SAR Image Formation via Subapertures and 2D Backprojection

Radar imaging requires the use of wide bandwidth and a long coherent processing interval, resulting in range and Doppler migration throughout the observation period. This migration must be compensated in order to properly image a scene of interest at full resolution and there are many available algorithms having various strengths and weaknesses. Here, a subaperture-based imaging algorithm is proposed, which first forms range-Doppler (RD) images from slow-time sub-intervals, and then coherently integrates over the resulting coarse-resolution RD maps to produce a full resolution SAR image. A two-dimensional backprojection-style approach is used to perform distortion-free integration of these RD maps. This technique benefits from many of the same benefits as traditional backprojection; however, the architecture of the algorithm is chosen such that several steps are shared with typical target detection algorithms. These steps are chosen such that no compromises need to be made to data quality, allowing for high quality imaging while also preserving data for implementation of detection algorithms. Additionally, the algorithm benefits from computational savings that make it an excellent imaging algorithm for implementation in a simultaneous SAR-GMTI architecture

A Summer In the Black Forest

From the moment I stepped off the plane in Luxembourg and onto the bus that would take me into West Germany, I knew I was in for the experience of a lifetime. It was May 29 and for the next three months, I was to spend the time working for the Baden- Wuarttemburg State Forest Service in the Black Forest of West Germany. I must admit, it was a dream come true

Effect of Yoga on Nurse Burnout

Background: Burnout is the result of emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and decreased personal accomplishments (PA). When burnout is experienced, it can create an unhealthy environment for the nurses and patients. Methods: Nurses participated in an eight-week yoga course which focused on hatha yoga practices to teach postural alignment, relaxation and meditation, mindfulness, and selfawareness. Those who participated completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) questionnaire pre- and post-intervention to measure burnout levels. Results: The paired sample t-test with a 5% level of significance found a statistically significant reduction in EE (p = 0.0001) and DP (p = 0.0074) subscale score from the preto post-intervention scores. There was not a statistically significant increase in the PA (p = 0.4026) subscale score from pre- to post-intervention. Discussion: By participating in an eight-week hatha yoga course, there was evidence of reduction in burnout components: EE and DP among float nurses. Previous research has found that yoga can improve self-awareness, coping mechanisms, compassion, sense of control, and mindfulness. Implications for Practice: The implementation of yoga for nurses was associated with a reduction in burnout indicators. This low-cost intervention could be implemented widespread to help reduce nurse burnout and potentially reduce nurse turnover

Parental Marital Disruption, Family Type, and Transfers to Disabled Elderly Parents

This paper examines the family variables that affect intergenerational living arrangements and adult children's time and cash transfers to their unpartnered disabled elderly parents. The family variables we examine include parental marital status, parental marital history, whether the index child is a step child or a biological child of the parent, and whether the index child's siblings are step children or biological children of the parent. Using data from the Health and Retirement Studies - Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old (HRS-AHEAD) surveys, we estimate the joint probabilities that an adult child provides time and/or cash transfers to a parent and analyze a five-level categorical variable capturing parent–child living arrangements. Parameter estimates suggest significant detrimental effects of parental divorce and step relationship on time transfers and on the probability of coresidence with the index child. The composition of the index child's sibling network also affects transfers and living arrangement choices of adult children. Our findings suggest that demographic changes are weakening the traditional role of the family as a support network. Because more recent cohorts of elderly persons have experienced substantially higher rates of divorce, remarriage, and step parenthood than the cohort considered in this study, our findings raise concerns about the future availability of family care.long-term care, intergenerational transfers, aging, family

Kinder und Eltern zwischen Psychiatrie und Jugendhilfe : Analyse der Lebenssituation von Kindern psychisch kranker Eltern und Anforderungen an sozialpädagogisches Handeln : Zwischenbericht

Ziel des hier vorgeschlagenen Praxisforschungs- und Entwicklungsprojektes ist es, den Lebens- und Entwicklungsbedingungen von Kindern psychisch kranker Eltern sowie den fachlichen Handlungsweisen der beteiligten Institutionen unter einer sozialpädagogischen (jugendhilfespezifischen) und empirisch-handlungs-orientierten Perspektive nachzugehen

Efficiency in Family Bargaining: Living Arrangements and Caregiving Decisions of Adult Children and Disabled Elderly Parents

In this paper, we use a two-stage bargaining model to analyze the living arrangement of a disabled elderly parent and the assistance provided to the parent by her adult children. The first stage determines the living arrangement: the parent can live in a nursing home, live alone in the community, or live with any child who has invited coresidence. The second stage determines the assistance provided by each child in the family. Working by backward induction, we first calculate the level of assistance that each child would provide to the parent in each possible living arrangement. Using these calculations, we then analyze the living arrangement that would emerge from the first stage game. A key assumption of our model is that family members cannot or will not make binding agreements at the first stage regarding transfers at the second stage. Because coresidence is likely to reduce the bargaining power of the coresident child relative to her siblings, coresidence may fail to emerge as the equilibrium living arrangement even when it is Pareto efficient. That is, the outcome of the two-stage game need not be Pareto efficient.

Kinder und Eltern zwischen Psychiatrie und Jugendhilfe : Analyse der Lebenssituation von Kindern psychisch kranker Eltern und Anforderungen an sozialpädagogisches Handeln : Zwischenbericht

Ziel des hier vorgeschlagenen Praxisforschungs- und Entwicklungsprojektes ist es, den Lebens- und Entwicklungsbedingungen von Kindern psychisch kranker Eltern sowie den fachlichen Handlungsweisen der beteiligten Institutionen unter einer sozialpädagogischen (jugendhilfespezifischen) und empirisch-handlungs-orientierten Perspektive nachzugehen

Efficiency in Family Bargaining: Living Arrangements and Caregiving Decisions of Adult Children and Disabled Elderly Parents

In this paper, we use a two-stage bargaining model to analyze the living arrangement of a disabled elderly parent and the assistance provided to the parent by her adult children. The first stage determines the living arrangement: the parent can live in a nursing home, live alone in the community, or live with any child who has invited coresidence. The second stage determines the assistance provided by each child in the family. Working by backward induction, we first calculate the level of assistance that each child would provide to the parent in each possible living arrangement. Using these calculations, we then analyze the living arrangement that would emerge from the first stage game. A key assumption of our model is that family members cannot or will not make binding agreements at the first stage regarding transfers at the second stage. Because coresidence is likely to reduce the bargaining power of the coresident child relative to her siblings, coresidence may fail to emerge as the equilibrium living arrangement even when it is Pareto efficient. That is, the outcome of the two-stage game need not be Pareto efficient.

Modeling local growth control decisions in a multi-city case: Do spatial interactions and lobbying efforts matter?

JEL Classification R52, C31, D7, H7International audienceOur article analyzes the determinants of local growth control decisions, which are modeled as the result of a political struggle between different groups of voters and organized lobbies. We show that under specific hypotheses, a higher homeownership rate can induce lower levels of controls. Considering residential choices as endogenous to growth control policies, the local decisions to control growth become strategically interdependent. Assuming imperfect mobility, we show that a spatial econometric specification can be directly derived from our theoretical model. Our empirical analysis concerning the determinants of the “taxe locale d’équipement”, a French local development tax, is thus naturally based on spatial econometrics. Its results confirm the major predictions of our model