bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Survey on Chinese Scholars’ Adoption of Mixed Methods
Authors: Zhou Yuchun
Published: January 2018

Since the 1980s when mixed methods emerged as “the third research methodology”, it was widely adopted in Western countries. However, inadequate literature revealed how this methodology was accepted by scholars in Asian countries, such as China. Therefore, this paper used a quantitative survey to investigate Chinese scholars’ perceptions and adoption of mixed methods in China.The data of the study were obtained from 247 Chinese scholars in higher education. Structural equation modelling was used to examine the relationship between participants’ perceptions and use of mixed methods. The results revealed that Chinese scholars’ research expertise of using quantitative and qualitative methods as well as their perceived advantage of using mixed methods has significantly influenced their adoption of mixed methods. This paper advanced the literature of the evolution of mixed methods by investigating the expansion and adaptability of mixed methods in an Asian context.
The Relationship between the Burnout Levels of Music Teachers and Their Personalities
Authors: KILIC Deniz Beste CEVIK
Published: January 2018

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the burnout levels of music teachers and their personalities. The research consisted of 278 music teachers who were selected from various places throughout Turkey via subjective, convenience sampling method. For data collection, the ‘Personal Information Form’, ‘Adjective Based Personality Test’ and ‘Maslach Burnout Scale’ were used. The research involved both quantitative and qualitative dimensions. The data were analyzed by quantitative t-test, multiple regression analysis and Pearson's correlation coefficient. Data for the qualitative dimension of the research were obtained from semi-structured interviews conducted with 5 music teachers. Negative, significant relationships were determined between extroversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, openness and general burnout, while a positive, significant relationship was determined between neuroticism and general burnout. The burnout variable was found to have a statistically significant effect on the openness, neuroticism and conscientiousness dimensions of the personality types. The effects of conscientiousness and openness dimensions were not, however, found to be significant. The music teachers who had characteristics of extroversion and conscientiousness were found to have higher levels of burnout if they have the characteristics of neuroticism that reduce their exhaustion. The findings of the research show that the effect of personality types on burnout is important.
The Planning of Teaching in the Context of Lesson Study: Research Findings
Authors: Kanellopoulou Eurydice-Maria , Darra Maria
Published: January 2018

The main purpose of the present study is to examine the attitudes, perceptions and experiences of the teachers participating in the planning of teaching in the context of the Lesson Study. The present work, which is part of a wider research effort, followed a mixed methodological planning for reasons of triangulation. The survey was conducted from February 12 to April 1, 2016, in the second grade of the Secondary Education School in the prefecture of Attica and a total of 31 students, the Director as well as the four teachers of literature of the school unit participated in it. The results of the survey show that the participating teachers were positively influenced by the detailed planning and preparation of the research lesson, gaining useful experience and valuable knowledge during the implementation of the Lesson Study phases. In addition to that, their attitudes and perceptions about the meetings and workshops carried out within Lesson Study were positively evaluated.
How do Tertiary Education Students Perceive Co-Curricular Activities under the New Education System?
Authors: Wong Helen , Leung Simon
Published: January 2018

Co-curricular activities in general are believed to be useful for students’ development, such as improvement in academic performance, higher retention rate, enhancement of social and competency skills, and assistance of youth development and employment. With the expansion of the education sector and the implementation of a new 3-3-4 education system in Hong Kong, the background and training of students is different from the past, so it is worthwhile investigating students’ interest, understanding and perceptions about co-curricular activities nowadays in an Asian context. Comparison between the perceptions of sub-degree and degree students is discussed. Similarities and differences are found in both groups of students. Based on the findings, suggestions are made to education institutions in planning their resources on co-curricular activities.
Using Solar-TiO2 and Biocarbon to Decompose and Adsorb Amoxicillin from Polluted Waters
Authors: Ortiz Nilce , Silva Andre , Lima Giselle Natalia Silva , Hyppolito Fernanda Pagano
Published: January 2018

Surface water discharge of domestic sewage poses a treat mostly due to antibiotics content as amoxicillin. Its environmental presence provides the bacterial resistance enhancement and disturbance in aquatic life. The biocarbon is an organic carbon compound obtained by biomass pyrolisis at 300oC to 750oC under low oxygen environment. It is an effective adsorbent derived from agricultural and industrial solid biomass also frequently used to remove various pollutants, including dyes, pesticides, organic compounds and heavy metals from aqueous solutions. The importance of this natural material rises as low cost abundant and renewable alternative to activated carbon used on wastewater treatment application. Several technologies are employed to modify crude precursors on biocarbon preparation including chemical, physical and biological treatments with the addition of functional groups. The raw biomass material also provides some radicals and humic acids with promising water adsorbent results. The integrated process of the efficient Solar-TiO2photodecomposition followed by biocarbon adsorption resulted on 94% of amoxicillin removal percentage and avoids the toxic treatment sludge production.
Nonlinear Alleviation of Edge Effects in the Context of Minimizing Prediction Errors
Authors: Hadas-Dyduch Monika
Published: January 2018

The aim of this article is to describe so-called “edge effects” in the context of wavelet analysis. The problem of “edge effects” is displayed in cases where the filter length is greater than 2. This is due to the fact that the calculation of the wavelet coefficients for the development of the last signal of finite elements, the filter - should theoretically move beyond the signal. The article describes different ways to solve this problem using an authored approach. One of the ways presented in the article is an innovative approach in terms of “edge effects”. The author’s proposal is based on the nonlinear function of the trend after the division of the series into smaller units. The results obtained show that in comparison with other methods, the author’s method reduces errors. In this article, the Daubechies wavelet was used for the study. The Daubechies wavelets are a family of orthogonal wavelets, characterized by a maximum number of vanishing moments for a given support.
Action Research on College Students’ Learning Satisfaction of Incorporating Art Therapy and Spirituality into A Career Planning Course
Authors: Peng Huiling , Chiang Shyue-Ying
Published: January 2018

The investigation of college students’ learning satisfaction for a new teaching model: Example of incorporating art therapy and spirituality into a career planning course. The subjects of this action research were 47 freshmen enrolled in the “Career Planning-Soft Power of Employability” course (10 males and 37 females). Two types of Likert scale questionnaire surveys were conducted before the end of the first semester. The Learning Satisfaction Questionnaire survey showed that the students’ response to the course was positive. Regarding the precursor activity designed for incorporating art therapy into the career planning course, the students’ average learning satisfaction was 4.45 with a standard deviation of 0.82, whereas their average learning satisfaction of overall curriculum planning was 4.34 with a standard deviation of 0.78. The results of open feedback forms showed that the incorporation of art therapy into the relevant activities of this course helped enhance the students’ concentration and interest in learning. In addition, the course was designed to enhance the effectiveness of teaching assessment. The results of the Teaching Assessment Questionnaire showed that the students’ average satisfaction of teaching in this course was 4.44 with a standard deviation of 0.78. Finally, this action research not only proposed specific suggestions for incorporating art therapy and spirituality into career planning course design and teaching method but also pointed out the direction for future action research on the incorporation of expressive art therapy into the relevant course activities of general education.
A Review of Medicinal Uses and Pharmacological Activities of Tridax Procumbens (L.)
Authors: Beck Samantha , Mathison Heather , Todorov Toma , Calderon-Juarez Esli-Armando , Kopp Olga R.
Published: January 2018

Tridax procumbens is a very promising species that produces secondary metabolites reported to have a variety of medicinal uses including among others, anti-anemic, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and anesthetic properties. This species has a long history of traditional use by different communities. This study aimed to review the scientific literature regarding the medicinal properties, biological activity and phytochemical components of T. procumbens, a member of the Asteraceae family that originated in Central and South America. An extensive literature review was done using Metadatabase EDS, MedLine (PubMed), Science Direct, Web of Science, Academic Search Premier, Scielo, DOAJ Directory of Open Access Journals, JSTOR, and other sources to find information relevant to the medicinal uses of T. procumbens. At total of 130 studies were found that contained information about T. procumbens. Some of the papers were not included because of the relevance to this study, ending with a total of 111 relevant citations reported here. This review shows the importance of more studies to understand the potential of T. procumbens’ secondary metabolites for medicinal or preventive treatment, making it a promising ethnobotanical resource. This review provides important information of this species and indicates that this species could be an effective, safe and affordable treatment for some ailments, especially in tropical areas where this plant is native and widely distributed.
Influence of the K+ and Ca2+ on the Presence of Sugars in the Phloem, and Growth Parameters in Capsicum
Authors: Rojas-Rojas Pedro Alberto , Parra-Terraza Saul , Velarde-Felix Sixto , Lightbourn-Rojas Luis Alberto
Published: January 2018

The effect of various K+ and Ca2+ nutrient solutions were evaluated to measure the growth rate, amount of reducing sugars and the production of Capsicum annuum Plants were grown directly in soil under shade house conditions in two separate experiments across two consecutive years. Nine nutrient solutions containing three levels of K+ (27, 35 and 43%) combined with three levels of Ca2+ (37, 45 and 53%) were used, along with the Steiner solution treatment as a control. Irrigation was calculated every week according to Kc, volumetric humidity and ETo, the experimental design was a block (furrows) with a 3(x)3 factorial arrangement. There was no interaction between growth rate, sugars and yield. Plants treated with the combination 27% of potassium with 53% of calcium presented a yield of 500 g/fruit greater than the control treatment (Steiner), and produced on average 2 more fruits per plant with a weight of 160 g/fruit (<0.05) higher than Steiner, the low potassium concentration (27%) induced a lower concentration of sugars with a value >3 mg/ml during the first crop cycle, it were analyzed during the flowering stage, and in the second agricultural cycle, during the fruiting stage it was < 4 mg/ml.
Cytology screening tests and the incidence of cervical cancer in the Lower Silesia province in 2005-2014
Authors: Zielecka Dominika , Lichoń Krystian , Maciejczyk Adam , Błaszczyk Jerzy , Błaszczyk Dawid , Matkowski Rafał
Published: January 2018

Introduction: Cervical cancer is the sixth most common malignant cancer in Poland, whereas in most EU countries it has not been included in the top ten in many years. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the impact of screening on the incidence of invasive and preinvasive cervical cancer in the Lower Silesia Province in 2005-2014.
Material/Methods: 3,298 cervical cancer cases were analyzed (2,563 invasive cervical cancers and 735 preinvasive cancers) in women in the Lower Silesia Province, registered at the Lower Silesian Cancer Registry in 2005-2014.
Results: Since the “Population-Based Cervical Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Program” was introduced in 2006, there has been a steady decrease in the incidence of invasive cervical cancer in the Lower Silesia Province in the group of women (aged 25-59) who receive screening tests. Unfortunately, there has also been a systematic increase in the number of women diagnosed with cervical cancer in the over-59 age group. In women who had screening tests in 2006-2014, cancer in situ accounted for 20-43% of all cervical cancer cases, while in women aged over 60 it was only 3-11%.
Discussion: Analysis of trends in the incidence of invasive and preinvasive cervical cancer suggests positive effects of screening for early signs of cervical cancer, even though only a small percentage of the population receives such tests. In the entire Lower Silesian population of women, a downward trend (6 fewer cases per year) in the incidence of invasive cancer, and an upward trend (4 more cases per year) in the incidence of preinvasive cervical cancer are observed.
Physical education teachers’ wellbeing and its relation with gender
Authors: Both Jorge , Borgatto Adriano Ferreti , Lemos Carlos Augusto Fogliarini , Ciampolini Vitor , Nascimento Juarez Vieira do
Published: January 2018

The objective of this study was to evaluate the relation between gender and physical education teachers’ wellbeing in southern Brazil, considering the socio-environmental (job satisfaction) and individual (lifestyle) parameters. A total of 1653 teachers (741 men and 912 women) in the states of Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul were surveyed. The instruments used for data collection were QVT-PEF and PEVI, as well as a socio-demographic and professional questionnaire. The results confirm findings concerning dissatisfaction of physical education teachers regarding remuneration, work conditions, job autonomy, work and total life space as well as an overload in women’s daily lives. In relation to lifestyle, women showed better eating habits; however, they also showed lower levels of positive behaviour in the components of relationships, and stress control. Therefore, the authors point out to implementation of public policies to ensure more equitable treatment regarding gender issues in the work environment, as well as regarding physical education teachers’ personal aspects.
PPeak oxygen uptake differentiates competitive from recreational male surfboard riders
Authors: Almeida Nuno , Reis Joana , Beckert João , Moreira Miguel , Alves Francisco
Published: January 2018

The purpose of this study was to verify if competitive performance status was associated to different levels of specific aerobic fitness in Portuguese surfboard riders. Six recreational surfers (age: 32.3±3.1 years; body mass: 73.2±7.8kg; height: 1.75±0.05m) and six competitive international level surfers (age: 25±8.4years; body mass: 68.5±3.8kg; height: 1.74±0.05m) performed a maximal continuous incremental paddling test consisting of two-minute steps starting at 20W, with increments of 10W, for determination of peak oxygen uptake and maximal aerobic power. Ventilatory threshold and respiratory compensation point with corresponding heart rate and power output were also determined. Elite surfers presented higher values for peak oxygen uptake (43.6±7.9 ml.kg-1.min-1) than recreational surfers (31.1±7.4 ml.kg-1.min-1, p=0.01) however, there were no differences (p> 0.05) between groups for maximal aerobic power (elite: 76.6±18.6W; recreational: 76.6±16.6W). No significant differences between the power output at which ventilatory threshold or respiratory compensation point occurred but elite surfers reached ventilation threshold with 22.5±5.8 ml.kg-1.min-1 which was significantly higher than recreational surfers (16±3.7 ml.kg-1.min-1). These findings show that elite surfers have higher values of peak oxygen uptake than recreational surfers which suggest a higher aerobic adaptation that may be related to the different amount of exercise volume undertaken.
Intensive neuromotor therapy with suit improves motor gross function in cerebral palsy: a Brazilian study
Authors: Mélo Tainá Ribas , Yamaguchi Bruna , Chiarello Claudiana Renata , Costin Ana Cláudia Szczypior , Erthal Vanessa , Israel Vera Lúcia , Neves Eduardo Borba
Published: January 2018

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common disability in children caused by central nervous system lesion. The aim of the present study was to verify the intensive neuromotor therapy effects in children with CP, in a reference Brazilian centre. In this study, three years of medical records from a Brazilian reference Centre of Intensive Neuromotor Therapy (INMT) which use the INMT protocol were analysed. The motor evaluation for each child was done by the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and GMFM-88 by an experienced professional, before and after each INMT module. A total of 53 children between the ages of 1 and 15 years (age at treatment initiation, initial evaluation), with a mean age of 5.94±3.38 years, participated in the study. Participants performed between 1 and 10 INMT modules. There was no strong correlation between age and overall performance on the GMFM scale, but it was observed a strong negative correlation between the percentage of GMFM gains and the number of modules (r=-0.709; R2 = 0.50; p = 0.022, CI95%[0.014 - 0.026]), suggesting that patients tend to present higher percentage gains in the first modules. Through an intra-module comparison, it was observed statistical difference in the total score in each of the modules.
Make yourself discoverable
Authors: Garrido Nuno Domingos
Published: January 2018

As 2017 is ending evolution does not stop, and publishing systems are getting along with this evolvement, since the “publish or perish” dictum is nowadays a way of living among the academy. In this way, in this competitive context, one must keep the publication records updated and, most of all, visible, easy to find, or discoverable.Some questions arise related to this topic: how can publishers help to connect individuals with their contributions? How can publishers make the publishing process easier for the authors, editors, and reviewers? How can publishers improve discoverability?
4-year Longitudinal Study of the Assessment of Body Posture, Back Pain, Postural and Life Habits of Schoolchildren
Authors: Da Rosa Bruna Nichele , Furlanetto Tássia Silveira , Noll Matias , Sedrez Juliana Adami , Schmit Emanuelle Francine Detogni , Candotti Cláudia Tarragô
Published: January 2018

The aim of this study was to evaluate the behaviour of postural variables and the associated factors, like back pain and life habits, in schoolchildren during a period of four years. Forty-two school children underwent a postural assessment using Digital Image-Based Postural Assessment software. They also answered the self-administered questionnaire titled, “Back Pain and Body Posture Evaluation Instrument” to evaluate their back pain and life habits. We observed a significant trend of forward head, thoracic hyper kyphosis, and lumbar hyper lordosis in the entire group, as well as a trend of cervical rectification in girls. Both boys and girls presented a constant frequency in back pain, but girls presented higher prevalence along the years. We found a high prevalence of poor sitting posture in male (between 72.2-89.5%) and female (between 73.3-100%). We also found that girls had poor posture due to the way they carried their school supplies. However, occurred a decrease of time spent in front of television for male (from 87% to 10.5%) and female (from 93.3% to 0%). Significant changes occurred in analysed variables over evaluation period.
Feet positioning in the semi-static postural evaluation through photogrammetry: a systematic review
Authors: Arthur Arthur Antoniolli , Liliane Liliane Martini Araújo Ducati , Emanuelle Emanuelle Francine Detogni Schmit , Cláudia Cláudia Tarragô Candotti
Published: January 2018

Photogrammetry is a relatively simple and objective instrument of evaluation that provides accurate and reproducible quantitative results, if applied rigorously, existing nowadays several protocols. The main purpose was to systematically review the utilized feet positioning to conduct a semi-static postural evaluation through photogrammetry. It was performed a systematic review of observational studies and clinic trials using the keywords “photogrammetry” and “spinal postural evaluation” to conduct searches on scientific databases. The eligibility criteria adopted were: utilize the photogrammetry to evaluate children, teenagers, adults or elders with or without pathologies; explicit the utilized feet positioning to conduct the evaluation; and be written in English, Portuguese or Spanish. The methodological quality was assessed by Downs and Black scale and the strength of evidence by the best evidence synthesis. It was found 1.786 articles and 40 were included in this review. The main feet positioning found were: self-referred, separated and in parallel, united and in parallel and standard self-referred. The review exhibited strong strength of evidence in the methodological quality assessment. Considering the main feet positioning found, it is considered primordial that the selection of evaluation methodology respects the specific instructions of each analysis protocol or software.
Prevalence of Anxiety, Depression and Stress Symptoms and its Association with Neck/Shoulder Pain in Adolescents Athletes
Authors: Silva Hítalo Andrade , Passos Muana Pereira , Oliveira Valéria Alves , Silva Yslainy Araújo , Pitangui Ana Carolina Rodarti , Araújo Rodrigo Cappato
Published: January 2018

Psychological distress is among the main causes of the onset or worsening of pain symptoms in young sports people. The increasing participation of adolescents in various sports increases the need to verify the prevalence and association of these affective disorders such as anxiety, stress and depression with pain in the shoulder girdle and in the cervical region that are typical in sportspeople who use more frequently the upper limbs. The sample (n = 310; 14.16±2.12 years). Corlett's body diagram and the Brazilian short version of the anxiety, depression and stress scale (DASS-21) were used. Independent t-tests, chi-square and multiple logistic regression were used. The girls had a higher prevalence of anxiety/stress (62%, p = 0.02). The variables associated with anxiety/stress were female (OR = 2.16), aged 15 to 19 years (OR = 2.39) and individual modality (OR = 1.88). The variables associated with depression were age 15 to 19 years (OR = 1.74), individual modality (OR = 1.84) and pain in the shoulder girdle and cervical region (OR = 2.33).
Affective Economies in the Tug of War between Idealism and Anti-idealisms. Reviewers’ reactions to Anne Charlotte Leffler’s Sanna kvinnor (True Women)
Authors: Lindh Birgitta Johansson
Published: January 2018

The aim of the article is to demonstrate and discuss a method for analyzing reviews, emphasizing the emotional reactions and personal attempts by reviewers to position themselves. Paying attention to such structures is especially important during periods of intense aesthetic and ideological struggles in the field of theatre. The documents used in the study are three reviews of the opening night (15 October 1883) of Sanna kvinnor (True Women), by the Swedish playwright Anne Charlotte Leffler. The reviews constitute an interesting case, as both the play and the performance broke with dramaturgical conventions and strongly criticized the gender-ideology of the era, at a time when the advocates of idealism exercised hegemony and were challenged by various anti-idealist opponents.
Representing Pariah Femininity. Sexuality, gender, and class at the fin-de-siècle
Authors: Ohlsson Hélène
Published: January 2018

This article discusses the representation of an actress’s sexuality, femininity, and class at the fin-de-siècle with an emphasis on pariah femininity. The central empirical sources for this study are the correspondence between King Oscar II (1829-1907) and Baroness Henriette Coyet (1859-1941) about the famous actress Ellen Hartman (1860-1945). Tracy C. Davis’s feminist historiographical methodology is put to use in the analysis in combination with Mimi Shipper’s notion pariah femininity. The analysis of the correspondence shows how the actress Ellen Hartman’s femininity was discursively constructed as pariah femininity embodying asexuality, excessive sexuality, and of a degenerate moral. It is argued that Hartman’s specific kind of pariah femininity is based on a perceived threat triggered by her public profession, sexual history and social ambition. Her body was sexualized, her sexuality demonized, and her appearance downgraded to defuse the threatening presence of her profession, femininity, and class. The historical sources also show a change of attitudes toward intersections of femininities and class.
What Do Theatre Autobiographies Conceal?
Authors: Hoogland Rikard
Published: January 2018

Autobiographies by actors and directors are considered to be somewhat of an unreliable source of information where research on theatre history is concerned. Researchers have made a great deal of effort to validate facts in autobiographies, but then have often neglected other forms of information that the written source gives. In this article, four different autobiographies are analysed with a specific focus on autobiographical strategies (Gardner), the embodied act of writing (Schneider), Hegemonic processes in society (Bratton), and audiences (Singleton). The article discusses if it is possible to place autobiographies in both the repertoire and the archive in Taylor’s sense, and if they can be seen as a possible link between them.
The Employment Contract as the Materialization of the Social Order. Contracts at Albert Ranft’s Stockholm theatres, 1895-1926
Authors: Näslund Lovisa
Published: January 2018

In the archive, the materialized traces of theatrical organization and performances remain. In this paper, we focus on the employment contract, as a type of source material commonly found but rarely studied in theatre studies. Empirically, the paper is based on a study of contracts from Albert Ranft’s Stockholm theatres, 1895-1926. Ranft built his commercially funded theatrical empire in Stockholm in a period when the competition from subsidized theatre was minimal, and for a time dominated the Stockholm theatres. The study demonstrates how the study of employment contracts allows us to form an understanding of power relations between managers on the one hand, and artists and directors on the other, and also the formal and social aspects of the employment contracts. In the case of Albert Ranft, the contracts bear evidence of his dominant position in Stockholm theatre, which in turn afforded him an unusually powerful position in relation to his employees. The relationship between the formal and social contract is explored, and it is suggested that the formal contract could be seen as a photographic negative of the social contract: if there is an extensive social contract, the formal contract will be more elaborate, and vice versa. The extensive formal contracts of the studied period might therefore be seen as evidence of a relatively thin social contract, implying that industry norms were, at the time, not institutionalized enough to be taken for granted.
Activating Dance Records. Conceptualizing research into the Swedish, Nordic and global archives pertaining to the Russian dancer Anna Robenne
Authors: Von Rosen Astrid
Published: January 2018

This article explores the following research question: In what ways can activations of dance records (archived materials and other recordings of activities) be conceptualized to contribute to the making of a critically productive dance history in the digital age? Drawing on an extensive study of the Russian dancer Anna Robenne, the article focuses on the archival explorations (or road trip) as such, and in particular the multifaceted ways in which the records themselves can be active agents in processes of memory making and history production. Adopting recent theoretical developments concerning the concept of pluralization in archival studies, the exploration discards the conventional and rather static understanding of records as neutral containers of facts to emphasize instead an inclusive and infinitely evolving process. Working within an interdisciplinary archive-oriented realm, the author reflexively makes use of practices and methods belonging to both art history and classical and contemporary dance tradition. The article first maps recent pluralizing approaches within archival studies including re-theorizations of the key concepts records, provenance, value and representation. It then conceptualizes archival activation through examples from the archival road trip. The article concludes by offering the reader clear arguments for archival pluralization in the form of intimate, invasive, and imaginary activation, and demonstrates the importance and relevance of closely, critically and imaginatively engaging with records. The article highlights the role the archive can play in breaking down cultural barriers and re-evaluating notions of dance historiography, heritage and cultural identity.
The Performance of Pictorialist Dance Photography
Authors: Vedel Karen Arnfred
Published: January 2018

Looking to the widely disseminated pictorialist photos of Waldemar Eide (Norway) and Henry B. Goodwin (Sweden) featuring the Russian ballerina Vera Fokina and the Swedish ballerina Jenny Hasselquist, the article is an enquiry into the role of the dancer in the pictorialist studio and the contribution of pictorialist photography to the turning point when the aesthetics of dance was being re-considered, the dancing body reconfigured, and photography emerged into an art form in its own right. Taking inspiration from the socio-material approach of photography historian Elizabeth Edwards, the analysis downplays the question of content in favor of a focus on the material practices in the photographic studio at the level of the photographer as well as the dancer-model posing before the camera. Placed within a discourse of new materialism, performance and performativity, it moreover considers the resulting photos as material objects that perform in continuing processes of meaning production. An example of the latter discussed at the end of the text is Harald Giersing’s abstract painting ’The Dancer’ based on a photo of Jenny Hasselquist as The Dying Swan.
Deconstructing Turning Points. A postscript on the canonization of the avant-garde 1900
Authors: Sauter Willmar
Published: January 2018

Deconstructing Turning Points is an attempt to understand why and how the period around the turn of the nineteenth century has been described as a “breakthrough of modern theatre”. Texts by Gösta M. Bergman, Christopher Innes and Erika Fischer-Lichte about this period are examined in order to see how these authors construct periodization. Leaning towards Thomas Postlewait’s concept of periods and Jacques Derrida’s deconstructive approach to discourse, the article points out some paradigmatic assumptions in the discussed texts. The three authors are not compared – writing in different languages and for different purposes – but some of the underlying paradigms become visible, namely their relation to historical development and their view of theatre as the work of the director. As an alternative, the article turns to archival possibilities. New concepts of what an archive is and can do, as Derrida sees them, open up for a living and challenging relation to archival sources, not just as evidence of prefabricated hypotheses, but as inspiring traces of the past.
Squeezing water from a stone: High-throughput sequencing from a 145-year old holotype resolves (barely) a cryptic species problem in flying lizards
Authors: McGuire Jimmy A , Cotoras Darko D , O'Connell Brendan , Lawalata Shobi Z S , Wang-Claypool Cynthia Y , Stubbs Alexander , Huang Xiaoting , Wogan Guinevere O U , Hykin Sarah M , Reilly Sean B , Bi Ke , Riyanto Awal , Arida Evy , Smith Lydia L , Milne Heather , Streicher Jeffrey W , Iskandar Djoko T
Published: January 2018

We used Massively Parallel High-Throughput Sequencing to obtain genetic data from a 145-year old holotype specimen of the flying lizard, Draco cristatellus. Obtaining genetic data from this holotype was necessary to resolve an otherwise intractable taxonomic problem involving the status of this species relative to closely related sympatric Draco species that cannot otherwise be distinguished from one another on the basis of museum specimens. Initial analyses suggested that the DNA present in the holotype sample was so degraded as to be unusable for sequencing. However, we used a specialized extraction procedure developed for highly degraded ancient DNA samples and MiSeq shotgun sequencing to obtain just enough low-coverage mitochondrial DNA (547 base pairs) to conclusively resolve the species status of the holotype as well as a second known specimen of this species. The holotype was prepared before the advent of formalin-fixation and therefore was most likely originally fixed with ethanol and never exposed to formalin. Whereas conventional wisdom suggests that formalin-fixed samples should be the most challenging for DNA sequencing, we propose that evaporation during long-term alcohol storage and consequent water-exposure may subject older ethanol-fixed museum specimens to hydrolytic damage. If so, this may pose an even greater challenge for sequencing efforts involving historical samples.
Complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the “copper moss” Mielichhoferia elongata reveals independent nad7 gene functionality loss
Authors: Goruynov Denis V , Goryunova Svetlana V , Kuznetsova Oxana I , Logacheva Maria D , Milyutina Irina A , Fedorova Alina V , Ignatov Michael S , Troitsky Aleksey V
Published: January 2018

The mitochondrial genome of moss Mielichhoferia elongata has been sequenced and assembled with Spades genome assembler. It consists of 100,342 base pairs and has practically the same gene set and its order as in other known bryophyte chondriomes. The genome contains 66 genes including three rRNAs, 24 tRNAs, and 40 conserved mitochondrial proteins genes. Unlike the majority of previously sequenced bryophyte mitogenomes, it lacks the functional nad7 gene. The phylogenetic reconstruction and scrutiny analysis of the primary structure of nad7 gene carried out in this study suggest its independent pseudogenization in different bryophyte lineages. Evaluation of the microsatellite (simple sequence repeat) content of the Mielichhoferia elongata mitochondrial genome indicates that it could be used as a tool in further studies as a phylogenetic marker. The strongly supported phylogenetic tree presented here, derived from 31 protein coding sequences of 40 bryophyte species is consistent with other reconstructions based on a number of different data sets.
Blended Learning and Student Satisfaction: An Investigation into an EAP Writing Course
Authors: Ibrahim Abbas Zainab
Published: January 2018

This paper investigates students satisfaction in a blended English writing course for Academic Purposes in Iraq. Blended learning is a novel mode of approaching education and learning in Iraq so it is very relevant to attempt to determine what factors can help it its success. Its novelty comes not from its use of online platforms such as Moodle but blending the traditional face-to face approach and distance teaching in a way that foster critical thinking and ongoing participation of the students. Different factors were emphasized and investigated regarding satisfaction, among them, the instructor-student and student-student interaction, in addition to the pedagogical aspect of the course. Student’s background such as their job and age and family status were not considered in this study. A modified questionnaire of student’s satisfaction in an online course was used to determine the approximate of satisfaction. The result of the research helped the administration office to apply some improvements to the newly-founded Blended courses in Iraq.
Vowel Harmony: An Historical Account
Authors: Khattab Emran R. Al
Published: January 2018

All languages change over time. English has undergone continuous change throughout its three major periods: Old English (roughly from 450 to 1100 AD), Middle English (from 1100 to 1500), and Modern English (from 1500 to the present). Sound is one of the most easily influenced parts of language to be subject to different changes.  Sound change is inevitable and it is a live indication of the continuous growth of language. The evidence to prove the regularity and systematicity of sound change has been the main concern of linguists, This paper seeks to provide more evidence on how vowel harmony played a key role on the regularity of sound change by extracting samples of sound changes that have taken place throughout the English history.
Making sense of others: The use of biographical statements in Rosaura a las Diez
Authors: Espada-Brignoni Teófilo
Published: January 2018

Marco Denevi’s Rosaura a las Diez is a novel that explores the complex relationships between law, science, and everyday life. These fields of human experience play a fundamental role in the construction of the social categories and biographical statements individuals use to understand their world. This article draws from the works of Michel Foucault and Erving Goffman to analyse the way in which Denevi explores individuals making sense of themselves and others.
Al-Ṭahṭāwī in Paris: Western Influence on Format and Style in Early Modern Arabic Travel Literature
Authors: Almarhaby Ibrahem
Published: January 2018

This study investigates format and style in the first modern Arab travel source, Takhliṣ al-Ibriz fī Talkhiṣ Paris, written by Sheikh al-Ṭahṭāwī in the 19th century. During this century, the connection between the Eastern Self and the Western Other became closer and more immediate culturally and politically, which undeniably impacted literature on both thematic and artistic levels. This paper addresses the extent to which the format and style of al-Ṭahṭāwī was influenced by the Other and to determine how these artistic aspects had changed and were distinct from those aspects in medieval travel literature.
Beyond the Cultural Borders of the Dining Room: a Reader-Oriented Approach to A. R. Gurney's The Dining Room
Authors: Jalal Jawad Al-Gawhari Esraa
Published: January 2018

A. R. Gurney's The Dining Room is a work basically written to address issues related to the White Anglo-Saxon Protestant (henceforth WASP) culture. The work is rich with elements (the structure, the setting, the characters, and the themes), inviting to the WASP audience to interact with it, recognizing their cultural identity. The present study aims at proving that those elements can also endow the text with wider horizons when perceived by other audiences through supporting the symbol of the dining room. The study examines them in an attempt to see their effects on the WASP audience. Then, it views them as factors adding to the text a universal touch.
A Comparative Study on Cooperative Learning in Multimedia and Network Environment Used by English Majors between China Mainland and Taiwan
Authors: Xue Gong , Lingling Liu
Published: January 2018

This paper first based on the theory of cooperative learning research. It analyses the characteristics and advantages of cooperative learning under the multimedia network environment.And then take China Three Gorges University and Taiwan I-Shou University English major students for example, using questionnaires and interviews to investigate the students's cooperative learning in the network environment. Survey results showed that cooperative learning teaching mode has been widely used in English classrooms across the Taiwan Strait. Students think highly of cooperative learning in the multimedia-aided, and it can have a positive effect on learning; but on cooperative learning ability and the specific learning process, students still have some problems.Nowadays,cooperative learning in the network environment has various ways, but there exist certain differences in the learning styles across the Strait. Taiwan students rely more on teachers’ help and teachers feedback, while students in mainland depend mainly on networking and panel discussion. On qualitative analysis of interview is a supplement to the questionnaire and further explore its deeper causes, which provide valuable evidence for the study and learning practice. Finally, according to the comparative analysis ,the author puts forward some constructive suggestions.
Ama Ata Aidoo’s Diagnose and Representation of the Dilemma of the African American Diaspora in her play Dilemma of A Ghost
Authors: Kadhim Al-Khafaji Ammar Shamil
Published: January 2018

The research investigates in details about the influence of cultural differences in Postcolonial Ghana as presented in Ama Ata Aidoo's Dilemma of a Ghost. The play centers on the cross cultural marriage of young couple; Ato Yawson, a Ghanaian who recently completed his studies in the United States and returns home, and Eulali, his African American bride. Ghanaian playwright Ama Ata Aidoo expresses the consciousness of the diaspora of Ato Yawson and his wife and the final effort of Yawson’s mother to find a compromise. The husband is caught between the challenging demands of his wife and his family, He feels torn and irresolute as the folkloric ghost in the children's song in the play. Aidoo has a strong historical and political awareness of Africa's colonial past and post-colonial present, and the problems facing an African woman in Africa and outside it. She is like a physician, diagnoses the symptoms of the troubled postcolonial age in Africa. In her use of Dilemma tale technique, she raises difficult questions without easy solution leaving her readers to contemplate about. She calls for an action to resolve the painful dilemma of African life in a world of change where the past and present, tradition and modernity suffer a fierce conflict. The aim of the research is to prove that according to the concept of compensation there is neither absolute gain nor absolute loss for with every loss there is again and with every gain there is a loss. Without the concept of compromise the dilemma of diaspora will lead to catastrophic results.
The Speech Functions Used by Ibu Muslimah and Pak Harfan in “Laskar Pelangi” Drama
Authors: Rahmania -
Published: January 2018

This research investigates kind of speech function used in utterances created by Ibu Muslimah and Pak Harfan in “Laskar Pelangi” drama. Descriptive qualitative method is conduct for this research. The script of drama Laskar Pelangi was taken as source of data. All utterances produced by bu Muslimah and Pak Harfan as the data in the research. In script of drama Laskar Pelangi it can find 18 statements, 10 questions, 3 commands and 11 offers. Each speech function produces by Ibu Mus and Pak Harfan with different total move. Ibu Muslimah makes 14 statements, 9 offers, 3 commands and 7 Question, while Pak Harfan makes 7 statements. 2 offer, 1 command and 3 questions. Ibu Mus is a dominant one she has more turn and interaction with student that pak Harfan. In addition based on speech function use by Ibu Muslimah it can see that the way of teacher in an area in Indonesia still used teacher centre in doing teaching.
A Sociopolitical Ecofeminist Reading of Selected Animal Poems by Elizabeth Bishop
Authors: Neimneh Shadi , Abussamen Amneh
Published: January 2018

This article examines the sociopolitical vision of some of Elizabeth Bishop’s poems from an ecofeminist critical perspective. Bishop, a twentieth-century American poet, uses animals and natural elements to manifest her attachment to nature (and women by implication), thus reflecting an oppressed feminist voice through the theme of abused, weak nature. By relating Bishop’s poems to W. B. Yeats’s poem Leda and the Swan, we foreground an ecofeminist relation between the Greek myth Yeats employed and Bishop’s poems. Our contribution lies in the multilayered pattern of ecofeminist defense this article traces in poems like Giant Snail, Giant Toad, Strayed Crab, The Armadillo, Sandpiper, The Moose and Trouvée. The conclusion emphasizes the attempts Bishop shoulders through her animal poetry to renew the old man-nature relation of balance and justice and simultaneously to elevate woman/nature. Bishop's poetry, it is argued, exceeds the personal or subjective and thus contains socio-political, anti-patriarchal thrusts explored in this article through an ecofeminist lens.
Female Identity in Doris Lessing’s The Golden Notebook
Authors: Mohamed Abd El Aziz Heba
Published: January 2018

In the realm of art in general and literature in particular, the presence of Doris Lessing could not be denied as one of the most influential English novelists in the 1960s. Doris Lessing is a writer who is concerned with the representation of women identity in the West. In her renowned novel, The Golden Notebook Lessing aims at showcasing women identity in Europe and any aspect related to them, i.e., their psychology, political lives, relation to men and children, their place in a male-dominated society and their frequent attempts to escape from the social and political oppression. The aim of this paper is to present a truthful account of female identity from a feminist point of view.
Haffali Mulla: A Hollow Merry Making Under the Moon Light? A Critical Appreciation of Traditional Marriage and Marriage Songs among the Pasaalas in Ghana
Authors: Gbolo Sanka Confidence , Yeboah Philomena , Korkoi Bonku Lucy
Published: January 2018

Haffali Mulla are traditional marriage songs among the Pasaalas of the Sisasali speaking ethnic group in Ghana. Like many oral compositions, haffali mulla are literary in nature and can be analysed from that perspective. The institution of marriage, in the rural set up, is not only strong and old, but it is replete with tradition and processes leading up to the union. This paper traces the mores and the processes of traditional marriage among the Pasaalas and critically examines the verbal aesthetics as well as the utilitarian aspects of haffali mulla. Analysis from this paper, using the theory of ethnopoetics, reveals that haffali mulla are compositions which embed verbal art and useful messages that can be used to improve social cohesion and to strengthen the institution of marriage. The traditional processes of marriage are also sound sources of lessons that the present generation can draw on.