Learning L2 idioms in a CALL environment: The role of practice intensity, modality, and idiom properties

Idiomatic expressions like hit the road or turn the tables are known to be problematic for L2 learners, but research indicates that learning L2 idiomatic language is important. Relatively few studies, most of them focusing on English idioms, have investigated how L2 idioms are actually acquired and how this process is affected by important idiom properties like transparency (the degree to which the figurative meaning of an idiom can be inferred from its literal analysis) and cross-language overlap (the degree to which L2 idioms correspond to L1 idioms). The present study employed a specially designed CALL system to investigate the effects of intensity of practice and the reading modality on learning Dutch L2 idioms, as well as the impact of idiom transparency and cross-language overlap. The results show that CALL practice with a focus on meaning and form is effective for learning L2 idioms and that the degree of practice needed depends on the properties of the idioms. L2 learners can achieve or even exceed native-like performance. Practicing reading idioms aloud does not lead to significantly higher performance than reading idioms silently.These findings have theoretical implications as they show that differences between native speakers and L2 learners are due to differences in exposure, rather than to different underlying acquisition mechanisms. For teaching practice, this study indicates that a properly designed CALL system is an effective and an ecologically sound environment for learning L2 idioms, a generally unattended area in L2 classes, and that teaching priorities should be based on degree of transparency and cross-language overlap of L2 idioms

Normative data of Dutch idiomatic expressions: Subjective judgments you can bank on

The processing of idiomatic expressions is a topical issue in empirical research. Various factors have been found to influence idiom processing, such as idiom familiarity and idiom transparency. Information on these variables is usually obtained through norming studies. Studies investigating the effect of various properties on idiom processing have led to ambiguous results. This may be due to the variability of operationalizations of the idiom properties across norming studies, which in turn may affect the reliability of the subjective judgements. However, not all studies that collected normative data on idiomatic expressions investigated their reliability, and studies that did address the reliability of subjective ratings used various measures and produced mixed results. In this study, we investigated the reliability of subjective judgements, the relation between subjective and objective idiom frequency, and the impact of these dimensions on the participants’ idiom knowledge by collecting normative data of five subjective idiom properties (Frequency of Exposure, Meaning Familiarity, Frequency of Usage, Transparency, and Imageability) from 390 native speakers and objective corpus frequency for 374 Dutch idiomatic expressions. For reliability, we compared measures calculated in previous studies, with the D-coefficient, a metric taken from Generalizability Theory. High reliability was found for all subjective dimensions. One reliability metric, Krippendorff’s alpha, generally produced lower values, while similar values were obtained for three other measures (Cronbach’s alpha, Intraclass Correlation Coefficient, and the D-coefficient). Advantages of the D-coefficient are that it can be applied to unbalanced research designs, and to estimate the minimum number of raters required to obtain reliable ratings. Slightly higher coefficients were observed for so-called experience-based dimensions (Frequency of Exposure, Meaning Familiarity, and Frequency of Usage) than for content-based dimensions (Transparency and Imageability). In addition, fewer raters were required to obtain reliable ratings for the experience-based dimensions. Subjective and objective frequency appeared to be poorly correlated, while all subjective idiom properties and objective frequency turned out to affect idiom knowledge. Meaning Familiarity, Subjective and Objective Frequency of Exposure, Frequency of Usage, and Transparency positively contributed to idiom knowledge, while a negative effect was found for Imageability. We discuss these relationships in more detail, and give methodological recommendations with respect to the procedures and the measure to calculate reliability

Field Grafting Grapevines in Oregon

There are basically two types of grafting, bench grafting and field grafting. Worldwide the main reasons for bench grafting vines are: a) to obtain vines of the desired fruiting variety on roots resistant to phylloxera or nematodes, or b) to obtain vines on roots tolerant to certain soil conditions such as drought or high lime. The main reasons for field grafting are: a) to correct mixed varieties in an established vineyard, or b) to change the variety of an established vineyard. In Oregon, the current main objectives of grafting are to correct mixed varieties within a block and to change one variety to another, because the existing variety is unsuitable for the site or the winery. Phylloxera is not yet a problem in Oregon so grafting vinifera onto resistant rootstocks may not be required. There has been an increase in interest in field grafting grapevines in Oregon. Field grafting in Oregon as well as other cool climate areas has had very limited success. Previous studies indicate that percent graft success in Oregon can range from about 30% to 95% depending on, among other factors, the weather in the Spring. Results this Spring indicate that percent take can be as low as 1%

Pruning and Training Systems Impact Yield and Cold Hardiness of "Marion' Trailing Blackberry

The floricane-fruiting, trailing blackberry (Rubus L. subgenus Rubus, Watson) cultivar Marion was evaluated in two plantings for the impact of floricane pruning date. This included leaving the dead canes unpruned and training new primocanes over the dead wood (new-over-old), primocane topping and suppression date in alternate year (AY) and every year (EY) production systems at various planting densities. The presence of primocanes during fruit development did not affect yield of the floricane in the current season but suppressing primocanes to June 30 in Oregon, USA, led to insufficient time for primocane growth, reducing yield of the floricane the following year by 36% relative to no primocane suppression. Pruning out senescing floricanes immediately after fruit harvest or laterthus allowing more time for remobilization of nutrients or reserveshad no impact on yield. However, yield in the new-over-old system was higher, likely due to less training damage to primocanes in this treatment. All of the AY treatments studied led to lower berry weight compared to EY production but this has not been an issue in the processed fruit market to date. Plants in AY production produced more canes per plant than in EY but at the industry standard spacing of 1.5 m, AY plants yielded only 60% to 66% more than EY plants in these studies, despite evidence of plants in AY production having greater cold hardiness. There was no significant effect of planting at higher density (0.6 and 0.9 m) on cumulative yield over 4 years. However, planting at 0.6 m and topping the primocanes to the top trellis wire (1.8 m) increased yield significantly compared to other AY treatments. This alternative production system may offer economic advantages to the 1.5 m EY or AY production systems through reducing management costs and allowing for mechanical pruning and training

A Novel Diagnostic Aid for Detection of Intra-Abdominal Adhesions to the Anterior Abdominal Wall Using Dynamic Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Introduction. Abdominal adhesions can cause serious morbidity and complicate subsequent operations. Their diagnosis is often one of exclusion due to a lack of a reliable, non-invasive diagnostic technique. Development and testing of a candidate technique are described below. Method. During respiration, smooth visceral sliding motion occurs between the abdominal contents and the walls of the abdominal cavity. We describe a technique involving image segmentation and registration to calculate shear as an analogue for visceral slide based on the tracking of structures throughout the respiratory cycle. The presence of an adhesion is attributed to a resistance to visceral slide resulting in a discernible reduction in shear. The abdominal movement due to respiration is captured in sagittal dynamic MR images. Results. Clinical images were selected for analysis, including a patient with a surgically confirmed adhesion. Discernible reduction in shear was observed at the location of the adhesion while a consistent, gradually changing shear was observed in the healthy volunteers. Conclusion. The technique and its validation show encouraging results for adhesion detection but a larger study is now required to confirm its potential

Viticulture Extension and Research Support Funds

Develop and publish literature to provide up-to-date information on specific topics zDevelop grape grower and County Extension Agent training sessions and short courses zResearch phyiloxera biology in Orego

Grape Phylloxera Biology and Management in Oregon

Grape phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae), a root-feeding aphid-like insect, is the most important pest of European winegrape vineyards worldwide. They cannot be controlled on infested vines which eventually die. There are currently no satisfactory chemical or biological control methods for this pest; its management throughout the world has been by planting resistant rootstocks and through techniques that seek to limit the rate of spread. Although it has been in California since the mid- I 800s, phylloxera was discovered for the first time in a commercial vineyard in Oregon in 1990 and in Washington in the late 1980s. Seven vineyards are now known to be infested. With over 95 percent of Oregon's 6,000 acres of grapes being own-rooted, susceptible vines, the potential for serious economic loss to the industry is great. Infested vineyards will have to be replanted on grafted vines (resistant rootstock) at a cost of over $1 1,000 per acre for re-planting and years out of production. Rate of spread of this insect within a vineyard is estimated to be 2 times to 4 times in Oregon -- thus at the very least, a 1/8 acre infestation will be I acre in size in 3 years. Phylloxera can be spread from one vineyard to another on infested soil or plant material. The life cycle of this insect varies with location. Our findings indicate the presence of sexual, winged forms in the Pacific Northwest. The relevance of this discovery to viticulture here is unknown but may be important to insect population variability and movement (greatly increase rate of spread). Because distribution of phylloxera in the Pacific Northwest is currently limited, characteristics of its current distribution and movement are necessary to limit movement in the future. Although replanting vineyards on phylloxera resistant rootstock is the long term, preferred and inevitable mechanism for control of the pest, there is a large number of resistant rootstocks to choose from, but none of which have yet been characterized as suitable for production systems in Oregon. Existing phylloxera infestations must be managed to decrease the rate of spread, within and among vineyards. Delaying the need for the industry to replant on resistant rootstock is essential, as growers will have to make educated decisions on what stocks are best for Oregon. Our industry does not want to be faced with having to replant 80 percent of existing vineyards because of inappropriate initial rootstock recommendations, a situation now in effect in California's Napa and Sonoma counties. Research on phylloxera biology, rate of spread, and its association with other pests in Oregon is needed to better manage this insect. We need sufficient time to conduct concurrent research on rootstocks resistant to variations of phylloxera, resistance to other pests such as nematodes and fungal pathogens, and suitability for our viticultural region. Studies on other traits of rootstocks, to provide consistent productivity and quality perfection for Oregon conditions has the potential to make Oregon's change to rootstocks a positive development and an enhancement of long-term competitiveness. Additional information on phylloxera biology, rate of spread, methods to decrease the rate of spread, and rootstocks for Oregon vineyards is available in the Oregon Winegrape Growers' Guide (1992). The objectives of our research were to determine when phylloxera hibernants (over-wintering populations) become active in the spring and how populations change throughout the season. This would not only determine the number of generations a year, but also when spread can begin in the spring. Also, it's important to be able to estimate the rate of spread as accurately as possible so that growers may predict replanting date and the industry can forecast spread within the Oregon. We also wanted to determine whether we have a winged form of phylloxera in Oregon, because this could greatly affect the rate of spread of this pest. Determining the low temperature tolerance of phylloxera found in Oregon is necessary to better estimate number of generations per year and the potential amount of population die- back in cold winters. Finally, we planned to determine the resistance of rootstocks to biotype(s) of phylloxera found in Oregon

Phylloxera in Oregon Grape Vines: Biology and Treatment of Planting Stock With Hot Water Dips

In 1994-95, the Oregon Wine Advisory Board supported a cooperative study entitled "Crown gall and phylloxera in Oregon grape vines: Biology and treatment of planting stock with hot water dips" with Bernadine Strik and Marilyn Canfield (Larry Moore) as co-principal investigators. We will report our findings on hot water dips for phylloxera eradication here. Marilyn Canfield has submitted a separate report on Crown Gall. We will also report on our preliminary findings on rootstock performance in phylloxerated and non-phylloxerated sites (funded by the Center for Applied Agricultural Research). A more complete report on this study will be provided in up-coming industry newsletters. Ho