Narrative Learning, EAL and Metacognitive Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cortazzi, Martin; Jin, Lixian

2007-01-01

This paper elaborates some aspects of narrative learning--defined here as learning to tell stories and learning from, about and through narratives--in the context of primary-age pupils who use English as an Additional Language (EAL). The paper introduces some principles to support their language development in classroom interaction. We argue that…

The Development of Comprehension and Reading-Related Skills in Children Learning English as an Additional Language and Their Monolingual, English-Speaking Peers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burgoyne, K.; Whiteley, H. E.; Hutchinson, J. M.

2011-01-01

Background: A significant number of pupils in UK schools learn English as an additional language (EAL). Relative differences between the educational attainment of this group and monolingual, English-speaking pupils call for an exploration of the literacy needs of EAL learners. Aims: This study explores the developmental progression of reading and…

Cochlear-implanted children from homes where English is an additional language: findings from a recent audit in one London centre.

PubMed

Mahon, M; Vickers, D; McCarthy, K; Barker, R; Merritt, R; Szagun, G; Mann, W; Rajput, K

2011-05-01

A 5-year retrospective audit of demographic, audiological, and other records of 147 children implanted at one London centre was conducted. The aim was to detail the number of children implanted, with a specific focus on children from families with English as an additional language (EAL), and to compare these children with children from monolingual English-speaking families on a variety of characteristics known to affect paediatric cochlear implant outcomes. In all, 28% of children were from families where English is an additional language, with 15 different languages recorded. There were no differences between EAL and English-speaking children with respect to age of implantation; bilateral versus unilateral implants or hearing levels in better ear. There were differences between these groups in aetiology, in the occurrence of additional needs, and in educational placements. Information about speech and language outcomes was difficult to gather. Conclusions indicate the need for more detailed record-keeping especially about children's home languages for purposes of planning intervention and for the inclusion of children with EAL in future studies.

Teaching Strategies: Supporting EAL Students in Learning Biology Terminology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fernando, Primani; Cooper, Rebecca

2017-01-01

This paper provides a brief introduction to teaching strategies that can be used to support English as Additional Language (EAL) students in learning biology terminology. The paper begins with an overview of EAL students and considers the difficulties that they may face in the classroom along with the challenges that mainstream teachers may have…

EAL Undergraduates Learning Mathematics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barton, B.; Chan, R.; King, C.; Neville-Barton, P.; Sneddon, J.

2005-01-01

This paper reports on a third study in a series aimed at investigating the issues surrounding the learning of mathematics at The University of Auckland by students who have English as an Additional Language (EAL students). As well as summarizing the earlier studies, it presents some new data showing that the problems experienced by EAL students…

English as an Additional Language, Policy and the Teaching and Learning of English in England

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Costley, Tracey

2014-01-01

This paper is focused on the ways in which social policy and social concerns have impacted upon and shaped provision for students who consider English as an additional language (EAL). It provides an overview of practice and provision in relation to EAL learners in the context of state-funded education in England over the last 60 years in order to…

An Exploration of School Communication Approaches for Newly Arrived EAL Students: Applying Three Dimensions of Organisational Communication Theory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schneider, Claudia; Arnot, Madeleine

2018-01-01

This article explores the modes of school communication associated with language and cultural diversity, demonstrating how organisational communication theory can be applied to the analysis of schools' communication responses to the presence of pupils who have English as an additional language (EAL). The article highlights three analytical…

Are South African Speech-Language Therapists adequately equipped to assess English Additional Language (EAL) speakers who are from an indigenous linguistic and cultural background? A profile and exploration of the current situation

PubMed Central

Mdlalo, Thandeka; Flack, Penelope

2016-01-01

This article presents the results of a survey conducted on Speech-Language Therapists (SLTs) regarding current practices in the assessment of English Additional Language (EAL) speakers in South Africa. It forms part of the rationale for a broader (PhD) study that critiques the use of assessment instruments on EAL speakers from an indigenous linguistic and cultural background. This article discusses an aspect of the broader research and presents the background, method, findings, discussion and implications of the survey. The results of this survey highlight the challenges of human and material resources to, and the dominance of English in, the profession in South Africa. The findings contribute to understanding critical factors for acquiring reliable and valid assessment results with diverse populations, particularly the implications from a cultural and linguistic perspective. PMID:27247254

The Multicultural Café: Enhancing Authentic Interaction for Adult English Language Learners through Service Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Riley, Tracy; Douglas, Scott Roy

2016-01-01

While service learning platforms hold great potential for adult learners of English as an additional language (EAL), there has been little research to date related to the impact of these programs on adult newcomers' linguistic and social development. The Multicultural Café was a food service learning platform for adult EAL learners operated over a…

How Does the Use of Role-Play Affect the Learning of Year 4 Children in a Predominately EAL Class?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grant, Katrina; Mistry, Malini Tina

2010-01-01

This paper investigates role-play activities and how they can be used within learning for English as an Additional Language (EAL) pupils in a Key Stage 2 setting in England. Through observations, results showed effective role-play activities can be beneficial to EAL pupils, allowing them to practice words and phrases in a relaxed atmosphere…

Multilingualism as Legitimate Shared Repertoires in School Communities of Practice: Students' and Teachers' Discursive Constructions of Languages in Two Schools in England

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liu, Yongcan; Evans, Michael

2016-01-01

This paper reports on the findings of a 12-month project within a broader research programme that looks at a group of East European students with English as an Additional Language (EAL) in England. The data are derived from interviews with the students and teachers in two schools. The findings show that EAL students had a keen interest in English.…

Negotiating Contradictions in Developing Teacher Identity during the EAL Practicum in Australia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nguyen, Minh Hue

2017-01-01

This paper reports on how Maria (pseudonym), a non-native English speaker (NNES) and preservice teacher (PST) of English as an additional language (EAL), developed her professional identity during the practicum in an Australian secondary school. Drawing on activity theory, the study identified contradictions in Maria's practicum activity and…

Resilience through Storytelling in the EAL Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Geres, Koreen

2016-01-01

English as an Additional Language (EAL) teachers often become the trusted confidants of students who experienced forced migration. Although teachers are not typically trained to be counsellors or encouraged to take that role, what they do in the classroom can have a great influence on their students' well-being (Pipher, 2002). In fact, teachers…

Scaffolding during the Formal Assessment of Young EAL Learners: A New Zealand Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Booth, Dawn

2012-01-01

Despite growing interest in the theorisation of teacher-based assessment (TBA), very little research has paid close attention to how teachers practice assessment embedded in real classroom contexts. This longitudinal study over one school term reports on the TBA of young learners with English as an additional language (EAL) in New Zealand primary…

Procedure for implementation of temperature-dependent mechanical property capability in the Engineering Analysis Language (EAL) system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Glass, David E.; Robinson, James C.

1990-01-01

A procedure is presented to allow the use of temperature dependent mechanical properties in the Engineering Analysis Language (EAL) System for solid structural elements. This is accomplished by including a modular runstream in the main EAL runstream. The procedure is applicable for models with multiple materials and with anisotropic properties, and can easily be incorporated into an existing EAL runstream. The procedure (which is applicable for EAL elastic solid elements) is described in detail, followed by a description of the validation of the routine. A listing of the EAL runstream used to validate the procedure is included in the Appendix.

Language Specialists' Views on the Academic Language and Learning Abilities of English as an Additional Language Postgraduate Coursework Students: Towards an Adjunct Tutorial Model

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fenton-Smith, Ben; Humphreys, Pamela

2017-01-01

As in other Anglophone nations, a large percentage of Australia's postgraduate international students come from English as an additional language (EAL) backgrounds, and many require development of their academic language and learning (ALL) capabilities to successfully navigate a higher degree. This paper investigates those capabilities through the…

Applied Linguistics Project: Student-Led Computer Assisted Research in High School EAL/EAP

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bohát, Róbert; Rödlingová, Beata; Horáková, Nina

2015-01-01

The Applied Linguistics Project (ALP) started at the International School of Prague (ISP) in 2013. Every year, Grade 9 English as an Additional Language (EAL) students identify an area of learning in need of improvement and design a research method followed by data collection and analysis using basic computer software tools or online corpora.…

Pedagogy for Ethnic Minority Pupils with Special Educational Needs in England: Common yet Different?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tan, Andrea Geok Poh; Ware, Jean; Norwich, Brahm

2017-01-01

The increasing ethnic diversity in the UK has highlighted the importance of supporting primary school pupils with English as an Additional Language (EAL), some of whom also have special educational needs (SEN). However, there is relatively little research carried out in the UK on children with both EAL needs and SEN. This paper presents the…

English as an Additional Language--A Genealogy of Language-in-Education Policies and Reflections on Research Trajectories

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leung, Constant

2016-01-01

The school population in England is linguistically diverse; according to official data, over one million pupils do not speak English as their first language. All teachers are expected to support English as an additional language (EAL) development as part of their professional responsibility. At the same time, there has been little specific…

Culturally and linguistically diverse students in speech-language pathology courses: A platform for culturally responsive services.

PubMed

Attrill, Stacie; Lincoln, Michelle; McAllister, Sue

2017-06-01

Increasing the proportion of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) students and providing intercultural learning opportunities for all students are two strategies identified to facilitate greater access to culturally responsive speech-language pathology services. To enact these strategies, more information is needed about student diversity. This study collected descriptive information about CALD speech-language pathology students in Australia. Cultural and linguistic background information was collected through surveying 854 domestic and international speech-language pathology students from three Australian universities. Students were categorised according to defined or perceived CALD status, international student status, speaking English as an Additional Language (EAL), or speaking a Language Other than English at Home (LOTEH). Overall, 32.1% of students were either defined or perceived CALD. A total of 14.9% spoke EAL and 25.7% identified speaking a LOTEH. CALD students were more likely to speak EAL or a LOTEH than non-CALD students, were prominently from Southern and South-Eastern Asian backgrounds and spoke related languages. Many students reported direct or indirect connections with their cultural heritage and/or contributed linguistic diversity. These students may represent broader acculturative experiences in communities. The sociocultural knowledge and experience of these students may provide intercultural learning opportunities for all students and promote culturally responsive practices.

Developing Independent Listening Skills for English as an Additional Language Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Picard, Michelle; Velautham, Lalitha

2016-01-01

This paper describes an action research project to develop online, self-access listening resources mirroring the authentic academic contexts experienced by graduate university students. Current listening materials for English as an Additional Language (EAL) students mainly use Standard American English or Standard British pronunciation, and far…

Bilingual Education in a Community Language: Lessons from a Longitudinal Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Molyneux, Paul; Scull, Janet; Aliani, Renata

2016-01-01

Provision for students learning English as an additional language (EAL) frequently overlooks the linguistic resources these children bring to the classroom. This is despite international research that highlights the facilitative links between support of the home language and the acquisition of new languages. This article reports on a longitudinal…

Discipline-Specific Language Instruction for International Students in Introductory Economics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nguyen, Trien T.; Williams, Julia; Trimarchi, Angela

2015-01-01

This paper explores student perceptions of the effects of pairing discipline-specific language instruction with the traditional method of course delivery in economics. Our research involved teaching content-based English as an additional language (EAL) tutorials to a small group of ten international students taking first-year introductory…

Teachers' Views on Recognising and Using Home Languages in Predominantly Monolingual Primary Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bailey, Elizabeth G.; Marsden, Emma

2017-01-01

The use of home languages has previously been advocated in highly multilingual UK classrooms. However, drawing on the home languages and cultural insight of children who use English as an Additional Language (EAL) may also have important social and academic benefits in contexts where monolingualism is the norm. Conducted in a small local authority…

Variables Associated with Grade R English Additional Language Acquisition in Multilingual Rural Mpumalanga Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moodley, P.; Kritzinger, A.; Vinck, B.

2016-01-01

In a previous study Moodley, Kritzinger and Vinck (2014) found that formal English Additional Language (EAL) instruction contributed significantly better to listening and speaking skills in Grade R learners, than did a play-based approach. The finding in multilingual rural Mpumalanga schools was in agreement with numerous studies elsewhere.…

"You Get to Be Yourself": Visual Arts Programs, Identity Construction and Learners of English as an Additional Language

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wielgosz, Meg; Molyneux, Paul

2015-01-01

Students learning English as an additional language (EAL) in Australian schools frequently struggle with the cultural and linguistic demands of the classroom while concurrently grappling with issues of identity and belonging. This article reports on an investigation of the role primary school visual arts programs, distinct programs with a…

Literacy in the Early Years and English as an Additional Language: The Case of a British International School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Englezou, Eliana; Fragkouli, Elpiniki

2014-01-01

The study upon which this article is based investigates teachers' literacy development methods used in nursery and reception classrooms of a British international school, and focuses specifically on children having English as an additional language (EAL). Findings from teaching observations and from interviews with teachers present the techniques…

Learning Science through Dialogic Inquiry: Is It Beneficial for English-as-Additional-Language Students?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Haneda, Mari; Wells, Gordon

2010-01-01

While the effectiveness of teaching that emphasizes dialogue and inquiry has been well documented with respect to English-as-mother-tongue children, it remains an empirical question as to whether this approach is equally useful when the student body includes a substantial number of English-as-additional-language (EAL) students. Through a…

Programs for transferring data between a relational data base and a finite element structural analysis program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, S. C.

1982-01-01

An interface system for passing data between a relational information management (RIM) data base complex and engineering analysis language (EAL), a finite element structural analysis program is documented. The interface system, implemented on a CDC Cyber computer, is composed of two FORTRAN programs called RIM2EAL and EAL2RIM. The RIM2EAL reads model definition data from RIM and creates a file of EAL commands to define the model. The EAL2RIM reads model definition and EAL generated analysis data from EAL's data library and stores these data dirctly in a RIM data base. These two interface programs and the format for the RIM data complex are described.

Content-Focused Classrooms and Learning English: How Teachers Collaborate

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Creese, Angela

2010-01-01

This article looks at the possibilities of content-based instruction in mainstream English secondary schools. It considers the continuum from a language to content focus in classrooms where teachers collaborate. English as an additional language (EAL) and subject curriculum teachers work together to support young people while they simultaneously…

Intervention and Revision: Expertise and Interaction in Text Mediation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Luo, Na; Hyland, Ken

2017-01-01

Many EAL (English as an Additional Language) scholars enlist text mediators' support when faced with the challenges of writing for international publication. However, the contributions these individuals are able to make in improving scientific manuscripts remains unclear, especially when language professionals such as English teachers do this…

English as an Additional Language: Is There a Need to Embed Cultural Values and Beliefs in Institutional Practice?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sood, Krishan; Mistry, Malini Tina

2011-01-01

The number of pupils who have English as an Additional Language (EAL) in English schools is increasing, with an influx of migrants from Europe. This paper investigates how schools are addressing the needs of these children. Using survey and interviews with teachers and paraprofessionals the identification of personal assumptions and challenges of…

Raising Achievement of English as Additional Language Pupils in Schools: Implications for Policy and Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Demie, Feyisa; Lewis, Kirstin

2018-01-01

This study looks at schools that serve English as an additional language (EAL) pupils and examines the factors behind their successful achievement. A complementary methodological approach of case studies and focus groups was used to explore performance and the views of teachers, governors, parents and pupils, and to evaluate and gather evidence on…

Building a Career in English: Users of English as an Additional Language in Academia in the Arabian Gulf

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Buckingham, Louisa

2014-01-01

This study investigates how a group of 30 multilingual academics, all users of English as an additional language (EAL) working at a private university in Oman, acquired discourse community membership in their disciplines through publishing in English, and the strategies they use to sustain the level of literacy needed to disseminate their research…

Sign-Supported English: Is It Effective at Teaching Vocabulary to Young Children with English as an Additional Language?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marshall, Chloë R.; Hobsbaum, Angela

2015-01-01

Background: Children who are learning English as an Additional Language (EAL) may start school with smaller vocabularies than their monolingual peers. Given the links between vocabulary and academic achievement, it is important to evaluate interventions that are designed to support vocabulary learning in this group of children. Aims: To evaluate…

How Much Is Enough? Involving Occupational Experts in Setting Standards on a Specific-Purpose Language Test for Health Professionals

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pill, John; McNamara, Tim

2016-01-01

This paper considers how to establish the minimum required level of professionally relevant oral communication ability in the medium of English for health practitioners with English as an additional language (EAL) to gain admission to practice in jurisdictions where English is the dominant language. A theoretical concern is the construct of…

Supporting Pupils with EAL and Their Teachers in Ireland: The Need for a Co-Ordinated Strategy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Murtagh, Lelia; Francis, Tracy

2012-01-01

Since the establishment of a Language Support Service in 1999, all newcomer children with limited English skills arriving in schools in Ireland are entitled to two years of additional English language support. This is provided mainly by designated Language Support Teachers (LSTs). During the peak of the Celtic Tiger, there was a sharp growth in…

Teachers' Awareness and Use of Scales to Map the Progress of Children Who Speak English as an Additional Language or Dialect

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

de Courcy, Michele; Adoniou, Misty; Ngoc, Doan Ba

2014-01-01

With the development of the English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D) Teacher Resource, the educational needs and outcomes of refugee and immigrant children have been placed on the national mainstream teaching agenda. This new national resource sits alongside a plethora of other resources, known as scales and standards, which have been…

A Comparative Study of Listening Comprehension Measures in English as an Additional Language and Native English-Speaking Primary School Children

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McKendry, Mairead Grainne; Murphy, Victoria A.

2011-01-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the suitability of different measures of listening comprehension for Years 2, 3 and 4 children with English as an additional language (EAL). Non-standardised uses of reading comprehension measures are often employed as proxy measures of listening comprehension, i.e. for purposes for which they were not…

Identification of Fluency and Word-Finding Difficulty in Samples of Children with Diverse Language Backgrounds

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Howell, Peter; Tang, Kevin; Tuomainen, Outi; Chan, Sin Kan; Beltran, Kirsten; Mirawdeli, Avin; Harris, John

2017-01-01

Background: Stuttering and word-finding difficulty (WFD) are two types of communication difficulty that occur frequently in children who learn English as an additional language (EAL), as well as those who only speak English. The two disorders require different, specific forms of intervention. Prior research has described the symptoms of each type…

Interactions between EAL Pupils, Specialist Teachers and TAs during Withdrawal from the Mainstream in UK Primary Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wardman, Clare

2013-01-01

Many primary school children with English as an additional language in the UK receive additional educational support. This article reports on a study comparing withdrawal sessions between teaching assistants (TAs) and specialist teachers. The findings show that the specialist teachers included more personalisation than TAs' sessions, through the…

Authentic Cultural and Linguistic Learning through Practicum in a Nursing Home

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Andrew, Martin

2012-01-01

This study investigates the value of community experience for mediating linguistic practice and cultural learning. Learners of English as an Additional Language (EAL), both immigrants and international students, frequently report difficulties in practicing English outside the classroom (Wright, 2006). Grounded in poststructuralist social identity…

Documentation for a Structural Optimization Procedure Developed Using the Engineering Analysis Language (EAL)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Martin, Carl J., Jr.

1996-01-01

This report describes a structural optimization procedure developed for use with the Engineering Analysis Language (EAL) finite element analysis system. The procedure is written primarily in the EAL command language. Three external processors which are written in FORTRAN generate equivalent stiffnesses and evaluate stress and local buckling constraints for the sections. Several built-up structural sections were coded into the design procedures. These structural sections were selected for use in aircraft design, but are suitable for other applications. Sensitivity calculations use the semi-analytic method, and an extensive effort has been made to increase the execution speed and reduce the storage requirements. There is also an approximate sensitivity update method included which can significantly reduce computational time. The optimization is performed by an implementation of the MINOS V5.4 linear programming routine in a sequential liner programming procedure.

Text-based plagiarism in scientific publishing: issues, developments and education.

PubMed

Li, Yongyan

2013-09-01

Text-based plagiarism, or copying language from sources, has recently become an issue of growing concern in scientific publishing. Use of CrossCheck (a computational text-matching tool) by journals has sometimes exposed an unexpected amount of textual similarity between submissions and databases of scholarly literature. In this paper I provide an overview of the relevant literature, to examine how journal gatekeepers perceive textual appropriation, and how automated plagiarism-screening tools have been developed to detect text matching, with the technique now available for self-check of manuscripts before submission; I also discuss issues around English as an additional language (EAL) authors and in particular EAL novices being the typical offenders of textual borrowing. The final section of the paper proposes a few educational directions to take in tackling text-based plagiarism, highlighting the roles of the publishing industry, senior authors and English for academic purposes professionals.

Planning Lessons for Refugee-Background Students: Challenges and Strategies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miller, Jennifer; Windle, Joel Austin; Yazdanpanah, Lilly K.

2014-01-01

This article examines the ways teachers plan lessons for English as an Additional Language (EAL) students from refugee backgrounds in secondary school transition programs. Based on a study of teachers working with students in three Victorian schools, we identify the key challenges teachers face in planning and the strategies they adopt to confront…

Realigning Capital Portfolios: International Students' Educational Experiences in Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lin, Isadora Jung-Hsiu

2014-01-01

This paper reports on first year experiences of international students who use English as an additional language (EAL) in higher education in Australia. It examines how valued resources can foster a positive educational experience of these students from sociological perspectives. It draws data from an interview study, exploring narrative accounts…

"Like a Newborn Baby": Using Journals to Record Changing Identities beyond the Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Andrew, Martin

2011-01-01

The purpose of this article is to describe the sociocultural learning of 40 second-year students in a Bachelor of Arts in English-as-an-additional-language (EAL) program in Auckland, New Zealand. These learners participated in a teaching and learning intervention involving journalized community placement. The study illustrates how reflective…

"Convenience Editors" as Legitimate Participants in the Practice of Scientific Editing: An Interview Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Willey, Ian; Tanimoto, Kimie

2013-01-01

Native-English-speaking English teachers at universities in EFL contexts are often asked to edit scientific manuscripts written by English as an additional language (EAL) colleagues. However, a lack of familiarity with scientific writing can make such editing tasks burdensome to English teachers. Using Lave and Wenger's (1991) notion of legitimate…

How are Leaders Integrating the Ideology of Globalisation in Primary School Contexts?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mistry, Malini; Sood, Krishan

2013-01-01

This study carried out research focusing on diverse learners, such as pupils who have English as additional language (EAL) in primary schools in the Midlands, England. Essentially, we wanted to know how they are supported to become global learners. Therefore, questions were posed to school leaders on their understanding of the concept of…

Becoming an Applied Linguist: A Study of Authorial Voice in International PhD Students' Confirmation Reports

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thompson, Celia; Morton, Janne; Storch, Neomy

2016-01-01

The need to establish an authorial identity in academic discourse has been considered to be critical for all doctoral students by academic writing teachers and researchers for some time. For students for whom English is an additional language (EAL) in particular, the challenges are not only how to communicate this identity effectively in English,…

Equality and Inequality of Opportunity in Education: Chinese Emergent Bilingual Children in the English Mainstream Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chen, Yangguang

2007-01-01

In Britain, since the 1980s, the term "equality of opportunity" has been a major theme at the heart of the government's agenda. Centralisation via the National Curriculum documents has strengthened the idea of "education for all". In terms of many linguistic minority children, mainstreaming and the English as an Additional Language (EAL) provision…

On the Importance of a Genre-Based Approach in the Teaching of English for Medical Purposes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

León Pérez, Isabel K.; Martín-Martín, Pedro

2016-01-01

In experimental disciplinary fields such as medicine, the writing up of a research paper in English may represent a major hurdle, especially for inexperienced writers and users of EAL (English as an Additional Language), mainly due to a lack of familiarity with international discourse conventions. Despite the efforts of many EAP (English for…

Rethinking Educational Leadership to Transform Pedagogical Practice to Help Improve the Attainment of Minority Ethnic Pupils: The Need for Leadership Dialogue

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mistry, Malini; Sood, Krishan

2011-01-01

This study aims to explore how leaders are helping to close gaps of attainment for minority ethnic pupils in English schools, and in particular those pupils who have English as an Additional Language (EAL) in the primary and secondary sector. This is a comparative study across selected schools using qualitative approaches to help gain an insight…

Static and dynamic structural-sensitivity derivative calculations in the finite-element-based Engineering Analysis Language (EAL) system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Camarda, C. J.; Adelman, H. M.

1984-01-01

The implementation of static and dynamic structural-sensitivity derivative calculations in a general purpose, finite-element computer program denoted the Engineering Analysis Language (EAL) System is described. Derivatives are calculated with respect to structural parameters, specifically, member sectional properties including thicknesses, cross-sectional areas, and moments of inertia. Derivatives are obtained for displacements, stresses, vibration frequencies and mode shapes, and buckling loads and mode shapes. Three methods for calculating derivatives are implemented (analytical, semianalytical, and finite differences), and comparisons of computer time and accuracy are made. Results are presented for four examples: a swept wing, a box beam, a stiffened cylinder with a cutout, and a space radiometer-antenna truss.

Design sensitivity analysis using EAL. Part 1: Conventional design parameters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dopker, B.; Choi, Kyung K.; Lee, J.

1986-01-01

A numerical implementation of design sensitivity analysis of builtup structures is presented, using the versatility and convenience of an existing finite element structural analysis code and its database management system. The finite element code used in the implemenatation presented is the Engineering Analysis Language (EAL), which is based on a hybrid method of analysis. It was shown that design sensitivity computations can be carried out using the database management system of EAL, without writing a separate program and a separate database. Conventional (sizing) design parameters such as cross-sectional area of beams or thickness of plates and plane elastic solid components are considered. Compliance, displacement, and stress functionals are considered as performance criteria. The method presented is being extended to implement shape design sensitivity analysis using a domain method and a design component method.

Use of Oral Reflection in Facilitating Graduate EAL Students' Oral-Language Production and Strategy Use: An Empirical Action Research Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Huang, Li-Shih

2012-01-01

Research in the fields of second-language acquisition and education has supported the value of written reflection, but scant research has explored how other types of reflection may come into play when learners employ strategies and produce oral language. This paper reports findings from an action research study that focused on integrating…

endodermal-amyloplast less 1 is a novel allele of SHORT-ROOT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morita, Miyo T.; Saito, Chieko; Nakano, Akihiko; Tasaka, Masao

Plants can sense the direction of gravity and change the growth orientation of their organs. Arabidopsis mutants have been isolated and characterized in order to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of gravitropism. endodermal-amyloplast less 1 ( eal1) is a unique mutant that completely lacks gravitropism in inflorescence stems and exhibits reduced gravitropism in hypocotyls, whereas its roots showed normal gravitropism. Previously, it was suggested that differentiation or development of amyloplasts in shoot statocytes (endodermal cells) is affected by the eal1 mutation. Here, we have identified EAL1 as a SHORT-ROOT ( SHR) allele based on map position. Three nucleotides in the SHR coding region were deleted in the eal1 mutant, resulting in the deletion of just one amino acid. The protein encoded by the novel allele of SHR appears to have retained its function as a transcription factor since the endodermal cell layer was formed both in roots and in shoots of eal1. SCARECROW (SCR) promoter activity monitored by reporter protein expression was significantly decreased in eal1, suggesting that the activity of SHR lacking one amino acid is reduced. In addition, transcription levels of SHOOT GRAVITROPISM 5 (SGR5), which is mainly expressed in the endodermis of inflorescence stems, was markedly decreased. Together with the presence of abnormal endodermal amyloplasts in eal1, these results strongly suggest that the endodermis observed in eal1 is not sufficiently differentiated to execute shoot gravitropism.

Protective effects of Arctium lappa L. roots against hydrogen peroxide-induced cell injury and potential mechanisms in SH-SY5Y cells.

PubMed

Tian, Xing; Guo, Li-Ping; Hu, Xiao-Long; Huang, Jin; Fan, Yan-Hua; Ren, Tian-Shu; Zhao, Qing-Chun

2015-04-01

Accumulated evidence has shown that excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in neuronal cell death related with various chronic neurodegenerative disorders. This study was designed to explore neuroprotective effects of ethyl acetate extract of Arctium lappa L. roots (EAL) on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced cell injury in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. The cell viability was significantly decreased after exposure to 200 μM H2O2, whereas pretreatment with different concentrations of EAL attenuated the H2O2-induced cytotoxicity. Hoechst 33342 staining indicated that EAL reversed nuclear condensation in H2O2-treated cells. Meanwhile, TUNEL assay with DAPI staining showed that EAL attenuated apoptosis was induced by H2O2. Pretreatment with EAL also markedly elevated activities of antioxidant enzyme (GSH-Px and SOD), reduced lipid peroxidation (MDA) production, prevented ROS formation, and the decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential. In addition, EAL showed strong radical scavenging ability in 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assays. Furthermore, EAL inhibited H2O2-induced apoptosis by increases in the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, decreases in cytochrome c release, and attenuation of caspase-3, caspase-9 activities, and expressions. These findings suggest that EAL may be regarded as a potential antioxidant agent and possess potent neuroprotective activity against H2O2-induced injury.

Catering for EAL/D Students' Language Needs in Mainstream Classes: Early Childhood Teachers' Perspectives and Practices in One Australian Setting

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dobinson, Toni J.; Buchori, Sylvia

2016-01-01

This article aims to highlight the complexity of English language related experiences and interactions of a small group of teachers in an Australian, Early Childhood (EC), mainstream setting with children four to eight years old. It draws on data collected from a qualitative case study which investigated four teachers' perspectives and anxieties…

Characterization of thin films on the nanometer scale by Auger electron spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Powell, C. J.; Jablonski, A.; Werner, W. S. M.; Smekal, W.

2005-01-01

We describe two NIST databases that can be used to characterize thin films from Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements. First, the NIST Electron Effective-Attenuation-Length Database provides values of effective attenuation lengths (EALs) for user-specified materials and measurement conditions. The EALs differ from the corresponding inelastic mean free paths on account of elastic-scattering of the signal electrons. The database supplies "practical" EALs that can be used to determine overlayer-film thicknesses. Practical EALs are plotted as a function of film thickness, and an average value is shown for a user-selected thickness. The average practical EAL can be utilized as the "lambda parameter" to obtain film thicknesses from simple equations in which the effects of elastic-scattering are neglected. A single average practical EAL can generally be employed for a useful range of film thicknesses and for electron emission angles of up to about 60°. For larger emission angles, the practical EAL should be found for the particular conditions. Second, we describe a new NIST database for the Simulation of Electron Spectra for Surface Analysis (SESSA) to be released in 2004. This database provides data for many parameters needed in quantitative AES and XPS (e.g., excitation cross-sections, electron-scattering cross-sections, lineshapes, fluorescence yields, and backscattering factors). Relevant data for a user-specified experiment are automatically retrieved by a small expert system. In addition, Auger electron and photoelectron spectra can be simulated for layered samples. The simulated spectra, for layer compositions and thicknesses specified by the user, can be compared with measured spectra. The layer compositions and thicknesses can then be adjusted to find maximum consistency between simulated and measured spectra, and thus, provide more detailed characterizations of multilayer thin-film materials. SESSA can also provide practical EALs, and we compare values provided by the NIST EAL database and SESSA for hafnium dioxide. Differences of up to 10% were found for film thicknesses less than 20 Å due to the use of different physical models in each database.

Facilitating Dialogue in the Adult EAL Classroom: Acknowledging Learners, Teachers and the Curriculum

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Atkinson, Michael

2017-01-01

Ostensibly, the orientation towards learning outcomes in adult English language and literacy delivery ensures that the focus is on standardised skill development and knowledge acquisition of students. Such measureable development is seen as foundational to broader employability skills and job readiness. It is an agenda however which ignores the…

Arctium lappa ameliorates endothelial dysfunction in rats fed with high fat/cholesterol diets.

PubMed

Lee, Yun Jung; Choi, Deok Ho; Cho, Guk Hyun; Kim, Jin Sook; Kang, Dae Gill; Lee, Ho Sub

2012-08-06

Arctium lappa L. (Asteraceae), burdock, is a medicinal plant that is popularly used for treating hypertension, gout, hepatitis, and other inflammatory disorders. This study was performed to test the effect of ethanol extract of Arctium lappa L. (EAL) seeds on vascular reactivity and inflammatory factors in rats fed a high fat/cholesterol diet (HFCD). EAL-I (100 mg·kg-1/day), EAL-II (200 mg·kg-1/day), and fluvastatin (3 mg·kg-1/day) groups initially received HFCD alone for 8 weeks, with EAL supplementation provided during the final 6 weeks. Treatment with low or high doses of EAL markedly attenuated plasma levels of triglycerides and augmented plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in HFCD-fed rats. Chronic treatment with EAL markedly reduced impairments of acetylcholine (ACh)-induced relaxation of aortic rings. Furthermore, chronic treatment with EAL significantly lowered systolic blood pressure (SBP) and maintained smooth and flexible intimal endothelial layers in HFCD-fed rats. Chronic treatment with EAL suppressed upregulation of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1, and E-selectin in the aorta. Chronic treatment with EAL also suppressed increases in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 expression. These results suggested that EAL can inhibit HFCD-induced vascular inflammation in the rat model. The present study provides evidence that EAL ameliorates HFCD-induced vascular dysfunction through protection of vascular relaxation and suppression of vascular inflammation.

Application of a system modification technique to dynamic tuning of a spinning rotor blade

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Spain, C. V.

1987-01-01

An important consideration in the development of modern helicopters is the vibratory response of the main rotor blade. One way to minimize vibration levels is to ensure that natural frequencies of the spinning main rotor blade are well removed from integer multiples of the rotor speed. A technique for dynamically tuning a finite-element model of a rotor blade to accomplish that end is demonstrated. A brief overview is given of the general purpose finite element system known as Engineering Analysis Language (EAL) which was used in this work. A description of the EAL System Modification (SM) processor is then given along with an explanation of special algorithms developed to be used in conjunction with SM. Finally, this technique is demonstrated by dynamically tuning a model of an advanced composite rotor blade.

Arctium lappa ameliorates endothelial dysfunction in rats fed with high fat/cholesterol diets

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Arctium lappa L. (Asteraceae), burdock, is a medicinal plant that is popularly used for treating hypertension, gout, hepatitis, and other inflammatory disorders. This study was performed to test the effect of ethanol extract of Arctium lappa L. (EAL) seeds on vascular reactivity and inflammatory factors in rats fed a high fat/cholesterol diet (HFCD). Method EAL-I (100 mg·kg−1/day), EAL-II (200 mg·kg−1/day), and fluvastatin (3 mg·kg−1/day) groups initially received HFCD alone for 8 weeks, with EAL supplementation provided during the final 6 weeks. Results Treatment with low or high doses of EAL markedly attenuated plasma levels of triglycerides and augmented plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in HFCD-fed rats. Chronic treatment with EAL markedly reduced impairments of acetylcholine (ACh)-induced relaxation of aortic rings. Furthermore, chronic treatment with EAL significantly lowered systolic blood pressure (SBP) and maintained smooth and flexible intimal endothelial layers in HFCD-fed rats. Chronic treatment with EAL suppressed upregulation of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1, and E-selectin in the aorta. Chronic treatment with EAL also suppressed increases in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 expression. These results suggested that EAL can inhibit HFCD-induced vascular inflammation in the rat model. Conclusion The present study provides evidence that EAL ameliorates HFCD-induced vascular dysfunction through protection of vascular relaxation and suppression of vascular inflammation. PMID:22866890

Genome-Based Comparison of Cyclic Di-GMP Signaling in Pathogenic and Commensal Escherichia coli Strains

PubMed Central

Povolotsky, Tatyana L.

2015-01-01

ABSTRACT The ubiquitous bacterial second messenger cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP) has recently become prominent as a trigger for biofilm formation in many bacteria. It is generated by diguanylate cyclases (DGCs; with GGDEF domains) and degraded by specific phosphodiesterases (PDEs; containing either EAL or HD-GYP domains). Most bacterial species contain multiples of these proteins with some having specific functions that are based on direct molecular interactions in addition to their enzymatic activities. Escherichia coli K-12 laboratory strains feature 29 genes encoding GGDEF and/or EAL domains, resulting in a set of 12 DGCs, 13 PDEs, and four enzymatically inactive “degenerate” proteins that act by direct macromolecular interactions. We present here a comparative analysis of GGDEF/EAL domain-encoding genes in 61 genomes of pathogenic, commensal, and probiotic E. coli strains (including enteric pathogens such as enteroaggregative, enterohemorrhagic, enteropathogenic, enterotoxigenic, and adherent and invasive Escherichia coli and the 2011 German outbreak O104:H4 strain, as well as extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli, such as uropathogenic and meningitis-associated E. coli). We describe additional genes for two membrane-associated DGCs (DgcX and DgcY) and four PDEs (the membrane-associated PdeT, as well as the EAL domain-only proteins PdeW, PdeX, and PdeY), thus showing the pangenome of E. coli to contain at least 35 GGDEF/EAL domain proteins. A core set of only eight proteins is absolutely conserved in all 61 strains: DgcC (YaiC), DgcI (YliF), PdeB (YlaB), PdeH (YhjH), PdeK (YhjK), PdeN (Rtn), and the degenerate proteins CsrD and CdgI (YeaI). In all other GGDEF/EAL domain genes, diverse point and frameshift mutations, as well as small or large deletions, were discovered in various strains. IMPORTANCE Our analysis reveals interesting trends in pathogenic Escherichia coli that could reflect different host cell adherence mechanisms. These may either benefit from or be counteracted by the c-di-GMP-stimulated production of amyloid curli fibers and cellulose. Thus, EAEC, which adhere in a “stacked brick” biofilm mode, have a potential for high c-di-GMP accumulation due to DgcX, a strongly expressed additional DGC. In contrast, EHEC and UPEC, which use alternative adherence mechanisms, tend to have extra PDEs, suggesting that low cellular c-di-GMP levels are crucial for these strains under specific conditions. Overall, our study also indicates that GGDEF/EAL domain proteins evolve rapidly and thereby contribute to adaptation to host-specific and environmental niches of various types of E. coli. PMID:26303830

Genome-Based Comparison of Cyclic Di-GMP Signaling in Pathogenic and Commensal Escherichia coli Strains.

PubMed

Povolotsky, Tatyana L; Hengge, Regine

2016-01-01

The ubiquitous bacterial second messenger cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP) has recently become prominent as a trigger for biofilm formation in many bacteria. It is generated by diguanylate cyclases (DGCs; with GGDEF domains) and degraded by specific phosphodiesterases (PDEs; containing either EAL or HD-GYP domains). Most bacterial species contain multiples of these proteins with some having specific functions that are based on direct molecular interactions in addition to their enzymatic activities. Escherichia coli K-12 laboratory strains feature 29 genes encoding GGDEF and/or EAL domains, resulting in a set of 12 DGCs, 13 PDEs, and four enzymatically inactive "degenerate" proteins that act by direct macromolecular interactions. We present here a comparative analysis of GGDEF/EAL domain-encoding genes in 61 genomes of pathogenic, commensal, and probiotic E. coli strains (including enteric pathogens such as enteroaggregative, enterohemorrhagic, enteropathogenic, enterotoxigenic, and adherent and invasive Escherichia coli and the 2011 German outbreak O104:H4 strain, as well as extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli, such as uropathogenic and meningitis-associated E. coli). We describe additional genes for two membrane-associated DGCs (DgcX and DgcY) and four PDEs (the membrane-associated PdeT, as well as the EAL domain-only proteins PdeW, PdeX, and PdeY), thus showing the pangenome of E. coli to contain at least 35 GGDEF/EAL domain proteins. A core set of only eight proteins is absolutely conserved in all 61 strains: DgcC (YaiC), DgcI (YliF), PdeB (YlaB), PdeH (YhjH), PdeK (YhjK), PdeN (Rtn), and the degenerate proteins CsrD and CdgI (YeaI). In all other GGDEF/EAL domain genes, diverse point and frameshift mutations, as well as small or large deletions, were discovered in various strains. Our analysis reveals interesting trends in pathogenic Escherichia coli that could reflect different host cell adherence mechanisms. These may either benefit from or be counteracted by the c-di-GMP-stimulated production of amyloid curli fibers and cellulose. Thus, EAEC, which adhere in a "stacked brick" biofilm mode, have a potential for high c-di-GMP accumulation due to DgcX, a strongly expressed additional DGC. In contrast, EHEC and UPEC, which use alternative adherence mechanisms, tend to have extra PDEs, suggesting that low cellular c-di-GMP levels are crucial for these strains under specific conditions. Overall, our study also indicates that GGDEF/EAL domain proteins evolve rapidly and thereby contribute to adaptation to host-specific and environmental niches of various types of E. coli. Copyright © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

NAPLaN Test Data, ESL Bandscales and the Validity of EAL/D Teacher Judgement of Student Performance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Creagh, Sue

2014-01-01

Teachers are now experiencing the age of quantitative test-driven assessment, in which there is little weight accorded to teacher-based judgement about student progress. In the Australian context, the NAPLaN test has become a driving force in school and teacher accountability. The language of NAPLaN is one of bands and numerical scores and…

Estimation of exciton reverse transfer for variable spectra and high efficiency in interlayer-based organic light-emitting devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Shengqiang; Zhao, Juan; Huang, Jiang; Yu, Junsheng

2016-12-01

Organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) with three different exciton adjusting interlayers (EALs), which are inserted between two complementary blue and yellow emitting layers, are fabricated to demonstrate the relationship between the EAL and device performance. The results show that the variations of type and thickness of EAL have different adjusting capability and distribution control on excitons. However, we also find that the reverse Dexter transfer of triplet exciton from the light-emitting layer to the EAL is an energy loss path, which detrimentally affects electroluminescent (EL) spectral performance and device efficiency in different EAL-based devices. Based on exciton distribution and integration, an estimation of exciton reverse transfer is developed through a triplet energy level barrier to simulate the exciton behavior. Meanwhile, the estimation results also demonstrate the relationship between the EAL and device efficiency by a parameter of exciton reverse transfer probability. The estimation of exciton reverse transfer discloses a crucial role of the EALs in the interlayer-based OLEDs to achieve variable EL spectra and high efficiency.

The Impact of Gender, Socioeconomic Status and Home Language on Primary School Children’s Reading Comprehension in KwaZulu-Natal

PubMed Central

Völkel, Gabriela; Seabi, Joseph; Cockcroft, Kate; Goldschagg, Paul

2016-01-01

The current study constituted part of a larger, longitudinal, South African-based study, namely, The Road and Aircraft Noise Exposure on Children’s Cognition and Health (RANCH—South Africa). In the context of a multicultural South Africa and varying demographic variables thereof, this study sought to investigate and describe the effects of gender, socioeconomic status and home language on primary school children’s reading comprehension in KwaZulu-Natal. In total, 834 learners across 5 public schools in the KwaZulu-Natal province participated in the study. A biographical questionnaire was used to obtain biographical data relevant to this study, and the Suffolk Reading Scale 2 (SRS2) was used to obtain reading comprehension scores. The findings revealed that there was no statistical difference between males and females on reading comprehension scores. In terms of socioeconomic status (SES), learners from a low socioeconomic background performed significantly better than those from a high socioeconomic background. English as a First Language (EL1) speakers had a higher mean reading comprehension score than speakers who spoke English as an Additional Language (EAL). Reading comprehension is indeed affected by a variety of variables, most notably that of language proficiency. The tool to measure reading comprehension needs to be standardized and administered in more than one language, which will ensure increased reliability and validity of reading comprehension scores. PMID:26999169

The Impact of Gender, Socioeconomic Status and Home Language on Primary School Children's Reading Comprehension in KwaZulu-Natal.

PubMed

Völkel, Gabriela; Seabi, Joseph; Cockcroft, Kate; Goldschagg, Paul

2016-03-15

The current study constituted part of a larger, longitudinal, South African-based study, namely, The Road and Aircraft Noise Exposure on Children's Cognition and Health (RANCH-South Africa). In the context of a multicultural South Africa and varying demographic variables thereof, this study sought to investigate and describe the effects of gender, socioeconomic status and home language on primary school children's reading comprehension in KwaZulu-Natal. In total, 834 learners across 5 public schools in the KwaZulu-Natal province participated in the study. A biographical questionnaire was used to obtain biographical data relevant to this study, and the Suffolk Reading Scale 2 (SRS2) was used to obtain reading comprehension scores. The findings revealed that there was no statistical difference between males and females on reading comprehension scores. In terms of socioeconomic status (SES), learners from a low socioeconomic background performed significantly better than those from a high socioeconomic background. English as a First Language (EL1) speakers had a higher mean reading comprehension score than speakers who spoke English as an Additional Language (EAL). Reading comprehension is indeed affected by a variety of variables, most notably that of language proficiency. The tool to measure reading comprehension needs to be standardized and administered in more than one language, which will ensure increased reliability and validity of reading comprehension scores.

Low energy electron attenuation lengths in core–shell nanoparticles

DOE PAGES

Jacobs, Michael I.; Kostko, Oleg; Ahmed, Musahid; ...

2017-05-05

Here, a velocity map imaging spectrometer is used to measure photoemission from free core–shell nanoparticles, where a salt core is coated with a liquid hydrocarbon shell (i.e. squalane). By varying the radial thickness of the hydrocarbon shell, electron attenuation lengths (EALs) are determined by measuring the decay in photoemission intensity from the salt core. In squalane, electrons with kinetic energy (KE) above 2 eV are found to have EALs of 3–5 nm, whereas electrons with smaller KE (<2 eV) have significantly larger EALs of >15 nm. These results (in the context of other energy-resolved EAL measurements) suggest that the energymore » dependent behavior of low energy electrons is similar in dielectrics when KE > 2 eV. At this energy the EALs do not appear to exhibit strong energy dependence. However, at very low KE (<2 eV), the EALs diverge and appear to be extremely material dependent.« less

Epilepsy in cerebrovascular diseases: Review of experimental and clinical data with meta-analysis of risk factors.

PubMed

Ferlazzo, Edoardo; Gasparini, Sara; Beghi, Ettore; Sueri, Chiara; Russo, Emilio; Leo, Antonio; Labate, Angelo; Gambardella, Antonio; Belcastro, Vincenzo; Striano, Pasquale; Paciaroni, Maurizio; Pisani, Laura Rosa; Aguglia, Umberto

2016-08-01

Seizures may occur in close temporal association with a stroke or after a variable interval. Moreover, epilepsy is often encountered in patients with leukoaraiosis. Although early post-stroke seizures have been studied extensively, less attention has been paid to post-stroke epilepsy (PSE) and to epilepsy associated with leukoaraiosis (EAL). The aim of this paper is to review data concerning pathophysiology, prognosis, and treatment of PSE and EAL. We performed an extensive literature search to identify experimental and clinical articles on PSE and EAL. We also conducted a systematic review of risk factors for PSE and EAL among eligible studies. PSE is caused by enhanced neuronal excitability within and near the scar. The role played by white matter changes in EAL remains to be elucidated. Meta-analysis showed that cortical involvement (odds ratio [OR] 3.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.34-5.90, p < 0.001), cerebral hemorrhage (OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.57-3.70, p < 0.001), and early seizures (OR 4.43, 95% CI 2.36-8.32, p < 0.001) are associated with an increased risk of PSE. As regards EAL, no prospective, population-based studies evaluated the role of different variables on seizure risk. Studies about the management of PSE are limited. PSE is generally well controlled by drugs. Data about risk factors, prognosis, and treatment of EAL are lacking. Pathophysiology and risk factors are well defined for PSE but need to be elucidated for EAL. Management of PSE and EAL relies on the clinician's judgment and should be tailored on an individual basis. Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 International League Against Epilepsy.

Phenotype overlap in Xylella fastidiosa is controlled by the cyclic di-GMP phosphodiesterase Eal in response to antibiotic exposure and diffusible signal factor-mediated cell-cell signaling.

PubMed

de Souza, Alessandra A; Ionescu, Michael; Baccari, Clelia; da Silva, Aline M; Lindow, Steven E

2013-06-01

Eal is an EAL domain protein in Xylella fastidiosa homologous to one involved in resistance to tobramycin in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. EAL and HD-GYP domain proteins are implicated in the hydrolysis of the secondary messenger bis-(3'-5')-cyclic dimeric GMP (cyclic di-GMP). Cell density-dependent communication mediated by a Diffusible Signal Factor (DSF) also modulates cyclic di-GMP levels in X. fastidiosa, thereby controlling the expression of virulence genes and genes involved in insect transmission. The possible linkage of Eal to both extrinsic factors such as antibiotics and intrinsic factors such as quorum sensing, and whether both affect virulence, was thus addressed. Expression of eal was induced by subinhibitory concentrations of tobramycin, and an eal deletion mutant was more susceptible to this antibiotic than the wild-type strain and exhibited phenotypes similar to those of an rpfF deletion mutant blocked in DSF production, such as hypermotility, reduced biofilm formation, and hypervirulence to grape. Consistent with that, the rpfF mutant was more susceptible than the wild-type strain to tobramycin. Therefore, we propose that cell-cell communication and antibiotic stress can apparently lead to similar modulations of cyclic di-GMP in X. fastidiosa, resulting in similar phenotypes. However, the effect of cell density is dominant compared to that of antibiotic stress, since eal is suppressed by RpfF, which may prevent inappropriate behavioral changes in response to antibiotic stress when DSF accumulates.

RAS mutations in early age leukaemia modulated by NQO1 rs1800566 (C609T) are associated with second-hand smoking exposures

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Deregulation of the MAPK genes signalling caused by somatic mutations have been implied in leukaemia pathogenesis, including RAS mutation (RASmut) in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), which has been associated with intra-uterine chemical exposures. A case-case study was conducted in order to explore maternal and child exposures to tobacco smoking associations with early age leukaemia (EAL). Methods Covariables of reference were MLL rearrangements (MLL-r), RASmut and NQO1 rs1800566 (C609T). Samples from 150 acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and 85 AML were included. Maternal exposures were assessed using a structured questionnaire with demographic, personal habits and residence history information. Restriction fragment length polymorphism and denaturing high performance liquid chromatography were used to screen FLT3, KRAS, and NRAS mutations; direct sequencing was performed to validate the results. NQO1 polymorphism was detected by real-time allelic discrimination technique. Results Overall, RASmut were detected in 28.7% of EAL cases; BRAFmut was found only in one AML patient. Higher rate of KRASmut was found in ALL (30.3%) compared to AML (20.8%) with MLL-r; RASmut showed an association with second-hand tobacco smoking exposures (OR, 3.06, 95% CI, 1.03-9.07). A considerable increased risk for EAL with the combination of RASmut and NQO1 609CT (OR, 4.24, 95% CI, 1.24-14.50) was observed. Conclusions Our data demonstrated the increased risk association between maternal smoking and EAL with MLL-r. Additionally, suggests that children second-hand tobacco exposures are associated with increased risk of EAL with RASmut modulated by NQO1 rs1800566 (C609T). PMID:24571676

RAS mutations in early age leukaemia modulated by NQO1 rs1800566 (C609T) are associated with second-hand smoking exposures.

PubMed

Andrade, Francianne Gomes; Furtado-Silva, Juliana Montibeller; Gonçalves, Bruno Alves de Aguiar; Thuler, Luiz Claudio Santos; Barbosa, Thayana Conceição; Emerenciano, Mariana; Siqueira, André; Pombo-de-Oliveira, Maria S

2014-02-26

Deregulation of the MAPK genes signalling caused by somatic mutations have been implied in leukaemia pathogenesis, including RAS mutation (RASmut) in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), which has been associated with intra-uterine chemical exposures. A case-case study was conducted in order to explore maternal and child exposures to tobacco smoking associations with early age leukaemia (EAL). Covariables of reference were MLL rearrangements (MLL-r), RASmut and NQO1 rs1800566 (C609T). Samples from 150 acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and 85 AML were included. Maternal exposures were assessed using a structured questionnaire with demographic, personal habits and residence history information. Restriction fragment length polymorphism and denaturing high performance liquid chromatography were used to screen FLT3, KRAS, and NRAS mutations; direct sequencing was performed to validate the results. NQO1 polymorphism was detected by real-time allelic discrimination technique. Overall, RASmut were detected in 28.7% of EAL cases; BRAFmut was found only in one AML patient. Higher rate of KRASmut was found in ALL (30.3%) compared to AML (20.8%) with MLL-r; RASmut showed an association with second-hand tobacco smoking exposures (OR, 3.06, 95% CI, 1.03-9.07). A considerable increased risk for EAL with the combination of RASmut and NQO1 609CT (OR, 4.24, 95% CI, 1.24-14.50) was observed. Our data demonstrated the increased risk association between maternal smoking and EAL with MLL-r. Additionally, suggests that children second-hand tobacco exposures are associated with increased risk of EAL with RASmut modulated by NQO1 rs1800566 (C609T).

Elevated Aerosol Layers and Their Radiative Impact over Kanpur During Monsoon Onset Period

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sarangi, Chandan; Tripathi, S. N.; Mishra, A. K.; Welton, E. J.

2016-01-01

Accurate information about aerosol vertical distribution is needed to reduce uncertainties in aerosol radiative forcing and its effect on atmospheric dynamics. The present study deals with synergistic analyses of aerosol vertical distribution and aerosol optical depth (AOD) with meteorological variables using multisatellite and ground-based remote sensors over Kanpur in central Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP). Micro-Pulse Lidar Network-derived aerosol vertical extinction (sigma) profiles are analyzed to quantify the interannual and daytime variations during monsoon onset period (May-June) for 2009-2011. The mean aerosol profile is broadly categorized into two layers viz., a surface layer (SL) extending up to 1.5 km (where sigma decreased exponentially with height) and an elevated aerosol layer (EAL) extending between 1.5 and 5.5 km. The increase in total columnar aerosol loading is associated with relatively higher increase in contribution from EAL loading than that from SL. The mean contributions of EALs are about 60%, 51%, and 50% to total columnar AOD during 2009, 2010, and 2011, respectively. We observe distinct parabolic EALs during early morning and late evening but uniformly mixed EALs during midday. The interannual and daytime variations of EALs are mainly influenced by long-range transport and convective capacity of the local emissions, respectively. Radiative flux analysis shows that clear-sky incoming solar radiation at surface is reduced with increase in AOD, which indicates significant cooling at surface. Collocated analysis of atmospheric temperature and aerosol loading reveals that increase in AOD not only resulted in surface dimming but also reduced the temperature (approximately 2-3 C) of lower troposphere (below 3 km altitude). Radiative transfer simulations indicate that the reduction of incoming solar radiation at surface is mainly due to increased absorption by EALs (with increase in total AOD). The observed cooling in lower troposphere in high aerosol loading scenario could be understood as a dynamical feedback of EAL-induced stratification of lower troposphere. Further, the observed radiative effect of EALs increases the stability of the lower troposphere, which could modulate the large-scale atmospheric dynamics during monsoon onset period. These findings encourage follow-up studies on the implication of EALs to the Indian summer monsoon dynamics using numerical models.

Phenotype Overlap in Xylella fastidiosa Is Controlled by the Cyclic Di-GMP Phosphodiesterase Eal in Response to Antibiotic Exposure and Diffusible Signal Factor-Mediated Cell-Cell Signaling

PubMed Central

de Souza, Alessandra A.; Ionescu, Michael; Baccari, Clelia; da Silva, Aline M.

2013-01-01

Eal is an EAL domain protein in Xylella fastidiosa homologous to one involved in resistance to tobramycin in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. EAL and HD-GYP domain proteins are implicated in the hydrolysis of the secondary messenger bis-(3′-5′)-cyclic dimeric GMP (cyclic di-GMP). Cell density-dependent communication mediated by a Diffusible Signal Factor (DSF) also modulates cyclic di-GMP levels in X. fastidiosa, thereby controlling the expression of virulence genes and genes involved in insect transmission. The possible linkage of Eal to both extrinsic factors such as antibiotics and intrinsic factors such as quorum sensing, and whether both affect virulence, was thus addressed. Expression of eal was induced by subinhibitory concentrations of tobramycin, and an eal deletion mutant was more susceptible to this antibiotic than the wild-type strain and exhibited phenotypes similar to those of an rpfF deletion mutant blocked in DSF production, such as hypermotility, reduced biofilm formation, and hypervirulence to grape. Consistent with that, the rpfF mutant was more susceptible than the wild-type strain to tobramycin. Therefore, we propose that cell-cell communication and antibiotic stress can apparently lead to similar modulations of cyclic di-GMP in X. fastidiosa, resulting in similar phenotypes. However, the effect of cell density is dominant compared to that of antibiotic stress, since eal is suppressed by RpfF, which may prevent inappropriate behavioral changes in response to antibiotic stress when DSF accumulates. PMID:23542613

Structural Insight into the Mechanism of c-di-GMP hydrolysis by EAL domain phosphodiesterases.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tchigvintsev, A.; Xu, X.; Singer, A.

2010-08-01

Cyclic diguanylate (or bis-(3'-5') cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate; c-di-GMP) is a ubiquitous second messenger that regulates diverse cellular functions, including motility, biofilm formation, cell cycle progression, and virulence in bacteria. In the cell, degradation of c-di-GMP is catalyzed by highly specific EAL domain phosphodiesterases whose catalytic mechanism is still unclear. Here, we purified 13 EAL domain proteins from various organisms and demonstrated that their catalytic activity is associated with the presence of 10 conserved EAL domain residues. The crystal structure of the TBD1265 EAL domain was determined in free state (1.8 {angstrom}) and in complex with c-di-GMP (2.35 {angstrom}), andmore » unveiled the role of conserved residues in substrate binding and catalysis. The structure revealed the presence of two metal ions directly coordinated by six conserved residues, two oxygens of c-di-GMP phosphate, and potential catalytic water molecule. Our results support a two-metal-ion catalytic mechanism of c-di-GMP hydrolysis by EAL domain phosphodiesterases.« less

Early-age Acute Leukemia: Revisiting Two Decades of the Brazilian Collaborative Study Group.

PubMed

Pombo-de-Oliveira, Maria S; Andrade, Francianne Gomes

2016-11-01

The understanding of leukemogenesis in early-age acute leukemia (EAL) has improved remarkably. Initiating somatic mutations detected in dried neonatal blood spots (DNBS) and in cord blood samples of affected children with leukemia have been proven to be acquired prenatally. However, to date, few epidemiological studies have been carried out exploring EAL that include infants and children 13-24 months of age at the diagnosis. Maternal exposure to transplacental DNA-damaging substances during pregnancy has been suggested to be a risk factor for EAL. Most cases of infants with acute lymphoblastic (i-ALL) or myeloid leukemia (i-AML) have KMT2A gene rearrangements (KMT2A-r), which disturb its essential role as an epigenetic regulator of hematopoiesis. Due to the short latency period for EAL and the fact that KMT2A-r resembles those found in secondary AML, exposure to topoisomerase II inhibitors has been associated with transplacental risk as proxi for causality. EAL studies have been conducted in Brazil for over two decades, combining observational epidemiology, leukemia biology, and clinical data. EAL was investigated considering (i) age strata (infants vs. 13-24 months-old); (ii) somatic mutations associated with i-ALL and i-AML; (iii) ethnic-geographic variations; (iv) contribution of maternal genotypes; and (v) time latency of exposures and mutations in DNBS. Interactions of acquired and constitutive gene mutations are challenging tools to test risk factor associations for EAL. In this review we summarize the EAL scenario (including B-cell precursor-ALL, T-ALL, and AML) results combining environmental and genetic susceptibility risk factors and we raise questions that should be considered for further action. Copyright © 2016 IMSS. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A New NIST Database for the Simulation of Electron Spectra for Surface Analysis (SESSA): Application to Angle-Resolved X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy of HfO2, ZrO2, HfSiO4, and ZrSiO4 Films on Silicon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Powell, C. J.; Smekal, W.; Werner, W. S. M.

2005-09-01

We describe a new NIST database for the Simulation of Electron Spectra for Surface Analysis (SESSA). This database provides data for the many parameters needed in quantitative Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In addition, AES and XPS spectra can be simulated for layered samples. The simulated spectra, for layer compositions and thicknesses specified by the user, can be compared with measured spectra. The layer compositions and thicknesses can then be adjusted to find maximum consistency between simulated and measured spectra. In this way, AES and XPS can provide more detailed characterization of multilayer thin-film materials. We report on the use of SESSA for determining the thicknesses of HfO2, ZrO2, HfSiO4, and ZrSiO4 films on Si by angle-resolved XPS. Practical effective attenuation lengths (EALs) have been computed from SESSA as a function of film thickness and photoelectron emission angle (i.e., to simulate the effects of tilting the sample). These EALs have been compared with similar values obtained from the NIST Electron Effective-Attenuation-Length Database (SRD 82). Generally good agreement was found between corresponding EAL values, but there were differences for film thicknesses less than the inelastic mean free path of the photoelectrons in the overlayer film. These differences are due to a simplifying approximation in the algorithm used to compute EALs in SRD 82. SESSA, with realistic cross sections for elastic and inelastic scattering in the film and substrate materials, is believed to provide more accurate EALs than SRD 82 for thin-film thickness measurements, particularly in applications where the film and substrate have different electron-scattering properties.

A New NIST Database for the Simulation of Electron Spectra for Surface Analysis (SESSA): Application to Angle-Resolved X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy of HfO2, ZrO2, HfSiO4, and ZrSiO4 Films on Silicon

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Powell, C.J.; Smekal, W.; Werner, W.S.M.

2005-09-09

We describe a new NIST database for the Simulation of Electron Spectra for Surface Analysis (SESSA). This database provides data for the many parameters needed in quantitative Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In addition, AES and XPS spectra can be simulated for layered samples. The simulated spectra, for layer compositions and thicknesses specified by the user, can be compared with measured spectra. The layer compositions and thicknesses can then be adjusted to find maximum consistency between simulated and measured spectra. In this way, AES and XPS can provide more detailed characterization of multilayer thin-film materials. Wemore » report on the use of SESSA for determining the thicknesses of HfO2, ZrO2, HfSiO4, and ZrSiO4 films on Si by angle-resolved XPS. Practical effective attenuation lengths (EALs) have been computed from SESSA as a function of film thickness and photoelectron emission angle (i.e., to simulate the effects of tilting the sample). These EALs have been compared with similar values obtained from the NIST Electron Effective-Attenuation-Length Database (SRD 82). Generally good agreement was found between corresponding EAL values, but there were differences for film thicknesses less than the inelastic mean free path of the photoelectrons in the overlayer film. These differences are due to a simplifying approximation in the algorithm used to compute EALs in SRD 82. SESSA, with realistic cross sections for elastic and inelastic scattering in the film and substrate materials, is believed to provide more accurate EALs than SRD 82 for thin-film thickness measurements, particularly in applications where the film and substrate have different electron-scattering properties.« less

Text-based plagiarism in scientific writing: what Chinese supervisors think about copying and how to reduce it in students' writing.

PubMed

Li, Yongyan

2013-06-01

Text-based plagiarism, or textual copying, typically in the form of replicating or patchwriting sentences in a row from sources, seems to be an issue of growing concern among scientific journal editors. Editors have emphasized that senior authors (typically supervisors of science students) should take the responsibility for educating novices against text-based plagiarism. To address a research gap in the literature as to how scientist supervisors perceive the issue of textual copying and what they do in educating their students, this paper reports an interview study with 14 supervisors at a research-oriented Chinese university. The study throws light on the potentiality of senior authors mentoring novices in English as an Additional Language (EAL) contexts and has implications for the efforts that can be made in the wider scientific community to support scientists in writing against text-based plagiarism.

Improved toughness of silicon carbide

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Palm, J. A.

1976-01-01

Impact energy absorbing layers (EALs) comprised of partially densified silicon carbide were formed in situ on fully sinterable silicon carbide substrates. After final sintering, duplex silicon carbide structures resulted which were comprised of a fully sintered, high density silicon carbide substrate or core, overlayed with an EAL of partially sintered silicon carbide integrally bonded to its core member. Thermal cycling tests proved such structures to be moderately resistant to oxidation and highly resistant to thermal shock stresses. The strength of the developed structures in some cases exceeded but essentially it remained the same as the fully sintered silicon carbide without the EAL. Ballistic impact tests indicated that substantial improvements in the toughness of sintered silicon carbide were achieved by the use of the partially densified silicon carbide EALs.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Shengqiang; Li, Jie; Yu, Junsheng, E-mail: jsyu@uestc.edu.cn

A color tuning index (I{sub CT}) parameter for evaluating the color change capability of color-tunable organic light-emitting diodes (CT-OLEDs) was proposed and formulated. And a series of CT-OLEDs, consisting of five different carrier/exciton adjusting interlayers (C/EALs) inserted between two complementary emitting layers, were fabricated and applied to disclose the relationship between I{sub CT} and C/EALs. The result showed that the trend of electroluminescence spectra behavior in CT-OLEDs has good accordance with I{sub CT} values, indicating that the I{sub CT} parameter is feasible for the evaluation of color variation. Meanwhile, by changing energy level and C/EAL thickness, the optimized device withmore » the widest color tuning range was based on N,N′-dicarbazolyl-3,5-benzene C/EAL, exhibiting the highest I{sub CT} value of 41.2%. Based on carrier quadratic hopping theory and exciton transfer model, two fitting I{sub CT} formulas derived from the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy level and triplet energy level were simulated. Finally, a color tuning prediction (CTP) model was developed to deduce the I{sub CT} via C/EAL HOMO and triplet energy levels, and verified by the fabricated OLEDs with five different C/EALs. We believe that the CTP model assisted with I{sub CT} parameter will be helpful for fabricating high performance CT-OLEDs with a broad range of color tuning.« less

Structural Analysis of the GGDEF-EAL Domain-Containing c-di-GMP Receptor FimX

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Navarro, M.; De, N; Bae, N

2009-01-01

Bacterial pathogenesis involves social behavior including biofilm formation and swarming, processes that are regulated by the bacterially unique second messenger cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP). Diguanylate cyclases containing GGDEF and phosphodiesterases containing EAL domains have been identified as the enzymes controlling cellular c-di-GMP levels, yet less is known regarding signal transmission and the targets of c-di-GMP. FimX, a protein from Pseudomonas aeruginosa that governs twitching motility, belongs to a large subfamily containing both GGDEF and EAL domains. Biochemical and structural analyses reveals its function as a high-affinity receptor for c-di-GMP. A model for full-length FimX was generated combining solution scattering data andmore » crystal structures of the degenerate GGDEF and EAL domains. Although FimX forms a dimer in solution via the N-terminal domains, a crystallographic EAL domain dimer suggests modes for the regulation of FimX by c-di-GMP binding. The results provide the structural basis for c-di-GMP sensing via degenerate phosphodiesterases.« less

Role of ELA region in auto-activation of mutant KIT receptor: a molecular dynamics simulation insight.

PubMed

Purohit, Rituraj

2014-01-01

KIT receptor is the prime target in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GISTs) therapy. Second generation inhibitor, Sunitinib, binds to an inactivated conformation of KIT receptor and stabilizes it in order to prevent tumor formation. Here, we investigated the dynamic behavior of wild type and mutant D816H KIT receptor, and emphasized the extended A-loop (EAL) region (805-850) by conducting molecular dynamics simulation (∼100 ns). We analyzed different properties such as root mean square cutoff or deviation, root mean square fluctuation, radius of gyration, solvent-accessible surface area, hydrogen bonding network analysis, and essential dynamics. Apart from this, clustering and cross-correlation matrix approach was used to explore the conformational space of the wild type and mutant EAL region of KIT receptor. Molecular dynamics analysis indicated that mutation (D816H) was able to alter intramolecular hydrogen bonding pattern and affected the structural flexibility of EAL region. Moreover, flexible secondary elements, specially, coil and turns were dominated in EAL region of mutant KIT receptor during simulation. This phenomenon increased the movement of EAL region which in turn helped in shifting the equilibrium towards the active kinase conformation. Our atomic investigation of mutant KIT receptor which emphasized on EAL region provided a better insight into the understanding of Sunitinib resistance mechanism of KIT receptor and would help to discover new therapeutics for KIT-based resistant tumor cells in GIST therapy.

Perceived language proficiency and pain assessment by registered and student nurses in native English-speaking and EAL children aged 4-7 years.

PubMed

Azize, Pary M; Cattani, Allegra; Endacott, Ruth

2018-03-01

To identify the factors that influence decisions made by health professionals when assessing the pain of native English speaking and children whose English is an additional language. Pain assessment in children is often poorly executed following acute injury. Whilst a range of pain assessment tools have been developed, little guidance is provided for assessing pain in children with English as an additional language. Factorial survey design. Twenty minor injuries unit nurses and 20 children's nursing students participated in an electronic survey to make judgements on 12 scenarios describing a child attending a minor injuries unit following an incident, accompanied by a parent. Respondents had to decide the most important form of pain assessment, and whether they would ask a parent or an interpreter to assess the pain of the child. An open-ended question asked about the difficulties found in making a judgement. Observation of the child's behaviour was the most common pain assessment reported. The visual analogue scale was significantly associated with children with proficient English. Respondents were significantly more likely to involve parents in the assessment if they could speak English well compared to parents with poor English skills. Moreover, nursing students were significantly more likely than registered nurses to call for support from an interpreter. Thematic analysis identified three themes related to difficulties with pain assessment: contrasting approaches, differing perceptions of pain and overcoming challenges. The reduced ability to communicate between child, parent and healthcare professional highlights the need to identify forms of assessment based on individual cases. The number of children with English as an additional language has seen a marked rise over the last decade. In situations where communication ability is reduced, assessment of pain should be tailored to meet the needs of the child. This may require timely access to interpreter services. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Mesodomain and Protein-Associated Solvent Phases with Temperature-Tunable (200-265 K) Dynamics Surround Ethanolamine Ammonia-Lyase in Globally Polycrystalline Aqueous Solution Containing Dimethyl Sulfoxide.

PubMed

Nforneh, Benjamen; Warncke, Kurt

2017-12-14

Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy of the spin probe, TEMPOL, is used to resolve solvent phases that surround the ethanolamine ammonia-lyase (EAL) protein from Salmonella typhimurium at low temperature (T) in frozen, globally polycrystalline aqueous solution and to report on the T dependence of their detectably rigid and fluid states. EAL plays a role in human gut microbiome-based disease conditions, and physicochemical studies provide insight into protein structure and mechanism, toward potential therapeutics. Temperature dependences of the rotational correlation times (τ c ; detection range, 10 -11 ≤ τ c ≤ 10 -7 s) and the corresponding weights of TEMPOL tumbling components from 200 to 265 K in the presence of EAL are measured in two frozen systems: (1) water-only and (2) 1% v/v dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). In the water-only condition, a protein-vicinal solvent component detectably fluidizes at 230 K and melts the surrounding ice-crystalline region with increasing T, creating a bounded, relatively high-viscosity aqueous solvent domain, up to 265 K. In the EAL, 1% v/v DMSO condition, two distinct concentric solvent phases are resolved around EAL: protein-associated domain (PAD) and mesodomain. The DMSO aqueous mesodomain fluidizes at 200 K, followed by PAD fluidization at 210 K. The interphase dynamical coupling is consistent with the spatial arrangement and significant contact areas of the phases, indicated by the experimentally determined mean volume ratio, V(mesodomain)/V(PAD)/V(protein) = 0.5:0.3:1.0. The results provide a rationale for native chemical reactions of EAL at T < 250 K and an advance toward precise control of solvent dynamics as a tunable parameter for quantifying the coupling between solvent and protein fluctuations and chemical reaction steps in EAL and other enzymes.

77 FR 63355 - Proposed Revision to Emergency Action Level Development Guidance Document

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-10-16

... action level (EAL) scheme. The NRC is publishing this proposed revision to inform the public and solicit... EAL scheme using site-specific information. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 10th day of October...

An improved model for teaching use of electronic apex locators.

PubMed

Tchorz, J P; Hellwig, E; Altenburger, M J

2012-04-01

To develop a simple, practical and inexpensive model, which enables the use of electronic apex locators (EALs) during pre-clinical and continuing education. Extracted teeth were placed in a mould and embedded in acrylic resin. The resin was applied in two consecutive steps to form a cavity around the root apices. A closable plastic tube serves as a valve, and a steel wire connects to the EAL. With its semi-closed reservoir for conductive fluids surrounding the root apices, the new model enables working length measurements of root canals using EALs. The model simulates the clinical situation for endodontic teaching purposes, as it allows working length determination of root canals as recommended. The measuring results of the EAL can be verified by radiography. At the same time, the roots are not directly visible and accessible to the user, allowing a precise evaluation and grading of the treatment. © 2011 International Endodontic Journal.

Towards optimal intraoperative conditions in esophageal surgery: A review of literature for the prevention of esophageal anastomotic leakage.

PubMed

Bootsma, Boukje Titia; Huisman, Daitlin Esmee; Plat, Victor Dirk; Schoonmade, Linda Jeanne; Stens, Jurre; Hubens, Guy; van der Peet, Donald Leonard; Daams, Freek

2018-04-30

Esophageal anastomotic leakage (EAL) is a severe complication following gastric and esophageal surgery for cancer. Several non-modifiable, patient or surgery related risk factors for EAL have been identified, however, the contribution of modifiable intraoperative parameters remains undetermined. This review provides an overview of current literature on potentially modifiable intraoperative risk factors for EAL. The PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane databases were searched by two researchers independently. Clinical studies published in English between 1970 and January 2017 that evaluated the effect of intraoperative parameters on the development of EAL were included. Levels of evidence as defined by the Centre of Evidence Based Medicine (CEBM) were assigned to the studies. A total of 25 articles were included in the final analysis. These articles show evidence that anemia, increased amount of blood loss, low pH and high pCO2 values, prolonged duration of procedure and lack of surgical experience independently increase the risk of EAL. Supplemental oxygen therapy, epidural analgesia and selective digestive decontamination seem to have a beneficial effect. Potential risk factors include blood pressure, requirement of blood products, vasopressor use and glucocorticoid administration, however the results are ambiguous. Apart from fixed surgical and patient related factors, several intraoperative factors that can be modified in clinical practice can influence the risk of developing EAL. More prospective, observational studies are necessary focusing on modifiable intraoperative parameters to assess more evidence and to elucidate optimal values of these factors. Copyright © 2018 IJS Publishing Group Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Predictive validity of the post-enrolment English language assessment tool for commencing undergraduate nursing students.

PubMed

Glew, Paul J; Hillege, Sharon P; Salamonson, Yenna; Dixon, Kathleen; Good, Anthony; Lombardo, Lien

2015-12-01

Nursing students with English as an additional language (EAL) may underperform academically. The post-enrolment English language assessment (PELA) is used in literacy support, but its predictive validity in identifying those at risk of underperformance remains unknown. To validate a PELA, as a predictor of academic performance. Prospective survey design. The study was conducted at a university located in culturally and linguistically diverse areas of western Sydney, Australia. Commencing undergraduate nursing students who were Australian-born (n=1323, 49.6%) and born outside of Australia (n=1346, 50.4%) were recruited for this study. The 2669 (67% of 3957) participants provided consent and completed a first year nursing unit that focussed on developing literacy skills. Between 2010 and 2013, commencing students completed the PELA and English language acculturation scale (ELAS), a previously validated instrument. The grading levels of the PELA tool were: Level 1 (proficient), Level 2 (borderline), and Level 3 (poor, and requiring additional support). Participants with a PELA Level 2 or 3 were more likely to be: a) non-Australian-born (χ(2): 520.6, df: 2, p<0.001); b) spoke a language other than English at home (χ(2): 490.2, df: 2, p<0.001); and c) an international student (χ(2): 225.6, df: 2, p<0.001). There was an inverse relationship between participants' ELAS scores and PELA levels (r=-0.52, p<0.001), and those graded as 'proficient' with a PELA Level 1 were more likely to obtain higher scores in their: i) unit essay assessment (χ(2): 40.2, df: 2, p<0.001); ii) final unit mark (χ(2): 218.6, df: 2, p<0.001), and attain a higher GPA (χ(2): 100.8, df: 2, p<0.001). The PELA is a useful screening tool in identifying commencing nursing students who are at risk of academic underachievement. Crown Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Analgesic and physiological effect of electroacupuncture combined with epidural lidocaine in goats.

PubMed

Cui, Lu-Ying; Guo, Ni-Ni; Li, Yu-Lin; Li, Meng; Ding, Ming-Xing

2017-07-01

To investigate physiological and antinociceptive effects of electroacupuncture (EA) with lidocaine epidural nerve block in goats. Prospective experimental trial. Forty-eight hybrid male goats weighing 27 ± 2 kg. The goats were randomly assigned to six groups: L2.2, epidural lidocaine (2.2 mg kg -1 ); L4.4, epidural lidocaine (4.4 mg kg -1 ); EA; EA-L1.1, EA with epidural lidocaine (1.1 mg kg -1 ); EA-L2.2, EA with epidural lidocaine (2.2 mg kg -1 ); and EA-L4.4, EA with epidural lidocaine (4.4 mg kg -1 ). EA was administered for 120 minutes. Epidural lidocaine was administered 25 minutes after EA started. Nociceptive thresholds of flank and thigh regions, abdominal muscle tone, mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), respiratory frequency (f R ) and rectal temperature were recorded at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 minutes. Lidocaine dose-dependently increased nociceptive thresholds. There were no differences in nociceptive thresholds between L4.4 and EA from 30 to 120 minutes. The threshold in EA-L2.2 was lower than in EA-L4.4 from 30 to 120 minutes, but higher than in EA-L1.1 from 30 to 150 minutes or in L4.4 from 30 to 180 minutes. The abdominal muscle tone in EA-L2.2 was higher at 30 minutes, but lower at 90 and 120 minutes than at 0 minutes. There were no differences in muscle tone between L4.4 and L2.2 or EA-L4.4, and between any two of the three EA-lidocaine groups from 0 to 180 minutes. The f R and HR decreased in L4.4 at 60 and 90 minutes compared with 0 minutes. No differences in f R , HR, MAP and temperature among the groups occurred from 30 to 180 minutes. EA combined with 2.2 mg kg -1 epidural lidocaine provides better antinociceptive effect than 4.4 mg kg -1 epidural lidocaine alone in goats. EA provided antinociception and allowed a decrease in epidural lidocaine dose. Copyright © 2017 Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists and American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

How much of the interannual variability of East Asian summer rainfall is forced by SST?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Chao; Wu, Bo; Li, Chunhui; Lin, Ailan; Gu, Dejun; Zheng, Bin; Zhou, Tianjun

2016-07-01

It is widely accepted that the interannual variability of East Asian summer rainfall is forced by sea surface temperature (SST), and SST anomalies are widely used as predictors of East Asian summer rainfall. But it is still not very clear what percentage of the interannual rainfall variability is contributed by SST anomalies. In this study, Atmospheric general circulation model simulations forced by observed interannual varying SST are compared with those forced by the fixed annual cycle of SST climatology, and their ratios of interannual variance (IAV) are analyzed. The output of 12 models from the 5th Phase of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) are adopted, and idealized experiments are done by Community Atmosphere Model version 4 (CAM4). Both the multi-model median of CMIP5 models and CAM4 experiments show that only about 18 % of the IAV of rainfall over East Asian land (EAL) is explained by SST, which is significantly lower than the tropical western Pacific, but comparable to the mid-latitude western Pacific. There is no significant difference between the southern part and the northern part of EAL in the percentages of SST contribution. The remote SST anomalies regulates rainfall over EAL probably by modulating the horizontal water vapor transport rather than the vertical motion, since the horizontal water vapor transport into EAL is strongly modulated by SST but the vertical motion over EAL is not. Previous studies argued about the relative importance of tropical Indian Ocean and tropical Pacific Ocean to East Asian summer rainfall anomalies. Our idealized experiments performed by CAM4 suggest that the contributions from these two ocean basins are comparable to each other, both of which account for approximately 6 % of the total IAV of rainfall over EAL.

Adverse childhood experiences are associated with irritable bowel syndrome and gastrointestinal symptom severity.

PubMed

Park, S H; Videlock, E J; Shih, W; Presson, A P; Mayer, E A; Chang, L

2016-08-01

Early adverse life events (EALs) are associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Exposure to EALs as assessed by the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) questionnaire is associated with greater disease prevalence, but ACE has not been studied in gastrointestinal disorders. Study aims were to: (i) Estimate the prevalence of EALs in the IBS patients using the ACE questionnaire; (ii) Determine correlations between ACE and Early Trauma Inventory Self Report-Short Form (ETI-SR) scores to confirm its validity in IBS; and (iii) Correlate ACE scores with IBS symptom severity. A total of 148 IBS (73% women, mean age = 31 years) and 154 HCs (59% women, mean age = 30 years) completed the ACE and ETI-SR between June 2010 and April 2015. These surveys measured EALs before age 18 in the domains of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, and general trauma. IBS and abdominal pain severity was measured by a 20-point scale (0 = none, 20 = worst symptoms). The ACE score increased the odds of having IBS (odds ratio [OR] = 2.05, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21-3.48, p = 0.008). Household mental illness (p < 0.001), emotional abuse (p = 0.004), and incarcerated household member (p = 0.019) were significant predictors of IBS. Adverse childhood experiences and ETI-SR scores were strongly correlated (r = 0.59, p < 0.001). ACE, but not ETI-SR, modestly correlated with IBS severity (r = 0.17, p = 0.036) and abdominal pain (r = 0.20, p = 0.015). The ACE questionnaire is a useful instrument to measure EALs in IBS based on its use in large studies, its ability to measure prevalence across different EAL domains, and its correlation with symptom severity. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Fuel Line Study

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-08-01

prevea.ied the destruction of both an ONA DC-10 following an engine explosion and fire during takeoff at JFK Airport , and the EAL DC-9 following failure of...explosion and fire during takeoff at JFK Airport , and the EAL DC-9, following failure of the fuselage at the aft pressure bulkhead on landing at Fort

SSME structural dynamic model development, phase 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Foley, M. J.; Wilson, V. L.

1985-01-01

A set of test correlated mathematical models of the SSME High Pressure Oxygen Turbopump (HPOTP) housing and rotor assembly was produced. New analysis methods within the EISI/EAL and SPAR systems were investigated and runstreams for future use were developed. The LOX pump models have undergone extensive modification since the first phase of this effort was completed. The rotor assembly from the original model was abandoned and a new, more detailed model constructed. A description of the new rotor math model is presented. Also, the pump housing model was continually modified as additional test data have become available. This model is documented along with measured test results. Many of the more advanced features of the EAL/SPAR finite element analysis system were exercised. These included the cyclic symmetry option, the macro-element procedures, and the fluid analysis capability. In addition, a new tool was developed that allows an automated analysis of a disjoint structure in terms of its component modes. A complete description of the implementation of the Craig-Bampton method is given along with two worked examples.

2015 EAL evidence-based nutrition practice guildeline for the management of hypertension in adults

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Hypertension (HTN) or high blood pressure (BP) is one of the most prevalent forms of cardiovascular disease and occurs in approximately one of every three adults in the United States. Nutrition therapy is an important component of treatment. The purpose of this Evidence Analysis Library (EAL) gui...

Complex regulatory network encompassing the Csr, c-di-GMP and motility systems of Salmonella Typhimurium.

PubMed

Jonas, Kristina; Edwards, Adrianne N; Ahmad, Irfan; Romeo, Tony; Römling, Ute; Melefors, Ojar

2010-02-01

Bacterial survival depends on the ability to switch between sessile and motile lifestyles in response to changing environmental conditions. In many species, this switch is governed by (3'-5')-cyclic-diguanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP), a signalling molecule, which is metabolized by proteins containing GGDEF and/or EAL domains. Salmonella Typhimurium contains 20 such proteins. Here, we show that the RNA-binding protein CsrA regulates the expression of eight genes encoding GGDEF, GGDEF-EAL and EAL domain proteins. CsrA bound directly to the mRNA leaders of five of these genes, suggesting that it may regulate these genes post-transcriptionally. The c-di-GMP-specific phosphodiesterase STM3611, which reciprocally controls flagella function and production of biofilm matrix components, was regulated by CsrA binding to the mRNA, but was also indirectly regulated by CsrA through the FlhDC/FliA flagella cascade and STM1344. STM1344 is an unconventional (c-di-GMP-inactive) EAL domain protein, recently identified as a negative regulator of flagella gene expression. Here, we demonstrate that CsrA directly downregulates expression of STM1344, which in turn regulates STM3611 through fliA and thus reciprocally controls motility and biofilm factors. Altogether, our data reveal that the concerted and complex regulation of several genes encoding GGDEF/EAL domain proteins allows CsrA to control the motility-sessility switch in S. Typhimurium at multiple levels.

The Helping Horse: How Equine Assisted Learning Contributes to the Wellbeing of First Nations Youth in Treatment for Volatile Substance Misuse

PubMed Central

Adams, Cindy; Arratoon, Cheryl; Boucher, Janice; Cartier, Gail; Chalmers, Darlene; Dell, Colleen Anne; Dell, Debra; Dryka, Dominique; Duncan, Randy; Dunn, Kathryn; Hopkins, Carol; Longclaws, Loni; MacKinnon, Tamara; Sauve, Ernie; Spence, Serene; Wuttunee, Mallory

2015-01-01

There has been recent interest in Canada exploring the benefits of equine assisted interventions in the treatment of First Nations youth who misuse volatile substances. Using the richness of an exploratory case study involving the White Buffalo Youth Inhalant Treatment Centre and the Cartier Equine Learning Center, our community-based study examined the question of how an Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) program contributes to the wellbeing of First Nations female youth who misuse volatile substances. Both programs are grounded in a holistic bio-psycho-social-spiritual framework of healing. Our study shares how the EAL horses, facilitators and program content contributed to youths’ wellbeing in each area of the healing framework (bio-psycho-social-spiritual), with emphasis on the cultural significance of the horse and its helping role. The horse is a helper in the girls’ journeys toward improved wellbeing—the horse helps through its very nature as a highly instinctive animal, it helps the facilitators do their jobs, and it also helps put the treatment program activities into practice. In addition, the role of First Nations culture in the girls’ lives was enhanced through their encounters with the horses. The findings support the limited literature on equine assisted interventions and add important insights to the youth addictions treatment literature. Key implications to consider for EAL and volatile substance misuse policy, practice and research are identified. PMID:26793794

Complexity, Accuracy, Fluency and Lexis in Task-Based Performance: A Synthesis of the Ealing Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Skehan, Peter; Foster, Pauline

2012-01-01

This chapter will present a research synthesis of a series of studies, termed here the Ealing research. The studies use the same general framework to conceptualise tasks and task performance, enabling easier comparability. The different studies, although each is self-contained, build into a wider picture of task performance. The major point of…

A Healing Space: The Experiences of First Nations and Inuit Youth with Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dell, Colleen Anne; Chalmers, Darlene; Bresette, Nora; Swain, Sue; Rankin, Deb; Hopkins, Carol

2011-01-01

The Nimkee NupiGawagan Healing Centre (NNHC) in Muncey, ON provides residential treatment to First Nations and Inuit youth who abuse solvents. As a complement to its culture-based programming, in 2008 the centre began offering weekly equine-assisted learning (EAL) curriculum to its clients in partnership with the Keystone Equine Centre and the…

Analysis of proton wires in the enzyme active site suggests a mechanism of c-di-GMP hydrolysis by the EAL domain phosphodiesterases.

PubMed

Grigorenko, Bella L; Knyazeva, Marina A; Nemukhin, Alexander V

2016-11-01

We report for the first time a hydrolysis mechanism of the cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) by the EAL domain phosphodiesterases as revealed by molecular simulations. A model system for the enzyme-substrate complex was prepared on the base of the crystal structure of the EAL domain from the BlrP1 protein complexed with c-di-GMP. The nucleophilic hydroxide generated from the bridging water molecule appeared in a favorable position for attack on the phosphorus atom of c-di-GMP. The most difficult task was to find a pathway for a proton transfer to the O3' atom of c-di-GMP to promote the O3'P bond cleavage. We show that the hydrogen bond network extended over the chain of water molecules in the enzyme active site and the Glu359 and Asp303 side chains provides the relevant proton wires. The suggested mechanism is consistent with the structural, mutagenesis, and kinetic experimental studies on the EAL domain phosphodiesterases. Proteins 2016; 84:1670-1680. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Lipid Involvement in Neurodegenerative Diseases of the Motor System: Insights from Lysosomal Storage Diseases.

PubMed

Dodge, James C

2017-01-01

Lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) are a heterogeneous group of rare inherited metabolic diseases that are frequently triggered by the accumulation of lipids inside organelles of the endosomal-autophagic-lysosomal system (EALS). There is now a growing realization that disrupted lysosomal homeostasis (i.e., lysosomal cacostasis) also contributes to more common neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson disease (PD). Lipid deposition within the EALS may also participate in the pathogenesis of some additional neurodegenerative diseases of the motor system. Here, I will highlight the lipid abnormalities and clinical manifestations that are common to LSDs and several diseases of the motor system, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), atypical forms of spinal muscular atrophy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP), multiple system atrophy (MSA), PD and spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA). Elucidating the underlying basis of intracellular lipid mislocalization as well as its consequences in each of these disorders will likely provide innovative targets for therapeutic research.

Resilience is decreased in irritable bowel syndrome and associated with symptoms and cortisol response.

PubMed

Park, S H; Naliboff, B D; Shih, W; Presson, A P; Videlock, E J; Ju, T; Kilpatrick, L; Gupta, A; Mayer, E A; Chang, L

2018-01-01

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a stress-sensitive disorder associated with early adverse life events (EALs) and a dysregulated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Resilience is the ability to recover and adapt positively to stress but has not been well studied in IBS. The aims of this study are to compare resilience in IBS and healthy controls (HCs) and to assess its relationships with IBS symptom severity, quality of life (QOL), EALs, and HPA axis response. Two hundred fifty-six subjects (154 IBS, 102 HCs) completed questionnaires for resilience (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale [CD-RISC] and Brief Resilience Scale [BRS]), IBS symptoms, IBS-QOL, and EALs. Ninety-six of these subjects had serial serum adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol levels to exogenous corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) and ACTH measured. The relationship between IBS status, resilience, and other variables of interest was assessed by regression analysis after adjusting for demographics and neuroticism, a predictor of resilience. Resilience was significantly lower in IBS compared to HCs (CD-RISC: 72.16±14.97 vs 77.32±12.73, P=.003; BRS: 3.29±0.87 vs 3.93±0.69, P<.001); however, only BRS was significant after controlling for neuroticism (P=.001). Lower BRS scores were associated with greater IBS symptom severity (P=.002), poorer IBS-QOL (P<.001), and a higher number of EALs (P=.01). There was a significant interaction between BRS resilience and IBS status for ACTH-stimulated cortisol response (P=.031); more resilient IBS subjects had lower cortisol response, and more resilient HCs had higher cortisol response. Lower resilience is associated with IBS status, worse IBS symptom severity, lower IBS-QOL, greater EALs, and stress hyperresponsiveness. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Electron Effective-Attenuation-Length Database

National Institute of Standards and Technology Data Gateway

SRD 82 NIST Electron Effective-Attenuation-Length Database (PC database, no charge)   This database provides values of electron effective attenuation lengths (EALs) in solid elements and compounds at selected electron energies between 50 eV and 2,000 eV. The database was designed mainly to provide EALs (to account for effects of elastic-eletron scattering) for applications in surface analysis by Auger-electron spectroscopy (AES) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).

Isolation of New Gravitropic Mutants under Hypergravity Conditions.

PubMed

Mori, Akiko; Toyota, Masatsugu; Shimada, Masayoshi; Mekata, Mika; Kurata, Tetsuya; Tasaka, Masao; Morita, Miyo T

2016-01-01

Forward genetics is a powerful approach used to link genotypes and phenotypes, and mutant screening/analysis has provided deep insights into many aspects of plant physiology. Gravitropism is a tropistic response in plants, in which hypocotyls and stems sense the direction of gravity and grow upward. Previous studies of gravitropic mutants have suggested that shoot endodermal cells in Arabidopsis stems and hypocotyls are capable of sensing gravity (i.e., statocytes). In the present study, we report a new screening system using hypergravity conditions to isolate enhancers of gravitropism mutants, and we also describe a rapid and efficient genome mapping method, using next-generation sequencing (NGS) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based markers. Using the endodermal-amyloplast less 1 ( eal1 ) mutant, which exhibits defective development of endodermal cells and gravitropism, we found that hypergravity (10 g) restored the reduced gravity responsiveness in eal1 hypocotyls and could, therefore, be used to obtain mutants with further reduction in gravitropism in the eal1 background. Using the new screening system, we successfully isolated six ene ( enhancer of eal1 ) mutants that exhibited little or no gravitropism under hypergravity conditions, and using NGS and map-based cloning with SNP markers, we narrowed down the potential causative genes, which revealed a new genetic network for shoot gravitropism in Arabidopsis .

Isolation of New Gravitropic Mutants under Hypergravity Conditions

PubMed Central

Mori, Akiko; Toyota, Masatsugu; Shimada, Masayoshi; Mekata, Mika; Kurata, Tetsuya; Tasaka, Masao; Morita, Miyo T.

2016-01-01

Forward genetics is a powerful approach used to link genotypes and phenotypes, and mutant screening/analysis has provided deep insights into many aspects of plant physiology. Gravitropism is a tropistic response in plants, in which hypocotyls and stems sense the direction of gravity and grow upward. Previous studies of gravitropic mutants have suggested that shoot endodermal cells in Arabidopsis stems and hypocotyls are capable of sensing gravity (i.e., statocytes). In the present study, we report a new screening system using hypergravity conditions to isolate enhancers of gravitropism mutants, and we also describe a rapid and efficient genome mapping method, using next-generation sequencing (NGS) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based markers. Using the endodermal-amyloplast less 1 (eal1) mutant, which exhibits defective development of endodermal cells and gravitropism, we found that hypergravity (10 g) restored the reduced gravity responsiveness in eal1 hypocotyls and could, therefore, be used to obtain mutants with further reduction in gravitropism in the eal1 background. Using the new screening system, we successfully isolated six ene (enhancer of eal1) mutants that exhibited little or no gravitropism under hypergravity conditions, and using NGS and map-based cloning with SNP markers, we narrowed down the potential causative genes, which revealed a new genetic network for shoot gravitropism in Arabidopsis. PMID:27746791

Study of gelatin as an effective energy absorbing layer for laser bioprinting.

PubMed

Xiong, Ruitong; Zhang, Zhengyi; Chai, Wenxuan; Chrisey, Douglas B; Huang, Yong

2017-06-09

Laser-induced forward transfer printing, also commonly known as laser printing, has been widely implemented for three-dimensional bioprinting due to its unique orifice-free nature during printing. However, the printing quality has the potential to be further improved for various laser bioprinting applications. The objectives of this study are to investigate the feasibility of using gelatin as an energy absorbing layer (EAL) material for laser bioprinting and its effects on the quality of printed constructs, bioink printability, and post-printing cell viability and process-induced DNA damage. The gelatin EAL is applied between the quartz support and the coating of build material, which is to be printed. Printing quality can be improved by EAL-assisted laser printing when using various alginate solutions (1%, 2%, and 4%) and cell-laden bioinks (2% alginate and 5 × 10 6 cells ml -1 in cell culture medium). The required laser fluence is also reduced due to a higher absorption coefficient of gelatin gel, in particular when to achieve the best printing type/quality. The post-printing cell viability is improved by ∼10% and DNA double-strand breaks are reduced by ∼50%. For all the build materials investigated, the gelatin EAL helps reduce the droplet size and average jet velocity.

Not Just Horsing Around: The Impact of Equine-Assisted Learning on Levels of Hope and Depression in At-Risk Adolescents.

PubMed

Frederick, Karen E; Ivey Hatz, Julie; Lanning, Beth

2015-10-01

Equine-assisted learning (EAL) is an experiential modality which utilizes horses to provide a unique learning experience for personal growth. Research by Damon et al. (Appl Dev Sci 7:119-128, 2003) suggests a positive relationship between hope and positive developmental trajectories. Hagen et al. (Am J Orthopsychiatr 75:211-219, 2005) showed hope to be a protective factor associated with adaptive functioning in at-risk youth. Ashby et al. (J Couns Dev 89:131-139, 2011) found a significant inverse relationship between hope and depression: as hope increases, depression decreases. The current study investigates the impact of a non-riding EAL curriculum entitled L.A.S.S.O. (Leading Adolescents to Successful School Outcomes) on levels of hope and depression in at-risk youth. The study uses an experimental design with longitudinal, repeated measures. Participants were randomly assigned to treatment and control groups. Participants in the treatment received 5 weeks of EAL, while participants in the control group received treatment as usual. Repeated measures ANOVA of participants' levels of hope and depression showed statistically significant improvements in the treatment group as compared with the control group. Even a brief (5-week) intervention of EAL had a positive impact on the lives and attitudes of at-risk adolescents, with increased levels of hope and decreased levels of depression.

Electron attenuation in free, neutral ethane clusters.

PubMed

Winkler, M; Myrseth, V; Harnes, J; Børve, K J

2014-10-28

The electron effective attenuation length (EAL) in free, neutral ethane clusters has been determined at 40 eV kinetic energy by combining carbon 1s x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical lineshape modeling. More specifically, theory is employed to form model spectra on a grid in cluster size (N) and EAL (λ), allowing N and λ to be determined by optimizing the goodness-of-fit χ(2)(N, λ) between model and observed spectra. Experimentally, the clusters were produced in an adiabatic-expansion setup using helium as the driving gas, spanning a range of 100-600 molecules in mean cluster size. The effective attenuation length was determined to be 8.4 ± 1.9 Å, in good agreement with an independent estimate of 10 Å formed on the basis of molecular electron-scattering data and Monte Carlo simulations. The aggregation state of the clusters as well as the cluster temperature and its importance to the derived EAL value are discussed in some depth.

Comparative analysis of diguanylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase genes in Klebsiella pneumoniae.

PubMed

Cruz, Diana P; Huertas, Mónica G; Lozano, Marcela; Zárate, Lina; Zambrano, María Mercedes

2012-07-09

Klebsiella pneumoniae can be found in environmental habitats as well as in hospital settings where it is commonly associated with nosocomial infections. One of the factors that contribute to virulence is its capacity to form biofilms on diverse biotic and abiotic surfaces. The second messenger Bis-(3'-5')-cyclic dimeric GMP (c-di-GMP) is a ubiquitous signal in bacteria that controls biofilm formation as well as several other cellular processes. The cellular levels of this messenger are controlled by c-di-GMP synthesis and degradation catalyzed by diguanylate cyclase (DGC) and phophodiesterase (PDE) enzymes, respectively. Many bacteria contain multiple copies of these proteins with diverse organizational structure that highlight the complex regulatory mechanisms of this signaling network. This work was undertaken to identify DGCs and PDEs and analyze the domain structure of these proteins in K. pneumoniae. A search for conserved GGDEF and EAL domains in three sequenced K. pneumoniae genomes showed that there were multiple copies of GGDEF and EAL containing proteins. Both single domain and hybrid GGDEF proteins were identified: 21 in K. pneumoniae Kp342, 18 in K. pneumoniae MGH 78578 and 17 in K. pneumoniae NTUH-K2044. The majority had only the GGDEF domain, most with the GGEEF motif, and hybrid proteins containing both GGDEF and EAL domains were also found. The I site for allosteric control was identified only in single GGDEF domain proteins and not in hybrid proteins. EAL-only proteins, containing either intact or degenerate domains, were also identified: 15 in Kp342, 15 in MGH 78578 and 10 in NTUH-K2044. Several input sensory domains and transmembrane segments were identified, which together indicate complex regulatory circuits that in many cases can be membrane associated. The comparative analysis of proteins containing GGDEF/EAL domains in K. pneumoniae showed that most copies were shared among the three strains and that some were unique to a particular strain. The multiplicity of these proteins and the diversity of structural characteristics suggest that the c-di-GMP network in this enteric bacterium is highly complex and reflects the importance of having diverse mechanisms to control cellular processes in environments as diverse as soils or plants and clinical settings.

Unravelling the complexities of nursing students' feedback on the clinical learning environment: a mixed methods approach.

PubMed

Salamonson, Yenna; Everett, Bronwyn; Halcomb, Elizabeth; Hutchinson, Marie; Jackson, Debra; Mannix, Judy; Peters, Kath; Weaver, Roslyn

2015-01-01

Clinical placement is an essential part of nursing education, and students' experiences on clinical placement can affect the quality of their learning. Understanding nursing students' positive and negative perceptions of clinical placement experience is therefore important. To describe nursing students' satisfaction with their clinical placement experiences and identify any variations in satisfaction based on demographic characteristics. Mixed methods - online survey with qualitative items. Four universities in Australia. Students (n=213) enrolled in an undergraduate nursing degree. Between 2010 and 2012, students completed online surveys following their clinical placement experiences. The surveys included demographic questions and the Clinical Learning Environment Inventory (CLEI-19), a 19-item tool measuring students' satisfaction with clinical placement. The surveys included two open-ended questions asking students to share their most satisfying and challenging experiences whilst on placement. Descriptive statistics and thematic analyses were undertaken. Of the 213 participants, those in health-related employment and those with English as an additional language (EAL) were less satisfied with the clinical facility and with clinical facilitator support respectively, as indicated by the CLEI-19 subscale scores. Qualitative findings showed students were positive about the opportunity to make a difference and be involved in nursing, and negative about clinical facilitator support. Nevertheless, those who were most critical in their written comments about their placement were those who only spoke English at home. Although the study found overall satisfaction with clinical placement, the lower satisfaction reported by students in health-related employment, and the mixed findings regarding language spoken and satisfaction, warrant further attention. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Influence of electronic apex locators and a gutta-percha heating device on implanted cardiac devices: an in vivo study.

PubMed

Moraes, A P; Silva, E J; Lamas, C C; Portugal, P H; Neves, A A

2016-06-01

To evaluate the potential for electromagnetic interference (EMI) of electronic apex locators (EALs) and a gutta-percha heating device (HD) in patients with implantable cardiac pacemakers (ICPs) or cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs). Two types of EALs (Romiapex A-15 and Novapex) and a HD (Touch'n Heat) were tested in patients followed in an outpatient clinic for cardiac arrhythmias. The heart rhythm was monitored on a computer screen during all experimental phases. After baseline data collection, the patient held each appliance (turned on) for 30 s, simulating their clinical use. If background noise was detected on the cardiac monitor, the sensitivity of the ICP/ICD was lowered by the cardiologist to evaluate the intensity of the detected EMI. Twelve patients were evaluated (5 female and 7 male), and in nine instances, background noise in their cardiac devices related to the use of the endodontic devices was detected (6 patients). After lowering the sensitivity of the cardiac implants, three patients had more severe EMI in six instances, including pauses in ICP function. The presence of a symptomatic or asymptomatic pause was related to the patient's underlying heart rhythm. The HD device produced background noise more often compared to EALs. These were associated with more severe types of EMI. The EALs and gutta-percha HD were capable of causing background noise detection or pauses in cardiac implants in vivo. The use of electronic dental devices nearby patients with cardiac implants should be carefully considered in clinical practice. © 2015 International Endodontic Journal. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The HD-GYP domain, cyclic di-GMP signaling, and bacterial virulence to plants.

PubMed

Dow, J Maxwell; Fouhy, Yvonne; Lucey, Jean F; Ryan, Robert P

2006-12-01

Cyclic di-GMP is an almost ubiquitous second messenger in bacteria that was first described as an allosteric activator of cellulose synthase but is now known to regulate a range of functions, including virulence in human and animal pathogens. Two protein domains, GGDEF and EAL, are implicated in the synthesis and degradation, respectively, of cyclic di-GMP. These domains are widely distributed in bacteria, including plant pathogens. The majority of proteins with GGDEF and EAL domains contain additional signal input domains, suggesting that their activities are responsive to environmental cues. Recent studies have demonstrated that a third domain, HD-GYP, is also active in cyclic di-GMP degradation. In the plant pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris, a two-component signal transduction system comprising the HD-GYP domain regulatory protein RpfG and cognate sensor RpfC positively controls virulence. The signals recognized by RpfC may include the cell-cell signal DSF, which also acts to regulate virulence in X. campestris pv. campestris. Here, we review these recent advances in our understanding of cyclic di-GMP signaling with particular reference to one or more roles in the bacterial pathogenesis of plants.

Genomic study of the absorption mechanism of p-coumaric acid and caffeic acid of extract of Ananas comosus L. leaves.

PubMed

Dang, Yun-jie; Zhu, Chun-yan

2015-03-01

Cardiac disease has emerged as the leading cause of death worldwide, and food rich in phenolic acids has drawn much attention as sources of active substances of hypolipidemic drug. Ananas comosus L. (pineapple) is one of the most popular tropical and subtropical fruits. Isolated from pineapple leaves, EAL(Extract of Ananas Comosus L. Leaves) is rich in phenolic acids, such as p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, and other phenolics, highly relevant to the putative cardiovascular-protective effects, which suggests its potential to be a new plant medicine for treatment of cardiac disease, but little is known about absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of EAL in animals or human beings. In this study, we employed cDNA microarray, Caco-2 cell lines, and rat intestinal model to explore the absorption behavior of p-coumaric acid and caffeic acid in EAL. The permeation of 2 substances was concentration and time dependent. Results also indicated that monocarboxylic acid transporter was involved in the transepithelial transport of p-coumaric acid and caffeic acid. © 2015 Institute of Food Technologists®

Measurement of Thicknesses of High-κ Gate-Dielectric Films on Silicon by Angle-Resolved XPS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Powell, Cedric; Smekal, Werner; Werner, Wolfgang

2006-03-01

We report on the use of a new NIST database for the Simulation of Electron Spectra for Surface Analysis (SESSA) in measuring thicknesses of candidate high-κ gate-dielectric materials (HfO2, HfSiO4, ZrO2, and ZrSiO4) on silicon by angle-resolved XPS. For conventional measurements of film thicknesses, effective attenuation lengths (EALs) have been computed for these materials from SESSA as a function of film thickness and photoelectron emission angle (i.e., to simulate the effects of tilting the sample). These EALs are believed to be more accurate than similar EALs obtained from the transport approximation because realistic cross sections are used for both elastic and inelastic scattering in the film and substrate materials. We also present ``calibration curves'' showing calculated ratios of selected photoelectron intensities from thin films of HfO2 on Si with an intermediate SiO2 layer. These ratios provide a simple and convenient means of determining the thicknesses of SiO2 and HfO2 films for particular measurement conditions.

Electronic learning in advanced resuscitation training: The perspective of the candidate.

PubMed

Lockey, Andrew S; Dyal, Laura; Kimani, Peter K; Lam, Jenny; Bullock, Ian; Buck, Dominic; Davies, Robin P; Perkins, Gavin D

2015-12-01

Studies have shown that blended approaches combining e-learning with face-to-face training reduces costs whilst maintaining similar learning outcomes. The preferences in learning approach for healthcare providers to this new style of learning have not been comprehensively studied. The aim of this study is to evaluate the acceptability of blended learning to advanced resuscitation training. Participants taking part in the traditional and blended electronic advanced life support (e-ALS) courses were invited to complete a written evaluation of the course. Participants' views were captured on a 6-point Likert scale and in free text written comments covering the content, delivery and organisation of the course. Proportional-odds cumulative logit models were used to compare quantitative responses. Thematic analysis was used to synthesise qualitative feedback. 2848 participants from 31 course centres took part in the study (2008-2010). Candidates consistently scored content delivered face-to-face over the same content delivered over the e-learning platform. Candidates valued practical hands on training which included simulation highly. Within the e-ALS group, a common theme was a feeling of "time pressure" and they "preferred the face-to-face teaching". However, others felt that e-ALS "suited their learning style", was "good for those recertifying", and allowed candidates to "use the learning materials at their own pace". The e-ALS course was well received by most, but not all participants. The majority felt the e-learning module was beneficial. There was universal agreement that the face-to-face training was invaluable. Individual learning styles of the candidates affected their reaction to the course materials. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

In vitro evaluation of the accuracy of five different electronic apex locators for determining the working length of endodontically retreated teeth.

PubMed

Ebrahim, Aqeel Khalil; Wadachi, Reiko; Suda, Hideaki

2007-04-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of five electronic apex locators (EALs) in determining the working length (WL) of teeth after removal of the root canal obturation materials. A total of 32 extracted straight, single-rooted teeth were used. The actual canal length (AL) was determined and the WL was established by subtracting 0.5 mm from the AL. The root canals were instrumented and divided into two groups. One group (n = 6) served as control, while the other group (n = 26) was the experimental group. In the experimental group, the root canals were obturated using vertically compacted gutta-percha with AH 26 sealer. In both groups, the access cavities were restored with a provisional restoration and stored for 15 days at 37 degrees C and 100% humidity. The root canal obturation material was removed, and the teeth were then mounted in an experimental apparatus. Five EALs were used: Dentaport ZX, ProPex, Foramatron D10, Apex NRG and Apit 7. For the electronic measurement of canal length, a size 25 K-file was used. During measurement, the canal was irrigated with 2.5% sodium hypochlorite. The difference (D) between the AL and the electronically determined length (EDL), AL-EDL, was calculated and recorded for each measurement. Data were analysed by two-way anova and Fisher's PLSD test. In both groups, statistically significant differences were found among the EALs (P < 0.01). In conclusion, the Dentaport ZX, ProPex and Foramatron D10 were more accurate than the other two EALs in determining the WL in teeth after removal of the root canal obturation materials. However, the Apex NRG and Apit 7 were also reliable for determination of the WL in the majority of the cases.

Electromagnetic interference of endodontic equipments with cardiovascular implantable electronic device.

PubMed

Dadalti, Manoela Teixeira de Sant'Anna; da Cunha, Antônio José Ledo Alves; de Araújo, Marcos César Pimenta; de Moraes, Luis Gustavo Belo; Risso, Patrícia de Andrade

2016-03-01

Assess the electromagnetic interference (EMI) of endodontic equipment with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) and related factors. The laser device, electronic apex locators (EAL), optical microscope, endodontic rotary motors, gutta-percha heat carrier (GH), gutta-percha gun and ultrasonic device were tested next to CIEDs (Medtronic and Biotronik) with varied sensitivity settings and distances. CIEDs were immersed in a saline solution to simulate the electrical resistence of the human body. The endodontic equipment was tested in both horizontal and vertical positions in relation to the components of the CIED. The tests were performed on a dental chair in order to assess the cumulative effect of electromagnetic fields. It was found no EMI with the Biotronik pacemaker. EALs caused EMI with Medtronic PM at a 2 cm distance, with the NSK(®) EAL also affecting the Medtronic defibrillator. GH caused EMI at 2 cm and 5 cm from the Medtronic defibrillator. EMI occurred when devices were horizontally positioned to the CIED. In the majority of the cases, EMI occurred when the pacemaker was set to maximum sensitivity. There was cumulative effect of electromagnetic fields between GH and dental chair. EALs and GH caused EMI which ranged according to type and sensitivity setting of the CIEDs and the distance. However, no endodontic equipment caused permanent damage to the CIED. The use of GH caused a cumulative effect of electromagnetic fields. It suggests that during the treatment of patients with CIEDs, only the necessary equipments should be kept turned on. Patients with CIEDs may be subject to EMI from electronic equipment used in dental offices, as they remain turned on throughout the treatment. This is the first article assessing the cumulative effect of electromagnetic fields. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

General Dental Practitioners’ Concept towards Using Radiography and Apex-Locators in Endodontics

PubMed Central

Raoof, Maryam; Heidaripour, Maryam; Shahravan, Arash; Haghani, Jahangir; Afkham, Arash; Razifar, Mahsa; Mohammadizadeh, Sakineh

2014-01-01

Introduction: Despite being the gold standard as well as a routine technique in endodontics, radiographic working length (WL) determination owns many drawbacks. Electronic apex-locators (EALs) are recommended to complement radiographies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the perceptions of Iranian general dental practitioners (GDPs) towards using radiography and EAL. Methods and Materials: Three hundred and ninety one GDPs attending the 53th Iranian Dental Association Congress completed a questionnaire focusing on the use of radiography and EALs during the various stages of root canal treatment. The data was analyzed with the chi-square test with the level of significance set at 0.05. The results were then calculated as frequencies and percentages. Results: More than half of the GDPs reported using radiographs as the sole method for WL determination. A total of 30.4% of the practitioners were using the combined approach during root canal therapy of a single-rooted tooth, while 38.9% used this method in multi-rooted teeth. Approximately half of the respondents would not order follow-up radiographies after root canal treatment. Conclusion: Radiography continues to be the most common method for WL determination in Iran. PMID:25386209

Characterization of the Xylella fastidiosa PD1671 Gene Encoding Degenerate c-di-GMP GGDEF/EAL Domains, and Its Role in the Development of Pierce’s Disease

PubMed Central

Cursino, Luciana; Athinuwat, Dusit; Patel, Kelly R.; Galvani, Cheryl D.; Zaini, Paulo A.; Li, Yaxin; De La Fuente, Leonardo; Hoch, Harvey C.; Burr, Thomas J.; Mowery, Patricia

2015-01-01

Xylella fastidiosa is an important phytopathogenic bacterium that causes many serious plant diseases including Pierce’s disease of grapevines. X. fastidiosa is thought to induce disease by colonizing and clogging xylem vessels through the formation of cell aggregates and bacterial biofilms. Here we examine the role in X. fastidiosa virulence of an uncharacterized gene, PD1671, annotated as a two-component response regulator with potential GGDEF and EAL domains. GGDEF domains are found in c-di-GMP diguanylate cyclases while EAL domains are found in phosphodiesterases, and these domains are for c-di-GMP production and turnover, respectively. Functional analysis of the PD1671 gene revealed that it affected multiple X. fastidiosa virulence-related phenotypes. A Tn5 PD1671 mutant had a hypervirulent phenotype in grapevines presumably due to enhanced expression of gum genes leading to increased exopolysaccharide levels that resulted in elevated biofilm formation. Interestingly, the PD1671 mutant also had decreased motility in vitro but did not show a reduced distribution in grapevines following inoculation. Given these responses, the putative PD1671 protein may be a negative regulator of X. fastidiosa virulence. PMID:25811864

Characterization of the Xylella fastidiosa PD1671 gene encoding degenerate c-di-GMP GGDEF/EAL domains, and its role in the development of Pierce's disease.

PubMed

Cursino, Luciana; Athinuwat, Dusit; Patel, Kelly R; Galvani, Cheryl D; Zaini, Paulo A; Li, Yaxin; De La Fuente, Leonardo; Hoch, Harvey C; Burr, Thomas J; Mowery, Patricia

2015-01-01

Xylella fastidiosa is an important phytopathogenic bacterium that causes many serious plant diseases including Pierce's disease of grapevines. X. fastidiosa is thought to induce disease by colonizing and clogging xylem vessels through the formation of cell aggregates and bacterial biofilms. Here we examine the role in X. fastidiosa virulence of an uncharacterized gene, PD1671, annotated as a two-component response regulator with potential GGDEF and EAL domains. GGDEF domains are found in c-di-GMP diguanylate cyclases while EAL domains are found in phosphodiesterases, and these domains are for c-di-GMP production and turnover, respectively. Functional analysis of the PD1671 gene revealed that it affected multiple X. fastidiosa virulence-related phenotypes. A Tn5 PD1671 mutant had a hypervirulent phenotype in grapevines presumably due to enhanced expression of gum genes leading to increased exopolysaccharide levels that resulted in elevated biofilm formation. Interestingly, the PD1671 mutant also had decreased motility in vitro but did not show a reduced distribution in grapevines following inoculation. Given these responses, the putative PD1671 protein may be a negative regulator of X. fastidiosa virulence.

Software Reliability Estimation under Conditions of Incomplete Information.

DTIC Science & Technology

1979-10-01

6k) 1 I’a 1 aN+6d (k D N ae a a m a m where ae i Jl i-rnm ae Mem 0 i~m and -A.7- I pop ," -, (L 0 a o\\ a a(0 0 a) ( T n +L L0- (k0 B2 e e aL (0 -TA...zLLki2ZLK22 9o 10 LuNTINUL 97 METURN -D.7- I ,u~t(OUTLiNE H.TA(ABPeNA.T#VvRRPJJJ) .5 mEAL*b toA 𔃾 HLAL kAeX~ oHP #RNiAtR7#DPRZ thEAL RO a Ia$GL(hiR) Kb

The unrestricted local properties: application in nanoelectronics and for predicting radicals reactivity.

PubMed

Dral, Pavlo O

2014-03-01

The local electron affinity (EA(L)) and the local ionization energy (IE(L)) are successfully used for predicting properties of closed-shell species for drug design and for nanoelectronics. Here the respective unrestricted Hartree-Fock variants of EA(L) and IE(L), i.e., the unrestricted local electron affinity (UHF-EA(L)) and ionization energy (UHF-IE(L)), have been shown to be useful for predicting properties of open-shell species. UHF-EA(L) and UHF-IE(L) have been applied for explaining unique electronic properties of an exemplary nanomaterial carbon peapod. It is also demonstrated that UHF-EA(L) is useful for predicting and better understanding reactivity of radicals related to alkanes activation.

Maternal Alcohol Consumption during Pregnancy and Early Age Leukemia Risk in Brazil.

PubMed

Ferreira, Jeniffer Dantas; Couto, Arnaldo Cézar; Emerenciano, Mariana; Pombo-de-Oliveira, Maria S; Koifman, Sergio

2015-01-01

Objectives. To investigate the association between the maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy and early age leukemia (EAL) in offspring. Methods. Datasets were analyzed from a case-control study carried out in Brazil during 1999-2007. Data were obtained by maternal interviews using a standardized questionnaire. The present study included 675 children (193 acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL), 59 acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and 423 controls). Unconditional logistic regression was performed, and adjusted odds ratios (adj. OR) on the association between alcohol consumption and EAL were ascertained. Results. Alcohol consumption was reported by 43% of ALL and 39% of AML case mothers and 35.5% of controls'. Beer consumption before and during pregnancy was associated with ALL in crude analysis (OR = 1.54, 95% CI, 1.08-2.19), although in adjusted analysis no statistical significance was found. For weekly intake of ≤1 glass (adj. OR = 1.30, 95% CI, 0.71-2.36) and ≥1 glass/week (adj. OR = 1.47, 95% CI, 0.88-2.46) a potential dose-response was observed (P trend < 0.03). Conclusion. This study failed to support the hypothesis of an increased risk of EAL associated with maternal alcohol intake during pregnancy, neither with the interaction with tobacco nor with alcohol consumption.

Mother and child characteristics at birth and early age leukemia: a case-cohort population-based study.

PubMed

Reis, Rejane de Souza; Silva, Neimar de Paula; Santos, Marceli de Oliveira; Oliveira, Julio Fernando Pinto; Thuler, Luiz Claudio Santos; de Camargo, Beatriz; Pombo-de-Oliveira, Maria S

The population-based cancer registries (PBCR) and the Information System on Live Births in Brazil (Sistema de Informações sobre Nascidos Vivos [SINASC]) have information that enables the test for risk factors associated with leukemia at an early age. The aim of this study was to identify maternal and birth characteristics associated with early-age acute leukemia (EAL) in Brazil. A case-cohort study was performed using secondary dataset information of PBCR and SINASC. The risk association variables were grouped into (i) characteristics of the child at birth and (ii) characteristics of maternal exposure during pregnancy. The case-control ratio was 1:4. Linkage was performed using R software; odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated by logistic regression models. EAL was associated with maternal occupational exposure to chemicals (agricultural, chemical, and petrochemical industry; adjOR: 2.18, 95% CI: 1.16-4.10) and with birth defects (adjOR: 3.62, 95% CI: 1.19-11.00). The results of this study, with the identification of EAL risk factors in population-based case-cohort study, strengthen the knowledge and improve databases, contributing to investigations on risk factors associated with childhood leukemia worldwide. Copyright © 2017 Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of Interference of Cellular Phones on Electronic Apex Locators: An In Vitro Study.

PubMed

Sidhu, Preena; Shankargouda, Swapnil; Dicksit, Daniel DevaPrakash; Mahdey, Haydar Majeed; Muzaffar, Danish; Arora, Shelly

2016-04-01

Use of mobile phone has been prohibited in many hospitals to prevent interference with medical devices. Electromagnetic radiation emitted from cellular phones might interfere with electronic working length determination. The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of a smart phone (Samsung Galaxy Note Edge) on working length determination of electronic apex locators (EALs) Propex II and Rootor. Fifteen intact, non-carious single-rooted teeth were decoronated at the cementoenamel junction. Visually, working length was determined by using a #15 K-file under stereomicroscope (×20). The effect of cellular phones on electronic working length (EWL) was determined under 2 experimental settings: (1) in a closed room with poor signal strength and (2) in a polyclinic set up with good signal strength and 5 conditions: (1) electronically, without cellular phone in room; (2) electronically, with cellular phone in physical contact with EAL; (3) electronically, with mobile phone in physical contact with EAL and in calling mode for a period of 25 seconds; (4) electronically, mobile phone placed at a distance of 40 cm from the EAL; and (5) electronically, mobile phone placed at a distance of 40 cm and in calling mode for a period of 25 seconds. The EWL was measured 3 times per tooth under each condition. Stability of the readings was scored from 1 to 3: (1) good stability, (2) stable reading after 1 attempt, and (3) stable reading after 2 attempts. The data were compared by using analysis of variance. The EWL measurements were not influenced by the presence of cellular phone and could be determined under all experimental conditions. Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that mobile phones do not interfere with the EWL determination. Copyright © 2016 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of electrical impedance ratio measurements in accuracy of electronic apex locators.

PubMed

Kim, Pil-Jong; Kim, Hong-Gee; Cho, Byeong-Hoon

2015-05-01

The aim of this paper was evaluating the ratios of electrical impedance measurements reported in previous studies through a correlation analysis in order to explicit it as the contributing factor to the accuracy of electronic apex locator (EAL). The literature regarding electrical property measurements of EALs was screened using Medline and Embase. All data acquired were plotted to identify correlations between impedance and log-scaled frequency. The accuracy of the impedance ratio method used to detect the apical constriction (APC) in most EALs was evaluated using linear ramp function fitting. Changes of impedance ratios for various frequencies were evaluated for a variety of file positions. Among the ten papers selected in the search process, the first-order equations between log-scaled frequency and impedance were in the negative direction. When the model for the ratios was assumed to be a linear ramp function, the ratio values decreased if the file went deeper and the average ratio values of the left and right horizontal zones were significantly different in 8 out of 9 studies. The APC was located within the interval of linear relation between the left and right horizontal zones of the linear ramp model. Using the ratio method, the APC was located within a linear interval. Therefore, using the impedance ratio between electrical impedance measurements at different frequencies was a robust method for detection of the APC.

Estimation of the kinetic energy dissipation in fall-arrest system and manikin during fall impact.

PubMed

Wu, John Z; Powers, John R; Harris, James R; Pan, Christopher S

2011-04-01

Fall-arrest systems (FASs) have been widely applied to provide a safe stop during fall incidents for occupational activities. The mechanical interaction and kinetic energy exchange between the human body and the fall-arrest system during fall impact is one of the most important factors in FAS ergonomic design. In the current study, we developed a systematic approach to evaluate the energy dissipated in the energy absorbing lanyard (EAL) and in the harness/manikin during fall impact. The kinematics of the manikin and EAL during the impact were derived using the arrest-force time histories that were measured experimentally. We applied the proposed method to analyse the experimental data of drop tests at heights of 1.83 and 3.35 m. Our preliminary results indicate that approximately 84-92% of the kinetic energy is dissipated in the EAL system and the remainder is dissipated in the harness/manikin during fall impact. The proposed approach would be useful for the ergonomic design and performance evaluation of an FAS. STATEMENT OF RELEVANCE: Mechanical interaction, especially kinetic energy exchange, between the human body and the fall-arrest system during fall impact is one of the most important factors in the ergonomic design of a fall-arrest system. In the current study, we propose an approach to quantify the kinetic energy dissipated in the energy absorbing lanyard and in the harness/body system during fall impact.

Novel applications of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy on unsupported nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kostko, Oleg; Xu, Bo; Jacobs, Michael I.; Ahmed, Musahid

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is a powerful technique for chemical analysis of surfaces. We will present novel results of XPS on unsupported, gas-phase nanoparticles using a velocity-map imaging (VMI) spectrometer. This technique allows for probes of both the surfaces of nanoparticles via XPS as well as their interiors via near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy. A recent application of this technique has confirmed that arginine's guanidinium group exists in a protonated state even in strongly basic solution. Moreover, the core-level photoelectron spectroscopy can provide information on the effective attenuation length (EAL) of low kinetic energy electrons. This contradictory value is important for determining the probing depth of XPS and in photolithography. A new method for determining EALs will be presented.

ARID5B polymorphism confers an increased risk to acquire specific MLL rearrangements in early childhood leukemia

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Acute leukemia in early age (EAL) is characterized by acquired genetic alterations such as MLL rearrangements (MLL-r). The aim of this case-controlled study was to investigate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IKZF1, ARID5B, and CEBPE could be related to the onset of EAL cases (<24 months-old at diagnosis). Methods The SNPs (IKZF1 rs11978267, ARID5B rs10821936 and rs10994982, CEBPE rs2239633) were genotyped in 265 cases [169 acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 96 acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)] and 505 controls by Taqman allelic discrimination assay. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between SNPs of cases and controls, adjusted on skin color and/or age. The risk was determined by calculating odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results Children with the IKZF1 SNP had an increased risk of developing MLL-germline ALL in white children. The heterozygous/mutant genotype in ARID5B rs10994982 significantly increased the risk for MLL-germline leukemia in white and non-white children (OR 2.60, 95% CI: 1.09-6.18 and OR 3.55, 95% CI: 1.57-8.68, respectively). The heterozygous genotype in ARID5B rs10821936 increased the risk for MLL-r leukemia in both white and non-white (OR 2.06, 95% CI: 1.12-3.79 and OR 2.36, 95% CI: 1.09-5.10, respectively). Furthermore, ARID5B rs10821936 conferred increased risk for MLL-MLLT3 positive cases (OR 7.10, 95% CI:1.54-32.68). Our data do not show evidence that CEBPE rs2239633 confers increased genetic susceptibility to EAL. Conclusions IKZF1 and CEBPE variants seem to play a minor role in genetic susceptibility to EAL, while ARID5B rs10821936 increased the risk of MLL-MLLT3. This result shows that genetic susceptibility could be associated with the differences regarding MLL breakpoints and partner genes. PMID:24564228

A new centrifuge microscope reveals that mobile plastids trigger gravity sensing in Arabidopsis inflorescence stems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Toyota, Masatsugu; Tasaka, Masao; Morita, Miyo T.; Gilroy, Simon

2012-07-01

The starch-statolith hypothesis is the most widely accepted model for plant gravity sensing and proposes that the sedimentation of high-density starch-filled plastids (amyloplasts) in shoot endodermal cells and root columella cells is important for gravity sensing of each organ. However, starch-deficient phosphoglucomutase (pgm-1) mutants sense gravity and show gravitropism in inflorescence stems, even though most starchless amyloplasts in this mutant fail to sediment toward the gravity vector. These results raise the questions about the role of starch in gravity sensing and the features of statolith/statocyte essential for shoot gravity sensing. To address these questions, we developed a new centrifuge microscope and analyzed two gravitropic mutants, i.e., pgm-1 and endodermal-amyloplast less 1 (eal1). All optical devices (e.g., objective lens, light source and CCD camera) and specimens were rotated on a direct-drive motor, and acquired images were wirelessly transmitted during centrifugation. Live-cell imaging during centrifugation revealed that the starchless amyloplasts sedimented to the hypergravity vector (10 and 30 g) in endodermal cells of pgm-1 stems, indicating that the density of the starchless amyloplasts is higher than that of cytoplasm. Electron micrographs of shoot endodermal cells in pgm-1 mutants suggested that the starchless amyloplast contains an organized thylakoid membrane but not starch granules, which morphologically resembles chloroplasts in the adjacent cortical cells. Therefore, the shoot amyloplasts without starch are possibly as dense as chloroplasts. We examined eal1 mutants, an allele of shoot gravitropism (sgr) 7/short-root (shr), which also have starchless amyloplasts due to abnormal differentiation of amyloplasts and show no gravitropic response at 1 g. Hypergravity up to 30 g induced little gravitropism in eal1 stems and the starchless amyloplasts failed to sediment under 30 g conditions. However, the eal1 mutants treated with latrunculin B, an actin disrupting drug, showed gravitropism under 30 g conditions, during which amyloplasts were artificially sedimented by hypergravity. These results suggest that shoot amyloplasts are intrinsically dense enough to trigger gravity sensing without starch and, rather, intracellular environments that render amyloplasts sedimentable/mobile, such as actin organization, are essential for gravity sensing in Arabidopsis inflorescence stems.

Development of an automated scanning monochromator for sensitivity calibration of the MUSTANG instrument

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rivers, Thane D.

1992-06-01

An Automated Scanning Monochromator was developed using: an Acton Research Corporation (ARC) Monochromator, Ealing Photomultiplier Tube and a Macintosh PC in conjunction with LabVIEW software. The LabVIEW Virtual Instrument written to operate the ARC Monochromator is a mouse driven user friendly program developed for automated spectral data measurements. Resolution and sensitivity of the Automated Scanning Monochromator System were determined experimentally. The Automated monochromator was then used for spectral measurements of a Platinum Lamp. Additionally, the reflectivity curve for a BaSO4 coated screen has been measured. Reflectivity measurements indicate a large discrepancy with expected results. Further analysis of the reflectivity experiment is required for conclusive results.

Heavy truck data in Virginia : collection, uses, and needs.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1988-01-01

This report describes the collection and uses of heavy truck data by Virginia agencies. Data categories include: (I) classification counts, (2) accidents; (3) off-tracking; (4) passenger car equivalents (PCE), (5) equivalent axle load (EAL), (6) spee...

78 FR 28003 - In the Matter of Entergy Arkansas and Entergy Operations, Arkansas Nuclear One, Units 1 and 2...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-13

... Regulation satisfactory documentary evidence that EAL has obtained the appropriate amount of insurance... 3 to the cover letter forwarding this Order (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System...

New findings on phosphodiesterases, MoPdeH and MoPdeL, in Magnaporthe oryzae revealed by structural analysis.

PubMed

Yang, Li-Na; Yin, Ziyi; Zhang, Xi; Feng, Wanzhen; Xiao, Yuhan; Zhang, Haifeng; Zheng, Xiaobo; Zhang, Zhengguang

2018-05-01

The cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signalling pathway mediates signal communication and sensing during infection-related morphogenesis in eukaryotes. Many studies have implicated cAMP as a critical mediator of appressorium development in the rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae. The cAMP phosphodiesterases, MoPdeH and MoPdeL, as key regulators of intracellular cAMP levels, play pleiotropic roles in cell wall integrity, cellular morphology, appressorium formation and infectious growth in M. oryzae. Here, we analysed the roles of domains of MoPdeH and MoPdeL separately or in chimeras. The results indicated that the HD and EAL domains of MoPdeH are indispensable for its phosphodiesterase activity and function. Replacement of the MoPdeH HD domain with the L1 and L2 domains of MoPdeL, either singly or together, resulted in decreased cAMP hydrolysis activity of MoPdeH. All of the transformants exhibited phenotypes similar to that of the ΔMopdeH mutant, but also revealed that EAL and L1 play additional roles in conidiation, and that L1 is involved in infectious growth. We further found that the intracellular cAMP level is important for surface signal recognition and hyphal autolysis. The intracellular cAMP level negatively regulates Mps1-MAPK and positively regulates Pmk1-MAPK in the rice blast fungus. Our results provide new information to better understand the cAMP signalling pathway in the development, differentiation and plant infection of the fungus. © 2017 BSPP AND JOHN WILEY & SONS LTD.

Toxic responses of medaka, d-rR strain, to polychlorinated naphthalene mixtures after embryonic exposure by in ovo nanoinjection: A partial life-cycle assessment

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Villalobos, S.A.; Papoulias, D.M.; Meadows, J.

2000-02-01

Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) are organic compounds with some chemical properties and uses similar to polychlorinated biphenyls. Polychlorinated naphthalenes have been detected in biota from certain aquatic environments. The toxicities of several PCN technical mixtures (Halowax) to medaka (Oryzias latipes) were determined by use of an embryo nanoinjection method. Medaka eggs (early gastrula) were injected with 0.5 nl of triolein (vehicle control) or 0.5 nl of four to five graded doses (0.3--30 ng/egg) of Halowax 1014, Halowax 1013, or Halowax 1051 in triolein. Following exposure, embryos developed, and fry were reared to sexual maturity (4 months), at which time they weremore » euthanized. Responses were evaluated as early life stage (ELS) and early adult life stage (EALS) assessments. For ELS, lethality and sublethal alterations in embryos and larvae (<16 d old), such as craniofacial, cardiovascular, and myoskeletal deformities and abnormal or delayed hatch, were monitored for the first 9 d, and a dose severity index was computed. The EALS assessment examined the survival of 16-d-old larvae until early adulthood (123 {+-} 3 d old), including gonadosomatic index (GSI) and morphometry. Halowax 1014 was found to be the most toxic mixture (LD50 4.2 ng/egg), whereas Halowax 1013 and 1051 were significantly less toxic (LD50s could not be determined). The gonadosomatic index of females was significantly less in fish dosed with Halowax 1014 or 1051. The LD50 for medaka embryos nanoinjected with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is about 0.75 pg/egg. Thus, Halowax 1014 was 5,585-fold less potent than TCDD. For Halowax 1014, ELS assessments accurately predicted the results of EALS assessments.« less

Integrated musculoskeletal service design by GP consortia

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Musculoskeletal conditions are common in primary care and are associated with significant co-morbidity and impairment of quality of life. Traditional care pathways combined community-based physiotherapy with GP referral to hospital for a consultant opinion. Locally, this model led to only 30% of hospital consultant orthopaedic referrals being listed for surgery, with the majority being referred for physiotherapy. The NHS musculoskeletal framework proposed the use of interface services to provide expertise in diagnosis, triage and management of musculoskeletal problems not requiring surgery. The White Paper Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS has replaced PCT commissioning with GP consortia, who will lead future service development. Setting Primary and community care, integrated with secondary care, in the NHS in England. Question How can GP consortia lead the development of integrated musculoskeletal services? Review: The Ealing experience We explore here how Ealing implemented a ‘See and Treat’ interface clinic model to improve surgical conversion rates, reduce unnecessary hospital referrals and provide community treatment more efficiently than a triage model. A high-profile GP education programme enabled GPs to triage in their practices and manage patients without referral. Conclusion In Ealing, we demonstrated that most patients with musculoskeletal conditions can be managed in primary care and community settings. The integrated musculoskeletal service provides clear and fast routes to secondary care. This is both clinically effective and cost-effective, reserving hospital referral for patients most likely to need surgery. GP consortia, in conjunction with strong clinical leadership, inbuilt organisational and professional learning, and a GP champion, are well placed to deliver service redesign by co-ordinating primary care development, local commissioning of community services and the acute commissioning vehicles responsible for secondary care. The immediate priority for GP consortia is to develop a truly integrated service by facilitating consultant opinions within a community setting. PMID:25949643

Toxic responses of medaka, D-rR strain, to polychlorinatednaphthalene mixtures after embryonic exposure by in ovo nanoinjection: A partial life-cycle assessment

USGS Publications Warehouse

Villalobos, Sergio A.; Papoulias, Diana M.; Meadows, John C.; Blankenship, Alan L.; Pastva, Stephanie D.; Kannan, Kurunthachalam; Hinton, D.E.; Tillitt, Donald E.; Giesy, John P.

2000-01-01

Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) are organic compounds with some chemical properties and uses similar to polychlorinated biphenyls. Polychlorinated naphthalenes have been detected in biota from certain aquatic environments. The toxicities of several PCN technical mixtures (Halowax) to medaka (Oryzias latipes) were determined by use of an embryo nanoinjection method. Medaka eggs (early gastrula) were injected with 0.5 nl of triolein (vehicle control) or 0.5 nl of four to five graded doses (0.3-30 ng/egg) of Halowax 1014, Halowax 1013, or Halowax 1051 in triolein. Following exposure, embryos developed, and fry were reared to sexual maturity (4 months), at which time they were euthanized. Responses were evaluated as early life stage (ELS) and early adult life stage (EALS) assessments. For ELS, lethality and sublethal alterations in embryos and larvae ( < 16 d old), such as craniofacial, cardiovascular, and myoskeletal deformities and abnormal or delayed hatch, were monitored for the first 9 d, and a dose severity index was computed. The EALS assessment examined the survival of 16-d-old larvae until early adulthood (123 ?? 3 d old), including gonadosomatic index (GSI) and morphometry. Halowax 1014 was found to be the most toxic mixture (LD50 4.2 ng/egg), whereas Halowax 1013 and 1051 were significantly less toxic (LD50s could not be determined). The gonadosomatic index of females was significantly less in fish dosed with Halowax 1014 or 1051. The LD50 for medaka embryos nanoinjected with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is about 0.75 pg/egg. Thus, Halowax 1014 was 5,585-fold less potent than TCDD. For Halowax 1014, ELS assessments accurately predicted the results of EALS assessments.

78 FR 68352 - Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-11-14

... Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of... Airbus Model A330-223F, -223, -321, -322, and -323 airplanes. This AD was prompted by fatigue load... this AD, contact Airbus SAS, Airworthiness Office--EAL, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac...

77 FR 15644 - Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-16

...-0192; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-225-AD] RIN 2120-AA64 Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes...: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A330-200 and -200... information identified in this proposed AD, contact Airbus SAS--Airworthiness Office--EAL, 1 Rond Point...

78 FR 29666 - Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-21

...-0422; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-097-AD] RIN 2120-AA64 Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes...: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A330-200 and -300... information identified in this proposed AD, contact Airbus SAS--Airworthiness Office--EAL, 1 Rond Point...

EAL Teacher Agency: Implications for Participation in Professional Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gurney, Laura; Liyanage, Indika

2016-01-01

Teachers construct their practice, education and professional development within two domains of professionalism: sponsored and independent. The association between these two domains, however, is complex; it is overlapping, inseparable and sometimes uneasy. The complexity is further exacerbated by the codependent nature of association between the…

Diversity of Cyclic Di-GMP-Binding Proteins and Mechanisms

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

ABSTRACT Cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP) synthetases and hydrolases (GGDEF, EAL, and HD-GYP domains) can be readily identified in bacterial genome sequences by using standard bioinformatic tools. In contrast, identification of c-di-GMP receptors remains a difficult task, and the current list of experimentally characterized c-di-GMP-binding proteins is likely incomplete. Several classes of c-di-GMP-binding proteins have been structurally characterized; for some others, the binding sites have been identified; and for several potential c-di-GMP receptors, the binding sites remain to be determined. We present here a comparative structural analysis of c-di-GMP-protein complexes that aims to discern the common themes in the binding mechanisms that allow c-di-GMP receptors to bind it with (sub)micromolar affinities despite the 1,000-fold excess of GTP. The available structures show that most receptors use their Arg and Asp/Glu residues to bind c-di-GMP monomers, dimers, or tetramers with stacked guanine bases. The only exception is the EAL domains that bind c-di-GMP monomers in an extended conformation. We show that in c-di-GMP-binding signature motifs, Arg residues bind to the O-6 and N-7 atoms at the Hoogsteen edge of the guanine base, while Asp/Glu residues bind the N-1 and N-2 atoms at its Watson-Crick edge. In addition, Arg residues participate in stacking interactions with the guanine bases of c-di-GMP and the aromatic rings of Tyr and Phe residues. This may account for the presence of Arg residues in the active sites of every receptor protein that binds stacked c-di-GMP. We also discuss the implications of these structural data for the improved understanding of the c-di-GMP signaling mechanisms. PMID:26055114

The Margins as "Third Space": EAP Teacher Professionalism in Canadian Universities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

MacDonald, Jennifer

2016-01-01

Teachers of English for Academic Purposes (EAP) in the Canadian university setting often experience professional marginalization in terms of lack of status, clarity of mandate, or administrative home within their institutions. Despite having broadly benefited the ESL/EAL sector in Canada, traditional trait-focused professionalization efforts have…

78 FR 60798 - Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-10-02

...-0363; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-031-AD] RIN 2120-AA64 Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes... directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A330-200, -300 and -200 Freighter series airplanes, and Model A340-200... information identified in this proposed AD, contact Airbus SAS--Airworthiness Office--EAL, 1 Rond Point...

77 FR 51729 - Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-27

...-0810; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-195-AD] RIN 2120-AA64 Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes...: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A330-200, A330-300... identified in this proposed AD, contact Airbus SAS--Airworthiness Office--EAL, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte...

77 FR 66760 - Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-07

...-1162; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-002-AD] RIN 2120-AA64 Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes...: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A330-200 Freighter, A330... information identified in this proposed AD, contact Airbus SAS--Airworthiness Office--EAL, 1 Rond Point...

78 FR 29261 - Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-20

...-0424; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-014-AD] RIN 2120-AA64 Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes...: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A330-200 Freighter, A330... this proposed AD, contact Airbus SAS, Airworthiness Office--EAL, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707...

MX Siting Investigation. Geotechnical Evaluation. Aggregate Resources Report, Utah-Nevada Study Area.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-03-03

The material is gradually transported downslope under the influence of gravity and water and is deposited in characteristically fan-shaped geomorphic...as D1 iconsidered to be generally adequate for concrete auraWate meterial Is considered to be probably suitable but has .eal chaglactelf~tics which

Prediction of the thermal environment and thermal response of simple panels exposed to radiant heat

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Turner, Travis L.; Ash, Robert L.

1989-01-01

A method of predicting the radiant heat flux distribution produced by a bank of tubular quartz heaters was applied to a radiant system consisting of a single unreflected lamp irradiating a flat metallic incident surface. In this manner, the method was experimentally verified for various radiant system parameter settings and used as a source of input for a finite element thermal analysis. Two finite element thermal analyses were applied to a thermal system consisting of a thin metallic panel exposed to radiant surface heating. A two-dimensional steady-state finite element thermal analysis algorithm, based on Galerkin's Method of Weighted Residuals (GFE), was formulated specifically for this problem and was used in comparison to the thermal analyzers of the Engineering Analysis Language (EAL). Both analyses allow conduction, convection, and radiation boundary conditions. Differences in the respective finite element formulation are discussed in terms of their accuracy and resulting comparison discrepancies. The thermal analyses are shown to perform well for the comparisons presented here with some important precautions about the various boundary condition models. A description of the experiment, corresponding analytical modeling, and resulting comparisons are presented.

Student and Teacher Reflections on Indirectness as a Pragmatic Feature of Pharmacist-Patient Simulations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hussin, Virginia

2013-01-01

This article reports on a research process where focussed reflection on pharmacist-patient simulations led to meta-pragmatic awareness and directions for pedagogical practice. The research participants were third-year EAL pharmacy students, who were practising being pharmacists, and pharmacy staff members, who played the part of patients. Analysis…

Working with Multilingual Learners and Vocabulary Knowledge for Secondary Schools: Developing Word Consciousness

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cox, Robyn; O'Brien, Katherine; Walsh, Maureen; West, Helen

2015-01-01

This paper reports on a 10 week vocabulary focused intervention based on the Word Generation program (Snow, 2002, 2010; SERP, 2011) in primary and secondary schools, which demonstrated clear improvements, particularly with students who are EAL/D learners. Teachers across English, Science, Maths and Social Sciences developed professional learning…

Modelling and Fostering Creativity: Two Post-Secondary EAL Teachers' Journey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fischer, Brett; Golden, Julia

2018-01-01

Scholarly literature is replete with suggestions for fostering creativity in both teachers and students; however, few articles exist where practitioners appraise these methods and generate theories of their own. After a semester of team teaching using a creative project-based learning (PBL) approach, we reviewed, through a mutual interview…

The Knowledge Base of Teaching in Linguistically Diverse Contexts: 10 Grounded Principles of Multilingual Classroom Pedagogy for EAL

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liu, Yongcan; Fisher, Linda; Forbes, Karen; Evans, Michael

2017-01-01

This paper aims to define the knowledge base of teaching in linguistically diverse secondary schools in England. Based on extensive interviews with the teachers across two schools, the paper identifies a range of good practices centred on flexibility and differentiation. These include diversifying teaching resources by using bilingual materials…

Managerialist vis-à-vis Learning and Development Goals for EAL Teachers: A Case Study of an In-Service Professional Development Provider

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gurney, Laura; Liyanage, Indika

2015-01-01

Under current Western neoliberal philosophy, promotion of efficiency and resolution of issues are typically expected to result from effective management. The education sector, too, has responded well to these expectations. Amongst such expectations, engagement in professional development activities (PDAs) by teachers of English as an additional…

Selecting "App"ealing and "App"ropriate Book Apps for Beginning Readers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cahill, Maria; McGill-Franzen, Anne

2013-01-01

Beginning with a brief rationale for selecting quality digital picture book apps for beginning readers, the authors describe the elements of digital picture books and provide a brief review of the instructional benefits of digital picture book use for beginning readers. They then present a detailed taxonomy for selecting quality picture book apps.…

Influence of Process Parameters on Laser Weld Characteristics in Aluminum Alloys

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-08-01

sacrifices that my family has so patiently endured through these long years of my education . I. .i % 1IM Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION Multi-kilowatt CO 2 lasers...ep taxil gowt frmp rn eal lqa inad g lm rto of pase n HA (x 00) I -. _k .... 4 122 In the HAZ close to the fusion boundary, there is evidence of

40 CFR 92.132 - Calculations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

...=Aldehydes grams/BHP-hr=MAL mode/Measured BHP in mode. (vii) EAL mode=Aldehydes grams/BHP-hr=MAL mode/Measured BHP in mode. Where: MAL mode=Total aldehyde mass emissions (grams per hour) for each test mode. (2... mode=(DCH2O/106)30.026(DVol)/Vm MCH2O mode=(WCH2O/106)30.026(WVol)/Vm (1) If aldehydes are measured...

40 CFR 92.132 - Calculations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

...=Aldehydes grams/BHP-hr=MAL mode/Measured BHP in mode. (vii) EAL mode=Aldehydes grams/BHP-hr=MAL mode/Measured BHP in mode. Where: MAL mode=Total aldehyde mass emissions (grams per hour) for each test mode. (2... mode=(DCH2O/106)30.026(DVol)/Vm MCH2O mode=(WCH2O/106)30.026(WVol)/Vm (1) If aldehydes are measured...

40 CFR 92.132 - Calculations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

...=Aldehydes grams/BHP-hr=MAL mode/Measured BHP in mode. (vii) EAL mode=Aldehydes grams/BHP-hr=MAL mode/Measured BHP in mode. Where: MAL mode=Total aldehyde mass emissions (grams per hour) for each test mode. (2... mode=(DCH2O/106)30.026(DVol)/Vm MCH2O mode=(WCH2O/106)30.026(WVol)/Vm (1) If aldehydes are measured...

40 CFR 92.132 - Calculations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

...=Aldehydes grams/BHP-hr=MAL mode/Measured BHP in mode. (vii) EAL mode=Aldehydes grams/BHP-hr=MAL mode/Measured BHP in mode. Where: MAL mode=Total aldehyde mass emissions (grams per hour) for each test mode. (2... mode=(DCH2O/106)30.026(DVol)/Vm MCH2O mode=(WCH2O/106)30.026(WVol)/Vm (1) If aldehydes are measured...

40 CFR 92.132 - Calculations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

...=Aldehydes grams/BHP-hr=MAL mode/Measured BHP in mode. (vii) EAL mode=Aldehydes grams/BHP-hr=MAL mode/Measured BHP in mode. Where: MAL mode=Total aldehyde mass emissions (grams per hour) for each test mode. (2... mode=(DCH2O/106)30.026(DVol)/Vm MCH2O mode=(WCH2O/106)30.026(WVol)/Vm (1) If aldehydes are measured...

Identification and analysis of novel genes involved in gravitropism of Arabidopsis thaliana.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morita, Miyo T.; Tasaka, Masao; Masatoshi Taniguchi, .

2012-07-01

Gravitropism is a continuous control with regard to the orientation and juxtaposition of the various parts of the plant body in response to gravity. In higher plants, the relative directional change of gravity is mainly suscepted in specialized cells called statocytes, followed by signal conversion from physical information into physiological information within the statocytes. We have studied the early process of shoot gravitropism, gravity sensing and signaling process, mainly by molecular genetic approach. In Arabidopsis shoot, statocytes are the endodermal cells. sgr1/scarcrow (scr) and sgr7/short-root (shr) mutants fail to form the endodermis and to respond to gravity in their inflorescence stems. Since both SGR1/SCR and SGR7/SHR are transcriptional factors, at least a subset of their downstream genes can be expected to be involved in gravitropism. In addition, eal1 (endodermal-amyloplast less 1), which exhibits no gravitropism in inflorescence stem but retains ability to form endodermis, is a hypomorphic allele of sgr7/shr. Take advantage of these mutants, we performed DNA microarray analysis and compared gene expression profiles between wild type and the mutants. We found that approx. 40 genes were commonly down-regulated in these mutants and termed them DGE (DOWN-REGULATED GENE IN EAL1) genes. DGE1 has sequence similarity to Oryza sativa LAZY1 that is involved in shoot gravitropism of rice. DGE2 has a short region homologous to DGE1. DTL (DGE TWO-LIKE}) that has 54% identity to DGE2 is found in Arabidopsis genome. All three genes are conserved in angiosperm but have no known functional domains or motifs. We analyzed T-DNA insertion for these genes in single or multiple combinations. In dge1 dge2 dtl triple mutant, gravitropic response of shoot, hypocotyl and root dramatically reduced. Now we are carrying out further physiological and molecular genetic analysis of the triple mutant.

Patterns of uveitis in a tertiary eye care center in Iran.

PubMed

Soheilian, Masood; Heidari, Kumars; Yazdani, Shahin; Shahsavari, Mohsen; Ahmadieh, Hamid; Dehghan, Mohammad

2004-12-01

To identify the distribution and characteristics of new uveitis referrals to a tertiary eye care center in Tehran. A three-year prospective study was carried out to obtain information on 544 new patients referred with uveitis. A complete ophthalmologic examination was performed in all cases; a routine set of tests and an additional battery of directed workup were conducted when indicated. Mean age was 32.3 years. There was no significant sex predominance. The most common forms of uveitis were anterior (38.4%) vs. other anatomical forms, chronic (62.1%) vs. acute (28.3%), nongranulomatous (85.5%) vs. granulomatous (14.5%), and noninfectious (83.5%) vs. infectious (16.5%). With regard to etiology, 45.5% were idiopathic, 19.9% were due to specific ocular disease, and 37.3% were associated with systemic disorders. Behcet's disease was the most common noninfectious disease and toxoplasmosis the most common infectious entity. The most prevalent causes were idiopathic, Fuchs' heterochromic iridocylitis, and seronegative spondyloarthropathies in anterior uveitis; toxoplasmosis, Eales disease, and toxocariasis in posterior uveitis; idiopathic, sarcoidosis, and multiple sclerosis in intermediate uveitis; and, finally, Behcet's disease, idiopathic, and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome in panuveitis. The most frequent cause in patients under 16 years of age was pars planitis. Over 80% of the patients belonged to middle-to-upper socioeconomic classes. Uveitis significantly affected patients' lives in 63.1% of the cases. Although the current study was performed at a referral center, it may reflect to some extent the different distribution of uveitis in Iran and probably other Middle Eastern countries. Some entities such as presumed ocular histoplasmosis were not found, cytomegalovirus retinitis and birdshot chorioretinopathy were extremely rare, and HLA-B27-associated iridocyclitis was less commonly observed. In contrast, Behcet's disease, Fuchs' heterochromic iridocyclitis, Eales disease, and toxocariasis were among the more prevalent entities.

Calculations of Electron Inelastic Mean Free Paths. XI. Data for Liquid Water for Energies from 50 eV to 30 keV

PubMed Central

Shinotsuka, H.; Da, B.; Tanuma, S.; Yoshikawa, H.; Powell, C. J.; Penn, D. R.

2017-01-01

We calculated electron inelastic mean free paths (IMFPs) for liquid water from its optical energy-loss function (ELF) for electron energies from 50 eV to 30 keV. These calculations were made with the relativistic full Penn algorithm (FPA) that has been used for previous IMFP and electron stopping-power calculations for many elemental solids. We also calculated IMFPs of water with three additional algorithms: the relativistic single-pole approximation (SPA), the relativistic simplified SPA, and the relativistic extended Mermin method. These calculations were made using the same optical ELF in order to assess any differences of the IMFPs arising from choice of the algorithm. We found good agreement among the IMFPs from the four algorithms for energies over 300 eV. For energies less than 100 eV, however, large differences became apparent. IMFPs from the relativistic TPP-2M equation for predicting IMFPs were in good agreement with IMFPs from the four algorithms for energies between 300 eV and 30 keV but there was poorer agreement for lower energies. We calculated values of the static structure factor as a function of momentum transfer from the FPA. The resulting values were in good agreement with results from first-principles calculations and with inelastic X-ray scattering spectroscopy experiments. We made comparisons of our IMFPs with earlier calculations from authors who had used different algorithms and different ELF data sets. IMFP differences could then be analyzed in terms of the algorithms and the data sets. Finally, we compared our IMFPs with measurements of IMFPs and of a related quantity, the effective attenuation length (EAL). There were large variations in the measured IMFPs and EALs (as well as their dependence on electron energy). Further measurements are therefore required to establish consistent data sets and for more detailed comparisons with calculated IMFPs. PMID:28751796

Calculations of Electron Inelastic Mean Free Paths. XI. Data for Liquid Water for Energies from 50 eV to 30 keV.

PubMed

Shinotsuka, H; Da, B; Tanuma, S; Yoshikawa, H; Powell, C J; Penn, D R

2017-04-01

We calculated electron inelastic mean free paths (IMFPs) for liquid water from its optical energy-loss function (ELF) for electron energies from 50 eV to 30 keV. These calculations were made with the relativistic full Penn algorithm (FPA) that has been used for previous IMFP and electron stopping-power calculations for many elemental solids. We also calculated IMFPs of water with three additional algorithms: the relativistic single-pole approximation (SPA), the relativistic simplified SPA, and the relativistic extended Mermin method. These calculations were made using the same optical ELF in order to assess any differences of the IMFPs arising from choice of the algorithm. We found good agreement among the IMFPs from the four algorithms for energies over 300 eV. For energies less than 100 eV, however, large differences became apparent. IMFPs from the relativistic TPP-2M equation for predicting IMFPs were in good agreement with IMFPs from the four algorithms for energies between 300 eV and 30 keV but there was poorer agreement for lower energies. We calculated values of the static structure factor as a function of momentum transfer from the FPA. The resulting values were in good agreement with results from first-principles calculations and with inelastic X-ray scattering spectroscopy experiments. We made comparisons of our IMFPs with earlier calculations from authors who had used different algorithms and different ELF data sets. IMFP differences could then be analyzed in terms of the algorithms and the data sets. Finally, we compared our IMFPs with measurements of IMFPs and of a related quantity, the effective attenuation length (EAL). There were large variations in the measured IMFPs and EALs (as well as their dependence on electron energy). Further measurements are therefore required to establish consistent data sets and for more detailed comparisons with calculated IMFPs.

Divine Interventions: Needs Analysis for Post-Graduate Academic Literacy and Curriculum Development, in a South African School of Theology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jackson, Fiona

2005-01-01

This paper provides a critical exploration of work in progress to develop a genre based academic support that promotes post-graduate academic literacies among new EIL and EAL Hons and Masters students in the School of Theology, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg. It traces the path of an action research project, using an eclectic needs analysis…

Vulnerability Assessment Using a Fuzzy Logic Based Method

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-12-01

evaluating computer security vulnerabilities is very labor intensive. To help ease this workload, this thesis presents two automated methods possibly...eal 3n, 0 e) 0 n It -f0 . nts reg"roreg Iths OU raen estre -tte In Vt )thef awfict Of this ~.,i~t 14,-, A I’ K1- 2 3" toe 17 %1d3.rV. ~ 0 C .~ Ats ,glt

A Survey of Hospitals Using a Restaurant Menu Approach in Patient Tray Feeding

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-01-01

UIKED ’ LKSUS ITAK m0 1101091IO01 WACE WITH MOONED OTAMOIC( acvcmis iu MTAK hIAKlED WITH NMIOOM ANRD Cl OK N Y POTAMOIKM omCne LL 4EAL LON WITH ’IEGETAKE...the patient because away from the hospital, he would be required to select items from a regular menu. Methods of marking order sheets varied

Can a public health intervention improve awareness and health-seeking behaviour for glaucoma?

PubMed

Baker, H; Murdoch, I E

2008-12-01

To investigate whether a public education campaign can increase awareness and change help-seeking behaviour with respect to ocular health in an Indian population. A health knowledge questionnaire was used investigating and assessing the health campaign. The health campaign comprised four components: (1) television, (2) local press, (3) local radio and (4) places of worship. The target population were Indian residents in Southall, Ealing aged 60+. The aim was to get people to go and have their eyes tested at their local optometric practice. Optometric practices within the borough of Ealing collected sight-test data for the study over 6 months before and after the advertising campaign. The repeat in-depth glaucoma knowledge questionnaire showed a significant increase in the number of people who had heard of glaucoma rising from 22% to 53%. Before intervention, most people had heard about glaucoma from their GP, friend or relative. After intervention, the majority (69%) had heard of glaucoma from the radio. This study has shown a significant increase in awareness from using different kinds of media and has shown radio to be the most effective in our target community. Although the campaign has raised awareness, this study has not shown a change in health-seeking behaviour.

Legal Responses to Terrorism: Case Study of the Republic of Kenya

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-12-01

Institution Press, 2005), 180. 7 Ibid. 8 Ibid. 4 political, and social implications.”9 The United States, Germany, and the U.K. issued travel...Following the publication of the 2003 bill, the East African Law Society (EALS) issued a statement querying the necessity of such legislation. It argued...grounds without adducing actual proof.22 In light of these issues of context and contention, this thesis will explore past and future antiterrorism

The Effects of Optical Feedback on Polarization of Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-12-01

Beam Mode TEMN Dichroic Beam Splitters (2) Manufacturer CVI Maximum Reflectance 375 mrn, 950 un Maximum Transmission 830 rnm, 910 mn Design Angle 5... beam splitter (DBS). The DBS reflects the majority of the light at the VCSEL wavelength (and passes most of the pump wavelength). A normal beamsplitter...degrees Beam Splitters Manufacturer Melles Griot Reflectancetrransnittance -50/50 Filters (2) Manufacturer Ealing Center Wavelength 880 urn, 940 mun

Expanded Polystyrene Re-Expansion Analysis Following Impact Compression

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-03-04

on the higher density (0.08 g/cm3) EAL used in the Sound Protective Helmet No. 4 ( SPH -4) showed a linear relationship between initial EPS...temperature on the cushioning properties of some foamed plastic materials. Packaging Technology Science. 16: 69-76. Palmer, R.P. 1991. SPH -4 aircrew...Slobodnik, B.A. 1979. SPH -4 helmet damage and head injury correlation. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine. 50: 139-146. Slobodnik, B.A

Structure and dynamics in B12 enzyme catalysis revealed by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Warncke, Kurt

2009-03-01

Challenges to the understanding of how protein structure and dynamics contribute to catalysis in enzymes, and the use of time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic techniques to address the challenges, are examined in the context of the coenzyme B12-dependent enzyme, ethanolamine ammonia-lyase (EAL), from Salmonella typhimurium. EAL conducts the homolytic cleavage of the coenzyme cobalt-carbon bond, intraprotein radical migration (5-6 å), and hydrogen atom transfers, which enable the core radical-mediated rearrangement reaction. Thermodynamic and activation parameters are measured in two experimental systems, which were developed to isolate sub-sequences from the multi-step catalytic cycle, as follows: (1) A dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)/water cryosolvent system is used to prepare the kinetically-arrested enzyme/coenzyme/substrate ternary complex in fluid solution at 230 K.[1] Temperature-step initiated cobalt-carbon bond cleavage and radical pair separation to form the Co(II)-substrate radical pair are monitored by using time-resolved, full-spectrum EPR spectroscopy (234<=T<=250 K).[1] (2) The Co(II)-substrate radical pair is cryotrapped in frozen aqueous solution at T<150 K, and then promoted to react by a temperature step. The reaction of the substrate radical along the native pathway to form the diamagnetic bound products is monitored by using time-resolved, full-spectrum EPR spectroscopy (187<=T<=217 K).[2] High temporal resolution is achieved, because the reactions are dramatically slowed at the low temperatures, relative to the initiation and spectrum acquistion times. The results are combined with high resolution structures of the reactant centers, obtained by pulsed-EPR spectroscopies,[3] and the protein, obtained by structural proteomics[4] and EPR and electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) in combination with site directed mutagenesis,[5] to approach a molecular level description of protein contributions to catalysis in EAL. [4pt] [1] Wang, M. & Warncke, K. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 4846. [0pt] [2] Chen, Z. and Warncke, K. Biophys. J. 2008, 95 (December) [0pt] [3] Canfield, J. M. and Warncke, K. J. Phys. Chem. B 2002, 106, 8831. [0pt] [4] Sun, L. and Warncke, K. Proteins 2006, 64, 308. [0pt] [5] Sun, L., Groover, O., Canfield, J. M., and Warncke, K. Biochemistry 2008, 47, 5523.

Analyses of Mobilization Manpower Supply and Demand.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-03-01

7AD-AI30 148 ANALYSES OF MOBIL ZATION MANPOWER SUPPLY AND DEMAND U) l1 . ADMINISTRATIVE SCIENCES CORP SPRINOFIELD VA BREAU EAL MAR82 ASCR134...79-C-0527 for use in identifying and quantifying issues in the CPAM process, and to employ the model for selected quantitative ard qualitative analyses...nurses and corpsmen) to operate on a Commander FX Microcomputer, to be used by 2 the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery to develop inputs for Navy-wide

Working group reports: evaluation of the evidence to support practice guidelines for nutritional care of preterm infants-the Pre-B Project.

PubMed

Raiten, Daniel J; Steiber, Alison L; Carlson, Susan E; Griffin, Ian; Anderson, Diane; Hay, William W; Robins, Sandra; Neu, Josef; Georgieff, Michael K; Groh-Wargo, Sharon; Fenton, Tanis R

2016-02-01

The "Evaluation of the Evidence to Support Practice Guidelines for the Nutritional Care of Preterm Infants: The Pre-B Project" is the first phase in a process to present the current state of knowledge and to support the development of evidence-informed guidance for the nutritional care of preterm and high-risk newborn infants. The future systematic reviews that will ultimately provide the underpinning for guideline development will be conducted by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Evidence Analysis Library (EAL). To accomplish the objectives of this first phase, the Pre-B Project organizers established 4 working groups (WGs) to address the following themes: 1) nutrient specifications for preterm infants, 2) clinical and practical issues in enteral feeding of preterm infants, 3) gastrointestinal and surgical issues, and 4) current standards of infant feeding. Each WG was asked to 1) develop a series of topics relevant to their respective themes, 2) identify questions for which there is sufficient evidence to support a systematic review process conducted by the EAL, and 3) develop a research agenda to address priority gaps in our understanding of the role of nutrition in health and development of preterm/neonatal intensive care unit infants. This article is a summary of the reports from the 4 Pre-B WGs. © 2016 American Society for Nutrition.

An EAL domain protein and cyclic AMP contribute to the interaction between the two quorum sensing systems in Escherichia coli.

PubMed

Zhou, Xianxuan; Meng, Xiaoming; Sun, Baolin

2008-09-01

Quorum sensing (QS) is a bacterial cell-cell communication process by which bacteria communicate using extracellular signals called autoinducers. Two QS systems have been identified in Escherichia coli K-12, including an intact QS system 2 that is stimulated by the cyclic AMP (cAMP)-cAMP receptor protein (CRP) complex and a partial QS system 1 that consists of SdiA (suppressor of cell division inhibitor) responding to signals generated by other microbial species. The relationship between QS system 1 and system 2 in E. coli, however, remains obscure. Here, we show that an EAL domain protein, encoded by ydiV, and cAMP are involved in the interaction between the two QS systems in E. coli. Expression of sdiA and ydiV is inhibited by glucose. SdiA binds to the ydiV promoter region in a dose-dependent, but nonspecific, manner; extracellular autoinducer 1 from other species stimulates ydiV expression in an sdiA-dependent manner. Furthermore, we discovered that the double sdiA-ydiV mutation, but not the single mutation, causes a 2-fold decrease in intracellular cAMP concentration that leads to the inhibition of QS system 2. These results indicate that signaling pathways that respond to important environmental cues, such as autoinducers and glucose, are linked together for their control in E. coli.

[Expression, purification and activity analysis of GGDEF and EAL domain-containing proteins from Lactobacillus acidophilus].

PubMed

He, Jia-Hui; Sun, Jie-Li; Yan, Wen-Juan; Wang, Fang

2017-05-20

To identify the functions of the proteins containing the GGDEF or EAL domain in Lactobacillus acidophilus for investigation of the regulatory mechanism of c-di-GMP in this strain. The DNA fragments of NH13_07045-GGDEF, NH13_07050 and NH13_07055 from Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC4356 were amplified by PCR and cloned into the expression vector pMAL-His-c2. After sequencing, the recombinant plasmids were transformed into competent Escherichia coli cells, which were induced by IPTG to express the recombinant proteins fused with maltose binding protein (MBP). The fusion proteins were purified using amylose resin column for diguanylate cyclase (DGC) or phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity assays in vitro followed by analysis with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The target DNA fragments were obtained by PCR, and their sequences were all identical to that in GenBank. The purified and concentrated fusion proteins, which were identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting, had relative molecular masses of 59 kD, 67 kD and 72 kD. HPLC analysis showed no DGC activity in NH13_07045-GGDEF, while PDE activity was found in NH13_07050 but not in NH13_07055. We obtained the protein encoded by NH13_07050 that possesses PDE activity in vitro. This protein may facilitate the evaluation of the regulatory function of c-di-GMP in Lactobacillus acidophilus.

Geographical Information Extraction With Remote Sensing. Part III - Appendices.

DTIC Science & Technology

1998-08-01

images available. TNO report B.72 FEL-98-A077 Appendix B DA020 Barren ground ( kale grond) Definition: Land surface void of vegetation or other specific...BH 100I/BH 140 B13 dam BI020LJDBO90 Bat area lake/ponds BHO80 Ba2 inundation BH090 E Eal area barren ground DA020 Vegetation /soil Ea2 cropland EAO1O...various categories like private, context military, agricultural etc (see FACC 1 ). VEG vegetation characteristics type of plant or plantings, like

Power Controller 28VDC Load Switching (N.O. SPST).

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-01-21

34111111CATION0 TS PAGE (W~ Ow at~ eal________________ REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE ______________aINGFORK 1 . REPORT HM1119ER 12. Govt ACCESSION NO: L...ackin N 62269-77-C-0413 1 9. 109111ORMrNG ORGANIZATION NAME AMCO AOORESS 10-O PROGRAM ELEMENT. PROJECT. TASK Govenmen Comuniatio SysemsARA A WORK UNIT...DATE Naval Air Development center (AVTD-P) 21 January1980 Iwarminster, Pennsylvania 18974I&HM114OiPA9 1 ,L WMNITORINO AGENCY MNMG ADDRESS4I dfeel aeet

Studies of Gas Turbine Heat Transfer Airfoil Surface and End-Wall Cooling Effects.

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-03-01

curvature, recovery, and free-stream turbulence, . of .Turbomachinery, Vol. 110, No. 1, pp. 80-87. Patankar, S.V. ( 1980 ) Numerical Heat Transfer and Fluid...parabolic flows , Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer, Vol. 15, No. 2, p. 1787. Rodi, W. ( 1980 ) Turbulence Models and their Applications in Hydraulics, Book...4000 e ZYSINA-MOLOZHEN eal 0 SINCLAIR-WELLS v BOLTZ et 0l C) 3& DRYDEN *Z 3000 0 SCHUBAUER el 1 Z 0 HALL B HISLOP L VAN DER HEGGE ZIJNEN

On the Design of VLSI Circuits for the Winograd Fourier Transform Algorithm

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-12-01

3-:3 T’able 8: Twiddle factors in TF1 (real side) ... .. .. .. .. .... ... .. .. ...- 4 T;l1)a1e 9: Twiddle factors I n... TF1 (imaginary side) .. .. .. .. ... ... .... .. 13-5 ’fable 10: Twiddle factors in TF2 (r’eal side) ... .. .. .. .. .... ... .... .. 13-6 ’Table 11...reads its twiddle factor from Y. The four other possibilities (TFO, TF1 , TF2, and TF3) correspond to the fixed values that are necessary for computing 20

Bis-(3'-5')-cyclic dimeric GMP-linked quorum sensing controls swarming in Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

PubMed

Trimble, Michael J; McCarter, Linda L

2011-11-01

Movement over and colonization of surfaces are important survival strategies for bacteria, and many find it advantageous to perform these activities as a group, using quorum sensing to sample population size and synchronize behavior. It is puzzling however, that swarming-proficient and virulent strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus are silenced for the vibrio archetypal pathway of quorum sensing. Here we describe the S-signal, a pheromone that can be communicated between cells in coculture to regulate surface colonization. This signal was harvested in cell-free supernatants and demonstrated to stimulate swarming gene expression at low cell density. The S-signal was generated by the pyridoxal phosphate-dependent aminotransferase ScrA; signal reception required the periplasmic binding protein ScrB and the membrane-bound GGDEF-EAL domain-containing protein ScrC. ScrC is a bifunctional enzyme that has the ability to form and degrade the second messenger bis-(3'-5') cyclic dimeric GMP (c-di-GMP). ScrA in neighboring cells was able to alter the activity of ScrC in a ScrB-dependent manner, transforming ScrC's repressing ability to inducing activity with respect to swarming. Conversely, cell-cell signaling repressed capsule gene expression. In summary, we report that quorum sensing can stimulate swarming in V. parahaemolyticus; it does so via an alternative pathway capable of generating an autoinducing signal that influences c-di-GMP, thereby expanding the lexicon and language of cell-cell communication.

The structure of an unconventional HD-GYP protein from Bdellovibrio reveals the roles of conserved residues in this class of cyclic-di-GMP phosphodiesterases.

PubMed

Lovering, Andrew L; Capeness, Michael J; Lambert, Carey; Hobley, Laura; Sockett, R Elizabeth

2011-01-01

Cyclic-di-GMP is a near-ubiquitous bacterial second messenger that is important in localized signal transmission during the control of various processes, including virulence and switching between planktonic and biofilm-based lifestyles. Cyclic-di-GMP is synthesized by GGDEF diguanylate cyclases and hydrolyzed by EAL or HD-GYP phosphodiesterases, with each functional domain often appended to distinct sensory modules. HD-GYP domain proteins have resisted structural analysis, but here we present the first structural representative of this family (1.28 Å), obtained using the unusual Bd1817 HD-GYP protein from the predatory bacterium Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus. Bd1817 lacks the active-site tyrosine present in most HD-GYP family members yet remains an excellent model of their features, sharing 48% sequence similarity with the archetype RpfG. The protein structure is highly modular and thus provides a basis for delineating domain boundaries in other stimulus-dependent homologues. Conserved residues in the HD-GYP family cluster around a binuclear metal center, which is observed complexed to a molecule of phosphate, providing information on the mode of hydroxide ion attack on substrate. The fold and active site of the HD-GYP domain are different from those of EAL proteins, and restricted access to the active-site cleft is indicative of a different mode of activity regulation. The region encompassing the GYP motif has a novel conformation and is surface exposed and available for complexation with binding partners, including GGDEF proteins. It is becoming apparent that many bacteria use the signaling molecule cyclic-di-GMP to regulate a variety of processes, most notably, transitions between motility and sessility. Importantly, this regulation is central to several traits implicated in chronic disease (adhesion, biofilm formation, and virulence gene expression). The mechanisms of cyclic-di-GMP synthesis via GGDEF enzymes and hydrolysis via EAL enzymes have been suggested by the analysis of several crystal structures, but no information has been available to date for the unrelated HD-GYP class of hydrolases. Here we present the multidomain structure of an unusual member of the HD-GYP family from the predatory bacterium Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus and detail the features that distinguish it from the wider structural family of general HD fold hydrolases. The structure reveals how a binuclear iron center is formed from several conserved residues and provides a basis for understanding HD-GYP family sequence requirements for c-di-GMP hydrolysis.

Evaluation of Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants (EALS) for Dams Managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-08-01

power, and seal against dirt, dust, and water. Lubricants work by serving as a lower viscosity material between moving surfaces. The wearing surfaces...aluminum, clay , polyurea, sodium, and calcium are most common. Complex thickeners can be composed of metal soaps mixed with low-molecular-weight organic...Polyalkyl DAE N Polyest Rape Seed Viscosity Temperature Behavior (VI) 4 2 2 2 2 2 Low Temperature Behavior (Pourpoint) 5 1 3 1 2 3 Liquid Range 4 2 3 1 2 3

Development of a Retractable Compressible Fluid Suspension System. Task 1

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-06-01

the design and fabrication cost of the suspension units, the roadwheel hub and spindle currently used on the AAV -7AI amphibious vehicle dre to be...SUSPENSION HOUSING FIGURE .5. FEM HOUSING STRESS ANALYSIS, SOLID MODEL, SECTION VIEW -16- ,"~1 /IZ4: 45 "" / EAL UN ~iST=h~~ / 6DIE5.8la DTJJ.-RER.SUSP. HSC ...SHX M1784 DS=-792 IIDDEN - 9983 -1779 Ti___ 4869 5_ 6334 64959- 71784 DTli--RETR. SUSP. HSC .,CiASE1:HAX VERT, 29K OUT FIGURE 7. PIVOT SHAFT, SOLID

Patterns of Food Utilization in the DOD. Volume 2

DTIC Science & Technology

1975-05-01

DOD .on .213 81.540 ROLLS faROWN/SERVE DOD .014 .213 81.752 COOKIES VANILLA WAFER DOD .014 .210 81.963 SWEET DOUGH MIX DOD .014 .209 82.172 PEACHES...ROASTED COOKIE MIX OATiEAL SERVICE USACVRATION DOD .0C2 DOD .003 DOD .00307 DOD .00002 DOD .008 DOD .001 DO" .005 POD .0004 DOD .002 DOD .001...M.,lin.mtm^.,m,mtff»m. -~——-^.-P-~—~ iwmmm^* m u ITEM COOKIES V’MILL» WAFER CCRN BREAD MIX CORN CHIPS CORN CREAM STYLE CND CORK

The Development of a High-Power, Low-Frequency Underwater Acoustic Source for Use in a Deep-Towed Geophysical Array Section

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-11-15

Metca) for each ring 6 Aluminum orirlce end ring 15 Rubber bumpers 7 Back plate inner boot ring 16 Castor oil rill-fluid I ’)-ring %eals I ’ Nikel ...electrode .ab% with hook-up wire -ig. 6 - Sectional v-icw orf ISRI) typc (662 tran.dhcer 9 YOUNG, TIMS. AND HENRIQUFZ 0.42 m. Approximately 85% of the...electrical leads for each ring are routed to individual bulkhead connectors on the trans- ducer back plate with high-voltage silicone-jacketed hookup wire

Impact Protection Assessment of the Redesigned Oregon Aero ZetaLiner Fitting System in the HGU-56/P Aircrew Integrated Helmet System

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-02-01

with atypical head anthropometry . A limited number of current users have anecdotally cited the TPL® as causing hot spots. Hot spots are defined as...6) is available in sizes: extra-extra-small (XXS), extra- small (XS), small(S), medium (M), large (L), and extra-large ( XL ). Each helmet is made up...head anthropometries than the small HGU-56/P. This is accomplished by 6 thickening the polystyrene energy-absorbing liners (EALs) in the XS and XXS

The student resilience survey: psychometric validation and associations with mental health.

PubMed

Lereya, Suzet Tanya; Humphrey, Neil; Patalay, Praveetha; Wolpert, Miranda; Böhnke, Jan R; Macdougall, Amy; Deighton, Jessica

2016-01-01

Policies, designed to promote resilience, and research, to understand the determinants and correlates of resilience, require reliable and valid measures to ensure data quality. The student resilience survey (SRS) covers a range of external supports and internal characteristics which can potentially be viewed as protective factors and can be crucial in exploring the mechanisms between protective factors and risk factors, and to design intervention and prevention strategies. This study examines the validity of the SRS. 7663 children (aged 11-15 years) from 12 local areas across England completed the SRS, and questionnaires regarding mental and physical health. Psychometric properties of 10 subscales of the SRS (family connection, school connection, community connection, participation in home and school life, participation in community life, peer support, self-esteem, empathy, problem solving, and goals and aspirations) were investigated by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), differential item functioning (DIF), differential test functioning (DTF), Cronbach's α and McDonald's ω . The associations between the SRS scales, mental and physical health outcomes were examined. The results supported the construct validity of the 10 factors of the scale and provided evidence for acceptable reliability of all the subscales. Our DIF analysis indicated differences between boys and girls, between primary and secondary school children, between children with or without special educational needs (SEN) and between children with or without English as an additional language (EAL) in terms of how they answered the peer support subscale of the SRS. Analyses did not indicate any DIF based on free school meals (FSM) eligibility. All subscales, except the peer support subscale, showed small DTF whereas the peer support subscale showed moderate DTF. Correlations showed that all the student resilience subscales were negatively associated with mental health difficulties, global subjective distress and impact on health. Random effects linear regression models showed that family connection, self-esteem, problem solving and peer support were negatively associated with all the mental health outcomes. The findings suggest that the SRS is a valid measure assessing these relevant protective factors, thereby serving as a valuable tool in resilience and mental health research.

Effectiveness Of Horizontal Peer-Assisted Learning In Physical Examination Performance.

PubMed

Shah, Inamullah; Mahboob, Usman; Shah, Sajida

2017-01-01

All students cannot be individually trained in physical examination skills due to faculty and time limitations. Peer-assisted learning (PAL) can solve this dilemma if it is used in undergraduate curriculum. Empirical effectiveness of horizontal peer-assisted learning model has not been reported previously. The objective of this study was to compare horizontal peer-assisted learning (PAL) with expert-assisted learning (EAL) in teaching of physical examination skills. This is a randomized controlled study (Solomon four group design) carried out at a medical school. A total of 120 undergraduate year 5 students were randomized into two groups to undergo training in four areas of physical examination. Stratified random sampling technique was used. Group 1 was trained by EAL while Group 2 by PAL. Half students from both groups were given a pre-test to assess the testing effect. Both groups were given a post-test in the form of an OSCE. Independent samples t-test and paired sample t-test were used as tests of significance. Group 2 scored significantly higher than Group 1. There was significant difference (p=.000) in mean post-test scores of Group-1 (69.98±5.6) and Group-2 (85.27±5.6). Difference in mean scores was not significant (p=.977) between students who had taken the pre-test and those who had not. This study has implications in curriculum development as it provides quantitative evidence indicating that horizontal PAL as a learning strategy can actually replace, rather than augment, expert-assisted learning in teaching clinical skills to undergraduate students.

The Structure of an Unconventional HD-GYP Protein from Bdellovibrio Reveals the Roles of Conserved Residues in this Class of Cyclic-di-GMP Phosphodiesterases

PubMed Central

Lovering, Andrew L.; Capeness, Michael J.; Lambert, Carey; Hobley, Laura; Sockett, R. Elizabeth

2011-01-01

ABSTRACT Cyclic-di-GMP is a near-ubiquitous bacterial second messenger that is important in localized signal transmission during the control of various processes, including virulence and switching between planktonic and biofilm-based lifestyles. Cyclic-di-GMP is synthesized by GGDEF diguanylate cyclases and hydrolyzed by EAL or HD-GYP phosphodiesterases, with each functional domain often appended to distinct sensory modules. HD-GYP domain proteins have resisted structural analysis, but here we present the first structural representative of this family (1.28 Å), obtained using the unusual Bd1817 HD-GYP protein from the predatory bacterium Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus. Bd1817 lacks the active-site tyrosine present in most HD-GYP family members yet remains an excellent model of their features, sharing 48% sequence similarity with the archetype RpfG. The protein structure is highly modular and thus provides a basis for delineating domain boundaries in other stimulus-dependent homologues. Conserved residues in the HD-GYP family cluster around a binuclear metal center, which is observed complexed to a molecule of phosphate, providing information on the mode of hydroxide ion attack on substrate. The fold and active site of the HD-GYP domain are different from those of EAL proteins, and restricted access to the active-site cleft is indicative of a different mode of activity regulation. The region encompassing the GYP motif has a novel conformation and is surface exposed and available for complexation with binding partners, including GGDEF proteins. PMID:21990613

Teaching Additional Languages. Educational Practices Series 6.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Judd, Elliot L.; Tan, Lihua; Walberg, Herbert J.

This booklet describes key principles of and research on teaching additional languages. The 10 chapters focus on the following: (1) "Comprehensible Input" (learners need exposure to meaningful, understandable language); (2) "Language Opportunities" (classroom activities should let students use natural and meaningful language with their…

The relation between language and arithmetic in bilinguals: insights from different stages of language acquisition

PubMed Central

Van Rinsveld, Amandine; Brunner, Martin; Landerl, Karin; Schiltz, Christine; Ugen, Sonja

2015-01-01

Solving arithmetic problems is a cognitive task that heavily relies on language processing. One might thus wonder whether this language-reliance leads to qualitative differences (e.g., greater difficulties, error types, etc.) in arithmetic for bilingual individuals who frequently have to solve arithmetic problems in more than one language. The present study investigated how proficiency in two languages interacts with arithmetic problem solving throughout language acquisition in adolescents and young adults. Additionally, we examined whether the number word structure that is specific to a given language plays a role in number processing over and above bilingual proficiency. We addressed these issues in a German–French educational bilingual setting, where there is a progressive transition from German to French as teaching language. Importantly, German and French number naming structures differ clearly, as two-digit number names follow a unit-ten order in German, but a ten-unit order in French. We implemented a transversal developmental design in which bilingual pupils from grades 7, 8, 10, 11, and young adults were asked to solve simple and complex additions in both languages. The results confirmed that language proficiency is crucial especially for complex addition computation. Simple additions in contrast can be retrieved equally well in both languages after extended language practice. Additional analyses revealed that over and above language proficiency, language-specific number word structures (e.g., unit-ten vs. ten-unit) also induced significant modulations of bilinguals' arithmetic performances. Taken together, these findings support the view of a strong relation between language and arithmetic in bilinguals. PMID:25821442

Additional Language Teaching within the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme: A Comparative Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lebreton, Marlène

2014-01-01

The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme supports the learning of languages and cultures, but the role of the additional language within this programme is often unclear. There remains a great variability in schools regarding the frequency of lessons and the way that the additional language is taught within the Primary Years…

The Additional Uses of CALL in the Endangered Language Context

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ward, Monica

2004-01-01

This paper considers the additional uses of CALL in the Endangered Language (EL) context. It briefly reviews ELs and reports on CALL for ELs in general. It then reviews the extra uses of CALL for ELs; these include changing negative attitudes towards the language, arousing interest in the language and contributing to language maintenance and…

An Exploration of Linguistic Neo-Colonialism through Educational Language Policy--An Irish Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dillon, Anna

2016-01-01

In this paper, educational language policy is explored through the lens of linguistic neo-colonialism in Ireland in the case of learners of English as an Additional Language. The perspective of Ireland as a decolonized nation may have an impact on current language policy. Arguments for an additive approach to language and identity, language…

Does root canal treatment in necrotic pulp or retreatment cases with periapical lesions require anaesthesia? An in vivo clinical study.

PubMed

Kfir, A; Blau-Venezia, N; Tsesis, I; Goldberger, T; Metzger, Z

2017-04-01

To examine whether local anaesthesia is required for treating teeth with necrotic pulps (TNP) and retreatment cases (RCs) associated with periapical lesions. Root canal treatment was performed in TNP and RCs without the administration of local anaesthesia. Patients were assured that if they experienced pain, local anaesthesia would be provided. Eighty canals, 40 TNP and 40 RCs, were included in the study. Two length measurements were performed: one using an electronic apex locator (EAL), which was defined as the electronic length (EL), and the second, the length at which the patient first reported that a size 15 file was touching the periapical tissues, which was defined as the periodontal length (PL). The difference between these two measurements (Δ = PL - EL) was the parameter studied. Statistical analysis was conducted using two-way anova and paired t-tests. Working length (WL) was defined in this study as being 0.5 mm short of the EL. EL was shorter than PL in 96% of cases. The mean difference between measurements was 0.78 (±0.11) mm in the TNP group and 0.63 (±0.15) mm in the RC group; the difference was not significant. The distances between the WL and PL were thus 1.28 and 1.13 mm, respectively. In none of the 80 canals did the patient experience any pain, either during the measurements or during the instrumentation procedures. When EALs are used, local anaesthesia may not be required for root canal treatment in teeth with necrotic pulps and retreatment cases associated with periapical lesions. © 2016 International Endodontic Journal. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

e-Learning in Advanced Life Support-What factors influence assessment outcome?

PubMed

Thorne, C J; Lockey, A S; Kimani, P K; Bullock, I; Hampshire, S; Begum-Ali, S; Perkins, G D

2017-05-01

To establish variables which are associated with favourable Advanced Life Support (ALS) course assessment outcomes, maximising learning effect. Between 1 January 2013 and 30 June 2014, 8218 individuals participated in a Resuscitation Council (UK) e-learning Advanced Life Support (e-ALS) course. Participants completed 5-8h of online e-learning prior to attending a one day face-to-face course. e-Learning access data were collected through the Learning Management System (LMS). All participants were assessed by a multiple choice questionnaire (MCQ) before and after the face-to-face aspect alongside a practical cardiac arrest simulation (CAS-Test). Participant demographics and assessment outcomes were analysed. The mean post e-learning MCQ score was 83.7 (SD 7.3) and the mean post-course MCQ score was 87.7 (SD 7.9). The first attempt CAS-Test pass rate was 84.6% and overall pass rate 96.6%. Participants with previous ALS experience, ILS experience, or who were a core member of the resuscitation team performed better in the post-course MCQ, CAS-Test and overall assessment. Median time spent on the e-learning was 5.2h (IQR 3.7-7.1). There was a large range in the degree of access to e-learning content. Increased time spent accessing e-learning had no effect on the overall result (OR 0.98, P=0.367) on simulated learning outcome. Clinical experience through membership of cardiac arrest teams and previous ILS or ALS training were independent predictors of performance on the ALS course whilst time spent accessing e-learning materials did not affect course outcomes. This supports the blended approach to e-ALS which allows participants to tailor their e-learning experience to their specific needs. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An in situ/ex vivo comparison of the ability of regular and light colas to induce enamel wear when erosion is combined with abrasion.

PubMed

Rios, Daniela; Santos, Flávia Cardoso Zaidan; Honório, Heitor Marques; Magalhães, Ana Carolina; Wang, Linda; de Andrade Moreira Machado, Maria Aparecida; Buzalaf, Marilia Afonso Rabelo

2011-03-01

To evaluate whether the type of cola drink (regular or diet) could influence the wear of enamel subjected to erosion followed by brushing abrasion. Ten volunteers wore intraoral devices that each had eight bovine enamel blocks divided into four groups: ER, erosion with regular cola; EAR, erosion with regular cola plus abrasion; EL, erosion with light cola; and EAL, erosion with light cola plus abrasion. Each day for 1 week, half of each device was immersed in regular cola for 5 minutes. Then, two blocks were brushed using a fluoridated toothpaste and electric toothbrush for 30 seconds four times daily. Immediately after, the other half of the device was subjected to the same procedure using a light cola. The pH, calcium, phosphorus, and fluoride concentrations of the colas were analyzed using standard procedures. Enamel alterations were measured by profilometry. Data were tested using two-way ANOVA and Bonferroni test (P<.05). Regarding chemical characteristics, light cola presented pH 3.0, 13.7 mg Ca/L, 15.5 mg P/L, and 0.31 mg F/L, while regular cola had pH 2.6, 32.1 mg Ca/L, 18.1 mg P/L, and 0.26 mg F/L. The light cola promoted less enamel loss (EL, 0.36 Μm; EAL, 0.39 Μm) than its regular counterpart (ER, 0.72 Μm; EAR, 0.95 Μm) for both conditions. There was not a significant difference (P>.05) between erosion and erosion plus abrasion for light cola. However, for regular cola, erosion plus abrasion resulted in higher enamel loss than erosion alone. The data suggest that light cola promoted less enamel wear even when erosion was followed by brushing abrasion.

Functional Divergence of FimX in PilZ Binding and Type IV Pilus Regulation

PubMed Central

Qi, Yaning; Xu, Linghui; Dong, Xueming; Yau, Yin Hoe; Ho, Chun Loong; Koh, Siew Lee; Shochat, Susana Geifman; Chou, Shan-Ho; Tang, Kai

2012-01-01

Type IV pili (T4P) are polar surface structures that play important roles in bacterial motility, biofilm formation, and pathogenicity. The protein FimX and its orthologs are known to mediate T4P formation in the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa and some other bacterial species. It was reported recently that FimXXAC2398 from Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri interacts with PilZXAC1133 directly through the nonenzymatic EAL domain of FimXXAC2398. Here we present experimental data to reveal that the strong interaction between FimXXAC2398 and PilZXAC1133 is not conserved in P. aeruginosa and likely other Pseudomonas species. In vitro and in vivo binding experiments showed that the interaction between FimX and PilZ in P. aeruginosa is below the measurable limit. Surface plasmon resonance assays further confirmed that the interaction between the P. aeruginosa proteins is at least more than 3 orders of magnitude weaker than that between the X. axonopodis pv. citri pair. The N-terminal lobe region of FimXXAC2398 was identified as the binding surface for PilZXAC1133 by amide hydrogen-deuterium exchange and site-directed mutagenesis studies. Lack of several key residues in the N-terminal lobe region of the EAL domain of FimX is likely to account for the greatly reduced binding affinity between FimX and PilZ in P. aeruginosa. All together, the results suggest that the interaction between PilZ and FimX in Xanthomonas species is not conserved in P. aeruginosa due to the evolutionary divergence among the FimX orthologs. The precise roles of FimX and PilZ in bacterial motility and T4P biogenesis are likely to vary among bacterial species. PMID:22942245

Development of Software to Model AXAF-I Image Quality

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ahmad, Anees; Hawkins, Lamar

1996-01-01

This draft final report describes the work performed under the delivery order number 145 from May 1995 through August 1996. The scope of work included a number of software development tasks for the performance modeling of AXAF-I. A number of new capabilities and functions have been added to the GT software, which is the command mode version of the GRAZTRACE software, originally developed by MSFC. A structural data interface has been developed for the EAL (old SPAR) finite element analysis FEA program, which is being used by MSFC Structural Analysis group for the analysis of AXAF-I. This interface utility can read the structural deformation file from the EAL and other finite element analysis programs such as NASTRAN and COSMOS/M, and convert the data to a suitable format that can be used for the deformation ray-tracing to predict the image quality for a distorted mirror. There is a provision in this utility to expand the data from finite element models assuming 180 degrees symmetry. This utility has been used to predict image characteristics for the AXAF-I HRMA, when subjected to gravity effects in the horizontal x-ray ground test configuration. The development of the metrology data processing interface software has also been completed. It can read the HDOS FITS format surface map files, manipulate and filter the metrology data, and produce a deformation file, which can be used by GT for ray tracing for the mirror surface figure errors. This utility has been used to determine the optimum alignment (axial spacing and clocking) for the four pairs of AXAF-I mirrors. Based on this optimized alignment, the geometric images and effective focal lengths for the as built mirrors were predicted to cross check the results obtained by Kodak.

The cyclic-di-GMP phosphodiesterase BinA negatively regulates cellulose-containing biofilms in Vibrio fischeri.

PubMed

Bassis, Christine M; Visick, Karen L

2010-03-01

Bacteria produce different types of biofilms under distinct environmental conditions. Vibrio fischeri has the capacity to produce at least two distinct types of biofilms, one that relies on the symbiosis polysaccharide Syp and another that depends upon cellulose. A key regulator of biofilm formation in bacteria is the intracellular signaling molecule cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP). In this study, we focused on a predicted c-di-GMP phosphodiesterase encoded by the gene binA, located directly downstream of syp, a cluster of 18 genes critical for biofilm formation and the initiation of symbiotic colonization of the squid Euprymna scolopes. Disruption or deletion of binA increased biofilm formation in culture and led to increased binding of Congo red and calcofluor, which are indicators of cellulose production. Using random transposon mutagenesis, we determined that the phenotypes of the DeltabinA mutant strain could be disrupted by insertions in genes in the bacterial cellulose biosynthesis cluster (bcs), suggesting that cellulose production is negatively regulated by BinA. Replacement of critical amino acids within the conserved EAL residues of the EAL domain disrupted BinA activity, and deletion of binA increased c-di-GMP levels in the cell. Together, these data support the hypotheses that BinA functions as a phosphodiesterase and that c-di-GMP activates cellulose biosynthesis. Finally, overexpression of the syp regulator sypG induced binA expression. Thus, this work reveals a mechanism by which V. fischeri inhibits cellulose-dependent biofilm formation and suggests that the production of two different polysaccharides may be coordinated through the action of the cellulose inhibitor BinA.

Meaning and Function of Dummy Auxiliaries in Adult Acquisition of Dutch as an Additional Language

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Julien, Manuela; van Hout, Roeland; van de Craats, Ineke

2016-01-01

This article presents the results of experimental data on language production and comprehension. These show that adult learners of Dutch as an additional language, with different language backgrounds, and a L2 proficiency below level A2 (Waystage) of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR; Council of Europe, 2001), use…

Heavier Group 13 Metal(I) Heterocycles Stabilized by Sterically Demanding Diiminophosphinates: A Structurally Characterized Monomer-Dimer Pair For Gallium.

PubMed

Hawley, Andrew L; Ohlin, C André; Fohlmeister, Lea; Stasch, Andreas

2017-01-05

We have synthesized and characterized the monomeric diiminophosphinate-stabilized Group 13 metal(I) complexes [ Dip LE:], Dip L=Ph 2 P(NDip) 2 , Dip=2,6-iPr 2 C 6 H 3 ; E=Ga (1), In (2) and Tl (3). In addition, we structurally characterized the dimeric complex [( Dip LGa) 2 ], 1 2 . Similar synthetic attempts using Mes L=Ph 2 P(NMes) 2 , Mes=2,4,6-Me 3 C 6 H 2 afforded product mixtures from which the mixed oxidation state species [( Mes L) 3 Ga 4 I 3 ] 4 was isolated. [ Dip LGa:] 1 is converted with dry air to the gallium(III) oxide species [( Dip LGaO) 2 ] 5. Density Functional Theory studies on [ Dip LE:] and [( Dip LE) 2 ], E=Al-Tl, shed light on the bonding in these compounds and show that the newly formed E-E bonding interactions can be described as weak single σ-bond with no significant π-bonding contribution for E=Al, Ga. A large contribution to the dimer binding enthalpies results from London dispersion forces. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Influences of Hardware Implementation on a High Speed Digital Adaptive Filter Using the Residue Number System.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-04-01

vgWTE(6,*5)1i4IT VALUL FUk 1(,L’ 34b bqEAL(5.e)IA(IL) 3047 CUivTIN’UE 348 iU 3u Iz2#K 3 4 4 Q0 30 11 350 IA(I#L SIA (1lpj 351 .5V COIINUE 3S? 4V RTURN...34 706 130 CON INUE 707L 70o Ces,.PRINT X-AXIS SCALL VALUES 709 c 710 DO 150 IXMs~f1Z 711 IF (1T N 1) to01 140 712 )XSCAL(E’M SKmI400UFO(IXM-1l) 713

A Systems Analysis View of the Vietnam War: 1965-1972. Volume 2. Forces and Manpower

DTIC Science & Technology

1975-02-18

since it will form the basis for much co~ment and discussion about how wen the war is going and how hard the VC are being pushed. The study was...infiltrators into the South rapidly. Such a move would be itenr depafture froa past infiltration patterns and would signal no chana In Hanoi’s hard line...Uwel " 83,82 83,880 0S~ 59r9 I 8q261.1149 Tvta 540576 .647/ 53,14 1,819 Tot •eal Np . as of Argust 1, 3968, leos civilaalaation coWleted as of June 30

Learning Additional Languages as Hierarchical Probabilistic Inference: Insights from First Language Processing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pajak, Bozena; Fine, Alex B.; Kleinschmidt, Dave F.; Jaeger, T. Florian

2016-01-01

We present a framework of second and additional language (L2/L"n") acquisition motivated by recent work on socio-indexical knowledge in first language (L1) processing. The distribution of linguistic categories covaries with socio-indexical variables (e.g., talker identity, gender, dialects). We summarize evidence that implicit…

Addressing the Assessment Dilemma of Additional Language Learners through Dynamic Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Omidire, M. F.; Bouwer, A. C.; Jordaan, J. C.

2011-01-01

Many learners with an additional language (AL) as their language of learning and teaching (LoLT) have not acquired the level of proficiency required for them to demonstrate their knowledge and achieve the desired outcome on assessment tasks given in that language. Using instruments designed for fully fluent learners and covertly including…

Double threshold in bi- and multilingual contexts: preconditions for higher academic attainment in English as an additional language

PubMed Central

Lechner, Simone; Siemund, Peter

2014-01-01

Bi- and multilingualism has been shown to have positive effects on the attainment of third and additional languages. These effects, however, depend on the type of bi- and multilingualism and the status of the languages involved (Cenoz, 2003; Jessner, 2006). In this exploratory trend study, we revisit Cummins' Threshold Hypothesis (1979), claiming that bilingual children must reach certain levels of attainment in order to (a) avoid academic deficits and (b) allow bilingualism to have a positive effect on their cognitive development and academic attainment. To this end, we examine the attainment of English as an academic language of 16-years-old school children from Hamburg (n = 52). Our findings support the existence of thresholds for literacy attainment. We argue that language external factors may override positive effects of bilingualism. In addition, these factors may compensate negative effects attributable to low literacy attainment in German and the heritage languages. We also show that low attainment levels in migrant children's heritage languages preempt high literacy attainment in additional languages. PMID:24926277

Building freeways: piloting communication skills in additional languages to health service personnel in Cape Town, South Africa.

PubMed

Claassen, Joel; Jama, Zukile; Manga, Nayna; Lewis, Minnie; Hellenberg, Derek

2017-06-07

This study reflects on the development and teaching of communication skills courses in additional national languages to health care staff within two primary health care facilities in Cape Town, South Africa. These courses were aimed at addressing the language disparities that recent research has identified globally between patients and health care staff. Communication skills courses were offered to staff at two Metropolitan District Health Services clinics to strengthen patient access to health care services. This study reflects on the communicative proficiency in the additional languages that were offered to health care staff. A mixed-method approach was utilised during this case study with quantitative data-gathering through surveys and qualitative analysis of assessment results. The language profiles of the respective communities were assessed through data obtained from the South African National census, while staff language profiles were obtained at the health care centres. Quantitative measuring, by means of a patient survey at the centres, occurred on a randomly chosen day to ascertain the language profile of the patient population. Participating staff performed assessments at different phases of the training courses to determine their skill levels by the end of the course. The performances of the participating staff during the Xhosa and Afrikaans language courses were assessed, and the development of the staff communicative competencies was measured. Health care staff learning the additional languages could develop Basic or Intermediate Xhosa and Afrikaans that enables communication with patients. In multilingual countries such as South Africa, language has been recognised as a health care barrier preventing patients from receiving quality care. Equipping health care staff with communication skills in the additional languages, represents an attempt to bridge a vital barrier in the South African health care system. The study proves that offering communication skills courses in additional languages, begins to equip health care staff to be multilingual, that allows patients to communicate about their illnesses within their mother tongues.

On the Learning Behaviours of English Additional-Language Speakers Entering Engineering Education in South Africa

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Woollacott, L.; Simelane, Z.; Inglis, J.

2011-01-01

This article reports the findings of an inductive study on the learning behaviours and language difficulties of a small group of English additional-language students entering a school of chemical and metallurgical engineering in South Africa. Students were interviewed in their home language. While they appeared to have had a reasonable grounding…

Learning a Language and Studying Content in an Additional Language: Student Opinions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ger, Ugur; Bahar, Mustafa

2018-01-01

This study aims to understand the opinions of middle school and high school students about language learning and studying other content in an additional language in the school settings where English is used as the medium of instruction to teach more than 50% of the curriculum. For this end, 261 students from three different schools were…

Speech, language, and reading skills in 10-year-old children with palatal clefts: The impact of additional conditions.

PubMed

Feragen, Kristin Billaud; Aukner, Ragnhild; Særvold, Tone K; Hide, Øydis

2017-03-01

This study examined speech (hypernasality and intelligibility), language, and reading skills in children with a cleft palate, specifically investigating additional conditions to the cleft, in order to differentiate challenges related to a cleft only, and challenges associated with an additional condition. Cross-sectional data collected during routine assessments of speech and language in a centralised treatment setting. Children born with cleft with palatal involvement from four birth cohorts (n=184), aged 10. Speech: SVANTE-N; Language: Language 6-16; Reading: Word Chain Test and Reading Comprehension Test. Descriptive analyses revealed that 123 of the children had a cleft only (66.8%), while 61 children (33.2%) had a cleft that was associated with an additional condition (syndrome, developmental difficulty, attentional difficulties). Due to close associations with the outcome variables, children with specific language impairments and dyslexia were excluded from the sample (n=14). In the total cleft sample, 33.1% had mild to severe hypernasality, and 27.9% had mild to severe intelligibility deviances. Most children with intelligibility and hypernasality scores within the normal range had a cleft without any other condition. A high number of children with developmental difficulties (63.2%) or AD/HD (45.5%) had problems with intelligibility. Hypernasality scores were also associated with developmental difficulties (58.8%), whereas most children with AD/HD had normal hypernasality scores (83.3%). As could be expected, results demonstrated that children with a cleft and an additional condition had language and reading scores below average. Children with a cleft only had language and reading scores within the normal range. Among the children with scores below average, 33.3-44.7% had no other conditions explaining difficulties with language and reading. The findings highlight the need for routine assessments of language and reading skills, in addition to assessments of speech, in children with a cleft, in order to identify potential problems as early as possible. Study designs need to take additional difficulties into account, so that potential problems with language and reading are not ascribed the cleft diagnosis, and can be followed by appropriate treatment and interventions. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Oracy and the Educational Achievement of Pupils with English as an Additional Language: The Impact of Bringing "Talking Partners" into Bradford Schools.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kotler, Angie; Wegerif, Rupert; LeVoi, Martin

2001-01-01

Examined whether an intervention based on what is known about how children learn language could make a significant difference to English as an additional language learners' control over oral language, particularly in relation to literacy learners. Results from a range of assessments show it is possible to accelerate such learning. (Author/VWL)

Automated detection using natural language processing of radiologists recommendations for additional imaging of incidental findings.

PubMed

Dutta, Sayon; Long, William J; Brown, David F M; Reisner, Andrew T

2013-08-01

As use of radiology studies increases, there is a concurrent increase in incidental findings (eg, lung nodules) for which the radiologist issues recommendations for additional imaging for follow-up. Busy emergency physicians may be challenged to carefully communicate recommendations for additional imaging not relevant to the patient's primary evaluation. The emergence of electronic health records and natural language processing algorithms may help address this quality gap. We seek to describe recommendations for additional imaging from our institution and develop and validate an automated natural language processing algorithm to reliably identify recommendations for additional imaging. We developed a natural language processing algorithm to detect recommendations for additional imaging, using 3 iterative cycles of training and validation. The third cycle used 3,235 radiology reports (1,600 for algorithm training and 1,635 for validation) of discharged emergency department (ED) patients from which we determined the incidence of discharge-relevant recommendations for additional imaging and the frequency of appropriate discharge documentation. The test characteristics of the 3 natural language processing algorithm iterations were compared, using blinded chart review as the criterion standard. Discharge-relevant recommendations for additional imaging were found in 4.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.5% to 5.5%) of ED radiology reports, but 51% (95% CI 43% to 59%) of discharge instructions failed to note those findings. The final natural language processing algorithm had 89% (95% CI 82% to 94%) sensitivity and 98% (95% CI 97% to 98%) specificity for detecting recommendations for additional imaging. For discharge-relevant recommendations for additional imaging, sensitivity improved to 97% (95% CI 89% to 100%). Recommendations for additional imaging are common, and failure to document relevant recommendations for additional imaging in ED discharge instructions occurs frequently. The natural language processing algorithm's performance improved with each iteration and offers a promising error-prevention tool. Copyright © 2013 American College of Emergency Physicians. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Word Frequency Analysis. MOS: 68H. Skill Levels 1 & 2.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-05-01

OENCA R I PcTEtiS BL I KCpEALE I 17:L 7 t~Tr! I 4’ LLY T3 NJE .750P C% R P 10 -Vu C&! v r{ rVF (’ .Z 3 JE C I P- VE IA4JDVI 5=L I ~ SCJ:n:E CA’E e藶...72 2!P -MCI’ 69R LIST; -,sl,/c5ND.NG FRZ𔃻JC’NCY Milk " IZES P ’ N 216 i*I 14 Tr L26 Cl 1^ ’. 7SK 144 L t 1 aLO3CK 1: 9 ElIT 73 WUw8El’ " NL F l 3 1

Forecasting Outcomes of Multilateral Negotiations: Computer Programs. Volume 2. Guide for Programmers.

DTIC Science & Technology

1976-10-01

In -Tor DISTRIBUTION LIST: .... National Defense University .. 1 Armed Forces Staff College Department of Defense Computer Institute - . U.S...AND !1I~OR UICTIONARy nO 500 Jmlo-NMAJ RfrAI(LIN, 8) MAJUR , (TITLE(J),.Jz1,6),NMIN WRITE(LOUTo9) MAJOR, (TITLE(J)PJ:1*6) DO0 450 IIzlsJMIN RE A1)(L I N...5XtI4,2Xp6A8) 21 FORfMATC1H1,* LI1ST OF L :TTEREU THEHLS IN NUMUI~CAL OPD)ER*I/) 22 FORMATCI~EAl,6At8). 23 F0RMAT(5X,I5,Als2H**,6A8). 24 FORMIAT (1X,’ MAJUR

Lattice Truss Structural Response Using Energy Methods

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kenner, Winfred Scottson

1996-01-01

A deterministic methodology is presented for developing closed-form deflection equations for two-dimensional and three-dimensional lattice structures. Four types of lattice structures are studied: beams, plates, shells and soft lattices. Castigliano's second theorem, which entails the total strain energy of a structure, is utilized to generate highly accurate results. Derived deflection equations provide new insight into the bending and shear behavior of the four types of lattices, in contrast to classic solutions of similar structures. Lattice derivations utilizing kinetic energy are also presented, and used to examine the free vibration response of simple lattice structures. Derivations utilizing finite element theory for unique lattice behavior are also presented and validated using the finite element analysis code EAL.

Early Writing Deficits in Preschoolers with Oral Language Difficulties

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Puranik, Cynthia S.; Lonigan, Christopher J.

2012-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether preschool children with language impairments (LI), a group with documented reading difficulties, also experience writing difficulties. In addition, a purpose was to examine if the writing outcomes differed when children had concomitant cognitive deficits in addition to oral language problems. A…

Learning difficulties or learning English difficulties? Additional language acquisition: an update for paediatricians.

PubMed

Clifford, Vanessa; Rhodes, Anthea; Paxton, Georgia

2014-03-01

Australia is a diverse society: 26% of the population were born overseas, a further 20% have at least one parent born overseas and 19% speak a language other than English at home. Paediatricians are frequently involved in the assessment and management of non-English-speaking-background children with developmental delay, disability or learning issues. Despite the diversity of our patient population, information on how children learn additional or later languages is remarkably absent in paediatric training. An understanding of second language acquisition is essential to provide appropriate advice to this patient group. It takes a long time (5 years or more) for any student to develop academic competency in a second language, even a student who has received adequate prior schooling in their first language. Refugee students are doubly disadvantaged as they frequently have limited or interrupted prior schooling, and many are unable to read and write in their first language. We review the evidence on second language acquisition during childhood, describe support for English language learners within the Australian education system, consider refugee-background students as a special risk group and address common misconceptions about how children learn English as an additional language. © 2013 The Authors. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health © 2013 Paediatrics and Child Health Division (Royal Australasian College of Physicians).

Longitudinal Effects on Early Adolescent Language: A Twin Study

PubMed Central

DeThorne, Laura Segebart; Smith, Jamie Mahurin; Betancourt, Mariana Aparicio; Petrill, Stephen A.

2016-01-01

Purpose We evaluated genetic and environmental contributions to individual differences in language skills during early adolescence, measured by both language sampling and standardized tests, and examined the extent to which these genetic and environmental effects are stable across time. Method We used structural equation modeling on latent factors to estimate additive genetic, shared environmental, and nonshared environmental effects on variance in standardized language skills (i.e., Formal Language) and productive language-sample measures (i.e., Productive Language) in a sample of 527 twins across 3 time points (mean ages 10–12 years). Results Individual differences in the Formal Language factor were influenced primarily by genetic factors at each age, whereas individual differences in the Productive Language factor were primarily due to nonshared environmental influences. For the Formal Language factor, the stability of genetic effects was high across all 3 time points. For the Productive Language factor, nonshared environmental effects showed low but statistically significant stability across adjacent time points. Conclusions The etiology of language outcomes may differ substantially depending on assessment context. In addition, the potential mechanisms for nonshared environmental influences on language development warrant further investigation. PMID:27732720

Temporal Patterns of Long-Term Engagement with Learning an Additional Language

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tasker, Isabel

2017-01-01

People studying an additional language in adult life do so through a diverse mix of self-directed and institutionally-situated efforts, extending over many years; and online and distance mode language learning offer increasingly flexible opportunities for formal study. Little is known, however, of the ways that long-term learners combine…

English as an Additional Language: Changing Perspectives.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leung, Constant, Ed.; Cable, Carrie, Ed.

This volume highlights the language and learning needs of pupils with English as an additional language in the United Kingdom. It includes chapters by British teachers and researchers working in this field. The book addresses a number of issues of interest to practitioners, scholars, teacher educators, and policy makers. Each chapter is prefaced…

c-di-GMP Turn-Over in Clostridium difficile Is Controlled by a Plethora of Diguanylate Cyclases and Phosphodiesterases

PubMed Central

Bordeleau, Eric; Fortier, Louis-Charles; Malouin, François; Burrus, Vincent

2011-01-01

Clostridium difficile infections have become a major healthcare concern in the last decade during which the emergence of new strains has underscored this bacterium's capacity to cause persistent epidemics. c-di-GMP is a bacterial second messenger regulating diverse bacterial phenotypes, notably motility and biofilm formation, in proteobacteria such as Vibrio cholerae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella. c-di-GMP is synthesized by diguanylate cyclases (DGCs) that contain a conserved GGDEF domain. It is degraded by phosphodiesterases (PDEs) that contain either an EAL or an HD-GYP conserved domain. Very little is known about the role of c-di-GMP in the regulation of phenotypes of Gram-positive or fastidious bacteria. Herein, we exposed the main components of c-di-GMP signalling in 20 genomes of C. difficile, revealed their prevalence, and predicted their enzymatic activity. Ectopic expression of 31 of these conserved genes was carried out in V. cholerae to evaluate their effect on motility and biofilm formation, two well-characterized phenotype alterations associated with intracellular c-di-GMP variation in this bacterium. Most of the predicted DGCs and PDEs were found to be active in the V. cholerae model. Expression of truncated versions of CD0522, a protein with two GGDEF domains and one EAL domain, suggests that it can act alternatively as a DGC or a PDE. The activity of one purified DGC (CD1420) and one purified PDE (CD0757) was confirmed by in vitro enzymatic assays. GTP was shown to be important for the PDE activity of CD0757. Our results indicate that, in contrast to most Gram-positive bacteria including its closest relatives, C. difficile encodes a large assortment of functional DGCs and PDEs, revealing that c-di-GMP signalling is an important and well-conserved signal transduction system in this human pathogen. PMID:21483756

A systematic analysis of the in vitro and in vivo functions of the HD-GYP domain proteins of Vibrio cholerae.

PubMed

McKee, Robert W; Kariisa, Ankunda; Mudrak, Benjamin; Whitaker, Courtney; Tamayo, Rita

2014-10-25

The second messenger cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) plays a central role in bacterial adaptation to extracellular stimuli, controlling processes such as motility, biofilm development, cell development and, in some pathogens, virulence. The intracellular level of c-di-GMP is controlled by the complementary activities of diguanylate cyclases containing a GGDEF domain and two classes of c-di-GMP phosphodiesterases containing an EAL or HD-GYP hydrolytic domain. Compared to the GGDEF and EAL domains, the functions of HD-GYP domain family proteins are poorly characterized. The human diarrheal pathogen Vibrio cholerae encodes nine putative HD-GYP domain proteins. To determine the contributions of HD-GYP domain proteins to c-di-GMP signaling in V. cholerae, we systematically analyzed the enzymatic functionality of each protein and their involvement in processes known to be regulated by c-di-GMP: motility, biofilm development and virulence. Complementary in vitro and in vivo experiments showed that four HD-GYP domain proteins are active c-di-GMP phosphodiesterases: VC1295, VC1348, VCA0210 and VCA0681. Mutation of individual HD-GYP domain genes, as well as combinatorial mutations of multiple HD-GYP domain genes, had no effect on motility or biofilm formation of V. cholerae under the conditions tested. Furthermore, no single HD-GYP domain gene affected intestinal colonization by V. cholerae in an infant mouse model. However, inactivation of multiple HD-GYP domain genes, including the four encoding functional phosphodiesterases, significantly attenuated colonization. These results indicate that the HD-GYP family of c-di-GMP phosphodiesterases impacts signaling by this second messenger during infection. Altogether, this work greatly furthers the understanding of this important family of c-di-GMP metabolic enzymes and demonstrates a role for HD-GYP domain proteins in the virulence of V. cholerae.

Advanced Language Attrition of Spanish in Contact with Brazilian Portuguese

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Iverson, Michael Bryan

2012-01-01

Language acquisition research frequently concerns itself with linguistic development and result of the acquisition process with respect to a first or subsequent language. For some, it seems tacitly assumed that a first language, once acquired, remains stable, regardless of exposure to and the acquisition of additional language(s) beyond the first…

Language as Information and the World

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Koga, Kant

2010-01-01

Language attracts everyone on earth. That is because we have and use language. Although there are some minority languages that have limited expressions such as the lack of writing systems in "Aynu itak" and "Shona" languages, they can effectively express their emotion and thought with their languages. In addition, every human being can acquire…

16 CFR 803.8 - Foreign language documents.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... language documents. (a) Whenever at the time of filing a Notification and Report Form there is an English... English language versions shall be filed along with the foreign language information or materials. (b... for additional information or documentary material shall be submitted with verbatim English language...

Assessment and Evaluation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bachman, Lyle F.

1989-01-01

Applied linguistics and psychometrics have influenced language testing, providing additional tools for investigating factors affecting language test performance and assuring measurement reliability. An examination is presented of language testing, including the theoretical issues involved, the methodological advances, language test development,…

Open access for the non-English-speaking world: overcoming the language barrier

PubMed Central

Fung, Isaac CH

2008-01-01

This editorial highlights the problem of language barrier in scientific communication in spite of the recent success of Open Access Movement. Four options for English-language journals to overcome the language barrier are suggested: 1) abstracts in alternative languages provided by authors, 2) Wiki open translation, 3) international board of translator-editors, and 4) alternative language version of the journal. The Emerging Themes in Epidemiology announces that with immediate effect, it will accept translations of abstracts or full texts by authors as Additional files. Editorial note: In an effort towards overcoming the language barrier in scientific publication, ETE will accept translations of abstracts or the full text of published articles. Each translation should be submitted separately as an Additional File in PDF format. ETE will only peer review English-language versions. Therefore, translations will not be scrutinized in the review-process and the responsibility for accurate translation rests with the authors. PMID:18173854

Teaching English as a "Second Language" in Kenya and the United States: Convergences and Divergences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roy-Campbell, Zaline M.

2015-01-01

English is spoken in five countries as the native language and in numerous other countries as an official language and the language of instruction. In countries where English is the native language, it is taught to speakers of other languages as an additional language to enable them to participate in all domains of life of that country. In many…

Interoperation transfer in Chinese-English bilinguals' arithmetic.

PubMed

Campbell, Jamie I D; Dowd, Roxanne R

2012-10-01

We examined interoperation transfer of practice in adult Chinese-English bilinguals' memory for simple multiplication (6 × 8 = 48) and addition (6 + 8 = 14) facts. The purpose was to determine whether they possessed distinct number-fact representations in both Chinese (L1) and English (L2). Participants repeatedly practiced multiplication problems (e.g., 4 × 5 = ?), answering a subset in L1 and another subset in L2. Then separate groups answered corresponding addition problems (4 + 5 = ?) and control addition problems in either L1 (N = 24) or L2 (N = 24). The results demonstrated language-specific negative transfer of multiplication practice to corresponding addition problems. Specifically, large simple addition problems (sum > 10) presented a significant response time cost (i.e., retrieval-induced forgetting) after their multiplication counterparts were practiced in the same language, relative to practice in the other language. The results indicate that our Chinese-English bilinguals had multiplication and addition facts represented in distinct language-specific memory stores.

Early writing deficits in preschoolers with oral language difficulties.

PubMed

Puranik, Cynthia S; Lonigan, Christopher J

2012-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether preschool children with language impairments (LI), a group with documented reading difficulties, also experience writing difficulties. In addition, a purpose was to examine if the writing outcomes differed when children had concomitant cognitive deficits in addition to oral language problems. A group of 293 preschool children were administered an assessment battery that included measures to examine oral language, nonverbal cognition, emergent reading, and writing. Children were divided into four groups based on their language and cognitive performance. The findings from this study show that as early as preschool, children with weaker oral language skills lag behind their peers with stronger oral language skills in terms of their writing-related skills. Children with oral language and cognitive deficits performed more poorly than children whose deficits were confined to oral language. A child's cognitive ability also has an impact on emergent writing skills, but it appears to be moderated by oral language skills. These results are consistent with research documenting links between preschool language and emergent reading in children with a history of LI. © Hammill Institute on Disabilities 2012.

Early Writing Deficits in Preschoolers with Oral Language Difficulties

PubMed Central

Puranik, Cynthia S.; Lonigan, Christopher J.

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether preschool children with language impairments (LI), a group with documented reading difficulties, also experience writing difficulties. In addition, a purpose was to examine if the writing outcomes differed when children had concomitant cognitive deficits in addition to oral language problems. A group of 293 preschool children were administered an assessment battery that included measures to examine oral language, nonverbal cognition, emergent reading, and writing. Children were divided into four groups based on their language and cognitive performance. The findings from this study show that as early as preschool, children with weaker oral language skills lag behind their peers with stronger oral language skills in terms of their writing-related skills. Children with oral language and cognitive deficits performed more poorly than children whose deficits were confined to oral language. A child’s cognitive ability also has an impact on emergent writing skills, but it appears to be moderated by oral language skills. These results are consistent with research documenting links between preschool language and emergent reading in children with a history of LI. PMID:22043027

Multisensor Calibration Procedure for an All Weather Short Range Air Defense System Concept.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-08-15

are then integrated over the rotation interval tF1 - to 1 - tR, to arrive at the following angular displacement mesasuremnts: tF 1 eAl -f WAldt - K~len...g&dt (73) tol to1 tFlAOR1 tj~ 6p’Idt "( 1 8 0 ° " l1 + 0 12 ) (74) tF1 AVAl f Aldt (75) to’ &VB1 tl(6 to1 In order to integrate Al and B1, Reneral...rotation. TFl, TF2 tF1 , tF2 Upper limit of integration during rotation. THTI2,TT13,TRT21 Elments of BCS to ACS transformation THT23,THT311,THT32 matrix

Impact of early hearing screening and treatment on language development and education level: evaluation of 6 years of universal newborn hearing screening (ALGO) in Flanders, Belgium.

PubMed

Verhaert, N; Willems, M; Van Kerschaver, E; Desloovere, C

2008-05-01

Early intervention in hearing-impaired children may improve language outcomes and subsequent school and occupational performance. The objective of this study was to retrospectively analyze over 6 years the educational outcome and language development of a first cohort of children, detected by the Flemish universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) program based on automated auditory brainstem response (AABR), with the oldest children being in primary school. We studied 229 hearing-impaired children from 1998 till 2003. The following variables were considered: the age during the school year 2005-2006, the degree of hearing loss, additional impairments including presence of intellectual disability, school placement and early intervention. Analysis showed that 85.4% of the children with moderate, severe or profound hearing loss and no additional disability, older than 5.5 years, reach mainstream education. Further detailed description was provided for the outcomes of children with uni- and bilateral cochlear implants. Overall results stress that 46% of all children with a cochlear implant obtain mainstream education. Of all cochlear implant (CI) children above 5.5 years, without additional handicaps, 78.9% of children attend primary mainstream school. Data on language development show that up to 45% of the children with unilateral cochlear implant and no additional disabilities had normal to slight delay on language development. These data are fulfilling the goals stated by the JCIH and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in 2000. The role and impact of additional handicaps is discussed. The importance of early hearing loss identification and hearing therapy for appropriate language development is highlighted. Finally our preliminary results on children with bilateral cochlear implants without additional handicaps present an improved language development in comparison to unilateral CI-children. A vast majority of the children detected by the UNHS program, with moderate, severe or profound hearing loss and no additional disability, older than 5.5 years, reach mainstream education. Additional disabilities have a major influence.

A Socially Inclusive Teaching Strategy for Transforming the Teaching of English First Additional Language

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Malebese, M. L.

2017-01-01

This paper explores ways of including indigenous knowledge systems in the teaching of English First Additional Language (EFAL). The aim is to use a socially inclusive teaching strategy in such a manner that the imbalances that past oppressive regimes brought into the teaching and learning of a second language, EFAL in this case, is challenged and…

[The new preschool examination in Baden-Wuerttemberg: what determinants influence the school medical evaluation special need for language promotion in childhood development?].

PubMed

Spannenkrebs, M; Crispin, A; Krämer, D

2013-12-01

The new examination before primary school enrollment in Baden-Wuerttemberg aims at detecting problems in infant development with regard to later school success in time to initiate supporting measures, especially to improve the language skills of children with other native languages. By a 2-level process composed of a screening of language skills (HASE and KVS) and an additional test (SETK 3-5) of children who did not pass the screening, the school physicians attested special needs for language promotion in the kindergarten. This study looked for associated risks of children with special needs for language promotion. The degree of test quality of the 2-level process for identifying special needs for language promotion was determined. This cross-sectional analysis explored findings of n=80,781 children in the new examination before primary school enrollment of the data-set of Baden-Wuerttemberg (children with school enrollment 2011). 56,352 children (69.8%) were speaking German, 24,429 children (30.2%) had other family languages. 20,461 children (25.3%) had special needs for language promotion in the kindergarten. A logistic regression model to determine main risks of special needs for language promotion was developed. Main effects were other native languages (OR 5.1 [4.8; 5.2]), problems in subitising (OR 2.8 [2.7; 3.0]) and language development lags in the questionnaire of the nursery school teachers (OR 3.5 [3.3; 3.7]). Protective effects were an elevated graduation of the mother (OR 0.7 [0.7; 0.7]) or the father (OR 0.8 [0.7; 0.8]). Risk scores of the effects were defined. The corresponding predictive probability to different levels of risk scores was calculated. The true positive rate of the screening of language skills (HASE/KVS) in regard to special needs for language promotion was 0.95, the true negative rate was 0.72 and the -positive predictive value was 0.53. The school physician's findings of special needs for language promotion acted as gold standard. With the additional test (SETK 3-5) the positive predictive value improved to 0.9, if at least one of the subtests of the SETK 3-5 was not passed. The risk score-level corresponded with the pretest-probability and the consecutive positive predictive value of the screening of language skills. This study showed an adequate degree of test quality of the 2-level process in the new examination before primary school enrollment in Baden-Wuerttemberg (screening of language skills and additional test, if the screening is not passed). In addition children with special needs for language promotion had associated risks. Risk scores, that have been defined, offer an information tool to the school physicians concerning the positive predictive value of the screening of language skills without additional testing. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Cognitive Predictors of Language Development in Children with Specific Language Impairment (SLI)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

van Daal, John; Verhoeven, Ludo; van Balkom, Hans

2009-01-01

Background: Language development is generally viewed as a multifactorial process. There are increasing indications that this similarly holds for the problematic language development process. Aims: A population of 97 young Dutch children with specific language impairment (SLI) was followed over a 2-year period to provide additional evidence for the…

Nahuatl as a Classical, Foreign, and Additional Language: A Phenomenological Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

De Felice, Dustin

2012-01-01

In this study, participants learning an endangered language variety shared their experiences, thoughts, and feelings about the often complex and diverse language-learning process. I used phenomenological interviews in order to learn more about these English or Spanish language speakers' journey with the Nahuatl language. From first encounter to…

A Case Study of Dual Language Program Administrators: The Teachers We Need

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lachance, Joan R.

2017-01-01

In support of growing numbers of dual language programs nation-wide, dual language school administrators seek to find teachers who are specifically prepared to work with dual language learners for additive biliteracy. For this research the author utilized a case study design to explore practicing dual language administrators' perspectives…

Reciprocal Role Peer Tutoring: Can it Enhance Students' Motivation and Perceptions of Proficiency When Learning a Foreign Language?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

East, Martin; Tolosa, Constanza; Villers, Helen

2012-01-01

As a consequence of a substantially revised national curriculum in New Zealand, all schools are now required to provide opportunities for students in school Years 7 to 10 (age 11+ to 14+) to learn an additional language. There are, however, very few intermediate school (Years 7 and 8) teachers who are additional language 'subject specialists'.…

Process Drama: The Use of Affective Space to Reduce Language Anxiety in the Additional Language Learning Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Piazzoli, Erika

2011-01-01

This paper describes a research project designed to find out what happens when process drama strategies are applied to an advanced level of additional language learning. In order to answer this question, the author designed and facilitated six process drama workshops as part of a third-year course of Italian at a university in Brisbane, Australia.…

Spoken language skills and educational placement in Finnish children with cochlear implants.

PubMed

Lonka, Eila; Hasan, Marja; Komulainen, Erkki

2011-01-01

This study reports the demographics, and the auditory and spoken language development as well as educational settings, for a total of 164 Finnish children with cochlear implants. Two questionnaires were employed: the first, concerning day care and educational placement, was filled in by professionals for rehabilitation guidance, and the second, evaluating language development (categories of auditory performance, spoken language skills, and main mode of communication), by speech and language therapists in audiology departments. Nearly half of the children were enrolled in normal kindergartens and 43% of school-aged children in mainstream schools. Categories of auditory performance were observed to grow in relation to age at cochlear implantation (p < 0.001) as well as in relation to proportional hearing age (p < 0.001). The composite scores for language development moved to more diversified ones in relation to increasing age at cochlear implantation and proportional hearing age (p < 0.001). Children without additional disorders outperformed those with additional disorders. The results indicate that the most favorable age for cochlear implantation could be earlier than 2. Compared to other children, spoken language evaluation scores of those with additional disabilities were significantly lower; however, these children showed gradual improvements in their auditory perception and language scores. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Expressive and receptive language in Prader-Willi syndrome: report on genetic subtype differences.

PubMed

Dimitropoulos, Anastasia; Ferranti, Angela; Lemler, Maria

2013-01-01

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), most recognized for the hallmark hyperphagia and food preoccupations, is caused by the absence of expression of the paternally active genes in the q11-13 region of chromosome 15. Since the recognition of PWS as a genetic disorder, most research has focused primarily on the medical, genetic, and behavioral aspects of the syndrome. Extensive research has not been conducted on the cognitive, speech, and language abilities in PWS. In addition, language differences with regard to genetic mechanism of PWS have not been well investigated. To date, research indicates overall language ability is markedly below chronological age with expressive language more impaired than receptive language in people with PWS. Thus, the aim of the present study was to further characterize expressive and receptive language ability in 35 participants with PWS and compare functioning by genetic subtype using the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-4 (CELF-IV). Results indicate that core language ability is significantly impaired in PWS and both expressive and receptive abilities are significantly lower than verbal intelligence. In addition, participants with the maternal uniparental disomy (mUPD) genetic subtype exhibit discrepant language functioning with higher expressive vs. receptive language abilities. Future research is needed to further examine language functioning in larger genetic subtype participant samples using additional descriptive measures. Further work should also delineate findings with respect to size of the paternal deletion (Type 1 and Type 2 deletions) and explore how overexpression of maternally expressed genes in the 15q11-13 region may relate to verbal ability. After reading this article, the reader will be able to: (1) summarize primary characteristics of Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), (2) describe differentiating characteristics for the PWS genetic subtypes, (3) recall limited research regarding language functioning in PWS to date, (4) summarize potential genetic variations of language ability in Prader-Willi syndrome, and (5) summarize language ability in PWS with respect to adaptive functioning. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Marginal Words--Sophisticated Attitudinal Meaning Making Resources in the Vietnamese Language: Implications for the Shaping of Vietnamese Teaching in the Australian Curriculum: Languages (Vietnamese)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ngo, Thu Thi Bich

2014-01-01

Evaluation is an important aspect in communication in any language as it not only functions to express language users' evaluative stance but also to construct and maintain relations between interactants. In the teaching of languages in addition to English, paying attention to evaluative language contributes to an understanding of the…

Additional Language Education and Language Development Goals: The Example of Gaelic (Learners) Education in Highland Council, Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dombrowski, Lindsay Milligan

2014-01-01

Language shift is the process whereby one language becomes increasingly lesser used in place of the use of another language. In Scotland, language shift is occurring for Gaelic, as English takes its place for a variety of functions in the home and wider community. Extensive literature has argued the important role that education can play in the…

State Funding Mechanisms for English Language Learners

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Millard, Maria

2015-01-01

Research is clear that English language learners (ELLs) perform better academically and achieve greater language proficiency when they have high-quality English language instruction.1 Like all supplemental services, these necessary supports require additional funding above the average per-student amount. The federal government provides grant…

The Colonial Legacy and Language Planning in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Case of Zaire.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kamwangamalu, Nkonko M.

1997-01-01

Attempts to determine why a highly multilingual country such as Zaire has not yet chosen an indigenous language for official use. Argues that should Zaire choose such a language, Swahili, it should become an additional language rather than a substitute for the incumbent official language, French. (47 references) (Author/CK)

Bodies and Language: Process Drama and Intercultural Language Learning in a Beginner Language Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rothwell, Julia

2011-01-01

In this article the author draws on classroom video recordings and student commentary to explore ways in which the kinaesthetic elements of a process drama provided the context and the space for beginner additional language learners to engage with intercultural language learning. In the light of student comments in interviews and questionnaires,…

Report on the Formal Trialling of the Australian Second Language Proficiency Ratings (ASLPR).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ingram, D. E.

Results of testing the validity and reliability of the Australian second language proficiency ratings (ASLPR) are presented. In addition to providing a framework for planning English as a second language programs for immigrants to Australia, the ASLPR was developed to specify second language proficiency in terms of practical language skills. The…

Learning Additional Languages as Hierarchical Probabilistic Inference: Insights From First Language Processing.

PubMed

Pajak, Bozena; Fine, Alex B; Kleinschmidt, Dave F; Jaeger, T Florian

2016-12-01

We present a framework of second and additional language (L2/L n ) acquisition motivated by recent work on socio-indexical knowledge in first language (L1) processing. The distribution of linguistic categories covaries with socio-indexical variables (e.g., talker identity, gender, dialects). We summarize evidence that implicit probabilistic knowledge of this covariance is critical to L1 processing, and propose that L2/L n learning uses the same type of socio-indexical information to probabilistically infer latent hierarchical structure over previously learned and new languages. This structure guides the acquisition of new languages based on their inferred place within that hierarchy, and is itself continuously revised based on new input from any language. This proposal unifies L1 processing and L2/L n acquisition as probabilistic inference under uncertainty over socio-indexical structure. It also offers a new perspective on crosslinguistic influences during L2/L n learning, accommodating gradient and continued transfer (both negative and positive) from previously learned to novel languages, and vice versa.

Learning Additional Languages as Hierarchical Probabilistic Inference: Insights From First Language Processing

PubMed Central

Pajak, Bozena; Fine, Alex B.; Kleinschmidt, Dave F.; Jaeger, T. Florian

2015-01-01

We present a framework of second and additional language (L2/Ln) acquisition motivated by recent work on socio-indexical knowledge in first language (L1) processing. The distribution of linguistic categories covaries with socio-indexical variables (e.g., talker identity, gender, dialects). We summarize evidence that implicit probabilistic knowledge of this covariance is critical to L1 processing, and propose that L2/Ln learning uses the same type of socio-indexical information to probabilistically infer latent hierarchical structure over previously learned and new languages. This structure guides the acquisition of new languages based on their inferred place within that hierarchy, and is itself continuously revised based on new input from any language. This proposal unifies L1 processing and L2/Ln acquisition as probabilistic inference under uncertainty over socio-indexical structure. It also offers a new perspective on crosslinguistic influences during L2/Ln learning, accommodating gradient and continued transfer (both negative and positive) from previously learned to novel languages, and vice versa. PMID:28348442

Language-specific memory for everyday arithmetic facts in Chinese-English bilinguals.

PubMed

Chen, Yalin; Yanke, Jill; Campbell, Jamie I D

2016-04-01

The role of language in memory for arithmetic facts remains controversial. Here, we examined transfer of memory training for evidence that bilinguals may acquire language-specific memory stores for everyday arithmetic facts. Chinese-English bilingual adults (n = 32) were trained on different subsets of simple addition and multiplication problems. Each operation was trained in one language or the other. The subsequent test phase included all problems with addition and multiplication alternating across trials in two blocks, one in each language. Averaging over training language, the response time (RT) gains for trained problems relative to untrained problems were greater in the trained language than in the untrained language. Subsequent analysis showed that English training produced larger RT gains for trained problems relative to untrained problems in English at test relative to the untrained Chinese language. In contrast, there was no evidence with Chinese training that problem-specific RT gains differed between Chinese and the untrained English language. We propose that training in Chinese promoted a translation strategy for English arithmetic (particularly multiplication) that produced strong cross-language generalization of practice, whereas training in English strengthened relatively weak, English-language arithmetic memories and produced little generalization to Chinese (i.e., English training did not induce an English translation strategy for Chinese language trials). The results support the existence of language-specific strengthening of memory for everyday arithmetic facts.

Does Equal Access Mean Treat the Same? From Theory to Practice in the Classroom of English as an Additional Language Learner in Ireland--Towards a Transformative Agenda

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kelly, Niamh

2014-01-01

While a substantial body of research exists on First- and Second-Language Acquisition (SLA), research on the language acquisition process that a language minority student goes through when they are acquiring a second language has been largely unexplored. Pedagogical practices that espouse language learning theories facilitate both the language…

Language and Content "Integration": The Affordances of Additional Languages as a Tool within a Single Curriculum Space

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cross, Russell

2016-01-01

"Language across the curriculum" has been pivotal in establishing a knowledge base on the role of language for accessing opportunities afforded by the curriculum. Yet, the ubiquity of language "within" all facets of human activity--not least of all the more abstract domains of thinking and relating with others--can easily…

Teaching English as a Language Not Subject by Employing Formative Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chandio, Muhammad Tufail; Jafferi, Saima

2015-01-01

English is a second language (L2) in Sindh, Pakistan. Most of the public sector schools in Sindh teach English as a subject rather than a language. Besides, they do not distinguish between generic pedagogy and distinctive approaches used for teaching English as a first language (L1) and second language (L2). In addition, the erroneous traditional…

Research into Practice: The Task-Based Approach to Instructed Second Language Acquisition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

East, Martin

2017-01-01

This article discusses the phenomenon of task-based language teaching (TBLT) in instructed additional language settings. It begins from the premise that, despite considerable theoretical and empirical support, TBLT remains a contested endeavour. Critics of TBLT argue that, particularly with regard to time-limited foreign language instructional…

A Year-Round Professional Development Model for World Language Educators

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Steele, Tracy M.; Peterson, Margaret D.; Silva, Duarte M.; Padilla, Amado M.

2009-01-01

The Bay Area Foreign Language Program (BAFLP), one of nine regional sites of the California Foreign Language Project, offers ongoing, year-round professional development programs for world language educators. In addition, its leadership program prepares selected educators to assume leadership positions at their school sites, building capacity for…

The Rediscovery of Heritage and Community Language Education in the United States

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Jin Sook; Wright, Wayne E.

2014-01-01

Language and cultural preservation efforts among different communities of language speakers in the United States have received increasing attention as interest in linguistic rights and globalization continues to deepen. In addition to mounting evidence of the cognitive, psychological, and academic benefits of heritage language/community language…

The Impact of Teacher Responsivity Education on Preschoolers' Language and Literacy Skills

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cabell, Sonia Q.; Justice, Laura M.; Piasta, Shayne B.; Curenton, Stephanie M.; Wiggins, Alice; Turnbull, Khara Pence; Petscher, Yaacov

2011-01-01

Purpose: This study examined the extent to which teacher responsivity education affected preschoolers' language and literacy development over an academic year. Additional aims were to determine whether children's initial language abilities and teachers' use of responsivity strategies were associated with language outcomes, in particular. Method:…

Language Learning Strategies of Multilingual Adults Learning Additional Languages

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dmitrenko, Violetta

2017-01-01

The main goal consisted in identifying and bringing together strategies of multilinguals as a particular learner group. Therefore, research was placed in the intersection of the three fields: language learning strategies (LLS), third language acquisition (TLA), and the didactics of plurilingualism. First, the paper synthesises the major findings…

Scaffolding Productive Language Skills through Sociodramatic Play

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Galeano, Rebecca

2011-01-01

This article reviews how a receptive, bilingual four-year-old increased her Spanish productive-language skills over five weeks as she engaged in Spanish-language play sessions with bilingual peers. The data show her growing participation in group verbal interactions along with her growing production of her weaker language. In addition, a…

Pre-Service EFL Teachers' Beliefs about Foreign Language Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Altan, Mustafa Zulkuf

2012-01-01

Beliefs are central constructs in every discipline which deals with human behaviour and learning. In addition to learner beliefs about language learning, language teachers themselves may hold certain beliefs about language learning that will have an impact on their instructional practices and that are likely to influence their students' beliefs…

Actors and Agency in Academic Language Policy and Planning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fenton-Smith, Ben; Gurney, Laura

2016-01-01

Nearly two decades have passed since Kaplan and Baldauf [1997. "Language planning from practice to theory." Clevedon: Multilingual Matters] drew attention to the dearth of language policy and planning (LPP) in higher education. Despite the continuing inflow of English as an additional language students into Anglophone universities, and a…

Language, Mathematics and English Language Learners

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Adoniou, Misty; Qing, Yi

2014-01-01

There is a correlation between language proficiency and achievement in mathematics (Riordain & O'Donoghue, 2009), and this is particularly evident for children who speak English as an additional language or dialect. More effort needs to be made in mathematics classrooms to develop cognitive competencies, including the ability to decode and…

Language affects symbolic arithmetic in children: the case of number word inversion.

PubMed

Göbel, Silke M; Moeller, Korbinian; Pixner, Silvia; Kaufmann, Liane; Nuerk, Hans-Christoph

2014-03-01

Specific language influences have been observed in basic numerical tasks such as magnitude comparison, transcoding, and the number line estimation task. However, so far language influences in more complex calculations have not been reported in children. In this translingual study, 7- to 9-year-old German- and Italian-speaking children were tested on a symbolic addition task. Whereas the order of tens and units in Italian number words follows the order of the Arabic notation, the order is inverted in German number words. For both language groups, addition problems were more difficult when a carry operation was needed, that is, when a manipulation within the place-value structure of the Arabic number system was particularly important. Most important, this carry effect was more pronounced in response latencies for children speaking German, a language with inverted verbal mapping of the place-value structure. In addition, independent of language group, the size of the carry effect was significantly related to verbal working memory. The current study indicates that symbolic arithmetic and the carry effect in particular are modulated by language-specific characteristics. Our results underline the fact that the structure of the language of instruction is an important factor in children's mathematical education and needs to be taken into account even for seemingly nonverbal symbolic Arabic tasks. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Lexical quality and executive control predict children's first and second language reading comprehension.

PubMed

Raudszus, Henriette; Segers, Eliane; Verhoeven, Ludo

2018-01-01

This study compared how lexical quality (vocabulary and decoding) and executive control (working memory and inhibition) predict reading comprehension directly as well as indirectly, via syntactic integration, in monolingual and bilingual fourth grade children. The participants were 76 monolingual and 102 bilingual children (mean age 10 years, SD  = 5 months) learning to read Dutch in the Netherlands. Bilingual children showed lower Dutch vocabulary, syntactic integration and reading comprehension skills, but better decoding skills than their monolingual peers. There were no differences in working memory or inhibition. Multigroup path analysis showed relatively invariant connections between predictors and reading comprehension for monolingual and bilingual readers. For both groups, there was a direct effect of lexical quality on reading comprehension. In addition, lexical quality and executive control indirectly influenced reading comprehension via syntactic integration. The groups differed in that inhibition more strongly predicted syntactic integration for bilingual than for monolingual children. For a subgroup of bilingual children, for whom home language vocabulary data were available ( n  = 56), there was an additional positive effect of home language vocabulary on second language reading comprehension. Together, the results suggest that similar processes underlie reading comprehension in first and second language readers, but that syntactic integration requires more executive control in second language reading. Moreover, bilingual readers additionally benefit from first language vocabulary to arrive at second language reading comprehension.

A suggested periodic table up to Z≤ 172, based on Dirac-Fock calculations on atoms and ions.

PubMed

Pyykkö, Pekka

2011-01-07

Extended Average Level (EAL) Dirac-Fock calculations on atoms and ions agree with earlier work in that a rough shell-filling order for the elements 119-172 is 8s < 5g≤ 8p(1/2) < 6f < 7d < 9s < 9p(1/2) < 8p(3/2). The present Periodic Table develops further that of Fricke, Greiner and Waber [Theor. Chim. Acta 1971, 21, 235] by formally assigning the elements 121-164 to (nlj) slots on the basis of the electron configurations of their ions. Simple estimates are made for likely maximum oxidation states, i, of these elements M in their MX(i) compounds, such as i = 6 for UF(6). Particularly high i are predicted for the 6f elements.

Towards the identification of the common features of bacterial biofilm development.

PubMed

Lasa, Iñigo

2006-03-01

Microorganisms can live and proliferate as individual cells swimming freely in the environment, or they can grow as highly organized, multicellular communities encased in a self-produced polymeric matrix in close association with surfaces and interfaces. This microbial lifestyle is referred to as biofilms. The intense search over the last few years for factors involved in biofilm development has revealed that distantly related bacterial species recurrently make use of the same elements to produce biofilms. These common elements include a group of proteins containing GGDEF/EAL domains, surface proteins homologous to Bap of Staphylococcus aureus, and some types of exopolysaccharides, such as cellulose and the poly-beta-1,6-N-acetylglucosamine. This review summarizes current knowledge about these three common elements and their role in biofilm development.

Posttranscriptional regulation on a global scale: Form and function of Csr/Rsm systems

PubMed Central

Romeo, Tony; Vakulskas, Christopher A.; Babitzke, Paul

2012-01-01

Summary Originally described as a repressor of gene expression in the stationary phase of growth, CsrA (RsmA) regulates primary and secondary metabolic pathways, biofilm formation, motility, virulence circuitry of pathogens, quorum sensing, and stress response systems by binding to conserved sequences in its target mRNAs and altering their translation and/or turnover. While the binding of CsrA to RNA is understood at an atomic level, new mechanisms of gene activation and repression by this protein are still emerging. In the γ-proteobacteria, small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) use molecular mimicry to sequester multiple CsrA dimers away from mRNA. In contrast, the FliW protein of Bacillus subtilis inhibits CsrA activity by binding to this protein, thereby establishing a checkpoint in flagellum morphogenesis. Turnover of CsrB and CsrC sRNAs in Escherichia coli requires a specificity protein of the GGDEF-EAL domain superfamily, CsrD, in addition to the housekeeping nucleases RNase E and PNPase. The Csr system of E. coli contains extensive autoregulatory circuitry, which governs the expression and activity of CsrA. Interaction of the Csr system with transcriptional regulatory networks results in a variety of complex response patterns. This minireview will highlight basic principles and new insights into the workings of these complex eubacterial regulatory systems. PMID:22672726

Genomes of ubiquitous marine and hypersaline Hydrogenovibrio, Thiomicrorhabdus and Thiomicrospira spp. encode a diversity of mechanisms to sustain chemolithoautotrophy in heterogeneous environments.

PubMed

Scott, Kathleen M; Williams, John; Porter, Cody M B; Russel, Sydney; Harmer, Tara L; Paul, John H; Antonen, Kirsten M; Bridges, Megan K; Camper, Gary J; Campla, Christie K; Casella, Leila G; Chase, Eva; Conrad, James W; Cruz, Mercedez C; Dunlap, Darren S; Duran, Laura; Fahsbender, Elizabeth M; Goldsmith, Dawn B; Keeley, Ryan F; Kondoff, Matthew R; Kussy, Breanna I; Lane, Marannda K; Lawler, Stephanie; Leigh, Brittany A; Lewis, Courtney; Lostal, Lygia M; Marking, Devon; Mancera, Paola A; McClenthan, Evan C; McIntyre, Emily A; Mine, Jessica A; Modi, Swapnil; Moore, Brittney D; Morgan, William A; Nelson, Kaleigh M; Nguyen, Kimmy N; Ogburn, Nicholas; Parrino, David G; Pedapudi, Anangamanjari D; Pelham, Rebecca P; Preece, Amanda M; Rampersad, Elizabeth A; Richardson, Jason C; Rodgers, Christina M; Schaffer, Brent L; Sheridan, Nancy E; Solone, Michael R; Staley, Zachery R; Tabuchi, Maki; Waide, Ramond J; Wanjugi, Pauline W; Young, Suzanne; Clum, Alicia; Daum, Chris; Huntemann, Marcel; Ivanova, Natalia; Kyrpides, Nikos; Mikhailova, Natalia; Palaniappan, Krishnaveni; Pillay, Manoj; Reddy, T B K; Shapiro, Nicole; Stamatis, Dimitrios; Varghese, Neha; Woyke, Tanja; Boden, Rich; Freyermuth, Sharyn K; Kerfeld, Cheryl A

2018-03-09

Chemolithoautotrophic bacteria from the genera Hydrogenovibrio, Thiomicrorhabdus and Thiomicrospira are common, sometimes dominant, isolates from sulfidic habitats including hydrothermal vents, soda and salt lakes and marine sediments. Their genome sequences confirm their membership in a deeply branching clade of the Gammaproteobacteria. Several adaptations to heterogeneous habitats are apparent. Their genomes include large numbers of genes for sensing and responding to their environment (EAL- and GGDEF-domain proteins and methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins) despite their small sizes (2.1-3.1 Mbp). An array of sulfur-oxidizing complexes are encoded, likely to facilitate these organisms' use of multiple forms of reduced sulfur as electron donors. Hydrogenase genes are present in some taxa, including group 1d and 2b hydrogenases in Hydrogenovibrio marinus and H. thermophilus MA2-6, acquired via horizontal gene transfer. In addition to high-affinity cbb 3 cytochrome c oxidase, some also encode cytochrome bd-type quinol oxidase or ba 3 -type cytochrome c oxidase, which could facilitate growth under different oxygen tensions, or maintain redox balance. Carboxysome operons are present in most, with genes downstream encoding transporters from four evolutionarily distinct families, which may act with the carboxysomes to form CO 2 concentrating mechanisms. These adaptations to habitat variability likely contribute to the cosmopolitan distribution of these organisms. © 2018 Society for Applied Microbiology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Post-transcriptional regulation on a global scale: form and function of Csr/Rsm systems.

PubMed

Romeo, Tony; Vakulskas, Christopher A; Babitzke, Paul

2013-02-01

Originally described as a repressor of gene expression in the stationary phase of growth, CsrA (RsmA) regulates primary and secondary metabolic pathways, biofilm formation, motility, virulence circuitry of pathogens, quorum sensing and stress response systems by binding to conserved sequences in its target mRNAs and altering their translation and/or turnover. While the binding of CsrA to RNA is understood at an atomic level, new mechanisms of gene activation and repression by this protein are still emerging. In the γ-proteobacteria, small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) use molecular mimicry to sequester multiple CsrA dimers away from mRNA. In contrast, the FliW protein of Bacillus subtilis inhibits CsrA activity by binding to this protein, thereby establishing a checkpoint in flagellum morphogenesis. Turnover of CsrB and CsrC sRNAs in Escherichia coli requires a specificity protein of the GGDEF-EAL domain superfamily, CsrD, in addition to the housekeeping nucleases RNase E and PNPase. The Csr system of E. coli contains extensive autoregulatory circuitry, which governs the expression and activity of CsrA. Interaction of the Csr system with transcriptional regulatory networks results in a variety of complex response patterns. This minireview will highlight basic principles and new insights into the workings of these complex eubacterial regulatory systems. © 2012 Society for Applied Microbiology and Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

The extremophile Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans possesses a c-di-GMP signalling pathway that could play a significant role during bioleaching of minerals.

PubMed

Ruiz, L M; Castro, M; Barriga, A; Jerez, C A; Guiliani, N

2012-02-01

  The primary goal of this study was to characterize the existence of a functional c-di-GMP pathway in the bioleaching bacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans.   A bioinformatic search revealed that the genome sequence of At. ferrooxidans ATCC 23270 codes for several proteins involved in the c-di-GMP pathway, including diguanylate cyclases (DGC), phosphodiesterases and PilZ effector proteins. Overexpression in Escherichia coli demonstrated that four At. ferrooxidans genes code for proteins containing GGDEF/EAL domains with functional DGC activity. MS/MS analysis allowed the identification of c-di-GMP in nucleotide preparations obtained from At. ferrooxidans cells. In addition, c-di-GMP levels in cells grown on the surface of solid energetic substrates such as sulfur prills or pyrite were higher than those measured in ferrous iron planktonic cells.   At. ferrooxidans possesses a functional c-di-GMP pathway that could play a key role in At. ferrooxidans biofilm formation during bioleaching processes.   This is the first global study about the c-di-GMP pathway in an acidophilic bacterium of great interest for the biomining industry. It opens a new way to explore the regulation of biofilm formation by biomining micro-organisms during the bioleaching process. © 2011 The Authors. Letters in Applied Microbiology © 2011 The Society for Applied Microbiology.

Two functions of early language experience.

PubMed

Arshavsky, Yuri I

2009-05-01

The unique human ability of linguistic communication, defined as the ability to produce a practically infinite number of meaningful messages using a finite number of lexical items, is determined by an array of "linguistic" genes, which are expressed in neurons forming domain-specific linguistic centers in the brain. In this review, I discuss the idea that infants' early language experience performs two complementary functions. In addition to allowing infants to assimilate the words and grammar rules of their mother language, early language experience initiates genetic programs underlying language production and comprehension. This hypothesis explains many puzzling characteristics of language acquisition, such as the existence of a critical period for acquiring the first language and the absence of a critical period for the acquisition of additional language(s), a similar timetable for language acquisition in children belonging to families of different social and cultural status, the strikingly similar timetables in the acquisition of oral and sign languages, and the surprisingly small correlation between individuals' final linguistic competence and the intensity of their training. Based on the studies of microcephalic individuals, I argue that genetic factors determine not only the number of neurons and organization of interneural connections within linguistic centers, but also the putative internal properties of neurons that are not limited to their electrophysiological and synaptic properties.

A survey of North Carolina safety-net dental clinics' methods for communicating with patients of limited english proficiency (LEP).

PubMed

Hammersmith, Kimberly J; Lee, Jessica Y

2009-01-01

Dental providers are increasingly challenged in communicating with patients with limited English proficiency (LEP). Accordingly, the purpose of the study was to examine methods of communicating with patients with LEP in North Carolina (NC) safety-net dental clinics as perceived by dental staff. An anonymous, 36-item, cross-sectional survey was distributed to representatives of 68 NC safety-net dental clinics. Question domains included: a) a perceived need for language services; b) methods of language services provided; c) perceptions of dental staff about dental care experiences for patients with LEP; and d) perceived legal and financial roles in providing language services. Of the 68 clinics, 55 responded (81 percent). All clinics reported treating patients with LEP, and 93 percent of clinics reported a need for providing language services. Many clinics used multiple methods to provide language services. Some clinics reported differences in treatment recommendations (13 percent), treatment provided (19 percent), and visit length (61 percent) for patients with LEP. All responded that additional costs are incurred to treat patients with LEP, and only 69 percent of responding clinics recognized legal obligations of treating patients with LEP. There is a reported need for language services in NC safety-net dental clinics. These services often resulted in additional costs to the dental clinic. To maintain the quality of care and to comply with legal requirements related to dental patients with LEP, additional funding sources might be required to recruit multilingual staff, support language services in dental clinics, and provide language skills training for practicing dentists. Additionally, studies are suggested to measure the perception of the effectiveness of communication methods of patients with LEP.

Practical Techniques for Language Design and Prototyping

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-01-01

Practical Techniques for Language Design and Prototyping Mark-Oliver Stehr1 and Carolyn L. Talcott2 1 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign...cs.stanford.edu Abstract. Global computing involves the interplay of a vast variety of languages , but practially useful foundations for language ...framework, namely rewriting logic, that allows us to express (1) and (2) and, in addition, language aspects such as concurrency and non-determinism. We

Conversational Interaction and the Development of Conversational Competence in Additional Languages in Higher Education: Considerations for Students, Language Centres, and Language Policy Developers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Meyer, Stephan; Blondel, Valérie; Mall-Grob, Beatrice

2017-01-01

This article addresses the questions: why is the development of conversational competence important within higher education? And how might this goal be pursued? We offer answers that may aid a broad range of stakeholders (language learners, course designers, lecturers, language development managers, and policy makers) in thinking through these…

Commercial Language, Business Economics, and the Liberal Arts Curriculum.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sell, John W.; And Others

A program at the College of Wooster (Ohio) in commercial language and international business is described. The program was undertaken with private funds and within the context of a traditional liberal arts college. It has three main curricular goals: (1) additional training of language instructors for language courses that would include the…

A Preliminary Survey of the Preferred Learning Methods for Interpretation Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Heinz, Michael

2013-01-01

There are many different methods that individuals use to learn languages like reading books or writing essays. Not all methods are equally successful for second language learners but nor do all successful learners of a second language show identical preferences for learning methods. Additionally, at the highest level of language learning various…

Knowledge, Skills, and Training in Second Language Acquisition: A Comparative Study of Preservice Teachers' Perceptions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilson, Christine

2017-01-01

Preservice teachers must have opportunities in their university teaching programs to apply theories of second language learning. Courses in second language acquisition and English as a second language methodology are essential to prepare mainstream teachers for teaching culturally and linguistically diverse learners. Additionally, creating a…

Operationalization of Sign Language Phonological Similarity and Its Effects on Lexical Access

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Williams, Joshua T.; Stone, Adam; Newman, Sharlene D.

2017-01-01

Cognitive mechanisms for sign language lexical access are fairly unknown. This study investigated whether phonological similarity facilitates lexical retrieval in sign languages using measures from a new lexical database for American Sign Language. Additionally, it aimed to determine which similarity metric best fits the present data in order to…

Comparability of a Paper-Based Language Test and a Computer-Based Language Test.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Choi, Inn-Chull; Kim, Kyoung Sung; Boo, Jaeyool

2003-01-01

Utilizing the Test of English Proficiency, developed by Seoul National University (TEPS), examined comparability between the paper-based language test and the computer-based language test based on content and construct validation employing content analyses based on corpus linguistic techniques in addition to such statistical analyses as…

An Alternative Approach to Identifying a Dimension in Second Language Proficiency.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Griffin, Patrick E.; And Others

Current practice in language testing has not yet integrated classical test theory with assessment of language skills. In addition, language testing needs to be part of theory development. Lack of sound testing procedures can lead to problems in research design and ultimately, inappropriate theory development. The debate over dimensionality of…

The Development of Executive Function and Language Skills in the Early School Years

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gooch, Debbie; Thompson, Paul; Nash, Hannah M.; Snowling, Margaret J.; Hulme, Charles

2016-01-01

Background: The developmental relationships between executive functions (EF) and early language skills are unclear. This study explores the longitudinal relationships between children's early EF and language skills in a sample of children with a wide range of language abilities including children at risk of dyslexia. In addition, we investigated…

Culturally/Linguistically Different Children: Report Writing Guidelines for Speech-Language Pathologists [and] Summary of Project Communicate.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schloff, Rose-Laurie; Martinez, Silvia

Guidelines for writing assessments of the English language skills of minority, bilingual, preschool and elementary school children are presented for monolingual speech-language pathologists. In addition, a project (Project Communicate) providing direct client services and training of speech-language pathologists is briefly described. With regard…

Effect of the Affordances of a Virtual Environment on Second Language Oral Proficiency

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carruthers, Heidy P. Cuervo

2013-01-01

The traditional language laboratory consists of computer-based exercises in which students practice the language individually, working on language form drills and listening comprehension activities. In addition to the traditional approach to the laboratory requirement, students in the study participated in a weekly conversation hour focusing on…

It's Not in the Curriculum: Adult English Language Teachers and LGBQ Topics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rhodes, Christy M.; Coda, James

2017-01-01

For adult English language learners, the English language classroom provides a space for students to examine cultural as well other identities. However, discussions often center on racial, rather than sexual identities. In addition, attention to how adult English language instructors engage in classroom practices that focus on sexual identities is…

Classroom Composition and Language Minority Students' Motivation in Language Lessons

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rjosk, Camilla; Richter, Dirk; Hochweber, Jan; Lüdtke, Oliver; Stanat, Petra

2015-01-01

In this study, we investigated effects of the proportion of language minority students in classrooms on the development of students' intrinsic motivation in language lessons and the mediating role of instructional climate (e.g., teacher support, focus on student interests). In addition, we explored the interaction between the proportion of…

Language Learning Disabilities: The Ultimate Foreign Language Challenge

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

DiFino, Sharon M.; Lombardino, Linda J.

2004-01-01

In today's world where great value is placed on global understanding, the acquisition of languages is essential. Academics would agree that the study of other languages provides students access to the cultural and intellectual heritage of cultures other than their own. Additionally, such study gives new and different perspectives on the structure…

Genetics Home Reference: FOXP2-related speech and language disorder

MedlinePlus

... relatively uncommon cause of problems with speech and language development. The total prevalence of childhood apraxia of speech ... in their activity lead to abnormal speech and language development. Additional features that are sometimes associated with FOXP2 - ...

POS-Tagging for informal language (study in Indonesian tweets)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suryawati, Endang; Munandar, Devi; Riswantini, Dianadewi; Fatchuttamam Abka, Achmad; Arisal, Andria

2018-03-01

This paper evaluates Part-of-Speech Tagging for the formal Indonesian language can be used for the tagging process of Indonesian tweets. In this study, we add five additional tags which reflect to social media attributes to the existing original tagset. Automatic POS tagging process is done by stratified training process with 1000, 1600, and 1800 of annotated tweets. It shows that the process can achieve up to 66.36% accuracy. The experiment with original tagset gives slightly better accuracy (67.39%) than the experiment with five additional tags, but will lose important informations which given by the five additional tagset.POS-Tagging for Informal Language (Study in Indonesian Tweets).

L1 and L2 Distance Effects in Learning L3 Dutch

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schepens, Job J.; der Slik, Frans; Hout, Roeland

2016-01-01

Many people speak more than two languages. How do languages acquired earlier affect the learnability of additional languages? We show that linguistic distances between speakers' first (L1) and second (L2) languages and their third (L3) language play a role. Larger distances from the L1 to the L3 and from the L2 to the L3 correlate with lower…

A Roadmap for True Accountability: Reconceptualizing Language-Learning Services, Reclassification Practices and Monitoring Systems for English Language Learners in U.S. Public Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Slama, Rachel B.

2012-01-01

A major problem facing educators in the United States is how to determine when the nation's five million English language learners (ELL) are ready to exit language-learning programs, i.e. to be "reclassified" as fluent English proficient (R-FEP) and placed in mainstream classrooms without additional language support. No Child Left Behind…

The Effect on Cumulative Language Acquisition Increase for English Language Learner Students in Kindergarten through Third Grade Who Attended Multiple Years of Summer Remediation Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baker, Gregory A.

2013-01-01

Already academically at risk, students in the rapidly growing English Language Learner (ELL) student population in the United States face additional challenges due to regression of English language acquisition over the average ten-week agrarian summer break when they return to homes in which Spanish was the primary language spoken. While the…

Europa Small Lander Design Concepts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zimmerman, W. F.

2005-12-01

Title: Europa Small Lander Design Concepts Authors: Wayne F. Zimmerman, James Shirley, Robert Carlson, Tom Rivellini, Mike Evans One of the primary goals of NASA's Outer Planets Program is to revisit the Jovian system. A new Europa Geophysical Explorer (EGE) Mission has been proposed and is under evaluation. There is in addition strong community interest in a surface science mission to Europa. A Europa Lander might be delivered to the Jovian system with the EGE orbiter. A Europa Astrobiology Lander (EAL) Mission has also been proposed; this would launch sometime after 2020. The primary science objectives for either of these would most likely include: Surface imaging (both microscopic and near-field), characterization of surface mechanical properties (temperature, hardness), assessment of surface and near-surface organic and inorganic chemistry (volatiles, mineralogy, and compounds), characterization of the radiation environment (total dose and particles), characterization of the planetary seismicity, and the measurement of Europa's magnetic field. The biggest challenges associated with getting to the surface and surviving to perform science investigations revolve around the difficulty of landing on an airless body, the ubiquitous extreme topography, the harsh radiation environment, and the extreme cold. This presentation reviews some the recent design work on drop-off probes, also called "hard landers". Hard lander designs have been developed for a range of science payload delivery systems spanning small impactors to multiple science pods tethered to a central hub. In addition to developing designs for these various payload delivery systems, significant work has been done in weighing the relative merits of standard power systems (i.e., batteries) against radioisotope power systems. A summary of the power option accommodation benefits and issues will be presented. This work was performed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract from NASA,

Hospital-based glaucoma clinics: what are the costs to patients?

PubMed

Sharma, A; Jofre-Bonet, M; Panca, M; Lawrenson, J G; Murdoch, I

2010-06-01

To investigate the costs to patients attending hospital-based glaucoma clinics. A patient-based costs questionnaire was developed and completed for patients attending six ophthalmology units across London (Ealing General Hospital, St Georges Hospital, Mile End Hospital, Upney Centre Barking, St Ann's Hospital and the Royal London Hospital). The questionnaire considered age, sex, ethnicity as well as patient-based costs, opportunity costs, and companion costs. All patients visiting for review or appointments were approached non-selectively. A total of 100 patients were sampled from each unit. The mean age of the full sample was 69.6 years (SD 12.6), with little variation between sites (68.5-71.8 years). There was an almost equal sex distribution (male (298 (50.6%)). There was no major difference in occupational distribution between sites. The majority of people came to hospital by bus (40%) or car (26%). Female patients went slightly more by cab or car, whereas male patients went slightly more by foot or train. There was some variability in transport method by site. The data showed that the Royal London hospital had the highest mean cost per visit (pound16.20), whereas St Georges had the lowest (pound12.90). Upney had the second highest mean cost per visit (pound15.20), whereas Ealing and St Ann's had similar mean costs of (pound13.25) and (pound13), respectively. Travel costs accounted for about one-fifth of the total patient's costs. For all glaucoma clinics, total societal costs were higher than the sum of patients' costs because of the high frequency of companions. A surprising finding was that two-thirds of the population (392 or 66.6%) reported no qualification-considerably higher than the national census statistics for the same population. To our knowledge this paper presents direct and indirect patient costs in attending hospital glaucoma units for the first time. It highlights the significance of opportunity costs when considering health-care interventions as they amount to a third or more of the total costs of patient attendances to clinics.

Involvement of oxidative and nitrosative stress in promoting retinal vasculitis in patients with Eales' disease.

PubMed

Rajesh, Mohanraj; Sulochana, Konerirajapuram N; Punitham, Ranganathan; Biswas, Jyotirmay; Lakshmi, Soundarajan; Ramakrishnan, Sivaramakrishnan

2003-07-01

Eales' disease (ED) is an idiopathic retinal vasculitis condition, which affects retina of young adult males. The histopathological hallmark in ED is the adhesion of leukocytes to the endothelium and the infiltration of these cells into the retinal parenchyma. Phagocyte generated free radicals have been implicated in mediating tissue damage associated with various inflammatory vasculopathies. In the present study, we have investigated the possible role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in causing retinal tissue damage in ED. 35 patients with ED and 20 healthy control subjects were included in the study. Monocytes (MC) were separated from peripheral blood of the respective study participants. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein expression was assessed using Western blot and 3 nitrotyrosine (3NTYR) by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP HPLC). Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were determined by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) formed. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was assayed based on the ability of SOD to inhibit auto-oxidation of epinephrine. Iron, copper and zinc content were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Immunolocalization of iNOS and 3NTYR was performed on the surgically excised epiretinal membranes (ERM) from patients with ED. There was a significant increase in the expression of iNOS, as well as 3NTYR accumulation, diminished SOD activity, elevated lipid peroxides, iron, copper and decreased zinc content in the MC of patients with ED when compared with healthy control subjects. The elevated levels of ROS and RNS products correlated with diminished antioxidant status in patients with ED. Strong immunoreactivity for iNOS and 3NTYR was observed in inflammatory cells and endothelial cells in ERM obtained from patients with ED. Our findings from this study clearly reveal the involvement of RNS and ROS in the development of retinal vasculitis in ED. Based on our present study and earlier studies we confirm the role of free radicals in mediating retinal tissue damage in ED. Hence we believe selective inhibition of iNOS or supplementation with antioxidants vitamin E and C might be beneficial in controlling retinal vasculitis in patients with ED.

Relations among Language Exposure, Phonological Memory, and Language Development in Spanish-English Bilingually-Developing Two-Year-Olds

PubMed Central

Parra, Marisol; Hoff, Erika; Core, Cynthia

2010-01-01

The relation of phonological memory to language experience and development was investigated in 41 Spanish-English bilingual first language learners. The children’s relative exposure to English and Spanish and phonological memory for English-like and Spanish-like nonwords were assessed at 22 months; their productive vocabulary and grammar in both languages were assessed at 25 months. Phonological memory for English- and Spanish-like nonwords were highly correlated, and each was related to vocabulary and grammar in both languages, suggesting a language-general component to phonological memory skill. In addition, there was evidence of language-specific benefits of language exposure to phonological memory skill and of language-specific benefits of phonological memory skill to language development. PMID:20828710

Bilinguals’ Existing Languages Benefit Vocabulary Learning in a Third Language

PubMed Central

Bartolotti, James; Marian, Viorica

2017-01-01

Learning a new language involves substantial vocabulary acquisition. Learners can accelerate this process by relying on words with native-language overlap, such as cognates. For bilingual third language learners, it is necessary to determine how their two existing languages interact during novel language learning. A scaffolding account predicts transfer from either language for individual words, whereas an accumulation account predicts cumulative transfer from both languages. To compare these accounts, twenty English-German bilingual adults were taught an artificial language containing 48 novel written words that varied orthogonally in English and German wordlikeness (neighborhood size and orthotactic probability). Wordlikeness in each language improved word production accuracy, and similarity to one language provided the same benefit as dual-language overlap. In addition, participants’ memory for novel words was affected by the statistical distributions of letters in the novel language. Results indicate that bilinguals utilize both languages during third language acquisition, supporting a scaffolding learning model. PMID:28781384

Bilinguals' Existing Languages Benefit Vocabulary Learning in a Third Language.

PubMed

Bartolotti, James; Marian, Viorica

2017-03-01

Learning a new language involves substantial vocabulary acquisition. Learners can accelerate this process by relying on words with native-language overlap, such as cognates. For bilingual third language learners, it is necessary to determine how their two existing languages interact during novel language learning. A scaffolding account predicts transfer from either language for individual words, whereas an accumulation account predicts cumulative transfer from both languages. To compare these accounts, twenty English-German bilingual adults were taught an artificial language containing 48 novel written words that varied orthogonally in English and German wordlikeness (neighborhood size and orthotactic probability). Wordlikeness in each language improved word production accuracy, and similarity to one language provided the same benefit as dual-language overlap. In addition, participants' memory for novel words was affected by the statistical distributions of letters in the novel language. Results indicate that bilinguals utilize both languages during third language acquisition, supporting a scaffolding learning model.

Real-Time Processing of ASL Signs: Delayed First Language Acquisition Affects Organization of the Mental Lexicon

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lieberman, Amy M.; Borovsky, Arielle; Hatrak, Marla; Mayberry, Rachel I.

2015-01-01

Sign language comprehension requires visual attention to the linguistic signal and visual attention to referents in the surrounding world, whereas these processes are divided between the auditory and visual modalities for spoken language comprehension. Additionally, the age-onset of first language acquisition and the quality and quantity of…

Europe's Babylon: Towards a Single European Language? Esperanto Documents 41A.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fettes, Mark

Discussion of the establishment of a single language for Europe's many countries and cultures focuses on the debate over English versus Esperanto as the language of choice. It is argued that the notion that language has not been a major barrier to intellectual exchange is a myth. In addition, while the main European political institutions support…

Influence of Linguistic Environment on Children's Language Development: Flemish versus Dutch Children

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wiefferink, C. H.; Spaai, G. W. G.; Uilenburg, N.; Vermeij, B. A. M.; De Raeve, L.

2008-01-01

In the present study, language development of Dutch children with a cochlear implant (CI) in a bilingual educational setting and Flemish children with a CI in a dominantly monolingual educational setting is compared. In addition, we compared the development of spoken language with the development of sign language in Dutch children. Eighteen…

Chine: Les Chances du Francais (The Fortunes of the French Language in China).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shuning, Zhang

1996-01-01

Examines the current situation in China surrounding the teaching of French as a Foreign Language. After the decline of French teaching subsequent to the Cultural Revolution, the language returned to favor around 1970. Chinese students are infatuated with French; many study it as a first or second foreign language. Additionally, French literature…

The Efficacy of Early Language Intervention in Mainstream School Settings: A Randomized Controlled Trial

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fricke, Silke; Burgoyne, Kelly; Bowyer-Crane, Claudine; Kyriacou, Maria; Zosimidou, Alexandra; Maxwell, Liam; Lervåg, Arne; Snowling, Margaret J.; Hulme, Charles

2017-01-01

Background: Oral language skills are a critical foundation for literacy and more generally for educational success. The current study shows that oral language skills can be improved by providing suitable additional help to children with language difficulties in the early stages of formal education. Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled…

Investigating the Influence of the Open Court Language Arts Curriculum on Standardized Test Scores

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eastman, Denise Nicole

2012-01-01

Language Arts is one of the most important subjects for students to learn. Encompassing reading, writing, and comprehension, skills learned through Language Arts instruction influence student ability to reach levels of academic achievement in all subjects. Additionally, Language Arts skills reach far past the classroom and into the workplace. In…

Unlocking the Grid: Language-in-Education Policy Realisation in Post-Apartheid South Africa

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Plüddemann, Peter

2015-01-01

This paper reflects on the state of educational language policy two decades into a post-Apartheid South Africa caught between official multilingualism and English. The focus is on the national language-in-education policy (LiEP) that advocates additive bi/multilingualism, and a provincial counterpart, the language transformation plan (LTP). Using…

Web-Based English Language Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sarica, Gulcin Nagehan; Cavus, Nadire

2008-01-01

Knowledge of another language is an advantage and it gives people to look at the world and in particular to the world's cultures with a broader perspective. Learning English as a second language is the process by which students learn it in addition to their native language. Today, internet is an important part of our lives as English. For this…

Preparing English as a Second Language Students for College Level Math

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Valenzuela, Hector

2014-01-01

In a diverse classroom, there are students who are in need of both mathematics and English as a second language instruction. One of the challenges faced at Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWIT) was the development of a pathway for English language learners into core academic courses at the college. In addition, English language learners…

Heritage Language Learners in Mixed Spanish Classes: Subtractive Practices and Perceptions of High School Spanish Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Randolph, Linwood J., Jr.

2017-01-01

This qualitative study investigated the language ideologies and instructional practices of an entire Spanish language faculty at a high school in a new gateway state for immigration. The study examined additive and subtractive practices of teachers as they strived to teach Spanish to heritage language learners (HLLs) enrolled in mixed…

A perspective on the advancement of natural language processing tasks via topological analysis of complex networks. Comment on "Approaching human language with complex networks" by Cong and Liu

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amancio, Diego Raphael

2014-12-01

Concepts and methods of complex networks have been applied to probe the properties of a myriad of real systems [1]. The finding that written texts modeled as graphs share several properties of other completely different real systems has inspired the study of language as a complex system [2]. Actually, language can be represented as a complex network in its several levels of complexity. As a consequence, morphological, syntactical and semantical properties have been employed in the construction of linguistic networks [3]. Even the character level has been useful to unfold particular patterns [4,5]. In the review by Cong and Liu [6], the authors emphasize the need to use the topological information of complex networks modeling the various spheres of the language to better understand its origins, evolution and organization. In addition, the authors cite the use of networks in applications aiming at holistic typology and stylistic variations. In this context, I will discuss some possible directions that could be followed in future research directed towards the understanding of language via topological characterization of complex linguistic networks. In addition, I will comment the use of network models for language processing applications. Additional prospects for future practical research lines will also be discussed in this comment.

Do Inclusion Practices for Pupils with Special Educational Needs in the English as a Foreign Language Class in Israel Reflect Inclusion Laws and Language Policy Requirements?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Russak, Susie

2016-01-01

The study of additional languages is mandatory for all pupils in most European countries. Usually, the first foreign language is English. This is due to the status of English as a global language. According to inclusion laws, pupils with special educational needs (SEN) should be taught in regular classes with support services by teachers with…

Dosage effects of X and Y chromosomes on language and social functioning in children with supernumerary sex chromosome aneuploidies: Implications for idiopathic language impairment and autism spectrum disorders

PubMed Central

Lee, Nancy Raitano; Wallace, Gregory L.; Adeyemi, Elizabeth I.; Lopez, Katherine C.; Blumenthal, Jonathan D.; Clasen, Liv S.; Giedd, Jay N.

2012-01-01

Background Supernumerary sex chromosome aneuploidies (X/Y-aneuploidies), the presence of extra X- and/or Y-chromosomes, are associated with heightened rates of language impairments and social difficulties. However, no single study has examined different language domains and social functioning in the same sample of children with tri-, tetra-, and pentasomy X/Y-aneuploidy. The current research sought to fill this gap in the literature and to examine dosage effects of X- and Y-chromosomes on language and social functioning. Methods Participants included 110 youth with X/Y-aneuploidies (32 female) and 52 with typical development (25 female) matched on age (mean~12 years; range 4–22) and maternal education. Participants completed the Wechsler intelligence scales and parents completed the Children’s Communication Checklist-2 and the Social Responsiveness Scale to assess language skills and autistic traits, respectively. Results Both supernumerary X- and Y-chromosomes were related to depressed structural and pragmatic language skills and increased autistic traits. The addition of a Y-chromosome had a disproportionately greater impact on pragmatic language; the addition of one or more X-chromosomes had a disproportionately greater impact on structural language. Conclusions Given that we link extra X-chromosomes with structural language impairments and an extra Y-chromosome with pragmatic language impairments, X/Y-aneuploidies may provide clues to genetic mechanisms contributing to idiopathic language impairment and autism spectrum disorders. PMID:22827287

A simple branching model that reproduces language family and language population distributions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schwämmle, Veit; de Oliveira, Paulo Murilo Castro

2009-07-01

Human history leaves fingerprints in human languages. Little is known about language evolution and its study is of great importance. Here we construct a simple stochastic model and compare its results to statistical data of real languages. The model is based on the recent finding that language changes occur independently of the population size. We find agreement with the data additionally assuming that languages may be distinguished by having at least one among a finite, small number of different features. This finite set is also used in order to define the distance between two languages, similarly to linguistics tradition since Swadesh.

76 FR 29901 - Electronic Fund Transfers

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-23

... generally be provided in English and in each of the foreign languages principally used by the remittance..., with several modifications. The proposed rule provides guidance on how and when foreign language disclosures must be provided, and proposes several foreign language disclosure alternatives. Additionally, the...

LANGUAGES OF THE WORLD--INDO-PACIFIC FASCICLE FIVE.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

VOEGELIN, FLORENCE M.

THE NON-AUSTRONESIAN LANGUAGES CENTERING IN NEW GUINEA ARE LISTED AND DESCRIBED IN THIS REPORT. IN ADDITION, SENTENCE SAMPLERS OF THE USARUFA AND WANTOAT LANGUAGES ARE PROVIDED. (THE REPORT IS PART OF A SERIES, ED 010 350 TO ED 010 367.) (JK)

Degree of handedness and cerebral dominance.

PubMed

Isaacs, Keren L; Barr, William B; Nelson, Peter Kim; Devinsky, Orrin

2006-06-27

To examine the relationship between the degree of handedness and hemispheric language dominance in patients with epilepsy. The authors examined the relationship between degree of handedness and hemispheric language dominance in 174 epilepsy surgery candidates using the intracarotid amobarbital procedure and results from a modified version of the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory. The incidence of atypical language dominance increased linearly with the degree of left-handedness, from 9% in strong right-handers (laterality quotient [LQ] = +100) to 46% in ambidextrous individuals and 69% in strong left-handers (LQ = -100). The incidence of atypical language dominance depends not only on the direction but also on the degree of handedness. In addition, direction of language dominance varies with hemisphere of seizure focus and degree of handedness. A familial history of sinistrality may have an additional effect on the likelihood of atypical dominance.

Language Learning Motivation and Language Attitudes in Multilingual Spain from an International Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lasagabaster, David

2017-01-01

In Spain, more than 40% of the population lives in officially bilingual regions in which the minority language is used as a means of instruction at school and university. In addition, the increasing importance attached to learning English has led to the proliferation of multilingual school programs in which different languages are used to teach…

Language Awareness and Perception of Connected Speech in a Second Language

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kennedy, Sara; Blanchet, Josée

2014-01-01

To be effective second or additional language (L2) listeners, learners should be aware of typical processes in connected L2 speech (e.g. linking). This longitudinal study explored how learners' developing ability to perceive connected L2 speech was related to the quality of their language awareness. Thirty-two learners of L2 French at a university…

Reconceptualizing and Describing Teachers' Knowledge of Language for Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Morton, Tom

2018-01-01

Content and language integrated learning (CLIL) is an approach to bilingual education in which academic content and an additional language are taught at the same time. It is growing rapidly throughout the world, with the medium of instruction in most CLIL classrooms being English. This means that many teachers around the world are teaching…

Multilingual Learners and Foreign Language Acquisition: Insights into the Effects of Prior Linguistic Knowledge

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

de la Fuente, Anahí Alba; Lacroix, Hugues

2015-01-01

In foreign language classrooms we often find that, in addition to their mother tongue (L1), learners already speak--or are learning--at least one other language. As a result, they already have an array of linguistic and cognitive skills that may prove very useful if they are adequately exploited during the language learning process. However, in…

Transforming Language Ideologies through Action Research: A Case Study of Bilingual Science Learning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Eunah

This qualitative case study explored a third grade bilingual teacher's transformative language ideologies through participating in a collaborative action research project. By merging language ideologies theory, Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT), and action research, I was able to identify the analytic focus of this study. I analyzed how one teacher and I, the researcher, collaboratively reflected on classroom language practices during the video analysis meetings and focus groups. Further, I analyzed twelve videos that we coded together to see the changes in the teacher's language practices over time. My unit of analysis was the discourse practice mediated by additive language ideologies. Throughout the collaborative action research process, we both critically reflected on the classroom language use. We also developed a critical consciousness about the participatory shifts and learning of focal English Learner (EL) students. Finally, the teacher made changes to her classroom language practices. The results of this study will contribute to the literacy education research field for theoretical, methodological, and practical insights. The integration of language ideologies, CHAT, and action research can help educational practitioners, researchers, and policy makers understand the importance of transforming teachers' language ideologies in designing additive learning contexts for ELs. From a methodological perspective, the transformative language ideologies through researcher and teacher collaborated video analysis process provide a unique contribution to the language ideologies in education literature, with analytic triangulation. As a practical implication, this study suggests action research can be one of the teacher education tools to help the teachers transform language ideologies for EL education.

Transform Modern Language Learning through Mobile Devices

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tuttle, Harry Grover

2013-01-01

College professors can transform their modern language classes through mobile devices. Their students' learning becomes more active, more personalized, more contextual, and more culturally authentic as illustrated through the author's modern language mobile learning classroom examples. In addition, their students engage in many diverse types of…

Defense Contracting: Actions Needed to Explore Additional Opportunities to Gain Efficiencies in Acquiring Foreign Language Support

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-02-25

Directive 5160.41E, Defense Language Program . 10GAO-11-456. Page 5 GAO-13-251R Defense Contracting types of foreign language support that DOD has acquired...Language Transformation Roadmap, (January 2005), and Department of Defense Directive 5160.41E, Defense Language Program . Page 15 GAO-13-251R Defense...examines the use of public funds; evaluates federal programs and policies; and provides analyses, recommendations, and other assistance to help

Facing Bilingual Education: Kindergarten Teachers' Attitudes, Strategies and Challenges

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schwartz, Mila; Mor-Sommerfeld, Aura; Leikin, Mark

2010-01-01

This article examines how majority-language teachers coping with additive education view their roles in a bilingual framework, how they perceive issues of culture and language in young bilingual children, and how they understand the term "bilingual education" in an L2 non-additive context. The study has been conducted in the context of…

Shaving Bridges and Tuning Kitaraa: The Effect of Language Switching on Semantic Processing

PubMed Central

Hut, Suzanne C. A.; Leminen, Alina

2017-01-01

Language switching has been repeatedly found to be costly. Yet, there are reasons to believe that switches in language might benefit language comprehension in some groups of people, such as less proficient language learners. This study therefore investigated the interplay between language switching and semantic processing in groups with varying language proficiency. EEG was recorded while L2 learners of English with intermediate and high proficiency levels read semantically congruent or incongruent sentences in L2. Translations of congruent and incongruent target words were additionally presented in L1 to create intrasentential language switches. A control group of English native speakers was tested in order to compare responses to non-switched stimuli with those of L2 learners. An omnibus ANOVA including all groups revealed larger N400 responses for non-switched incongruent stimuli compared to congruent stimuli. Additionally, despite switches to L1 at target word position, semantic N400 responses were still elicited in both L2 learner groups. Further switching effects were reflected by an N400-like effect and a late positivity complex, pointing to possible parsing efforts after language switches. Our results therefore show that although language switches are associated with increased mental effort, switches may not necessarily be costly on the semantic level. This finding contributes to the ongoing discussion on language inhibition processes, and shows that, in these intermediate and high proficient L2 learners, semantic processes look similar to those of native speakers of English. PMID:28900402

Perception of Paralinguistic Intonational Meaning in a Second Language

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chen, Aoju

2009-01-01

Recent studies of paralinguistic intonational meaning show that languages differ systematically in how pitch range is used to signal meaning differences, contra previous claims. This poses an additional challenge to second language learners, who generally receive little tutoring on intonation. This study investigates learners' competence and…

Applied Linguistics and Primary School Teaching

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ellis, Sue, Ed.; McCartney, Elspeth, Ed.

2011-01-01

Modern primary teachers must adapt literacy programmes and ensure efficient learning for all. They must also support children with language and literacy difficulties, children learning English as an additional language and possibly teach a modern foreign language. To do this effectively, they need to understand the applied linguistics research…

Language across Cultures. Proceedings of a Symposium (St. Patrick's College, Dublin, Ireland, July 8-9, 1983).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mathuna, Liam Mac; Singleton, David

Papers presented at the symposium on the relationship between language and culture include, in addition to an opening adress: "Sociosemiotics Across Cultures" (Wolfgang Kuhlwein); "Translation Across Languages or Across Cultures?" (Albrecht Neubert); "Grammatical Categories Across Cultures" (Olga Tomic); "On…

The Development of English Grammar and Reading Comprehension by Majority and Minority Language Children in a Bilingual Primary School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Steinlen, Anja K.

2017-01-01

Both for the first language (L1) and for all additional languages (L2 or L3), grammatical knowledge plays a vital role in understanding texts (e.g., Grabe, 2005). However, little is known about the development and interaction of grammar and reading comprehension in beginning foreign language learning, especially with respect to children with a…

Cognitive and Linguistic Predictors of Basic Arithmetic Skills: Evidence from First-Language and Second-Language Learners

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kleemans, Tijs; Segers, Eliane; Verhoeven, Ludo

2014-01-01

The present study investigated the role of both cognitive and linguistic predictors in basic arithmetic skills (i.e., addition and subtraction) in 69 first-language (L1) learners and 60 second-language (L2) learners from the second grade of primary schools in the Netherlands. All children were tested on non-verbal intelligence, working memory,…

Impacto de un programa de lectura extensiva en la adquisicion de una segunda lengua (Impact of an Extensive Reading Program on Second Language Acquisition).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Coll, Ana; And Others

This study investigates the application of Krashen's Input Hypothesis, studying the relationship between exposure to the target language and language acquisition within the context of the English-as-a-foreign-language secondary classroom in Spain. The project studied the effect of additional reading instruction with emphasis on reading for…

15-Month-Olds’ Transfer of Learning between Touch Screen and Real-World Displays: Language Cues and Cognitive Loads

PubMed Central

Zack, Elizabeth; Gerhardstein, Peter; Meltzoff, Andrew N.; Barr, Rachel

2012-01-01

Infants have difficulty transferring information between 2D and 3D sources. The current study extends Zack et al.’s (2009) touch screen imitation task to examine whether the addition of specific language cues significantly facilitates 15-month-olds’ transfer of learning between touch screens and real-world 3D objects. The addition of two kinds of linguistic cues (object label plus verb or nonsense name) did not elevate action imitation significantly above levels observed when such language cues were not used. Language cues hindered infants’ performance in the 3D→2D direction of transfer, but only for the object label plus verb condition. The lack of a facilitative effect of language is discussed in terms of competing cognitive loads imposed by conjointly transferring information across dimensions and processing linguistic cues in an action imitation task at this age. PMID:23121508

Computer Language For Optimization Of Design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Scotti, Stephen J.; Lucas, Stephen H.

1991-01-01

SOL is computer language geared to solution of design problems. Includes mathematical modeling and logical capabilities of computer language like FORTRAN; also includes additional power of nonlinear mathematical programming methods at language level. SOL compiler takes SOL-language statements and generates equivalent FORTRAN code and system calls. Provides syntactic and semantic checking for recovery from errors and provides detailed reports containing cross-references to show where each variable used. Implemented on VAX/VMS computer systems. Requires VAX FORTRAN compiler to produce executable program.

Conversation Analysis in Computer-Assisted Language Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

González-Lloret, Marta

2015-01-01

The use of Conversation Analysis (CA) in the study of technology-mediated interactions is a recent methodological addition to qualitative research in the field of Computer-assisted Language Learning (CALL). The expansion of CA in Second Language Acquisition research, coupled with the need for qualitative techniques to explore how people interact…

Language Learners' and Teachers' Perceptions of Task Repetition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ahmadian, Mohammad Javad; Mansouri, Seyyed Abbas; Ghominejad, Shiva

2017-01-01

This study examined how English language learners and teachers perceive and interpret task repetition (TR), and whether teachers' and learners' views about this pedagogic practice correspond. In addition, the study explored learners' cognitive and affective engagement with TR. We asked eight experienced language teachers to use a structured…

40 CFR 69.52 - Non-motor vehicle diesel fuel.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... heating oil shall include the language specified in 40 CFR 80.590(a) applicable to undyed diesel fuel for the appropriate sulfur level, and the following additional language as applicable: (1) For exempt NRLM... motor vehicle diesel fuel shall contain the following language for the applicable sulfur level and time...

Speech and Language Therapy Intervention in Schizophrenia: A Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clegg, Judy; Brumfitt, Shelagh; Parks, Randolph W.; Woodruff, Peter W. R.

2007-01-01

Background: There is a significant body of evidence documenting the speech and language abnormalities found in adult psychiatric disorders. These speech and language impairments can create additional social barriers for the individual and may hinder effective communication in psychiatric treatment and management. However, the role of speech and…

Rethinking the Connection between Working Memory and Language Impairment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Archibald, Lisa M. D.; Harder Griebeling, Katherine

2016-01-01

Background: Working memory deficits have been found for children with specific language impairment (SLI) on tasks imposing increasing short-term memory load with or without additional, consistent (and simple) processing load. Aims: To examine the processing function of working memory in children with low language (LL) by employing tasks imposing…

The Influence of Bilingualism on Third Language Acquisition: Focus on Multilingualism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cenoz, Jasone

2013-01-01

This paper focuses on the advantages that bilinguals have over monolinguals when acquiring an additional language. Bilinguals are more experienced language learners and have potentially developed learning strategies to a larger extent than monolinguals. They also have a larger linguistic and intercultural repertoire at their disposal. In this…

Teaching Culture in the EFL/ESL Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tran, Thu Hoang

2010-01-01

This article is intended to discuss prominent issues in teaching culture to second and foreign language students. The concepts of language and culture will be defined, respectively. Next, the characteristics and components of culture will be presented. In addition, commonly used terms in language and culture including enculturation, acculturation,…

Getting ER into the Curriculum: No More Excuses!

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ewert, Doreen

2017-01-01

Extensive reading (ER) is a research and theory-supported approach for language and reading development in an additional language, yet its implementation is limited, particularly in English-dominant contexts. This article addresses many of the uncertainties and perceived obstacles to adding ER to a language curriculum. After reviewing relevant…

Reconceptualising "Identity Slippage": Additional Language Learning and (L2) Identity Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Armour, William

2009-01-01

This paper reconsiders the theoretical concept of "identity slippage" by considering a detailed exegesis of three model conversations taught to learners of Japanese as an additional language. To inform my analysis of these conversations and how they contribute to identity slippage, I have used the work of the systemic-functional linguist Jay Lemke…

Learning to Solve Addition and Subtraction Word Problems in English as an Imported Language

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Verzosa, Debbie Bautista; Mulligan, Joanne

2013-01-01

This paper reports an intervention phase of a design study aimed to assist second-grade Filipino children in solving addition word problems in English, a language they primarily encounter only in school. With Filipino as the medium of instruction, an out-of-school pedagogical intervention providing linguistic and representational scaffolds was…

Estimated effects of in utero cocaine exposure on language development through early adolescence.

PubMed

Bandstra, Emmalee S; Morrow, Connie E; Accornero, Veronica H; Mansoor, Elana; Xue, Lihua; Anthony, James C

2011-01-01

The potential longitudinal effects of prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) on language functioning were estimated from early childhood through early adolescence in a large, well-retained urban sample of 451 full-term children (242 cocaine-exposed, 209 non-cocaine-exposed) participating in the Miami Prenatal Cocaine Study (MPCS). The sample was enrolled prospectively at birth, with documentation of prenatal drug exposure status through maternal interview, and toxicology assays of maternal and infant urine, and infant meconium. Age-appropriate versions of the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals (CELF) were used to measure total, expressive, and receptive language at ages 3, 5, and 12years. Longitudinal latent growth curve (LLGC) modeling of the data revealed an association between PCE (measured dichotomously as yes/no) and lower functioning in expressive and total language scores, after considering other sources of variation including child's age at testing, sex, prenatal exposure to alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco, and additional medical and social-demographic covariates. Analyses of level of PCE showed a gradient, i.e. dose-dependent, relationship between PCE level and expressive, receptive, and total language scores in the models controlling for age, child's sex, and other prenatal drug exposures. With additional covariate control these findings were most stable for the total language score. The evidence supports an inference about an enduring stable cocaine-specific effect on children's language abilities, with no effect on language growth over time in the longitudinal trajectory of language development. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Cultural responses to pain in UK children of primary school age: a mixed-methods study.

PubMed

Azize, Pary M; Endacott, Ruth; Cattani, Allegra; Humphreys, Ann

2014-06-01

Pain-measurement tools are often criticized for not addressing the influence of culture and ethnicity on pain. This study examined how children who speak English as a primary or additional language discuss pain. Two methods were used in six focus group interviews with 34 children aged 4-7 years: (i) use of drawings from the Pediatric Pain Inventory to capture the language used by children to describe pain; and (ii) observation of the children's placing of pain drawings on red/amber/green paper to denote perceived severity of pain. The findings demonstrated that children with English as an additional language used less elaborate language when talking about pain, but tended to talk about the pictures prior to deciding where they should be placed. For these children, there was a positive significant relationship between language, age, and length of stay in the UK. The children's placement of pain drawings varied according to language background, sex, and age. The findings emphasize the need for sufficient time to assess pain adequately in children who do not speak English as a first language. © 2013 Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

The RNA binding protein CsrA controls c-di-GMP metabolism by directly regulating the expression of GGDEF proteins

PubMed Central

Jonas, Kristina; Edwards, Adrianne N.; Simm, Roger; Romeo, Tony; Römling, Ute; Melefors, Öjar

2009-01-01

Summary The carbon storage regulator CsrA is an RNA binding protein that controls carbon metabolism, biofilm formation and motility in various eubacteria. Nevertheless, in Escherichia coli only five target mRNAs have been shown to be directly regulated by CsrA at the post-transcriptional level. Here we identified two new direct targets for CsrA, ycdT and ydeH, both of which encode proteins with GGDEF domains. A csrA mutation caused mRNA levels of ycdT and ydeH to increase more than 10-fold. RNA mobility shift assays confirmed the direct and specific binding of CsrA to the mRNA leaders of ydeH and ycdT. Overexpression of ycdT and ydeH resulted in a more than 20-fold increase in the cellular concentration of the second messenger c-di-GMP, implying that both proteins possess diguanylate cyclase activity. Phenotypic characterization revealed that both proteins are involved in the regulation of motility in a c-di-GMP dependent manner. CsrA was also found to regulate the expression of five additional GGDEF/EAL proteins and a csrA mutation led to modestly increased cellular levels of c-di-GMP. All together, these data demonstrate a global role for CsrA in the regulation of c-di-GMP metabolism by regulating the expression of GGDEF proteins at the post-transcriptional level. PMID:18713317

The effects of ethnicity, musicianship, and tone language experience on pitch perception.

PubMed

Zheng, Yi; Samuel, Arthur G

2018-02-01

Language and music are intertwined: music training can facilitate language abilities, and language experiences can also help with some music tasks. Possible language-music transfer effects are explored in two experiments in this study. In Experiment 1, we tested native Mandarin, Korean, and English speakers on a pitch discrimination task with two types of sounds: speech sounds and fundamental frequency (F0) patterns derived from speech sounds. To control for factors that might influence participants' performance, we included cognitive ability tasks testing memory and intelligence. In addition, two music skill tasks were used to examine general transfer effects from language to music. Prior studies showing that tone language speakers have an advantage on pitch tasks have been taken as support for three alternative hypotheses: specific transfer effects, general transfer effects, and an ethnicity effect. In Experiment 1, musicians outperformed non-musicians on both speech and F0 sounds, suggesting a music-to-language transfer effect. Korean and Mandarin speakers performed similarly, and they both outperformed English speakers, providing some evidence for an ethnicity effect. Alternatively, this could be due to population selection bias. In Experiment 2, we recruited Chinese Americans approximating the native English speakers' language background to further test the ethnicity effect. Chinese Americans, regardless of their tone language experiences, performed similarly to their non-Asian American counterparts in all tasks. Therefore, although this study provides additional evidence of transfer effects across music and language, it casts doubt on the contribution of ethnicity to differences observed in pitch perception and general music abilities.

Addition in Kindergarten: The Role of Mothers' and Teachers' Language

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hudson, Kesha N.; Coffman, Jennifer L.; Ornstein, Peter A.

2018-01-01

Data from a longitudinal investigation were used to examine the effects of mothers' and teachers' language on children's developing mathematical competencies during the kindergarten year. Specifically, 1) mothers' use of metamemory talk, or references to the process of remembering, and 2) teachers' use of "cognitive processing language"…

The Teaching of Additional Languages in Israel.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hallel, Michael; Spolsky, Bernard

1992-01-01

Describes the linguistic situation in Israel and the language teaching policies and practices in Israeli schools. Policy is dominated by the ideological role and practical value of Hebrew, and is further driven by the large numbers of non-Jewish minorities, the status of English as a world language, and the political values of Arabic. (21…

Introducing the CEFR in BC: Questions and Challenges

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wernicke, Meike; Bournot-Trites, Monique

2011-01-01

In 2010, the British Columbia Ministry of Education introduced an updated version of its international languages curricula titled Additional Languages (AL) draft curriculum which set out a clear articulation of the province's language education as conceived and developed over the past 15 years. The strength of the draft curriculum lies in its…

Pre-Interaction Management in Multinational Companies in Central Europe

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nekvapil, Jiri; Sherman, Tamah

2009-01-01

This article is devoted to the linguistic, communicative and sociocultural situation in branches of multinational companies located in the Czech Republic and Hungary. There are typically several languages used in these branches. In addition to the local languages, there are the languages of the parent companies--most commonly English or German,…

Video Dubbing Projects in the Foreign Language Curriculum

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burston, Jack

2005-01-01

The dubbing of muted video clips offers an excellent opportunity to develop the skills of foreign language learners at all linguistic levels. In addition to its motivational value, soundtrack dubbing provides a rich source of activities in all language skill areas: listening, reading, writing, speaking. With advanced students, it also lends itself…

What Is the Human Language Faculty? Two Views

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jackendoff, Ray

2011-01-01

In addition to providing an account of the empirical facts of language, a theory that aspires to account for language as a biologically based human faculty should seek a graceful integration of linguistic phenomena with what is known about other human cognitive capacities and about the character of brain computation. The present discussion note…

ADA and multi-microprocessor real-time simulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Feyock, S.; Collins, W. R.

1983-01-01

The selection of a high-order programming language for a real-time distributed network simulation is described. The additional problem of implementing a language on a possibly changing network is addressed. The recently designed language ADA (trademarked by DoD) was chosen since it provides the best model of the underlying application to be simulated.

Inservice Leadership Training for Speech-Language and Special Education Personnel. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McLean, James E.; And Others

This report describes a project which targeted two-person teams of leadership-level personnel in special education and speech/language pathology for training in child language to serve severely handicapped non-verbal children. A "pyramid" training model was used and these primary trainees conducted additional training with teachers and clinicians…

Content and Language Integrated Learning by Interaction. Fremdsprachendidaktik inhalts-und lernerorientiert. Volume 26

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kupetz, Rita, Ed.; Becker, Carmen, Ed.

2014-01-01

Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) is an established approach to support multilingualism in Europe by teaching various school subjects in an additional language. The practices used, however, vary considerably. Our book considers this diversity by looking at CLIL scenarios, defined as learning environments supporting content learning,…

Russian Language Analysis Project

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Serianni, Barbara; Rethwisch, Carolyn

2011-01-01

This paper is the result of a language analysis research project focused on the Russian Language. The study included a diverse literature review that included published materials as well as online sources in addition to an interview with a native Russian speaker residing in the United States. Areas of study include the origin and history of the…

Sing a Song Please: Musical Contexts and Language Learning.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Howarth, Lisa M.; Conti-Ramsden, Gina

1987-01-01

Six language-impaired children, aged 4-7, were studied in two routinized contexts (a lesson without music and a singing session) and child-teacher talk was analyzed. Results showed that the addition of music to a routinized context has the potential to increase the language-impaired child's ability to interact non-verbally. (Author/JDD)

Practical Evaluation of a Mobile Language Learning Tool in Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kétyi, András

2015-01-01

Following on preliminary research (Kétyi, 2013), in this project we looked for a mobile language learning solution, which combines computers and mobile devices. Our main idea was to explore whether by integrating mobile devices in our language teaching practice, our students at the Budapest Business School would gain valuable additional learning…

Bidirectional Associations among Sensitive Parenting, Language Development, and Social Competence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barnett, Melissa A.; Gustafsson, Hanna; Deng, Min; Mills-Koonce, W. Roger; Cox, Martha

2012-01-01

Rapid changes in language skills and social competence, both of which are linked to sensitive parenting, characterize early childhood. The present study examines bidirectional associations among mothers' sensitive parenting and children's language skills and social competence from 24 to 36?months in a community sample of 174 families. In addition,…

Teaching English as a Second Language in the Elementary School. No. 63.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Folkes, Florence; And Others

In addition to discussions on language structure, lesson structure, sentence patterns, and oral pattern drills, this curriculum guide presents specific lesson plans for various subject areas--social studies, mathematics, science, music, and culture--for English as a Second Language (ESL) in elementary schools. The guide begins with a section on…

VESL Resources. A Guide to Instructional Materials for Vocational English as a Second Language.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Los Angeles Community Coll. District, CA. Office of Occupational and Technical Education.

The bibliography is designed for learning center instructors at the Los Angeles Community College District who are involved in vocational education for limited-English-proficient (LEP) adults. The bibliography emphasizes vocational English-as-a-Second-Language (VESL) materials that develop occupation-related language skills. In addition to VESL…

Prenatal Cocaine Exposure Impacts Language and Reading Into Late Adolescence: Behavioral and ERP Evidence.

PubMed

Landi, Nicole; Avery, Trey; Crowley, Michael J; Wu, Jia; Mayes, Linda

2017-01-01

Extant research documents impaired language among children with prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) relative to nondrug exposed (NDE) children, suggesting that cocaine alters development of neurobiological systems that support language. The current study examines behavioral and neural (electrophysiological) indices of language function in older adolescents. Specifically, we compare performance of PCE (N = 59) and NDE (N = 51) adolescents on a battery of cognitive and linguistic assessments that tap word reading, reading comprehension, semantic and grammatical processing, and IQ. In addition, we examine event related potential (ERP) responses in in a subset of these children across three experimental tasks that examine word level phonological processing (rhyme priming), word level semantic processing (semantic priming), and sentence level semantic processing (semantic anomaly). Findings reveal deficits across a number of reading and language assessments, after controlling for socioeconomic status and exposure to other substances. Additionally, ERP data reveal atypical orthography to phonology mapping (reduced N1/P2 response) and atypical rhyme and semantic processing (N400 response). These findings suggest that PCE continues to impact language and reading skills into the late teenage years.

Music and Early Language Acquisition

PubMed Central

Brandt, Anthony; Gebrian, Molly; Slevc, L. Robert

2012-01-01

Language is typically viewed as fundamental to human intelligence. Music, while recognized as a human universal, is often treated as an ancillary ability – one dependent on or derivative of language. In contrast, we argue that it is more productive from a developmental perspective to describe spoken language as a special type of music. A review of existing studies presents a compelling case that musical hearing and ability is essential to language acquisition. In addition, we challenge the prevailing view that music cognition matures more slowly than language and is more difficult; instead, we argue that music learning matches the speed and effort of language acquisition. We conclude that music merits a central place in our understanding of human development. PMID:22973254

Music and early language acquisition.

PubMed

Brandt, Anthony; Gebrian, Molly; Slevc, L Robert

2012-01-01

Language is typically viewed as fundamental to human intelligence. Music, while recognized as a human universal, is often treated as an ancillary ability - one dependent on or derivative of language. In contrast, we argue that it is more productive from a developmental perspective to describe spoken language as a special type of music. A review of existing studies presents a compelling case that musical hearing and ability is essential to language acquisition. In addition, we challenge the prevailing view that music cognition matures more slowly than language and is more difficult; instead, we argue that music learning matches the speed and effort of language acquisition. We conclude that music merits a central place in our understanding of human development.

Multilingual Generalization of the ModelCreator Software for Math Item Generation. Research Report. ETS RR-05-02

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Higgins, Derrick; Futagi, Yoko; Deane, Paul

2005-01-01

This paper reports on the process of modifying the ModelCreator item generation system to produce output in multiple languages. In particular, Japanese and Spanish are now supported in addition to English. The addition of multilingual functionality was considerably facilitated by the general formulation of our natural language generation system,…

Cultural Dimensions of Feedback at an Australian University: A Study of International Students with English as an Additional Language

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Warner, Richard; Miller, Julia

2015-01-01

International students with English as an additional language face transitional challenges when entering a new academic culture. One such challenge involves optimising feedback to help foster their academic development, bearing in mind that feedback is not a culturally neutral entity (Nazif, A., Biswas, D., & Hilbig, R. (2004-2005). Towards an…

English Language Education in Formal and Cram School Contexts: An Analysis of Listening Strategy and Learning Style

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chou, Mu-hsuan

2017-01-01

Formal English language education in Taiwan now starts at Year 3 in primary school, with an emphasis on communicative proficiency. In addition to formal education, attending English cram schools after regular school has become a common phenomenon for Taiwanese students. The main purpose of gaining additional reinforcement in English cram schools…

UMass at TREC 2002: Cross Language and Novelty Tracks

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-01-01

resources – stemmers, dictionaries , machine translation, and an acronym database. We found that proper names were extremely important in this year’s queries...data by manually annotating 48 additional topics. 1. Cross Language Track We submitted one monolingual run and four cross-language runs. For the... monolingual run, the technology was essentially the same as the system we used for TREC 2001. For the cross-language run, we integrated some new

Relations Among the Home Language and Literacy Environment and Children's Language Abilities: A Study of Head Start Dual Language Learners and Their Mothers.

PubMed

Lewis, Kandia; Sandilos, Lia E; Hammer, Carol Scheffner; Sawyer, Brook E; Méndez, Lucía I

This study explored the relations between Spanish-English dual language learner (DLL) children's home language and literacy experiences and their expressive vocabulary and oral comprehension abilities in Spanish and in English. Data from Spanish-English mothers of 93 preschool-age Head Start children who resided in central Pennsylvania were analyzed. Children completed the Picture Vocabulary and Oral Comprehension subtests of the Batería III Woodcock-Muñoz and the Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Achievement. Results revealed that the language spoken by mothers and children and the frequency of mother-child reading at home influenced children's Spanish language abilities. In addition, the frequency with which children told a story was positively related to children's performance on English oral language measures. The findings suggest that language and literacy experiences at home have a differential impact on DLLs' language abilities in their 2 languages. Specific components of the home environment that benefit and support DLL children's language abilities are discussed.

Free Language Selection in the Bilingual Brain: An Event-Related fMRI Study

PubMed Central

Zhang, Yong; Wang, Tao; Huang, Peiyu; Li, Dan; Qiu, Jiang; Shen, Tong; Xie, Peng

2015-01-01

Bilingual speakers may select between two languages either on demand (forced language selection) or on their own volition (free language selection). However, the neural substrates underlying free and forced language selection may differ. While the neural substrates underlying forced language selection have been well-explored with language switching paradigms, those underlying free language selection have remained unclear. Using a modified digit-naming switching paradigm, we addressed the neural substrates underlying free language selection by contrasting free language switching with forced language switching. For a digit-pair trial, Chinese-English bilinguals named each digit in Chinese or English either on demand under forced language selection condition or on their own volition under free language selection condition. The results revealed activation in the frontoparietal regions that mediate volition of language selection. Furthermore, a comparison of free and forced language switching demonstrated differences in the patterns of brain activation. Additionally, free language switching showed reduced switching costs as compared to forced language switching. These findings suggest differences between the mechanism(s) underlying free and forced language switching. As such, the current study suggests interactivity between control of volition and control of language switching in free language selection, providing insights into a model of bilingual language control. PMID:26177885

15-month-olds' transfer of learning between touch screen and real-world displays: language cues and cognitive loads.

PubMed

Zack, Elizabeth; Gerhardstein, Peter; Meltzoff, Andrew N; Barr, Rachel

2013-02-01

Infants have difficulty transferring information between 2D and 3D sources. The current study extends Zack, Barr, Gerhardstein, Dickerson & Meltzoff's (2009) touch screen imitation task to examine whether the addition of specific language cues significantly facilitates 15-month-olds' transfer of learning between touch screens and real-world 3D objects. The addition of two kinds of linguistic cues (object label plus verb or nonsense name) did not elevate action imitation significantly above levels observed when such language cues were not used. Language cues hindered infants' performance in the 3D→2D direction of transfer, but only for the object label plus verb condition. The lack of a facilitative effect of language is discussed in terms of competing cognitive loads imposed by conjointly transferring information across dimensions and processing linguistic cues in an action imitation task at this age. © 2012 The Authors. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology © 2012 The Scandinavian Psychological Associations.

Further developments in generating type-safe messaging

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Neswold, R.; King, C.; /Fermilab

2011-11-01

At ICALEPCS 09, we introduced a source code generator that allows processes to communicate safely using data types native to each host language. In this paper, we discuss further development that has occurred since the conference in Kobe, Japan, including the addition of three more client languages, an optimization in network packet size and the addition of a new protocol data type. The protocol compiler is continuing to prove itself as an easy and robust way to get applications written in different languages hosted on different computer architectures to communicate. We have two active Erlang projects that are using themore » protocol compiler to access ACNET data at high data rates. We also used the protocol compiler output to deliver ACNET data to an iPhone/iPad application. Since it takes an average of two weeks to support a new language, we're willing to expand the protocol compiler to support new languages that our community uses.« less

Rethinking foundations of language from a multidisciplinary perspective.

PubMed

Gong, Tao; Shuai, Lan; Wu, Yicheng

2018-04-21

The issue of language foundations has been of great controversy ever since it was first raised in Lenneberg's (1967) monograph Biological Foundations of Language. Based on a survey of recent findings relevant to the study of language acquisition and evolution, we propose that: (i) the biological predispositions for language are largely domain-general, not necessarily language-specific or human-unique; (ii) the socio-cultural environment of language serves as another important foundation of language, which helps shape language components, induce and drive language shift; and (iii) language must have coevolved with the cognitive mechanisms associated with it through intertwined biological and cultural evolution. In addition to theoretical issues, this paper also evaluates the primary approaches recently joining the endeavor of studying language foundations and evolution, including human experiments and computer simulations. Most of the evidence surveyed in this paper comes from a variety of disciplines, and methodology therein complements each other to form a global picture of language foundations. These reflect the complexity of the issue of language foundations and the necessity of taking a multidisciplinary perspective to address it. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Speaking, Reading and Writing in Three Languages. Preferences and Attitudes of Multilingual Malaysian Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Karchner-Ober, Renate

2012-01-01

This study presents the main findings from a study which investigated Malaysian multilingual students' practical use of three languages with respect to reading, speaking and writing in Bahasa Malaysia (BM), English and German. In addition, two further aspects have been examined: students' motivation to learn a language, and the respondents'…

Individual Differences in Sequence Learning Ability and Second Language Acquisition in Early Childhood and Adulthood

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Granena, Gisela

2013-01-01

Language aptitude has been hypothesized as a factor that can compensate for postcritical period effects in language learning capacity. However, previous research has primarily focused on instructed contexts and rarely on acquisition-rich learning environments where there is a potential for massive amounts of input. In addition, the studies…

Exploring Podcasting in English as a Foreign Language Learners' Writing Performance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bamanger, Ebrahim Mohammed; Alhassan, Riyadh Abdulrahman

2015-01-01

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether giving English as a foreign language learners podcast lectures in addition to the traditional lectures help them to enhance their English language writing, and to explore and discover useful information regarding the adoption of podcasting as a learning or training tool in order to better…

Combining Natural Language Processing and Statistical Text Mining: A Study of Specialized versus Common Languages

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jarman, Jay

2011-01-01

This dissertation focuses on developing and evaluating hybrid approaches for analyzing free-form text in the medical domain. This research draws on natural language processing (NLP) techniques that are used to parse and extract concepts based on a controlled vocabulary. Once important concepts are extracted, additional machine learning algorithms,…

Academic Vocabulary, Writing and English for Academic Purposes: Perspectives from Second Language Learners

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Coxhead, Averil

2012-01-01

This article focuses on vocabulary and writing at university level from the perspectives of 14 English as an additional language students studying at a New Zealand university. The students individually carried out an integrated reading and writing task and then participated in an interview which focused on their language learning background and…

Electrophysiology of Perception and Processing of Phonological Information as Indices of Toddlers' Language Performance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harwood, Vanessa; Preston, Jonathan; Grela, Bernard; Roy, Dooti; Harold, Olivia; Turcios, Jacqueline; Andrada, Kiyomi; Landi, Nicole

2017-01-01

Purpose: The toddler years are a critical period for language development and growth. We investigated how event-related potentials (ERPs) to repeated and novel nonwords are associated with clinical assessments of language in young children. In addition, nonword repetition (NWR) was used to measure phonological working memory to determine the…

Using German Web Sites to Teach Culture in German Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hager, Michael

2005-01-01

Using the World Wide Web to teach foreign languages is ever increasing. In addition, the teaching of culture in foreign language instruction has become a standard element in most language classes. The combination of these two aspects leads to a dynamic approach for preparing students to compete in the global job market by making them more…

Implementing a University-Wide Credit-Bearing English Language Enhancement Programme: Issues Emerging from Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fenton-Smith, Ben; Humphreys, Pamela; Walkinshaw, Ian; Michael, Rowan; Lobo, Ana

2017-01-01

Many nations now enrol large numbers of tertiary students with English as an additional language, raising concerns over academic literacy standards. As a result, calls for whole-institution approaches to enhance language proficiency have grown. This paper describes the issues faced by one university that attempted such an approach. We first…

Visiting "Home": Contacts with the Homeland, Self-Reflexivity and Emergent Migrant Bilingual Identities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Williams, Alan; Setijadi-Dunn, Charlotte

2011-01-01

There has been increasing interest recently in the way that additional language learners' identities are affected and changed by their experiences in developing proficiency in another language. In the case of migrants, this is also affected by familiarity with their new country and language, and their transition into life in a new social and…

CA for SLA: Arguments from the Chinese Language Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

He, Agnes Weiyun

2004-01-01

When the seminal article on the organization of turn-taking by Sacks, Schegloff, and Jefferson (1974) was published 30 years ago, I started learning English as a foreign language. In addition to being a learner of the English language for many years, I was also trained in the traditions of Conversation Analysis (CA) and linguistic anthropology…

E-Pal Exchanges: A Way to Connect Preservice Teachers and English Language Learners

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Patton, Anne; Hirano, Eliana; Garrett, Anna Rose

2017-01-01

Pen pal exchanges have been used for years to promote cross-cultural communication. In educational settings, pen pal projects have served additional purposes. One is providing English language learners (ELLs) with a safe but realistic context in which language skills can be practiced and learner motivation increased. This study investigates the…

Planning Intervention Using Dynamic Assessments: A Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hasson, Natalie; Dodd, Barbara

2014-01-01

Dynamic assessments (DA) of language have been shown to be a useful addition to the battery of tests used to diagnose language impairments in children, and to evaluate their skills. The current article explores the value of the information gained from a DA in planning intervention for a child with language impairment. A single case study was used…

Factors Affecting the Level of Test Anxiety among EFL Learners at Elementary Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aydin, Selami

2013-01-01

Many studies on test anxiety among adult language learners have been performed, while only a few studies have dealt with overall test anxiety. In addition, these studies do not specifically address test anxiety in foreign language learning among elementary school language learners. Thus, this study aims to investigate the level of test anxiety…

34 CFR 658.33 - What additional criterion does the Secretary apply to applications from organizations and...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... language at the undergraduate level. (b) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows... studies and the study of modern foreign language at the undergraduate level. (1) The Secretary looks for... international studies or modern foreign languages at the undergraduate level; and (iv) The adequacy of the...

Pragmatics in the Post-TESL Certificate Course "Language Teaching for Employment"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bartel, Joan

2013-01-01

For those immigrants to Canada who need some language training in order to access employment in their field, occupational ESL classes have been available in Ontario for several years. Recent additions to Occupation-Specific Language Training and Bridging programs, as well as a new emphasis on work-related content in LINC classes, have created a…

An Analysis of Communicative Language Functions in the Speech Patterns of Bilingual Korean and Mexican Immigrant Children

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sook Lee, Jin; Choi, Jane Y.; Marqués-Pascual, Laura

2016-01-01

For children from immigrant families, opportunities to develop additive bilingualism exist, yet bilingual attainment has varied widely. Given the significance of language development opportunities in home settings, this study examines the home language use of 20 second-generation children (ages 6-8) of Mexican and Korean descent in the United…

Second Language Writing and Bidialectalism: A Case for African American Student Writers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

DePolo, Jason

2017-01-01

There has been much research conducted on second language writing. In addition, there exists a significant amount of studies conducted with African American student writers. However, the fields of Second Language Writing and Composition Studies rarely if ever dovetail in the research literature. The purpose of this article is to argue how English…

Students' "Write" to Their Own Language: Teaching the African American Verbal Tradition as a Rhetorically Effective Writing Skill

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Williams, Bonnie J.

2013-01-01

The 1974 Conference on College Composition and Communication's (CCCC) resolution declaring "Students' Right to Their Own Language" (SRTOL) defends the rights of students and all other writers to use different varieties of English (see Committee on CCCC Language Statement, 1974). In addition, the 1988 CCCC adoption of the National…

Patterns of Change in the Reading Decoding and Comprehension Performance of Adolescents with Specific Language Impairment (SLI)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Palikara, Olympia; Dockrell, Julie E.; Lindsay, Geoff

2011-01-01

Specific Language Impairment (SLI) is associated with reading difficulties. The evidence to support this association, typically, is drawn from studies of elementary school children. Additionally, the extent of the relationship between language and reading skills during adolescence is not yet clear. This study aimed to examine the word reading and…

Instruction of Keyboarding Skills: A Whole Language Approach to Teaching Functional Literacy Skills to Students Who are Blind and Have Additional Disabilities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stauffer, Mary

2008-01-01

This article describes an unconventional method to teach un-contracted braille reading and writing skills to students who are blind and have additional disabilities. It includes a keyboarding curriculum that focuses on the whole language approach to literacy. A special feature is the keyboard that is adapted with braille symbols. Un-contracted…

The Oscillopathic Nature of Language Deficits in Autism: From Genes to Language Evolution

PubMed Central

Benítez-Burraco, Antonio; Murphy, Elliot

2016-01-01

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are pervasive neurodevelopmental disorders involving a number of deficits to linguistic cognition. The gap between genetics and the pathophysiology of ASD remains open, in particular regarding its distinctive linguistic profile. The goal of this article is to attempt to bridge this gap, focusing on how the autistic brain processes language, particularly through the perspective of brain rhythms. Due to the phenomenon of pleiotropy, which may take some decades to overcome, we believe that studies of brain rhythms, which are not faced with problems of this scale, may constitute a more tractable route to interpreting language deficits in ASD and eventually other neurocognitive disorders. Building on recent attempts to link neural oscillations to certain computational primitives of language, we show that interpreting language deficits in ASD as oscillopathic traits is a potentially fruitful way to construct successful endophenotypes of this condition. Additionally, we will show that candidate genes for ASD are overrepresented among the genes that played a role in the evolution of language. These genes include (and are related to) genes involved in brain rhythmicity. We hope that the type of steps taken here will additionally lead to a better understanding of the comorbidity, heterogeneity, and variability of ASD, and may help achieve a better treatment of the affected populations. PMID:27047363

Auditory skills, language development, and adaptive behavior of children with cochlear implants and additional disabilities

PubMed Central

Beer, Jessica; Harris, Michael S.; Kronenberger, William G.; Holt, Rachael Frush; Pisoni, David B.

2012-01-01

Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the development of functional auditory skills, language, and adaptive behavior in deaf children with cochlear implants (CI) who also have additional disabilities (AD). Design A two-group, pre-test versus post-test design was used. Study sample Comparisons were made between 23 children with CIs and ADs, and an age-matched comparison group of 23 children with CIs without ADs (No-AD). Assessments were obtained pre-CI and within 12 months post-CI. Results All but two deaf children with ADs improved in auditory skills using the IT-MAIS. Most deaf children in the AD group made progress in receptive but not expressive language using the Preschool Language Scale, but their language quotients were lower than the No-AD group. Five of eight children with ADs made progress in daily living skills and socialization skills; two made progress in motor skills. Children with ADs who did not make progress in language, did show progress in adaptive behavior. Conclusions Children with deafness and ADs made progress in functional auditory skills, receptive language, and adaptive behavior. Expanded assessment that includes adaptive functioning and multi-center collaboration is recommended to best determine benefits of implantation in areas of expected growth in this clinical population. PMID:22509948

Bilingualism, Mind, and Brain.

PubMed

Kroll, Judith F; Dussias, Paola E; Bice, Kinsey; Perrotti, Lauren

2015-01-01

The use of two or more languages is common in most of the world. Yet, until recently, bilingualism was considered to be a complicating factor for language processing, cognition, and the brain. The past 20 years have witnessed an upsurge of research on bilingualism to examine language acquisition and processing, their cognitive and neural bases, and the consequences that bilingualism holds for cognition and the brain over the life span. Contrary to the view that bilingualism complicates the language system, this new research demonstrates that all of the languages that are known and used become part of the same language system. The interactions that arise when two languages are in play have consequences for the mind and the brain and, indeed, for language processing itself, but those consequences are not additive. Thus, bilingualism helps reveal the fundamental architecture and mechanisms of language processing that are otherwise hidden in monolingual speakers.

Bilingualism, Mind, and Brain

PubMed Central

Dussias, Paola E.; Bice, Kinsey; Perrotti, Lauren

2016-01-01

The use of two or more languages is common in most of the world. Yet, until recently, bilingualism was considered to be a complicating factor for language processing, cognition, and the brain. The past 20 years have witnessed an upsurge of research on bilingualism to examine language acquisition and processing, their cognitive and neural bases, and the consequences that bilingualism holds for cognition and the brain over the life span. Contrary to the view that bilingualism complicates the language system, this new research demonstrates that all of the languages that are known and used become part of the same language system. The interactions that arise when two languages are in play have consequences for the mind and the brain and, indeed, for language processing itself, but those consequences are not additive. Thus, bilingualism helps reveal the fundamental architecture and mechanisms of language processing that are otherwise hidden in monolingual speakers. PMID:28642932

The Merits of the Continued Instruction of ADA as a First Language at the Naval Postgraduate School

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-09-01

H., Ada as a Second Language, McGraw Hill Book Company, 1986. Deitel , H.M. and Deitel P.J., C+ + How to Program , Prentice Hatl, 1994. Fastrack...complex language whose success is dependent on its users knowing how to utilize all of its features to yield good programs . (Fastrack) The addition of...Ada in particular as the first programming language at the Naval Postgraduate School The catch-22 of industry’s dedication to C++ and the Department

An Efficient Universal Trajectory Language

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hagen, George E.; Guerreiro, Nelson M.; Maddalon, Jeffrey M.; Butler, Ricky W.

2017-01-01

The Efficient Universal Trajectory Language (EUTL) is a language for specifying and representing trajectories for Air Traffic Management (ATM) concepts such as Trajectory-Based Operations (TBO). In these concepts, the communication of a trajectory between an aircraft and ground automation is fundamental. Historically, this trajectory exchange has not been done, leading to trajectory definitions that have been centered around particular application domains and, therefore, are not well suited for TBO applications. The EUTL trajectory language has been defined in the Prototype Verification System (PVS) formal specification language, which provides an operational semantics for the EUTL language. The hope is that EUTL will provide a foundation for mathematically verified algorithms that manipulate trajectories. Additionally, the EUTL language provides well-defined methods to unambiguously determine position and velocity information between the reported trajectory points. In this paper, we present the EUTL trajectory language in mathematical detail.

Carving the World for Language: How Neuroscientific Research Can Enrich the Study of First and Second Language Learning

PubMed Central

George, Nathan R.; Göksun, Tilbe; Hirsh-Pasek, Kathy; Golinkoff, Roberta Michnick

2014-01-01

Linguistics, psychology, and neuroscience all have rich histories in language research. Crosstalk among these disciplines, as realized in studies of phonology, is pivotal for understanding a fundamental challenge for first and second language learners (SLLs): learning verbs. Linguistic and behavioral research with monolinguals suggests that infants attend to foundational event components (e.g., path, manner). Language then heightens or dampens attention to these components as children map word to world in language-specific ways. Cross-linguistic differences in semantic organization also reveal sources of struggles for SLLs. We discuss how better integrating neuroscience into this literature can unlock additional mysteries of verb learning. PMID:24854772

Carving the world for language: how neuroscientific research can enrich the study of first and second language learning.

PubMed

George, Nathan R; Göksun, Tilbe; Hirsh-Pasek, Kathy; Golinkoff, Roberta Michnick

2014-01-01

Linguistics, psychology, and neuroscience all have rich histories in language research. Crosstalk among these disciplines, as realized in studies of phonology, is pivotal for understanding a fundamental challenge for first and second language learners (SLLs): learning verbs. Linguistic and behavioral research with monolinguals suggests that infants attend to foundational event components (e.g., path, manner). Language then heightens or dampens attention to these components as children map word to world in language-specific ways. Cross-linguistic differences in semantic organization also reveal sources of struggles for SLLs. We discuss how better integrating neuroscience into this literature can unlock additional mysteries of verb learning.

Do the early development of gestures and receptive and expressive language predict language skills at 5;0 in prematurely born very-low-birth-weight children?

PubMed

Stolt, S; Lind, A; Matomäki, J; Haataja, L; Lapinleimu, H; Lehtonen, L

2016-01-01

It is unclear what the predictive value of very early development of gestures and language is on later language ability in prematurely born very-low-birth-weight (VLBW; birth weight ≤1500g) children. The aim of the present study was to analyse the predictive value of early gestures and a receptive lexicon measured between the ages of 0;9 and 1;3, as well as the predictive value of receptive and expressive language ability at 2;0 for language skills at 5;0 in VLBW children. The subjects were 29 VLBW children and 28 full-term children whose language development has been followed intensively between the ages of 0;9 and 2;0 using the Finnish version of the MacArthur Developmental Inventory and the Reynell Developmental Language Scales (RDLS III). At 5;0, five selected verbal subtests of the Nepsy II test and the Boston Naming Test (BNT) were used to assess children's language skills. For the first time in VLBW children, the development of gestures measured between the ages of 0;9 and 1;3 was shown to correlate significantly and positively with language skills at 5;0. In addition, both receptive and expressive language ability measured at 2;0 correlated significantly and positively with later language skills in both groups. Moreover, according to the hierarchical regression analysis, the receptive language score of the RDLS III at 2;0 was a clear and significant predictor for language skills at 5;0 in both groups. The findings particularly underline the role of early receptive language as a significant predictor for later language ability in VLBW children. The results provide evidence for a continuity between early language development and later language skills. After reading this article, readers will understand the associations between the very early (≤2 years of age) development of gestures and language (i.e. early receptive lexicon, expressive lexicon at 2;0, receptive and expressive language ability at 2;0) and the language skills at 5;0 in prematurely born very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) children. In addition, readers will understand the heterogeneity of the group of VLBW children. The information presented in this article is informative for those who work in a clinical context and who want to be able to identify those VLBW children who need support for their language development at an early age. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.

An Examination of the Effects of Coaching and Reflection on Instructional Discourse: An Interrupted Time Series Study on Scaffolding Language Occurrences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dotson, Felecia

2017-01-01

The current study examines the effects that a coaching intervention has on the occurrences of scaffolding language techniques in a teacher's instructional delivery, in addition to the possible influences that a coaching intervention has on the teacher's ability to reflect on scaffolding language. More importantly, the study considers whether…

Conglomeration or Chameleon? Teachers' Representations of Language in the Assessment of Learners with English as an Additional Language.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gardner, Sheena; Rea-Dickins, Pauline

2001-01-01

Investigates teacher representations of language in relation to assessment contexts. Analyzes not only what is represented in teachers' use of metalanguage, but also how it is presented--in terms of expression, voice, and source. The analysis is based on interviews with teachers, transcripts of lessons, and classroom-based assessments, formal…

Language in Science Classrooms: An Analysis of Physics Teachers' Use of and Beliefs about Language

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Oyoo, Samuel Ouma

2012-01-01

The world over, secondary school science is viewed mainly as a practical subject. This may be one reason why effectiveness of teaching approaches in science education has often been judged on the kinds of practical activity with which teachers and students engage. In addition to practical work, language--often written (as in science texts) or oral…

Lexion: That Which Upholds or Bears an Archetype. "Introducing Lex and Lexion to Modern English"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Russ, Helen

2015-01-01

Derived from the Etruscan and Greek alphabets, Latin is a classical language that has influenced modern languages such as English, French, Italian and Spanish. With its Latin and Greek roots, this paper argues that the word lexion is an appropriate and necessary addition to the English language. Lex in Latin means, law, syllabus, statute and…

Language in the Transition from Home to School. Final Report to the Nuffield Foundation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wells, Gordon; French, Peter

A longitudinal study of language development in the preschool years was conducted in order to describe developmental sequence and to estimate, at three-month intervals, the range of language attainment in a normal population of children between 15 and 60 months of age. Additionally, possible determinants of variation in rate and style of language…

A Language Support Program for English-Medium Instruction Courses: Its Development and Evaluation in an EFL Setting

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chang, Ji-Yeon; Kim, Wooyeon; Lee, Heewon

2017-01-01

Many English as a foreign language universities have increased the number of English-medium instruction (EMI) courses regardless of their students' preparedness for them. As a result, previous studies have reflected the necessity of additional language assistance to students who have to take EMI courses with limited English proficiency. Drawing…

Teaching for Social Justice and the Common Core: Justice-Oriented Curriculum for Language Arts and Literacy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dover, Alison G.

2016-01-01

In this article, Dover draws from a multistate, qualitative study of 24 justice-oriented secondary English language arts teachers to illustrate how justice-oriented curriculum can be used to address the emphases of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy. In addition to referencing a comprehensive array of social…

Review of Research: Do You Speak My Language? Are Behavior Analysts Considering the Needs of Learners on the Autism Spectrum?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kingsdorf, Sheri

2014-01-01

One of the domains most commonly affected by autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is communication (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Language deficits in children with ASD can be as severe as to warrant a label as nonverbal, or characterized by difficulties with the functions of communication. Additionally, deficits in language for children…

Verb Schema Use and Input Dependence in 5-Year-Old Children with Specific Language Impairment (SLI)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Riches, N. G.; Faragher, B.; Conti-Ramsden, G.

2006-01-01

It has been argued that children with Specific Language Impairment (SLI) use language in a conservative manner. For example, they are reluctant to produce word-plus-frame combinations that they have not heard in the input. In addition, there is evidence to suggest that their utterances replicate lexical and syntactic material from the immediate…

A Critical Analysis of the Language Background Other than English (LBOTE) Category in the Australian National Testing System: A Foucauldian Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Creagh, Sue

2016-01-01

This article presents a Foucauldian analysis of the political rationalities of national testing and accountability practices in Australia, and their inconsistencies for students for whom English is a second or additional language. It focuses on a problem associated with the statistical data category "Language Background Other Than…

How Bilingual Is Bilingual? Mother-Tongue Proficiency and Learning through a Second Language

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yazici, Zeliha; Ilter, Binnur Genc; Glover, Philip

2010-01-01

In a bilingual context, the mother tongue plays a key role in a child's social and personal development, in education and in second-language learning. There is a complex relationship between these three areas. Support for children receiving education through a second language is often in the form of additional learning opportunities in the second…

Notes from the Field: Lolak--Another Moribund Language of Indonesia, with Supporting Audio

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lobel, Jason William; Paputungan, Ade Tatak

2017-01-01

This paper consists of a short multimedia introduction to Lolak, a near-extinct Greater Central Philippine language traditionally spoken in three small communities on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. In addition to being one of the most underdocumented languages in the area, it is also spoken by one of the smallest native speaker populations…

An Analysis of Language Teacher Education Programs: A Comparative Study of Turkey and Other European Countries

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Altmisdort, Gonca

2016-01-01

The main aim of this study is to analyze and discuss the similarities and the differences between English language teacher educational programs at universities in Turkey, and to identify the undergraduate students' ideas about their current curriculum. In addition to this, the study aims to compare the education of English language teacher…

How Do Utterance Measures Predict Raters' Perceptions of Fluency in French as a Second Language?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Préfontaine, Yvonne; Kormos, Judit; Johnson, Daniel Ezra

2016-01-01

While the research literature on second language (L2) fluency is replete with descriptions of fluency and its influence with regard to English as an additional language, little is known about what fluency features influence judgments of fluency in L2 French. This study reports the results of an investigation that analyzed the relationship between…

Sub-Syllabic Processing in Young Korean-English Bilinguals: Semivowel Placement Differences between Korean and English

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baek, Seunghyun

2014-01-01

This study investigated the sub-syllabic awareness of two groups of 86 Korean kindergarteners learning English as a foreign language (EFL) or English as a second language (ESL). In addition, it explored the cross-language transfer of sub-syllabic units between Korean and English by taking into account their lexical abilities with respect to the…

Domain-specific and domain-general constraints on word and sequence learning.

PubMed

Archibald, Lisa M D; Joanisse, Marc F

2013-02-01

The relative influences of language-related and memory-related constraints on the learning of novel words and sequences were examined by comparing individual differences in performance of children with and without specific deficits in either language or working memory. Children recalled lists of words in a Hebbian learning protocol in which occasional lists repeated, yielding improved recall over the course of the task on the repeated lists. The task involved presentation of pictures of common nouns followed immediately by equivalent presentations of the spoken names. The same participants also completed a paired-associate learning task involving word-picture and nonword-picture pairs. Hebbian learning was observed for all groups. Domain-general working memory constrained immediate recall, whereas language abilities impacted recall in the auditory modality only. In addition, working memory constrained paired-associate learning generally, whereas language abilities disproportionately impacted novel word learning. Overall, all of the learning tasks were highly correlated with domain-general working memory. The learning of nonwords was additionally related to general intelligence, phonological short-term memory, language abilities, and implicit learning. The results suggest that distinct associations between language- and memory-related mechanisms support learning of familiar and unfamiliar phonological forms and sequences.

Simulated learning environments in speech-language pathology: an Australian response.

PubMed

MacBean, Naomi; Theodoros, Deborah; Davidson, Bronwyn; Hill, Anne E

2013-06-01

The rising demand for health professionals to service the Australian population is placing pressure on traditional approaches to clinical education in the allied health professions. Existing research suggests that simulated learning environments (SLEs) have the potential to increase student placement capacity while providing quality learning experiences with comparable or superior outcomes to traditional methods. This project investigated the current use of SLEs in Australian speech-language pathology curricula, and the potential future applications of SLEs to the clinical education curricula through an extensive consultative process with stakeholders (all 10 Australian universities offering speech-language pathology programs in 2010, Speech Pathology Australia, members of the speech-language pathology profession, and current student body). Current use of SLEs in speech-language pathology education was found to be limited, with additional resources required to further develop SLEs and maintain their use within the curriculum. Perceived benefits included: students' increased clinical skills prior to workforce placement, additional exposure to specialized areas of speech-language pathology practice, inter-professional learning, and richer observational experiences for novice students. Stakeholders perceived SLEs to have considerable potential for clinical learning. A nationally endorsed recommendation for SLE development and curricula integration was prepared.

Automated Discovery of Machine-Specific Code Improvements

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-12-01

operation of the source language. Additional analysis may reveal special features of the target architecture that may be exploited to generate efficient...Additional analysis may reveal special features of the target architecture that may be exploited to generate efficient code. Such analysis is optional...incorporate knowledge of the source language, but do not refer to features of the target machine. These early phases are sometimes referred to as the

Relations Among the Home Language and Literacy Environment and Children's Language Abilities: A Study of Head Start Dual Language Learners and Their Mothers

PubMed Central

Lewis, Kandia; Sandilos, Lia E.; Hammer, Carol Scheffner; Sawyer, Brook E.; Méndez, Lucía I.

2015-01-01

Research Findings This study explored the relations between Spanish–English dual language learner (DLL) children's home language and literacy experiences and their expressive vocabulary and oral comprehension abilities in Spanish and in English. Data from Spanish–English mothers of 93 preschool-age Head Start children who resided in central Pennsylvania were analyzed. Children completed the Picture Vocabulary and Oral Comprehension subtests of the Batería III Woodcock–Muñoz and the Woodcock–Johnson III Tests of Achievement. Results revealed that the language spoken by mothers and children and the frequency of mother–child reading at home influenced children's Spanish language abilities. In addition, the frequency with which children told a story was positively related to children's performance on English oral language measures. Practice or Policy The findings suggest that language and literacy experiences at home have a differential impact on DLLs' language abilities in their 2 languages. Specific components of the home environment that benefit and support DLL children's language abilities are discussed. PMID:27429533

Language Mapping in Multilingual Patients: Electrocorticography and Cortical Stimulation During Naming

PubMed Central

Cervenka, Mackenzie C.; Boatman-Reich, Dana F.; Ward, Julianna; Franaszczuk, Piotr J.; Crone, Nathan E.

2011-01-01

Multilingual patients pose a unique challenge when planning epilepsy surgery near language cortex because the cortical representations of each language may be distinct. These distinctions may not be evident with routine electrocortical stimulation mapping (ESM). Electrocorticography (ECoG) has recently been used to detect task-related spectral perturbations associated with functional brain activation. We hypothesized that using broadband high gamma augmentation (HGA, 60–150 Hz) as an index of cortical activation, ECoG would complement ESM in discriminating the cortical representations of first (L1) and second (L2) languages. We studied four adult patients for whom English was a second language, in whom subdural electrodes (a total of 358) were implanted to guide epilepsy surgery. Patients underwent ECoG recordings and ESM while performing the same visual object naming task in L1 and L2. In three of four patients, ECoG found sites activated during naming in one language but not the other. These language-specific sites were not identified using ESM. In addition, ECoG HGA was observed at more sites during L2 versus L1 naming in two patients, suggesting that L2 processing required additional cortical resources compared to L1 processing in these individuals. Post-operative language deficits were identified in three patients (one in L2 only). These deficits were predicted by ECoG spectral mapping but not by ESM. These results suggest that pre-surgical mapping should include evaluation of all utilized languages to avoid post-operative functional deficits. Finally, this study suggests that ECoG spectral mapping may potentially complement the results of ESM of language. PMID:21373361

Employing mobile technology to improve language skills of young students with language-based disabilities.

PubMed

Rodríguez, Cathi Draper; Cumming, Therese M

2017-01-01

This exploratory study investigated the effects of a language building iPad application on the language skills (i.e., receptive vocabulary, expressive vocabulary, and sentence formation) of young students with language-based disabilities. The study utilized a pre-test-post-test control group design. Students in the treatment group used the iPad language building application, Language Builder, for 30 minutes a day. Participants were 31 first-grade to third-grade students with identified language-based disabilities. Students were assigned to two groups for the 8-week intervention. Data indicated that students in the treatment group made significantly greater gains in the area of sentence formation than the control group. Results revealed no significant difference between the two groups in the areas of expressive and receptive vocabulary. A short intervention of using Language Builder via the iPad may increase the sentence formation skills of young students with language delays. Additionally, discussion regarding the usefulness of iPad applications in education is presented.

Factors involved in the identification of stuttering severity in a foreign language.

PubMed

Cosyns, Marjan; Einarsdóttir, Jóhanna T; Van Borsel, John

2015-01-01

Speech-language pathologists nowadays are more and more confronted with clients who speak a language different from their own mother tongue. The assessment of persons who speak a foreign language poses particular challenges. The present study investigated the possible role and interplay of factors involved in the identification of stuttering severity in a foreign language. Nineteen speech-language pathologists from five different countries (i.e. Iceland, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Belgium) rated stuttering severity of speech samples featuring persons who stutter speaking Icelandic, Swedish, Norwegian, or Dutch. Additionally, they were asked to score how easy they found it to rate the samples. Accuracy of rating stuttering severity in another language appeared to be foremost determined by the client's stuttering severity, while experienced ease of rating stuttering severity was essentially related to closeness of the language of the clinician to that of the client and familiarity of the clinician with the client's language. Stuttering measurement training programmes in different languages are needed.

Quantifying the driving factors for language shift in a bilingual region.

PubMed

Prochazka, Katharina; Vogl, Gero

2017-04-25

Many of the world's around 6,000 languages are in danger of disappearing as people give up use of a minority language in favor of the majority language in a process called language shift. Language shift can be monitored on a large scale through the use of mathematical models by way of differential equations, for example, reaction-diffusion equations. Here, we use a different approach: we propose a model for language dynamics based on the principles of cellular automata/agent-based modeling and combine it with very detailed empirical data. Our model makes it possible to follow language dynamics over space and time, whereas existing models based on differential equations average over space and consequently provide no information on local changes in language use. Additionally, cellular automata models can be used even in cases where models based on differential equations are not applicable, for example, in situations where one language has become dispersed and retreated to language islands. Using data from a bilingual region in Austria, we show that the most important factor in determining the spread and retreat of a language is the interaction with speakers of the same language. External factors like bilingual schools or parish language have only a minor influence.

A Cross-Language Study of Acoustic Predictors of Speech Intelligibility in Individuals With Parkinson's Disease

PubMed Central

Choi, Yaelin

2017-01-01

Purpose The present study aimed to compare acoustic models of speech intelligibility in individuals with the same disease (Parkinson's disease [PD]) and presumably similar underlying neuropathologies but with different native languages (American English [AE] and Korean). Method A total of 48 speakers from the 4 speaker groups (AE speakers with PD, Korean speakers with PD, healthy English speakers, and healthy Korean speakers) were asked to read a paragraph in their native languages. Four acoustic variables were analyzed: acoustic vowel space, voice onset time contrast scores, normalized pairwise variability index, and articulation rate. Speech intelligibility scores were obtained from scaled estimates of sentences extracted from the paragraph. Results The findings indicated that the multiple regression models of speech intelligibility were different in Korean and AE, even with the same set of predictor variables and with speakers matched on speech intelligibility across languages. Analysis of the descriptive data for the acoustic variables showed the expected compression of the vowel space in speakers with PD in both languages, lower normalized pairwise variability index scores in Korean compared with AE, and no differences within or across language in articulation rate. Conclusions The results indicate that the basis of an intelligibility deficit in dysarthria is likely to depend on the native language of the speaker and listener. Additional research is required to explore other potential predictor variables, as well as additional language comparisons to pursue cross-linguistic considerations in classification and diagnosis of dysarthria types. PMID:28821018

Lexical diversity and omission errors as predictors of language ability in the narratives of sequential Spanish-English bilinguals: a cross-language comparison.

PubMed

Jacobson, Peggy F; Walden, Patrick R

2013-08-01

This study explored the utility of language sample analysis for evaluating language ability in school-age Spanish-English sequential bilingual children. Specifically, the relative potential of lexical diversity and word/morpheme omission as predictors of typical or atypical language status was evaluated. Narrative samples were obtained from 48 bilingual children in both of their languages using the suggested narrative retell protocol and coding conventions as per Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts (SALT; Miller & Iglesias, 2008) software. An additional lexical diversity measure, VocD, was also calculated. A series of logistical hierarchical regressions explored the utility of the number of different words, VocD statistic, and word and morpheme omissions in each language for predicting language status. Omission errors turned out to be the best predictors of bilingual language impairment at all ages, and this held true across languages. Although lexical diversity measures did not predict typical or atypical language status, the measures were significantly related to oral language proficiency in English and Spanish. The results underscore the significance of omission errors in bilingual language impairment while simultaneously revealing the limitations of lexical diversity measures as indicators of impairment. The relationship between lexical diversity and oral language proficiency highlights the importance of considering relative language proficiency in bilingual assessment.

Immigration, Language Proficiency, and Autobiographical Memories: Lifespan Distribution and Second-Language Access

PubMed Central

Esposito, Alena G.; Baker-Ward, Lynne

2015-01-01

This investigation examined two controversies in the autobiographical literature: how cross-language immigration affects the distribution of autobiographical memories across the lifespan and under what circumstances language-dependent recall is observed. Both Spanish/English bilingual immigrants and English monolingual non-immigrants participated in a cue word study, with the bilingual sample taking part in a within-subject language manipulation. The expected bump in the number of memories from early life was observed for non-immigrants but not immigrants, who reported more memories for events surrounding immigration. Aspects of the methodology addressed possible reasons for past discrepant findings. Language-dependent recall was influenced by second-language proficiency. Results were interpreted as evidence that bilinguals with high second-language proficiency, in contrast to those with lower second-language proficiency, access a single conceptual store through either language. The final multi-level model predicting language-dependent recall, including second-language proficiency, age of immigration, internal language, and cue word language, explained ¾ of the between-person variance and ⅕ of the within-person variance. We arrive at two conclusions. First, major life transitions influence the distribution of memories. Second, concept representation across multiple languages follows a developmental model. In addition, the results underscore the importance of considering language experience in research involving memory reports. PMID:26274061

Immigration, language proficiency, and autobiographical memories: Lifespan distribution and second-language access.

PubMed

Esposito, Alena G; Baker-Ward, Lynne

2016-08-01

This investigation examined two controversies in the autobiographical literature: how cross-language immigration affects the distribution of autobiographical memories across the lifespan and under what circumstances language-dependent recall is observed. Both Spanish/English bilingual immigrants and English monolingual non-immigrants participated in a cue word study, with the bilingual sample taking part in a within-subject language manipulation. The expected bump in the number of memories from early life was observed for non-immigrants but not immigrants, who reported more memories for events surrounding immigration. Aspects of the methodology addressed possible reasons for past discrepant findings. Language-dependent recall was influenced by second-language proficiency. Results were interpreted as evidence that bilinguals with high second-language proficiency, in contrast to those with lower second-language proficiency, access a single conceptual store through either language. The final multi-level model predicting language-dependent recall, including second-language proficiency, age of immigration, internal language, and cue word language, explained ¾ of the between-person variance and (1)/5 of the within-person variance. We arrive at two conclusions. First, major life transitions influence the distribution of memories. Second, concept representation across multiple languages follows a developmental model. In addition, the results underscore the importance of considering language experience in research involving memory reports.

Toward a Framework for Linking Linguistic Knowledge and Writing Expertise: Interplay between SFL-Based Genre Pedagogy and Task-Based Language Teaching

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yasuda, Sachiko

2017-01-01

This article attempts to apply some systemic functional linguistic (SFL) concepts to task-based language teaching (TBLT) as a means of enriching the fields of learning, teaching, and evaluating writing in an additional language. The purposes are twofold. First, this article presents a concrete example concerning SFL-initiated genre-based tasks,…

Natural language processing and the Now-or-Never bottleneck.

PubMed

Gómez-Rodríguez, Carlos

2016-01-01

Researchers, motivated by the need to improve the efficiency of natural language processing tools to handle web-scale data, have recently arrived at models that remarkably match the expected features of human language processing under the Now-or-Never bottleneck framework. This provides additional support for said framework and highlights the research potential in the interaction between applied computational linguistics and cognitive science.

Language-Specific and Language-General Factors in Text Reading in Arabic: Evidence from the Missing Letter Effect

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Saady, Amany; Ibrahim, Raphiq; Eviatar, Zohar

2015-01-01

The goal of the present study was to extend the models explaining the missing-letter effect (MLE) to an additional language and orthography, and to test the role of phonology in silent reading in Arabic. We also examined orthographic effects such as letter position and letter shape, morphological effects such as pseudo-prefixes, and phonological…

Training Cyber Warriors: What Can Be Learned from Defense Language Training?

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-01-01

other agencies. In addition, the National Cryp- tologic School , Foreign Service Institute, and CIA University, among others, each train students for...They provide a variety of services, including group instruction , distance learning , and one-on-one tutoring. Pipeline-Building Programs The Language...commonly monolingual English speakers,1 (2) the U.S. education system provides limited opportunities for students to learn other languages in

Using Oral Language Skills to Build on the Emerging Literacy of Adult English Learners. CAELA Network Brief

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vinogradov, Patsy; Bigelow, Martha

2010-01-01

In addition to learning to read and write for the first time, adult English language learners with limited or emerging literacy skills must acquire oral English. Often, learners with limited print literacy in their first language have oral skills in English that exceed their English literacy skills (Geva & Zadeh, 2006). While this mismatch of oral…

Predictive Validity of Curriculum-Based Measures in the Reading Assessment of Students Who Are English Language Learners

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Muyskens, Paul; Betts, Joseph; Lau, Matthew Y.; Marston, Doug

2009-01-01

The inclusion of English Language Learners as a subgroup in the No Child Left Behind legislation has leant additional importance to the need for valid and efficient measures of reading for students whose first language is not English. This study examines the use of Curriculum-Based Measurement (CBM) reading fluency as a predictor of later reading…

Observations of Kindergarten and First Grade Children's Development of Oral Language, Concepts about Print, and Reading Readiness.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Day, Kaaren C.; Day, H. D.

A study originally involving 56 children from four schools was undertaken to observe the development of children's oral language and concepts of print during the kindergarten year using the Record of Oral Language (ROL) and the Concepts about Print (Sand) tests. In addition, the Sand test was administered early in the first grade to the available…

Professional Roles and Responsibilities in Meeting the Needs of Children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs: Joint Working between Educational Psychologists and Speech and Language Therapists

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McConnellogue, Sheila

2011-01-01

There is a large population of children with speech, language and communication needs who have additional special educational needs (SEN). Whilst professional collaboration between education and health professionals is recommended to ensure an integrated delivery of statutory services for this population of children, formal frameworks should be…

Cross-Language Distributions of High Frequency and Phonetically Similar Cognates

PubMed Central

Schepens, Job; Dijkstra, Ton; Grootjen, Franc; van Heuven, Walter J. B.

2013-01-01

The coinciding form and meaning similarity of cognates, e.g. ‘flamme’ (French), ‘Flamme’ (German), ‘vlam’ (Dutch), meaning ‘flame’ in English, facilitates learning of additional languages. The cross-language frequency and similarity distributions of cognates vary according to evolutionary change and language contact. We compare frequency and orthographic (O), phonetic (P), and semantic similarity of cognates, automatically identified in semi-complete lexicons of six widely spoken languages. Comparisons of P and O similarity reveal inconsistent mappings in language pairs with deep orthographies. The frequency distributions show that cognate frequency is reduced in less closely related language pairs as compared to more closely related languages (e.g., French-English vs. German-English). These frequency and similarity patterns may support a better understanding of cognate processing in natural and experimental settings. The automatically identified cognates are available in the supplementary materials, including the frequency and similarity measurements. PMID:23675449

Narrative skills in children with selective mutism: an exploratory study.

PubMed

McInnes, Alison; Fung, Daniel; Manassis, Katharina; Fiksenbaum, Lisa; Tannock, Rosemary

2004-11-01

Selective mutism (SM) is a rare and complex disorder associated with anxiety symptoms and speech-language deficits; however, the nature of these language deficits has not been studied systematically. A novel cross-disciplinary assessment protocol was used to assess anxiety and nonverbal cognitive, receptive language, and expressive narrative abilities in 7 children with SM and a comparison group of 7 children with social phobia (SP). The children with SM produced significantly shorter narratives than children with SP, despite showing normal nonverbal cognitive and receptive language abilities. The findings suggest that SM may involve subtle expressive language deficits that may influence academic performance and raise additional questions for further research. The assessment procedure developed for this study may be potentially useful for language clinicians.

The Effect of Language Learning Strategies on Proficiency, Attitudes and School Achievement.

PubMed

Habók, Anita; Magyar, Andrea

2017-01-01

This study examines language learning strategy (LLS) use in connexion with foreign language attitude, proficiency and general school achievement among lower secondary students in Years 5 and 8 ( n = 868) in Hungary. An adapted version of the Strategies Inventory for Language Learning questionnaire was used for data collection. The results showed that Hungarian students mainly engage in metacognitive strategies in both years. Differences between more and less proficient language learners' strategy use have also been found. With regard to the effect of LLS on foreign language attitude, the foreign language mark and school achievement, path analysis indicated a good fit in both years. The metacognitive, social and memory strategies primarily influenced foreign language attitudes and marks in Year 5. The metacognitive strategies had a slight impact on school achievement as well as on foreign language marks. We demonstrated the dominant effect of metacognitive strategies and the low effect of memory strategies in Year 8. In addition, metacognitive strategies also influenced foreign language marks. The effect of foreign language marks on school achievement was also remarkable. There was a strong impact on the children's attitudes through these variables.

Text Savvy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Guilford, Jacquelyn; Bustamante, Annette; Mackura, Kelly; Hirsch, Susan; Lyon, Edward; Estrada, Kelly

2017-01-01

Learning science is language intensive. Students might have to interpret the meaning of models, support claims with evidence, communicate arguments, and discuss phenomena and scientific principles. For English Language Learners (ELLs), engaging in scientific and engineering practices includes additional challenges. This article describes a series…

75 FR 47797 - Board of Visitors, Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-09

... to provide a general orientation to the DLIFLC mission and functional areas. In addition, the meeting..., and the availability of space, this meeting is open to the public. Seating is on a first- come basis...

Optimization of Aerospace Structure Subject to Damage Tolerance Criteria

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Akgun, Mehmet A.

1999-01-01

The objective of this cooperative agreement was to seek computationally efficient ways to optimize aerospace structures subject to damage tolerance criteria. Optimization was to involve sizing as well as topology optimization. The work was done in collaboration with Steve Scotti, Chauncey Wu and Joanne Walsh at the NASA Langley Research Center. Computation of constraint sensitivity is normally the most time-consuming step of an optimization procedure. The cooperative work first focused on this issue and implemented the adjoint method of sensitivity computation in an optimization code (runstream) written in Engineering Analysis Language (EAL). The method was implemented both for bar and plate elements including buckling sensitivity for the latter. Lumping of constraints was investigated as a means to reduce the computational cost. Adjoint sensitivity computation was developed and implemented for lumped stress and buckling constraints. Cost of the direct method and the adjoint method was compared for various structures with and without lumping. The results were reported in two papers. It is desirable to optimize topology of an aerospace structure subject to a large number of damage scenarios so that a damage tolerant structure is obtained. Including damage scenarios in the design procedure is critical in order to avoid large mass penalties at later stages. A common method for topology optimization is that of compliance minimization which has not been used for damage tolerant design. In the present work, topology optimization is treated as a conventional problem aiming to minimize the weight subject to stress constraints. Multiple damage configurations (scenarios) are considered. Each configuration has its own structural stiffness matrix and, normally, requires factoring of the matrix and solution of the system of equations. Damage that is expected to be tolerated is local and represents a small change in the stiffness matrix compared to the baseline (undamaged) structure. The exact solution to a slightly modified set of equations can be obtained from the baseline solution economically without actually solving the modified system. Sherrnan-Morrison-Woodbury (SMW) formulas are matrix update formulas that allow this. SMW formulas were therefore used here to compute adjoint displacements for sensitivity computation and structural displacements in damaged configurations.

Predictors of language service availability in U.S. hospitals

PubMed Central

Schiaffino, Melody K.; Al-Amin, Mona; Schumacher, Jessica R.

2014-01-01

Background: Hispanics comprise 17% of the total U.S. population, surpassing African-Americans as the largest minority group. Linguistically, almost 60 million people speak a language other than English. This language diversity can create barriers and additional burden and risk when seeking health services. Patients with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) for example, have been shown to experience a disproportionate risk of poor health outcomes, making the provision of Language Services (LS) in healthcare facilities critical. Research on the determinants of LS adoption has focused more on overall cultural competence and internal managerial decision-making than on measuring LS adoption as a process outcome influenced by contextual or external factors. The current investigation examines the relationship between state policy, service area factors, and hospital characteristics on hospital LS adoption. Methods: We employ a cross-sectional analysis of survey data from a national sample of hospitals in the American Hospital Association (AHA) database for 2011 (N= 4876) to analyze hospital characteristics and outcomes, augmented with additional population data from the American Community Survey (ACS) to estimate language diversity in the hospital service area. Additional data from the National Health Law Program (NHeLP) facilitated the state level Medicaid reimbursement factor. Results: Only 64% of hospitals offered LS. Hospitals that adopted LS were more likely to be not-for-profit, in areas with higher than average language diversity, larger, and urban. Hospitals in above average language diverse counties had more than 2-fold greater odds of adopting LS than less language diverse areas [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 2.26, P< 0.01]. Further, hospitals with a strategic orientation toward diversity had nearly 2-fold greater odds of adopting LS (AOR: 1.90, P< 0.001). Conclusion: Our findings support the importance of structural and contextual factors as they relate to healthcare delivery. Healthcare organizations must address the needs of the population they serve and align their efforts internally. Current financial incentives do not appear to influence adoption of LS, nor do Medicaid reimbursement funds, thus suggesting that further alignment of incentives. Organizational and system level factors have a place in disparities research and warrant further analysis; additional spatial methods could enhance our understanding of population factors critical to system-level health services research. PMID:25337600

Number word structure in first and second language influences arithmetic skills

PubMed Central

Prior, Anat; Katz, Michal; Mahajna, Islam; Rubinsten, Orly

2015-01-01

Languages differ in how they represent numerical information, and specifically whether the verbal notation of numbers follows the same order as the symbolic notation (in non-inverted languages, e.g., Hebrew, “25, twenty-five”) or whether the two notations diverge (in inverted languages, e.g., Arabic, “25, five-and-twenty”). We examined how the structure of number–words affects how arithmetic operations are processed by bilingual speakers of an inverted and a non-inverted language. We examined Arabic–Hebrew bilinguals’ performance in the first language, L1 (inverted) and in the second language, L2 (non-inverted). Their performance was compared to that of Hebrew L1 speakers, who do not speak an inverted language. Participants judged the accuracy of addition problems presented aurally in L1, aurally in L2 or in visual symbolic notation. Problems were presented such that they matched or did not match the structure of number words in the language. Arabic–Hebrew bilinguals demonstrated both flexibility in processing and adaptation to the language of aural–verbal presentation – they were more accurate for the inverted order of presentation in Arabic, but more accurate for non-inverted order of presentation in Hebrew, thus exhibiting the same pattern found for native Hebrew speakers. In addition, whereas native Hebrew speakers preferred the non-inverted order in visual symbolic presentation as well, the Arabic–Hebrew bilinguals showed enhanced flexibility, without a significant preference for one order over the other, in either speed or accuracy. These findings suggest that arithmetic processing is sensitive to the linguistic representations of number words. Moreover, bilinguals exposed to inverted and non-inverted languages showed influence of both systems, and enhanced flexibility in processing. Thus, the L1 does not seem to have exclusive power in shaping numerical mental representations, but rather the system remains open to influences from a later learned L2. PMID:25852591

Explaining the Academic Achievement at School Leaving for Pupils with a History of Language Impairment: Previous Academic Achievement and Literacy Skills

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dockrell, Julie E.; Lindsay, Geoff; Palikara, Olympia

2011-01-01

The relationships are explored between language and literacy and academic success at 16 years in an English sample of 62 young people with a history of specific language impairment identified at 8 years. Data were available from national assessments at 16 and 14; in addition the pupils had completed a range of standardized tests to examine…

The Effects of L2 Reading Skills on L1 Reading Skills through Transfer

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Altmisdort, Gonca

2016-01-01

This study investigated whether transfer from L2 to L1 in reading occurs, and if so, which reading sub-skills are transferred into L1 reading. The aim is to identify the role of second language reading skills in L1 reading skills by means of transfer. In addition, the positive effects of the second language transfer to the first language in the…

Spanish Language Processing at University of Maryland: Building Infrastructure for Multilingual Applications

DTIC Science & Technology

2001-09-01

translation of the Spanish original sentence. Acquiring bilingual dictionary entries In addition to building and applying the more sophisticated LCS...porting LCS lexicons to new languages, as described above, and are also useful by themselves in improving dictionary -based cross language information...hold much of the time. Moreover, lexical dependencies have proven to be instrumental in advances in monolingual syntactic analysis (e.g. I-erg MY

Chinese Language Study in American Higher Education: State of the Art. Language in Education: Theory and Practice. No. 30.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eddy, Peter A.; And Others

A study was undertaken in order to provide current data and comprehensive information about Chinese language instruction in United States higher education. This report is based on the responses to a survey in 1979. In addition to the discussion of the survey responses, an examination of changes that have taken place since a previous report in 1969…

Single-Center Study Investigating Foreign Language Acquisition at School in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults With Uni- or Bilateral Cochlear Implants in the Swiss German Population.

PubMed

Beeres-Scheenstra, Renske; Ohnsorg, Claudia; Candreia, Claudia; Heinzmann, Sybille; Castellanos, Susana; De Min, Nicola; Linder, Thomas E

2017-07-01

To evaluate foreign language acquisition at school in cochlear implant patients. Cohort study. CI center. Forty three cochlear implants (CI) patients (10-18 yr) were evaluated. CI nonusers and patients with CI-explantation, incomplete datasets, mental retardation, or concomitant medical disorders were excluded. Additional data (type of schooling, foreign language learning, and bilingualism) were obtained with questionnaires. German-speaking children with foreign tuition language (English and/or French) at school were enrolled for further testing. General patient data, auditory data, and foreign language data from both questionnaires and tests were collected and analyzed. Thirty seven out of 43 questionnaires (86%) were completed. Sixteen (43%) were in mainstream education. Twenty-seven CI users (73%) have foreign language learning at school. Fifteen of these were in mainstream education (55%), others in special schooling. From 10 CI users without foreign language learning, one CI user was in mainstream education (10%) and nine patients (90%) were in special schooling. Eleven German-speaking CI users were further tested in English and six additionally in French. For reading skills, the school objectives for English were reached in 7 of 11 pupils (64%) and for French in 3 of 6 pupils (50%). For listening skills, 3 of 11 pupils (27%) reached the school norm in English and none in French. Almost 75% of our CI users learn foreign language(s) at school. A small majority of the tested CI users reached the current school norm for in English and French in reading skills, whereas for hearing skills most of them were not able to reach the norm.

Codeswitching in Bilingual Children with Specific Language Impairment

PubMed Central

Gutiérrez-Clellen, Vera F.; Cereijido, Gabriela Simon; Leone, Angela Erickson

2009-01-01

Children with specific language impairment (SLI) exhibit limited grammatical skills compared to their peers with typical language. These difficulties may be revealed when alternating their two languages (i.e., codeswitching) within sentences. Fifty-eight Spanish-English speaking children with and without SLI produced narratives using wordless picture books and conversational samples. The results indicated no significant differences in the proportion of utterances with codeswitching (CS) across age groups or contexts of elicitation. There were significant effects for language dominance, language of testing, and a significant dominance by language of testing interaction. The English-dominant children demonstrated more CS when tested in their nondominant language (Spanish) compared to the Spanish-dominant children tested in their weaker English. The children with SLI did not display more CS or more instances of atypical CS patterns compared to their typical peers. The findings indicate that children with SLI are capable of using grammatical CS, in spite of their language difficulties. In addition, the analyses suggest that CS is sensitive to sociolinguistic variables such as when the home language is not socially supported in the larger sociocultural context. In these cases, children may refrain from switching to the home language, even if that is their dominant language. PMID:22611333

Relationship between the linguistic environments and early bilingual language development of hearing children in deaf-parented families.

PubMed

Kanto, Laura; Huttunen, Kerttu; Laakso, Marja-Leena

2013-04-01

We explored variation in the linguistic environments of hearing children of Deaf parents and how it was associated with their early bilingual language development. For that purpose we followed up the children's productive vocabulary (measured with the MCDI; MacArthur Communicative Development Inventory) and syntactic complexity (measured with the MLU10; mean length of the 10 longest utterances the child produced during videorecorded play sessions) in both Finnish Sign Language and spoken Finnish between the ages of 12 and 30 months. Additionally, we developed new methodology for describing the linguistic environments of the children (N = 10). Large variation was uncovered in both the amount and type of language input and language acquisition among the children. Language exposure and increases in productive vocabulary and syntactic complexity were interconnected. Language acquisition was found to be more dependent on the amount of exposure in sign language than in spoken language. This was judged to be related to the status of sign language as a minority language. The results are discussed in terms of parents' language choices, family dynamics in Deaf-parented families and optimal conditions for bilingual development.

Quantifying the driving factors for language shift in a bilingual region

PubMed Central

Prochazka, Katharina; Vogl, Gero

2017-01-01

Many of the world’s around 6,000 languages are in danger of disappearing as people give up use of a minority language in favor of the majority language in a process called language shift. Language shift can be monitored on a large scale through the use of mathematical models by way of differential equations, for example, reaction–diffusion equations. Here, we use a different approach: we propose a model for language dynamics based on the principles of cellular automata/agent-based modeling and combine it with very detailed empirical data. Our model makes it possible to follow language dynamics over space and time, whereas existing models based on differential equations average over space and consequently provide no information on local changes in language use. Additionally, cellular automata models can be used even in cases where models based on differential equations are not applicable, for example, in situations where one language has become dispersed and retreated to language islands. Using data from a bilingual region in Austria, we show that the most important factor in determining the spread and retreat of a language is the interaction with speakers of the same language. External factors like bilingual schools or parish language have only a minor influence. PMID:28298530

Neural Language Processing in Adolescent First-Language Learners: Longitudinal Case Studies in American Sign Language

PubMed Central

Ferjan Ramirez, Naja; Leonard, Matthew K.; Davenport, Tristan S.; Torres, Christina; Halgren, Eric; Mayberry, Rachel I.

2016-01-01

One key question in neurolinguistics is the extent to which the neural processing system for language requires linguistic experience during early life to develop fully. We conducted a longitudinal anatomically constrained magnetoencephalography (aMEG) analysis of lexico-semantic processing in 2 deaf adolescents who had no sustained language input until 14 years of age, when they became fully immersed in American Sign Language. After 2 to 3 years of language, the adolescents' neural responses to signed words were highly atypical, localizing mainly to right dorsal frontoparietal regions and often responding more strongly to semantically primed words (Ferjan Ramirez N, Leonard MK, Torres C, Hatrak M, Halgren E, Mayberry RI. 2014. Neural language processing in adolescent first-language learners. Cereb Cortex. 24 (10): 2772–2783). Here, we show that after an additional 15 months of language experience, the adolescents' neural responses remained atypical in terms of polarity. While their responses to less familiar signed words still showed atypical localization patterns, the localization of responses to highly familiar signed words became more concentrated in the left perisylvian language network. Our findings suggest that the timing of language experience affects the organization of neural language processing; however, even in adolescence, language representation in the human brain continues to evolve with experience. PMID:25410427

Correlations in the population structure of music, genes and language.

PubMed

Brown, Steven; Savage, Patrick E; Ko, Albert Min-Shan; Stoneking, Mark; Ko, Ying-Chin; Loo, Jun-Hun; Trejaut, Jean A

2014-01-07

We present, to our knowledge, the first quantitative evidence that music and genes may have coevolved by demonstrating significant correlations between traditional group-level folk songs and mitochondrial DNA variation among nine indigenous populations of Taiwan. These correlations were of comparable magnitude to those between language and genes for the same populations, although music and language were not significantly correlated with one another. An examination of population structure for genetics showed stronger parallels to music than to language. Overall, the results suggest that music might have a sufficient time-depth to retrace ancient population movements and, additionally, that it might be capturing different aspects of population history than language. Music may therefore have the potential to serve as a novel marker of human migrations to complement genes, language and other markers.

Assessment and d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing Multilingual Learners: Considerations and Promising Practices.

PubMed

Pizzo, Lianna; Chilvers, Amanda

2016-01-01

The authors address considerations and promising practices relating to assessment of d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing Multilingual Learners. DMLs' unique culture(s), language(s), and learning needs must be considered when assessments of this population are being planned, conducted, and interpreted. The authors address theory and research on (a) general considerations for the overarching assessment process, (b) specific assessment approaches used to assess DMLs, and (c) assessment of language proficiency for diverse language learners. In addition, basic recommendations for the assessment of DMLs are made, including increased availability of assessments in various languages, use of multiple sources of individual and family data, assessment of all languages, and incorporation of a strong assessment component (that includes nondiscrimination practices) into teacher preparation programs.

Correlations in the population structure of music, genes and language

PubMed Central

Brown, Steven; Savage, Patrick E.; Ko, Albert Min-Shan; Stoneking, Mark; Ko, Ying-Chin; Loo, Jun-Hun; Trejaut, Jean A.

2014-01-01

We present, to our knowledge, the first quantitative evidence that music and genes may have coevolved by demonstrating significant correlations between traditional group-level folk songs and mitochondrial DNA variation among nine indigenous populations of Taiwan. These correlations were of comparable magnitude to those between language and genes for the same populations, although music and language were not significantly correlated with one another. An examination of population structure for genetics showed stronger parallels to music than to language. Overall, the results suggest that music might have a sufficient time-depth to retrace ancient population movements and, additionally, that it might be capturing different aspects of population history than language. Music may therefore have the potential to serve as a novel marker of human migrations to complement genes, language and other markers. PMID:24225453

Incidence Rate of Canonical vs. Derived Medical Terminology in Natural Language.

PubMed

Topac, Vasile; Jurcau, Daniel-Alexandru; Stoicu-Tivadar, Vasile

2015-01-01

Medical terminology appears in the natural language in multiple forms: canonical, derived or inflected form. This research presents an analysis of the form in which medical terminology appears in Romanian and English language. The sources of medical language used for the study are web pages presenting medical information for patients and other lay users. The results show that, in English, medical terminology tends to appear more in canonical form while, in the case of Romanian, it is the opposite. This paper also presents the service that was created to perform this analysis. This tool is available for the general public, and it is designed to be easily extensible, allowing the addition of other languages.

Logo Talks Back.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bearden, Donna; Muller, Jim

1983-01-01

In addition to turtle graphics, the Logo programing language has list and text processing capabilities that open up opportunities for word games, language programs, word processing, and other applications. Provided are examples of these applications using both Apple and MIT Logo versions. Includes sample interactive programs. (JN)

Association between lesion location and language function in adult glioma using voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping.

PubMed

Banerjee, Pia; Leu, Kevin; Harris, Robert J; Cloughesy, Timothy F; Lai, Albert; Nghiemphu, Phioanh L; Pope, Whitney B; Bookheimer, Susan Y; Ellingson, Benjamin M

2015-01-01

Management of language difficulties is an important aspect of clinical care for glioma patients, and accurately identifying the possible language deficits in patients based on lesion location would be beneficial to clinicians. To that end, we examined the relationship between lesion presence and language performance on tests of receptive language and expressive language using a highly specific voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping (VLSM) approach in glioma patients. 98 adults with primary glioma, who were pre-surgical candidates, were administered seven neurocognitive tests within the domains of receptive language and expressive language. The association between language performance and lesion presence was examined using VLSM. Statistical parametric maps were created for each test, and composite maps for both receptive language and expressive language were created to display the significant voxels common to all tests within these language domains. We identified clusters of voxels with a significant relationship between lesion presence and language performance. All tasks were associated with several white matter pathways. The receptive language tasks were additionally all associated with regions primarily within the lateral temporal lobe and medial temporal lobe. In contrast, the expressive language tasks shared little overlap, despite each task being independently associated with large anatomic areas. Our findings identify the key anatomic structures involved in language functioning in adult glioma patients using an innovative lesion analysis technique and suggest that expressive language abilities may be more task-dependent and distributed than receptive language abilities.

Obtaining correct compile results by absorbing mismatches between data types representations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Horie, Michihiro; Horii, Hiroshi H.; Kawachiya, Kiyokuni

Methods and a system are provided. A method includes implementing a function, which a compiler for a first language does not have, using a compiler for a second language. The implementing step includes generating, by the compiler for the first language, a first abstract syntax tree. The implementing step further includes converting, by a converter, the first abstract syntax tree to a second abstract syntax tree of the compiler for the second language using a conversion table from data representation types in the first language to data representation types in the second language. When a compilation error occurs, the implementingmore » step also includes generating a special node for error processing in the second abstract syntax tree and storing an error token in the special node. When unparsing, the implementing step additionally includes outputting the error token, in the form of source code written in the first language.« less

Mother-adolescent language proficiency and adolescent academic and emotional adjustment among Chinese American families.

PubMed

Liu, Lisa L; Benner, Aprile D; Lau, Anna S; Kim, Su Yeong

2009-04-01

This study examined the role of adolescents' and mothers' self-reports of English and heritage language proficiency in youth's academic and emotional adjustment among 444 Chinese American families. Adolescents who were proficient in English tended to exhibit higher reading achievement scores, math achievement scores, and overall GPA. Mothers who were English proficient tended to have children with higher academic achievement and fewer depressive symptoms. Results also indicated that adolescents' heritage language maintenance was associated with positive adjustment, particularly amongst foreign-born youth and for youth whose parents were highly proficient in the heritage language. Mother-adolescent match in heritage language proficiency was related to higher math achievement scores and overall GPA. Additionally, higher heritage language proficiency was associated with fewer depressive symptoms for foreign-born but not U.S.-born youth. Overall, the findings suggest that proficiency in both the English and heritage language may confer advantages to Chinese American youth.

Obtaining correct compile results by absorbing mismatches between data types representations

DOEpatents

Horie, Michihiro; Horii, Hiroshi H.; Kawachiya, Kiyokuni; Takeuchi, Mikio

2017-03-21

Methods and a system are provided. A method includes implementing a function, which a compiler for a first language does not have, using a compiler for a second language. The implementing step includes generating, by the compiler for the first language, a first abstract syntax tree. The implementing step further includes converting, by a converter, the first abstract syntax tree to a second abstract syntax tree of the compiler for the second language using a conversion table from data representation types in the first language to data representation types in the second language. When a compilation error occurs, the implementing step also includes generating a special node for error processing in the second abstract syntax tree and storing an error token in the special node. When unparsing, the implementing step additionally includes outputting the error token, in the form of source code written in the first language.

Obtaining correct compile results by absorbing mismatches between data types representations

DOEpatents

Horie, Michihiro; Horii, Hiroshi H.; Kawachiya, Kiyokuni; Takeuchi, Mikio

2017-11-21

Methods and a system are provided. A method includes implementing a function, which a compiler for a first language does not have, using a compiler for a second language. The implementing step includes generating, by the compiler for the first language, a first abstract syntax tree. The implementing step further includes converting, by a converter, the first abstract syntax tree to a second abstract syntax tree of the compiler for the second language using a conversion table from data representation types in the first language to data representation types in the second language. When a compilation error occurs, the implementing step also includes generating a special node for error processing in the second abstract syntax tree and storing an error token in the special node. When unparsing, the implementing step additionally includes outputting the error token, in the form of source code written in the first language.

Discharge experiences of speech-language pathologists working in Cyprus and Greece.

PubMed

Kambanaros, Maria

2010-08-01

Post-termination relationships are complex because the client may need additional services and it may be difficult to determine when the speech-language pathologist-client relationship is truly terminated. In my contribution to this scientific forum, discharge experiences from speech-language pathologists working in Cyprus and Greece will be explored in search of commonalities and differences in the way in which pathologists end therapy from different cultural perspectives. Within this context the personal impact on speech-language pathologists of the discharge process will be highlighted. Inherent in this process is how speech-language pathologists learn to hold their feelings, anxieties and reactions when communicating discharge to clients. Overall speech-language pathologists working in Cyprus and Greece experience similar emotional responses to positive and negative therapy endings as speech-language pathologists working in Australia. The major difference is that Cypriot and Greek therapists face serious limitations in moving their clients on after therapy has ended.

Age of second language acquisition in multilinguals has an impact on gray matter volume in language-associated brain areas.

PubMed

Kaiser, Anelis; Eppenberger, Leila S; Smieskova, Renata; Borgwardt, Stefan; Kuenzli, Esther; Radue, Ernst-Wilhelm; Nitsch, Cordula; Bendfeldt, Kerstin

2015-01-01

Numerous structural studies have established that experience shapes and reshapes the brain throughout a lifetime. The impact of early development, however, is still a matter of debate. Further clues may come from studying multilinguals who acquired their second language at different ages. We investigated adult multilinguals who spoke three languages fluently, where the third language was learned in classroom settings, not before the age of 9 years. Multilinguals exposed to two languages simultaneously from birth (SiM) were contrasted with multinguals who acquired their first two languages successively (SuM). Whole brain voxel based morphometry revealed that, relative to SuM, SiM have significantly lower gray matter volume in several language-associated cortical areas in both hemispheres: bilaterally in medial and inferior frontal gyrus, in the right medial temporal gyrus and inferior posterior parietal gyrus, as well as in the left inferior temporal gyrus. Thus, as shown by others, successive language learning increases the volume of language-associated cortical areas. In brains exposed early on and simultaneously to more than one language, however, learning of additional languages seems to have less impact. We conclude that - at least with respect to language acquisition - early developmental influences are maintained and have an effect on experience-dependent plasticity well into adulthood.

Dichotic listening performance predicts language comprehension.

PubMed

Asbjørnsen, Arve E; Helland, Turid

2006-05-01

Dichotic listening performance is considered a reliable and valid procedure for the assessment of language lateralisation in the brain. However, the documentation of a relationship between language functions and dichotic listening performance is sparse, although it is accepted that dichotic listening measures language perception. In particular, language comprehension should show close correspondence to perception of language stimuli. In the present study, we tested samples of reading-impaired and normally achieving children between 10 and 13 years of age with tests of reading skills, language comprehension, and dichotic listening to consonant-vowel (CV) syllables. A high correlation between the language scores and the dichotic listening performance was expected. However, since the left ear score is believed to be an error when assessing language laterality, covariation was expected for the right ear scores only. In addition, directing attention to one ear input was believed to reduce the influence of random factors, and thus show a more concise estimate of left hemisphere language capacity. Thus, a stronger correlation between language comprehension skills and the dichotic listening performance when attending to the right ear was expected. The analyses yielded a positive correlation between the right ear score in DL and language comprehension, an effect that was stronger when attending to the right ear. The present results confirm the assumption that dichotic listening with CV syllables measures an aspect of language perception and language skills that is related to general language comprehension.

Speech-language and educational consequences of unilateral hearing loss in children.

PubMed

Lieu, Judith E Cho

2004-05-01

In the past, unilateral hearing loss (UHL) in children was thought to have little consequence because speech and language presumably developed appropriately with one normal-hearing ear. Some studies from the 1980s and 1990s have suggested that a significantly increased proportion of children with UHL may have educational and/or behavioral problems, compared with their normal-hearing peers. Limited data exist about the effect of UHL on acquisition of speech and language skills. To review the current literature about the impact UHL has on the development of speech and language and educational achievement. MEDLINE search between 1966 and June 1, 2003, using the medical subject heading "hearing loss," combined with the textword "unilateral." Studies were limited to those written in English, reporting speech-language and/or educational results in children. Articles were read with attention to study design, population, recruitment of subjects, and outcomes measured. Problems in school included a 22% to 35% rate of repeating at least one grade, and 12% to 41% receiving additional educational assistance. Speech and language delays have been reported in some but not all studies. School-age children with UHL appear to have increased rates of grade failures, need for additional educational assistance, and perceived behavioral issues in the classroom. Speech and language delays may occur in some children with UHL, but it is unclear if children "catch up" as they grow older. Research into this area is necessary to clarify these issues and to determine whether interventions may prevent potential problems.

Fundamental Frequency Variation of Neonatal Spontaneous Crying Predicts Language Acquisition in Preterm and Term Infants.

PubMed

Shinya, Yuta; Kawai, Masahiko; Niwa, Fusako; Imafuku, Masahiro; Myowa, Masako

2017-01-01

Spontaneous cries of infants exhibit rich melodic features (i.e., time variation of fundamental frequency [ F 0 ]) even during the neonatal period, and the development of these characteristics might provide an essential base for later expressive prosody in language. However, little is known about the melodic features of spontaneous cries in preterm infants, who have a higher risk of later language-related problems. Thus, the present study investigated how preterm birth influenced melodic features of spontaneous crying at term-equivalent age as well as how these melodic features related to language outcomes at 18 months of corrected age in preterm and term infants. At term, moderate-to-late preterm (MLP) infants showed spontaneous cries with significantly higher F 0 variation and melody complexity than term infants, while there were no significant differences between very preterm (VP) and term infants. Furthermore, larger F 0 variation within cry series at term was significantly related to better language and cognitive outcomes, particularly expressive language skills, at 18 months. On the other hand, no other melodic features at term predicted any developmental outcomes at 18 months. The present results suggest that the additional postnatal vocal experience of MLP preterm infants increased F 0 variation and the complexity of spontaneous cries at term. Additionally, the increases in F 0 variation may partly reflect the development of voluntary vocal control, which, in turn, contributes to expressive language in infancy.

The Effect of Language Learning Strategies on Proficiency, Attitudes and School Achievement

PubMed Central

Habók, Anita; Magyar, Andrea

2018-01-01

This study examines language learning strategy (LLS) use in connexion with foreign language attitude, proficiency and general school achievement among lower secondary students in Years 5 and 8 (n = 868) in Hungary. An adapted version of the Strategies Inventory for Language Learning questionnaire was used for data collection. The results showed that Hungarian students mainly engage in metacognitive strategies in both years. Differences between more and less proficient language learners’ strategy use have also been found. With regard to the effect of LLS on foreign language attitude, the foreign language mark and school achievement, path analysis indicated a good fit in both years. The metacognitive, social and memory strategies primarily influenced foreign language attitudes and marks in Year 5. The metacognitive strategies had a slight impact on school achievement as well as on foreign language marks. We demonstrated the dominant effect of metacognitive strategies and the low effect of memory strategies in Year 8. In addition, metacognitive strategies also influenced foreign language marks. The effect of foreign language marks on school achievement was also remarkable. There was a strong impact on the children’s attitudes through these variables. PMID:29379461

Child first language and adult second language are both tied to general-purpose learning systems.

PubMed

Hamrick, Phillip; Lum, Jarrad A G; Ullman, Michael T

2018-02-13

Do the mechanisms underlying language in fact serve general-purpose functions that preexist this uniquely human capacity? To address this contentious and empirically challenging issue, we systematically tested the predictions of a well-studied neurocognitive theory of language motivated by evolutionary principles. Multiple metaanalyses were performed to examine predicted links between language and two general-purpose learning systems, declarative and procedural memory. The results tied lexical abilities to learning only in declarative memory, while grammar was linked to learning in both systems in both child first language and adult second language, in specific ways. In second language learners, grammar was associated with only declarative memory at lower language experience, but with only procedural memory at higher experience. The findings yielded large effect sizes and held consistently across languages, language families, linguistic structures, and tasks, underscoring their reliability and validity. The results, which met the predicted pattern, provide comprehensive evidence that language is tied to general-purpose systems both in children acquiring their native language and adults learning an additional language. Crucially, if language learning relies on these systems, then our extensive knowledge of the systems from animal and human studies may also apply to this domain, leading to predictions that might be unwarranted in the more circumscribed study of language. Thus, by demonstrating a role for these systems in language, the findings simultaneously lay a foundation for potentially important advances in the study of this critical domain.

Students who are deaf and hard of hearing and use sign language: considerations and strategies for developing spoken language and literacy skills.

PubMed

Nussbaum, Debra; Waddy-Smith, Bettie; Doyle, Jane

2012-11-01

There is a core body of knowledge, experience, and skills integral to facilitating auditory, speech, and spoken language development when working with the general population of students who are deaf and hard of hearing. There are additional issues, strategies, and challenges inherent in speech habilitation/rehabilitation practices essential to the population of deaf and hard of hearing students who also use sign language. This article will highlight philosophical and practical considerations related to practices used to facilitate spoken language development and associated literacy skills for children and adolescents who sign. It will discuss considerations for planning and implementing practices that acknowledge and utilize a student's abilities in sign language, and address how to link these skills to developing and using spoken language. Included will be considerations for children from early childhood through high school with a broad range of auditory access, language, and communication characteristics. Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

The role of early language abilities on math skills among Chinese children.

PubMed

Zhang, Juan; Fan, Xitao; Cheung, Sum Kwing; Meng, Yaxuan; Cai, Zhihui; Hu, Bi Ying

2017-01-01

The present study investigated the role of early language abilities in the development of math skills among Chinese K-3 students. About 2000 children in China, who were on average aged 6 years, were assessed for both informal math (e.g., basic number concepts such as counting objects) and formal math (calculations including addition and subtraction) skills, language abilities and nonverbal intelligence. Correlation analysis showed that language abilities were more strongly associated with informal than formal math skills, and regression analyses revealed that children's language abilities could uniquely predict both informal and formal math skills with age, gender, and nonverbal intelligence controlled. Mediation analyses demonstrated that the relationship between children's language abilities and formal math skills was partially mediated by informal math skills. The current findings indicate 1) Children's language abilities are of strong predictive values for both informal and formal math skills; 2) Language abilities impacts formal math skills partially through the mediation of informal math skills.

The role of early language abilities on math skills among Chinese children

PubMed Central

Fan, Xitao; Cheung, Sum Kwing; Cai, Zhihui; Hu, Bi Ying

2017-01-01

Background The present study investigated the role of early language abilities in the development of math skills among Chinese K-3 students. About 2000 children in China, who were on average aged 6 years, were assessed for both informal math (e.g., basic number concepts such as counting objects) and formal math (calculations including addition and subtraction) skills, language abilities and nonverbal intelligence. Methodology Correlation analysis showed that language abilities were more strongly associated with informal than formal math skills, and regression analyses revealed that children’s language abilities could uniquely predict both informal and formal math skills with age, gender, and nonverbal intelligence controlled. Mediation analyses demonstrated that the relationship between children’s language abilities and formal math skills was partially mediated by informal math skills. Results The current findings indicate 1) Children’s language abilities are of strong predictive values for both informal and formal math skills; 2) Language abilities impacts formal math skills partially through the mediation of informal math skills. PMID:28749950