A case study on how language learning strategies are fostered in an EFL chilean classroom context

Tesis (Profesor de Inglés para la Enseñanza Básica y Media y al grado académico de Licenciado en Educación)This mixed-methods case study attempted to explore how Language Learning Strategies (LLS) are fostered within a secondary level Chilean EFL public school context, based on a teacher’s pedagogical actions. Through empirical observation, task analysis, and an interview, this thesis intended to unveil the rationale behind the predominance of certain LLS at expense of others. Previous studies and literature served as a reference to later on determine potential cohesion between background records and first-hand evidence, which proved to be in relative alignment. Accordingly, this paper looked forward to extrapolating thoughts and assumptions the teacher had about that strategy-fostering bias with objective information evidenced through the development of the tasks carried out during the observation period. The results drew a tendency placing Memory strategies among the rest as the most fostered category, whereas Compensation befell to be the least favored LLS category overall.El propósito de este estudio de caso con un enfoque de investigación mixto fue explorar el desarrollo de la promoción de Estrategias del Estudio de la Lengua (Language Learning Strategies) dentro de una clase de Inglés como Lengua Extranjera (EFL) en un curso/nivel de educación secundaria inmerso en el contexto de un establecimiento educacional público chileno basado en las acciones pedagógicas del profesor a cargo. A través de observaciones empíricas, análisis de actividades y una entrevista, la intención de esta tesis fue develar la lógica tras la predominancia de ciertas Estratégias del Estudio de la Lengua en desmedro de otras. Varios artículos, tesis y otros tipos de documentos literarios sirvieron como referencia para posteriormente determinar la cohesión entre estos precedentes y la evidencia empírica recolectada, la cual ha probado estar en relativa concordancia. Por consiguiente, este documento buscó extrapolar la subjetividad de las reflexiones y suposiciones que el profesor-muestra del caso en cuestión fue capaz de dilucidar respecto a la tendencia a parcializar la promoción de ciertas estrategias con información objetiva obtenida a través del análisis de las instrucciones y actividades desarrolladas por el profesor durante el periodo de observación. Los resultados arrojaron tendencias favoreciendo a las estrategias de Memoria por encima del resto como la categoría más fomentada, mientras que las estrategias de Compensación resultaron ser aquellas con menos rodaje

Re-entry survival analysis and ground risk assessment of space debris considering by-products generation

[EN] Space debris that re-enter the Earth's atmosphere can be partially or fully ablated along the trajectory path after hitting the atmosphere layers, once these become denser (approximately below 82 km). This paper combines reentry survival analysis to by-product generation analyses according to specific trajectory analysis and different levels of modelling within the re-entry simulation tool. Particular attention is made on metallic alloy decomposition and metallic oxides formation from the debris' materials ablation. Generic alloys present within satellite constructions are considered. The flow field in the induced shock layer is considered to be in non-equilibrium and the trajectory tool is based on a 3DOF object-oriented approach. The by-product analyses give important information on emitted species in the atmosphere at different altitudes, and the risk of substances reaching the ground is evaluated as a function of the initial break-up altitude. The non-equilibrium atmospheric chemistry within the shock layer has a significant impact for the re-entry analysis.This work was supported by the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship (ESKAS No. 2019.0535) awarded by Federal Commission for Scholarships (FCS). The collaboration with UPV was partially financed as part of an activity performed with TAS-I in the context of an ESA subcontract ARA, under ITT-A0/1-8558/16/NL/KML.Park, S.; Navarro-Laboulais, J.; Leyland, P.; Mischler, S. (2021). Re-entry survival analysis and ground risk assessment of space debris considering by-products generation. Acta Astronautica. 179:604-618. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2020.09.03460461817

A linear non-Hertzian unsteady tangential wheel-rail contact model

[EN] The increase in computational capacity has considerably reduced the use of linear models for wheel/rail tangential contact, being currently replaced by theories that adopt non-linear formulations able to address the most complex conditions realistically. However, linear formulations are difficult to replace in certain applications such as acoustic problem modelling, in which case a linear formulation of the track-contact-vehicle system is needed. The vibration that appears in this type of problem covers a wide range of audible frequencies, so, in addition to linearity, these theories are required to be non-stationary. The literature in contact mechanics gives response to this problem through models that consider low creepage levels, but it remains to cover other conditions in which the mean creepage is not small, such as when a railway vehicle negotiates a curve. This work presents a new theory of unsteady linear tangential rolling contact for non-Hertzian areas that considers kinematics as the sum of a constant creepage resulting from large stationary forces (such as those that occur when the vehicle negotiates a curve with constant radius) and small variable creepage due to a high-frequency phenomenon (e.g. the dynamic interaction between the vehicle and the track). The model is based on the Variational Theory (i.e. the CONTACT method for tangential problems), from which a linear formulation with variable creepage is deduced. According to this formulation, the non-steady state contact problem can be solved for any shape of the wheel/rail contact region, requiring a much smaller computational effort than the general unsteady CONTACT approach. The results show a satisfactory agreement of the proposed model to the unsteady CONTACT version, hence confirming the soundness of the proposed contact model.The first and third authors acknowledge the financial support through the grants PID2020-118013RB-C21 (funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033) and PROMETEO/2021/046 (funded by Generalitat Valenciana).Baeza González, LM.; Bruni, S.; Giner Navarro, J.; Liu, B. (2023). A linear non-Hertzian unsteady tangential wheel-rail contact model. Tribology International. 181:1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2023.10834511018

Neuroprotective Effects of Exercise Treatments After Injury : The Dual Role of Neurotrophic Factors

Shared connections between physical activity and neuroprotection have been studied for decades, but the mechanisms underlying this effect of specific exercise were only recently brought to light. Several evidences suggest that physical activity may be a reasonable and beneficial method to improve functional recovery in both peripheral and central nerve injuries and to delay functional decay in neurodegenerative diseases. In addition to improving cardiac and immune functions, physical activity may represent a multifunctional approach not only to improve cardiocirculatory and immune functions, but potentially modulating trophic factors signaling and, in turn, neuronal function and structure at times that may be critical for neurodegeneration and regeneration. Research content related to the effects of physical activity and specific exercise programs in normal and injured nervous system have been reviewed. Sustained exercise, particularly if applied at moderate intensity and early after injury, exerts anti-inflammatory and pro-regenerative effects, and may boost cognitive and motor functions in aging and neurological disorders. However, newest studies show that exercise modalities can differently affect the production and function of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and other neurotrophins involved in the generation of neuropathic conditions. These findings suggest the possibility that new exercise strategies can be directed to nerve injuries with therapeutical benefits. Considering the growing burden of illness worldwide, understanding of how modulation of neurotrophic factors contributes to exercise-induced neuroprotection and regeneration after peripheral nerve and spinal cord injuries is a relevant topic for research, and represents the beginning of a new non-pharmacological therapeutic approach for better rehabilitation of neural disorders

Tubulization with chitosan guides for the repair of long gap peripheral nerve injury in the rat

Biosynthetic guides can be an alternative to nerve grafts for reconstructing severely injured peripheral nerves. The aim of this study was to evaluate the regenerative capability of chitosan tubes to bridge critical nerve gaps (15 mm long) in the rat sciatic nerve compared with silicone (SIL) tubes and nerve autografts (AGs). A total of 28 Wistar Hannover rats were randomly distributed into four groups (n = 7 each), in which the nerve was repaired by SIL tube, chitosan guides of low (∼2%, DAI) and medium (∼5%, DAII) degree of acetylation, and AG. Electrophysiological and algesimetry tests were performed serially along 4 months follow-up, and histomorphometric analysis was performed at the end of the study. Both groups with chitosan tubes showed similar degree of functional recovery, and similar number of myelinated nerve fibers at mid tube after 4 months of implantation. The results with chitosan tubes were significantly better compared to SIL tubes (P < 0.01), but lower than with AG (P < 0.01). In contrast to AG, in which all the rats had effective regeneration and target reinnervation, chitosan tubes from DAI and DAII achieved 43 and 57% success, respectively, whereas regeneration failed in all the animals repaired with SIL tubes. This study suggests that chitosan guides are promising conduits to construct artificial nerve grafts

Different patterns in root and soil fungal diversity drive plant productivity of the desert truffle <i>Terfezia claveryi</i> in plantation

SummaryThe desert truffle Terfezia claveryi is one of the few mycorrhizal fungi currently in cultivation in semiarid and arid areas. Agroclimatic parameters seem to affect its annual yield, but there is no information on the influence of biotic factors. In this study, fungal diversity was analysed by high‐throughput sequencing of the ITS2 rDNA region from soil and root samples to compare productive and non‐productive mycorrhizal plants in a 4‐years old plantation (Murcia, Spain). The fungal metaprofile was dominated by Ascomycota phylum. Desert truffle productivity was driven by different patterns of fungal species composition in soil (species replacement) and root (species richness differences). Moreover, positive associations for ectomycorrhizal and negative for arbuscular mycorrhizal guilds were found in productive roots, and positive associations for fungal parasite‐plant pathogen guild in non‐productive ones. Soil samples were dominated by pathotroph and saprotroph trophic modes, showing positive associations for Aureobasidium pullulans and Alternaria sp. in productive areas, and positive associations for Fusarium sp. and Mortierella sp. were found in non‐productive soils. Finally, some significant OTUs were identified and associated to ascocarp producing patches, which could serve as predictive and location markers of desert truffle production

Propuesta de mejora en las áreas de mantenimiento y logística, aplicando herramientas Lean Manufacturing, para reducir costos en una empresa de transporte, Trujillo 2021

El presente trabajo de investigación tuvo como objetivo general determinar en qué medida la propuesta de mejora en mantenimiento y logística según teoría TPM, método ABC y Lean Manufacturing afecta en los costos de una empresa de transporte. En primer lugar, en el área de mantenimiento y logística se realizó el diagnostico actual, determinando las causas raíces aplicando el diagrama de análisis de proceso, FODA, Ishikawa, donde se determina las principales causas en cada una de las áreas a trabajar, siendo la falta de un mantenimiento y la falta de un sistema de inventarios, en las cuales se aplicó un mantenimiento preventivo, con intervención del sistema Lean Manufacturing, modelo de tarjetas Kanvan, en el área de logística se implementó un sistema de clasificación mediante el método ABC determinando los materiales de mayor importancia. La investigación fue de observación directa análisis de documentos. Finalmente, la propuesta resulto ser económicamente viable y financieramente se obtuvo resultados positivos de VAN, TIR y B/C. La investigación concluyo mediante la aplicación de la propuesta mejorando los costos operativos se reducen en S/. 75,835.93

On the sensitivity of generic porous optical sensors

A porous material was considered as a platform for optical sensing. It was envisaged that the porous material was infiltrated by a fluid which contains an agent to be sensed. Changes in the optical properties of the infiltrated porous material provide the basis for detection of the agent to be sensed. Using a homogenization approach based on the Bruggeman formalism, wherein the infiltrated porous material was regarded as a homogenized composite material, the sensitivity of such a sensor was investigated. For the case of an isotropic dielectric porous material of relative permittivity $\epsilon^a$ and an isotropic dielectric fluid of relative permittivity $\epsilon^b$, it was found that the sensitivity was maximized when there was a large contrast between $\epsilon^a$ and $\epsilon^b$; the maximum sensitivity was achieved at mid-range values of porosity. Especially high sensitivities may be achieved for $\epsilon^b$ close to unity when $\epsilon^a >> 1$, for example. Furthermore, higher sensitivities may be achieved by incorporating pores which have elongated spheroidal shapes