cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multicompetence and Second Language Assessment

This article discusses the implications of “multicompetence” (Cook, 1991), defined as an individual's knowledge of more than one language, for language assessment. The growing psycholinguistic evidence highlighting variability in native speaker performance as a result of multicompetence is reviewed, evidence that further questions the validity of the much beleaguered notion of the “native speaker benchmark” when such benchmarks are based on monolingual native speakers. The possibility of multicompetent benchmarks is considered, and preliminary descriptions of a variety of potential linguistic profiles are provided, delineated by linguistic subsystem and language combination, along with suggestions for further work in this area. Recognizing that research on multicompetence is still in its infancy, and that adoption of partial descriptions of multicompetent grammars for the purposes of language testing poses a number of logistical challenges, the article concludes with some general suggestions for standardi...
Fatal, disseminated pneumocystosis in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome receiving prophylactic aerosolized pentamidine

On rapporte un cas de pneumocystose disseminee mortelle chez un homme atteint de SIDA, sans signes cliniques de pneumonie qui avait recu un traitement prolonge par la pentamidine en aerosol a titre preventif
Effect of a Manual Screwdriver with a Pistol-Grip Handle on Maximum Torque and Muscle Activity:

Electric utility power plant electricians use a conventional manual screwdriver to loosen and tighten small fasteners on a day-to-day basis, which may expose them to risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) affecting the wrist and upper extremity. Using a screwdriver handle that requires less muscle activity to exert the same level of torque can reduce the risk of MSDs. Maximal forearm torque in both supinating and pronating directions and at 3 forearm positions (supinated, neutral and pronated) were tested with 2 screwdrivers, a conventional straight-handled tool and pistol-grip screwdriver. Electromyography (EMG) of the finger flexor and extensor muscles and the biceps were monitored while performing maximal forearm torque exertions in the pronating and supinating directions at 3 forearm positions. The torque exerted while using the pistol-grip screwdriver was twice as great as with the straight handle (8.47 and 4.24 Nm, respectively). The turning direction affected maximal torque and interacted with po...
Fiber optic chemical sensor constructed with different types of optical fiber

Optical fiber sensors have gained much attention in recent years. Optical fiber based chemical sensors often use a reaction chamber within which a chemical reaction involving the sensing species occurs. A color change may result from this chemical reaction and, with light passing through the reaction chamber, the light intensity can be modulated by this color change. Consequently, this change in light intensity can be used to quantify the sensing species present. In most of these chemical sensors, either one or two optical fibers will be used. If a single fiber is used, the signal derived from the chemical reaction is relatively weak. On the other hand, if either one or two optical fibers are used, a mirror-finished surface is usually required for the reflection of light to the detector. In this research, optical fiber sensors are constructed using two different types of fibers. One is a quartz fiber and the other is a plastic fiber. The plastic fiber is more flexible and can be bent or connected with a slant surface at the top of the fiber at 45 degree(s). Two types of sensors were constructed--a temperature sensor employing a thermochromic solution and a pH sensor using a pH sensitive dye. By using the two types of fiber, a mirror-finished surface is no longer necessary. The weak signal due to the use of a single fiber is also minimized.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Characterization of DNA Probes Immobilized on Gold Surfaces

We have characterized thiol-derivatized, single-stranded DNA (5‘-HS-(CH2)6-CAC GAC GTT GTA AAA CGA CGG CCA G-3‘, abbreviated HS-ssDNA) attached to gold via a sulfur−gold linkage using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ellipsometry, and 32P-radiolabeling experiments. We found that hybridization of surface-bound HS-ssDNA is dependent on surface coverage. The buffer concentration of the HS-ssDNA solution was found to have a profound effect on surface coverage, with adsorption greatly reduced at low salt concentration. More precise control over surface coverage was achieved by creating mixed monolayers of the thiol-derivatized probe and a spacer thiol, mercaptohexanol (MCH), by way of a two-step method, where first the gold substrate is exposed to a micromolar solution of HS-ssDNA, followed by exposure to a millimolar solution of MCH. A primary advantage of using this two-step process to form HS-ssDNA/MCH mixed monolayers is that nonspecifically adsorbed DNA is largely removed from the surface. Thus, th...
Sleeping Beauty-Mediated Transposition and Long-Term Expression in Vivo: Use of the LoxP/Cre Recombinase System to Distinguish Transposition-Specific Expression

The Sleeping Beauty transposon system (SB) has been shown to mediate nonviral integration of expression constructs resulting in long-term gene expression in several mammalian targets. Often, however, it is difficult to discern long-term expression resulting from transposition vs nonhomologous chromosomal recombination or maintenance of plasmid DNA in an extrachromosomal form. We have designed a system to silence expression from nontransposed sequences, making it possible to determine more specifically the amount of expression resulting from transposition. A transposon plasmid, pT2F/Cage (carrying a murine erythropoietin (Epo) gene transcriptionally regulated by the ubiquitously expressed CAGS promoter), was engineered to contain LoxP sites positioned so as to interrupt expression upon Cre-mediated recombination. Upon transposition these sites become segregated, thus protecting the expression construct from Cre-mediated recombination and subsequent silencing. Interferon-inducible Mx1Cre mice were administered pT2F/Cage with or without transposase-encoding plasmid. At 2 to 4 weeks postinjection, in the absence of SB transposase, Cre induction reduced Epo expression to about 1% of that seen in the group that was administered transposase-encoding plasmid, which maintained Epo levels near those of the uninduced groups. Southern hybridization analysis and plasmid rescue of transfected tissue supported the efficient Cre-mediated silencing of nontransposed sequences. These results indicate a substantial level of DNA-mediated expression not associated with transposition, but which can be quantitatively distinguished from transposition by its sensitivity to Cre recombinase. The results also provide additional evidence for the effectiveness of the Sleeping Beauty transposon system as an in vivo DNA-mediated gene transfer strategy for achieving long-term expression.
Menstrual-cycle phase and sexual behavior in semi-free-ranging stumptail Macaques (Macaca arctoides)

The sexual behavior and female reproductive cycles of a group of island-dwelling stumptail macaques (Macaca arctoides)were monitored over a 6-month period, yielding 530 observation hr and 268 copulations. Compared to nondominant males, the dominant male copulated at a relatively high rate throughout the cycle, but largely with one high-ranking female. The non-dominant males copulated most frequently at midcycle. Female presenting was highest at midcycle, but only to the dominant male. Cross-study discrepancies may be due to different observation methods and restricted environmental conditions that mask female-initiated sexual behavior. The more naturalistic setting of this study allowed for a fuller expression of proceptivity. Contrary to some previous conclusions, present findings suggest that both hormonal and socioenvironmental factors influence the patterns of sexual behavior found in stumptail macaque colonies.
140 INTRAUTERINE INOCULATION OF CATTLE WITH BOVINE VIRAL DIARRHEA VIRUS SIMULTANEOUS TO TRANSFER OF IN VIVO-DERIVED BOVINE EMBRYOS

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) has been shown to be associated with single transferable in vivo-derived and in vitro-produced bovine embryos despite washing. Hence, the primary objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of BVDV to be transmitted via the intrauterine route at the time of embryo transfer. A total of 10 in vivo-derived Day 7 bovine embryos were nonsurgically collected from a BVDV negative and seronegative donor cow. After collection, embryos were washed in accordance with the International Embryo Transfer Society (IETS) standards. Following washing, embryos were placed into transfer media containing BVDV (SD-1; type 1a). The embryos were immediately aspirated into 0.25-mL straws and transferred into seronegative recipients (Day 0). The total quantity of virus transferred into the uterus of each recipient was 900 to 1000 cell culture infective dose 50 (CCID50)/straw. This amount of virus was previously shown to be consistent with the average amount of BVDV associated with in vivo-derived and in vitro-produced embryos following standard IETS washing procedures after in vitro exposure to virus. The positive control heifer received 1.5 × 106 CCID50/straw of BVDV without an embryo. The negative control heifer received 1.5 × 106 CCID50/straw of heat-inactivated BVDV without an embryo. Serum and buffy coat samples were drawn from all heifers on Days 0, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, and 30 after inoculation and analyzed for serum neutralizing antibodies and virus, respectively. The positive control heifer and all recipients of virus-exposed embryos exhibited viremia by Day 6 and seroconverted by Day 15. The negative control heifer did not exhibit viremia or seroconvert. All recipients receiving embryos were assessed for pregnancy using transrectal ultrasonography on Day 30 and 6 of 10 heifers were pregnant. On Day 60 the pregnant heifers were again assessed for pregnancy using transrectal ultrasonography. At this time only 1 of the 6 heifers was still pregnant. However, the fetus was determined to be nonviable and was removed via colpotomy. The fetus, fetal fluids and membranes were determined to be positive for BVDV via immunohistochemistry and PCR. Additionally, 213 base pairs of the 5′ nontranslated region of this PCR product were sequenced and found to be consistent with the inoculated strain. Results demonstrate that the average quantity of BVDV associated with bovine embryos after in vitro exposure and washing can result in viremia and seroconversion of seronegative recipients following transfer into the uterus during diestrus.
An empirical investigation into factors relating to the use of course management software by post-secondary faculty

This research studies faculty use of Course Management Software (CMS) in post-secondary institutions. CMS allows faculty members to demonstrate skills, share knowledge and communicate with students at various times and through various means. There are a variety of methods to make CMS available for students; however, at some point, involvement by the faculty is required. This research centres on faculty constructs such as performance and effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, privacy and security concerns and implementation time. The moderating variables were gender, anxiety, years of teaching, experience and faculty rank. After surveying the faculty, logistic regression was applied to investigate the relationship between the utilisation of a CMS system by the post-secondary faculty and the six independent variables. Different sets of factors from performance and effort expectancy, facilitating conditions and years of teaching were found to be significantly related to the utilisation of the CMS system by post-secondary faculty.
Monoclonal antibody to lymphocyte function associated antigen-1 improves graft-versus-host disease.

We previously showed that intestinal tissue expression of lymphocyte function associated antigen-1 is increased in animals with graft-versus-host disease after small-bowel transplantation. HYPOTHESIS: Treatment of rats with monoclonal antibody to lymphocyte function associated antigen-1 after small-bowel transplantation will lessen the severity of graft-versus-host disease. METHODS: Graft-versus-host disease was created in Lewis X Brown-Norway F1 rats by heterotopic vascularized small-bowel transplantation from Lewis donors. Transplanted rats were treated with either saline or various regimens of monoclonal antibody to lymphocyte function associated antigen-1. Clinical characteristics, weight loss, spleen index, white blood cell counts, native intestinal histology, bowel permeability, and survival were then compared between groups and appropriate sham-operated and lymphocyte function associated antigen-1-treated controls. RESULTS: Lymphocyte function associated antigen-1-treated rats lost less weight, had larger spleen indexes, more normal white blood cell counts, more normal native intestinal histology, less alteration in bowel permeability, and longer survival than untreated small-bowel transplantation rats. CONCLUSIONS: In this model of graft-versushost disease after small-bowel transplantation, monoclonal antibody to lymphocyte function associated antigen-1 treatment decreased the severity of graft-versus-host disease and prolonged rat survival.
Experimental determination of the material parameters of elasto-plastic workhardening metal alloys

Abstract A system of constitutive equations is proposed that describes the elasto-plastic behavior of a class of metal alloys when subjected to large deformations. The equations are written in the material form and incorporate both the kinematic and the isotropic hardening models. A procedure is outlined for the experimental determination of the necessary material parameters of these alloys. The material parameters were experimentally evaluated for aluminum alloy 2024 in the T4 temper condition which incorporates isotropic hardening only.
Testing of personnel dosimetry devices for hazard evaluation of solvent refined coal droplet aerosols

The size-separating capabilities of two types of personnel dosimetry devices, Andersen 4-stage mini-cascade impactors and BDX cyclone separators, were evaluated for droplet aerosols of solvent refined coal liquids. Performances were judged by comparison of sampling data against Andersen 8-stage ambient cascade impactors. Results show an excellent agreement between respirable mass fractions determined with the mini-samplers and the laboratory cascade impactors. Cyclone data were not in as good agreement with ambient cascade impactor findings. Mini-samplers also accurately measured the mass median aerodynamic diameters (MMAD) and geometric standard deviations (σg) of the aerosols. These findings suggest that mini-sampler personnel dosimetry cascade impactors may be used to accurately assess the deposition characteristics and potential health hazards of droplet aerosols in work environments where complex hydrocarbon mixtures may be of concern.
Subtle messages in clinical supervision.

The supervision literature is replete with cautions that supervision practice often must be subtle and nuanced to meet the individualized needs of supervisees. It offers little direction, however, for how and why a supervisor might choose a more subtle, indirect approach over a more direct approach. Some guidelines for making this decision and some examples of more subtle, indirect approaches are described and illustrated.
High-affinity GABA and glutamate transport in developing nerve ending particles

Abstract The high-affinity transport of [ 3 H]GABA and [ 14 C]glutamate was measured in discrete nerve ending fractions isolated from the developing rat cortex, beginning on day 7 postpartum and prepared using discontinuous Ficoll-isotonic sucrose gradients. On day 7 the material sedimenting in the lightest gradient fractions contained the highest density of particles capable of high-affinity transport. With increasing age, the transport sites became progressively associated with more dense particles in the gradient. On day 14, the V max values for both [ 3 H]GABA and [ 14 C]glutamate transport in the most dense nerve ending fraction were significantly increased over the adult value. This transient increase in the V max values disappeared by day 21. While the K m values for both transport systems were constant in all fractions for the adult animal, this was not the case in the developing pup. The K m values in the lightest fractions were significantly greater than those in the more dense fractions, suggesting that different transport systems may be present during development. Electron micrographs of the various fractions were prepared from 7-day and adult animals. These data illustrate that the lightest fractions of the ‘7-day’ gradient are enriched in profiles similar to developing nerve endings. With development, these light fractions become infiltrated with myelin, the immature nerve ending profiles disappear, and the bulk of the nerve endings are found in more dense fractions.
Giant Wormlike Rubber Micelles

A low molecular weight poly(ethyleneoxide)-poly(butadiene) (PEO-PB) diblock copolymer containing 50 weight percent PEO forms gigantic wormlike micelles at low concentrations (<5 percent by weight) in water. Subsequent generation of free radicals with a conventional water-based redox reaction leads to chemical cross-linking of the PB cores without disruption of the cylindrical morphology, as evidenced by cryotransmission electron microscopy and small-angle neutron scattering experiments. These wormlike rubber micelles exhibit unusual viscoelastic properties in water.
Understanding Pluralism in Climate Modeling

To study Earth’s climate, scientists now use a variety of computer simulation models. These models disagree in some of their assumptions about the climate system, yet they are used together as complementary resources for investigating future climatic change. This paper examines and defends this use of incompatible models. I argue that climate model pluralism results both from uncertainty concerning how to best represent the climate system and from difficulties faced in evaluating the relative merits of complex models. I describe how incompatible climate models are used together in ‘multi-model ensembles’ and explain why this practice is reasonable, given scientists’ inability to identify a ‘best’ model for predicting future climate. Finally, I characterize climate model pluralism as involving both an ontic competitive pluralism and a pragmatic integrative pluralism.
Interference with kinesin-based anterograde neurofilament axonal transport increases neurofilament-neurofilament bundling.

Neurofilaments (NFs) associate with each other and with other cytoskeletal elements to form a lattice that supports the mature axon. Phosphorylation contributes to formation of this stationary population of NFs by fostering cation-dependent interactions among NF sidearms. Association of NFs with the stationary phase indirectly competes with NF axonal transport by withdrawing NFs from kinesin-dependent motility along microtubules. We therefore hypothesized that inhibition of anterograde NF transport may increase incorporation into the stationary phase. To test this hypothesis, we treated differentiated NB2a/d1 cells expressing GFP-tagged NF subunits with monastrol, a specific inhibitor of kinesin-5. Monastrol significantly inhibited anterograde axonal transport of NF-H but not NF-M, and increased the incorporation of newly-transported NF subunits into axonal NF bundles. These findings support the notion that NF transport and bundling exert opposing forces on axonal NF dynamics, and that inhibition of anterograde transport of NFs can increase their incorporation into the stationary phase. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc
Pathways and Rate Coefficients for the Decomposition of Vinoxy and Acetyl Radicals

The potential in the vicinity of the stationary points on the surface for the decomposition of ground-state vinoxy and acetyl radicals has been calculated using the RQCISD(T) method extrapolated to the infinitebasis set limit. Rate coefficients for the decomposition pathways of these two radicals were computed using the master equation and variational transition state theory. Agreement between our calculated rate coefficients for H + CH2CO T CH3 + CO and experimental data is very good, without the need for empirical adjustments to the ab initio energy barriers. Multireference configuration-interaction calculations indicate two competitive channels for vinoxy decomposition, with the channel leading to H + CH2CO being preferred at photodissociation energies. However, at typical combustion conditions, vinoxy decomposes primarily to CO and methyl. In contrast, decomposition of acetyl shows only one decomposition channel, leading to CO and methyl. The implications of a low-lying exit channel for the calculation of theoretical rate coefficients are discussed briefly.
The next influenza pandemic: will we be ready to care for our children?

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following article was first sent to The Journal as a contribution to the Notes from the Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs (AMSPDC). Given the recent attention worldwide on viral pandemics such as influenza or avian flu, it was felt that a fuller discussion of the medical community’s ability to handle children in a viral pandemic would be of great interest to our readers. —Aaron Friedman, MD, Section Editor, AMSPDC
Origins of Contrast in Near-Field Scanning Optical Microscopy Photovoltage Images of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Solar Cells

Photovoltage images of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells taken using near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) show reduction of photoresponse along grain boundaries. Two factors might be responsible for this contrast. The first is that the topographic changes associated with the grains could cause the NSOM tip to move further from the sample, resulting in a reduction in photoresponse. The second possibility is that the contrast is due to real physical properties of the sample, e.g. higher recombination velocities near grain boundaries. We show convincing evidence that the major contribution to the contrast in the photovoltage images is due to the latter.
GPU Acceleration of a Configurable N-Way MIMO Detector for Wireless Systems

Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless is an enabling technology for high spectral efficiency and has been adopted in many modern wireless communication standards, such as 3GPP-LTE and IEEE 802.11n. However, (optimal) maximum a-posteriori (MAP) detection suffers from excessively high computational complexity, which prevents its deployment in practical systems. Hence, many algorithms have been proposed in the literature that trade-off performance versus detection complexity. In this paper, we propose a flexible N-Way MIMO detector that achieves excellent error-rate performance and high throughput on graphics processing units (GPUs). The proposed detector includes the required QR decomposition step and a tree-search detector, which exploits the massive parallelism available in GPUs. The proposed algorithm performs multiple tree searches in parallel, which leads to excellent error-rate performance at low computational complexity on different GPU architectures, such as Nvidia Fermi and Kepler. We highlight the flexibility of the proposed detector and demonstrate that it achieves higher throughput than existing GPU-based MIMO detectors while achieving the same or better error-rate performance.
Evidence for the involvement of an acidic compartment in the processing of myeloperoxidase in human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells

Abstract The observation that myeloperoxidase precursor and larger intermediate ( M r 91,000 and 81,000, respectively) were extracted in the presence of detergent from isolated granule fractions of human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells under mildly acidic conditions was investigated. In contrast, under conditions of neutral pH, only the M r 74,000 intermediate and mature species were extracted. Extraction of the M r 91,000 and 81,000 forms was also enhanced in the presence of EDTA. Kinetic studies of the processing of the different myeloperoxidase species confirmed the intermediate nature of the M r 81,000 and 74,000 forms. Support for a role of an acidic intracellular compartment was obtained through evidence that the acid-extractable precursor and intermediates accumulated in HL-60 cells which had been treated with 1 μ m monensin. Under these conditions, the production of mature heavy ( M r 63,000) and light ( M r 13,500) subunits of myeloperoxidase was consistently inhibited by >40% over a 16-h period. The effects of monensin on processing of myeloperoxidase were completely reversed if monensin was removed during this 16-h period. These data support the idea that an acidic compartment may be involved in the transport of myeloperoxidase precursors to azurophil granules and/or their processing to a smaller intermediate form ( M r 74,000) of the enzyme.
The impact of human herpesvirus-6 and -7 infection on the outcome of liver transplantation.

Abstract Human herpesvirus (HHV)-6 and -7 are novel members of the β-herpesvirus family that maintain latency in the human host after primary infection. Reactivation from latency and/or increased degree of viral replication occurs during periods of immune dysfunction. The clinical effect of HHV-6 and HHV-7 reactivation in recipients of liver transplants is now being recognized. Clinical illnesses such as fever, rash, pneumonitis, encephalitis, hepatitis, and myelosuppression have been described in a number of anecdotal reports. Moreover, a growing body of evidence suggests that the more important effect of HHV-6 and HHV-7 reactivation on the outcomes of liver transplantation may be mediated indirectly by their interactions with the other β-herpesvirus—cytomegalovirus (CMV). Coinfection among these three β-herpesviruses in clinical syndromes that were classically ascribed to be solely caused by CMV has been shown and has raised substantial interest in the potential role of HHV-6 and HHV-7 as copathogens in the direct and indirect illnesses caused by CMV. This article reviews the current scientific data on the role and the magnitude of impact of HHV-6 and HHV-7 infection on the outcomes of liver transplantation. (Liver Transpl 2002;8:651-658.)
Effect of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor sertraline on gastric sensitivity and compliance in healthy humans.

Abstract Visceral hypersensitivity may contribute to symptoms in functional dyspepsia. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be beneficial in functional gastrointestinal disorders. The aim of this study was to determine whether the SSRI sertraline affects gastric sensitivity and compliance in healthy humans. Ten healthy humans completed a 6-week randomized, double-blind, crossover trial of sertraline (50 mg day(-1)) vs. placebo. After each 2-week treatment, fullness, pain and nausea were rated at increasing gastric barostat distending pressures. Sensation thresholds above minimal distending pressure (MDP) were determined with a tracking method. Somatic sensory testing was performed by hand immersion in ice water. No differences were found between sertraline and placebo for symptoms as a function of distending pressure (fullness, P = 0.72; pain, P = 0.79; nausea, P = 0.41), gastric compliance (P = 0.15), median and interquartile range thresholds for first sensation [4.1 (3.5-5.7) vs. 6.2 (3.3-10.0) mmHg above MDP, P = 0.19] and pain [15.2 (8.3-21.0) vs. 15.3 (10.3-19.8) mmHg above MDP, P = 0.85], and median tolerance times for hand ice water immersion [27 (19-99) vs. 29 (20-180) s, P = 0.73]. In conclusion, sertraline had no effect on gastric sensitivity or compliance, or somatic pain tolerance in healthy humans. Studies are needed to assess the effects of SSRIs on visceral sensation and clinical symptoms in patients with functional dyspepsia.
Histamine Production by Morganella morganii in Mackerel, Albacore, Mahi‐mahi, and Salmon at Various Storage Temperatures

Morganella morganii was studied for its growth and histamine formation in mackerel, albacore, mahi-mahi, and salmon stored at various temperatures from -30 °C to 37 °C. The optimal temperature for histamine formation was 25 °C. Mackerel, albacore, and mahi-mahi were shown as good substrates for histidine decarboxylation by M. morganii at elevated temperatures (> 15 °C). M. morganii inoculated in all fish species including salmon formed histamine above the FDA guideline. Their growth was controlled by cold storage of the fish at 4 °C or below, but histamine formation was controlled only by frozen storage. Although histamine was not detected in any frozen samples, it accumulated rapidly in the previously frozen fish stored at 25 °C.
Second-harmonic double-resonance cones in dispersive hyperbolic metamaterials

We study the formation of second-harmonic double-resonance cones in hyperbolic metamaterials. An electric dipole on the surface of the structure induces second-harmonic light to propagate into two distinct volume plasmon-polariton channels: a signal that propagates within its own peculiar resonance cone and a phase-locked signal that is trapped under the pump's resonance cone. Metamaterial dispersion and birefringence induce a large angular divergence between the two volume plasmon polaritons, making these structures suitable for subwavelength second- and higher-harmonic imaging microscopy.
THE ISSUE OF ITEM AND TEST VARIANCE FOR CRITERION-REFERENCED TESTS: A REPLY

It is a necessary condition that items and tests have variance and discrimination in the range of interest (population of observations) for which they are calibrated and selected. The basis for selection of the calibration sample determines the kind of scale which will be developed, A random sample from a population of individuals leads to a norm-referenced scale, and a sample representative of abilities of a range of a characteristic leads to a criterion-referenced scale.
Television Use in a Retirement Community

Mass media scholarship traditionally has depicted elderly viewers of television as an accepting and homogeneous audience. This ethnographic study of a retirement community researches the relationship between individuals and their community in the development of discourse that influences program choices and discussion of content. In this community of well-educated, upper middle-class retirees, interest in living in the present, a preference for quality television, and an insistence on “serious” leisure urge residents toward what they consider to be television's premium programs, including C-SPAN and related public affairs programming. Viewers of these shows discuss them with their neighbors and use what they learn from them to participate in the public process.
Identification of yacE (coaE) as the structural gene for dephosphocoenzyme A kinase in Escherichia coli K-12.

Dephosphocoenzyme A (dephospho-CoA) kinase catalyzes the final step in coenzyme A biosynthesis, the phosphorylation of the 3′-hydroxy group of the ribose sugar moiety. Wild-type dephospho-CoA kinase from Corynebacterium ammoniagenes was purified to homogeneity and subjected to N-terminal sequence analysis. A BLAST search identified a gene from Escherichia coli previously designated yacE encoding a highly homologous protein. Amplification of the gene and overexpression yielded recombinant dephospho-CoA kinase as a 22.6-kDa monomer. Enzyme assay and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses of the product demonstrated that the recombinant enzyme is indeed dephospho-CoA kinase. The activities with adenosine, AMP, and adenosine phosphosulfate were 4 to 8% of the activity with dephospho-CoA. Homologues of the E. coli dephospho-CoA kinase were identified in a diverse range of organisms.
Listening to the Language of Constructing Science Knowledge

The study explores students' use of language in the process of making sense of genetics concepts. It aims to analyze primary and secondary discourses, and examine the relationship between social practices and discourses. Sixth-grade students were interviewed before and during four weeks instruction on genetics. General trends were detected regarding border crossing between discourse communities and the difficulties and ease of moving among informal experience, social practices, primary discourse of family, friends and community, and secondary discourse of science and school instruction. Two comprehensive case summaries – Debbie and Sam – are presented in the paper. Debbie took what she experienced in her social life as criteria to discuss how people resembled one another. However, the language practiced in the classroom was different from Debbie's familiar language. Debbie thus experienced a conflict between primary and secondary discourses. Sam's school education and home environment provided an aligned social context with rich scientific ties that nurtured his use of secondary discourse practices in thinking and learning science. We recommend that science instruction needs to build a learning community where students' discourses will be recognized and border crossings between discourses facilitated in the process of learning science.
Short communication: Expanding risk consideration in integrated models - The role of downside risk aversion in irrigation decisions

We present a bio-economic model that accounts for the effects of water and nitrogen use on the first three moments of profit margin distributions in Swiss maize production. We thus also account for downside risks in farmers' decision making processes, which extents currently used bio-economic modeling approaches that address agricultural water use. We find that because irrigation reduces the negative skewness of profit margin distributions, i.e. downside risk, farmers have an additional incentive to use irrigation more intensively. Not considering downside risks may thus imply an underestimation of agricultural water use.
Vector quantization with 3-D gradient motion compensation

Several new methods for vector quantization of image sequence were developed in this paper. The 3-d gradient operator1 and the newly developed stochastic gradient operator was used to estimate the motion vector on the present frame in a pixel-bypixel basis. Two new methods of block motion estimation using the pixel motion vectors were studied. The methods either use the pixel motion vectors directly on the moving block or calculate the block motion vector from the pixel motion vectors. Then for both of the methods, the differences between the prediction block and the moving block are vector quantized. The gradual deterioration of the image frames due to the incorrect matching of the code vectors and the difference blocks could be suppressed with the stochastic gradient operator and a simple smoothing filter for the prediction values. Good quality images for video conferencing applications could be obtained with the bit rate in the neighborhood of 0.15.
Superposition coding and linear network coding for reliable multicast over fading channels

In many military applications, communication messages must be multicast to a group of receivers. When these transmissions are broadcast over a wireless channel, fading can result in the messages only being received by a subset of the intended receivers on any given transmission. The conventional approach of retransmission via automatic repeat request (ARQ) results in the performance being dominated by the single receiver that experiences the worst propagation conditions for each broadcast packet. Recently, it has been shown that linear network coding can be used to reduce the average number of transmissions required to deliver the multicast message by making it possible for a receiver to recover B packets that are coded together after correctly receiving any B transmissions. In this paper, we propose to further improve the performance by taking advantage of the diversity of fading gains that can exist during each message transmission. During each transmission, superposition coding (SPC) is used to simultaneously transmit multiple linear network-coded versions of the packets. The number of copies that a particular receiver can recover depends on the receiverpsilas fading process: the better the channel conditions, the more copies of the network-coded packet can be recovered. We show that by appropriately choosing the parameters of the SPC, the average number of transmissions can be reduced in comparison to previous approaches in some scenarios.
An Educational Program for Increased Safety Belt Use for a Small Organization

A program to increase the use of safety belts in motor vehicles by employees of a small organization was developed by a staff committee. Using readily available materials, the employees were surveyed via a written questionnaire, then checked for actual use at three different times. Overall use of safety belts increased from 20% to 55% among the employees. This was accomplished through an educational program and by providing proper feedback following each survey or spot check. Lack of funds prohibited the program from using money or gifts as incentive for increased safety belt use.
Exploring Taiwanese Female Pastors' Intimate Relationships: Using the Story of the Levite's Concubine

The authors investigated intimate relationships and violence toward women, using group discussions and focus group techniques from a feminist group counseling perspective, with Taiwanese Presbyterian female pastors. The story of the Levite's concubine and the feminist commentary were provided to a group of Taiwanese female pastors to read at the beginning of the focus group session. The women's perspectives of their intimate relationship experiences in light of the biblical story were explored. The 6 themes related to participants' intimate relationships were generated and are discussed.
A new bandwidth guaranteed routing algorithm for MPLS traffic engineering

In this paper, we present a new online algorithm for dynamically routing bandwidth guaranteed label switched paths (LSPs). LSP set-up requests are represented in terms of a pair of ingress and egress routers as well as its bandwidth requirement, and arrive one by one. There is no a priori knowledge regarding future LSP set-up requests and their characteristics. Our proposed algorithm considers not only the importance of critical links, but also the degree of their importance to routing possible future LSP set-up requests by characterizing their normalized bandwidth contribution to routing future LSP demands. Moreover, link residual bandwidth information, i.e., the link's capability of routing future LSPs, is also incorporated. Simulation results show that our proposed algorithm performs better than the best known bandwidth guaranteed routing algorithm, the minimum interference routing algorithm, in terms of LSP rejection rate under both static and dynamic LSP set-up request arrivals.
Improved viewing resolution of three-dimensional integral imaging by use of nonstationary micro-optics

We propose the use of synchronously moving micro-optics (lenslet arrays) for image pickup and display in three-dimensional integral imaging to overcome the upper resolution limit imposed by the Nyquist sampling theorem. With the proposed technique, we show experimentally that the viewing resolution can be improved without reducing the three-dimensional viewing aspect of the reconstructed image.
Stable, Globally Non-Iterative, Non-Overlapping Domain Decomposition Parallel Solvers for Parabolic Problems

In this paper, we report a class of stabilized explicit-implicit domain decomposition (SEIDD) methods for the parallel solution of parabolic problems, based on the explicit-implicit domain decomposition (EIDD) methods. EIDD methods are globally non-iterative, non-overlapping domain decomposition methods which, when compared with Schwarz alternating algorithm based parabolic solvers, are computationally and communicationally efficient for each simulation time step but suffer from time step size restrictions due to conditional stability or conditional consistency. By adding a stabilization step to the EIDD methods, the SEIDD methods are freed from time step size restrictions while retaining EIDDs computational and communicational efficiency for each time step, rendering themselves excellent candidates for large-scale parallel simulations. Three algorithms of the SEIDD type are implemented, which are experimentally tested to show excellent stability, computation and communication efficiencies, and high parallel speedup and scalability.
POWER AND POTENTIAL BIAS IN FIELD STUDIES OF NATURAL SELECTION

The advent of multiple regression analyses of natural selection has facilitated estimates of both the direct and indirect effects of selection on many traits in numerous organisms. However, low power in selection studies has possibly led to a bias in our assessment of the levels of selection shaping natural populations. Using calculations and simulations based on the statistical properties of selection coefficients, we find that power to detect total selection (the selection differential) depends on sample size and the strength of selection relative to the opportunity of selection. The power of detecting direct selection (selection gradients) is more complicated and depends on the relationship between the correlation of each trait and fitness and the pattern of correlation among traits. In a review of 298 previously published selection differentials, we find that most studies have had insufficient power to detect reported levels of selection acting on traits and that, in general, the power of detecting weak levels of selection is low given current study designs. We also find that potential publication bias could explain the trend that reported levels of direct selection tend to decrease as study sizes increase, suggesting that current views of the strength of selection may be inaccurate and biased upward. We suggest that studies should be designed so that selection is analyzed on at least several hundred individuals, the total opportunity of selection be considered along with the pattern of selection on individual traits, and nonsignificant results be actively reported combined with an estimate of power.
The ethics of qualitative research

Editors’ note:This paper was prepared for a conference on Qualitative Research, Stanford University, 23‐36 June 1988 and was read also at the American Educational Studies Association meeting in Toronto, 2‐6 November 1988. It will be published as part of a book by Teachers College Press and is reprinted by permission of the publisher from Soltis, Jonas F., “The Ethics of Qualitative Research,” in Eisner, Elliot W. & Peshkin, Alan M., Qualitative Studies in Education[New York: Teachers College Press, #cW 1989 by Teachers College, Columbia University. All rights reserved], in press. QSE thanks Professor Soltis and Teachers College Press for permission to publish the paper. In it, Soltis sketches a broad overview of the ethics of qualitative research by exploring four major purposes to which qualitative research in education has been put and by showing how each of these gives rise to generic and specific research‐setting types of ethical issues.
Conceptual Foundations for Infectious Disease Surveillance

The purpose of this report is to offer concepts for consideration in developing infectious disease surveillance systems, defined here as active, formal, and systematic processes intentionally directed to rapidly seek out and identify infectious disease agents or disease. Performance of surveillance systems can be judged by their accuracy (sensitivity and specificity), precision (repeatability), timeliness, multiple utility, and value. Surveillance system operation and function necessary to achieve high performance are defined in part by characteristics of the specific infectious disease, including disease transition state dynamics, that define probabilities of being in the latent, infectious, or clinical phase of disease. Two key components of surveillance are the sampling scheme, which is intended to maximize the probability of capturing an infected animal or specimen as soon as possible after the herd has been exposed, and the diagnostic assays, which should maximize the probability of detecting the agent, or evidence of the agent, if it is present in the specimen, while minimizing the likelihood of a false-positive result. Proportional risk sampling, targeted sampling, and repeated sampling are strategies that can improve overall surveillance system accuracy and particularly the temporal sensitivity related to early detection. Hierarchical sampling schemes and multiplexed assays can maximize efficiency and improve utility by serving multiple surveillance systems and purposes. Development of the surveillance systems needed to address emerging and foreign animal diseases will necessarily require design and architecture that are highly probability-driven to maximize surveillance sensitivity and specificity and to minimize cost.
Severe sensory neuropathy need not precede Charcot arthropathies of the foot or ankle: implications for the rehabilitation specialist

Neuropathic (Charcot) arthropathies of the foot or ankle can be devastating and disabling complications of diabetes mellitus. The etiogenesis of acute-onset Charcot arthropathy remains poorly understood, however the bony and joint destructions have been attributed to injury or trauma in the presence of severe sensory neuropathy. The purpose of this descriptive report is to alert rehabilitation specialists that severe sensory neuropathy need not precede the onset of acute Charcot arthropathies of the foot or ankle. The prevailing hypotheses for the development of acute Charcot arthropathies are briefly reviewed. Additionally, the characteristics of two samples of subjects with acute Charcot arthropathy of the foot or ankle referred to physical therapy for treatment are presented so rehabilitation specialists may better recognize this potentially disabling complication of diabetes mellitus. Understanding the range of clinical characteristics of patients presenting to physical therapy for treatment may allow...
Climate lessons from the first international polar year

Abstract A unique glimpse of the Arctic from a period before the present era of climate warming is found in the records of the first International Polar Year (IPY) of 1882–83. Inspired by the Austrian scientist and explorer Carl Weyprecht, the purpose of the IPY was to discover the fundamental laws governing global meteorological and geophysical phenomena. It was understood that new discoveries would depend upon a program of simultaneous observations that encompassed the polar regions. The collection and analysis of the first series of coordinated meteorological observations ever obtained in the Arctic was one of the principal objects of the IPY. The field program was successfully completed and a vast body of data was collected, but afterward it fell into obscurity with little analysis completed. We have analyzed for the first time the synchronous meteorological observations recorded during the first IPY. This analysis contributes to the goal of the upcoming fourth IPY scheduled for 2007–08: to understand...