LANGUAGE AWARENESS WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF CHANGING PERSPECTIVES ON GRAMMAR PEDAGOGY

In 1970s, Language Awareness (LA) was put forward, primarily by modern linguists, as a new ‘bridging’ element in the UK school curriculum. It was viewed as a solution to several of the failures in the UK schools: illiteracy in English, failure to learn foreign languages, and divisive prejudices. To Van Lier (2001) current interest in LA stems from three sources: Pedagogically oriented LA, Consciousness raising, and critical perspective. This paper concentrates on psycholinguistic focus on consciousness-raising (hereafter C-R activities) and explicit attention to language form or grammar. Three relevant issues are discussed here. Firstly, the nature of LA, its principles, objectives and procedures are discussed. Secondly, this study delves into the main justifications and implications of LA. Last but not the least, this paper tries to present an overview of the rationale behind the use of C-R activities in teaching grammar and current perspectives in grammar teaching. Key words: Language Awareness, Grammar pedagogy, Consciousness Raising, Critical Perspective

Evaluation of Lipid Profile and PCSK9 Serum Levels in Parkinson’s Patients in Comparison with Healthy Subjects

Introduction Up to now, limited and contradictory results have been published on the role of prognostic values of lipid profile molecules including: HDL (High Density Lipoprotein), LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein), TG (Triglyceride), Total Cholesterol and PCSK9 (Proprotein Convertase SubtilisinKexin type 9) molecule in occurrence and development of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The aim of this study was to investigate the role of lipid profile and PCSK9 in patients with PD and to compar it with healthy individuals. Methods and Results In the present case-evidence study, 32 individuals diagnosed with PD were compared with 32 healthy individuals. After receiving the  participant's consent forms, 5 ml blood was taken from vein and the level of HDL(High -Density Lipoprotein), LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein), TG (Triglyceride),Total Cholesterol and PCSK9 in the blood samples were measured. The Elisa method was used for measuring PCSK9 level in blood serum. Data were analyzed using SPSS17 software. The P values smaller than 0.05 were considered significant. The mean age of participants in the PD and control group was 56.9±8.8 and 53.7±10.1 years respectively (P>0.05). Twenty seven individuals (87.1%) and 13 individuals (41.9%) in the PD group and control group were men, respectively. The remaining participants were women (P=0.000). LDL level (84.2±24.9 ml/dl vs. 105.5±16.8, P=0.000), HDL (45.5±8.7 ml/dl vs. 51.1±9.5 ml/dl, P=0.000), total cholesterol (155.3±31.2 ml/dl vs. 192.8±32.5 ml/dl P=0.000) were lower and TG level was higher in the PD group (133.3±79.3 ml/dl vs. 131.2±58.6 ml/dl, P=0.9) compared with the control group. PCSK9 level was higher in the PDgroup, but no significant difference was found (141.6±70 vs. 129.7±51 ng/ml, P=0.5). ConclusionsOur findings showed that individuals with PD have lower level of HDL, LDL and total cholesterol compared with the control group, but PCSK9 levels were same in both groups

Comparison of Honey versus Polylactide Anti-Adhesion Barrier on Peritoneal Adhesion and Healing of Colon Anastomosis in Rabbits

BACKGROUND: Postoperative adhesion is still a consequence of intra-abdominal surgeries, which results in bowel obstruction and abdominopelvic pain. Bowel anastomosis as a common abdominal surgery has the incidence of leakage in up to 30% of patients that increase morbidity and mortality. Due to similar pathways of adhesion formation and wound healing, it is important to find a way to reduce adhesions and anastomosis leakage. AIM: This study was designed to compare antiadhesive as well as anastomosis healing improvement effect of honey and polylactide anti-adhesive barrier film. METHODS: Forty-five rabbits divided into three groups of honey, adhesion barrier film, and control group in an animal study. Under a similar condition, rabbits underwent resection and anastomosis of cecum under general anaesthesia. In the first group, honey was used at the anastomosis site, in the second one polylactide adhesion barrier film utilised, and the third one was the control group. Adhesion, as well as anastomosis leakage, was assessed after 21 days. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) for Windows version 25. RESULTS: Three groups of 15 rabbits were studied. The results showed that mean peritoneal adhesion score (PAS) was lower in the honey group (1.67) in comparison to the adhesion barrier film group (3.40) and the control group (6.33). CONCLUSION: Bio-absorbable polylactide barrier has an anti-adhesion effect but is not suitable for intestinal anastomosis in rabbits. Further studies needed to evaluate these effects on human beings

Anchoring Effects of English Vocabulary Instruction: The Case of Pre-University Students

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of employing Concept Mapping (hereafter CM) in vocabulary instruction on Iranian pre-university students. This study also seeks to find whether there is difference between male and female students’ vocabulary learning when they are subjected to CM instruction. In so doing, an Oxford Placement Test was administered among 120 pre-university students in two high schools in Iran.  Eighty    students who scored between +1 and -1 standard deviation above and below the mean were selected and randomly assigned into concept mapping group (CM) and non-concept mapping group (NCM) (20 male and 20 female). The results indicated that the CM group outperformed the NCM group in vocabulary learning. It was also revealed that there was no significant difference between males and females. Some pedagogical implications in the EFL context are discussed in the subsequent section.Keywords: vocabulary instruction, pre-university students, concept mapping

Learning Style Preferences of Iranian EFL High School Students

The current study examined the learning style preferences of 75 Iranian students at Marefat high school in Kuala Lumpur of which, 41 are females and 34 are males. As there are very few researches in which the learning style preferences of Iranian high school students investigated, this study attempts to fulfil this gap. To this end, in order to identify the students’ preferred learning styles (Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic, Tactile, Group, and Individual) Reid’s Perceptual Learning Style Preferences Questionnaire was used. Results indicated that the six learning style preferences considered in the questionnaire were positively preferred. Overall, kinesthetic and tactile learning were major learning styles. Auditory, group, visual, and individual were minor.

A Synthesis of Language Learning Strategies: Current Issues, Problems and Claims Made in Learner Strategy Research

The current paper presented theoretical assumptions behind language learning strategies (LLS) and an overview of methods used to identify learners’ strategies, first, and then summarized what have been reported from large number of descriptive studies of strategies by language learners. Moreover, the paper tried to present the variety of definitions and classifications of learning strategies can be counterproductive in a number of ways. Finally, the researchers argued that in spite of the lack of coherence and clarity in the description of second language learning strategies, the relevant research findings can be profitably incorporated into classroom activities and that further research and application in this area can make our understanding of learning strategies deeper and our facilitation of language learning more fruitful

Exploring Parental Motivations, Attitudes, and Home Literacy Practices Towards Bilingualism

Abstract This study embarks upon uncovering the probable relationships between Iranian parents' attitudes, motivations, and home literacy practices (HLP) towards bilingualism, Persian and English. To undertake the study, sixty-eight parents of young language learners (YLLs) were asked to fill up a survey questionnaire. The questionnaire aimed to uncover parental attitudes, motivation, and the types of HLP towards bilingualism. The results of Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analysis indicated that parents espoused positive holistic attitudes, integrative motivation, and formal practices in HLP towards bilingualism. The findings also revealed that there was positive relationship between parental attitudes, motivation and HLP. The multiple regression analysis for the corresponding variables revealed that only motivations predict the variance in the home literacy practices. Implications for teachers, policy makers, and curriculum developers along with some suggestions are provided

Exploring Parental Motivations, Attitudes, and Home Literacy Practices Towards Bilingualism

This study embarks upon uncovering the probable relationships between Iranian parents’ attitudes, motivations, and home literacy practices (HLP) towards bilingualism, Persian and English. To undertake the study, sixty-eight parents of young language learners (YLLs) were asked to fill up a survey questionnaire. The questionnaire aimed to uncover parental attitudes, motivation, and the types of HLP towards bilingualism. The results of Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analysis indicated that parents espoused positive holistic attitudes, integrative motivation, and formal practices in HLP towards bilingualism. The findings also revealed that there was positive relationship between parental attitudes, motivation and HLP. The multiple regression analysis for the corresponding variables revealed that only motivations predict the variance in the home literacy practices. Implications for teachers, policy makers, and curriculum developers along with some suggestions are provided

Ectopic major transplantation for salvage of upper and lower extremity amputations

【Abstract】Objective: Ectopic tissue transplanta- tion is not a new idea. Godina and his colleagues pioneered this method in the 1980s. This method is a last resort method of preserving an amputated body part, which consists of banking the amputated segment in an ectopic area and re- turning it to its native place at a later date. In this article we present our experience with this demanding procedure. Methods: Debridement was the mainstay of this procedure. The stump and amputated part are carefully de- brided and the stump was either closed primarily or covered by a flap. The amputated part was transplanted to one of several banking sites in the body and at a later date it will be transferred to its native site in an elective setting. Results: Seven patients meeting the set criteria for ectopic transplantation were enrolled in this study. The over- all success rate was about 70%, lower than expected but these are cases of severe crush injury. Although the func- tional recovery of these patients are very low, all of the successful cases except one could find a job as a janitor or light manual worker. No patient could return to his previous job. Conclusion: Ectopic transplantation of body parts is an accepted method of treatment of severely crushed ex- tremity or finger injuries. In our country an amputee has very little chance of finding a job instead a disabled person can. In addition in Iran cultures amputation is seen as pu- nishment of either the God or the society, so it is not well accepted and many patients persist on saving the limb even with no functional recovery. None of our successful cases could return to his previous occupation but almost all of them could find a job as janitors or light manual workers. Key words: Replantation; Transplantation; Extremities; Amputation, traumati

Evaluating the effect of gentamicin-clindamycin lavage on post-operational pain and infection through laparoscopic colectomy surgery

Introduction: Peritoneal antibiotic or normal saline lavage is seen to be beneficial in order to reduce the pain or infection risk through laparoscopic surgeries. It can also be applied for laparoscopic colectomy surgeries. In this study, we have compared the effects of antibiotic solution lavage (gentamycin-clindamycin) with normal saline lavage in patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomy surgery. Method: In this double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT), 40 patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomy surgery were divided into antibiotic and normal saline lavage groups (20 patients in each group). Post-operational pain, need for painkiller, white blood cells count, C-reactive protein level, duration of hospitalization and wound infection were compared in 30 days between the groups. Results: Antibiotic lavage group had significantly less pain than the normal saline group (p < 0.05) through 3, 6, 12 and 24 h after surgery. C-reactive protein level, white blood cells count, painkiller use, and hospitalization duration were significantly lower in antibiotic group. However, there was no difference regarding wound or intra-abdominal infection between the both groups. Conclusion: Using gentamicin-clindamycin peritonea lavage helps patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomy surgery in pain reduction, need for painkillers and hospitalization duration. Resumo: Introdução: A lavagem peritoneal com antibiótico ou com soro fisiológico normal é benéfica para reduzir o risco de dor ou de infecção durante cirurgias laparoscópicas, além de poder ser aplicada também em colectomias laparoscópicas. Neste estudo, comparamos os efeitos da lavagem com solução antibiótica (gentamicina-clindamicina) e da lavagem com solução salina normal em pacientes submetidos à colectomia laparoscópica. Método: Neste Ensaio Clínico Randomizado (ECR), controlado e duplo-cego, 40 pacientes submetidos à colectomia laparoscópica foram divididos em dois grupos (20 pacientes em cada grupo) para receberem antibiótico ou solução salina normal. Dor pós-operatória, necessidade de analgésico, contagem de leucócitos, nível de proteína C-reativa, tempo de internação e infecção da ferida foram comparados entre os grupos em 30 dias. Resultados: De forma significativa, o Grupo Antibiótico apresentou menos dor que o Grupo Salina Normal (p < 0,05) em 3, 6, 12 e 24 horas após a cirurgia. O nível de proteína C-reativa, a contagem de leucócitos, o uso de analgésicos e o tempo de internação foram significativamente menores no Grupo Antibiótico. Porém, não houve diferença em relação à infecção da ferida ou intra-abdominal entre os dois grupos. Conclusão: O uso da lavagem peritoneal com gentamicina-clindamicina ajuda a reduzir a dor, a necessidade de analgésicos e o tempo de internação de pacientes submetidos à colectomia laparoscópica. Keywords: Laparoscopic colectomy, Antibiotic peritoneal lavage, Intra-abdominal infection, Wound infection, Peritoneal lavage, Palavras-chave: Colectomia laparoscópica, Lavagem peritoneal com antibiótico, Infecção intra-abdominal, Infecção de feridas, Lavagem peritonea