In this study we looked into the learning affordances of task modalities as mediated by task complexity. A group of intermediate learners performed an argumentative task with two levels of complexity ...orally and in writing and their performance was rated for adequacy, and assessed in terms of the CAF (complexity, accuracy, and fluency) measures. In both oral and written modes, communicative success was found to be linked to lexical complexity and fluency. However, adequacy was associated with accuracy only in speech and with propositional complexity (idea units) only in writing. Task complexity did not moderate the links between communicative adequacy and the CAF dimensions. Based on these findings, implications for task design and for language-learning potential across modalities are drawn.
In the field of the quantitative structure–retention and retention–activity relationships (QRAR and QSRR) is crucial to obtain consistent retention factors (
k). For this purpose, two unbiased ...approaches to estimate
k are used: (i) the IUPAC approach (based on the extra-column time correction) and (ii) the ‘2-references’ approach (based on the
k estimation respect to two prefixed reference
k values). Three reference chemicals were selected attending to their retention time, chemical stability and non-ionic character. Consistent retention factor values for these references were estimated for C
18 chromatographic columns and Brij35 solutions as mobile phases after statistical analysis. The comparison between the
k values estimated for a set of 65 test chemicals using the IUPAC and the ‘2-references’ approach shows that the last one gives consistent long-term values useful for QRAR and QSRR modelling purposes.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze several fibrinolytic components and coagulation inhibitors in postmenopausal women and to evaluate the effect of hormone replacement therapy.
STUDY ...DESIGN: Several hemostatic parameters were evaluated in 75 postmenopausal women before and after 3 to 4 and 12 months of hormone therapy.
RESULTS: An increase in plasma fibrinolytic activity primarily related to a significant increase in tissue-type plasminogen activator and a decrease in plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 was observed in women receiving hormone replacement therapy. A significant decrease in protein S and lipoprotein(a) was detected under therapy. No modifications in tissue-type plasminogen activator/plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and activated protein C/α
1-antitrypsin complexes, urokinase activity, plasminogen, and antithrombin III were detected.
CONCLUSIONS: The increase in fibrinolytic activity and the decrease in lipoprotein(a) levels observed in women receiving hormone replacement therapy could help decrease the risk of coronary disease associated with the postmenopausal state.
Research on task repetition (TR) has consistently showed beneficial effects for L2 oral production in terms of CAF measures (complexity, accuracy, and fluency). However, open questions exist ...regarding the modality-dependency and proficiency-dependency of TR learning affordances. To advance research in these two areas, the study reported in this chapter investigated TR across modalities and L2 proficiency levels. The participants were 29 (16 high-school and 13 university) Spanish EFL learners who completed a decision-making task twice, either orally or in writing. Their task performance was assessed in terms of CAF measures using a wide range of indices. Results confirm some of the previous predictions regarding the modality-dependency of TR effects, and additional modality-related effects were also found. These findings shed light on the greater language learning affordances of writing as compared to those created by speaking tasks.
