MEF University

Although contemporary literature provides several important insights into the role of attributes of SMEs, there is much less evidence on what configuration of entrepreneurial orientation and global mindset makes this process successful, that is, contributing to the export performance of SMEs. This study uses a fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis on a sample of 97 SMEs in Ghana to explore the potential complementary role between the entrepreneurial orientation dimensions and global mindset for superior export performance. The results indicate two different yet equifinal configurations of these factors that lead to a high level of export performance of SMEs. One of the configurations shows that proactive and innovative SMEs with managers high on global mindset achieve superior export performance regardless of their willingness to take risks. Another configuration indicates that regardless of the global mindset of managers, SMEs can achieve higher export performance by being proactive, innovative, and willing to take high risks. Several implications for theory and practice are discussed based on the findings.

Materials used in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses should strike a balance between the required linguistic proficiency in receptive and productive language skills and the disciplinary-specific vocabulary, content, and text genres. While published EAP materials provide EAP teachers with a solid structure, a wide range of texts, and a syllabus to rely on, most coursebooks remain inadequate to cater to the needs of learners from different academic disciplines. Therefore, EAP teachers should consider a set of carefully determined criteria before selecting, adapting, and developing pertinent EAP materials for their students and exert effort to familiarize themselves with the disciplinary-specific text genres. This chapter informs the readers about the key principles of selecting, using, and adapting published EAP materials and ways of designing customized EAP materials for specific learning contexts. Practical principles are offered for EAP teachers preparing students, particularly for undergraduate programs. These guiding principles emphasize selecting engaging and relevant authentic texts and designing purposeful activities that integrate technology in material development. They also focus on teaching discipline-specific academic writing conventions and text genres through genre pedagogy in EAP courses, aiming to enhance students’ academic literacy and critical thinking skills.

Moving beyond the purely material understanding of infrastructures, new perspectives in infrastructural regionalism assert that infrastructures and regions simultaneously shape each other. Drawing on this reciprocal relationship, we introduce the concept of ‘water regionalism’ to examine how regional factors, dynamics, and complexities shape water infrastructures, and how water infrastructures concurrently shape regions. Through qualitative research methodologies, we empirically demonstrate how this concept operates in practice by examining the history of regional planning and hydraulic infrastructure development in Turkey, particularly the process of how the South-eastern Anatolia Project (GAP) and the GAP region have shaped each other since the 1970s.

Rare‐earth borides have become very popular in recent decades with high mechanical strength, melting point, good corrosion, wear, and magnetic behavior. However, the production of these borides is very challenging and unique. The production of ErB4 and NdB4 nanopowders via mechanochemical synthesis (MCS) is reported in this study first time in the literature. Er2O3 or Nd2O3, B2O3, and Mg initial powders are mechanically alloyed for different milling times to optimize the process. Rare‐earth borides with MgO phases are synthesized, then MgO is removed with HCl acid. The nanostructured rare‐earth tetraboride powders are analyzed using X‐ray diffraction (XRD). Based on the XRD, ErB4 powders are produced successfully at the end of the 5 h milling. However, the NdB4 phase does not occur as the stoichiometric ratio, so the B2O3 amount is decreased to nearly 35 wt%. When the amount of B2O3 is decreased to 20 wt%, NdB4 and NdB6 phases are 50:50 according to the Rietveld analysis. However, a homogenous NdB4 phase is obtained with 30 wt% loss of B2O3. The average particle sizes of ErB4 and NdB4 powders are nearly 100.4 and 85.6 nm, respectively. The rare‐earth tetraborides exhibit antiferromagnetic‐to‐paramagnetic‐like phase transitions at 18 and 8.53 K, respectively.

Herein, investigations on the microstructural, physical, and mechanical properties of molybdenum disilicide (MoSi2)‐ and tungsten disilicide (WSi2)‐reinforced aluminum (Al)–copper (Cu) matrix composites are reported. Powder metallurgy methods such as mechanochemical synthesis (MCS), mechanical alloying (MA), cold pressing, and pressureless sintering are combined to produce composites. First of all, MoSi2 and WSi2 nanoparticles are synthesized by MCS and selective acid leaching, yielding reinforcement materials for Al–Cu matrix. Powder blends consisting of 95 wt% Al and 5 wt% Cu are mixed with metal disilicides at different weight percentages (1, 2, and 5 wt%). MA for 4 h is conducted on these overall blends using a high‐energy ball mill. Microstructural and thermal properties of the as‐blended and mechanically alloyed powders are determined, and then they are compacted under 450 MPa and sintered at 550 °C for 2 h. Mechanical characterization of the composites reveals an increase in hardness and wear resistance with an increasing amount of reinforcement content. Among bulk samples, 5 wt% WSi2‐reinforced composites have the highest microhardness (165 ± 15 HV) and lowest wear rate (1.69 × 10⁶ μm³ Nm⁻¹) values. However, under the compression forces, the highest toughness and strength are obtained from 2 wt%‐reinforced composites.

The present study examines the links between different types of morality and obsessions in university students from Leuven, Belgium ( N = 252) and İstanbul, Turkey ( N = 301) using validated scales for morality and obsessions. Belgium and Turkey were chosen as two exemplar cultural contexts expected, and in the current study found, to differ in the relative levels of individualizing and binding morality. We hypothesized that obsessions involving potential harm (e.g., aggressive obsessions) are cross-culturally associated with individualizing morals, and obsessions indicating impurity (e.g., contamination) are cross-culturally associated with binding morals. Moreover, we expected that cultural differences in the frequency of obsessions could be linked to differences in culturally prevalent moralities. As predicted, contamination obsessions were cross-culturally linked to binding morals. Also, the frequency of contamination obsessions was higher in the Turkish sample compared to the Belgian, which was predicted by higher levels of binding morals in Turkey. Doubts were cross-culturally endorsed at similar rates and were associated with individualizing morals. Aggressive obsessions were relatively more frequent in the Belgian compared to the Turkish sample, however—unexpectedly—these intrusions were not positively linked to either type of morality, neither in Belgium nor in Turkey. Taken together, these findings provide initial support for the role of morality in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), at least for certain types of obsessions (contamination and doubts), as well as suggest that some differences in the moral foundations may play a role in explaining the prevalence of certain obsessions (i.e., contamination).

Studies have shown that there are protective and risk factors related to cyber dating violence. However, the effect size of these factors is unclear. This study aims to clarify the effect size of the associations of protective and risk factors, as well as symptoms of mental health conditions, with cyber dating violence perpetration and victimization. Databases, including PubMed, Web of Science (WoS), ProQuest, Scopus, and EBSCOhost were searched to identify relevant studies. Forty-nine studies were included in the current study. Results revealed statistically significant and medium relationships between cyber dating violence perpetration and some risk factors, including offline dating violence perpetration-related factors (i.e., physical, psychological, sexual, relational, verbal/emotional, and threat) and offline dating violence victimization-related factors (i.e., physical and psychological); and small relationships with other risk factors (i.e., sexual offline dating violence victimization, attachment styles, and jealousy), protective factors (i.e., family support and emotional regulation), and mental health symptoms (i.e., depression, anxiety, and alcohol use). There was also statistically significant and robust relationship between cyber dating violence victimization and verbal/emotional offline dating violence victimization (i.e., risk factor); medium relationships with some risk factors, including offline dating violence perpetration-related factors (i.e., psychological and verbal/emotional) and offline dating violence victimization-related factors (i.e., physical, psychological, sexual, relational, and threat); small relationships with other risk factors (i.e., physical offline dating violence perpetration, attachment styles, childhood sexual abuse), protective factors (i.e., family support, emotional regulation, and self-esteem), and mental health symptoms (i.e., depression, anxiety, stress, alcohol use, and drug use). The study’s results highlight risk and protective factors associated with cyber dating violence and demonstrate its association with mental health symptoms.

While digitalization has become inevitable for firms of every size, a limited number of studies to date aimed to investigate the impact of digital capabilities and digital transformation on the organizational performance of small businesses. Drawing on the dynamic capabilities view, the current study analyzes the conditions under which the dynamic digital capability of a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) would lead to higher performance. In this study, a unique fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis methodology was used for analyzing the data collected from 136 SMEs for investigating the IT utilization, human capital, digital maturity, and digitalization strategy antecedents of dynamic digital capability. The results reveal that two particular configurations of dynamic digital capability are identified as the main digitalization influencers of organizational performance in SMEs. To the best of our knowledge, this study presents the first empirical findings to the literature about dynamic digital capability and organizational performance relationships in SMEs through the utilization of configurational analysis methodology. Theoretically, the study addresses an acknowledged need for a holistic approach to uncover the underlying mechanisms of dynamic digital capability formation and digital transformation in small firms, with their impact on firm performance. The findings also present vital practical implications for business owners, policy-makers, and bodies responsible for SMEs, by providing new insights about the combination of factors that drive high performance, particularly at times of turbulence, in these units.

Blockchain Network (BCN)-based Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) has recently surfaced as an identity and access management framework that allows users and organizations to control over their data. On the other hand, Open Radio Access Networks (O-RANs) propose a framework for facilitating the exchange of infrastructure-related data. This study presents the critical role of BCN-SSI in the O-RAN system architecture and promises an authentication process to provide insights into the robust security measures used to seamlessly establish the identification of users and entities within the O-RAN ecosystem in the post-quantum era. We show that the integration of BCN-SSI enhances security protocols and ensure the integrity of communication networks in the evolving technological landscape. As an illustrative use case, spectrum sharing, is also presented to demonstrate the practicality and the impact of the proposed framework. Furthermore, we address the potential threats posed by quantum attacks on BCN-based SSI systems by investigating Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC). Simulation results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed BCN-based DIM and emphasize its role in securing identity management processes within the O-RAN context. Finally, we address the use of efficient computational techniques in the context of PQC, which holds significant potential in terms of reducing energy consumption overall.

Cloud computing is often praised for its excellence in facilitating data sharing and manipulation, which enables various parties to collaborate and exchange information within the same technical domain [1] . Although the benefit of sharing data is massively effective due to an unlimited number of actors accessing the data simultaneously without it losing value or being altered, factors such as data protection, security, and transparency in data management are also becoming equally important for data owners [2] . Therefore, efficient data handling, while taking into account both legal and ethical obligations, is an indispensable prerequisite for reaping the benefits of collaborative data sharing. In that, blockchain network (BCN) appears to be one of the most prominent technologies that enable distributed settings for data sharing and help overcome such legal and technical difficulties. Blockchain technology can also significantly improve the management of IP by providing an immutable proof of ownership and automating transactions. Some possible examples include artists registering digital art as nonfungible tokens (NFTs) to ensure secure sales and royalties, inventors filing blockchain-based patents to prioritize and attract investors, or musicians using smart contracts to automate royalty payments and track distribution.

People have overlapping identities that impact their experiences. It is, therefore, essential to examine relationships between social identities to understand stereotypes and their effects better. The primary objective of this study was to explore perceptions of sexual orientation, age, gender, ethnicity, and stereotypical attributes of warmth and competence in a Turkish organizational context. The secondary objective was to discern coworker and manager preferences based on the intersection of these categories. A sample of 451 university students rated hypothetical work profiles. Analysis showed that Turkishness was pivotal in shaping social perceptions and workplace relationship preferences. The integration of stigmatized group categories, such as Kurdish identity, with non-stigmatized categories showed adverse impacts on preferences. The research highlights the importance of studying the interplay among diverse identity categories when analyzing social dynamics. We propose practical and theoretical implications concerning workplace diversity and discrimination.

This study investigates the evolving landscape of green universities by analyzing and comparing rankings from 2018 to 2022. It expands beyond the single score offered by the UI GreenMetric, employing Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) techniques to evaluate universities from diverse perspectives. Focusing on the top 50 universities from 2022, the study assesses their performance across six key criteria: setting and infrastructure, energy and climate change, waste, water, transportation, and education and research. Various MCDM methods (LOPCOW MEREC, CoCoSo, CRADIS, EDAS, MABAC, MAIRCA, and MARCOS) are implemented, revealing how they prioritize different aspects of sustainability. Furthermore, the study examines the correlation between rankings and employs the COPELAND aggregation approach to derive a unified ranking. This investigation not only contrasts MCDM outcomes with the UI GreenMetric’s total score-based rankings but also illuminates the relative significance of each criterion and its variation across weighting techniques. Additionally, the study delves into the temporal dynamics of university rankings, offering insights into institutional performance across different years.

This paper focuses on the heterogeneity of the effects of immigration across firms depending on the capital intensity of the firm. We build a model that allows us to capture this heterogeneity unambiguously. We use data from Turkey, where refugees from Syria have reached 4.5\% of the Turkish population in only nine years. Our empirical analysis is based on IV and Difference-in-Differences (Diff-in-Diff) methodologies. We find that immigration favors labor-intensive firms. The effect on capital-intensive firms is negative in sign but does not reach statistical significance. J.E.L. codes: F14, F22

Do collective crises have an impact on the characteristics of mental time travel for individuals and collectives? The COVID-19 pandemic provides a unique context to address this question due to the intersection it created between the personal and the collective domains. In two studies (N = 273), we examined the valence and perceived agency involved in memory and future thinking for personal and collective domains. The second study also included a longitudinal component with 43 participants completing both studies. In research done prior to the pandemic, a valence-based dissociation between personal and collective events was consistently observed in Western samples. We wanted to see if these patterns changed during different stages of the pandemic. In the first study, participants no longer exhibited the usual positivity bias for the personal future, while in the second study, they did not exhibit the usual negativity bias for the collective future. The second aim of the current article was to assess the agency people attribute to themselves and their nation over events and how that relates to valence. People always attributed more agency to themselves over positive events than negative events in both personal and collective domains. Perceived nation agency, however, was associated with positivity in the collective domain but with negativity in the personal domain. Longitudinal analyses confirmed these patterns. Taken together, these results indicate that a collective crisis that has immediate and profound effects on personal lives can alter the patterns observed for mental time travel, especially for the future.

Geotechnical damage resulting from the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake reported here is summarized as follows: A landslide dam was formed in Islahiye because of the earthquake. In Tepehan, a landslide occurred on a relatively gentle limestone slope, possibly linked to fault movements in the area. Iskenderun experienced building collapses on soft ground, along with building tilts and ground subsidence. These phenomena were caused by the liquefaction of reclaimed coastal land. Golbasi witnessed significant damage due to liquefaction in structures with shallow foundations on soft ground. This damage involved the tilting and settling of buildings. Further investigation is necessary to accurately map the extent of liquefied soil layers in this region. These geotechnical damages underscore the diverse and complex impacts of the earthquake on various soil types and geological conditions across different areas. Comprehensive investigations are crucial for understanding the specific mechanisms and vulnerabilities that led to these damages, as well as for developing strategies to mitigate similar risks in the future.

This study discusses the transformation of urban green spaces in Istanbul, focusing specifically on gardens, groves, parks, and the Northern Forests. Recent research has underscored a significant loss of green space during the 2000s, posing a threat to biodiversity and essential ecosystem services. Despite maintaining a socio-natural continuum, it is evident that the twenty first century represents a significant departure from the past. This study identifies two pivotal periods: the ‘beautification’ efforts undertaken the young republican period and the ‘mega-projects’ of the 2000s. These periods exhibit both similarities and substantial differences in politics and spatial organization concerning the urbanization of nature. The concept of urban political ecology is incorporated here, which advocates for equal socio-natural solutions and highlights the interconnectedness between urban areas and nature. The study concludes by emphasizing the need to continue examining the winners and losers in transformation of urban green spaces and move beyond project-driven development. It contributes modestly to the growing literature by shedding light on how historically and spatially organized ecologies of urban green spaces in the context of Istanbul can help us understand the socio-spatial changes we are witnessing today, characterized by the extended urbanization of nature worldwide.