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On March 21, 2020, the Turkish Government imposed a curfew for citizens 65 years old and over and ordered them to stay at home as a measure to protect them against the COVID-19 outbreak. The curfew ended on June 10, 2020, having lasted 82 days. The purpose of this paper is to examine the significant emotional burden on the elderly, as they felt excluded and battled with despair during the lockdown.

This reflective paper shares the COVID-19 lockdown experiences of the author with a group of elderly residents of a small community in Ankara, Turkey. Through semi-structured interviews and analysis, three overarching themes of the residents’ experience were identified: vulnerability, social isolation/loneliness and ageism.

The elderly in the community are individuals who get their social interaction outside the home. As a result of the nearly three months of social isolation, they have experienced social disconnection and health problems,

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first attempt to give voice to the silenced group of elderly and share their thoughts and feelings during this difficult COVID-19 lockdown in Turkey.

Digital design technologies play a significant role in assisting the designer through conceptual architectural design. Computer supported design systems can generate various images at the early design phase and can contribute to seeking alternative architectural forms. Currently, different design approaches are being employed in the formation of architectural products. Examples of architecture that produce unusual forms are often encountered within unique conceptual approaches. The development of new design examples is supported by the digital production of forms, and three-dimensional models through varying geometric approaches. In this study, a design approach that uses computer aided architectural design to produce architectural forms will be suggested. This approach utilizes principles existing in the unique fractal dimension of elements based on a vocabulary relevant to a specific architectural language. By relying on the fractal dimension and features of an existing architectural pattern, this generative design approach supports creativity in the production of new forms. The proposed approach is evaluated as a creative tool in architectural design. The subject of architecture; buildings, spaces, surroundings, symbols of that particular society are also the elements of a meta-language which creates a fractal geometry based relation. It is possible to analyse this relation through a fractal geometry-based principle. In short, a fractal geometrical generative method is suggested. Also, recently-surfaced discussions about "Chaos Theory" and its effects on the design process via "Chaos and Self - Similarity" are studied. The significance of these different phenomena and disciplines upon architectural design are also studied for developing a possible creative tool.

This study explores the characteristics of a particular vernacular architecture, which is known as terraced housing. Terraced housing can be found in many different mountainous parts of the world such as the mountainous regions of Bahrain, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Greece, Italy and Japan, which have different environmental and cultural characteristics, and which were built in response to human needs according to the particular topographical conditions. Amongst the examples mentioned, Iranian terraced housing remains distinctive with its local richness and variation, constructed and designed according to the topography of the region. Accordingly the general overview of Iranian vernacular architecture and form is examined by focusing on the environmental factors of two specific Iranian villages.

The identification of these villages is evaluated according to the topography, climate, urban pattern and spatial organization of Iranian terraced settlements. As a consequence, the analysis of case studies and data processing will enable decision makers, planners, architects and designers to become more aware of the existing architectural building tradition. The contemporary housing design problems can be solved by employing an appropriate method of design and building construction with reference to the present vernacular housing stock.

This study aims to reveal the food preferences and to define the typology of digital nomads as gastro-tourists. In this context, it is aimed to provide information on issues such as the importance of food culture in destination selection for digital nomads, food prices, local dishes, local food markets, religious restrictions, researching cultural cuisines, preparing meals and participating in gastronomic events.

Multiple qualitative methods were utilized in the research for this study. Digital nomads' comments, videos and semi-structured interviews constitute the data sources of the research, and the data obtained were analyzed by content analysis.

As a result of the study, it was seen that digital nomads do consider gastronomy in their destination selection, and five different gastro-tourist profiles were determined. These are Local Flavor Hunters, Gastronomy Adventurers, Budget-Conscious Food Lovers, Cultural Explorers and Health and Sustainability Focused People.

The theoretical contribution of the study is to provide information with regard to the food and beverage preferences of digital nomads and to contribute to filling a gap in the literature. The practical contribution of the study is to help formulate tourism marketing strategies in the destination and strategies for businesses in the tourism industry. Since digital nomads play important roles in destination promotion, it is important to determine their perspectives and typologies towards gastronomy. The results of the study will be useful for tourism industry components, such as academics, experts, travel businesses, tourism destinations and local food producers who research the tourism industry and travel trends.

Under this heading are published regularly abstracts of all Reports and Memoranda or the Aeronautical Researeh Council, Technical Reports and Translations of the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration and publications of other similar Researeh Bodies as issued.

The purpose of this paper is to present a study that evaluates the readiness level of the Turkish automotive suppliers industry (T-ASI) to provide a foundation for the successful implementation and/or sustainment of lean practices.

The paper adapts an assessment framework developed by Al-Najem et al. (2013) to conduct the evaluation of the lean readiness (LR) of the T-ASI. Thus, the LR assessment is based on six quality practices related to lean manufacturing (LM), namely: processes; planning and control; human resources; top management and leadership; customer relations; and supplier relations. One research question and three hypotheses were formulated and tested using a combination of descriptive statistics and t-test and Levene’s tests. Data were collected through a survey questionnaire responded by 48 manufacturing organisations members of the Association of Automotive Parts and Components Manufacturers (TAYSAD).

The results of the study revealed that the T-ASI has a high level of LR, especially in the areas of customer relations and top management and leadership while processes, planning and control and supplier relations still need to be enhanced. In addition, the study found that company size has no effect on the LR level of suppliers whereas supplier level and location of customers have.

As the LR level of the T-ASI is measured, this research study increases the awareness of supplier companies with respect to complementary quality practices that support the implementation and/or sustainment of LM. Thus, managers can use this study as a platform to take better decisions regarding what quality aspects of their operations need to be enhanced to successfully deploy or sustain a lean strategy.

This research is among the very few studies that have focused on evaluating how ready the T-ASI is to successfully implement or sustain lean practices. For this reason, this research expands the very limited existent body of knowledge of LM in the T-ASI.

The aim of this article is to examine in depth the digital nomad lifestyle and its effects in the context of tourism and to create a perspective for the future by taking into account the findings of the articles in the thematic issue.

The theme question is examined through a review of the main findings and outcomes of this issue.

The digital nomad lifestyle stands out as an alternative form of tourism to traditional tourism models. Digital nomads are interested in cultural heritage and are effective in destination marketing just as social media influencers are. Gastronomic preferences and security perceptions of digital nomads play an important role in destination selection. Although digital nomads start out with a desire for independence and freedom, they want to come together with their peers in order to meet their social needs.

This article will serve as a significant resource for understanding the digital nomad lifestyle and for predicting future tourism trends.

Gives a bibliographical review of the finite element analyses of sandwich structures from the theoretical as well as practical points of view. Both isotropic and composite materials are considered. Topics include: material and mechanical properties of sandwich structures; vibration, dynamic response and impact problems; heat transfer and thermomechanical responses; contact problems; fracture mechanics, fatigue and damage; stability problems; special finite elements developed for the analysis of sandwich structures; analysis of sandwich beams, plates, panels and shells; specific applications in various fields of engineering; other topics. The analysis of cellular solids is also included. The bibliography at the end of this paper contains 655 references to papers, conference proceedings and theses/dissertations dealing with presented subjects that were published between 1980 and 2001.

Analyze the importance of sustainable innovation strategy applied in manufacturing companies in Indonesia which affects the company's financial performance through several mediating variables.

The population in this research was medium and large manufacturing company business units in East Java. Business units are part of a company considered as the profit center. The business unit as the unit of analysis in this research is part of the organization that: (1) is responsible for the production and marketing of a product or set of products; (2) is formed by product type; (3) has its own competitors which are different from competitors of other business units or divisions within a parent company; (4) has a manager who is responsible and has authority over the planning and implementation of strategies to achieve the specified profit target.

Innovation strategy has a significant effect on financial performance. Human capital does not significantly mediate the relationship between innovation strategy and financial performance. Capital performance and internal performance do not mediate the relationship between innovation strategy and financial performance. Management accounting information system does not mediate the relationship between innovation strategy and financial performance. Internal process performance mediates the relationship between innovation strategy and financial performance. Management accounting information system and internal process performance mediate the relationship between innovation strategy and financial performance.

The difference in findings confirms that this research needs to be conducted. On the other hand, there is no research that has comprehensively tested the mediating effects of Human Capital and Management Accounting Information System in the relationship between Innovation Strategy and Internal Process Performance and the Impact on Corporate Financial Performance. The originality of this research can be seen in the use of contingency theory which narrows the gap between the industrial organization (I/O) paradigm and the resource-based view (RBV) regarding competitive advantage and performance. Specifically, this research introduces innovation strategy, human capital, management accounting information system, and internal business process performance as the contingency factors that affect financial performance. Second, empirically, this research tries to reduce the gap in empirical research by offering new research model and new research establishment at the level of strategic business units (SBU) in manufacturing companies in East Java. This research is expected to be useful for policy decision making, especially for managers who want to improve strategic business unit's financial performance.