Some limsup results for increments of stable processes in random scenery

ＩＮＴＲＯＤＵＣＴＩＯＮＬｅｔＺ ,Ｎ0 ａｎｄＮｄｅｎｏｔｅｔｈｅｓｅｔｓｏｆｉｎｔｅ ｇｅｒｓ,ｎｏｎ ｎｅｇａｔｉｖｅｉｎｔｅｇｅｒｓａｎｄｐｏｓｉｔｉｖｅｉｎｔｅｇｅｒｓ,ｒｅｓｐｅｃｔｉｖｅｌｙ.Ａｎｄｌｅｔχ ={Ｘｉ} ｉ∈Ｚｄｅｎｏｔｅａｓｅ ｑｕｅｎｃｅｏｆｒｅａｌ ｖａｌｕｅｄｒａｎｄｏｍｖａｒｉａｂｌｅｓｓｕｃｈｔｈａｔＥＸｉ =0ａｎｄＥＸ2 ｉ =σ2 Ｘ　 ｉ∈Ｚ .Ａｎｙｒｅａｌｉｚａｔｉｏｎｏｆｔｈｅｓｅｑｕｅｎｃｅ {Ｘｉ} ｉ∈Ｚｉｓｃａｌｌｅｄａ“ｒａｎｄｏｍｓｃｅｎｅｒｙ” .Ｌｅｔｙ ={…     

Construction of some hypergroups from combinatorial structures

Jajcay's studies(1993; 1994) on the automorphism groups of Cayley maps yielded a new product of groups, which he called, rotary product. Using this product, we define a hyperoperation ⊙ on the groupSym _e(G), the stabilizer of the identitye∈G in the groupSym(G). We prove that (Sym _e (G), ⊙) is a hypergroup and characterize the subhypergroups of this hypergroup. Finally, we show that the set of all subhypergroups ofSym _e (G) constitute a lattice under ordinary join and meet and that the minimal elements of order two of this lattice is a subgroup ofAut (G).     

Active changes of lignification-related enzymes in pepper response to Glomus intraradices and/or Phytophthora capsici

The activities of enzymes responsible for lignification in pepper, pre-inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus ofGlomus intraradices and/or infection with pathogenic strain ofPhytophthora capsici, and the biological control effect ofG. intraradices on Phytophthora blight in pepper were investigated. The experiment was carried out with four treatments: (1) plants pre-inoculated withG. intraradices (Gi), (2) plants pre-inoculated withG. intraradices and then infected withP. capsici (Gi+Pc). (3) plants infected withP. capsici (Pc), and (4) plants without any of the two microorganisms (C). Mycorrhizal colonization rate was reduced by about 10% in pathogen challenged plants. Root mortality caused by infection ofP. capsici was completely eliminated by pre-inoculation with antagonisticG. intraradices. On the ninth day after pathogen infection, Peroxidase (POD) activity increased by 116.9% in Pc-treated roots but by only 21.2% in Gi+Pc-treated roots, compared with the control, respectively. Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activities gradually increased during the first 3 d and dramatically decreased in Pc-treated roots but slightly decreased in Gi+Pc-treated roots, respectively. On the ninth day after pathogen infection, PPO and PAL decreased by 62.8% and 73.9% in Pc-treated roots but by only 19.8% and 19.5% in Gi+Pc-treated roots, compared with the control, respectively. Three major POD isozymes (45000, 53000 and 114000) were present in Pc-treated roots, while two major bands (53000 and 114000) and one minor band (45000) were present in spectra of Gi+Pc-treated roots, the 45000 POD isozyme was significantly suppressed byG. intraradices, suggesting that the 45000 POD isozyme was induced by the pathogen infection but not induced by the antagonisticG. intraradices. A 60000 PPO isozyme was induced in Pc-treated roots but not induced in Gi+Pc-treated roots. All these results showed the inoculation of antagonisticG. intraradices alleviates root mortality, activates changes of lignification-related enzymes and induces some of the isozymes in pepper plants infected byP. capsici. The results suggested thatG. intraradices is a potentially effective protection agent againstP. capsici. Project supported by Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF) through the Agricultural Plants Stress Research Center (APSRC) at Chonnam National University, Korea     

Speed of information processing in generally gifted and excelling-in-mathematics adolescents

A considerable amount of recent evidence suggests that speed of information processing (SIP) may be related to general giftedness as well as contributing to higher mathematical ability. To date, no study has examined SIP associated with both general giftedness (G) and excellence in mathematics (EM). This paper presents a part of more extensive research aimed at a multidimensional examination of mathematical giftedness, which is a complex function of the G factor and EM factor. The research population consisted of four groups of 10th–11th grade students who differed in their G level and EM level. 190 participants performed five SIP tests: Visual-matching, Cross-out of numbers, Digit-symbol, Symbol-search and Simple arithmetic exercises. We found that the G–EM group outperformed the three other study groups on all five tests. The findings reveal that between-group differences in performance on Cross-out of numbers and Simple arithmetic exercises tests are associated with both G and EM factors, whereas especially the G factor had an effect on students’ scores on Digit-symbol, Symbol-search and Visual-matching tests. In addition, we found gender differences on the Digit-symbol and Symbol-search tests. The results of this study suggest that EM and G factors are interrelated but represent different traits with respect to the SIP.     

Influence of pinning center distribution on the pinning of two-dimensional vortex system

The superconductor sample had periodic distribution of pinned region (with length ofL _p) and unpinned region (with length ofL−L _p) along the driving force direction. Numerical study on the influence of the distribution of pinning centers on pinning of the two-dimensional vortex system showed that the critical depinning forceF _c, beyond which the vortex system begins to depin, increases with increase ofL _p, indicating that the homogeneity of pinning centers helps to enhance the critical electric current of a superconductor. We found that the critical depinning forceF _c depends logarithmically onL/L _p. Project supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (NKBRSF-G19990646) and Zhejiang Proviace Foundation (199031).     

Development of human resources in and for bilingual intercultural education in Latin America

Worked as consultant for the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit on the Bilingual Education Programme of Puno (Peru). Professor of Andean Linguistics at the Universidad Nacional del Altiplano. Co-author (with Ingrid Jung) of Las lenguas en la educación bilingüe: el caso de Puno,and compiler of Pesquisas en linguística andinaand Pueblos indios, estados y educación.     

Determination of the genus-specific antigens in outer membrane proteins from the strains of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptospira interrogans</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptospira biflexa</Emphasis> with different virulence

Objective: To determine the existence of genus-specific antigens in outer membrane proteins (OMPs) ofleptospira with different virulence. Methods: Microscope agglutination test (MAT) was applied to detect the agglutination between commercial rabbit antiserum against leptospiral genus-specific TR/Patoc I antigen and 17 strains ofLeptospira interrongans belonging to 15 serogroups and 2 strains ofLeptospira biflexa belonging to 2 serogroups. The outer envelopes (OEs) ofLinterrogans serogroupIcterohaemorrhagiae serovarlai strainlai (56601) with strong virulence and serogroupPomona serovarpomona strainLuo (56608) with low virulence, andL. biflexa serogroupSemaranga serovarpatoc strainPatoc I without virulence were prepared by using the method reported in Auranet al. (1972). OMPs in the OEs were obtained by treatment with sodium deoxycholate. SDS-PAGE and western blot were used for analyzing the features of the OMPs on electrophoretic pattern and the immunoreactivity to the antiserum against TR/Patoc I antigen, respectively. Results: All the tested strains belonging to different leptospiral serogroups agglutinated to the antiserum against leptospiral genus-specific TR/Patoc I antigen with agglutination titers ranging from 1:256–1:512. A similar SDS-PAGE pattern of the OMPs from the three strains ofleptospira with different virulence was shown and the molecular weight of a major protein fragment in the OMPs was found to be approximately 60 Kda. A positive protein fragment with approximately 32 KDa confirmed by Western blot, was able to react with the antiserum against leptospiral genus-specific TR/Patoc I antigen, and was found in each the OMPs of the three stains ofleptospira. Conclusion: There are genus-specific antigens on the surface ofL.interrogans andL.biflexa. The OMP with molecular weight of 32 KDa may be one of the genus-specific protein antigens ofleptospira. Project (No. 39970678) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China     

Toilet learning

AitAlice Sterling Honig is Professor of Child Development at Syracuse University and Research Review editor for Day Care and Early Education.Dr. Honig is the author of Playtime Learning Games for Young Children,editor of Risk Factors in Infancy,and coauthor of Infant Caregiving: A Design for Training.     

The Religious School Curriculum

Washington correspondent of The New Statesman and Nouvelle Observateur and a founder and editor of Mayday, a new weekly of political reporting

     

Organizing libraries for nonreaders

Many nursery schools and kindergartens manage to accumulate hundreds of books without ever having a library. While the same worn titles grow old on classroom shelves, treasures often lie buried in random corners or in supply closets. More often, all the books are crammed together haphazardly on shelves in a teachers' room where no child ever sees them and no teacher can find what he or she is looking for. Dian G. Smith is a freelance writer and author of My New Baby and Me: A First-Year Record Book for Big Brothers and Sisters (Scribner, 1986). Alexandra Azar is an Associate Instructor for the University of Utah, Continuing Education, in Library Science.     

Study of serum<Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicobacter pylori</Emphasis> soluble antigen

Objective: to explore a new serological method for detectingHelicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. Methods: Serum soluble antigen ofH. pylori was detected by using avidin-biotin ELISA technique to evaluate the status ofH. pylori infection and for comparison with rapid urease test (RUT), histologic examination and serology. Results: The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 77.46%, 91.07%, 91.67% and 76.12%, respectively. The prevalence rate of serumH. pylori soluble antigen in 138 patients undergoing endoscopy was similar to the rate obtained by¹⁴C-UBT methods (P>0.05). Conclusions: The detection of serumH. pylori soluble antigen(HpSAg) could be used as a new serological method which is accurate, and convenient, not affected by the memorizing reaction of serum antibody; is more sensitive, more specific and suitable for clinical diagnosis, and evaluation of eradication and for follow-up ofH. pylori as well as for detection in children and pregnant women. Project supported by Zhejiang Provincial Health Bureau (No. 2000A118), China     

Study on the serum levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) in patients withHelicobacter pylori infection

Objective: To evaluate the interaction between serum levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) andHelicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in patients with chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer. Methods: The serum levels of sICAM-1 in 205 patients with chronic gastric diseases were detected by ELISA method and the status ofH. pylori was determined by histologic examination, RUT,¹⁴C-UBT, and serology. The sera obtained from 18 healthy volunteers served as controls. Results: The serum levels of sICAM-1 were significantly higher in patients withH. pylori positive than those of H. pylori negative (889.43±32.52 ng/ml vs. 747.07±30.45 ng/ml,P<0.05). The serum levels of sICAM-1 in patients with mild, moderate and severe infection ofH. pylori were 841.68±72.36 ng/ml, 905.43±37.59 ng/ml and 1012.54±49.34 ng/ml, respectively (P<0.05). The serum levels of sICAM-1, proved to be significantly correlated with the density ofH. pylori colonization in gastric mucosa (r _s=0.316,P<0.001). The serum levels of sICAM-1 in patients with chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer were significantly higher than those in healthy controls (P<0.05). Conclusions: These results indicated thatH. pylori infection up-regulates the expression of sICAM-1.     

Reviews

Stern , Catherine , and Gould , T. S. (1966). Children Discover Reading Downing , J. (1967). The i.t.a. Symposium Pullen , A., and Rapstoff , C. (1965-6). The Inner Ring Books Richardson , S., Whitehouse , D., and Wilkinson , G. (1966). Teenage Twelve     

A framework for research into Australian middle school practice

As a new reform in Australian education, middle schooling has been gaining momentum. The rationale behind middle schooling is to bridge the traditional primary-high school gap and provide a more developmentally appropriate educational experience for young adolescents. Middle schooling in the USA has gone through a “boom-to-bust” cycle and is currently undergoing a “reinvention” as research on practice and reporting of research on practice has, in the most part, been ad hoc and piecemeal. If Australian middle schools are to avoid the boom-to-bust-to-reinvention cycle experienced in parts of the USA (Beane 2001), then a more systematic approach to researching practice is required. Research-based criteria for systematic study and improvement of middle school practice have been identified as (a) acceptance as part ofplanning alternative practice, (b)effectiveness as part ofimplementing alternative practice, and (c)sustainability as part ofevaluating alternative practice.     

Reputational quality of academic programs: The institutional halo

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) reputational ratings of faculty often are used as indices of program quality. The underlying assumption is that these ratings are functions ofprogram-related characteristics, particularly faculty accomplishments. Consistent with this viewpoint, King and Wolfle (1987) and Saunier (1985) found that faculty reputations are best explained by program size and faculty scholarly activity. To determine whether program characteristics alone are sufficient to explain reputational ratings, this paper examines the additional contribution ofinstitutional characteristics to explain the NAS faculty reputational ratings. Three technical fields are examined: electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and computer science. Institutional- and program-related composite variables are identified by principal components analyses. For each discipline, a multiple regression analysis shows that program characteristics strongly influence reputational ratings, but an institutional halo effect also exists. These findings indicate that faculty reputations and program quality are more complex phenomena than implied by models limited to program-specific factors.     

A sociology ‘of’ or a sociology ‘for’ education? The New Zealand experience of the dilemma

The sociology of education in New Zealand, as in other countries, is affected by the dilemma inherent to the discipline, namely: is it a sociology of education or a sociology for education? In this article I analyse three factors in which the dilemma is played out: ‘cultural oppositionism’ in the indigenous (kaupapa Maori) approach, critical policy research and the role of empirical research. I argue that a sociology for education is fundamentally weakened by its politicisation, a flaw not helped by the difficulties in drawing political goals from moral imperatives. In contrast a sociology of education, which uses the strengths of empirical research and theoretical analysis, offers the better hope of renewal for, what is, in New Zealand, a moribund discipline.     

Yangxueqingnao particles inhibit rat vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation induced by lysophosphatidic acid

Objective: To observe the effect of Yangxueqingnao particles on rat vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation induced by lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). Methods: The amount of³H-TdR (³H-thymidine) admixed in cultured rat VSMC was measured and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity and lipid peroxidation end product malondialdehyde (MDA) content of the VSMC were assayed. Results: 1×10⁻⁹, 1×10⁻⁸, 1×10⁻⁷ mol/L LPA in a concentration dependent manner, induced the amount of³H-TdR admixed, MAP kinase activity, and MDA content of the cultured rat VSMC to increase. However, 5%, 10%, and 15% Yangxueqingnao serum preincubation resulted in a decrease of 23.0%, 42.0%, and 52.0% (P<0.01) respectively in the amount of³H-TdR admixed, a decline in VSMC MAP kinase activity of 13.9% (P<0.05), 29.6% (P<0.01), and 48.9% (P<0.01) respectively, and also, a decrease in MDA content of VSMC of 19.4%, 24.7%, and 43.2% (P<0.01) respectively, in the 1×10⁻⁷ mol/L LPA-treated VSMC. Conclusions: LPA activates the proliferation and lipid peroxidation of VSMC in a concentration dependent manner. The LPA-induced VSMC proliferation is related to the activity of MAP kinases, enzymes involved in an intracellular signalling pathway. The results of the present study showed that Yangxueqingnao particles can effectively inhibit LPA-induced VSMC proliferation, MAP kinase activation, and reduce lipid peroxidative lesion. Project (No. 491010-W50339) supported by Chinese Traditional Medicine Administration Bureau of Zhejiang Province, China     

Abandonment: The new realism of the eighties

She is the author ofThey Wrote for Children Too (Greenwood Press, 1989),Elizabeth George Speare (Twayne, 1992), and has co-authoredNonsense Literature for Children (Library Professional Publications, 1989) with Celia Catlett Anderson.     

The first training colleges for teachers of the blind

A review of Education, Values and Mind: Essays for R. S. Peters, David E. Cooper (ed.) (London, Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1986, £12.95. 219 pages)