Liaisons: An Introduction to French

LIAISONS is an innovative beginning-level French program grounded in principles of communicative language teaching and research in second language acquisition. Components of the program are carefully linked together, allowing you to make connections with your classmates, your instructor, your community, and the French-speaking world. With an engaging mystery film shot on location in Montreal, Quebec, and Paris, the program provides a rich array of communicative activities designed to stimulate interaction. LIAISONS guides you to first discover new vocabulary and grammar through different mediums, then connect form and meaning through a set of confidence-building activities, and finally, actively create language.https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/language_books/1012/thumbnail.jp

La saisie, cette grande oubliée !

L’objectif de cet article est, d’une part, de faire état des différentes conceptualisations de la saisie et, d’autre part, de soulever des problèmes d’ordre terminologique résultant en un manque de cohérence parmi, et à l’intérieur même, de certains écrits traitant de la saisie. Pour ce faire, nous allons tout d’abord faire un retour historique sur l’apparition de la notion de saisie dans les écrits en acquisition des L2. Nous allons ensuite présenter les différentes perspectives trouvées dans les écrits issus du monde anglo-saxon et ceux issus de la francophonie. Ceci nous mènera à traiter de problèmes d’ordre terminologique dans les écrits produits en français. Enfin, nous traiterons de la notion de saisie en enseignement et en acquisition des L2.The purpose of this article is to examine different conceptualisations of intake and to bring out problems associated with the terminology used to translate intake, a difficulty that may in part account for the lack of consensus concerning the nature of intake in current second language acquisition studies. We begin by addressing how the term intake was first used in SLA research. We then present an overview of the different conceptualisations of intake taken from Anglo-Saxon and French-speaking research communities. From this, we discuss the problems associated with translating intake into French. Finally, we discuss the importance of intake in relation to SLA and classroom instruction

La saisie, cette grande oubliée !

L’objectif de cet article est, d’une part, de faire état des différentes conceptualisations de la saisie et, d’autre part, de soulever des problèmes d’ordre terminologique résultant en un manque de cohérence parmi, et à l’intérieur même, de certains écrits traitant de la saisie. Pour ce faire, nous allons tout d’abord faire un retour historique sur l’apparition de la notion de saisie dans les écrits en acquisition des L2. Nous allons ensuite présenter les différentes perspectives trouvées dans les écrits issus du monde anglo-saxon et ceux issus de la francophonie. Ceci nous mènera à traiter de problèmes d’ordre terminologique dans les écrits produits en français. Enfin, nous traiterons de la notion de saisie en enseignement et en acquisition des L2.The purpose of this article is to examine different conceptualisations of intake and to bring out problems associated with the terminology used to translate intake, a difficulty that may in part account for the lack of consensus concerning the nature of intake in current second language acquisition studies. We begin by addressing how the term intake was first used in SLA research. We then present an overview of the different conceptualisations of intake taken from Anglo-Saxon and French-speaking research communities. From this, we discuss the problems associated with translating intake into French. Finally, we discuss the importance of intake in relation to SLA and classroom instruction

Encore: Intermediate French

ENCORE is an intermediate-level proficiency- and communicative-oriented program. Paired with an engaging mystery and suspense film of the same name, ENCORE is guided by principles of communicative language teaching and research in second language acquisition. Topics and activities are designed to engage students in higher-level thinking while at the same time providing focused work on aspects of language that instructors in a second-year college-level French course expect to find.https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/language_books/1011/thumbnail.jp

Effect of abrupt mitral regurgitation after balloon valvuloplasty on myocardial load and performance

AbstractThe concept that mitral regurgitation masks myocardial dysfunction by reducing afterload and augmenting ejection performance has not been well established in humans. The effect of abruptly produced mitral regurgitation on left ventricular loading and performance was therefore evaluated in five patients who developed this complication after an otherwise successful percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty. Mitral valve area by Gorlin formula calculated with forward flow increased from 0.92 ± 0.14 to 2.75 ± 0.82 cm2. Mean left atrial pressure did not decrease (19 ± 4 to 19 ± 6 mm Hg). The size of the left atrial Vwave relative to mean left atrial pressure (peak V— mean left atrial pressure) increased from 7 ± 4 to 19 ± 6 mm Hg. Angiographic mitral regurgitation increased from 0+ or 1 + to >3+ in each patient and regurgitant fraction increased from 0.23 ± 0.11 to 0.55 ± 0.99 (p < 0.01).End-diastolic volume increased modestly from 148 ± 15 to 159 ± 15 ml (p = NS). Heart rate increased from 54 ± 5 to 71 ± 8 heats/min (p < 0.05), which may have prevented further increases in preload by shortening the filling period. End-systolic stress decreased by 32% from 277 ± 34 to 188 ± 52 kdyn/cm2(p < 0.01) as a result of a 25% decrease in end-systolic pressure from 121 ± 8 to 91 ± 7 mm Hg and a 16% decrease in end-systolic volume from 67 ± 13 to 56 ± 8 ml (p = NS). Contractility estimated from the preload-corrected ejection fraction-afterload relation decreased in one of the five patients and did not increase in the others despite an increase in heart rate, possibly as a result of myocardial depression from the balloon procedure itself. Nevertheless, the decrease in end-systolic volume could not be attributed to a net increase in contractility. The result of the changes in loading was an increase in ejection fraction from 0.55 ± 0.05 to 0.65 ± 0.04 (p < 0.05).Thus, abruptly produced mitral regurgitation increases ejection performance by reducing afterload without increasing contractility. This should be taken into consideration when anticipating the results of valve replacement for acute or subacute mitral regurgitation

Studies on the Mechanisms of Pollen Embryogenesis (II) : Effects of Varied Saccharide Concetrations on the Plantlet Formation in Tobacco Anther Culture

1) 葯培養における花粉起源幼植物体の形成に対する糖類の効果を明らかにするために糖の種類及び濃度を変えた培地でタバコ(Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Bright Yellow, 2n=48)の葯を培養し, 幼植物体の形成を調査した。すなわち, 幼植物体を形成した葯の全培養葯に対する割合を植物体形成率とし, 1葯から形成された植物体数の平均を葯当り形成植物体数とした。さらにこの両者をかけ合わせた値, すなわち, 培養葯1個から期待される植物体数を葯の植物体生産能力として算定した。2) 蔗糖濃度については1/256Mから1/4Mで植物体の形成がみられ, 0M及び1/2Mでは全く認められなかった。植物体形成率については1/8Mが, 葯当り形成植物体数及び葯の植物体生産能力については1/16Mがそれぞれ最適濃度であった。また, 形成された植物体は低濃度区と高濃度区とでその形態が異なる傾向がみられた。3) ブドウ糖及び果糖についても蔗糖と同様に, 1/64Mから1/4Mまで植物体の形成がみられた。いずれの糖も植物体形成率については1/8Mの濃度が, 葯の植物体生産能力については, 1/16Mの濃度がそれぞれ最適であった。1/2Mではいずれの糖の場合も植物体形成がみられなかったので, 糖類濃度の上限が1/4Mから1/2Mの間にあるものと推察される。ブドウ糖は蔗糖とほぼ同等の効果を示したが, 果糖はやや効果が低く, 有効な濃度範囲も狭かった。 / Anthers of tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Bright Yellow, 2n=48) were cultured on agar media containing different kinds of saccharides in varied concentrations to elucidate the effects of saccharides on the plantlet formation. A summary of the results obtained is given in the following. 1) The plantlet formation was found in anther cultures on media with sucrose in concentrations varying from 1/256 to 1/4M, but not in those not only on media containing no sucrose but also on media containing it in 1/2M. The most favorable sucrose concentration was 1/8M for 'anther response', which denotes the occurrence frequency of anthers from which plantlets emerged, and 1/16M for 'expected productivity', which denotes the expected number of plantlets emerging from one anther. Morphological differences were observed between relatively low (1/256M, 1/128M, 1/64M and 1/32M) and high (1/8M and 1/4M) sucrose concentrations. 2) In glucose and fructose, the plantlet formation was found in anther cultures on media with these saccharides in concentrations varying from 1/64 to 1/4M, but not on media containing them in 1/2M. The most favorable concentration was 1/8M for 'anther response' and 1/16M for 'expected productivity'. In their effects on the plantlet formation, glucose was similar to sucrose, but fructose was of lower order and had narrower range of effectiveness than the former two saccharides

Brace technology thematic series: the dynamic derotation brace

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The dynamic derotation brace (DDB) was designed in Greece in 1982, as a modification of the Boston brace. It is a custom-made, underarm spinal orthosis featuring aluminium blades set to produce derotating and anti-rotating effects on the thorax and trunk of patients with scoliosis. It is indicated for the non-operative correction of most curves, barring the very high thoracic ones, (when the apex vertebra is T5 or above). The purpose of this article is to familiarize physicians with the DDB, analyze the rationale behind its design, and present the published results of its application.</p> <p>Description & Principles</p> <p>The key feature of the DDB is the addition of the aluminium-made derotating blades posteriorly. These function as a force couple, which is added to the side forces exerted by the brace itself. Corrective forces are also directed through pads. One or more of previously proposed pathomechanical models of scoliosis may underline the corrective function of the DDB: it may act directly on the apical intervertebral disc, effecting correction through the Heuter-Volkman principle; the blades may produce an anti-rotatory element against the deforming "spiral composite muscle trunk rotator"; or it may alter the neuro-motor response by constantly providing new somatosensory input to the patient.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Based on measurements of the Cobb and Perdriolle angles, up to 82% of patients remained stable or improved with the use of the DDB. Results have varied, though, depending on the type/location of the deformity. The overall results showed that 35% of the curves improved, 46% remained stable and 18% became worse, as assessed by measuring the Cobb angle. The DDB has also been shown to improve cosmesis (except for right thoracic curves) and leave several aspects of patient quality of life unaffected during use.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Conservative treatment of idiopathic scoliosis using the DDB has shown favorable results. Thoracic curves appear more resistant to both angular and rotatory correction. The published outcome data on the DDB support our belief that the incorporation of aluminium blades to other orthoses would likely improve their efficacy.</p

Preoperative calculation of risk for prolonged intensive care unit stay following coronary artery bypass grafting

OBJECTIVE: Patients who have prolonged stay in intensive care unit (ICU) are associated with adverse outcomes. Such patients have cost implications and can lead to shortage of ICU beds. We aimed to develop a preoperative risk prediction tool for prolonged ICU stay following coronary artery surgery (CABG). METHODS: 5,186 patients who underwent CABG between 1st April 1997 and 31st March 2002 were analysed in a development dataset. Logistic regression was used with forward stepwise technique to identify preoperative risk factors for prolonged ICU stay; defined as patients staying longer than 3 days on ICU. Variables examined included presentation history, co-morbidities, catheter and demographic details. The use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was also recorded. The prediction tool was tested on validation dataset (1197 CABG patients between 1(st )April 2003 and 31(st )March 2004). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was calculated to assess the performance of the prediction tool. RESULTS: 475(9.2%) patients had a prolonged ICU stay in the development dataset. Variables identified as risk factors for a prolonged ICU stay included renal dysfunction, unstable angina, poor ejection fraction, peripheral vascular disease, obesity, increasing age, smoking, diabetes, priority, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension, and use of CPB. In the validation dataset, 8.1% patients had a prolonged ICU stay compared to 8.7% expected. The ROC curve for the development and validation datasets was 0.72 and 0.74 respectively. CONCLUSION: A prediction tool has been developed which is reliable and valid. The tool is being piloted at our institution to aid resource management

Non-genetic expression of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a case report and review of the literature

Treating children with idiopathic scoliosis can amaze someone at the many different ways in which the deformity can present. Most authors state that genetics stipulates the course of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. This is mainly based on the high concordance in monozygotic twins. However, there is indication that environmental factors have influences on adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. This is the first report in which a monozygotic twin pair is described concordant for idiopathic scoliosis but with different apical levels, magnitudes and age at detection of scoliosis which stresses the importance of environmental factors

Evasion of anti-growth signaling: a key step in tumorigenesis and potential target for treatment and prophylaxis by natural compounds

The evasion of anti-growth signaling is an important characteristic of cancer cells. In order to continue to proliferate, cancer cells must somehow uncouple themselves from the many signals that exist to slow down cell growth. Here, we define the anti-growth signaling process, and review several important pathways involved in growth signaling: p53, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), retinoblastoma protein (Rb), Hippo, growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), AT-rich interactive domain 1A (ARID1A), Notch, insulin-like growth factor (IGF), and Krüppel-like factor 5 (KLF5) pathways. Aberrations in these processes in cancer cells involve mutations and thus the suppression of genes that prevent growth, as well as mutation and activation of genes involved in driving cell growth. Using these pathways as examples, we prioritize molecular targets that might be leveraged to promote anti-growth signaling in cancer cells. Interestingly, naturally-occurring phytochemicals found in human diets (either singly or as mixtures) may promote anti-growth signaling, and do so without the potentially adverse effects associated with synthetic chemicals. We review examples of naturally-occurring phytochemicals that may be applied to prevent cancer by antagonizing growth signaling, and propose one phytochemical for each pathway. These are: epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) for the Rb pathway, luteolin for p53, curcumin for PTEN, porphyrins for Hippo, genistein for GDF15, resveratrol for ARID1A, withaferin A for Notch and diguelin for the IGF1-receptor pathway. The coordination of anti-growth signaling and natural compound studies will provide insight into the future application of these compounds in the clinical setting