The thesis discusses using mind maps in English language teaching. It explains what mind maps are and how to use them effectively. This thesis includes a theoretical as well as a practical part. The theoretical part offers two points of view of the problem - psychological and pedagogical. The psychological part deals with theoretical knowledge of memory and learning. In the pedagogical part, firstly learning styles in connection with mind maps are discussed; secondly some demonstrations of using mind maps in various English textbooks are presented. The practical part focuses mainly on new ideas. First chapter of the practical part shows various classroom or individual mind map activities that concentrate on different language skills. The second chapter is the most important section of the whole thesis as it introduces a new method for learning vocabulary via mind maps. Observations of four students using the method and reflections on it are offered in the following chapters. Finally, the results and conclusions of the observations as well as the advantages and disadvantages of mind maps in general are presented.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O uso combinado de etanol e bebidas energéticas tem aumentado entre adolescentes. Além disso, estudos epidemiológicos indicam que o co-uso aumenta a probabilidade de consumo abusivo e dependência de etanol. Apesar disso, pouco se sabe sobre as consequências neurocomportamentais da co-exposição no cérebro adolescente. Este estudo tem como objetivo avaliar o curso temporal dos efeitos agudos da exposição à bebida energética e/ou etanol na atividade motora e ansiedade no teste de campo aberto, como também, os efeitos agudos ou prolongados sobre aprendizagem/memória e coordenação motora em camundongos adolescentes. Camundongos Suíços foram divididos em 4 grupos: bebidas energéticas e etanol, bebida energética, etanol e água. Três estudos separados foram conduzidos para avaliar cada um dos objetivos específicos deste trabalho. No primeiro estudo, realizado em PN40, os animais receberam a administração de bebida energética (8 ml/kg) e/ou etanol (4 g/kg) por gavagem e após 55 minutos foram submetidos ao teste do campo aberto (sessão 1). Outras duas sessões foram realizadas em sequência usando a metade da dose inicial (sessão 2 e 3). Nos estudos 2 e 3, estudamos os efeitos agudos (PN40) e crônicos (exposição de PN30-40) sobre o teste de esquiva passiva (0,3 mA, 3 s) e sobre o desempenho no teste do cilíndro giratório (sessão de treinamento e após 1 e 3 horas da gavagem das drogas). Em ambos os casos, a dose de bebida energética (8 ml/kg) e/ou etanol (4 g/kg) foi administrada. No teste da esquiva passiva, as sessões de treino e retenção foram realizadas 1 e 24 horas após a administração da droga, respectivamente. No teste do Rotarod, cada sessão foi constituída por 5 tentativas em modelo de aceleramento contínuo (4 a 40 rpm/min em uma tentativa de 2 min). Os nossos dados indicam que a exposição concomitante a bebida energética potencializa o efeito de hiperatividade induzido pelo etanol, como também, gera uma resposta ansiogênica no teste do campo aberto. A exposição aguda ao etanol induz déficit de memória/aprendizagem que não é revertida pela BE. A co-exposição aguda a bebida energética e etanol prolongou incoordenação motora induzida pelo etanol. No entanto, a bebda energética reverteu o comprometimento da coordenação motora gerada pela exposição crônica de etanol em camundongos fêmeas. O presente estudo fornece evidência experimental de que bebida energética e etanol interagem durante a adolescência, resultando em padrões de comportamento que poderiam aumentar o risco de desenvolvimento de abuso ou dependência de etanol. Além disso, os dados indicaram que a exposição aguda à bebida energética não atenuou as consequências negativas geradas pela etanol no desempenho do motor e cognitivo. / The combined use of ethanol and energy drinks has increased among adolescents. Furthermore, epidemiological studies indicate that the co-use increases the likelihood of abuse and ethanol dependence. Nevertheless, little is known about the neurobehavioral effects of co-exposure in adolescent brain. This study aims to evaluate the time course of the acute effects of exposure to energy drink and / or ethanol in motor activity and anxiety in the open field test, but also acute or prolonged effects on learning/memory and motor coordination in mice teens. Swiss mice were divided into 4 groups: ethanol and energy drinks, energy drinks, ethanol and water. Three separate studies were conducted to evaluate each of the specific objectives of this work. In the first study, conducted in PN40, animals received the energy drink administration (8 ml/kg) and / or ethanol (4 g/kg) by gavage and after 55 minutes were subjected to the open field test (session 1). Other two sessions were conducted in sequence using half of the initial dose (session 2 and 3). In trials 2 and 3, we studied the acute effects (PN40) and chronic (exposure PN30-40) on the passive avoidance test (0.3 mA, 3s) and the test performance of the rotary cylinder (training session and 1 and 3 hours after the gavage of drugs). In both cases, the dose of energy drink (8 ml/kg) and / or ethanol (4 g/kg) was administered. In the test of passive avoidance training sessions and the retention were made 1 and 24 hours after drug administration, respectively. In the Rotarod test, each session consisted of 5 trials continuous acceleration model (4 to 40 rpm / min in an attempt to 2 min). Our data indicate that the concurrent exposure to energy drink enhances the effect hyperactivity induced by ethanol, as also, it generates an anxiogenic response in the Open Field test. Acute ethanol exposure induces memory/learning deficits that is not reversed by BE. Acute co-exposure to energy drink and ethanol prolonged incoordination induced by ethanol. However, energy drink reversed the impairment of motor coordination generated by chronic exposure of ethanol in female mice. This study provides experimental evidence that energy drink and ethanol interact during adolescence, resulting in behavioral patterns that could increase the risk of abuse or dependence on ethanol. In addition, the data indicated that acute exposure to energy drink did not attenuate the negative consequences generated by ethanol in motor performance and cognitive.

Central infusion of the hexapeptide angiotensin IV (Ang IV) and its analogs have been demonstrated to markedly enhance memory retention and retrieval in rats using a range of learning and memory paradigms. This effect is mediated by the binding of the peptide to the specific binding site previously described as the AT4 receptor. The AT4 receptor has been isolated and identified as insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP), a type II transmembrane protein belonging to the M1 family of zinc-dependent aminopeptidases. Subsequently, AT4 receptor ligands, including Ang IV and its analogues and the unrelated peptide LVV-hemorphin-7, were demonstrated to be peptide inhibitors of IRAP. These findings suggest that AT4 ligands may exert their cognitive effects by inhibiting the catalytic activity of IRAP in the brain. Therefore, IRAP is an important target for the development of a new class of therapeutic agents for the treatment of memory loss. / To characterize IRAP at the molecular level and identify non-peptide inhibitors of IRAP for drug development, the aims of this study were to: 1) determine whether IRAP exists as a homodimer; 2) identify cysteine residue(s) involved in IRAP dimerization; 3) investigate the roles of the conserved residues of the HEXXH(X)18E Zn2+-binding motif and the GAMEN motif in substrate/inhibitor binding using site-directed mutagenesis; 4) use a molecular model of the catalytic domain of IRAP based on the crystal structure of a related M1 family metallopeptidase to: (i) identify key residues required for substrate/inhibitor binding; (ii) identify and characterize non-peptide IRAP inhibitors from a compound database by in silico virtual screening based on the homology model of IRAP. / Co-immunoprecipitation followed by Western blotting of IRAP under reducing and non-reducing conditions showed IRAP exists both as covalently- and non-covalently-bound homodimers. Serine scanning of cysteine residues potentially involved in forming inter-molecule disulfide-bonds was performed. Mutational analyses indicated that covalent homodimerization of IRAP is due to more than one cysteine residue. Limited trypsin digestion followed by co-immunoprecipitation suggests that non-covalent homodimerization of IRAP involves residues/regions within the last 130 amino acids of the protein. / The catalytic site of IRAP contains two consensus motifs, the H464EXXH468(X)18E487 Zn2+-binding motif and the G428AMEN432 motif. The role of conserved residues with these motifs was investigated using site-directed mutagenesis and pharmacological analyses. The conserved His and Glu residues of the Zn2+-binding motif were shown to be essential for IRAP catalytic activity. This was also observed for the Met and Glu residues of the GAMEN motif, while Asn mutant retained some catalytic activity. Residues important for substrate or inhibitor binding were identified as Gly, Ala and Asn. / A molecular model of the catalytic domain of IRAP based on the crystal structure of a homologous M1 metallopeptidase, leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H) was used to compare the catalytic sites of IRAP and LTA4H, and identified two amino acids at the putative substrate-binding pocket: Ala427 and Leu483 in IRAP, and the corresponding residues Tyr267 and Phe314 in LTA4H. A mutational analysis involving substitution of Ala427 and Leu483 with the corresponding residues revealed Ala427 and Leu483 characterize the enzyme S1 subsite, influencing the affinity and placement of substrates and peptide inhibitors in the catalytic site. / The molecular model of IRAP was also used for virtual screening of compound databases to identify novel non-peptide inhibitors. After two rounds of in silico screening, a family of compounds was identified and shown to be specific and competitive inhibitors of IRAP. Preliminary results suggest that one of these inhibitors, referred to as HFI 142, may possess memory-enhancing properties. The identification of non-peptide IRAP inhibitors will assist in pharmacological studies aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms of IRAP aminopeptidase activity and physiological role of IRAP. In addition, the new inhibitors have the potential to form the basis for the development of a novel class of drugs useful for treating memory disorders.

A lemmatiser is an important component of various human language technology applicalions for any language. At present, a rule-based le~nmatiserf or Afrikaans already exists, but this lermrlatiser produces disappoinringly low accuracy figures. The performimce of the current lemmatiser serves as motivation for developing another lemmatiser based on an alternative approach than language-specific rules. The alternalive method of lemmatiser corlstruction investigated in this study is memory-based learning. Thus, in this research project we develop an automatic lemmatiser for Afrikaans called Liu "Le~?rnru-idc~)~rifisv~ir'e Arfdr(i~ku~u-n s" 'hmmatiser for Afrikaans'. In order to construct Liu, thc following research objectives are sel: i) to define the classes for Afrikaans lemmatisation, ii) to determine the influence of data size and various feature options on the performance of I h , iii) to uutomalically determine the algorithm and parameters settings that deliver the best performancc in Lcrms of linguistic accuracy, execution time and memory usage. In order to achieve the first objective, we investigate the processes of inflecrion and derivation in Afrikaans, since automatic lemmatisation requires a clear distinction between inflection and derivation. We proceed to define the inflectional calegories for Afrikaans, which represent a number of affixes that should be removed from word-forms during lemmatisation. The classes for automatic lemmatisation in Afrikaans are derived from these affixes. It is subsequently shown that accuracy as well as memory usagc and execution lime increase as the amount of training dala is increased and that Ihe various feature options bave a significant effect on the performance of Lia. The algorithmic parameters and data representation that deliver the best results are determincd by the use of I'Senrck, a programme that implements Wrapped Progre~sive Sampling in order determine a set of possibly optimal algorithmic parameters for each of the TiMBL classification algorithms. Aulornaric Lcmlnalisa~ionf or Afrikaans - - Evaluation indicates that an accuracy figure of 92,896 is obtained when training Lia with the best performing parameters for the IB1 algorithm on feature-aligned data with 20 features. This result indicates that memory-based learning is indeed more suitable than rule-based methods for Afrikaans lenlmatiser construction. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Computer and Electronical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

A lemmatiser is an important component of various human language technology applicalions for any language. At present, a rule-based le~nmatiserf or Afrikaans already exists, but this lermrlatiser produces disappoinringly low accuracy figures. The performimce of the current lemmatiser serves as motivation for developing another lemmatiser based on an alternative approach than language-specific rules. The alternalive method of lemmatiser corlstruction investigated in this study is memory-based learning. Thus, in this research project we develop an automatic lemmatiser for Afrikaans called Liu "Le~?rnru-idc~)~rifisv~ir'e Arfdr(i~ku~u-n s" 'hmmatiser for Afrikaans'. In order to construct Liu, thc following research objectives are sel: i) to define the classes for Afrikaans lemmatisation, ii) to determine the influence of data size and various feature options on the performance of I h , iii) to uutomalically determine the algorithm and parameters settings that deliver the best performancc in Lcrms of linguistic accuracy, execution time and memory usage. In order to achieve the first objective, we investigate the processes of inflecrion and derivation in Afrikaans, since automatic lemmatisation requires a clear distinction between inflection and derivation. We proceed to define the inflectional calegories for Afrikaans, which represent a number of affixes that should be removed from word-forms during lemmatisation. The classes for automatic lemmatisation in Afrikaans are derived from these affixes. It is subsequently shown that accuracy as well as memory usagc and execution lime increase as the amount of training dala is increased and that Ihe various feature options bave a significant effect on the performance of Lia. The algorithmic parameters and data representation that deliver the best results are determincd by the use of I'Senrck, a programme that implements Wrapped Progre~sive Sampling in order determine a set of possibly optimal algorithmic parameters for each of the TiMBL classification algorithms. Aulornaric Lcmlnalisa~ionf or Afrikaans - - Evaluation indicates that an accuracy figure of 92,896 is obtained when training Lia with the best performing parameters for the IB1 algorithm on feature-aligned data with 20 features. This result indicates that memory-based learning is indeed more suitable than rule-based methods for Afrikaans lenlmatiser construction. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Computer and Electronical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Central infusion of the hexapeptide angiotensin IV (Ang IV) and its analogs have been demonstrated to markedly enhance memory retention and retrieval in rats using a range of learning and memory paradigms. This effect is mediated by the binding of the peptide to the specific binding site previously described as the AT4 receptor. The AT4 receptor has been isolated and identified as insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP), a type II transmembrane protein belonging to the M1 family of zinc-dependent aminopeptidases. Subsequently, AT4 receptor ligands, including Ang IV and its analogues and the unrelated peptide LVV-hemorphin-7, were demonstrated to be peptide inhibitors of IRAP. These findings suggest that AT4 ligands may exert their cognitive effects by inhibiting the catalytic activity of IRAP in the brain. Therefore, IRAP is an important target for the development of a new class of therapeutic agents for the treatment of memory loss. / To characterize IRAP at the molecular level and identify non-peptide inhibitors of IRAP for drug development, the aims of this study were to: 1) determine whether IRAP exists as a homodimer; 2) identify cysteine residue(s) involved in IRAP dimerization; 3) investigate the roles of the conserved residues of the HEXXH(X)18E Zn2+-binding motif and the GAMEN motif in substrate/inhibitor binding using site-directed mutagenesis; 4) use a molecular model of the catalytic domain of IRAP based on the crystal structure of a related M1 family metallopeptidase to: (i) identify key residues required for substrate/inhibitor binding; (ii) identify and characterize non-peptide IRAP inhibitors from a compound database by in silico virtual screening based on the homology model of IRAP. / Co-immunoprecipitation followed by Western blotting of IRAP under reducing and non-reducing conditions showed IRAP exists both as covalently- and non-covalently-bound homodimers. Serine scanning of cysteine residues potentially involved in forming inter-molecule disulfide-bonds was performed. Mutational analyses indicated that covalent homodimerization of IRAP is due to more than one cysteine residue. Limited trypsin digestion followed by co-immunoprecipitation suggests that non-covalent homodimerization of IRAP involves residues/regions within the last 130 amino acids of the protein. / The catalytic site of IRAP contains two consensus motifs, the H464EXXH468(X)18E487 Zn2+-binding motif and the G428AMEN432 motif. The role of conserved residues with these motifs was investigated using site-directed mutagenesis and pharmacological analyses. The conserved His and Glu residues of the Zn2+-binding motif were shown to be essential for IRAP catalytic activity. This was also observed for the Met and Glu residues of the GAMEN motif, while Asn mutant retained some catalytic activity. Residues important for substrate or inhibitor binding were identified as Gly, Ala and Asn. / A molecular model of the catalytic domain of IRAP based on the crystal structure of a homologous M1 metallopeptidase, leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H) was used to compare the catalytic sites of IRAP and LTA4H, and identified two amino acids at the putative substrate-binding pocket: Ala427 and Leu483 in IRAP, and the corresponding residues Tyr267 and Phe314 in LTA4H. A mutational analysis involving substitution of Ala427 and Leu483 with the corresponding residues revealed Ala427 and Leu483 characterize the enzyme S1 subsite, influencing the affinity and placement of substrates and peptide inhibitors in the catalytic site. / The molecular model of IRAP was also used for virtual screening of compound databases to identify novel non-peptide inhibitors. After two rounds of in silico screening, a family of compounds was identified and shown to be specific and competitive inhibitors of IRAP. Preliminary results suggest that one of these inhibitors, referred to as HFI 142, may possess memory-enhancing properties. The identification of non-peptide IRAP inhibitors will assist in pharmacological studies aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms of IRAP aminopeptidase activity and physiological role of IRAP. In addition, the new inhibitors have the potential to form the basis for the development of a novel class of drugs useful for treating memory disorders.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O uso combinado de etanol e bebidas energéticas tem aumentado entre adolescentes. Além disso, estudos epidemiológicos indicam que o co-uso aumenta a probabilidade de consumo abusivo e dependência de etanol. Apesar disso, pouco se sabe sobre as consequências neurocomportamentais da co-exposição no cérebro adolescente. Este estudo tem como objetivo avaliar o curso temporal dos efeitos agudos da exposição à bebida energética e/ou etanol na atividade motora e ansiedade no teste de campo aberto, como também, os efeitos agudos ou prolongados sobre aprendizagem/memória e coordenação motora em camundongos adolescentes. Camundongos Suíços foram divididos em 4 grupos: bebidas energéticas e etanol, bebida energética, etanol e água. Três estudos separados foram conduzidos para avaliar cada um dos objetivos específicos deste trabalho. No primeiro estudo, realizado em PN40, os animais receberam a administração de bebida energética (8 ml/kg) e/ou etanol (4 g/kg) por gavagem e após 55 minutos foram submetidos ao teste do campo aberto (sessão 1). Outras duas sessões foram realizadas em sequência usando a metade da dose inicial (sessão 2 e 3). Nos estudos 2 e 3, estudamos os efeitos agudos (PN40) e crônicos (exposição de PN30-40) sobre o teste de esquiva passiva (0,3 mA, 3 s) e sobre o desempenho no teste do cilíndro giratório (sessão de treinamento e após 1 e 3 horas da gavagem das drogas). Em ambos os casos, a dose de bebida energética (8 ml/kg) e/ou etanol (4 g/kg) foi administrada. No teste da esquiva passiva, as sessões de treino e retenção foram realizadas 1 e 24 horas após a administração da droga, respectivamente. No teste do Rotarod, cada sessão foi constituída por 5 tentativas em modelo de aceleramento contínuo (4 a 40 rpm/min em uma tentativa de 2 min). Os nossos dados indicam que a exposição concomitante a bebida energética potencializa o efeito de hiperatividade induzido pelo etanol, como também, gera uma resposta ansiogênica no teste do campo aberto. A exposição aguda ao etanol induz déficit de memória/aprendizagem que não é revertida pela BE. A co-exposição aguda a bebida energética e etanol prolongou incoordenação motora induzida pelo etanol. No entanto, a bebda energética reverteu o comprometimento da coordenação motora gerada pela exposição crônica de etanol em camundongos fêmeas. O presente estudo fornece evidência experimental de que bebida energética e etanol interagem durante a adolescência, resultando em padrões de comportamento que poderiam aumentar o risco de desenvolvimento de abuso ou dependência de etanol. Além disso, os dados indicaram que a exposição aguda à bebida energética não atenuou as consequências negativas geradas pela etanol no desempenho do motor e cognitivo. / The combined use of ethanol and energy drinks has increased among adolescents. Furthermore, epidemiological studies indicate that the co-use increases the likelihood of abuse and ethanol dependence. Nevertheless, little is known about the neurobehavioral effects of co-exposure in adolescent brain. This study aims to evaluate the time course of the acute effects of exposure to energy drink and / or ethanol in motor activity and anxiety in the open field test, but also acute or prolonged effects on learning/memory and motor coordination in mice teens. Swiss mice were divided into 4 groups: ethanol and energy drinks, energy drinks, ethanol and water. Three separate studies were conducted to evaluate each of the specific objectives of this work. In the first study, conducted in PN40, animals received the energy drink administration (8 ml/kg) and / or ethanol (4 g/kg) by gavage and after 55 minutes were subjected to the open field test (session 1). Other two sessions were conducted in sequence using half of the initial dose (session 2 and 3). In trials 2 and 3, we studied the acute effects (PN40) and chronic (exposure PN30-40) on the passive avoidance test (0.3 mA, 3s) and the test performance of the rotary cylinder (training session and 1 and 3 hours after the gavage of drugs). In both cases, the dose of energy drink (8 ml/kg) and / or ethanol (4 g/kg) was administered. In the test of passive avoidance training sessions and the retention were made 1 and 24 hours after drug administration, respectively. In the Rotarod test, each session consisted of 5 trials continuous acceleration model (4 to 40 rpm / min in an attempt to 2 min). Our data indicate that the concurrent exposure to energy drink enhances the effect hyperactivity induced by ethanol, as also, it generates an anxiogenic response in the Open Field test. Acute ethanol exposure induces memory/learning deficits that is not reversed by BE. Acute co-exposure to energy drink and ethanol prolonged incoordination induced by ethanol. However, energy drink reversed the impairment of motor coordination generated by chronic exposure of ethanol in female mice. This study provides experimental evidence that energy drink and ethanol interact during adolescence, resulting in behavioral patterns that could increase the risk of abuse or dependence on ethanol. In addition, the data indicated that acute exposure to energy drink did not attenuate the negative consequences generated by ethanol in motor performance and cognitive.

No description available.

No description available.

The Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning (WRAML) is a relatively new instrument used in the assessment of memory in children. The purpose of this study was to examine the validity of the WRAML by comparing the performance of children on both the WRAML and the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Ability- Revised (WJTCA-R). Subjects for the study were children in treatment for a brain tumor at a regional children's medical center. Fifty children participated in the study ranging from ages 6 to 17. A multiple regression analysis was conducted to determine which of four selected clusters from the WJTCA-R would have the highest correlation with the Verbal Memory Index (VERI) from the WRAML. The Short-Term Memory (GSM) cluster had the highest correlation ( r = .82) as predicted. A Pearson's product-moment correlational analysis was conducted between the Visual Processing (GV) cluster from the WJTCA-R and the Visual Memory Index (VISI) from the WRAML. GV was found to have a high positive correlation ( r = .63) with VISI. A similar analysis was conducted between the Long-Term Retrieval (GLR) cluster from the WJTCA-R and the Learning Index (LRNI) from the WRAML. GLR was found to have a high positive correlation ( r = .81) with LRNI. Finally, a correlational analysis was conducted between the Broad Cognitive Ability (BCA) scale from the WJTCA-R and the General Memory Index (GENI) from the WRAML. A high positive correlation ( r = .87) was found between these most global measures from the two batteries. The observed correlation between BCA and GENI was much higher than anticipated. The author concluded that neurological impairment had affected subject memory and intellectual functioning in similar ways. The results do not generalize to children who have not had similar decrements in cognitive functioning. Future research should establish a baseline correlation between the two instruments with a non-impaired population.