Level Crossing Rate of Macrodiversity System in the Presence of Multipath Fading and Shadowing

Macrodiversity system including macrodiversity SC receiver and two microdiversity SC receivers is considered in this paper. Received signal experiences, simultaneously, both, long term fading and short term fading. Microdiversity SC receivers reduces Rayleigh fading effects on system performance and macrodiversity SC receiver mitigate Gamma shadowing effects on system performance. Closed form expressions for level crossing rate of microdiversity SC receivers output signals envelopes are calculated. This expression is used for evaluation of level crossing rate of macrodiversity SC receiver output signal envelope. Numerical expressions are illustrated to show the influence of Gamma shadowing severity on level crossing rate

The Minimum Wiener Connector

The Wiener index of a graph is the sum of all pairwise shortest-path distances between its vertices. In this paper we study the novel problem of finding a minimum Wiener connector: given a connected graph $G=(V,E)$ and a set $Q\subseteq V$ of query vertices, find a subgraph of $G$ that connects all query vertices and has minimum Wiener index. We show that The Minimum Wiener Connector admits a polynomial-time (albeit impractical) exact algorithm for the special case where the number of query vertices is bounded. We show that in general the problem is NP-hard, and has no PTAS unless $\mathbf{P} = \mathbf{NP}$. Our main contribution is a constant-factor approximation algorithm running in time $\widetilde{O}(|Q||E|)$. A thorough experimentation on a large variety of real-world graphs confirms that our method returns smaller and denser solutions than other methods, and does so by adding to the query set $Q$ a small number of important vertices (i.e., vertices with high centrality).Comment: Published in Proceedings of the 2015 ACM SIGMOD International Conference on Management of Dat

The path to Weimar Serbia? Explaining the resurgence of the Serbian far right after the fall of Milosevic

Published online: 10 Sep 2008.A number of European countries are experiencing a rise in the blue-collar and ethnic majority vote for the ultra-nationalist far right. The situation seems particularly ominous in Serbia, where the far right is enjoying a resurgence of electoral support, coming close to capturing the presidency in 2004. This study analyses the results of five post-Milosevic elections and finds support for the argument that the majority’s economic vulnerability and a sense of ‘ethnic threat’ are the major contextual predictors of far right support. In light of the demonstrated ability of the Serbian far right to mobilize economically vulnerable sections of the population, implementation of neo-liberal economic reforms might unintentionally bring them to power. The maintenance and development of the welfare state might counteract the electoral appeal of authoritarian ultra-nationalists.Djordje Stefanovi

Seeing the Albanians through Serbian eyes: The inventors of the tradition of intolerance and their critics, 1804-1939

The rise of the modern national states in the post-Ottoman Balkans was accompanied by coercive assimilation, deportation, and even extermination of ethnic minorities, especially the local Muslims. In the formative periods of the Serbian state and Royal Yugoslavia, ethnic Albanians were repeatedly subjected to most exclusionary and discriminatory policies. While these actions of the Serbian élite were guided by the geopolitical security pressures and the coercive utopia of homogeneous nation-state, Serbian policy makers were also influenced by a strong intellectual tradition of intolerance towards Muslim Albanians. While some members of the Serbian élite were planning and implementing repression and expulsion of Albanians, others were calling for tolerance and inclusion of Albanians in a wider Balkan union. The analysis of Serbian policies towards Albanians in the Balkan context enables us to reformulate and extend Miroslav Hroch’s influential theory of minority nationalisms. Djordje Stefanovi

Performance of Diversity System Output Signal in Mobile Cellular System in the Presence of α-μ Short Term Fading and Gamma Long Term Fading

In this paper, wireless mobile communication system with macrodiversity reception is considered. Macrodiversity system is consisting of macrodiversity selection combining (SC) receiver and three microdiversity SC receivers. Propagation channel suffers α-μ short term fading and Gamma long term fading resulting in system performance degradation. Analytical closed form expression for average level crossing rate (LCR) of macrodiversity SC receiver output signal envelope is obtained. Mathematical results are analyzed, presenting the influence of long term fading parameters and short term fading parameters on average level crossing rate. Obtained results can be used in the process of simulation and design of real-world environments mobile cellular telecommunication systems

Exploring the role of university education in reducing the appeal of right‐wing populism

First published: 02 October 2023. OnlinePublWhy are university‐educated ethnic majority men less likely to support right‐wing populism (RWP) than those without university education? To investigate this under‐researched question, we conducted an exploratory study using semistructured interviews and thematic analysis with white Australian men from different socioeconomic backgrounds. While some with university education supported RWP, their views aligned with a moderate version of the ideology. Student/graduate supporters of RWP were opposed to hiring practices designed to support gender and ethnic equity. Students/graduates who experienced contact with Others were generally more positive about diversity, but this was not always the case for non‐university participants. While students/graduates with RWP leanings tended to see university as a politically biased institution, concerns about political correctness were widespread across the sample. Significantly, numerous students/graduates experienced university education as promoting a pluralist outlook, and this outlook appears fundamentally incompatible with the monist tendencies of RWP ideology. However, findings also suggest that university education is not the only route to a pluralist outlook, nor does it always lead to a rejection of RWP. Hence, developing a pluralist outlook may be more important than university education in reducing the appeal of RWP. The implications of these exploratory findings for future research are discussed.Nathan Manning, Djordje Stefanovi

THE RELEVANCE OF PEER FEEDBACK IN EFL CLASSES FOR TERTIARY LANGUAGE LEARNERS

This paper reports on a study conducted at at the University of Tetovo (UT), Northern Macedonia and USAMVBT “Regele Mihai I al Romaniei ” from Timisoara, Romania, analysing the effect of peer feedback in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teaching and learning. The authors hypothesized that peer feedback was not percieved as a genuine strategy for learning languages, while it could be put forth as a useful strategy for improving not only language skills but also critical thinking, as well as empathy. Based on the participants ' responses, the students ' perceptions were anlyzed with an aim of encouraging them to become more confident learners, to improve their English language proficiency and to gain feedback skills. The study was conducted throughout the second semester of the academic year 2018-2019. Acknowledging convenience sampling, the 21 (n=21) subjects who participated in this study included 14 (n=14) students from the seventh semester of the UT, English Language and Literature Department and 12 (n=12) students from USAMVB “King Michael I of Romania” from Timisoara, Romania. The effects and perceptions of peer feedback were discussed from the students ' perspective and from our corroborated points of view. Data were collected using student questionnaires in which participants were asked to reflect back on their experience on peer feedback throughout their studies. Student responses were subjected to a modified content analysis to identify the main themes and topics. Semi-structured interviews with 12 students were undertaken to substantiate the essential findings of content analysis

Advantages and disadvantages of non-starter lactic acid bacteria from traditional fermented foods: potential use as starters or probiotics

Research Areas: Food Science & TechnologyTraditional fermented foods are a significant source of starter and/or non-starter lactic acid bacteria (nsLAB). Moreover, these microorganisms are also known for their role as probiotics. The potential of nsLAB is huge; however, there are still challenges to be overcome with respect to characterization and application. In the present review, the most important steps that autochthonous lactic acid bacteria isolated from fermented foods need to overcome, to qualify as novel starter cultures, or as probiotics, in food technology and biotechnology, are considered. These different characterization steps include precise identification, detection of health-promoting properties, and safety evaluation. Each of these features is strain specific and needs to be accurately determined. This review highlights the advantages and disadvantages of nsLAB, isolated from traditional fermented foods, discussing safety aspects and sensory impact.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Topical Corticosteroids Normalize both Skin and Systemic Inflammatory Markers in Infant Atopic Dermatitis

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common inflammatory skin disease. It is highly heterogeneous in clinical presentation, treatment response, disease trajectory and associated atopic comorbidities. Immune biomarkers are dysregulated in skin and peripheral blood. Aims: We used noninvasive skin and peripheral biomarkers to observe the effects of real-world topical corticosteroid (TCS) treatment in infants with AD, by measuring skin and blood biomarkers before and after therapy. Methods: Seventy-four treatment-naïve infants with AD underwent 6 weeks of TCS treatment. Stratum corneum (SC) and plasma blood biomarkers as well as SC natural moisturizing factor (NMF) were measured before and after TCS therapy. Immune markers included innate, T helper (Th)1 and Th2 immunity, angiogenesis, and vascular factors. AD severity was assessed by the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis index, and skin barrier function by transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Twenty healthy infants were recruited as controls. Results: TCS therapy predictably led to improvement in disease severity. Levels of immune markers in the skin and in the peripheral blood showed significant change from baseline, though most did not reach healthy control levels. The most prominent change from baseline in the SC was in markers of innate immune activation, interleukin (IL)-18, IL-8 and IL-1α, and the Th2 chemokines C-C motif chemokine (CCL)17 and CCL22. In blood, the largest changes were in Th2-skewed biomarkers: CCL17, IL-13, CCL22, IL-5, and CCL26. TEWL decreased after therapy; no significant changes from baseline were found for NMF. Conclusions: The profound impact of topical therapy on systemic biomarkers suggests that the skin compartment generates a major component of dysregulated systemic cytokines in infant AD. There may be long-term beneficial effects of correcting systemic immune dysregulation through topical therapy

OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF TOURIST POTENTIALS IN PROTECTED AREAS OF THE WATER STORAGE RESERVOARS, ON THE EXAMPLE OF SPATIAL PLANS OF THE SPECIAL PURPOSE AREAS IN SERBIA

Areas of large and medium-sized water storage reservoirs whose hydro-potential is used for water supply of settlements and/or as part of the energy system, at the same time, and under certain conditions and limitations, can represent the locations for the development of tourism. This potentially conflicting situation may be resolved through the planning process and development of Spatial Plans of the Special Purpose Areas (SPSPAs). A major challenge with water storage reservoirs of multiple purposes is in “sharing” water amongst competing users with aim to bring to sustainable development of a wider territory and, simultaneously, to safagarde the health safety of the water at the source (water storage resevoir).This paper deals with planning treatment - by new generation of the SPSPAs in Serbia - of the areas that cover new and already formed water storage reservoirs and with prudent activation of their tourist potentials