Search results

The purpose of this study is to examine how food neophobia, food involvement, tour guide performance and intention of local food consumption impact each other.

A survey was performed with a sample of international tourists visiting Antalya, Turkey, and the data were used to test the proposed research model by means of structural equation modelling.

Results reflected a causal relationship among the examined constructs. Although tour guide performance had an insignificant effect on food neophobia, tourists’ food involvement negatively impacted and decreased neophobia.

This study is an exceptional contribution to the literature, as it empirically investigates the role of tour guides on tourists’ local food consumption behaviour.

The aim of the paper is to demonstrate a fast numerical solution for Raman fiber amplifier equations using proposed guess functions and MATLAB intrinsic properties. MATLAB BVP solvers are addressed for the solution.

The guess functions proposed for the solution of RFA equations using MATLAB BVP solvers are derived from Taylor expansion of pump and signal wave near the boundary to specifically obtain convergence for the initial mesh point. The guess functions increase simulation speed significantly. In order to improve the simulation speed further, vectorization and analytical Jacobians are introduced. Comparisons among bvp4c and bvp5c have been made with respect to total pump power, number of signals, vectorization with/without analytical Jacobians, fiber length, relative tolerance and continuation method. The simulations are performed to determine the effect of the run time on the choice of the number of equally spaced mesh points (N) in the initial guess, and thus optimal N values are found.

MATLAB BVP solvers have been proven to be effective for the numerical solution of RFAs with the proposed guess functions. In particular, with vectorizing, run time reduction is between 2.1 and 5.4 times for bvp4c and between 1.6 and 2.1 times for bvp5c and in addition to vectorizing, with the introduction of the analytical Jacobians, the reduction is between 2.4 and 6.2 times for bvp4c and 1.7 and 2.2 times for bvp5c, respectively, depending on the total pump power between 1,000 mW and 2,000 mW and the number of signals. Also, simulation results show that the efficiency of the solution with proposed guess functions is improved more than six times compared with those of previously reported continuation methods. Results show that the proposed guess functions with the vectorization and analytical Jacobians can be used for the performance evaluation of RFAs for the high power systems/long gain fiber span.

The robust improvement of the solution proposed in this paper lies in the fact that the derived guess functions for the RFAs are highly effective in the sense that they assist the solver to converge to the solution for any total pump power value in a wide range from 1 to 3,000 mW and for any fiber lengths ranging 1 to 200 km which are used in practical applications. Hence, it is practicable for the performance evaluation of the existing RFA networks.

The novelty of this method is that, starting with the co‐propagating single pump and signal RFA schema, the authors derived the guess function specifically for the initial mesh points rather than using its analytical approximations. Moreover, the solution is generalized for co‐/counter propagating pumps/signals with the curve fitted coefficient(s).

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate an effective and robust numerical solution for Raman fiber amplifier (RFA) equations which have no explicit solution. MATLAB BVP solvers are addressed for the solution.

The continuation method proposed for the solution of RFA equations using MATLAB BVP solvers is explained. Scripts for improving the power values at the boundaries with continuation, extending fiber length with continuation and calculation of the analytical partial derivatives using the MATLAB Symbolic toolbox are introduced. Comparisons among the different MATLAB BVP solvers have been made. Using the continuation method, signal evolutions for different kinds of RFA amplifier configurations are plotted.

The paper finds that MATLAB BVP solver with the continuation method can be used in the design of various kinds of RFAs for high powers/long gain fiber spans.

The paper will assist the fiber optic research community who suffer from two or more point boundary‐value problems. Moreover, the stiffness of the signal evolution which is faced with high pump powers and/or long fiber lengths can be solved with continuation. This superiority of the solver can be used to overcome any stiff changes of the signals for future studies.

The increased research interests and practical demands for RFAs have been calling for reasonable and efficient means for the performance evaluation of RFAs before the real amplifiers are fabricated. The solution method presented in this paper will be an efficient means for the solution of this issue.

MATLAB BVP solvers have been proven to be effective for the numerical solution of RFAs with multiple pumps and signal waves. Using the continuation method, in a distributed RFA with ten pump sources, 2,400 mW total input pump power is achieved. The improvement of the total power is about 1.4 times compared with those of the previously reported methods. Using the MATLAB BVP solvers, total power/fiber span can be improved further using the continuation process with the cost of computational time. This is a notable and promising improvement from a RFA designer's point of view.

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate an effective and faster numerical solution for nonlinear‐coupled differential equations describing fiber amplifiers which have no explicit solution. MATLAB boundary value problem (BVP) solver of bvp6c function is addressed for the solution.

Coding method with the bvp6c is introduced, signal evolution, threshold calculation method is introduced, gain and noise figure are plotted and superiority of the bvp6c solver is compared with the Newton‐Raphson method.

bvp6c function appears to be an effective tool for the solution fiber amplifier equations and can be used for different pump configurations of BFAs and RFAs. The excellent agreement between the proposed and reported results shows the reliability of the proposed threshold power calculation method.

The paper eases the work of the fiber optic research community, who suffer from two point BVPs. Moreover, the stiffness of the signal evolution which is faced with high pump powers and/or long fiber lengths can be solved with continuation. This superiority of the solver can be used to overcome any stiff changes of the signals for the future studies.

The main outcome of this paper is the numerically calculation of the threshold values of fiber amplifiers without the necessity of the experiment. The robustness improvement of the solution is that the solver is able to solve the equations even with the poor guess values and the solution can be obtained without the necessity of analytical Jacobian matrix.

MATLAB bvp6c solver has proven to be effective for the numerical solution of nonlinear‐coupled intensity differential equations describing fiber amplifiers with two‐point boundary values. Beside the signal evolution, thresholds of Brillouin and Raman fiber amplifiers can also be calculated by using the proposed solver. This is a notable and promising improvement of the paper, at least from a fiber optic amplifier designer point of view.

This study examines the impact of servitization in the form of repair and maintenance services on consumers' quality perceptions, purchase intentions and recommendation intentions while considering consumer frugality as a moderator in the retail ready-to-wear sector.

A quantitative approach based on consumer research was pursued. Study 1 tested the research model using a fictitious ready-to-wear brand within an experimental design. To increase the generalizability of results, Study 2 retested the model with a well-known ready-to-wear brand. For both studies, regression, mediation and moderation analyses were conducted in SPSS.

Both studies showed that servitization positively influences perceived quality. Servitization positively affects purchase intentions and recommendation intentions indirectly via the mediating role of perceived quality. Frugality moderates the relationship between servitization and perceived quality for the fictitious brand (Study 1), whereas it is not significant for a well-known ready-to-wear brand (Study 2). Servitization positively influences perceived quality regardless of consumers' frugality levels for a stronger brand.

This study suggests and tests an original conceptual model that relies on signaling theory. It is among the first studies to examine the impact of servitization on retail fashion consumers' quality perceptions and consequent purchase and recommendation intentions. This study also contributes to the literature by presenting empirical findings based on consumer research on servitization while considering frugality as a moderator.

Bundling products with additional services can contribute to quality perceptions and consequently to purchase and recommendation intentions for ready-to-wear brands.

The present paper aims to systematically investigate the influence of building orientations (0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°) and heat treatment processes on the macro-/micro-structural, mechanical and electrochemical behaviors of selective laser melting (SLM) prepared AlSi10Mg alloy parts.

AlSi10Mg samples were produced by the SLM method using standard processing parameters at 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60° and 75° building angles. The effects of building orientations on the physical, mechanical and electrochemical properties of the alloy were investigated.

With the increase in the building orientation from 15° to 75°, the structural defects were found reducing. The effect of step size of inclined geometries was found to significantly influence the mechanical and electrochemical properties of the AlSi10Mg samples. Tensile strength for samples fabricated at lower angles (0°, 15°, 30°) reported a drop of approximately 11% than SLM 0° samples. Moreover, the tensile strength was found to decrease from 412.35 ± 9.568 MPa for the as-built samples to 290.48 ± 12.658 MPa, whereas the fracture strain increases from 3.32 ± 0.56% to 5.6 ± 0.6% when the as-built sample was treated with T6 treatment. This study indicates that the microstructure and mechanical properties of SLM-processed AlSi10Mg alloy can be tailored by a suitable heat treatment or building angle.

Microstructural and mechanical behavior of horizontal or vertically built SLM components have already been demonstrated several times. However, the influence of different building orientations, such as 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, has not been explored in-depth, particularly on corrosion and general mechanical performance. As a result, this work may be of significant relevance to academics and designers, given the varying orientation of internal component of SLM structures.

This paper aims to investigate the effects of various heat treatments on microstructure, hardness, porosity and corrosion properties of the parts.

Hot isostatic pressing (HIP) process, various heat treatments and their combinations were applied to the AlSi10Mg parts produced by direct laser metal sintering (DMLS).

It has been found that the HIP process, which is a post-processing process, reduces the amount of porosity in DMLS-AlSi10Mg material, thus improves corrosion resistance significantly.

In this study, the HIP process and subsequent T6 heat treatments were applied to AlSi10Mg parts produced by the DMLS technique. The study aims to increase the corrosion resistance of AlSi10Mg parts by reducing porosity with the HIP process and by altering the microstructure with the T6 process.

This paper aims to investigate the relationships between organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) and its antecedents – job satisfaction (JS), affective commitment (AC), organizational justice (OJ) and charismatic leadership (CL); the relationships among its antecedents; and mediating roles of JS and AC in the relationships between CL and OCB and between OJ and OCB in the Turkish hospitality industry in Antalya region. Improving OCB in the hospitality industry, as in other industries, plays an important role in increasing service quality and organization performance.

The sample used for this study consisted of 768 employees working in 18 hotels (4- or 5-Star) in the Antalya region of Turkey. The data collection methodology of the study was a questionnaire survey which was administered through drop-and-collect methodology. The analysis methodology of the study was structural equation modeling.

The findings indicated that both AC and JS mediated the relationship between CL and OCB, as well as between OJ and OCB. Guiding employees by charismatic leaders as well as securing OJ at workplaces in hospitality organizations in the Antalya region of Turkey contribute to OCB positively; however, JS and AC mediate this relationship. Thus, it is assumed that managers should take steps to improve the AC and JS attributes of their employees. In addition, unlike empirical findings in hospitality management literature, this research could not find any direct relationship between CL and OCB.

The present study provides practical implications for hotel managers who may be searching for ways in which to increase OCB and firm performance. The sample is confined to the hospitality industry, thus the generalization of findings to other industries might be limited. Hence, the authors suggest future studies which better enable comparison among various industries.

The novelty of the present study arises from two points: incorporating a CL variable into the study’s model regarding the antecedents of OCB and investigating the mediating roles of JS and AC between CL and OCB as well as between OJ and OCB within the hospitality management industry.

Mushrooms have always been treasured and appreciated, thanks to their nutritional as well as medicinal properties. The purpose of this paper is to reveal these properties such as antioxidant activities and enzyme inhibition potentials of three mushroom species from Ordu, Turkey. Furthermore, phenolic profiles which are believed to be source of these properties are investigated.

The assays followed to determine total phenolic, flavonoid and antioxidant contents, antioxidative and enzyme inhibition activities are spectrophotometric methods. Phenolic profiles of mushroom samples were investigated by using the HPLC system.

The highest phenolic content was found for Lactarius deliciosus. Pyrogallol was the major phenolics in all three samples. Total phenolic content values supported that finding. But, total flavonoid content was the maximum for Cantharellus cibarius. The magnitude of the antioxidant activities revealed by the different tests varied between species. Furthermore, inhibition potential degrees on acetylcholinesterase, butrylcholinesterase, tyrosinase and urease activities were worth mentioning. Lactarius pyrogalus had anti-tyrosinase activity with a 26.229 percent inhibition rate. IC₅₀ values for urease inhibition effect of mushroom samples were in the range of 0.37–0.90 mg/mL.

Enzyme inhibitory potentials for L. pyrogalus was revealed first time. On the other hand, studies on anti-tyrosinase activity of mushrooms are very rare, while almost no studies have been conducted on anti-urease activity. So, the results of present study are very valuable. Thus, the obtained data not only increase the ecological importance of the region but also provide significant contributions to the literature in terms of new sources rich in antioxidants.