The contribution of modern psychology to the understanding of the problem of moral and religious development in the realm of religious education

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston Universit

A survey of recent results on congruence lattices of lattices

We review recent results on congruence lattices of (infinite) lattices. We discuss results obtained with box products, as well as categorical, ring-theoretical, and topological results

Congruence lattices of free lattices in non-distributive varieties

We prove that for any free lattice F with at least $\aleph\_2$ generators in any non-distributive variety of lattices, there exists no sectionally complemented lattice L with congruence lattice isomorphic to the one of F. This solves a question formulated by Gr\"{a}tzer and Schmidt in 1962. This yields in turn further examples of simply constructed distributive semilattices that are not isomorphic to the semilattice of finitely generated two-sided ideals in any von Neumann regular ring

Design and Modeling of Symmetric Three Branch Polymer Planar Optical Power Dividers

Two types of polymer-based three-branch symmetric planar optical power dividers (splitters) were designed, multimode interference (MMI) splitter and triangular shape-spacing splitter. By means of modeling the real structures were simulated as made of Epoxy Novolak Resin on silicon substrate, with silica buffer layer and polymethylmethacrylate as protection cover layer. The design of polymer waveguide structure was done by Beam Propagation Method. After comparing properties of both types of the splitters we have demonstrated that our new polymer based triangular shaped splitter can work simultaneously in broader spectrum, the only condition would be that the waveguides are single-mode guiding. It practically means that, what concerns communication wavelengths, it can on principle simultaneously operate at two mainly used wavelengths, 1310 and 1550 nm

Stiffer optical tweezers through real-time feedback control

Using real-time re-programmable signal processing we connect acousto-optic steering and back-focal-plane interferometric position detection in optical tweezers to create a fast feedback controlled instrument. When trapping 3 µm latex beads in water we find that proportional-gain position-clamping increases the effective lateral trap stiffness ~13-fold. A theoretical power spectrum for bead fluctuations during position-clamped trapping is derived and agrees with the experimental data. The loop delay, ~19 µs in our experiment, limits the maximum achievable effective trap stiffness

Inflation in Czechoslovakia, 1985-91

The authors assess inflation in Czechoslovakia between 1985 and 1991 and identify the main causes of inflation through a literature survey and empirical studies. The official prices in centrally planned economies were never perceived by central planners to be fully market clearing. Only by coincidence would the overall price level correspond to the level associated with general equilibrium. What is missing in official price indices in centrally planned economies - including the consumer price index - is suppressed inflation, manifast in queuing for products, forced substitution of demand, and forced savings. Also missing is hidden inflation, associated with practices that disguise price increases behind cosmetic or other change in product quality. The authors argue that inflationary pressures in Czechoslovakia in 1985-89 originated mainly in the investment sector. Even though the investment sector was strictly controlled, making it difficult for open inflation to emerge, the scope for inflationary pressures was great in Czechoslovakia. Such pressures arose from a mixture of factors, including poor investment planning, accommodating government finance, and the high priority given to investments and social consumption. For Czechoslovakia, the official price indices show virtually no inflation between 1985 and 1989, when there were long waiting lists for such products as cars and state and cooperative flats. Trends in these price indices do not seem to depend on the method used for constructing them, according to the sensitivity tests conducted by Czechoslovakia's Federal Statistical Office. Obviously, the official price indices failed to capture the full extent of economic disequilibrium in that period. But the extent to which official price indices understated inflationary pressures was not serious in Czechoslovakia, compared with other centrally planned economies. Estimates of hidden inflation for 1985-89 range from 0.5 percent to 2 percent a year in consumer markets and about 3 percent in the industrial sector. Estimates for suppressed inflation were less than 5 percent. The relatively small inflationary gap is indirectly confirmed by the sharp inflation associated with the recent price liberalization that subsided in a relatively short period, and both suppressed and hidden inflations have virtually disappeared. Estimates of hidden inflation were based on benchmark price comparisons between Czechoslovakia and such market economies as Austria. Those for suppressed inflation were based on disequilibrium econometric models of asset holdings and on conjecture tests.Economic Theory&Research,Environmental Economics&Policies,Markets and Market Access,Access to Markets,Financial Intermediation