Games for vocabulary enrichment: teaching multilingual writers at the college level

This study explores the effectiveness of the game activity, Taboo, to teach ESL vocabulary in a college-level EAP course. It is mixed-methods research, including qualitative data in the form of student journals and quantitative data in the form of student assessments. It is also action research that reflects a novice teacher\u27s experience of adapting a game activity to make it more effective for learning academic vocabulary. The study is centered on the voices of student writers who experienced the game in their classroom and wrote about the experience in journals. A comparative quantitative assessment measured students\u27 learning outcomes on the final exam vocabulary section that included words from the Taboo game and words taught but not included in the game. Findings suggest that the vocabulary game, Taboo, could be a useful activity to include in a college-level course for multilingual writers because students performed well on the final exam and stated that they enjoyed the three game sessions offered in class to prepare for the final exam --Leaf iv

Well-Being, The Self, and Radical Change

This chapter explores radical personal change and its relationship to well-being, welfare, or prudential value. Many theorists of welfare are committed to what is here called the future-based reasons view (FBR), which holds (1) that the best prudential choice in a situation is determined by which possible future has the greatest net welfare value for the subject and (2) what determines facts about future welfare are facts about the subject and the world at that future time. Although some cases of radical change are intuitively prudentially good, many cases of really radical change are not. Yet FBR has trouble explaining this. Many people instinctively reach for the notion of identity to solve this problem—arguing that really radical change cannot be good because it alters who someone is. Yet, as the chapter argues, there are reasons to doubt that appeals to identity are appropriate. The chapter ends with the suggestion that prudential facts may explain why and when retaining identity matters, rather than the other way around, and points to a possible way forward for a theorist of welfare committed to FBR

Estimating youth locomotion ground reaction forces using an accelerometer-based activity monitor.

To address a variety of questions pertaining to the interactions between physical activity, musculoskeletal loading and musculoskeletal health/injury/adaptation, simple methods are needed to quantify, outside a laboratory setting, the forces acting on the human body during daily activities. The purpose of this study was to develop a statistically based model to estimate peak vertical ground reaction force (pVGRF) during youth gait. 20 girls (10.9 ± 0.9 years) and 15 boys (12.5 ± 0.6 years) wore a Biotrainer AM over their right hip. Six walking and six running trials were completed after a standard warm-up. Average AM intensity (g) and pVGRF (N) during stance were determined. Repeated measures mixed effects regression models to estimate pVGRF from Biotrainer activity monitor acceleration in youth (girls 10-12, boys 12-14 years) while walking and running were developed. Log transformed pVGRF had a statistically significant relationship with activity monitor acceleration, centered mass, sex (girl), type of locomotion (run), and locomotion type-acceleration interaction controlling for subject as a random effect. A generalized regression model without subject specific random effects was also developed. The average absolute differences between the actual and predicted pVGRF were 5.2% (1.6% standard deviation) and 9% (4.2% standard deviation) using the mixed and generalized models, respectively. The results of this study support the use of estimating pVGRF from hip acceleration using a mixed model regression equation

Ground reaction force estimates from ActiGraph GT3X+ hip accelerations.

Simple methods to quantify ground reaction forces (GRFs) outside a laboratory setting are needed to understand daily loading sustained by the body. Here, we present methods to estimate peak vertical GRF (pGRFvert) and peak braking GRF (pGRFbrake) in adults using raw hip activity monitor (AM) acceleration data. The purpose of this study was to develop a statistically based model to estimate pGRFvert and pGRFbrake during walking and running from ActiGraph GT3X+ AM acceleration data. 19 males and 20 females (age 21.2 ± 1.3 years, height 1.73 ± 0.12 m, mass 67.6 ± 11.5 kg) wore an ActiGraph GT3X+ AM over their right hip. Six walking and six running trials (0.95-2.19 and 2.20-4.10 m/s, respectively) were completed. Average of the peak vertical and anterior/posterior AM acceleration (ACCvert and ACCbrake, respectively) and pGRFvert and pGRFbrake during the stance phase of gait were determined. Thirty randomly selected subjects served as the training dataset to develop generalized equations to predict pGRFvert and pGRFbrake. Using a holdout approach, the remaining 9 subjects were used to test the accuracy of the models. Generalized equations to predict pGRFvert and pGRFbrake included ACCvert and ACCbrake, respectively, mass, type of locomotion (walk or run), and type of locomotion acceleration interaction. The average absolute percent differences between actual and predicted pGRFvert and pGRFbrake were 8.3% and 17.8%, respectively, when the models were applied to the test dataset. Repeated measures generalized regression equations were developed to predict pGRFvert and pGRFbrake from ActiGraph GT3X+ AM acceleration for young adults walking and running. These equations provide a means to estimate GRFs without a force plate

Transposable elements and genome size dynamics in Gossypium

Although eukaryotic organisms display a wide range in genome size, from as little as 9 Megabases (Mb) in some fungi to over 690,000 Mb in the diatom Navicula pelliculosa, there is only an approximate 20-fold variation in the number of protein coding genes. Additionally, this variation in genome size is not directly correlated with organismal or morphological/physiological complexity. This striking contradiction has historically been termed the C-value paradox . Research conducted over the past half century has revealed that most genome size variation in plants can be ascribed to the repetitive fraction of the genome, particularly LTR-retrotransposons. Furthermore, recent studies in maize and rice have revealed the tremendously dynamic nature of LTR-retrotransposons, where transposition has occurred recently and rapidly, resulting in a highly dynamic genome. To date, most studies of genome size evolution and transposable element dynamics has been conducted in the grasses, or among a few distantly related model dicots. In the work presented here, the cotton genus, Gossypium, was used to study genome size evolution and transposable element dynamics among closely related, long-lived species, whose members diverged within the last 5-7 million years. Provided is a description of the various types of repetitive sequences present and their relative contributions to overall extant genome size among three Gossypium species and a phylogenetic outgroup, Gossypioides kirkii.Results indicate that one type of gypsy-like LTR-retrotransposon, Gorge3, is responsible for much of the genome size variation in the genus. However, different transposable elements behave differently in different genomes, and estimated copy numbers are not always correlated with genome size. Further detailed analysis of the evolutionary history of Gorge3 suggests that this LTR-retrotransposon underwent lineage-specific proliferation in each clade, and that these proliferation events occurred in an episodic manner at different time points in each of the genomes investigated. Using a novel modeling approach, it is shown that although lineage-specific transposition of Gorge3 has occurred in the taxa having small genomes, the magnitude of DNA removal outweighs DNA gain through transposition, ultimately leading to genome downsizing. Investigation of the transpositional nature and timing of two other relatively abundant repetitive sequences, copia-like LTR-retrotransposons and non-LTR LINEs, indicates that lineage-specific amplification has occurred for each sequence type in each lineage. Copia-like LTR-retrotransposons, similar to that found for Gorge3, undergo episodic proliferation at different time points in each genome. In contrast, non-LTR LINEs appear to accumulate in a more stochastically regular manner, and phylogenetic analysis suggests that the majority of the Gossypium LINE population is dominated by ancient sequences that predate divergence events within the genus. The cumulative results of this dissertation work indicate that transposable element proliferation has occurred recently and rapidly in all genomes investigated and their differential accumulation or retention contributes significantly to variation in genome size in Gossypium

Letter from the Editor

The editors and staff of the Journal are pleased to present the transcripts from the 15th Annual National Regulatory Conference. Each conference panel was comprised of experts in different fields to discuss the implications of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 from their various perspectives. The conference was held May 6-7 at the Marshall-Wythe School of Law, The College of William and Mary. The transcripts have been edited to include additional material in order to provide our readers with a more complete background of the issues involved. Our thanks to the speakers for allowing their comments to be edited to ease the transition from the spoken word to the written form

Nitrogen stress sensing and in-season application for corn production

Determining the most economical N application rate for producing corn (Zea mays L.) is one of the more difficult challenges facing producers. Since N is a large input cost, and fertilizer costs have increased dramatically, producers are looking for methods to improve N rate management. Nitrogen rate trials were conducted across Iowa from 1999-2005 with corn following soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) and continuous corn. Multiple rates of N were applied, with corn plant N stress sensing at the Rl growth stage with a Minolta SPAD 502 chlorophyll meter (CM). Results show a significant quadratic-plateau calibration between relative chlorophyll meter (RCM) values and differential from economic optimum N rate (EONR) for corn following soybean, with a similar relationship for continuous corn. Similarity in RCM values at VI5 and Rl stages suggest there is a period of time, rather than one critical stage, during late vegetative growth to collect CM readings. Earlier (VI5) CM sensing of plant N stress should provide adequate time for making in-season N rate decisions and N applications before Rl growth stage. To study the in-season approach to N management, trials were conducted at 22 sites across Iowa in 2004 and 2005. The treatment structure consisted of field length strips, replicated three times, with six different N treatments; 0 (control), 67 (reduced rate), 67+ (plus in-season N), 134 (agronomic rate), 134+ (plus in-season N), and 268 kg N ha⁻¹ (reference). Corn plants were sensed for N stress. The previously developed calibration that related RCM values to N rate differential from EONR was used to determine in-season N application rates. In-season N was applied with high clearance equipment before or at the Rl growth stage. Results demonstrated that N deficiency stress sensing was reasonably successfully with the 67+ and 134+ N rate strategies (68% and 82% correct N deficiency stress detection, respectively). Economic return calculations indicated the PRE application rate of 134 kg N ha⁻¹, with affirmation of N stress and determination of additional N need through plant sensing, to be a more cost effective strategy than using a lower PRE N rate

Angioedema: Adverse Reaction from ACE-Inhibitors

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) medications are one of the leading causes of angioedema in the United States, also known as ACEI-RA (Chan & Soliman, 2015). ACEI medications are frequently prescribed to help manage diseases, such as hypertension and congestive heart failure, and include, but are not limited to lisinopril and enalapril, with lisinopril being the most commonly prescribed at this time (Chan & Soliman, 2015). In addition, ACEIs are used to help prevent myocardial infarction, diabetic neuropathy, and a cerebrovascular accident (Chua, Ignaszewski, & Schwenger, 2011). There are several risk factors for developing ACEI-RA, with African-American females being the greatest at risk group and are “three times more likely to develop ACEI-RA” (Spencer, 2016, p. 41). The length of time taking an ACEI does not determine if or when angioedema will occur. Understanding the pathophysiology behind ACEI-RA is key to deciding a plan of care, in order to resolve the patient’s signs and symptoms, and to preventing possible intubation or tracheostomy placement

ProCD, Inc. v. Zeidenberg: Enforceability of Shrinkwrap Licenses Under the Copyright Act

I didn\u27t read all of the shrink-wrap license agreement on my new software until after I opened it. Apparently I agreed to spend the rest of my life as a towel boy in Bill Gates\u27 new mansion

Wikidata the Non Intimidating Way

Research funding and tracking scholarship is becoming a priority in many higher education institutions. Some universities are investing significant monies to track output demonstrating their contributions to the research ecosystem, but many cannot afford these costly solutions. Wikidata, the “free and open knowledge base,” is becoming an important tool in the scholarly communications community. The linked data platform is ideal for institutions working to provide insight into their research output without significant monetary investment. Despite the benefits of Wikidata, the adoption of a library-wide Wikidata project may be daunting for library workers unfamiliar with linked data, SPARQL, and associated tools that aid in adding/updating Wikidata pages. This presentation will discuss the workflow of a low-tech, high-impact project that can be embraced by library workers of all technological backgrounds and knowledge levels. A discussion of the workflow, based on a practicum experience designed for a library and information science student, will demonstrate how library workers can easily adopt a Wikidata project. Library workers will learn a workflow utilizing tools such as Zotero and OpenRefine, to collect and organize information for Wikidata. The workflow will result in the creation of Scholia profiles and provide deeper analysis of the institution\u27s research output