Afforded Research Articles

English Language Teachers’ Experiences of Using ICT in ELT

While technologies have penetrated all regions and states in Nepal – a developing country with challenging terrains – teacher educators’ practices, especially those in remote areas, are still unexplored. Integrating innovative technologies into English language education, in this context, has become essential as their aff ordances help to enhance teaching and learning. This hermeneutic phenomenological research paper, hence, explores the perspectives and experiences of using ICT in English language teaching by four English language teacher educators in Darchula, a remote district located in the Sudurpaschim Province of Nepal. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed thematically. The fi ndings indicate positive attitudes among English language teacher educators towards incorporating ICT in ELT, as it enhances learning and teaching experiences, fosters student engagement, improves access to learning resources, and establishes dynamic and interactive learning environments. This study emphasises the importance of effectively integrating ICT in English language teaching while addressing technical obstacles and striking a balance between online resources to maximise benefi ts and mitigate drawbacks.

Affordances of e-Newsletters for NPO General-Public Stakeholders

Affordances of e-Newsletters for NPO General-Public Stakeholders

Biological computation running on quantum computation

Biological computation supporting biological phenomena functionally practices the underlying quantum computation indexically, rather than symbolically. An advantage of the indexical operation of quantum computation rests upon a significant reduction of the computational complexity compared with the corresponding classical counterpart running exclusively upon the symbol manipulation. The reduction of the complexity is sought in allowing for the participation of multiple processors running concurrently in a parallel manner. The concurrent distribution of multiple processors operating mutually in an inseparable manner lets each processor regard the rest of the distribution as its own environment. The environment thus formed and detected by each processor may differ from the similar ones appropriated to the other individual participants nearby. Both the individual processor and the corresponding environment turn out to be agential. Quantum computation practiced indexically may serve as a precursor agency apt for both forming Jakob von Uexküll's umwelt towards the environment and making use of James J. Gibson's affordance from the environment. The individual environment to each material participant there is already indexically agential in pulling that participant in.

¿Promueven los patios naturalizados el desarrollo de la competencia científica? Un estudio de caso en la educación infantil

En los ultimos tiempos muchas escuelas de infantil estan realizando actuaciones para naturalizar sus patios escolares, potenciando su uso educativo. Este podria ser un espacio idoneo para trabajar contenidos y fomentar procesos cientificos con los mas pequenos. En este trabajo se propone un modelo de evaluacion de la capacidad y potencialidad de este tipo de espacios para trabajar la competencia cientifica. Con dicho modelo se ha analizado el uso que dos escuelas de infantil estan haciendo de sus patios naturalizados para hacer ciencia. Los resultados muestran que para aprovechar verdaderamente estos espacios hay varios factores a tener en cuenta. Por un lado, valorar el potencial educativo del patio y por el otro, y muy especialmente, fomentar la intencionalidad de los docentes de infantil para trabajar en una clave cientifica. Palabras clave: educacion infantil, patios naturalizados, competencia cientifica. Do nature playgrounds promote the development of scientific competence? A case study in early childhood education Abstract: Recently, many preschool outdoor spaces are being transformed into nature-rich settings, also encouraging their use as learning environments. Playgrounds provide a unique opportunity for early science learning and fostering of scientific process-skills. The current study proposes an evaluation model of their capacity and affordance of the scientific competence. This model has been applied to assess the use that schools are making of their outdoor spaces for nature-based science learning. Results highlight some key factors to take full advantage of these environments. On the one hand, to recognize the educational potential of playgrounds, and on the other hand, and specially, to encourage educators to intentionality engage in science teaching. Keywords: Early childhood education, nature playgrounds, scientific competence.

The learning dialogue of university language students in a digital environment for online text annotations

The article discusses how an open access tool for collaborative online interaction (Hypothes.is) can be used to enhance collaborative and individual actions of language awareness and critical multimodal awareness for groups of undergraduate and postgraduate university students of English as a foreign language. The research questions focus on how student online collaboration can contribute to (or hinder) the process of critical analysis of multimodal texts, and to what extent collaboration through a digital environment can promote learner autonomy and peer learning through shared discourse and online/offline actions. The digital environment which is the main digital context of interaction for the study is LearnWeb/CELL: CELL (Communicating in English for Language Learning) is a community hosted within the LearnWeb digital environment developed by the L3S Research Center at Leibniz University (Hanover, Germany) (Marenzi 2014) and it is customized as a collaborative environment for undergraduate and postgraduate language courses at the University of Udine (Italy). The LearnWeb developers have embedded an open access application for website annotation (Hypothes.is) in the LearnWeb/CELL digital environment, so that it can be accessed and used by students and teachers. In the study we focus on the reflective learning dialogue that takes place between students when they analyze texts collaboratively. In general terms, this learning dialogue is usually rather elusive and difficult to capture because it happens informally outside the classroom. Our starting hypothesis was that the digital functionalities and affordances of Hypothes.is in CELL would capture at least a part of that learning dialogue and, more specifically, they would record what the students decide to disclose and reveal through their online annotations. Within the limitations of a small-scale study, the paper discusses the students’ individual and collective process of reflection on multimodal text analysis. This use of the digital environment allows teachers, researchers and the whole class to ‘see’ the powerful effect of learning with peers and from peers while developing learning autonomy and exploring learning strategies.

Proprioception and hand visualization distort the affordance of reaching

Proprioception and hand visualization distort the affordance of reaching

Design as Communication: Sound-Images and Affordances

Design as Communication: Sound-Images and Affordances

Narrative video game aesthetics and egocentric ethics

This article argues that video gaming allows for player-focused (egocentric) moral experience that can be distinguished from the other-focused (allocentric) moral experience that characterizes literature and film. Specifically, a Deweyan perspective reveals that video games aff ord fi rst-personal rehearsals of moral scenarios that parallel how, in real life, individuals mentally rehearse the diff erent courses of moral action available to them. This functional equivalence is made possible because the aesthetics of video games bear unique affinities to the human moral imagination. However, whereas the moral imagination may be limited in terms of the complexity and vividness of its analog imaginings, the ethically notable video game may draw on the medium’s digital capacities in order to stage elaborate and emotionally compelling ethical rehearsals. The article concludes by applying this perspective to the ethically notable video game Undertale.

Many Women in Substance Use Disorder Treatment Can't Afford Menstrual Products

Incorporating sexual and reproductive health services into treatment for substance use disorder may support women's efforts to remain drug free. In a

‘WE COULD NOT AFFORD TO LOSE THIS RACE.’

‘WE COULD NOT AFFORD TO LOSE THIS RACE.’

Intersectional Oppressions, Resistance, and Privileges: Three Stories of Iranian Women

An old woman states her demands, too: “Some people plundered a grocery store on Saturday. I don’t agree with these actions. This is the right of the people [haqul nas].” She suddenly bursts into tears: “I always say my prayers, but I entered the store that day and took a 10-kilo bag of rice! God forgives me! We haven’t had rice for two months. I couldn’t afford it. God forgives me….” (Khosravi Olya, 2019, my translation)

How to do things with modes. Transmodality in slides

Slideshows are ubiquitous in today’s academic events such as university lectures. Thus, it appears imperative to investigate the evolution of the modes which are implemented in processes of knowledge communication through slideshows. In particular, this study focuses on the complex relations between texts and images and on the multifaceted functions that different modes assume. A corpus of lecture slides drawn from the MIT OpenCourseWare site is investigated from a transmodal perspective by adopting a qualitative approach. The analysis shows that the production of slides is based on the exploitation of multiple modes which co-act for the fulfillment of different pragmatic needs (e.g. informative, persuasive, or interactional) and assume a mutually constructive function. This paper also argues for the significance of transmodal research in academic contexts, especially in the light of the constant technological and epistemological shift which accompanies the evolution of teaching practices in higher education. Indeed, a transmodal approach can facilitate a wider understanding of the affordances and limitations of the different semiotic resources, which need to be conceived from a complementary and syncretic perspective.

You Want To Do What?! In-Home Extubation at the End of Life

Introduction: Few things are as emotionally devastating to a family as the death of a child; an unfortunately common occurrence in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). For many dying infants, critical care expertise and respiratory support are provided while families finalize end-of-life care plans. While grieving is a critical step to processing the death of an infant, NICU families are rarely afforded the opportunity do this privately due to the chaotic, open-bay nature of many NICUs. We present the case of a 37 week infant, born with an inoperable …

The Quality Improvement Information System for Surveillance and Monitoring for Patient Safety and Personal Safety in Kalasin Hospital, Kalasin Province, Thailand.

This mixed-method research aimed to evaluate in need assessments and develop an intervention model for quality improvement information system-QIIS for surveillance and monitoring Patient safety and Personals safety in Kalasin Hospital, Thailand. The process was divided into 3 phases, 1) Studies on needs assessments of patients and hospital staff-2P, 2) Develop the program and assessment 3) Program implementation and evaluation. The 245 participants were participated during October 2019 - Februarys 2020. A questionnaire and semi-structure interview by content analysis were applied to investigate on needs assessments and intervention evaluation were using checklist for observation. The results revealed that information alert from supportive technology especially in real-time were sophisticated improving and significantly increasing with the positively and satisfaction levels of the staff increasingly particularly in pre and post observation (p-value <0.05). The key success of QIIS was comprised as suddenly response and information alert system, for this reason their staff could be immediately responsive to problems as much as they affords.

Pedagogical foundations to online lectures in health professions education.

Professional and tertiary health professions education (HPE) has been markedly challenged by the current novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Mandates for training organisations to reduce social contact during the global pandemic, and make learning available online, provide an opportunity for regional, rural and remote clinicians and students to more easily access learning and professional development opportunities. Online lectures, while posing an opportunity for regional, rural and remote HPE, entail potential risks. Educators who are familiar with face-to-face pedagogies may find a transition to remote, digital interaction unfamiliar, disarming, and therefore they may not design maximally engaging lectures. The strategies used in a face-to-face lecture cannot be directly transferred into the online environment. This article proposes strategies to ensure the ongoing effectiveness, efficiency and engagement of lectures transitioning from face-to-face to online delivery. Cognitive learning theory, strategies to promote learner engagement and minimise distraction, and examples of software affordances to support active learning during the lecture are proposed. This enables lecturers to navigate the challenges of lecturing in an online environment and plan fruitful online lectures during this disruptive time. These suggestions will therefore enable HPE to better meet the existing and future needs of regional, rural and remote learners who may not be able to easily access face-to-face learning upon the relaxation of social distancing measures. Strategies to provide equitable HPE to learners who cannot access plentiful, fast internet are also discussed.

Setting the scene: Filling the Gaps in Populism Studies

This article introduces the conceptual and analytical framework for the special issue, which explores the cultural side of populism: the relationships between politics, emotions, music, and subcultures in populist contexts. We highlight the role that cultural and symbolic 'products' (such as music, emotions, narratives, and visual symbols) play in the emergence and spread of populism. First, we explore the opportunities afforded by understanding the concept of populism from a cultural/symbolic point of view, reaching beyond the traditional party politics literature to which it is usually confined. Second, we suggest different ways in which populism has been articulated in various European countries (e.g. popular cultures, subcultures) since the economic crisis of 2008, emphasizing music, narratives, visuals, and emotions as means of the populist symbolic construction of the political and social reality. Third, from a social movement perspective, we reflect on the mechanisms (cognitive, emotional, normative) that may help understanding the current populist 'momentum', as well as on the methods to empirically grasp them.

Bioassay-guided isolation, identification, and evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of β-boswellic alcohol and 3-o-acetyl-11-hydroxy-β-boswellic acid from the leaves of Boswellia serrata

Background: There are no in-depth studies on the extracts of the leaves of Boswellia serrata (BS), which contain many bioactive phytoconstituents and responsible for their anti-inflammatory effects. Objectives: The goal of this research plan was the isolation and purification of most active compounds from the leaves of BS via bioassay-guided fractionation based on anti-inflammatory activity. Materials and Methods: The silica gel column chromatographic techniques with different solvent systems were used for the separation of the constituents of the ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of BS leaves. The structures of the isolated compounds were assigned based on various spectroscopic analysis (high-resolution mass spectrometry,[1]H NMR, and[13]C NMR) and comparison with literature data. The anti-inflammatory activity of all crude extracts, subfractions of ethyl acetate extract, and two isolated new compounds were evaluated in cell-free (cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase) and cell-based assays (nitrite and tumor necrosis factor-alpha) in RAW264.7. Results: Bioassay-guided fractionation of the extracts of the leaves of BS afforded two ursane-type triterpenoids (compound 5, β-boswellic alcohol, and compound 6, 3-O-acetyl-11-hydroxy-β-boswellic acid) and other ten known triterpene acids. Compound 5 and 6 exhibited strong anti-inflammatory activity with an IC50value of a range 26.5–34.2 μM and 18.3–21.1 μM, respectively, in cell-free and cell-based assays. Conclusion: This is the first report on isolation and identification of β-boswellic alcohol and 3-O-acetyl-11-hydroxy-β-boswellic acid from the leaves of BS, which showed strong anti-inflammatory activity and holds great promise for the treatment of numerous inflammatory diseases.

Chemical Constituents from the Aerial Parts of Artemisia capillaris Thunb. and Their Anti-allergic and Anti-inflammatory Effects

Artemisia capillaris Thunb. (Compositae) is a traditional medicinal plant with various pharmacological activities. To elucidate new anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory constituents, the aerial parts of A. capillaries were investigated to afford a new compound, (6E,8E)-6-methylundeca-6,8-diene-2,5,10-trione (17) together with 19 known compounds (1 - 16, 18 - 20). The structures of these compounds were determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses including 1D, 2D NMR, HREIMS, and optical rotation [α]D. The absolute configuration of compound 2 was determined to be S form for the first time. All isolates (1 - 20) were tested their inhibitory effects on interleukin 2 (IL-2) expression in T cells and NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW246.7. Among them, compounds 10, 11, 19, and 20 reduced IL-2 expression in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, compound 10 also inhibited NO production with an IC50 value of 37.3 ± 0.4 μM.

Scientific Learning Motivations as Predictors of Pre-service Elementary Grade Teachers’ Authentic Assessment Practices in Science

Teachers, as life-long learners, hold personal pedagogical and andragogical motivations towards learning which manifest in their procedures and practices towards specific disciplines. This study is aimed to determine the level of scientific learning motivations and assessment practices in science of pre-service elementary grade teachers and ascertain whether the respondents’ scientific learning motivations predict their assessment practices in the subject. Scientific learning motivations in this study include intrinsic and extrinsic goal orientation, task value, control of learning beliefs, expectancy, and affective components. Employing adopted questionnaires in a Descriptive-Predictive Research design, the respondents’ scientific learning motivations and assessment practices in science were determined and evaluated. Results showed that the pre-service elementary grade teacher-respondents had good to very good motivations in science learning and assessment practices towards the subject. Among the motivational factors in science learning, only expectancy component is related to their affordances in authentic assessment in science. Furthermore, self-efficacy for learning (an expectancy component of scientific learning motivations) was specifically seen to predict the pre-service elementary grade teachers’ affordances of authentic assessment practices towards the subject.

Antitrypanosomal butanolides from Aiouea trinervis.

In a search for new antitrypanosomal agents in the Brazilian flora, the ethanol extract of the xylopodium from Aiouea trinervis (Lauraceae) exhibited in vitro activity against the epimastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease. Bioassay-guided chromatographic fractionation of the ethanol extract afforded three butanolides, isoobtusilactone A (1), epilitsenolide C2 (2), and epilitsenolide C1 (3). Butanolides 1 and 3 were more active against T. cruzi epimastigotes than the reference drug benznidazole (by 8.9-fold and 3.2-fold, respectively), while 2 proved inactive. Compounds 1 and 3 showed low cytotoxicity in mammalian Vero cells (CC50> 156 μmol L-1) and high selectivity index (SI) values for epimastigotes (SI = 56.8 and 28.6, respectively), and 1 was more selective than benznidazole (SI = 46.5). Butanolide 1 at 24 μmol L-1 also led to cell cycle alterations in epimastigote forms, and inhibited the growth of amastigote cells in more than 70 %. In silico ADMET properties of 1 were also analyzed and predicted favorable drug-like characteristics. This butanolide also complied with Lipinski's rule of five and was not predicted as interference compound (PAINS). This is the first report on the isolation of these bioactive butanolides under the guidance of in vitro trypanocidal activity against T. cruzi.