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The declining interest in foreign languages in English-speaking countries has been attributed to negative societal attitudes and specific pupil attitudes and perceptions. While various initiatives have aimed to encourage language study, little research has systematically documented the relationship among perceptions, attitudes, and actually opting to study a language (henceforth, uptake). This article reports on an experiment involving 604 13/14-year-old pupils in 3 secondary schools in England that tested whether perceived relevance of languages can be improved through 2 different interventions (a panel discussion with external speakers versus a lesson with an external tutor) and whether pupil perceptions and attitudes can be linked explicitly to foreign language uptake at an optional level. Findings show that only pupils who participated in the panel discussion subsequently reported more positive attitudes and higher personal relevance of languages, though participating in either intervention may have contributed to higher uptake compared to a nonactive control group. Boys appeared to have generally more negative attitudes toward both language learning and advocacy than girls. Declared intentions to study or drop a language did not align with final decisions for one quarter of the pupils. Critically, perceptions of language lessons (French, German, or Spanish) and attitudes to languages were reliable predictors of uptake, though the strongest predictor was whether pupils considered languages to be important for themselves. Perceived wider importance of languages was not, in itself, a sufficient incentive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, foreign language learning literature has placed increasing emphasis on the learner as an individual, resulting on the one hand in prolific research on individual differences, but also, on the other, in repeated calls for regarding the learner as a whole person functioning in a complex social environment. This latter emphasis is now mainstream in educational psychology, but the language learning literature that borrows theoretical frameworks, concepts and approaches from educational psychology is only now beginning to move past calls for research towards providing actual empirical support.

In recent decades, few educational concepts have inspired more publications than motivation, the field of language learning also benefitting from a number of noteworthy volumes on the topic (Chambers, 1999; Dornyei & Ushioda, 2011; Murray et al., 2011; Ushioda, 1996). This very volume is a clear indication that not only is motivation in language learning and teaching still generating very lively discussions, but also that these discussions have now reached a clearly global status.

To study the effect of different high-frequency oscillatory ventilation parameters on airway pressure, we measured oscillatory pressure amplitude ([Paw[) and mean airway pressure (Paw) at three sites in open-chested normal rabbits: proximal, trachea, and alveolus. Five animals were studied to test a new pleural capsule design, which was then used in two groups of animals to measure right upper (n = 4) or middle (n = 5) lobe alveolar pressures. Animals were randomly sequenced through combinations of frequency (10, 15, and 20 Hz) and fractional inspiratory time (Ti) (0.3 and 0.5) while normoxic and eucapnic. During capsule testing, we noted that alveolar pressures increased (p less than 0.05) with increasing capsule mass, suggesting that compressive forces from the capsule may alter the capsule measurement. We thus used a low-mass (430 mg) transducer system in the rabbit high-frequency oscillatory ventilation experiments. Using multifactorial analysis of variance, we found significant main effects of Ti on Paw, and of measurement site on both [Paw[ and Paw (all p less than 0.009). Frequency did not influence variations in either [Paw[ or Paw. For both Ti settings, alveolar upper lobe Paw was lower compared with that of the middle lobe (p less than 0.0005). Lengthening Ti (0.3 to 0.5) increased tracheal Paw in each capsule group (p less than 0.0005). At Ti = 0.5, tracheal Paw exceeded Paw measured proximally (p less than 0.05). Our data support in vivo alveolar Paw inhomogeneity and demonstrate significant changes in pressures within the lung related to Ti during high-frequency oscillatory ventilation.

We evaluated the effect of early closure of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) on cardiac performance in a preterm baboon model of hyaline membrane disease. Eleven baboon fetuses were delivered at 75% gestation, resuscitated, and treated with conventional ventilation. The animals were divided into two groups, and underwent left thoracotomy at 2 hr of age. Group 1 (N = 5) had ductal infiltration with formalin to maintain ductal patency. Group 2 (N = 6) had ductal ligation. Hemodynamic parameters were compared between groups before and after surgical intervention. Examination of cardiovascular function was performed at intervals over a 24-hr period using two-dimensional, M-mode, and pulsed Doppler echocardiography. Ventricular performance was significantly worse in the ligation animals as demonstrated by reduced left and right ventricular outputs and reduced left ventricular shortening. However, pulmonary disease and arterial blood gases were not different. Early ligation was also associated with significantly increased systemic vascular resistance. We conclude that early ductal ligation leads to impaired ventricular performance in the premature primate. We hypothesize that the PDA may protect the immature ventricle by preventing pressure overload during adaptation to postnatal life.

There are few data on the hormonal response to operation in the premature infant. Studies examining the response of newborn human infants have been performed on patients beyond the first few days of life, where some adaptation to postnatal life has occurred. This study evaluated the response of the newly born premature primate to surgical stress. Premature baboons (75% gestation) were intubated, mechanically ventilated and underwent thoracotomy at 2 hours of life with exposure of the ductus arteriosus (PDA). In group 1, formalin was infiltrated to keep the ductus patent. In group 2, the PDA was ligated. Controls had no operation. Blood was drawn at 0, 6, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours of age. Echocardiograms were performed to confirm patency or closure of the ductus and to monitor cardiac function. Epinephrine, norepinephrine, renin, and cortisol levels were measured. Cortisol levels rose in all groups. Operation stimulated a marked increase in catecholamine and renin levels in both operative groups, which was more marked in the group with PDA ligation at 24 hours. These data reflect expected pathophysiology since early PDA ligation exerts additional hemodynamic demand on the heart. In conclusion, the premature primate is able to mount a significant and severity-dependent endocrine response to stress.