Search

With the advent of positive psychology in second language (L2) learning, some researchers have undertaken empirical studies to explore emotional variables affecting L2 learning and how positive emotions can enhance the engagement of L2 learners. As an attempt to contribute to this research domain, this project sought to test a model of student engagement based on classroom social climate (CSC) and foreign language enjoyment (FLE) among English language learners in Iran. A sample of 386 intermediate English as a foreign language (EFL) learners took part in this survey by completing the online battery of questionnaires. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed for the analysis of the gathered data. The results showed that both CSC and FLE were significant predictors of student engagement, with FLE acting as a stronger predictor. Furthermore, CSC exerted a slight influence on FLE. The findings of the present study verify the contributions of positive psychology to L2 pedagogy, implying that pleasant perceptions of learning context and positive emotions can lead to further student engagement., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Mohammad Hosseini, Fathi, Derakhshesh and Mehraein.)

Objectives: To test the assumption that transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) is able to detect and to monitor intracranial venous blood flow velocities in patients with confirmed cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT)., Design: Prospective case study in 18 patients., Setting: Inpatient neurologic service in a university hospital., Subjects and Methods: Serial TCD examinations were performed in 18 consecutive patients with CVT (14 females, 4 males) aged 16 to 64 years (mean+/-SD, 36.8+/-13.1 years) during a mean follow-up ranging from 34 to 783 days (mean+/-SD, 201+/-185 days) between 1993 and 1997. Venous TCD was performed with a 2-MHz range-gated transducer., Results: Venous blood flow velocities were successfully measured in all patients. The highest measured velocities in the monitored intracranial venous vessels ranged from 20 to 150 cm/s (mean+/-SD, 58.9+/-38.8 cm/s), and the lowest were from 9 to 84 cm/s (mean+/-SD, 27.9+/-17.0 cm/s). Fifteen patients (83%) showed a decrease of velocities-2 of them after a transient increase during cessation of heparin therapy. The percentage of velocity decrease ranged from 34% to 73% (mean+/-SD, 56.4%+/-10.9%). A plateau phase, defined as no further decrease in velocities, was reached in these patients within 4 to 314 days (mean+/-SD, 59.9+/-73.7 days). Three patients (17%) showed no changes in velocities as defined by a limit of velocity variation of 30% during the course of CVT. High venous velocities were significantly associated with altered consciousness (P = .001). A nonsignificant relationship was observed with affliction of the superior sagittal sinus. No correlations were noted for onset of disease, initial motor deficits, and presence of bleeding. No predictive value was gained from analyzing the outcome in relation to absolute velocities or their decrease., Conclusions: Serial TCD studies allow monitoring of venous hemodynamics and collateral pathways in patients with CVT. Normal venous velocities in serial measurements, however, do not exclude a diagnosis of CVT.

In a series of 102 patients with angiographically proven cerebral sinus venous thrombosis (SVT) significant differences with arterial cerebrovascular disease were noted with respect to disease onset, reversibility of symptoms, occurrence of epileptic seizures and headache, cerebral blood flow under resting and stimulated conditions, occurrence of intracranial bleedings, and response to heparin therapy. From these findings pathophysiological differences are hypothesized: Whereas arterial cerebral ischemia usually is a monophasic abrupt thrombotic process and there is only a small penumbra, SVT is a continuing process of disequilibrium between prothrombotic and thrombolytic mechanisms; large areas of the brain are only functionally or metabolically disturbed but not irreversibly damaged. Intracranial bleeding in SVT is a consequence of increased venous and capillary pressure and thus occurs more frequently than in arterial thrombotic disease in which capillary pressure is reduced by the thrombosis and bleeding occurs during reperfusion of tissue damaged by ischemia. Heparin treatment in SVT is effective since it shifts the equilibrium away from the prothrombotic side and is able to save large areas of brain tissue that are only reversibly damaged. It improves venous outflow and thus decreases the risk of intracranial hemorrhage, in contrast with the arterial thrombotic disease where heparin increases the risk or at least the severity of intracranial bleedings.