Comparing Dictionary Definitions and Glosses in Hypertext Foreign Language Reading: Facilitating Foreign Language Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary Acquisition

This study was motivated by current interest in computer-assisted language learning and was undertaken specifically to investigate the question of whether hypertext referencing of computerized texts facilitates both foreign language reading comprehension and vocabulary acquisition. Advanced university-level EFL students in Israel participated in the study. Results of the repeated measures research design showed that neither of two on-line reading conditions with hypertext links (with access to hypertext glosses or with access to a hypertext dictionary) had a statistically significant advantage over the third on-line reading condition (with access to a paper dictionary) in terms of students’ overall reading comprehension or their short-term or delayed vocabulary retention. However, in both the on-line gloss and the on-line dictionary conditions, students looked up significantly greater numbers of words than in the paper dictionary condition. The results are discussed along with interview data showing students’ preferences for the on-line dictionary

Un Camino Solitario! / A Lonely Road!: Chicana/o Faculty Storytelling and Counterstorytelling in Academia

This volume brings together the latest research and scholarship on Latinos in the United States. This book is special in terms of the broad scope of topics covered and methodologies employed in pursuit of knowledge about Latino students. This collection is also unique in that it features the work of more than a dozen Latino scholars”both early-career and established”applying their research expertise to investigate and elucidate the educational experiences of Latinos in the United States. The themes that are discussed in the chapters of The Education of the Hispanic Population: Selected Essays, reflect the wide-ranging discussions that are occurring in schools and school districts across the country and issues that are being carefully investigated by researchers who are committed to contributing thoughtful and meaningful scholarship of consequence for improving conditions for Latino youth

A computer aided approach for river styles-inspired characterization of large basins: The Magdalena river (Colombia)

This paper addresses the geomorphic characterization and classification of large rivers in a framework of scarce information. This is inspired by the River Styles Framework with some modifications that make the process more straightforward and accessible to practitioners and more applicable to large basins, while reducing the subjective, expert-based inputs, as the process is now more systematic. To this aim, it utilizes innovative criteria and some computer-aided procedures and tools based on GIS, Excel and Python. This approach sheds light on the character and the behavior of rivers, which is key to informing planning, management and restoration. The application to the Magdalena River (Colombia) illustrates the characterization and classification process and the type of results, which ultimately highlight the great geomorphic diversity of that river. The process is applicable to many other rivers worldwide

Vestibular impairment in hemifacial spasm syndrome: A case report

A 52-year-old man presented with left hemifacial spasm (HFS). A magnetic resonance imaging scan showed compression of the left facial nerve at the cerebellopontine angle by a dolichoectatic basilar artery. The neurotological evaluation showed an otolithic deficit, with canalicular preservation and normal hearing. The deficit improved after surgical decompression. No previous report has described the impairment of vestibular function in patients presenting with HFS

Resource Adequacy: Should Regulators Worry?

Regulators have proposed various institutional alternatives to secure network resource adequacy and reasonably priced electric power for consumers. These alternatives prompt many difficult questions: Does the development of Demand Response reduce the need for new capacity? How effectively can a government-mandated Capacity Market foster efficient investment? How does centralized generator commitment (with revenue guarantees) compare to a system in which Generators voluntarily commit themselves with no revenue guarantees? If exclusive distribution contracts were replaced by unregulated retail competition, what would be the effects on investment and market prices? We use laboratory experiments to address these questions

ENSO dynamics during the Last Glacial Maximum

We present a numerical eigenmode analysis of an intermediate El Nin˜o–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) model which is driven by present-day observed background conditions as well as by simulated background conditions for the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) about 21,000 years ago. The background conditions are obtained from two LGM simulations which were performed with the National Center for Atmospheric Research climate system model (CSM1.4) and an Earth system model of intermediate complexity (ECBilt-CLIO). Our analysis clearly shows that the leading present-day unstable recharge-discharge mode changes its stability as well as its frequency during LGM conditions. Simulated LGM background conditions were favorable to support large-amplitude self-sustained interannual ENSO variations in the tropical Pacific. Our analysis indicates that off-equatorial climate conditions as well as a shoaling of the thermocline play a crucial role in amplifying the LGM ENSO mode

Memory decline evolves independently of disease activity in MS

The natural history of cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis (MS) and its relationship with disease activity is not well known. In this study, we evaluate a prospective cohort of 44 MS patients who were followed every 3 months for 2 years. Cognitive evaluation was done at baseline and by the end of the study using the Brief Repeatable Battery-Neuropsychology. Clinical evaluation included assessment of new relapses and changes in disability (Extended Disability Status Scale (EDSS)) confirmed at 6 months. RESULTS: We found that verbal memory performance deteriorates after 2 years in patients with MS. These changes were observed in stable and active patients both in terms of relapses and disability progression, even at the beginning of the disease, and in patients with or without cognitive impairment at study entry. Attention and executive functions measured with the symbol digit modality test (SDMT) declined after 2 years in patients with confirmed disability progression. Furthermore, SDMT performance correlated with the EDSS change. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that verbal memory steadily declines in patients with MS from the beginning of the disease and independently of other parameters of disease activity

Real-World Management and Clinical Outcomes of Stroke Survivors With Atrial Fibrillation: A Population-Based Cohort in Spain

Antiplatelets; Atrial fibrillation; Treatment strategiesAntiplaquetarios; Fibrilación auricular; Estrategias de tratamientoAntiplaquetàries; Fibril·lació auricular; Estratègies de tractamentObjective: Despite the continuous update of clinical guidelines, little is known about the real-world management of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who survived a stroke. We aimed to assess patterns of therapeutic management of stroke survivors with AF and clinical outcomes using data from routine practice in a large population-based cohort. Methods: A population-based retrospective cohort study of all patients with AF who survived a stroke, from January 2010 to December 2017 in the Valencia region, Spain (n = 10,986), was carried out. Treatment strategies and mean time to treatment initiation are described. Temporal trends are shown by the management pattern during the study period. Factors associated with each pattern (including no treatment) vs. oral anticoagulant (OAC) treatment were identified using logistic multivariate regression models. Incidence rates of clinical outcomes (mortality, stroke/TIA, GI bleeding, and ACS) were also estimated by the management pattern. Results: Among stroke survivors with AF, 6% were non-treated, 23% were prescribed antiplatelets (APT), 54% were prescribed OAC, and 17% received OAC + APT at discharge. Time to treatment was 8.0 days (CI 7.6–8.4) for APT, 9.86 (CI 9.52–10.19) for OAC, and 16.47 (CI 15.86–17.09) for OAC + APT. Regarding temporal trends, management with OAC increased by 20%, with a decrease of 50% for APT during the study period. No treatment and OAC + APT remained relatively stable. The strongest predictor of no treatment and APT treatment was having the same management strategy pre-stroke. Those treated with APT had the highest rates of GI bleeding and recurrent stroke/TIA, and untreated patients showed the highest rates of mortality. Conclusion: In this large population-based cohort using real-world data, nearly 30% of AF patients who suffered a stroke were untreated or treated with APT, which overall is not recommended. Treatment was started within 2 weeks as recommended, except for OAC + APT, which was started later. The strong association of APT treatment or non-treatment with the same treatment strategy before stroke occurrence suggests a strong therapeutic inertia and opposes recommendations. Patients under these two strategies had the highest rates of adverse outcomes. An inadequate prescription poses a great risk on patients with AF and stroke; thus monitoring their management is necessary and should be setting-specific.CR-B was funded at the start of this work by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spanish Ministry of Health, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (grant number RD16/0001/0011) and currently through a competitive grant (Sara Borrell CD19/00137). FS-S was funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spanish Ministry of Health through the REDISSEC network (grant number RD16/0001/0011). The views presented here are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the FISABIO Foundation, the Valencia Ministry of Health or the study sponsors

Physical Activity, Sedentary Time, and Diet as Mediators of the Association Between TV Time and BMI in Youth

Bejarano, C. M., Carlson, J. A., Conway, T. L., Saelens, B. E., Glanz, K., Couch, S. C., Cain, K. L., & Sallis, J. F. , Physical Activity, Sedentary Time, and Diet as Mediators of the Association Between TV Time and BMI in Youth, American Journal of Health Promotion, 35(5), pp. 613–623. Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). DOI: 10.1177/0890117120984943.Purpose: This study examined dietary indicators, sedentary time, and physical activity as potential mediators of the association between TV time and BMIz in youth. Design: Cross-sectional study in 2 independent samples of youth. Setting: Data collection occurred by mail and telephone for adolescents and either at home or in medical settings for children. Sample: 928 youth ages 12-16 and 756 youth ages 6-12 and a parent. Measures: TV time, snacking/eating while watching TV, and a 3-day dietary recall were assessed via child/parent report. Physical activity and sedentary time were assessed by accelerometer wear. Analysis: Direct and indirect associations (through 8 diet and activity variables) of TV time with BMIz were tested in boys and girls in each sample. Results: TV time had a positive association with BMIz in 6-12 year old boys and girls. Direct associations emerged between TV time and the diet/activity variables, and between diet/activity variables and BMIz. Snacking/eating while watching TV had a significant positive association with BMIz in younger boys and mediated the association between TV time and BMIz (β = .06, p = .019; 25% attenuation). Conclusions: Snacking/eating while watching TV may be a possible reason TV time is consistently associated with obesity in youth. Targeting reductions in TV time and associated snacking could improve health impacts