Barriers to Employment, March 2001

During the last five years, Iowa has experienced a shortage of workers and will continue to feel the impact of a short labor supply. As the state prepares to reverse this trend of a declining population, attracting immigrants and refugees has great potential. In addition, released preliminary reports from the 2000 Census are reporting growth of the Latino population in several Iowa counties. This survey was conducted as a way to supplement the information collected about the Latino population by the State Public Policy Group in 1999, Snapshot in Time: A clear view of the importance, value and impacts of the Latino population in central Iowa. (Una Foto Actual de la Comunicad Latina: Un panoramaclaro de la importancia, del valor, y de los impactos de la población Latina en el área central de Iowa.) Although this survey was enlightening, it was broad in scope. It was the goal of the agency to collect more specific data regarding workforce needs and barriers that the Latino population encounter in the State of Iowa. Although it was the desire to broaden the scope of the previous survey, it should be noted that the survey samples were not identical. But it is recognized that because the Latino population within the state is small, some of the respondents could have participated in both surveys. We were also hoping to benefit from the extensive work conducted by SPPG within the community as a way to increase the response rate for this survey. This executive summary highlights some of the most significant findings from the survey of Latinos residing in Central Iowa. This analysis centers on the impact the Latino population can have in filling the labor shortages and how Iowa can best embrace the new Iowan. In addition, some of the key findings could offer insight into removing unnecessary barriers that prevent immigrants from utilizing valuable work skills as they integrate into the workforce. This information may be insightful to community leaders and employers who want to welcome new immigrants into their community. The following diagram collected from the 2000 Census illustrates the percentage of Latinos residing in the state.

O Processo de Raciocínio na Teoria dos Constrangimentos Aplicado numa Instituição de Ensino Superior

A Teoria dos Constrangimentos (TOC) ou das Restrições tem-se mostrado uma valiosa ferramenta de gestão, auxiliando na identificação dos constrangimentos que limitem a capacidade das empresas na prossecução da sua meta. Assim, para as restrições não físicas, a TOC desenvolveu o Processo de Raciocínio que é composto por ferramentas de análise lógica que dão subsídios para o diagnóstico de problemas bem como a formulação de soluções e planos de acção para implementá-las. Neste contexto, este trabalho se propõe a determinar a adequação do Processo de Raciocínio da Teoria dos Constrangimentos numa Instituição de Ensino Superior (IES) como forma de diagnosticar os problemas e propor soluções capazes de permitir a empresa uma melhoria contínua do seu desempenho. Serão avaliadas as ferramentas que compõem o Processo de Raciocínio, que são: Árvore de Realidade Actual, Diagrama de Dispersão de nuvens, Árvore de Realidade Futura, Árvore de Pré-Requisitos e Árvore de Transição. O trabalho inicia-se com uma pesquisa bibliográfica seguida de uma pesquisa de campo e finalizando com uma aplicação do PR numa IES localizada na ilha de São Vicente. A colecta de informações para a análise processou-se mediante a aplicação de um questionário fechado aos discentes e funcionários, questionário aberto aos docentes e entrevista estruturada aos dirigentes, elaborados em coerência com os objectivos que este estudo pretende atingir. Os resultados da aplicação do método aqui apresentado permitiram chegar as conclusões apontadas no capítulo final deste trabalho The Theory of Constraints (TOC) or Restriction Theory has proved to be a valuable management tool, assisting in the identification of constraints that restrict the ability of companies in the pursuit of its goals. Therefore, for the nonphysical constraints, TOC developed the Thinking Process (TP) that consists of logical analysis tools that provide a basis for diagnosing problems and formulating solutions and action plans to implement them. This study aims, thus, to determine the suitability of the use of the Thinking Process of the Theory of Constraints in a Higher Education Institution (HEI) as a way to diagnose problems and propose solutions that enable the firm to continually improve their performance. We will evaluate the tools that make up the TP, which are: Current Reality Tree, Evaporating Cloud Diagram, Future Reality Tree, Prerequisites Tree and Transition Tree. The work starts with a literature review, followed by a field search, and finishes with an application of the reasoning process in a higher education institution, located in São Vicente. The collection of the data for the analysis was processed through the application of a closed questionnaire to students and staff, opened questionnaire to teachers and interviews to management, drafted in line with the objectives that this study aims to reach. The results of the application of the method presented here, allowed us to reach the conclusions drawn in the final chapter of this work.

Genome-wide association analyses identify 18 new loci associated with serum urate concentrations.

Elevated serum urate concentrations can cause gout, a prevalent and painful inflammatory arthritis. By combining data from >140,000 individuals of European ancestry within the Global Urate Genetics Consortium (GUGC), we identified and replicated 28 genome-wide significant loci in association with serum urate concentrations (18 new regions in or near TRIM46, INHBB, SFMBT1, TMEM171, VEGFA, BAZ1B, PRKAG2, STC1, HNF4G, A1CF, ATXN2, UBE2Q2, IGF1R, NFAT5, MAF, HLF, ACVR1B-ACVRL1 and B3GNT4). Associations for many of the loci were of similar magnitude in individuals of non-European ancestry. We further characterized these loci for associations with gout, transcript expression and the fractional excretion of urate. Network analyses implicate the inhibins-activins signaling pathways and glucose metabolism in systemic urate control. New candidate genes for serum urate concentration highlight the importance of metabolic control of urate production and excretion, which may have implications for the treatment and prevention of gout.

Early disturbances of gamma band dynamics in mild cognitive impairment.

Recent studies have indicated that gamma band oscillations participate in the temporal binding needed for the synchronization of cortical networks involved in short-term memory and attentional processes. To date, no study has explored the temporal dynamics of gamma band in the early stages of dementia. At baseline, gamma band analysis was performed in 29 cases with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) during the n-back task. Based on phase diagrams, multiple linear regression models were built to explore the relationship between the cognitive status and gamma oscillation changes over time. Individual measures of phase diagram complexity were made using fractal dimension values. After 1 year, all cases were assessed neuropsychologically using the same battery. A total of 16 MCI patients showed progressive cognitive decline (PMCI) and 13 remained stable (SMCI). When adjusted for gamma values at lag -2, and -3 ms, PMCI cases displayed significantly lower average changes in gamma values than SMCI cases both in detection and 2-back tasks. Gamma fractal dimension of PMCI cases displayed significantly higher gamma fractal dimension values compared to SMCI cases. This variable explained 11.8% of the cognitive variability in this series. Our data indicate that the progression of cognitive decline in MCI is associated with early deficits in temporal binding that occur during the activation of selective attention processes.

Causal assessment in finite extensive-form games

Two finite extensive-form games are empirically equivalent when theempirical distribution on action profiles generated by every behaviorstrategy in one can also be generated by an appropriately chosen behaviorstrategy in the other. This paper provides a characterization ofempirical equivalence. The central idea is to relate a game's informationstructure to the conditional independencies in the empirical distributionsit generates. We present a new analytical device, the influence opportunitydiagram of a game, describe how such a diagram is constructed for a givenextensive-form game, and demonstrate that it provides a complete summaryof the information needed to test empirical equivalence between two games.

Natural classification of knots

The principal objective of the knot theory is to provide a simple way of classifying and ordering all the knot types. Here, we propose a natural classification of knots based on their intrinsic position in the knot space that is defined by the set of knots to which a given knot can be converted by individual intersegmental passages. In addition, we characterize various knots using a set of simple quantum numbers that can be determined upon inspection of minimal crossing diagram of a knot. These numbers include: crossing number; average three-dimensional writhe; number of topological domains; and the average relaxation value

Cartographier les géomorphosites : objectifs, publics et propositions méthodologiques

Related to the raise of the awareness of the importance of the Earth heritage, geomorphosites receive increasing attention from the scientific community. Assessment methods, classification and conservation strategies have been developed to safeguard the geomorphological heritage for present and future generations. On the other hand, Earth heritage offers opportunities to develop educational and recreational programs as well as tourism projects. Various interpretive supports and local development projects have been engendered in the past few years to promote geoheritage.¦Be it for the assessment, conservation or promotion of geomorphosites, maps are valuable from many standpoints. They can provide fundamental data for detailed geomorphosite description, serve as visual communication tools helping to guide the selection process in defining protection priority or supporting Earth heritage promotion and interpretàtion.¦This study reviews the main achievements and the objectives yet to be accomplished in the field of geomorphosite mapping and proposes a general framework for the mapping of geomorphosites that takes into account the different aims and publics. The main focus is on mapping geomorphosites for non-specialists in the field of Earth heritage promotion (Geotourism). In this context, maps are often employed to show itineraries or points of interest. Like a scheme or a diagram, a map can also be used as a method for visualising geoscientific information. This function is particularly important since some processes, which contributed to the formation of a geomorphosite or a geomorphological landscape are no longer or not always clearly visible in the landscape. In this case, maps become interpretive media that serve popularisation purposes.¦Mapping for non-specialists holds the challenging task to ensure the information transfer between the cartographer and the user. We therefore focus on both the implementation of the map by the cartographer (which information? which visualisation?) and the interpretation of the map by the user (effectiveness of the knowledge transfer). The research is based on empirical studies carried out in the Maderan valley (Canton of Uri) and in classes of the Cantons of Uri and Tessin that aim to gain knowledge about the familiarity and interests of non- specialists for geoheritage as well as about their map reading skills. The final objective is to formulate methodological proposals for geomorphosite mapping for interpretive purpose.

UBVRI-CCD photometry of Cepheus OB3 association

Johnson CCD photometry was performed in the two subgroups of the association Cepheus OB3, for selected fields each containing at least one star with previous UBV photoelectric photometry. Photometry for about 1000 stars down to visual magnitude 21 is provided, although the completeness tests show that the sample is complete down to V=19mag. Individual errors were assigned to the magnitude and colours for each star. Colour-colour and colour-magnitude diagrams are shown. Astrometric positions of the stars are also given. Description of the reduction procedure is fully detailed.

An analysis of the currently available calibrations inStromgren photometry by using open clusters

In recent years, several authors have revised the calibrations used to compute physical parameters (tex2html_wrap_inline498, tex2html_wrap_inline500, log g, [Fe/H]) from intrinsic colours in the tex2html_wrap_inline504 photometric system. For reddened stars, these intrinsic colours can be computed through the standard relations among colour indices for each of the regions defined by Strömgren (1966) on the HR diagram. We present a discussion of the coherence of these calibrations for main-sequence stars. Stars from open clusters are used to carry out this analysis. Assuming that individual reddening values and distances should be similar for all the members of a given open cluster, systematic differences among the calibrations used in each of the photometric regions might arise when comparing mean reddening values and distances for the members of each region. To classify the stars into Strömgren's regions we extended the algorithm presented by Figueras et al. (1991) to a wider range of spectral types and luminosity classes. The observational ZAMS are compared with the theoretical ZAMS from stellar evolutionary models, in the range tex2html_wrap_inline506 K. The discrepancies are also discussed.

Influence of the (111) twinning on the formation of diamond cubic/diamond hexagonal heterostructures in Cu-catalyzed Si nanowires

The occurrence of heterostructures of cubic silicon/hexagonal silicon as disks defined along the nanowire (111) growth direction is reviewed in detail for Si nanowires obtained using Cu as catalyst. Detailed measurements on the structural properties of both semiconductor phases and their interface are presented. We observe that during growth, lamellar twinning on the cubic phase along the (111) direction is generated. Consecutive presence of twins along the (111) growth direction was found to be correlated with the origin of the local formation of the hexagonal Si segments along the nanowires, which define quantum wells of hexagonal Si diamond. Finally, we evaluate and comment on the consequences of the twins and wurtzite in the final electronic properties of the wires with the help of the predicted energy band diagram.

On the coincidence between the Shimomura's bargaining sets and the core

[cat] En l'article es dona una condició necessària per a que els conjunts de negociació definits per Shimomura (1997) i el nucli d'un joc cooperatiu amb utilitat transferible coincideixin. A tal efecte, s'introdueix el concepte de vectors de màxim pagament. La condició necessària consiteix a verificar que aquests vectors pertanyen al nucli del joc.

Diffusionless first-order phase transitions in systems with frozen configurational degrees of freedom

We consider systems that can be described in terms of two kinds of degree of freedom. The corresponding ordering modes may, under certain conditions, be coupled to each other. We may thus assume that the primary ordering mode gives rise to a diffusionless first-order phase transition. The change of its thermodynamic properties as a function of the secondary-ordering-mode state is then analyzed. Two specific examples are discussed. First, we study a three-state Potts model in a binary system. Using mean-field techniques, we obtain the phase diagram and different properties of the system as a function of the distribution of atoms on the different lattice sites. In the second case, the properties of a displacive structural phase transition of martensitic type in a binary alloy are studied as a function of atomic order. Because of the directional character of the martensitic-transition mechanism, we find only a very weak dependence of the entropy on atomic order. Experimental results are found to be in quite good agreement with theoretical predictions.

On the stability of the bcc phase in Cu-Al-Mn shape memory alloys

Measurements of the entropy change at the martensitic transition of two composition-related sets of Cu-Al-Mn shape-memory alloys are reported. It is found that most of the entropy change has a vibrational origin, and depends only on the particular close-packed structure of the low-temperature phase. Using data from the literature for other Cu-based alloys, this result is shown to be general. In addition, it is shown that the martensitic structure changes from 18R to 2H when the ratio of conduction electrons per atom reaches the same value as the eutectoid point in the equilibrium phase diagram. This finding indicates that the structure of the metastable low-temperature phase is reminiscent of the equilibrium structure.

Continuum Double Exchange Model

We present a continuum model for doped manganites which consist of two species of quantum spin-1 / 2 fermions interacting with classical spin fields. The phase structure at zero temperature turns out to be considerably rich: antiferromagnetic insulator, antiferromagnetic two band conducting, canted two band conducting, canted one band conducting, and ferromagnetic one band conducting phases are identified, all of them being stable against phase separation. There are also regions in the phase diagram where phase separation occurs

Magnetic phase separation in ordered alloys

We present a lattice model to study the equilibrium phase diagram of ordered alloys with one magnetic component that exhibits a low temperature phase separation between paramagnetic and ferromagnetic phases. The model is constructed from the experimental facts observed in Cu3-xAlMnx and it includes coupling between configurational and magnetic degrees of freedom that are appropriate for reproducing the low temperature miscibility gap. The essential ingredient for the occurrence of such a coexistence region is the development of ferromagnetic order induced by the long-range atomic order of the magnetic component. A comparative study of both mean-field and Monte Carlo solutions is presented. Moreover, the model may enable the study of the structure of ferromagnetic domains embedded in the nonmagnetic matrix. This is relevant in relation to phenomena such as magnetoresistance and paramagnetism