Face issues in second language teaching via videoconferencing: the role of the smile as a co-verbal semiotic resource

Synchronous online language teaching involves the simultaneous employment of a range of techno-semio-pedagogical competences (Guichon, 2012). Indeed, given their flexibility and versatility, digital tools and the Internet can render teacher-student interactions dynamic. Among the necessary professional skills and strategies for online synchronous teaching, this paper focuses on the specific dimensions of affective competences and the social need to maintain a climate of comfort during one-to-one online tutoring interactions. We focus on a particular social phenomenon that is strongly linked to emotions – facework (Goffman, 1967). Applied to computer assisted language learning, we analyse how this social practice unfolds in an interactional environment where the perception of the other is mediated by a videoconferencing platform. We noted four different types of facework triggering situations: lexical breakdowns, private anecdote tellings, overlaps, and interruption of learner reflection time. Our multimodal analysis of facework reveals the frequent use of the smile as a mimicry semiotic resource and highlights the phenomenon of interactional synchrony.

Probing penile hemodynamics by using photoplethysmography as objective indicators for male erection quality and sexual function

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is mostly due to the lack of blood flow into the penis. In the past 20 years, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used in measuring the concentrations and temporal dynamics of different hemoglobin types. However, the dynamics of the light absorption (photoplethysmography; PPG) have not been applied to survey penile hemodynamics and erection quality. This paper compared the use of photoplethysmography (PPG) to study vascular ED with standard penile Doppler ultrasonography. Men diagnosed with vascular ED for at least 6 months and nominated for penile ultrasonography were included. PPG signals were collected during the ultrasound examination. All beat-to-beat PPG waveforms were aligned with the peak and averaged to one representative template waveform for feature analysis, including amplitude differences (APD) index, reflection time index (RTI), augmentation index (AI), and perfusion index (PI). An inverse correlation was found between end-erection amplitude and both erection hardness score (EHS) and resistive index (RI). APD index and EHS as well as the international index of erectile function-5 (IIEF) and RI were positively correlated. RTI and AI were inversely correlated to IIEF and RI. PI was positively correlated to RI. PPG may therefore be useful as a noninvasive, convenient, technique for sexual function evaluation.