An examination of free written recall tasks as listening comprehension tests

This small-scale study examined the concurrent validity and the construct validity of free written recall tasks as listening tests. Tasks have been used as an instrument to measure comprehension ability in reading and listening. In the tasks, test-takers are told to write everything they remember about the passage(s) they read or heard Tasks are considered to have the potential to clarify the comprehension process. At the same time, tasks have been criticized as being merely a test of memory ability. A multiple-choice task and a free written recall task were administered to 25 Japanese learners of English. Results showed a high correlation coefficient between the two tasks, and in addition, the free written recall task revealed a variety of listening processes, suggesting that the free written recall task is a useful tool as a test of listening comprehension ability.ArticleJABAET Journal. 9:49-62 (2005)journal articl

Implicitly and explicitly measured attitudes towards foreigners: A dual-process model perspective

Intergroup attitudes are one of the individual difference constructs which may influence motivation to learn a second language (L2) or willingness to communicate in an L2. Drawing on the APE model (a dual-process model which postulates the distinction between explicitly and implicitly measured attitudes), the current study examined 71 Japanese university students' attitudes towards foreigners by utilizing three types of attitudinal measures: self-evaluation about one's prejudice towards foreigners, verbal reports of images about foreigners, and one's implicit association scores obtained by means of the filtering unconscious matching implicit emotions (FUMIE) test. Results indicated that the participants tended to respond in a neutral way on the self-evaluation, whereas the FUMIE test indicated significantly positive attitudes towards foreigners. Further, a dissociation of implicitly and explicitly measured attitudes was found. Finally, the three measures had no significant impact on motivational intensity. The findings are discussed in terms of the dual-process model of attitudes, and implications are provided for future research on intergroup attitudes in the field ofL2 learning and communication.ArticleJABAET Journal. 14/15:39-58 (2011)journal articl

Hydrogen-assisted fabrication of spherical gold nanoparticles through sonochemical reduction of tetrachloride gold(III) ions in water

Spherical gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were selectively synthesized through sonochemical reduction of tetrachloride gold(III) ions ([AuCl4](-)) in an aqueous solution of hydrogen tetrachloroaurate(III) tetrahydrate (HAuCl4.H2O) with the aid of hydrogen (H-2) gas in the absence of any additional capping agents. On the other hand, various shaped-AuNPs such as spherical nanoparticles, triangular and hexagonal plates were formed from sonochemical reduction of [AuCl4](-) in argon (Ar)-, nitrogen (N-2)- or oxygen (O-2)-purged aqueous [AuCl4](-) solutions. The selective fabrication of spherical AuNPs assisted by H-2 gas is most likely attributed to the generation of hydrogen radicals (H center dot) promoted by the reaction of H-2 introduced and hydrogen oxide radicals (center dot OH) produced by sonolysis of water.ArticleULTRASONICS SONOCHEMISTRY. 21(3):946-950 (2014)journal articl

Beliefs of Japanese teachers of English regarding language, language teaching, and language learning

The purpose of this study was to explore English teachers' beliefs about language, language teaching, and language learning to answer the research question: What beliefs have been formed through teaching experience? A 28-item questionnaire was administered to 69 junior high school teachers of English in Japan and 69 Japanese-speaking university students. Results showed that the teachers think (a) that grammatical knowledge is not sufficient for communication, (b) that, in reading or writing instruction, Japanese need not be relied on, (c) that, in listening, students do not have to understand every word, and (d) that basically, progress is made in foreign language learning through mimicking. A comparison of teachers with university students further indicated that several beliefs may have evolved out of teaching experience.ArticleJABAET Journal. 13:47-59 (2009)journal articl

A METHOD OF IMPROVING THE MEASUREMENT OF KINEMATIC PARAMETERS ABOVE AND UNDER WATER IN SWIMMING START

The objectives of this study were to develop an improved method of measuring kinematic parameters of a swimmer at the start of a race from water entry through the initial glide in a seamless manner and to consider deceleration factors with reference to changes in the swimmer’s kinematic parameters during the start. Ten elite collegiate male swimmers participated in this study. To obtain accurate displacements of each reference point on a swimmer while avoiding interference from bubbles, waterproofed, super-luminosity LED markers were used. Additionally, a metallic frame (3 m × 2 m) and a nylon belt (6.1 m long with marks at intervals of 0.5 m) were used as calibration control points. Participants were asked to start from a starting block three times with their maximum effort and maintain a streamlined position without any kicking after water entry until they reached the 10-m point. The mean calibration error was 0.0046 m in the horizontal direction and 0.0047 m in the vertical direction across the measurement span (11 m × 6 m). This improved method enabled us to measure successive changes in the velocity and acceleration of the centre of mass both above water and following water entry

–Gel Formation Ability Of Monohexadecyl Phosphate Neutralized By L–Arginine

The aqueous phase diagram of monohexadecyl phosphate neutralized by L-arginine (C16MP- Arg, Figure 1) was studied using analytical techniques including differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), small/ wide-angle X-ray scattering (SWAXS) measurements, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. We found that the mixture could form an α-gel over wide ranges of concentrations and temperatures (Figure 2). The α-gel was thermodynamically stable at 25°C (below the phase transition temperature for hexagonal or lamellar liquid crystals), and did not transform to coagel for at least one year. This behavior is unique among anionic surfactant systems. Thus, the balance between hydrophilic and hydrophobic volumes is a key factor for determining whether a stable α-gel can be obtained. In this system, the relatively large volume of Arg relaxed the alkyl chains of C16MP and prevented their crystallization. We also characterized the behavior of water in the C16MP-Arg α-gel system. An increased water concentration resulted in an increase in the d-spacing of the lamellar bilayers (Figure 3) as well as an increased wavenumber for the O-H stretching vibration peak. In addition, the melting enthalpy increased with increasing water concentration, while freezing was not observed below a water concentration of 20 wt%. These results suggest that the overall properties of water changed as a function of its concentration in the sample. 1H-NMR spin-spin relaxation time (T2) measurements further suggest that the protons of water and C16MP-Arg can be classified into three components (low-, middle-, and high-T2 components) as a function of the temperature and concentration. The low-T2 component mainly arose from the protons of C16MP-Arg alkyl chains, and its mobility increased with increasing temperature. The high-T2 component arose from the protons of water. The water behaved as “bound water” for the C16MP-Arg headgroups at –30°C and a water concentration of 20 wt%, and the mobility increased with increasing temperature and water concentration. These changes suggest that an increased water concentration results in an increased amount of water being incorporated between the C16MP-Arg lamellar bilayers as well as in spaces surrounded by α-gel domains. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Surfactant- and reducer-free synthesis of gold nanoparticles in aqueous solutions

We report here the surfactant- and reducer-free synthesis of gold nanoparticles from an aqueous hydrogen tetrachloroaurate (III) tetrahydrate (HAuCl(4)center dot 4H(2)O) solution using a high-frequency (950 kHz) ultrasound (in the absence of any stabilizing, capping and reducing agents). In particular, size, shape and stability of gold nanoparticles prepared by the 950 kHz ultrasound irradiation (sonication) for 8 min in the surfactant-free aqueous solutions were examined in terms of AuCl(4)(-) concentration (in the range of 0.01-0.1 mM), additional salts (NaCl, HCl and NaOH) and temperature (in the range of 4-60 degrees C). We found that higher AuCl(4)(-) concentration promoted particle growth (size increase) and plate formation. In addition, the plate formation was enhanced with the addition of NaCl or HCl (but not NaOH). This is most likely due to the AuCl(4)(-) reduction on a certain crystal facets (e.g. (1 1 0) facets) caused by the adsorption of Cl(-) ions on specific crystal facets (e.g. (1 1 1) facets). Furthermore, we revealed that the temperature elevated above 50 degrees C led to the formation of spherical gold nanoparticles with the diameter of 20-60 nm from a 0.1 mM AuCl(4)(-) aqueous solution while triangular plates formed coexisting with spherical nanoparticles below 50 degrees C.ArticleCOLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS. 347(1-3):18-26 (2009)journal articl