Embodied EFL reading activity: Let’s produce comics

While theories of embodied cognition have been investigated in lab experiments with proficient readers, currently no studies have applied these theories to improving reading comprehension for low-proficiency readers. Using an embodied cognition approach, this study investigated producing comics as an embodied reading activity. To compare effects on English as a foreign language (EFL) reading comprehension of narrative texts, 71 low-proficiency tertiary EFL readers were randomly assigned to one of two collaborative post-reading activity groups: comics production or translation. Before the activities, the participants were given background knowledge instruction for the narrative texts. Reading comprehension was assessed by a true-false test, followed by a semi-structured focus group interview. The results show that the comics production group outperformed the translation group in reading comprehension. Moreover, evidence from interviews shows the comics production activity assisted low-proficiency EFL readers in constructing multimodal representations of what they read, improving the depth of their reading comprehension

High performance Tunnel Field Effect Transistors based on in-plane transition metal dichalcogenide heterojunctions

In-plane heterojunction tunnel field effect transistors based on monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides are studied by means of self-consistent non-equilibrium Green's functions simulations and an atomistic tight-binding Hamiltonian. We start by comparing several heterojunctions before focusing on the most promising ones, i.e WTe2-MoS2 and MoTe2-MoS2. The scalability of those devices as a function of channel length is studied, and the influence of backgate voltages on device performance is analysed. Our results indicate that, by fine-tuning the design parameters, those devices can yield extremely low sub-threshold swings (below 5mV/decade) and Ion/Ioff ratios higher than 1e8 at a supply voltage of 0.3V, making them ideal for ultra-low power consumption.Comment: 10 page

EFFECT OF EXHAUSTIVE UPHILL RUNNING ON KNEE JOINT MOTION DURING THE STANCE PHASE OF RUNNING

The purpose of this study was to imitate an exhaustive outdoor mountain road uphill running and investigate the effect on knee joint motion angles during the stance phase of running. Knee joint kinematical data collected from 8 male recreational runners running at 10 km/hr on a level treadmill prior to and following exhaustive uphill running revealed differences in flexion angles. These results demonstrated that exhaustive running can have an effect on knee joint running movement pattern. Due to these findings, the human natural movement control may be adjusted and the maintenance of preferred or optimal movement path costs more efforts which possibly play a role in many common lower extremity running injuries. This relevance may be applied to the future designing of assistive performance control shoes