The effectiveness of using Wimba Voice Tools in foreign language instruction

In the past two decades, text-based synchronous and asynchronous communication tools have been used as teaching tools in foreign language classes and have been researched intensively for their pedagogical implications. Although their benefits have been identified in foreign language instruction, these benefits are mainly limited in affecting learners\u27 reading and writing skills due to the tools\u27 text-based nature. Since listening and speaking skills are also essential to language learners, studies on implications of newly emerging audio-based communication tools are needed. This paper describes an action research project conducted in a Chinese course at Iowa State University (ISU) where an audio-based technology called Wimba was incorporated. This study explored how the new technology was integrated in the foreign language instruction and what its advantages and disadvantages were. Results from student survey, students\u27 interviews and instructor\u27s interview indicate that teaching strategies using Wimba can help improve students\u27 listening and speaking skills. It can also motivate students to practice listening and speaking more often after class. There is no doubt that more research is needed to investigate the audio-based communication technology. This present pilot project serves as a case study to inform both the researcher and ISU foreign language instructors

Framework for Evaluating Sustainability of Transport System in Megalopolis and its Application

AbstractIt has been acknowledged that megalopolises are playing a leading role in the processes of both economic development and culture change. Thereupon, the new emphases on sustainability of transportation system in megalopolis are creating new demands for adequate approach to measure its performance and diagnosis potential drawbacks. By examining the descriptions of sustainable transport system as well as its evaluating approach, a framework with the general applicability and easily accessible data resource for evaluating sustainability of transport system in megalopolis is developed based on nature of regional structure and the feature transport demand in megalopolis. The proposed framework is applied in the analysis and comparison of Jing-Jin-Ji and Yangtze River Delta.

A Theoretical Diagnosis on Light Speed Anisotropy from GRAAL Experiment

The light speed anisotropy, i.e., the variation of the light speed with respect to the direction in an "absolute" reference frame, is a profound issue in physics. The one-way experiment, performed at the GRAAL facility of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble, reported results on the light speed anisotropy by Compton scattering of laser photons on high-energy electrons. So far, most articles concerned with the GRAAL data have established only the upper bounds on the anisotropy parameters based on available theories. We use a new theory of the Lorentz invariance violation to analyse the available GRAAL data and obtain the stringent upper limit of the order $2.4\times10^{-14}$ on the Lorentz violation parameters. In the meantime, we also can reproduce the allowed light speed anisotropy appearing in the azimuthal distribution of the GRAAL experimental data, and find that the best-fit parameters are compatible with the competitive upper bounds.Comment: 13 pages, 2 figures, final version in journal publicatio

Lorentz Violation of the Photon Sector in Field Theory Models

We compare the Lorentz violation terms of the pure photon sector between two field theory models, namely the minimal standard model extension (SME) and the standard model supplement (SMS). From the requirement of the identity of the intersection for the two models, we find that the free photon sector of the SMS can be a subset of the photon sector of the minimal SME. We not only obtain some relations between the SME parameters, but also get some constraints on the SMS parameters from the SME parameters. The CPT-odd coefficients $(k_{AF})^{\alpha}$ of the SME are predicted to be zero. There are 15 degrees of freedom in the Lorentz violation matrix $\Delta^{\alpha\beta}$ of free photons of the SMS related with the same number of degrees of freedom in the tensor coefficients $(k_F)^{\alpha\beta\mu\nu}$, which are independent from each other in the minimal SME, but are inter-related in the intersection of the SMS and the minimal SME. With the related degrees of freedom, we obtain the conservative constraints ($2\sigma$) on the elements of the photon Lorentz violation matrix. The detailed structure of the photon Lorentz violation matrix suggests some applications to the Lorentz violation experiments for photons.Comment: 9 pages, no figure, three tables. Final version for journal publicatio

Neutrino speed anomaly as signal of Lorentz violation

We make a reanalysis on the issue of neutrino speed anomaly by taking into account the newly reported data from the ICARUS experiment and other CNGS collaborations. We examine the consequence of the Lorentz violation on the neutrino speed in a new framework of standard model supplement (SMS), and find that the Lorentz violating parameters are constrained at least one order stronger than that of the earlier OPERA report. The combination with other phenomenological considerations puts more stringent constraints on the Lorentz violation of neutrinos.Comment: 14 pages. Significantly improved version with updated analysis on the relevant experiments related to neutrino speed. Matches to the final published versio

Relationship Between Foreign Film Exposure and Ethnocentrism

This study looked at the relationship between foreign film exposure and ethnocentrism by both considering individual differences factors and motives to watch foreign films, based on the uses and gratifications theoretical model. The individual differences factors include cosmopoliteness, access to foreign films and environmental ethnic diversity. The uses and gratifications theory posits that social and psychological factors influence individuals\u27 motives to use media and ultimately lead to different media effects. Accordingly, this research investigated how individual differences related to motives to view foreign films and how foreign film exposure affected people\u27s attitudes to other cultures. A pilot study was conducted first to check whether there was enough variance in foreign film exposure for American college student viewers, considering the limited release of foreign movies in the American market. Finally an online survey was conducted at an urban college in the US, where 205 undergraduate students participated. The individual difference factors cosmopoliteness and access were found to significantly and positively correlate with motives, while no significant relationship was found between environmental ethnic diversity and motives. These results indicate that individual differences in diversity of communication network and media content, and interests in other cultures, as well as accessibility of foreign films, do influence motivations to watch foreign movies. Also, motives and foreign film exposure were found to be related significantly, suggesting that different uses of foreign films lead to varying levels of exposure. Most interestingly, a negative relationship between foreign film exposure and ethnocentrism was significantly supported by the study. However, additional work needs to examine how foreign film exposure may reduce ethnocentrism. Furthermore, environmental ethnic diversity is not related to ethnocentrism either, suggesting physical integration with ethnic minorities cannot guarantee act

Relationship Between Foreign Film Exposure and Ethnocentrism

This study looked at the relationship between foreign film exposure and ethnocentrism by both considering individual differences factors and motives to watch foreign films, based on the uses and gratifications theoretical model. The individual differences factors include cosmopoliteness, access to foreign films and environmental ethnic diversity. The uses and gratifications theory posits that social and psychological factors influence individuals\u27 motives to use media and ultimately lead to different media effects. Accordingly, this research investigated how individual differences related to motives to view foreign films and how foreign film exposure affected people\u27s attitudes to other cultures. A pilot study was conducted first to check whether there was enough variance in foreign film exposure for American college student viewers, considering the limited release of foreign movies in the American market. Finally an online survey was conducted at an urban college in the US, where 205 undergraduate students participated. The individual difference factors cosmopoliteness and access were found to significantly and positively correlate with motives, while no significant relationship was found between environmental ethnic diversity and motives. These results indicate that individual differences in diversity of communication network and media content, and interests in other cultures, as well as accessibility of foreign films, do influence motivations to watch foreign movies. Also, motives and foreign film exposure were found to be related significantly, suggesting that different uses of foreign films lead to varying levels of exposure. Most interestingly, a negative relationship between foreign film exposure and ethnocentrism was significantly supported by the study. However, additional work needs to examine how foreign film exposure may reduce ethnocentrism. Furthermore, environmental ethnic diversity is not related to ethnocentrism either, suggesting physical integration with ethnic minorities cannot guarantee act

Moszkowski’s “Caprice Espagnol” Piano Playing Techniques Exploration

Moritz Moszkowski is a famous European renowned Polish composer, conductor, pianist and educator. His creation involves many aspects, among which the most numerous and the most well-known is the piano works, in these piano works is good for using Spanish folk music elements to create. In this paper through the Moszkowski piano “Spanish style” creative background, creative characteristics and playing techniques, make us to the writing background, creative characteristics and piano playing techniques have a certain grasp and more profound understanding, and the charm of the work to form a deeper understanding, more thorough experience, so as to form a better effect in the process of interpretation