Orientador: Helena Teixeira Godoy / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia de Alimentos / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-19T15:35:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Pane_DanieladeQueiroz_D.pdf: 2989651 bytes, checksum: 1f92009c2aa35df54d0c45737049c170 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: Foi desenvolvido um novo método, eficiente e econômico, para a análise simultânea de cinco edulcorantes em alimentos (acessulfame-k, sacarina, ciclamato, aspartame e neotame) pela técnica de cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (HPLC). O método foi validado e aplicado em diferentes produtos da categoria "light¿, "diet¿ e "zero¿, sendo esses refrigerantes, néctares, pós para preparo de refresco, pudins, cappuccinos, achocolatados, geléias, gelatina, molho tipo "barbecue¿, catchup e adoçantes de mesa. Para tanto, utilizou-se uma coluna C18, fase móvel composta por fase aquosa (5 mM de tampão fosfato de sódio monobásico; pH 7) e fase orgânica (acetonitrila), eluição por gradiente, vazão de 0,4 mL.min-1 e temperatura de 56ºC. Os edulcorante apresentaram adequada linearidade na faixa de trabalho. A repetitividade, a precisão intermediária e os limites de detecção e de quantificação foram adequados para os cinco edulcorantes. As taxas de recuperação variaram entre 85,2% e 101,4%, para as diferentes matrizes avaliadas. O método apresentou uma limitação para as amostras contendo cacau, onde não foi possível determinar o ciclamato em virtude da presença de um interferente. Até três edulcorantes utilizados em combinação foram encontrados nas amostras, sendo acessulfame-k e aspartame os mais comumente empregados. As amostras de pudim sabor chocolate, molho tipo "catchup¿ e molho tipo "barbecue¿ apresentaram concentrações de edulcorantes acima do permitido pela legislação brasileira. As amostras de refrigerante sabor limão, sabor guaraná, tipo cola e de refresco em pó, embora estivessem atendendo a legislação, apresentaram teor de edulcorantes acima do declarado no rótulo. O método desenvolvido por HPLC foi comparado a uma metodologia por cromatografia líquida de ultra eficiência (UPLC) e apresentou maior robustez e menor custo em comparação ao desenvolvimento para UPLC. Já o método por UPLC demonstrou baixo consumo de solventes, tempo curto de análise, menores limites de detecção e de quantificação, no entanto, maior custo devido ao preparo das amostras e à coluna, solventes, reagentes e filtros envolvidos nas análises / Abstract: We developed a new method, efficient and economical, for the simultaneous analysis of five sweeteners in foods (acesulfame K, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame and neotame) technique for high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The method was validated and applied to different products in the "light", "diet" and "zero", and these soft drinks, nectars, powders for preparation of soft drinks, puddings, cappuccino, chocolate, jams, jelly, sauce type "barbecue" , ketchup and tabletop sweeteners. To both, we used a C18 column, mobile phase consisting of aqueous phase (5 mM sodium phosphate buffer monobasic; pH 7) and organic phase (acetonitrile), gradient elution, flow of 0.4 mL.min-1 and temperature of 56 º C. The sweetener showed acceptable linearity in the range of work. The repeatability, intermediate precision and limits of detection and quantification were adequate for the five sweeteners. Recovery rates ranged between 85.2% and 101.4% for the different matrices evaluated. The method has a limitation for samples containing cocoa, which was not possible to determine cyclamate because of the presence of an interferer. Up to three sweeteners used in combination were found in the samples, with aspartame and acesulfame-k the most commonly employed.Samples of chocolate pudding flavored sauce like "ketchup" sauce like "barbecue" sweeteners showed concentrations above those permitted by Brazilian law. Samples of lemon-flavored soda, flavored guarana, cola and powdered drink mixes, although they were given the rules presented above sweeteners content declared on the label. The method developed HPLC method was compared to an ultra performance liquid chromatographic efficiency (UPLC) and showed greater robustness and lower cost compared to developing for UPLC. Have the method by UPLC demonstrated low consumption of solvents, short time of analysis, lower limits of detection and quantification, however, higher cost due to preparation of samples and the column, solvents, reagents and filters involved in the analyzes / Doutorado / Ciência de Alimentos / Doutor em Ciência de Alimentos

Models of land use change fall into two broad categories: pattern based and process based. This thesis focuses on pattern based land use change models, expanding our understanding of these models in three important ways. First, it is demonstrated that some driving variables do not have a smooth impact on the land use transition process. Our example variable is access to water. Land managers with access to piped water do not have any need for surface or groundwater. For variables like this, a model needs to change the way that driving variables are represented. The second important result is that including a variable which captures spatial correlation between land use types significantly increases the explanatory power of the prediction model. A major weakness of pattern based land use models is their inability to model interactions between neighbouring land parcels; the method proposed in this study can be an alternative to account for spatial neighbourhood association. These innovations are applied using the CLUE-S (Conversion of Land Use and its Effects at Small regional extent) system to the Deep Creek watershed in the Southern Interior of British Columbia. The results highlight the challenge of balancing the protection of agricultural land and conserving forest and natural areas when population and economic growth are inevitable. The results also demonstrate the implications of land use change on existing land use policies. The calibrated model was validated using remote sensing data. A series of discriminant functions were estimated for each land use type in the recent period and these functions were then used to classify. The calibrated model was run in reverse, back to the generated land use classification, and results compared. Fit was reasonable with error rates falling below ten percent when radii beyond 2.5 km were considered. Another important contribution is demonstrating the importance of modelling dynamic variables. Some important drivers are changing continuously and others depend on land use change itself. Failure to update these variables will bias model forecasts. Spatial neighbourhood association, an endogenous variable governed by land use change itself, is again used as the example dynamic variable. The study demonstrates the importance of updating all associated information. / Graduate Studies, College of (Okanagan) / Graduate

Orientador: Alexandra Christine Helena Frankland Sawaya / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-24T09:51:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Lopez_BegonaGimenez-Cassina_M.pdf: 5145110 bytes, checksum: e91f0a5d069796983ac9064ccc7af78c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: A palavra própolis tem origem Grega: pro significa em defensa de, e polis significa comunidade. A própolis é usada pelas abelhas para fortalecer as paredes da colmeia e para cobrir as paredes internas e por devido a sua atividade antimicrobiana. A composição química da própolis é variável segundo a biodiversidade e a origem geográfica. A própolis vermelha, encontrada no nordeste e norte do Brasil, apresenta promissoras atividades biológicas: atividade antimicrobiana, antiparasitária, antioxidante, citotóxica, antiinflamatória, analgésica, efeitos antiobesidade, contra psoríase e hepatoprotetores. A composição química da própolis vermelha, relatada na literatura, parece variar qualitativa e quantitativamente, inclusive entre amostras coletadas na mesma região. Isto pode ser devido a variações sazonais, a flora direitamente ao redor das colméias ou aos métodos de análise. A maioria das classes de substâncias já identificadas pode ser analisada adequadamente por espectrometria de massas com ionização por eletrospray e cromatografia líquida. Os constituintes de média e alta polaridade (como fenólicos, flavonóides e benzofenonas) são responsáveis por muitas das atividades biológicas reportadas à própolis vermelha. A cromatografia líquida de ultra-eficiência acoplada à espectrometria de massas (UHPLC-MS) é um método moderno, rápido e sensível. Permite avaliar os perfis químicos das amostras e determinar sua composição qualitativamente, comparando os espectros de massas (MS/MS) dos componentes das amostras com informações na literatura. Portanto UHPLC-MS é a ferramenta mais adequada para a avaliação da composição de matrizes complexas como a própolis. A comparação do perfil químico de diversas amostras de própolis vermelha brasileira e a avaliação de sua atividade antimicrobiana e antioxidante permitirá identificar substâncias que possam estar contribuindo para sua bioatividade, e levar á identificação de marcadores químicos para o controle de qualidade destas amostras, bem como possibilitará definir se há um ou vários tipos de própolis vermelha / Abstract: The word, propolis is of Greek origin: pro means in defense of and polis means community. Propolis is used by bees to strengthen the hive walls and cover the inner walls for its antimicrobial activity. The chemical composition of propolis varies depending on the biodiversity and geographic origin. Red propolis from the north and northeast of Brazil shows promising biological activity: antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antioxidant, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiobesity, antipsoriasic and hepatoprotective effects. The chemical composition of red propolis reported in literature seems to vary qualitatively and quantitatively, even between samples collected in the same region. This may be due to seasonal variations, the flora directly around the hives or differences in the analytical methods. Most of the compounds already identified can be analyzed by mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization and liquid chromatography. These compounds of medium and high polarity (phenolics, flavonoids and benzophenones) are responsible for most of the biological activities reported. Ultra efficient liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) is a modern, fast and sensitive method. It allows the characterization of the chemical profile of the samples and determines their qualitative composition, by comparison of the mass spectra (MS/MS) of the compounds with data from literature. Therefore it is the most adequate tool to evaluate the composition of complex matrixes such as propolis. The comparison of the chemical profile of diverse red propolis samples and evaluation of their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities allow us to identify the compounds responsible for these activities, indicate the marker compounds and define if there is one type, or several types, of red propolis / Mestrado / Fármacos, Medicamentos e Insumos para Saúde / Mestra em Ciências

Plusieurs films américains des années 2000 (Mulholland Drive et INLAND EMPIRE de David Lynch, The Virgin Suicides de Sofia Coppola, Memento de Christopher Nolan, The Pledge de Sean Penn, Broken Flowers de Jim Jarmusch et Zodiac de David Fincher) opèrent une remise en question de la fonction, du fonctionnement et de la représentation des indices sur lesquels s’appuient tant la littérature que le cinéma policiers. Ces films, qui reprennent certains codes du genre sans être tous à proprement parler des « films policiers », ont pour point commun de mettre en scène une enquête qui n’aboutit pas et qui se retourne contre l’enquêteur jusqu’à ébranler son identité. Ils font ainsi écho aux récits de détection dits métaphysiques (The Crying of Lot 49 de Thomas Pynchon, City of Glass de Paul Auster...) : l’indice, loin de permettre la clôture du récit, devient le moyen de son ouverture. À sa juste interprétation succède le foisonnement des lectures et des histoires possibles. Autrefois transparent, il se fait opaque ; de fluide, sa circulation devient accidentée – ce à quoi correspondent de nouvelles manières de le filmer. Les codes du genre policier visant à marquer l’indice tout en favorisant sa lisibilité et l’identification avec l’enquêteur (insert en gros plan, raccord-regard, faible profondeur de champ…) sont détournés selon diverses stratégies : inversion, exagération, etc. Celles-ci ont pour effet de déjouer les attentes des spectateurs et de les rendre inquiets en rétablissant l’incertitude fondamentale de la littérature policière, que le cinéma policier tend à minorer, tout en la mettant au service de projets esthétiques par ailleurs très différents les uns des autres. / A few American films released between 2000 and 2007 (David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive and INLAND EMPIRE, Sofia Coppola’s The Virgin Suicides, Christopher Nolan’s Memento, Sean Penn’s The Pledge, Jim Jarmusch’s Broken Flowers and David Fincher’s Zodiac) question the function, inner workings and representation of the clues on which detective fiction and film rely. These movies, which take up certain tropes of the genre without necessarily being detective films per se, all revolve around an investigation which is left incomplete and eventually turns against the investigator, to the point of shattering his or her sense of identity. They thus follow in the footsteps of metaphysical detective fiction (novels such as Thomas Pynchon’s The Crying of Lot 49 and Paul Auster’s City of Glass), in that the clue, instead of bringing about the closure of the narrative, becomes the instrument of its open-endedness. Its one correct interpretation is replaced by a proliferation of possible readings and stories. Once transparent, it turns opaque; once fluid, its circulation becomes problematic – which leads to new ways of filming it. The codes that detective films use to point out the clue, increase its legibility and foster identification with the investigator (close-up insert, eyeline match, shallow focus…) are subverted through a number of strategies such as inversion and exaggeration. These aim to deceive the spectator’s expectations and to unsettle him or her by reinstating the fundamental uncertainty of detective fiction, which detective films normally tend to repress, and which is here incorporated into aesthetic projects that otherwise differ widely.

La mémoire de travail est un composant essentiel de la pensée qui est fortement impliquée dans les apprentissages et la réussite scolaires. Pourtant, elle est rarement étudiée chez l’enfant d’âge préscolaire, du fait notamment d’un manque de paradigmes adaptés. Cette thèse visait donc à étudier le fonctionnement de la mémoire de travail chez cette population, soit entre 2 et 6 ans. Pour cela, deux paradigmes originaux ont été utilisés. Ils ont été conçus pour être proches de situations de jeux, propices à aider le jeune enfant à focaliser son attention sur la tâche. Ainsi, il a tout d’abord été montré que les performances de rappel diminuaient au fil du temps, et ce, même en l’absence de tâche interférente. Les enfants de cette tranche d’âge opèrent donc un maintien passif de l’information, i.e. sans mise en œuvre spontanée de stratégie de maintien de l’information. De plus, le déclin de l’information était similaire au travers de l’âge. Pour la première fois, il a donc été mis en évidence que la vitesse d’oubli de l’information ne variait pas entre 2 et 6 ans. Finalement, aucun de ces deux facteurs, i.e. mise en œuvre de stratégie de maintien de l’information et modification de la vitesse d’oubli de l’information, ne peut être avancé pour expliquer l’augmentation des capacités mémorielles entre 2 et 6 ans. Ensuite, il a été montré que les caractéristiques intrinsèques de la tâche pouvaient conduire à une amélioration des performances de rappel, peut-être par la mise en œuvre d’une stratégie de maintien. Notamment, la réalisation d’une activité motrice, i.e. marche durant le délai de rétention, a permis à ces jeunes enfants de contrecarrer dans une certaine mesure l’oubli temporel de l’information. La mise en œuvre d’une activité motrice, en dirigeant l’attention du jeune enfant vers un indice visuel du but à atteindre, aiderait celui-ci à maintenir le but de la tâche en mémoire. Les ressources attentionnelles ainsi dégagées pourraient être mises au service d’une amélioration des performances de rappel, peut-être par la mise en œuvre d’une stratégie de maintien. / Working memory is an essential component of thought that is highly involved in learning and academic achievement. However, it is rarely studied in preschoolers, mainly because of a lack of suitable paradigms. Therefore, this thesis investigated the functioning of working memory in children between 2 and 6 years. For this purpose, two original paradigms were used. They were designed to be close to game situations which should help young children to focus their attention on the task. Firstly it was shown that the recall performance decreased over time, even in the absence of an interfering task. Children of this age therefore use a passive maintenance, i.e. without spontaneously implementing any strategy of maintenance. Furthermore, the decline of the information was similar through age. For the first time, it has been demonstrated that the rate of information forgetting did not vary between 2 and 6. Finally, none of these two factors, i.e. implementation of a strategy of maintenance and change in the speed of forgetting can explain the increase in memory capacity between 2 and 6 years of age. Secondly, it has been shown that the intrinsic characteristics of the task could lead to improved recall performance, perhaps by inducing a strategy of maintenance. Particularly, the implementation of a motor activity, i.e. walking during the retention period, has enabled these young children to counteract to some extent the temporal decay of information. Then, the implementation of a motor activity, by directing the attention of young children to a visual cue related to the goal of the task, help them to maintain in memory the purpose of the task. Attentional resources could be harnessed to improve performance of recall, perhaps by implementing a retention strategy.

Orientador: Isabel Cristina Sales Fontes Jardim / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Química / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-24T08:24:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Oshita_Daniele_D.pdf: 4645263 bytes, checksum: 6628dba7b8449d1cf1f86afa3dcae9e2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: Este trabalho envolve o desenvolvimento, a otimização e a validação de um método analítico para determinação de multirresíduos de agrotóxicos em amostras de morango, por cromatografia líquida acoplada à espectrometria de massas sequencial (LC-MS/MS). No preparo de amostra utilizou o método QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe), que foi testado nas três versões, Original, AOAC Official Method e European Committee for Standardization (CEN) Standard Method EN 15662, além da versão CEN 15662 modificada. Também foram otimizados os solventes de extração, massas do agente secante e, na etapa de clean-up por extração em fase sólida dispersiva (d-SPE), o sorvente comercial PSA (primary secondary amine), alguns preparados no laboratório à base de polímeros de siloxano, como octadecil, octil, amino, fenil, e a mistura PSA e octadecil. As avaliações dos métodos foram baseadas, principalmente, nos valores de recuperação e nos estudos sobre o uso de diferentes sorventes, outros parâmetros que estimam a eficiência do clean-up também foram utilizados, como aspecto físico do extrato final, quantidade de coextratos da matriz, obtida por medidas gravimétricas, e efeito matriz. O método desenvolvido foi validado por meio dos parâmetros analíticos de seletividade, limite de detecção (LOD), limite de quantificação (LOQ), linearidade, exatidão e precisão, conforme o guia Sanco para análises de resíduos de agrotóxicos em alimentos e, posteriormente, amostras comerciais de morango da região de Campinas foram analisadas. O método validado por LC-MS/MS apresentou-se seletivo, preciso, exato e atingiu concentrações abaixo dos respectivos limites máximos de resíduos (LMR) para determinação de agrotóxicos em morango. Este método foi transferido para cromatografia líquida de ultra eficiência (UHPLC), que mostrou redução no tempo de análise, na vazão da fase móvel (FM) e no volume de injeção de amostra e da FM, e similaridade na detectabilidade dos analitos / Abstract: This work involves the development, optimization and validation of an analytical method for multiresidue determination of pesticides in strawberry samples by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Sample preparation used the QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) method, which was tested in three versions, Original, AOAC Official Method and European Committee for Standardization (CEN) Standard Method EN 15662, and also CEN 15662 modified version. The factores optimized were extraction solvents, amount of drying agent and in the clean-up step by dispersive solid phase extraction (d-SPE), the commercial sorbent PSA (primary secondary amine), several prepared in the laboratory based on siloxane polymers, such as octadecyl, octyl, amine, phenyl, and the mixture PSA and octadecyl. The evaluation of the methods was based mainly on the recovery values and for the study of different sorbents, other parameters that estimate the efficiency of the clean-up were also used such as the physical aspect of the final extract, the amount of interference matrix obtained using gravimetric measurements, and the matrix effect. The developed method was validated by the analytical parameters of selectivity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), linearity, accuracy and precision, as described in the Sanco guide for analysis of pesticide residues in foods. After, commercial strawberry samples from the Campinas region were analyzed. The validated method by LC-MS/MS was selective, precise, accurate and reached levels below the respective maximum residue limits (MRLs) for the determination of pesticides in strawberries. This method was transferred to ultra high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC), which showed a reduction in analysis time, the mobile phase (MP) flow rate and the injection volume of the sample and MP, and similarity in the detectability of the analytes / Doutorado / Quimica Analitica / Doutora em Ciências

This thesis deals with automatic computer generation of crosswords with filled-in clue algorithm design and related problems. Beside basic definitions and information about crosswords, the state space analysis and description of some tested methods of generation is performed in this thesis. Designed and implemented method removes inadequacies of tested methods. Remarkable part of text is designated to solve crossword rendering problems. Results of rendering process should be suitable for DTP without any additional touches, which includes also CMYK color space support. Fully functional implementation of crossword generator and tool for computer aided crossword design is part of this thesis.

In the thesis a methodology of understanding and explicating Christian faith consistent with the mystery of the simultaneous close connection and radical difference of God, human beings and the physical-organic cosmos environment is been mapped out. The theanthropocosmic principle as an expression of the mystery functions as the heuristic key in opening up the notion of kenosis (and incarnation) of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit within the scope of the enduring interaction of . The Spirit in the kenotic sense of the word connects and differentiates the overall processes of being and becoming, here and there, now and then of the mystery of the `presences' of God, human beings and the natural cosmic world in being there (Dasein), being thus and thus (Sosein) and being dynamically actual (Aktsein). God acts in terms of the Spirit's operational kenotic presence within the margins of the creatureliness of people and the natural cosmic world as the kenotic clothing of God. A dynamic interpretation of the integral and differential character of being and becoming suggests that making sense of the dynamics of the formation of identities and identification is an ever ongoing endeavour. It implies a continuous process of negotiation whilst experiencing various continuums, remaining open-ended in an ever-increasing sense of wonder and mystery of "exitus a Deo-reditus in Deum". / Systematic Theology and theological Ethics / D. Th. (Systematic Theology)

In the thesis a methodology of understanding and explicating Christian faith consistent with the mystery of the simultaneous close connection and radical difference of God, human beings and the physical-organic cosmos environment is been mapped out. The theanthropocosmic principle as an expression of the mystery functions as the heuristic key in opening up the notion of kenosis (and incarnation) of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit within the scope of the enduring interaction of . The Spirit in the kenotic sense of the word connects and differentiates the overall processes of being and becoming, here and there, now and then of the mystery of the `presences' of God, human beings and the natural cosmic world in being there (Dasein), being thus and thus (Sosein) and being dynamically actual (Aktsein). God acts in terms of the Spirit's operational kenotic presence within the margins of the creatureliness of people and the natural cosmic world as the kenotic clothing of God. A dynamic interpretation of the integral and differential character of being and becoming suggests that making sense of the dynamics of the formation of identities and identification is an ever ongoing endeavour. It implies a continuous process of negotiation whilst experiencing various continuums, remaining open-ended in an ever-increasing sense of wonder and mystery of "exitus a Deo-reditus in Deum". / Systematic Theology and theological Ethics / D. Th. (Systematic Theology)

本研究旨在探討韻尾類比訓練對國小六年級學生英文讀字能力、讀字態度之影響及其學習困難。研究分兩階段進行：第一階段為小規模之預試研究，第二階段則為正式實驗。預試研究後，研究者在教法、試題做修正改進，並經由了解學生之思考過程及學習困難後，再進一步設計更完整之訪談。 在正式實驗中，對象為桃園縣某國小二個六年級班級，並從二班各挑出25人做為實驗組及對照組。實驗組施以韻尾類比策略訓練，教材來源為學生二至五年級之教科書字彙以做為類比策略運用之基礎。對照組雖使用相同之教材，但教法則僅限於字母與音的對應關係。實驗時間為每週20分鐘(每週兩節英語之前10分鐘)，持續十週。兩組學生在教學前後各施以讀字測驗及唸讀英文字態度問卷調查，訓練後則二組各選6名做為訪談對象以進一步了解他們的學習困難。 結果發現，二組學生在讀字能力上並無顯著差別，但在讀字態度上只有實驗組有顯著正向改變。比較二組學習困難則發現對照組之困難較為複雜。此外，實驗組之低程度學生在接受類比訓練後，在讀字能力及讀字態度上相較於對照組之低程度學生有非常明顯之進步。 以上研究結果顯示，韻尾類比策略訓練可以提升國小六年級學生英文認字能力亦能正向改變學生之讀字態度，尤其對低程度學生更為有效。最後根據本研究之結果及學生之學習困難提出教學建議，供未來國小英語教師英文讀字教學時之參考。 / The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of rime analogy training on sixth graders with respect to their decoding skills, attitudinal changes towards reading English words, and perceived difficulties with word reading. The present study comprised 2 phases: the first being a small-scale pilot study, the second a formal study. The pilot functioned as a preparatory work for the formal study. In the pilot, the testing materials, instruments, and activities of the training were tested and revised to be more suitable for the formal study. From the students’ responses, the researcher obtained some insights about their thinking process and learning difficulties and this allowed for designing a more complete interview for the formal study. In the formal study, there was an experimental group and a control group, each comprised of 25 sixth graders from two classes in one elementary school in Tao Yuan county. The experimental group received rime analogy training. The teaching materials were selected from the participants’ textbooks word bank, from the second grade to the fifth grade, as a basis for making analogy. The control group was taught with the same materials but received phonics instruction that focused only on grapheme-phoneme correspondences rules. Both groups received two 10-minute training sessions a week for 10 weeks, and were administered the same pre-and post-test (generalization test) to assess decoding skills, and a pre-and post-training questionnaire on attitudes toward reading English words. After the training, six participants from each group were further interviewed to understand their thinking process and perceived difficulties. The findings are as follows. In terms of the decoding skills, the post generalization test showed that no significant statistical difference was found between the two groups. In light of the attitudinal changes, only within-group comparisons of the experimental group were significantly different. In view of perceived difficulties, the interviews revealed that the difficulties in the control group were more complicated than those in the experimental group. The most noteworthy finding is that the lowest-proficiency participants in the experimental group not only outperformed their counterparts in the control group in decoding skills, but also demonstrated far more positive attitudinal changes after the training. The findings provide supporting evidence for the value of rime analogy training in promoting students’ decoding abilities and positively changing students’ learning attitudes. The nature of students’ perceived difficulties is also discussed, in respect of which several pedagogical implications and suggestions for future studies are outlined.