Analysis of selected allegorical Qur’anic verses with specific reference to Sūrat Yūsuf: A hermeneutic approach

Philosophiae Doctor - PhDArabic is the language of the Holy Qur'an, which was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) who in turn dictates it to His companions. The Prophet's companions did not encounter any difficulty in the understanding and comprehension of the Qur‘anic verses simply because the Qur'an was revealed in a language variety with which they have been quite familiar. Yet, the companions of the prophet differ in their understanding of the Qur'an. Their understanding may vary according to their competencies and their closeness to the prophet. In addition, the Qur'an includes verses that appear to be contradictory. Some verses of the Qur'an, for instance, may imply that man is free to select either the path of faith or the path of blasphemy

The implementation and integration of CAD/CAM in manufacturing organisations: a grounded theory investigation

New technology has received increased attention in the literature over the past two decades. Information technology's profound economic, social, political, organisational, and psychological effects have been the subject matter of numerous studies. The wide-spread use of computers in manufacturing industry is an important area for research into what may look superficially as a purely technical change but turns out to be, in effect, as much about organisational adaptation as it is about the introduction of a technology system per se. The latter needs to fit the host organisational setting in order to operate and deliver and the former needs to fit the technology being introduced in order to make an effective use of it. Among other important computer technology applications in manufacturing industry (e.g. robotics, CAT and MRP-I), CAD was the subject matter of numerous research efforts during the 1970s and 80s. So was CAM but to a lesser degree. For the 1990s and beyond, however, the focus of research has shifted to concentrate on integrating technologies (e.g. MRP-II and CADCAM) used in manufacturing companies and often symbolised by the generic concept of CIM. Such technologies are more technically advanced in their own right but they also have greater implications for job design and work organisation. This thesis addresses the gap between precept and practice in CADCAM implementation as a technology-induced organisational integration process. The aim of the present research is to develop a better empirically-informed understanding of integration as an organisational change process by researching and comparing ten selected UK-based manufacturing companies' experiences. The emphasis in this study is on the discovery and development, rather than testing, of theory. Therefore, the underlying theory here is grounded in the data gathered through an oriented field research, rather than tested for verification purposes following a logic-deductive literature review. A qualitative, "grounded theory" methodological approach is used to meet the set objective on the basis of a defined link between the study's theoretical and methodological frameworks. The research strategy is designed to include a longitudinal case study approach which traces the companies' historical experiences of introducing CAD and CAM systems since the early 1970s (in the ten companies) and current experiences of interfacing them to create integrated CADCAM (in five of them - termed primary cases), as well as the lack of integration initiatives (in the other five companies - termed secondary cases). Seven tentative research questions are used to orient the field research initially. A conceptual model is then developed as a framework for the generation of theory: 20 substantive theoretical propositions on CAD/CAM and integration and, subsequently, 20 corresponding formal theoretical propositions on organisational change in general, of which 14 are presented in a hypothesis form. The findings have implications for directing the efforts of future organisational change, particularly in the area of CADCAM integration. They should be of interest to different individuals and groups who are involved in organisational change in one way or another. Senior and technical managers in particular may find them to be of importance in managing the organisational aspects of a strategic technological change process

Izolovanje funkcionalne ukupne RNK iz lišća i polena lipe (Tilia cordata)

The conditions required for the isolation of high quality total RNA from European linden (Tilia cordata) leaves and pollen were determined. Pure total RNA was isolated from linden leaves utilizing a Qiagen plant mini kit, while the total RNA isolated from linden pollen using this method was degraded. Successful isolation of total RNA from both linden pollen and leaves, however, was achieved following TRIzol (TM) preparation of the total RNA. The total RNA isolated using TRIzol (TM) was contaminated with genomic DNA but treatment with the enzyme DNase, in solution or on-column, efficiently removed the genomic DNA. Furthermore, the conditions for the elimination of genomic DNA contamination on-column and isolation of pure total RNA from leaves were optimized. The isolated total RNA from both leaves and pollen was used successfully in first-and second-strand cDNA synthesis reactions and in a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), demonstrating that the total RNA isolated using this method was functional. In conclusion, pure and functional total RNA from T. cordata leaves and pollen (27.8 +/- 7.9 mu g g(-1) leaves; 25.7 +/- 1.1 mu g g(-1) pollen) could be obtained and was suitable for application in further molecular biology studies.Uspostavljeni su uslovi za izolovanje ukupne RNK iz lišća i polena evropske lipe (Tilia cordata). Korišćenjem komercijalno dostupnog pribora za izolovanje RNK iz biljaka izolovana je čista ukupna RNK iz lišća lipe, dok je korišćenjem iste metode dobijena degradirana RNK iz polena lipe. Uspešno izolovanje RNK iz lišća i polena je dobijeno korišćenjem TRIzol reagensa. RNK izolovana ovim metodom je kontaminirana genomskom DNK, koja je uspešno eliminisana korišćenjem enzima DNaze. Dalje su optimizovani i uslovi uklanjanja genomske DNK pomoću DNaze. Izolovana ukupna RNK iz oba izvora je dalje uspešno iskorišćena za sintezu prvog i drugog lanca klonske DNK, kao i u reverzno-transkriptivnoj PCR reakciji, dokazujući time da je korišćenjem ovog metoda izolovana funkcionalna ukupna RNK. U zaključku, dobijena je čista i funkcionalna RNK iz lišća i polena T. cordata (27,8±7,9 μg g-1 lišća; 25,7±1,1 μg g-1 polena) koja se može koristiti u daljim molekularno-biološkim istraživanjima

The Hybrid Space of Collaborative Location-Based Mobile Games and the City: A Case Study of Ingress

Structural changes in the way we live and interact in cities are occurring due to advances in mobile communication technologies affecting everyday practices. One such practice, at the forefront of digital technology adoption, is digital gaming or play. Location-based mobile games (LBMGs), such as Pokémon Go and Ingress have surged in popularity in recent years through their introduction of a new mode of play, employing mobile GPS and internet-enabled technology. Distinguished by their embedded GIS, LBMGs can influence how people play, interact with and perceive the city, by merging urban and virtual spaces into ‘hybrid realities.’ Despite the popularity of such games, studies into how LBMGs affect urban dweller interactions with each other and the city have been limited. This article examines how the digital interface of the large-scale collaborative LBMG Ingress affects how players experience and use the city. Ingress is a collaborative hybrid or location-based game that uses GPS location information from smartphones, Google maps, and Google POI to create virtual gameplay environments that correspond to and interact with other players and the city. The methodology cross-references the MDA framework from game studies (Mechanics-Dynamics-Aesthetics) within the urban mobility, sociability and spatiality characteristics of the hybrid realities theoretical framework. In this article, we explore how Ingress (re)produces hybrid space through deliberate design of interface game elements. By applying this analytical approach, we identify the game mechanics and their role in producing a hybrid gameplay environment with impacts on social and mobility practices altering the perception of and engagement with the city

Isolation of functional total RNA from Tilia cordata leaves and pollen

The conditions required for the isolation of high quality total RNA from European linden (Tilia cordata) leaves and pollen were determined. Pure total RNA was isolated from linden leaves utilizing a Qiagen plant mini kit, while\ud the total RNA isolated from linden pollen using this method was degraded. Successful isolation of total RNA from both linden pollen and leaves, however, was achieved following TRIzol™ preparation of the total RNA. The total RNA isolated using TRIzol™ was contaminated with genomic DNA but treatment with the enzyme DNase, in solution or on-column, efficiently removed the genomic DNA. Furthermore, the conditions for the elimination of genomic DNA contamination on-column and isolation of pure total RNA from leaves were optimized. The isolated total RNA from both leaves and pollen was used successfully in first- and second-strand cDNA synthesis reactions and in a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), demonstrating that the total RNA isolated using this method was functional. In conclusion, pure and functional total RNA from T. cordata leaves and pollen (27.8±7.9 μg g-1 leaves; 25.7±1.1 μg g-1 pollen) could be obtained and was suitable for application in further molecular biology studies

Digestibilnost β-laktoglobulina nakon njegovog unakrsnog povezivanja dejstvom lakaze iz Trametes versicolor i polifenola iz jabuke

beta-Lactoglobulin (BLG) is an important nutrient of dairy products and an important allergen in cow's milk allergy. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of laccase to cross-link BLG in the presence of an apple phenolic extract (APE) and to characterize the obtained products for their digestibility by pepsin and pancreatin. The composition of the apple phenolics used for cross-linking was determined by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS). The apple phenolic extract contained significant amounts of quercetin glycosides, catechins and chlorogenic acid. The laccase cross-linked BLG in the presence of apple phenolics. The polymerization rendered the protein insoluble in the reaction mixture. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis of the cross-linking reaction mixture revealed a heterogeneous mixture of high molecular masses (cross-linked BLG), with a fraction of the BLG remaining monomeric. Enzymatic processing of BLG by laccase and apple polyphenols as mediators can decrease the biphasal pepsin pancreatin digestibility of the monomeric and cross-linked protein, thus decreasing its nutritional value. In addition, reduced BLG digestibility can decrease its allergenic potential. Apple polyphenols can find usage in the creation of new, more functional food products, designed to prevent obesity and hypersensitivity-related disorders.β-Laktoglobulin (BLG) je važan nutrijent mlečnih proizvoda i važan alergen kod alergija na kravlje mleko. Cilj ove studije je bilo ispitivanje potencijala lakaze da unakrsno poveže BLG u prisustvu fenolnog ekstrakta jabuke (APE), kao i karakterizacija dobijenih proizvoda sa aspekta njihove digestibilnosti pepsinom i pankreatinom. Kompozicija fenola jabuke korišćenih za unakrsno povezivanje određena je pomoću LC-ESI-MS. Fenolni ekstrakt jabuke sadrži znatne količine glikozida kvercetina, katehine i hlorogensku kiselinu. BLG je unakrsno povezan lakazom u prisustvu fenola jabuke, pri čemu je polimerizacija učinila BLG nerastvornim u reakcionoj smeši. SDS-PAGE analiza pokazala je da reakciona smeša sadrži heterogenu smešu velikih molekulskih masa (unakrsno povezan BLG), kao i deo zaostalog monomernog BLG. Enzimsko procesovanje BLG lakazom, u prisustvu polifenola jabuke kao medijatora, može smanjiti bifaznu pepsin-pankreatinsku digestibilnost kako monomernog, tako i unakrsno povezanog BLG, i na taj način smanjiti njegovu nutritivnu vrednost. Takođe, smanjena digestibilnost BLG može smanjiti njegov alergeni potencijal. Polifenoli jabuke mogu se koristiti za kreiranje novih, funkcionalnijih prehrambenih proizvoda, dizajniranih za prevenciju kako gojaznosti, tako i bolesti vezanih za preosetljivost

Operations management: a strategic approach

How have consumer demands, environmental and ethical concerns, the advancement of technology and the globalization of business changed and redefined operations management? This Reader explains new and emerging areas and re-evaluates some important mainstream issues. Leading specialists contribute their experiences and thoughts on four key areas. They are: - Strategy - makes the case for regarding operations as a strategic asset in their own right - Methodology - examines the myriad of approaches taken towards process improvement - Technology - asks why problems associated with the implementation of technology continue to dog organisations - Human Issues - repositions human input to the top of the operational agenda