Reliable Impression Research Articles

Family Photography as a phatic construction

When the camera became a domestic consumer good, photography was adapted to the needs of private production and reception (Slater, 1991: 50). The family archive contains images of selfportrayal, whose form is oriented towards established patterns, like cartes-de-visite, since they are
 received privately as well as in a quasi-public area (wallet, desk in an office etc.).
 
 Family photography gains its performative character by means of its phatic function (Malinowski, 1923/1949: 315-7), inscribed in a historical and socio-cultural frame (Hirsch, M. 1997: 10-2). It actuates in the border between naivety and formality, and these Memory-Pictures (Keppler, 1994: 187) create an impression of reliability and authenticity by their ritualized reception.
 
 The storage in a family archive and the perfomativity of its reception oscillate between the paradigm of scripture and the regime of narration (Langford, 2006: 227). The characterization of the media category ‘family photography’ by means of the phatic function of communication, and the
 identification of suitable tools for the analysis, are the topics of this article.

Techniques for Culture and Assessment of Limbal stem Cell Grafts

The therapeutic use of limbal cultures for the permanent regeneration of corneal epithelium in patients with limbal stem cell deficiency (LSC D) has been reported in many studies. A ccording to the guidelines for good manufacturing practice (GMP), strictly regulated procedures and stringent quality control tests are now required to manipulate stem cells as “medicinal products” and make engraftment safer and eventually more successful. This paper describes techniques for optimal preparation of limbal stem cell grafts, including 1) a reliable impression cytology assay for the grading of LSCD, 2) culture methods that maintain high percentages of limbal stem cells, 3) the use of specific markers for the detection of corneal, conjunctival, and limbal stem cells, namely keratin 12, mucin 1, and ΔNp63α, and 4) assays to assess the presence of contaminants, such as murine fibroblasts, endotoxins, mycoplasmae, and viral particles, in the cultured graft. The use of some of these assays allowed us to obtain a regenerated normal corneal epithelium in approximately 80% of 166 LSCD patients who received transplants from 2004 to 2008.

Visualizing the Limits of Low Vision in Detecting Natural Image Features

The purpose of our study was to develop a tool to visualize the limitations posed by visual impairments in detecting small and low-contrast elements in natural images. This visualization tool incorporates existing models of several aspects of visual perception, such as the band-limited contrast model of Peli (J Opt Soc Am A 1996;13:1131-8). The models underlying the visualization tool were elaborated and tested in experiments with human subjects with various visual impairments such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and subjects with normal vision but under various degraded viewing conditions (including reduced contrast, eccentric viewing). The experiments were designed to determine in three successive steps the contrast sensitivity function that produces a degraded image that can just be discriminated from its original. In the first step, the just detectable blur was determined, while in the next two steps contrast threshold levels were determined for removing high and medium spatial frequencies from the image. Threshold parameters were determined for three image-types (face, stairs, forest) and the relationship with acuity and contrast thresholds (of Landolt-C symbols) was examined. The blur threshold is inversely related to acuity, and this relationship is largely independent of the cause of reduced acuity (visual impairment, contrast reduction or eccentric viewing). We developed a validated visualization tool based on these results that provides a reliable impression of detectability of image features by visual impaired people.

L'évolution des appareils orthodontiques de 1728 à 2007

The nature of orthodontic appliances depends, in part, on the development of therapeutic ideas and also on the materials and techniques that are available to practitioners. The first mechanisms appeared in 1728; they were attached to teeth by ligatures. Removable appliances, made of metal, ivory and, later, vulcanite developed as soon as practitioners became capable of taking reliable impressions, an epoch that began in 1840. A multiplicity of fixed appliances was introduced after the invention of a dental cement that could be used to attach them to teeth in 1871. But even before that, in 1860, dentists had begun to modify the form and the position of basal bone and to construct intra- and extra-oral appliances to accomplish this. And it wasn't until 1916 that Angle introduced the first bracket that allowed orthodontists to apply a couple of forces to teeth. For the most part, a new appliance didn't replace an older one. It was simply added to the armamentarium, which explains why we now have such a great diversity of systems at our disposal, and the imprecision of the indications for the use of many of them.

Asymptotically distribution-free (ADF) interval estimation of coefficient alpha.

The point estimate of sample coefficient alpha may provide a misleading impression of the reliability of the test score. Because sample coefficient alpha is consistently biased downward, it is more likely to yield a misleading impression of poor reliability. The magnitude of the bias is greatest precisely when the variability of sample alpha is greatest (small population reliability and small sample size). Taking into account the variability of sample alpha with an interval estimator may lead to retaining reliable tests that would be otherwise rejected. Here, the authors performed simulation studies to investigate the behavior of asymptotically distribution-free (ADF) versus normal-theory interval estimators of coefficient alpha under varied conditions. Normal-theory intervals were found to be less accurate when item skewness >1 or excess kurtosis >1. For sample sizes over 100 observations, ADF intervals are preferable, regardless of item skewness and kurtosis. A formula for computing ADF confidence intervals for coefficient alpha for tests of any size is provided, along with its implementation as an SAS macro.

The effectiveness of WebCT as a progress-assessment tool in English Studies

Given the acceleration in the international and local information and knowledge revolution, the University of Stellenbosch (US) has implemented an e-learning strategy to gain maximum benefit from the developments in information technology. In support of this strategy the US has implemented WebCT as an electronic course management system. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the complementary learning and assessment techniques provided by WebCT are suitable for the evaluation of student responses in a subject like English. This was accomplished in conjunction with research of relevant literature, own experience, categories of student learning, and feedback from students. The WebCT assessment function was used as a complement to traditional lectures and traditional end-of-course written assessment to enrich teaching, promote learning and gauge student insight and progress. Bloom\'s Taxonomy was used to compare the validity of tests conducted through multiple choice WebCT assessment during the term with the results of the end-of-term traditional, written assessment to ascertain whether a reliable impression of student competence can be gained before students sit for their main test at the end of the term. It was concluded that WebCT is a constructive and effective teaching tool that motivates students both intrinsically and extrinsically and gives a fair reflection of student insight and progress. It can be a meaningful and enriching extension of a lecture course if the tool is used by willing lecturers in an innovative manner.Keywords: assessment English, computer-assisted language learning (CALL), computer-assisted assessment, computer-assisted teaching, multi-sensory teaching, online-assessment English, teaching English, WebCT assessmentJournal for Language Teaching Vol. 39(1) 2005: 132-147

Independent evaluation of a defibrillation outcome predictor for out-of-hospital cardiac arrested patients

We evaluated the ability of a previously derived outcome predictor to discriminate between ECG segments corresponding to return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) or not in validation data from 136 patients with cardiac arrest. The new data used for validation were totally independent from the predictor derivation data used in the original study. Features corresponding to those used in the development of the original outcome predictor, centroid frequency, peak power frequency, spectral flatness and energy, were computed following which a second decorrelated feature set was generated. The outcome predictor was applied to the new data with good correspondence in performance (testing) to what was expected (training) with receiver operator characteristics (ROC) areas of 0.80 and 0.79, respectively. Outcome predictor performance was reproducible. As in the present study, future testing should be performed on totally independent data not included in the design of the outcome predictor to get a reliable impression of expected performance.

Evolution in a Changing Environment: A Case Study with Great Tit Fledging Mass

Heritable phenotypic traits under significant and consistent directional selection often fail to show the expected evolutionary response. A potential explanation for this contradiction is that because environmental conditions change constantly, environmental change can mask an evolutionary response to selection. We combined an "animal model" analysis with 36 years of data from a long-term study of great tits (Parus major) to explore selection on and evolution of a morphological trait: body mass at fledging. We found significant heritability of this trait, but despite consistent positive directional selection on both the phenotypic and the additive genetic component of body mass, the population mean phenotypic value declined rather than increased over time. However, the mean breeding value for body mass at fledging increased over time, presumably in response to selection. We show that the divergence between the response to selection observed at the levels of genotype and phenotype can be explained by a change in environmental conditions over time, that is, related both to increased spring temperature before breeding and elevated population density. Our results support the suggestion that measuring phenotypes may not always give a reliable impression of evolutionary trajectories and that understanding patterns of phenotypic evolution in nature requires an understanding of how the environment has itself changed.

Validation tools for variable subset regression

Variable selection is applied frequently in QSAR research. Since the selection process influences the characteristics of the finally chosen model, thorough validation of the selection technique is very important. Here, a validation protocol is presented briefly and two of the tools which are part of this protocol are introduced in more detail. The first tool, which is based on permutation testing, allows to assess the inflation of internal figures of merit (such as the cross-validated prediction error). The other tool, based on noise addition, can be used to determine the complexity and with it the stability of models generated by variable selection. The obtained statistical information is important in deciding whether or not to trust the predictive abilities of a specific model. The graphical output of the validation tools is easily accessible and provides a reliable impression of model performance. Among others, the tools were employed to study the influence of leave-one-out and leave-multiple-out cross-validation on model characteristics. Here, it was confirmed that leave-multiple-out cross-validation yields more stable models. To study the performance of the entire validation protocol, it was applied to eight different QSAR data sets with default settings. In all cases internal and external model performance was good, indicating that the protocol serves its purpose quite well.

On the scarcity of >3900 Ma detrital zircons in ≥3500 Ma metasediments

Constant volume models for the continental crust require a flux of crustal material back into the mantle (recycling), equal in volume to that of the juvenile igneous suites added to the continental crust throughout time. In growth of crustal volume models, there is not equilibrium between the volume of juvenile crustal additions and any recycling (destruction) of crust. By establishing the proportion of >3900 Ma detrital zircons in early Archaean sediments it might be possible to constrain the relative importance of crustal growth and recycling. Gneiss complexes in western Greenland, northern Labrador and northeastern China contain rare ≥3500 Ma detrital metasediments. In sediments deposited between 3500 and 3600 Ma, ≥3900 Ma zircons have not been detected in a suite of 117 detrital grains. Based on statistical considerations, at the 95% confidence level any ‘missed’ ≥3900 Ma component forms <3% of this suite. Likewise, >3900 Ma detrital grains do not occur amongst 54 detrital grains from (even rarer) 3700–3800 Ma sediments, arguing with 95% certainty that any ‘missed’ ≥3900 Ma component forms <5% of this most ancient suite. If the age spectra of these detrital zircon suites are representative of the complexes in which they reside, then constant volume (recycling=new additions) models require that by 3500 Ma, >97% of >3900 Ma crust was destroyed by recycling. Such an extremely high recycling rate (≈25% of the crust 100 Ma −1) is hard to reconcile with the diversity of initial Nd and Sr isotopic ratios of well preserved early Archaean granitoid suites in the same complexes, because significant average crustal residence times are required to permit the radiogenic isotopic systems to evolve. The most likely interpretation of the detrital zircon record in the Greenland, Labrador and China sediments is that in their provenance areas the volume of continental crust was small at 3900 Ma, and that it grew significantly during the early Archaean. If the measured ≥3500 Ma detrital sediment suites are globally representative, they support growth models for the continental crust in the early Archaean, rather than models involving recycling of a voluminous >3900 Ma sialic crust. Because of its global coverage and the dating of thousands of grains, the age spectra for detrital zircons from 3000–3200 Ma sediments provides a more reliable impression of crustal ages. However, as they were deposited 700–900 Ma after 3900 Ma, the globally small proportion of ≥3900 Ma detrital grains in them (from Jack Hills, Mt. Narryer and Wyoming) can be accommodated in both crustal growth and moderate recycling models.

Impression management and the use of procedures at the Ritz‐Carlton: Moral standards and dramaturgical discipline

This article uses Goffman's work on moral standards and dramaturgical discipline to inform a case study featuring a hotel's procedures for guaranteeing reliable impression management. Through an analysis of archival material and 18 interviews at two sites, we developed four categories of impression management behaviors. Viewing our analysis through Goffman's lens, we argue that procedures codify moral standards thereby offering employees specific means by which they can enact dramaturgical discipline. In our discussion we suggest several ways in which our case study reinforces and expands Goffman's original concepts. Our findings are (a) procedures can function as codified moral standards within the organizational setting, (b) procedures can serve as the basis for employee enactment of dramaturgical discipline, (c) the use of databases in collecting and storing information offers a new wrinkle to impression management theory, and (d) the use of incentives to pacify guests expands the defensive practices available to those engaging in impression management.

Umbilical Cord Plasma Glutathione S-Transferase Alpha 1-1 Levels as a Marker of Neonatal Hepatocellular Integrity

In Brief Objective To investigate possible delivery-related impaired neonatal hepatocellular integrity by assessment of arterial and venous umbilical cord plasma levels of glutathione S-transferase Alpha 1-1. Methods Glutathione S-transferase Alpha 1-1 levels were assessed in arterial and venous umbilical cord, and maternal venous plasma samples. The influence of maternal, delivery, and neonatal characteristics on arterial umbilical cord glutathione S-transferase Alpha 1-1 levels was studied, using linear regression analysis after log-transformation. Results Median (range) arterial umbilical cord glutathione S-transferase Alpha 1-1 plasma levels were higher than venous umbilical cord levels (9.68 [0.64–1125] μg/L and 7.66 [0.78–987.5] μg/L, respectively, P < .005). Median (range) arterial and venous umbilical cord glutathione S-transferase Alpha 1-1 levels were higher than, and did not correlate with, maternal venous plasma levels (8.79 [1.79–183] μg/L and 6.47 [1.58–164.5] μg/L versus 1.47 [0.46–10.4] μg/L, P < .001). Neonates born vaginally demonstrated higher median (range) levels than those delivered by cesarean (13.41 [1.02–1125] μg/L and 5.73 [0.64–172.90] μg/L, respectively, P < .001). Neonates with unfavorable pH (arterial pH under 7.20) demonstrated higher median (range) levels than those with normal pH (arterial pH at least 7.20) (15.15 [0.77–1125] μg/L and 8.82 [0.64–120.90] μg/L, respectively, P < .001). Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis showed that birth weight had the largest influence on arterial umbilical cord glutathione S-transferase Alpha 1-1 levels, followed by arterial base deficit, and route of delivery. Conclusion Arterial umbilical cord glutathione S-transferase Alpha 1-1 plasma levels, being unrelated to maternal venous levels, might give a reliable impression of early neonatal hepatocellular integrity and may become an additional indicator of neonatal condition immediately after birth. Neonatal umbilical cord glutathione S-transferase Alpha 1-1 plasma levels might give a reliable impression of early neonatal hepatocellular integrity.

Umbilical Cord Plasma Glutathione S-Transferase Alpha 1-1 Levels as a Marker of Neonatal Hepatocellular Integrity

Objective: To investigate possible delivery-related impaired neonatal hepatocellular integrity by assessment of arterial and venous umbilical cord plasma levels of glutathione S-transferase Alpha 1-1.Methods: Glutathione S-transferase Alpha 1-1 levels were assessed in arterial and venous umbilical cord, and maternal venous plasma samples. The influence of maternal, delivery, and neonatal characteristics on arterial umbilical cord glutathione S-transferase Alpha 1-1 levels was studied, using linear regression analysis after log-transformation.Results: Median (range) arterial umbilical cord glutathione S-transferase Alpha 1-1 plasma levels were higher than venous umbilical cord levels (9.68 [0.64–1125] μg/L and 7.66 [0.78–987.5] μg/L, respectively, P < .005). Median (range) arterial and venous umbilical cord glutathione S-transferase Alpha 1-1 levels were higher than, and did not correlate with, maternal venous plasma levels (8.79 [1.79–183] μg/L and 6.47 [1.58–164.5] μg/L versus 1.47 [0.46–10.4] μg/L, P < .001). Neonates born vaginally demonstrated higher median (range) levels than those delivered by cesarean (13.41 [1.02–1125] μg/L and 5.73 [0.64–172.90] μg/L, respectively, P < .001). Neonates with unfavorable pH (arterial pH under 7.20) demonstrated higher median (range) levels than those with normal pH (arterial pH at least 7.20) (15.15 [0.77–1125] μg/L and 8.82 [0.64–120.90] μg/L, respectively, P < .001). Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis showed that birth weight had the largest influence on arterial umbilical cord glutathione S-transferase Alpha 1-1 levels, followed by arterial base deficit, and route of delivery.Conclusion: Arterial umbilical cord glutathione S-transferase Alpha 1-1 plasma levels, being unrelated to maternal venous levels, might give a reliable impression of early neonatal hepatocellular integrity and may become an additional indicator of neonatal condition immediately after birth.

A shoulder pain score: a comprehensive questionnaire for assessing pain in patients with shoulder complaints

This study describes the validation and application of a comprehensive questionnaire (the shoulder pain score) in assessing pain experienced by patients with shoulder complaints. The shoulder pain score comprised six pain symptom questions selected from the literature, together with a 101-Numerical Rating Scale (NRS-101). The score was tested in a follow-up study of 101 patients with shoulder complaints. The coefficient for the internal consistency of the shoulder pain score was 0.82. A factor analysis disclosed two factors: one containing the NRS-101 with the "active" items of the shoulder pain score and another containing the "passive" items. The shoulder pain score gave a reliable impression of the pain experienced and proved to be a useful instrument for following the course of the disorder over time and giving an indication when a patient feels cured.

Ki-67 staining in histological subtypes of breast carcinoma and fine needle aspiration smears.

Thirty four cases of invasive breast carcinoma were analysed for heterogeneity of Ki-67 reactivity in a tumour, and proliferative activity in various histological subtypes was compared. The growth factions determined in areas of central and peripheral tumour were the same. Mucinous and lobular carcinoma showed lower Ki-67 activity than ductal carcinomas. When ductal carcinomas were subdivided according to their dominant growth pattern, the carcinomas with a solid or comedo growth pattern showed the highest proliferative activity. These results largely confirm data from previous cell kinetic studies on the incorporation of radioactively labelled thymidine. A correlation between the growth fraction determined by Ki-67 in fine needle aspiration smears and cryostat sections of corresponding tumours was shown, implying that the immunostaining of cytological smears gives a reliable impression of the growth fraction of a tumour and may therefore be used in prospective studies.

Computer-assisted analysis of normal second trimester fetal heart rate patterns

A software package for computer-assisted analysis of antenatal fetal heart rate (FHR) patterns has been commercially available from 1989. Reference ranges for the third trimester of pregnancy have been established. In order to obtain reference values for the second trimester, one hour FHR recordings were made between 20 and 29 weeks gestation in 77 women with uncomplicated pregnancies. There was a significant increase of (medium term) FHR variation and of the number of accelerations from 20 to 29 weeks (r = 0.48, p less than 0.01 and r = 0.34, p less than 0.01 respectively). The lower limit of normal FHR variation (mean--2 SD's) increased from 18 msec at 20 weeks to 28 msec at 28 weeks. Furthermore, a 30 minute recording appeared to be sufficient to obtain a reliable impression of FHR variation. Short term FHR variation, a measure of FHR variation that facilitates the identification of sinusoidal FHR patterns, also increased significantly between 20 and 29 weeks (r = 0.61, p less than 0.01). Delerations (greater than 20 beats/min and greater than or equal to 30 seconds) were present in 54% of the recordings and are a more or less common phenomenon at this age. It is concluded that during the second trimester FHR variation differs considerably from that in the third trimester. This should be taken into account in the interpretation of second trimester FHR records.

Plant growth analysis: towards a synthesis of the classical and the functional approach

A method of calculating relative growth rates (RGR) and net assimilation rates is presented. The method is based on the fitting of a polynomial through the relative growth rate values calculated by the ‘classical’ approach rather than through the In‐transformed plant weights as in the ‘functional’ method. Additional ways of reducing the harvest‐to‐harvest variation characteristic of the classical approach are discussed. The main advantages of the present approach over the functional one are: (1) The degree of the polynomial can be increased (within certain limits) without inducing spurious fluctuations in RGR. Thus, quite complex trends in RGR can be described. (2) There is little interference between RGR values in different parts of the experiment. The main advantages over the classical approach are: (1) The erratic fluctuations in RGR are dampened. (2) As frequent small harvests are allowed, the workload at each harvest can be diminished and a more reliable impression of ontogenetic drift in RGR can be obtained. (3) RGR is described by a continuous function, thus facilitating further calculations and compilations.

Pitfall trapping within enclosures: a method for estimating the relationship between the abundances of coexisting carabid species (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

Pitfall trapping within enclosures is proposed as a method to get a reliable impression of the relationship between the abundances of a number of coexisting carabid species. The investigations were performed during two years in a heavily grazed pasture at Melle (Belgium). On a rather large scale soil samples could be compared with both enclosed and open pitfall catches.In all cases fenced pitfalls gave ratios between the catches of the different species showing a much better correlation with those from soil samples than the catch ratios from open pitfalls. This method seems especially suitable to compare the relative abundances of a number of carabid species in short term investigations during periods of peak activities.

An instant bioassay for resistance of lettuce to the leaf aphid Myzus persicae

A reliable impression of the resistance of lettuce plants to the leaf aphid Myzus persicae can be obtained via aphid honeydew production. Under controlled temperatures, the number of honeydew droplets produced by these aphids per plant in 180 minutes with five plants per genotype offers a good criterion of this resistance.

Thamnophis proximus (Say), a Valid Species of Garter Snake

geal skeleton. Other soft-bodied animals occurred in numbers too small to give a reliable impression of the extent of digestion, but caterpillars, isopods, amphipods, slugs, and the soft parts of snails were hardly ever found in the rectum, suggesting that they too were completely digested. Despite this indication of different degrees of digestibility of food items, it is not possible at this time to compare the food values of the items, nor to state whether some items