The purpose of this study is to investigate the geological and morphological features around ancient city of Zeugma. To achieve this, a geological map of Zeugma excavation site is prepared / an aerial photographic survey and morphological analyses are conducted on a broader area. Additionally, the biggest ancient quarry in the study area is investigated. In the close vicinity of Zeugma, four lithologies which are, from bottom to top, clayey limestone, thick bedded limestone, chalky limestone and cherty limestone are identified. A major fault with a vertical throw of 80 m is mapped in the area. Geological survey reveals that the excavation site is located within the chalky limestone and the rock tombs are carved within the thick bedded limestone. In the aerial photographic survey, Firat River is classified into 4 morphological classes which are river, island, flood plain and basement. The change among these classes is investigated between 1953 and 1992. The results reveal that there is no considerable variation in the position of the river channel and margins of flood plain within 39 years. The major change is observed in the islands that are built within the flood plain. Testing the elevation of Gaziantep and Firat formations boundary using the relief map, investigating the visibility of selected points in the area, predicting the source area for the water supply, and evaluating the nature of the ancient route, constitute the morphological analysis carried out in this study. However, these analyses are not studied in detail and should be considered as the first attempts for more detailed morphological analyses.

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) has become an indispensable metrology tool for nanoscale surface characterization. Today, research and industry demand faster and more accurate metrology and these demands must be met expediently. Traditional AFM cantilevers and associated actuators (i.e. piezoelectric) are limited in regards to actuation speed and resonance frequency presenting the user with an undesired trade-off of speed versus resolution. Based on a pre-existing technology known as the FIRAT (Force Sensing Integrated Readout and Active Tip) AFM probe, this work aims to remedy actuation and response issues by implementing a cantilever-on-cantilever probe as well as a novel seesaw probe. Both cases implement electrostatic actuation, eliminating the need for piezoelectrics while demonstrating large - micron scale - actuation and sensitive displacement detection. These new probe designs can potentially demonstrate a wide bandwidth frequency response (e.g. 100 kHz) ideal for high-speed video-rate imaging. Unlike traditional AFM cantilevers, this is realized by mechanically coupling two physically separate structures to provide a soft resonator sensor atop a stiff actuator structure. Common surface-micromachining techniques are utilized to solve the logistical challenge of fabricating these stacked structures. By manipulating the viscous damping and mechanical mode coupling it becomes feasible to attain the aforementioned desired dynamic characteristics.

This dissertation focuses on quantitative subsurface and mechanical properties imaging potential of AFM probes. Extensive modeling of AFM probes are presented for thorough understanding of capabilities and limitations of current techniques, these models are verified by various experiments, and different methods are developed by utilizing force-sensing integrated read-out active tip (FIRAT), which is an active AFM probe with broad bandwidth. For quantitative subsurface imaging, a 3-D FEA model of AFM tip-sample contact is developed and this model can simulate AFM tip scan on nanoscale-sized buried structures. FIRAT probe, which is active and broadband, is utilized for interaction forces imaging during intermittent contact mode and mechanical characterization capability of this probe is investigated. It is shown that probe dynamics, stiffness, stiffness ambiguity, assumed contact mechanics, and noise are important parameters for the accuracy of mechanical properties imaging. An active tip control mechanism is introduced to limit contact forces during intermittent contact mode. In addition to these, a combined ultrasonic AFM and interaction forces imaging method is developed and modeled to solve the reduced elasticity measurement sensitivity on composite materials. This method is capable of imaging a broader range of elasticity on combination samples such as metal nanoparticles in polymers at nanoscale.

Intermittent contact mode atomic force microscopy has been widely employed for simultaneous topography imaging and material characterization. The work in the literature includes both qualitative and quantitative methods. Regular AFM cantilevers are generally used in these methods, yet these cantilevers come with certain limitations. These limitations result from the very nature of cantilever probes. They are passive force sensors with insufficient damping. This prevents having active and complete control on tip-sample forces, causing sample damage and inaccurate topography measurement. Ideally, an AFM probe should offer high bandwidth to resolve interaction forces, active control capability for small interaction force and stable operation, and sufficient damping to avoid transient ringing which causes undesired forces on the sample. Force sensing integrated readout and active tip (FIRAT) probe offers these properties. A special imaging mode, time-resolved interaction force (TRIF) mode imaging can be performed using FIRAT probe for simultaneous topography and material property imaging. The accuracy of topography measurement of samples with variations in elastic and adhesive properties is investigated via numerical simulations and experiments. Results indicate that employing FIRAT probe's active tip control (ATC) capability during TRIF mode imaging provides significant level of control over the tip-sample forces. This improves the accuracy of topography measurement during simultaneous material property imaging, compared to conventional methods. Moreover, Active tip control (ATC) preserves constant contact time during force control for stable contact while preventing loss of material property information such as elasticity and adhesive forces.

This thesis investigates depictions in the Kurdish media (Rudaw and Firat News Agency (ANF)) of mass violence perpetrated against Kurdish civilians in northern and northeastern Syria – an area known to Kurds as Rojava – in recent years. Articles from two media organizations were subject to mixed-method text analysis (quantitative and qualitative) to uncover how mass violence was portrayed. The theory of framing in the media is used to show how violence is committed and what role ideology plays in this process. It is subsequently used in order to uncover commonly used frames for the roles played by various actors involved in mass violence. Hence, a comparison is made between the contents of the two media institutions. The results primarily relate to the role of ideology in the coverage of mass violence by the selected Kurdish media outlets, which are affiliated with two major Kurdish political parties, one left-leaning and one right-leaning. Findings revealed different aspects of mass violence, governed principally by nationalist and partisan orientations. Nationalist agendas played a significant role in Rudaw’s content and a smaller one in ANF’s. Partisan agendas had roughly the same magnitude in both, and the two outlets clashed politically but met nationalistically in many areas. The research questions were addressed through a content analysis of tens of stories disseminated by both Kurdish media organizations during the same time-space.