Get ‘em While They’re Young: Complex Digitally-Mediated Tasks for EFL Learners in Primary Schools

We suggest that complex tasks can be introduced to learners as early as primary school level with the help of digital media in the form of different apps. As a theoretical basis, we will first outline the principles of teaching English in (German) primary schools. Secondly, we will look at the framework of Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) according to Nunan (2004) and explore how digitally-mediated tasks can be connected to this framework. Then, we will look at complex tasks as outlined by Hallet (2011) and present an example of a complex digital task for young English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners that we developed and tested in a German primary school classroom. It is suggested that TBLT at the primary level is a motivating alternative to playful teaching techniques traditionally championed at the primary level. Moreover, it may be a way of bridging the problematic gap between the primary and secondary levels as tasks can prepare young learners for the challenges they will face at the secondary level.Nous suggérons que des tâches complexes peuvent être présentées aux apprenants dès l’école primaire à l’aide des médias numériques sous la forme de différentes applications. Comme base théorique, nous exposerons d’abord les principes de l’enseignement de l’anglais dans les écoles primaires (en Allemagne). Ensuite, nous examinerons le cadre de l’enseignement des langues basé sur les tâches de Nunan (2004) et nous étudierons comment les tâches à médiation numérique peuvent être reliées à ce cadre. Ensuite, nous nous pencherons sur les tâches complexes telles que décrites par Hallet (2011) et présenterons un exemple de tâche numérique complexe pour de jeunes apprenants d’anglais langue étrangère que nous avons développée pour et testée dans une classe d’école primaire allemande. Il est suggéré que le TBLT au niveau primaire est une alternative motivante aux techniques d’enseignement ludiques traditionnellement défendues au niveau primaire. De plus, cette méthode peut être un moyen de combler le fossé problématique entre l’école primaire et secondaire, car les tâches peuvent préparer les jeunes apprenants aux défis qu’ils devront relever au niveau secondaire

Individual and organizational resilience—Insights from healthcare providers in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic

We explored the effects of resilience in the healthcare setting during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. Our study sheds light on the cross-level effects of resilience in hospitals and thus responds to calls to research this empirically. In a cross-sectional study design, the perceptions of resilience of employees in hospitals and of transformations at the individual, team, and organizational level were analyzed. An online survey was conducted in summer 2020 in Germany in which 1,710 healthcare workers completed a self-report questionnaire. Results indicate that resilience is both a highly interrelated construct on the individual and organizational level and also positively linked to perceptions of transformation as an indicator for demonstration of resilience. We also found a partial mediation effect of organizational resilience and team efficacy, respectively, on the relationship between individual resilience and perceived transformation on the individual and organizational level as well as a full mediation on the team level. The study highlights the interdependence of individual and organizational resilience (which is mediated by team efficacy) and its impact on perceived transformation in German hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whereas team efficacy is crucial for performance in regular work operations, during a pandemic the organizational level becomes more relevant. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed

M+D: conceptual guidelines for compiling a materials library

This article proposes to present a study conducted by the Raw Materials research group, the results of which comprise the conceptual guidelines for compiling an M+D material library. The study includes the topic, materials and design taking the impact of the changes that came into being in the post industrial era on project methodologies and the search for information regarding materials. Taking into account the importance and complexity that these relationships have taken on currently, we have studied the issue of materials based on Manzini (1983) and Ashby and Johnson (2002). Afterward different databases and materials libraries located in the Brazil, the United States, France and Italy geared toward design professionals and students were analyzed to understand what information and means of access to them were available. The project methodologies were approached based on Löbach (1991), Bürdeck (1994), Schulmann (1994), Baxter (1998), Dantas (1998 and 2005) and Papanek (1995 and 2000). This study sought to identify the key elements of the role of materials in the project process today, to serve as a parameter for the analysis of the models studied. A comparative analysis of the models investigated enabled identification of positive and negative aspects to adapt to the needs previously mentioned and identify conceptual guidelines for compiling a collection of materials for use in design projects. Keywords: Design, Materials, Project Methodology, Library</p

Vermögen und Reichtum in Österreich

Vermögen ist in Österreich sehr ungleich verteilt. Seit der HFCS-Vermögenserhebung der Oesterreichischen Nationalbank (OeNB) und von Wissenschaftler:innen durchgeführten Hochschätzungen lässt sich besser beziffern, wie groß die Vermögenskonzentration tatsächlich ist. Österreich steht innerhalb der Eurozone mit an der Spitze der Vermögensungleichheit. Die große Mehrheit der in Österreich lebenden Bevölkerung empfindet die bestehende Vermögensverteilung als ungerecht. Vermögensteuern sind ein Weg, die Schieflage zu reduzieren. Das reichste 1 % verfügt über rund 40 % des gesamten Nettovermögens, während die ärmere Hälfte gerade einmal 2,8 % des Nettovermögens besitzt. Die hohe Vermögenskonzentration hat negative wirtschaftliche, demokratiepolitische und ökologische Konsequenzen. Der Überreichtum kann durch Vermögenssteuern reduziert werden.In Austria, wealth is very unequally distributed. Thanks to the HFCS wealth survey conducted by the Austrian National Bank and projections by researchers, it has become easier to quantify the actual extent of wealth concentration. Regarding wealth, Austria is one of the most unequal countries in the Euro area. The vast majority of the population of Austria perceives the existing distribution of wealth as unfair. Wealth taxes are one way to reduce this imbalance. The richest 1 % owns around 40 % of the total net wealth, while the poorer half owns just 2.8 % of net wealth. High wealth concentration has negative impacts on economy, democracy, and the environment. Wealth concentration can be reduced through the introduction of wealth taxes

Cyclophilin inhibitors restrict Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus via interferon-λ in vitro and in mice

While severe coronavirus infections, including Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), cause lung injury with high mortality rates, protective treatment strategies are not approved for clinical use. We elucidated the molecular mechanisms by which the cyclophilin inhibitors cyclosporin A (CsA) and alisporivir (ALV) restrict MERS-CoV to validate their suitability as readily available therapy in MERS-CoV infection. Calu-3 cells and primary human alveolar epithelial cells (hAECs) were infected with MERS-CoV and treated with CsA or ALV or inhibitors targeting cyclophilin inhibitor-regulated molecules including calcineurin, nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFATs) or mitogen-activated protein kinases. Novel CsA-induced pathways were identified by RNA sequencing and manipulated by gene knockdown or neutralising antibodies. Viral replication was quantified by quantitative real-time PCR and 50% tissue culture infective dose. Data were validated in a murine MERS-CoV infection model. Both CsA and ALV reduced MERS-CoV titres and viral RNA replication in Calu-3 cells and hAECs, improving epithelial integrity. While neither calcineurin nor NFAT inhibition reduced MERS-CoV propagation, blockade of c-Jun N-terminal kinase diminished infectious viral particle release but not RNA accumulation. Importantly, CsA induced interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1), a pronounced type III interferon (IFNλ) response and expression of antiviral genes. Downregulation of IRF1 or IFNλ increased MERS-CoV propagation in the presence of CsA. Importantly, oral application of CsA reduced MERS-CoV replication in vivo, correlating with elevated lung IFNλ levels and improved outcome. We provide evidence that cyclophilin inhibitors efficiently decrease MERS-CoV replication in vitro and in vivo via upregulation of inflammatory antiviral cell responses, in particular IFNλ. CsA might therefore represent a promising candidate for treating MERS-CoV infection

Hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 and its impact on perioperative outcome: a propensity score matched controlled observation study

BACKGROUND Adverse effects of hydroxyethyl starches (HESs) have been verified in patients suffering from sepsis or kidney disease, but not in surgical patients at large. The investigation aimed to determine whether the use of HES 130/0.4 was associated with the incidence of acute postinterventional adverse events compared to Ringer's acetate alone in a perioperative setting. METHODS This propensity score matched, controlled observational study was performed in a single-centre university hospital. The perioperative data of 9085 patients were analyzed. Group matching was based on 13 categories including demographic data, type of procedure, and 5 preexisting comorbidities. Duration of procedure and intraoperative transfusion requirements were integrated in the matching process to reduce selection and indication bias. The primary outcome was incidence of postoperative kidney failure. Secondary outcomes were in-hospital mortality, fluid requirements, blood loss, hemodynamic stability, and the need for postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) treatment. RESULTS The administration of HES 130/0.4 was not associated with an increased frequency of postoperative kidney failure. In-hospital mortality (Ringer's acetate: 2.58%; HES 130/0.4: 2.68%) and the need for ICU care (Ringer's acetate: 30.5%; HES 130/0.4: 34.3%) did not differ significantly between groups. Significant intergroup differences were observed for mean blood loss (Ringer's acetate: 406 ± 821 mL; HES 130/0.4: 867 ± 1275 mL; P < .001) and median length of hospital stay (Ringer's acetate: 10.5 (5/17) days; HES 130/0.4: 12.0 (8/19) days; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS An association between intraoperative HES therapy and postoperative kidney failure was not observed in a mixed cohort of elective surgical patients. In addition, HES 130/0.4 was not associated with an increased morbidity or the need for ICU therapy in this propensity score matched study

Fermi surface of MoO2 studied by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, de Haas-van Alphen measurements, and electronic structure calculations

A comprehensive study of the electronic properties of monoclinic MoO2 from both an experimental and a theoretical point of view is presented. We focus on the investigation of the Fermi body and the band structure using angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy, de Haas-van Alphen measurements, and electronic structure calculations. For the latter, the new full-potential augmented spherical wave (ASW) method has been applied. Very good agreement between the experimental and theoretical results is found. In particular, all Fermi surface sheets are correctly identified by all three approaches. Previous controversies concerning additional hole-like surfaces centered around the Z- and B-point could be resolved; these surfaces were an artefact of the atomic-sphere approximation used in the old calculations. Our results underline the importance of electronic structure calculations for the understanding of MoO2 and the neighbouring rutile-type early transition-metal dioxides. This includes the low-temperature insulating phases of VO2 and NbO2, which have crystal structures very similar to that of molybdenum dioxide and display the well-known prominent metal-insulator transitions.Comment: 17 pages, 21 figures, more information at http://www.physik.uni-augsburg.de/~eyert

Caffeine Inhibits EGF-Stimulated Trophoblast Cell Motility through the Inhibition of mTORC2 and Akt.

Impaired trophoblast invasion is associated with pregnancy disorders such as early pregnancy loss and preeclampsia. There is evidence to suggest that the consumption of caffeine during pregnancy may increase the risk of pregnancy loss; however, little is known about the direct effect of caffeine on normal trophoblast biology. Our objectives were to examine the effect of caffeine on trophoblast migration and motility after stimulation with epidermal growth factor (EGF) and to investigate the intracellular signaling pathways involved in this process. Primary first-trimester extravillous trophoblasts (EVT) and the EVT-derived cell line SGHPL-4 were used to study the effect of caffeine on EGF-stimulated cellular motility using time-lapse microscopy. SGHPL-4 cells were further used to study the effect of caffeine and cAMP on EGF-stimulated invasion of fibrin gels. The influence of caffeine and cAMP on EGF-stimulated intracellular signaling pathways leading to the activation of Akt were investigated by Western blot analysis. Caffeine inhibits both EGF-stimulated primary EVT and SGHPL-4 cell motility. EGF stimulation activates phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and Akt and caffeine inhibit this activation. Although cAMP inhibits both motility and invasion, it does not inhibit the activation of Akt, indicating that the effects of caffeine seen in this study are independent of cAMP. Further investigation indicated a role for mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2) as a target for the inhibitory effect of caffeine. In conclusion, we demonstrate that caffeine inhibits EGF-stimulated trophoblast invasion and motility in vitro and so could adversely influence trophoblast biology in vivo