Comparative Analysis of Russian and French Prosodies: Theoretical, Experimental and Applied Aspects"

Experience shows that in teaching the pronunciation of a foreign language, it is the native syllable stereotype that resists correction most strongly. This is because the syllable is the basic unit of the perception and production of speech, and syllabic production is highly automatic and to some degree determines the prosody of speech at all levels: accent, rhythm, phrase, etc. The results of psycho-physiological studies show that the human acoustic analyser is a typical contemplator organ and new acoustic qualities are perceived through their inclusion into the already existing system of values characteristic to the mother tongue. This results in the adaptation of the perception and so production of foreign speech to native patterns. The less conscious the perception of the unit and the more 'primitive' its status, the greater the degree of its auditory assimilation, and the syllable is certainly among the less controllable linguistic units. The group carried out a complex investigation of the French and Russian languages at the level of syllable realisation, focusing on the stressed syllable of both open and closed types. The useful acoustic characteristics of the French/Russian syllable pattern were determined through identifying a typical syllable pattern within the system of each of the two languages, comparing these patterns to establish their contrasting features, and observing and systematising deviations from the pattern typical of the French/Russian language teaching situation. The components of the syllable pattern shown to need particular attention in teaching French pronunciation to Russian native speakers were intensity, fundamental frequency, and duration. The group then developed a method of correction which combines the auditory and visual canals of sound signal perception and tested this method with groups of Russian students of different levels.

Formation of Exchange Rates on the Russian Market: Dynamics and Modelling

Galina Kovaleva. The Formation of the Exchange Rate on the Russian Market: Dynamics and Modelling. The Russian financial market is fast becoming one of the major sectors of the Russian economy. Assets have been increasing steadily, while new market segments and new financial market instruments have emerged. Kovaleva attempted to isolate the factors influencing exchange rates, determine patterns in the dynamic changes to the rouble/dollar exchange rate, construct models of the processes, and on the basis of these activities make forecasts. She studied the significance of economic indicators influencing the rouble/dollar exchange rate at different times, and developed multi-factor econometric models. In order to reveal the inner structure of the financial indicators and to work out ex-post forecasts for different time intervals, she carried out a series of calculations with the aim of constructing trend-cyclical (TC) and harmonic models, and Box and Jenkins models. She found that: 1. The Russian financial market is dependant on the rouble/dollar exchange rate. Its dynamics are formed under the influence of the short-term state treasury notes and government bonds markets, interbank loans, the rouble/DM exchange rate, the inflation rate, and the DM/dollar exchange rate. The exchange rate is influenced by sales on the Moscow Interbank Currency Exchange and the mechanism of those sales. 2. The TC model makes it possible to conduct an in-depth study of the structure of the processes and to make forecasts of the dynamic changes to currency indicators. 3. The Russian market is increasingly influenced by the world currency market and its prospects are of crucial interest for the world financial community.

A Benzaldehyde Derivative as a Chelating Ligand: Helical Manganese(II) Coordination Polymers Assembling into a Porous Solid

A molecular, porous crystalline material constructed from neutral helical coordination polymers incorporating manganese(II) ions and two types of bridging ligands, namely the deprotonated form of 2-hydroxy-5-methoxy-3-nitrobenzaldehyde (HL) and isobutyrate (iB−), has been obtained and structurally characterized. Structural analysis reveals that within the coordination polymer each benzaldehyde derivative ligates two manganese ions in 6-membered chelating rings, and the isobutyrate ligands cooperatively chelate either two or three manganese ions. The solid state assembly of the resulting polymeric chains of formula [Mn4(L)2(iB)6]n (1), described in the polar space group R3c, is associated with tubular channels occupied by MeCN solvent molecules (1·xMeCN; x ≤ 9). TGA profiles and PXRD measurements demonstrate that the crystallinity of the solid remains intact in its fully desolvated form, and its stability and crystallinity are ensured up to a temperature of 190 °C. Gas adsorption properties of desolvated crystals were probed, but no remarkable sorption capacity of N2 and only a limited one for CO2 could be observed. Magnetic susceptibility data reveal an antiferromagnetic type of coupling between adjacent manganese(II) ions along the helical chains with energy parameters J1 = −5.9(6) cm−1 and J2 = −1.8(9) cm−1.

New copper(II) complexes with isoconazole: Synthesis, structures and biological properties

There is an increasing demand for novel metal-based complexes with biologically relevant molecules in technology and medicine. Three new Cu(II) coordination compounds with antifungal agent isoconazole (L), namely mononuclear complexes CuCl2(L)(2) (1), and Cu(O2CMe)(2)(L)(2)center dot 2H(2)O (2) and coordination polymer Cu(pht)(L)(2)(n) (3) (where H(2)pht - o-phthalic acid) were synthesized and characterized by IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray crystallography. X-ray analysis showed that in all complexes, the isoconazole is coordinated to Cu(II) centres by a N atom of the imidazole fragment. In complex I, the square-planar environment of Cu(II) atoms is completed by two N atoms of isoconazole and two chloride ligands, whereas the Cu(II) atoms are coordinated by two N atoms from two isoconazole ligands and two O atoms from the different carboxylate residues: acetate in 2 and phthalate in 3. The formation of an infinite chain through the bridging phthalate ligand is observed in 3. The biosynthetic ability of micromycetes Aspergillus niger CNMN FD 10 in the presence of the prepared complexes 1-3 as well as the antifungal drug isoconazole were studied. Complexes 2 and 3 accelerate the biosynthesis of enzymes (beta-glucosidase, xylanase and endoglucanase) by this fungus. Moreover, a simplified and improved method for the preparation of isoconazole nitrate was developed.