An Erythristic Morph of Red-Backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) Collected in Virginia

Eight different color polymorphisms of the Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) have been described throughout its range. Among them, the erythristic phenotype is a mimetic morph with coloration patterns similar to that of toxic Eastern Newt efts (Notophthalmus viridescens). We describe an erythristic morph of P. cinereus collected at Mountain Lake Biological Station, Virginia. To our knowledge, there are no prior published records of this morph in Virginia

Using keystroke logging to understand writers’ processes on a reading-into-writing test

Background Integrated reading-into-writing tasks are increasingly used in large-scale language proficiency tests. Such tasks are said to possess higher authenticity as they reflect real-life writing conditions better than independent, writing-only tasks. However, to effectively define the reading-into-writing construct, more empirical evidence regarding how writers compose from sources both in real-life and under test conditions is urgently needed. Most previous process studies used think aloud or questionnaire to collect evidence. These methods rely on participants’ perceptions of their processes, as well as their ability to report them. Findings This paper reports on a small-scale experimental study to explore writers’ processes on a reading-into-writing test by employing keystroke logging. Two L2 postgraduates completed an argumentative essay on computer. Their text production processes were captured by a keystroke logging programme. Students were also interviewed to provide additional information. Keystroke logging like most computing tools provides a range of measures. The study examined the students’ reading-into-writing processes by analysing a selection of the keystroke logging measures in conjunction with students’ final texts and interview protocols. Conclusions The results suggest that the nature of the writers’ reading-into-writing processes might have a major influence on the writer’s final performance. Recommendations for future process studies are provided

Chronicles of Oklahoma

Article details the findings of an archeological dig at Fort Washita conducted in 1971. The article lists what was found at the site and how the scientists procured them

Logic Foundry: A Rapid Prototyping Tool for FPGA-based DSP Systems

No abstact submitted. (Also UMIACS-TR-2002-29

The Indestructible Insect: Velvet Ants From Across the United States Avoid Predation by Representatives From All Major Tetrapod Clades

Velvet ants are a group of parasitic wasps that are well known for a suite of defensive adaptations including bright coloration and a formidable sting. While these adaptations are presumed to function in antipredator defense, observations between potential predators and this group are lacking. We conducted a series of experiments to determine the risk of velvet ants to a host of potential predators including amphibians, reptiles, birds, and small mammals. Velvet ants from across the United States were tested with predator\u27s representative of the velvet ants native range. All interactions between lizards, free-ranging birds, and a mole resulted in the velvet ants survival, and ultimate avoidance by the predator. Two shrews did injure a velvet ant, but this occurred only after multiple failed attacks. The only predator to successfully consume a velvet ant was a single American toad (Anaxyrus americanus). These results indicate that the suite of defenses possessed by velvet ants, including aposematic coloration, stridulations, a chemical alarm signal, a hard exoskeleton, and powerful sting are effective defenses against potential predators. Female velvet ants appear to be nearly impervious to predation by many species whose diet is heavily derived of invertebrate prey

Problems and Paradoxes in Economic and Social Policies of Modern Welfare States

Relationships between economic growth rates and the expansion of welfare expenditures in Western nations are examined. The point is made that real gross national product grew rapidly from about 1959 until about 1973, but that since 1973 it has either grown slowly or not at all, while welfare expenditures and entitlements have continued to escalate. Forecasts of a variety of important economic variables in these countries for the near term are presented and discussed, and it is concluded that despite the current modest economic improvement, difficulties in funding welfare states will continue throughout the remainder of the 1980s. Some consideration is given to problems in welfare states to the end of the century, and further difficulties in funding and managing these states are forecast for this period as well. Problems of welfare states are not regarded as short-term by-products of maladjustments experienced in the Western world in the last 10 years but rather as long-term characteristics.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/67103/2/10.1177_000271628547900102.pd