This study investigates the learning style preferences of Armenian, Hmong, Korean, Mexican, and Vietnamese English learners (ELs) in secondary schools. Measures used include a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and post hoc multiple comparisons of means tests (Scheffé tests) for statistical analyses. A sample of 857 cases collected from 20 high schools in California found significant ethnic group differences as well as achievement level differences in basic learning style preferences. ELs in this study favored a variety of instructional strategies. They exhibited either major or minor preferences for all four basic perceptual learning styles but significant ethnic group differences in preferences for group and individual learning. All students exhibited either major or minor preferences for kinesthetic or tactile learning. Hmong, Mexican, and Vietnamese ELs preferred group learning while Armenian and Korean ELs did not. However, all five ethnic groups (Armenian, Hmong, Korean, Mexican, and Vietnamese) showed either major or minor preferences for visual learning. In addition, middle and high achievers were more visual than low achievers; high and middle achievers preferred individual learning but low achievers did not; and newcomers exhibited much greater preference for individual learning than those who had been longer in the U.S.

Environmental factors can influence the composition of gut microbiota, but understanding the combined effect of lifestyle factors on adult gut microbiota is limited. Here, we investigated whether changes in the modifiable lifestyle factors, such as cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, sleep duration, physical exercise, and body mass index affected the gut microbiota of Korean navy trainees. The navy trainees were instructed to stop smoking and alcohol consumption and follow a sleep schedule and physical exercise regime for eight weeks. For comparison, healthy Korean civilians, who had no significant change in lifestyles for eight weeks were included in this study. A total of 208 fecal samples were collected from navy trainees (n = 66) and civilians (n = 38) at baseline and week eight. Gut flora was assessed by sequencing the highly variable region of the 16S rRNA gene. The α-and β -diversity of gut flora of both the test and control groups were not significantly changed after eight weeks. However, there was a significant difference among individuals. Smoking had a significant impact in altering α-diversity. Our study showed that a healthy lifestyle, particularly cessation of smoking, even in short periods, can affect the gut microbiome by enhancing the abundance of beneficial taxa and reducing that of harmful taxa.