The purpose of the present paper was to examine the social validity of telepractice as a service delivery model for Spanish-speaking families of English learners. Quantitative survey methodology was ...employed to examine 79 caregivers' opinions regarding telepractice and to obtain background information about participants' home environments. Findings revealed that approximately 46% of the participant sample reported being interested in their children receiving services via telepractice. Caregivers reported limited familiarity with telepractice as an option, but were likely to express interest if their child had an identified speech or language disorder or if they were interested in increased access to Spanish language support for their children. In conclusion, although telepractice is not universally accepted among Spanish-speaking families, it appears to be a promising service delivery model. It is recommended that service providers offer thorough information and address common myths when considering telepractice as a service delivery model for families.
The purpose of this study was to examine construct validity of methods of calculating lexical diversity in written narrative samples relative to children’s performance on a reading vocabulary ...measure. For 234 children in first to fifth grade, written narratives were examined and compared between grades for number of different words (NDW), total number of words (TNW), NDW in a truncated 50 word sample, and type token ratio (TTR). The relationship between lexical diversity in written narratives and a standardized reading vocabulary measure (Gates–McGinitie Reading Test–Fourth Edition GMRT-4) was analyzed by comparing correlations. Grade differences were observed in measures of lexical diversity and productivity. Lexical diversity showed a significant moderate correlation with the GMRT-4. NDW had a stronger relationship to GMRT-4 scores than TTR for participants in first and second grade. Considering length (TNW, NDW constrained to 50 words, or TTR) did not result in a stronger relationship with reading vocabulary. Following additional study establishing probe equivalence, NDW in written narratives may be an efficient, educationally relevant, marker of language maturity, and a good predictor of performance on a standardized reading vocabulary measure.
In this study, we elicited grammatical forms (oral production) from a group of child heritage speakers of Spanish (N = 45) in English and Spanish, using the morphosyntax subtest of the Bilingual ...English–Spanish Assessment (BESA), (Peña et al. 2014). A cross-sectional design was used with 25 participants in kindergarten and 20 in first grade. All children spoke Spanish at home and attended English rural schools. We controlled for L2 class environment and socio-economic status. Research findings indicated children produced more target structures in L1 Spanish. This project supports the view that sequential bilingualism and continuous exposure to the heritage language may assist heritage speakers to maintain some L1 structures (Miller and Cuza 2013; Pascual y Cabo and Gómez Soler 2015). Patterns of L2 development are also addressed.
The aim of this preliminary study was to examine the feasibility of a rapid automatic naming (RAN) task for young Spanish–English speaking dual language learners (DLLs) and to examine the ...relationship between children’s performance on RAN and other standardized language and literacy assessments. A total of 275 Spanish–English speaking children in kindergarten and first grade attempted a RAN task and completed assessments of language and early literacy. Correlational analyses and quantile regression was conducted to examine relationships. Overall the RAN task was feasible for 74% (n = 203) of the DLLs; however, 42% of participants in kindergarten were unable to complete the task. There was a moderate positive correlation between RAN performance and standard scores in receptive vocabulary and letter identification, a small positive correlation with non-verbal intelligence, and no significant relationship with phonological awareness. There was a differential relation between RAN and English sentence imitation. The results support further consideration of RAN as a feasible and useful measure for young Spanish–English speaking DLLs.
This dissertation analyzes written language samples from fifth grade students with limited English proficiency from Spanish home language backgrounds. Written language sample holistic quality scores ...and Florida Assessments for Instruction in Reading–Florida Standards measures describe English learner (EL) students’ literacy achievement and relationships with writing microstructure measures. EL students were participants from a larger randomized control trial on the efficacy of an experimental word knowledge intervention that focused on instructing morphological knowledge. Following analysis for completeness and acceptability of written language samples, 173 EL students were eligible for study inclusion. Written language sample analysis resulted in the following microstructure measures; total number of words, number of different words, morphologically complex words, intervention-specific morphologically complex words, and amount of unique derivations score. Analysis of beginning and end-of-the-year written language samples resulted in a significant increase in morphologically complex word production, a significant decrease in the number of different words, and no change in the other microstructure measures. Analysis for intervention effects resulted in no difference in writing microstructure or writing quality outcomes between intervention EL students and EL students in the business-as-usual control group. Finally, multiple regression models resulted in significant ability of morphological writing microstructure measures to predict holistic writing quality scores above and beyond variance explained by reading comprehension achievement. Key findings are presented with a discussion of their relation to previous research. Discussion interprets results within the Simple View of Writing and provides implications for educators and researchers interested in continuing to develop interventions for EL students’ written language achievement.
English vocabulary development is a key component of language and literacy development for English language learners (ELLs) living in the United States. With the increase in the number of ...speech-language pathologists (SLPs) with ELLs on their caseloads, it has become increasingly important for SLPs to be able to facilitate vocabulary growth in ELLs. To assist SLPs working with ELLs in schools, the present paper provides an overview of strategies to enhance English vocabulary instruction for ELLs, drawing on evidence from research with both monolingual and bilingual students. Strategies included are: leveraging the native language, teaching comprehension monitoring, embedding instruction in reading, building morphological awareness, and collaborating with classroom teachers. Specific, effective vocabulary instruction protocols are also briefly overviewed.
Generalized lymphatic anomaly (GLA) is a vascular disorder characterized by diffuse or multifocal lymphatic malformations (LMs). The etiology of GLA is poorly understood. We identified four distinct ...somatic
variants (Glu542Lys, Gln546Lys, His1047Arg, and His1047Leu) in tissue samples from five out of nine patients with GLA. These same
variants occur in
-related overgrowth spectrum and cause hyperactivation of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway. We found that the mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin, prevented lymphatic hyperplasia and dysfunction in mice that expressed an active form of
(His1047Arg) in their lymphatics. We also found that rapamycin reduced pain in patients with GLA. In conclusion, we report that somatic activating
mutations can cause GLA, and we provide preclinical and clinical evidence to support the use of rapamycin for the treatment of this disabling and deadly disease.
The Mec1/Tel1 kinases (human ATR/ATM) play numerous roles in the DNA replication stress response. Despite the multi-functionality of these kinases, studies of their in vivo action have mostly relied ...on a few well-established substrates. Here we employed a combined genetic-phosphoproteomic approach to monitor Mec1/Tel1 signaling in a systematic, unbiased, and quantitative manner. Unexpectedly, we find that Mec1 is highly active during normal DNA replication, at levels comparable or higher than Mec1’s activation state induced by replication stress. This “replication-correlated” mode of Mec1 action requires the 9-1-1 clamp and the Dna2 lagging-strand factor and is distinguishable from Mec1’s action in activating the downstream kinase Rad53. We propose that Mec1/ATR performs key functions during ongoing DNA synthesis that are distinct from their canonical checkpoint role during replication stress.
Display omitted
•A combined genetic-proteomic approach to monitor Mec1 and Tel1 signaling•Mec1 is highly activated during normal DNA replication•Replication-correlated Mec1 action is distinct from canonical checkpoint•9-1-1 clamp and Dna2 lagging-strand factor activate Mec1 during DNA replication
Mec1/ATR kinase activity is typically associated with checkpoint signaling in response to replication stress and S-phase DNA damage. Bastos de Oliveira et al. use a quantitative mass spectrometry approach (QMAPS) to demonstrate that Mec1 has “replication-correlated” activity that is distinguishable from its action during canonical checkpoint responses.
In this study, four different plastic materials usually used in the agricultural sector (polystyrene film (PS), polyethylene terephthalate film (PET), low-density polyethylene film (LDPE) and linear ...low-density polyethylene film (LLDPE)) were subjected to different abiotic treatments, including photo-oxidation (ultraviolet and e-beam radiation) and thermochemical treatments, to enhance polymer degradation. The extensive use of these polymers leads to large amounts of plastic waste generation, including small plastic pieces, known as microplastics, which affect the quality of the agricultural environment, including soil fertility and quality. Therefore, polymer degradation strategies are needed to effectively reduce plastic waste to protect the agricultural sector. The degree of polymer degradation was assessed by the use of thermal and spectroscopic analyses, such as TGA and FTIR. In addition, efficiency, cost-benefits, and potential side-effects were also evaluated to propose the optimal degradation strategy to reduce plastic waste from the point of view of efficiency. The results obtained showed that the pre-treatments based on photo-oxidation (ultraviolet B and C and e-beam radiation) were more efficient and had a better cost-benefit for the degradation of the polymers studied in relation to the thermochemical treatments. Specifically, ultraviolet photo-oxidation worked well for PS and PET, requiring low energy and medium times. However, e-beam radiation was recommended for PE (LDPE and LLDPE) degradation, since high energy and long times were needed when ultraviolet energy was applied to this polymer. Furthermore, the overall efficiency of the plastic degradation of pre-treatments should be studied using a multicriteria approach, since FTIR assessments, in some cases, only consider oxidation processes on the plastic surface and do not show the potential integrity changes on the plastic probes.
PDF
