The 2003 eclipse of EE Cep is coming. A review of past eclipses

EE Cep is an eclipsing binary with a period of 5.6 years. The next eclipse will occur soon, in May-June 2003, and all available past eclipses were collected and briefly analysed. EE Cep shows very large changes of the shape and the depth of minima during different eclipses, however it is possible to single out some persistent features. The analysis suggests that the eclipsing body should be a long object surrounded by an extended semi-transparent envelope. As an explanation, a model of a precessing optically thick disc, inclined to the plane of the binary orbit, is invoked. The changes of its spatial orientation, which is defined by the inclination of the disc and the tilt, induced most probably by precession of the disc spin axis with a period of about 50 years, produce strange photometric behaviour of this star. The H_alpha emission, and possibly the NaI absorptions, show significant changes during several months outside of the eclipse phase.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figures, LaTeX2e, accepted by A&

Simple cyclic movements as a distinct autism feature - computational approach

Diversity of symptoms in autism dictates a broad definition of Autism Spectrum of Disorders(ASD). Each year percentage of children diagnosed with ASD is growing. One common diag-nostic feature in individuals with ASD is the tendency to atypical simple cyclic movements.The motor brain activity seems to generate periodic attractor state that is hard to escape.Despite numerous studies scientists and clinicians do not know exactly if ASD is a result ofa simple but general mechanism, or a complex set of mechanisms, both on neural, molecularand system levels. Simulations using biologically relevant neural network model presentedhere may help to reveal simplest mechanisms that may be responsible for specific behavior.Abnormal neural fatigue mechanisms may be responsible for motor as well as many if notall other symptoms observed in ASD

Spectroscopy of the symbiotic star CH Cygni from 1996 to 2007

We monitored a set of emission lines in the optical spectra of CH Cyg using the 1.5-m telescope at the Tartu Observatory, Estonia. Most of the spectra were registered in the H alpha region, but other Balmer lines and lines of He, N, O, and Fe were also investigated in terms of their equivalent widths, radial velocities, and absolute fluxes. The spectra indicate different stages that CH Cyg has been through in the course of our observations. During quiescence, the strength of the line profiles changes in opposite phase with the star's luminosity. The H alpha profile becomes double-peaked at times, which may point to the temporary presence of some disk-like structure, but also to absorption in neutral gas surrounding the area of the formation of the emission component. In 1999, when a periastron passage is assumed according to the 5700-day model, the Balmer lines strengthen considerably, as might be expected due to an increase in the accretion rate. The eclipse in 2001, however, is not noticed. At certain episodes, the controversial 756-day period of CH Cyg is seen in our data.Comment: 10 pages, 12 figure

Wielokryterialna analiza wyników badania wypalenia zawodowego

The aim of this study on multi-criteria analysis of job burnout is to fill an existing research gap, bringing an element of novelty and enabling a near comparison with other analytical methods used to assess job burnout. The concept of using the MCA in the analysis of occupational burnout outcomes appears useful and effective. The MCA acts as a useful computational tool in this case. It can be effectively applied in the area of job burnout and work-related stress, where single-criteria methodologies produce uncertain results, are debatable or may be considered ineffective, because the factors (organisational, social, environmental and other) relevant for proper assessment and decisionmaking cannot be expressed in terms of objective values or are expressed linguistically. Further research using fuzzy logic may bring the next step in the development of the proposed method towards a holistic approach.Celem niniejszego badania poświęconego wielokryterialnej analizie wypalenia zawodowego jest wypełnienie istniejącej luki badawczej, wnosząc element nowości i umożliwiając przysżłosciowe oorównanie z innymi metodami analitycznymi stosowanym do oceny wypalenia zawodowego. Koncepcja wykorzystania MCA w analizie wyników wypalenia zawodowego wydaje się przydatna i efektywna. MCA działa w tym przypadku jako użyteczne narzędzie obliczeniowe. Może być skutecznie stosowane w obszarze wypalenia zawodowego i stresu zwiazanego z pracą, gdzie metodologie oparte na pojedynczych kryteriach dają niepewne wyniki, są dyskusyjne lub mogą być uznane za nieskuteczne, gdyż istotne dla własciwej oceny i podjęcie decyzji czynniki (organizacyjne, społeczne, środowiskowe i inne) nie mogą być wyrażone w kategoriach wartości obiektywnych lub są wyrażane lingwistycznie. Dalsze badania z wykorzystaniem logiki rozmytej mogą przynieść kolejny etap rozwoju proponowanej metody w kierunku podejścia całościowego

Objawy wypalenia zawodowego jako podstawa modelu obliczeniowego

The current challenge is to explore and optimise computational measures of burnout to objectively determine the best way to calculate job satisfaction, job burnout and predictors of intention to quit across occupational groups. The aim of the research presented in this article was to review studies in the field of computational determination of the relationship between the experience of stress at work and the occurrence of symptoms of professional burnout.Obecnym wyzwaniem jest zbadanie i optymalizacja obliczeniowych miar wypalenia zawodowego w celu obiektywnego określenia najlepszego sposobu obliczania satysfakcji z pracy, wypalenia zawodowego i predyktorów zamiaru odejścia z pracy w różnych grupach zawodowych.Celem badań prezentowanych w artykule był przegląd badań w zakresie obliczeniowego określanie zależności między doświadczaniem stresu w pracy a występowaniem objawów wypalenia zawodowego

Związane z pracą niekorzystne zmiany zdrowotne w grupie zawodowej informatyków – narracyjny przegląd literatury

Occupational medicine is increasingly using modern technology and becoming more interdisciplinary. This may be a response to both the development of medical and other sciences that support contemporary clinical practice as well as new therapeutic approaches that are oriented towards collaboration within an interdisciplinary team, are patient-centred and meet the requirements of Evidence-Based Medicine. This article attempts to assess the extent to which opportunities in this area are being exploited and to identify factors that offer opportunities for breakthrough.Medycyna pracy coraz częściej korzysta z nowoczesnych technologii i staje się coraz bardziej interdyscyplinarna. Może to być reakcją zarówno na rozwój nauk medycznych i innych nauk wspierających współczesną praktykę kliniczną, jak również nowe sposoby terapii ukierunkowane na współpracę w ramach zespołu interdyscyplinarnego, zorientowaną na pacjenta i spełniająca wymagania Medycyny Opartej na Faktach. Artykuł stanowi próbę oceny, w jakim stopniu wykorzystuje się możliwości w tym obszarze i wskazania czynników dających szanse na przełom

Photometric observations of Epsilon Aurigae during the eclipse of 2009-2011

Epsilon Aurigae is a bright binary system, in which an F0 supergiant is eclipsed by a dark disk around the companion, every 27.1 years. Although the star has been observed and studied for nearly two centuries, it remains an usolved mystery. For the latest ε Aur eclipse, which occurred in 2009-2011, an international observing campaign was organized. In this publication, multicolor BV R photometric observations obtained in the framework of this campaign, are presented. Part of these data have been corrected for atmospheric extinction and transformed to the standard Johnson's photometric system

Photometric observations of Epsilon Aurigae during the eclipse of 2009-2011

Epsilon Aurigae is a bright binary system, in which an F0 supergiant is eclipsed by a dark disk around the companion, every 27.1 years. Although the star has been observed and studied for nearly two centuries, it remains an usolved mystery. For the latest ε Aur eclipse, which occurred in 2009-2011, an international observing campaign was organized. In this publication, multicolor BV R photometric observations obtained in the framework of this campaign, are presented. Part of these data have been corrected for atmospheric extinction and transformed to the standard Johnson's photometric system