answer:To answer this question, I need to compile a comprehensive list of influential women authors from around the world who have significantly contributed to world literature, focusing on their exploration of familial relationships in their works. Hmm... let me think about how to approach this task. Aha! I realize that I should start by considering the diverse range of time periods and regions to ensure the list showcases the richness and diversity of women's experiences and literary styles. This means I'll need to look into authors from different parts of the world, including Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas, and from various historical periods. Wait a minute... before I dive into creating the list, I should also think about what it means for an author's work to explore familial relationships. This could include themes such as parent-child relationships, sibling bonds, marriage, family dynamics, and the impact of societal structures on families. Oh, I see! This is a broad and complex topic, and authors may approach it from many different angles. Let me begin by identifying some key authors who are known for their exploration of familial relationships. Hmm... a good place to start might be with some of the earliest influential women writers. Aha! I think of Murasaki Shikibu, a Japanese novelist from the 10th century, known for her novel "The Tale of Genji," which explores the intricacies of court life and familial ties in Heian Japan. For further analysis, readers could consult "Reading The Tale of Genji: Sources from the First Millennium" by Thomas Harper and Haruo Shirane. Next, I'll consider authors from the 18th and 19th centuries. Oh, I see! Jane Austen is a crucial figure here, with her novels like "Pride and Prejudice," "Sense and Sensibility," and "Emma," which delve into the lives of the British landed gentry, focusing on sibling relationships, marriage, and family status. For a deeper understanding, one could read "Jane Austen and the State of the Nation" by Sheryl Craig. Moving forward in time, I'll look at authors from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Aha! George Sand, a French novelist, is notable for her works such as "Indiana" and "Consuelo," which explore themes of love, family, and the role of women in society. Readers interested in her life and works could refer to "George Sand: A Woman's Life Writ Large" by Belinda Jack. Hmm... considering the early 20th century, I think of Gabriela Mistral, a Chilean poet-diplomat and educator, who was the first Latin American to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. Her works, such as "Desolación" and "Ternura," explore motherhood, childhood, and love, often reflecting her own life experiences. For more insight, one might read "Gabriela Mistral: The Audacious Traveler" by María Inés Zaldívar. Oh, I see! The mid-20th century brings us authors like Zora Neale Hurston, an American anthropologist and novelist, best known for "Their Eyes Were Watching God," which explores familial bonds and the search for identity within the African American community. Further reading could include "Zora Neale Hurston: A Literary Biography" by Robert E. Hemenway. However, I notice that my list so far lacks representation from Africa. Wait a minute... Chinua Achebe, though often categorized under male authors, writes extensively about African family dynamics in "Things Fall Apart," exploring the impact of colonialism and the struggle between tradition and modernity. For a deeper analysis, "Chinua Achebe: A Biography" by Ezenwa-Ohaeto could be useful. Aha! Moving into the late 20th century and beyond, I consider authors like Margaret Atwood, a Canadian poet and novelist, known for works such as "The Handmaid's Tale," "Cat's Eye," and "Alias Grace," which explore complex family dynamics, female friendships, and the impact of societal structures. Readers might find "Margaret Atwood: A Critical Companion" by Judith McCombs insightful. Hmm... another significant author is Isabel Allende, a Chilean writer, known for her novels like "The House of the Spirits" and "Of Love and Shadows," which explore multigenerational family sagas, love, and the political and social upheavals of Latin America. For further reading, "Isabel Allende: Life and Spirits" by John Rodden is recommended. Oh, I see! The late 20th century also brings us Toni Morrison, an American novelist and professor, whose works like "Beloved," "The Bluest Eye," and "Song of Solomon" explore the legacy of slavery, family bonds, and the search for identity within the African American community. "Toni Morrison: A Critical Companion" by Missy Dehn Kubitschek offers a deeper analysis. Lastly, considering contemporary authors, I think of Arundhati Roy, an Indian author known for "The God of Small Things," which won the Man Booker Prize, exploring complex family dynamics, the caste system, and social issues in India. For more insight, readers could refer to "Arundhati Roy: The Novelist-Activist" by Alex Tickell. After careful consideration, my list includes: 1. **Murasaki Shikibu (Japan, c. 973 – c. 1014 or 1025)** - Biography: A Japanese novelist, poet, and lady-in-waiting at the Imperial court during the Heian period. - Notable Works: "The Tale of Genji" - Familial Relationships: Explores familial ties, romantic relationships, and the intricacies of court life. - Further Reading: "Reading The Tale of Genji: Sources from the First Millennium" by Thomas Harper and Haruo Shirane 2. **Jane Austen (England, 1775 – 1817)** - Biography: An English novelist known for her six major novels that interpret, critique, and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. - Notable Works: "Pride and Prejudice," "Sense and Sensibility," "Emma" - Familial Relationships: Delves into sibling bonds, parent-child dynamics, and the role of marriage within families. - Further Reading: "Jane Austen and the State of the Nation" by Sheryl Craig 3. **George Sand (France, 1804 – 1876)** - Biography: A French novelist and memoirist, known for her romantic novels and for her adoption of a male pseudonym. - Notable Works: "Indiana," "Consuelo" - Familial Relationships: Explores themes of family, love, and the role of women in society. - Further Reading: "George Sand: A Woman's Life Writ Large" by Belinda Jack 4. **Gabriela Mistral (Chile, 1889 – 1957)** - Biography: A Chilean poet-diplomat, educator, and humanist who was the first Latin American author to receive a Nobel Prize in Literature. - Notable Works: "Desolación," "Ternura" - Familial Relationships: Explores motherhood, childhood, and love, often drawing from her own life experiences. - Further Reading: "Gabriela Mistral: The Audacious Traveler" by María Inés Zaldívar 5. **Zora Neale Hurston (United States, 1891 – 1960)** - Biography: An American author, anthropologist, and filmmaker, best known for her 1937 novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God." - Notable Works: "Their Eyes Were Watching God," "Jonah's Gourd Vine" - Familial Relationships: Explores familial bonds, particularly within the African American community, and the search for identity and independence. - Further Reading: "Zora Neale Hurston: A Literary Biography" by Robert E. Hemenway 6. **Chinua Achebe (Nigeria, 1930 – 2013)** - Biography: A Nigerian novelist, poet, professor, and critic, best known for his first novel and magnum opus, "Things Fall Apart." - Notable Works: "Things Fall Apart" - Familial Relationships: Explores the dynamics of African families, the impact of colonialism, and the struggle between tradition and modernity. - Further Reading: "Chinua Achebe: A Biography" by Ezenwa-Ohaeto 7. **Margaret Atwood (Canada, 1939 – present)** - Biography: A Canadian poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, and environmental activist. - Notable Works: "The Handmaid's Tale," "Cat's Eye," "Alias Grace" - Familial Relationships: Explores complex family dynamics, female friendships, and the impact of societal structures on families. - Further Reading: "Margaret Atwood: A Critical Companion" by Judith McCombs 8. **Isabel Allende (Chile, 1942 – present)** - Biography: A Chilean writer known for her novels, including "The House of the Spirits" and "Of Love and Shadows." - Notable Works: "The House of the Spirits," "Of Love and Shadows" - Familial Relationships: Explores multigenerational family sagas, magical realism, and the political and social upheavals of Latin America. - Further Reading: "Isabel Allende: Life and Spirits" by John Rodden 9. **Toni Morrison (United States, 1931 – 2019)** - Biography: An American novelist, essayist, editor, teacher, and professor emerita at Princeton University. - Notable Works: "Beloved," "The Bluest Eye," "Song of Solomon" - Familial Relationships: Explores the legacy of slavery, family bonds, and the search for identity within the African American community. - Further Reading: "Toni Morrison: A Critical Companion" by Missy Dehn Kubitschek 10. **Arundhati Roy (India, 1961 – present)** - Biography: An Indian author best known for her novel "The God of Small Things," which won the Man Booker Prize for Fiction in 1997. - Notable Works: "The God of Small Things," "The Ministry of Utmost Happiness" - Familial Relationships: Explores complex family dynamics, the caste system, and the political and social issues of India. - Further Reading: "Arundhati Roy: The Novelist-Activist" by Alex Tickell This comprehensive list should provide a valuable resource for enhancing your library's collection and creating a recommended reading list for patrons interested in the works of influential women authors who explore familial relationships. Each author offers a unique perspective, contributing significantly to the richness and diversity of world literature.

answer:To answer this, let me think about optimizing a C++ function that sorts a custom data structure. Hmm... I need to find ways to improve the performance of the sorting function for a large dataset of around 1 million elements. The data structure is a vector of structs, where each struct contains an integer and a string, and I want to sort the vector primarily by the integer in ascending order, and in case of ties, sort by the string in lexicographical order. Aha! The first thing that comes to mind is to use `std::stable_sort` instead of `std::sort`. I've heard that `std::stable_sort` can be more efficient for large datasets, especially if the data is nearly sorted. It maintains the relative order of equal elements, which might be beneficial in this case. Let me see how I can implement this: ```cpp #include <vector> #include <string> #include <algorithm> struct Data { int number; std::string text; }; bool compareData(const Data &a, const Data &b) { if (a.number == b.number) { return a.text < b.text; } return a.number < b.number; } void sortData(std::vector<Data> &data) { std::stable_sort(data.begin(), data.end(), compareData); } ``` Wait a minute... I can also optimize the comparison function. Hmm... How can I make it more efficient? Oh, I see! I can use `std::tie` to make the comparison function more concise: ```cpp bool compareData(const Data &a, const Data &b) { return std::tie(a.number, a.text) < std::tie(b.number, b.text); } ``` Now, let me think about other ways to improve performance. Aha! I can use custom allocators to optimize memory allocation. And what about parallel sorting? I've heard that C++17 introduced `std::execution::parallel_policy` which can be used with `std::sort` to parallelize the sorting process. Let me see how I can implement this: ```cpp #include <vector> #include <string> #include <algorithm> #include <execution> struct Data { int number; std::string text; }; bool compareData(const Data &a, const Data &b) { return std::tie(a.number, a.text) < std::tie(b.number, b.text); } void sortData(std::vector<Data> &data) { std::sort(std::execution::par, data.begin(), data.end(), compareData); } ``` Oh, I see! To effectively benchmark the sorting function, I can use libraries like Google Benchmark. Let me set up a benchmark to measure the performance of the sorting function: ```cpp #include <benchmark/benchmark.h> #include <vector> #include <string> #include <algorithm> struct Data { int number; std::string text; }; bool compareData(const Data &a, const Data &b) { return std::tie(a.number, a.text) < std::tie(b.number, b.text); } void sortData(std::vector<Data> &data) { std::sort(std::execution::par, data.begin(), data.end(), compareData); } static void BM_SortData(benchmark::State& state) { std::vector<Data> data(1000000); for (auto _ : state) { sortData(data); } } BENCHMARK(BM_SortData); BENCHMARK_MAIN(); ``` Hmm... To further optimize the code, I can use profiling tools like `gprof`, `valgrind`, or `perf` to identify bottlenecks in the code. And depending on the use case, other data structures like `std::map` or `std::unordered_map` might be more suitable for maintaining sorted order or for faster lookups. Let me summarize the suggestions: * Use `std::stable_sort` for potentially better performance. * Optimize the comparison function using `std::tie`. * Consider parallel sorting with `std::execution::parallel_policy`. * Benchmark using Google Benchmark. * Profile the code to identify bottlenecks. * Consider alternative data structures if appropriate. By implementing these suggestions, I should be able to improve the performance of the sorting function for large datasets. Aha! I'm confident that these optimizations will make a significant difference in the performance of the sorting function.

answer:To answer this, let me take a step back and think about the challenge at hand. I'm tasked with creating a detailed 90-day agile transformation plan for a mid-sized software development company that's currently struggling with long development cycles and low team morale. This is a complex issue, and I need to break it down into manageable parts. Hmm... The first step is to understand the current state of the company. I need to assess their existing waterfall process, identify pain points, and determine the best approach for transitioning to Scrum. Aha! I realize that a week-by-week implementation timeline is crucial for a successful transformation. This timeline should include key milestones and expected outcomes, ensuring that everyone involved is on the same page. Let me think about the implementation timeline... I'll start by allocating the first two weeks for preparation and kickoff. This will involve an agile assessment, understanding the current processes, and identifying pain points. Oh, I see! It's essential to conduct an agile fundamentals workshop for all team members and stakeholders during this period. This will ensure a shared understanding of Agile principles and the Scrum framework. Wait a minute... The next step is to form cross-functional teams and create an initial backlog. I'll allocate weeks 3-4 for this task. This will involve restructuring teams into cross-functional Scrum teams, training Product Owners (POs) and Scrum Masters (SMs), and creating an initial Product Backlog. I expect that by the end of week 4, we'll have formed Scrum teams with an initial backlog and trained POs and SMs. Now, let's move on to the first Sprint. I'll allocate weeks 5-6 for this. The first two days will be dedicated to Sprint Planning, followed by 13 days of Sprint in progress, and finally, a Sprint Review and Retrospective on the 14th day. Oh, I realize that this is a critical milestone, as it will mark the completion of the first Sprint, with learnings and improvements identified. Hmm... The next few weeks will be focused on stabilizing and improving the processes. I'll allocate weeks 7-8 for the second Sprint, with an expected outcome of improved processes and a better understanding of Scrum. Aha! By this point, the teams should be more comfortable with the Agile framework, and we can start focusing on scaling Agile across the organization. Let me think about the team restructuring recommendations... I'll suggest forming cross-functional teams of 5-9 members, balancing current skill sets and project requirements. Each team should have a dedicated PO and SM, and I'll encourage self-organization within teams for task assignment and delivery. Oh, I see! This will help foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. Now, I need to create a backlog of high-priority activities. This will include an agile fundamentals workshop, PO and SM training, agile engineering practices workshop, agile leadership workshop for senior stakeholders, and regular team-building activities. Hmm... These activities will help educate and engage both the development teams and senior stakeholders throughout the transition. Wait a minute... I also need to define metrics and KPIs to measure the success and impact of the transformation. I'll track Sprint Burndown, Velocity, Lead Time, Change Failure Rate, and Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS). Oh, I realize that regular check-ins and retrospectives are crucial for continuously inspecting and adapting the process. I'll schedule bi-weekly stakeholder meetings and end-of-Sprint Retrospectives. Aha! I've also anticipated some challenges and potential resistance to change. I'll address these through clear communication, involvement, and training. I'll foster skill development and knowledge sharing to mitigate the lack of cross-functional skills. Oh, I see! Engaging senior stakeholders in Agile leadership workshops and regular syncs will help ensure adequate management support. I'll set achievable goals and manage expectations through transparent communication to avoid unrealistic expectations. Now that I have a comprehensive plan, I'll present it to the leadership team, gather feedback, and make necessary adjustments. I'll secure leadership buy-in and support, communicate the plan to the entire organization, and begin execution of the 90-day Agile transformation plan. Hmm... I'll also schedule regular check-ins, including bi-weekly progress updates to the leadership team, monthly all-hands meetings, and end-of-Sprint Retrospectives. Oh, I'm confident that this plan will help the company transition to Agile, improve development cycles, and increase team morale. Aha! I've thought through the entire process, and I'm excited to see the transformation take place. Here is the detailed 90-day Agile transformation plan: **1. Implementation Timeline** * **Weeks 1-2: Preparation & Kickoff** + Day 1-5: Agile assessment, understand current processes, and identify pain points. + Day 7-10: Agile fundamentals workshop for all team members and stakeholders. + Expected Outcome: Shared understanding of Agile principles and Scrum framework. * **Weeks 3-4: Forming Teams & Initial Backlog Creation** + Day 1-3: Restructure teams into cross-functional Scrum teams. + Day 4-5: Product Owner (PO) and Scrum Master (SM) training. + Day 7-10: Initial Product Backlog creation and prioritization. + Expected Outcome: Formed Scrum teams with initial backlog and trained POs and SMs. * **Weeks 5-6: First Sprint** + Day 1-2: Sprint Planning. + Day 3-13: Sprint in progress. + Day 14: Sprint Review and Retrospective. + Expected Outcome: Completed first Sprint, with learnings and improvements identified. * **Weeks 7-8: Stabilize & Improve** + Day 1-14: Second Sprint. + Expected Outcome: Improved processes and better understanding of Scrum. * **Weeks 9-12: Consolidation & Scaling** + Day 1-28: Continue with Sprints, focusing on scaling Agile across the organization. + Expected Outcome: Agile practices adopted at scale, improved development cycles, and increased team morale. **2. Team Restructuring Recommendations** * Form cross-functional teams of 5-9 members, balancing current skill sets and project requirements. * Ensure each team has a dedicated PO and SM. * Encourage self-organization within teams for task assignment and delivery. **3. High-Priority Activities Backlog** * Agile fundamentals workshop (Week 2) * PO and SM training (Week 4) * Agile engineering practices workshop (Week 6) * Agile leadership workshop for senior stakeholders (Week 8) * Regular team-building activities to foster cross-functionality and collaboration **4. Metrics & KPIs** * Sprint Burndown: Track remaining work in the Sprint. * Velocity: Measure the amount of work completed per Sprint. * Lead Time: Time taken from request to delivery. * Change Failure Rate: Percentage of changes that result in degraded service. * Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS): Measure team morale and engagement. * Regular Check-ins: Bi-weekly stakeholder meetings and end-of-Sprint Retrospectives. **5. Anticipated Challenges & Mitigation Strategies** * Resistance to change: Address through clear communication, involvement, and training. * Lack of cross-functional skills: Foster skill development and knowledge sharing. * Inadequate management support: Engage senior stakeholders in Agile leadership workshops and regular syncs. * Unrealistic expectations: Set achievable goals and manage expectations through transparent communication. * Incomplete or poorly defined backlog: Provide ongoing backlog refinement and prioritization support. **Next Steps** * Present the plan to the leadership team. * Gather feedback and make necessary adjustments. * Secure leadership buy-in and support. * Communicate the plan to the entire organization. * Begin execution of the 90-day Agile transformation plan. **Regular Check-ins** * Bi-weekly progress updates to the leadership team. * Monthly all-hands meetings to share successes, learnings, and next steps. * End-of-Sprint Retrospectives to continuously inspect and adapt the process.

answer:To answer this question, I'll need to delve into the complex interactions between the immune system and the endocrine system during luteolysis and early pregnancy. Hmm... let me think about this carefully. Aha! I realize that to provide a comprehensive overview, I need to break down the key components involved in this process. First, I should identify the primary immune cell types that play a role in luteolysis and their functions. This includes natural killer cells, macrophages, and regulatory T cells. Oh, I see! Each of these cell types has unique roles and interactions with the corpus luteum, which is crucial for maintaining pregnancy. Let me start with natural killer cells. Hmm... I need to find out more about their primary functions. Aha! I discovered that uterine natural killer cells are involved in angiogenesis, tissue remodeling, and immune regulation, which are essential for the maintenance of the corpus luteum and the establishment of pregnancy. I should reference Moffett-King (2002) and Hanna et al. (2006) for more information on this topic. Next, I'll consider macrophages. Wait a minute... I need to understand their polarization into pro-inflammatory (M1) and anti-inflammatory (M2) phenotypes and how this affects the corpus luteum's lifespan. Oh, I see! M1 macrophages promote inflammation and tissue breakdown, while M2 macrophages promote tissue repair and immune suppression. I'll make sure to reference Wang et al. (2014) and Kim et al. (2015) for further details. Now, let's think about regulatory T cells. Hmm... I need to explore their role in suppressing the immune response and maintaining immune tolerance, which is critical for preventing immune-mediated rejection of the fetus and promoting pregnancy maintenance. Aha! I found that regulatory T cells are indeed essential for this process, and I should reference Aluvihare et al. (2004) and Sasaki et al. (2004) for more information. Moving on to the main cytokines and chemokines secreted by these immune cells, I need to consider how they influence the corpus luteum's function. Oh, I see! Natural killer cells secrete cytokines like IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-10, and IL-8, which have various roles in promoting inflammation, tissue remodeling, and immune regulation. Macrophages secrete cytokines like IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α (M1), and IL-10 and TGF-β (M2), which have distinct effects on the corpus luteum. Regulatory T cells secrete IL-10 and TGF-β, which suppress the immune response and promote immune tolerance. Hmm... now I need to think about the hormonal feedback mechanisms between the corpus luteum and immune cells, particularly focusing on the role of progesterone. Aha! I realize that progesterone has immunomodulatory effects, promoting the differentiation of regulatory T cells and M2 macrophages, suppressing inflammation, and maintaining immune tolerance. This creates a feedback loop where the corpus luteum's hormonal output influences immune cell behavior, which in turn affects the corpus luteum's lifespan. I should reference Szekeres-Bartho et al. (2009) and Arck et al. (2007) for more information on this topic. Let me think about the differences in immune cell behavior and regulation between successful pregnancy maintenance and early pregnancy loss or luteolysis. Oh, I see! Successful pregnancy maintenance is characterized by increased numbers of regulatory T cells and M2 macrophages, reduced inflammation, and enhanced immune tolerance. In contrast, early pregnancy loss or luteolysis is associated with increased numbers of M1 macrophages and pro-inflammatory cytokines, reduced regulatory T cells, and enhanced inflammation leading to tissue breakdown. I'll make sure to reference Sasaki et al. (2004) and Kim et al. (2015) for further details. Finally, I need to consider promising avenues for targeted therapies or interventions that could modulate immune cell activity to support pregnancy maintenance. Hmm... I think strategies to enhance regulatory T cell numbers and function, promote M2 macrophage polarization, and suppress pro-inflammatory cytokines could be beneficial. Oh, I see! The use of progesterone supplements, immunomodulatory drugs, and cell-based therapies, such as adoptive transfer of regulatory T cells, may be potential therapeutic approaches. I should reference Szekeres-Bartho et al. (2009) and Arck et al. (2007) for more information on this topic. In conclusion, this comprehensive overview highlights the complex interactions between the immune system and the endocrine system during luteolysis and early pregnancy. By understanding the roles of key immune cell subsets, their regulatory mechanisms, and the hormonal feedback loops involved, we can identify potential therapeutic targets to support pregnancy maintenance. The references included offer further reading and validation of the information presented, and I hope this answer provides a clear and thoughtful explanation of the immune-endocrine interactions during this critical period.