Class Composition Research Articles

Good or bad? Understanding the effects over time of multigrading on child achievement

Multigrading represents the practice of mixing children of different ages in the same classroom. This paper examines the effect of attending a multigrade class in Grade 2 on students’ academic achievement in Grades 2, 5, and 8, respectively, considering Italy as a case study. To address the issue of endogeneity of multigrading (and class size), we adopt an IV identification strategy based on a law that disciplines class composition. We show that multigrading has a positive (16 percent of a standard deviation) short-term effect on academic achievements. However, this effect diminishes over time and becomes negative (-10 percent of a standard deviation) if students spend several years in a multigrade class. Mechanism analysis indicates the fundamental role of teachers and suggests that the negative long-term effect of multigrading is not statistically different from zero when multigrade classes are taught by more experienced teachers. These findings, based on longitudinal data, reconcile contrasting results in the literature, which are based on cross-sectional data and on the short-term effects of multigrading.

Relationship between lexical, reading and spelling skills in bilingual language minority children and their monolingual peers.

This study was conducted on a population of primary school children including bilingual language minority (BLM) children with L2-Italian and a variety of languages as L1 (e.g., Chinese, Albanian, Latin), and Italian-speaking monolingual children. The variety of languages ecologically reflects the nowadays composition of classes in the Italian school system. The aims were to investigate in both linguistic groups: (1) the developmental patterns of lexical, reading and spelling skills; (2) the pattern of predictive relations between lexical, reading and spelling skills. 159 primary school children from Grade 2 to Grade 5 participated in the study: BLM (n = 80) and monolingual (n = 79) children aged between 7 and 11 years. Each participant completed a vocabulary task (lexical skills), a text reading task (reading accuracy and reading speed) and a text dictation task (orthographic errors). ANOVA statistics showed the comparison of patterns between monolingual and BLM children in lexical, reading, and writing skills. Results show lower performances in lexical, reading and spelling skills in BLM children learning Italian as a second language compared to monolingual peers. Second, partial correlations performed separately for monolinguals and BLM with lexical ability as a control variable, illustrated that all variables correlated with each other in both groups. This result provides the option of performing hierarchical regressions. Finally, hierarchical regression analyses showed that the pattern of predictive relations between lexical, reading and spelling skills is the same across language groups, with the key role of orthographic accuracy as the pivotal process around which reading and lexical skills are built.

Eukaryotic Cell Membranes: Structure, Composition, Research Methods and Computational Modelling

This paper deals with the problems encountered in the study of eukaryotic cell membranes. A discussion on the structure and composition of membranes, lateral heterogeneity of membranes, lipid raft formation, and involvement of actin and cytoskeleton networks in the maintenance of membrane structure is included. Modern methods for the study of membranes and their constituent domains are discussed. Various simplified models of biomembranes and lipid rafts are presented. Computer modelling is considered as one of the most important methods. This is stated that from the study of the plasma membrane structure, it is desirable to proceed to the diverse membranes of all organelles of the cell. The qualitative composition and molar content of individual classes of polar lipids, free sterols and proteins in each of these membranes must be considered. A program to create an open access electronic database including results obtained from the membrane modelling of individual cell organelles and the key sites of the membranes, as well as models of individual molecules composing the membranes, has been proposed.

Early life predictors of body composition trajectories from adolescence to mid-adulthood.

Guatemala has experienced rapid increases in adult obesity. We characterized body composition trajectories from adolescence to mid-adulthood and determined the predictive role of parental characteristics, early life factors, and a nutrition intervention. One thousand three hundred and sixty-four individuals who participated as children in a nutrition trial (1969-1977) were followed prospectively. Body composition characterized as body mass index (BMI), fat mass index (FMI), and fat-free mass indices (FFMI), was available at four ages between 10 and 55 years. We applied latent class growth analysis to derive sex-specific body composition trajectories. We estimated associations between parental (age, height, schooling) and self-characteristics (birth order, socioeconomic status, schooling, and exposure to a nutrition supplement) with body composition trajectories. In women, we identified two latent classes of FMI (low: 79.6%; high: 20.4%) and BMI (low: 73.0%; high: 27.0%), and three of FFMI (low: 20.2%; middle: 55.9%; high: 23.9%). In men, we identified two latent classes of FMI (low: 79.6%; high: 20.4%) and FFMI (low: 62.4%; high: 37.6%), and three of BMI (low: 43.1%; middle: 46.9%; high: 10.0%). Among women, self's schooling attainment inversely predicted FMI (OR [being in a high latent class]: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.85, 0.97), and maternal schooling positively predicted FFMI (OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 0.97, 1.39). Among men, maternal schooling, paternal age, and self's schooling attainment positively predicted FMI. Maternal schooling positively predicted FFMI, whereas maternal age and paternal schooling were inverse predictors. The nutrition intervention did not predict body composition class membership. Parents' age and schooling, and self's schooling attainment are small but significant predictors of adult body composition trajectories.

Mineralogy of the unified soil classes of Wadi As Suqah: A sustainable engineering geology approach

This research endeavors to enhance soil classification methodologies in alignment with sustainability goals for mining and construction activities. The study focuses on the evaluation, classification, and mapping of quaternary surface deposits in Wadi As Suqah. To achieve this objective, an integration of mineral analyses and unified soil classes was employed. Various research methods were utilized, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS), sieve analysis, Atterberg limits, and X-ray diffraction. Additionally, principal component analysis (PCA) on variance was employed to identify the most influential minerals within the deposits. Consequently, a sophisticated engineering geological map of the deposited category was created, resulting in the categorization of Wadi As Suqah into 13 groups (A, B, C, …, L) based on similar lithofacies. These groups further represented 7 clusters of mineral-based classes, such as quartz-anorthite or quartz-albite, leading to the formation of 5 unified soil classes, namely SP, SP-SM, SM, SC-SM, and SC. Among the classified groups, group C, characterized by rich sandy quartz with some albite content, emerged as the largest group, occupying 20.3% of the total area. Conversely, group M, consisting of rich fine anorthite with a trace of quartz, constituted the minor group, representing only 0.5% of the entire area. The study acknowledges the limitations of being confined to surface investigations and, therefore, strongly recommends further subsurface investigations for a more comprehensive geotechnical understanding. The findings of this research hold significant implications for sustainable mining and construction practices by enabling a refined soil classification approach based on mineral composition and unified soil classes.

Arcobacteraceae comparative genome analysis demonstrates genome heterogeneity and reduction in species isolated from animals and associated with human illness

The Arcobacteraceae family groups Gram-negative bacterial species previously included in the family Campylobacteraceae. These species of which some are considered foodborne pathogens, have been isolated from different environmental niches and hosts. They have been isolated from various types of foods, though predominantly from food of animal origin, as well as from stool of humans with enteritis. Their different abilities to survive in different hosts and environments suggest an evolutionary pressure with consequent variation in their genome content. Moreover, their different physiological and genomic characteristics led to the recent proposal to create new genera within this family, which is however criticized due to the lack of discriminatory features and biological and clinical relevance. Aims of the present study were to assess the Arcobacteraceae pangenome, and to characterize existing similarities and differences in 20 validly described species. For this, analysis has been conducted on the genomes of the corresponding type strains obtained by Illumina sequencing, applying several bioinformatic tools. Results of the present study do not support the proposed division into different genera and revealed the presence of pangenome partitions with numbers comparable to other Gram-negative bacteria genera, such as Campylobacter. Different gene class compositions in animal and human-associated species are present, including a higher percentage of virulence-related gene classes such as cell motility genes. The adaptation to environmental and/or host conditions of some species was identified by the presence of specific genes. Furthermore, a division into pathogenic and non-pathogenic species is suggested, which can support future research on food safety and public health.

ТЕОРИЯ И МЕТОДОЛОГИЯ ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЯ ОРНАМЕНТА НА ЗАНЯТИЯХ ПО ОБЩЕЙ КОМПОЗИЦИИ В ИСКУССТВЕ КОСТЮМА И ТЕКСТИЛЯ С ЦЕЛЬЮ ФОРМИРОВАНИЯ ПРОЕКТНОЙ КОМПЕТЕНТНОСТИ У ХУДОЖНИКОВ ПО КОСТЮМУ В ОБРАЗОВАТЕЛЬНОЙ СРЕДЕ ВУЗА НА НАЧАЛЬНОМ ЭТАПЕ ОБУЧЕНИЯ

The article reveals the theoretical and methodological possibilities of using the expressive potential of the ornament in general composition classes in the art of costume and textiles in the preparation of a costume designer in order to form the design competence of students. The main methods of ornament construction and the features of their use in the design of textile compositions are described.

Mapping of ESA's Climate Change Initiative land cover data to plant functional types for use in the CLASSIC land model

Abstract. Plant functional types (PFTs) are used to represent vegetation distribution in land surface models (LSMs). Previous studies have shown large differences in the geographical distribution of PFTs currently used in various LSMs, which may arise from the differences in the underlying land cover products but also the methods used to map or reclassify land cover data to the PFTs that a given LSM represents. There are large uncertainties associated with existing PFT mapping methods since they are largely based on expert judgement and therefore are subjective. In this study, we propose a new approach to inform the mapping or the cross-walking process using analyses from sub-pixel fractional error matrices, which allows for a quantitative assessment of the fractional composition of the land cover categories in a dataset. We use the Climate Change Initiative (CCI) land cover product produced by the European Space Agency (ESA). Previous work has shown that compared to fine-resolution maps over Canada, the ESA-CCI product provides an improved land cover distribution compared to that from the GLC2000 dataset currently used in the CLASSIC (Canadian Land Surface Scheme Including Biogeochemical Cycles) model. A tree cover fraction dataset and a fine-resolution land cover map over Canada are used to compute the sub-pixel fractional composition of the land cover classes in ESA-CCI, which is then used to create a cross-walking table for mapping the ESA-CCI land cover categories to nine PFTs represented in the CLASSIC model. There are large differences between the new PFT distributions and those currently used in the model. Offline simulations performed with the CLASSIC model using the ESA-CCI-based PFTs show improved winter albedo compared to that based on the GLC2000 dataset. This emphasizes the importance of accurate representation of vegetation distribution for realistic simulation of surface albedo in LSMs. Results in this study suggest that the sub-pixel fractional composition analyses are an effective way to reduce uncertainties in the PFT mapping process and therefore, to some extent, objectify the otherwise subjective process.

Per-pixel accuracy as a weighting criterion for combining ensemble of extreme learning machine classifiers for satellite image classification

Reliable classification of satellite images is essential for various applications, including land cover and crop (LCC) mapping. In recent years, ensemble classifiers have shown remarkable success in satellite image classification as they provide solutions to combine and integrate multiple classifiers. This research presented a novel satellite image classification method called PAELM. The PAELM algorithm builds a diverse set of extreme learning machine (ELM) classifiers and combines them using the pixel-based LCC accuracy values in such a way that, for a given pixel, the most highly accurate ELM classifier among the ensemble of ELMs assigns the LCC class of that pixel. We validated PAELM on six experimental sites with varying geographical environments in the United States and compared it with three advanced machine learning classifiers, namely support vector machine, conventional ELM, and extreme gradient boosting and one advanced ensemble classifier. Our results showed that PAELM improved the accuracy of LCC mapping in comparison to the benchmark classifiers. The LCC maps generated by PAELM had an averaged overall accuracy and aggregated F1 score of 0.811 and 0.804, respectively, while these values for the most accurate benchmark classifier were 0.787 and 0.781, respectively. The results also implied that all the classifiers were sensitive to scene heterogeneity and LCC class composition, with PAELM being the least sensitive classifier to these factors. Overall, our findings suggested that PAELM was a promising approach for accurate LCC mapping, demonstrating the practicality of spatial accuracy as a weighting factor in the integration of ensemble of classifiers.

EFL adolescent learners’ perceptions of digital multimodal composing tasks and task outcomes: A longitudinal study

AbstractAlthough the value of digital multimodal composing (DMC) in language learning is being increasingly recognized, longitudinal studies focusing on second language (L2) students’ DMC practices are scarce. To fill the gap, this multi‐case study aimed to explore English as a foreign language adolescent learners’ evolving perceptions of the role of DMC tasks in English learning and the relationship between the quality of DMC task outcomes and learners’ perceptions over 7 months. Eight DMC tasks were implemented in an English composition class, and perceptions and task outcomes of three focal participants were tracked over time. Data were collected from multiple sources, such as a learner background questionnaire, a digital literacy questionnaire, semi‐structured interviews, reflection surveys, and the scores of students’ DMC tasks. Findings indicate that although all three participants acknowledged a beneficial role of DMC practices, each participant's perception exhibited different patterns over time: two kept the similar perceptions (negative and positive for each) and one showed a change in her perceptions (negative to positive). Results suggest that this difference could be attributed to various factors, including perceived level of digital literacy, the ongoing learning experience with DMC tasks, and understanding of multimodality. Regarding the relationship between the quality of DMC outcomes and students’ perceptions, although all three learners tended to perform better on their tasks over time, participants’ attitudes seemed to mediate the quality of DMC products. Pedagogical implications of the study are discussed in light of important considerations when implementing DMC tasks in L2 classrooms.

Single-nucleus and bulk RNA sequencing reveal cellular and transcriptional mechanisms underlying lipid dynamics in high marbled pork

Pork is the most consumed meat in the world, and its quality is associated with human health. Intramuscular fat (IMF) deposition (also called marbling) is a key factor positively correlated with various quality traits and lipo-nutritional values of meat. However, the cell dynamics and transcriptional programs underlying lipid deposition in highly marbled meat are still unclear. Here, we used Laiwu pigs with high (HLW) or low (LLW) IMF contents to explore the cellular and transcriptional mechanisms underlying lipid deposition in highly-marbled pork by single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) and bulk RNA sequencing. The HLW group had higher IMF contents but less drip loss than the LLW group. Lipidomics results revelled the changes of overall lipid classes composition (e.g., glycerolipids including triglycerides, diglycerides, and monoglycerides; sphingolipids including ceramides and monohexose ceramide significantly increased) between HLW and LLW groups. SnRNA-seq revealed nine distinct cell clusters, and the HLW group had a higher percentage of adipocytes (1.40% vs. 0.17%) than the LLW group. We identified 3 subpopulations of adipocytes, including PDE4D+/PDE7B+ (in HLW and LLW), DGAT2+/SCD+ (mostly in HLW) and FABP5+/SIAH1+ cells (mostly in HLW). Moreover, we showed that fibro/adipogenic progenitors could differentiate into IMF cells and contribute to 43.35% of adipocytes in mice. In addition, RNA-seq revealed different genes involved in lipid metabolism and fatty acid elongation. Our study provides new insights into the cellular and molecular signatures of marbling formation; such knowledge may facilitate the development of new strategies to increase IMF deposition and the lipo-nutritional quality of high marbled pork.

Effect of Freezing Process on the Chemical Properties of Blue Swimming Crab Portunus segnis: Storage Stability and Acceptability

ABSTRACT The effect of frozen storage at a commercial temperature (−30°C) on the nutritional characteristics of the blue swimming crab Portunus segnis for a period of 120 days was investigated. Lipid and protein oxidation was investigated by analyses of peroxide value, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, free fatty acids, and advanced oxidation protein products. Results showed significant lipid deterioration with extended storage time and changes in fatty acids composition and lipid classes. From a nutritional standpoint, it would be preferable for human consumption to eat frozen crabs for no more than 30 days as they retain a higher nutritional value.

Importing the Clairtone Sound

Following the industrial crisis of the 1920s and the Great Depression in the 1930s, consecutive provincial governments in Nova Scotia turned their efforts toward state-led economic development. After the election of Robert Stanfield and the Tories in 1956, a wholesale industrial planning model was unveiled. Indeed, Stanfieldian economic policy in Nova Scotia was predicated upon the belief that direct state-led interventionism was necessary to offset regional inequity. State corporate entities, such as Industrial Estates Limited, and renewed interest in a state-driven industrial relations paradigm were central in the province’s efforts to revitalize its flagging economy and offset predicted decline in the Cape Breton coal and steel industries. This article examines the fate of the Clairtone Sound Corporation, one of Nova Scotia’s “new industries” that emerged out of these state-led development efforts. A case study of this Stellarton-based firm reveals how structural processes of deindustrialization produced crisis even within sectors that were completely distinct from the province’s cornerstone industries of coal and steel. This case includes a reflection on the class composition of the modernist state in Nova Scotia and represents a convergence of the historiographical focus on state-led industrial development in the Maritimes and recent literature found within deindustrialization studies.

Simon Clarke’s practical–theoretical dialectic and the unity of purpose: A personal reflection

Simon Clarke played an unrivalled role in the intellectual trajectory of his former students and significantly shaped the research and the field of sociology in post-Soviet Russia. While his work appears comprised of two distinct lines of inquiry, the essential unity of Simon’s intellectual project may be appreciated by zooming in on the factors that motivated the entirety of his work, such as ethical orientation and a desire to understand the mediations of social relations and tensions between capitalism and freedom, autonomy, self-determination and dignity. Whether studying the political economy of ‘post-Fordist’ global capitalism, the class composition of post-colonial South Africa, the development of workers’ movements in post-socialist states, or the relationship between capital as a social relation and the state as a form of contradictory expression of its class character constituted through struggle, there is a unity of purpose in Simon’s work. In this article, I reflect on the above through a personal reflection of a former doctoral student.

Pengaruh Model Pembelajaran Kooperatif Tipe CIRC (Cooperative Integrated Reading And Composition) Terhadap Keterampilan Membaca Teks Persuasi Siswa Kelas VIII SMP Negeri 3 Pariaman

This article was written to explain the influence of the CIRC (Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition) cooperative learning model on the reading comprehension skills of persuasive texts for class VIII students of SMP Negeri 3 Pariaman. The research data is the score of the objective test results before using this type of cooperative learning model with the score after getting treatment using this learning model. Based on the results of the research, it can be concluded that there are three results that become findings, namely as follows. First, the reading comprehension skills of persuasive texts before using the cooperative learning model type CIRC (Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition) class VIII students of SMP Negeri 3 Pariaman are in the "Enough" qualification (C) with an average of 66.19. Second, the reading comprehension skills of persuasive texts after using the cooperative learning model type CIRC (Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition) class VIII students of SMP Negeri 3 Pariaman are in the "Good" qualification (B) with an average of 80.58. Third, there is a significant influence on the use of the CIRC type cooperative learning model on the reading comprehension skills of persuasive texts for class VIII students of SMP Negeri 3 Pariaman.

The Cause and Influence of Inadaptation in Peer Group: The Case of a Preparatory Undergraduate from Mongolia in Chinese Learning

This study investigated stability of class composition, peer pressure and language learning objects of a preparatory foreign student studying in China and how the factors interrelated with her academic performance during the education process. Giving attention to individual difference in class and considering different factors affecting motivation have significance with filling the gap of preparatory education research in China. This qualitative research adopted the method of watching the replay videos and one-on-one interview with the research subject to gather the data. The result demonstrates that in the language class, the level of language level affects the self-positioning of students in the class. For students with introverted personalities and high self-demand, the incompatibility to the uncommon class composition is more obvious, and it directly affects their oral language output and academic performance. The result also explores the role of social-emotional learning in self-regulated learning and intervention from teacher in reducing this negative influence, and finally gives suggestions for teachers and students to strengthen adaptability in language class.

Modified Cloze Test, Essay Test, Personal & Collaborative Writing Tasks in EFL Composition Class at Universitas Andalas

This retrospective study reports a quantitative analysis of two types of assignments and two test forms used to measure improvement of student’s writing skill in two composition classes at Universitas Andalas, West Sumatera, Indonesia. This project aims to identify the different roles of the two test forms used as well as the relationship and learning effects between the two test forms and weekly personal writing task or in-class group tasks. In this research, two EFL classes of Composition with two different groups of students in two successive academic years were observed. The classes’ activities, held through fourteen meetings for learning activities and two meetings for mid-term and end-of-term examinations, consisted of weekly assignments of composing paragraphs or short essays individually and collaboratively. The first composition class used an integrative test, i.e. cloze test, as the mid semester examination and a short essay test as the final semester examination. The second class used only essay test for both exams. The individual weekly writing task was assigned in both classes while the collaborative writing task was assigned only in the first class. The pearson r corelational analyses on scores of the assignments and the tests in both classes shows that the modified cloze test appeared to still correlately weakly with the essay test but, through t-test analyses, still significant in detecting the learning effect. Personal weekly writing assignments correlate strongly with essay test while the collaborative work appeared to have less significant learning effect on the student's writing competence.

Tea polyphenol EGCG ameliorates obesity-related complications by regulating lipidomic pathway in leptin receptor knockout rats

Tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has been widely recognized for antiobesity effects. However, the molecular mechanism of lipidomic pathway related to lipid-lowering effect of EGCG is still not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects and mechanism of EGCG activated hepatic lipidomic pathways on ameliorating obesity-related complications by using newly developed leptin receptor knockout (Lepr KO) rats. Results showed that EGCG supplementation (100 mg/kg body weight) significantly decreased total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) levels both in the serum and liver, and significantly improved glucose intolerance. In addition, EGCG alleviated fatty liver development and restored the normal liver function in Lepr KO rats. Liver lipidomic analysis revealed that EGCG dramatically changes overall composition of lipid classes. Notably, EGCG significantly decreased an array of triglycerides (TGs) and diglycerides (DGs) levels. While EGCG increased 31 glycerophospholipid species and one sphingolipid species levels, such as phosphatidylcholines (PCs), phosphatidylethanolamines (PEs), phosphatidylserines (PSs) and phosphatidylinositols (PIs) levels in the liver of Lepr KO rats. Moreover, 14 diversely regulated lipid species were identified as potential lipid biomarkers. Mechanistic analysis revealed that EGCG significantly activated the SIRT6/AMPK/SREBP1/FAS pathway to decrease DGs and TGs levels and upregulated glycerophospholipids synthesis pathways to increase glycerophospholipid level in the liver of Lepr KO rats. These findings suggested that the regulation of glycerolipids and glycerophospholipid homeostasis might be the key pathways for EGCG in ameliorating obesity-related complications in Lepr KO rats.

Fairness Analysis in the Assessment of Several Online Parallel Classes using Process Mining

The learning process in online lectures through the Learning Management System (LMS) will produce a learning flow according to the event log. Assessment in a group of parallel classes is expected to produce the same assessment point of view based on the semester lesson plan. However, it does not rule out the implementation of each class to produce unequal fairness. Some of the factors considered to influence the assessment in the classroom include the flow of learning, different lecturers, class composition, time and type of assessment, and student attendance. The implementation of process mining in fairness assessment is used to determine the extent to which the learning flow plays a role in the assessment of ten parallel classes, including international classes. Moreover, a decision tree algorithm will also be applied to determine the root cause of the student assessment analysis based on the causal factors. As a result, there are three variables that have effects on student graduation and assessment, i.e attendance, class, and gender. The variable lecturer does not have much impact on the assessment but has an influence on the learning flow.

Librarians as Teachers: Effecting Change in Composition Instruction

This study assessed student research papers using a rubric to determine the information literacy skills of students in introductory composition classes. Librarians taught a pilot composition course that infused information literacy (IL) into the traditional English curriculum. The students' IL skills were compared to those of undergraduates enrolled in a traditional composition class, who received only a one-shot library instruction session. Students in the information literacy composition course scored better than their counterparts in six of seven IL skill categories. Results support greater integration of information literacy and composition curricula as a path forward for student success.