5-by-5 Palindromic Word Squares

A 5-by-5 palindromic word square is one in which the first word is a reversal of the fifth word, the second is a reversal of the fourth, and the third is a palindrome. The most famous of these squares, the Latin one given at the right, can be translated Arepo the begetter (or sower) holds the wheels with care . It has been found on ancient walls and on amulets for safe childbirth; there is an extensive literature discussing its religious or mystical significance (see, for example, pp. 207-210 of Dmitri Borgmann\u27s Language on Vacation (Scribner\u27s, 1965))

6-by-6 Double Word Squares

The November 1975 issue of Word Ways presented a set of 52 7-by-7 word squares that were generated by computer from a list of boldface words from Webster\u27s Collegiate Dictionary (Seventh Edition) plus the appendices of boys\u27 and girls\u27 names. This article reports on the results of a similar computer search for 6-by-6 double word squares

Radical political unionism reassessed

Defections from European social-democratic parties and a resurgence of union militancy have prompted some to diagnose a new left-wing trade unionism across Europe. This comment on the article by Connolly and Darlington scrutinizes trends in France and Germany but primarily analyses recent developments in Britain. While there are some instances of disaffiliation from the Labour Party, support for electoral alternatives, growth in political militancy and emphasis on new forms of internationalism, these have been limited. There is insufficient evidence to suggest that we are witnessing the making of a new radical collectivism

7x7 Computer-Generated Word Squares

A computer search for seven-letter word squares that can be made from words in Webster\u27s Collegiate Dictionary, 7th edition, turned up only 52 examples. Specifically, these were constructed from a corpus of 9663 seven-letter words: single words listed in boldface type in the main body of the dictionary (including proper names), and names from the appendices of boys\u27 and girls\u27 first names. had this corpus been expanded to include inferred words not given in boldface, such as plurals of nouns, -ING and -ED forms of verbs, and -ER and -EST forms of adjectives, many more squares would have been found, including at least four of the eight 7x7 word squares presented by Dmitri Borgmann at the start of Chapter 7 in Language on Vacation (Scribner\u27s, 1965)

Even faster sorting of (not only) integers

In this paper we introduce RADULS2, the fastest parallel sorter based on radix algorithm. It is optimized to process huge amounts of data making use of modern multicore CPUs. The main novelties include: extremely optimized algorithm for handling tiny arrays (up to about a hundred of records) that could appear even billions times as subproblems to handle and improved processing of larger subarrays with better use of non-temporal memory stores

Secondary Level Achievement Non-Intellective Factors Implicated in the Process and Product of Performance

The study was developed in the context of Personality and Social Cognitive Theory with constructs that encapsulate non-intellective processes of academic achievement. The goal was to explore the role of the Five Factor Model (FFM) of personality in academic performance and to use this model as a reference point to test the incremental validity of two measures of Self-efficacy (Academic and Emotional) and an indicator of Absenteeism. Participants (N = 120) were comprised of 17-year-old male (n = 47) and female (n = 73) opportunistically sampled secondary level college students. A cross-sectional design was used to examine the relationship between the independent variables (FFM, Academic Self-efficacy, Emotional Self-efficacy, and Absenteeism) and the outcome variable, Grade Points Average (GPA). Correlation analysis found that four FFM factors and the two Self-efficacy measures were associated with GPA. In a hierarchical regression analysis, the FFM explained 22% variance on performance and the two Self-efficacy measures added 9% incremental variance followed by 3% for Absenteeism. Overall, the non-intellective constructs explain a substantial 34% variance on achievement and provide focal points for theoretical, empirical, and pedagogical evaluation. Moreover, they are suggestive of the pathways and processes that support learning, augment ability, and enhance achievement

Distal and proximal associates of academic performance at secondary level: A mediation model of personality and self-efficacy

The predictive map for personality-related measures has evolved into distal, proximal and immediate associates of academic performance. This study used distal (Five Factor Model) and proximal (Academic Self-efficacy, ASE) associates with GPA (a specific facet of academic performance) at two time points with secondary level students at sixth form college (N = 106, average age 17 and evenly balanced by gender). Openness, Conscientiousness and ASE were associated with GPA at weak to moderate levels. In a path analysis with ASE as the mediator, the three constructs explained 17% variance on academic performance at time 1 and 42% at time 2 when a direct effect from GPA1 to GPA2 was introduced, with Openness and ASE remaining statistically significant when controlling for GPA1, and all three constructs provided significant indirect effects. Findings demonstrate the salient value of Openness and Conscientiousness, when configured with ASE as the mediator. Findings are applied to the approaches that facilitate learning pathways and support ability processes in achievement

Strong correlation effects of the Re 5dd electrons on the metal-insulator transition in Ca2_2FeReO6_6

We have investigated the electronic structure of polycrystalline Ca$_2$FeReO$_6$ using photoemission spectroscopy and band-structure calculations within the local-density approximation+$U$ (LDA+$U$) scheme. In valence-band photoemission spectra, a double-peak structure which is characteristic of the metallic double perovskite series has been observed near the Fermi level ($E_{\rm F}$), although it is less distinct compared to the Sr$_2$FeMoO$_6$ case. The leading near-$E_{\rm F}$ structure has a very weak spectral weight at $E_{\rm F}$ above the metal-insulator transition (MIT) temperature $T_{\rm MI}$ of $\sim$140 K, and it loses the $E_{\rm F}$ weight below $T_{\rm MI}$, forming a small energy gap. To reproduce this small energy gap in the calculation, we require a very large effective $U$ ($U_{\rm eff}$) for Re (4 eV) in addition to a relatively large $U_{\rm eff}$ for Fe (4 eV). Although the most of the experimental features can be interpreted with the help of the band theory, the overall agreement between the theory and the experiment was not satisfactory. We demonstrate that the effective transfer integral between Fe and Re is actually smaller than that between Fe and Mo in Ca$_2$FeMoO$_6$, which can explain both MIT and very high ferrimagnetic transition temperature.Comment: 7 pages text, 5 figures, to be pulished in Phys. Rev.

Interventions to Promote More Effective Balance-Recovery Reactions in Industrial Settings: New Perspectives on Footwear and Handrails

“Change-in-support” balance-recovery reactions that involve rapid stepping or reaching movements play a critical role in preventing falls. Recent geriatrics studies have led to new interventions to improve ability to execute these reactions effectively. Some of these interventions have the potential to reduce fall risk for younger persons working in industrial settings. In this paper, we review research pertaining to two such interventions: 1) balance-enhancing footwear insoles designed to improve stepping reactions, and 2) proximity-triggered handrail cueing systems designed to improve reach-to-grasp reactions. The insole has a raised ridge around the perimeter that is intended to improve balance control by providing increased stimulation of sensory receptors on the footsole in situations where loss of balance may be imminent. The cueing system uses flashing lights and/or verbal prompts to attract attention to the handrail and ensure that the brain registers its location, thereby facilitating more rapid and accurate grasping of the rail if and when sudden loss of balance occurs. Results to date support the efficacy of both interventions in geriatric populations. There is also some evidence that these interventions may improve balance control in younger persons; however, further research is needed to confirm their efficacy in preventing falls in industrial settings