issues, this paper presents a novel decentralized blockchain-based system for accident/incident information management of construction projects. The proposed system leverages the benefits and advantages of blockchain, smart contracts, and decentralized IPFS storage to address the security transparency, tampering, and trustworthiness issues of the conventional approaches. The proposed system is simulated by using real-world construction accident data to demonstrate how blockchain technology can provide a novel solution to assure security, transparency, authenticity, availability, and immutability of the accident/incident data for improving safety management.