“EFL Teachers don´t stop to Teach Pronunciation”: an interpretation of Learner Beliefs on Pronunciation Learning at an English Teacher Preparation Programme

There is little information about learner beliefs concerning pronunciation (henceforth PR) in FL (foreign language) learning contexts (Toyama, 2015), even more so in specific environments such as teacher preparation programs. Ellis (2008) suggests the need for teachers to find out about learners´ beliefs, to become aware of and evaluate them, as beliefs influence the actions undertaken by students. In the present study, first-year students were asked to write personal narratives regarding their journey through the subject “English Phonetics & Phonology I”. Data were approached using the narrative methodology. Findings entail the novelty implied in PR-related matters (mainly phonetic transcription) and the shortness of the academic term as major learning obstacles. Rehabilitation of fossilized pronunciations, a recurrent topic in most stories, was viewed as a positive issue of PR learning by participants. The likely connection between these findings and the fact that PR teaching is overlooked in several EFL courses around the world (Gilbert, 2010) is discussed. Finally, a course of action is suggested to attempt to revert the marginalized situation of PR in the ELT field as a long-term goal. The aim of the paper is to find out about learners´ beliefs regarding PR learning by interpreting students´ personal narratives

Todos saben más que yo: una interpretación de las creencias de los estudiantes en torno al aprendizaje de la Pronunciación en la Formación del profesorado universitario de inglés / Everybody else knows more than I do: interpreting students´ beliefs regarding pronunciation learning at an English Teachers´ Training College

Tal como lo indica Ellis (2008), es necesario que el docente averigüe acerca de las creencias de sus alumnos y que los ayude a tomar consciencia de sus propias creencias y a evaluarlas, dado que las creencias tienen influencia sobre las acciones de los estudiantes al aprender un idioma extranjero. Horwitz (1988) define este tipo de creencias como nociones pre-concebidas sobre el aprendizaje de un idioma. Los objetivos del presente trabajo son analizar e interpretar las creencias de 3 (tres) alumnxs en torno a sus procesos de aprendizaje de la pronunciación en el contexto del profesorado universitario de inglés empleando un enfoque metodológico interpretativo. Se recolectaron entradas de los diarios de clase durante un cuatrimestre acerca de las creencias de 27 alumnos sobre el aprendizaje de distintas temáticas vinculadas al aprendizaje de la pronunciación. Se eligieron tres alumnxs de manera aleatoria, quienes exhibieron perfiles totalmente diferentes mediante sus diarios. Es de suma importancia para el profesor estar familiarizado con este tipo de creencias para desmitificar y aclarar los supuestos incorrectas en clase, así como compartir con el resto del curso aquellas creencias que por ser innovadoras resultan enriquecedoras para el aprendizaje. Es necesario implementar tareas meta-cognitivas que fomenten la introspección tales como la escritura del diario de clase, con el propósito de desarrollar la toma de conciencia (awareness) y de esta manera lograr una actitud más auto-crítica con respecto al accionar vinculado al propio aprendizaje

Stem: associated features in tumor cells able to colonize secondary tumor sites

Osteosarcoma (OS), the most frequent bone tumor in pediatrics, presents critical clinical challenges in lung metastasis and chemoresistance emergence. Understanding OS switch into a metastatic phenotype and the interaction OS-stromal cells relevant in the new niche, would help in developing better diagnostic and therapeutic tools. In order to distinguish aspects that would allow OS cells to leave the bone niche and survive in a new tissue environment, we evaluated behavioral features acquired by OS cells with ability to establishsecondary tumor growth in the lungs, approaching the degree of differentiation, doxorubicin (doxo) exclusion and distribution properties and molecular signatures. Our results indicate that lung-colonizing OS cells diminished its osteoblastic potential while modified the intracellular localization of chemodrugs. In this way, doxo switched from a nuclear to a cytoplasmatic distribution in cells with lung colonizing ability (0,884±0,015 SAOS2;0,546±0,131 LM7). These features coincided with a higher level of expression of stemrelated genes and lower expression of differentiation-associated markers even at basal conditions in the metastatic cells. On the other hand, the higher osteogenic activity of OS cells with non-colonizing features was even reflected as a paracrine osteo-inductive effect. In addition, OS cells with high and low lung-colonizing capacities have opposite impact in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Further, OS cells colonized-mouse lungs had a greater chemoattractive induction on MSCs. A major acquisition in tumor cells with metastatic features is a switch into a stem-like state that could favor their survival in the pulmonary niche, opening new possibilities for specific chemotherapeutic schemes. We provide new insights on OS cells differing in lung homing ability, with particular emphasis on multidrug resistance and interaction with MSC, which would impact in early diagnosis and therapeutic management.Fil: Valenzuela Alvarez, Matias Juan Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional E Ingenieria Biomedica. - Hospital Italiano. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional E Ingenieria Biomedica. - Instituto Universitario Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional E Ingenieria Biomedica.; ArgentinaFil: Gutierrez, Luciana Mariel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional E Ingenieria Biomedica. - Hospital Italiano. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional E Ingenieria Biomedica. - Instituto Universitario Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional E Ingenieria Biomedica.; ArgentinaFil: Guzman, Guido Benjamin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional E Ingenieria Biomedica. - Hospital Italiano. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional E Ingenieria Biomedica. - Instituto Universitario Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional E Ingenieria Biomedica.; ArgentinaFil: Sordelli, Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional E Ingenieria Biomedica. - Hospital Italiano. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional E Ingenieria Biomedica. - Instituto Universitario Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional E Ingenieria Biomedica.; ArgentinaFil: Vitale, Daiana Luján. Universidad Austral. Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional; ArgentinaFil: Cantero, María José. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Fisiopatología y Bioquímica Clínica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Alaniz, Laura Daniela. Universidad Austral. Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional; ArgentinaFil: García, Mariana Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Fisiopatología y Bioquímica Clínica; ArgentinaFil: Risk, Marcelo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional e Ingeniería Biomédica - Hospital Italiano. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional e Ingeniería Biomédica.- Instituto Universitario Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional e Ingeniería Biomédica; ArgentinaFil: Lazarowski, Alberto Jorge. Universidad de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Correa, Alejandro. No especifíca;Fil: Bolontrade, Marcela Fabiana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional E Ingenieria Biomedica. - Hospital Italiano. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional E Ingenieria Biomedica. - Instituto Universitario Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional E Ingenieria Biomedica.; ArgentinaReunión Anual de Sociedades de BiocienciaMar del PLataArgentinaSociedad Argentina de Investigación ClínicaAsociación Argentina de Farmacología ExperimentalSociedad Argentina de BiologíaSociedad Argentina de ProtozoologíaAsociación Argentina de NanomedicinasAsociación Argentina de Ciencia y Tecnología de Animales de Laboratori

Visualizando la entonación: la representación visual de la frecuencia fundamental (FO) en la formación del profesorado de inglés

Ningun

Interaction between lysophosphatidic acid, prostaglandins and the endocannabinoid system during the window of implantation in the rat uterus.

Bioactive lipid molecules as lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), prostaglandins (PG) and endocannabinoids are important mediators of embryo implantation. Based on previous published data we became interested in studying the interaction between these three groups of lipid derivatives in the rat uterus during the window of implantation. Thus, we adopted a pharmacological approach in vitro using LPA, DGPP (a selective antagonist of LPA3, an LPA receptor), endocannabinoids' receptor selective antagonists (AM251 and AM630) and non selective (indomethacin) and selective (NS-398) inhibitors of cyclooxygenase-1 and 2 enzymes. Cyclooxygenase isoforms participate in prostaglandins' synthesis. The incubation of the uterus from rats pregnant on day 5 of gestation (implantation window) with LPA augmented the activity and the expression of fatty acid amide hydrolase, the main enzyme involved in the degradation of endocannabinoids in the rodent uteri, suggesting that LPA decreased endocannabinoids' levels during embryo implantation. It has been reported that high endocannabinoids are deleterious for implantation. Also, LPA increased PGE2 production and cyclooxygenase-2 expression. The incubation of LPA with indomethacin or NS-398 reversed the increment in PGE2 production, suggesting that cyclooxygenase-2 was the isoform involved in LPA effect. PGs are important mediators of decidualization and vascularization at the implantation sites. All these effects were mediated by LPA3, as the incubation with DGPP completely reversed LPA stimulatory actions. Besides, we also observed that endocannabinoids mediated the stimulatory effect of LPA on cyclooxygenase-2 derived PGE2 production, as the incubation of LPA with AM251 or AM630 completely reversed LPA effect. Also, LPA augmented via LPA3 decidualization and vascularization markers. Overall, the results presented here demonstrate the participation of LPA3 in the process of implantation through the interaction with other groups of lipid molecules, prostaglandins and endocannabinoids, which prepare the uterine milieu for embryo invasion during the window of implantation

Production of bacterial cellulose tubes for biomedical applications: Analysis of the effect of fermentation time on selected properties

Biosynthesis of bacterial cellulose (BC) in cylindrical oxygen permeable molds allows the production of hollow tubular structures of increasing interest for biomedical applications (artificial blood vessels, ureters, urethra, trachea, esophagus, etc.). In the current contribution a simple set-up is used to obtain BC tubes of predefined dimensions; and the effects of fermentation time on the water holding capacity, nanofibrils network architecture, specific surface area, chemical purity, thermal stability, mechanical properties, and cell adhesion, proliferation and migration of BC tubes are systematically analysed for the first time. The results reported highlight the role of culture time on key properties of the BC tubes produced, with significant differences arising from the denser and more compact fibril arrangements generated at longer fermentation intervals.Fil: Corzo Salinas, D. R.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Tecnología en Polímeros y Nanotecnología. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Tecnología en Polímeros y Nanotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Sordelli, Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional E Ingenieria Biomedica. - Hospital Italiano. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional E Ingenieria Biomedica. - Instituto Universitario Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional E Ingenieria Biomedica.; ArgentinaFil: Martinez, L.A.. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional; ArgentinaFil: Villoldo, Gustavo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional e Ingeniería Biomédica - Hospital Italiano. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional e Ingeniería Biomédica.- Instituto Universitario Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional e Ingeniería Biomédica; ArgentinaFil: Bernal, Celina Raquel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Tecnología en Polímeros y Nanotecnología. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Tecnología en Polímeros y Nanotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Perez, Maximiliano Sebastian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Cerrutti, Patricia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Tecnología en Polímeros y Nanotecnología. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Tecnología en Polímeros y Nanotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Foresti, María Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Tecnología en Polímeros y Nanotecnología. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Tecnología en Polímeros y Nanotecnología; Argentin

Auxotrophic mutant of Staphylococcus aureus interferes with nasal colonization by the wild type

Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage is a risk factor for infection in humans, particularly in the hospital setting. Bacterial interference was used as an alternative strategy for the prevention of upper respiratory, urogenital and gastrointestinal tract infections. This study was designed to assess if the administration of a live-attenuated aroA mutant of S. aureus is useful as a potential approach to prevent transient staphylococcal nasal carriage by virulent strains. We constructed an aroA mutant of S. aureus Newman strain by homologous recombination. The auxotrophic NK41 mutant was attenuated as determined by the increase of the LD50 after intraperitoneal challenge. In mice, previous nasal colonization with the NK41 mutant significantly reduced the number of CFU of S. aureus (HU-71 and Hde288) clinical isolates and the parental Newman strain. The NK41 mutant was unable to induce a pro-inflammatory response and to damage the invaded human respiratory epithelial cells. Moreover, the cells previously or simultaneously infected with the NK41 mutant were invaded by virulent strains in a significantly lower degree than those of the control group. In conclusion, the attenuated NK41 mutant interfered with the colonization and establishment of pathogenic strains of S. aureus, which produce severe infections. © 2011 Institut Pasteur.Fil: Barbagelata, María Sol. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Microbiología; ArgentinaFil: Álvarez, Lucía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Microbiología; ArgentinaFil: Gordiola, Mariana Laura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Microbiología; ArgentinaFil: Tuchscherr, Lorena Paola Nelly. Münster Universitätsklinikum Münster; AlemaniaFil: von Eiff, Cristoff. Münster Universitätsklinikum Münster; AlemaniaFil: Becker, Karsten. Münster Universitätsklinikum Münster; AlemaniaFil: Sordelli, Daniel Oscar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Microbiología; ArgentinaFil: Buzzola, Fernanda Roxana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Microbiología; Argentin

The role of anandamide during pregnancy : A short tale about the endocannabinoid system

The success of any species depends on its reproductive efficiency. Sexual procreation is initiated by interactions between a sperm and an egg leading to fertilization. The fertilized egg (embryo) undergoes several mitotic cell divisions, ultimately producing the blastocyst. The nurturing of an offspring within the body and production of a live birth is an enduring task, requiring safeguard regulatory systems at various critical steps. At the moment, there is still a significant knowledge gap in understanding the mechanisms by which a successful pregnancy is achieved. It is difficult to define the hierarchical landscape of the molecular pathways during human pregnancy, because of experimental difficulties and ethical restrictions on research with human embryos. It is hoped that experiments on mice and other animal models that bear certain reproductive similarities with humans combined with those feasible experiments in humans would generate meaningful information to address this critical issue. A deeper insight into these processes will help to generate new ideas and concepts for improving fertility and pregnancy-associated health issues in humans. During the last years, several studies have provided evidence that lipid mediators are important signaling molecules in coordinating a series of events during pregnancy. Increasing evidence points toward the pathophysiological significance of endocannabinoids, a group of bioactive lipid-signaling molecules, in both female and male fertility.Sociedad Argentina de Fisiologí

Endogenous lysophosphatidic acid participates in vascularisation and decidualisation at the maternal-fetal interface in the rat. The fundamental role of LPA3 receptor in decidualization and vascularization

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) affects several female reproductive functions through G-protein-coupled receptors. LPA contributes to embryo implantation via the lysophospholipid LPA3 receptor. In the present study we investigated the participation of endogenous LPA signalling through the LPA3 receptor in vascularisation and decidualisation, two crucial events at the maternal?fetal interface. Pregnant rats were treated with diacylglycerol pyrophosphate (DGPP), a highly selective antagonist of LPA3 receptors, on Day 5 of gestation. Pregnant rats received intrauterine (i.u.) injections of single doses of DGPP (0.1 mg kg1) in a total volume of 2 mL in the left horn (treated horn) in the morning of GD5. DGPP treatment produced aberrant embryo spacing and increased embryo resorption. The LPA3 receptor antagonist decreased the cross-sectional length of the uterine and arcuate arteries and induced histological anomalies in the decidua and placentas. Marked haemorrhagic processes, infiltration of immune cells and tissue disorganisation were observed in decidual and placental tissues from sites of resorption. The mRNA expression of three vascularisation markers, namely interleukin 10 (Il10), vascular endothelial growth factor (Vegfa) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (Vegfr1), was reduced at sites of resorption from Day 8. The results show that the disruption of endogenous LPA signalling by blocking the LPA3 receptor modified the development of uterine vessels with consequences in the formation of the decidua and placenta and in the growth of embryos.Fil: Sordelli, Micaela Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; ArgentinaFil: Beltrame, Jimena Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; ArgentinaFil: Zotta, Elsa. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Gomez, Natalia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Farmacología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Dmytrenko, Ganna. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; ArgentinaFil: Sales, María Elena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; ArgentinaFil: Blois, Sandra M.. University Medicine of Berlin; AlemaniaFil: Davio, Carlos Alberto. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Farmacología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Perez Martinez, Silvina Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; ArgentinaFil: Franchi, Ana Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; ArgentinaFil: Ribeiro, Maria Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; Argentin