bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ordre, durée et fréquence : la narratologie genettienne à la rescousse des récits brefs ?
Authors: Garnier Nicolas
Published: July 2021

La notion de « récit bref » est une vraie problématique pour les médiévistes, car elle se trouve au croisement de deux enjeux tout aussi problématiques : définir ce qu’est la brièveté narrative, et savoir s’il existe un « genre bref » pour la littérature médiévale. Les travaux de Gérard Genette, principalement ceux de narratologie de Discours du récit, pourraient alors apporter une aide précieuse. Il s’agit de voir si les notions d’ordre, de durée et de fréquence développées par Gérard Genette pour caractériser le récit peuvent aider à percevoir une unité narrative de ces textes médiévaux, aux registres et matières très épars. Pour cela, six textes du manuscrit anthologique Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, fr. 837 : le Dit du Barisel, la Châtelaine de Vergy, Narcisse, l’Enfant remis au soleil, la Vie de Sainte Élisabeth et le Vair Palefroi. Dans l’ensemble, on a pu constater une certaine homogénéité : les analepses et les prolepses sont relativement peu développées, les pauses peu nombreuses, et les débuts sont souvent des sommaires itératifs. Néanmoins, certaines divergences marquées semblent montrer la difficulté de définir un genre commun à ces textes. Enfin, les outils genettiens, davantage consacrés aux questions de temporalité, paraissent trop décalés pour lier ces récits : il est en effet difficile de définir si un texte bref est nécessairement un texte rapide. Finalement, la narratologie genettienne permet de constater plutôt une esthétique brève qu’une forme brève ou qu’un genre bref.
Aux seuils du paratexte médiéval : les auteurs français et leur nom dans les inventaires aristocratiques de la fin du Moyen Âge
Authors: Stout Julien
Published: July 2021

Comme un complément aux brèves remarques de Gérard Genette effectuées sur la question dans Seuils, cet article entend réévaluer la place du nom d’auteur français dans le paratexte des œuvres médiévales à la lumière d’un témoignage original, celui de 41 inventaires de « librairies » de hauts personnages de l’espace francophone des xive-xve siècles, pour un total de 4686 entrées. Il peut sembler inusité de s’intéresser à la représentation du nom d’auteur dans de tels documents, généralement rédigés dans une logique de catalogage non pas bibliographique et savant, mais bibliophilique. On argumentera cependant que la théorie du paratexte doit permettre – ici et à l’avenir – de penser ces inventaires à la fois comme un poste d’observation panoptique du « feuilleté paratextuel » médiéval et comme les traces de (brèves) lectures médiévales d’ouvrages dans un but de classification et d’identification. On relèvera, on classera et on analysera donc les 244 cas sur 4686 où 56 noms d’auteurs français sont employés comme un mode de désignation des œuvres dans les inventaires, avant de réfléchir à leur statut minoritaire et naissant au sein d’un paysage littéraire qui connaissait à l’évidence la notion d’auteur, mais qui semble ne l’avoir appliquée à la littérature française qu’avec hésitation et parcimonie.
Las Leys d’Amors. Redazione lunga in prosa, edizione critica, a cura di Beatrice Fedi, Firenze, Edizioni del Galluzzo per la Fondazione Ezio Franceschini, « Archivio romanzo » 35, 2019
Authors: Meliga Walter
Published: July 2021

Leys d’Amors, troubadours, occitan lyrical poetry, Toulouse, Concistori de la Gaya Sciencia de Tholoza
Accompagner sans financer : une nouvelle doctrine d’investissement de l’État au capital des ETI
Authors: Parpaleix Laure-Anne , Levillain Kevin , Segrestin Blanche
Published: July 2021

La position de l’État en tant qu’actionnaire fait l’objet de vifs débats. Dans les discours économiques classiques, elle est souvent justifiée par sa capacité à combler une défaillance de marché, dans notre cas un défaut de financement en fonds propres des entreprises (equity gap). Pourtant, elle est simultanément accusée de distordre la concurrence. Dans quelle mesure l’État se comporte-t-il comme les investisseurs privés ? Quelles sont, dans les faits, les doctrines et les pratiques d’investissement de l’« État-actionnaire » ? Cet article examine la relation entre la doctrine d’investissement de l’État français et sa mise en œuvre dans le cas des investissements de Bpifrance dans des entreprises de taille intermédiaire (ETI). Nous montrons que l’hypothèse d’un equity gap n’est pas suffisante pour rendre compte de ces investissements publics et proposons une hypothèse alternative : les entreprises peuvent peiner à trouver des repreneurs prêts à soutenir une stratégie de croissance pérenne. L’article éclaire ainsi les freins à la croissance des ETI : ils pourraient relever moins d’une carence de capital-investissement et de ressources financières que de logiques d’investissement inadaptées aux dynamiques d’innovation. Ce diagnostic invite à suggérer de nouvelles doctrines d’investissement public, moins par amplification que par transformation des logiques usuellement déployées par les acteurs privés, mais aussi de nouvelles approches pour soutenir des formes de croissance plus pérennes et responsables des entreprises.
Dexia, ou la faillite d’une régulation du crédit local par le marché
Authors: Ferlazzo Edoardo
Published: July 2021

Pris dans la tourmente des crises financières de 2008 et 2011, Dexia, prêteur historique des collectivités locales, est sauvé de la faillite par les États belge et français fin 2011. L’article revient sur la genèse et la mise en œuvre de ce sauvetage, en développant une mise en perspective historique et institutionnaliste des évolutions et de la régulation étatique du crédit local. Il éclaire le passage d’une régulation administrée par l’État où ce dernier, à partir des années 1950, enserre strictement l’offre et la demande de crédit dans ses propres intérêts, à une régulation par le marché à compter des années 1980 lorsque l’État se désengage du crédit local. Anciennement dans le giron de l’État, Dexia est alors privatisé en 1993 et met en place une stratégie tournée vers les marchés financiers. Cette dernière s’effondre avec la crise de 2008, nécessitant une intervention en dernier ressort de l’État pour éviter une contagion du système financier et un credit crunch sur le marché du crédit local. Alors que l’État s’est retiré de ce dernier pour le mettre en marché à compter des années 1980, c’est bien lui qui doit « payer la facture » des dérives d’une telle régulation marchande.
Ce que peut la finance publique : la Caisse des dépôts actionnaire dans l’immobilier depuis la Seconde Guerre mondiale
Authors: Frétigny Raphaël
Published: July 2021

L’article porte sur les participations de la Caisse des dépôts et consignations (CDC) dans l’immobilier, des années 1950 au début du xxie siècle. Les stratégies actionnariales de l’établissement financier public sont caractérisées par une montée en puissance progressive de logiques de rentabilité, calquées sur celles des acteurs financiers privés. Toutefois, ces évolutions s’avèrent plus complexes qu’une pure et simple soumission aux normes des marchés financiers. La CDC maintient, avec des modalités différentes selon les périodes, des formes d’appui aux politiques publiques au détriment de la remontée de dividendes. Historiquement, les pratiques actionnariales de la CDC dans l’immobilier se transforment suivant des compromis entre les dynamiques, parfois contradictoires, qui animent la politique du logement, la réglementation du système financier, le contexte macroéconomique et les élites dirigeantes de la CDC. Ce résultat contribue ainsi à souligner l’originalité des institutions financières publiques, qui peuvent s’inscrire dans des mécanismes de marché sans y être subordonnées.
État actionnaire et capitalisme de connivence au Maroc : le cas de la Caisse de dépôt et de gestion (CDG)
Authors: Oubenal Mohamed , Zeroual Abdellatif
Published: July 2021

Dans cet article, l’analyse de l’évolution de la Caisse de dépôt et de gestion (CDG) marocaine nous permet de saisir l’émergence de la logique actionnariale dans un contexte de capitalisme de connivence. Initialement, la CDG est créée dans le cadre d’une stratégie de développement autocentrée où l’État joue un rôle central dans l’industrialisation du pays. Malgré la résurgence des velléités de développement, avec la politique de marocanisation dans les années 1970, la CDG se retrouve, au gré de la trajectoire qu’a prise le Maroc, au service d’un capitalisme de connivence inséré dans un système économique mondial très hiérarchisé. Dépourvue à la suite des privatisations des années 1990 de participations stratégiques, au bénéfice de proches du pouvoir, la Caisse est insérée dans un réseau d’alliances et de participations croisées avec des entreprises privées alliées au pouvoir politique, désignées, de façon informelle par des acteurs privés, comme étant des « champions nationaux ».Durant les années 2000, le profil des cadres, l’organisation et la stratégie de la CDG évoluent pour se conformer aux contraintes et injonctions d’une logique actionnariale. L’éthos des dirigeants, souvent issus de la haute administration, est remplacé par la logique financière de managers cherchant à maximiser la rentabilité de leurs investissements. Cela se traduit concrètement par la mise en place d’une gestion active du portefeuille appliquée aux différentes participations de la CDG, ainsi que la création de nouveaux instruments financiers.
Entre utopie et action collective, comment accompagner la transition des territoires vers l’économie circulaire ?
Authors: Ntsondé Joël
Published: July 2021

Notre thèse caractérise les mécanismes cognitifs, organisationnels et interorganisationnels qui sous-tendent les actions collectives pour la transition de l’économie d’un territoire vers l’économie circulaire. À partir de l’exemple de la commande publique dans le secteur de la construction, nous nous interrogeons sur les transition studies (Markard et al., 2012), pour proposer un modèle de transition conceptualisant les mécanismes qui peuvent permettre à des acteurs économiques, sociaux et politiques d’accompagner la transition de leur territoire vers l’économie circulaire. Ce modèle, dans lequel sont d’abord pris en compte les processus qui amènent des entrepreneurs à concevoir des innovations d’économie circulaire, permet ensuite de conceptualiser les mécanismes qui conduisent des organisations publiques et privées à coopérer avec ces entrepreneurs, avant, enfin, d’expliciter les processus à partir desquels cette dynamique d’action collective peut matérialiser la transition économique.
Quand l’État devient banquier
Authors: Chambost Isabelle , Touchelay Béatrice
Published: July 2021

Cet article analyse les structures mises en place par l’État, à la Libération, pour gérer ses participations dans les quatre banques de dépôt nationalisées. Pointant les écarts entre les volontés affichées d’une part, notamment la capacité de l’État à gérer de manière productive, et les réalisations concrètes de l’autre, cet article met l’accent sur les difficultés rencontrées dans la mise en œuvre de ce contrôle. Ces tensions, liées à la diversité des intérêts des banquiers et ressenties jusqu’au sommet de l’État, apparaissent dès que l’on croise les échelles d’analyse : celle macro, de la loi et de son application nationale, et celle micro, d’une banque (la Société Générale) passée dans le giron de l’État. Afin d’en comprendre les ressorts, nous avons inscrit ces réformes dans une perspective historique, pointant les continuités et les ruptures à l’œuvre dans la genèse de cet État nouvellement actionnaire qui puise ses racines dans les imperfections du système antérieur, d’abord celui de « l’État effacé », du début du xxe siècle jusqu’à l’avènement de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, puis d’une volonté politique affirmée d’installer un « État partenaire », de 1940 à 1945, pendant que l’État s’introduit, non sans mal jusqu’aux années 1960, aux côtés de la corporation bancaire.
The state as an eager shareholder
Authors: Coutant Hadrien , Viallet-Thévenin Scott
Published: July 2021

This article discusses the way financialization impacts state ownership of capital. We show that financialization can occur in state-owned enterprises following a specific pattern that differs from the common narrative about the diffusion of shareholder value. An exploration of the transformation of the governance of SOEs in France shows that the conception of control of firms implemented by the state has changed dramatically since the 1980s. The creation of the Ministry of Finance’s Agence des participations de l’État can be viewed as a turning point in these transformations. To illustrate these changes, we focus on the financialization process of SOEs in two case studies from the energy and aeronautics industries. Our analysis confirms the specific role of the French state in organizing the economy while opposing the assumption that this supposedly limits the financialization of firms.capitalism, financialization, economic sociology, France, corporate governance, organizational change
L’« État-actionnaire » et le plasma
Authors: Colomb Fabrice
Published: July 2021

Répétée au fil des lois françaises de bioéthique, la marchandisation du corps s’affiche comme un repoussoir. Ce travail entend aller au-delà de cette vitrine en analysant le cas du plasma. L’État en tant qu’actionnaire de l’industrie nationale du plasma a contribué à doter celui-ci du statut de marchandise. Cet article retrace les origines de l’actionnariat d’État dans ce secteur à travers la transformation de l’entreprise nationale en société anonyme. L’« État-actionnaire » prend alors la figure d’« État-entrepreneur » et d’« État-compétiteur », façonnant ainsi un secteur disposé à la concurrence internationale dans la bioéconomie. Au moyen d’une enquête qualitative, on peut observer la manière dont l’« État-actionnaire », notamment à travers l’Agence des participations de l’État, s’emploie à aligner le plasma sur des matières inertes, afin d’assurer sa commensurabilité en le dotant d’une valeur d’échange. Pour cela, l’« État-actionnaire » produit une rhétorique visant à euphémiser le processus en cours, le rendant ainsi légitime.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Tourism Economy
Authors: Şen Süleyman , Kovacı Süreyya
Published: July 2021

This chapter seeks to examine the impact of COVID-19 on the Turkish tourism economy. Towards this end, first of all, tourist arrivals and tourism income of Turkey were compared between pre-pandemic and within the pandemic period. Afterwards, to investigate whether COVID-19 leads to a decrease in stock prices of tourism firms, the return data of 11 firms listed in the Borsa Istanbul restaurants and hotels subsector for 10 months were examined by panel data methods. According to comparison of tourist arrivals and tourism income to the previous year, there was a vital decrease as 69% and 65% respectively in 2020. Moreover, coverage rate of foreign trade deficit of tourism income in Turkey decreased almost 80% in 2020. Overall, results of pooled OLS regression analysis revealed that COVID-19 cases and COVID-19-related deaths were decreasing monthly stock price returns. Based on these findings, it is recommended to policymakers to find better policies for a better tourism economy.
Economic and Social Impacts of COVID-19 on European Tourism
Authors: Kazar Gorkemli , Kazar Altug , Akpınar Tuba
Published: July 2021

European tourism has been largely disrupted by the pandemic throughout 2020. In this study, the economic and social effects of COVID-19 on the tourism sector of European countries were examined. To understand the extent of the pandemic on European tourism, policies followed by countries, physical tourism flows of the accommodation sector, tourism employment, and turnover rates were considered. The study showed that the European tourism sector, especially after the second half of 2020, was hit socially and economically by the devastating effects of the pandemic. In addition, the study revealed the necessity for radical regulations within the sector in the post-pandemic period.
COVID-19 and Alternative Tourism
Authors: Buluk Eşitti Buket
Published: July 2021

According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), tourism is expected to lose between $900 billion and $1.2 trillion in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is also estimated that the decrease in the total number of tourists due to the COVID-19 pandemic will occur between 58% and 78%. It can be said that competition in the tourism sector will be experienced intensely among countries with alternative tourism diversity when evaluated in terms of outbreaks that may occur in COVID-19 process and after. In this context, it is seen that natural habitats, physical spaces isolated from society, digitalization, and smart tourism applications will gain more importance in terms of tourism activities and will come to the fore in the destination preferences of tourists. Based on this, this chapter aims to examine the subject of COVID-19 and alternative tourism in the context of new destinations and new tourism products.
An Empirical Study of Heterogeneous Cross-Project Defect Prediction Using Various Statistical Techniques
Authors: Vashisht Rohit , Rizvi Syed Afzal Murtaza
Published: July 2021

Cross-project defect prediction (CPDP) forecasts flaws in a target project through defect prediction models (DPM) trained by defect data of another project. However, CPDP has a prevalent problem (i.e., distinct projects must have identical features to describe themselves). This article emphasizes on heterogeneous CPDP (HCPDP) modeling that does not require same metric set between two applications and builds DPM based on metrics showing comparable distribution in their values for a given pair of datasets. This paper evaluates empirically and theoretically HCPDP modeling, which comprises of three main phases: feature ranking and feature selection, metric matching, and finally, predicting defects in the target application. The research work has been experimented on 13 benchmarked datasets of three open source projects. Results show that performance of HCPDP is very much comparable to baseline within project defect prediction (WPDP) and XG boosting classification model gives best results when used in conjunction with Kendall's method of correlation as compared to other set of classifiers.
XBRL Adoption and Capital Market Information Efficiency
Authors: Ruan Lei , Liu Heng , Tsai Sang-bing
Published: July 2021

As a common standard for global business reporting, eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) can make up for the deficiencies of traditional financial reports in terms of standardized disclosure and information use costs, and provide firm-specific information to report users, reduce the level of corporate stock price synchronicity, and then improve capital market information allocation efficiency. Based on the financial data of Chinese listed companies from 2005 to 2011, this paper mainly focuses on the impact of XBRL adoption on stock price synchronicity.
Lognormal Random Field models to identify temporal Land cover changes using full polarimetric L-Band SAR imagery
Authors: Welikanna D.R. , Tamura M.
Published: July 2021

Multiplicative Autoregressive Random Field (MAR) based texture models have been identified as one of the most appropriate models for SAR intensity images to capture the stochastic spatial interaction among neighboring pixels. But very few studies have tested their viability particularly in disaster applications. In this paper, we analyse the MAR texture models for their advantageous in land cover change detection compared to the changes resulting from logarithm of SAR image intensity and speckle filtered SAR imagery. The paper shows that lognormal random fields with multiplicative spatial interactions in the form of MAR models can be an effective alternative to suppress speckle noise and model SAR image intensity in time series data analysis. The pre and post disaster observational data of the Tohoku earthquake, in the east coast of Japan, acquired by the Advanced Land Observation Satellite (ALOS)/phased array type L-band synthetic aperture radar (PALSAR) were synthesized using MAR model based texture measures. Two of the main texture descriptors of the MAR model were considered primarily in this study. Those are the neighborhood weighting and the noise variance parameters. A 2nd order neighborhood configuration was used to estimate them. We present a variogram based analysis, structural similarity index measure (SSIM), and the mean ratio detector (MRD) as three different approaches to analyse the changes in land cover using radar texture. The change detection results of the MRD were further tested using area error proportion (AEP), root mean square error (RMSE) and correlation coefficient (CC), keeping normalized ratio, principle component analysis (PCA) and adaptive Lee filtered polarimetric intensity based change as the references.
Coformulation with Tattoo Ink for Immunological Assessment of Vaccine Immunogenicity in the Draining Lymph Node
Authors: Barber-Axthelm Isaac M , Kelly Hannah G , Esterbauer Robyn , Wragg Kathleen M , Gibbon Anne M , Lee Wen Shi , Wheatley Adam K , Kent Stephen J , Tan Hyon-Xhi , Juno Jennifer A
Published: July 2021

Characterization of germinal center B and T cell responses yields critical insights into vaccine immunogenicity. Nonhuman primates are a key preclinical animal model for human vaccine development, allowing both lymph node (LN) and circulating immune responses to be longitudinally sampled for correlates of vaccine efficacy. However, patterns of vaccine Ag drainage via the lymphatics after i.m. immunization can be stochastic, driving uneven deposition between lymphoid sites and between individual LN within larger clusters. To improve the accurate isolation of Ag-exposed LN during biopsies and necropsies, we developed and validated a method for coformulating candidate vaccines with tattoo ink in both mice and pigtail macaques. This method allowed for direct visual identification of vaccine-draining LN and evaluation of relevant Ag-specific B and T cell responses by flow cytometry. This approach is a significant advancement in improving the assessment of vaccine-induced immunity in highly relevant nonhuman primate models.
An interdisciplinary intervention is associated with overall improvement of older inpatients in a non-geriatric setting: A retrospective analysis of an observational, longitudinal study with one-year follow up
Authors: Müller Franziska M. , Meyer Anna M. , Pickert Lena , Heeß Annika , Becker Ingrid , Benzing Thomas , Polidori M. Cristina
Published: July 2021

Older persons often loose independence during hospitalization. This analysis aimed at retrospectively evaluating the effects of a pilot individualized multidimensional intervention (IMI) on the comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA)-based prognosis of older multimorbid patients in an acute internal medicine setting. Records from 72 patients aged 65 years and above who received the IMI were compared to those from 403 patients who received standard of care (SOC). All patients had undergone the CGA-based Multidimensional Prognostic Index (MPI) calculation on admission and at discharge. Patients were divided into three risk groups according to MPI score: Low-risk (MPI-1, 0-0.33), medium-risk (MPI-2, 0.34-0.66) and high-risk (MPI-3, 0.67-1). From admission to discharge, IMI patients showed significant improvements in their MPI score (P=0.014) and subdomains compared to SOC. This was particularly evident in MPI-2 and MPI-3 as well as in patients with poorer functions on MPI admission subdomains. An early geriatric intervention during hospitalization for disease-specific treatments in internal medicine settings improves overall individual prognosis in older multimorbid patients. Prospective randomized studies are needed to confirm these preliminary retrospective observations.
Haematological and Biochemical Predictors of Bone Marrow Metastases in Non-Haematological Malignancies
Authors: Agrawal Shruti , Bhandari Rekha , Gowda Vinay N. , Gupta Amit , Singh Neha , Chowdhury Nilotpal , Rao Shalinee , Kishore Sanjeev , Gupta Arvind Kumar , Chandra Harish
Published: July 2021

Background:

Bone marrow metastasis is an uncommon yet significant presentation of many non haematological malignancies.

Aims:

The present study was conducted with the aim of analysing the clinical, haematological and biochemical parameters of the patients with bone marrow metastases and determines the parameters which could possibly indicate the presence of bone marrow metastases.

Patients and Methods:

Bone marrow aspirate, imprint and biopsy slides of 22 cases with bone marrow metastases were reviewed and the haematological and biochemical data of all these cases were compared with that of 20 controls without any evidence of metastases.

Results:

The mean values of mean platelet volume (MPV), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were found to be significantly different (P < 0.001) between the cases and controls. MPV <8.1 fL, NLR >3.5 and LDH >452 U/L showed a high likelihood ratio in predicting bone marrow metastases.

Conclusion:

Parameters such as MPV, NLR and LDH can be used as efficient and easily available methods to predict bone marrow metastasis for a rapid diagnosis.
Cross-cultural adaptation of oral health-related quality of life measures used to assess the impacts of malocclusion and dentofacial deformities in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Agou Shoroog Hassan
Published: July 2021

Since the World Health Organization broadened its definition of health, beyond biological boundaries, to include physical, emotional, and social wellbeing. Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) became common outcome measure in clinical trials and epidemiological studies in Dentistry and Medicine. It is not surprising, therefore, to see quality of life as one of the programs of the Saudi 2030 vision. That said, it can be difficult to interpret the findings of OHRQoL research if the measures used were not appropriately adapted and validated in the population being studied. In this review article, the concept of cross-cultural adaptation of OHRQoL and its use in the Saudi context, as applied to orthodontic research, was discussed. An electronic search in PubMed and MEDLINE databases was conducted. A second search was conducted to locate methodological papers discussing cross-cultural adaptation and translations. Appraisal of relevant research was conducted to provide a better understanding of the process of adapting OHRQoL measures to assess the impact of malocclusion and dentofacial abnormalities on quality of life. This review pointed out important methodological concerns that warrant considerations during the translation and adaptation of OHRQoL measures.
Improvement of Growth and Viability of Oreochromis niloticus in a Biofloc System Using Chlorella vulgaris
Authors: Nasser S. Flefil , M. Aboseif Ahmed , Hussian Abd-Ellatif M.
Published: July 2021

This study aimed to enhance Nile Tilapia growth using Chlorella vulgaris as a food additive in the biofloc system. Different concentrations of C. vulgaris were tested in four different treatments compared to control. The growth rate of Nile tilapia was parallel with C. vulgaris addition to the treatments. The best productive value (growth performance) for Nile Tilapia was recorded in T1 that was distinctly superior to the other treatments. The use of C. vulgaris in the biofloc system decreased feed conversion ratio (FCR) values; whereas the most significant value was observed at T1. Phytoplankton structure in Nile Tilapia gut was predominated with C. vulgaris representing 67.7% of the total phytoplankton crop. Statistical analysis also approved that the most important factor affecting Nile Tilapia growth was C. vulgaris addition, and some other chemical variables that affect phytoplankton’s growth such as PO4. In addition, muscle protein ratio of Nile Tilapia increased with increasing C. vulgaris concentrations. Our data concluded that increasing C. vulgaris concentration improved the growth performance of Nile Tilapia under the biofloc condition.
Investigating teaching strategies for reading in the Motheo Education District
Authors: Ntsala Sekanse Abiner , Koen Mariette , Loock Irma
Published: July 2021

This study investigated the English FAL teachers’ knowledge and their use of reading methods. A mixed method approach was followed,  where both qualitative and quantitative research methods were combined. Qualitative methods preceded quantitative methods. During the first phase of the study 8 teachers who teach English FAL in the intermediate phase were interviewed. For the second phase of the study, a questionnaire was distributed to 80 teachers in the different towns in the Motheo education district. Most of the participants teach in the township schools where the learners learn in English and also do English as FAL. Qualitative data was analysed thematically, while quantitative analysis involved the use of descriptive analysis. The research findings imply the following: teachers have a superficial  knowledge of reading methods and the main components of reading, there are other factors that affect the teaching of reading, and manyteachers still shy away from infusing technology in their reading lessons.
Possible effects of previously-acquired languages on L3 learning: A study of Northern Sotho at a university of technology in Pretoria
Authors: Sepua Chuene D. , Mann Charles C.
Published: July 2021

This study investigates the manifestation of Transfer or Cross-Linguistic Influence (CLI) from language learners’ previouslyknown languages in the learning of a third language, Northern Sotho, by examining errors identified in their written productions in the target language. Data for the study was gathered from first year university students learning Northern Sotho L3, with a roughly homogeneouslanguage background of isiZulu L1 and English L2 (elicitation tasks and questionnaires), and from three of their lecturers (interviews). The focus of the study was to determine whether the subjects produced patterns in their interlanguage that could be traced to one or both of their previously-known languages. Contrastive Analysis (CA) and Error Analysis (EA) techniques were used in the analyses of the learners’interlanguage (IL), to identify and quantify the errors, as well as to compare and contrast the three language systems at play in the learners’ minds, so as to pinpoint the possible source languages of the transfer. The findings indicate that most errors relating to spelling,vocabulary, and grammar, in general, showed evidence of prevalent influence from the language learners’ previouslyknown Black South African language (isiZulu L1), with no visible evidence of influence from English L2.
A bilingual English-Sesotho rubric explanation guide for the marking of Sesotho home language creative writing essays
Authors: Sibeko Johannes
Published: July 2021

Language classes are marked using rubrics. Nevertheless, using the same rubric does not necessarily automate a uniform interpretation  of the rubric. It is important to clearly define rubric criteria for teachers in order to counter the problem of misalignment in the usage of the rubric to mark learner essays. This article presents and explains a rubric explanation guide for the marking of Sesotho Grade 10 HomeLanguage creative writing essays based on the interpretations of nine teachers from six schools in the Metsimaholo education district. The explanation guide is presented bilingually in English and Sesotho. This article presents a more in-depth explanation guide for the rubricwhich was proposed in Sibeko (2016). The aim hereof is to ensure that teachers comparably understand rubric criteria and approach marking from the same point of view. For the purpose of this article, the rubric used by teachers in the said district is discussed. Both  novice and experienced teachers stand to benefit from this explained rubric guide.
Exploring the learner profile of the English Home Language classroom in select urban secondary schools
Authors: Harmse Tessa , Evans Rinelle
Published: July 2021

In a democratic South Africa, English has increasingly become the preferred medium of instruction despite the majority of South African  learners being mother tongue speakers of other languages. Many learners in urban areas are enrolled to take English Home Language and especially novice teachers expect them to have mother tongue proficiency. However, the reality is that learners come from diverse  backgrounds and a single class comprises learners with varying levels of English proficiency. This study seeks to establish who is the actual target audience seated in the socalled English Home Language class. Quantitative data were collected through a questionnaire completed by 642 Grade 8 and 9 respondents at three suburban schools in Gauteng. Cross tabulations were used to compare different variables. Key findings indicate that respondents – although multilingual – do not considerthemselves adequately proficient in  English. Secondly, the role of the caregiver as initial source of learning English has been underestimated. Although smallscale, the study highlights the mismatchbetween classroom reality and curriculum requirements. Results suggest that the national education authorities need to adapt policy documents so that what is currently expected of learners might be more easily accomplished in the English class. The questionnaire may  serve as a useful resource to determine the linguistic profile of a particular target group.
Teaching from the heart: exploring beginner teachers’ attitudinal knowledge
Authors: Mpofu Nhlanhla , De Jager Lizette
Published: July 2021

This article provides insight into the knowledge held by Zimbabwean Ordinary Level beginner teachers who teach Literature in English. An  extant of research output on ESL focuses on curriculum, subject, learner, and pedagogical content knowledge of linguistic content, with limited, if any, focus on knowledge of Literature in English. To address this gap, this study employed a qualitative single case study design to gather data on the knowledge held by four purposively selected beginner teachers. In the context of this study, beginner teachers were college trained English teachers who had been in the profession for less than four years. The study was underpinned by social constructivism and current literature on experiential teacher knowledge. The study established as a novel finding that beginner teachers  held attitudinal knowledge. Additionally, the findings affirmed that beginner teachers’ knowledge was a multiple-sourced construct that  was fluid, idiosyncratic, attitudinal, pragmatic, and contextual. The study recommends that teacher preparation institutions consider the findings as basis for student teacher training programmes that foster connections between personal and experiential sources of  knowledge construction.
Creating “transdisciplinary spaces” for a real-world scenario: A practical teaching collaboration
Authors: Fouché Ilse , Corbett A.D. , Immelman Susan
Published: July 2021

A lack of transfer of academic literacy competencies was identified by academic literacy and Statistics lecturers involved in an extended  programme course. This paper reports on one attempt at a workable collaborative solution to this challenge. The collaborative attempt is situated within the academic literacies framework, and is described. Thereafter, student feedback as well as critical self-reflections from participating lecturers are qualitatively analysed in an interpretative framework, to determine how key stakeholders experienced the collaborative intervention. The collaborative attempt was found to be valuable in more effectively achieving the outcomes of both courses, and in helping students see the relevance of academic literacy in content subjects – this is in line with an academic literacies frameworkwhich holds that academic literacy cannot be divorced from the contexts in which it is practiced. The primary factors that led to a successful collaboration were a willingness of all partners to participate in the project and regular communication between collaborators.Main problems encountered revolved around miscommunication between lecturers and students, and an insufficiently detailed timetable that resulted in pressure at certain stages.

Keywords: Teaching collaboration, academic literacy, academic writing, English for specific purposes, project work
Development of Ficus religiosa extract-loaded emulsion system for topical application: Characterization and stability evaluation
Authors: Aslam Irfan , Akhtar Naveed
Published: July 2021

Purpose: To develop, optimize and characterize a topical (W/O) emulsion containing 4 % Ficus religiosa extract for cosmeceutical purposes.

Methods: The ethanol extract of Ficus religiosa was obtained by Soxhlet method. Various formulations were developed using paraffin oil, emulsifier (Abil®-EM 90) and purified water at different proportions, and their physical stability was assessed under different stress conditions, to enable selection of the most stable formulation. The optimized formulation based on stability studies was chosen for evaluation of different physical properties, i.e., color, liquefaction, phase separation, centrifugation, pH, droplet size and rheology, under accelerated conditions for 12 weeks.

Results: The optimized formulation (F4) contained ethanol extract (4.0 %), Abil®-EM 90 (3.5 %), paraffin oil (14.0 %) and purified water (78.5 %), and remained stable on centrifugation under all stress conditions. The pH of the formulation remained within the specified range for human skin pH i.e. 4.5 – 6.0, and droplet size of dispersed phase also persisted within the size range of macroemulsion (1 – 100 μm) throughout the study period. Rheological properties of the formulation showed shear thinning response, and flow index value less than 1 resulted in pseudoplastic flow of emulsion.

Conclusion: These results suggest that the optimized emulsion system was stable and can serve as a good medium for topical delivery of various natural substances.
Network pharmacology-based elucidation of the molecular mechanism underlying the anti-migraine effect of Asari Radix et Rhizoma
Authors: Jiang Yun-Bin , Zhong Mei , Huang Ting , Dai Zhong-Hua , Tao Xing-Bao , Yang Rong-Ping
Published: July 2021

Purpose: To determine the molecular mechanism involved in the anti-migraine effect of Asari Radix et Rhizoma (ARR) using network pharmacology.

Methods: The compounds present in ARR were identified through information retrieval from literature and public databases, and were screened based on absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity. Target genes related to the selected compounds and migraine were identified or predicted from public databases. Hub genes in ARR against migraine were identified through analysis of interactions in overlapping genes between compounds and migraine target genes, based on STRING database. Gene enrichment analysis of overlapping genes was performed using Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery.

Results: A total of 138 compounds were selected as potential bioactive compounds in ARR. Target genes related to the selected compounds (611 genes) and migraine (278 genes) were obtained, including 71 overlapping genes. The hub genes in the anti-migraine effect of ARR were BDNF, IL6, COMT, APP and TNF. Gene enrichment analysis showed the top 10 biological processes or pathways involved in the mechanism of anti-migraine action of ARR. The tissue source of the overlapping genes was not limited to the brain. The results from gene enrichment analysis revealed that the effect of ARR on migraine was holistic, which is characteristic of traditional Chinese medicines.

Conclusion: Network pharmacology has been used to decipher the molecular mechanism involved in the action of ARR against migraine. The results provide a scientific basis for the clinical effect of ARR on migraine.
MiR-498 suppresses proliferation and inflammation in fibroblast-like synoviocytes in rheumatoid arthritis via targeting JAK1
Authors: Chai Lan , Zhang Xian Zhen , Ma Hai fang , Yuan Fang
Published: July 2021

Purpose: To investigate the effect of microRNA 498 (miR-498) on proliferation and inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA-FLSs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: MiR-498 level was evaluated in both RA synovial tissues and RA-FLSs using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). MicroRNA-498 overexpression or knockdown was performed in RAFLSs. Proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle and inflammation induced by miR-498 mimics or inhibitor were used to explore the function of miR-498 in RA.

Results: Expression level of miR-498 was downregulated in both RA synovial tissues and RA- FLSs. MicroRNA-498 mimics decreased proliferation and arrested cell cycle, whereas miR-498 inhibitor caused the opposite effects in RA-FLSs. In addition, miR-498 mimics suppressed inflammation and promoted cell apoptosis, while miR-498 inhibitor promoted inflammation and inhibited cell apoptosis in RA-FLSs. Furthermore, the effect of miR-498 on the proliferation, inflammation and apoptosis of RAFLSs was mediated by its ability to target and downregulate JAK1.

Conclusion: These results indicate that miR-498 inhibits the proliferation and inflammatory responses of RA-FLSs by targeting JAK1, thus revealing a new therapeutic target for RA treatment.
A UHPLC-Q-Exactive-Orbitrap-MS method for simultaneous determination of three flavonoids from Parasitic loranthus and their pharmacokinetics in rat plasma
Authors: Cui Ying , Li Lingling , Yang Shu , Wang Hongli , Feng Jing , Ma Kai , Han Deen
Published: July 2021

Purpose: To develop and validate a chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of plasma levels of rutin, avicularin and quercitrin using UHPLC-Q-Exactive-Orbitrap-MS.

Methods: A sensitive, selective, and reliable UHPLC-Q-Exactive-Orbitrap-MS method was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of the three flavonoids, with puerarin as internal standard (IS). Plasma samples were first treated with methanol, and then acidified using hydrochloric acid (HCl) prior to liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate. The flavonoids were separated on a Syncronis C18 column (100×2.1mm, 1.7 µm) using an elution gradient of acetonitrile and 0.1 % formic acid at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min.

Results: A linear correlation was obtained for the three flavonoids over the investigated concentration range, with correlation coefficients > 0.9954. The values of validated lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) were 0.68, 1.42 and 2.54 ng/mL for rutin, avicularin and quercitrin, respectively. Intra- and inter-day precision (RSD) were < 10 %, while accuracy (RE) ranged from −3.76 to 4.04 %.

Conclusion: The proposed method has been successfully validated and is suitable for studying the pharmacokinetics of the three analytes in rats treated with parasitic loranthus extract (PLE).
Use of off-label and unlicensed drugs in pediatric patients: A longitudinal prevalence survey from Lahore, Pakistan
Authors: Hafeez Muhammad , Bukhari Nadeem Irfan , Abbas Nasir , Hussain Khalid , Hussain Amjad , Saleem Zikria
Published: July 2021

Purpose: To assess the extent of use of unlicensed/off-label drug in the children hospitalized in The Children’s Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Lahore, Pakistan.

Methods: A prospective prevalence study was carried out in the selected hospital. A total of 1946 pediatric patients were hospitalized during study period. The patients’ demographic data and unlicensed/off-label drug use were noted by the researcher using a structured questionnaire and then analyzed.

Results: During the survey period, 102 (5.24 %) pediatric patients received at least one off-label drug/unlicensed drug. The unlicensed drug was administered to 65 patients (63.7 %) while off-label drug was administered to 37 patients (36.3%). Milrinone (23.5%) was the most frequently prescribed unlicensed drug.

Conclusion: The administration of unlicensed/off-label drug to treat different diseases in pediatric population is widespread in the health facility studied. These findings will provide guidance to new researchers in clinical trials, especially on cardiovascular drugs, opioid analgesic, antiemetic and anticancer drugs.
Effect of Elephantopus Scaber Linn. leaf extract on mouse immune system
Authors: Aldi Yufri , Megaraswita  , Dillasamola Dwisari
Published: July 2021

Purpose: To investigate the effect of Elephantopus Scaber Linn. ethanol extract on mouse immune system based on macrophage phagocytic activity and capacity, total leukocyte count, and distribution of each type of leukocyte.

Methods: Twenty male mice were randomly assigned to four groups. Group I (control) received sodium carboxy methyl cellulose (Na-CMC), 0.5 %). Groups II, III, and IV were dosed orally with 10, 30, and 100 mg/kg ethanol E. scaber leaf extract, respectively, for 7 consecutive days. On the 8th day, a suspension of Staphylococcus aureus was injected intraperitoneally, and macrophage activity and capacity as well as leukocyte count were then measured using a counting chamber device (hemocytometer) and a 400 x microscope.

Results: The effect of the leaf extract at doses of 10, 30, and 100 mg/kg was increase in macrophage activity by 46.25, 54, and 65 %, and macrophage capacity by 95.8, 105.4 and 125.8 cell/100 macrophage, respectively; total leukocyte count was 10790, 12360, and 15230 cells/µl, respectively, and lymphocyte was 34.4, 34.6, and 36 %. Thus, the leaf extract significantly increased macrophage activity and capacity, as well as segmented neutrophils, and mice total leukocyte counts (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Ethanol extract of E scaber leaf extract increases macrophage activity and capacity, as well as total leukocyte count in mouse; therefore, this extract may provide a highly effective approach for boosting immunity.
Conjugated linoleic acid attenuates neuropathic pain induced by sciatic nerve in mice
Authors: Shi Qingbin , Cai Xiuying , Li Changchun , Wang Zhen , Lv Xingle
Published: July 2021

Purpose: Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been suggested to be necessary for human health, but there is limited research regarding its effect on neuropathic pain (NP). Here, we aim to investigate the potential effect of CLA administration on NP development and nerve recovery.

Methods: Forty mice were divided into four equal groups randomly. The mice in control group underwent a sham operation to achieve a unilateral sciatic nerve cut. Other groups were subjected to partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSNL) surgery followed by 4 weeks of CLA treatment. Behavioral tests were performed shortly before mice were sacrificed. Blood, sciatic nerve and spinal cord tissues were collected after sacrifice. Electron microscopy was performed to determine myelin thickness and calculate myelin thickness/axon diameter ratio.

Results: Mice that received daily oral CLA treatment for 4 weeks after PSNL surgery showed less mechanical and thermal allodynia than mice in PSNL surgery alone group. Behavioral tests showed that CLA treatment was associated with marked increases in both nerve conduction velocity (NCV) and force of gastrocnemius contraction. In addition, CLA reduced the levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), sciatic myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and activating transcription factor-3 (ATF-3) expression. CLA also restored mitochondrial manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) activity which was decreased in the sciatic nerves and spinal cords of the PSNL surgery group. Regeneration of myelins and axons in nerve fibers in CLA group was faster and more complete than that in the vehicle group.

Conclusion: The current study demonstrates that CLA effectively attenuates NP and significantly inhibits neuro-inflammation and oxidative stress. This treatment improves sciatic nerve form and function after injury, suggesting that it can attenuate NP.