Activities in English classes inducing positive / negative emotions

Introduction. Emotions have been proven to have significant impact on cognitive and motivational aspects of learning. Choosing appropriate activities to stimulate learners’ positive emotions can thus greatly promote learning.Aim. The present research is aimed to find out which learning activities induce positive / negative emotions among upper secondary level learners of English as a foreign language and the secondary aim was to identify the emotions experienced.Methodology and research methods. Methodological triangulation applying qualitative research methods (questionnaire, interview and observation) was conducted among 62 learners and their 2 English teachers. A complementary quantitative instrument (scale) was used to detect the subjective emotional comfort of learners during English lessons.Results. The findings revealed prevailing positive habitual comfort of learners and joy as their primary emotion incited mostly by communication activities. Negative emotions of fear and sadness were detected mainly during testing and evaluation.Scientific novelty. The combination of four research methods in a combined research design studying the complex scale of emotions related to learning a foreign language has not been applied yet.Practical significance. Greater understanding of the affective aspect in learning a foreign language which may help foreign language teachers and methodologists select the appropriate activities to effectively address the actual cognitive and affective needs of learners.Введение. Доказано, что эмоции оказывают существенное влияние на когнитивные и мотивационные аспекты обучения. Таким образом, выбор подходящих занятий для стимулирования положительных эмоций школьников может в значительной степени способствовать обучению. Цель. Основная цель исследования заключалась в том, чтобы выяснить, какие виды учебной деятельности вызывают положительные, а какие – отрицательные эмоции у старшеклассников, изучающих английский язык как иностранный. Второстепенной целью было выявление испытываемых эмоций. Методология и методы. Методологическая триангуляция с применением качественных методов исследования (анкетирование, интервью и наблюдение) была проведена среди учащихся (n = 62) и их учителей английского языка (n = 2). Дополнительный количественный инструмент (шкала) использовался для определения субъективного эмоционального комфорта школьников во время уроков английского языка. Результаты. Результаты показали, что у учащихся преобладают позитивный привычный комфорт и радость как ключевая эмоция, вызванная в основном коммуникативной деятельностью. Отрицательные эмоции (страх и печаль) выявлялись преимущественно во время тестирования и оценивания. Научная новизна состоит в том, что впервые применялось сочетание четырех методов в комбинированном дизайне исследования сложной шкалы эмоций, связанных с изучением иностранного языка.Практическая значимость. Лучшее понимание аффективного аспекта в изучении иностранного языка может помочь педагогам и методистам в выборе подходящих занятий для эффективного удовлетворения реальных когнитивных и эмоциональных потребностей учащихся.This work was supported by the Cultural and Educational Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic (KEGA 002UKF-4/2020).Статья поддержана Агентством культурных и образовательных грантов Министерства образования, науки, исследований и спорта Словацкой Республики (KEGA 002UKF-4/2020)

Towards an alternative testing strategy for nanomaterials used in nanomedicine: lessons from NanoTEST.

In spite of recent advances in describing the health outcomes of exposure to nanoparticles (NPs), it still remains unclear how exactly NPs interact with their cellular targets. Size, surface, mass, geometry, and composition may all play a beneficial role as well as causing toxicity. Concerns of scientists, politicians and the public about potential health hazards associated with NPs need to be answered. With the variety of exposure routes available, there is potential for NPs to reach every organ in the body but we know little about the impact this might have. The main objective of the FP7 NanoTEST project ( www.nanotest-fp7.eu ) was a better understanding of mechanisms of interactions of NPs employed in nanomedicine with cells, tissues and organs and to address critical issues relating to toxicity testing especially with respect to alternatives to tests on animals. Here we describe an approach towards alternative testing strategies for hazard and risk assessment of nanomaterials, highlighting the adaptation of standard methods demanded by the special physicochemical features of nanomaterials and bioavailability studies. The work has assessed a broad range of toxicity tests, cell models and NP types and concentrations taking into account the inherent impact of NP properties and the effects of changes in experimental conditions using well-characterized NPs. The results of the studies have been used to generate recommendations for a suitable and robust testing strategy which can be applied to new medical NPs as they are developed

The 3-Hydroxy-2-Butanone Pathway Is Required for Pectobacterium carotovorum Pathogenesis

Pectobacterium species are necrotrophic bacterial pathogens that cause soft rot diseases in potatoes and several other crops worldwide. Gene expression data identified Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum budB, which encodes the α-acetolactate synthase enzyme in the 2,3-butanediol pathway, as more highly expressed in potato tubers than potato stems. This pathway is of interest because volatiles produced by the 2,3-butanediol pathway have been shown to act as plant growth promoting molecules, insect attractants, and, in other bacterial species, affect virulence and fitness. Disruption of the 2,3-butanediol pathway reduced virulence of P. c. subsp. carotovorum WPP14 on potato tubers and impaired alkalinization of growth medium and potato tubers under anaerobic conditions. Alkalinization of the milieu via this pathway may aid in plant cell maceration since Pectobacterium pectate lyases are most active at alkaline pH

Broad Spectrum Pro-Quorum-Sensing Molecules as Inhibitors of Virulence in Vibrios

Quorum sensing (QS) is a bacterial cell-cell communication process that relies on the production and detection of extracellular signal molecules called autoinducers. QS allows bacteria to perform collective activities. Vibrio cholerae, a pathogen that causes an acute disease, uses QS to repress virulence factor production and biofilm formation. Thus, molecules that activate QS in V. cholerae have the potential to control pathogenicity in this globally important bacterium. Using a whole-cell high-throughput screen, we identified eleven molecules that activate V. cholerae QS: eight molecules are receptor agonists and three molecules are antagonists of LuxO, the central NtrC-type response regulator that controls the global V. cholerae QS cascade. The LuxO inhibitors act by an uncompetitive mechanism by binding to the pre-formed LuxO-ATP complex to inhibit ATP hydrolysis. Genetic analyses suggest that the inhibitors bind in close proximity to the Walker B motif. The inhibitors display broad-spectrum capability in activation of QS in Vibrio species that employ LuxO. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first molecules identified that inhibit the ATPase activity of a NtrC-type response regulator. Our discovery supports the idea that exploiting pro-QS molecules is a promising strategy for the development of novel anti-infectives

A922 Sequential measurement of 1 hour creatinine clearance (1-CRCL) in critically ill patients at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI)

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Wpływ wypasu bydła i owiec na ekosystemy trawiaste Parku Narodowego Vel'ká Fatra

The Vel'ká Fatra National Park (declared on 1 April 2002) is extending on an area of 40,371 ha and was established to protect well-preserved ecosystems. The Vel'ká Fatra (Greater Fatra) with the highest peak Ostredok (1592 m altitude) is a typical mountain territory and ranks among the highest mountain ranges in Slovakia. Grassland areas above the forest line ("hole" in Slovak) and highland relief are typical for Vel'ká Fatra where forests cover is 85% of the area. Large areas of grassland located on gently modelled ridges resulted from deforestation many centuries ago. The alpine meadows which are rich in rare plant communities cover the area of 2000 ha. In the past, these grasslands were used by cutting and grazing. Nowadays, the meadows are not mowed at all. The reasons are low numbers of ruminants in nearby farms, high cost and poor access roads that are eroded very much. Grazing with young cattle has been banned and consequently tall grasses expanded, swards thinned as well as avalanche risk increased. Currently, it is allowed to graze young cattle again, but farmers do not exploit this option very much. About 200 heifers and 2,500 sheep graze there, but only at the lowest areas of the mountains and for short periods of time. The grassland is dominated by Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. and also by very rapidly expanding Calamagrostis epigejos (L.) Roth, Brachypodium pinnatum (L.) P. Beauv. and Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. indicating a prolonged period of abandonment.Park Narodowy Vel'ká Fatra ustanowiony 1 kwietnia 2002 r. dla ochrony dobrze zachowanych ekosystemów zajmuje powierzchnię 40 371 ha. Vel'ká Fatra (Większa Fatra) z najwyższym szczytem Ostredok (1592 m n.p.m.) jest typowym obszarem górskim i zalicza się do najwyższych grzbietów górskich Słowacji. Charakterystyczne dla parku są ekosystemy trawiaste położone powyżej linii lasów ("hole" w języku słowackim), porastających 85% obszaru i wysokogórskie ukształtowanie terenu. Rozległe obszary trawiaste, usytuowane na łagodnie uformowanych grzbietach, są wynikiem wylesiania, które miało miejsce wiele wieków temu. Alpejskie łąki, bogate w zespoły rzadkich roślin, pokrywają powierzchnię 2000 ha. W przeszłości były wykorzystywane jako użytki zielone. Obecnie łąki nie są koszone. Powodem jest niewielka liczba przeżuwaczy w okolicznych gospodarstwach, wysoki koszt i uciążliwy transport na silnie zerodowanych drogach. Zakazano wypasu młodego bydła. W konsekwencji rozwinęły się zespoły wysokich traw, ruń została przerzedzona i zwiększyło się ryzyko lawinowe. Obecnie zezwala się ponownie na wypas młodego bydła, ale rolnicy nie korzystają powszechnie z tej możliwości. Wypasa się tam jedynie 200 jałówek i 2500 owiec jedynie w najniżej położonych terenach górskich przez krótki okres. Zespoły trawiaste są zdominowane przez Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. i przez bardzo ekspansywne Calamagrostis epigejos (L.) Roth, Brachypodium pinnatum (L.) P. Beauv. and Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop., co wskazuje na wydłużony okres zaniechania użytkowania