On transcendental numbers: new results and a little history

Attempting to create a general framework for studying new results on transcendental numbers, this paper begins with a survey on transcendental numbers and transcendence, it then presents several properties of the transcendental numbers $e$ and $\pi$, and then it gives the proofs of new inequalities and identities for transcendental numbers. Also, in relationship with these topics, we study some implications for the theory of the Yang-Baxter equations, and we propose some open problems.Comment: 8 page

On Value and Criteria: Mihail M. Cernea, a Sociologist with Universal Impact

The recent election of members to our National Academy, the Academia Romana, is a good opportunity for our broader scientific community, as well as for the public at large, to get to know more about scholars whom they perhaps know too little, although these scholars occupy an important position in the science both in our country and in the world. This brief essay is about one prominent scholar elected now as full member of our Academy, the sociologist Michael Cernea. But even more, through this essay's "case in point" I want to address a key broader topic that concerns me, and is now discussed frequently

On the interaction of Jupiter's Great Red Spot and zonal jet streams

In this paper, Jupiter's Great Red Spot (GRS) is used to determine properties of the Jovian atmosphere that cannot otherwise be found. These properties include the potential vorticity of the GRS and its neighboring jet streams, the shear imposed on the GRS by the jet streams, and the vertical entropy gradient (i.e., Rossby deformation radius). The cloud cover of the GRS, which is often used to define the GRS's area and aspect ratio, is found to differ significantly from the region of the GRS's potential vorticity anomaly. The westward-going jet stream to the north of the GRS and the eastward-going jet stream to its south are each found to have a large potential vorticity ``jump''. The jumps have opposite sign and as a consequence of their interaction with the GRS, the shear imposed on the GRS is reduced. The east-west to north-south aspect ratio of the GRS's potential vorticity anomaly depends on the ratio of the imposed shear to the strength of the anomaly. The aspect ratio is found to be $\approx$2:1, but without the opposing jumps it would be much greater. The GRS's high-speed collar and quiescent interior require that the potential vorticity in the interior be approximately half that in the collar. No other persistent geophysical vortex has a significant minimum of potential vorticity in its interior and laboratory vortices with such a minimum are unstable.Comment: Manuscript accepted to Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, March 2007. v2: minor stylistic changes (after journal proof reading

Grigore C. Moisil: A Life Becoming a Myth

Grigore C. Mosil, Romanian mathematician, Professor at the University of Bucharest - Faculty of Mathematicsand Computer Science, member of the Romanian Academy, member of the Academy of Sciencesin Bologna and of the International Institute of Philosophy, Computer Pioneer Award of IEEE ComputerSociety (IEEE - 1996)

Examining the impact of comorbid serious mental illness on rehospitalization among medical and surgical inpatients

Multiple barriers to quality health care may affect the outcomes of postacute treatment for individuals with serious mental illness (SMI). This study examined rehospitalization for medical and surgical inpatients with and without a comorbid diagnosis of SMI which included psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder and major depressio

Examining the impact of comorbid serious mental illness on rehospitalization among medical and surgical inpatients

Multiple barriers to quality health care may affect the outcomes of postacute treatment for individuals with serious mental illness (SMI). This study examined rehospitalization for medical and surgical inpatients with and without a comorbid diagnosis of SMI which included psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder and major depressio

Why do women prefer home births in Ethiopia?

Background: Skilled attendants during labor, delivery, and in the early postpartum period, can prevent up to 75% or more of maternal death. However, in many developing countries, very few mothers make at least one antenatal visit and even less receive delivery care from skilled professionals. The present study reports findings from a region where key challenges related to transportation and availability of obstetric services were addressed by an ongoing project, giving a unique opportunity to understand why women might continue to prefer home delivery even when facility based delivery is available at minimal cost. Methods: The study took place in Ethiopia using a mixed study design employing a cross sectional household survey among 15–49 year old women combined with in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Results: Seventy one percent of mothers received antenatal care from a health professional (doctor, health officer, nurse, or midwife) for their most recent birth in the one year preceding the survey. Overall only 16% of deliveries were assisted by health professionals, while a significant majority (78%) was attended by traditional birth attendants. The most important reasons for not seeking institutional delivery were the belief that it is not necessary (42%) and not customary (36%), followed by high cost (22%) and distance or lack of transportation (8%). The group discussions and interviews identified several reasons for the preference of traditional birth attendants over health facilities. Traditional birth attendants were seen as culturally acceptable and competent health workers. Women reported poor quality of care and previous negative experiences with health facilities. In addition, women’s low awareness on the advantages of skilled attendance at delivery, little role in making decisions (even when they want), and economic constraints during referral contribute to the low level of service utilization. Conclusions: The study indicated the crucial role of proper health care provider-client communication and providing a more client centered and culturally sensitive care if utilization of existing health facilities is to be maximized. Implications of findings for maternal health programs and further research are discussed