Higher State Levels Research Articles

ПІДГОТОВКА ЛЬОТНОГО СКЛАДУ НА СУЧАСНІ ПОВІТРЯНІ СУДНА

Розглянуто проблему підготовки пілотів цивільної авіації Уккраїни, яка на сьогодні невідповідає вимогам ICAO та ЄС. Визначено основні складові підготовки льотного складу насучасні повітряні судна.Ключові слова: аеронавігаційне обслуговування, керована множина, керовані об’єкти,радіолокаційне та радіонавігаційне забезпечення польотів, системи керування повітрянимрухом.

Observation of new levels and proposed octupole correlations in neutron-rich150Ce

Background: The very neutron-rich ${}^{150}$Ce is located at the edge of the $Z=56$, $N=88$ octupole deformed island. Studying its high spin states and octupole correlations is important for systematically understanding the nuclear structural characteristics in this region. Purpose: To investigate the high spin state levels and to search for octopole correlations in ${}^{150}$Ce. Methods: The high spin states of ${}^{150}$Ce are studied by measuring the prompt $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays in the spontaneous fission of ${}^{252}$Cf. The data analysis uses the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-$\ensuremath{\gamma}$-$\ensuremath{\gamma}$ coincidence methods. The $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\gamma}(\ensuremath{\theta})$ angular correlation measurements are used to determine the spin and indirectly determine the parity of particular levels. Results: A new level scheme of ${}^{150}$Ce is established. A total of 47 new transitions and 25 new levels are identified, compared with previous results. Six collective bands have been observed, and five of them are newly established. An octupole band structure with $s=+1$ in ${}^{150}$Ce has been proposed. Systematic analysis of the $B(E1)/B(E2)$ branching ratios, the levels of the octupole bands, the energy differences between negative- and positive-parity bands, and the moments of inertia of the bands is carried out for ${}^{144,146,148,150}$Ce. This analysis gives evidence for our assignment of octupole correlations in ${}^{150}$Ce. The other characteristics of the octupole bands are discussed. Conclusions: An octupole band structure is proposed in ${}^{150}$Ce. The octupole correlations in ${}^{150}$Ce are weaker and show more instability than the neighboring lighter Ce isotopes.

The cartelization of local governments

Intergovernmental competition can enhance efficiency. Centralization of government expenditures inhibits intergovernmental competition because it makes governments more homogeneous, and so cartelizes local governments. Cartelization reduces Tiebout competition, and limits benchmark competition in which one government’s performance can be compared with neighboring governments. Measuring fiscal centralization as the ratio of local to state and local government expenditures within the state, the evidence shows that more fiscal decentralization is associated with higher levels of state per capita income. Cartelization of local governments negatively impacts income.

Assessing maternal anxiety in pregnancy with the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI): issues of validity, location and participation

The State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) has been widely used in research with pregnant women. However, few studies have examined its validity for this group. In this paper the content validity of the STAI, the impact of location and consequences for further participation of higher STAI scores are investigated for 215 pregnant women who completed the STAI at hospital or community based clinics. The study participants answered the open ended question, ‘How do you feel about your pregnancy?’ and whether or not they would be willing to take part in further research. Results indicated that STAI state scores reflected the nature of women's spontaneous comments regarding their pregnancy, with lower anxiety related to more ‘positive’ comments. The state scores were also found to be sensitive to the risk level associated with the clinic where the inventory was completed; higher scores related to high‐risk localities. Women with the highest levels of state or trait anxiety were also less likely to wish to take part in further research. The study concludes that the STAI does reflect the anxiety‐related experiences of pregnant women and that its use with pregnant women is appropriate in this respect; however, we recommend that future research notes the issue of potential recruitment biases.

The impact of anxiety on conversion from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease

To compare state and trait anxiety in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients and matched control subjects, and to assess the impact of these variables in predicting conversion to Alzheimer's disease. One hundred and forty-eight patients with MCI, broadly defined, were assessed and followed systematically. Baseline predictors for follow-up conversion to AD (entire sample: 39/148 converted to Alzheimer's disease (AD)) included the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). At baseline evaluation, MCI patients had higher levels of state and trait anxiety than controls, with no differences between future AD converters (n = 39) and non-converters. In age-stratified Cox proportional hazards model analyses, STAI State was not a significant predictor of conversion to AD (STAI State < or =30 vs. > 30 risk ratio, 1.68; 95% CI, 0.75, 3.77; p = 0.21), but higher Trait scores indicated a lower risk of conversion when STAI State, education, the Folstein Mini-Mental State Examination and HAM-D (depression score) were also included in the model (STAI Trait < or =30 vs. > 30 risk ratio, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.16, 0.82; p = 0.015). In contrast to two other recent studies that showed anxiety predicted cognitive decline or conversion to AD, in this clinic-based sample, state anxiety was not a significant predictor. However, higher Trait anxiety predicted a lower risk of future conversion to AD. Further research with systematic long-term follow-up in larger samples is needed to clarify the role of state and trait anxiety in predicting MCI conversion to AD.

Calculation of Pulse Parameters and Propagation of Uncertainty

The fundamental starting point for the analysis of all two-state waveforms is the determination of the low- and high-state levels. This is a two-step process. First, the data are grouped into points belonging to each state, and second, the value of each state is determined from the group mean, the mode, the median, or some other statistic. Once the state levels are determined, pulse parameters such as transition duration, amplitude, overshoot, and undershoot can be calculated. The IEEE 181-2003 Standard on Transitions, Pulses, and Related Waveforms recommends methods for grouping the data, determining the state levels, and determining pulse parameters, but gives no guidance for propagation of uncertainty, particularly in the presence of systematic and/or correlated sources of error. Correlations are important because certain pulse parameters, such as transition duration and pulse duration, are invariant with respect to, e.g., multiplicative error, which is correlated highly. We propose a new procedure for determining the pulse states that involves clustering the data and then using a robust location estimator to determine the state level. This technique allows the propagation of uncertainty from the covariance of a sampled waveform representation all the way to the calculation of pulse parameters. We use Monte Carlo simulations to verify the proposed procedure for some canonical pulse waveforms.

Regional Governance and Rural Development in Germany: the Implementation of LEADER+

This article deals with the currently widely discussed concept of regional governance and investigates the roles this concept actually plays within rural development policy and its implementation in Germany. The main question is whether or not ‘regional governance’ is just a fashionable scientific term. Can we really observe impacts of the regional governance discussion on policies for sustainable regional development in rural areas in Germany? To answer this question the programmatic statements of the EU community initiative LEADER+ are analysed against the background of the most important regional governance criteria. Subsequently, a deeper look into the implementation of LEADER+ in six German regions shows that regional governance still needs some forms of hierarchical co‐ordination by higher levels of state. Some major problems for the implementation of regional governance in LEADER+ as well as some important positive impacts of the programme are identified. These show that, despite all potential problems, the concept of regional governance has the potential to make a significant contribution to the successful development of rural areas.

Governance in urban environmental management: Comparing accountability and performance in multi-stakeholder arrangements in South India

Current debates on urban governance suggest that multi-stakeholder arrangements between providers and users of environmental services – especially those in which there are direct links between providers and users in decision-making – lead to more accountability and better performance in service provision. The article analyses the situation in two municipalities around Chennai, India, with regard to a major type of environmental service under construction. It compares a successful and non-successful case of underground sewerage system investment, analysing the factors in multi-stakeholder arrangements that led to different results. The study is based on strategic interviews with governmental and civil society organisations involved, and on-site observations on the level of service. The study looks at inclusion of citizens and other stakeholders, decision-making patterns and accountability, and assesses outcomes in terms of equitable distribution of services. It concludes that multi-stakeholder arrangements are limited to middle-class neighbourhoods, where a high level of RWA organisation promotes accountability. Trusted political leadership is a pre-requisite for success, and political interference from opposing parties at the higher state level, are important factors explaining the differences in the outcomes found.

Conflict About Expressing Emotions and Chronic Low Back Pain: Associations With Pain and Anger

There has been growing interest among researchers and clinicians in the role of ambivalence over emotional expression (AEE) in adjustment to chronic illness. Because of the salience of anger in chronic low back pain, this condition provides a particularly good model in which to examine the role of AEE. This study examined the relation of AEE to pain and anger in a sample of 61 patients with chronic low back pain. Patients completed standardized measures of AEE, pain, and anger. Correlational analyses showed that patients who had higher AEE scores reported higher levels of evaluative and affective pain as well as higher levels of state and trait anger and the tendency to hold in angry thoughts and feelings. Mediational analyses revealed that most of the associations between AEE and pain, and AEE and anger, were independent of one another. These findings suggest that a potentially important relationship exists between AEE and key aspects of living with persistent pain. This preliminary study suggests that there is a relation between ambivalence over emotional expression and pain and anger in patients with chronic low back pain. Patients who report greater conflict with regard to expressing emotions may be experiencing higher pain and anger.

After going through chemotherapy I can’t see another needle

Needle anxiety not only impacts on a patient's quality of life but can delay or prevent future medical care. Our survey of women with breast cancer indicated that 78/208 women (37.5%) reported feeling anxious about injections. Patients who reported needle anxiety were significantly younger (t(206)=3.72; P<0.01), with a lower body mass index (BMI) (t(182)=2.16; P<0.05), experience of chemotherapy (chi(2)(1)=8.29; P<0.01), a lower internal health locus of control (t(187)=2.28; P<0.05) and higher levels of state (t(197)=-3.58; P<0.01) and trait anxiety (t(197)=-2.30; P<0.05). Patients repeatedly highlighted the experience of chemotherapy as having caused their needle anxiety. Patient discourse suggests that chemotherapy related needle anxiety is a result of physical (e.g. finding a suitable vein) and environmental (e.g. the chemotherapy room) factors. Patients with cancer require psychosocial support during all stages of care, this should include the application of techniques to prevent or ameliorate the development of anxiety caused by certain aspects of cancer treatments, such as the development of chemotherapy-related needle anxiety.

“Conjuring up spirits of the past”: identifications in public ritual of living persons with persons of the past

Approximisation refers to milieu/space and synchronisation to time. Such approximation/synchronisation requires a special mode of expression, which makes the replacement of room and the reversal of time plausible to the spectator. This mode of expression is myth/ritual or theatre, or both. Here we face both. We face the imitation of an original symbolic act, the handing over of sovereignty, but on a theatre-like stage, the "Court" around the present President of Lanka in 1995. Here the sober borders between theatre and ritual become blurred. The author gives an example of a recent approximisation/ synchronisation by representatives of the PA Government of Lanka in the 1990s. The event is the conquering of Yalppanam (Jaffna) by the Lankan armed forces in November/December 1995. This event is approximated to, and synchronised with, the event of conquering of Yalppanam by the war hero Sapumal Kumaraya in the 15th century. On the modern political stage, the role of King was taken up by the President Chandra Kumaranatunga-Bandaranayka, and the role of Sapumal Kumaraya by her General Anuruddha Ratwatte. The role of the conquered King Kanakacuriyan is by implication ascribed to the present leader of the Ilavar, to Veluppillai Pirapakaran, who also leads his military organisation known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamililam (LTTE). The Ilavar are those who go for independence or autonomy of Tamililam. Lankans are those who go for a unitary or united state of Lanka. The aim of the ritual public performance on the highest state level is to eliminate an experience of contingency surrounding war in a Buddhist country, killing to conquer an area, and establish a unitary state in a country that is already mentally fragmented.

Myanmar experiences in sanitation and hygiene promotion: lessons learned and future directions

Recent activities in connection with the National Sanitation Week (NSW) and Social Mobilisation for Sanitation and Hygiene have contributed to a significant increase in access to sanitary means of excreta disposal, from 45% in 1997 to 67% in 2001. Handwashing with soap and water after defecation has also increased from 18% in 1996 to 43% in 2001. Success is attributable to high level political commitment, state or division level action and community mobilisation by village level authorities. Multi-level efforts such as mass media, planning workshops, training sessions and house-to-house visits by village authorities and health officials have raised greater awareness of sanitation and hygiene issues and led to construction of latrines on a self-help basis. The challenge ahead is to give greater attention to the 'hard to reach' who live in less accessible areas and are more resistant to change. The 2002 NSW has accordingly given special emphasis to activities in 73 of 324 townships where 50% or more of the households have no access to a sanitary latrine. The communication and social mobilisation package has been improved to upgrading unsanitary latrines and integrating handwashing more systematically with promotion of sanitary latrines. Programmatic follow-up to the NSW is being provided in selected townships through more intensive social mobilisation for 'hard to reach' households and activity-based school sanitation and hygiene education. This approach will contribute further towards improved hygienic practices and reduce diarrhoeal morbidity and mortality.

Laxative withdrawal and anxiety in bulimia nervosa

Symptoms of anxiety can be prominent during treatment of bulimia nervosa. Our experience is that bulimics who abuse laxatives have the most prominent symptoms of anxiety. We conducted ratings of anxiety in 23 bulimics who purge with laxatives and 17 who purge by vomiting. We found that the laxative-abusing group had higher levels of state but not trait anxiety and that they were more likely to be treated with medication for anxiety during hospitalization. These data suggest an association between laxatives and anxiety in bulimia nervosa.

Popularisation Policies in Chinese Education from the 1950s to the 1970s

Although there have been certain fluctuations in the degree of centralisation of policy-making and administration in education during the past three decades in China, these all occur within the overall context of Communist Party control at the highest state level. Rather than examining the niceties of variation in this pattern, I wish here to describe some of the measures taken to popularise education in China, since this is closely related to the question of democracy. The ideals of Western-style democracy were unknown in traditional China, and only during the Western-inspired democratic movement at the beginning of this century, known as the May Fourth Movement, did such ideals gain favour among Chinese intellectuals, especially the students and teachers of the universities. At the same time many of these new intellectuals advocated a drive to 'take education to the masses', particularly to teach the peasants to read and write. Political realities, however, thwarted such developments during the ensuing decades, except in the rural areas where the Communists were able to exert their control and carry out a programme of basic education for the peasants. After the Communists gained control of the whole country, they embarked on a programme of popular education, extending the programmes of bringing literacy and basic education to the rural areas and to the working people. These educational developments operated within the political framework of People's Democracy which the Communist Party formulated as its policy of government after 1949. I will briefly examine this policy before going on to describe the Government's later educational aims and policies and particularly the programmes to popularise basic education. I will touch on the popularisation of higher education during the revolution in education in the 1970s. By popularisation I refer not to the expansion of higher education in terms of establishments or student numbers, but to the policies which gave priority to students of working-class background and adapted courses to their experience and needs. Higher education, especially universities, remained highly selective, but the criteria of selection of students and the process of allocating jobs on graduation were designed to narrow the gap between social strata, between town and countryside and between formal and non-formal education. It remains to be seen whether these two streams of education, formal and non-formal, basic and higher level education can be combined to serve popular needs.

Visiting in the Intensive Care Nursery

Analyses made of the pattern and frequency of visits to the intensive care nursery by mothers of 78 very low birth weight (< 1,500 grams) infants found initial visiting rates to be low, averaging less than 1 visit per week. Visits increased during the early part of the infant's hospitalization. However, visits of mothers whose infants received an early stimulation program continued to increase until the infant was discharged. Visiting was found to be uncorrelated with medical, socioeconomic, or demographic variables, but was apparently related to the significantly higher state levels exhibited by stimulated infants.

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE EFFECTIVENESS BY STATES

ABSTRACT Interstate differences in welfare program effectiveness are a function of policy and attiude variables, fiscal effort, and state and local willingness to assume welfare burdens. Not all states receive a “fair share'’of their expenditures from federal sources. Some states earn greater federal participation than they receive. One way to improve the existing system is for the federal government to reward higher levels of state and local governmental effort with higher rates of federal participation.