bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The interrelationship between vocabulary acquisition theory and general SLA research
Authors: Haastrup Kirsten , Henriksen Birgit
Published: June 2012

The current state of affairs is characterised as one in which general SLA models have syntax as their core and pay less and variable attention to other linguistic levels, notably lexis. In order to improve the current situation we need involvement from both the vocabulary research community and SLA model builders. It is demonstrated how the former group readily borrows key concepts from psycholinguistics and SLA theory and rethinks them from a lexical point of view. However, such borrowing and recasting is often done in a piecemeal fashion to fit specific research issues. As for SLA model builders, some examples are discussed that are regarded as serious attempts at integrating lexis into a particular acquisition model. One is L2 reading research and vocabulary acquisition through reading, which illustrates a high degree of integration with common research goals and mutual theoretical inspiration. A second example underlines the fact that there is an obvious potential for including lexis in the ‘focus on form’ movement. It is our contention that more attention to lexis should supplement the predominantly grammatical ‘focus on form’ that is the current norm.
The effects of study abroad on the L2 learner’s structural skills
Authors: Howard Martin
Published: June 2012

This article compares the relative effect of study abroad as opposed to foreign language instruction on an aspect of the L2 learner’s grammatical development, namely the expression of past time in target language (TL) French. Based on a cross-sectional quantitative analysis of oral data elicited from Irish advanced learners, a number of differences and similarities emerge between the learners’ development in the TL community and in the foreign language classroom. On the one hand, the more beneficial effect of study abroad is evident insofar as the study abroad learners attain a higher level of accuracy in their use of past time morphology across a more expansive range of aspectual contexts. On the other hand, however, similarities are also evident between the learners in both domains of acquisition. Based on a variationist analysis which controls for the effect of a number of linguistic factors on the learners’ choice of past time marker (grammatical aspect, inherent lexical aspect, and discourse grounding), the learners’ contextual use of past time morphology appears to be relatively similar. The results are firstly dicussed in relation to existing research evidence concerning the L2 learner’s grammatical development during study abroad, and secondly, in relation to the question of the manifestation of grammatical development in the L2 learner.
Against an L2 morphological deficit as an explanation for the differences between native and non-native grammars
Authors: Franceschina Florencia
Published: June 2012

One proposed explanation for the observed differences between native and non-native speakers has been that certain peripheral systems interacting with the computational system are defective in L2 acquisition. This paper will consider some of the predictions that follow from assuming that the morphological module which interacts with the computational system (or their interface) is defective. If this basic assumption is correct, we should expect all learners to be able to acquire the L2 grammar equally well, and where mistakes are found they should be due to problems in the morphology. The results of an empirical study of the acquisition of grammatical gender in advanced English and Italian speakers of L2 Spanish do not support these predictions, as the errors found appear to be syntactic in nature.
L1 effects on the processing of grammatical gender in L2
Authors: Sabourin Laura L.
Published: June 2012

This paper explores L1 effects on the L2 off-line processing of Dutch (grammatical gender) agreement. The L2 participants had either German, English or a Romance language as their L1. Non-gender agreement (finiteness and agreement) was tested to ascertain the level of proficiency of the participants. It was found that the German and Romance groups did not differ from the native speaker controls while the English group performed significantly worse. For the two grammatical gender experiments clear effects of L1 were found. No groups performed at a level similar to the native speakers, but of the L2 groups a hierarchy of performance was found. The German group performed the best, then the Romance group followed by the lower proficient English group. This was taken to mean that not only having grammatical gender in the L1 was an important factor but that the grammatical gender had to be similar in order for the L2 distinctions to be learnt.
The acquisition of French by German pre-school children
Authors: Möhring Anja
Published: June 2012

The present study is an analysis of the acquisition of French by German children who were exposed to the language for the first time at the age of approximately three years. I investigated the usage of the French gender system, namely gender attribution and gender agreement, in order to determine whether these children were acquiring French as a ‘second’ first language, as bilinguals do with simultaneous input of two languages from birth onwards, or whether they were acquiring it as a ‘first’ second language. The analysis of several measures demonstrated that the usage of gender-marking elements of most subjects was more similar to that of bilingual children than of child L2 learners who have first been exposed to French after the age of 6. This suggests that bilingual first language acquisition is also possible with first exposure to a foreign language at the age of approximately three years.
The effect of metacognitive strategy training on reading comprehension and metacognitive knowledge
Authors: Kusiak Monika
Published: June 2012

This article discusses the results of research investigating the effect of metacognitive strategy training on the reading comprehension and metacognitive knowledge of Polish intermediate learners of English as a foreign language. Results of a pretest and posttest questionnaire and a reading comprehension test administered to both an experimental and a control group of students suggest that students who were taught to apply self-regulatory strategies while performing a task related to reading could enhance their metacognitive knowledge of themselves as readers, their perceptions of the reading process and reading strategies, and their motivation as well as self-evaluation of reading skills. With respect to the students’ reading comprehension, a comparison of the effect of the training on students at two levels of language competence indicates that the training was more effective for the less proficient students. The study points to the effectiveness of metacognitive strategy training for students at an intermediate level of language proficiency. It also stresses the significance of learners’ beliefs concerning reading and underscores the role of metacognition in developing reading skills.
Reinventing the native speaker
Authors: Escudero Paola , Sharwood Smith Michael
Published: June 2012

Precise definition of the term, ‘native speaker’, is extremely difficult and therefore usually avoided even though the concept is vital in SLA as in many other domains dealing with language ability. Most researchers rely on the assumption that there is a common understanding of what a native-speaker is. However, the requirements of scientific rigour make a close examination of this ‘common understanding’ an absolute necessity. We argue that reformulating the concept along the lines first suggested by Eleanor Rosch, i.e. using prototype theory, should provide the best way of introducing the necessary precision. This has the consequence that native-speakerhood becomes a gradient term with, respectively, core (prototypical) and peripheral features. This allows researchers to be more precise about what they, or the particular theoretical approach they adopt, claim to be the essential and non-essential features of nativeness and the necessary rigour is thereby achieved.
Case and φ-feature agreement in advanced L2 Spanish grammars
Authors: Franceschina Florencia
Published: June 2012

One account of divergence in advanced L2 grammars is that speakers fail to acquire functional features in the L2 that are not part of the L1 inventory, and that this leads to non-native representations. Since this idea was first proposed by Hawkins and Chan (1997), few studies have provided the type of data which would allow for it to be adequately tested. This paper presents experimental data from two studies of the acquisition of Case, number and gender agreement in a group of advanced learners of Spanish who are L1 speakers of English, French, German, Greek, Italian and Portuguese. Differences were found between accuracy on Case and number agreement on the one hand, and gender agreement on the other, in ways predicted by the Failed Functional Features hypothesis.
Complaining in French L1 and L2
Authors: Kraft Bettina , Geluykens Ronald
Published: June 2012

This paper addresses the linguistic realization of the face-threatening act of ‘complaints’ in native and non-native French discourse. Data were obtained through written Discourse Completion Tasks with German learners of French and native speakers to examine the extent to which L1 complaint strategies differ from L2 ones, the extent to which differences can be attributed to transfer from the L1, and the extent to which complaint behaviour is gender specific. While no direct evidence of pragmatic transfer from the L1 was found, significant differences were found between L1 and L2 in utterance lengths, degree of directness, use of supportive moves, and appearance of downgraders. Some gender specific features were also found.
Growing a vocabulary
Authors: Meara Paul
Published: June 2012

This paper describes how simple Boolean Network models can be adapted to explore the way a vocabulary network might grow. The models described have two main parameters — a New Word parameter, which determines the rate at which new words are added to the lexicon, and an independent New Link parameter, which determines the rate at which links form between words. Delaying the application of the New Link parameter by a small amount allows a core of words to establish itself. With these very simple assumptions, a network structure with some of the features of real lexicons can grow itself.

 The paper describes how the parameter values interact, and how the size of the initial core affects the way the lexicon grows. The paper also speculates about how a more realistic model of lexical growth might be constructed by making the basic processes in the models slightly more complex.
Acquiring phenomena at the syntax/semantics interface in L2 Spanish
Authors: Guijarro-Fuentes Pedro , Marinis Theodoros
Published: June 2012

Recent second language (L2) acquisition research has proposed that purely syntactic features are easier to acquire and less vulnerable than ones involving the interfaces (Sorace, 2004; Serratrice et al. 2004). The present paper addresses this issue by investigating the acquisition of the Spanish personal preposition a in English L2 learners of Spanish. The distribution of a in direct object NPs relates to the specificity/definiteness of the NP, the animacy/agentivity of the subject, and verb semantics (Torrego 1998; Zagona 2002). 33 English L2 learners of Spanish of different proficiency levels, and 14 Spanish controls participated in an acceptability judgement task. The results showed significant differences between native speakers and L2 learners of all proficiency levels, who performed at chance, and support the claim that L2 learners have difficulties acquiring structures involving the syntax/semantics interface. However, the advanced learners showed sensitivity to the least complex condition providing evidence that interface phenomena may be acquirable.
Success and failure in the EFL classroom
Authors: Gobel Peter , Mori Setsuko
Published: June 2012

This paper describes a study into learners’ attributions for success and failure in learning English as a foreign language. The study investigated perceived reasons for successes and failures on actual language learning tasks in both oral communication and reading classes, looking at how learners judge their successes and failures, and their range of attributions. A questionnaire was created based on attribution theory focusing on the attributions of ability, effort, task difficulty, and luck and was administered to 233 Japanese first-year university students. A significant relationship between exam scores and the attributions of ability, task difficulty and likes was found, with attributions for failure focusing on internal causes and attributions for success on external causes. The theoretical structure of causal attributions is discussed, and the implications that can be drawn with regard to cultural bias, language teaching and the nature of the learning environment are considered.
Foreign accent in advanced learners
Authors: Muñoz Carmen , Singleton David
Published: June 2012

Research has generally found age of learning (AOL) (i.e., age of initial significant L2 exposure) to predict degree of foreign accent (FA), while length of residence (LOR) has sometimes been seen as simply a corollary of AOL. The subjects in the present study were twelve late L2 learners of English with an average AOL of 22.5 and an average LOR of 10, plus a native-speaker control group. All the English-L2 subjects had Spanish and/or Catalan as L1. Short extracts were taken from their oral retelling of a film narrative and judged for FA by four native speakers of English. Language background data were elicited by questionnaire and interview. A significant difference overall emerged between native speakers and non-natives in terms of FA ratings. However, two of the learners scored within the native-speaker range. The discussion examines the possible influence of an array of factors on degree of FA, and explores what might underlie the native-like performance of the two most successful learners.
Why are L2 learners not always sensitive to subject-verb agreement?
Authors: Shibuya Mayumi , Wakabayashi Shigenori
Published: June 2012

This study investigates whether intermediate Japanese learners of English (JLE) show any variability in sensitivity to the overuse of 3rd person singular (3sg) -s and if they do, what the causes may be. The results of the experiment indicate that JLE do exhibit variability: JLE showed sensitivity to ungrammaticality caused by a discrepancy in person features between subjects and verbs. In addition, they were sensitive to number feature disagreement when the plurality of subjects was expressed syntactically, namely, by using the conjunction and (e.g., Tim and Paul), by the demonstrative these and by a numeral quantifier (e.g., these two secretaries). However, they were not sensitive to such disagreement when subjects were marked only by plural -s (e.g., The chefs). Based on these results, we suggest that the failure of JLE to use 3sg -s may not lie in the difficulty of subject–verb agreement, but in the detection of the number feature of sentential subjects. We suggest that intermediate JLE have problems both with the number feature at the lexicon/syntax level and with its morphological mapping at the level of morphology.
Corpus studies and functional linguistic theories
Authors: Butler Christopher S.
Published: June 2012

This paper discusses the relationships between corpus linguistics and functionalist theories, specifically in the light of the distinction which has been proposed between ‘corpus-based’ and ‘corpus-driven’ approaches. It argues that functional theories must take on board the findings of corpus-driven linguistics if they are to fulfil the aims they set for themselves. It also presents a selective survey of corpus work in two functional theories, Functional Grammar and Systemic Functional Grammar, and concludes that although much valuable work has been and is being done to make particular aspects of lexicogramamatical description more sensitive to attested linguistic data, more should be done to test the fundamental theoretical claims of such theories rigorously against what corpora can tell us, these claims being modified or even abandoned where necessary.
Thematic choice in English and Norwegian
Authors: Hasselgård Hilde
Published: June 2012

Using material from a parallel corpus with originals and translations in both English and Norwegian, the present study sets out to explore the lexicogrammatical properties of Theme and thematic choice in the two languages. Theme is defined according to systemic-functional grammar as the first element that has a function in transitivity, plus any preceding element(s). The extent to which Themes are preserved or altered in the translation process is also studied. There are more similarities than differences between the two languages as regards thematic structure. Some differences are due to the verb-second constraint that applies to Norwegian, but most are due to differences in frequency. Norwegian allows non-subject participants to be thematic more often than English does, while multiple Themes are more frequent in English. Within multiple Themes, the logical relations expressed by textual Themes differ between the languages. Translators tend to preserve the topical Theme of the original in the great majority of cases. When changes are made this may be due to lexicogrammatical differences between the languages or they may represent ‘normalization’ to a more frequent pattern in the target language. Translations are found to differ from original text in the same language as they borrow features from the source language.
Falling in love with style
Authors: Maynard Senko K.
Published: June 2012

This study analyzes the emotive meanings of three strategies - vocatives/reference forms, desu/masu versus da verb forms, and the use and non-use of the interactional particle yo -in a particular Mode of Japanese discourse. The research site is a television drama series, Majo no Jooken (Conditions of a Witch), that depicts a forbidden love affair. With the chronological development of the relationship between the two main characters in focus, the stylistic shift observed in these strategies is understood in terms of different expressive functions, and as a means for presenting different aspects of selves. The analysis is conducted adopting advanced methodologies in conversation analysis and discourse analysis. This study reveals not only that emotion is imbued and omnipresent in language and interaction, but also and more importantly, that linguistic strategy such as stylistic shift expresses changing emotions between the characters, and, in particular, that stylistic shift indexes changing degrees of intimacy.
From difference to divergence
Authors: Iedema Rick , Degeling Pieter
Published: June 2012

This paper considers the tension which develops among participants present at a health planning meeting, and describes the ‘ymbolic violence’ Bourdieu 1991) committed by two speakers on another. The focus will be on the contradiction that arises between bureaucratic discourse which is oriented towards ‘ue process’ and the interpersonalising trend of the talk towards conflict. The paper presents an analysis of around ninety turns of talk, with the purpose of showing two things. First, because the talk is enacted in a formal context and through the bureaucratic register,it is constrained in terms of the ways in which the interpersonal politics can be acted out. Second, the divergence between the speakers’ interactive styles is shown to gradually exacerbate. To be able to bring out this interactive dynamic, the paper provides a ‘ogogenetic’ analysis of the interaction, maintaining an analytical dialectic among levels of language and context. Logogenesis here refers to an analytical perspective which regards the unfolding of meaning in both a systemic (meanings mobilising specific domains of language and not others) and a text-historicising way (meanings ‘evolve’ rom one another in the course of interaction and reinforce or stand in tension with one another).
Language policies, language planning and linguistic landscapes in Timor-Leste
Authors: Macalister John
Published: June 2012

Timor-Leste is a nation where three exogenous languages (Portuguese, Bahasa Indonesia, English) and one of many endogenous languages (Tetun) compete to be heard in public spaces. The constitution names both Tetun and Portuguese as co-official languages, and English and Bahasa Indonesia as working languages in the civil service; but official and de facto language policy are not necessarily the same. One mechanism that can mediate between ideology and practice, both as a way of imposing and of resisting official policy, is language in the public space. This paper demonstrates the insights that examining language in the public space can provide on language policy debates. It reports on the investigation of a linguistic landscape in Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste, and finds considerable difference between official language policy and language practices.
Marking Otoliths and Fin Spines of Juvenile Shortnose Sturgeon with Oxytetracycline and the Effects of Water Temperature during Treatment
Authors: Crumpton Roman L. , Henne James P. , Ware Kent M.
Published: June 2012

In order to evaluate a stocking program for shortnose sturgeon Acipenser brevirostrum that uses captive propagation to supplement wild populations, methods are needed to differentiate wild and hatchery-reared individuals. Recently, methods have been established for marking juvenile shortnose sturgeon in oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OTC) baths, and the marks have been confirmed on both sagittal otoliths and first-ray pectoral fin spines. However, considerable variability of mark quality has been observed on both structures, and sacrificing the fish for otolith removal is undesirable due to the shortnose sturgeon's endangered status. The objectives of this study were to determine the impact of water temperature during OTC marking on otolith and fin spine mark quality and to determine whether fin spines are as reliable as otoliths for detecting OTC marks. Six groups (N = 90) of hatchery-produced shortnose sturgeon fingerlings were exposed to 750-mg/L OTC baths for 12 h at two temperatures (heated and ambient). After marking was complete, fish were raised for 21 d, then euthanized. Otoliths and fin spines were independently analyzed by two readers, and a mark quality score (0, 1, or 2) was assigned based upon detectability. Fish marked at warmer temperatures (heated treatment) exhibited superior mark quality (mean ± standard error of the mean mark quality = 1.78 ± 0.07) on their otoliths than those marked in the cooler baths (ambient treatment; 1.27 ± 0.09). Similar results were observed for fin spines. Mark quality on fin spines and otoliths was not found to be significantly different. This research demonstrates the ability to chemically mark otoliths and fin spines of juvenile shortnose sturgeon with similar and predictable results.

Received July 8, 2011; accepted January 23, 2012
A Single Sea Lamprey Attack Causes Acute Anemia and Mortality in Lake Sturgeon
Authors: Sepúlveda Maria S. , Patrick Holly K. , Sutton Trent M.
Published: June 2012

The effects of sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus parasitism on hematological variables have not been quantified for lake sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens. Our study objectives were to (1) assess changes in lake sturgeon hematology immediately after a single sea lamprey attack and after a 2-week recovery period and (2) assess changes in the histological condition of major hematopoietic organs. Lake sturgeon from four size-groups (470–570, 570–650, 650–760, and 950–1,500 mm fork length) were individually subjected to a sea lamprey attack in a series of 55 experimental trials. Survival of lake sturgeon after a single sea lamprey attack was size dependent, with fish in smaller size-groups exhibiting higher direct and indirect mortality than individuals in larger size-classes. The most sensitive blood chemistry variable was hematocrit: each 1% decline in hematocrit resulted in a 5.1% increase in mortality risk. Other important variables were plasma protein level, with a 10-g/dL decline resulting in a 4.2% increase in mortality risk; and hemoglobin, with a 1-g/dL decline resulting in a 2.9% increase in mortality risk. Most of the surviving lake sturgeon were unable to restore hemoglobin, hematocrit, and plasma protein to pre-attack levels by the end of the 2-week recovery period. We developed an index of histological spleen condition, which indicated that short-duration (<5-d) sea lamprey attachments depleted red blood cell reserves faster than longer-duration attacks. Our study results indicate that sea lamprey parasitism has the potential to induce acute anemia in lake sturgeon and that nonlethal attacks on smaller (<760-mm) fish can have serious physiological implications.

Received August 3, 2011; accepted February 2, 2012.
Talin is cut out for intercellular adhesion
Authors: Short Ben
Published: June 2012

Study reveals that arginylation and proteolysis regulate this focal adhesion protein's function at cell–cell contacts.
Arginylation-dependent regulation of a proteolytic product of talin is essential for cell–cell adhesion
Authors: Zhang Fangliang , Saha Sougata , Kashina Anna
Published: June 2012

Talin is a large scaffolding molecule that plays a major role in integrin-dependent cell–matrix adhesion. A role for talin in cell–cell attachment through cadherin has never been demonstrated, however. Here, we identify a novel calpain-dependent proteolytic cleavage of talin that results in the release of a 70-kD C-terminal fragment, which serves as a substrate of posttranslational arginylation. The intracellular levels of this fragment closely correlated with the formation of cell–cell adhesions, and this fragment localized to cadherin-containing cell–cell contacts. Moreover, reintroduction of this fragment rescued the cell–cell adhesion defects in arginyltransferase (Ate1) knockout cells, which normally have a very low level of this fragment. Arginylation of this fragment further enhanced its ability to rescue cell–cell adhesion formation. In addition, arginylation facilitated its turnover, suggesting a dual role of arginylation in its intracellular regulation. Thus, our work identifies a novel proteolytic product of talin that is regulated by arginylation and a new role of talin in cadherin-dependent cell–cell adhesion.
2D protrusion but not motility predicts growth factor–induced cancer cell migration in 3D collagen
Authors: Meyer Aaron S. , Hughes-Alford Shannon K. , Kay Jennifer E. , Castillo Amalchi , Wells Alan , Gertler Frank B. , Lauffenburger Douglas A.
Published: June 2012

Growth factor–induced migration is a critical step in the dissemination and metastasis of solid tumors. Although differences in properties characterizing cell migration on two-dimensional (2D) substrata versus within three-dimensional (3D) matrices have been noted for particular growth factor stimuli, the 2D approach remains in more common use as an efficient surrogate, especially for high-throughput experiments. We therefore were motivated to investigate which migration properties measured in various 2D assays might be reflective of 3D migratory behavioral responses. We used human triple-negative breast cancer lines stimulated by a panel of receptor tyrosine kinase ligands relevant to mammary carcinoma progression. Whereas 2D migration properties did not correlate well with 3D behavior across multiple growth factors, we found that increased membrane protrusion elicited by growth factor stimulation did relate robustly to enhanced 3D migration properties of the MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-157 lines. Interestingly, we observed this to be a more reliable relationship than cognate receptor expression or activation levels across these and two additional mammary tumor lines.
Association between Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci Bacteremia and Ceftriaxone Usage
Authors: McKinnell James A. , Kunz Danielle F. , Chamot Eric , Patel Mukesh , Shirley Rhett M. , Moser Stephen A. , Baddley John W. , Pappas Peter G. , Miller Loren G.
Published: June 2012

Objective.

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have become a public health concern with implications for patient mortality and costs. Hospital antibiotic usage may impact VRE incidence, but the relationship is poorly understood. Animal investigations suggest that ceftriaxone may be associated with VRE proliferation. We measured antimicrobial usage and VRE bloodstream infection (VRE-BSI) incidence to test our hypothesis that increased ceftriaxone usage would be associated with a higher incidence of VRE-BSI.

Design.

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting.

University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Center, a 900-bed urban tertiary care hospital.

Participants.

All patients admitted during the study period contributed data.

Methods.

We conducted a retrospective analysis of antimicrobial usage and VRE-BSI from 2005 to 2008 (43 months). Antimicrobial usage was quantified as days of therapy (DOTs) per 1,000 patient-days. VRE-BSI incidence was calculated as cases per 1,000 patient-days. Negative binomial regression with adjustment for correlation between consecutive observations was used to measure the association between antimicrobial usage and VRE-BSI incidence at the hospital- and care-unit levels.

Results.

VRE-BSI incidence increased from 0.06 to 0.17 infections per 1,000 patient-days. Hospital VRE-BSI incidence was associated with prior-month ceftriaxone DOTs (incidence rate ratio, 1.38 per 10 DOTs; P = .005). After controlling for ceftriaxone, prior-month cephalosporin usage (class) was not predictive of VRE-BSI (P = .70). Similarly, prior-month usage of piperacillin-tazobactam, ceftazidime, cefepime, cefazolin, or vancomycin was not predictive of VRE-BSI when considered individually (P ≥ .4 for all comparisons). The final model suggests that type of intensive care unit was related to VRE-BSI incidence.

Conclusions.

Ceftriaxone usage in the prior month, but not cephalosporin (class) or vancomycin usage, was related to VRE-BSI incidence. These findings suggest that an antimicrobial stewardship program that limits ceftriaxone may reduce nosocomial VRE-BSI incidence.
Serologic Testing for Protection against Hepatitis B Virus Infection among Students at a Health Sciences University in the United States
Authors: Spradling Philip R. , Williams Roxanne E. , Xing Jian , Soyemi Kenneth , Towers Joseph
Published: June 2012

Objective.

To evaluate hepatitis B vaccination coverage and documentation of vaccine-induced immunity.

Design.

Retrospective cohort analysis.

Setting.

Graduate school in the United States with programs in osteopathic medicine, dentistry, and allied health.

Methods.

Data collected included demographics, dates of hepatitis B vaccine doses, and postvaccination concentrations of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs), with dates. The proportions of students with anti-HBs of 10 IU/L or more by demographics, age at vaccination, interval since completion of the primary series, and response to additional vaccine doses were compared.

Results.

Of 3,452 students who matriculated during 2004–2009, 2,643 had complete data; 2,481 (93.9%) received 3 primary doses. Most were women (64.6%), US-born (85.6%), and white (63.2%); median age at receipt of the primary series was 14.5 years (interquartile range, 11.6–20.2 years) and at postvaccination testing was 23.2 years (interquartile range, 22.1–24.8 years). Of those who received 3 primary doses, 2,306 (92.9%) had an anti-HBs postvaccination concentration of 10 IU/L or more. Younger age at vaccination and longer time interval from vaccination to anti-HBs testing were associated with a postvaccination concentration of less than 10 IU/L (P < .001 and P = .0185, respectively, Cochran-Armitage test for trend). Almost all students (98.2%) who initially had less than 10 IU/L of anti-HBs, but then received at least 1 additional dose, had a follow-up anti-HBs concentration of 10 IU/L or more.

Conclusions.

Almost all students had serologic evidence of protection against hepatitis B virus infection; most were vaccinated as adolescents and were tested more than 10 years after vaccination. Among students with anti-HBs concentrations of less than 10 IU/L, nearly all had 10 IU/L or more after at least 1 additional vaccine dose.
Cluster Randomized Trial to Evaluate the Effect of a Multimodal Hand Hygiene Improvement Strategy in Primary Care
Authors: Martín-Madrazo Carmen , Soto-Díaz Sonia , Cañada-Dorado Asuncion , Salinero-Fort Miguel Angel , Medina-Fernández Manuela , de Santa Pau Enrique Carrillo , Gómez-Campelo Paloma , Abánades-Herranz Juan Carlos
Published: June 2012

Objective.

To evaluate the effectiveness of a multimodal intervention in primary care health professionals for improved compliance with hand hygiene practice, based on the World Health Organization's 5 Moments for Health Hygiene.

Design.

Cluster randomized trial, parallel 2-group study (intervention and control).

Setting.

Primary healthcare centers in Madrid, Spain.

Participants.

Eleven healthcare centers with 198 healthcare workers (general practitioners, nurses, pediatricians, auxiliary nurses, midwives, odontostomatologists, and dental hygienists).

Methods.

The multimodal hand hygiene improvement strategy consisted of training of healthcare workers by teaching sessions, implementation of hydroalcoholic solutions, and installation of reminder posters. The hand hygiene compliance level was evaluated by observation during regular care activities in the office visit setting, at the baseline moment, and 6 months after the intervention, all by a single external observer.

Results.

The overall baseline compliance level was 8.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.2-10.1), and the healthcare workers of the intervention group increased their hand hygiene compliance level by 21.6% (95% CI, 13.83-28.48) compared with the control group.

Conclusions.

This study has demonstrated that hand hygiene compliance in primary healthcare workers can be improved with a multimodal hand hygiene improvement strategy.
Monitoring Hand Hygiene via Human Observers: How Should We Be Sampling?
Authors: Fries Jason , Segre Alberto M. , Thomas Geb , Herman Ted , Ellingson Katherine , Polgreen Philip M.
Published: June 2012

Objective.

To explore how hand hygiene observer scheduling influences the number of events and unique individuals observed.

Design.

We deployed a mobile sensor network to capture detailed movement data for 6 categories of healthcare workers over a 2-week period.

Setting.

University of Iowa Hospital and Clinic medical intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods.

We recorded 33,721 time-stamped healthcare worker entries to and exits from patient rooms and considered each entry or exit to be an opportunity for hand hygiene. Architectural drawings were used to derive 4 optimal line-of-sight placements for observers. We ran simulations for different observer movement schedules, all with a budget of 1 hour of total observation time. We considered observation times of 1–15, 15–30, 30, and 60 minutes per station. We stochastically generated healthcare worker hand hygiene compliance on the basis of all data and recorded the total unit compliance as it would be reported by each simulated observer.

Results.

Considering a 60-minute total observation period, aggregate simulated observers captured 1.7% of the average total number of opportunities per day at best and 0.5% at worst. The 1–15-minute schedule captures, on average, 16% fewer events than does the 60-minute (ie, static) schedule, but it samples 17% more unique individuals. The 1–15-minute schedule also provides the best estimator of compliance for the duration of the shift, with a mean standard deviation of 17%, compared with 23% for the 60-minute schedule.

Conclusions.

Our results show that observations are sensitive to different observers' schedules and suggest the importance of using data-driven approaches to schedule hand hygiene audits.
Operations on resolutions and the reverse Adams spectral sequence
Authors: Blanc David A.
Published: June 2012

We describe certain operations on resolutions in abelian categories, and apply them to calculate part of a reverse Adams spectral sequence, going "from homotopy to homology", for the space

K

(

Z

/

2
,
n
)

{\mathbf {K}}(\mathbb {Z}/2,n)

. This calculation is then used to deduce that there is no space whose homotopy groups are the reduction

mod

2

\bmod \; 2

of

π
∗

S

r

{\pi _\ast }{{\mathbf {S}}^r}

. As another application of the operations we give a short proof of T. Y. Lin’s theorem on the infinite projective dimension of all nonfree

π
\pi

-modules.
Best uniform approximation by solutions of elliptic differential equations
Authors: Gauthier P. M. , Zwick D.
Published: June 2012

We investigate best uniform approximations to continuous functions on compact subsets of

R

n

{\mathbb {R}^n}

by solutions of elliptic differential equations and, in particular, by harmonic functions. An axiomatic setting general enough to encompass problems of this kind is given, and in this context we extend necessary and sufficient conditions for best harmonic approximation on precompact Jordan domains to arbitrary compact sets and to more general classes of solutions of linear elliptic differential equations.
On the generalized Benjamin-Ono equation
Authors: Kenig Carlos E. , Ponce Gustavo , Vega Luis
Published: June 2012

We study well-posedness of the initial value problem for the generalized Benjamin-Ono equation∂tu+uk∂xu−∂xDxu=0{\partial _t}u + {u^k}{\partial _x}u - {\partial _x}{D_x}u = 0,k∈Z+k \in {\mathbb {Z}^ + }, in Sobolev spacesHs(R){H^s}(\mathbb {R}). For small data and higher nonlinearities(k≥2)(k \geq 2)new local and global (including scattering) results are established. Our method of proof is quite general. It combines several estimates concerning the associated linear problem with the contraction principle. Hence it applies to other dispersive models. In particular, it allows us to extend the results for the generalized Benjamin-Ono to nonlinear Schrödinger equations (or systems) of the form<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="partial-differential Subscript t Baseline u minus i partial-differential Subscript x Superscript 2 Baseline u plus upper P left-parenthesis u comma partial-differential Subscript x Baseline u comma u overbar comma partial-differential Subscript x Baseline u overbar right-parenthesis equals 0">∂tu−i∂x2u+P(u,∂xu,u¯,∂xu¯)=0{\partial _t}u - i\partial _x^2u + P(u,{\partial _x}u,\bar u,{\partial _x}\bar u) = 0.
Infinite families of isomorphic nonconjugate finitely generated subgroups
Authors: Johnson F. E. A.
Published: June 2012

Let

⟨

,

⟩
:
L
×
L
→

Z

\langle \;,\;\rangle :L \times L \to \mathbb {Z}

be a nondegenerate symmetric bilinear form on a finitely generated free abelian group L which splits as an orthogonal direct sum
<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="left-parenthesis upper L comma mathematical left-angle comma mathematical right-angle right-parenthesis approximately-equals left-parenthesis upper L 1 comma mathematical left-angle comma mathematical right-angle right-parenthesis up-tack left-parenthesis upper L 2 comma mathematical left-angle comma mathematical right-angle right-parenthesis up-tack left-parenthesis upper L 3 comma mathematical left-angle comma mathematical right-angle right-parenthesis">

(
L
,

⟨

,

⟩
)
≅
(

L
1

,

⟨

,

⟩
)
⊥
(

L
2

,

⟨

,

⟩
)
⊥
(

L
3

,

⟨

,

⟩
)

(L,\;\langle \;,\;\rangle ) \cong ({L_1},\;\langle \;,\;\rangle ) \bot ({L_2},\;\langle \;,\;\rangle ) \bot ({L_3},\;\langle \;,\;\rangle )

in which

(

L
1

,

⟨

,

⟩
)

({L_1},\;\langle \;,\;\rangle )

has signature (2, 1),

(

L
2

,

⟨

,

⟩
)

({L_2},\;\langle \;,\;\rangle )

has signature (n, 1) with

n
≥
2

n \geq 2

, and

(

L
3

,

⟨

,

⟩
)

({L_3},\;\langle \;,\;\rangle )

is either zero or indefinite with

rk

Z

(

L
3

)
≥
3

{\text {rk}}_\mathbb {Z}({L_3}) \geq 3

. We show that the integral automorphism group

Aut

Z

(
L
,

⟨

,

⟩
)

{\operatorname {Aut} _\mathbb {Z}}(L,\;\langle \;,\;\rangle )

contains an infinite family of mutually isomorphic finitely generated subgroups

(

Γ
σ

)

σ
∈
Σ

{({\Gamma _\sigma })_{\sigma \in \Sigma }}

, no two of which are conjugate. In the simplest case, when

L
3

=
0

{L_3} = 0

, the groups

Γ
σ

{\Gamma _\sigma }

are all normal subdirect products in a product of free groups or surface groups. The result can be seen as a failure of the rigidity property for subgroups of infinite covolume within the corresponding Lie group
<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="upper A u t Subscript double-struck upper Z Baseline left-parenthesis upper L circled-times Subscript double-struck upper Z Baseline double-struck upper R comma mathematical left-angle comma mathematical right-angle circled-times 1 right-parenthesis">

Aut

Z

(
L

⊗

Z

R

,

⟨

,

⟩
⊗
1
)

{\operatorname {Aut} _\mathbb {Z}}(L{ \otimes _\mathbb {Z}}\mathbb {R},\;\langle \;,\;\rangle \otimes 1)

.
Intersection bodies and the Busemann-Petty problem
Authors: Gardner R. J.
Published: June 2012

It is proved that the answer to the Busemann-Petty problem concerning central sections of centrally symmetric convex bodies in d-dimensional Euclidean space

E

d

{\mathbb {E}^d}

is negative for a given d if and only if certain centrally symmetric convex bodies exist in

E

d

{\mathbb {E}^d}

which are not intersection bodies. It is also shown that a cylinder in

E

d

{\mathbb {E}^d}

is an intersection body if and only if

d
≤
4

d \leq 4

, and that suitably smooth axis-convex bodies of revolution are intersection bodies when

d
≤
4

d \leq 4

. These results show that the Busemann-Petty problem has a negative answer for

d
≥
5

d \geq 5

and a positive answer for

d
=
3

d = 3

and

d
=
4

d = 4

when the body with smaller sections is a body of revolution.
Wavelets of multiplicity 𝑟
Authors: Goodman T. N. T. , Lee S. L.
Published: June 2012

A multiresolution approximation

(

V
m

)

m
∈

Z

{({V_m})_{m \in {\mathbf {Z}}}}

of

L
2

(

R

)

{L^2}({\mathbf {R}})

is of multiplicity

r
>
0

r > 0

if there are r functions

ϕ
1

,
…
,

ϕ
r

{\phi _1}, \ldots ,{\phi _r}

whose translates form a Riesz basis for

V
0

{V_0}

. In the general theory we derive necessary and sufficient conditions for the translates of

ϕ
1

,
…
,

ϕ
r

,

ψ
1

,
…
,

ψ
r

{\phi _1}, \ldots ,{\phi _r},\;{\psi _1}, \ldots ,{\psi _r}

to form a Riesz basis for

V
1

{V_1}

. The resulting reconstruction and decomposition sequences lead to the construction of dual bases for

V
0

{V_0}

and its orthogonal complement

W
0

{W_0}

in

V
1

{V_1}

. The general theory is applied in the construction of spline wavelets with multiple knots. Algorithms for the construction of these wavelets for some special cases are given.
Climate-related variations in the occurrence and distribution of mackerel (Scomber scombrus) in Icelandic waters
Authors: Astthorsson Olafur S. , Valdimarsson Héðinn , Gudmundsdottir Asta , Óskarsson Guðmundur J.
Published: June 2012

Astthorsson, O. S., Valdimarsson, H., Gudmundsdottir, A., and Óskarsson, G. J. 2012. Climate-related variations in the occurrence and distribution of mackerel (Scomber scombrus) in Icelandic waters. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 69: . Based on long-term investigations on sea temperature in Icelandic waters, five climatic periods are defined from the mid-1880s until today. These are a cold period between 1880 and 1920, a warm period between 1921 and 1964, a cold period between 1965 and 1971, one of intermediate conditions (alternating warm and cold) between 1972 and 1995, and finally a warm period from 1996 until today. Mackerel were first reported from Icelandic waters in 1895, were then found intermittently until 1996, and from then appeared almost every year and since 2007 in large numbers in many areas around Iceland. The occurrence of mackerel appears to be confined mainly to warm periods in the North Atlantic Ocean and around Iceland. The unprecedented occurrence and extended distribution of the species began at the onset of the recent warm period during the mid-1990s and, in recent years, 0-group and age 1 mackerel have also been observed in Icelandic waters. This expansion in distribution resulted initially in a bycatch fishery, which then developed into a direct fishery within the Icelandic Exclusive Economic Zone, increasing from ∼1700 t in 2006 to ∼120 000 t in 2009 and 2010.
Rapid Mobilization of Membrane Lipids in Wheat Leaf Sheaths During Incompatible Interactions with Hessian Fly
Authors: Zhu Lieceng , Liu Xuming , Wang Haiyan , Khajuria Chitvan , Reese John C. , Whitworth R. Jeff , Welti Ruth , Chen Ming-Shun
Published: June 2012

Hessian fly (HF) is a biotrophic insect that interacts with wheat on a gene-for-gene basis. We profiled changes in membrane lipids in two isogenic wheat lines: a susceptible line and its backcrossed offspring containing the resistance gene H13. Our results revealed a 32 to 45% reduction in total concentrations of 129 lipid species in resistant plants during incompatible interactions within 24 h after HF attack. A smaller and delayed response was observed in susceptible plants during compatible interactions. Microarray and real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses of 168 lipid-metabolism-related transcripts revealed that the abundance of many of these transcripts increased rapidly in resistant plants after HF attack but did not change in susceptible plants. In association with the rapid mobilization of membrane lipids, the concentrations of some fatty acids and 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA) increased specifically in resistant plants. Exogenous application of OPDA increased mortality of HF larvae significantly. Collectively, our data, along with previously published results, indicate that the lipids were mobilized through lipolysis, producing free fatty acids, which were likely further converted into oxylipins and other defense molecules. Our results suggest that rapid mobilization of membrane lipids constitutes an important step for wheat to defend against HF attack.
Participants’ Evaluation of the Project P.A.T.H.S.: Are Findings Based on Different Datasets Consistent?
Authors: Shek Daniel T. L. , Sun Rachel C. F.
Published: June 2012

Subjective outcome evaluation findings based on the perspective of the participants of the Project P.A.T.H.S. (Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programmes) in nine datasets collected from 2005 to 2009 (n=206,313program participants) were examined in this paper. Based on the consolidated data with schools as units, results showed that the participants generally had positive perceptions of the program, implementers, and benefits of the program. More than four-fifths of the participants regarded the program as beneficial to their holistic development. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the perceived qualities of the program and the program implementers predicted perceived effectiveness of the program. Based on the subjective outcome evaluation findings, the present study provides support for the effectiveness of the Tier 1 Program of the Project P.A.T.H.S. in Hong Kong.