This thesis assesses whether the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) could evolve as an effective foreign policy tool of the EU. It aims to analyze the ENP&rsquo / s impact on the EU foreign policy in general and the Union&rsquo / s transformative capacity over its neighbours in particular. To this purpose, the thesis initially explores the underlying motives behind the origins and emergence of the ENP and further elaborates its policy framework and its phase of implementation so far. The thesis then identifies the limits of the ENP, namely the internal and external constraints of the policy and on the basis of these shortcomings, discusses the overall impact of the ENP on the EU foreign policy. More specifically, the thesis focuses on the ENP&rsquo / s impact analysis for the EU&rsquo / s transformative capacity in its direct neighbourhood. Finally, the thesis assesses the main reasons of why it seems unlikely that the ENP could not evolve as a fully-fledged foreign policy tool for the Union and highlights the need for a major reform or re-adjustment of the policy.

Analytical and numerical models are developed to investigate the effect of orthotropy on the stress distribution in variable thickness solid and annular rotating disks. The plastic treatment is based on Hill&rsquo / s quadratic yield criterion, total deformation theory, and Swift&rsquo / s hardening law. The elastic-plastic stress distributions, residual stresses and radial displacement distributions are obtained after having analysed the cases of rotating solid disk, annular disk with rigid inclusion, annular disk subjected to either internal or external pressure. Thermal loading is also considered for the annular disk with rigid inclusion. Effects of different values of elastic and plastic orthotropy parameters are investigated. It is observed that the elastic orthotropy significantly affects the residual stresses in disks. The most remarkable effect of the plastic orthotropy is observed on the disk with rigid inclusion.

Full wave analysis of microstrip lines at microwave frequencies is performed by using method of moments in conjunction with closed-form spatial domain Green&rsquo / s functions. The Green&rsquo / s functions are in general Sommerfeld-type integrals which are computationally expensive. To improve the efficiency of the technique, Green&rsquo / s functions are approximated by their closed-forms. Microstrip lines are excited by arbitrarily located current sources and are terminated by complex loads at both ends. Current distributions over microstrip lines are represented by rooftop basis functions. At first step, the current distribution over a single microstrip line is calculated. Next, the calculation of the current distributions over coupled microstrip lines is performed. The technique is then, applied to directional couplers. Using the current distributions obtained by the analysis, the scattering parameters of the structures are evaluated by using Prony&rsquo / s method. The results are compared with the ones gathered by using simulation software tools, CNL/2&trade / and Agilent Advanced Design System&trade / (ADS).

This thesis analyzes five selected memoirs by Iranian women written after the Iranian Revolution of 1979 within the framework of the pre and post Revolution Period. These memoirs are thought as constituting a shift within the Iranian Literature by women. The memoir writing tradition in Iran which was absent before the revolution and boomed afterwards is the first topic of discussion with its catalysing factors. These memoirs are handled within the larger framework of Iranian literary tradition. The study mainly analyses the common characteristics and issues in these five memoirs, and the changes in the women&rsquo / s lives after the revolution as depicted within the memoirs.

The aim of this study is to investigate preschool teachers&rsquo / beliefs about integration of visual art with other activities in early childhood settings. More specifically, the present study examined the effects of teachers&rsquo / year of experiences, their educational background and whether they take a course which is related to visual art or not on teachers&rsquo / beliefs about integrated curriculum and integration of visual art with other activities. Preschool teachers were asked to complete &ldquo / teachers&rsquo / beliefs about integration of visual art&rdquo / questionnaire which was developed by the researcher. It includes four parts: demographic information, teachers&rsquo / beliefs about integration, teachers&rsquo / beliefs about integration of visual art with other activities, and the status of the integrated curriculum in early childhood education. The participants of this study consisted of 255 preschool teachers working with children between the ages of 5 to 6. 118 participants were public pre-school teachers whereas 137 of them were private pre-school teachers in Ankara. The results revealed that there were significant relationship between teachers&rsquo / year of experience and their beliefs about integration of activities and teachers&rsquo / perceived role of the integrated curriculum in early childhood education. In addition, a significant relationship was identified between teachers&rsquo / educational background and their beliefs related to integration of visual art with other activities, usage about integration of visual art, and their perceived role or &lsquo / place&rsquo / of the integrated curriculum in early childhood education. Finally, a significant relationship was reported between the last variable, whether the teacher had taken a course related to visual art or not, and with beliefs about integration of visual art with other activities and usage about integration of visual art.

In the first part of the thesis, the 2-D structures in stratified media are analyzed using an efficient MoM technique. The method is used to optimize transmitted or reflected electric fields from the 2-D structures. The genetic algorithm is used in the optimization process. In the second part a 3-D MoM technique is implemented to analyze multilayered structures with periodically implanted material blocks. Using the method, the dispersion and reflection characteristics of the structure are calculated for different configurations. The results are compared with the results found in the literature and it is seen that they are in good agreement. Asymptotic Waveform Evaluation (AWE) technique is utilized to obtain the Pade approximation of the solution in terms of frequency. The high order derivatives that are required by the AWE technique are calculated through Automatic Differentiation technique. Using the AWE method, the dispersion diagram and reflection characteristics of the periodic structures are obtained in a shorter time. The results are compared with the ones obtained through direct calculation and it is seen that they are in perfect agreement. The reflection coefficients that are obtained from the 3-D MoM procedure are used to calculate Green&rsquo / s functions that approximate electric field of an infinitesimal dipole on the periodically implanted substrate. Using the calculated Green&rsquo / s functions and the spectral domain MoM procedure, dispersion characteristics of a microstrip line on the periodically implanted substrate are obtained.

The aim of this thesis is to explore the stance of feminist movement towards a dialogue with Islamist women and the &lsquo / headscarf problem&rsquo / in Turkey in 2000s. This is done by examining three magazines which claim to contribute to feminist movement and women&rsquo / s studies in Turkey, namely Feminist YaklaSimlar, Kadin &Ccedil / aliSmalari Dergisi and Amargi, all of which have been started to be published in 2006. It tries to explain the way in which feminists framed the issue has changed since the 1980s and 1990s, when the feminist movement and the debates on headscarves were on the rise in Turkey. In order to understand the shift of feminist discourse(s) on the headscarf issue, it also tries to explain how the women&rsquo / s movement and women&rsquo / s status in Turkey have transformed since the 19th century, along with the debates on the headscarf.

The heart does not regenerate new functional tissue when myocardium dies following coronary artery occlusion, or is defective. Ventricular restoration involves excising the infarct and replacing it with a cardiac patch to restore the heart to a more efficient condition. The goal of this study was to design and develop a myocardial patch to replace myocardial infarctions. A basic design was developed that is composed of 3D microfibrous mats that house mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from umbilical cord matrix (Wharton&rsquo / s Jelly) aligned parallel to each other, and biodegradable macroporous tubings to supply growth media into the structure. Poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) prepolimer was synthesized and blended with P(L-D,L)LA and/or PHBV, to produce aligned microfiber (dia 1.16 - 1.37 &amp / #956 / m) mats and macroporous tubings. Hydrophilicity and softness of the polymer blends were found to be improved as a result of PGS introduction. The Wharton&rsquo / s Jelly (WJ) MSCs were characterized by determination of their cell surface antigens with flow cytometry and by differentiating them into cells of mesodermal lineage (osteoblasts, adipocytes, chondrocytes). Cardiomyogenic differentiation potential of WJ MSCs in presence of differentiation factors was studied with RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry. WJ MSCs expressed cardiomyogenic transcription factors even in their undifferentiated state. Expression of a ventricular sarcomeric protein was observed upon differentiation. The electrospun, aligned microfibrous mats of PHBV-P(L-D,L)LA-PGS blends allowed penetration of WJ MSCs and improved cell proliferation. To obtain the 3D myocardial graft, the WJ MSCs were seeded on the mats, which were then wrapped around macroporous tubings. The 3D construct (4 mm x 3.5 cm x 2 mm) was incubated in a bioreactor and maintained the uniform distribution of aligned cells for 2 weeks. The positive effect of nutrient flow within the 3D structure was significant. This study represents an important step towards obtaining a thick, autologous myocardial patch, with structure similar to native tissue and capability to grow, for ventricular restoration.

The purpose of this study was to identify and describe elementary and mathematics teachers&rsquo / views about the new elementary school mathematics curriculum (NC). A total of 22 elementary teachers (grades 1-5) and mathematics teachers (grades 6-8) Alaca district of &Ccedil / orum participated. The data were collected through one-to-one interviews with some of the participants and written responses for the interview questions provided by the rest of the participants. The findings indicated that the participants had positive views about the impact of the NC. Participants reported that the NC helped students reach meaningful learning through the instructional activities, new content, curriculum materials, and new assessment techniques. Participants had positive views about the new roles for the teachers and the students and the increased student motivation that the NC brought. They also expressed challenges in teaching due to the lack of materials, physical facilities, and time. Local differences impacted the implementation of the NC negatively in rural contexts. The intensity of the NC made instructional activities and the assessment processes difficult to implement in multi-grade and crowded classrooms. Participants did not feel efficient enough to implement the NC since they lacked adequate training and support. While teachers adopted the ideas that the NC brought, they adapted these practices to their existing practices. They reported performing a combination of NC practices and previous practices. Participants claimed that content of Ministry support should be more practice oriented, the curriculum materials should be sufficient in number, and the duration of mathematics lesson should be increased.

This study aims to investigate the preservice teachers&rsquo / perceptions about online communication in blended learning. The study tries to understand strengths and weaknesses of online communication from the learners&rsquo / point of view. To reach this aim, four research questions are asked: (1) What are the learners&rsquo / perceptions about the online synchronous communication tool? (2) What are the learners&rsquo / perceptions about web-based support? (3) What are the learners&rsquo / perceptions about collaboration with online communication? (4) What are the learners&rsquo / perceptions about the roles of the instructor at blended learning as (a) administrator, (b) facilitator, (c) technician, and (d) evaluator? To answer the research questions, a case study in line with action research design was conducted. An undergraduate course in blended learning form was selected as a case and both synchronous and asynchronous communication tools were utilized throughout the semester. At the end of the semester, data about perceptions was collected via four questionnaires and interviews with the students. Both qualitative and quantitative results showed that the online communication facilities in the case were perceived to be adequate by the students. Yet, the students reflected diverse thoughts about preference of communication modalities in synchronous communication. Moreover, the value of asynchronous communication was pointed out. It is concluded that communication needs, communication partner and other contextual factor have impact on selection of communication modalities.