It has been suggested that providing multiple computers with automatic reward dispensers as enrichment to captive orangutans (Pongo spp) (as opposed to a single computer, with a care-staff person delivering reinforcers) might help improve behavioural outcomes. The purpose of the current study was to test this hypothesis by providing two computers with automatic reward dispensers to eight orangutans housed in four male-female pairs at Zoo Atlanta, USA. Subjects were observed for ten days during each of three phases: a baseline phase (during which, no computer was provided); immediately followed by Phase 1 (during which, one computer system was provided to each pair of subjects); immediately followed by Phase 2 (during which, two computer systems were provided to each pair). Data were collected in 1-h sessions using instantaneous scan sampling. There was no habituation to the computer system, nor were there any significant increases in aggression, rough scratching, and abnormal behaviours in either computer phase, which indicates that computer-joystick systems are effective as enrichment for captive orangutans. However, a high level of interest in the computer was shown by only a few individuals, which highlights a need to take into consideration individual differences when providing computerised enrichment to captive non-human primates. It would also be advisable to provide other forms of enrichment to increase activity levels for individuals which are not interested in interacting with a computer, as well as to help increase the diversity of behaviours being stimulated by the enrichment.

As the field of applied linguistics ponders and even embraces the myriad roles technology affords language education, we frame this critical report within the context of the Modern Language Association's 2007 report, along with earlier state-of-the-field Annual Review of Applied Linguistics (ARAL) pieces (e.g., Blake, 2007; 2011) to consider not only where we've come from but also, crucially, where the field is headed. This article begins with an overview of the field, examining the role of technology and how it has been leveraged over decades of language teaching. We also explore issues such as the goals established by the Modern Language Association (MLA) with respect to shaping technological vision and the role of technology in enhancing the field of language education. We use this critical assessment to offer insights into how the field of computer-assisted language learning (CALL) can help shape the future of language teaching and learning.

A major challenge facing archaeologists is communicating our research to the public. Thankfully, new computational tools have enabled the testing and visualization of complex ideas in an easily packageable format. In this article we illustrate not only how agent-based modeling provides a platform for communicating complex ideas, but also how these game-like computer models can be explored and manipulated by members of the public therefore increasing their engagement in archaeological explanations. We suggest that these new digital tools serve as an excellent aid for education on the importance of archaeological sites and artifacts. To illustrate the above we walk the reader through a step-by-step pipeline of how to run an ABM model as an experiment and how to export it into a form ready to be sent to SHPO and THPO offices in tandem with reports. Ultimately, we hope that this work will help demystify the computational archaeology process and lead to more fluency in using agent-based modeling in research and outreach.

Objectives: The reduction in cognitive decline depends on timely diagnosis. The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the current available information and communication technologies-based instruments for cognitive decline early screening and detection in terms of usability, validity, and reliability.

Methods: Electronic searches identified 1,785 articles of which thirty-four met the inclusion criteria and were grouped according to their main purpose into test batteries, measures of isolated tasks, behavioral measures, and diagnostic tools.

Results: Thirty one instruments were analyzed. Fifty-two percent were personal computer based, 26 percent tablet, 13 percent laptop, and 1 was mobile phone based. The most common input method was touchscreen (48 percent). The instruments were validated with a total of 4,307 participants: 2,146 were healthy older adults (M = 73.59; SD = 5.12), 1,104 had dementia (M = 74.65; SD = 3.98) and 1,057 mild cognitive impairment (M = 74.84; SD = 4.46). Only 6 percent were administered at home, 19 percent reported outcomes about usability, and 22 percent about understandability. The methodological quality of the studies was good, the weakest methodological area being usability. Most of the instruments obtained acceptable values of specificity and sensitivity.

Conclusions: It is necessary to create home delivered instruments and to include usability studies in their design. Involvement of people with cognitive decline in all phases of the development process is of great importance to obtain valuable and user-friendly products. It would be advisable for researchers to make an effort to provide cutoff points for their instruments.

The Internet may reduce constraints on a farmer's ability to receive and manage information, regardless of where the farm is located or when the information is used. Using a count data estimation procedure, this study attempts to examine the key farm, operator, regional, and household characteristics that influence the number of Internet applications used by farm households. Findings indicate that educational level of the farm operator, farm size, farm diversification, off-farm income, off-farm investments, and regional location of the farm have a significant impact on the number of Internet applications used.

A minicomputer online information retrieval program is described that is designed to facilitate timely distribution of agricultural market news to state and county research and extension faculty. These faculty have designed programs that extend this information to clientele in their areas. An evaluation indicates that users find great value in this network. Usage has grown rapidly over the period the network has been available. This program is available and can be used by other states and clientele.

Computers and the Internet have created a revolution in the way astronomy can be communicated to the public. At Sydney Observatory we make full use of these recent developments. In our lecture room a variety of sophisticated computer programs can show, with the help of a projection TV system, the appearance and motion of the sky at any place, date or time. The latest HST images obtained from the Internet can be shown, as can images taken through our own Meade 16 in telescope. This recently installed computer-controlled telescope, with its accurate pointing, is an ideal instrument for a light-polluted site such as ours.

Computers change rapidly, yet the last survey on computer use in agriculture was in 1991. We surveyed Great Plains producers in 1995 and used logit analysis to characterize adopters and non-adopters. About 37% of these producers use computers which is consistent with the general population. We confirmed previous surveys emphasizing the importance of education, age/experience, and other farm characteristics on adoption. However, we also found that education and experience may no longer be a significant influence. Future research and education could focus on when and where computers are most needed, and therefore when adoption is most appropriate.

The potential use of computers and electronic technology have created considerable interest among educators in agricultural economics. This paper provides an overview of the use of electronic technology within agricultural economics curricula; examines areas in which technological development offers promise and examines issues associated with adoption of the technology.

The geometric multigrid method (GMG) is one of the most efficient solving techniques for discrete algebraic systems arising from elliptic partial differential equations. GMG utilizes a hierarchy of grids or discretizations and reduces the error at a number of frequencies simultaneously. Graphics processing units (GPUs) have recently burst onto the scientific computing scene as a technology that has yielded substantial performance and energy-efficiency improvements. A central challenge in implementing GMG on GPUs, though, is that computational work on coarse levels cannot fully utilize the capacity of a GPU. In this work, we perform numerical studies of GMG on CPU-GPU heterogeneous computers. Furthermore, we compare our implementation with an efficient CPU implementation of GMG and with the most popular fast Poisson solver, Fast Fourier Transform, in the cuFFT library developed by NVIDIA.