42 research outputs found
A discourse analysis of popular preacher mufti Isma'il Menk
No full textThe bachelor thesis deals with the current popular Islamic thinker Mufti Menk. Mufti Menk has millions of followers across his social media accounts that he uses as the main platforms when spreading his thoughts. He is popular mainly among young Muslims, but his influence extends to a significant number of non-Muslims as well. The aim of the thesis is to analyze Menk through the evaluation of his social and political ties, his overall attitude towards politics, and the controversies that surround him. The thesis also analyzes the topics he addresses on his social media and thus outlines the main ideas he is trying to spread among his target group and what these ideas say about him. Mufti Menk is sometimes seen as a Salafi. This is probably due to his connection to the Islamic University of Madinah, ties to other Salafis, and some of his views. Drawing upon the findings of this thesis, the author will also briefly evaluate how strong Menk's connection to Salafism is
Rather no choice than frustrated choice? : the role of self-determination in an automotive supplier’s development towards an agile organisation
No full textThis M.Sc. thesis, written by Kerstin Menk, examines Deci and Ryan’s (1985, 2000, 2008) self-determination theory (SDT) in a specific business context. In order to respond to a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous environment, an automotive supplying company recently introduced agile working methods which are strongly based on SDT. The author of this thesis, therefore, investigates the impact of self-determination in three different situations on employees’ performance. As a starting position, a model describing that self-determination impacts autonomous motivation which then, mediated by affect, influences performance, is derived from literature findings. Then, even though not statistically significant, a study with 208 participants reveals that the organisation would better provide its employees with the opportunity to choose between tasks as this yields higher performance outcomes than not providing choice occasions. Overall, the research findings demonstrate that those individuals with the highest motivation significantly perform best which is why the company is recommended to place greatest focus on achieving and maintaining high autonomous motivation within its employees. One way to do so, is by providing opportunities for self-determination – but only if employees’ choice can be accommodated. Otherwise, no choice rather than frustrated choice should be the managers’ credo.Esta dissertação escrita por Kerstin Menk analisa a teoria de auto-determinação (SDT) de Deci e Ryan (1985, 2000, 2008) num contexto empresarial específico. A fim de responder a um ambiente volátil, incerto, complexo e ambíguo, uma empresa de fornecimento automóvel recentemente introduziu métodos de trabalho versáteis que são fortemente baseadas na SDT. O autor desta tese pesquisa o impacto da auto-determinação no desempenho dos funcionários em três situações diferentes. De acordo com a literatura, um modelo descreve que a auto-determinação afeta a motivação autónoma e que por sua vez influência o desempenho dos funcionários. Embora não estatisticamente sigificativo, um estudo feito com 208 participantes revela que a empresa providenciará mais eficazmente os seus funcionários da oportunidade de escolher as tarefas, uma vez que esta decisão faz com que o desempenho dos funcionários seja mais elevado. Contudo, o fato de um funcionário não receber uma das primeiras oportunidades para escolha de tarefas afetará mais negativamente a motivação autonoma, do que se não for dada nenhuma hipótese de escolha. Os resultados deste estudo mostram que os indivíduos com maior motivação têm um desempenho significativamente melhor. Deste modo, é recomendado que a empresa coloque mais ênfase em alcançar e manter a alta motivação autónoma entre funcionários. Uma das soluções é criar oportunidades para a auto-determinação - mas somente se a escolha dos funcionários pode ser acomodada. Caso contrário, nenhuma escolha, em vez de decepção de escolha, deve ser da responsabilidade do gestor
Analyzer-based imaging system performance in a synchrotron clinical environment: a feasibility study
No full textX-ray phase contrast imaging arises from changes of the propagation direction of the radiant wave field when traversing the object and it can yield higher contrast for soft tissues than conventional x-ray radiology based on attenuation. Commonly intermediate steps are required to transform wave front modulations into intensity modulations measurable by the detection system. One of these phase contrast techniques is analyzer-based imaging (ABI), which utilizes an analyzer crystal as angular filter with a bandwidth in the micro-radian regime placed between the sample and the detector. Furthermore employing appropriate algorithms, attenuation, refraction and scattering/dark field images can be extracted providing complementary information. The implementation of ABI requires X-ray optics with very high stability and micro-radian resolution. In return, this method possesses an extremely high sensitivity among the phase contrast techniques. At the medical beamline of the Italian synchrotron ELETTRA, a patient room has been imple-mented in order to perform clinical mammography with free-space propagation phase contrast. In this work we have tested the feasibility of ABI in a preclinical set-up implementing the system in the patient room. High quality images of breast tissues samples are presented and compared to images acquired at a conventional mammography unit. The system has shown excellent stability and imaging performances
On the use of clessidra prism arrays in long-focal-length X-ray focusing
No full textClessidra (hour-glass) X-ray lenses have an overall shape of an old hour glass, in which two opposing larger triangular prisms are formed of smaller identical prisms or prism-like objects. In these lenses, absorbing and otherwise optically inactive material was removed with a material-removal strategy similar to that used by Fresnel in the lighthouse lens construction. It is verified that when the single prism rows are incoherently illuminated they can be operated as independent micro-lenses with coinciding image positions for efficient X-ray beam concentration. Experimental data for the line width and the refraction efficiency in one-dimensional focusing are consistent with the expectations. Imperfections in the structures produced by state-of-the-art deep X-ray lithography directed only 35% of the incident intensity away from the image and widened it by just 10% to 125 m. An array of micro-lenses with easily feasible prism sizes is proposed as an efficient retrofit for the refocusing optics in an existing beamline, where it would provide seven-fold flux enhancement
Effective differention [sic] for student success
No full textThe research question addressed is, how do elementary teachers effectively differentiate instruction to ensure success for all learners? The motivation for this capstone comes from a desire to provide positive effects for students, such as increased motivation and responsibility, which occur when instruction is differentiated, without overloading teachers with preparation and materials. This capstone describes what is currently known about differentiation and integrates these concepts with what teachers who are currently differentiating find effective. The author documents what expert research in the field has in common with teachers who were interviewed about their differentiation practices. The results show strategies and conditions that are conducive to differentiating instruction. These include having a safe learning environment, a teacher who views themselves as a facilitator, uses open-ended learning activities and learning centers
ULF induction magnetometer data from Australian Antarctic and subantarctic stations
No full textProgress Code: onGoingStatement:
It is impossible to name all the expeditioners who have assisted with collecting these data. In each case they are the respective Physicists at each base, or if there is no such physicist, the electronic engineer. In recent years there have been no such person at some locations, e.g. Macquarie Island, and the BoM technician has been helpful (e.g. Michael Hyde). Again, it would be necessary to conduct extensive trawls through HR records from a range of institutions to get this information.
At AAD the main people involved with collecting the data as it arrives from the bases, passing it to our server at Newcastle, and providing it to the international space weather centre at the Bureau of Meteorology are Damian Murphy and Lloyd Symons. They have been very helpful and supportive over many years. Recently David Correll has also been involved with this process. Broad direction has been provided by Andrew Klekociuk.
At the University of Newcastle the contact people are:
Prof Fred Menk, [email protected]; Prof Colin Waters, [email protected];
Dr Sean Ables, [email protected]
The magnetometer at Macquarie Island has ceased functioning and so no data are coming from there. Otherwise the data collection and transfer process works seamlessly.Space weather is a significant hazard to modern technology. It results from energization of the Earth's radiation belts and subsequent transport of relativistic particles to low altitudes. Plasma waves convey energy and interact with particles throughout these regions but also provide a convenient ground-based diagnostic of these processes. We will use data from current and planned spacecraft missions referenced to ground observations to determine the sources of these waves, and whether they are responsible for acceleration of particles in geospace and their precipitation to the atmosphere.<br/><br/>Induction magnetometers constructed by the University of Newcastle and AAD have been installed and operating at each base for over 2 decades. Some people refer to such instruments as search coil magnetometers. Time series observations for the two horizontal magnetic components are digitally recorded with cadence of at least 1 Hz. The data are telemetered from the bases to HO Kingston from where the data are loaded to an automatic FTP site for transfer to Newcastle and the IPS Australian Space Weather Centre at the Bureau of Meteorology. At Newcastle University the data are stored on servers and are automatically backed up by research IT support services. The data transfer process was established by Lloyd Symons and has operated with no difficulty for many years. The main parties involved are Waters, Menk, Ables and Fraser at Newcastle and Lloyd Symons and Damian Murphy at AAD. The induction magnetometer data are archived and freely available through the Bureau of Meteorology's World Data Centre and the AAD can also archive and use these data as desired.<br/><br/>The induction magnetometer data can be viewed in near-real time at the IPS web site; see http://www.ips.gov.au/Geophysical. Since these are induction data, the signals are dB/dt and also have a frequency-dependent phase shift. The spectral slope of 1/f compensates for the natural response of the geomagnetic field, and the frequency range over which geomagnetic variation signals are usefully detected is 1 mHz to 3 Hz. The signal amplitude is in relative units. Contact Newcastle for calibration information regarding absolute units and phase responses
Potential advantages of using synchrotron X-ray based techniques in pediatric research.
No full textSynchrotron radiation (SR), which combines extremely high intensity, high collimation, tunability, and continuous energy spectrum, allows the development of advanced X-ray based techniques that are becoming a uniquely useful tool in life science research, along providing exciting opportunities in biomedical imaging and radiotherapy. This review summarize emerging techniques and their potential to greatly enhance the exploration of dynamical biological process occurring across various spatial and temporal regimes, from whole body physiology, down to the location of individual chemical species within single cells. In recent years pediatric research and clinic practice have started to profit from these new opportunities, particularly by extending the diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities of these X-ray based techniques. In diagnosis, technical advances in DEI and KES imaging modalities have been demonstrated as particularly valuable for children and women since SR allows dose minimization, with significant reductions compared to conventional approaches. However, the greatest expectations are in the field of SR based radiotherapy, increasingly studies are demonstrating SR radiotherapy provides improved chances of recovery; this is especially the case for pediatric patients. In addition, we report on the applicability of advanced X-ray microscopy techniques that offer exceptional spatial and quantitative resolution in elemental detection. These techniques, which are useful for in vitro studies, will be particularly advantageous where investigators seek deeper understanding of diseases where mismetabolism of metals, either physiological important (i.e. Cu, Zn) or outright toxic (i.e. Pb), underlies pathogenesis
Diffraction of partially coherent X-ray waves by Clessidra lenses
No full textWhen small triangular prisms are arranged in arrays which have an overall appearance like an hourglass (in Italian: clessidra) they can focus X-rays owing to a combined action of diffraction and refraction. From the optical point of view these objects can be regarded as a Fresnel variant of concave transmission lenses. Consequently they can provide larger apertures than purely refractive lenses. However, one has to recognize that clessidra lenses will strongly diffract as the lens structure is periodic in the direction perpendicular to the incident beam. In experiments the diffraction is reduced because it is difficult to illuminate the large apertures with a full spatially coherent wavefront. So the illumination is at best partially coherent. In order to interpret available experimental data for this condition, diffraction theory has been applied appropriately to the clessidra structure, taking into account the limited spatial coherence. The agreement between the theoretical simulations and experimental data is very good, keeping the lens properties at their projected values and allowing for only two free model parameters. The first is the lateral spatial coherence; the second is a lens defect, a rounding of all edges and tips in the structure. Both values obtained from the simulations have been found to be in agreement with expectations
