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A PHENOMENOLOGICAL INQUIRY INTO THE EXPERIENCE OF MACHINE TRANSLATION USE AMONG CHINESE UNDERGRADUATES
Get PDFThis phenomenological study explores the experiences of machine translation (MT) use among Chinese undergraduates in a Chinese-foreign, English medium instruction (EMI), joint degree program in southern China. Advancements in MT technology have raised questions about its application in academic settings, particularly in foreign and second language learning. Educators express concerns over potential misuse for cheating and its potential impact on language development, despite acknowledging it may also offer some benefits for language learners depending on the setting and the students’ level of L2 proficiency. Using translanguaging as a theoretical framework, this study aims to shed light on these concerns by exploring the students’ experiences with MT in an academic context. Participants included second-year undergraduate students enrolled in an Introduction to Literature course. Primary data collection involved multiple in-depth interviews with five students. Additional data were gathered through pre- and post-study surveys from students in all three sections of the focal course, student reflections on mutually agreed-upon MT use guidelines, and classroom observations. Quantitative survey results provided supporting data to this qualitative study to aid the exploration and interpretation of the students’ nuanced perspectives and practices surrounding MT use. Findings reveal a complex landscape of conflicting perspectives and practical, critical, and strategic MT use among the students. Further findings suggest that openly discussing and integrating MT into classroom practices may affect students’ ethical considerations of its use. Moreover, acknowledging students’ varied and often conflicting perspectives on MT, educators in EMI programs might better understand how to encourage students to use MT as a translanguaging tool. Recognizing and valuing the inventive ways students adapt MT for their learning needs can help teachers see these strategic practices as assets to be cultivated rather than behaviors to be curbed
USING THE THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOR TO EXPLORE COLLEGE STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE
Get PDFThe purpose of this study was to explore college students’ perceptions towards understanding their health insurance. Specific objectives were to explore students’ attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control toward understanding their health insurance, and to examine how these three factors impact students’ intention to seek health insurance information. A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 400 participants using a paper and pencil survey method. Study participants consisted of undergraduate students at St. John’s University who were capable of reading and understanding English. Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) was used as the conceptual framework. Descriptive statistics were performed with the data, and hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to address the study objectives, using SPSS® v27. Results indicated that college students had positive attitudes, positive subjective norms, and positive perceived behavioral control in understanding their health insurance. The final model exhibited all three determinants (attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control) to be significant predictors of intention, F (9,384) = 18.760, p \u3c .05, R2 = .305. The results of this study may be used in identifying tools to enhance college students’ understanding of health insurance information, which can ultimately bring societal benefits
INSULIN AND DMA SUPPRESS THE INNATE IMMUNE RESPONSE AGAINST AAV
Get PDFAdeno-Associated Virus (AAV) is extensively utilized in various clinical trials and approved gene therapies. Despite its widespread use, the immune response to AAV vectors remains a significant limitation. Extensive research has been conducted to mitigate adaptive immune challenges, such as pre-existing antibodies and inhibiting the adaptive immune response. This study, however, centers on the innate immune response elicited by AAV, exploring the modulatory effects of insulin and DMA. Initially, we examined the impact of DMA and insulin on the human liver cell line Hep3B and the human macrophage cell line U937 by culturing together in transwell inserts. Following stimulation with AAV1 and a TLR9 agonist for 2 hours, Hep3B cells exhibited increased levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-12, while U937 cells showed heightened IL-1β, IL-6, and INF-β. These elevations were effectively mitigated by either DMA or insulin. At subsequent 6-hour and 24-hour intervals, neither U937 nor Hep3B cells responded to AAV and TLR9 agonist stimulation. We further extended our analysis in vivo using C57BL/6 mice. AAV and TLR9 agonists were administered intramuscularly, while insulin and DMA were delivered intraperitoneally. At 2 hours post-administration, there was a notable increase in IL-6 expression in vivo, accompanied by approximately 2.5-fold increases in interferon-α and interferon-β. These increases were significantly attenuated by the administration of insulin or DMA. By the 6-hour mark, gene expression levels stimulated by AAV and TLR9 agonists had normalized, and no additional suppressive effects were observed from insulin and DMA. Concurrently, immunohistochemical analysis was conducted to assess CD11b positive macrophage recruitment. At 2 hours, no groups exhibited M1/70 positive macrophage recruitment. However, at 6 hours, the group stimulated with AAV and TLR9 agonists showed macrophage recruitment, whereas groups co-administered with insulin or DMA did not, suggesting a potential blockade or delay in recruitment by these agents. In summary, our findings indicate that insulin and DMA can effectively suppress the innate immune response triggered by AAV. This suppression could provide a strategy to prevent the activation of adaptive immunity. However, further investigation is required to fully elucidate the underlying mechanisms of this suppression
BROADCASTING BOMBS: CLASSIFYING ANTECEDENT BEHAVIORS AND STRATEGIZING PREVENTATIVE TACTICS IN LONE-ACTOR TERRORISTS AND MASS-MURDERERS
Get PDFThe modern notion of a socially isolated lone-wolf terrorist and public mass- murderer is challenged by analyzing those individuals’ pre-attack behaviors. Many of these behaviors can be explained with theories such as Social Identity, Social Network, and Social Movement Theory, which examine the changes in human behavior to understand motivations. Properly classifying certain behaviors in a radicalized individual could help identify potential risk factors indicating an impending attack, prompting better responses, and solutions to strategize tactics and policies in preventing terrorism. Using existing literature and theory as the basis, this dissertation will examine common broadcasting behaviors of individuals who have perpetrated or attempted to perpetrate physical acts of terrorism to identify pre-attack warning actions, thus classifying them into distinct sects. This quantitative study uses data collected through a previous study which used open-source text materials from a sample of 186 case studies of United States based lone-wolf terrorists and mass-murderers between 1990-2013. The results show a clear division in broadcasting behaviors between classified types of offenders. These research findings are expected to contribute to the larger body of literature rejecting the moniker of an isolated lone-actor and mass-murderer to one that broadcasts their collective convictions to a larger group. Practical implications on how to better inform and prepare intelligence agencies, law enforcement, and the public in assessing vulnerable individuals and implementing preventative practices will be discussed
FIRST GRADE TEACHERS’ SELF-EFFICACY DURING TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGES IN LITERACY INSTRUCTION
Get PDFSchools across the county are transitioning from balanced literacy to researched based reading instruction. This shift impacts not only instructional practices in reading, but the fundamental understanding of reading development. Teachers are on the frontline of this huge endeavor. This research examined five first grade teachers’ self-efficacy through this transformational change. One-on-one interviews were conducted to explore teachers’ perspectives as they make this shift. Through interpretative phenomenological analysis, (IPA) four themes emerged; lack of training, feelings of disconnect, teacher overwhelm, and passion for change. Recommendations for practice include clear and concise communications of the shifts that are necessary when moving away from balanced literacy to research-based reading instruction. Districts should work to ensure that all educators including school level leadership, receive in-depth professional development that includes linguistic and basic reading skill knowledge. Findings have indicated that peer models and cohorts should be leveraged to support teachers through this process
PERCEPTIONS OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION THROUGH AN ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE THEORY FRAMEWORK
Get PDFThe increase in the English language learner (ELL) student population in New York state has significantly impacted education in many school districts. The New York State Education Department has adjusted regulations for instructing ELL students in Part 154, and administrators and educators are adjusting educational programs to meet ELL student needs through bilingual and English as a new language (ENL) educational programs. The main purpose of this study was to explore perceptions regarding opportunities, challenges, and successes in a bilingual program for ELL students and examine how an organizational culture influences ELL education in the bilingual program. This qualitative multicase study included interviews, classroom observations, and artifacts in an examination of teacher and administrator perceptions of the bilingual program and the school culture. The five participants included two high school general education teachers, two high school bilingual education teachers, and the director of ENL/bilingual education in the study district. The classroom observations took place in a high school bilingual history class and a high school ENL class for emerging and beginner ELL students. The artifacts collected included documents, parent communication letters, and program videos related to the bilingual/ENL educational programs. The theoretical framework of organizational culture guided the analysis. The significance of this research involved the provision of guidance for educational leaders and administrators delivering professional development regarding bilingual/ENL education to shape school culture, support ELL student education, and increase academic success
CHANGE IN RAPE MYTH ACCEPTANCE AS A FUNCTION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT EXPERIENCES: A PROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS
Get PDFIn the United States, one in five women reports experiencing sexual assault while in college. Rape myths, or stereotypical beliefs that serve to blame survivors (i.e., “She Asked For It” and “She Lied”) and exonerate sexual assault perpetrators (“He Didn’t Mean To”), may influence how women conceptualize their own sexual assault experiences and relatedly, their post-assault functioning. Several demographic characteristics, including race and ethnicity, generational status, education level, sexual orientation, and religiosity, have been found to be associated with rape myth acceptance (RMA). Researchers have reported mixed findings, however, regarding the association between sexual assault history and RMA. This study aimed to prospectively examine the impact of new sexual assault experiences (i.e., acquiring new knowledge of a sexual assault survivor or having a personal experience of sexual assault) on change in RMA. The current study consisted of subsamples of college women. At baseline, 240 women were examined. At follow-up, a subsample consisting of 79 women was examined. Participants completed surveys on demographic characteristics, engagement in activities that promote women’s rights and sexual assault prevention, RMA, and sexual assault experiences. At baseline, cross-sectional design was employed to examine the interactive effect of knowing a sexual assault survivor and personal history of sexual assault on RMA. Qualitative methods were employed to further understand the nature of RMA among a subsample of sexual assault survivors. At follow-up, repeated measures were used to prospectively examine the impact of new sexual assault experiences as a moderator of change in RMA. At baseline, the interaction between knowing a sexual assault survivor and personal history of sexual assault contributed unique variance to the perception that “She Asked For It.” For sexual assault survivors, knowing another survivor was protective with regards to RMA, highlighting the importance of creating supportive environments for disclosure to occur among college women. Prospective, longitudinal examination revealed that although change occurred in the perception that “He Didn’t Mean To,” new sexual assault experiences were not associated with this change. Additional public health and clinical implications will be discussed
Latin American Participation in the Current Process of Economic Globalization
Get PDFFrom World War II to the present, Latin America has participated in the current process of economic globalization to varying degrees. The Washington Consensus of the late twentieth century supplanted the region’s earlier model of state-led development and increased its participation in the global capitalist regime. However, Latin America has shown minimal participation in the current process of economic globalization since the late 2000s and, instead, espouses regionalization. Nevertheless, regionalization has proven to be an arduous undertaking in Latin America, especially with China’s increasing regional influence. Variations of benefits are discussed, and recommendations are offered. While the future of Latin America’s participation in the current process of economic globalization has yet to be determined, the region is aware of its toolbox to guide its development in the rest of the twenty-first century
The Influence of Western Music and the Wind Band in the Republic of Korea
Get PDFBeginning with the arrival of American missionaries in 1885, the music of South Korea continues to reflect Western tonality, aesthetics, education, and popular taste. Through this musical and historical evolution, however, the country has not forsaken its traditions, musical imprint, and cultural identity, as will be discussed in the examination of select composers and music compositions