Senior High School EFL Students’ L2 Motivational Configurations and Learning Outcomes: A Person-centered Approach

This study utilized a person-centered approach to explore senior high school EFL students’ motivations and their learning outcomes. Cluster analysis extracted four second language (L2) motivational configurations among the 922 participants: 1) the High Motive group which is characterized by high amount of L2 motivation, 2) the Performance-focused group which is characterized by low intrinsic motivation and a focus on examination scores, 3) the Socioculture-focused group characterized by low intrinsic motivation but an interest in the L2 culture, 4) and the Low Motive group characterized by low motivation. It was found that a good quality group was absent from this particular EFL context. The High Motive group and the Performance-focused group outperformed the other two groups in terms of the L2 learning outcomes. Integrative motivation emerged from the person-centered approach. Contextual factors such as the economic situation and influence of Confucianism were discussed in relation to the results. Keywords: Second language learning motivation, Motivational configuration, English as a foreign language, Learning outcomes, Person-centered approac

Reclassifying the SILL: Validation Using Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis

For decades, the Strategy Inventory of Language Learning (SILL) has been extensively used in the previous studies on foreign/second language (L2) learners’ learning strategies, which have yielded a substantial amount of empirical findings in the field of L2. The conventional classification of the SILL questionnaire, however, has not gone without challenges, especially given the tremendous diversity of the EFL context. In this study, we revisited the SILL and reclassified the language learning strategies in this popular questionnaire. The data were collected in an EFL context in which a total of 282 Taiwanese senior high school students filled out the SILL questionnaire. Validity was the paramount concern during reclassifying and was demonstrated via exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmation factor analysis (CFA). EFA was first used to extract factors from the SILL, which helps to conceptualize the new classification. CFA was then performed to confirm the exploratory model. At the end of the study, the SILL was reclassified into the 6 dimensions which were labeled as: 1) Social Strategies, 2) Metacognitive Strategies (Type I), 3) Metacognitive Strategies (Type II), 4) Affective Strategies, 5) Cognitive Strategies and 6) Memory Strategies. Keywords: Language learning strategy, the Strategy Inventory of Language Learning, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysi

Effect of different a-InGaZnO TFTs channel thickness upon self-heating stress

In this work, Indium-Galium-Zinc-Oxide Thin Film Transistors (IGZO TFTs) with different channel thickness has been compared after self-heating stress (SHS). In previous literatures, self-heating of TFTs has been widely discussed and Joule Heat caused during driving TFTs has been compared with different channel length and width [1]. However, different channel thickness hasn’t been investigated. Although TFTs with a larger channel thickness possess a greater drain current, a less degradation is observed when comparing with small channel thickness structures, demonstrated in Figure 1(a). The ΔVt shift in the transfer characteristics are well described by the stretched-exponential equation. The Eτ value, which is the average effective barrier height for electron transport, is extracted in Figure (b). Results has shown that in the thick IGZO TFTs, the value is almost twice of that in the thin IGZO TFTs. From COMSOL simulations demonstrated in Figure 1(c), in could be noticed that different channel thickness effects the electrical field locating at the gate insulator. Therefore, a model is proposed to explain the degradation difference, illustrated in Figure (4). Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Investigation of degradation caused by charge trapping at etching-stop layer under AC gate-bias stress for InGaZnO thin film transistors

A great amount of literatures has been focusing on bias-induced instability issues including threshold voltage shift (ΔVt ) and subthreshold swing (S.S) degradations [1]. However, in practical TFT operation circuits, very limited knowledge could be applied since operation modes are mostly applied with alternative current (AC). Based on these backgrounds, in this work, Indium-Gallium-Zinc-Oxide Thin Film Transistors (IGZO TFTs) are applied with AC PBS degradations. Compared with previous work, this work observed a structure dependent degradation. An etch-stop structure IGZO TFT observed a serious threshold voltage shift after AC stress but shown great stability after direct current (DC) stress. The device structure and transfer characteristic curves are demonstrated in Figure 1(a) and (b) respectively. From results of DC PBS/NBS, a favorable stability indicating a great quality of gate insulator. Therefore, the positive threshold voltage shift is believed to be origin from electron trapping at the etching stop layer (ESL), since ESL possesses a relatively poor quality compared to the gate insulator. The charge trapping at etching stop layer could be confirmed by results of asymmetric source/drain metal under AC stress, illustrated in Figure 1(c). Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Attenuation of Brain Nitrostative and Oxidative Damage by Brain Cooling during Experimental Traumatic Brain Injury

The aim of the present study was to ascertain whether brain cooling causes attenuation of traumatic brain injury by reducing brain nitrostative and oxidative damage. Brain cooling was accomplished by infusion of 5 mL of 4°C saline over 5 minutes via the external jugular vein. Immediately after the onset of traumatic brain injury, rats were randomized into two groups and given 37°C or 4°C normal saline. Another group of rats were used as sham operated controls. Behavioral and biochemical assessments were conducted on 72 hours after brain injury or sham operation. As compared to those of the sham-operated controls, the 37°C saline-treated brain injured animals displayed motor deficits, higher cerebral contusion volume and incidence, higher oxidative damage (e.g., lower values of cerebral superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase, but higher values of cerebral malondialdehyde), and higher nitrostative damage (e.g., higher values of neuronal nitric oxide synthase and 3-nitrotyrosine). All the motor deficits and brain nitrostative and oxidative damage were significantly reduced by retrograde perfusion of 4°C saline via the jugular vein. Our data suggest that brain cooling may improve the outcomes of traumatic brain injury in rats by reducing brain nitrostative and oxidative damage

Renal and survival benefits of seventeen prescribed Chinese herbal medicines against oxidative-inflammatory stress in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with chronic kidney disease: a real-world longitudinal study

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) significantly links to LN, a type of CKD with high mortality despite modern Western treatments. About 70% of SLE patients develop LN, and 30% advance to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Concerns about glucocorticoid side effects and LN worsening due to oxidative stress prompt alternative treatment searches. In Taiwan, over 85% of SLE patients opt for complementary methods, especially Chinese herbal medicine (CHM). We pinpointed seventeen CHMs for SLE (PRCHMSLE) with antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties from national health insurance data (2000–2017). Our primary aim was to assess their impact on renal and survival outcomes in SLE patients progressing to CKD (SLE-CKD), with a secondary focus on the risks of hospitalization and hyperkalemia.Methods: We established a propensity-matched cohort of 1,188 patients with SLE-CKD, comprising 594 PRCHMSLE users and 594 nonusers. We employed Cox proportional hazards models and restricted mean survival time (RMST) analyses to assess the renal and survival outcomes of PRCHMSLE users. Moreover, we performed pooling and network analyses, specifically focusing on the renal effects linked to PRCHMSLE.Results: PRCHMSLE use was associated with decreased adjusted hazard ratios for ESRD (0.45; 95% confidence interval, 0.25–0.79, p = 0.006), all-cause mortality (0.56; 0.43–0.75, p < 0.0001), non-cardiovascular mortality (0.56; 0.42–0.75, p < 0.0001), and hospitalization (0.72; 0.52–0.96, p = 0.009). Hyperkalemia risk did not increase. Significant differences in RMST were observed: 0.57 years (95% confidence interval, 0.19–0.95, p = 0.004) for ESRD, 1.22 years (0.63–1.82, p < 0.0001) for all-cause mortality, and 1.21 years (0.62–1.80, p < 0.0001) for non-cardiovascular mortality, favoring PRCHMSLE use. Notably renoprotective PRCHMSLE included Gan-Lu-Ying, Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge [Asparagaceae; Rhizoma Anemarrhenae] (Zhi-Mu), Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) DC. [Orobanchaceae; Radix Rehmanniae] (Sheng-Di-Huang), Jia-Wei-Xiao-Yao-San, and Paeonia suffruticosa Andr. [Paeoniaceae; Cortex Moutan] (Mu-Dan-Pi). Network analysis highlighted primary treatment strategies with central components like Liu-Wei-Di-Huang-Wan, Paeonia suffruticosa Andr. [Paeoniaceae; Cortex Moutan] (Mu-Dan-Pi), Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge [Asparagaceae; Rhizoma Anemarrhenae] (Zhi-Mu), Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) DC. [Orobanchaceae; Radix Rehmanniae] (Sheng-Di-Huang), and Zhi-Bai-Di-Huang-Wan.Conclusion: This work underscores the pronounced renal and survival benefits associated with the seventeen PRCHMSLE in the treatment of SLE-CKD, concurrently mitigating the risks of hospitalization and hyperkalemia. This highlights their potential as alternative treatment options for individuals with this condition

Attenuation of Acute Lung Inflammation and Injury by Whole Body Cooling in a Rat Heatstroke Model

Whole body cooling is the current therapy of choice for heatstroke because the therapeutic agents are not available. In this study, we assessed the effects of whole body cooling on several indices of acute lung inflammation and injury which might occur during heatstroke. Anesthetized rats were randomized into the following groups and given (a) no treatment or (b) whole body cooling immediately after onset of heatstroke. As compared with the normothermic controls, the untreated heatstroke rats had higher levels of pleural exudates volume and polymorphonuclear cell numbers, lung myloperoxidase activity and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, histologic lung injury score, and bronchoalveolar proinflammatory cytokines and glutamate, and PaCO2. In contrast, the values of mean arterial pressure, heart rate, PaO2, pH, and blood HCO3− were all significantly lower during heatstroke. The acute lung inflammation and injury and electrolyte imbalance that occurred during heatstroke were significantly reduced by whole body cooling. In conclusion, we identified heat-induced acute lung inflammation and injury and electrolyte imbalance could be ameliorated by whole body cooling

Transient Climate Response in Coupled Atmospheric–Ocean General Circulation Models

The equilibrium climate sensitivity (ECS) has a large uncertainty range among models participating in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) and has recently been presented as “inherently unpredictable.” One way to circumvent this problem is to consider the transient climate response (TCR). However, the TCR among AR4 models also differs by more than a factor of 2. The authors argue that the situation may not necessarily be so pessimistic, because much of the intermodel difference may be due to the fact that the models were run with their oceans at various stages of flux adjustment with their atmosphere. This is shown by comparing multimillennium-long runs of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies model, version E, coupled with the Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model (GISS-EH) and the Community Climate System Model, version 4 (CCSM4) with what were reported to AR4. The long model runs here reveal the range of variability (~30%) in their TCR within the same model with the same ECS. The commonly adopted remedy of subtracting the “climate drift” is ineffective and adds to the variability. The culprit is the natural variability of the control runs, which exists even at quasi equilibration. Fortunately, for simulations with multidecadal time horizon, robust solutions can be obtained by branching off thousand-year-long control runs that reach “quasi equilibration” using a new protocol, which takes advantage of the fact that forced solutions to radiative forcing forget their initial condition after 30–40 yr and instead depend mostly on the trajectory of the radiative forcing

Impact of first-line protease inhibitors on predicted resistance to tipranavir in HIV-1-infected patients with virological failure

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Tipranavir (TPV) is a recently approved nonpeptidic protease inhibitor (PI) of HIV-1 and has been indicated for those infected with PIs-resistant HIV-1. However, in clinical practice, whether the HIV-1 from the patients with virological failure to the regimens containing first-line PIs remains susceptible to TPV/r may be questionable.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To assess the resistance levels to TPV of HIV-1 from patients with treatment failure to first-line PIs, patients who experienced virological failure were tested for genotypic resistance of HIV-1 since August 2006 in National Taiwan University Hospital. Patients were enrolled for this analysis if their failed regimens contained > 12 weeks of atazanavir or lopinavir/ritonavir (defined as ATV group and LPV/r group, respectively), but were excluded if they experienced both or other PIs. The levels of genotypic resistance to TPV/r were determined by TPV mutation score.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Till May 2008, 21 subjects in ATV group and 20 subjects in LPV/r group were enrolled. The TPV mutation scores in subjects in LPV/r group were significantly higher than these in ATV group (median, 3 vs 1, P = 0.007). 95.2% subjects in ATV group and only 45% subjects in LPV/r group had an estimated maximal virological response to TPV/r (P < 0.001). The resistance levels to TPV/r correlated with the duration of exposure to first-line PIs, whether in ATV or LPV/r group.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Cross-resistance from first-line PIs may impede the effectiveness of TPV/r-containing salvage therapy. TPV/r should be used cautiously for patients with virological failure to LPV/r especially long duration of exposure.</p