International Journal of Sustainability

Digital Transformation from a Sustainability Perspective: The Contribution of Smart City Applications to Energy Efficiency

2025-09-01T14:39:26+03:00

With the rapid progress of digital transformation, smart home technologies have emerged as critical solutions for sustainable development and energy efficiency. This study examines the expenditures of smart city technologies on energy efficiency by comparing residential complexes in Antalya that use and do not use smart home technologies. The research focused on energy consumption, five smart home systems and five traditional residential complexes selected with an easy-to-use method. Although the records of all residences in the selected complexes were included, a total of 120 residents of each group were included in order to make comparisons under equal conditions. The findings showed that residential complexes equipped with smart systems have significantly lower energy consumption thanks to features such as automatic energy management, real-time monitoring and adaptive resource control. In contrast, higher energy consumption was observed in traditional housing estates due to inefficiencies that smart systems aim to solve. In this study, the attitudes of selected housing estates towards green behavior were also examined. For this purpose, the “Attitude Towards Green Behavior” survey developed by Çavuşoğlu et al. (2020) was used. This survey consists of 15 questions and 4 sub-dimensions: Green Behavior, Green Image, Green Customer Satisfaction and Green Customer Loyalty. The survey results revealed that those living in housing estates with smart home systems in Antalya felt a stronger attachment to their places compared to those living in traditional estates. However, no statistically significant effect was found on the other sub-dimensions. This comparative analysis highlights the potential of smart home technology to increase energy efficiency, reduce operational costs and support sustainability goals in urban housing areas and reveals that it has an impact on residents’ attachment to living in these residences. The study revealed that integrating smart home solutions into housing planning could be a strategic step towards a more energy efficient and environmentally friendly urban development and could lead to the development of a behavioral model that could come to the forefront for personal preferences. However, despite the benefits of smart technology, there are shortcomings in terms of data privacy, infrastructure investment and potential dependency on digital systems and therefore careful evaluation should be made in the steps to be taken.

Sign Language Recognition Modeling With Deep Learning Method

2025-07-10T16:14:55+03:00

This study presents the development of a deep learning-based system for the recognition of Turkish Sign Language (TİD) using a lightweight and accessible architecture. The proposed model was trained on a custom dataset consisting of 15 hand gesture classes and implemented through Apple’s Create ML platform, leveraging the ResNet50 convolutional neural network. To extract spatial features from hand gestures, the MediaPipe framework was utilized, enabling robust tracking of 21 hand landmarks. By integrating pre-trained models and simplified feature representations, the system achieves a balance between classification accuracy and energy efficiency. Experimental results show that the model reached an overall classification accuracy of approximately 94%, demonstrating strong performance even under variable lighting and background conditions. Additionally, a confusion matrix analysis highlights the system’s strengths and reveals certain class-specific ambiguities, particularly among visually similar gestures. The model’s lightweight structure and minimal hardware requirements make it suitable for deployment in educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and other public domains. This study contributes to the growing body of research on inclusive communication technologies and offers a practical step toward real-time, device-level sign language recognition in underrepresented languages such as TİD.

A Neuromarketing Research on Perception Towards Packaging: An Eye Tracking Study

2025-09-01T14:34:51+03:00

Neuroscience imaging technologies are widely accepted as effective methods to authenticate, reform and enrich traditional conscious behavior-based theories. Eye Tracking and EEG (electroencephalography) are highly integrated to neuromarketing discipline as powerful instruments to explore cognitive and emotional marketing processing from dragging consumers’ attention to purchase decisions and from perception to positioning. Furthermore, investigating perceptual impact of packaging that plays a salesperson as well as a value adding role will help marketing to advance its strategy emerging skills. The main purpose of this qualitative research is to determine the aspects of consumers’ attention on chewing gum’s packages as one of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) via using eye tracker and therefore, transforming marketing strategies by redesigning the packages accordingly. The study included 48 participants and 10 different product packages. In addition to the main objective, it was conducted to determine whether the results differ in relation to the demographic characteristics and distinguish the attributes of the packages that create excitement and engagement in conjunction with the participants’ background via using EEG technique. According to the results, package has a significant effect on consumer perception, and the impacts vary depending on the demographic characteristics of the subjects.

The Role of Perceived Discrimination in the Sustainable Cultural Adaptation Process of Immigrants: The Mediating Effect of Social Support Mechanisms

2025-06-08T20:16:50+03:00

This study aims to examine the relationship between perceived discrimination and social support mechanisms in the cultural adaptation process of immigrant individuals, and to reveal the mediating role of social support within this relationship. The research analyzes the impact of cultural adaptation on perceived discrimination and the extent to which social support mechanisms mediate this effect. Based on findings in the literature indicating that discrimination negatively affects the adaptation process of immigrants, while social support plays a protective role in their psychological and social adjustment, a theoretical model was proposed.

The research was conducted in 2025 using a quantitative research design on immigrants living in Istanbul. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire, and a total of 395 valid responses were analyzed using SPSS. In the study, cultural adaptation was defined as the independent variable, perceived discrimination as the dependent variable, and multidimensional perceived social support as the mediating variable. The measurement instruments employed in the data collection tool were adapted from previously validated scales in the literature.

As a result of correlation and regression analyses, it was found that cultural adaptation significantly and negatively predicts perceived discrimination (H1); that there is a positive and significant relationship between cultural adaptation and social support mechanisms (H2); and that higher levels of social support are associated with lower levels of perceived discrimination (H3). Furthermore, hierarchical regression analyses demonstrated that social support mechanisms have a partial mediating effect on the relationship between cultural adaptation and perceived discrimination (H4), thus supporting the proposed mediation model.

This thesis makes a significant contribution to the existing literature by presenting a comprehensive examination of the interactions between cultural adaptation, perceived discrimination, and social support among immigrants. It also offers practical recommendations for policymakers aiming to develop effective social support and integration programs to reduce discrimination perceptions and foster cultural adaptation among immigrant populations.

Energy Diplomacy in the Eastern Mediterranean: A Strategic Analysis of Turkey, Greece, and Italy for the Future

2025-04-08T13:54:10+03:00

The Eastern Mediterranean has emerged as one of the focal points of international energy diplomacy and regional power dynamics due to the recent discovery of significant natural gas and oil reserves. The hydrocarbon potential of the region holds strategic importance not only in terms of economic interests but also with respect to energy supply security, the delimitation of maritime jurisdiction zones, the control of energy transit corridors, and the broader competition for geopolitical influence. This study aims to analyze, within a multidimensional framework, the energy policies of Turkey, Greece, and Italy in the context of the Eastern Mediterranean by examining their strategic approaches to energy resources, infrastructure, and diplomacy.

The research comparatively evaluates Turkey’s strategy of engaging with regional actors through energy transit routes and infrastructure investments; Greece’s stance shaped by its EU membership and maritime jurisdiction policies; and Italy’s role within the framework of European energy security and its balancing policy as a major energy importer. In addition, the study explores the legal and diplomatic implications of disputes over Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) and continental shelf boundaries under international maritime law. The interplay between regional energy competition and the strategies of global powers such as the European Union, the United States, and Russia is also examined, emphasizing potential risks at the international level.

Findings reveal that the strategic divergences among the three countries are primarily influenced by economic vulnerabilities, domestic political dynamics, and limitations imposed by international alliances. However, it is also determined that there is a notable potential for cooperation through joint infrastructure projects and renewable energy initiatives. The study recommends strengthening energy diplomacy to enhance regional stability, resolving legal disputes through multilateral dialogue mechanisms, and adopting transparent, sustainable, and multi-stakeholder governance models in energy resource management. In this context, it is emphasized that transforming energy resources from a source of competition into a platform for regional cooperation is essential for ensuring long-term energy security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.