5,637 research outputs found
Market Orientation: The Implementation of the Marketing Concept
The marketing literature has provided little guidance in relation to creating market driven organisations. It has traditionally provided pieces of the puzzle i.e. the product life cycle, segmentation etc, but it has fallen short of demonstrating how to put the pieces together to complete the picture i.e. creating a market oriented organisation. As a result marketing has largely been confined to âoverseeing and co-ordinating activities directly involved with the outside - such as sales, promotion and deliveryâ (Witcher B J, 1990). This has led to a situation where many organisations have reservations about the success achieved with the implementation of the marketing concept
Who Wants To Be An Entrepreneur?
So you want to be an Entrepreneur? What does it take? Are you suited to entrepreneurial life? Have you got the required personality characteristics and what social factors influence whether or not you become an entrepreneur? While many studies have tried to answer these questions the results are somewhat mixed
How Do Students Learn Together?
Recent years have seen a shift in engineering education as universities seek to produce engineers capable of dealing with the complex challenges facing society. When facing these challenges, engineers will not only need to rely on technical knowledge and skills but will also be expected to collaborate with others from different fields and backgrounds. Engineers will also need to be aware of the impacts their solutions will have on society and in terms of sustainability. In response, an increasing number of universities are turning to programs based on project-based learning, where groups of students from different disciplines work on complex real-world problems.Existing research tends to view such programs through the lens of learning outcomes and benefits rather than through the studentsâ experiences and their process of learning. There is a lack of studies that address the social aspects of project-based learning, in particular how groups engage in the social regulation of learning over the length of a project in interdisciplinary groups. This thesis aims to address these gaps in the research by examining collaborative learning and the regulation of learning in student groups taking part in project-based interdisciplinary groupwork at Chalmers University of Technology.Two papers are incorporated within this thesis. The first paper analyses reflective writings by students to examine the challenges groups faced when taking part in undergraduate research and the coping strategies they employed in response. This revealed the actions and processes the groups engaged in during collaborative learning. The second paper uses qualitative interviews with students to investigate how groups regulate their learning as a group in interdisciplinary, project-based courses. The findings identify the different kinds of social regulation of learning employed by the student groups during the different phases of the project and factors that affected their regulation. When looked at together, the papers show the impact that desirable challenges, uncertainty, autonomy, and group composition have on both collaborative learning and social regulation of learning.The thesis concludes with a discussion of how groupsâ learning, and regulation of learning can benefit from scaffolding and the introduction of suitable coping strategies while maintaining the groupsâ autonomy
The ambivalent relation between nationalism and national language: the cases of the Republic of Ireland and Wales
International audienceThe ambivalent relation between nationalism and national language : the case ofthe Republic of Ireland and Wales.Nationalist movements of groups or ethnic minorites within a nation-state arefrequently associated with cultural and linguistic demands for recognition.Whether these claims concern political autonomy, self-determination orindependence, in a climate of negociations or armed conflict, language lies atthe heart of the discussions. Its connection with an established national identitystable through time should meet all the criteria for securing such a recognition.And indeed cultural and linguistic freedoms are protected by the 1948 UniversalDeclaration of Human Rights, on a par with freedom of speech.In the so-called âEnglish-speakingâ sphere of influence, Ireland acceded topolitical independence against a backdrop of cultural and linguistic demands, somuch so that the Irish (Gaelic) language is the first official language of the landaccording to its Constitution. This can be contrasted with the situation in Wales,where secessionist claims are few, the British political institutions have acceptedthat Welsh should be a language of education and of the local administration. Thepresent contribution aims to explore the paradox according to which nationalismdoes not necessarily rhyme with the actual defense of the minority language. Inthat perspective, issues such as the official status of the language, language policiesand the social use of the language will be analyzed and compared in the Republicof Ireland and in Wales.La relation ambivalente entre nationalisme et langue nationale : l'exemplecontrastĂ© de la RĂ©publique d'Irlande et du Pays de Galles.Il est d'usage d'associer revendications culturelles, linguistiques et mouvementsnationalistes de groupes ou d'ethnies minoritaires au sein d'un Ă©tat-nation. Qu'ils'agisse d'une demande d'autonomie, d'auto-dĂ©termination, voire d'indĂ©pendance,armĂ©e ou pacifique, la langue est un Ă©lĂ©ment capital de cette quĂȘte dereconnaissance politique. Elle formerait la clĂ© de voĂ»te d'une identitĂ© jugĂ©esuffisamment Ă©tablie au cours de l'Histoire pour satisfaire de telles exigences.A tout le moins, la libertĂ© culturelle et linguistique, au mĂȘme titre que la libertĂ©d'opinion, est protĂ©gĂ©e par la DĂ©claration Universelle des Droits de l'Homme de1948.Dans la sphĂšre d'influence dite âanglophoneâ, l'Irlande a acquis son indĂ©pendancepolitique et institutionnelle sur fond de revendications culturelles etlinguistiques, Ă telle enseigne que l'irlandais (gaĂ©lique) est la premiĂšre langueofficielle du pays selon la Constitution. Au Pays de Galles, en revanche, oĂč lesrevendications autonomistes sont peu vigoureuses, l'institution politique afavorisĂ© l'usage du gallois Ă l'Ă©cole et dans l'administration locale. Le prĂ©sentarticle se propose d'explorer le paradoxe suivant lequel sentiment nationalistene rime pas nĂ©cessairement avec dĂ©fense de la langue de la minoritĂ©. Nous nousintĂ©resserons ainsi au statut officiel de la langue, aux politiques linguistiques(Ă©cole, administration), Ă l'usage de la langue comme mĂ©dium de socialisation enRĂ©publique d' Irlande et au Pays de Galles
Design of Radio-Frequency Arrays for Ultra-High Field MRI
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is an indispensable, non-invasive diagnostic tool for the assessment of disease and function. As an investigational device, MRI has found routine use in both basic science research and medicine for both human and non-human subjects.
Due to the potential increase in spatial resolution, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and the ability to exploit novel tissue contrasts, the main magnetic field strength of human MRI scanners has steadily increased since inception. Beginning in the early 1980âs, 0.15 T human MRI scanners have steadily risen in main magnetic field strength with ultra-high field (UHF) 8 T MRI systems deemed to be insignificant risk by the FDA (as of 2016). However, at UHF the electromagnetic fields describing the collective behaviour of spin dynamics in human tissue assume âwave-likeâ behaviour due to an increase in the processional frequency of nuclei at UHF. At these frequencies, the electromagnetic interactions transition from purely near-field interactions to a mixture of near- and far-field mechanisms. Due to this, the transmission field at UHF can produce areas of localized power deposition â leading to tissue heating â as well as tissue-independent contrast in the reconstructed images. Correcting for these difficulties is typically achieved via multi-channel radio-frequency (RF) arrays. This technology allows multiple transmitting elements to synthesize a more uniform field that can selectively minimize areas of local power deposition and remove transmission field weighting from the final reconstructed image. This thesis provides several advancements in the design and construction of these arrays.
First, in Chapter 2 a general framework for modeling the electromagnetic interactions occurring inside an RF array is adopted from multiply-coupled waveguide filters and applied to a subset of decoupling problems encountered when constructing RF arrays. It is demonstrated that using classic filter synthesis, RF arrays of arbitrary size and geometry can be decoupled via coupling matrix synthesis.
Secondly, in Chapters 3 and 4 this framework is extended for designing distributed filters for simple decoupling of RF arrays and removing the iterative tuning portion of utilizing decoupling circuits when constructing RF arrays.
Lastly, in Chapter 5 the coupling matrix synthesis framework is applied to the construction of a conformal transmit/receive RF array that is shape optimized to minimize power deposition in the human head during any routine MRI examination
Sink or swim- ageing in Australia
As the number of people under the age of 65 declines, the number over 65 will double in the next half century. By 2031, it is estimated those over 65 will account for more than a quarter of the Australian population. The fastest rate of growth will be in the over-85-years category, projected to double over the next 20 years and to triple over 50 years to include 2.3 million people. Health care providers cannot afford to wait for the inevitable crises this vast demographic shift will provoke. To meet these future demands, educational and health care institutes should consider establishing interdisciplinary think-tanks for multidisciplinary research, policy development and innovations in aged care and health service delivery.Aust Health Rev 2005: 29(2): 146-150<br /
The transition from pediatric to adult health care services for young adults with a disability : an ethical perspective
Young children with disabilities and their carers or parents tend to form a long-term dependent relationship with a paediatrician throughout childhood At some stage when the young person with a disability reaches early adulthood, the relationship is severed This paper draws upon recent research undertaken by the authors that describes the difficulties experienced by young people with disabilities as they go through the transition from paediatric care to adult mainstream health care services. The purpose of this article is to present the argument that the dependent, paternalistic relationship that tends to exist between young people with disabilities (and/or their carers) and paediatricians throughout childhood does not facilitate the successful negotiation of adult mainstream health care services, nor optimally promote the well-being of these young people with disabilities. It is proposed that the promotion of autonomy (or self-determination) via a well planned transition program will increase the likelihood that young adults with disabilities and/or their carers will be empowered to successfully negotiate the current mainstream health care system in Australia, and will enhance the well-being of young adults with disabilities.<br /
Reconsidering the History of Open Courts in the Digital Age
Article I, Section 10 of the Constitution of the State of Washington guarantees, âJustice in all cases shall be administered openly, and without unnecessary delay.â The Washington State Supreme Court has interpreted this clause to guarantee the public a right to attend legal proceedings and to access court documents separate and apart from the rights of the litigants themselves. Based on this interpretation, the court has struck down laws protecting the identity of both juvenile victims of sexual assault and individuals subject to involuntary commitment hearings. Its interpretation has also compromised the privacy rights of litigants wrongly named in legal proceedings. The court has supported these rulings by claiming that the publicâs right of access to the courts âis rooted in centuries-old English common law.â Part I of this Article engages in a detailed exploration of the history of the right of public access to legal proceedings and court records, going back to Magna Carta of 1215 and other historical accounts of English common law. It also explores the tradition of publicly held proceedings, as well as the articulation of defendantsâ Sixth Amendment rights under the United States Constitution and other early colonial documents. The Article then considers the history of Article I, Section 10 of Washingtonâs constitution, the âOpen Courts Clause,â and the early interpretations of the state constitution. From there, it examines the more recent precedent, where the independent right of the public is articulated. Part II of this Article urges Washington courts to reexamine the Experience and Logic Test, which has been adopted by the Washington State Supreme Court to guide the lower courtsâ application of the âOpen Courts Clause.â Finally, Part III of this Article contends that certain cases may need to be reexamined in light of the courtâs adoption of the Experience and Logic Test
Reconsidering the History of Open Courts in the Digital Age
Article I, Section 10 of the Constitution of the State of Washington guarantees, âJustice in all cases shall be administered openly, and without unnecessary delay.â The Washington State Supreme Court has interpreted this clause to guarantee the public a right to attend legal proceedings and to access court documents separate and apart from the rights of the litigants themselves. Based on this interpretation, the court has struck down laws protecting the identity of both juvenile victims of sexual assault and individuals subject to involuntary commitment hearings. Its interpretation has also compromised the privacy rights of litigants wrongly named in legal proceedings. The court has supported these rulings by claiming that the publicâs right of access to the courts âis rooted in centuries-old English common law.â Part I of this Article engages in a detailed exploration of the history of the right of public access to legal proceedings and court records, going back to Magna Carta of 1215 and other historical accounts of English common law. It also explores the tradition of publicly held proceedings, as well as the articulation of defendantsâ Sixth Amendment rights under the United States Constitution and other early colonial documents. The Article then considers the history of Article I, Section 10 of Washingtonâs constitution, the âOpen Courts Clause,â and the early interpretations of the state constitution. From there, it examines the more recent precedent, where the independent right of the public is articulated. Part II of this Article urges Washington courts to reexamine the Experience and Logic Test, which has been adopted by the Washington State Supreme Court to guide the lower courtsâ application of the âOpen Courts Clause.â Finally, Part III of this Article contends that certain cases may need to be reexamined in light of the courtâs adoption of the Experience and Logic Test
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