Developing Language Proficiency in Online Courses through Tabletop Role Playing Games

This study explores the degree to which common tasks of tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) align with the speaking functions of the intermediate and advanced levels of the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Guidelines. By aligning TTRPG gameplay with ACTFL oral proficiency functions, teachers may help online language learners engage in group discussions that improve their speaking skills

A constraint-logic based implementation of the coarse-grained approach to data acquisition scheduling of the International Ultraviolet Explorer orbiting observatory

The International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) satellite observatory has been in operation continuously since 1978. It typically carries out several thousand observations per year for over a hundred different science projects. These observations, which can occur in one of four different data-taking modes, fall under several satellite-related constraints and many other constraints which derive from the science goals of the projects being undertaken. One strategy which has made the scheduling problem tractable has been that of 'coarse-graining' the time into discrete blocks of equal size (8 hours), each of which is devoted to a single science program, and each of which is sufficiently long for several observations to be carried out. We call it 'coarse-graining' because the schedule is done at a 'coarse' level which ignores fine structure; i.e., no attempt is made to plan the sequence of observations occurring within each time block. We have incorporated the IUE's coarse-grained approach in new software which examines the science needs of the observations and produces a limited set of alternative schedules which meet all of the instrument and science-related constraints. With this algorithm, the IUE can still be scheduled by a single person using a standard workstation, as it has been. We believe that this software could could be adapted to a more complex mission while retaining the IUE's high flexibility and efficiency and scientific return of future satellite missions

Developing a Badge System for a Community ESL Class Based on the Canadian Language Benchmarks

Teaching multilingual, multilevel language classes presents many challenges including helping students learn level-appropriate language. This learner-centred approach is complicated in a multilevel classroom where the teacher cannot always focus on each student’s needs. As a result, learner motivation and attendance are frequent problems. This article details the adaptation of the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) into a badge system to help learners in a community English as a Second Language (ESL) program set and track personalized language learning goals. The authors explain the purposes of badges, including motivation and assessment, and describe how to create a CLB-based badge system for curriculum and assessment purposes. The authors also share feedback from students and instructors in the community ESL program about the badge-based curriculum.L'enseignement dans des classes multilingues et à multiniveaux présente de nombreux défis, y compris la nécessité d'aider les étudiants à apprendre et à pratiquer la langue de manière adaptée à leur niveau. Cette approche centrée sur l'étudiant est compliquée dans une classe à niveaux multiples, où l'enseignant ne peut pas toujours se concentrer sur les besoins de chaque étudiant. Par conséquent, la motivation et l'assiduité des étudiants sont un problème fréquent. Cet article détaille l'adaptation des Niveaux de Compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) à un système de badges, pour aider les étudiants dans un programme communautaire d'anglais langue seconde (ALS) à définir et à suivre des objectifs d'apprentissage linguistique personnalisés. Les auteurs expliquent les objectifs des badges, y compris la motivation et l'évaluation, et décrivent comment créer un système de badges basé sur le NCLC en l’incorporant à leur curriculum et leur système d’évaluation. Les auteurs partagent également les commentaires des étudiants et des instructeurs du programme communautaire d'anglais langue seconde vis-à-vis le curriculum basé sur les badges

Geologic Record of Paleostorms from Lake and Wetland Sediments of the Great Plains

The purpose of this study was to identify the geologic signature of paleostorm events within the mid-continent region. This research aimed to create a better understanding of the long-term geologic history of major storms and to allow for better-informed projections regarding future return periods for such storms. The study locations were Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Refuge, Kansas and Canton Lake, Oklahoma. To determine the geologic signature of major storms, sediment cores were taken at both locations and sampled at high resolution (3 mm) intervals for grain size analysis using a Cilas laser particle size analyzer. Downcore chronology was determined through Pb-210, Cs-137 and C-14 dating methods. Using a recent known major storm occurrence at Canton Lake, the signature created by storms in the geologic record was identified. The resulting signature was then used to identify paleostorms in the longer-term record in the Cheyenne Bottoms core. The results were also used to determine storm/climate cycles in the long-term geologic record, and to calculate true return periods for major storms. A better understanding of true return periods and possible increases in frequency or intensity of large storms is essential in the effort to mitigate future damage to infrastructure and loss of human lifeGeolog

Supporting the Dynamic Careers of Licensed Practical Nurses: A Strategy to Bolster the Long-Term Care Nurse Workforce

As the U.S. population ages and the demand for long-term care increases, an insufficient number of licensed practical nurses (LPNs) is expected in the nursing workforce. Understanding the characteristics of LPN participation in the workforce is essential to address this challenge. Drawing on the theory of boundaryless careers, the authors examined longitudinal employment data from LPNs in North Carolina and described patterns in LPN licensure and career transitions. Two career patterns were identified: (a) the continuous career, in which LPNs were licensed in 75% or more of the years they were eligible to be licensed and (b) the intermittent career, in which lapses in licensure occurred. Findings indicated that LPNs who made job transitions were more likely to demonstrate continuous careers, as were Black LPNs. These findings suggest the importance of organizational support for LPN career transitions and support for diversity in the LPN workforce

Innovative financing models for low carbon transitions: Exploring the case for revolving funds for domestic energy efficiency programmes

The IEA has estimated that over the next four decades US$31 trillion will be required to promote energy efficiency in buildings. However, the opportunities to make such investments are often constrained, particularly in contexts of austerity. We consider the potential of revolving funds as an innovative financing mechanism that could reduce investment requirements and enhance investment impacts by recovering and reinvesting some of the savings generated by early investments. Such funds have been created in various contexts, but there has never been a formal academic evaluation of their potential to contribute to low carbon transitions. To address this, we propose a generic revolving fund model and apply it using data on the costs and benefits of domestic sector retrofit in the UK. We find that a revolving fund could reduce the costs of domestic sector retrofit in the UK by 26%, or £9 billion, whilst also making such a scheme cost-neutral, albeit with significant up-front investments that would only pay for themselves over an extended period of time. We conclude that revolving funds could enable countries with limited resources to invest more heavily and more effectively in low carbon development, even in contexts of austerity

Diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of patients with oesophagogastric cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic:national study

Background: The national response to COVID-19 has had a significant impact on cancer services. This study investigated the effect of national lockdown on diagnosis, management, and outcomes of patients with oesophagogastric cancers in Scotland. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included consecutive new patients presenting to regional oesophagogastric cancer multidisciplinary teams in National Health Service Scotland between October 2019 and September 2020. The study interval was divided into before and after lockdown, based on the first UK national lockdown. Electronic health records were reviewed and results compared. Results: Some 958 patients with biopsy-proven oesophagogastric cancer in 3 cancer networks were included: 506 (52.8 per cent) before and 452 (47.2 per cent) after lockdown. Median age was 72 (range 25–95) years and 630 patients (65.7 per cent) were men. There were 693 oesophageal (72.3 per cent) and 265 gastric (27.7 per cent) cancers. Median time to gastroscopy was 15 (range 0–337) days before versus 19 (0–261) days after lockdown (P < 0.001). Patients were more likely to present as an emergency after lockdown (8.5 per cent before versus 12.4 per cent after lockdown; P = 0.005), had poorer Eastern Cooperative Oncology group performance status, were more symptomatic, and presented with a higher stage of disease (stage IV: 49.8 per cent before versus 58.8 per cent after lockdown; P = 0.04). There was a shift to treatment with non-curative intent (64.6 per cent before versus 77.4 per cent after lockdown; P < 0.001). Median overall survival was 9.9 (95 per cent c.i. 8.7 to 11.4) months before and 6.9 (5.9 to 8.3) months after lockdown (HR 1.26, 95 per cent c.i. 1.09 to 1.46; P = 0.002). Conclusion: This national study has highlighted the adverse impact of COVID-19 on oesophagogastric cancer outcomes in Scotland. Patients presented with more advanced disease and a shift towards treatment with non-curative intent was observed, with a subsequent negative impact on overall survival

Abnormal Human Chondrocyte Morphology is Related to Increased Levels of Cell-Associated IL-1β and Disruption to Pericellular Collagen Type VI

Early osteoarthritis (OA) is poorly understood, but abnormal chondrocyte morphology might be important. We studied IL-1β and pericellular collagen type VI in morphologically normal and abnormal chondrocytes. In situ chondrocytes within explants from nondegenerate (grade 0/1) areas of human tibial plateaus (n = 21) were fluorescently labeled and visualized [2-photon laser scanning microscopy (2PLSM)]. Normal chondrocytes exhibited a “smooth” membrane surface, whereas abnormal cells were defined as demonstrating ≥1 cytoplasmic process. Abnormal chondrocytes were further classified by number and average length of cytoplasmic processes/cell. IL-1β or collagen type VI associated with single chondrocytes were visualized by fluorescence immuno-histochemistry and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Fluorescence was quantified as the number of positive voxels (i.e., 3D pixels with fluorescence above baseline)/cell. IL-1β-associated fluorescence increased between normal and all abnormal cells in the superficial (99.7 ± 29.8 [11 (72)] vs. 784 ± 382 [15 (132)]; p = 0.04, positive voxels/cell) and deep zones (66.5 ± 29.4 [9 (64)] vs. 795 ± 224 [9 (56)]; p = 0.006). There was a correlation (r2 = 0.988) between the number of processes/cell (0–5) and IL-1β, and an increase particularly with short processes (≤5 µm; p = 0.022). Collagen type VI coverage and thickness decreased (p < 0.001 and p = 0.005, respectively) with development of processes. Abnormal chondrocytes in macroscopically nondegenerate cartilage demonstrated a marked increase in IL-1β and loss of pericellular type VI collagen, changes that could lead to cartilage degeneration. © 2010 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 28:1507–1514, 201