Within the scope of 1001- Scientific and Technological Research Projects Support Program organized by TÜBİTAK, for the year 2019 2nd term; the scientific evaluation process of the projects proposed to the Directorate of Research Support Programs (ARDEB) was concluded. After the evaluations; İstanbul University Faculty members Prof. Dr. Sühendan Mol Tokay, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Metin Alparslan and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zahide Funda Bostancı’s research projects were chosen for the TÜBİTAK project support.

İstanbul University continues to produce innovative ideas and develop projects in this perspective as a research university, with national and international success. Another of these achievements belong to Prof. Dr. Sühendan Mol Tokay (İstanbul University, Faculty of Water Sciences, Department of Fishery and Water Products); Associate Prof. Dr. Metin Alpaslan (İstanbul University Faculty of Letters, Department of Ancient Languages and Cultures lecturer), and Associate Prof. Dr. Zahide Funda Bostancı Güver (İstanbul University Faculty of Science, Department of Astronomy and Space Sciences).The research projects of the above- mentioned faculty members obtained the right to receive TÜBİTAK support.

Prof. Dr. Sühedan Mol Tokay's project was awarded in the field of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary support group (TOGAV); Assoc. Prof. Dr. Metin Alparslan's project was awarded in the field of Social and Humanities Research Support Group (SOBAG),and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zahide Funda Bostancı Güver's project was awarded support in the field of Mathematics and Physics Research Support Group (MFAG).

Cold Plasma Technology Will Provide Significant Advantages

Prof. Dr. Sühendan Mol Tokay stated that they aimed to increase the shelf life of sea bass, which is an important export product of our country, by using cold plasma technology and to ensure its reliability in terms of pathogens that can lead to human disease. The following faculty members were consultants related with the cold plasma production system mentioned in the Project: Prof. Dr. Sehban Kartal from İstanbul University Faculty of Science, Department of Physics; Prof. Tamer Akan and Prof. Erkan Ilik from Eskişehir Osmangazi University Faculty Of Science and Literature Department Of Physics. The following faculty members were the project consultants in relation to the applications of cold plasma in food: Prof. Dr. Serap Coşansu Akdemir from Sakarya University Engineering Faculty, Department of Food Engineering; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Didem Ucok Alakavuk, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yasemin Tosun, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Safak Ulusoy and Dr. Hande Bayar, from İstanbul University Faculty of Water Sciences, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Processing Technology lecturers. And Prof. Dr. Kamil Bostan from İstanbul Aydin University, Department of Gastronomy and Culinary Arts, worked as a consultant.

Prof. Dr. Mol Tokay stated that plasma is the fourth state of matter given high energy. Dr. Mol Tokay talked about the advantages of cold plasma as follows: “Cold plasma is effective at low temperatures, provides strong antimicrobial effect, it is environment friendly, not producing toxic by-products and it has advantages such as having low cost. By being an important alternative to traditional methods in improving the shelf life of foods and by its trustworthiness; plasma is very promising and therefore it creates a new workspace. Plasma does not require any chemicals, does not leave toxic residue and it is harmless. The insulator disabled cold plasma to be used for this Project will be produced by us with the original design system”.

“Our Project Will Be a Guide in the Field of Food Safety”

"Our country is the largest exporter of sea bass in Europe and the fish is a product that deteriorates very quickly and the reduction of losses during transportation and marketing is of great importance in terms of economy". Prof. Dr. Mol Tokay continued her speech as follows: "Our product will take place with fewer losses in the international market, increasing its competitiveness. The benefits of this technology in terms of shelf life and food safety will also guide its use in other foods. After determining the effects of cold plasma and the appropriate parameters in this Project, it is thought that a banded system could be used commercially following another project”.

“We Aim to Contribute to Our University's Role in the Research and Development Ecosystem”

"The main aim of TÜBİTAK 1001 projects is to produce new information or to support researchers in order to solve technological problems". Prof. Dr. Mol Tokay added that they are planning a multicenter project formed by experienced researchers from four universities sharing their knowledge. Prof. Dr. Tokay said: “We aim to contribute to the role of our University in the Research & Development ecosystem with the original system of design that we will produce with the support of TÜBİTAK". Prof. Dr. Mol Tokay stated that their goal is to achieve results that provide economic benefits to our country as well as academic effects through the cooperation of researchers working in different fields. Prof. Dr. Tokay pointed out that she was happy to receive such important support from TÜBİTAK on behalf of İstanbul University.

History of the Hittites to be Reinterpreted

Giving information about his Project; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Metin Alparslan said that it is called, “The Topography Of The City Of Hattusa, The Capital Of The Hittites: The Interpretation Of The Civil, Cultural And Administrative Architecture Of The City By Comparing Philological And Archaeological Documents”. This subject will be discussed in the scope of the study. Stating that the names of many architectural structures are mentioned in the Hittite texts; Assoc. Prof .Dr. Alparslan said, "The officials (such as the king, the guard), the works carried out (sacrifice, the beverage presentation, the activities of the craftsmen) and the inventory information (such as table, throne) are seen in these texts. On the other hand, the buildings were understood to be in Hattusa, the capital of Hittites, but their locations could not be determined yet". Assoc. Prof.Dr. Metin Alpaslan emphasized that the name of any building in Hattuşa ruins was not exactly determined and he added: "Although some buildings have been named as 'temple' because of their typological features, it is not exactly known which god/gods, the temples belong to. Our Project aims to name the structures within the ruins and to better understand their purpose and way of use. It also aims to gather information about the properties of structures and to reach new interpretations in line with this information”.

Sources of the Project: Philological Documents and Archaeological Findings

"The two main sources of the Project are the philological documents and archaeological findings, and in both sources the mastery of knowledge should be underlined". Metin Alparslan emphasized that the most important source to bring the Project to its conclusion is philological documents. For this reason, all written sources that provide information about architectural structures should be scanned and re-evaluated collectively, he said. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alparslan continued as follows: "Since there is no source that addresses all the architectural structures mentioned in the Hittite texts, the work in question will constitute the most important original values of our Project. The written information about each building will be discussed first by itself and then by other structures. In parallel to this, the architecture uncovered in Hattusa and the findings in it will be examined during the archaeological excavations. By combining this two information, we aim to find the exact names of some of the architectural structures in the Hittite capital.”

“We Want to Represent İstanbul University in the Best Way”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alpaslan said that he would conduct the Project together with İstanbul University Faculty member, Dr. Fatma Kaynar and they work in the same department. And together with Fatma Kaynar; they expressed their great pleasure to have been accepted by TÜBİTAK. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Metin Alparslan concluded his speech by saying that the aim of the Project was to better understand Hattusa, the capital of the Hittites and other Hittite cities: “Our Project will last 3 years. Within these 3 years we would like to present our results orally at scientific meetings, and by writing articles and monographs. We are aware of our responsibility towards TÜBİTAK and İstanbul University and we want to represent İstanbul University in the best way.”

A Detailed Examination of Gamma Ray Bursts

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zahide Funda Bostancı Güver talked about the study titled “Investigation And Detailed Research Of Gamma-Ray Bursts That Show A Long-term Radiance Phase Afterwards". She pointed out that within the Project; they investigated the events classified as a new group in gamma-ray bursts, the most violent eruptions in the Universe". Although gamma-ray bursts are short-term bursts in the gamma-ray band, they spread energy in very high degrees (10⁵⁰ ERG). And because of their energy radiances, they can show themselves from the depths of the Universe". Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bostancı Güver stated that these explosions were classified as short and long explosions, considering the observed pioneer gamma-ray diffusion times. "This classification is fairly general. However, the physical mechanism behind the bursts shows significant differences. Short bursts are very short (lasting less than 2 seconds) and long bursts last more than 2 seconds and these two types of bursts differ markedly". Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bostancı Güver emphasized that long explosions can occur with supernova explosions at the end of the life of a giant mass star, while short bursts can occur as a result of the merger of two tight objects (two neutron stars or a black hole and a neutron star).

"Understanding the Precursor Short Burst and Long-term Radiance Phases is Crucial”

Especially in the last 10 years, a new group of gamma-ray bursts began to manifest themselves with characteristic differences. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Güver said these events were determined as short because of the duration of the leading burst. However, in the following period; aftermath of spectral energy but lower long-term radiance that is out of phase occured. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Güver made the following explanation: “These properties, due to long-lasting glow showing gamma-ray bursts is a bridge between two groups. This will provide a better understanding of all the long-term gamma radiances. On August 17, 2017, the LIGO/Virgo experiment observed gravitational waves emitted by the merger of two neutron stars, and the short gamma-ray burst associated with this event was observed by the Fermi satellite. These discoveries have opened a very important new lane in this field. Because the matter contained in the colliding neutron stars following the merger emitted a low-energy supernova glow called kilonova. These findings have reinforced the possibility that the radiation of gamma-ray bursts showing some prolonged radiation is the radiation that can be observed just before colliding compact bodies turn into a black hole”.

"Gamma Ray Bursts Will Be Examined for the First Time with Detailed Timing Methods”

"Within the scope of the project, the data of gamma-ray bursts containing long-term radiation will be subject to detailed examinations such as spectral delay and spectral modeling, as well as detailed timing methods which will be carried out for the first time". Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bostancı Güver noted that this would be the first time to investigate whether the expected periodic or near-periodic oscillations from neutron stars that can radiate occur; before they turn into a black hole. Assoc. Prof. Dr Güver said: "In the light of the results obtained, the characteristic spectral and temporal features of these events will be revealed in the most comprehensive way. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bostancı Güver added: “Similar investigations are applied to gamma-ray burst data that do not show long-term radiation and the processes that make up the long-term radiation phase will be examined, and new clues about the leading radiation that still remains a mystery, will be investigated.".

A First for the Literature

"The research of gamma ray bursts showing long-term radiation is an area of increasing importance in Astrophysics in general and is being studied at our time". Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bostanci Güver pointed out that, in the scope of this project this would be studied for the first time in the literature. Bostanci Güver explained their studies: “Our purpose is this: The findings obtained from different periods of the Project will be presented as oral presentation and poster presentation at national and international meetings and published in high impact factor articles in international journals indexed in as SCI. The role of qualified education in the provision of social welfare is very important. For this reason; it is essential to provide the basic scientific studies and the continuity of these studies. The research within the scope of this Project will be conducted with data from NASA satellites and will create motivation and self-confidence for the young researchers. They will be having experience in high energy Astrophysics, data analysis and interpretation. The production of materials for graduate theses and the transfer of existing knowledge to students will provide support for the training of the young researchers. Young researchers who will gain enough experience can also contribute to the realization of new projects”.

News: Tuğçe AYÇIN
Translation: Yasemin UĞURLU
İU Department of Corporate Communication