610 research outputs found
Professionalisation of sport federations - a multi-level framework for analysing forms, causes and consequences
Research question: International and national sport federations as well as their member organisations are key actors within the sport system and have a wide range of relationships outside the sport system (e.g. with the state, sponsors, and the media). They are currently facing major challenges such as growing competition in top-level sports, democratisation of sports with 'sports for all' and
sports as the answer to social problems. In this context, professionalising sport organisations seems to be an appropriate strategy to face these challenges and current problems. We define the professionalisation of sport organisations as an organisational process of transformation leading towards organisational rationalisation, efficiency and business-like management. This has led to a profound organisational change, particularly within sport federations, characterised by the strengthening of institutional management (managerialism) and the implementation of efficiency-based management instruments and paid staff. Research methods: The goal of this article is to review the current international literature and establish a global understanding of and theoretical framework for
analysing why and how sport organisations professionalise and what consequences this may have.
Results and findings: Our multi-level approach based on the social theory of action integrates the current concepts for analysing professionalisation in sport federations. We specify the framework for the following research perspectives: (1)
forms, (2) causes and (3) consequences, and discuss the reciprocal relations between sport federations and their member organisations in this context. Implications: Finally, we work out a research agenda and derive general methodological consequences for the investigation of professionalisation processes in sport organisations
Structure and magnetism of self-organized Ge(1-x)Mn(x) nano-columns
We report on the structural and magnetic properties of thin Ge(1-x)Mn(x)films
grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) on Ge(001) substrates at temperatures
(Tg) ranging from 80deg C to 200deg C, with average Mn contents between 1 % and
11 %. Their crystalline structure, morphology and composition have been
investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron energy loss
spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction. In the whole range of growth temperatures
and Mn concentrations, we observed the formation of manganese rich
nanostructures embedded in a nearly pure germanium matrix. Growth temperature
mostly determines the structural properties of Mn-rich nanostructures. For low
growth temperatures (below 120deg C), we evidenced a two-dimensional spinodal
decomposition resulting in the formation of vertical one-dimensional
nanostructures (nanocolumns). Moreover we show in this paper the influence of
growth parameters (Tg and Mn content) on this decomposition i.e. on nanocolumns
size and density. For temperatures higher than 180deg C, we observed the
formation of Ge3Mn5 clusters. For intermediate growth temperatures nanocolumns
and nanoclusters coexist. Combining high resolution TEM and superconducting
quantum interference device magnetometry, we could evidence at least four
different magnetic phases in Ge(1-x)Mn(x) films: (i) paramagnetic diluted Mn
atoms in the germanium matrix, (ii) superparamagnetic and ferromagnetic low-Tc
nanocolumns (120 K 400 K) and
(iv) Ge3Mn5 clusters.Comment: 10 pages 2 colonnes revTex formatte
Pattern languages in HCI: A critical review
This article presents a critical review of patterns and pattern languages in human-computer interaction (HCI). In recent years, patterns and pattern languages have received considerable attention in HCI for their potential as a means for developing and communicating information and knowledge to support good design. This review examines the background to patterns and pattern languages in HCI, and seeks to locate pattern languages in relation to other approaches to interaction design. The review explores four key issues: What is a pattern? What is a pattern language? How are patterns and pattern languages used? and How are values reflected in the pattern-based approach to design? Following on from the review, a future research agenda is proposed for patterns and pattern languages in HCI
Strain and correlation of self-organized Ge_(1-x)Mn_x nanocolumns embedded in Ge (001)
We report on the structural properties of Ge_(1-x)Mn_x layers grown by
molecular beam epitaxy. In these layers, nanocolumns with a high Mn content are
embedded in an almost-pure Ge matrix. We have used grazing-incidence X-ray
scattering, atomic force and transmission electron microscopy to study the
structural properties of the columns. We demonstrate how the elastic
deformation of the matrix (as calculated using atomistic simulations) around
the columns, as well as the average inter-column distance can account for the
shape of the diffusion around Bragg peaks.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure
Controlled switching of N\'eel caps in flux-closure magnetic dots
While magnetic hysteresis usually considers magnetic domains, the switching
of the core of magnetic vortices has recently become an active topic. We
considered Bloch domain walls, which are known to display at the surface of
thin films flux-closure features called N\'eel caps. We demonstrated the
controlled switching of these caps under a magnetic field, occurring via the
propagation of a surface vortex. For this we considered flux-closure states in
elongated micron-sized dots, so that only the central domain wall can be
addressed, while domains remain unaffected.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Embeddings of SL(2,Z) into the Cremona group
Geometric and dynamic properties of embeddings of SL(2,Z) into the Cremona
group are studied. Infinitely many non-conjugate embeddings which preserve the
type (i.e. which send elliptic, parabolic and hyperbolic elements onto elements
of the same type) are provided. The existence of infinitely many non-conjugate
elliptic, parabolic and hyperbolic embeddings is also shown.
In particular, a group G of automorphisms of a smooth surface S obtained by
blowing-up 10 points of the complex projective plane is given. The group G is
isomorphic to SL(2,Z), preserves an elliptic curve and all its elements of
infinite order are hyperbolic.Comment: to appear in Transformation Group
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