Affordances theory in multilingualism studies

The concept of affordances originating in Gibson’s work (Gibson, 1977) is gaining ground in multilingualism studies (cf. Aronin and Singleton, 2010; Singleton and Aronin, 2007; Dewaele, 2010). Nevertheless, studies investigating affordances in respect of teaching, learning or using languages are still somewhat rare and tend to treat isolated aspects of multilingualism. This is despite the fact that the theory of affordances can actually provide a valuable, supplementary, up-to-date framework within which a clearer, sharper description and explication of the intriguing range of attributes of multilingual communities, educational institutions and individuals, as well as teaching practices, become feasible. It is important that not only researchers and practitioners (teachers, educators, parents, community and political actors) but also language users and learners themselves should be aware of how to identify or, if necessary, design new affordances for language acquisition and learning. The aim of this article is to adapt the concept of affordances to multilingualism studies and additional language teaching, and in so doing advance theoretical understanding in this context. To this end the article contains a brief summary of the findings so far available. The article also goes further into defining the ways of how affordances work in relation to multilingualism and second language teaching and puts forward an integrated model of affordances

Evidencia de validez de la medida de energía productiva organizacional en muestras brasileñas

A energia organizacional produtiva conceitua-se como uma experiência compartilhada, em que os membros de uma organização apresentam afetos positivos, estimulação cognitiva e comportamento proativo em busca de satisfazer com objetivos da organização em que atuam. O presente estudo teve por objetivo obter evidências de validade da Medida de Energia Organizacional Produtiva. Participaram do estudo 464 trabalhadores brasileiros, de ambos os sexos. As análises fatoriais confirmatórias evidenciaram que a versão brasileira manteve os 14 itens e os fatores do instrumento original (energia afetiva, energia cognitiva e energia comportamental). As análises multigrupos atestaram a invariância configural, métrica e escalar entre os grupos divididos em termos de gênero e setor organizacional (público e privado). A escala apresentou correlações positivas com motivação no trabalho, autoeficácia no trabalho, autonomia no trabalho, satisfação no trabalho, engajamento no trabalho e comprometimento organizacional. Concluiu-se que o instrumento apresentou propriedades psicométricas que recomendam seu uso em investigações futuras.La energía productiva organizacional se conceptualiza como una experiencia compartida, en la que los miembros de una organización presentan afectos positivos, estimulación cognitiva y comportamiento proactivo para satisfacer los objetivos de la organización en la que trabajan. El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo obtener evidencia de validez de la Medida de Energía Productiva Organizacional. Participaron en el estudio un total de 464 trabajadores brasileños de ambos sexos. Los análisis factoriales confirmatorios mostraron que la versión brasileña mantuvo los 14 ítems y factores del instrumento original (energía afectiva, energía cognitiva y energía conductual). Multigrupos análisis han atestiguado la invarianza configural, métrica y escalar entre los grupos divididos por género y sector organizacional (público y privado). La escala mostró correlaciones positivas con motivación laboral, autoeficacia laboral, autonomía laboral, satisfacción laboral, engagement en el trabajo y compromiso organizacional. Se concluyó que el instrumento tiene propiedades psicométricas que recomiendan su uso en futuras investigaciones.Productive organizational energy is conceptualized as a shared experience, in which the members of an organization present positive affects, cognitive stimulation and proactive behavior in order to satisfy the organization’s objectives in which they work. This work aimed to obtain evidence of validity of the Productive Organizational Energy Measure. A total of 464 Brazilian workers of both sexes participated in the study. Confirmatory factor analyzes showed that the Brazilian version kept the 14 items and factors of the original instrument (affective energy, cognitive energy and behavioral energy). Multigroup analysis demonstrated configural, metric and scalar invariance between groups divided in terms of gender and organizational sector (public and private). The scale showed positive correlations with work motivation, work self-efficacy, work autonomy, job satisfaction, work engagement and organizational commitment. It was concluded that the instrument had psychometric properties that recommend its use in future investigations

Prosomal-width-to-weight relationships in American horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus): examining conversion factors used to estimate landings

Horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) are valued by many stakeholders, including the commercial fishing industry, biomedical companies, and environmental interest groups. We designed a study to test the accuracy of the conversion factors that were used by NOAA Fisheries and state agencies to estimate horseshoe crab landings before mandatory reporting that began in 1998. Our results indicate that the NOAA Fisheries conversion factor consistently overestimates the weight of male horseshoe crabs, particularly those from New England populations. Because of the inaccuracy of this and other conversion factors, states are now mandated to report the number (not biomass) and sex of landed horseshoe crabs. However, accurate estimates of biomass are still necessary for use in prediction models that are being developed to better manage the horseshoe crab fishery. We recommend that managers use the conversion factors presented in this study to convert current landing data from numbers to biomass of harvested horseshoe crabs for future assessments

The Effectiveness of Augmented Reality in Enhancing the Experience of Visual Impact Assessment for Wind Turbine Development

A Visual Impact Assessment (VIA) is a formal requirement for proposed building developments likely to significantly affect the landscape. A key component of a VIA is the production of visual materials illustrating the development. But how effective are they? 67 Participants were told about a planned wind turbine development near our University and that the proposed site could be viewed from a location on campus. The illustrations used were: a printed static photograph simulating the proposed development (adhering to current UK guidelines), the same photograph presented on the screen of a laptop and an augmented reality simulation on a tablet computer which included an animated wind turbine superimposed on the scene. Participants were asked to rate various aspects of these simulations (e.g. clarity, trustworthiness) as well as to state their overall preference. The augmented reality simulation was rated as best in all ratings and the most preferred. The reasons given included that the animation gave a better idea of what the wind turbine would look like “in situ” and that it was easier to alternate viewing between the real scene and the simulated scene. These results will inform future government guidelines on materials used in VIAs. Supported by an Encompass First Step Award from Scottish Enterprise in partnership with the University of Glasgow and Linknode Ltd. (http://www.linknode.co.uk/

The impact of a community free swimming programme for young people (under 19) in England

A national free swimming programme for under 16s in England was a central government initiative to increase participation in 2008/09, although not all local authorities adopted it. One implemented a bespoke free swimming initiative (FSI) for under 19s in the community instead, aiming to improve the health of young people through the programme and provide value for money for managers. The FSI saw 33% of the eligible population participating at least once. However, the programme evaluation demonstrated that, despite cost being removed, participation decreased over the programme. Furthermore, the FSI had a large market penetration effect, where the majority of participants were already swimming regularly prior to the intervention. Overall, the programme provided some health benefits to the more engaged participants, but in terms of wider social benefit there was little evidence to suggest the intervention had any additional impact. The cost per swim of the community investment was almost six times more per head than the central government funded scheme, suggesting that widespread programming did not provide value for money when compared to a more targeted programme

Direct-Write Photolithography for Cylindrical Tooling Fabrication in Roll-to-Roll Microcontact Printing

The scale-up of microcontact printing (μCP) to a roll-to-roll technique for large-scale surface patterning requires scalable tooling for continuous pattern printing with μm-scale features (e.g., 1–50 μm). Here, we examine the process of creating such a tool using an optical direct-write or “maskless” method working on a rotating cylindrical substrate. A predictive model of pattern formation is presented along with experimental results to examine the key control factors for this process. It is shown that factors can be modulated to vary the cross-sectional shape in addition to feature height and width. This feature can then be exploited to improve the robustness of the final printing process.Center for Clean Water and Clean Energy at MIT and KFUP

The Schistosoma mansoni Cytochrome P450 (CYP3050A1) Is Essential for Worm Survival and Egg Development.

Schistosomiasis affects millions of people in developing countries and is responsible for more than 200,000 deaths annually. Because of toxicity and limited spectrum of activity of alternatives, there is effectively only one drug, praziquantel, available for its treatment. Recent data suggest that drug resistance could soon be a problem. There is therefore the need to identify new drug targets and develop drugs for the treatment of schistosomiasis. Analysis of the Schistosoma mansoni genome sequence for proteins involved in detoxification processes found that it encodes a single cytochrome P450 (CYP450) gene. Here we report that the 1452 bp open reading frame has a characteristic heme-binding region in its catalytic domain with a conserved heme ligating cysteine, a hydrophobic leader sequence present as the membrane interacting region, and overall structural conservation. The highest sequence identity to human CYP450s is 22%. Double stranded RNA (dsRNA) silencing of S. mansoni (Sm)CYP450 in schistosomula results in worm death. Treating larval or adult worms with antifungal azole CYP450 inhibitors results in worm death at low micromolar concentrations. In addition, combinations of SmCYP450-specific dsRNA and miconazole show additive schistosomicidal effects supporting the hypothesis that SmCYP450 is the target of miconazole. Treatment of developing S. mansoni eggs with miconazole results in a dose dependent arrest in embryonic development. Our results indicate that SmCYP450 is essential for worm survival and egg development and validates it as a novel drug target. Preliminary structure-activity relationship suggests that the 1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)ethan-1-ol moiety of miconazole is necessary for activity and that miconazole activity and selectivity could be improved by rational drug design

A mediação do engajamento no trabalho nas relações de recursos com o job crafting

The Work Demands and Resources Model advocates the existence of a positive relationship between resources and job crafting, and the mediation of work engagement. This study aimed to understand the relationship between social support at work (work resource) and the fear of missing out at work (emotional state) with the factor increasing job crafting resources, as well as the mediating role of work engagement. The sample consisted of 703 workers from different professions and of both sexes (90.6 % female). The results of the structural equation modeling showed that social support at work, fear of missing out at work, and work engagement were positively related to the job crafting resource increase factor. Work engagement partially mediated the positive relationship between social support at work and fear of missing out at work and the factor increasing job crafting resources. These results offer different theoretical and practical contributions to the field of organizational psychology, allowing for advances in knowledge about the nomological network of relationships between social support at work and fear of being disconnected with job crafting, with engagement as a mediator.El modelo de Demandas y Recursos del Trabajo aboga por la existencia de una relación positiva entre los recursos y el job crafting, y la mediación del compromiso laboral. El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo entender las relaciones del apoyo social en el trabajo (recurso laboral) y del miedo a estar desconectado del trabajo (estado emocional) con el factor de aumento de recursos del job crafting, además del rol mediador del compromiso laboral. La muestra consistió en 703 trabajadores de diversas profesiones y de ambos sexos (90.6 % mujeres). Los resultados en el modelado de ecuaciones estructurales demostraron que el apoyo social en el trabajo, el miedo a estar desconectado del trabajo y el compromiso laboral se relacionaron positivamente con el factor de aumento de recursos del job crafting. El compromiso laboral medió parcialmente la relación positiva del apoyo social en el trabajo y del miedo a estar desconectado del trabajo con el factor de aumento de recursos del job crafting. Tales resultados ofrecen diferentes contribuciones teóricas y prácticas para el área de la psicología organizacional y permitien avanzar en el conocimiento sobre la red nomológica de las relaciones del apoyo social en el trabajo y del miedo a estar desconectado con el job crafting, con el compromiso como mediador.O Modelo de Demandas e Recursos do Trabalho preconiza a existência de relação positiva entre recursos e o job crafting, e a mediação do engajamento laboral. O presente trabalho objetivou compreender as relações do suporte social no trabalho (recurso do trabalho) e do medo de estar desconectado do trabalho (estado emocional) com o fator aumento de recursos do job crafting, além do papel mediador do engajamento laboral. A amostra compôs-se de 703 trabalhadores de diversas profissões e de ambos os sexos (90,6 % sexo feminino). Os resultados na modelagem de equações estruturais demonstraram que o suporte social no trabalho, o medo de estar desconectado do trabalho e o engajamento laboral relacionaram-se positivamente com o fator aumento de recursos do job crafting. O engajamento laboral mediou parcialmente a relação positiva do suporte social no trabalho e do medo de estar desconectado do trabalho com o fator aumento de recursos do job crafting. Tais resultados oferecem diferentes contribuições teóricas e práticas para a área da psicologia organizacional permitindo o avanço no conhecimento sobre a rede nomológica das relações do suporte social no trabalho e do medo de estar desconectado com o job crafting, tendo o engajamento como mediador

Melanophore migration and survival during zebrafish adult pigment stripe development require the immunoglobulin superfamily adhesion molecule Igsf11.

The zebrafish adult pigment pattern has emerged as a useful model for understanding the development and evolution of adult form as well as pattern-forming mechanisms more generally. In this species, a series of horizontal melanophore stripes arises during the larval-to-adult transformation, but the genetic and cellular bases for stripe formation remain largely unknown. Here, we show that the seurat mutant phenotype, consisting of an irregular spotted pattern, arises from lesions in the gene encoding Immunoglobulin superfamily member 11 (Igsf11). We find that Igsf11 is expressed by melanophores and their precursors, and we demonstrate by cell transplantation and genetic rescue that igsf11 functions autonomously to this lineage in promoting adult stripe development. Further analyses of cell behaviors in vitro, in vivo, and in explant cultures ex vivo demonstrate that Igsf11 mediates adhesive interactions and that mutants for igsf11 exhibit defects in both the migration and survival of melanophores and their precursors. These findings identify the first in vivo requirements for igsf11 as well as the first instance of an immunoglobulin superfamily member functioning in pigment cell development and patterning. Our results provide new insights into adult pigment pattern morphogenesis and how cellular interactions mediate pattern formation