252 research outputs found
Obrazkowy słownik języka polskiego dla obcokrajowców na tle innych publikacji
Zadanie pt. Digitalizacja i udostępnienie w Cyfrowym Repozytorium Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego kolekcji czasopism naukowych wydawanych przez Uniwersytet Łódzki nr 885/P-DUN/2014 zostało dofinansowane ze środków MNiSW w ramach działalności upowszechniającej naukę
Language teaching and the new technology - a necessary innovation or innovatory necessity
Nowadays the range of technologies available for use in teaching and learning languages has become very diverse therefore the ways that they are being used in classrooms have become central to language practice. Innovative approaches to language development are often considered necessary in the digital age. Does however the investment we are making in new technologies give us proper value for money? Many researches have already pointed out that the new technologies do not have any intrinsic value and just their use does not guarantee success in mastering a language. In order to stimulate acquisition they have to be seamlessly integrated into process of learning. In our study we wanted to find out what approach to new technologies (their presence and role in classroom practice) take three groups of people involved in language learning/teaching process; namely, experienced teachers, future teachers and present pupils as older teachers are very often regarded as people who are “technology unfriendly”, pupils on the other hand are normally perceived as enthusiast of every innovation
The language of school education from the glottodidactic perspective : an overview
The number of migrant children at Polish schools is increasing. They should use the Polish language not only to communicate at school and beyond, but also to understand the world. In order to achieve this goal certain actions must be taken because the development of the necessary communicative and cognitive skills does not occur spontaneously. The article presents the specificity of the term language of education, distinguishing it from language of everyday communication, and proves its importance for children’s educational achievements. The article author also proves the necessity of distinguishing between shaping the linguistic communicative skills and cognitive language proficiency
Investigating chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and its treatment, using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
Background
Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) is a debilitating
neuropathy caused by commonly used chemotherapeutics. Clinically, the
problem of CIPN is compounded by difficulties with diagnosis and limited
treatment options. The pathophysiology of CIPN remains elusive, with current
mechanistic postulates focused mainly on the peripheral nervous system.
However, animal and human models of non-CIPN neuropathic conditions have
shown the brain to be central to the development and maintenance of painful
neuropathy. Moreover, evidence suggests that aberrant activity in key regions of
the brain and brainstem could denote individual vulnerability for chronic pain
states. The impact of the brain on CIPN development is unknown. Assessment of
drug efficacy using brain imaging can provide sensitive readouts and is
increasingly used in clinical trials.
Aims
Firstly, to prospectively explore the structure and function of the brain in cancer
patients prior to chemotherapy administration, using functional magnetic
resonance imaging (fMRI), in order to determine whether baseline differences
exist between patients who progress to CIPN as compared to those who do not.
Secondly, to develop a pilot study using fMRI to investigate a topical treatment
for CIPN, in order to assess the feasibility of setting up a study with this kind of
design.
Methods
To address the first aim of this thesis a prospective cohort study (the CIPN fMRI
Study) was developed. Cancer patients scheduled to receive neurotoxic
chemotherapy treatment including oxaliplatin, carboplatin, carbotaxol, or
cisplatin, were recruited from three NHS trusts in Scotland, to undergo a high
resolution (3 tesla) functional MRI scan, at a single time point prior to
commencement of chemotherapy. During the scan structural, resting state and
functional data were collected. Functional data involved the presentation of
punctate stimuli (using a 256mN von Frey filament), above the patients’ right
medial malleolus. While receiving the punctate stimuli, patients viewed images
that had neutral or positive emotional content or a baseline coloured image with
no content. Sample size was based on previously successful pain fMRI studies
and pragmatic estimates. Acute CIPN was defined clinically by common toxicity
criteria as necessitating a chemotherapy dose reduction or cessation. Data were
analysed using FMRIB’s Software Library (FSL) version 5, 2015. Standard data
pre-processing (brain extraction, registration, B0 unwarping, motion correction,
and denosiing with FIX) was carried out. Structural analysis was conducted using
FIRST. Resting state analysis utilised FSL’s MELODIC tool, and a non-parametric
group comparison was made following a dual regression approach. FEAT was
used for both first and second level functional analyses. Group comparisons were
made using a mixed effects analysis (z threshold 2·3 and 2, regions considered
significant at p<0·05, cluster corrected). The group was split by sex to explore
known sex differences in pain processing. To address the second aim of this
thesis, a pilot fMRI randomised controlled trial (MINT3 Study) was designed.
Approvals from ethics and research and development were sought and obtained.
Data collection forms were developed. An fMRI experiment was proposed and a
single pilot scan was conducted and analysed.
Results
30 patients were recruited for the CIPN fMRI study (mean age 60·4 years, [95%
Confidence Interval: 57.4-63.4, 17 women). Two patients had lung cancer, nine
had gynecological malignancies and 18 had colorectal cancer. 17 patients
developed acute CIPN. Structural analysis showed that patients who developed
CIPN had a smaller volume of the Nucleus Accumbens (NAc). Resting state
analysis did not show clear differences between those who developed CIPN and
those who did not. Finally, functional analysis showed that patients who did not
develop CIPN had greater activation in the superior frontal gyrus when viewing
positive emotional images as compared to those who did progress to CIPN.
Region of interest analysis showed that female patients who developed CIPN had
greater activity in their mesencephalic pontine reticular formation (MPRF). Male
patients who progressed to CIPN had decreased activity in their thalamus.
Feasability of the MINT3 study set up and fMRI paradigm was assessed.
Interpretation
Differences in brain structure and function are evident between patients who
developed CIPN and those who did not. Crucially, the regions identified, in
particular the NAc, have been postulated to denote a vulnerability for
progression to pain states. Although the findings need further confirmation they
suggest a paradigm shift in terms of CIPN as a clinical problem. Specifically, it
appears that certain individuals can be considered as having increased risk of
CIPN development prior to chemotherapy administration. This risk relates to the
baseline structure, and function of their brains. Finally, the set up of the MINT3
fMRI study showed that this kind of study design is acceptable in terms of ethical
and R&D approvals and a single healthy volunteer pilot
The development of placement tests in Polish as a foreign language
The placement test is a special examination used to test students’ language proficiency so that they may be placed in an appropriate course. It should be relatively short, yet comprehensive. The test used in the Jagiellonian University Center for Polish Language and Culture in the World has been based on the standards set in two documents, namely the Common European Framework of Reference (2001) and the Polish Language Proficiency Standards (2003). It consists of 2 parts - written and oral. In the written part it concentrates on assessing students’ knowledge of grammar and vocabulary, as well as reading and writing abilities. The oral part assesses students’ productive and interactive skills. The article presents all the development stages of the placement test and its subsequent modifications. It also discusses the choice of testing tasks and the means of evaluating students’ production
An Exploratory Study into Objective and Reported Characteristics of Neuropathic Pain in Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain
Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) affects 5.7-26.6% women worldwide. 55% have no obvious pathology and 40% have associated endometriosis. Neuropathic pain (NeP) is pain arising as a consequence of a lesion/disease affecting the somatosensory system. The prevalence of NeP in women with CPP is not known. The diagnosis of NeP is challenging because there is no gold-standard assessment. Questionnaires have been used in the clinical setting to diagnose NeP in other chronic pain conditions and quantitative sensory testing (QST) has been used in a research setting to identify abnormal sensory function. We aimed to determine if women with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) have a neuropathic pain (NeP) component to their painful symptoms and how this is best assessed. We performed an exploratory prospective cohort study of 72 pre-menopausal women with a diagnosis of CPP. They underwent a clinician completed questionnaire (DN4) and completed the S-LANSS and PainDETECT™ questionnaires. Additionally QST testing was performed by a clinician. They also completed a patient acceptability questionnaire. Clinical features of NeP were identified by both questionnaires and QST. Of the women who were NeP positive, 56%, 35% and 26% were identified by the S-LANSS, DN4 and PainDETECT™ respectively. When NeP was identified by questionnaire, the associated laparoscopy findings were similar irrespective of which questionnaire was used. No subject had entirely unchanged QST parameters. There were distinct loss and gain subgroups, as well as mixed alteration in function, but this was not necessarily clinically significant in all patients. 80% of patients were confident that questionnaires could diagnose NeP, and 90% found them easy to complete. Early identification of NeP in women with CPP with a simple questionnaire could facilitate targeted therapy with neuromodulators, which are cheap, readily available, and have good safety profiles. This approach could prevent unnecessary or fertility-compromising surgery and prolonged treatment with hormones
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