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Document from the year 2023 in the subject Engineering - General, South Eastern Kenya University, Kitui Campus, language: English, abstract:'Engineering Research Methods'is a text book intended for students and instructors in University or higher education for postgraduate students undertaking Engineering and related applied Sciences. Some of the fields which this text is relevant include Agricultural Engineering, Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Hydraulics Engineering and Electrical Engineering. Other related Physical and Applied Sciences Field may include General Agriculture, Agricultural Education and Extension, Horticulture sciences The content of this text book has been presented in a coherent style, arranged in logical sequence that adheres to University and higher education curriculum as it is customized to the postgraduate research that take place in Engineering and Applied Sciences. This makes the book suitable for every postgraduate student. For proper illustrations, some examples have been quoted especially in research problem and research objectives to help postgraduate researchers to grasp knowledge and skills on research problem identification. Each chapter is well formulated with relevant diagrams and illustration for the readers to easily comprehend the details presented. For the purpose of improvement, any criticism from students, trainers and practitioners will be thankfully received by the author.

Master's Thesis from the year 2016 in the subject Electrotechnology, grade: A,, course: Communication Engineering, language: English, abstract: The objective of this paper is to provide a comprehensive exploration of Dielectric Resonator Antennas (DRAs), a type of radio antenna predominantly utilized in microwave frequencies. This investigation will encompass various aspects of DRAs, including their diverse shapes, feeding techniques, and the need for their development. Furthermore, it will delve into the problems inherent in conventional metallic antennas, which DRAs aim to address, as well as the objectives and methodology of this study. In the realm of modern wireless communication, antennas play a pivotal role in facilitating the transmission and reception of audio and video data. As the demand for high-quality, simultaneous data exchange continues to surge, the development of wideband and dual-band antennas has become paramount. It is within this context that Dielectric Resonator Antennas (DRAs) have gained significant attention, particularly in the fields of mobile and wireless communication. A DRA is a unique type of radio antenna that primarily operates within microwave frequencies. It is constructed from a ceramic material block of various shapes and is often mounted on a conducting surface, serving as a ground plane. DRAs offer several distinct advantages, including compact size, lightweight design, low profile, and cost-effectiveness. They have proven to be practical and efficient elements for antenna applications, boasting attributes such as high radiation efficiency, flexible feed arrangements, simple geometry, and compact form. The resonant frequencies of DRAs are primarily determined by factors such as size, shape, and the permittivity of the material used. In recent decades, the interest in developing antenna systems operating at higher frequencies has grown considerably. Conventional metallic antennas face challenges related to power losses, radiated power capabilities, and fabrication complexities when scaled down to operate in these higher frequency bands. The solution to these challenges lies in replacing metallic structures with dielectric material structures, giving rise to Dielectric Resonator Antennas.

Scientific Study from the year 2011 in the subject Didactics - Business economics, Economic Pedagogy, grade: A, Union Graduate College, language: English, abstract: iZoca.com is currently a hyper-local social networking site. It combines elements of social networks and organizational tools. In contrast to other social networks like the market dominating Facebook, iZoca is not based on relations between individuals but on group affiliations. By giving their zip code members become part of their local community and can access the latest local news and information about events in their local area. They can form and join groups, in which activities can be planned, managed and promoted to the public. One of the most important features of iZoca is the integrated personal calendar. However, the company is struggling with difficulties. Membership is growing very slowly. Only about 4000 people are currently signed up at iZoca.com. Revenues generated by ads on the website are scarce. For these reasons, we propose a strategy shift. iZoca should enter the market of Learning Mangement Systems (LMS) by partnering with an existing LMS. With its key features, the group and community structure and the shared calendar, it has the potential to satisfy needs of students and colleges that are currently either not or only insufficiently addressed by existing players in the market such as Blackboard or Moodle's Joule. The entire college could be mirrored virtually in a community on iZoca. Classes could be organized in groups, over which students and teachers can interact and communicate about all issues related to the class. Teachers could upload the syllabus or assignments, students could hand in assignments by uploading. Through the integrated calendar, group members would always have an up-to-date overview of the class schedule or due dates for assignments. Other things like campus events could also be organized in groups directly on the LMS platform. Through a smartphone application, students could also access the latest information about classes and campus events directly over their smartphones. These examples show that iZoca could clearly offer benefits to college students. However, before any actions are undertaken into this direction, it is important to put any assumptions about customer needs on a fact-based fundament. To accomplish this, a survey has been conducted with college students about their perceptions of their college's current LMS and about their appraisal of the features iZoca could offer. The results of this survey are presented in this research paper.

Seminar paper from the year 2024 in the subject Business economics - Accounting and Taxes, grade: 1,3, University of Bamberg (Finanace & Accounting), course: Advanced International Financial Report, language: English, abstract: This Paper is a report about DIAGEO's 2023 financial statement. It highlights the company's various macroeconomic, industrial and Firm events and enumerate their potential implications for the accounting policies and reporting of the company. It also shows whether DIAGEO fully complies all required disclosures of its accounting policies (IAS 16; IAS 38; IFRS 3; IAS 36 and IAS 2). DIAGEO is a British company founded in December 1979 by the merger of Grand Metropolitan (GMP) and Guinness. Diageo aspires to be among the world's most prosperous, dependable, and esteemed consumer goods companies. Diageo prioritizes team engagement while adhering to defined strategies like efficient growth, consistent value creation, and valuing credibility and trust. Diageo has experienced a range of external, industry, and macroeconomic events over the years that have impacted the business. This document will enumerate these incidents along with any potential implications for the accounting policies and reporting of the company.

Seminar paper from the year 2021 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics, grade: 1,0, University of Hamburg, course: Linguistic Manifestations: Code-switching, language: English, abstract: Code-switching, a pervasive linguistic phenomenon, has been extensively studied across various linguistic approaches. While traditionally examined in speech acts, recent scholarly interest has shifted towards analyzing code-switching in song lyrics, offering unique insights, especially in the globalized realm of music. This paper delves into the underexplored territory of Russian-English code-switching in Russian rap, a genre gaining popularity worldwide. Examining the sociolinguistic motivations and social functions behind the use of English in Russian rap, the study navigates through theoretical foundations of code-switching, prior research in musical contexts, and the evolving landscape of Russian rap within contemporary society. The analysis of data illuminates the patterns and purposes of code-switching in this genre. The paper concludes with a brief summary and outlines potential avenues for future research.

Seminar paper from the year 2017 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics, grade: 2,0, Ruhr-University of Bochum (Englisches Seminar), course: Differences between Spoken and Written English, language: English, abstract: This paper delves into the intricate relationship between written and spoken language features within the context of contemporary music, specifically examining rap and pop song lyrics. Drawing inspiration from linguistic theories proposed by Peter Koch, Wulf Oesterreicher, and Douglas Biber, the study evaluates the extent to which lyrics in rap songs exhibit characteristics associated with spoken language, in contrast to the more traditionally written nature of pop songs. By analyzing three rap and three pop songs, the paper explores the nuances of linguistic expression, shedding light on the distinctiveness between the two genres. The research method, results, and a comparative discussion provide valuable insights into the evolving dynamics of language in the realm of music, culminating in a brief conclusion that encapsulates the findings and implications of the study.

Seminar paper from the year 2018 in the subject Russian / Slavic Languages, grade: 2,0, Ruhr-University of Bochum (BA Linguistics), course: Plurality, language: English, abstract: Mass and count nouns show a clear difference in their properties and morphosyntactic behavior. However, there are still nouns that behave slightly differently, making it difficult to assign them to the group of mass or alternatively count nouns. Such nouns are superordinate nouns like'furniture'and'footwear'. Taking a look at the group of collective nouns in Russian, this paper applies the issue of mass and count properties as well as nouns being difficult to classify to this group. The analysis shows that within the group of Russian collective nouns, there is also a difference in the behavior of some nouns. These nouns are then categorized into the tentative subgroups'countable collective nouns'and'superordinate collective nouns'and the paper proposes a possible explanation for their behavior.

Seminar paper from the year 2021 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics, grade: 1,0, University of Hamburg (Institute of English and American Studies), language: English, abstract: Code-switching, a longstanding linguistic phenomenon, has traditionally been studied in spontaneous speech. However, a growing interest in recent years has shifted towards analyzing song lyrics, particularly in the context of globalization and the prevalence of English as a global language. This paper delves into the current state of English code-switching in German rap songs, exploring how and why German rappers incorporate English into their lyrics. Through an empirical analysis of mainstream rap songs, the study examines the semantics of English code-switches, aiming to uncover the semantic fields they occupy and understand their functional aspects. The paper provides a brief definition of code-switching, reviews existing research on its role in music, with a focus on rap, and discusses the evolving landscape of German rap. The research methodology and data presentation are detailed, followed by a summary of results and a discussion of notable findings. The paper concludes with a brief summary and suggestions for future research.

Research Paper (postgraduate) from the year 2022 in the subject Economics - Job market economics, grade: A, University of Calabar (Faculty of Arts & Social Science Education), course: The Structure and Organization of Social Studies and New Education Initiatives, language: English, abstract: This paper explores the effectiveness of entrepreneurship in job creation, hence, underlining the importance of the MSMEs sub-sector in the socioeconomic development of the Nigerian economy. Nowadays, the burden of job creation is not solely placed on the shoulders of the government alone but, has become a joint-venture effort between the public and private sectors. On this premise, the paper seeks an enduring answer to this prevalent phenomenon in entrepreneurship development. So, the paper is divided into subheadings, covering the introduction, conceptual explications, theoretical discourse on MSMEs as the driving force of socioeconomic development, and the role of entrepreneurship in the socioeconomic development of Nigeria. The paper concludes by noting that, the transformation of Nigeria's education system into entrepreneurial-based is a way of empowering the young generations with practical skills that could help them become self-reliant (self-employed), thus reducing the increasing social vices and consequences of unemployment. Among others, it was recommended to incorporate entrepreneurship in our school curriculum where vocational subjects would become compulsory right from Upper Basic Education level through tertiary education level to train, prepare, and develop the economic mindset of the younger generations and decrease the high level of unemployment.

Seminar paper from the year 2020 in the subject Business economics - Business Management, Corporate Governance, grade: 4.9, Kenyatta University, course: Business Management, language: English, abstract: In the ever-evolving landscape of business, organizations constantly find themselves at the crossroads of change. Whether driven by external market forces or internal transformations, change is an inevitable companion on the corporate journey. The ability to navigate change effectively often defines the success and longevity of a company. In this change analysis paper, we delve into the intriguing narratives of two renowned publicly traded companies and explore how they have handled significant changes in their organizations. Change is not a monolithic concept; rather, it takes on different shapes and forms, each with its unique set of challenges and opportunities. To comprehend these dynamic processes, we employ the concept of'Images of Change.'Each image represents a distinct perspective on change management, ranging from the assertive'director'to the empathetic'nurturer.'By analyzing these images, we gain a deeper understanding of how these organizations responded to pivotal moments of transformation and adapted to the ever-changing corporate landscape. In the spotlight are two corporate giants, Apple Inc. and General Electric. Apple, a global icon renowned for its innovative prowess, faced a momentous leadership transition from the visionary Steve Jobs to the pragmatic Tim Cook. On the other hand, General Electric, a conglomerate with a storied history, undertook a series of strategic shifts, divestitures, and restructurings to remain relevant in an evolving industrial landscape. This paper embarks on a journey to dissect the change images embodied by these companies and their application within their unique contexts. It explores the pressures that necessitated these changes, the distinctions between their change approaches, and the unintended consequences that emerged along the way. Through this comparative analysis, we aim to glean valuable insights into the art of change management, demonstrating that the path to change is as diverse as the organizations that traverse it.

Academic Paper from the year 2022 in the subject Geography / Earth Science - Economic Geography, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, language: English, abstract: In four subchapters, this small paper looks at the definition of Green Sustainable Development and its implications for the life of us as citizens on planet Earth. Not only does it define the concept, but does also contrast it to existing neoliberal and capitalist imaginations being fixated on ever-more growth, production, and consumption. Finally, it involves the policy-making process, that is, how do we politically achieve things like the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs) in a real world and not just on paper. Therefore, the paper contributes to a fruitful debate on the necessity for sustainable alternatives to our current thinking and doing. Over the last years and decades, our planet has seen major changes on various scales. Not only has our climatological situation changed - more and more severe droughts, storms, flooding, for example - but also several social, political, and economic patterns have shifted. They include urbanization, racial violence, polarization, and accessibility problems. To address these issues, a new understanding was necessary for organizing and advancing our world and the elements of it. It is the idea of Green Sustainable Development. Evidently, to adequately put such a concept to use, we must define and understand its three components, both on their own and in context of the whole term.

Seminar paper from the year 2022 in the subject Leadership and Human Resources - Employer Branding, grade: 1,0, University of Cooperative Education Ravensburg, course: International Human Resource Management, language: English, abstract: This paper investigates the effectiveness of corporate influencer marketing as a recruitment tool within the realm of employer branding. Faced with challenges such as talent shortages and the impact of COVID-19, organizations are seeking innovative approaches to attract and recruit talent. The research focuses on problem statements, objectives, and methodological approaches, delving into the challenges and opportunities associated with corporate influencer marketing. Key performance indicators (KPIs) are identified as crucial metrics for measuring success in this approach. The international context is explored, emphasizing the need for tailored employer branding strategies to accommodate cultural differences. In conclusion, the paper suggests that, when implemented strategically, corporate influencer marketing serves as a viable and sustainable recruitment tool, offering opportunities for authentic engagement and differentiation in the competitive job market.

Scientific Essay from the year 2023 in the subject History - Miscellaneous, University of Graz, language: English, abstract: The focus of this paper is on the observation of the solar corona as a procedure to gain data for scientific purposes and on the theory of the theory-ladenness of scientific observation, which states that an observation is never completely free of theory and, therefore, cannot function as a sole piece of objective evidence. The philosopher Peter Kosso presented one way out of this dilemma: to additionally validate theories by examining their consistence, coherence and independence. In this paper, the potential to also test observational results regarding their consistence, coherence and independence is examined. A conclusion is reached that applying a combination of these methods enables the researchers to gain valid data.

Seminar paper from the year 2024 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: 1,3, Bielefeld University (Fakultät für Anglistik), course: Advanced Academic Writing, language: English, abstract: This paper attempts to answer the question of how the courtroom scene, the peripetia of the novel'To Kill a Mockingbird', where racial biases are openly responsible for juristical misconduct, reflects the intersection of race and justice, what that reveals not only about the operation of racial biases within the legal system of the 1930s and how those biases are being upheld in the American jurisdiction system today but also how it reinforces racist stereotypes and gives away the internalised racism towards black people within the writer, the white reader who this book was written for and American society as a whole. Informing my analysis with arguments put forward by critical race theoreticians, I argue that Lee employs the setting of an unknown, rural, southern town and the timeframe of the 1930s as a direct critique towards the racial biases and inequality prevalent in the 60s at the time of publication. This reveals that, despite the illusion of fairness, the legal system is deeply flawed by systemic racism. Simultaneously, the story, perhaps unknowingly, reinforces certain racial stereotypes, suggesting that the author reflects her own internalised racism through the storyline. Furthermore, a connection will be drawn to legal injustice towards the black minority today and how Lee's critique remains relevant. Over sixty years have passed since the first edition of'To Kill a Mockingbird'was released. Even though one would hope that things have changed since then, the recent uproar about unjustified police brutality directed towards blacks, stirred by the deaths of people like Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and many more, emphasises that there has not been done enough and that change needs to happen.

Studienarbeit aus dem Jahr 2024 im Fachbereich Anglistik - Linguistik, Note: 1,3, Universität Bielefeld, Sprache: Deutsch, Abstract: Killer Mike, an acclaimed rapper and activist offers a powerful critique of the War on Drugs in his song'Reagan'. He sheds light on its failures and impact on marginalized communities. Examining the lyrics and underlying messages of this song, this paper aims to argue that the War on Drugs has ultimately proven to be a flawed strategy. The plan perpetuates systemic injustices rather than effectively addressing drug-related issues. Killer Mike's'Reagan'serves as a review that evaluates the War on Drugs and its consequences. The song provides a scathing indictment of the policies pursued during the Reagan administration, particularly highlighting their detrimental effects on African-American communities. By analyzing the lyrics and underlying themes, we can gain insight into the flawed nature of the War on Drugs and the societal implications it has engendered. This paper will explore the central themes presented in'Reagan'and contextualize them within the broader framework of the War on Drugs. It will examine the disproportionate impact of drug laws on marginalized communities. Additionally, this document will show the perpetuation of systemic injustices and the failure to address the root causes of drug abuse effectively. Moreover, this analysis will discuss the missed opportunities for implementing alternative approaches such as harm reduction strategies and treatment programs. Since its inception in the 1970s, the War on Drugs has been a controversial policy initiative aimed at combating drug abuse and its associated social ills. However, as the decades passed, doubts about this approach's effectiveness and unintended consequences began. The declaration of the War on Drugs led to a series of legislative actions and executive orders that sought to target the production and consumption of controlled substances aggressively. Spearheaded by President Richard Nixon and subsequently supported by his successors the strategy left marks in American society. The campaign has become synonymous with zero-tolerance laws and an unprecedented expansion of the criminal justice system. The phrase'War on Drugs'has since evolved into a metaphor for the ongoing struggle between government authorities and the various facets of the drug trade-a battle that has raised numerous questions about effectiveness and social justice.

Essay from the year 2022 in the subject Pedagogy - School System, Educational and School Politics,, language: English, abstract: The paper examines the dilemma of doctoral degree completion in Nigeria. The paper describes the controversies surrounding the delay in the completion time of doctoral degree programs in Nigeria. It discussed federal and state policies, regular strikes, university management decisions, host departments and faculties decisions, admission policies, corruption, supervision, student attitude, and perception as factors bedeviling doctoral degree completion in Nigeria. The paper therefore recommends measures that tend to speed up the completion time of doctoral degree programs in Nigeria.BIOGRAPHY Dr. Timothy Oziegbe Okpeku was born in Okokomoiko, Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State. He started his primary education at Okhide Primary School Uzebba where he obtained his primary school leaving certificate and proceeded to Uzebba Grammar School for his secondary education where he obtained his National Examination Council (NECO) certificate. He received his Bachelor's degree from Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, Nigeria. He proceeded to the University of Benin where he obtained his Master's degree. He thereafter moved to his Alma Mata where he received his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree. As a student, he was a class prefect at Uzebba Grammar School, Uzebba-Iuleha, and later a class representative at the University of Benin. His hands-on research and pedagogical experience earned him the first graduate of his department's post-graduate degree program. He started his career as a teacher. Thereafter he joined the Edo State government public service as an industry officer at the Edo State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Benin City, Nigeria. Due to his passion for Nigeria's education system, education policies and programs, curriculum reform, education equity, and student achievement gap, he was among the six post-doctoral scholars selected in Africa by the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) as African visiting scholars to the Republic of China (Taiwan). A transnational task that took him to the Republic of China (Taiwan) for one year (January-December, 2022). While in Taiwan, he was assigned to the National Taichung University of Education, to examine the strategic aspects of the Taiwanese educational system and lessons for Nigeria. His research interests cut across school politics, pedagogy, didactic, e-learning, education psychology, education leadership, education sociology, school system, education policy, curriculum design, educational equity, program evaluation, achievement gap, instructional technology, comparative education, vocational, technical education, and training. He has recently published 17 academic papers, 7 commentaries, 12 contributed postgraduate thesis/dissertations, and 5 academic seminar papers. Dr. Timothy O. Okpeku is a recipient of the Taiwan Fellowship Award.

Seminar paper from the year 2023 in the subject Philosophy - Philosophy of the present, grade: 0,8,, language: English, abstract: Whether popular films such as Conjuring, Halloween or Scream - horror films are becoming more and more popular every year. The beginning of this widespread popularity started as early as 1913 with the creation of the first major horror movie in Germany,'The Student of Prague'.1 Over the decades, there was an abrupt development in the film industry. Horror films were no longer designed solely to shock their viewers, but rather to terrify them through the use of effects. This development continues to this day, with scenes and storylines based on making them as realistic as possible. In view of this fact, obscene and at the same time provocative depictions have emerged without any form of morality or sense of guilt.2 Thus, the sole purpose of cinematic horror is to maintain the taboo.3 The reason why we as humans feel a desire to be creeped out, to be afraid or even to indulge in fear has been the subject of clear attempts to clarify for some time. Many who deal with this question assume that the main cause is the effect that is based on the reaction to what is shown. However, evolution and our role at that time also represent an important point. This seminar paper will attempt to find an answer and thus a reason for the far-reaching popularity of the horror genre. In addition, the dangers of realism in today's film industry will be explained. Various perspectives, approaches and theories will serve as a methodology to clarify the aforementioned questions. In order to convey a general understanding of exactly what aspects the genre of horror contains, it is important to go into the scenic methods it claims for itself and to show the versatility of the mode of representation. Subsequently, as an introductory part to the main question of this elaboration, an attempt is made to establish a definition of fear. Various approaches to the question of why people love to be afraid are then presented. In addition, the consequences that go hand in hand with the brutality and realism of the portrayal are presented. Finally, the insights gained from the seminar paper are evaluated and briefly summarized.

Seminar paper from the year 2023 in the subject Geography / Earth Science - Demographics, Urban Management, Planning, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, language: English, abstract: This paper looks at prairies in the state of Illinois and at their fate facing continuous pressure of developmental projects. Specifically, it analyzes the case of the Bell Bowl Prairie near the City of Rockford, Illinois: The Greater Rockford Airport Authority published plans to expand the cargo area of their Chicago-Rockford International Airport, enabling it to grow substantially. Parts of the area are already on the grounds of Bell Bowl, however, the infrastructural plans aim for a larger natural area coverage - which means destruction of a defining landscape type in the Midwest. In the paper, the reader gets an introduction into the physical geography of prairies, which includes the definition of the term. Further, the case is presented in necessary detail, iluminating social, environmental and legal aspects. This includes the connection between citizens and this natural habitat, protection of endangered animal and plant species as well as the conflict between courts, activists and different authorities. For clarification and temporal orientation, a chapter deals with the current status as well as a view into the near future.

Seminar paper from the year 2022 in the subject Geography / Earth Science - Demographics, Urban Management, Planning, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Department of Geography and GIScience), language: English, abstract: This paper looks at policy input in three countries to manage natural disasters that occur on a regular basis. These countries are Canada, Bangladesh, and Indonesia. In the chapters about Canada, information about wildfires and (flash) floods are presented, looking at various reasons for the disasters as well as institutions involved in policymaking. The same content goes for cyclones in Bangladesh and eartquakes in Indonesia. In all four instances, historical evidence about particularly strong cases of these four types of disasters are presented, which underscores the continuous relevance for society and politics. Including a variety of information of different types of sources, the paper contributes to a debate about disaster management and relief mechanisms as well as policymaking capacities.

Seminar paper from the year 2020 in the subject History - Europe, grade: 1,0, University of Education Weingarten (Fakultät II - Englisch), course: UK in text and film, language: English, abstract: This paper examines the Victorian value of'The Angel in the House'and its implementation in everyday life. The introduction presents the idea of the'Angel in the House'as the ideal image of woman in the 19th century, influenced by Coventry Patmore's poem of 1858. The historical context sheds light on the Victorian era (1837-1901) and the social structures of the time. Victorian values, in particular family, self-help, respectability and the role of men, are discussed. However, the focus is on the'angel in the house'who represents the ideal woman. The implementation of this ideal in the Victorian class system is considered in detail, differentiating the upper, middle, and working classes. Particular emphasis is placed on the legal disadvantages of women in Victorian society, including the lack of property rights and the difficult conditions for divorce. The evolution of women's role over the past 30 years of Queen Victoria's reign is also analysed, emphasising the transition from'angel in the house'to'serving angel.'Queen Victoria's opinion on the'Angel in the House'and her attitude towards feminist movements are examined. Although Victoria is seen as a female leader, it turns out that she had anti-feminist views. The term paper ends with a summary and outlook on the current presence of Victorian ideals in 21st-century British society. Overall, the work provides a deep insight into the social, legal and cultural aspects of the Victorian'Angel in the House'and identifies links to contemporary gender issues.

Essay from the year 2015 in the subject German Studies - Linguistics, grade: 1.3, University of Freiburg (Philologische Fakultät), language: English, abstract: This paper presents findings from an experimental interview study exploring the usage of German hesitation markers by native speakers aged nineteen to thirty-one. With limited research on this topic, the study investigates factors influencing hesitation marker frequency, including gender, topic type (casual vs. non-casual), and speaker familiarity. Twenty-nine participants were interviewed on various prepared questions, followed by an online perception study assessing how hesitation markers influence perceived masculinity and potential professions. Results indicate that males tend to use hesitation markers, such as'ähm,''öhm,''äh,'and'öh,'more frequently. Additionally, hesitation marker distribution is slightly higher for casual topics and when interacting with well-known friends. Pauses occur more with male speakers, non-casual topics, and distant speaker-interviewer proximity. Lengthened vowels, another hesitation marker, are more common among males, for casual topics, and with distant proximity. The perception study supports the notion that the use of hesitation markers is perceived as less masculine. Ambiguities in the findings underscore the complexity of this linguistic phenomenon. This paper offers valuable insights into German hesitation markers, shedding light on their nuanced usage and the influence of gender, topic, and speaker familiarity. Readers intrigued by language and sociolinguistics will find this study a compelling exploration of communication patterns among German native speakers.Geboren 1993 in Waldshut, Deutschland, zeigte sie schon früh Interesse an Sprachen, Werbung und Reisen. Nach dem Abschluss ihres Bachelor of Arts in Englisch und BWL an der Albert Ludwigs Uni in Freiburg, absolvierte sie einen Master of Science in BWL mit Schwerpunkt Marketing. Sie arbeitete in den Bereichen Consulting und Marketing, bevor sie vor einem Jahr als Freelancerin tätig wurde. Sie bietet Dienstleistungen rund um Marketing und E-Commerce an und leitet erfolgreich einen Online Shop in der Schweiz.

Master's Thesis from the year 2020 in the subject Economics - Economic Cycle and Growth, grade: 3.33, Ethiopian Civil Service University, language: English, abstract: This paper examined the relationship between banking sector development and economic growth in Ethiopia. The paper also examines the effect of banking development on economic growth in Ethiopia and to establish which theory holds for Ethiopia between the demand-following and the supply-leading theory. Unlike the majority of previous studies, this study uses the newly developed ARDL-bounds testing approach to examine the relationship. The ARDL-bounds testing approach has numerous advantages over other co-integration techniques, especially when a short time-series dataset is used. In order to test the robustness of the empirical results, three proxies of bank-based financial development have been used; namely: 1) the domestic credit provided by the banking sector as a ratio of GDP, 2) broad money supply as a ratio of GD, 3) private credit as percentage of GDP. Annual time series data between the years 1987 and 2019 were used for the study, from the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) statistical bulletin. The structural break unit root test revealed that all the variables are stationary at their first difference; the bound test cointegration analysis established the existence of long run relationship among the variables. The ARDL revealed that domestic credit provided by the banking sector significantly affected economic growth in the long run, while private credit statistical significant and negatively affect economic growth in the short run during the period of study. The empirical results of this study show that the effect of banking sector development and economic growth in Ethiopia is sensitive to the proxy used to measure the banking sector development. The policymakers need to make policies that can lead to establishment of banking institutions in the rural areas which have limited access to banking services and create enabling legal environment for efficient allocation of credit to the private sector at the same time the supervisory organ shall establish conducive environment for banking institution which are engaging in loan granting for diversified economic sectors for private investment.

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2021 in the subject Engineering - Industrial Engineering and Management, grade: 1,3, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) (Institute of Information Systems and Marketing (IISM)), language: English, abstract: A variety of research papers on the topic of multitasking or multi-use of battery storage systems (BSS) exists. This thesis paper presents a structured literature review in this field of research by categorizing and analyzing the existing literature in this field. The main contributions are: (1) a high level overview of the reviewed research, including the structuring into predefined dimensions, and (2) a qualitative analysis of the most relevant clusters for this thesis, namely household energy storage and community energy storage. This review structures the literature by six different dimensions: (1) the location of the studied BSS and its connection to the grid, (2) the battery technology in use, (3) the size of the deployed BSS, (4) the renewable energy sources used together with the BSS, (5) the method introduced in the study, and (6) the revenue streams that are considered within the study. The review shows that in residential contexts, self-consumption accompanied by demand-side-management is the most proposed use case scenario to increase profitability of BSSs. Further applications that stand out are to provide balancing or ancillary services to system operators, but these require an aggregation of smaller BSSs to one larger entity. The reviewed results suggest that the combination of at least two of these applications significantly improves BSS profitability. However, forecasting techniques for renewable energy source production profiles, electricity demand, or market prices and battery degradation models are often disregarded by the authors in the reviewed literature.

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2022 in the subject Sociology - Miscellaneous, grade: 2,1, Ruhr-University of Bochum, language: English, abstract: In this paper we will start analyzing Seoul's disability friendliness and accessibility with government aid and externally visible support slowly moving to the more invisible factors such as culture and the viewpoints of non-disabled citizens. The following disorders are all categorised as disabilities regardless of whether they are temporary or permanent: vision impairment, deafness or partial deafness, mental health conditions, intellectual disability, acquired brain injury, autism spectrum disorder, physical disability, as well as, epileptic disorder, facial disability. However, due to the limitations of this paper, mainly aspects concerning wheelchair users and blind people will be discussed. Other invisible disabilities like deafness, muteness, autism, ADHD or mental health illnesses will not be covered in this paper because these disabilities or mental health issues are not perceivable by outsiders at first glance and require the analysis of specific aspects, such as, for example, the education of affected children, discrimination, judgmental conceptions of parents or legal guardian as well as other social factors and specific intricacies. Currently, 2.6 million South Korean citizens are registered as having one or multiple disabilities, which amounts to 5% of the total South Korean population of approximately 51,368,000 people. The number of disabled people doubled over a span of 10 years, whereas the total population only increased by approximately 5%. In 2020 also around 5% of the South Korean population were registered as having a disability, which amounts to 2,526,201 people. Therefore, it is interesting to analyze which steps have been taken to help the growing number of disabled people with the challenges that they face in their everyday lives. When strolling in Seoul, people with disability are rarely seen, considering that 5% of the population is disabled. This phenomenon raises the question whether and how far disability-friendly Seoul actually is and whether there are some underlying problems invisible at first sight. It is important to keep in mind that disability-friendliness isn't only represented by the governmentally and privately given facilities but also by the support or lack thereof of non-disabled citizens. The opinion of the affected minority group is essential in finding out whether the given support is sufficient, lacking or faulty since outsiders might not have the much-needed insight.

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2021 in the subject Business economics - Investment and Finance, grade: 1,0,, language: English, abstract: This study is concerned with an empirical analysis of asset pricing. More specifically, this paper examines whether multifactor asset pricing models are able to explain variation in REIT returns in the US and Japan. In addition to traditional multifactor models, an Alternative Four-Factor Model (AFF) was developed considering net profit margin as an additional risk factor. Thence, this paper seeks to provide valuable information for investors and fund managers regarding their indirect real estate investment selection. Using a sample period between July 1994 (US) / July 2011 (Japan) to December 2020, rigorous multiple-time-series regression is applied to calculate factor loadings for each risk factor and the corresponding alpha values of each model to evaluate their effectiveness in explaining variation and cross-section of REIT returns. Most studies on asset pricing models focus on size and value sorted portfolios as dependent variables. This paper broadens the approach with four other double sorted test portfolios to check the robustness of each single factor to explain return anomalies. Results show that market premium and size premium represent risk factors for US-REITs, whereas market premium and value premium are suitable risk factors for Japanese-REITs. The momentum factor does not capture risk and is insignificant in both markets. The study shows low correlations between traditional and REIT specific as well as between US and Japanese risk factors. This suggests that firstly risk factors are country specific and secondly that they are asset specific. Moreover, the Fama-French Three-Factor Model (FF3) clearly outperforms the CAPM, while the Carhart Four-Factor Model (CH4) marginally improves the explanatory power over the FF3. This is observed in both markets. Outcomes demonstrate that the Alternative Four-Factor Model (AAF) does not improve prediction power for returns of Japanese-REITs compared to the FF3 and CH4. On the contrary, results are ambiguous concerning US-REITs. While the additional risk factor, net profit margin, generates a negative return, the model is superior to the FF3 and CH4 in terms of explaining variation and cross-section of returns.

Master's Thesis from the year 2019 in the subject Psychology - Social Psychology, Ambo University, language: English, abstract: This paper discusses a social psychological study, which was conducted among adolescents in Amba Town, Ethiopia, regarding their substance abuse habits. It first gives a general overview of substance abuse concepts and explains the classifications of the drugs and substances mentioned in the study. The author proceeds to explain the different factors that were vital in creating the questionnaire, such as socio-demographic and psychological aspects and other influences, such as the accessibility and affordability factors, and that of group dynamics. The paper then goes on to present the findings of the study and analyzes them, mainly focussing on the physical, mental, and social aspects and consequences. The author of this text is not a native English speaker. Please excuse any grammatical errors and other inconsistencies.

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2009 in the subject Communications - Print Media, Press, grade: 3.02, University of Dhaka, language: English, abstract: The paper examines how the government's different activities obstruct the freedom of media, especially the press media in Bangladesh. To fulfill the requirements of the paper both the secondary literature on the mass media and primary data are accumulated by interviews with government officials, journalists, lawyers, teachers, and students, and by reviewing a large stake of newspapers, books, and journals. We are living in an information age and information is the oxygen of the modern era, as stated by Ronald Reagan in his speech to the English-Speaking Union in 1989. Keeping pace with global change, Bangladesh is also in the process of turning into an information society. The mass media is still in the claw of the government. A free and vibrant mass media is one of the prime components of democracy, and good governance. Almost all developed countries allow and ensure an independent media, as it is the 4th pillar of a country. In a democratic society, the media are supposed to play certain functions. These functions include the coverage of significant events/opinions/views taking place or taking shape in society. The present era of globalization requires a free media as the prime component of development. But, some undemocratic and undeveloped countries always try to put a bar to free media. In Bangladesh, an immature democratic and developing country, requires strong and unfettered media to enhance its development and for ensuring accountability from government high-ups. Like the unstable government and administration from the birth of Bangladesh in 1971, the mass media also faced various tough situations. However, after the inception of democratic form of government in 1990, the country saw a tremendous growth in the number and range of both media outlets. Especially, the press media has established a strong position in the society. After 1990, a rapid growth was happened for the press media.

Diploma Thesis from the year 2012 in the subject Politics - General and Theories of International Politics, grade: 1,0,, course: Maastricht Graduate School of Governance, language: English, abstract: Observing an increasing financial liberalization and income inequality during the last decades, this study investigates how the opening of financial markets is influencing income inequality. Operationalizing the research question, it focuses on capital account liberalization (CAL). The paper begins with an extensive literature review which recognizes the importance of a countries institutional quality and derives the following two hypotheses: CAL generally increases income inequality and CAL leads to an especially high increase in income inequality if the institutional quality is low. These hypotheses are empirically tested based on a panel data set covering 159 countries from 1996 – 2009. In the last decades the economies and financial systems of many countries liberalized and integrated with each other in order to benefit economically. However, at the same time income inequality and the gap between the extreme poor and the rich increased. The European Union is one of the regions with the most remarkable development regarding financial liberalization and integration. Some countries have been transformed within the last 25 years from centrally planned economies with controlled financial markets to market economies with open financial markets, integrated within the European Monetary Union. On the one hand this financial liberalization and integration is argued to be an important reason for economic growth. However, on the other hand it is strongly related to the Euro currency crises which is currently the main challenge facing the EU and is discussed daily on the news. The lower- and middle-classes in particular are protesting against immense financial supports for banks and investors on the one side and wage reductions, unemployment and social benefit cuts on the other. Can these inequalities be explained by the increasing liberalization of financial markets? Are they logical consequences of international financial liberalization and integration? This paper approaches these questions on a meta-level by answering the research question: How is Financial Market Liberalization Influencing Income Inequality? Before elaborating on this research question and explaining the investigated hypotheses it is explained what exactly is meant by financial market liberalization.

Master's Thesis from the year 2023 in the subject Engineering - Automotive Engineering, grade: 1,5, University of Applied Sciences Aalen, language: English, abstract: Digital transformation and disruptive business models of new market players create unprecedented uncertainty in the automotive industry. One of the main reasons is the lack of understanding for the need of adapting business models to a changing business environment due to new technologies and shifting customer wants and needs. Even the automotive industry is not spared from digital Darwinism, according to which it is not the strongest or most intelligent of a species that survives, but rather the one that adapts best to change. What opportunities do OEMs have to transform their business models? How can best practices be used to generate new value creation, and what influence does the transformation of the business model have on the ecosystem? What role will the dealer play in the future, and how can he still deliver added value to the OEM? This paper provides an in-depth insight into the world of automotive sales, as well as a detailed analysis of the status quo. Best practices based on successful business model transformations of the top tier OEMs are the basis for a deeper understanding and serve other companies as foundation for developing digital business models. The goal of this paper is to examine the impact of digital transformation on the dealer business model and how they can continue to deliver value to the OEM. For this purpose, guided expert interviews are conducted with 16 experts from various areas of the automotive industry. Subsequently, a qualitative content analysis according to Mayring will be used to assess the challenges and impacts of the agent business model and to develop improvement measures and key topics that offer added value for OEMs. The results of this thesis support dealers in understanding their future role in the automotive industry and show design recommendations for a future-proof business model.

Diplomarbeit aus dem Jahr 2022 im Fachbereich Führung und Personal - Führungsstile, Note: 1,0,, Sprache: Deutsch, Abstract: This paper sets out to explore the integral role of leadership competencies in driving organisational innovations and enhancing overall performance. It establishes the notion that contemporary leadership has significantly evolved from its traditional form that emphasized strict rules and control over subordinates, to an approach that encourages and values new ideas, innovations, and performance. Today's competitive market conditions and growing customer expectations mandate an affirmative management style, necessitating leaders to inspire and harness the innovative potential of their teams while working towards a common goal. The research focuses on the significance of effective leadership methods, appropriate techniques, and their successful implementation in professional environments, particularly within the context of research and development departments where innovation is critical for company growth and profitability. Through a careful blend of literature review and a mixed-method approach, this study aims to provide a comprehensive view of the landscape of leadership competences within organisations and determine the competencies that significantly contribute to promoting innovation and overall performance. In conducting this study, the leadership competencies of higher management in an anonymised, medium-sized, service-oriented company, referred to as company XYZ, will be assessed using the KODE® personality tests. The overarching aim is to draw a connection between leadership competencies and innovation, thereby forming a strong foundation for future, large-scale research work. Ultimately, this paper seeks to aid leaders and policymakers in improving development programs, recruitment policies, and organisational practices, while also contributing valuable insights to the current discourse on the competencies required for leaders to successfully boost innovation and performance within organisations.

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2017 in the subject Leadership and Human Resources - Employee Motivation, grade: 1,00, University of Linz (Department of International Management), language: English, abstract: This paper discusses the challenges regarding Human Resource Managemente that Multinational companies and cooperations (MNCs) face, with a special focus on the aspect of the work-life balance of those employed. There are a vast number of challenges faced by MNC's in terms of Human Resource Management – in the following simply referred to as HRM. Next to overall challenges like recruiting and hiring the right people for the right job and providing training to enhance their skills, there are many more challenges HRM has to deal with accordingly. After defining the concepts of work-life balance and work-family conflict, this papers goes on to discuss different factors that play a role in this concepts. The focus first lies on the demographic factors, then follows the immediate social environment and technology and telework, and lastly, additional work conditions. The next part of the paper focuses on the issue of work-family conflict and the resulting costs for the company. Logically, the ensuing chapter discusses ways in which MNCs can support the work-life balance.

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2022 in the subject Politics - Topic: European Union, grade: 1,3, University of Würzburg (Humanwissenschaften), language: English, abstract: The intention of this paper is to analyze, which parts of the PESCO framework have the potential to impact European defence positively in terms of efficiency and which potential fault lines towards efficiency lie in it. Moreover, the intention is to observe the developments since the launch of PESCO in 2017 regarding the question of efficiency and to work out how to overcome current problems and ensure PESCO`s future success. Finally, the paper intends to examine to what extend a coexistence of PESCO and the NATO is useful. To ensure a good understanding of PESCO, it will be shortly presented. Furthermore, the binding common commitments of PESCO, which the participating Member States have agreed on, as well as other essential parts of the PESCO framework, will be highlighted. To work out, whether and how PESCO is an efficient way to coordinate European defence, the following steps will be invested: Firstly, it will be defined what characterizes an efficient way to organize defence, especially in the context of defence cooperation. To do so, a set of factors that regularly lead to an in- or decrease in efficiency in such cooperations is going to be integrated. Secondly, these factors will be applyed to the aims and objectives the participating Member States have committed to, which form the framework of PESCO. To continue, the current situation of PESCO after 5 years and 4 waves of projects will be examined and observed, where the worked-out factors for efficiency or inefficiency and other difficulties occur. Next, ways to solve current challenges, discrepancies, ensure more efficiency and the success of PESCO in general are given. To examine to what extent a coexistence of PESCO and NATO is useful, the relationship between the EU and NATO, the European dependency on NATO, ways PESCO and NATO complement each other and possible fault lines between the cooperations will be observed.

Bachelorarbeit aus dem Jahr 2019 im Fachbereich Pädagogik - Hochschulwesen,, Sprache: Deutsch, Abstract: English degree programs in Liberian universities have been experiencing low enrolment rates in recent years, with the African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU) being no exception. The goal of this research is to determine the factors that are commonly blamed for low enrolment rates in English degree programs at Liberian universities, with a focus on the AMEU from 2013-2018. The study will explore the internal and external factors that contribute to low enrolment, and investigate the role of curriculum and pedagogy in student interest in English degree programs. Strategies to increase enrolment rates will also be discussed, with implications for policy and practice in Liberian higher education institutions. This research paper investigated the'Perceived Causes of Low Enrolment in English Degree Programs at Liberia Universities'with a case study at the African Methodist Episcopal University (2013–2018). The paper sampled the views of 100 respondents, including freshman students, administrators, and faculty members of the African Methodist Episcopal University. The paper focused on the teaching of the English Language and the teacher's pedagogy of teaching the English Language in universities and colleges in Liberia. Questionnaires and reviewing of documents were used to sample student opinion on perceived causes of low student enrolment in English Degree programs. The statistical analysis considered best for this study was frequency count and percentage. Findings revealed that the lack of qualified English teachers, lack of instructional materials, subject nature, low student interest, lack of motivation, and low job opportunities among other causes were responsible for low student enrolment in English Degree programs at universities and colleges in Liberia. Some recommendations were suggested at the end of the study.

Master's Thesis from the year 2022 in the subject Economics - Finance, grade: 1.0, University of Passau, language: English, abstract: In this paper, market-based and firm-specific determinants are introduced to measure their association with abnormal returns around the announcement of a share buyback conducted through tender and open market offers in India. To test the valuation effect of market-based variables: uncertainty, which is determined by implied market volatility and economic policy uncertainty. Liquidity risk, which is investigated through two illiquidity proxies and the impact of the monetary environment, represented by the three-month Mumbai Interbank Offer Rate (MIBOR) and the gold price are included. In addition, the main firm-specific hypotheses are tested to identify potential key drivers. The valuation effects examined cover the period from April 1, 2011, to March 31, 2021, during which a total of 359 share repurchases were made, 231 through tender offer and the remaining 128 through the open market. Beside separating the two buyback methods, I examine different categories in addition to the full sample to determine whether market participants'reaction to share repurchase announcements leads to abnormal returns. The rest of the paper is organized as follows. Next section provides an overview about the regulatory framework of share buyback in India. Section 3 states a brief overview about the share repurchase literature with reference to uncertainty and liquidity in global context and firm-specific literature in Indian context. Then the hypotheses are stated. Sections 5 and 6 present the methodology and data, and section 7 presents the empirical results. Section 8 provides concluding remarks.

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2022 in the subject Business economics - Miscellaneous, grade: 1,7, Wiesbaden University of Applied Sciences (Hochschule RheinMain), course: Digital Business Management, language: English, abstract: The primary purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the implementation of blockchain technology in the food supply chain by showing its potential to build trust among the stakeholders and to make the food supply chain efficient and cost-effective. A comprehensive literature review covering books, articles, journals, news, and expert opinions has been conducted to address the research questions. The findings in the thesis lead to the conclusion that blockchain is a promising technology that has the potential to transform the food supply chain. Blockchain is capable of building consumer trust, providing information about the food we consume, and making the food traceability easier. Furthermore, it builds transparency among the stakeholders. Last but not least, it makes the food chain cost-effective by automating most of the transactions and eliminating paperwork and intermediaries. This paper ends with a discussion of some challenges in implementing blockchain due to its early phases of development.

Swiss Diploma Thesis from the year 2021 in the subject Didactics for the subject English - Grammar, Style, Working Technique, grade: 1, Nauczycielskie Kolegium Języków Obcych at Chrzanowie, language: English, abstract: This diploma paper aims at examining the usefulness of games into classroom and their impact on students'motivation and behaviour. The first chapter presents an overall description of vocabulary and to its function in EFL classroom. Additionally, it explains what aspects learners should know in order to possess complete knowledge of an item. The treatment of the process of remembering and presenting vocabulary items is also presented. The second chapter gives an overview of teenagers, their developmental changes and the influence they have on a teaching and learning process. Moreover, this part of the diploma paper discusses difficulties when teaching teenagers and the strong impact that technology has on students. The third chapter discusses the educational value of games in a foreign language teaching. It also presents game's definition and the criteria of selecting games. Additionally, the chapter discusses the drawbacks of using games in EFL classroom. The last chapter is the practical part of this project and it describes the action research carried out in a junior high school in Września. This chapter presents lesson plans and description of the proceedings of the lessons. The study intended to find out whether games are a useful tool for vocabulary revision and how they influence students motivation and behaviour.

Master's Thesis from the year 2023 in the subject American Studies - Linguistics, grade: 2,3, University of Siegen, language: English, abstract: Since the use of flashcards and word lists to study vocabulary is common among language learners, this paper will briefly discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each. However, research indicates that utilizing paper flashcards is one of the most effective methods for deliberately studying a language. Therefore, this paper mainly discusses how deliberate vocabulary learning using flashcards can aid students in systematically studying words according to a schedule. Leitner's Lernkartei is an example of a systematic approach to traditional vocabulary learning. Since the exponential growth of computer technology, systematic flashcard study has become more widespread, as evidenced by the emergence of digital flashcards such as Quizlet and Anki. Some studies claim that using computer-based flashcards may enable students to learn more efficiently than paper-based flashcards since the former offer advantages that the latter do not, e.g., different order of items. With that said, the present thesis investigates the following research questions: How can flashcard applications facilitate learning and retention, and how has empirical research been implemented? This paper provides a general overview of language learning and vocabulary acquisition to address this research question. Nation's framework illustrates several aspects of word knowledge that students should be familiar with. This paper solely addresses the form-meaning aspect of word knowledge and how or if flashcard applications can enhance learning and retention.

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2022 in the subject Business economics - Business Management, Corporate Governance, grade: 1,3, University of Applied Sciences Darmstadt (Faculty of Business), language: English, abstract: The purpose of this paper was to examine the long-term viability of three different accommodation sharing platforms (Airbnb, Fairbnb, and Couchsurfing) by evaluating the literature and other source materials available. These platforms'potential and challenges have been highlighted, as well as how each of these platforms contributes to various elements of sustainability. The results indicate that these platforms play different roles in various elements of sustainability. These platforms reduce overproduction and consumption by utilizing spare bedrooms and reducing the need for new hotel constructions. They also make travel more affordable, provide income opportunities (Airbnb & Fairbnb), and promote social interactions. However, they do have certain drawbacks as well. Low-cost travel may encourage people to travel more, resulting in higher CO2 emissions, which may have more negative than positive consequences. However, as shown by the effects of several regulations adopted by different cities, such adverse impacts can be minimized with strict government regulations. Nonetheless, while effective and suitable regulation might help to mitigate the negative effects of these platforms, it is difficult to estimate their exact sustainability repercussions. As a result, this paper calls for a more open examination of accommodation sharing services.

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2020 in the subject Politics - Region: Western Europe, grade: 1,3, University of Bamberg, language: English, abstract: This paper attempts to find an answer to the following research question: To what extent can the theoretical implications of Kenneth Waltz's'neorealism'and Andrew Moravcsik's'liberal theory'explain the United Kingdom's decision to hold a referendum on its membership in the European Union? To answer this question, I begin by defining the essential key terms used in this paper and laying down the theoretical assumptions and implications of both theories. From these theoretical foundations I will derive my hypotheses, providing the main thread for the analysis, at the end of each chapter. The subsequent chapter discusses the research design of this paper. In the analytical portion of this dissertation, I will first focus on applying the relevant theoretical implications of neorealism to examine the referendum decision. Subsequently, I will similarly apply the compatible elements of Andrew Moravcsik's liberal theory to conduct an analysis into the reasons behind the referendum decision from a liberal perspective. Finally, I will discuss the conclusions drawn from the analysis. On the 23rd June 2016, the United Kingdom held a referendum regarding its future within the European Union. The result of this referendum was a very important political event, shaking the foundations of the'European idea'to its core, and leaving many experts baffled. However, while the results of this'Brexit'were largely astounding and unexpected, why did the UK opt for a referendum on its membership in the EU in the first place? While the potential reasons behind the outcome of the referendum have been subject to substantial academic analysis, research regarding the reasons for the referendum is somewhat scarce.

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2021 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Other, grade: 2, University of Graz (Anglistik), language: English, abstract: At first, it will be discussed which countries or regions are included in Kachru's (2006) classification of the three diasporas, with the second one being outlined in more detail due to including the country of focus of this paper, the United States. The first part of the paper will then focus on the historical spread and development of the English language in the United States. This analysis will begin with the first settlers arriving in 1607 illustrating the first steps of the language on the new continent. It will then further be argued how the first settlers began mixing their way of speaking from their respective country or region of origin and how the linguistic landscape was further changed once the first non-English speaking immigrant began arriving in the nation. Historical events will also be analyzed throughout the paper in order to reach a better understanding of how the English language has been influenced by not only the country's settlers, but also by major events taking place. These events will include the gain of further territory by war, against Spain and Mexico, by purchase, the Louisiana Purchase from France, and by expanding the borders of the nation in form of the Westward Expansion. This part will further feature a brief outline of the attempts to establish linguistic unity throughout the whole nation by trailblazers, such as Noah Webster and his dictionary. The second part of the paper will focus on today's linguistic landscape in the United States. An overview of multiple dialects will be provided by taking Crystal's (2003) classification of American dialect regions into account. These chosen dialects will be analyzed in terms of how they came to be throughout the city's or region's history and what their future might look like. Additionally, two ethnic varieties of American English will be outlined, in order to show that the development of the English language on the American continent is not only restricted to migratory movement, but also by numerous different cultural backgrounds and heritages connected to one's own identity. All of these dialects and varieties will be analyzed linguistically as well with some distinctive features being provided to illustrate their uniqueness.

Master's Thesis from the year 2023 in the subject Communications - Intercultural Communication, grade: 1,0,, language: English, abstract: In order to address the polycrisis the European Union is currently facing, the European Commission has proposed to declare 2023 as the European Year of Skills and thus actively combat one of the major crises: the skills shortage. This year, an ambitious agenda is being pursued to find lasting solutions, which aim to address this pressing crisis. A key approach of the comprehensive program of the European Commission is to integrate persons with a migratory background into European society. New concepts and campaigns including enhanced learning opportunities, attractive offers around improved mobility and support, and simplified recognition of foreign qualifications are a promised way to facilitate the integration of people from third countries with urgently needed competencies and skills. However, a strategic communicative process is needed to ensure that persons with a migratory background are genuinely understood as well as see themselves as part of European society. Therefore, this research paper picks out the uncovering of motives for migrating to the European Union and needs of persons with a migratory background as a central theme in order to address this certain group effectively. Since the youth play a central role in the shortage of skilled workers and in securing collective prosperity, only young people in the age of 15 to 25 were interviewed for that reason. At the end of the paper, recommendations for communication concepts will be identified that help to create synergies and close the gap between persons with a migratory background and the skills shortage crisis.

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2021 in the subject Economics - International Economic Relations, grade: 1,7, University of Paderborn, language: English, abstract: Since 2018, protectionism has made its way into global politics. This paper analyzes what has happened since then and the consequences of the trade war between the US and China unleashed by Donald Trump's administration. The trade war is examined from a game-theoretical perspective and furthermore, an assessment regarding future implications is also given. In 2018, the administration of then-president Donald Trump put tariffs on Chinese products. This has provoked a backlash by the Chinese government in form of tariffs on American products, and following measures and countermeasures conducted by both sides quickly escalated into a trade war. “Trade wars are good, and easy to win”. These were the words president Trump confidently tweeted in March 2018. This paper is going to take a closer look at a situation which turns out to be a lot more complex than this tweet implicates. Trade war between the two biggest economies on earth unsurprisingly has a lot of consequences which are going to be examined in more detail. Furthermore, this paper will show that implications of this conflict exceed economic boundaries.

Master's Thesis from the year 2013 in the subject Politics - Region: Africa, grade: 1,6, Malmö University, language: English, abstract: This paper gives instructive insights into the extremely close ties between the Eritrean leadership and the Eritrean diaspora. The engagement of the Eritrean diaspora in homeland affairs dates back to the beginning of the Eritrean struggle for independence. During the Eritrean war of independence from Ethiopia (1961-91), the Eritrean Peoples Liberation Front (EPLF) developed transnational strategies that incorporated the exile communities into the independence movement. After independence, these transnational strategies were maintained for the building of a self-reliant nation-state. As a matter of fact, the diaspora continues to play a significant role in homeland affairs through its ongoing engagement in the re-construction of the war-torn country. The great degree to which Eritrean transnationalism has been established and institutionalized by the former independence movement and the nascent Eritrean state is remarkable. In particular, as they are pursued by a state with rare administrative and financial resources. The Eritrean leadership established a global diaspora with strong sociocultural, political and economic ties to their homeland, maintained over space and time. This success and the remarkable sense of commitment within the Eritrean diaspora contrasts with varying degrees of failure, similarly, to mobilize diaspora populations in other countries. This research draws on a variety of secondary literature and recently emerging literature on Eritrean diaspora communities. Furthermore, it relies on qualitative research, consisting of semi-structured interviews with four leading members from the Eritrean diaspora. In accordance with the research objective, this paper is guided by the following research questions: (a.) What policies have been pursued by the former independence movement and the nascent Eritrean state to influence the involvement of the Eritrean diaspora in homeland affairs? (b.) Which role did the Eritrean diaspora play in the making of modern Eritrea? (c.) In which ways did the Eritrean diaspora engage in homeland affairs?.

Diploma Thesis from the year 2020 in the subject Politics - Region: Western Europe, grade: 2, University of Vienna (Institut für Europarecht, Internationales Recht und Rechtsvergleichung), language: English, abstract: This paper illuminates the relevance of European Union (EU) Energy Law and the responsibilities of States, companies and energy regulators in the EU. This relevance will be mainly in the light of EU regulations and packages, but also international Conventions applying to European actors will be tackled in this paper. First of all, the beginnings of the EU and why energy, especially coal and steel, played such a massive role from the very first start, will be pointed out. Secondly, the legal bases of EU Energy Law in force nowadays will be discussed and explained. Moreover, Energy Law is one of the rare areas where law, economy, politics, and more and more ecological affairs are rearranging the system. Thus, it will be referred to as the growing link between Energy law and Environmental policies and concerns. Last but not least, attention will be drawn to the fact that many European Energy Companies operate outside of the EU for the exploitation of resources and how accountability is triggered on the territory of the European Union in the case of an accident happening outside of Europe. Therefore, the case of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill as the responsible company Beyond Petroleum (BP) is a British multinational business, with headquarters in London, will be briefly examined. To a greater extent, the primary intention of this paper is to generate a broader understanding of EU Energy Law and the necessity to secure and regulate it in order to safeguard our environment in a future of renewable energy sources.

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2016 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: 1,7, University of Constance (Literaturwissenschaft), course: American Literature and Culture, language: English, abstract: The aim of this thesis will be to analyze whether the development of gender roles can in fact be found in Atwood's newest short story collection'Stone Mattress', and if so, how that development unfolds in the writing. This paper will start with a definition of terms such as sex, gender and gender roles, which will aid in clarifying the meaning of those concepts and therefore simplify the following analysis. Furthermore, a historical overview over the women's movement in Canada shall distinguish the three waves of feminism and highlight the different aims of each wave, as well as the evolution of women's roles in their respective society. With the theoretical knowledge gained in mind, we will look at Atwood's earlier short fiction and briefly analyze a few of her earlier works with special attention to the way in which she portrays her characters regarding gender roles. This first analysis will lead to the main portion of this paper which will then deal with her short story collection'Stone Mattress'. An in-depth analysis will take a look at both, her female and male characters and answer the question of whether or not they adhere to traditional gender roles. Additionally, I will establish if a change in the way Atwood portrays her characters can be detected. Finally, this thesis will be concluded by summarizing the findings and explicitly answering the question: Has Atwood's writing changed parallel to the development of the women's movement? The Canadian author Margaret Atwood is one of the most important literary chroniclers of our time. Her works cover a great number of literary genres and have earned her a spot in the Canadian canon. Her novels, children's books and short stories as well as her poetry merely portray the tip of the iceberg that is Margaret Atwood's oeuvre. Literary critic, lecturer, teacher, active member in various literary organization and editor slowly begin to complete the long list of Atwood's fields of expertise. Her works appeal both to literary scholars and the average reader, and are praised for their level of eloquence and wit. Not surprisingly, the list of Atwood's achievements and awards is just as long as the list of her competences. Among aforesaid achievements are for example the Man Booker Prize and the renowned Governor General's Literary Award, which she received twice.

Master's Thesis from the year 2022 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Other, grade: 1,3, University of Duisburg-Essen, language: English, abstract: This paper will be evaluating a unit of the textbook Greenline Oberstufe in order to determine whether transcultural and intercultural communicative competences are fostered by the textbook. To do so, this paper will first look at intercultural learning in general and how this concept takes shape in the Common European Framework of References for Languages and in the Curriculum of North Rhine Westphalia. The didactic principal of Byram's modified model of transcultural and intercultural communicative competences will then be elaborated. Based on this, criteria for the analysis will be determined. The analysis of the textbook unit will be divided into three parts, where first culturally relevant tasks will be identified and described. Secondly, the unit will be analysed according to the five components of the model of transcultural and intercultural communicative competences. Ultimately it will be determined whether the textbook unit fulfilled the objectives of the five components of transcultural and intercultural communicative competences.

Examination Thesis in the subject Didactics for the subject English - Miscellaneous,, language: English, abstract: This paper aims to gather evidence and improve existing knowledge about the factors that influence EFL students'attitudes towards plurilingualism as well as to investigate the extent to which EFL students'attitudes towards EFL learning foster or hinder plurilingualism. An ideal way to investigate these questions would be through interviews, surveys or classroom observations. However, I believe that social science research should not be limited to primary data, especially during a pandemic when schools and children are overwhelmed by social distancing and the overuse of virtual learning. Therefore, in this paper, I examine existing empirical studies on language learning to answer the research questions. EFL stands for English as a foreign language. This term is most commonly used for students whose first language is not English and who learn English while living in their home country. The term'monolingual'in this paper refers to those who speak the language of their nation as their mother tongue. A bilingual person is someone who can speak two languages at a high level, and a multilingual person is someone who can communicate in more than two languages at a high level. ‘L1'refers to one's mother tongue, and ‘L2'is the language learned after the first language, generally after the mother tongue. First, a brief overview of the transition of language education from monolingualism to plurilingualism is given. Then plurilingualism and attitudes are defined and discussed. After that, the traces of plurilingualism and attitude in foreign language teaching-learning practices in schools are then discussed. To this end, some empirical studies dealing with pupils'attitudes towards plurilingualism will be presented and critically examined. This is followed by a conclusion that includes the limitations of the work and suggestions for future research.

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2020 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Other, grade: 2,3, University of Paderborn, language: English, abstract: This research paper is concerned with the depiction of the female body in video games, comics and other genres. In order to gather research and information, this paper will look at three different popular media types – comics, movies and video games, and analyse how two women in each category are depicted and represented. This paper does not intend to criticize depicting women in a ―'sexy'way or overanalyze every little thing that might be interpreted as sexist. Moreover, it simply wants to clarify that over sexualizing women in popular culture, more often than not, can lead to misperceptions of the female body for women and men alike. While women feel the need to present their bodies in a sexualized way all the time, men may accept this depiction as a norm and personal entertainment, leading to deviations from these norms to be met with hate and confusion. Additionally, it would manifest old beliefs of women only playing a passive accessory. Thus, this topic is still very important these days, as a large portion of women in the world are still prohibited to have power over their own bodies and rights or are still represented as overly sexualized or ―not good enough‖ within popular culture.

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2007 in the subject German Studies - Linguistics, grade: 1,3, Bielefeld University, language: English, abstract: Conflicts with our fellow human beings are always part of living together. In the meantime, there are many approaches to dealing with conflicts and overcoming differences. But so far there is none that has been able to establish itself as the only true theory. Could this claim possibly be made for Nonviolent communication? Is it a suitable approach to conflict management? According to Rosenberg, Nonviolent communication can be successfully applied in a wide variety of situations. He includes'close relationships, families, schools, organizations and institutions, therapy and counseling, diplomatic and business negotiations, disputes and conflicts of all kinds.'But is Nonviolent communication an approach that exists not only as a theory, but has its impact precisely where conflicts actually arise, in everyday interactions with others? And can Nonviolent communication also help people in their lives away from conflicts? These considerations have led to an overarching research question: Is Nonviolent Communication suitable for everyday life? For a better understanding, the first part of the paper will first highlight in detail the basic assumptions of Nonviolent communication, how it came about and how it works, as well as its special features. Four other communication models will be used to further illustrate Nonviolent communication; this part of the paper will be its main focus. Elements from the work of Carl Rogers, Virginia Satir and Friedemann Schulz von Thun, as well as from the model of Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP), will show the extent to which Rosenberg was influenced by other models in the development of Nonviolent communication. On the basis of these models, which were chosen because of their familiarity and recognized success, the suitability of Nonviolent communication for everyday use will also be discussed. Nonviolent communication will then be examined for dangers. This will be done on the one hand via the theory of cognitive dissonance, on the other hand the aspect of manipulation will be included.

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2018 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Other, grade: 2,3, Technical University of Braunschweig (Institut für Anglistik und Amerikanistik), language: English, abstract: What makes a woman a witch? What kinds of stereotypes do witches in movies share with women? What is the source of these stereotypes? How are good and bad witches portrayed in movies and how is “white” magic depicted? In order to investigate these questions, I am going to conduct an analysis of the witches'depiction in three different, contemporary movies. My hypothesis is that despite multiple attempts to reform the movie character of the witch, for example via the introduction of “white magic” or good-hearted witches who support the protagonists, their depiction still consists of mainly negative, female stereotypes, so that an unchanged negative representation of the female gender can be observed in the movies I am going to analyse. This paper is structured as follows. First, I am going to start with a historical contextualization of the topic. In order to investigate the origin of the idea of “witchcraft” there will be an analysis of the historical events that led to its creation. Hereby, I will investigate the sources of the stereotypical “witch”. Therefore, I will provide an overview of the persecution of a “heretical” movement, which correlates with the later witch-hunts. Then, I will investigate the mental frame that led to the witch persecutions and the influence of the Catholic Church on the common sense in order to understand the development of this phenomena. After that, I will have a closer look on the characteristics of “witches” as women in order to clarify the stereotypes concering gender. Furthermore, I will introduce and discuss specific aspects of film theory, which are essential for the following analysis of the movies. Subsequently, based on the film theoretical aspects, I am going to analyse the depiction of witches in the movies “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters”, “The Last Witch Hunter”, and “The Witch”. Finally, I will finish this paper by concluding the overall outcome and by answering the research questions and the question whether my hypothesis was confirmed, based on my findings.