scholarly journals Structured Word Inquiry (SWI) Teaches Grapheme-Phoneme Correspondences More Explicitly Than Phonics Does: An open letter to Jennifer Buckingham and the reading research community

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Bowers

This “open letter” responds to a recent article by Buckingham (2020) which made the claim that the instructional approach known as “Structured Word Inquiry” (SWI) does not teach grapheme-phoneme correspondences (GPC). I counter this claim and provide evidence for SWI’s teaching of GPCs by citing not only the publications on SWI, including the original article introducing it in 2010, but also provide many links to publicly available illustrations of GPC instruction by teachers working with SWI. A description is provided of the qualitative differences between how GPCs are taught in SWI and phonics. Unlike phonics, SWI explicitly teaches the role of morphology and etymology for making sense of grapheme choice in our morphophonemic language and provides graphic representations of orthographic structure to support this instruction. Research evidence about the effects of morphological instruction, including its positive effects on phonological learning, provide a strong basis to motivate more explicit research attention to structured word inquiry in general and specifically as a proposal for a novel form of instruction about GPCs across a wide range of ages and abilities. The debate about whether SWI type instruction is appropriate in the earliest instruction is addressed. I highlight two tools used in SWI, the matrix and the word sum. I show why these are essential for teaching the interrelation of morphology and phonology, but have been largely ignored by the research community so far.

Foods ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 891
Author(s):  
Charles Bestwick ◽  
Lorraine Scobbie ◽  
Lesley Milne ◽  
Gary Duncan ◽  
Louise Cantlay ◽  
...  

Benefits from micronutrients within fruit juice and smoothies are well documented, but fewer studies research the role of phytochemicals. Well-controlled human studies are essential to evaluate their impact, particularly on glucose and lipid regulation but also gastrointestinal health. Planning these studies requires data on the potential molecular targets. Here we report a comprehensive metabolomic (LC-MS) analysis of the phytochemical composition of four commonly consumed beverages, including data on whether they are free to be absorbed early in the gastrointestinal tract or bound to other plant components. Smoothies contained a wide range of phenolics (free and bound), whereas the fruit juices contained higher amounts of fewer compounds. Orange juice was rich in bound hesperidin (1.97 ± 0.39 mg/100 mL) and hydroxycinnamic acids, likely to be delivered to the colon with the potential to have an impact on gut health. Apple juice contained free chlorogenic acid (3.11 ± 1.03 mg/100 mL), phloridzin (0.40 ± 0.03 mg/100 mL), catechin (0.090 ± 0.005 mg/100 mL), and epicatechin (0.38 ± 0.02 mg/100 mL), suggesting potential roles in glucose uptake reduction or positive effects on systemic blood flow. Redox screening established that differences in chemical composition impacted on bioactivity, highlighting the importance of availability from the matrix. This suggests that fruit-based beverage interventions should target specific mechanisms depending on the fruits from which they are comprised and in particular, the availability of the individual constituents.


2021 ◽  
pp. 016264342198997
Author(s):  
Sojung Jung ◽  
Ciara Ousley ◽  
David McNaughton ◽  
Pamela Wolfe

In this meta-analytic review, we investigated the effects of technology supports on the acquisition of shopping skills for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) between the ages of 5 and 24. Nineteen single-case experimental research studies, presented in 15 research articles, met the current study’s inclusion criteria and the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) standards. An analysis of potential moderators was conducted, and we calculated effect sizes using Tau-U to examine the impact of age, diagnosis, and type of technology on the reported outcomes for the 56 participants. The results from the included studies provide evidence that a wide range of technology interventions had a positive impact on shopping performance. These positive effects were seen for individuals across a wide range of ages and disability types, and for a wide variety of shopping skills. The strongest effect sizes were observed for technologies that provided visual supports rather than just auditory support. We provide an interpretation of the findings, implications of the results, and recommended areas for future research.


Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1184
Author(s):  
Armin Mooranian ◽  
Thomas Foster ◽  
Corina M Ionescu ◽  
Daniel Walker ◽  
Melissa Jones ◽  
...  

Introduction: Recent studies in our laboratory have shown that some bile acids, such as chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), can exert cellular protective effects when encapsulated with viable β-cells via anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress mechanisms. However, to explore their full potential, formulating such bile acids (that are intrinsically lipophilic) can be challenging, particularly if larger doses are required for optimal pharmacological effects. One promising approach is the development of nano gels. Accordingly, this study aimed to examine biological effects of various concentrations of CDCA using various solubilising nano gel systems on encapsulated β-cells. Methods: Using our established cellular encapsulation system, the Ionic Gelation Vibrational Jet Flow technology, a wide range of CDCA β-cell capsules were produced and examined for morphological, biological, and inflammatory profiles. Results and Conclusion: Capsules’ morphology and topographic characteristics remained similar, regardless of CDCA or nano gel concentrations. The best pharmacological, anti-inflammatory, and cellular respiration, metabolism, and energy production effects were observed at high CDCA and nano gel concentrations, suggesting dose-dependent cellular protective and positive effects of CDCA when incorporated with high loading nano gel.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 1890
Author(s):  
Monika Rdest ◽  
Dawid Janas

This perspective article describes the application opportunities of carbon nanotube (CNT) films for the energy sector. Up to date progress in this regard is illustrated with representative examples of a wide range of energy management and transformation studies employing CNT ensembles. Firstly, this paper features an overview of how such macroscopic networks from nanocarbon can be produced. Then, the capabilities for their application in specific energy-related scenarios are described. Among the highlighted cases are conductive coatings, charge storage devices, thermal interface materials, and actuators. The selected examples demonstrate how electrical, thermal, radiant, and mechanical energy can be converted from one form to another using such formulations based on CNTs. The article is concluded with a future outlook, which anticipates the next steps which the research community will take to bring these concepts closer to implementation.


2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 433-455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Ling-hsing Chang ◽  
Tung-Ching Lin

Purpose – The purpose of the study is to focus on the enhancement of knowledge management (KM) performance and the relationship between organizational culture and KM process intention of individuals because of the diversity of organizational cultures (which include results-oriented, tightly controlled, job-oriented, closed system and professional-oriented cultures). Knowledge is a primary resource in organizations. If firms are able to effectively manage their knowledge resources, then a wide range of benefits can be reaped such as improved corporate efficiency, effectiveness, innovation and customer service. Design/methodology/approach – The survey methodology, which has the ability to enhance generalization of results (Dooley, 2001), was used to collect the data utilized in the testing of the research hypotheses. Findings – Results- and job-oriented cultures have positive effects on employee intention in the KM process (creation, storage, transfer and application), whereas a tightly controlled culture has negative effects. Research limitations/implications – However, it would have been better to use a longitudinal study to collect useful long-term data to understand how the KM process would be influenced when organizational culture dimensions are changed through/by management. This is the first limitation of this study. According to Mason and Pauleen (2003), KM culture is a powerful predictor of individual knowledge-sharing behavior, which is not included in this study. Thus, this is the second limitation of this paper. Moreover, national culture could be an important issue in the KM process (Jacks et al., 2012), which is the third limitation of this paper for not comprising it. Practical implications – In researchers’ point of view, results- and job-oriented cultures have positive effects, whereas a tightly controlled culture has a negative effect on the KM process intention of the individual. These findings provide evidences that challenge the perspective of Kayworth and Leidner (2003) on this issue. As for practitioners, management has a direction to modify their organizational culture to improve the performance of KM process. Social implications – Both behavioral and value perspectives of the organizational cultural dimensions (results-oriented, tightly control, job-oriented, sociability, solidarity, need for achievement and democracy) should be examined to ascertain their effects firstly on KM culture and then on the KM process intention of the individual. It is hoped that the current study will spawn future investigations that lead to the development of an integrated model which includes organizational culture, KM culture and the KM process intention of the individual. Originality/value – The results-oriented, loosely controlled and job-oriented cultures will improve the effectiveness of the KM process and will also increase employees’ satisfaction and willingness to stay with the organization.


Author(s):  
Jose A. Gallud ◽  
Monica Carreño ◽  
Ricardo Tesoriero ◽  
Andrés Sandoval ◽  
María D. Lozano ◽  
...  

AbstractTechnology-based education of children with special needs has become the focus of many research works in recent years. The wide range of different disabilities that are encompassed by the term “special needs”, together with the educational requirements of the children affected, represent an enormous multidisciplinary challenge for the research community. In this article, we present a systematic literature review of technology-enhanced and game-based learning systems and methods applied on children with special needs. The article analyzes the state-of-the-art of the research in this field by selecting a group of primary studies and answering a set of research questions. Although there are some previous systematic reviews, it is still not clear what the best tools, games or academic subjects (with technology-enhanced, game-based learning) are, out of those that have obtained good results with children with special needs. The 18 articles selected (carefully filtered out of 614 contributions) have been used to reveal the most frequent disabilities, the different technologies used in the prototypes, the number of learning subjects, and the kind of learning games used. The article also summarizes research opportunities identified in the primary studies.


Metals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 548 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonid Agureev ◽  
Valeriy Kostikov ◽  
Zhanna Eremeeva ◽  
Svetlana Savushkina ◽  
Boris Ivanov ◽  
...  

The article presents the study of alumina nanoparticles’ (nanofibers) concentration effect on the strength properties of pure nickel. The samples were obtained by spark plasma sintering of previously mechanically activated metal powders. The dependence of the grain size and the relative density of compacts on the number of nanofibers was investigated. It was found that with an increase in the concentration of nanofibers, the average size of the matrix particles decreased. The effects of the nanoparticle concentration (0.01–0.1 wt.%) on the elastic modulus and tensile strength were determined for materials at 25 °C, 400 °C, and 750 °C. It was shown that with an increase in the concentration of nanofibers, a 10–40% increase in the elastic modulus and ultimate tensile strength occurred. A comparison of the mechanical properties of nickel in a wide range of temperatures, obtained in this work with materials made by various technologies, is carried out. A description of nanofibers’ mechanisms of influence on the structure and mechanical properties of nickel is given. The possible impact of impurity phases on the properties of nickel is estimated. The tendency of changes in the mechanical properties of nickel, depending on the concentration of nanofibers, is shown.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent Vandewalle ◽  
Alexandre Caron ◽  
Coralie Delettrez ◽  
Renaud Périchon ◽  
Sylvia Pelayo ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Usability testing of medical devices are mandatory for market access. The testings’ goal is to identify usability problems that could cause harm to the user or limit the device’s effectiveness. In practice, human factor engineers study participants under actual conditions of use and list the problems encountered. This results in a binary discovery matrix in which each row corresponds to a participant, and each column corresponds to a usability problem. One of the main challenges in usability testing is estimating the total number of problems, in order to assess the completeness of the discovery process. Today’s margin-based methods fit the column sums to a binomial model of problem detection. However, the discovery matrix actually observed is truncated because of undiscovered problems, which corresponds to fitting the marginal sums without the zeros. Margin-based methods fail to overcome the bias related to truncation of the matrix. The objective of the present study was to develop and test a matrix-based method for estimating the total number of usability problems. Methods The matrix-based model was based on the full discovery matrix (including unobserved columns) and not solely on a summary of the data (e.g. the margins). This model also circumvents a drawback of margin-based methods by simultaneously estimating the model’s parameters and the total number of problems. Furthermore, the matrix-based method takes account of a heterogeneous probability of detection, which reflects a real-life setting. As suggested in the usability literature, we assumed that the probability of detection had a logit-normal distribution. Results We assessed the matrix-based method’s performance in a range of settings reflecting real-life usability testing and with heterogeneous probabilities of problem detection. In our simulations, the matrix-based method improved the estimation of the number of problems (in terms of bias, consistency, and coverage probability) in a wide range of settings. We also applied our method to five real datasets from usability testing. Conclusions Estimation models (and particularly matrix-based models) are of value in estimating and monitoring the detection process during usability testing. Matrix-based models have a solid mathematical grounding and, with a view to facilitating the decision-making process for both regulators and device manufacturers, should be incorporated into current standards.


2010 ◽  
Vol 649 ◽  
pp. 101-106
Author(s):  
Mária Svéda ◽  
Dóra Janovszky ◽  
Kinga Tomolya ◽  
Jenő Sólyom ◽  
Zoltán Kálazi ◽  
...  

The aim of our research was to comparatively examine Ni content surface layers on amorphisable Cu base alloy produced by different laser surface treatments. Laser surface treatment (LST) techniques, such as laser surface melting, laser alloying and laser cladding, provide a wide range of interesting solutions for the production of wear and corrosion resistant surfaces. [1,2] With LST techniques, the surface can be: i) coated with a layer of another material by laser cladding, ii) the composition of the matrix can be modified by laser alloying. [3] Two kinds of laser surface treatment technologies were used. In the case of coating-melting technology a Ni content surface layer was first developed by galvanization, and then the Ni content layer was melted together with the matrix. In the case of powder blowing technology Ni3Al powder was blown into the layer melted by laser beam and Argon gas. LST was performed using an impulse mode Nd:YAG laser. The laser power and the interaction time were 2 kW and 20÷60 ms. The characterization of the surface layer microstructure was performed by XRD, scanning electron microscopy and microhardness measurements.


2015 ◽  
Vol 1083 ◽  
pp. 32-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Sandulyak ◽  
Anna Sandulyak ◽  
Petr Shkatov

We note that for a wide range of porous, especially granular, ferromagnetics used as matrices of magnetic filter-separators, there is still an issue of defining their demagnetizing factor N which has a dramatic effect on the values of average magnetic permeability of these operating units of filter-separators. The work aims at filling the existent gaps in the issue, we supply N values depending on the relative size of such magnets as well as a respective generalizing phenomenological dependence which is characterized by an exponential realtion between the demagnetizing factor and relative size radical. The established relation allows obtaining real values of magnetic permeability of a short filter matrix thus providing an unbiased comparative estimate of its technological workability.


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