The effect of metacognitive strategy instruction on L2 learner beliefs and listening skills

This pilot study investigated the effect of semester-long strategy-based instruction on learner beliefs and skills in the processing of aural input by adult learners of English as a second language at metacognitive and procedural levels. The study addressed two frequently encountered learner beliefs thought to impede L2 processing of aural input: The little words aren’t important; intonation is merely decorative. Working on the premise that learner beliefs underpin learner strategies for processing aural input and are reflected in learner productive and receptive skills, pre- and post-instruction instruments measured both learners’ awareness of connected speech processes and the functions of intonation, and their ability to segment a continuous speech stream, and to process utterances for speaker intent. Findings using repeated measures analysis of variance support strategy-based metacognitive training in connected speech and stress and intonation to promote listening skills awareness, aid word segmentation, and facilitate understanding utterance content and intended meaning.Published versio

In Pursuit of Social Justice at the Postmodern Turn: Intersectional Activism through the Lens of the Ecosexual Movement

In this study, I examine the development of the ecosexual movement, a social movement that begins at the intersection of environmental and sexual struggles, from its inception in the late 1990s/early 2000s. Previous research suggests intersectionality in social movements often ends up being divisive because it emphasizes difference. Using a mixed qualitative methods design including ethnographic field work, interviews, and content analysis of related web and print materials, I analyze how the ecosexual movement negotiates intersectionality. I found the ecosexual movement links processual notions of environmental justice and sexual justice through a dominant collective action frame of queer, erotic, “irreverent environmentalism” (Seymour 2012; 2018) and “eco-camp” (Whitworth 2019) that resonates in a time of mainstream apocalyptic narratives. The use of disruptive strategies incorporating a celebratory style of collaborative experimental art, radical performance, and other absurd, creative, sensual, emotive, visceral tactics facilitates moving away from modern binary or dichotomous “either/or” ideology starting with the human/nature division. The ecosexual movement not only challenges modern hierarchical dualisms that frame issues as a struggle between two opposing sides, it opens participatory space for creating potential alternative models that demonstrate an embodied example of the postmodern alternative cultural discourse and social organization that situates all humans in “humanity” and humans in nature, the dialectic of humanity-in-nature (Moore 2015)

How To Pick The Best Regression Equation: A Review And Comparison Of Model Selection Algorithms

This paper reviews and compares twenty-one different model selection algorithms (MSAs) representing a diversity of approaches, including (i) information criteria such as AIC and SIC; (ii) selection of a “portfolio” or best subset of models; (iii) general-to-specific algorithms, (iv) forward-stepwise regression approaches; (v) Bayesian Model Averaging; and (vi) inclusion of all variables. We use coefficient unconditional mean-squared error (UMSE) as the basis for our measure of MSA performance. Our main goal is to identify the factors that determine MSA performance. Towards this end, we conduct Monte Carlo experiments across a variety of data environments. Our experiments show that MSAs differ substantially with respect to their performance on relevant and irrelevant variables. We relate this to their associated penalty functions, and a bias-variance tradeoff in coefficient estimates. It follows that no MSA will dominate under all conditions. However, when we restrict our analysis to conditions where automatic variable selection is likely to be of greatest value, we find that two general-to-specific MSAs, Autometrics, do as well or better than all others in over 90% of the experiments.Model selection algorithms; Information Criteria; General-to-Specific modeling; Bayesian Model Averaging; Portfolio Models; AIC; SIC; AICc; SICc; Monte Carlo Analysis; Autometrics

It\u27s in my hands now

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Considerations for developing monitoring and evaluation approaches for climate change adaptation

Jennifer Frankel-Reed, formerly of the Bureau for Development Policy, UNDP and currently with German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) writes, ‘Based on good practices in monitoring and evaluation, an inclusive definition of adaptation, and United Nations Development Programme\u27s experience to date, seven considerations are suggested for establishing adaptation monitoring and evaluation approaches. The considerations apply to a range of contexts and challenges in designing and implementing “climate-resilient” development (i.e. via mainstreaming) and/or addressing priority climate change threats (i.e. via specific initiatives), and are intended to simplify the seemingly daunting task of tracking adaptation in a structured way.

Decision Making Towards Maternal Health Services in Central Java, Indonesia

Background: Indonesia has always been struggling with maternal health issue even after the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) programs were done. Prior research findings identified many factors which influenced maternal health status in developing countries such Indonesia and even though various efforts had been made, the impact of the transformation of maternal health behavior was minimal.Purpose: This study aimed to seek an understanding of the factors influencing decisions towards maternal health services.Methods: A case study with a single case embedded design was employed. Interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were held to collect data from 3 health workers and 40 maternal women in a sub-district in Central Java, Indonesia.Results: Interviews with the village midwives as the main health providers in the Getasan sub-district concluded that there were several factors influencing the women\u27s decisions towards maternal services. The factors were options to have services with other health workers outside the area, and shaman services as alternative care and family influencing maternal health behaviors. The analysis of the FGDs also supported the village midwives\u27 statements that in spite of their awareness towards the available maternal health services, the existence of shamans and traditional beliefs strongly affected their decision.Conclusion: The findings in this study showed that cultural issues prevented the maximum maternal health status in Getasan sub-district. This study recommends Puskesmas (Primary Health Care) as the first level of health institutions in Indonesia to support the village midwives\u27 roles within their target area

Knee meniscal injuries

This issue of eMedRef provides information to clinicians on the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and therapeutics of knee meniscal injuries

WEST NILE VIRUS ANTIBODIES IN BREEDING NORTH DAKOTA ICTERIDS

Exotic infectious diseases can have devastating effects on the distribution and abundance ofnaYve wildlife species (Friend et al. 2001). West Nile Virus (WNV) is an exotic disease that was introduced into North America in 1999 and has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of birds (Marra et al. 2004). The natural cycle of WNV involves Culex spp. mosquitoes as principle vectors and birds as principle hosts, although humans, horses, and other mammals can become incidental hosts (Lanciotti et al. 2000). Because the virus can be fatal, outbreaks have become a national health concern for the human population, an economic concern for domestic animal losses, and a conservation concern for the status of free-living wildlife populations (Campbell et al. 2002). For birds, WNV infection can be lethal, but the degree to which birds are adversely affected varies among species and even between individuals within species (Komar et al. 2003). In light of concerns regarding the status of North American bird populations, we captured adult, juvenile, and nestling icterids in central North Dakota and tested them for WNV -specific antibodies. Specifically, we wanted to determine if antibody positive blackbirds were present during the early summer breeding season prior to the peak of mosq~ito populations that typically occurs later in the summer. Sampling during the icterid breeding season also allowed us to test the hypothesis that nestling blackbirds are particularly vulnerable to the virus because they are confined to the nest, lack protective feathers, and have naive immune systems. We also trapped mosquitoes to determine if Culex tarsalis, a known WNV vector in North Dakota (Bell et al. 2005), was present in our study area