An Analysis of ESL Conferences Sponsored by Webster University, Thailand: “Discovering How to Help Local Thai Teachers of English Meet the ASEAN Challenge"

Arising out of a conference for local Thai teachers of English sponsored by Webster University, Thailand and held on May 4, 2012, this paper attempts to answer the question, “How can Webster University best help local Thai teachers of English?” It is a topic of discussion in many circles that Thailand must improve its level of English in advance of the ASEAN community integration process. This paper presents the results of three participant satisfaction surveys, looks closely at the ways the surveys influenced a second conference held on November 2 and 3, 2012, and analyzes the second conference in terms of how well it met the specific requests of the teachers for assistance in meeting the ASEAN challenge. It presents recommendations for the improvement of future conferences and concludes with a brief look at the broader national picture with the goal of encouraging other universities in Thailand to extend this kind of outreach to their local English teachers

Strategies to Enhance the Teaching of Reading, Thinking and Writing Skills

This paper presents classroom methodologies using the whiteboard as a means of working with students on developing their writing skills. It also addresses reading, thinking and cooperative skills in a carefully mapped out and pedagogically grounded game which can be adapted for use at all levels of language instruction. Both of these methodologies include grammar and vocabulary building elements which can be expanded as deemed necessary. The paper concludes with two examples of the reading-based game ready for use by teachers

Development of A Commercial Expendable Launch Vehicle Industry

A ground rule in the development of the Shuttle was that expendable launch vehicles (ELV) would be phased out and eventually terminated and that the Shuttle would be the single transportation system for the nation. Subsequently, President Reagan announced a National Space Policy on July 4, 1982, which called for continuation of U.S. ELV activities until the Shuttle was fully operational. Several private firms expressed interest in providing ELV services on a commercial basis. This interest resulted in the 1983 Commercialization of Expendable Launch Vehicles Policy which laid the foundation for a U.S. commercial ELV industry. This policy declared that the U.S. Government fully endorsed and would facilitate commercial operations of ELV\u27s by the U.S. private sector in order to ensure a flexible and robust U.S. launch posture to maintain space transportation leadership. However, it also stated that the Shuttle would also be available to all authorized users. A National Space Strategy was issued in 1984, implementing the National Policy on Commercial Use of Space. This policy identified the encouragement of commercial ELV\u27s as one of the nation\u27s high priority national space goals. As a means of coordinating the development of commercial ELV operations, the 1984 Commercial Space Launch Act (Public Law 98-575) designated the Department of Transportation as the lead agency within the Federal Government for encouraging and facilitating commercial ELV activities by the U.S. private sector, as well as regulating those activities. This Act provides that the U.S. Government- will not subsidize the x commercial! zation of ELV\u27s, but will price the use of its facilities, equipment, and services consistent with the goal of encouraging viable commercial ELV activities

Evaluation Factors for Multi-Stakeholder Broadband Visual Communication Projects

This paper presents a summary of multifaceted evaluation factors that we have identified through our research with Broadband Visual Communication (BVC) projects involving multiple stakeholders. The main benefit of these evaluation factors is that they provide a general evaluation framework for multiple stakeholder projects. The factors are social infrastructure, technical infrastructure, physical space, interaction style and content

Digital Media Player Controls Supporting Music Education

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Disruption of Protein Kinase A in Mice Enhances Healthy Aging

Mutations that cause a reduction in protein kinase A (PKA) activity have been shown to extend lifespan in yeast. Loss of function of mammalian RIIβ, a regulatory subunit of PKA expressed in brain and adipose tissue, results in mice that are lean and insulin sensitive. It was therefore hypothesized that RIIB null (RIIβ−/−) mice would express anti-aging phenotypes. We conducted lifespan studies using 40 mutant and 40 wild type (WT) littermates of equal gender numbers and found that both the median and maximum lifespans were significantly increased in mutant males compared to WT littermates. The median lifespan was increased from 884 days to 1005 days (p = 0.006 as determined by the log rank test) and the 80% lifespan (defined here as 80% deaths) was increased from 941 days to 1073 days (p = 0.004 as determined by the Wang-Allison test). There was no difference in either median or 80% lifespan in female genotypes. WT mice of both genders became increasingly obese with age, while mutant mice maintained their lean phenotype into old age. Adiposity was found to correlate with lifespan for males only. 50% of male mice between 30 and 35 g, corresponding to about 5% body fat, for either genotype lived over 1000 days. No male mouse outside of this weight range achieved this lifespan. During their last month of life, WT mice began losing weight (a total of 8% and 15% of body weight was lost for males and females, respectively), but RIIβ−/− male mice maintained their lean body mass to end of life. This attenuation of decline was not seen in female mutant mice. Old male mutant mice were insulin sensitive throughout their life. Both genders showed modestly lower blood glucose levels in old mutants compared to WT. Male mutants were also resistant to age-induced fatty liver. Pathological assessment of tissues from end of life male mutant mice showed a decrease in tumor incidence, decreased severity of renal lesions, and a trend towards a decrease in age-related cardiac pathology. These findings help establish the highly conserved nature of PKA and suggest that disruption of PKA affects physiological mechanisms known to be associated with healthy aging

Embedded Weapons-Grade Tungsten Alloy Shrapnel Rapidly Induces Metastatic High-Grade Rhabdomyosarcomas in F344 Rats

Continuing concern regarding the potential health and environmental effects of depleted uranium and lead has resulted in many countries adding tungsten alloy (WA)-based munitions to their battlefield arsenals as replacements for these metals. Because the alloys used in many munitions are relatively recent additions to the list of militarily relevant metals, very little is known about the health effects of these metals after internalization as embedded shrapnel. Previous work in this laboratory developed a rodent model system that mimicked shrapnel loads seen in wounded personnel from the 1991 Persian Gulf War. In the present study, we used that system and male F344 rats, implanted intramuscularly with pellets (1 mm × 2 mm cylinders) of weapons-grade WA, to simulate shrapnel wounds. Rats were implanted with 4 (low dose) or 20 pellets (high dose) of WA. Tantalum (20 pellets) and nickel (20 pellets) served as negative and positive controls, respectively. The high-dose WA-implanted rats (n = 46) developed extremely aggressive tumors surrounding the pellets within 4–5 months after implantation. The low-dose WA-implanted rats (n = 46) and nickel-implanted rats (n = 36) also developed tumors surrounding the pellets but at a slower rate. Rats implanted with tantalum (n = 46), an inert control metal, did not develop tumors. Tumor yield was 100% in both the low- and high-dose WA groups. The tumors, characterized as high-grade pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcomas by histopathology and immunohistochemical examination, rapidly metastasized to the lung and necessitated euthanasia of the animal. Significant hematologic changes, indicative of polycythemia, were also observed in the high-dose WA-implanted rats. These changes were apparent as early as 1 month postimplantation in the high-dose WA rats, well before any overt signs of tumor development. These results point out the need for further studies investigating the health effects of tungsten and tungsten-based alloys

Le Forum, Vol. 40 No. 3

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/francoamericain_forum/1088/thumbnail.jp

Le FORUM, Vol. 36 No. 4

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/francoamericain_forum/1035/thumbnail.jp