bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study of electrical conductance of Albumine in water and it’s reaction with alkali metal ions
Authors: Shareef Omar A.
Published: April 2020

Interactions of  bovine serum albumin with some alkali earth metal ions  Na+, K+, Mg+2,Ca+2,were investigated to give the effect of metal molecular structure on complex formation of metal-protein molecules. To elucidate the interactions, the protein-metal combination in aqueous buffer solution of pH values (4,7and8.2) and at37°Cwere investigated using conductivity, straight lines from the plot of specific conductivity against its concentration were gives at pH 7 which is chosen because it is near the pH of blood serum. Besides, the conductivities of albumin with each of solutions of some alkali earth metal chlorides (NaCl, KCl, MgCl2, CaCl2) at pH7 were measured. The plot of specific conductivity against each mixture solution were discussed.
 
http://dx.doi.org/10.25130/tjps.24.2019.106
Radiographic Features of a Benign Mixed Brenner Tumor and Mucinous Cystadenoma: A Rarely Identified Ovarian Neoplasm on Imaging
Authors: Wilson Mitchell P. , Katlariwala Prayash , Hwang June , Low Gavin
Published: April 2020

Imaging features of benign mixed Brenner tumor and mucinous cystadenomas are rarely reported. This report aims to describe the case of a benign mixed Brenner tumor and mucinous cystadenoma with a dominant Brenner tumor component and to review the typical imaging features of this ovarian neoplasm.
A Study of Accounting Learning Achievements Using Emotional Intelligence and Learning Behavior
Authors: Yuniarti Tiyas , Widhianningrum Purweni , Sulistyowati Nur Wahyuning
Published: April 2020

ABSTRACTThe study aims to examine the influence of emotional intelligence and learning behavior towards accounting learning achievements. The population in this study is a student of education accounting study program year 2014. Total samples obtained some 71 students with a purposive sampling technique. The data analysis method used is multiple regression. The results proved that among emotional intelligence and learning behavior, only emotional intelligence had a positive effect on accounting learning achievements. These results indicate that students with good self-resilience can empathize and cooperate with others. This intelligence can support their success in implementing accounting concepts when they enter the workforce and various aspects of life.ABSTRAKPenelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji pengaruh kecerdasan emosional dan perilaku belajar terhadap prestasi belajar akuntansi. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah mahasiswa program studi akuntansi pendidikan tahun 2014. Total sampel diperoleh sejumlah 71 siswa dengan teknik purposive sampling. Metode analisis data yang digunakan adalah regresi berganda. Hasilnya membuktikan bahwa di antara kecerdasan emosi dan perilaku belajar, hanya kecerdasan emosi yang memiliki efek positif pada prestasi belajar akuntansi. Hasil ini menunjukkan bahwa siswa dengan ketahanan diri yang baik dapat berempati dan bekerja sama dengan orang lain. Kecerdasan ini dapat mendukung keberhasilan mereka dalam menerapkan konsep akuntansi ketika mereka memasuki dunia kerja dan berbagai aspek kehidupan.
The Development of Financial Statement Analysis Learning Media to Enhance Student Analysis Abilities
Authors: Syah Dedy Husrizal , Ane La , Hidayat Taufik , Rahman Haikal
Published: April 2020

ABSTRACTThis study aims to develop financial report analysis learning media based on mobile learning; by testing the feasibility level of the developed learning media based on validation/assessment that carried out by the expert teams and students. The Validation of Learning Media that carried out by the Media Expert team (Lecturer) and as well as testing the student analytical abilities were tested towards 40 students accounting program of State University of Medan 2018. The data analysis method used is a descriptive analysis of the percentage. In general, the media validation results fall into the category very viable whereas the result of field trial assessment also categorized as very viable.ABSTRAKPenelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengembangkan media pembelajaran analisis laporan keuangan berbasis mobile learning; dengan menguji tingkat kelayakan media pembelajaran yang dikembangkan berdasarkan validasi/penilaian dari tim ahli dan mahasiswa serta pengujian kemampuan analisis mahasiswa. Validasi media dilakukan oleh Tim Dosen Ahli Media dan diujicobakan kepada 40 mahasiswa program studi Akuntansi Universitas Negeri Medan stambuk 2018. Teknik analisa data yang digunakan adalah teknik deskriptif presentase. Secara garis besar, hasil validasi aspek media tergolong kategori sangat layak dan hasil penilaian ujicoba lapangan juga tergolong kategori sangat layak.
Application of The Accounting Information System as A Conductive Climate Enhancement to Develop MSME in Bungah District
Authors: Lestari Kurnia Cahya , Rosyidi Moh. Ririn
Published: April 2020

ABSTRACTThis study aims to evaluate the application of Accounting Information Systems that have been used by UD. ModeX, MSME in Bungah District so that MSMEs can produce as financial statements. Good financial statements help MMSME to propose additional funds for developing the business to financial institutions, consideration in making decisions so that MSMEs businesses work effectively and efficiently. The study was conducted by direct interviews with the owner, specialized staff, and the cashier at UD. ModeX. The results of the research, by applying the Accounting Information System application are facilitating the recording of financial transactions, seeing the stock of goods quickly and accurately. Moreover, from the accounting information formed a financial report,Â  MSMEs has a financial statement to use for the various business benefit of the MSME.ABSTRAKPenelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengevaluasi penerapan aplikasi Sistem Informasi Akuntansi yang telah digunakan oleh UD. ModeX, UMKM yang berada di Kecamatan Bungah agar dapat digunakan sebagai penyusunan laporan keuangan. Penyusunan laporan keungan yang baik membantu UMKM dalam mengajukan permodalan kepada lembaga keuangan, pertimbangan dalam pengambilan keputusan sehingga bisnis UMKM berjalan secara efektif dan efesien. Penelitian dilakukan dengan wawancara langsung kepada owner, staff khusus, dan bagian kasir pada UD. ModeX. Hasil dari wawancara tersebut yaitu dengan menerapkan aplikasi Sistem Informasi Akuntansi dapat mempermudah pencatatan transaksi keuangan, melihat stok barang secara cepat dan akurat, dan dari informasi akuntansiÂ  tersebut terbentuk suatuÂ  laporan keuangan yang dapat digunakan untuk berbagai kepentingan kelancaran bisnis UMKM tersebut.
Thermodynamics of the Interaction Between SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein and Human ACE2 Receptor. Effects of Possible Ligands
Authors: Garcia-Iriepa Cristina , Hognon Cecilia , Francés-Monerris Antonio , Iriepa Isabel , Miclot Tom , Barone Giampaolo , Monari Antonio , Marazzi Marco
Published: April 2020

Since the end of 2019, the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has caused more than 180,000 deaths all over the world, still lacking a medical treatment despite the concerns of the whole scientific community. Human Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) was recently recognized as the transmembrane protein serving as SARS-CoV-2 entry point into cells, thus constituting the first biomolecular event leading to COVID-19 disease. Here, by means of a state-of-the-art computational approach, we propose a rational evaluation of the molecular mechanisms behind the formation of the complex and of the effects of possible ligands. Moreover, binding free energy between ACE2 and the active Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is evaluated quantitatively, assessing the molecular mechanisms at the basis of the recognition and the ligand-induced decreased affinity. These results boost the knowledge on the molecular grounds of the SARS-CoV-2 infection and allow to suggest rationales useful for the subsequent rational molecular design to treat severe COVID-19 cases.
Inverse Design of Nanoporous Crystalline Reticular Materials with Deep Generative Models
Authors: Yao Zhenpeng , Sanchez-Lengeling Benjamin , Bobbitt N. Scott , Bucior Benjamin J. , Kumar Sai Govind Hari , Collins Sean P. , Burns Thomas , Woo Tom K. , Farha Omar , Snurr Randall Q. , Aspuru-Guzik Alan
Published: April 2020

Reticular frameworks are crystalline porous materials that form via the self-assembly of molecular building blocks (i.e., nodes and linkers) in different topologies. Many of them have high internal surface areas and other desirable properties for gas storage, separation, and other applications. The notable variety of the possible building blocks and the diverse ways they can be assembled endow reticular frameworks with a near-infinite combinatorial design space, making reticular chemistry both promising and challenging for prospective materials design. Here, we propose an automated nanoporous materials discovery platform powered by a supramolecular variational autoencoder (SmVAE) for the generative design of reticular materials with desired functions. We demonstrate the automated design process with a class of metal-organic framework (MOF) structures and the goal of separating CO2 from natural gas or flue gas. Our model exhibits high fidelity in capturing structural features and reconstructing MOF structures. We show that the autoencoder has a promising optimization capability when jointly trained with multiple top adsorbent candidates identified for superior gas separation. MOFs discovered here are strongly competitive against some of the best-performing MOFs/zeolites ever reported. This platform lays the groundwork for the design of reticular frameworks for desired applications.
An open labelled prospective clinical study to evaluate the efficacy, safety and cost analysis of Pidotimod as add-on drug for maintenance therapy in Paediatric Recurrent Acute Respiratory tract Infections.
Authors: Nagaraju K  , Karthik N  , Porchelvan S  , Rishi Jain  , Snehal Muchhala
Published: April 2020

Recurrent acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI) are the commonest form of infections affecting children irrespective of socioeconomic status and geographical limits. Immaturity of immune response involving neutrophils, NK cells, T and B cells, in the early childhood, is often cited as a reason for this RRTI. There is a comparatively high incidence of ARTI in South East Asian countries when compared with global statistics. The possibility of using immune stimulation as a method of reducing the recurrence of ARTI prompted the use of Pidotimod as an add on drug. We tried to explore the safety, efficacy and a cost benefit analysis of Pidotimod as add-on treatment for paediatric use. After registering for Clinical trial and getting IEC approval, we started an open labelled prospective single arm interventional study by recruiting 65 children between 2-12 years with ARTI to receive 800 mg daily for 15 days and 400 mg for 45 days and was followed up for 6 months. Study revealed a significant reduction in number and duration of RRTI as well as reduction in episodes requiring antibiotics and reduction in duration of treatment. The reduction in number of school days lost and treatment expenses were statistically significant. There was a significant increase in mean absolute count in CD45, CD3, CD4, CD8 and lymphocyte counts at 6 months follow-up. Hence, we conclude that 60day Pidotimod therapy has immunostimulatory activity preventing the RRTI in paediatric population when considered as an add-on therapy to standard treatment.
COVID-19 and newborn health: systematic review
Authors: Duran Pablo , Berman Stephen , Niermeyer Susan , Jaenisch Thomas , Forster Thais , Gomez Ponce de Leon Rodolfo , De Mucio Bremen , Serruya Suzanne
Published: April 2020

Objective.To describe perinatal and neonatal outcomes in newborns exposed to SARS-CoV-2.

Methods.A systematic review was conducted by searching PubMed Central, LILACS, and Google Scholar using the keywords ‘covid ’ AND ‘newborn’ OR ‘child’ OR ‘infant,’ on 18 March 2020, and again on 17 April 2020. One researcher conducted the search and extracted data on demographics, maternal outcomes, diagnostic tests, imaging, and neonatal outcomes.

Results.Of 256 publications identified, 20 met inclusion criteria and comprised neonatal outcome data for 222 newborns whose mothers were suspected or confirmed to be SARS-CoV-2 positive perinatally (17 studies) or of newborns referred to hospital with infection/pneumonia (3 studies). Most (12 studies) were case-series reports; all were from China, except three (Australia, Iran, and Spain). Of the 222 newborns, 13 were reported as positive for SARS-CoV-2; most of the studies reported no or mild symptoms and no adverse perinatal outcomes. Two papers among those from newborns who tested positive reported moderate or severe clinical characteristics. Five studies using data on umbilical cord blood, placenta, and/or amniotic fluid reported no positive results. Nine studies reported radiographic imaging, including 5 with images of pneumonia, increased lung marking, thickened texture, or high-density nodular shadow. Minor, non-specific changes in biochemical variables were reported. Studies that tested breast milk reported negative SARS-CoV-2 results.

Conclusions.Given the paucity of studies at this time, vertical transmission cannot be confirmed or denied. Current literature does not support abstaining from breastfeeding nor separating mothers and newborns. Further evidence and data collection networks, particularly in the Americas, are needed for establishing definitive guidelines and recommendations.
To breastfeed or not to breastfeed? Lack of evidence on the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in breastmilk of pregnant women with COVID-19
Authors: Martins-Filho Paulo Ricardo , Santos Victor Santana , Santos Hudson P.
Published: April 2020

A rapid systematic review was carried out to evaluate the current evidence related to the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in breast milk from pregnant women with COVID-19. Eight studies analyzing the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the breast milk of 24 pregnant women with COVID-19 during the third trimester of pregnancy were found. All patients had fever and/or symptoms of acute respiratory illness and chest computed tomography images indicative of COVID-19 pneumonia. Most pregnant women had cesarean delivery (91.7%) and two neonates had low birthweight (< 2 500 g). Biological samples collected immediately after birth from upper respiratory tract (throat or nasopharyngeal) of neonates and placental tissues showed negative results for the presence SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR test. No breast milk samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 and, to date, there is no evidence on the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in breast milk of pregnant women with COVID-19. However, data are still limited and breastfeeding of women with COVID-19 remains a controversial issue. There are no restrictions on the use of milk from a human breast milk bank.
Partial Regularization of First-Order Resolution Proofs
Authors: Gorzny Jan , Postan Ezequiel , Woltzenlogel Paleo Bruno
Published: April 2020

Proofs are a key feature of modern propositional and first-order theorem provers. Proofs generated by such tools serve as explanations for unsatisfiability of statements. However, these explanations are complicated by proofs which are not necessarily as concise as possible. There are a wide variety of compression techniques for propositional resolution proofs, but fewer compression techniques for first-order resolution proofs generated by automated theorem provers. This paper describes an approach to compressing first-order logic proofs based on lifting proof compression ideas used in propositional logic to first-order logic. An empirical evaluation of the approach is included.
WinoReg: A New Faster and More Accurate Metric of Hardness for Winograd Schemas
Authors: Isaak Nicos , Michael Loizos
Published: April 2020

The Winograd Schema Challenge (WSC), the task of resolving pronouns in certain carefully-structured sentences, has received considerable interest in the past few years as an alternative to the Turing Test. In our recent work we demonstrated the plausibility of using commonsense knowledge, automatically acquired from raw text in English Wikipedia, towards computing a metric of hardness for a limited number of Winograd Schemas.

In this work we present WinoReg, a new system to compute hardness of Winograd Schemas, by training a Random Forest classifier over a rich set of features identified in relevant WSC works in the literature. Our empirical study shows that this new system is considerably faster and more accurate compared to the system proposed in our earlier work, making its use as part of other WSC-based systems feasible.
BULANIK AHP YÖNTEMİ İLE YENİLENEBİLİR ENERJİ KAYNAĞI SEÇİMİ
Authors: KAYAHAN KARAKUL Aygülen
Published: April 2020

Bu çalışmada Bulanık Analitik Hiyerarşi Prosesi yöntemi kullanılarak Türkiye’deki yenilenebilir enerji kaynakları arasında, belirli kriterlere göre öncelik sıralaması yapılmıştır. Araştırmanın kriterleri yenilenebilir enerji alanında etkin olan teknik, ekonomik, çevresel ve sosyal başlıkları altındaki 12 alt kriter, alternatifleri ise biyokütle, güneş, hidrolik, jeotermal ve rüzgâr enerjileridir. Enerji alanındaki çok kriterli karar verme problemlerinde karar vericilerin seçimlerinin sayısallaştırılması bulanık mantık ilkeleri ile daha iyi sağlanabilmektedir. Çalışmada enerji kaynaklarının değerlendirilmesinde Üçgensel Bulanık Sayılara dayalı, Bulanık AHP yöntemi kullanılmış, kriterler de maliyet odaklılıktan ziyade, sürdürülebilir kalkınmanın bir parçası olarak yeşil-çevre odaklı anlayışla oluşturulmuştur. Alternatiflerin bulanık ağırlıklarının sıralanması hem Kwong-Bai, hem de Kareli Ortalama yöntemleri ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda ele alınan kriterlere göre öncelik sıralaması güneş enerjisi, hidrolik enerji, rüzgâr enerjisi, biokütle enerjisi ve jeotermal enerji olarak belirlenmiştir.
ŞARK CEPHESİ KUMANDANI KÂZIM KARABEKİR’İN ÇOCUK TERBİYESİ VE EĞİTİMİNE YÖNELİK GÖRÜŞLERİ: SARIKAMIŞ ANA MEKTEBİ ÖRNEĞİ ŞARK CEPHESİ KUMANDANI KÂZIM KARABEKİR’İN ÇOCUK TERBİYESİ VE EĞİTİMİNE YÖNELİK GÖRÜŞLERİ: SARIKAMIŞ ANA MEKTEBİ ÖRNEĞİ
Authors: KUZGUN Meral
Published: April 2020

Milli mücadelenin başarıya ulaşmasında önemli katkıları bulunan Kâzım Karabekir, Mondros Mütarekesi’nin imzalandığı 1918 yılında Tekirdağ’da 14. Kolordu Komutanı iken kendi isteği üzerine 1919 yılının Mart ayında Doğu Anadolu’daki 15. Kolordu Komutanlığına atanmıştır. Kâzım Karabekir, Mütareke şartları gereğince Osmanlı ordusunun silahlarıyla terhis edilme şartını, bölgenin coğrafi şartlarını öne sürerek geciktirmeyi ve bölgedeki Ermenilerinin yıkıcı faaliyetlerinin önüne geçmeyi amaçlamıştır. Doğu Anadolu’da onun himayesinde Erzurum Kongresi düzenlenmiş ve Şark Cephesi Komutanı olarak İstiklâl Savaşına katılmış, Elviye-i Selase’nin kurtarılmasında büyük başarı göstermiştir. Şark Cephesi Komutanı olarak Sarıkamış, Kars, Erzurum ve çevre illerden topladığı sahipsiz çocukları himayesine alarak onların hayata tutunmalarına vesile olmuştur. Himayesinde bulunan çocukların eğitilmelerine ve yaşam becerisi kazanmalarına önem veren Kâzım Karabekir, bu becerinin ana sınıflarından başladığına inanmıştır. Memleketteki çocuk israfının bir nebze önüne geçip, sahipsiz çocuklara manevi babalık ta yapmış olan Kâzım Karabekir, Sarıkamış’ta tesis ettirdiği ana sınıfının modellenmesinde bölgede bulunan Amerikan okullarını temel almıştır. Ana mektebi olarak adlandırılan ana sınıflarında masa, sandalye, yapılacak etkinlikler, etkinliklerin çocuklar üzerindeki kazanımlarından duvardaki renk ve tabloların içeriğine varıncaya kadar büyük bir hassasiyet gösteren Kâzım Karabekir’in amacı, söz konusu çocukları üreten ve meslek sahibi iyi insanlar olarak ülkesine kazandırmak olmuştur.
Mind and material: The interplay between computer-related and second language factors in online communication dialogues
Authors: Wu Pin-hsiang Natalie , Kawamura Michelle
Published: April 2020

With a growing demand for learning English and a trend of utilizing computers in education, methods that can achieve the effectiveness of computer-mediated communication (CMC) to support language learning in higher education have been examined. However, second language factors manipulate both the process and production of CMC and, therefore, attention is required when discussing factors influencing CMC in a second language setting. This paper discusses text-based cmc in an English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) context and examines correlations between items included in CMC measures via a second language. Results show that CMC measures and second language proficiency are statistically correlated at a significant level. Some key points raised here are (1) a computer user’s second language writing proficiency influences the computer communicative skills that he or she applies to the online dialogues; (2) a computer user’s second language proficiency is related to his or her self-perception of the achievement on online dialogues; and (3) an EFL computer user’s motivation for CMC is connected to his or her second language writing ability.
E-pals to motivate students: How a fully integrated email exchange can help motivate low-level students
Authors: Bourques Marie-Nancy
Published: April 2020

This article describes how an email exchange (epal) can motivate low-level college students. The research involved first-year Japanese junior-college students, who were paired with Asian students for an 11-week exchange. The students were divided in two groups: the first group had partners who read and replied to their messages during regular class time, while the second group’s partners did so in their own time, outside of class. The results indicate that students from the first group display greater integrative and intrinsic motivation orientations throughout, as well as at the end of the semester. Teachers wishing to introduce epal in their classes should consider the benefits of a fully integrated exchange on students’ motivation.
Changing tutor roles in online tutorial support for open distance learning through audio-graphic SCMC
Authors: Rosell-Aguilar Fernando
Published: April 2020

The use of synchronous computer-mediated communication (SCMC) tools such as audiographic conferencing to provide tutorial support in Open Distance Learning (ODL) settings brings with it changes in roles and relationships between tutors and students which need to be researched to gain an insight into the learning experience of those teaching and being taught through the medium. In this paper we will report on a study of language tutors new to audio-graphic conferencing after they spent a year providing online tutorial support for a new beginners’ Spanish distance learning language course. We will present how the tutors compare the online and face-to-face environments and how they perceive their roles as online tutors. We conclude that the success of tutorials in an audio-graphic environment depends on the individual tutor: their personality, warmth, and ability to communicate and manage learning become more relevant in the new environment; and that therefore training that goes beyond the technical and pedagogical and includes these aspects is required.
Independent research project with web-derived corpora for language learning
Authors: Hirata Yoko , Hirata Yoshihiro
Published: April 2020

Recent studies have indicated the enormous potential of the web as a source of linguistic data for language learning in the classroom. However, there are comparatively fewer reports on the successful application of corpora compiled from the web as a tool for EFL students to raise their awareness of various lexical phrases. The purpose of this paper is to investigate Japanese students’ perceptions of inductive approaches to understanding word combinations and lexical limitations by using their own web-derived corpora and an online concordancer. By explaining the benefits and problems that the students experienced during the corpus-based analyses, this study also determined how the use of corpora can be applied to teaching English effectively.
Pragmatics of email communication between Saudi female students and male professors
Authors: Bulut Dogan , Rabab’ah Ghaleb
Published: April 2020

This study investigated the pragmatic elements in Saudi female graduate students’ authentic e-mail messages written in English to their male professors. Following Biesenbach-Lucas (2005), 99 e-mail messages sent by 9 female students to their two male professors during the academic year 2005-2006 were analyzed for communication topics (facilitative, substantive, relational), communication strategies (requesting, negotiating, reporting) and address terms. Results indicated that there was no significant difference among the frequencies of communication topics while the frequencies of communication strategies differed significantly in favor of requesting. Sub-categories of communication topics and strategies were also compared separately, and they both yielded significant differences within their sub-categories. As the most preferred communication strategy, requests were analyzed using Brown and Levinson’s (1987) politeness strategies and it was found that students usually preferred positive politeness strategies in their requests from their professors, while they mostly had negative politeness-oriented address terms when starting their messages.
Development and evaluation of an online handwritten feedback-giving support system in learning Japanese writing
Authors: Li Kai , Akahori Kanji
Published: April 2020

This paper describes the development and evaluation of an online handwritten feedback-giving support system in learning Japanese writing. First, twelve Japanese language teachers were asked to evaluate the usability of the system. Then the study examined students’ perceptions on the handwritten feedback in writing practice. The results show that the system is helpful for teachers to give handwritten feedback, and the students said the handwritten feedback was easy to understand which might lead to a positive effect on teacher’s presence. Although it is a small-scale study, we look forward to create awareness among language teachers on the importance of such paper-like handwritten feedback to students in Japanese writing instruction and the importance of learning to give feedback innovatively and efficiently using new media.
Is computer-assisted language learning efficient for grammar learning? An experimental study in French as a second language
Authors: Chenu Florence , Gayraud Frederique , Martinie Bruno , Tong Wu
Published: April 2020

The issue of the efficiency of CALL is controversial. Our goal is to investigate whether CALL has an advantage on the learning of French relative clauses by intermediate non-native learners. Participants were randomly distributed across a control and an experimental group. A pre-test confirmed that there was no significant difference between the two groups. The control group attended a 3-hour traditional class on French relative clauses. The same content was taught to the experimental group in a 3-hour self-training session during which participants used a CALL system. Finally, both groups took a post-test assessing their level of improvement. In addition, the experimental group had to fill out a questionnaire about their attitude towards CALL. Whereas most participants expressed a strong preference for traditional teaching, both methods revealed a similar improvement for both groups. Further analysis taking into consideration the level of proficiency revealed that low-level participants tended to make more progress in the experimental condition. We claim that classroom instruction involving both spoken and written presentations of the same material is detrimental to understanding, especially among less proficient learners.
Practical PowerPoint group projects for the EFL classroom
Authors: Apple Matthew , Kikuchi Keita
Published: April 2020

Using PowerPoint for student-created group projects can be motivating and enjoyable for both students and instructors while fostering a sense of student self-reliance and autonomy. After a brief review of the benefits of cooperative group work and scaffolding in second language learning, this paper highlights three different methods for using PowerPoint in a university classroom setting. The first method involves student construction of picture stories, the second describes making travel plans, and the third demonstrates guidelines for outside class group work on simple research projects, such as surveys of fellow students’ opinions. Finally, the authors give examples of peer and instructor assessment forms and offer possible future directions for research and implementation of PowerPoint projects in second language classrooms.
Networking... netplaying: From a New York minute to a Mixi second
Authors: Dias Joseph
Published: April 2020

All of us are part of networks. Our immediate and extended families, our neighborhoods, our circles of friends, and the clubs or churches that some of us belong to are all considered networks of the human sort. It’s odd that we so naturally refer to communication among these groups as “networking,” since, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, the use of this term began in about 1967 in reference to “the action or process of networking a number of computers.” Only about a decade later–just as I was graduating from high school–did the term come to refer to “the … process of making use of a network of people for the exchange of information.” The readiness and frequency that this term glides off our tongues belies its recent coinage.
Mobile user behavior and attitudes during story-based kanji learning
Authors: Mase Kenji , Lin Normal , Kajita Shoji
Published: April 2020

We report on the usability and usage patterns of a mobile system designed to help students learn Japanese kanji characters through a mnemonic-story method. Our data comes from two sources: (1) a usability questionnaire of kanji learners, and (2) from a series of two-week experiments where subjects used our mobile kanji learning system. We found that 21% of mobile device usage actually occurred in a mobile learning setting. We also found varied time-of-day usage patterns over a two-week period. We discovered that user behaviors while using the system – selection operations, story creation time and story length – were characterized by positively-skewed distributions that can be described by exponential and lognormal models. We found statistically significant correlations between certain user behaviors and certain self-reported user attitudes. These results empirically clarify and confirm the usability of our mobile story-based kanji learning system. Questionnaire data from a separate population of story-based kanji learners, who did not use our device, provides further insight into the study behaviors and requirements of story-based kanji learners.
Combining technology and IRT testing to build student knowledge of high-frequency vocabulary
Authors: Browne Charles , Culligan Brent
Published: April 2020

This article describes a suite of free software programs for cell phones and PCs that have been created to efficiently develop ESL and EFL learner’s knowledge of high-frequency vocabulary. Until now, this level of efficiency has not been possible due to the variable nature of vocabulary knowledge within a class of students and the lack of diagnostic tools for identifying individual students’ known and unknown vocabulary. The programs are capable of accurately and efficiently assessing the learner’s English lexical size, identifying which specific high-frequency words still need to be taught, and then teaching these important words via a time-intervalled flashcard system and learning games focused on developing automaticity of word knowledge. Although there have been several tests available for making estimates of a learner’s vocabulary profile such as Nation’s Vocabulary Levels Test (1990) and Meara’s Yes/No test (1992), there has been no attempts to identify the specific words a learner knows. Through the application of Item Response Theory to test item responses, we have been able to assign perceived word difficulties to a list of the most common words in English. A computer adaptive test drawing from an item bank of these words quickly and accurately assesses the number of English words known by learners, as well as determines which specific words are known and unknown.
Intermediate Moodle: Ideas for language teachers
Authors: Bateson Gordon
Published: April 2020

This paper introduces nine ideas for language teachers to incorporate into their teaching with the Moodle Learning Management System. The ideas range from small tips, such as improving layout on web-page Resource activities, to more fundamental changes to the way Moodle is used, for example setting up user groups to manage courses efficiently, and using grade categories to motivate students. It is hoped that these ideas will empower teachers who have a basic familiarity with Moodle, and stimulate them to explore new ways to use Moodle in their teaching.
Virtual worlds in language education
Authors: Peterson Mark
Published: April 2020

Developments in computer-mediated communication (CMC) technologies provide both practitioners and learners with access to robust and accessible tools, which have made various types of real-time computer-mediated communication (CMC) a practical reality. Of these CMC technologies, the emergence of desktop 3D virtual worlds brings forth new opportunities for educators to shape online learning in the 21st century. These dynamic environments have been increasingly utilized across learning domains. However, in the field of second language education, the use of these tools has only recently attracted significant interest. This article explores how a type of 3D virtual world known as Active Worlds, has been utilized by researchers in computer-assisted language learning (CALL). This article provides an overview of the key features of the environment and examines research on the use of virtual worlds in CALL. Findings from student-based experimental studies involving Active Worlds, including two recent projects conducted in Japan, are analyzed. The discussion examines evidence from this emergent body of research, which suggests that Active Worlds is an environment with great potential in CALL, as it brings together learners in an engaging new communication context that appears to foster the types of interaction that play a central role in second language acquisition. This article concludes by identifying promising areas for future research.
Peer-review through synchronous and asynchronous CMC modes: A case study in a Taiwanese college English writing course
Authors: Chang Ching-Fen
Published: April 2020

Peer-review is an important instructional activity in process-approach English writing classrooms. Although peer-review through computer-mediated communication (CMC) has been credited as an alternative to face-to-face peer-review, the efficacy of online peer-review via synchronous CMC (SCMC) and asynchronous CMC (ACMC) modes has not been thoroughly explored. The case study examined 30 English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) undergraduate students’ engagement in peer-review activities, commenting types made by reviewers, and students’ perceptions of peer-review via SCMC and ACMC modes. The results revealed that peer-review via both online modes, which share unique time- and space-independent features, different from the face-to-face mode, result in students’ high engagement and similar commenting types. However, the different nature of time use and interaction patterns between the two online modes still result in some discrepancy among commenting types and among perceptions of peer-review via the two modes.
Constructing a blog corpus for Japanese learners of English
Authors: Foss Patrick
Published: April 2020

Researchers have directed increased attention to the building and analysing of written learner corpora – databases of written language produced by language learners – to address issues such as the words that non-native learners of English use in their writing, and how their word use differs from that of native speakers. This paper offers an initial look at a new written learner corpus, currently under construction, which is composed of lower/intermediate-level learner blogs. Preliminary data from the corpus regarding high-frequency vocabulary use is compared to frequency lists from the British National Corpus in order to illustrate basic usage differences.
Using Multiply as a class management and communication system for EFL classes
Authors: Mork Cathrine-Mette (Trine)
Published: April 2020

This paper outlines the unofficial use of a social networking and blogging site called Multiply by several EFL teachers and their students in Tama University’s English Shower program in Tama City, Tokyo. Five teachers used the system as a communication hub for their classes, requiring students to access it regularly to submit homework, receive corrected work, check their class schedules, and other tasks depending on the class and the teacher. At the end of the term, students were surveyed using an online form to assess the perceived usefulness of having used the system. Though survey results confirmed some issues for teachers that came to light half-way through the term, the responses of those having used the system were also positive.
The impact of an online explicit lexical program on EFL vocabulary gains and listening comprehension
Authors: Lin Ming-Chia , Chiu Tsuo-Lin
Published: April 2020

The study examines the effects of an explicit vocabulary program on the gains of EFL lexical and listening abilities. Two sets of 4-week-self learning lessons were constructed (http://formoosa.fl.nthu.edu.tw/moodle2/). The experimental group with 11 EFL college freshmen was given: a weekly listening clip, and the explicit lexical lesson targeting word sounds, meanings, and collocations. The control group with 7 freshmen was given three clips per week (2 extra clips). The results show that the experiment group performed better in the lexical and listening posttests but the control group did not. Significant correlations were found between the gains of lexical and listening abilities.
Utilizing the Quick Response (QR) Code within a Japanese EFL environment
Authors: Rivers Damian J.
Published: April 2020

Within Japan almost all mobile camera phones are equipped with two-dimensional barcode scanning technology as a standard feature. Consequently, QR (Quick Response) codes are now widespread throughout Japan as a means of product identification and advertising. Despite this, their implementation into public and private educational settings has been relatively slow due to the traditional exclusion of the mobile phone from the language learning classroom. This paper describes an investigatory project which attempts to introduce three specific examples of basic QR code-driven activities into a Japanese university English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classroom. The paper proposes that the merger of the mobile phone and the QR code be considered a productive way forward in achieving a semi-ubiquitous computing environment. The attitudes of 132 students toward mobile phone and QR code usage are discussed along with the advantages and disadvantages surrounding the implementation of such projects.
Assessing the use of aids for a computer-mediated task: Taking notes while listening
Authors: Mompean Annick Rivens , Guichon Nicolas
Published: April 2020

This research aims at understanding the cognitive processes at work, and strategies used by, students of English as a foreign language (EFL) when confronted with a complex task in a multimedia system. More precisely, we propose to study how second language learners use the aids provided by the multimedia setting to take notes while processing a video document. A sample of 16 university students (6 undergraduates, 9 graduates and a native speaker) were asked to write down keywords and key arguments understood from a 2-minute BBC report on an electronic notebook inserted in Virtual Cabinet, a learning environment hitherto unknown to them. They had 12 minutes to take notes online and produce a summary of the report, and they could manipulate the input and use an online dictionary at will. Observation of the different strategies used by the subjects was made possible by screen data capture software that logged all the learners’ actions during the whole experiment. This exploratory study will focus on describing this complex task – cognitively demanding because it combines different operations and requires using aids appropriately and in a timely manner to carry out the task successfully. It provides information on the way the students use the multimedia environment to perform the task (taking notes online) and the use they make of aids such as an online dictionary and the rewind and pause buttons. This study concludes that video control functionality is a useful aid because it provides learners with an individualised means to process the input at their own pace. On the contrary, providing a dictionary during the comprehension phase has proved to lead to inefficient strategies and seems therefore to be disqualified as an aid for the comprehension phase of the task in a timed context
Learning action verbs with animation
Authors: Lin Chih-Cheng
Published: April 2020

This study investigates whether dynamic animation annotations facilitate the learning of motion verbs better than static graphics annotations. Three eighth-grade classes were randomly assigned to a dynamic animation group, a static graphics group and a text-only group. In a one-way ANOVA design, their learning of 20 target words in two reading passages was assessed by production and recognition tests using a pretest and two posttests. Although the two visual groups outperformed the text-only group, differences between the dynamic animation group and the static graphics group were not detected. The findings support visual aided vocabulary learning and suggest that dynamic animations may be more useful to illustrate unfamiliar, culture-specific concepts in vocabulary lessons.
Social network sites and the ideal L2 self: Using Myspace in a Chinese EFL class
Authors: Kelley James A.
Published: April 2020

Little work has yet explored the potential for the use of social network sites (SNSs) in the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classroom, but recent trends in teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) research suggest that SNSs may be a powerful context for language learning by offering students access to online communities of practice and/ or imagined communities (as interpreted by Norton et al.). This paper reports on an exploratory study of how the use of an American based SNS in a Chinese EFL class affected student motivation. Results suggest that SNS may be particularly useful in fostering attitudes traditionally related to integrativeness through the creation of imagined communities when viewed through D_rnyei’s (2009) L2 Motivational Self System.
Intercultural exchanges in the blogosphere
Authors: Sung Ko-Yin , Lin Wen-Yun
Published: April 2020

This paper reports on a semester-long blog project in which a group of US third-year university students studying Chinese as a foreign language collaborated with a group of Chinese native speakers enrolled in a university in Taiwan. Specifically, this study investigated the language learners’ reactions to learning the Chinese language and culture through blogging, and examined the presence of intercultural competence in blog exchanges using Byram’s (2000) intercultural competence guidelines. Data included blog entries, pre and post-blogging surveys, and informal discussions with the participants. The results showed that: (1) the language learners had a positive experience in the blog project with many Chinese language and culture gains, and (2) the Taiwan and the US groups’ instances of intercultural competence fell within different categories in Byram’s (2000) guidelines, with the Taiwan group reflecting their role as Chinese culture experts and the US group reflecting their role as culture learners of Chinese.
Using podcasts in independent listening courses: Legal and pedagogical implications
Authors: Hawke Philip
Published: April 2020

This paper reports on the development of an independent listening course based entirely on podcasts freely available on the internet. The course was designed to allow graduate science students to improve their scientific English listening skills using a portable MP3 player whenever they had free time available, such as while waiting for experimental results in their laboratories. As materials were delivered to and used by students outside the classroom, several pedagogical and legal problems arose during the development of the course. These issues were dealt with by developing a novel approach to creating supporting materials that are designed specifically for remote self-study, and that at the same time do not infringe on podcast copyright.
Online vs. face-to-face: Motivating and demotivating factors in an EAP writing course
Authors: Rubesch Troy , McNeil Merica
Published: April 2020

Although motivating and demotivating factors have been established for second language learners in face-to-face classes, it is not clear how these factors relate to students in online learning contexts. By analyzing open-ended questionnaire responses, we examined similarities and differences between students’ self-reported motivational factors in online and face-to-face versions of the same undergraduate EAP writing course. We discovered four major differences: social/interaction, convenience and flexibility, the new/fun/interesting/ easy expectation, and the frustration factor.
Learner perceptions on the usefulness of a blended learning EFL program
Authors: Kobayashi Kaoru , Little Andrea
Published: April 2020

To identify best practices for blended learning in English as a foreign language (EFL) programs, it is essential to understand how learners perceive and evaluate such programs, taking into consideration such variables as learner attitude, proficiency level and computer literacy. is case study evaluates a blended learning EFL program using CALL courseware in light of learners’ computer literacy and perceptions of its usefulness. e participants were Japanese first and second-year university students. Statistical analysis of the results of the survey conducted revealed that the students’ perceptions of the program differed according to the proficiency levels of students. It also showed that the interface of the courseware affects student attitudes toward learning so that the instructor’s assistance is indispensable.
Online peer conferencing in academic writing
Authors: Lin Jung-Ts , Kuo Chih-Hua
Published: April 2020

Computer-assisted language learning (CALL) has been used in language education in various forms to facilitate classroom interaction, provide language scaffolding, or promote learning autonomy. The present study explored how peer conferencing through synchronous computer-mediated communication (SCMC) can serve as a pre-writing consciousness-raising activity for learning the rhetorical structure of research articles. Participants were 13 TESOL graduate students in an EAP course. Their text-based interactions were saved and analyzed in terms of turn-taking and meaning negotiation. A questionnaire was also administered to access students’ attitudes towards online discussion. Results showed that advanced EAP students were goal-oriented and closely collaborated with each other in the process of online discussion.
Japanese university students use Content 2.0 online forum to share their views of the world
Authors: Wolff Gary J.
Published: April 2020

As a supplement to the textbook World Interviews (Craven, 2006) which interviews young people from 16 different countries around the world, Japanese university students taking a Spoken English 2 class share their cultural views of the world through the Content 2.0 online forum. This paper describes the system’s key features and how it was set up, shows sample web pages, reports on the results of the project including internet traffic statistics and feedback from the students, and discusses the prospects for using the Content 2.0 system again in the future as a viable computer-assisted language learning medium.