Aluminium castings with a large grain structure have poor mechanical properties which are primarily due to casting defects as opposed to fine grain structure. The grain refinement practice using chemical addition is well established for wrought alloys, however in the case of casting alloys, the practice of adding grain refiners and the impact on castability is not well established. The addition of well known Al-5Ti-B grain refiner to casting alloys with silicon (Si) content above 3 wt.% is not effective. This is believed to be due to the chemical reaction between Ti and Si. The current research aim is to find an alternative, but effective, chemical phase which can refine Al-Si alloy grains. Based on a crystallographic database search and intermetallic phases found in Aluminium–Niobium-Boron, there exists several iso-structural phases similar to those of Al3Ti and TiB2. We have selected a phase which exhibits chemical phase stability with Si (below 900 oC) and developed a potential novel grain refiner Nb-B for Al-Si cast alloys. Various Al-Si binary alloys and a commercial sourced LM6 (Al-10Si-Mg) cast alloys were cast after novel grain refiner addition to the melt. It is the first time that such fine grain structures were achieved for Al-Si alloys when Si >4wt.%. It is believed that Nb-B grain refiner enhances the heterogeneous nuclei in the melt. The effectiveness of this grain refiner under various cooling rate conditions is investigated to simulate various practical casting conditions. Due to increased heterogeneous nuclei density, a fine grain structure is also obtained at low cooling rates and the grain size is less sensitive to the cooling rate. The processing of high Si containing alloys for complex shaped castings with reduced defects, fine grain structure and improved mechanical properties are now possible.

In order to resolve the Al void formation originated from the severe stress issues in dynamic random access memory (DRAM), double-deposited-aluminum (DDA) layer process was proposed. This novel metallization process can be effectively and simply performed with the native oxide such as Al 2 O 3 between upper and lower Al metal layer by ex-situ deposition technique. We could effectively control the Al void by adapting the DDA layers with different grain structure. From this novel metallization process, we have confirmed the optimal thickness of Al barrier metal to 100Å to be free from Al voids, which makes it possible to improve the static refresh characteristics of DRAM by 17%.

Shaykh Aḥmad al-R­ūmī al-Āqḥiṣārī (d. 1041/1632), Ḥanafi jurist, theologian and Sufi, is largely an unknown figure to scholars of Ottoman religious history. Progress towards disclosing key aspects of al-Āqḥiṣārī’s thought has been made in recent times thanks to the important contributions of Y. Michot, who has, in particular, demonstrated the association of al-Āqḥiṣārī with the Ottoman puritanical movement, the Qaḍīzādelis. Building upon Michot’s work, this study delves further into the works of al-Āqḥiṣārī especially his seminal contribution, the Majālis al-abrār. The study sets out its main themes and the authorities on which it is based; it then moves to show the degree of overlap between al-Āqḥiṣārī’s understandings and Naqshbandī Sufism, as well as the extent to which his thought converges with that of better-known Ottoman puritans such as Birgivī Efendī (d. 981/1573) and Qaḍīzāde (d. 1044/1635). It is suggested that the impact of the Majālis al-abrār on the Qāḍīzādelis had the outcome in the second half of the seventeenth century of increasing the violence of their activists, a development which ultimately led to their downfall. A key aspect of this study is the re-examination of the view that the Qāḍīzādelis were a proto-Wahhābī or proto-Salafī movement, which is typical in the existing literature. Whilst demonstrating the influence of Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya (d. 751/1350) and his teacher, Aḥmad b. Taymiyya (d. 728/1328), upon al-Āqḥiṣārī’s thought, the limits of this influence are clearly demonstrated by bringing to light al-Āqḥiṣārī’s distinct doctrinal and legal positions, which were very much embedded within the Ottoman Islam of his times. Ultimately, by studying the relationship between al-Āqḥiṣārī’s masterpiece, the Majālis al-abrār and Qāḍīzādeli and Naqshbandī beliefs, the study aims to place the movement in its own Ottoman, Ḥanafī, and Sufi milieu, thereby challenging the dominant approach which reads the movement through modern paradigms.

El presente trabajo tiene por objetivo presentar una Solución de Inteligencia de negocios, como apoyo en la generación de conocimiento para empresas de Servicios de Asistencia, ya que estas se mueven en un mercado altamente competitivo donde el cubrir las necesidades y buscar la satisfacción del cliente es primordial. Esta solución se soporta en tres grandes pilares: a) La plataforma tecnológica. b) La organización y la generación conocimiento. c) La aplicación de los resultados. Este último pilar define el uso de la solución de inteligencia de negocios como una ventaja competitiva, siendo esta directamente proporcional a la capacidad de la empresa de crear, capturar, manejar, inventariar, transferir información y generar conocimiento e incorporar las mejores prácticas, con el fin de añadir valor a cada eslabón de su cadena productiva. Además este trabajo presenta la aplicación práctica de esta solución en la Gerencia de Asistencia del Touring y Automóvil Club del Perú en su contribución en el proceso de toma de decisiones y generación de conocimiento.Palabras Claves: Información,·Gestión de Conocimiento ,Ventaja Competitiva ,Inteligencia de negocios ,Toma de Decisiones. / --- The present work has for objective presenter Solution of Intelligence of Businesses, like support in the generation of knowledge for companies of Services of Attendance, since these move in a highly competitive market where covering the necessities and to look for the satisfaction of the client are fundamental. This solution is supported in three great pillars: a) The technological platform.. b) The organization and handling of the information and the knowledge. c) The application of the results. This last pillar defines the use of the solution of intelligence of businesses like a competitive advantage, being this directly proportional to the capacity of the company to create, to capture, to handle, to inventory, to transfer information and to generate knowledge and to incorporate the best practices, with the purpose of adding value to each link of its productive chain. In addition this work presents the practical application of this solution in the Management of Attendance of the Touring and Automovil Club of Peru and its contribution in the process of decision making and generation of knowledge. Keywords:· Information ,·Knowledge Management ,·Competitive Advantage,·Businesses Intelligence ,Decision making.

Preparing quality teachers is a continuing issue and concern in discussions about the future of schools in many countries. This study described and compared the stated goals and perceived outcomes of teacher preparation programs at the College of Basic Education (CBE) in Kuwait. This information will assist educational decision makers in Kuwait to align teacher preparation at the CBE and decide what is needed to make the programs more effective. The study assessed the perceptions of knowledge, skills, and attitudes of student teachers, new teachers, and instructors toward the existing program at the CBE in Kuwait. The discussion of teacher preparation in Kuwait was used to set a cultural and historical context. The literature reviewed recommendations from the United States to develop a framework of five common standards for analyzing the teacher preparation curriculum: content knowledge, instruction, diversity, professional development, and field work. In addition, research and evaluation of teacher education programs were reviewed for perceptions of student teachers and new teachers about their preparation and for methodology. Document analysis techniques were used with current documents from four major teacher preparation programs in the CBE. Five standards from U.S. recommendations were also found in the CBE curriculum. However, the analysis suggested that the curriculum in Kuwait might increase attention to professional attitudes and use of new technologies to prepare teachers. A three-part questionnaire was developed based upon the questionnaires of Van Zandt, Smith, and Zelazek et al. The questionnaire was translated into the Arabic language, and 280 responses to the survey instrument were analyzed. Perceptions of pre-service teachers, new teachers, and instructors toward the existing curriculum at the CBE in Kuwait were positive (3.3 and higher on 5-point scale) toward preparation of teachers’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes. However, a significant contrast was found between groups in perceptions of knowledge and skills. Pre-service teachers were more positive than first-year teachers or college instructors in their perceptions. No significant differences were found in attitudes. Recommendations included a suggestion to the faculty at CBE for continuing the model of curriculum analysis from this study to evaluate and address possible improvements in the teacher preparation program, such as use of technology and more attention to professional attitudes. Replication of the study was also suggested for other colleges of education in the Middle East.

L’objectif de la thèse est l’étude des codes correcteurs d’erreurs au niveau applicatif (Application Layer – Forward Error Correction, ou AL-FEC) pour les communications par satellite. Dans ce contexte, pendant les deux première années de thèse, nous avons proposé de nouvelles méthodes d’analyse, de construction et d’optimisation des codes à effacements définis par des matrices de parité à faible densité (code LDPC, pour « Low Density Parity Check » en anglais). La troisième année de la thèse a été consacrée à : (1) La suite des études portant sur de nouvelles méthodes de construction des codes LDPC non-binaires. D’une part, nous avons développé un nouvel algorithme (Scheduled-PEG) qui permet d’optimiser la construction des codes LDPC non-binaires pas rapport aux métriques de performance spécifiques à la couche application, notamment dans le cadre des systèmes de diffusion de contenu (broadcasting). D’autre part, nous avons proposé une nouvelle méthode de construction de codes à faible rendement, qui utilise l’image binaire étendue d’un code LDPC non-binaire. Ces études ont fait l’objet de deux publications dans deux conférences internationales : (a) “Scheduled-PEG construction of LDPC codes for Upper-Layer FEC”, International Workshop on Coding and Cryptography, April 2011, Paris, France. (b) “Extended Non-Binary Low-Density Parity-Check Codes over Erase Channels”, IEEE International Symposium on Wireless Communication Systems, November 2011, Aachen, Germany. (2) Une étude portant sur l’analyse asymptotique de codes cluster-LDPC non-binaires. Cette nouvelle classe de codes – introduite récemment (ISIT’2011) – se distingue par ses excellentes propriétés en termes de distance minimale. Notre étude a permis de déterminer de manière analytique la capacité de correction des codes cluster-LDPC non-binaires, aussi bien pour le décodage itératif par propagation de croyances (BP, pour « Belief Propagation ») que pour le décodage par maximum de vraisemblance (ML, pour « Maximum Likelihood »). Ces résultats seront intégrés à une publication scientifique sur les codes cluster-LDPC, en cours de rédaction, qui sera soumise à « IEEE Transactions on Information Theory », avant la fin de l’année 2011. (3) Une étude portant sur une méthode de construction des codes LDPC qui permet de réduire de manière significative le plancher d’erreur (« error floor ») du code, sans dégrader ses performances dans la région de « waterfall ». Ainsi, nous avons proposé la structuration de la matrice de parité du code, de manière à intégrer une partie irrégulière, optimisée pour la partie « waterfall », et une partie régulière, qui permet de réduire le plancher d’erreur du code. Cette étude fera l’objet d’une publication dans une conférence internationale (à déterminer), à soumettre début 2012. / The advent of content distribution, IPTV, video-on-demand and other similar services accelerate the demand for reliable data transmission over highly heterogeneous networks and toward terminals potentially heterogeneous too. In this context, Forward Error Correction (FEC) codes that operate at the transport or the Application Layer (AL-FEC) are used in conjunction with the FEC codes implemented at the physical layer, in order to improve the overall performance of the communication system. AL-FEC codes are aimed at recovering erased data packets and they are essential in many multicast/broadcast environments, no matter the way the information is transported, for instance using a wired or wireless link, and a terrestrial, satellite-based or hybrid infrastructure.This thesis addresses the design of Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) codes for AL-FEC applications. One the one hand, we provide an asymptotical analysis of non-binary LDPC codes over erasure channels, as well as waterfall and error-floor optimization techniques for finite-length codes. On the other hand, new concepts and coding techniques are developed in order to fully exploit the potential of non-binary LDPC codes.The first contribution of this thesis consists of the analysis and optimization of two new ensembles of LDPC codes. First, we have derived the density evolution equations for a very general ensemble of non-binary LDPC codes with rank-deficient coefficients. This allows improving the code performance, as well as designing ensembles of LDPC codes that can be punctured in an effective manner. The second approach allows the asymptotical optimization of a particular ensemble of LDPC codes, while ensuring low error-floors at finite lengths.The second contribution is the construction of finite length LDPC codes with good waterfall and error floor performance. Two approaches were investigated, according to the metric used to evaluate the code. The “Scheduled” Progressive Edge Growth (SPEG) algorithm is proposed, in order to optimize the waterfall performance of the code. Another method is proposed which consists in optimizing a specific structure of the parity check matrix. This approach gives low error-floors.The third contribution investigates a new technique of rate adaptability for non-binary LDPC codes. We propose a new method to generate “on-the-fly” incremental redundancy, which allows designing codes with flexible coding rates, in order to cope with severe channel conditions or to enable Fountain-like distribution applications.The fourth contribution focuses on a new class of LDPC codes, called non-binary cluster-LDPC codes. We derive exact equations of the density evolution for the iterative decoding and an upper bound for the maximum-likelihood decoding.Finally, we propose a practical solution to the problem of reliable communication via satellite to high-speed trains. Here, the challenge is that obstacles present along the track regularly interrupt the communication. Our solution offers optimal performance with a minimum amount of redundancy.

In my thesis I deal with the question whether we can consider the social system of al-Andalus as religiously tolerant. I represent al-Andalus, the Iberian state, dominated by Muslims of Arab and Berber origin between 711-1492. I focus on the reign of the Umayyad dynasty from the 8th to 10th century called "Golden Age". I want to show on Mozarabes ("arabized Christians"), that the present view of tolerance in al-Andalus is distorted by its own history of myth. I also deal with reference to al-Andalus in the present, both among Christians and Muslims. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

Le Paradis en Islam est défini par le terme arabe Al-Janna comme mentionné dans le Coran, le Livre Saint des musulmans. La connaissance du Paradis est associée chez les musulmans à des états de bien-être absolu dans l’Au-delà en même temps qu’elle est associée à la notion coranique du paradis originel comme premier lieu de séjour d’Adam et Ève. La récompense paradisiaque est interprétée dans les consciences musulmanes comme une grâce divine éternelle après la mort. C’est pourquoi toute une littérature de récits sur le Paradis islamique ne va pas cesser de fasciner les populations musulmanes et non-musulmanes depuis l’avènement de l’Islam jusqu’au début de la période moderne. Le texte coranique abonde en descriptions paradisiaques au même titre que les compilations de ḥadīths ou dires du prophète Muhammad, qui viennent les expliquer et les expliciter. La notion de paradis, fortement présente dans la doctrine islamique a fourni un grand nombre de thèmes de discussions aux théologiens et aux docteurs sunnites de la Loi durant toute la période médiévale suscitant parfois de vifs débats et des controverses. La littérature exégétique propre au paradis se définissant progressivement, il est alors nécessaire de comprendre le processus d’évolution dans l’élaboration d’une Histoire de la description du Paradis en Islam du VIIème au XVIème siècle ainsi que la manière dont s’est opérée la mise en place d’une interprétation réglementée par les auteurs sunnites les plus rigoristes pour l’imagination « cadrée » du lieu paradisiaque. / Paradise in Islam is defined by the Arabic term Al-Janna as mentioned in the Qur'an, the Holy Book of Muslims. The knowledge of Paradise is associated with the states of absolute well-being in the Hereafter and at the same time with the Qur'anic notion of the original paradise as the first place of residence of Adam and Eve. The heavenly reward is interpreted in Muslim consciousness as an eternal divine grace after death. This is why a whole literature of stories about the Islamic paradise will not stop fascinating the Muslim and non-Muslim populations since the advent of Islam until the beginning of the modern period. The Quranic text abounds in paradisiacal descriptions as well as the compilations of ḥadīths or sayings of the prophet Muhammad, who come to underline and explain them. The notion of paradise, strongly present in Islamic doctrine, has provided a great deal of discussion to Sunni theologians and Sunni Doctors throughout the medieval period, sometimes with heated debate and controversy. The exegetical literature specific to paradise being defined gradually, it is then necessary to understand the process of evolution in the elaboration of a History of the description of Paradise in Islam from the 7th to the 16th century, as well as the way in which it operated the establishment of a regulated interpretation by the most rigorous Sunni authors for the "framed" imagination of the paradisiacal place.

[pt] No presente trabalho, foi avaliado num modo sistemático o processo de eletrocoagulação (EC) usando eletrodos de alumínio e ferro como material de anodo e aço inoxidável como material de catodo, operando com diferentes parâmetros tais como: concentração inicial do óleo, distanciamento entre os eletrodos, relação área-volume (SA/V) e densidade de corrente. A redução da demanda química de oxigênio (DQO) e turbidez foram às principais variáveis respostas analisadas. Os ensaios foram feitos em batelada com um efluente sintético (5,1 litros) e com agitação magnética (150 rpm). A densidade de corrente e a relação SA/V foram os parâmetros com maior influência no processo. O aumento deles reduz notoriamente o tempo de tratamento. Os resultados mostraram que a eletrocoagulação, para os dois tipos de materiais (Fe/Al), conseguem uma excelente redução da DQO e da turbidez nas seguintes condições experimentais: densidade de corrente, 9,4 mA/cm(2), distanciamento entre os eletrodos, 10 mm, relação área-volume(SA/V), 30,35 m(2)/m(3) e 30 minutos de operação. Eficiências de redução de 99% e 98,3% foram alcançadas para a DQO e a turbidez com anodos de alumínio. Do mesmo modo 94,8% da DQO e 98,5% da turbidez para o caso do ferro foi reduzido do efluente sintético. O processo de eletrocoagulação, operando nessas condições envolve um custo total de 7,1 R$/m(3) e 5 R$/m(3) por metro cúbico para alumínio e ferro, respectivamente. Estes custos só incluem custo de energia e consumo dos eletrodos. A borra produzida foi de 2,23 kg/m(3) para alumínio e 2,76 kg/m(3) para o ferro. Finalmente, o consumo de energia foi de 4,15 kWh/m(3) e 3,72 kWh/m(3) para alumínio e ferro, respectivamente. Um tratamento de eletrocoagulação para um efluente oleoso sintético foi satisfatoriamente implementado do ponto de vista da redução destes parâmetros. / [en] In the present work, electrocoagulation process (EC) with aluminum and iron as materials for anode and stainless steel as cathode, under different operational parameters, such as: initial concentration of oil, distance between electrodes, area-volume relation (SA/V) and current density, were examined in a systematic manner. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) and turbidity removals were selected as a performance criteria. Tests were carried out batch-wise in an electrochemical cell (5.1 liter) with synthetic wastewater and with magnetic stirring (150 rpm); the current density and SA/V relation were found to be the most significant parameters, an increase of theses notably reduces the electrocoagulation required time for the treatment. The results have shown that electrocoagulation, using both kind of materials (Fe/Al), successfully removes the COD and turbidity in experimental conditions such as: the current density, 9.4 mA/cm(2), distance between electrodes, 10 mm; SA/V relation, 30.35 m(2)/m(3) and 30 minutes of operation . Removal efficiencies over 99% and 98.3% were measured for COD and turbidity, using anodes of aluminum. Likewise 94.8% of COD and 98.5% of turbidity were removed from synthetic wastewater, using anode of iron. Electrocoagulation process operated under theses conditions involves a total cost of 7.1 R$/m(3) for aluminum and 5 R$/m(3) for iron per meter cubic of treated wastewater. These costs only include energy cost and electrode consumptions. The sludge produced after electrocoagulation treatment was 2.23 kg/m(3) for aluminum and 2.76 kg/m(3) for iron, and the power requirements were 4.15 kWh/m(3) and 3.72 kWh/m(3) for aluminum and iron. An electrocoagulation treatment of a synthetic wastewater was successfully implemented from removal efficiency point of view.

O poeta Al Berto construiu uma obra profundamente assentada no trabalho com as emoções através de um discurso em sintonia e tensão com os gêneros autobiográficos canônicos, marcado pelo excesso, pela obsessão, pelos sentidos do corpo e pelo senso do desconhecido. Sua poesia localiza-se, assim, nos antípodas de uma escrita retida, decantada, calculada, abstratizada, filosofante, teorizante e demais predicativos nesse campo. Nessa perspectiva, em específico, o medo mostra-se central como instrumento ou, ainda, como canal privilegiado e estruturante de sua práxis poética. Interessa-nos, nessa direção, entender a) de que forma se estabelecem, a partir de sua obra, as relações entre o medo e a literatura; b) como ocorre a formulação de um sujeito lírico irremediavelmente marcado por tal emoção em suas causas e efeitos os sentimentos de insegurança, descontrole, vulnerabilidade, pessimismo, fatalismo etc.; e c) sob qual perspectiva e com qual tratamento figuram medos arquetípicos a saber: das catástrofes, das doenças e da morte. Ao mobilizar a memória cultural literária, inclusive da emoção, Al Berto transforma-a, precisamente no trabalho com a linguagem, em força polissêmica e motriz de sua escrita. É o atrito constante e jamais apaziguado do paradoxo daquele que escreve contra o medo e que o alimenta ao fazê-lo. A emoção, assim, é mediadora de movimentos simultâneos de ordem e caos, atração e aversão, saúde e doença, criação e destruição. Em contiguidade com tal dinâmica, organizamos os capítulos através de figuras igualmente ambivalentes são os casos, respectivamente, dos naufrágios, do contágio e do suicídio. Neles, Al Berto frequenta paradigmas históricos do medo e os coloca em terreno semântico instável. Assim, naufrágios tornam-se também manifestações do elemento humano; as pestes, uma maneira de partilha; os suicídios, a possibilidade de trânsito entre vida e obra. Al Berto recupera, por fim, a duplicidade originária da palavra risco, isto é, abre-se para suas possibilidades negativas e positivas, em fricção, no poema. / Al Berto built his literary work deeply based on the writing of emotions in a discourse in tune and tension with the autobiographical canonical genres and marked by the excess, the obsession, the senses of the body and the unknown. His poetry was located, therefore, in the antipodes of a retained, decanted, calculated, abstracted, philosophizing-theorizing and other predicates in this field. In this perspective, the specific, the fear, is central as an instrument or, still, as a privileged and structuring channel of his poetic praxis. We are interested, in this direction, in understanding a) how the relations between fear and literature are established, starting from Al Berto\'s work; b) how he creates a lyric subject irremediably marked by fear in its causes and effects such as insecurity, lack of control, vulnerability, pessimism, fatalism, etc.; and c) what treatment archetypes of fear namely catastrophes, diseases and death receive in his poetry. By mobilizing the cultural memory of the emotion, which includes literary tradition, Al Berto transforms it, working through language, into an ambivalent force of its writing. It is the constant and never appeased friction of the paradox of the one who writes against fear and nourishes it in doing so. Emotion, therefore, mediates simultaneous movements of order and chaos, attraction and aversion, health and disease, creation and destruction. In contiguity with that dynamic, we organize the chapters through equally ambiguous figures these are the cases, respectively, of shipwrecks, contagion and suicide. Al Berto reviews historical paradigms of fear and places them in an unstable terrain. Thus, shipwrecks also become manifestation of human life; plagues become a way of sharing life; suicides become the very possibility of transit between life and poetry. Al Berto thus recovers the original duplicity of risk, that is, he opens up to negative and positive possibilities of the poem.