Structural Zeros and Their Implications With Log‐Linear Bivariate Presmoothing Under the Internal‐Anchor Design

In equating, when common items are internal and scoring is conducted in terms of the number of correct items, some pairs of total scores (X) and common‐item scores (V) can never be observed in a bivariate distribution of X and V; these pairs are called structural zeros. This simulation study examines how equating results compare for different approaches to handling structural zeros. The study considers four approaches: the no‐smoothing, unique‐common, total‐common, and adjusted total‐common approaches. This study led to four main findings: (1) the total‐common approach generally had the worst results; (2) for relatively small effect sizes, the unique‐common approach generally had the smallest overall error; (3) for relatively large effect sizes, the adjusted total‐common approach generally had the smallest overall error; and, (4) if sole interest focuses on reducing bias only, the adjusted total‐common approach was generally preferable. These results suggest that, when common items are internal and log‐linear bivariate presmoothing is performed, structural zeros should be maintained, even if there is some loss in the moment preservation property.     

Using an Assistive Technology Toolkit to Promote Inclusion

Although the use of assistive technology for young children is increasing, the lack of awareness and the lack of training continue to act as major barriers to providers using assistive technology. This article describes an assistive technology toolkit designed for use with young children with disabilities that can be easily assembled and implemented by early childhood professionals. Specifically, we will describe assistive technology tools that support young children’s participation in their daily activities that involve movement and sensory needs, communication, and interaction with materials and offer strategies on how to implement these devices. An assembled toolkit that allows young children with disabilities immediate access to experiences that lead to acquisition of skills they need to learn and grow is discussed.     

Low-cost,disposable microfluidics device for blood plasma extraction using continuously alternating paramagnetic and diamagnetic capture modes

Blood plasma contains biomarkers and substances that indicate the physiological state of an organism, and it can be used to diagnose various diseases or body condition. To improve the accuracy of diagnostic test, it is required to obtain the high purity of blood plasma. This paper presents a low-cost, disposable microfluidics device for blood plasma extraction using magnetophoretic behaviors of blood cells. This device uses alternating magnetophoretic capture modes to trap and separate paramagnetic and diamagnetic cells away from blood plasma. The device system is composed of two parts, a disposable microfluidics chip and a non-disposable (reusable) magnetic field source. Such modularized device helps the structure of the disposable part dramatically simplified, which is beneficial for low-cost mass production. A series of numerical simulation and parametric study have been performed to describe the mechanism of blood cell separation in the microchannel, and the results are discussed. Furthermore, experimental feasibility test has been carried out in order to demonstrate the blood plasma extraction process of the proposed device. In this experiment, pure blood plasma has been successfully extracted with yield of 21.933% from 75 μl 1:10 dilution of deoxygenated blood.     

Creating the Arsenal: Augusta University’s Undergraduate Research Journal

ABSTRACT

The Center for Undergraduate Research (CURS) at Augusta University supports faculty-led undergraduate research. In collaboration with a student organization, the Program Coordinator of CURS contacted the Augusta University Libraries to investigate how to start an undergraduate research journal and identify a hosting venue. Two librarians provided guidance on the creation of a new Open Access journal using resources already provided by the university. This article discusses establishing the journal’s identity, developing policies and processes, hosting and publishing the journal, as well as challenges faced throughout the process.     

Containing the Atom: Sociotechnical Imaginaries and Nuclear Power in the United States and South Korea

STS research has devoted relatively little attention to the promotion and reception of science and technology by non-scientific actors and institutions. One consequence is that the relationship of science and technology to political power has tended to remain undertheorized. This article aims to fill that gap by introducing the concept of “sociotechnical imaginaries.” Through a comparative examination of the development and regulation of nuclear power in the US and South Korea, the article demonstrates the analytic potential of the imaginaries concept. Although nuclear power and nationhood have long been imagined together in both countries, the nature of those imaginations has remained strikingly different. In the US, the state’s central move was to present itself as a responsible regulator of a potentially runaway technology that demands effective “containment.” In South Korea, the dominant imaginary was of “atoms for development” which the state not only imported but incorporated into its scientific, technological and political practices. In turn, these disparate imaginaries have underwritten very different responses to a variety of nuclear shocks and challenges, such as Three Mile Island (TMI), Chernobyl, and the spread of the anti-nuclear movement.

Applying the communication theory of Diffusion of Innovations to economic sciences: a response to the ‘Using gossips to spread information’ experiments conducted by the 2019 Nobel Laureates

ABSTRACT

Drs Abhijit Banergee, Esther Duflo, and Michael Kremer won the 2019 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for their remarkable series of large-scale field experiments to lessen global poverty. The main theoretical framework that they employed was the diffusion of innovations research and practice paradigm (DOI) which has had a long presence in communication research dating back to the 1940s. Here, we reviewed the Nobel laureates’ article, ‘Using gossips to spread information: Theory and evidence from two randomized controlled trials,’ that is illustrative of how economists applied the communication theory of diffusion of innovations to their projects of social change. The present article poses questions and makes recommendations for similar future projects from a communication perspective.     

Reading motivation in two languages: an examination of EFL college students in Korea

This study was designed to identify underlying factors that motivate language learners to read in a foreign language (L2) context. It also examined the relationships between L1 and L2 reading motivation and any differences in reading motivation based on the learners?? academic majors and L2 reading proficiency. 259 Korean EFL college students participated in this study. Participants?? L1 and L2 reading motivation was measured using a Likert scale questionnaire and their L2 proficiency was estimated by test scores in their reading classes. This study yielded a four-factor solution for L2 reading motivation: learning goal-oriented motivation, intrinsic motivation, avoidance of reading, and utility value of L2 reading. The results indicated that learning goal-oriented motivation and utility value of L2 reading were the two primary indicators for the participants?? desire to read in English. The study also demonstrated that the factor-based L2 reading motivation scales correlated with some of the L1 reading motivation scales in the relatively low range but statements about the connection or transfer issue of reading motivation between the two languages must be tentative. All L2 reading motivation scales revealed significant differences between English and non-English majors except in utility value of L2 reading. Furthermore intrinsic and avoidance scales also differed significantly depending on the participants?? L2 reading proficiency.