insights from different stages of language acquisition

Solving arithmetic problems is a cognitive task that heavily relies on language processing. One might thus wonder whether this language-reliance leads to qualitative differences (e.g., greater difficulties, error types, etc.) in arithmetic for bilingual individuals who frequently have to solve arithmetic problems in more than one language. The present study investigated how proficiency in two languages interacts with arithmetic problem solving throughout language acquisition in adolescents and young adults. Additionally, we examined whether the number word structure that is specific to a given language plays a role in number processing over and above bilingual proficiency. We addressed these issues in a German–French educational bilingual setting, where there is a progressive transition from German to French as teaching language. Importantly, German and French number naming structures differ clearly, as two-digit number names follow a unit-ten order in German, but a ten-unit order in French. We implemented a transversal developmental design in which bilingual pupils from grades 7, 8, 10, 11, and young adults were asked to solve simple and complex additions in both languages. The results confirmed that language proficiency is crucial especially for complex addition computation. Simple additions in contrast can be retrieved equally well in both languages after extended language practice. Additional analyses revealed that over and above language proficiency, language-specific number word structures (e.g., unit-ten vs. ten-unit) also induced significant modulations of bilinguals' arithmetic performances. Taken together, these findings support the view of a strong relation between language and arithmetic in bilinguals

Anti-tumor activity mediated by protein and peptide transduction of HIV viral protein R (Vpr)

Peptides that are capable of traversing the cell membrane, via protein transduction domains (PTDs), are attractive either directly as drugs or indirectly as carriers for the delivery of therapeutic molecules. One such PTD, a HIV-1 Tat derived peptide has successfully delivered a variety of "cargoes" including proteins, peptides and nucleic acids into cells. There also exists other naturally occurring membrane permeable peptides which have potential as PTDs. Specifically, one of the accessory proteins of HIV (viral protein R; i.e., Vpr), which is important in controlling viral pathogenesis, possesses cell transduction domain characteristics. Related to these characteristics, Vpr has also been demonstrated to induce cell cycle arrest and host/target cell apoptosis, suggesting a potential anticancer activity for this protein. In this report we assessed the ability of Vpr protein or peptides, with or without conjugation to a PTD, to mediate anti-cancer activity against several tumor cell lines. Specifically, several Vpr peptides spanning carboxy amino acids 65-83 induced significant (i.e., greater than 50%) in vitro growth inhibition/toxicity of murine B16.F10 melanoma cells. Likewise, in in vitro experiments with other tumor cell lines, conjugation of Vpr to the Tat derived PTD and transfection of this construct into cells enhanced the induction of in vitro apoptosis by this protein when compared to the effects of transfection of cells with unconjugated Vpr. These results underscore the potential for Vpr based reagents as well as PTDs to enhance anti-tumor activity, and warrants further examination of Vpr protein and derived peptides as potential therapeutic agents against progressive cell proliferative diseases such as cancer. ©2009 Landes Bioscience

The impact of syntactic and lexical trainings on capitalization of nouns in German in grade five

Many orthographies include syntactic markers not represented in phonology. In general, to correctly use these syntactic markers, learners have to analyze and understand the syntactic context of the word to be written. Capitalization of nouns, a syntactic marker in German, involves marking heads of noun phrases and is challenging for learners. The aim of this intervention study was to evaluate the effects of syntactic and lexical based trainings on capitalization of nouns. 114 Luxembourgish fifth-graders were assigned to two syntactic groups, a lexical group and a passive control group. The syntactic groups focused on two variants of training syntactic structures within the noun phrase. The lexical group focu-sed on lexical characteristics of nouns and the control group received reading input. The posttest results show that the students in the intervention groups profited from the syntactic-based training. The follow-up test shows that the intervention was sustainable, as the improvement remains stable. The study indicates that a greater focus on syntactic structures can effectively enhance the use of syntactic markers of capitalizations. Although this approach is initially harder to acquire, it covers all cases of capitalization

Além do discurso da pós-verdade: Algumas reflexões sobre a ideia de falsas notícias com base na linguística de corpus (uma análise educacional)

The study aims to go to beyond the discourse of post-truth: some reflections on the idea of fake news based on corpus linguistics (an educational analysis). Seeking to illustrate how we deceive ourselves by attempting to understand fake news through the notion of a post-truth society. We argue that both the concepts of fake news and post-truth are not an aberration to the history of media practices, neither are they of contemporary origins. They are an intricate part of the discursive practices in which media as an institution engages. The article builds on Foucault’s approach to discursive practices and applies a meta-discursive framework to trace the genealogy of post-truth and fake news in an Indian context. The article also offers a critical reflection on some of the key strategies to contain and counter fake news. For instance, media literacy and linguistic approaches such as corpus linguistics to detect fake news.El objetivo de este estudio fue ir más allá del discurso de la posverdad: algunas reflexiones sobre la idea de fake news basadas en la lingüística de corpus (un análisis educativo). Este artículo ilustra cómo nos engañamos a nosotros mismos al intentar comprender las noticias falsas a través de la noción de una sociedad posterior a la verdad. Argumentamos que tanto los conceptos de noticias falsas como de posverdad no son una aberración de la historia de las prácticas mediáticas ni tampoco son de origen contemporáneo. Son una parte intrincada de las prácticas discursivas en las que se involucran los medios como institución. El artículo se basa en el enfoque de Foucault de las prácticas discursivas y aplica un marco metadiscursivo para rastrear la genealogía de la posverdad y las noticias falsas en un contexto indio. El artículo también ofrece una reflexión crítica sobre algunas de las estrategias clave para contener y contrarrestar las noticias falsas. Por ejemplo, la alfabetización mediática y los enfoques lingüísticos como la lingüística de corpus para detectar noticias falsas.Este estudo busca ir além do discurso da pós-verdade: algumas reflexões sobre a ideia de fake news a partir da linguística de corpus (uma análise educacional). Este artigo ilustra como nos enganamos ao tentar entender fake news por meio da noção de uma sociedade pós-verdade. Argumentamos que tanto os conceitos de fake news quanto de pós-verdade não são uma aberração para a história das práticas de mídia e nem são de origens contemporâneas. Eles são uma parte intrincada das práticas discursivas nas quais a mídia como instituição se engaja. O artigo baseia-se na abordagem de Foucault às práticas discursivas e aplica uma estrutura meta-discursiva para traçar a genealogia da pós-verdade e das fake news em um contexto indiano. O artigo também oferece uma reflexão crítica sobre algumas das principais estratégias para conter e combater fake news. Por exemplo, alfabetização midiática e abordagens linguísticas, como linguística de corpus para detectar fake news

Comparison and suitability of genotype by environment analysis methods for yield-related traits of pearl millet

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) is an important food security and income crop for households living in semi-arid zones in Uganda. However, the genotype by environment interaction, in addition to the several methods used for its assessment, complicates selection of varieties adapted to such semi-arid areas. The objective of this study, therefore, was to compare common methods used to assess stability and adaptability of improved genotypes. Seventy six genotypes were planted in four environments in an alpha experimental design with two replications. Results showed that genotype by environment interactions were significant at p<0.05 for grain yield, days to 50% flowering and 50% physiological maturity, percentage of productive tillers and panicle area. Results further showed inconsistency in ranking of genotypes between methods; although Cultivar Superiority, REML, Yield Stability Index and GGE biplot were consistently correlated and identified high yielding and stable genotypes

Improvement of a low pH antigen-antibody dissociation procedure for ELISA measurement of circulating anti-Aβ antibodies

BACKGROUND: Prior work from our group found that acid dissociation (pH 2.5 incubation) of serum from APP transgenic mice vaccinated against Aβ increased the apparent anti-Aβ titers, suggesting antibody masking by antigen in the ELISA assay. Subsequently, we found that pH 2.5 incubation of serum from unvaccinated non-transgenic mice showed antibody binding to Aβ1–42, but no increase when other proteins, including shorter Aβ peptides, coated the ELISA plate. To investigate further the effects of low pH incubation on apparent anti-Aβ1–42 signals, we examined normal sera from nonTg unvaccinated mice, nonTg mice vaccinated with Aβ peptide (to produce authentic anti-Aβ antibodies) or a monoclonal antibody against Aβ (6E10) using competitive-inhibition ELISA and Aβ epitope mapping assays. In addition, we examined use of a less stringent low pH procedure at pH 3.5, to ascertain if it had the same effects as the pH 2.5 procedure. RESULTS: We believe there are three distinct effects of pH 2.5 incubation.; A) an artifactual increase in binding to full length Aβ by mouse immunoglobulin which has low affinity for Aβ, B) an inactivation of anti-Aβ antibodies that is time dependent and C) unmasking of high affinity anti-Aβ antibodies when high levels of circulating Aβ is present in APP transgenic mice. All three reactions can interact to produce the final ELISA signal. Incubation of sera from unvaccinated nonTg mice at pH 2.5 enhanced ELISA signals by process A. Conversely, pH 2.5 incubation of sera from vaccinated nonTg mice with caused a time dependent reduction of antibody signal by process B (overcoming the increase caused by A). The artifactual anti-Aβ ELISA signal enhanced by pH 2.5 incubation of normal mouse sera could not be effectively competed by low to moderate concentrations of Aβ, nor bind to shorter Aβ peptides in a manner similar to authentic anti-Aβ antibodies. Incubation of mouse sera at pH 3.5 caused neither an apparent increase in anti-Aβ ELISA signal, nor an inactivation of the ELISA signals resulting from either vaccination or monoclonal antibodies. However, incubation at pH 3.5 was able to completely reverse the reduction in ELISA signal caused by Aβ complexing with antibodies in sera from vaccinated mice or monoclonal anti-Aβ antibodies. CONCLUSION: Incubation at pH 3.5 is sufficient to dissociate Aβ bound to anti-Aβ antibodies without producing artifactual increases in the signal, or inactivating authentic antibody binding. Thus, use of pH 3.5 is a considerable improvement over pH 2.5 incubation for unmasking anti-Aβ antibodies in ELISA assays to measure antibodies in APP transgenic mouse sera

Uptake of resistant varieties and integrated management packages for bean root rot disease in western Uganda

The common dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the most widely grown food legume in Uganda,however, its production in western Uganda has been threatened by the bean root rot diseases.Resistant varieties and integrated soil and crop management package for the bean root rot disease,developed by the National Beans Research Programme, were promoted from 2003 to 2007 inBushenyi and Kisoro Districts that were most susceptible to this disease. This study was conductedto assess the level of uptake of technologies and practices promoted in the target area, and factorsinfluencing the decision to adopt. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnairethat was administered to 160 purposively selected bean farmers. The Poisson regression modelwas used to determine the factors influencing the number of technologies and practices used. Thestudy revealed that majority (95.0%) of the bean farmers had adopted at least one of the improvedbean varieties promoted. The results further show that NABE 12C, NABE 13 and NABE 14 werethe most preferred improved varieties. Preference was mainly attributed to high yield, palatabilityand short cooking time. Use of improved and resistant varieties (95.0%), sowing of one seed perhole (72.5%) and Farm Yard Manure (71.3%) were the most commonly used in management ofthe bean root rot disease. Analysis of the sequential combination of technologies adopted revealthat most farmers in Kisoro district used improved varieties + Farm Yard Manure + Row planting+ One seed per hole; while the farmers in Bushenyi mainly used a combination of improvedvarieties + Farm Yard Manure +Crop Rotation + One seed per hole. Poisson results indicated thatadoption was significantly and positively influenced by access to bean information, number oftimes a farmer was trained, participation in farmer to farmer seed loan scheme, record managementand the price of improved varieties. Age of household head had a negative influence andsignificantly reduced the expected number of technologies and practices used in the managementof BRR disease by 20%. To sustain the use of bean root rot management technologies and practices,there is need to support establishment of community-based seed production systems which havealready shown evidence of success in other areas and crops to ensure availability of sufficient quantities of seed and access to resistant varieties; support rural enterprises which provideinputs; and ensure farmers’ continued access to information though use of different channelsand media

Health and Gross National Happiness: review of current status in Bhutan

Worldwide, contemporary measures of the success of health development programs have been mostly in terms of the reduction of mortality and morbidity as well as increasing longevity. While these goals have yielded much-needed health improvements, the subjective outcomes of these improvements, as experienced by individuals and the communities, have not been considered. Bhutan, under the overarching policy of Gross National Happiness, has provided due consideration to these subjective indicators. Here, we report on the current status of health and happiness in Bhutan as revealed by conventional objective indicators and subjective Gross National Happiness indicators. The current literature on health in Bhutan in relation to the Gross National Happiness Survey conducted by the Centre of Bhutan Studies has been reviewed. Bhutan has made great strides within a short period of modernization, as shown by both objective and subjective indicators. Tremendous challenges lie ahead to achieve the ultimate goal of health and happiness, and how Bhutan articulates its path to modernization may be a lesson for the rest of the world

Participatory evaluation of improved technologies with farmers: the case of bean technologies

The National Beans Program has carried out on-farm bean variety evaluation trials since 1986 to-date using the conventional approach in addition to using farmer participatory approach from 1992 with more farmer involvement as partners in the research process. In either approach, it was noted that farmer involvement was a key to successful technology evaluation. It was also noted that yield was not the only factor farmers consider in adopting new bean varieties. Yield had to be accompanied by other variety attributes like preference for seed colour and size, good taste, tolerance to insect pests and diseases and other adverse conditions, marketability, shorter cooking time and maturity period. Both approaches have their successes and limitations. Making both approaches very efficient requires more farmer involvement in technology development and testing. There is need for training of farmers and extension agents in on-farm management and technology testing. Dedication and devotion of all parties involved in technology development and testing is important. There is need for increased funding for technology testing with more farmer involvement. The way forward is to make both approaches more participatory with more involvement of the farmers and all other stakeholders