Individual Differences and Instructed Second Language Acquisition: Insights from Intelligent Computer Assisted Language Learning

The present dissertation focuses on the role of cognitive individual difference factors in the acquisition of second language vocabulary in the context of intelligent computer assisted language learning (ICALL). The aim was to examine the association between working memory and declarative memory and the learning of English phrasal verbs in a web-based ICALL-mediated experiment. Following a pretest-posttest design, 127 adult learners of English were assigned to two instructional conditions, namely meaning-focused and form-focused conditions. Learners in both conditions read news texts on the web for about two weeks; learners in the form-focused condition additionally interacted with the texts via selecting multiple-choice options. The results showed that both working memory and declarative memory were predictive of vocabulary acquisition. However, only the working memory effect was modulated by the instructional context, with the effect being found exclusively in the form-focused condition, and thus suggesting the presence of an aptitude-treatment interaction. Finally, findings also revealed that learning during treatment in the form-focused group was nonlinear, and that paying attention to form and meaning simultaneously impeded global reading comprehension for intermediate, not advanced learners. From a theoretical perspective, the findings provide evidence to suggest that individual differences in both working memory and declarative memory affect the acquisition of lexical knowledge in ICALL-supported contexts. Methodologically, the current study illustrates the advantages of conducting interdisciplinary work between ICALL and second language acquisition by allowing for the collection of experimental data through a web-based, all-encompassing ICALL system. Overall, the present dissertation represents an initial attempt at characterizing who is likely to benefit from ICALL-based interventions

Results of a dental care protocol for mentally handicapped patients set in a primary health care area in Spain

Objective: Disabled people have the same right as other people to receive the health care they need, but they sometimes have difficulties to achieve it. In Castilla y Leon it has come into effect a law to guarantee Primary and Secondary Care coordination to provide dental treatment under sedation or anaesthesia to mentally disabled people who need it. Our aim is to evaluate the results of the implementation of such a law through a specific protocol in our health setting. Study design: Descriptive, made in a Health Area over a year, on mentally disabled people who were sent to hospital for treatment under anaesthesia after Primary Dental Care Units assessment. It has been studied the age, gender, mental disease, dental diagnosis and treatment undergone. Results: 108 patients attended the program (51% male), with a mean age of 31 years. 67% presented profound learning disability, 19% mental illness with disability, 11% presented cerebral palsy and another 3% had autism. Most frequent dental pathologies were caries (86%) and dental plaque (71%). Most common dental procedures were tooth extraction (78%), professional tooth cleaning (75%) and fillings (67%). Conclusions: We achieved to provide necessary dental treatment to a large number of disabled people, who would not have received it otherwise. It was a challenge to plan and implement the protocol coordinating Health Care Levels and workers. It still has to be done an economic and efficiency analysis of procedures and a patient satisfaction study

A Review of A Priori Defined Oxidative Balance Scores Relative to Their Components and Impact on Health Outcomes

Oxidative Balance Scores (OBSs) are tools that have emerged to evaluate the global balance of individuals’ oxidation—reduction status. The aim was to compare OBSs available in the literature regarding their characteristics and associations with chronic diseases in epidemiological studies. Studies that developed OBSs were searched in PubMed until August 2018. A total of 21 OBSs were identified. These OBSs presented di erent scoring schemes and di erent types of anti- and pro-oxidant components, including dietary factors (dietary intake and/or nutrient biomarkers), lifestyle factors, and medications. Most OBSs were based on over 10 components, and some included only dietary factors. Few considered weighted components in the score. Only three OBSs were validated as potential surrogates of oxidative balance through inflammation and OS-related biomarkers. Notably, all the OBSs were associated—to a varying degree—with a reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease, colorectal adenomas, and di erent cancer types (colorectal and breast cancer), as well as with all-cause and cancer-related mortality. For other outcomes, e.g., prostate cancer, contradictory results were reported. In summary, there is a great heterogeneity in the definition of OBSs. Most studies are concordant in supporting that excessive OS reflected by a lower OBS has deleterious e ects on health. Unified criteria for defining the proper OBSs, valuable to gauge OS-related aspects of the diet and lifestyle that may lead to adverse health outcomes, are needed.This research was co-funded by the Health Research Fund (FIS), Acción Estratégica en Salud (AES), of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, grant number PI12/00002, and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

Methodology for hand-tool vibration analysis using bond graph

This paper presents an efficient and easy methodology for modeling the vibrational behavior of common portable tools using as example a hand-driller. The work described in this paper uses a Hand-Tool model previously developed by the authors and couples it with different Hand-Arm-System (HAS) in order to evaluate which one reproduces the most realistic vibrational behavior. Although proposed for hand-tools, it can be extended for any kind of tool that produces vibration during its operation. This methodology summarizes different techniques in order to analyze the vibrational system. The different components of the hand-driller are represented as lumped masses and the connections between them with a spring and a damper. The elastic constant for the structural elements are determined by FEA using SolidWorks simulations, while the damping constant values used are the recommended by the software 20-sim for structural damping. Once the model is developed, it will be shown how the corresponding Bond-Graph diagram can be obtained and how it helps in obtaining the equations that describe the model. The software 20-sim is used to simulate the developed Bond-Graph model and to determine the Hand-Arm system vibrational response for a specific excitation force

Descripción de índices basados en la adhesión al patrón dietético mediterráneo: una revisión

Introduction: diet quality indexes are tools are aimed at quantifying the compliance to a defined dietary pattern. These indexes are a combined measure of dietary factors (food groups, foods, nutrients and ratios) and/or lifestyles factors. The Mediterranean Diet (MD) is a dietary pattern characterized by their positive effects against chronic diseases. There have been many indexes proposed for the assessment of this dietary pattern. An evaluation of their composition and health benefits is therefore convenient. Objective: the objective is to evaluate indexes of adherence to the MD with regard to their definition, methodological issues and validation as reported in epidemiological studies. Methods: we searched in PubMed for studies that developed MD Indexes up to October 2014. Results: a total number of 22 indexes were identified, with differences regarding the number of components (7-28), scoring (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 or 10, in case of compliance), range (0-100) and type of components (which could be food groups/foods or their combination, with nutrients). Among the positive components, fruits and vegetables were the most common and meats, among the negative components. There were also differences with regard to their composition and evaluation (e.g. criteria of moderate alcohol consumption), as well as with the scoring system (in medians, terciles or established servings).Conclusions: this review suggests that since there is great heterogeneity in the definition of MD. It would be therefore convenient to establish more clearly the components to be included and to establish commonly defined criteria to quantify this dietary pattern.Introducción: los índices de calidad la de dieta son herramientas que sirven para cuantificar el cumplimiento de un patrón dietético definido. Estos índices son una medida combinada de factores dietéticos (grupos alimenticios, alimentos, nutrientes y ratios) y/o estilos de vida. La dieta mediterránea (DM) es un patrón dietético que se caracteriza por sus efectos positivos contra ciertas enfermedades crónicas. Existen numerosos índices propuestos para la valoración de este patrón dietético. Es por lo tanto conveniente una evaluación de su composición y sus efectos sobre la salud. Objetivo: el objetivo es evaluar los índices de adhesión al patrón dietético mediterráneo en cuanto a su definición, aspectos metodológicos y validación en estudios epidemiológicos. Métodos: se buscaron en PubMed estudios que desarrollaron índices de DM hasta octubre de 2014. Resultados: se identificaron un total de 22 índices, con diferencias en cuanto al número de componentes (7-28), puntuación (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 o 10, en el caso de cumplimiento), rango (0-100) y tipo de componentes (grupos de alimentos/alimentos o su combinación con nutrientes). Entre los componentes positivos, los más comunes fueron frutas y verduras, y carnes entre los negativos. También hubo diferencias con respecto a su composición y evaluación (p. ej. criterios de consumo moderado de alcohol), así como con el sistema de puntuación (en medianas, terciles o raciones establecidas). Conclusiones: esta revisión sugiere que existe una gran heterogeneidad en la definición de DM. Sería por tanto apropiado establecer con mayor claridad los componentes que deben incluirse, así como definir criterios comunes para cuantificar este patrón dietético.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Health. Health Research Fund. PI12/00002, co-funded ERDF and It’s part of the doctoral thesis named: “Relación entre ingesta y acumulación de productos de Maillard de la dieta con el status endógeno antioxidante/oxidativo/ inflamatorio individual (“Indice de balance oxidativo”) y con la calidad de la dieta

Teaching english through multisensory activities in a public school

El presente proyecto fue llevado a cabo en una institución pública mixta en el municipio de Dosquebradas, Colombia con el fin de aplicar, verificar y advocar la utilidad de la instrucción multisensorial en una o varias sesiones de una clase de lengua inglesa de grado séptimo, a través del uso estructurado de actividades específicamente ordenadas para ser sensorialmente estimulantes promoviendo los enlaces entre la memoria sensorial que activa la interconectividad dentro de varios canales receptores

Uniqueness of dynamical zeta functions and symmetric products

A characterization of dynamically defined zeta functions is presented. It comprises a list of axioms, natural extension of the one which characterizes topological degree, and a uniqueness theorem. Lefschetz zeta function is the main (and proved unique) example of such zeta functions. Another interpretation of this function arises from the notion of symmetric product from which some corollaries and applications are obtained

Sugar Content and Sources in Commercial Infant Cereals in Spain

Instant infant cereals reconstituted with infant formula are the first complementary food for most Spanish infants. The main aim is to provide information on sugars in the formulation of infant cereals. Product information was collected from department stores, supermarkets, and pharmacies and completed with data from brand websites. A portion of the samples was selected for total sugars determination using the HPLC and Luff-Schoorl methods. The information regarding a total of 120 milk-free instant infant cereals marketed in Spain from 12 companies was summarized. The mean of total sugars was 23 +/- 9 g/100 g (25-42%), providing 24% of the calories. Most of porridges are prepared with partially hydrolyzed flours providing free sugars (glucose and maltose). The most commonly added sugar is sucrose. A total of 43.3% of products contain added sucrose, and 16.7% contain fruits. Infant cereals analyzed with added sugars can have a sugar content similar to that found in products without added sugars. Consistent differences were found in sugars content between assayed methods and this label information. Although the European legislation of infant cereals establishes values for added sugars, the labeling reflects the content of total sugars, but not that of added sugars