On shuffle products, acyclic automata and piecewise-testable languages

We show that the shuffle L \unicode{x29E2} F of a piecewise-testable language $L$ and a finite language $F$ is piecewise-testable. The proof relies on a classic but little-used automata-theoretic characterization of piecewise-testable languages. We also discuss some mild generalizations of the main result, and provide bounds on the piecewise complexity of L \unicode{x29E2} F

Measuring the Quality of Developmental Services for Young Children: A New Approach

Outlines performance measures for Medicaid and other agencies' assessment of developmental services, including screening and referring children with or at risk for developmental disabilities; interventions; and guidance for parents. Explores barriers

Democracy must evolve with the times if it is to retain the trust of the UK public

The Speaker’s Commission on Digital Democracy recently produced a report which advocated a number of reforms to the democratic process, including the introduction of online voting. One of the commission’s members, Robert Halfon MP, argues that the report is an important milestone in our democracy, and argues for the introduction of the policies the commission recommended

Quality of Preventive Health Care for Young Children: Strategies for Improvement

Looks at early childhood developmental services, including assessment, education, intervention, and coordination of care. Recommendations include national standards for preventive care, and improvements in health provider training

Reflexions des de l'Escola

Peer Reviewe

Building a truer self with Alex: a dialogue between authors about clinical case material

One of the challenges of psychoanalytic therapy with young children is finding more adaptive channels for the symbolic expression of bodily and feeling states expressed in motoric, sensory or visceral forms. The following case study, written in the format of a dialogue between the first and second authors as the article was being prepared, depicts processes of psychic transformation in twice weekly psychoanalytically-oriented psychotherapy with a 5 year old boy as he tried to linguistically integrate and represent his negative feelings and anxieties. Initially his emotions were aroused in pre-symbolic form dominated by sensory and somatic experiences that were disconnected from objects, events and words. The authors each reflect on Alex’s therapy experience as well as the specific kinds of therapeutic interventions that provided the opportunity for containing and transforming Alex’s emotional life. They conclude that as Alex’s threatening emotions were linked to objects and events in the play, a substantial emotional growth took place towards a shift to a greater capacity to comfortably maintain a “Truer Self”