Humanities & Social Sciences

Around the world, more young people than ever before are attending university. Student numbers in South Africa have doubled since democracy and for many families, higher education is a route to a better future for their children. But alongside the overwhelming demand for higher education, questions about its purposes have intensified. Deliberations about the curriculum, culture and costing of public higher education abound from student activists, academics, parents, civil society and policy-makers. We know, from macro research, that South African graduates generally have good employment prospects. But little is known at a detailed level about how young people actually make use of their university experiences to craft their life courses. And even less is known about what happens to those who drop out. This accessible book brings together the rich life stories of 73 young people, six years after they began their university studies. It traces how going to university influences not only their employment options, but also nurtures the agency needed to chart their own way and to engage critically with the world around them. The book offers deep insights into the ways in which public higher education is both a private and public good, and it provides significant conclusions pertinent to anyone who works in – and cares about – universities.

This open access book on the history of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory covers the scientific discoveries and technical innovations of late 20th century radio astronomy with particular attention to the people and institutions involved. The authors have made extensive use of the NRAO Archives, which contain an unparalleled collection of documents pertaining to the history of radio astronomy, including the institutional records of NRAO as well as the personal papers of many of the pioneers of U.S. radio astronomy. Technical details and extensive citations to original sources are given in notes for the more technical readers, but are not required for an understanding of the body of the book. This book is intended for an audience ranging from interested lay readers to professional researchers studying the scientific, technical, political, and cultural development of a new science, and how it changed the course of 20th century astronomy.

The theory of national characters sees an individual in every nation. Each individual has a body, a face, a character. The same goes for nations: every nation has a body (the land), a face (the fisionomy), a character. Kind or bad, active or passive, idle or diligent, feminine or masculine, every nation expresses a principle. A single principle, different from that of every other nation. What makes a nation possess a certain character? Authors are divided on this matter: according some it is the climate (both for the influence it exerts and for the reaction it provokes), according someone else it is history, and we find among the possible causes language, race, territory, religion, institutions, customs or a set of all (or part of) these elements. The volume examines this theme in Hippocrates, Aristotle, Bodin, Dubos, Kant, Leopardi, Cuoco, Michelet.

International law

The strategic value of operations is the leitmotif that runs through the entire book. Based on this, in the first chapter the author proposes a reading of production strategy that goes beyond a content and category approach to include aspects of positioning (strategic groups of manufacturers), goals, perspectives, strategic ploys, patterns and plans as well as resources and skills. Chapter two then addresses world class manufacturing, conceived as a system of basic principles, guidelines and general criteria for the design and management of the production system that appears to characterise outstanding enterprises. Onto this three fundamental approaches of streamlined production can be effectively grafted: Just-In-Time, Total Quality Management and employee empowerment. Finally chapter three represents an initial attempt at verification of the formulated theories.

A study of European co-operation and transatlantic relations in the 1950s as well as on the changes these relations underwent during the early postwar period. The European Productivity Agency (EPA) was created in 1953 as a semi-autonomous organization within the framework of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (OEEC) and wound up eight years later, in 1961, when the United States and Canada joined the OEEC countries and founded the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). It was initially designed as a means to "Americanize" Western Europe through the transfer of American techniques, know-how and ideas to the Old Continent, but, as Boel demonstrates, it increasingly became a framework within which the member countries sought "European" solutions to their problems. The EPA was the product of American ideas, actions and money, and embodied the merger of two of the United States' main foreign policy goals after World War II, namely increasing productivity and furthering integration among the countries of Western Europe. The agency was conceived as a major instrument for the "politics of productivity" which would enable Western European societies to overcome their social and political problems resulting from scarcity, particularly in countries such as France and Italy with strong communist parties. During its short-lived existence the EPA acted as an operational arm of the OEEC, accounting on average for over 40 percent of the overall OEEC expenditures. It implemented a vast array of activities aimed at improving productivity in industry, commerce, agriculture and distribution. Among its endeavours were efforts to develop management education, improve labor-management relations, and assist underdeveloped areas in the member countries. Many of its projects met with contrasted reactions and thus highlighted conflicts between trade unions and employers, differences amongst the OEEC countries as well as transatlantic squabbles. Bent Boel, PhD, is an associate professor in the Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies at the University of Aalborg.

While the first volume of the overalll work, which was published as "The historical Area of Austria" ("Geschichtsraum Österreich") in 2006, focused on the Hapsburgian "whole state" from the perspective of the most important phenomena and protagonists of the "Hapsburgian iconography", this second and concluding volume examines multifarious visualisations of the regional and supraregional historical myths of the 19th century in Vienna, the "centre", and in the regions, i.e. the Austrian Crownlands (part of which are identical with today´s federal provinces of the Republic of Austria). The difficult relationship between the "whole state" and the Crownlands constitutes the entire, extremely complex spectrum of reflections on Austrian 19th century history. Here, the kinds of methods and concrete goals with which regional memorial foundations interact or compete with dynastic strategies is a pivotal issue - on that has been examined only far too rarely in the past. Hence the present work intends to discuss both art-historical and historical phenomena with explore various historical reflections at the - frequently neglected - "periphery" and investigate visual approaches to one´s "own" history from the "present" of the 19th century (using prominent events such as the second Ottoman siege of 1683 and the "wars of liberation" against Napoleon as an example). The degrees of complexity, quantitative permeation and significant contrasts between Vienna - the "centre" - and the "provinces" in their different reflections on Austrian history clearly begin to emerge when we examine an extensive range of topics against the background of competing national, regional and communal strategies. Compared to the first volume "The historical Area of Austria", the perspective of the multifarious "historical area of Austria" shifts from the "whole state" to an analysis of a highly distinct "plurality of areas" (Karl Schlögel) with its own intrinsic laws. Such diversity is also an essential factor when we come to investigate the prolific amount of Austrian landscape art in the 19th century and the role it played in forging identity. It graphically demonstrates that a deeper understanding of Austria´s federal structures is not possible without gaining a comprehensive insight into 19th century history.

The chapter explores the theme of work in John Dewey's pedagogical thought within a cultural, economic and social framework in reference to the historical context of the time and in relation to his idea of emocracy, understood as an ethical project.

The Conference was established for the first time in 2023 as part of a programme of activities to sustain research culture environment and dissemination activities at the School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Cardiff United Kingdom. The conference served as a platform to celebrate advancements in various engineering domains researched at our School, and to explore and discuss further advancements in the diverse fields that define contemporary engineering. The structure of the conference programme reflected the multidimensional nature of our research and was built around the priority research areas for the school. 1. Sustainable Energy stands as a testament to our commitment to a greener, more efficient future. We aim to advance energy technology and play a key role in addressing the increasing demand for sustainable and low carbon technologies while reducing environmental impact and ensuring a sustainable environment. Our work helps to drive forward net-zero solutions for achieving the government carbon targets. 2. Advanced Manufacturing represents cutting-edge research into materials, systems and transformative technologies to transform engineering and economic performance in the transport, energy generation and manufacturing industries. Our research in this area focuses on developing smart materials and structures, and sustainable manufacturing processes that help create a sustainable and greener economy. 3. Civil Infrastructure takes centre stage as we improve the sustainability and resilience of infrastructure across the UK and the globe. We work on developing sustainable and resilient total lifecycle solutions across a wide range of domains including construction, structures, energy, geo-environmental and water infrastructure systems. From creating new nano-scale smart materials to macro-scale urban interventions. 4. Compound Semiconductors and Applications represents the cutting edge of electronics, a critical driver of progress in the digital age. We explore the latest developments in compound semiconductor materials, advanced characterisation techniques, quantum optics and novel circuit design methodologies and their diverse applications. We anticipate breakthroughs that will power the next generation of computing, communication, and sensing technologies. 5. Engineering for Health forms a cornerstone of our discussions, recognizing the pivotal role technology plays in revolutionizing healthcare. We are applying the latest research in medical engineering to push the boundaries in areas where innovation has the potential to transform patient care.

Since the end of the nineteenth century, the Korean people have faced successive waves of foreign domination, authoritarian regimes, forced dispersal, and divided development. Throughout these turbulent times, “queer” Koreans were ignored, minimized, and erased in narratives of their modern nation, East Asia, and the wider world. This interdisciplinary volume challenges such marginalization through critical analyses of non-normative sexuality and gender variance. Considering both personal and collective forces, the contributors extend individualized notions of queer neoliberalism beyond those typically set in Western queer theory. Along the way, they recount a range of illuminating topics, from shamanic rituals during the colonial era and B-grade comedy films under Cold War dictatorship to female masculinity among today’s youth and transgender confrontations with the resident registration system. More broadly, Queer Korea offers readers new ways of understanding the limits and possibilities of human liberation under exclusionary conditions of modernity in Asia and beyond. Contributors. Pei Jean Chen, John (Song Pae) Cho, Chung-kang Kim, Todd A. Henry, Merose Hwang, Ruin, Layoung Shin, Shin-ae Ha, John Whittier Treat

astronomy; physics; communications; radio; engineering

Aufgrund steigender Anforderungen im Bereich des Umweltschutzes ist die Einsparung fossiler Brennstoffe bei gleichzeitig höherem Anspruch der Kunden an den Leistungsumfang moderner Personenkraftwagen ein wichtiger Forschungsschwerpunkt in der Fahrzeugindustrie. Diesem Zielkonflikt wird im Wesentlichen durch die Entwicklung von alternativen Antriebskonzepten und der konsequenten Umsetzung des Leichtbaugedankens entgegengewirkt. Im Großserienbereich des Karosseriebaus wird Letzteres vorwiegend über den Einsatz der metallischen Mischbauweise realisiert. Dies setzt jedoch auch die Anwendung angepasster Fügetechnologien voraus. Für artungleiche Fügewerkstoffe aus Aluminium und ultrahochfestem Stahl bietet das Schneidclinchverfahren großes Potenzial. Kerngedanke dieser Arbeit ist es, die Schneidclinchtechnologie in die Prozessbestandteile Schneiden und Umformen zu unterteilen, diese separat zu analysieren und Wechselwirkungen zu identifizieren. Hierfür wird sowohl ein schädigungsbasiertes numerisches Prozessmodell als auch ein für Grundlagenuntersuchungen angepasstes und modulares Werkzeug vorgestellt. Anschließend werden im Rahmen eines umfangreichen numerischen und experimentellen Versuchsprogramms werkstoff-, werkzeug- sowie prozessseitige Einflussgrößen identifiziert und deren Wirkung hinsichtlich geometrischer Verbindungskenngrößen, dem Prozesskraftverlauf sowie resultierender quasistatischer Verbindungskennwerte quantifiziert. Die gewonnenen Erkenntnisse ermöglichen die Ableitung von Hinweisen für die praktische Anwendung des Schneiclinchprozesses und leisten somit einen großen Beitrag für die Reduktion von Streuungen sowie die Steigerung der Prozessrobustheit.

The devilish has long been integral to myths, legends, and folklore, firmly located in the relationships between good and evil, and selves and others. But how are ideas of evil constructed in current times and framed by contemporary social discourses? Modern Folk Devils builds on and works with Stanley Cohen’s theory on folk devils and moral panics to discuss the constructions of evil. The authors present an array of case-studies that illustrate how the notion of folk devils nowadays comes into play and animates ideas of otherness and evil throughout the world. Examining current fears and perceived threats, this volume investigates and analyzes how and why these devils are constructed. The chapters discuss how the devilish may take on many different forms: sometimes they exist only as a potential threat, other times they are a single individual or phenomenon or a visible group, such as refugees, technocrats, Roma, hipsters, LGBT groups, and rightwing politicians. Folk devils themselves are also given a voice to offer an essential complementary perspective on how panics become exaggerated, facts distorted, and problems acutely angled.;Bringing together researchers from anthropology, sociology, political studies, ethnology, and criminology, the contributions examine cases from across the world spanning from Europe to Asia and Oceania.

This article addresses the issue of institutional ableism as a central challenge for public policies and social services, starting from a critical analysis of the experience of the Tuscany Region in adopting a participatory governance model. Framed within the international debate on Disability Studies and the human rights-based approach, the article reflects on the tensions between welfare-based approaches and the promotion of self-determination for people with disabilities. Through a qualitative analysis of local policies and practices, the article offers insights for rethinking local welfare models in an anti-oppressive key and for the full recognition of the rights of people with disabilities. The Tuscan case, while representing a significant example of social

Joachim Ringleben systematically explores the traces of linguistic thought in partly unprinted works: first in biblical contexts (prophetic speech, Ps 119, Paul), then in dogmatics (concept, Christological dogma, h. Scripture) and finally in the history of theology and philosophy (in Augustin, Hegel (Lord's Supper, St. John's Prologue, speculative logic), Kierkegaard (love of neighbor) and Jaspers (doctrine of ciphers). Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)