This dissertation investigates the effects and value of instructional activities for improving second language use of English articles. After reviewing a number of issues concerning pedagogical, linguistic, psycholinguistic, and internal validity, this study presents the results of eight longitudinal time-series case studies of adult Japanese learners of English residing in Vancouver, Canada, four of whom received grammatical explanations, input processing activities, and output practice activities regarding English article use. Learner development was assessed on three different narrative retelling tasks (spoken, written, and cloze) and the production was analysed with reference to specific contexts of use, indicating the form-function mappings that comprised the learners' interlanguage knowledge. The results indicated that the learners' interlanguage production exhibited (a) the anticipated task variation, with greater suppliance of the on tasks that allowed greater attention to form, and (b) the anticipated discoursal variation, with the supplied more consistently when it was primed as a redundant element on the written task and with the supplied less consistently when it was efficiently deleted as a redundant element on the spoken task. The results also indicated the variable nature of individual development and the value of assessing development longitudinally on different tasks. Importantly, the results indicated that the learners improved or continued improving after instruction, and strongly suggested that instruction can cause automatization of interlanguage knowledge. This finding suggests that form-focused instruction may be valuable for second language learning, and that pedagogical positions opposing form-focused instruction may need to be revised or abandoned. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

Language recovery was examined in 108 individuals with aphasia in the chronic phase of recovery who participated in various forms of aphasia treatment over extended periods of time. The Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) was administered at multiple time points and Aphasia Quotient (AQ) scores were used as a measure of language performance over time. As a group, the cohort showed an improvement of +6.52 AQ points, yielding an average rate of change of +4.07 AQ points per year. The rate of change was greatest at earlier times post onset (between three months and two years), and improvement was greatest for individuals with aphasia in the moderate severity range. Age, sex, and fluency did not have a significant effect on recovery. Education level had marginal predictive value in the direction of those with less education showing greater rate of improvement. These results suggest that language recovery continues during the chronic stage for individuals who are involved in some form of rehabilitation activity, especially in individuals with aphasia of moderate severity.

Orientador: Paulo Cesar Rocha / Banca: Isabel Cristina Moroz Caccia Gouveia / Banca: Edvard Elias de Souza Filho / Resumo: A planície aluvial do Rio Aguapeí-SP caracteriza-se pela elevada frequência de meandros abandonados, os quais denotam a ocorrência de mudanças cruciais nos regimes de vazão e/ou sedimentos desse rio. Entretanto, em razão da ausência de estudos que visem compreender sua morfodinâmica, desconhece-se a escala temporal das referidas mudanças, bem como suas causas e implicações na morfologia do canal. Neste viés, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo geral identificar os ajustes ocorridos na morfologia dos meandros do Rio Aguapeí-SP em virtude da influência dos principais controles do sistema fluvial. A pesquisa teve como respaldo metodológico os princípios da Teoria Geral dos Sistemas. A avaliação das formas do perfil longitudinal deste rio foi realizada com base em sua correlação com os dados do meio físico regional; estabelecimento do perfil longitudinal de equilíbrio e; aplicação do índice RDE. Houve a constatação de três anomalias, as quais estão relacionadas à erosão diferencial e ao controle do curso d'água exercido por feições estruturais. Com o intuito de compreender a resposta geomórfica do canal perante às referidas anomalias, foi estabelecida uma análise regressiva do gradiente do vale com o índice de sinuosidade do canal, a qual demonstrou uma correlação negativa entre tais variáveis em virtude das diferenças longitudinais da composição litológica do leito do rio. Em escala de detalhe, realizou-se a quantificação das mudanças espaçotemporais ocorridas na morfologia de dois trechos específicos do rio, localizados no médio-curso superior e no baixo curso junto à foz. Observou-se que o canal sofreu grandes alterações ao longo de três cenários - 1962, 1979/1986, 2010... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The Aguapeí River floodplain, located in São Paulo state - Brazil, is characterized by high frequency of oxbow lakes, which suggest the occurrence of crucial changes in flow and sediment regimes of the river. However, due to lack of studies aiming to understand its morphodynamic, the timescale of these changes as well their causes and implications in channel morphology are unknown. In this sense, the present study aimed to identify the adjustments occurred in meanders morphology of Aguapeí River due to the influence of the main controls on fluvial system. The methodological support of the research was the principles of general systems theory. The assessment of the forms in river longitudinal profile was carried out through the correlation to the physical environment data in a regional scale; the establishment of the graded river profile and; the application of Hack index. Based on that, three anomalies were detected, which are related to the differential erosion and the channel control exerted by structural features. In order to understand the channel geomorphic response to such anomalies, a regression analysis of the valley gradient to sinuosity index was established. It showed a negative correlation between these variables due to differences in the lithological compositions of the riverbed. In detailed scale, the spatio-temporal changes in the morphology of two specific reaches of the river - in the upper-middle course and lower course next to mouth - were quantified. It was verified that the channel has undergone significant changes over three years - 1962, 1979/1986 and 2010. The causes of these changes can be both allogeneic as autogenic. Regarding the allogeneic ones, the climate was considered the main cause of channel changes... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

The current study examined whether variables that have been found to influence treatment outcome serve as mediators of a child and adolescent cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) anxiety program at multiple time points throughout the intervention. The study also examined mediating variables measured at multiple time points during treatment to determine the time lags necessary for changes in the mediator variable to translate into changes on treatment gains. Participants were 168 youth (ages 6 to 16 years; 54% males) and their mothers who presented to the Child Anxiety and Phobia Program (CAPP) at Florida International University (FIU). Overall, results indicate that the mediators at multiple time points influenced youth anxiety in a fluctuating manner, such that a decrease in skills at one given session caused changes in youth anxiety at a later session. This dynamic between the mediator and outcome may be reflective of the process of therapeutic change and suggests that skills gained from session to session took time to exert their effect on youth anxiety. The methodology employed helps to elucidate how variables mediate treatment outcome in youth anxiety disorders.

A aplicação do ultra-som terapêutico é contra-indicada nas adjacências da cartilagem de crescimento pelo temor de que possa provocar algum efeito lesivo. Entretanto, não há confirmação experimental ou clínica de que este efeito possa ocorrer. Foi objetivo deste trabalho investigar uma possível ação do ultra-som terapêutico aplicado na região da cartilagem de crescimento. Foram usados coelhos albinos da raça Nova Zelândia de 1 kg de peso, fêmeas, que foram distribuídas em 2 grupos, sendo que em ambos foi aplicado ultra-som na cartilagem de crescimento proximal da tíbia direita e a tíbia esquerda mantida como controle. No grupo 1 (20 coelhas), os animais foram sacrificados 3 dias após o término da aplicação do ultra-som e a cartilagem de crescimento foi avaliada morfometricamente do ponto de vista histológico e com microscopia de luz ultra-violeta para o estudo da neoformação óssea marcada com tetraciclina. No grupo 2 (10 coelhas) os animais foram mantidos vivos até o final do crescimento e realizada a morfometria macroscópica pelo alinhamento frontal dos joelhos e região proximal da tíbia pelo uso de radiografias e medidas diretas nas peças. A forma de ultra-som utilizada foi a pulsada, frequência de 1 MHz, pulso de 2:8, e intensidade 20% do valor nominal apresentada no potenciômetro do aparelho. A morfometria, tanto da espessura global da cartilagem, como por camadas e pela contagem de células não mostrou diferença entre os lados. A avaliação do crescimento ósseo também não mostrou diferenças. Da mesma forma, a morfometria macroscópica foi igual entre os lados. Como resultado final, não foram observadas diferenças entre o lado tratado e lado controle. / The therapeutic ultrasound is not applied to areas that one close to the growth plate to avoid some injury to that structure. Nevertheless, there is neither experimental nor clinical evidence that supports such fear. Based on this premise this investigation was designed to study some possible action of the application of therapeutic ultrasound on the growth plate, using morphometric analysis. White New Zealand female rabbits, weighning 1 kg were used and divided into two groups according to the follow up period. In the first group (20 rabbits) the animals were killed 3 days after the completing of ultrasound application and the growth plate was evaluated with histological morphometric methods and with tetracycline bone labeling. In the second group (10 rabbits) the animals were killed after the completing skeletal maturit and the analysis was made with X-Ray (knee frontal angle) and diret measurements of the proximal tibia in the specimens. Pulsed ultrasound with frequency of 1 MHz, 2:8 of pulse was applied on the proximal part of the right tibia for all the animals. The left side was kept as a control. The morphometric analysis of the thickness of the growth cartilage as a whole and for its different layers and the cell counting did not show any difference between the sides. The bone growth was the same on both tibias and the macroscopic morphometry did not show any difference between the sides as well. It was concluded that no differences was observed between the treated and the control side.

This dissertation 1) described prevalence and correlates of poly-tobacco use among US youth and young adults; 2) addressed positive and negative transitions of e-cigarettes among US youth and adults and 3) examined the 2-year transition of dual e-cigarette/cigarette use among US adults in relation to nicotine dependence (ND) symptoms, interest in quitting, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) factors. Data from 2013-2016 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study were used. In the first study, 3.6% of youth (12-17years) and 18.3% of young adults (18-34years) were current poly-tobacco users between 2013-2014. Common poly-tobacco products combination was cigarettes and e-cigarettes for youth and young adults. Among youth, heavy drinking was associated with higher odds of poly-tobacco use. Factors associated with higher odds of poly-tobacco use among young adults included males, younger adults (18-24years), those with lower levels of educational attainment, residing in the South, heavy drinking, and marijuana use. In the second study, between 2013-2016, e-cigarette use increased only in youth. Young e-cigarette users were more likely to be never cigarette smokers compared to older users. Among youth e-cigarette users at each wave, the proportion of never cigarette smokers rose from 24.1% in Wave 1 to 42.6% in Wave 3 (p=0.0001 for trends). Among adult e-cigarette dual users in Wave 1, 8.8% transitioned to no tobacco use at Wave 3, 6.2% to mono e-cigarette use, while 85% either relapsed to cigarettes (53.5%) or continued dual use (31.5%). In the final study, among 1,870 adult dual tobacco users from Wave 1, 25·8% (95% CI 23·5-28·3) remained dual users 2 years later, 11·9% (95% CI 10·5-13·5) reported no tobacco use (cessation transition), 7·0% (95% CI 5·5-8·7) reported e-cigarette mono use (harm reduction transition), and 55·3% (95% CI 52·6-58·0) reported cigarette mono use (relapse transition). In the adjusted regression analysis, ND severity was associated with lower odds of cessation (OR 0·36; 95% CI 0·15-0·88) and harm reduction (OR 0·18; 95% CI 0·04-0·82) transitions. Interest in quitting and CVD factors were not associated with cessation or harm reduction. Collectively, our study findings emphasize the need for stricter tobacco regulatory policies to prevent another tobacco epidemic.

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京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(農学) / 甲第22781号 / 農博第2424号 / 新制||農||1081(附属図書館) / 学位論文||R2||N5301(農学部図書室) / 京都大学大学院農学研究科地域環境科学専攻 / (主査)教授 近藤 直, 准教授 小川 雄一, 教授 飯田 訓久 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Agricultural Science / Kyoto University / DGAM

In longitudinal cohort studies, potential risk factors are measured at baseline, subjects are followed over time, and disease endpoints are ascertained via extensive surveillance. Individual follow-up time is from baseline to the event, if one is observed during the study period. Follow-up time is censored for subjects who are not observed to have the event during the study period, at the end of the study period for subjects who remain event-free, but during the study period for subjects who leave the study early by choice or by mortality, or whose last evaluation was before the end of the study. Survival analytic techniques are unique in that the unit of analysis is not the individual but the person-time contributed by the individual. Surveillance in longitudinal studies is generally quite rigorous. Subjects are examined in waves and their event status is ascertained. Surveillance continues between waves, and events come to the attention of the investigator. If there is a long time between waves, analyses can be conducted on all available data, with non-events censored early at the last examination and events followed beyond the general examination to the incident event. Motivated by analyses using the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) with cardiovascular endpoints, we consider four censoring methods for non-events and evaluate their impact on estimates of incidence, and on tests of association between risk factors and incidence. We further investigate the impact of early censoring of non-events (as compared to events) under various scenarios with respect to incidence estimation, robustness, and power using a simulation study of Weibull survival models over a range of sample sizes and distribution parameters. Our FHS and simulation investigations show early censoring of non-events causes over estimation of incidence, particularly when the baseline incidence is low. Early censoring of non-events did not affect the robustness of the Wald test [Ho: Hazard Ratio (HR) =1]. However, in both the FHS and over the range of simulation scenarios, under early censoring of non-events, estimates of HR were closer to the null (1.0), and the power to detect associations with risk factors was markedly reduced.