Islamic Learning in Arabic-Afrikaans Between Malay Model and Ottoman Reform

Through the second half of the nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth century the Muslim community of Cape Town produced a large number of texts in various fields of Islamic learning, written in Afrikaans, a creolized variety of the language the Dutch traders had brought to South Africa. The Cape Muslim community had its origin in South Asia and Southeast Asia; most of its founding members had been transported by force by the Dutch colonial authorities. Malay was the language in which they had been educated, and for some time it remained in use as the written language. For oral instruction, the Cape Muslim community soon shifted to Afrikaans. At the end of the nineteenth century, the Ottoman scholar Abu Bakr Effendi introduced the use of Afrikaans in Arabic script, replacing Malay as written language. In this paper I deal with the shift from Malay to Afrikaans and the relationship between Malay heritage and Ottoman reform in the Cape community

The Gibbs Paradox and the Distinguishability of Identical Particles

Identical classical particles are distinguishable. This distinguishability affects the number of ways W a macrostate can be realized on the micro-level, and from the relation S = k ln W leads to a non-extensive expression for the entropy. This result is usually considered incorrect because of its inconsistency with thermodynamics. It is sometimes concluded from this inconsistency that identical particles are fundamentally indistinguishable after all; and even that quantum mechanics is indispensable for making sense of this. In contrast, we argue that the classical statistics of distinguishable particles and the resulting non-extensive entropy function are perfectly acceptable from both a theoretical and an experimental perspective. The inconsistency with thermodynamics can be removed by taking into account that the entropy concept in statistical mechanics is not completely identical to the thermodynamical one. We observe that even identical quantum particles are in some cases distinguishable, and conclude that quantum mechanics is irrelevant to the Gibbs paradox.Comment: 15 page

Extension of the FVM method to subsonic speeds

iii Abstract An engineering level method, the free vortex model (FVM) method, which was developed for supersonic flow has been extended to subsonic incompressible Mach numbers. The method was applied to predict lee side flow features for a tangent ogive missile with very low aspect ratio wings in the ‘+’ orientation. Simulations were carried out for three different span to body diameter ratios, namely 1.25, 1.50 and 1.75. Prediction results were validated by comparing aerodynamic loads and vortex positions to validated CFD data as well as another established engineering method namely the discrete vortex model (DVM) method. The normal force was well predicted while the centre-of-pressure position predictions were reasonable. The vortex positions were not predicted with the acceptable level of accuracy and is therefore a limitation of the method at incompressible speeds. It was shown that the FVM method is less suitable for span to body diameter ratios above 1.25 for which the DVM method is more suitable

Quality of Life in Economic Evaluations of Health

__Abstract__ Health care expenditures have increased rapidly over the last decades in the Netherlands, in absolute terms and as percentage of gross domestic product. Curbing the rising health care costs has proven to be a very sensitive and complex societal issue. An important driver of rising costs is the availability and use of new and expensive medical technologies, causing a greater number of patients to be treated with more expensive interventions. Typically, these interventions do not only increase expenditures but also contribute to societal health and well-being. Since health care expenditures are high on the political agenda, policy makers are interested in the relative effectiveness and efficiency of new medical interventions: do they achieve larger health effects than other treatments, and if so, at what additional costs? Economic evaluations address this question. In economic evaluations, costs and effects of alternative medical interventions are compared, to see whether the new intervention offers good ‘value for money’. Researchers that which to apply economic evaluations to health care interventions face several methodological challenges. This thesis deals with one particular challenge: the measurement of the benefit of health care interventions in terms of quality of life

MANAGEMENT OF OSTEOPOROTIC VERTEBRAL FRACTURES: THE PATIENT’S PERSPECTIVE REGARDING THE NEED FOR INFORMATION, PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.

Approximately 1.4 million Canadians live with osteoporosis with over 530,000 in Ontario. Research suggests a relationship between osteoporotic vertebral fractures and a decreased ability to perform activities of daily living, an increase in overall level of disability, and ability to engage in leisure activities. How information and current programs and services relate to the needs of patients with osteoporosis requires further exploration. This study uses a phenomenological approach to explore the specific needs of individuals with osteoporotic vertebral fractures living independently in the community. Three focus groups were conducted with a total of nine participants recruited through the Regional Osteoporosis Clinic. An environmental scan of currently available programs and services in London, Ontario was conducted. Inductive content analysis was used to understand the women\u27s needs for information, programs and services. Findings suggest a discrepancy between participants expressed needs and currently available information, programs, and services. Results indicate that women perceive osteoporotic vertebral fractures through three lenses: journey to diagnosis, learning about the condition, and adapting to the condition. Three major gaps were identified including lack of linking a person to osteoporosis information, lack of programs and services for those with osteoporotic vertebral fractures, and health care system barriers. Findings from this study may inform future health promotion and service delivery strategies offered by the Osteoporosis Canada and the Ontario Osteoporosis Strategy