La lecture récréative de romans et les compétences en littératie au niveau collégial

Abstract : This study aimed to examine habits around – and, secondarily, attitudes toward – recreational reading of long-form fiction (novels) in a multi-cultural, multilingual student population with a broad range of academic ability, and to determine whether there was any association between such variables and the students' levels of literacy skill. The purpose of the study was to provide English teachers at CEGEP Vanier College and beyond with information about students' reading backgrounds that might help them to make more informed decisions about their curriculum and pedagogy. It was hypothesized that students placed in higher-level 101 courses would report stronger recreational novel-reading habits and more positive attitudes toward reading fiction than those in lower levels. A sample of Vanier College students in fall-semester English 101 courses in 2016 completed a survey questionnaire in which they provided demographic information, as well as information on their recreational reading preferences; their attitudes toward reading books, especially books of fiction; their novel-reading habits in the previous year, and their family of origin's reading habits and attitudes toward reading. Their responses were cross-tabulated with their 101 course placement levels (non-remedial, first-tier remedial, and second-tier remedial) to reveal associations. Students' qualitative responses were examined, and some interesting cases were isolated and treated as case studies. The data showed that there are indeed some important associations between a student's literacy level and the student's attitudes and preferences regarding reading novels for recreation. Associations between student reading habits and literacy level remained unsubstantiated, but warrant further study with a more comprehensive sample. Reader-response theory (Daniels, 2002) posits that students cannot take an analytical approach to literature before experiencing literature personally, and examining and understanding their own responses to it. It could be argued, based on this theory and the data collected in this study, that teachers of remedial courses should endeavour to provide their students with experiences that will help them develop a love of reading and an inclination to do more of it in their own time. Such an argument would entail re-examining not only teachers’ individual curricula and pedagogy, but also Ministerial objectives for CEGEP English courses. Further research would be needed in order to determine ways that teachers might best respond productively to this difference in background reading experiences and attitudes, but some examples from the existing literature on fostering recreational reading habits, enjoyment and skill are provided here for consideration. The hope is that, by looking at overall associations between recreational longform fiction reading and 101 course placement, as well as by examining particular cases of students' literacy skills and reading habits and attitudes around reading, this study of a very particular college in a very particular cultural and academic context will provide Vanier College English teachers with information that can help them examine their own curricular choices and pedagogical approaches, both in their 101 courses and beyond. It is also hoped that this information, analysis and reflection will prove useful to English teachers at other Quebec CEGEPs, as well as to Quebec educators generally, and to post-secondary English educators beyond the Quebec system who work in similar settings.La présente recherche vise principalement l'étude des habitudes et ensuite des attitudes concernant la lecture récréative de romans dans un milieu étudiant multiculturel et multilingue où l’on retrouve une vaste gamme de compétences académiques. Ce travail cherche à découvrir un lien entre ces variables et les compétences étudiantes en littératie au niveau collégial. Le but est de fournir aux enseignants du cégep, et du département d’anglais du collège Vanier en particulier, des informations concernant le contexte de lecture de leurs étudiants afin que ces enseignants puissent planifier leur curriculum et leur pédagogie de façon mieux informée. L'hypothèse de départ est qu’un étudiant placé à un niveau plus élevé de cours d’anglais 101 indiquera une tendance plus élevée à lire des romans pour leur plaisir et qu’il aura une attitude plus positive envers la lecture de romans en général, comparé aux étudiants placés à des niveaux moins élevés. Le collège Vanier est un cégep (collège d'étude générale et professionnelle) anglophone situé à Montréal, dans la province canadienne de Québec. La population étudiante démontre une grande diversité culturelle et linguistique et représente une grande gamme de compétences académiques. Les nouveaux étudiants suivent un de trois niveaux d’anglais 101: 101-MA pour l’étudiant qui démontre un niveau de littératie adéquate aux études collégiales; 101-MB pour l’étudiant qui démontre des difficultés de compréhension, d’analyse, ou d’expression écrite; et 101-MC pour l'étudiant qui démontre des difficultés linguistiques évidentes et importantes, y inclus les erreurs majeurs de deuxième langue. La répartition des élèves est décidée par les résultats du test de placement (Vanier College Placement Test). Les compétences ministérielles sont néanmoins identiques pour les trois niveaux du cours 101 (en effet, d’autres cégeps font la division de différentes façons ou n’ont aucune répartition du cours 101). Un des principaux objectifs de chaque niveau est qu’un étudiant rédige un analyse littéraire de 750 mots, mais le contenu du cours est en grande partie laissé à la discrétion de l’enseignant. La répartition des élèves en anglais 101 vise à régler certains problèmes de littératie, mais il n’y a aucune répartition de ce genre dans les cours qui suivent, dont trois cours de littérature ou les élèves doivent démontrer les mêmes compétences d’analyse littéraire et de compréhension, peu importe leur niveau de compétence, leur historique et leur contexte, ou leur exposition à la lecture. En automne 2016 un échantillon d'élèves du collège Vanier inscrits en anglais 101 a complété un questionnaire fournissant des données démographiques; des informations portant sur leur préférences de lecture récréative et leurs habitudes récentes de lecture de romans; et des informations portant sur les préférences de lecture, les habitudes de lecture, et les attitudes envers la lecture de leur famille d’origine. Les réponses à ce questionnaire ont alors été croisées aux niveau d’anglais 101 (MA, MB, MC) pour révéler des associations. Les réponses qualitatives des étudiants ont été examinées et analysées, et certains cas particuliers ont par la suite été traités comme études de cas. Les données ont démontrées qu’il y a en effet certaines associations importantes entre le niveau de littératie et les attitudes étudiantes envers la lecture récréative de romans. Par contre, les associations entre le niveau de littératie et les habitudes de lecture ne sont pas étayées, mais celles-ci méritent d'être étudiées en profondeur avec un échantillon plus vaste. Selon la théorie de la réponse du lecteur (Daniels, 2002), les étudiants ne peuvent adopter une démarche analytique envers la littérature qu'après avoir eu, examiné et compris une expérience littéraire plus personnelle. L’enseignant qui cherche à développer un échafaudage efficace qui permettra à l'étudiant d'acquérir de nouveaux connaissances et compétences doit comprendre qu’il ne sert à rien de demander à l'étudiant de compléter des tâches qui n’ont aucun lien avec ses schémas existants. Par contre, mieux connaître les expériences et les pratiques courantes des étudiants concernant la lecture récréative pourrait aider aux enseignants à réajuster leurs attentes et à adapter leurs choix pédagogiques et curriculaires, pour pouvoir mieux répondre aux lacunes de connaissances, compétences et motivation chez ceux- ci. S’appuyant sur cette théorie et les données recueillies, on pourrait faire valoir que ceux qui enseignent les cours d’appoint se doivent d’offrir aux étudiants des expériences promouvant l’amour de la lecture et une volonté accrue de lire dans leurs temps libre. Un tel argument entraînerait non seulement une réexamination des pratiques pédagogiques et des choix curriculaires des enseignants, mais aussi des objectifs ministérielles des cours d’anglais au cégep. Des recherches supplémentaires pourraient établir comment mieux répondre aux différentes contextes de lecture, mais certains exemples tirés de la documentation existante sont fournis ici, en particulier à propos de l’encouragement d’habitudes, d'habiletés et de l'appréciation de la lecture récréative. Il est à espérer qu’en examinant les associations entre le lecture récréative de romans et la répartition d'étudiants en anglais 101, en plus d’examiner des cas particuliers de compétences littéraires, d’habitudes de lecture et d’attitudes envers la lecture, cette étude de la situation précise et particulier pourra fournir aux enseignants du département d’anglais de Vanier les données et l’information nécessaires pour une réexamination de leurs choix pédagogiques et curriculaires, autant pour leurs enseignement du cours 101 que pour d’autres cours. De plus, l’information, l’analyse et la réflexion présenté pourra être utile aux enseignants du cégep, aux enseignants québécois en général et à tout enseignant d’anglais postsecondaire qui fait face à des situations semblables

Modelling DNA Origami Self-Assembly at the Domain Level

We present a modelling framework, and basic model parameterization, for the study of DNA origami folding at the level of DNA domains. Our approach is explicitly kinetic and does not assume a specific folding pathway. The binding of each staple is associated with a free-energy change that depends on staple sequence, the possibility of coaxial stacking with neighbouring domains, and the entropic cost of constraining the scaffold by inserting staple crossovers. A rigorous thermodynamic model is difficult to implement as a result of the complex, multiply connected geometry of the scaffold: we present a solution to this problem for planar origami. Coaxial stacking and entropic terms, particularly when loop closure exponents are taken to be larger than those for ideal chains, introduce interactions between staples. These cooperative interactions lead to the prediction of sharp assembly transitions with notable hysteresis that are consistent with experimental observations. We show that the model reproduces the experimentally observed consequences of reducing staple concentration, accelerated cooling and absent staples. We also present a simpler methodology that gives consistent results and can be used to study a wider range of systems including non-planar origami

Effect of type of otolith and preparation technique on age estimation of larval and juvenile spot (Leiostomus xanthurus)

Otoliths of larval and juvenile fish provide a record of age, size, growth, and development (Campana and Neilson, 1985; Thorrold and Hare, 2002). However, determining the time of first increment formation in otoliths (Campana, 2001) and assessing the accuracy (deviation from real age) and precision (repeatability of increment counts from the same otolith) of increment counts are prerequisites for using otoliths to study the life history of fish (Campana and Moksness, 1991). For most fish species, first increment deposition occurs either at hatching, a day after hatching, or after first feeding and yolksac absorption (Jones, 1986; Thorrold and Hare, 2002). Increment deposition before hatching also occurs (Barkmann and Beck, 1976; Radtke and Dean, 1982). If first increment deposition does not occur at hatching, the standard procedure is to add a predetermined number to increment counts to estimate fish age (Campana and Neilson, 1985)

Pharmacological treatment and prevention of cerebral small vessel disease: a review of potential interventions

Small vessel disease encompasses lacunar stroke, white matter hyperintensities, lacunes and microbleeds. It causes a quarter of all ischemic strokes, is the commonest cause of vascular dementia, and the cause is incompletely understood. Vascular prophylaxis, as appropriate for large artery disease and cardioembolism, includes antithrombotics, and blood pressure and lipid lowering; however, these strategies may not be effective for small vessel disease, or are already used routinely so precluding further detailed study. Further, intensive antiplatelet therapy is known to be hazardous in small vessel disease through enhanced bleeding. Whether acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, which delay the progression of Alzheimer's dementia, are relevant in small vessel disease remains unclear. Potential prophylactic and treatment strategies might be those that target brain microvascular endothelium and the blood brain barrier, microvascular function and neuroinflammation. Potential interventions include endothelin antagonists, neurotrophins, nitric oxide donors and phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma agonists, and prostacyclin mimics and phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitors. Several drugs that have relevant properties are licensed for other disorders, offering the possibility of drug repurposing. Others are in development. Since influencing multiple targets may be most effective, using multiple agents and/or those that have multiple effects may be preferable. We focus on potential small vessel disease mechanistic targets, summarize drugs that have relevant actions, and review data available from randomized trials on their actions and on the available evidence for their use in lacunar stroke

PinAPL-Py: A comprehensive web-application for the analysis of CRISPR/Cas9 screens.

Large-scale genetic screens using CRISPR/Cas9 technology have emerged as a major tool for functional genomics. With its increased popularity, experimental biologists frequently acquire large sequencing datasets for which they often do not have an easy analysis option. While a few bioinformatic tools have been developed for this purpose, their utility is still hindered either due to limited functionality or the requirement of bioinformatic expertise. To make sequencing data analysis of CRISPR/Cas9 screens more accessible to a wide range of scientists, we developed a Platform-independent Analysis of Pooled Screens using Python (PinAPL-Py), which is operated as an intuitive web-service. PinAPL-Py implements state-of-the-art tools and statistical models, assembled in a comprehensive workflow covering sequence quality control, automated sgRNA sequence extraction, alignment, sgRNA enrichment/depletion analysis and gene ranking. The workflow is set up to use a variety of popular sgRNA libraries as well as custom libraries that can be easily uploaded. Various analysis options are offered, suitable to analyze a large variety of CRISPR/Cas9 screening experiments. Analysis output includes ranked lists of sgRNAs and genes, and publication-ready plots. PinAPL-Py helps to advance genome-wide screening efforts by combining comprehensive functionality with user-friendly implementation. PinAPL-Py is freely accessible at http://pinapl-py.ucsd.edu with instructions and test datasets

On the Correlated X-ray and Optical Evolution of SS Cygni

We have analyzed the variability and spectral evolution of the prototype dwarf nova system SS Cygni using RXTE data and AAVSO observations. A series of pointed RXTE/PCA observations allow us to trace the evolution of the X-ray spectrum of SS Cygni in unprecedented detail, while 6 years of optical AAVSO and RXTE/ASM light curves show long-term patterns. Employing a technique in which we stack the X-ray flux over multiple outbursts, phased according to the optical light curve, we investigate the outburst morphology. We find that the 3-12 keV X-ray flux is suppressed during optical outbursts, a behavior seen previously, but only in a handful of cycles. The several outbursts of SS Cygni observed with the more sensitive RXTE/PCA also show a depression of the X-rays during optical outburst. We quantify the time lags between the optical and X-ray outbursts, and the timescales of the X-ray recovery from outburst. The optical light curve of SS Cygni exhibits brief anomalous outbursts. During these events the hard X-rays and optical flux increase together. The long-term data suggest that the X-rays decline between outburst. Our results are in general agreement with modified disk instability models (DIM), which invoke a two-component accretion flow consisting of a cool optically thick accretion disk truncated at an inner radius, and a quasi-spherical hot corona-like flow extending to the surface of the white dwarf. We discuss our results in the framework of one such model, involving the evaporation of the inner part of the optically thick accretion disk, proposed by Meyer & Meyer-Hofmeister (1994).Comment: 24 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in Ap

Recreational Long-form Fiction Reading and College-level Literacy Achievement

Essai présenté à la Faculté d’éducation en vue de l’obtention du grade de Maître en enseignement (M.Éd.) Maîtrise en enseignement au collégialComprend des références bibliographique

PADAMOT : project overview report

Background and relevance to radioactive waste management International consensus confirms that placing radioactive wastes and spent nuclear fuel deep underground in a geological repository is the generally preferred option for their long-term management and disposal. This strategy provides a number of advantages compared to leaving it on or near the Earth’s surface. These advantages come about because, for a well chosen site, the geosphere can provide: • a physical barrier that can negate or buffer against the effects of surface dominated natural disruptive processes such as deep weathering, glaciation, river and marine erosion or flooding, asteroid/comet impact and earthquake shaking etc. • long and slow groundwater return pathways from the facility to the biosphere along which retardation, dilution and dispersion processes may operate to reduce radionuclide concentration in the groundwater. • a stable, and benign geochemical environment to maximise the longevity of the engineered barriers such as the waste containers and backfill in the facility. • a natural radiation shield around the wastes. • a mechanically stable environment in which the facility can be constructed and will afterwards be protected. • an environment which reduces the likelihood of the repository being disturbed by inadvertent human intrusion such as land use changes, construction projects, drilling, quarrying and mining etc. • protection against the effects of deliberate human activities such as vandalism, terrorism and war etc. However, safety considerations for storing and disposing of long-lived radioactive wastes must take into account various scenarios that might affect the ability of the geosphere to provide the functionality listed above. Therefore, in order to provide confidence in the ability of a repository to perform within the deep geological setting at a particular site, a demonstration of geosphere “stability” needs to be made. Stability is defined here to be the capacity of a geological and hydrogeological system to minimise the impact of external influences on the repository environment, or at least to account for them in a manner that would allow their impacts to be evaluated and accounted for in any safety assessments. A repository should be sited where the deep geosphere is a stable host in which the engineered containment can continue to perform according to design and in which the surrounding hydrogeological, geomechanical and geochemical environment will continue to operate as a natural barrier to radionuclide movement towards the biosphere. However, over the long periods of time during which long-lived radioactive wastes will pose a hazard, environmental change at the surface has the potential to disrupt the stability of the geosphere and therefore the causes of environmental change and their potential consequences need to be evaluated. As noted above, environmental change can include processes such as deep weathering, glaciation, river and marine erosion. It can also lead to changes in groundwater boundary conditions through alternating recharge/discharge relationships. One of the key drivers for environmental change is climate variability. The question then arises, how can geosphere stability be assessed with respect to changes in climate? Key issues raised in connection with this are: • What evidence is there that 'going underground' eliminates the extreme conditions that storage on the surface would be subjected to in the long term? • How can the additional stability and safety of the deep geosphere be demonstrated with evidence from the natural system? As a corollary to this, the capacity of repository sites deep underground in stable rock masses to mitigate potential impacts of future climate change on groundwater conditions therefore needs to be tested and demonstrated. To date, generic scenarios for groundwater evolution relating to climate change are currently weakly constrained by data and process understanding. Hence, the possibility of site-specific changes of groundwater conditions in the future can only be assessed and demonstrated by studying groundwater evolution in the past. Stability of groundwater conditions in the past is an indication of future stability, though both the climatic and geological contexts must be taken into account in making such an assertion

The developmental environment modulates mating-induced aggression and fighting success in adult female Drosophila

Funding Information Rhodes Trust Brazilian Research Council. Grant Number: 211668/2013‐3 St. John's College, University of Oxford Christ Church College, University of Oxford Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. Grant Number: BB/K014544/1Peer reviewedPublisher PD