Improving CEGEP Students’ ESL Accuracy through L1/L2 Synchronous Text-based Screen-Sharing Tasks

Abstract : CEGEPs are now reaping the ‘first fruits’ of the last Educational Reform in Quebec and as a result, ‘English as Second Language’ (ESL) teachers are noticing an improvement in fluency and a seemingly lower level of inhibition when it comes to production skills. However, this output is accompanied by a noticeable lack of accuracy. Keeping in mind that the purpose of language is communication, we need to find a way to reduce the number of basic common errors made by CEGEP ESL students, while maintaining a natural and motivating learning environment. Thanks to recent advances in computer-mediated communication (CMC), we now have the necessary tools to access peer native speakers throughout the world. Although this technology can be used for other language courses, this study explored the potential value of collaboration with native English speakers through the use of synchronous screen-sharing technology, in order to improve CEGEP ESL students’ accuracy in writing. The instrumentation used consisted of a questionnaire, tests, plus documents of collaborative tasks, using the ‘Google for Education’ screen-sharing tool. Fourteen Intermediate/Advanced ESL CEGEP students participated in this study. Despite the positive tendencies revealed, only a prolonged use of the innovative method yielded a significant positive impact. Moreover, a mixed linear regression for the group with more L1 intervention revealed a significant correlation between the number of errors in the task documents and the number of tasks accomplished. Thus, it could be inferred that ESL accuracy improves in proportion to the number of synchronous text-based screen-sharing tasks done with L1 collaboration.

An?lisis descriptivo de la interacci?n entre profesora-estudiantes en la asesor?a virtual para la elaboraci?n del trabajo de grado, en el grupo 02 vespertino en el 2008, en el seminario de trabajo de grado de la Licenciatura en Lenguas Extranjera de la Universidad del Valle [recurso electr?nico]

La integraci?n de las nuevas tecnolog?as de informaci?n y comunicaci?n como apoyo en los procesos de ense?anza y aprendizaje en el ?rea educativa, tiene un alto grado de desarrollo en nuestro medio, en especial, el intercambio de correos electr?nicos v?a Internet. En este trabajo investigativo se hace un an?lisis descriptivo de la interacci?n entre la profesora del Seminario de Trabajo de Grado (2008A) y el estudiantado, en un contexto educativo formal apoyados en la Comunicaci?n Mediada por Computador (CMC), que se da durante el intercambio de mensajes enviados por correo electr?nico entre el estudiantado matriculado y la profesora encargada de dictar el Seminario de Trabajo de Grado de la Licenciatura de Lenguas Extranjeras en la Escuela de Ciencias del Lenguaje en la Universidad del Valle, con lo que se pretende describir qu? sucede, sobre qu? se escribe durante las asesor?as virtuales en la elaboraci?n del Trabajo de Grado.

Identifying Robust Proxies of Gonad Maturation for the Protandrous Hermaphrodite Tridacna maxima (Röding, 1798, Bivalvia) from Individual to Population Scale

Monitoring gonadmaturation for protandrous and functional hermaphrodite species such as the giant clamTridacna maxima is difficult due to the juxtaposition and relative proportion ofmale and female tissues in the gonad [gonadal sex ratio (GSR)]. Here, the relevance of the widely used gonadosomatic index (GSI) as proxy of giant clam gonad maturation is tested with a large dataset (n = 265). Gonadosomatic index is compared with other indices, namely the proportion of the male part harboring spermatozoids, the proportion of empty oocyte follicles, the mean oocyte diameter, and the oocyte elongation. At gonad scale, high index variability highlighted partial spawning. At individual scale, male and female maturation proxies were contrasted, showing either asynchronous emissions of male and female gametes or contrasted spermatogenesis and oogenesis duration. The GSI was mostly driven by the number and diameter of oocytes and therefore it is recommended here as primary proxy for female maturity. Except for the oocyte elongation, all indices were affected by the GSR, which ruled out drawing conclusions at population scale. These results highlight the need for maturation stage proxies that are optimized for functional hermaphrodite species.

Gap junctions and emergent rhythms

Gap junction coupling is ubiquitous in the brain, particularly between the dendritic trees of inhibitory interneurons. Such direct non-synaptic interaction allows for direct electrical communication between cells. Unlike spike-time driven synaptic neural network models, which are event based, any model with gap junctions must necessarily involve a single neuron model that can represent the shape of an action potential. Indeed, not only do neurons communicating via gaps feel super-threshold spikes, but they also experience, and respond to, sub-threshold voltage signals. In this chapter we show that the so-called absolute integrate-and-fire model is ideally suited to such studies. At the single neuron level voltage traces for the model may be obtained in closed form, and are shown to mimic those of fast-spiking inhibitory neurons. Interestingly in the presence of a slow spike adaptation current the model is shown to support periodic bursting oscillations. For both tonic and bursting modes the phase response curve can be calculated in closed form. At the network level we focus on global gap junction coupling and show how to analyze the asynchronous firing state in large networks. Importantly, we are able to determine the emergence of non-trivial network rhythms due to strong coupling instabilities. To illustrate the use of our theoretical techniques (particularly the phase-density formalism used to determine stability) we focus on a spike adaptation induced transition from asynchronous tonic activity to synchronous bursting in a gap-junction coupled network.

The Use of Mucoadhesive Polymers to Enhance the Hypotensive Effect of a Melatonin Analogue, 5-MCA-NAT, in Rabbit Eyes

Purpose.: 5-Methoxy-carbonylamino-N-acetyltryptamine (5-MCA-NAT, a melatonin receptor agonist) produces a clear intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction in New Zealand White rabbits and glaucomatous monkeys. The goal of this study was to evaluate whether the hypotensive effect of 5-MCA-NAT was enhanced by the presence of cellulose derivatives, some of them with bioadhesive properties, as well as to determine whether these formulations were well tolerated by the ocular surface. Methods.: Formulations were prepared with propylene glycol (0.275%), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC, 0.5% and 1.0%) of low and medium viscosity and hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (0.3%). Quantification of 5-MCA-NAT (100 μM) was assessed by HPLC. In vitro tolerance was evaluated by the MTT method in human corneal-limbal epithelial cells and normal human conjunctival cells. In vivo tolerance was analyzed by biomicroscopy and specular microscopy in rabbit eyes. The ocular hypotensive effect was evaluated measuring IOP for 8 hours in rabbit eyes. Results.: All the formulations demonstrated good in vitro and in vivo tolerance. 5-MCA-NAT in CMC medium viscosity 0.5% was the most effective at reducing IOP (maximum IOP reduction, 30.27%), and its effect lasted approximately 7 hours. Conclusions.: The hypotensive effect of 5-MCA-NAT was increased by using bioadhesive polymers in formulations that are suitable for the ocular surface and also protective of the eye in long-term therapies. The use of 5-MCA-NAT combined with bioadhesive polymers is a good strategy in the treatment of ocular hypertension and glaucoma.

Obtenção de filtro cerâmico a partir da diatomita e casca de arroz carbonizada visando tratamento de efluente têxtil

The effluents released by the textile industry have high concentrations of alkali, carbohydrates, proteins, in addition to colors containing heavy metals. Therefore, a filter was prepared aiming primarily to the removal of color. In order to prepare this filter, rice hulls and diatomite were used, which have in their structure, basically amorphous hydrated silica. The silica exists in three crystalline forms: quartz, tridymite and cristobalite. In accordance with the above considerations, this study was divided into two stages; the first corresponds to the preparation of the filter and the second to carry out the tests in the effluent/filter in order to verify the efficiency of the color removal. First, the raw material was subjected to a chemical analysis and XRD, and then the diatomite was mixed, via humid, with a planetarium windmill with 20 %, 40 %, 60 % and 80 % of rice husk ash. To the mixture, 5 % carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) was added as a binder at room temperature. The samples were uniaxially compacted into metallic matrix of 0.3 x 0.1 cm² of area at a pressure of 167 MPa by means of hydraulic press and then sintered at temperatures of 1,000 °C, 1,200 °C and 1,400 °C for 1 h and submitted to granulometry test using laser, linear retraction, water absorption, apparent porosity and resistance to bending, DTA, TMA and XRD. To examine the pore structure of the samples scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used. Also tests were carried out in a mercury porosimeter to verify the average size of the pores and real density of the samples. In the second stage, samples of the effluent were collected from a local industry, whose name will be preserved, located in Igapó, in the State of Rio Grande do Norte - RN. The effluent was first pretreated before filtration and then subjected to a treatment of flotation. The effluent was then characterized before and after filtration, with parameters of color, turbidity, suspended solids, pH, chemical and biochemical oxygen demand (COD and BOD). Thus, through the XRD analysis the formation of cristobalite α in all samples was observed. The best average size of pore was found to be 1.75 μm with 61.04 % apparent porosity, thus obtaining an average 97.9 % color removal and 99.8 % removal of suspended solid

Design, construction, and applications of a high-resolution terahertz time-domain spectrometer

This thesis reports on the design, construction, and initial applications of a high-resolution terahertz time-domain ASOPS spectrometer. The instrument employs asynchronous optical sampling (ASOPS) between two Ti:sapphire ultrafast lasers operating at a repetition rate of approximately 80 MHz, and we thus demonstrate a THz frequency resolution approaching the limit of that repetition rate. This is an order of magnitude improvement in resolution over typical THz time-domain spectrometers. The improved resolution is important for our primary effort of collecting THz spectra for far-infrared astronomy. We report on various spectroscopic applications including the THz rotational spectrum of water, where we achieve a mean frequency error, relative to established line centers, of 27.0 MHz. We also demonstrate application of the THz system to the long-duration observation of a coherent magnon mode in a anti-ferromagnetic yttrium iron oxide (YFeO3) crystal. Furthermore, we apply the all-optical virtual delay line of ASOPS to a transient thermoreflectance experiment for quickly measuring the thermal conductivity of semiconductors.

Essays on mixed-frequency data : forecasting and unit root testing

Doutoramento em Economia

A study on the deployment of GA in a grid computing framework

Dissertação de Mestrado, Engenharia Informática, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, 2015

Síntese enzimática de ésteres de açúcar: surfactantes e polímeros como novos materiais ambientalmente seguros

Sugar esters are substances which possess surfactant, antifungical and bactericidal actions and can be obtained through two renewable sources of raw materials: sugars and vegetable oils. Their excellent biodegradability, allied to lhe fact that they are non toxic, insipid, inodorous, biocompatible, no-ionic, digestible and because they can resist to adverse conditions of temperature, pH and salinity, explain lhe crescent use of these substances in several sections of lhe industry. The objective of this thesis was to synthesize and characterize surfactants and polymers containing sugar branched in their structures, through enzymatic transesterification of vinyl esters and sugars, using alkaline protease from Bacillus subtilis as catalyst, in organic medium (DMF).Three types of sugars were used: L-arabinose, D-glucose and sucrose and two types of vinyl esters: vinyl laurate and vinyl adipate. Aiming to reach high conversions from substrates to products for a possible future large scale industrial production, a serie of variables was optimized, through Design of Experiments (DOE), using Response Surface Methodology (RSM).The investigated variables were: (1) enzyme concentration; (2) molar reason of substrates; (3) water/solvent rale; (4) temperature and (5) time. We obtained six distinct sugar esters: 5-0-lauroyl L-arabinose, 6-0-lauroyl D-glucose, 1'-O-lauroyl sucrose, 5-0-vinyladipoyl L-arabinose, 6-0-vinyladipoyl D-glucose and 1 '-O-vinyladipoyl sucrose, being lhe last three polymerizable. The progress of lhe reaction was monitored by HPLC analysis, through lhe decrease of sugar concentration in comparison to lhe blank. Qualitative analysis by TLC confirmed lhe formation of lhe products. In lhe purification step, two methodologies were adopted: (1) chromatographic column and (2) extraction with hot acetone. The acylation position and lhe chemical structure were determined by 13C-RMN. The polymerization of lhe three vinyl sugar esters was possible, through chemical catalysis, using H2O2 and K2S2O8 as initiators, at 60°C, for 24 hours. IR spectra of lhe monomers and respective polymers were compared revealing lhe disappearance of lhe vinyl group in lhe polymer spectra. The molar weights of lhe polymers were determined by GPC and presented lhe following results: poly (5-0-vinyladipoyl L-arabinose): Mw = 7.2 X 104; PD = 2.48; poly (6-0-vinyladipoyl D-glucose): Mw = 2.7 X 103; PD = 1.75 and poly (1'-O-vinyladipoyl sucrose): Mw = 4.2 X 104; PD = 6.57. The six sugar esters were submitted to superficial tension tests for determination of the critical micelle concentrations (CMC), which varied from 122 to 167 ppm. Finally, a study of applicability of these sugar esters, as lubricants for completion fluids of petroleum wells was' accomplished through comparative analysis of lhe efficiency of these sugar esters, in relation to three commercial lubricants. The products synthesized in this thesis presented equivalent or superior action to lhe tested commercial products

Adição de poliuretana em pastas de cimento para poços de petróleo como agente de correção do filtrado

Chemical admixtures, when properly selected and quantified, play an important role in obtaining adequate slurry systems for quality primary cementing operations. They assure the proper operation of a well and reduce costs attributed to corrective cementing jobs. Controlling the amount lost by filtering through the slurry to permeable areas is one of the most important requirements in an operation, commonly controlled by chemical admixtures, such as carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). However, problems related to temperature, salttolerance and the secundary retarding effect are commonly reported in the literature. According to the scenario described above, the use of an aqueous dispersion of non-ionic poliurethane was proposed to control the filter loss, given its low ionic interaction with the free ions present in the slurries in humid state. Therefore, this study aims at assessing the efficiency of poliurethane to reduce filter loss in different temperature and pressure conditions as well as the synergistic effect with other admixtures. The temperatures and pressures used in laboratory tests simulate the same conditions of oil wells with depths of 500 to 1200 m. The poliurethane showed resistance to thermal degradation and stability in the presence of salts. With the increase in the concentration of the polymer there was a considerable decrease in the volume lost by filtration, and this has been effective even with the increase in temperature

Performance and ruminal morphologic characteristics of Saanen kids fed ground, pelleted or extruded total ration

The aim of the present study was to determine feed intake and average weight gain and to evaluate the ruminal morphologic characteristics of Saanen kids slaughtered at 30, 45 and 60 days of age, according to a completely randomized design. Thirty-six non-castrated male Saanen kids were fed ground total ration, pelleted total ration, or extruded total ration. Feed intake and refusals were controlled daily and the animals were weighed at birth and then once a week. Newborn kids received a milk replacer and were weaned at 45 days. Immediately after slaughter, the animals were eviscerated, the entire digestive apparatus was removed from the carcass. The reticulo-rumen was separated, emptied, washed and weighed. Samples were collected from the dorsal sac, pillar area and ventral sac of the rumen, fixed for about 24h in Bouin's solution, dehydrated, embedded in Histosec and cut into 5 mu m sections. Results showed that dry matter intake (DMI) at weaning and post-weaning and weight gain were higher (P < 0.05) in animals that received the pelleted total ration. The weight of the reticulo-rumen accompanied body development and was heavier in these animals. Histologically, after weaning ruminal papillae were more developed in animals that received pelleted total ration. Length of papillae increased with increase of age. The ratio of papillary height to papillary width increased with age in the ventral sac and until weaning (P > 0.05). We conclude that the pelleting process of the total ration favored increased intake, with a 46.7% increase in weight gain and increase in rumen weight and papillae length, suggesting that best results are obtained with this processing. In general, no difference was observed between the results obtained with extruded and ground total ration, although animals fed extruded total ration showed an increase in rumen weight and papillae width. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.

Identification of metabolites of kurarinone from Sophora flavescens Ait in rat urine by ultra-performance liquid chromatography with linear ion trap orbitrap mass spectrometry

Purpose: To study the in vivo metabolism of kurarinone, a lavandulyl flavanone which is a major constituent of Kushen and a marker compound with many biological activities, using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with linear ion trap Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap- MS). Methods: Six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups. First, kurarinone was suspended in 0.5 % carboxymethylcellulose sodium (CMC-Na) aqueous solution, and was given to rats (n = 3, 2 mL for each rat) orally at 50 mg/kg. A 2 mL aliquot of 0.5 % CMC-Na aqueous solution was administered to the rats in the control group. Next, urine samples were collected over 0-24 h after the oral administrations and all urine samples were pretreated by a solid phase extraction (SPE) method. Finally, all samples were analyzed by a UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometry coupled with an electrospray ionization source (ESI) that was operated in the negative ionization mode. Results: A total of 11 metabolites, including the parent drug and 10 phase II metabolites in rat urine, were first detected and interpreted based on accurate mass measurement, fragment ions, and chromatographic retention times. The results were based on the assumption that kurarinone glucuronidation was the dominant metabolite that was excreted in rat urine. Conclusion: The results from this work indicate that kurarinone in vivo is typically transformed to nontoxic glucuronidation metabolites, and these findings may help to characterize the metabolic profile of kurarinone.

Production of Recombinant Trichoderma Reesei Endoglucanase Protein CEL7B by Using Kluyveromyces Lactis

This research is about producing recombinant Trichoderma reesei endoglucanase Cel7B by using Kluyveromyces lactis, transformed with chromosomally integrated Cel7B cDNA, as a host cell (K. lactis Cel7B). Cel7B is one of the glycoside hydrolyze family of proteins that are produced by T. reesei. Cel7B together with other endoglucanases, exoglucanases, and â-glucosidases hydrolyze cellulose to glucose, which can then be fermented to biofuels or other value-added products. The research objective of this MS project is to examine favorable fermentation conditions for recombinant Cel7B enzyme production and improved activity. Production of enzyme on different types of media was examined, and the activity of the enzyme was measured by using different tools or procedures. The first condition tested for was using different concentrations of galactose as a carbon and energy source; however galactose also acts as a potent promoter of recombinant Cel7B expression in K. lactis Cel7B. The purpose of this method is to determine the relationship between production of enzyme with increasing sugar concentration. The second culture condition test was using different types of media: a complex medium-yeast extract, peptone, galactose (YPGal); a minimal medium-yeast nitrogen base (YNB) with galactose; and a minimal medium with supplement-yeast nitrogen base with casamino acid (YBC), a nitrogen source, with galactose. The third condition was using different types of reactors or fermenters: a small reactor (shake flask) and a larger automated bioreactor (BioFlo 3000 fermenter). The purpose of this method is to determine the quantity of the protein produced by using different environments of production. Different tools to determine the presence and activity of Cel7B enzyme were used. For the presence of enzyme, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was used. Secondly, to detect enzyme activity, the carboxymethyl cellulose- 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (CMC- DNS) assay was employed. SDS-PAGE showed that the enzyme band was at 67 kDa, which is larger than native Cel7B (52 kDa.), likely due to over glycolylation during post-translational processing in K. lactis. For the different types of media used in our fermentation, recombinant Cel7B was produced from yeast extract peptone galactose (YPGal), and yeast nitrogen base with casamino acid (YBC), but was not produced and no activity was detected from yeast nitrogen base (YNB). This experiment concluded that the Cel7B production requires the amino acid resources as part of fermentation medium. In experiments where recombinant Cel7B net activity was measured at 1% galactose initial concentration in YPGal and YBC media, higher enzyme activity was detected for the complex medium YPGal. Higher activity of recombinant Cel7B was detected for flask culture in 2% galactose compared to 1% galactose for YBC medium. Two bioreactor experiments were conducted under these culture conditions at 30°C, pH 7.0, dissolved oxygen of 50% of saturation, and 250 rpm agitation (variable depending on DO control) K. lactis-Cel7B yeast growth curves were quite reproducible with maximum optical density (O.D) at 600 nm of between 7 and 8 (when factoring dilution of 10:1). Galactose was consumed rapidly during the first 15 hours of bioreactor culture and recombinant Cel7B started to appear in the culture at 10-15 hours and increased thereafter up to a maximum of between 0.9 and 1.6 mg/mL/hr in these experiments. These bioreactor enzyme activity results are much higher than comparable experiments conducted with flask-scale culture (0.5 mg/mL/hr). In order to achieve the highest recombinant Cel7B activity from batch culture of K. lactis-Cel7B, based on this research it is best to use a complex medium, 2% initial galactose concentration, and an automated bioreactor where good control of temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen can be achieved.

OpenDataHub: an open dataset management system

This thesis presents a cloud-based software platform for sharing publicly available scientific datasets. The proposed platform leverages the potential of NoSQL databases and asynchronous IO technologies, such as Node.JS, in order to achieve high performances and flexible solutions. This solution will serve two main groups of users. The dataset providers, which are the researchers responsible for sharing and maintaining datasets, and the dataset users, that are those who desire to access the public data. To the former are given tools to easily publish and maintain large volumes of data, whereas the later are given tools to enable the preview and creation of subsets of the original data through the introduction of filter and aggregation operations. The choice of NoSQL over more traditional RDDMS emerged from and extended benchmark between relational databases (MySQL) and NoSQL (MongoDB) that is also presented in this thesis. The obtained results come to confirm the theoretical guarantees that NoSQL databases are more suitable for the kind of data that our system users will be handling, i. e., non-homogeneous data structures that can grow really fast. It is envisioned that a platform like this can lead the way to a new era of scientific data sharing where researchers are able to easily share and access all kinds of datasets, and even in more advanced scenarios be presented with recommended datasets and already existing research results on top of those recommendations.