I’m Doing Better on My Own: Social Inhibition in Vocabulary Learning in Adults

Published: 05 June 2019Vocabulary learning is better achieved by children facing a teacher than when presented to the same teacher through video (so-called “video deficit” effect), which has significant implications for toddlers’ education. Since millions of adults also learn new vocabulary when acquiring a second language (L2), it is important to explore whether adults suffer from “video deficit” effects, as children do. In the present study, we report two experiments in which Spanish native late learners of English were involved in a vocabulary learning task. In Experiment 1, participants had to learn English (L2) labels associated to real objects. In Experiment 2, participants had to learn English (L2) and Spanish (L1) labels associated to novel objects. In both experiments, vocabulary learning was divided into three conditions: In the NoFace condition, participants were presented with the objects and their auditory labels, through video. In the Video condition, a teacher was showing the objects and uttering their names, through video. The Live condition was equivalent, except that the teacher was facing the participants in the room. Each condition was followed by a recall test. Better learning in Video compared to NoFace condition revealed that adults benefit from the teacher’s display with direct gaze, confirming the fundamental role of face display with direct gaze in social communication in adults. Interestingly, adults learned better through Video than in the Live condition. Those results were obtained in L2 vocabulary learning in both Experiments 1 and 2, and also generalized to native language in Experiment 2. We argue that adults suffer from social inhibition, meaning that they perform worse when in the presence of another person during task performance. In sum, we show that video-mediated teaching might not be detrimental for adults learning new vocabulary lists, as it is the case for young children. These results might have important implications for pedagogical programs targeting adults’ second language vocabulary learning, since proper acquisition of vocabulary list can be achieved through video including a teacher’s display.This research was funded by a grant from the FP7/2007–2013 Cooperation grant agreement 613465-AThEME, an ERC grant from the European Research Council (ERC-2011-ADG-295362), grants from the Spanish Government (PSI2014-54500, PSI2015-65694, and PSI2017-82941-P), and from the Basque Government (PI_2015_1_25 and PIBA18_29)

Prepulse inhibition of the post-auricular reflex

It is well established that a weak lead stimulus will inhibit the startle response to a more intense subsequent stimulus, given an appropriate lead time (i.e. 80-400 ms). This effect is termed prepulse inhibition (PPI), and is a widely used method for studying attention. PPI of the post-auricular reflex (PAR), another startle response, has yet to be directly tested in human participants. Purpose: The present study tested whether the post-auricular reflex, a weak electrical response of the muscle behind the ear, exhibits prepulse inhibition (PPI). Methods: Twenty-five healthy young adult participants were prompted to indicate the number of target stimuli (pink checkerboards) they saw amid non-targets (red checkerboards). Most of these visual stimuli were immediately followed by a train of six white noise bursts (105 dB SPL). Amplitudes of the PARs elicited by these noise burst were compared between trials with and without a visual prepulse (i.e., checkerboard). Responses for each of the six acoustic startle probes were quantified separately for the left and right post-auricular muscles. Results: Planned comparisons indicated the presence of PAR inhibition for trials with a visual prepulse, compared to trials without a visual prepulse (control trials). This effect was observed when the lead time was 100 ms. A sustained facilitation effect was observed at later lead times for trials with a visual prepulse when compared to control. Supplementary analyses indicated an absence of habituation across 3,600 reflexes per subject. Conclusions: The post-auricular reflex does exhibit prepulse inhibition, albeit brief in duration. Potentiation of amplitude was observed at intermediate and long lead times, likely due to an arousal effect. Similar to other oligosynaptic reflexes, the PAR is resistant to habituation

Investigating the contradictions in pre-service teachers' perceptions about the process of teaching and learning in South Africa's classrooms : an activity theory analysis

Includes bibliographical references (p. 87-91).This dissertation asks the question: Are there contradictions in pre-service teachers' perceptions about the process of teaching and learning? First, it investigates whether there are contradictions in pre-service teachers' perceptions and then examines what these contradictions are. It then analyses these contradictions to see whether there are patterns of contradictions across all of the pre-service teachers. In order to answer these questions an exploratory case-study design is adopted in which in-depth interviews are used to probe six pre-service teachers' perceptions of teaching and learning. Data gathered through the interviews were analysed using Activity Theory. In pal1icular, the analytical framework developed by Hardman (2005b) is used to surface contradictions in oral discourse. South Africa has gone through immense transformation over the past decade and the education system has been a part of this change. Engeström's Activity Theory is used as it explains innovation and change through expansive learning: we do not simply work with what we know we also change what we know in order to work with our surroundings. Activity Theory places the pre-service teachers' perceptions into a socio-historic context: they do not exist in a vacuum. This thesis mobilises the notion of 'contradiction' as a methodological tool to uncover sites of tension and potential change. With the immense changes happening in the country and the education system it is highly likely that there are changes which have created contradictions within pre-service teachers' perceptions about the process of teaching and learning in South Africa's classrooms. Engeström (1999) explains that contradictions are the potential sites of change. If there are contradictions within the pre-service teachers' perceptions about the process of teaching and learning these will be worked out over time and there is the potential that there will be change within this activity system. It will be argued that perceptions and beliefs influence practice and so changes in the pre-service teachers' perceptions will result in change in their practice. This has potential application in pre-service teaching programmes where contradictions can be used as devices to facilitate pedagogical change in pre-service teachers' perceptions prior to their entering schools. Methodologically, this dissertation draws on Engeström's expansive learning methodology but is limited to the first step in the expansive learning cycle: the identification of contradictions. Future research aims to complete the entire cycle. Findings indicate that there are contradictions within these pre-service teachers' perceptions about the process of teaching and learning in South Africa's classrooms. There are also three main patterns of contradictions across the six pre-service teachers that were interviewed namely: primary contradictions about the teacher' role; secondary contradictions between the subject and object; and a contradiction between subject and community. The pre-service teachers interviewed in this study are about to head into the world of teaching, many of them have already been appointed into teaching positions for the following year. These pre-service teachers will work through these contradictions, which are the potential sites for change. The presence of these contradictions, these 'double binds' indicates to me that change will happen in these students when they reach the classroom. Contradictions necessarily need to be resolved, whether progressively or regressively. Knowing what types of contradictions arise in pre-service teachers' perceptions about teaching gives us insight into what ultimately plays itself out in classrooms. This dissertation argues that it is vital to understand pre-service teachers' perceptions in order to understand what is happening in South Africa's classrooms; why something is happening in South Africa's classrooms; and what could potentially happen in South Africa's classrooms

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From Rat to Human: Regulation of Renin-Angiotensin System Genes by Sry

The testis determining protein, Sry, has functions outside of testis determination. Multiple Sry loci are found on the Y-chromosome. Proteins from these loci have differential activity on promoters of renin-angiotensin system genes, possibly contributing to elevation of blood pressure. Variation at amino acid 76 accounts for the majority of differential effects by rat proteins Sry1 and Sry3. Human SRY regulated rat promoters in the same manner as rat Sry, elevating Agt, Ren, and Ace promoter activity while downregulating Ace 2. Human SRY significantly regulated human promoters of AGT, REN, ACE2, AT2, and MAS compared to control levels, elevating AGT and REN promoter activity while decreasing ACE2, AT2, and MAS. While the effect of human SRY on individual genes is often modest, we show that many different genes participating in the renin-angiotensin system can be affected by SRY, apparently in coordinated fashion, to produce more Ang II and less Ang-(1–7)

Analysis of Sry Duplications On the Rattus Norvegicus Y-Chromosome

Background: Gene copy number variation plays a large role in the evolution of genomes. In Rattus norvegicus and other rodent species, the Y-chromosome has accumulated multiple copies of Sry loci. These copy number variations have been previously linked with changes in phenotype of animal models such as the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). This study characterizes the Y-chromosome in the Sry region of Rattus norvegicus, while addressing functional variations seen in the Sry protein products. Results: Eleven Sry loci have been identified in the SHR with one (nonHMG Sry) containing a frame shift mutation. The nonHMGSry is found and conserved in the related WKY and SD rat strains. Three new, previously unidentified, Sry loci were identified in this study (Sry3BII, Sry4 and Sry4A) in both SHR and WKY. Repetitive element analysis revealed numerous LINE-L1 elements at regions where conservation is lost among the Sry copies. In addition we have identified a retrotransposed copy of Med14 originating from spliced mRNA, two autosomal genes (Ccdc110 and HMGB1) and a normal mammalian Y-chromosome gene (Zfy) in the Sry region of the rat Y-chromosome. Translation of the sequences of each Sry gene reveals eight proteins with amino acid differences leading to changes in nuclear localization and promoter activation of a Sry-responsive gene. Sry-beta (coded by the Sry2 locus) has an increased cytoplasmic fraction due to alterations at amino acid 21. Sry gamma has altered gene regulation of the Sry1 promoter due to changes at amino acid 76. Conclusions: The duplication of Sry on the Rattus norvegicus Y-chromosome has led to proteins with altered functional ability that may have been selected for functions in addition to testis determination. Additionally, several other genes not normally found on the Y-chromosome have duplicated new copies into the region around the Sry genes. These suggest a role of active transposable elements in the evolution of the mammalian Y-chromosome in species such as Rattus norvegicus

Clinical effectiveness of pharmacological interventions for managing chronic migraine in adults : a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Background: Chronic migraine can be a profoundly disabling disorder that may be treated with preventive medications. However, uncertainty remains as to which preventive medication is the most effective. We present a network meta-analysis to determine the effectiveness and rank of preventive drugs for chronic migraine in adults. Methods: We identified, reviewed, and extracted data from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of preventive drugs for chronic migraine with at least 200 participants. Data were analysed using network meta-analysis. Findings: We included 12 RCTs of six medications (Eptinezumab, Erenumab, Fremanezumab, Galcanezumab, Onabotulinumtoxin A, and Topiramate) compared to placebo or each other. All drugs effectively reduced monthly headache and migraine days compared with placebo. The most effective drug for monthly headache days was Eptinezumab 300mg, with a mean difference of -2.46 days, 95% Credible Interval (CrI): -3.23 to -1.69. On the Surface Under the Cumulative Ranking Area (SUCRA) analysis, the probability that Eptinezumab 300mg was ranked highest was 0.82. For monthly migraine days, the most effective medication was Fremanezumab-monthly, with a mean difference: -2.77 days, 95% CrI: -3.36 to -2.17, and 0.98 probability of being ranked the highest. All included drugs, except Topiramate, improved headache-related quality of life. No eligible studies were identified for the other common preventive oral medications such as Amitriptyline, Candesartan, and Propranolol. The main reasons were that the studies did not define chronic migraine, were undertaken before the definition of chronic migraine, or were too small. Interpretation: All six medications were more effective than the placebo on monthly headache and migraine days. The absolute differences in the number of headache/migraine days are, at best, modest. No evidence was found to determine the relative effectiveness of the six included drugs with other oral preventive medications. Registration: PROSPERO (number CRD42021265990)

Measuring Five Dimensions of Religiosity Across Adolescence

This paper theorizes and tests a latent variable model of adolescent religiosity in which five dimensions of religiosity are interrelated: religious beliefs, religious exclusivity, external religiosity, private practice, and religious salience. Research often theorizes overlapping and independent influences of single items or dimensions of religiosity on outcomes such as adolescent sexual behavior, but rarely operationalizes the dimensions in a measurement model accounting for their associations with each other and across time. We use longitudinal structural equation modeling (SEM) with latent variables to analyze data from two waves of the National Study of Youth and Religion. We test our hypothesized measurement model as compared to four alternate measurement models and find that our proposed model maintains superior fit. We then discuss the associations between the five dimensions of religiosity we measure and how these change over time. Our findings suggest how future research might better operationalize multiple dimensions of religiosity in studies of the influence of religion in adolescence

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron is an immune escape variant with an altered cell entry pathway

Vaccines based on the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 are a cornerstone of the public health response to COVID-19. The emergence of hypermutated, increasingly transmissible variants of concern (VOCs) threaten this strategy. Omicron (B.1.1.529), the fifth VOC to be described, harbours multiple amino acid mutations in spike, half of which lie within the receptor-binding domain. Here we demonstrate substantial evasion of neutralization by Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 variants in vitro using sera from individuals vaccinated with ChAdOx1, BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273. These data were mirrored by a substantial reduction in real-world vaccine effectiveness that was partially restored by booster vaccination. The Omicron variants BA.1 and BA.2 did not induce cell syncytia in vitro and favoured a TMPRSS2-independent endosomal entry pathway, these phenotypes mapping to distinct regions of the spike protein. Impaired cell fusion was determined by the receptor-binding domain, while endosomal entry mapped to the S2 domain. Such marked changes in antigenicity and replicative biology may underlie the rapid global spread and altered pathogenicity of the Omicron variant