Improvement of the photoluminescence from gallium nitride layers grown by MBE with an additional incident indium flux

The effect of using an indium flux during the MBE growth of GaN layers was investigated. The properties of these layers were studied using electron probe microanalysis, secondary ion mass spectroscopy, photoluminescence and cathodoluminescence. The optical properties of the GaN layers are shown to improve as compared with undoped GaN layers grown under nominally the same conditions but without an additional indium flux.

Preparation and simulation of an additional catalyst layer for direct methanol fuel cell

An additional anode catalyst layer with PtRu/C was hot pressed between two Nafion (R) 112 membranes and a conventional direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) cathode/membrane/anode assembly with the above membranes as separator was fabricated. The additional catalyst layer formed an assistant cell with the cathode to prevent methanol crossover. A simple one-dimensional mathematical model was presented to describe the performance of this new type of membrane electrode assembly system. As seen from both experimental result and model analysis, the additional catalyst layer can not only effectively prevent the methanol crossover, but also generate electrical power with the crossover methanol. The percentage of output power of the assistant cell to the total power analyzed by the model is about 40% under usual condition, which is much higher than that from experimental result, indicating the potential of the development in the DMFC designing. It was also discovered that the electrical power generated from the assistant cell with crossover methanol could take higher percentage in total electrical power when the main DMFC current density became lower.

Program Representation Size in an Intermediate Language with Intersection and Union Types

The CIL compiler for core Standard ML compiles whole programs using a novel typed intermediate language (TIL) with intersection and union types and flow labels on both terms and types. The CIL term representation duplicates portions of the program where intersection types are introduced and union types are eliminated. This duplication makes it easier to represent type information and to introduce customized data representations. However, duplication incurs compile-time space costs that are potentially much greater than are incurred in TILs employing type-level abstraction or quantification. In this paper, we present empirical data on the compile-time space costs of using CIL as an intermediate language. The data shows that these costs can be made tractable by using sufficiently fine-grained flow analyses together with standard hash-consing techniques. The data also suggests that non-duplicating formulations of intersection (and union) types would not achieve significantly better space complexity.

The mend of the bend-flexor pollicis longus tendon has an additional pulley distal to its point of angulation

The tendon of flexor pollicis longus angulates at the trapezio-metacarpal joint level. The degree of angulation varies with extent of radial/ulnar deviation (Rack and Ross [1984] J. Physiol. 351:99–110). We report a fibrous pulley at this level that helps stabilize the tendon and facilitates its action. The morphology of the pulley is described. We believe that it has an important role to play in the unique function of the tendon facilitating the movement of the thumb perpendicular to the plane of the thumbnail. Clin. Anat. 21:427–432, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc

The rebirth of an old language: issues of gender equality in Kazakhsstan

The existing language situation in Kazakhstan, while peaceful, is not without some tension. We propose to analyze here some questions we consider relevant in the frame of cultural globalization and gender equality, such as: free from Russian imperialism, could Kazakhstan become an easy prey of Turkey’s “imperialist dream”? Could these traditionally Muslim people be soon facing the end of religious tolerance and gender equality, becoming this new old language an easy instrument for the infiltration in the country of fundamentalism (it has already crossed the boarders of Uzbekistan), leading to a gradual deterioration of its rich multicultural relations? The present structure of the language is still very fragile: there are three main dialects and many academics defend the re-introduction of the Latin alphabet, thus enlarging the possibility of cultural “contamination” by making the transmission of fundamentalist ideas still easier through neighbour countries like Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan (their languages belong to the same sub-group of Common Turkic), where the Latin alphabet is already in use, and where the ground for such ideas shown itself very fruitful.

Effects of computer-mediated communication and face-to-face communication on the quantity and quality of discourse produced by English as a second language students /

The effects oftwo types of small-group communication, synchronous computer-mediated and face-to-face, on the quantity and quality of verbal output were con^ared. Quantity was deiSned as the number of turns taken per minute, the number of Analysis-of-Speech units (AS-units) produced per minute, and the number ofwords produced per minute. Quality was defined as the number of words produced per AS-unit. In addition, the interaction of gender and type of communication was explored for any differences that existed in the output produced. Questionnaires were also given to participants to determine attitudes toward computer-mediated and face-to-face communication. Thirty intermediate-level students fi-om the Intensive English Language Program (lELP) at Brock University participated in the study, including 15 females and 15 males. Nonparametric tests, including the Wilcoxon matched-pairs test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Friedman test were used to test for significance at the p < .05 level. No significant differences were found in the effects of computer-mediated and face-to-face communication on the output produced during follow-up speaking sessions. However, the quantity and quality of interaction was significantly higher during face-to-face sessions than computer-mediated sessions. No significant differences were found in the output produced by males and females in these 2 conditions. While participants felt that the use of computer-mediated communication may aid in the development of certain language skills, they generally preferred face-to-face communication. These results differed fi-om previous studies that found a greater quantity and quality of output in addition to a greater equality of interaction produced during computer-mediated sessions in comparison to face-to-face sessions (Kern, 1995; Warschauer, 1996).

Improving English as a Second Language (ESL) Pedagogy in One University in Ontario

In this paper, theoretical pedagogical approaches and practical pedagogical approaches are investigated by drawing on English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers’ pedagogical principles and practices, and ESL Chinese students’ second language acquisition and learning needs as they related to improving ESL pedagogy in one university ELP in Ontario. Three experienced ESL teachers were inquired by interviews and 30 ESL Chinese students were surveyed by questionnaires. Based on the mix-method exploratory research design, communicative, task-based, and content-based language teaching approaches are identified and discussed in the light of the interview and questionnaire data.

Evidence for an additional coupling of the innermost shells in very heavy quasi-molecular ion-atom collisions

Due to the tremendous spin-orbit splitting of quasi-molecular levels in superheavy collision systems (Z = Z_1 + Z_2 {\ge\approx} 137) bombarding energy 0.5-6 MeV N{^-1}, unusual couplings may occur around Z \simeq 165. Experimental evidence for such a theoretically predicted coupling is discussed.

Experimental study of textual development in Spanish students of English as a foreign language in segundo de bachillerato : features of written register in compositions of argumentative genre.

Esta investigación pretende, por un lado, describir y explicar los rasgos orales de las redacciones de los estudiantes españoles de inglés como lengua extranjera; y, por otro, intentar mejorar el estilo escrito de los textos de estos estudiantes a través de una intervención pedagógica.. Se diseña y aplica un tratamiento pedagógico a un grupo de estudiantes de segundo de bachillerato de Madrid. La instrucción se centra en hacerles conscientes de los recursos lingüísticos disponibles en inglés para la redacción de un texto. Se comparan las composiciones escritas por los estudiantes antes del tratamiento experimental con sus producciones posteriores, así como con un grupo de control del mismo instituto que no recibe ninguna instrucción. Se cotejan los textos en inglés con redacciones escritas en español por los estudiantes del grupo experimental. Asimismo, los textos escritos en inglés después del tratamiento experimental se comparan con redacciones de un grupo de estudiantes nativos de secundaria. Se analizan dos variables, para las que el estudio aporta sendos instrumentos de medida, la calidad y el grado de estilo escrito de los textos. La comparación de los textos escritos en español y en inglés de los estudiantes españoles del grupo experimental revela que las redacciones en la lengua materna son superiores en relación a su calidad pero no al grado de estilo escrito. Varios resultados estadísticos apuntan que el tratamiento recibido por el grupo experimental contribuye al desarrollo del grado de estilo escrito de los textos en inglés pero no mejora la calidad global de los mismos. Los resultados revelan que el grupo experimental es similar a los nativos en el grado de estilo escrito, aunque éste último supera a los estudiantes del inglés como lengua extranjera en la 'calidad' de los textos. Este estudio concluye que la impronta oral de las redacciones de los estudiantes de inglés como lengua extranjera puede deberse a la combinación de varios factores, la competencia discursiva en la lengua materna, la competencia lingüística/discursiva en la lengua objeto de aprendizaje, el conocimiento socio-cultural y lingüístico de adecuación contextual y el tipo de pedagogía en inglés como lengua extranjera.

English as a second language. Workbook 2 : IGCSE.

Recurso para estudiantes de IGCSE inglés como segundo idioma. Tiene como objetivo ayudarlos a mejorar sus respuestas de examen y la calificación global. Las explicaciones y ejemplos hacen que también sea muy útil para estudiantes que se preparan para otros exámenes avanzados. Cubre todos los aspectos de la prueba y esta dividido en cuatro partes temáticas. Cada parte se subdivide en unidades basadas en las áreas de habilidades específicas del plan de estudios para que los alumnos practiquen su lectura, escritura y audición.

English as a second language. Coursebook 2 : IGCSE.

Recurso para estudiantes del International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) inglés como segundo idioma. Tiene como objetivo ayudar a mejorar las respuestas de examen y la calificación global. Las explicaciones y ejemplos hacen que también sea muy útil para alumnos que se preparan para otros exámenes avanzados. Cubre todos los aspectos de la prueba y esta dividido en cuatro partes temáticas. Cada parte se subdivide en unidades basadas en las áreas de habilidades específicas del plan de estudios para practicar lectura, escritura y audición.