Academic ESL Reading : Semantic Mapping and Lexical Acquisition

Second Language Acquisition (SLA) theoreticians and educators disagree whether vocabulary should be explicitly taught in second language learning classrooms. These individuals are divided about the most efficient way for L2 learners to increase the size of their lexicons. This thesis proposes that explicit vocabulary instruction may significantly facilitate lexical acquisition for adult second language learners in academic contexts. An experimental study designed to investigate the relationship between explicit vocabulary instruction and the rate of lexical acquisition is described. It was hypothesized that metacognitive strategy training in semantic mapping activities would significantly increase the rate of lexical acquisition for upper-intermediate university level adult learners of English as a second or foreign language. Reading materials used for the experimental and control groups were news stories from an Internet web site (NewsDEN). NewsDEN (http://W\\-\u27W.actden.com) was chosen for its unique tools which facilitate the teaching of semantic mapping. Forty-six students enrolled in an university level intensive English language program participated in this study. Subjects were divided into one treatment group (N=34) and one control group (N=l2). Both groups received instruction in an integrated-skills framework via active learning methods, and both were given extensive practice using the strategy of learning new vocabulary through context clues. The independent variable was semantic mapping training. Subjects in the control group were taught vocabulary through the Survey, Question, Read, Review, Recite (SQ3R) method. This group received instruction in a regular classroom setting. Students in the experimental group were taught the same words through the Semantic Mapping method, which included direct semantic and phonological awareness training. Subjects in this group were given the treatment via the Internet. Immediately prior to receiving the experimental and control treatments, each group was given a vocabulary comprehension pre-test containing unknown words. To measure subjects\u27 long-term memory of these words, modified versions of the same tests were given two weeks later, and at the end of the ten week quarter. Although the Semantic Mapping group did have higher mean scores than the SQ3R group, no statistically significant differences were found between the test scores of the experimental and the control group

Hospital experience predicts outcomes after high-risk geriatric surgery.

BACKGROUND: Geriatric patients require specialized perioperative care, yet the impact of geriatric surgery proportion (a measure of experience) and geriatric surgery volume, on clinical outcomes is unknown. This study analyzes the association between proportion and volume and clinical outcomes after high-risk geriatric surgery. METHODS: Using the 2014 National Inpatient Sample, hospital encounters for older adults (≥65 years) undergoing high-risk geriatric surgery were identified. Geriatric surgery volume was defined as a hospitals annual volume of geriatric patients undergoing high-risk geriatric surgery. Geriatric surgery proportion was calculated as volume divided by the sum of high-risk surgeries in all ages. Hierarchical multivariable regression models identified predictors of inpatient mortality, postoperative length of stay, and discharge to nursing facility. RESULTS: There were an estimated 514,950 hospital encounters for older adults undergoing high-risk geriatric surgery from 3,115 hospitals. Mean proportion was 0.53 ± 0.19; median volume was 60 cases per year, ranging from 5 to 3,235. After adjustment, comparing the 90th to 10th percentiles, higher proportion was associated with decreased mortality (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 0.81 [0.73-0.88]; P < .001) and shorter postoperative length of stay (-4.44% (-5.49 to -3.39%); P < .0001). Higher volume was not associated with mortality but was associated with longer length of stay (7.76% [6.75-8.77%]; P < .0001) and decreased discharge to nursing facility (0.87 [0.79-0.95]; P= .003). CONCLUSION: Treatment of geriatric patients at hospitals with the highest proportion of high-risk geriatric surgery, or the most experience, is associated with improved outcomes. High-proportion hospitals should be examined to understand the mechanisms by which better quality geriatric surgical care is achieved, while lower-proportion hospitals may be targets for quality improvement efforts

Young Japanese People\u27s Views On Civic (Dis)Engagement

本稿は社会参加に関する意識調査を目的とする記述式アンケートに回答した日本の青年151名の意見を報告し、その社会参加に消極的な理由を解明すると共に、状況是正への提言を行うものである。In this article, we report on opinions held by 151 Japanese youth who responded to open-ended questions about civic engagement. The study sheds light on some reasons for Japanese youths\u27 civic disengagement and concludes with suggestions to remedy the situation

Body mass index and outcome in renal transplant recipients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Whether overweight or obese end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients are suitable for renal transplantation (RT) is often debated. The objective of this review and meta-analysis was to systematically investigate the outcome of low versus high BMI recipients after RT. METHODS: Comprehensive searches were conducted in MEDLINE OvidSP, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Embase, and CENTRAL (the Cochrane Library 2014, issue 8). We reviewed four major guidelines that are available regarding (potential) RT recipients. The methodology was in accordance with the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and written based on the PRISMA statement. The quality assessment of studies was performed by using the GRADE tool. A meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3. Random-effects models were used. RESULTS: After identifying 5,526 studies addressing this topic, 56 studies were included. We extracted data for 37 outcome measures (including data of more than 209,000 RT recipients), of which 26 could be meta-analysed. The following outcome measures demonstrated significant differences in favour of low BMI (<30) recipients: mortality (RR = 1.52), delayed graft function (RR = 1.52), acute rejection (RR = 1.17), 1-, 2-, and 3-year graft survival (RR = 0.97, 0.95, and 0.97), 1-, 2-, and 3-year patient survival (RR = 0.99, 0.99, and 0.99), wound infection and dehiscence (RR = 3.13 and 4.85), NODAT (RR = 2.24), length of hospital stay (2.31 days), operation duration (0.77 hours), hypertension (RR = 1.35), and incisional hernia (RR = 2.72). However, patient survival expressed in hazard ratios was in significant favour of high BMI recipients. Differences in other outcome parameters were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Several of the pooled outcome measurements show significant benefits for ‘low’ BMI (<30) recipients. Therefore, we postulate that ESRD patients with a BMI >30 preferably should lose weight prior to RT. If this cannot be achieved with common measures, in morbidly obese RT candidates, bariatric surgery could be considered. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12916-015-0340-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

社会的責任感と国際協力技術の開発

This brief article is a follow-up to an earlier reflection written by a small group of Miyazaki International College (MIC) English Teacher Education students (Ike, Ikeda, Kasahara, Kimura, Matsukawa, Maeda, and Stewart, 2003). In that earlier article, five students reflected on their teaching practicum experiences as fourth year students. They have since graduated from MIC and started their first teaching positions in various school contexts. In this article, they share their reflections after teaching in junior and senior high schools for one semester

カンボジア大学生の英語運用能力と異文化接触の関係--グローバライゼーションの考察

Research suggests that increases in the flow of foreigners and financial investments into Cambodia are having an influence on Cambodian people; moreover, these affects can be seen as a byproduct of globalization. This study investigated the relationships between Cambodian university students\u27 English proficiency, attitudes toward non-Cambodian people, students’ motivation to study English, and intercultural contact with "foreigners". A convenience sample (N=363) was drawn from the 17 classes at Royal University of Phnom Penh\u27s(RUPP) English Language Support Unit (ELSU). English proficiency was measured by the researchers\u27 original scale. To assure validity of English proficiency, the TOEFL was administered (N=52) and oral interviews were conducted (N=57) with a sub-group of students. Motivation and the degree of contact with foreigners were measured by the researchers’ original scale. And attitudes toward non-Cambodians were measured through semantic differential scales and social distance scales. Students perceived English ability was in the low-intermediate range and the TOEFL scores of the subgroup (N=52) strongly correlated with these self-assessment ratings. The degree of Contact with foreigners was relatively high; nearly 86 percent of the respondents had contact with foreigners. A moderate positive significant correlation (r=.38) was found between English Proficiency and Contact. To understand more about the results, a discussion of Cambodia\u27s social context is provided and suggestions are made for future researc