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We present a novel approach that employs nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) to address flock control while incorporating obstacle avoidance within a leader-follower framework. This strategy utilises each agent's predictive capabilities to navigate effectively. Building upon Reynolds' foundational flocking principles of cohesion, separation, and alignment, we adapt them to serve a navigation objective rather than focusing solely on formation tasks. In doing so, we introduce novel concepts that enhance our approach's robustness and flexibility. These concepts include the assessment of information credibility and significance received from neighbouring agents, along with the dynamic adjustment of trade-offs between reference values. We incorporate these features into our NMPC formulation and illustrate their advantages through numerical simulations and laboratory experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the story of three professors who found collective success in certain old-time approaches to teaching. Using three different first-person perspectives from Professors Burg, Piedmont, and Kamke, we examine some of the key components of such teaching orientation that may be helpful for professors navigating increased enrollments, while trying to engage students to learn not only the subject matter, but also, perhaps more importantly, about themselves as human beings. The relevance of this classic approach is reflected in the fact that all of us, typically unawares, continue to apply, and expand on, the way of education to which we were introduced a long time ago. In essence, that old-time teaching showed us how to be, in the words of Angyal, simultaneously autonomous (i.e., being oneself, standing alone) and homonomous (belonging/surrendering to something greater than oneself). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raman and infrared conductivity spectra are investigated to reveal two-dimensional patterns of stripe charge-ordering in θ-(BEDT-TTF) 2 RbZn(SCN) 4 and α′-(BEDT-TTF) 2 IBr 2 . Either compounds exhibit similar multiple peak pattern around the C=C stretching region in both Raman and infrared spectra owing to the electron-molecular vibration coupling and charge disproportionation. We discuss the spatial symmetry of the charge-ordering stripes from the group theoretical arguments on the selection rule of these peaks. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Raman and infrared conductivity spectra are investigated to reveal two-dimensional patterns of stripe charge-ordering in θ-(BEDT-TTF) 2 RbZn(SCN) 4 and α′-(BEDT-TTF) 2 IBr 2 . Either compounds exhibit similar multiple peak pattern around the C=C stretching region in both Raman and infrared spectra owing to the electron-molecular vibration coupling and charge disproportionation. We discuss the spatial symmetry of the charge-ordering stripes from the group theoretical arguments on the selection rule of these peaks. charge ordering α-modification θ-modification BEDT-TTF Raman vibrational spectroscopy [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the importance of mentoring in the professional and personal growth of teachers. Value in improving the quality of the teaching profession; Definitions of mentoring; Paradox of mentorship.

We studied the metaphorical images held by educated, young to middle-aged respondents in the U.S., Canada, and China for the concepts of "life," "being a child," "school," "being a teacher," and "the universe." Both structured format and open format responses were found to show a reasonable level of stability over a period of 1 to 2 1/2 months. Whereas the open format predictably revealed more diverse responses than the structured format, two or three central images were readily discernible in both cases for each of the principal concepts under consideration. The specific themes appeared to be open to variations as a result of the respondent's sociocultural, cohort, and individualistic life contexts. The findings suggest that further inquiries may be able to identify prevailing metaphors and unravel their hidden yet powerful influence on human reasoning, feeling, and action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a study on the social distance of differing ethno-racial groups. Methodology used in the study; Contrast of anchor descriptions; Social distance means and ranks; Limitations of the study.

To establish a better linkage between the results of earlier studies on upper elementary through junior high students' ratings of the stressfulness of experiences and those of primary children, responses were obtained to the same life events from 270 first graders, 108 third graders and 170 sixth graders. Across 20 life events, the ranks based upon the respective scale values (medians) of stressfulness ratings correlated .94 (1st–3rd), .81 (1st–6th), and .89 (3rd–6th). The scale values themselves correlated .95 between the first and third graders, while those of the sixth graders correlated above .97 with two other groups (4th through 6th) of previously studied American children. When the mean ratings were converted to the same standardized scale for comparison, they correlated .90 (1st–3rd), .89 (1st–6th), and .93 (3rd–6th). Meanwhile, the reported incidences of experience correlated .91 (1st–3rd), .79 (1st–6th), and .89 (3rd–6th). Thus, the overall similarity was clear in children's views regardless of their general developmental status. Nevertheless, some interesting variations were noted from grade to grade to suggest contrasting perceptions of certain individual experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

An earlier study of American children's ratings of 20 upsetting life events was replicated in Tokyo with 248 fourth, fifth, and sixth graders. The Japanese children were also found to make distinguishing judgments of the perceived stressfulness, which bore little general relationship with their sex, grade, or experience. There were striking similarities in Japanese and American children's ratings (r, .91 for the scale values, .80 for Q values), even though the incidences of individual events were quite divergent. In terms of the total number, as well as of the cumulative stress value, of the events experienced by individual children, cultural differences were not statistically significant. Regardless of culture, grade variations indicated that the older children experienced more events and more stress. Significant sex differences were detected only in Japan, which suggest that the boys were under more pressure than the girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a discussion related to creativity and sociometric choice among adolescents. Psychologists have conducted many studies to find the factors involved in the formation and dynamics of the peer group and in the determination of status within it. Intelligence, social status, interest, and numerous other variables have been investigated as the possible determinants of clique formation, but, until recently, a variable called creativity or the ability to do original thinking, has been rather neglected in the efforts to understand the peer-group culture. Most studies on factors in social acceptability have used two-group designs comparing the personality characteristics of the popular subjects with those of the unpopular subjects in efforts to locate some significant determinants of sociometric status in a group. In spite of the fact that a large number of studies have been reported on this topic, no simple clear-cut picture seems to be drawn. The author of this article, however, suggests two variables as important in determining one's status in his peer group.

This comment turns a critical eye on the popular dictum, “Think out of the box!” Given routinely as an end-all exhortation, this pronouncement misrepresents the true dynamics of creation, which is the dialectic process between the twin principles of origination and form. Referring to the relevant observations of many a creator in differing disciplines, I warn against the real danger of the originative potential being left as a mere promise without being fully realized into the culminating creation of worth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Each people holds definite stereotypes of others. However, the question remains of how such perceptions are arranged into an overall international image. Utilizing Q-sorts of 30 nations in terms of their current and future affinity to the respondents' country, two earlier studies explored the organizational patterns: the first in 1978-79 with 482 American college students in two public universities in Arizona and Texas (no marked variations in relation to sex, age, major, school, or overseas travel), and the second in July 1979 with 172 Japanese students in two Tokyo colleges, one public coeducational and the other private women's (no difference in relation to sex or school). The present inquiry in January 1980 was a replication of the Japanese study with students of different majors in yet another type of institution (Roman Catholic) in Tokyo. Also, whether the test language has any effects was examined. There were 110 sociology majors (63 women, 74.6% first-year, 19.1% with any overseas trips) and 21 international majors (15 women, 33.3% seniors and 28.6% sophomores, 81.0% with trips abroad). The same method as before was used, except that the international majors responded to the instruments printed in English. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article has no abstract [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Both Re2C and Re2N are ultra incompressible and have a bulk modulus of about 400 GPa. These materials are synthesized under high pressure and high temperature. The synthesis pressures are about 10 GPa or below for Re2C and 20–30 GPa for Re2N. If the synthesis pressure of Re2N was about 10 GPa or below, a large volume high-pressure cell like a multi-anvil apparatus can be used to synthesize Re2N. To realize this, a proper solid nitrogen source is needed instead of liquid or gas nitrogen. We used a precursor of a mixture of rhenium and home-made nanoscale amorphous two-dimensional carbon nitride as a solid nitrogen source. Consequently, the synthesis reaction produced Re2C but not Re2N. We characterized the synthesized Re2C by various techniques including high-pressure x-ray diffraction (XRD). The bulk modulus B0of the synthesized Re2C under hydrostatic conditions was estimated to be 385.7 ± 18.0 GPa. This value is a little smaller than the previous data. When the pressure medium became non-hydrostatic, the peculiar compression behaviour occurred; the rate of broadening of XRD lines increased and the compression became negligible in the range of a few GPa. The reason for this peculiar behaviour is not known. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]