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Forty-six students majoring in business English volunteered to take part in an extensive reading program. The learners were divided into two groups: EG, the experimental group, received instruction in methods of extensive reading plus explicit output-pushed activities, and CG, the control group, received instruction in methods of extensive reading only. This study measured the effects of extensive reading on EFL vocabulary learning, through the effects of the two different instruction methods on learning receptive and productive vocabulary for the 46 learners of different vocabulary size. The research found that (a) both the two instructional methods resulted in significant gains in learners’ receptive and productive vocabulary knowledge, but the combination of the incidental and intentional learning instruction yields greater vocabulary gains; (b) around 60% of receptive vocabulary is understood productively; and (c) students’ vocabulary size plays a decisive role in acquiring the receptive and productive aspect of vocabulary knowledge

Heterogeneous karst surfaces exerted scaling effects whereby specific runoff decrease with increasing area. The existing RUSLE-L equations are limited by the default implicit assumption that the surface-runoff intensity is constant at any slope length. The objective of this study was to modify the L-equation by establishing the functional relationship between surface-runoff intensity and karst slope length, and to evaluate its predictive capability at different resolution DEMs. Transfer grid layers were generated based on the area rate of surface karstification and considered the runoff transmission percentage at the exposed karst fractures or conduits to be zero. Using the multiple flow direction algorithm united with the transfer grid (MFDTG), the flow accumulation of each grid cell was simulated to estimate the average surface-runoff intensity over different slope lengths. The effectiveness of MFDTG algorithm was validated by runoff plot data in Southwestern China. The simulated results in a typical peak-cluster depression basin with an area rate of surface karstification of 6.5% showed that the relationship between surface-runoff intensity and slope length was a negative power function. Estimated by the proposed modified L-equation ((alx(b+1)/22.13)m), the L-factor averages of the study basin ranged from 0.35 to 0.41 at 1, 5, 25 and 90 m resolutions respectively. This study indicated that the modified L-equation enables an improved prediction of the much smaller L-factor and the use of any resolution DEMs on karst landscapes. Particular attention should be given to the variation of surface-runoff intensity with slope length when predicting L-factor on hillslopes with runoff scale effect.

Intelligent control algorithms have been extensively utilized for adaptive controller parameter adjustment. While the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm has several issues: slow convergence speed requiring a large number of iterations, a tendency to get trapped in local optima, and difficulty escaping from them. It is also sensitive to the distribution of the solution space, where uneven distribution can lead to inefficient contraction. On the other hand, the Beetle Antennae Search (BAS) algorithm is robust, precise, and has strong global search capabilities. However, its limitation lies in focusing on a single individual. As the number of iterations increases, the step size decays, causing it to get stuck in local extrema and preventing escape. Although setting a fixed or larger initial step size can avoid this, it results in poor stability. The PSO algorithm, which targets a population, can help the BAS algorithm increase diversity and address its deficiencies. Conversely, the characteristics of the BAS algorithm can aid the PSO algorithm in finding the optimal solution early in the optimization process, accelerating convergence. Therefore, considering the combination of BAS and PSO algorithms can leverage their respective advantages and enhance overall algorithm performance. This paper proposes an improved algorithm, W-K-BSO, which integrates the Beetle Antennae Search strategy into the local search phase of PSO. By leveraging chaotic mapping, the algorithm enhances population diversity and accelerates convergence speed. Additionally, the adoption of linearly decreasing inertia weight enhances algorithm performance, while the coordinated control of the contraction factor and inertia weight regulates global and local optimization performance. Furthermore, the influence of beetle antennae position increments on particles is incorporated, along with the establishment of new velocity update rules. Simulation experiments conducted on nine benchmark functions demonstrate that the W-K-BSO algorithm consistently exhibits strong optimization capabilities. It significantly improves the ability to escape local optima, convergence precision, and algorithm stability across various dimensions, with enhancements ranging from 7 to 9 orders of magnitude compared to the BAS algorithm. Application of the W-K-BSO algorithm to PID optimization for the Pointing and Tracking System (PTS) reduced system stabilization time by 28.5%, confirming the algorithm’s superiority and competitiveness.

Abstract Background Both closed platform and open platform robotic-assisted total hip arthroplasty (THA) have recently been recommended as a viable treatment option for achieving accurate positioning of components. Yet, limited studies paid attention to the differences between the closed platform robotic system and the open platform robotic system. Hence, this study aimed to investigate clinical outcomes, radiographic outcomes, complication rates and learning curve of two systems. Materials and methods We retrospectively included 62 patients (31 closed robotic system and 31 open robotic system) who underwent THA between February 2021 and January 2023. The demographics, operating time, cup positioning, complications and hip Harris score were evaluated. Learning curves of operation time was conducted using cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis. Results There were no differences in surgical time (76.7 ± 12.1 min vs. 72.3 ± 14.8 min), estimated blood loss (223.2 ± 13.2 ml vs. 216.9 ± 17 ml) and Harris Hip score (HHS) between closed platform robotic system and the open platform robotic system. The closed robotic system and the open robotic system were associated with a learning curve of 9 cases and 7 cases for surgical time respectively, based on the satisfying rate of Lewinnek’s safe zone outliers (1/31, 96.8%) and no occurrence of complication. Both robotic systems had significant reduction in overall surgical time, the duration of acetabulum registration, and estimated blood loss between learning phase and proficiency phase. Conclusion The authors suggest that the surgical outcomes and safe zone outlier rate of the open robotic-assisted THA were similar to those of the closed robotic-assisted THA. These two robotic-assisted are associated with comparable learning curves and both have the precise positioning of acetabular component. From learning phase to proficiency phase, the rate of positions within the safe zone differed only marginally (88.9–100% vs. 85.7–100%) based on a rather low number of patients. This is not a statistically significant difference. Therefore, we suggest that THA undergoing with the robotic-assisted system is the relatively useful way to achieve planned acetabular cup position so far.

This study intended to examine L2 young learners' vocabulary learning (i.e. form, meaning, and use). The research design involved a 2 (advance-organizer strategy: present vs. absent) × 4 (caption type: glossed full captions, glossed keyword captions, full captions, keyword captions) between-subjects design. A total of 240 Chinese ESL primary school students were recruited and randomly and equally assigned to eight conditions. Findings revealed that captioned videos produced significant effects on learning regarding the three dimensions of vocabulary knowledge. Glossed full captions were found to be the most effective caption type. Administration of the advance-organizer strategy also resulted in better gains in learning form, meaning, and use than the absence of this strategy. The combination of the advance-organizer strategy and glossed full captions led to the best learning performance for each dimension of vocabulary knowledge. Relevant pedagogical implications, including use of the advance-organizer strategy and captions, are provided.

The relationships between knowledge and regulation of cognition and how they interact to mediate the effects of task-induced involvement load on word learning and confidence judgments were investigated. The participants were 77 undergraduate English majors. They were required to complete a checklist on metacognition. Subsequently, they were assigned to complete three tasks with varying degree of involvement load. They were then required to rate their confidence in learning and using the target words. Pre- and post-study vocabulary tests were administered to measure improvement in word learning. According to the checklist on metacognition, the learners were assigned to four different ability groups. The results showed that knowledge of cognition is a good predictor of the confidence judgments, in the same way that regulation of cognition is a good predictor of the confidence judgments. In terms of learners' actual word learning performance, task-induced involvement load is mediated significantly by the regulatory competence but not by the knowledge of cognition. There is a discrepancy between learners' self-assessment and actual performance. Relevant educational implications are discussed.

Novice teachers often undergo an identity shift from learner to teacher. Along this process, their instructional beliefs change considerably which in turn affect their teacher identity formation. Drawing on data collected mainly through interviews with three novice English teachers for more than one year, the present study examines their first-year teaching experience in Hong Kong secondary schools, focusing on changes of their English teaching beliefs and the impact of these changes on their identity construction. Findings reveal that while the teachers' initial teaching beliefs were largely shaped in their prior school learning and learning-to-teach experience, these beliefs changed and were reshaped a great deal when encountering various contextual realities, and these changes further influenced their views on their teacher identity establishment, unfortunately in a more negative than positive direction. The study sheds light on the importance of institutional support in affording opportunities for novice teachers' workplace learning and professional development.

Drawing on qualitative research, this study explores (1) how Hong Kong university students' existing L1 and L2 affect their learning motivation for an L3 and (2) how an individual's L2 motivation changes because of learning an L3, from a dynamic systems theory perspective. Eight undergraduate students from Hong Kong participated in this study. They were all native Cantonese speakers with English as their second language (L2) and Japanese as their third language (L3) at different proficiency levels. The students attended two rounds of extensive semi-structured interviews that focused on their sources and changes of motivation, their own perceptions of their L2 and L3 selves, their individualised methods and experiences in learning the two languages and their understanding of their cultural identities. The findings reveal the complexity of multilingual learners' motivational dynamics in learning L1, L2 and L3. Furthermore, the influence of an L3 on the existing L2 motivation is shown to be an intriguing but under-investigated research area. Our results lend support to the newly proposed dual-motivation system theory and should contribute to a more nuanced understanding of multilingual learning.

Background: Cognitive impairment, increasingly recognized as a major social burden, is commonly found in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Summary: Vascular damage, uremic toxicity, oxidative stress, and peripheral/central inflammation induced by CKD might be involved in brain lesions and ultimately result in cognitive decline. Uncovering the pathophysiology of CKD-associated cognitive impairment is important for early diagnosis and prevention, which undoubtedly prompts innovative pharmacological treatments. Key Messages: Here, we sequentially review the current understanding and advances in the epidemiology, risk factors, and pathological mechanisms of cognitive impairment in CKD. Furthermore, we summarize the currently available therapeutic strategies for cognitive impairment in CKD.

This article examines the influence of different reading conditions (i.e. reading only and reading with first language marginal glosses), number of word encounters (one, three, and seven) while reading, and combinations of these two variables on new word retention. This study considered a total of six possible combinations. Six groups of Chinese learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) (n = 240) were randomly selected and each assigned to a condition including 15 target lexical items. Each treatment session lasted for 5 weeks. One delayed test, containing four dimensions of vocabulary knowledge, was intended to measure learners' retention of unknown words. The delayed test was administered 2 weeks after the experiment and was not disclosed to the learners in advance. The groups whose reading was accompanied by first-language (L1) marginal glosses scored significantly higher than the reading-only groups. The increased effectiveness of repeatedly encountering target lexical items was more pronounced in the reading experiment including L1 marginal glosses. The combination of L1 marginal glosses and seven encounters was found to be the most effective combination for lexical item retention. This study highlighted the effectiveness of repeatedly encountering target words and being provided with L1 marginal glosses to retain new words incidentally learned from reading. The conditions and relevant teaching implications are discussed in this study.

Over the past few decades, the overuse of antibiotics has raised concerns about drinking water and potential health risks, especially the hydrochloride tetracycline (TC‐HCl). Therefore, it is crucial to develop a simple, low‐cost and high‐efficiency photocatalyst for the degradation of the pollutant. A novel photocatalyst with an S‐scheme heterojunction structure of AgIn5S8 and Bi2MoO6 was synthesized by using a solvothermal method. The heterojunction photocatalyst obtained demonstrates superior photocatalytic degradation activity for hydrochloride tetracycline (TC‐HCl) under visible light irradiation. It exhibits higher photocatalytic degradation performance than pure AgIn5S8 and Bi2MoO6 under the same conditions. The heterojunction with 3 % AgIn5S8 exhibited the highest degradation efficiency of 63.65 % within 40 minutes. Furthermore, the degradation rate is 6.21 times higher than that of AgIn5S8 and 2.18 times higher than that of Bi2MoO6. The improved photocatalytic activity is primarily attributed to the enhanced light absorption and the high rate of carrier separation resulting from S‐scheme heterojunctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]