The content analysis of English textbooks for primary schools - teaching pronunciation

The main objective of the study is the content analysis of textbooks frequently used to teach English at primary schools with the focus on teaching pronunciation. The relevant series of English Plus and Project (Oxford University Press) and MORE! (Cambridge University Press) are studied. Their pronunciation exercises are analysed according to their focus on the phonic level (segmental or suprasegmental), form of work (individual, pair, group, whole-class) and a teaching technique. The results revealed that the suprasegmental subsystem is preferred in the textbooks and there is a preponderance of drill technique. Pair work and whole class involvement are given preference in the textbook exercises

Pharmacological evaluation of phenylcarbamic acid derivatives on cardiovascular functions in rats

Four phenylcarbamic acid derivatives, 1 (1-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-[3-(4-methoxyphenylcarbamoyloxy)-2-hydroxypropyl]piperazinium chloride, 2 (1-(2-methylphenyl)-4-[3-(4-methoxyphenylcarbamoyloxy)-2-hydroxypropyl]piperazinium chloride), 3 (1-(2-methylphenyl)-4-[3-(4-ethoxyphenylcarbamoyloxy)-2-hydroxypropyl]piperazinium chloride) and 4 (1-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)-4-[3-(4-methoxyphenylcarbamoyloxy)-2-hydroxypropyl]piperazinium chloride) were investigated for their ability to affect various cardiovascular functions and to establish their chemical structure-biological activity relationship. The compounds were evaluated for their antiarrhythmic efficacy using ouabain-induced rhythm disturbances and the ability to inhibit the positive chronotropic effect of isoproterenol in isolated atria of Wistar rats. Electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters in isolated hearts of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) perfused according to the Langendorff method and ability to decrease phenylephrine-induced contraction of the aortic strips after repeated administration of the compounds were also analyzed. Only compound 3 delayed significantly the evaluated parameter of arrhythmogenicity and was able to antagonize the isoproterenol-induced positive chronotropic effect in normotensive rats’ atria. Similarly, in SHR rats, only compound 3 was able to decrease heart frequency significantly without influencing the duration of QT (time between the start of the Q wave and the end of the T wave) and QTc (frequency corrected QT) intervals. The evaluated endothelial function was improved after administration of compound 2. Fluorine-containing structures (1 and 4) were less effective compared to 2´-methylphenylpiperazine derivatives (2 and 3). The latter two compounds showed suitable efficacy, which supported their use for futher pharmacological research

The Influence of Costumers’ Personal Characteristics on their Satisfaction with the Food Industry

The subject of this research is the influence of numerous factors and variables on customer satisfaction, which is one of the main factors of the company’s competitiveness. The objective of the study, therefore, is to ascertain which factors and variables influence customer satisfaction and, as a result, the competitiveness of the enterprise from within the food industry. The research has been conceived in two successive steps. The first of these is to discover the influence of selected factors on customer satisfaction. Amongst these were factors which not only sometimes clearly influenced customer satisfaction (factors of customer satisfaction), but also factors which clearly influenced other types of satisfaction which were then associated with customer satisfaction (personal characteristics). In the second step, mutual relationships between the two groups of factors is described. The research was carried out on a sample of firms in the food industry along with their end customers. Multiple regression and a hierarchical mixed-effect model with the appropriate statistical tests were used for modelling. From the results it emerges that only the factors of customer satisfaction (customer expectation, perceived quality and perceived value) have an effect on overall customer satisfaction. The influence of personal characteristics was not proven. However, a (weak) relationship was shown between some of the factors of customer satisfaction (perceived value, perceived quality, competitiveness and customer expectation) and a number of factors from the group of personal characteristics (financial capacity, level of optimism and level of planning)

Genetic interrelationships of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei (Cestoda : Diphyllobothriidea), the causative agent of sparganosis in Europe

The geographic distribution of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidea), the causative agent of food/water-borne sparganosis, is restricted to Europe, where infected canids, felids, mustelids, suids, and reptiles have been documented from Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, Serbia, Estonia, Latvia, and Finland. The main objective of the current study was to map the molecular divergence of S. erinaceieuropaei from Finland using the complete sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox1 mtDNA). Seven cox1 haplotypes were determined in 15 tapeworms from Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) from three localities in southern Finland. In addition, the first inter-population study of S. erinaceieuropaei based on currently obtained data on cox1 from Finland and previously published data from Finland, Latvia, Ukraine, and Poland, was performed. The haplotype network showed a star-like pattern without specific subdivision of lineages according to the locality. Samples from Finland, Latvia, and Poland shared several haplotypes and formed the common Baltic lineage. The haplotype of S. erinaceieuropaei from Ukraine was unique and placed on a separate mutational pathway, suggesting a different lineage of the parasite.Peer reviewe

Differential transferrin expression in placentae from normal and abnormal pregnancies: a pilot study

Abstract Background The placenta is an important site for iron metabolism in humans. It transfers iron from the mother to the fetus. One of the major iron transport proteins is transferrin, which is a blood plasma protein crucial for iron uptake. Its localization and expression may be one of the markers to distinguish placental dysfunction. Methods In the experimental study we used antibody preparation, mass spectrometric analysis, biochemical and immunocytochemical methods for characterization of transferrin expression on the human choriocarcinoma cell line JAR (JAR cells), placental lysates, and cryostat sections. Newly designed monoclonal antibody TRO-tf-01 to human transferrin was applied on human placentae from normal (n = 3) and abnormal (n = 9) pregnancies. Results Variations of transferrin expression were detected in villous syncytiotrophoblast, which is in direct contact with maternal blood. In placentae from normal pregnancies, the expression of transferrin in the syncytium was significantly lower (p \u3c 0.001) when compared to placentae from abnormal ones (gestational diabetes, pregnancy induced hypertension, drug abuse). Conclusion These observations suggest that in the case of abnormal pregnancies, the fetus may require higher levels of transferrin in order to prevent iron depletion due to the stress from the placental dysfunction

Contrastive vs Non-Contrastive Meta-Phonetic Input in Teaching Foreign Language Pronunciation

Almost every study on explicit meta-phonetic instruction in teaching foreign language (L2) pronunciation confirms its facilitating effect. However, hardly any studies applying contrastive (L1-L2) meta-phonetic instruction are available so far. The current study examines the effectiveness of contrastive meta-phonetic input in comparison with the effectiveness of non-contrastive (L2) meta-phonetic input via the laboratory analysis of 80 adult Slovak speakers’ English pronunciation. Their English pronunciation quality, as reflected in the formant structure of vowels is measured before and after the contrastive input in the experimental group and non-contrastive input in the control group. The values are then compared to the standard values of British English vowels. It is hypothesized that English vowels produced by the experimental group approximate to the standard values more than the vowels produced by the control group. The results showed a more significant approximation in the experimental group which indicates higher effectiveness of contrastive meta-phontic input in teaching foreign language pronunciation.Presque toutes les études sur l’enseignement métaphonétique explicite de la prononciation des langues étrangères (L2) confirment son effet facilitateur. Cependant, jusqu’à présent, il n’existe pratiquement aucune étude sur l’enseignement métaphonétique contrastif (L1-L2). La présente étude examine l’efficacité de ce type d’enseignement par rapport à l’efficacité de l’enseignement métaphonétique non contrastif (L2), en analysant expérimentalement la prononciation anglaise de 80 adultes slovaques. La qualité de leur prononciation anglaise, telle qu’elle se reflète dans la structure des voyelles, est mesurée avant et après l’input contrastif dans le groupe expérimental et l’input non contrastif dans le groupe contrôle. Les valeurs sont ensuite comparées aux valeurs standard des voyelles de l’anglais britannique. On fait l’hypothèse que les voyelles anglaises produites par le groupe expérimental se rapprochent davantage des valeurs standard que les voyelles produites par le groupe contrôle. Les résultats montrent une approximation plus juste dans le groupe expérimental, ce qui indique une plus grande efficacité de l’entrée métaphonétique contrastive dans l’enseignement de la prononciation des langues étrangères

Chloridobis(ethyl­enediamine-κ2 N,N′)(n-pentyl­amine-κN)cobalt(III) dichloride monhydrate

The title complex, [CoCl(C5H13N)(C2H8N2)2]Cl2·H2O, comprises one chloridobis(ethyl­enediamine)(n-pentyl­amine)cobalt(III) cation, two chloride counter-anions and a water mol­ecule. The CoIII atom of the complex is hexa­coordinated by five N and one Cl atoms. The five N atoms are from two chelating ethyl­enediamine and one n-pentyl­amine ligands. Neighbouring cations and anions are connected by N—H⋯Cl and N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds to each other and also to the water mol­ecule

Investigating biological activity spectrum for novel styrylquinazoline analogues

In this study, series of ring-substituted 2-styrylquinazolin-4(3H)-one and 4-chloro-2-styrylquinazoline derivatives were prepared. The syntheses of the discussed compounds are presented. The compounds were analyzed by RP-HPLC to determine lipophilicity. They were tested for their inhibitory activity on photosynthetic electron transport (PET) in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) chloroplasts. Primary in vitro screening of the synthesized compounds was also performed against four mycobacterial strains and against eight fungal strains. Several compounds showed biological activity comparable with or higher than that of the standard isoniazid. It was found that the electronic properties of the R substituent, and not the total lipophilicity of the compound, were decisive for the photosynthesis-inhibiting activity of tested compounds

Investigating the activity spectrum for Ring-Substituted 8-Hydroxyquinolines

In this study, a series of fourteen ring-substituted 8-hydroxyquinoline derivatives were prepared. The synthesis procedures are presented. The compounds were analyzed using RP-HPLC to determine lipophilicity. They were tested for their activity related to inhibition of photosynthetic electron transport (PET) in spinach (Spinacia olerácea L.) chloroplasts. Primary in vitro screening of the synthesized compounds was also performed against four mycobacterial strains and against eight fungal strains. Several compounds showed biological activity comparable with or higher than the standards isoniazid or fluconazole. For all the compounds, the relationships between the lipophilicity and the chemical structure of the studied compounds are discussed