The Internet as a means of stuying transnationalism and Diaspora?

Dieser Text beschäftigt sich mit der Frage, wie das Internet verwendet werden kann, um die Entwicklung von Interessen, Kontakten und Netzwerken von Migranten zu untersuchen und so zwischen einer transnationalen Gemeinschaft und einer Diaspora zu unterscheiden. Da das Internet zu einem zentralen Kommunikationsmittel geworden ist, insbesondere für räumlich von einander getrennte Gruppen, können die Analyse von Webseiten, ihre Nutzung und die daraus entstehenden Kommunikationswege dazu beitragen, Unterschiede und Ähnlichkeiten transnationaler Gemeinschaften und Diaspora zu verstehen. Auf Basis empirischer Daten und Erfahrungen aus dem aktuellen Forschungsprojekt der Autoren werden drei Formen nationaler, transnationaler und internationaler Beziehungen diskutiert: transnationale (online) Gemeinschaften, (virtuelle) Diaspora, und ethnische (online) Öffentlichkeiten. This paper addresses the question, how the Internet can be used to study developments in migrants’ interests, contacts and networks and so differentiate between transnational communities and Diaspora. As the Internet has become a central means of communication, especially true for geographically dispersed entities, the analysis of internet sites, their uses and the thus emerging communication paths can add to the understanding of differences and similarities of transnational communities and Diaspora. Based on empirical data and experiences collected as part of the authors´ ongoing research project on the political online activities from migrants in Germany, three different forms of national, transnational and international relationships will be discussed: transnational (online) communities,(virtual) Diasporas, and ethnic (online) public spheres

On the nature of the fast moving star S2 in the Galactic Center

We analyze the properties of the star S2 orbiting the supermassive black hole at the center of the Galaxy. A high quality SINFONI H and K band spectrum obtained from coadding 23.5 hours of observation between 2004 and 2007 reveals that S2 is an early B dwarf (B0-2.5V). Using model atmospheres, we constrain its stellar and wind properties. We show that S2 is a genuine massive star, and not the core of a stripped giant star as sometimes speculated to resolve the problem of star formation so close to the supermassive black hole. We give an upper limit on its mass loss rate, and show that it is He enriched, possibly because of the presence of a magnetic field.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, ApJ letters accepte

Politisches Potential des Internet:die virtuelle Diaspora der Migranten aus Russland und der Türkei in Deutschland (Projektskizze)

Das Forschungsprojekt „Politisches Potential des Internet: Die virtuelle Diaspora der Migranten aus Russland und der Türkei in Deutschland“ untersucht die politischen Aktivitäten, die Migranten in Deutschland im Internet entfalten. Dabei gilt das Forschungsinteresse der Vernetzung und der Online-Beteiligung an politischen Prozessen sowohl im Herkunftsland der Migranten als auch im Aufnahmeland. Exemplarisch soll dies anhand der Migranten aus Russland und der Türkei in Deutschland untersucht werden. Zentrale Frage ist dabei, inwiefern das Internet die bereits bekannten politischen Aktivitäten von Migranten aus der Diaspora heraus verändert. Erleichtert das Internet lediglich den Kommunikations- und Informationsfluss zwischen den Mitgliedern der Diaspora oder bekommen die Aktivitäten eine ganz neue Qualität, weil neue Einflusswege erfolgreich genutzt werden? Welche Einwirkungen auf das politische Geschehen im Herkunftsland und im Aufenthaltsland sind feststellbar?The research project “Political potential of the internet - the virtual diaspora of migrants from Russia and Turkey in Germany” examines the political activities, which migrants display in Germany on the Internet. The focus hereby lies on the interconnectedness and the on-line participation in the political processes both in the host country and in the country of origin. This is investigated by a case study of immigrants from Russia and Turkey in Germany. Thereby the central question is, in what respect the Internet changes the already well-known political activities of immigrants in a diaspora. Does the internet only facilitate the information and communication flow between the members of the diaspora or do activities posess a completely new quality, as new ways of influence are used successfully? Which effects on the country of origin and in the residence country can be detected, how are they carried out and what consequences do they have

ICP polishing of silicon for high quality optical resonators on a chip

Miniature concave hollows, made by wet etching silicon through a circular mask, can be used as mirror substrates for building optical micro-cavities on a chip. In this paper we investigate how ICP polishing improves both shape and roughness of the mirror substrates. We characterise the evolution of the surfaces during the ICP polishing using white-light optical profilometry and atomic force microscopy. A surface roughness of 1 nm is reached, which reduces to 0.5 nm after coating with a high reflectivity dielectric. With such smooth mirrors, the optical cavity finesse is now limited by the shape of the underlying mirror

The Rigidly Rotating Magnetosphere of Sigma Ori E

We attempt to characterize the observed variability of the magnetic helium-strong star sigma Ori E in terms of a recently developed rigidly rotating magnetosphere model. This model predicts the accumulation of circumstellar plasma in two co-rotating clouds, situated in magnetohydrostatic equilibrium at the intersection between magnetic and rotational equators. We find that the model can reproduce well the periodic modulations observed in the star's light curve, H alpha emission-line profile, and longitudinal field strength, confirming that it furnishes an essentially correct, quantitative description of the star's magnetically controlled circumstellar environment.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, accepted by Ap

Hybrid Mechanical Systems

We discuss hybrid systems in which a mechanical oscillator is coupled to another (microscopic) quantum system, such as trapped atoms or ions, solid-state spin qubits, or superconducting devices. We summarize and compare different coupling schemes and describe first experimental implementations. Hybrid mechanical systems enable new approaches to quantum control of mechanical objects, precision sensing, and quantum information processing.Comment: To cite this review, please refer to the published book chapter (see Journal-ref and DOI). This v2 corresponds to the published versio

Measuring maternal mortality : an overview of opportunities and options for developing countries

Background:There is currently an unprecedented expressed need and demand for estimates of maternal mortality in developing countries. This has been stimulated in part by the creation of a Millennium Development Goal that will be judged partly on the basis of reductions in maternal mortality by 2015. Methods: Since the launch of the Safe Motherhood Initiative in 1987, new opportunities for data capture have arisen and new methods have been developed, tested and used. This paper provides a pragmatic overview of these methods and the optimal measurement strategies for different developing country contexts. Results: There are significant recent advances in the measurement of maternal mortality, yet also room for further improvement, particularly in assessing the magnitude and direction of biases and their implications for different data uses. Some of the innovations in measurement provide efficient mechanisms for gathering the requisite primary data at a reasonably low cost. No method, however, has zero costs. Investment is needed in measurement strategies for maternal mortality suited to the needs and resources of a country, and which also strengthen the technical capacity to generate and use credible estimates. Conclusion: Ownership of information is necessary for it to be acted upon: what you count is what you do. Difficulties with measurement must not be allowed to discourage efforts to reduce maternal mortality. Countries must be encouraged and enabled to count maternal deaths and act.WJG is funded partially by the University of Aberdeen. OMRC is partially funded by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. CS and SA are partially funded by Johns Hopkins University. CAZ is funded by the Health Metrics Network at the World Health Organization. WJG, OMRC, CS and SA are also partially supported through an international research program, Immpact, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Department for International Development, the European Commission and USAID

Cavity cooling of a nanomechanical resonator by light scattering

We present a novel method for opto-mechanical cooling of sub-wavelength sized nanomechanical resonators. Our scheme uses a high finesse Fabry-Perot cavity of small mode volume, within which the nanoresonator is acting as a position-dependant perturbation by scattering. In return, the back-action induced by the cavity affects the nanoresonator dynamics and can cool its fluctuations. We investigate such cavity cooling by scattering for a nanorod structure and predict that ground-state cooling is within reach.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure