Elderly people commonly suffer from dyspnoea, which may stem from expiratory flow limitation (EFL). The relationship between EFL, as assessed by the negative expiratory pressure method and spirometric indices, was investigated in an elderly French population. Subjects, aged 66-88 yrs, filled in socio-demographic and standardised questionnaires, which dealt with: medical history, smoking status ...

The present research investigates the acquisition of the English locative alternation by Korean EFL learners, which poses a learnability paradox taking Pinker’s framework of learnability theory as its basis. It focuses on two questions (1) whether the broad-range and narrow-range semantic constraints are operative in the interlanguage of Korean EFL learners as they are in L1 children’s and (2) ...

In this paper we report on our quantitative analysis of 25 logical connectors in advanced Japanese university students’ essay writing and compare it with the use in comparable types of native English writing. We also present a brief comparison of the Japanese learners’ usage with that of advanced French, Swedish or Chinese learners of English. As our research targets, we chose 25 logical connec...

Poetry like other literary genres exists to be enjoyed and appreciated. The difficult task facing any instructor is to develop this sense of appreciation and enjoyment in students who are not interested in poetry. For a long time, literature in general and poetry in particular, was purged from the teaching programmes on the ground that it made no contribution to learning a foreign language for ...

To quantify gene expressions by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (Q-RT-PCR) in natural diatom assemblages, it is necessary to seek a biomass reference specific to the target species. Two housekeeping genes, TBP (encoding the TATA box-binding protein) and EFL (encoding the translation elongation factor-like protein), were evaluated as candidates for reference genes in Q-RT-PCR assays. Tran...

In Caenorhabditis elegans, EFL-1 (E2F), DPL-1 (DP) and LIN-35 (pRb) act coordinately in somatic tissues to inhibit ectopic cell division, probably by repressing the expression of target genes. EFL-1, DPL-1 and LIN-35 are also present in the germline, but do not always act together. Strong loss-of-function mutations in either efl-1 or dpl-1 cause defects in oogenesis that result in sterility, wh...

In this global era, critical thinking has become crucial for educators and learners. The purpose of this research was to explore how modifying a dialogical strategy in asynchronous online discussion forums impacted Chinese learners’ critical thinking. Due to the Chinese cultural impact of social harmony, the majority of learners tend to maintain silent and avoid critical discussions in instruct...

Abstract The present study aimed at discovering the practices and strategies autonomous EFL learners pursue in their endeavor to master English. It thus set out in the Iranian context, with 60 EFL learners, both autonomous and non-autonomous, as participants. The gathered data through a questionnaire and an interview were subjected to content and descriptive analysis. The results showed that bo...

Abstract The present study aimed at discovering the practices and strategies autonomous EFL learners pursue in their endeavor to master English. It thus set out in the Iranian context, with 60 EFL learners, both autonomous and non-autonomous, as participants. The gathered data through a questionnaire and an interview were subjected to content and descriptive analysis. The results showed that bo...

Genuine Criticism (GC) is an evaluative expression of annoyance with an attribute in the interlocutor, whose realization may threaten the positive image of both interlocutors. The current study investigates facework and politeness in performing GCsin different contexts and for interlocutors with low social distance and high status in terms of GC realization strategies and mitigation devices tha...