bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Noninvasive Indirect Markers of Liver Fibrosis in Alcoholics
Authors: Chrostek Lech , Przekop Dagmara , Gruszewska Ewa , Gudowska-Sawczuk Monika , Cylwik Bogdan
Published: May 2019

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic values of noninvasive indirect markers of liver fibrosis: APRI, GAPRI, Forns, FIB-4, Age-Platelet, and Hepascore in alcoholics. Blood samples were collected from a randomized group of 142 alcohol-dependent patients. The diagnosis of dependency was made according to the ICD-10 WHO criteria. The values of noninvasive markers were calculated with specific algorithms. The fibrosis stage was evaluated on the basis of FibroTest. The values of APRI, Forns, FIB-4, GAPRI, AP, and Hepascore differ between various stages of liver fibrosis. Patients with fibrosis stage F0 present lower values of APRI, Forns, FIB-4, GAPRI, and Hepascore in comparison to the patients with stages F1 and F0-F1. Patients with fibrosis stages < F2 have lower values of all noninvasive markers than patients with stages ≥F2. Patients with fibrosis stages ≥F2 but <F4 have lower values of APRI, Forns, FIB-4, GAPRI, and Hepascore than patients with stage F4. The values of noninvasive markers tested here differ in various stages of liver fibrosis. To our surprise, the patented marker, Hepascore, achieves a lower diagnostic value in alcoholics than simple markers involving only liver enzymes, platelet count, and cholesterol. The best marker of liver fibrosis in alcoholic patients seems to be the Forns index.
Multiligand Europium Complexes Incorporated Polyvinylpyrrolidone for Enhanced Solar Cell
Authors: Yu Zhimin , Guo Jing , Li Desheng , Lin Hai
Published: May 2019

Intense reddish-orange fluorescence of Eu3+ is observed in multiligand europium complexes Eu(BA)(TTA)2 and Eu(BA)(TTA)2Phen doped polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Under 367 nm UVA-LED pumping with 708.5 μW, the net emission powers are as high as 204.8 and 243.2 μW, and the total emission photon numbers are derived to be 635.9 × 1012 and 754.9 × 1012 cps for Eu(BA)(TTA)2 and Eu(BA)(TTA)2Phen doped PVP thin films, respectively. It is incredible that the quantum yield (QY) is up to 57.87% in the former; furthermore, as the introduction of Phen, the QY of Eu3+ is increased to 62.03%, verifying the effectiveness of multiligands in photon conversion. Conclusive photon quantification and efficient fluorescence emission reveal the potential of europium complexes/PVP as UV-visible conversion layers for enhanced solar cells.
The Postembryonic Development of the Immunological Barrier in the Chicken Spleens
Authors: Zhang Qian , Sun Xuejing , Wang Taozhi , Chen Bing , Huang Yufei , Chen Hong , Chen Qiusheng
Published: May 2019

The avian immune system improves with the development of the lymphoid organs. The chickens’ spleen serves as the largest peripheral lymphoid organ, but little immunological research has been conducted on that spleen during postembryonic development. We investigated the blood-spleen barrier (BSB) by developing morphological architecture, resistance to the corpuscular antigen, immunocyte distribution, gene expression levels of TLR2/4 and cytokines in the spleens of hatched chickens of differing ages. Results demonstrated that the resistance of exogenous carbon particles of the BSB improved with the morphological and structural development of the chicken spleens. The cuboidal endothelial cells which lined the sheathed capillaries were gradually visible, and the discontinuous basement membrane was thickened during postembryonic development. There was an increased number of T and B cells and antigen-presenting cells in the chicken spleen between hatching and adulthood. The mRNA expression levels of TLR2/4, IL-2, IFN-γ, and TNF-α were higher two weeks after hatching, but these decreased and remain stable between 21 and 60 days. As the age increased, the BSB developed structurally and functionally. Our findings provide a better understanding of splenic immune function and the pathogenesis of avian immunology in infectious diseases.
Chronic Widespread Pain and Fibromyalgia Syndrome: Life-Course Risk Markers in Young People
Authors: Tan Aidan C. , Jaaniste Tiina , Champion David
Published: May 2019

Although the life-course concept of risk markers as potential etiological influences is well established in epidemiology, it has not featured in academic publications or clinical practice in the context of chronic widespread pain (CWP) and fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Studies of risk markers are required considerations for evaluation of patients and for research because there is no single cause, pathological feature, laboratory finding, or biomarker for CWP or FMS. The early-life risk markers identified by extensive literature review with best evidence for potential causal influence on the development and progression of CWP and FMS include genetic factors, premature birth, female sex, early childhood adversity, cognitive and psychosocial influences, impaired sleep, primary pain disorders, multiregional pain, physical trauma, infectious illness, obesity and inactivity, hypermobility of joints, iron deficiency, and small-fiber polyneuropathy. The case history illustrates the potential etiological influence of multiple risk markers offset by personal resilience.
Effect of Temperature on Concrete Carbonation Performance
Authors: Liu Peng , Chen Ying , Yu Zhiwu , Zhang Rongling
Published: May 2019

In this study, the effect of temperature on macroperformance and microcharacteristic of carbonized concrete was investigated. The carbonation depth, compressive strength, and surface strain of concrete under different simulated environments for 28 d were measured. XRD and ESEM-EDS analysis were conducted to present the phase composition, types of hydration products, and microstructure characteristics of samples before and after carbonation. The results showed that the effects of temperature on carbonation depth, strain, and compressive strength were significant. There was a linear relation between temperature and carbonation depth as well as compressive strength of concrete. The effects of environment factors on concrete surface strain after carbonation manifested as the strain value and the slope of linear segment of strain curve. Significant differences of phase composition and hydration products were observed before and after the carbonation, which mainly manifested as attenuation and disappearance of diffraction peaks of hydration products. Temperature affects the crystal form of the carbonation products.
The Contribution of Drugs and Helicobacter pylori to Gastric Mucosa Changes in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Authors: Reshetnyak Tatiana M. , Doroshkevich Irina A. , Seredavkina Natalia V. , Nasonov Evgeny L. , Maev Igor V. , Reshetnyak Vasiliy I.
Published: May 2019

Background. The nature and rate of gastric mucosal (GM) damage in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) remain to be among the unsolved problems. Objective. To define the role of H. pylori and drugs in the development of GM damages in SLE and APS. Methods. A study was conducted on 85 patients with SLE and APS. All the patients underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy with targeted biopsy of the mucosa of the gastric body and antrum. The presence of H. pylori in the gastric biopsy specimens was determined using polymerase chain reaction. Results. Endoscopic examination revealed that the patients with SLE and APS on admission had the following GM changes: antral gastritis (82.4%), erosions (24.7%), hemorrhages (8.2%), and pangastritis (8.2%). SLE and APS patients showed no direct correlation between the found GM damages and the presence of H. pylori. The use of glucocorticoid, low-dose acetylsalicylic acid, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, and anticoagulant in SLE and APS patients is accompanied by GM damage. Conclusion. There was no evidence of the role of H. pylori in GM damage in the SLE and APS patients. More frequent detection of H. pylori was observed in anticoagulants or low-dose acetylsalicylic acid users than in glucocorticoids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ones.
Long‐Term Follow‐Up of Idiopathic Ventricular Fibrillation in a Pediatric Population: Clinical Characteristics, Management, and Complications
Authors: Frontera Antonio , Vlachos Konstantinos , Kitamura Takeshi , Mahida Saagar , Pillois Xavier , Fahy Gerard , Marquie Christelle , Cappato Riccardo , Stuart Graham , Defaye Pascal , Kaski Juan Pablo , Ector Joris , Maltret Alice , Scanu Patrice , Pasquie Jean‐Luc , Deisenhofer Isabelle , Blankoff Ivan , Scherr Daniel , Manninger Martin , Aizawa Yoshifusa , Koutbi Linda , Denis Arnaud , Pambrun Thomas , Ritter Philippe , Sacher Frederic , Hocini Meleze , Maury Philippe , Jaïs Pierre , Bordachar Pierre , Haïssaguerre Michel , Derval Nicolas
Published: May 2019

Background

The natural history and long‐term outcome in pediatric patients with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (
IVF
) are poorly characterized. We sought to define the clinical characteristics and long‐term outcomes of a pediatric cohort with an initial diagnosis of
IVF
.

Methods and Results

Patients were included from an International Registry of
IVF
(consisting of 496 patients). Inclusion criteria were: (1)
VF
with no identifiable cause following comprehensive analysis for ischemic, electrical or structural heart disease and (2) age ≤16 years. These included 54 pediatric
IVF
cases (age 12.7±3.7 years, 59% male) among whom 28 (52%) had a previous history of syncope (median 2 syncopal episodes [interquartile range 1]). Thirty‐six (67%) had
VF
in situations associated with high adrenergic tone. During a median 109±12 months of follow‐up, 31 patients (57%) had recurrence of ventricular arrhythmias, mainly
VF
. Two patients developed phenotypic expression of an inherited arrhythmia syndrome during follow‐up (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and long
QT
syndrome, respectively). A total of 15 patients had positive genetic testing for inherited arrhythmia syndromes. Ten patients (18%) experienced device‐related complications. Three patients (6%) died, 2 due to
VF
storm.

Conclusions

In pediatric patients with
IVF
, a minority develop a definite clinical phenotype during long‐term follow‐up. Recurrent
VF
is common in this patient group.
Association Between Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction, Wall Motion Abnormality, and Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source
Authors: Ramasamy Shobana , Yaghi Shadi , Salehi Omran Setareh , Lerario Michael P. , Devereux Richard , Okin Peter M. , Gupta Ajay , Navi Babak B. , Kamel Hooman , Merkler Alexander E.
Published: May 2019

Background

It is uncertain whether there is an association between left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (
LVEF
) or
LV
wall motion abnormality and embolic stroke of undetermined source (
ESUS
).

Methods and Results

We performed a retrospective, cross‐sectional study of patients with acute ischemic stroke enrolled in the CAESAR (Cornell Acute Stroke Academic Registry) from 2011 to 2016. We restricted this study to patients with
ESUS
and, as controls, those with small‐ and large‐artery ischemic strokes.
LVEF
had to be above 35% to be considered
ESUS
. In a secondary analysis, we excluded patients with
ESUS
who had any evidence of ipsilateral carotid atherosclerosis. Multiple logistic regression was used to evaluate whether
LVEF
or
LV
wall motion abnormality was associated with
ESUS
. We performed a confirmatory study at another tertiary‐care center. We identified 885 patients with
ESUS
(n=503) or small‐ or large‐artery strokes (n=382). Among the entire cohort,
LVEF
was not associated with
ESUS
(odds ratio per 5% decrement in
LVEF
, 1.0; 95% CI, 1.0–1.1) and
LV
wall motion abnormality was not associated with
ESUS
(odds ratio, 0.9; 95% CI, 0.5–1.6). The results were identical in our confirmatory study. In our secondary analysis excluding
ESUS
patients with any evidence of ipsilateral carotid atherosclerosis, there was an association between
LVEF
and
ESUS
(odds ratio per 5% decrement in
LVEF
, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.0–1.5;
P
=0.04).

Conclusions

Among the entire cohort, no association existed between
LVEF
or
LV
wall motion abnormality and
ESUS
; however, after excluding
ESUS
patients with any evidence of ipsilateral carotid atherosclerosis, lower
LVEF
appeared to be associated with
ESUS
.
Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation to the Left Rostrolateral Prefrontal Cortex Selectively Improves Source Memory Retrieval
Authors: Westphal Andrew J. , Chow Tiffany E. , Ngoy Corey , Zuo Xiaoye , Liao Vivian , Storozuk Laryssa A. , Peters Megan A. K. , Wu Allan D. , Rissman Jesse
Published: May 2019

Functional neuroimaging studies have consistently implicated the left rostrolateral prefrontal cortex (RLPFC) as playing a crucial role in the cognitive operations supporting episodic memory and analogical reasoning. However, the degree to which the left RLPFC causally contributes to these processes remains underspecified. We aimed to assess whether targeted anodal stimulation—thought to boost cortical excitability—of the left RLPFC with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) would lead to augmentation of episodic memory retrieval and analogical reasoning task performance in comparison to cathodal stimulation or sham stimulation. Seventy-two healthy adult participants were evenly divided into three experimental groups. All participants performed a memory encoding task on Day 1, and then on Day 2, they performed continuously alternating tasks of episodic memory retrieval, analogical reasoning, and visuospatial perception across two consecutive 30-min experimental sessions. All groups received sham stimulation for the first experimental session, but the groups differed in the stimulation delivered to the left RLPFC during the second session (either sham, 1.5 mA anodal tDCS, or 1.5 mA cathodal tDCS). The experimental group that received anodal tDCS to the left RLPFC during the second session demonstrated significantly improved episodic memory source retrieval performance, relative to both their first session performance and relative to performance changes observed in the other two experimental groups. Performance on the analogical reasoning and visuospatial perception tasks did not exhibit reliable changes as a result of tDCS. As such, our results demonstrate that anodal tDCS to the left RLPFC leads to a selective and robust improvement in episodic source memory retrieval.
The Functional Role of Response Suppression during an Urge to Relieve Pain
Authors: Sundby Kelsey K. , Wagner Johanna , Aron Adam R.
Published: May 2019

Being in the state of having both a strong impulse to act and a simultaneous need to withhold is commonly described as an “urge.” Although urges are part of everyday life and also important to several clinical disorders, the components of urge are poorly understood. It has been conjectured that withholding an action during urge involves active response suppression. We tested that idea by designing an urge paradigm that required participants to resist an impulse to press a button and gain relief from heat (one hand was poised to press while the other arm had heat stimulation). We first used paired-pulse TMS over motor cortex (M1) to measure corticospinal excitability of the hand that could press for relief, while participants withheld movement. We observed increased short-interval intracortical inhibition, an index of M1 GABAergic interneuron activity that was maintained across seconds and specific to the task-relevant finger. A second experiment replicated this. We next used EEG to better “image” putative cortical signatures of motor suppression and pain. We found increased sensorimotor beta contralateral to the task-relevant hand while participants withheld the movement during heat. We interpret this as further evidence of a motor suppressive process. Additionally, there was beta desynchronization contralateral to the arm with heat, which could reflect a pain signature. Strikingly, participants who “suppressed” more exhibited less of a putative “pain” response. We speculate that, during urge, a suppressive state may have functional relevance for both resisting a prohibited action and for mitigating discomfort.
Is it Possible to Identify ‘Orality’?
Authors: Moretti Paola Francesca
Published: May 2019

First, based on analysis of some—mostly late—Latin texts that positively reflect actual oral delivery, I present some remarks on structure and frequency of Verb-Phrases ‘auxiliary+infinitive’ as arguable markers of ‘orality’ in Latin. Second, I examine the occurrence of these Verb-Phrases in some works by Ambrose of Milan and show that, on the one hand, the investigation of Verb-Phrases might support the view that the De sacramentis and Explanatio symboli are unrevised catecheses, but, on the other hand, it is of no help in the conjecture of the degree of elaboration undergone by those works that, stemming from an oral homiletic delivery, were later revised in view of publication.
Jer 25,1-14 im masoretischen und im alexandrinischen Text des Jeremiabuchs Ein Gespräch mit Shimon Gesundheit
Authors: Stipp Hermann-Josef
Published: May 2019

The article casts doubt on Shimon Gesundheit’s theory, published in this journal (VT 62 [2012] 29-57), that in the case of Jer 25,1-14—contrary to mainstream scholarly opinion—the Masoretic text form commands priority over the edition represented by the LXX. Even though Gesundheit’s approach is basically sound, his results fail to convince. The conclusions drawn from a diachronic analysis of the passage hold wider implications for the redaction history of the book of Jeremiah, the working philosophies of the ancient tradents of the book, and exegetical method in general.
Metaphors of Miscarriage in the Psalms
Authors: Grohmann Marianne
Published: May 2019

The article applies the conceptual blending theory of metaphor to a specific imagery in the Psalms: metaphors of miscarriage or stillbirth. It asks whether miscarriage is considered a real threat or a “mere” metaphor in these texts, and situates the texts within the conceptual systems about miscarriage and stillbirth in the Hebrew Bible and the ancient Near East. In the Psalms, miscarriage and stillbirth are described by three terms with different connotations: שכל (bereavement) in Ps 35:12, נפל (falling down) in Ps 58:9, and יצא (going forth/coming out) in Ps 144:14. Conceptual blending offers a framework to integrate both “literal” and “metaphoric” references to miscarriage in the Psalms.
Form and Content in the Story of Asa in 2 Chr 13:23b-16:14: A Diachronic-Synchronic Reading
Authors: Amar Itzhak
Published: May 2019

In contrast to the brief and positive Deuteronomistic description of Asa’s reign (1 Kgs 15:9-24), the Chronicler provides us with a complex, lengthy account (2 Chr 13:23b-16:14). The first part of his rule is depicted as good, the second as bad. This formulation creating various thematic, chronological, linguistic, and theological problems. Analyzing these both diachronically and synchronically, the complementary approach adopted herein reveals the unit’s constitutive components, together with the central themes shaping it. Hereby, we gain a broader and deeper picture of the way in which Asa is portrayed, particularly in comparison with of his predecessors, Rehoboam and Abijah on the one hand and Jehoshaphat on the other.
Hatching dynamics of the beet cyst nematode, Heterodera schachtii, following exposure to root leachates from cultivars of sugar beet, white mustard and radish
Authors: Wright Alistair J.D. , Sparkes Debbie L. , Stevens Mark , Back Matthew A.
Published: May 2019

The hatching and emergence of juveniles from cysts of Heterodera schachtii in response to various stimuli are well understood. These responses relate to means of optimising the chances of successful reproduction and survival of populations. However, the effect of different cultivars of host species is not so well understood. To gain a further understanding of any differences between cultivars of host species, we conducted a number of experiments using root leachates obtained from a range of cultivars of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris), radish (Raphanus sativus) and white mustard (Sinapis alba). Heterodera schachtii cysts were exposed to root leachate solutions in in vitro laboratory assays during which emergence of second-stage juveniles (J2) from cysts was monitored weekly. Significant differences in the stimulation of hatch of J2 were found in response to different sugar beet cultivars and these differences may be driven by differing growth habits of such varieties. However, results obtained from experiments using brassica varieties showed contrasting responses. In one experiment, root leachates appeared to inhibit hatch of J2. However, two experiments did show a stimulation of hatch of J2 and also significant differences in hatch responses due to the age of the plant. These findings may help develop future screening procedures for brassica trap crops and help identify those that show the greatest potential for H. schachtii control.
Reconfiguring the South Sudanese Women’s Movement
Authors: Edward Jane Kani
Published: May 2019

This article examines multiple aspects that prompted the emergence and development of the women’s movement in South Sudan. It intends to outline challenges and opportunities for the women’s movement over the years. Indeed, there are numerous sociocultural, economic, political, and structural aspects that impinge on women’s collective actions and mobilization. Nevertheless, this article focuses on how the efforts of the women’s movement strived to articulate and promote critical issues related to women and gender in South Sudan that are partly constrained by three interrelated factors: its close association with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), persistent civil wars and political instability, and donor agencies’ influence on its agenda and activities. The paper argues that, without any tangible changes in these dynamics, the women’s movement in South Sudan will not be able to simultaneously and effectively tackle practical and strategic gender concerns and interests and achieve gender equality in South Sudan.
Consociation as a Guarantee for the Protection of Minority Rights in Ethiopia
Authors: Degefie Belachew Girma
Published: May 2019

The Constitution of Ethiopia takes diversity seriously as a response to the country’s history. On the other hand, the Constitution does not protect minority groups to the extent that it promised in its Preamble, as has been observed for many years. This necessitates a system that at best fosters the interests of minorities and thereby contributes to establishing a legitimate government. This article recommends that a consociational arrangement protects minorities by enabling them to exercise autonomy at the municipal level and be represented in the federal government, thereby allowing them to participate in the federal law-making process. Executive power sharing allows ethnic groups to participate in the federal executive and feel that they are part of the government. Finally, minority veto allows them to veto laws that affect their vital interests such as language rights.
In All Things Charity: Toward a Theology of Dialogue in Congregations
Authors: Fuller Leanna K.
Published: May 2019

This article explores the following question: how can Christians negotiate differences in theological perspective with others in their individual faith communities? I refer to this particular challenge as the task of ‘dialogue in congregations’, and suggest that it requires imagining a unique approach to theological method. In this essay I argue for a theology that is grounded in religious communities, is public and vulnerable to correction, and both informs and is informed by practice. The essay concludes with reflection on how such a vision of constructive theology might be applied in a concrete situation of theological disagreement.
The Church as a Dynamic Field of Priestly, Prophetic and Diaconal Tension
Authors: Thorsen Jakob Egeris
Published: May 2019

On the background of sociological and theological analyses of the transformations of the religious field and of the Roman Catholic Church in Latin America, this article sketches a proposal for a practical ecclesiology. This ecclesiology understands the church as a dynamic field of tension between priestly, prophetic and diaconal expressions. These fundamental expressions of the church parallel Christ’s threefold role as King, high priest and prophet. Combining P. Bourdieu’s theory of the religious field with N. M. Healy’s call for a practical-prophetical ecclesiology, the article argues that the changes in the Roman Catholic Church in Latin America can be understood as a re-articulation of the church’s prophetic and diaconal dimensions. The apparent disorder and tension hereby created can in fact be the starting point for a constructive, practical ecclesiology, which is able to make sense of the often disharmonious character of ecclesial life.
Rüsen’s Legacy of Synthetic Historicism
Authors: Fernández Vega Juan L.
Published: May 2019

The English translation of Jörn Rüsen’s Historik is a major event in the global community of the theory of history. Few contemporary thinkers in this field have been so systematic and comprehensive as Rüsen. This book, rendered as Evidence and Meaning, is the outcome of a whole life devoted to the renewal of German historicism. Rüsen’s contribution mirrors the great debates held in West Germany since the 1960s about the theory of history (Historik), discussions that prompted a conjoint reassessment of the old dispute between historicist academia and Marxist or Weberian sociologism, including the consequences of the linguistic turn. Rüsen has opened the German historicist tradition toward spaces of compromise with the Western “scientific” or more generalizing history. Furthermore, Rüsen’s synthetic historicism, with its insistence on praxis, might be taken as a case of convergent evolution between German and American syntheses of historical life and historical knowledge.
Rib or Side, Right or Left and the Traits of Women: Midrashic Dilemmas about the Creation of Eve in Medieval Islamic Tradition and Literature
Authors: Lerner Amir
Published: May 2019

The creation of Eve from Adam’s body is a theme that has been extensively discussed in scholarship, as part of research into ancient Jewish and Christian sources, within the framework of studies on Islam and Arabic, or in other contexts (see various references throughout this paper below). Here we would like to examine this subject from a slightly different perspective, in the hope of making a modest contribution concerning early non-Muslim reflections and ideas on this narrative which may have provided the background for the emergence of some Muslim traditions on the subject, some of which have as yet, in our opinion, not received the scholarly attention they deserve.
Historical Social Organisation on the Eastern Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Langelaar Reinier J.
Published: May 2019

The groups known as tsho-ba in Tibetan are both historically and ethnographically significant for their central role in local social organisation across large stretches of the eastern Himalayan Plateau. Available scholarly descriptions, however, remain both terse and discrepant. To remedy this situation, this article presents a diachronic picture of these groups in the Reb-gong region of eastern Qinghai, People’s Republic of China. Its analysis highlights an important historical shift in the constitution of these units, which often seem to have arisen as individual hamlets yet shed their territorialised identities over time. These findings, as a comparative discussion illustrates, markedly benefit our cross-regional understanding of tsho-ba, which in turn yields an instructive etymology of the term tsho-ba itself. Lastly, the paper addresses the forwarded historical hypothesis that these groups are the remnants of an older but now defunct clan system—a notion it argues must be rejected.
Judeo-Georgian Language as an Identity Marker of Georgian Jews (The Jews Living in Georgia)
Authors: Lomtadze Tamari , Enoch Reuven
Published: May 2019

The Judeo-Georgian language has not yet been fully studied. Up to the end of the 20th century, only religion, traditions, and customs had been considered key identity markers of Georgian Jews. The first comprehensive scholarly works relating to Judeo-Georgian appeared at the turn of the century. This article builds on previous research on the speech varieties of Georgian Jews. The purpose of the present article is to demonstrate that alongside religion, customs, traditions, and culture, language was one of the main identity markers of the Jews in Georgia. The variety of Georgian spoken by the Jews differed from standard Georgian in prosodic (intonational), grammatical, and lexical features. The sociocultural and ethnolinguistic distinctiveness of their speech was reflected primarily in the use of Hebraisms.
Digital Modes of Exchange: Structural Relations of Commodity, Control, and Community
Authors: Roth Martin
Published: May 2019

In this article, I perceive digital space as a space structured by different and, at the same time, related modes of exchange. Drawing on Karatani Kōjin’s model of ‘exchange’, I scrutinize capitalist exchange in digital space, data-based control on platforms, and the conditions of community in a filtered digital reality. The analysis indicates a shift in the structure of exchange in digital space. In Karatani’s analysis, capital, nation, and state form a strong alliance that maintains the present status quo. Although this holds true for digital space, the emphasis is much more on corporate and thus capitalist actors, which, in some cases, replace the state and interfere with the emergence of imagined communities. By relating the various actors and dimensions, I provide a heuristic model for the structure of digital space.
Money and Future in Late Ming China
Authors: Luo Weiwei
Published: May 2019

Chinese imperial dynastic time represented the cyclical change of regimes with a naturalized moral order. A linear lineage time and synchronic communal time were often eclipsed by the more ritually visible and well-documented cyclical imperial time. The dawn of China’s “silver century” (1550–1650,) however, disrupted the cyclical temporality of the dynasties and revealed other time-orders that had been usually subsumed under the dynastic time. Late Ming China (fifteenth to early seventeenth century), like many parts of Europe in the early modern period, experienced commercial accumulation, competitive consumption, desire for capital, reformulation of norms and traditions, bringing China into a globalized world historical process. This change in economy brought to the fore the many layers between imperial dynastic time and that of the individual. Money also influenced existing philosophies of past and future, as well as techniques of prognostication. Manipulation of the future often took the form of calculation of good deeds inspired by accounting. In short, money transformed what we can call “the practice of future” in two ways. First, it reemphasized the importance of linear lineage time instead of dynastic time through emphasizing the longevity of descendants and fortunes in the afterlife. Second, through the discussion of capital acquisition and the popularization of accounting, it also introduced “balance” into temporality through the discourse of just and unjust accumulation, allowing a synchronized and more egalitarian communal time to disrupt lineage time.
The Ethics of Animal Use: One Veterinarian’s Perspective
Authors: Edling Thomas M.
Published: May 2019

Animals have been by our sides since the beginning and continue to be shaped and molded by human actions. We all started on a somewhat equal footing, but now we are not. Animals can still outperform people in every aspect of the physical world such as size, strength, speed, quickness, and eyesight. But, humans have surpassed all animals in the ability to use our thoughts, ideas and physical attributes to change the world. It is a fact that one of the major changes in the world is that humans now use animals in a variety of ways. Veterinarians are called upon to work with animals society has placed in our path and provide them with the best life possible. It is important work that must be done. We veterinarians are uniquely qualified, positioned and ethically bound to use our world changing abilities to bring animals back to the equal moral footing they deserve.
Thoughts on Using Animals for Food
Authors: Grandin Temple
Published: May 2019

In 1978, the first GMO was insulin. By creating a new form of life, cattle and pig slaughter was no longer required to obtain lifesaving insulin. Maybe in the distant future, raising animals for food might become obsolete. This may occur when genetic engineering methods for creating totally novel animals and plants becomes reality. Then the ethical questions would become much greater than raising livestock. Animal welfare issues on today’s farms can be corrected. Environmental issues should be addressed by integrating crops with livestock and better grazing management. The best soils in the U.S. were created by grazing bison. The animals are part of the land.
Animals, Ethics and Aesthetics
Authors: Lamb David
Published: May 2019

Mainstream theories which argue for enhanced ethical status of animals with appeals to sentience or intelligence have depicted aesthetics in a negative sense. This paper supports a different outlook. We explore reasons why aesthetic appreciation of animals is portrayed as subjective and sentimental, concerned only with superficial and external features. Aesthetic qualities, as understood here, are not intended as criteria for admission to a moral community or as a guide for veterinary professionals when prioritizing therapy. The case for measuring the extent of an animal’s beauty or attractiveness in order to establish its entitlement to moral status or rights is a non-starter. Nevertheless, aesthetic traditions, we argue, play a significant role in our moral response to animals and objectives to protect them. As a corrective to misunderstandings regarding the status of aesthetics in deliberation about moral obligations to animals a case for the integration of ethics and aesthetics is developed.
The Possibility of using the Kodály Method to Teach Music Literacy in Thailand
Authors: Narkwong Twatchai
Published: May 2019

The Kodály method of teaching music literacy was used by the writer to teach Western music notation to elementary students, at the laboratory school of Kasetsart University in Thailand for six years. The students achieved good competencies in reading music, singing and playing the recorder. The method was afterwards disseminated to music teachers of municipal schools in Bangkok and was accepted. It seems that the method will spread further to other groups of music teachers.
The Metaphysics and Ethics According to the Bhagavadgita and the Suttanta Pitaka
Authors: Leurmsai Samniang
Published: May 2019

The purpose of this paper is to compare ideas of metaphysics and ethics written in the Bhagavadgītā text of Hinduism, and the Suttanta Pitaka, text of Buddhism. After examination, it is found that the Bhagavadgītā recognizes the idea of God (brahman) and Self (ātman) which are mainly metaphysical concepts, whereas the Suttanta Pitaka rejects these ideas. Both texts agree ignorance and desire are causes of deluded actions which are responsible for the continued chain of existence and that all beings are born again repeatedly in different spheres of life driven by their intentional actions. To stop rebirth and to attain the highest goal of life (salvation), one should eliminate desire, hatred and delusion. However, the karma-forces of the Bhagavadgītā seem to be different from that of the Suttanta Pitaka, because they are under the control of God. With regard to the idea of ethics, some practical paths written in both texts are really the same, but the standard of moral judgement in the Bhagavadgītā differs from the Suttanta Pitaka due to the belief in God.
The Establishment of the Neutral Passive and the Persistence of the Adversative Passive in Thai
Authors: Prasithrathsint Amara
Published: May 2019

This study traces the development of the adversative and neutral passives in Thai to draw inferences about their establishment and change. It shows how the word/thùuk/, which used to occur with only a verb with unfavorable meaning to form an adversative passive, is now used with virtually all transitive verbs in Thai. This suggests that the neutral passive has been established in Thai syntax. However, /thùuk/ is ambivalent because it marks both adversative and neutral passives . This means that the adversative passive still persists in Thai, but it is now likely to be marked by /doon/, which has a clear adversative meaning. This passive marker seems to have developed in the track of /thùuk/ and is replacing the equivocal /thùuk/ marker.
Progression Markers in Vietnamese Narrative
Authors: Burusphat Somsonge
Published: May 2019

This article aims to study the progression markers in six Vietnamese folktales. Progression markers refer to the grammatical devices that characterize any happenings that push the story forward. These markers highlight the temporal sequence of succeeding events, which form the backbone, or storyline of the Vietnamese folktales. They are rồi ’already’, xoan ’finish’, đoạn ’end, terminate’, thì ’then’, bèn ’then, consequence’, and đã ’have experienced’. The paper begins with the structural description of these progression markers and proceeds to their discourse functions both on the narrative timeline and out of the line. As the default timeframe of the narrative is past time or accomplished time, when these markers occur in past time, they indicate temporal succession and a cause-effect relationship of foregrounded events. In projected time as in quotations, the progression markers rồi, xoan, đoạn, thì, bèn, and đã are compared with the progression markers lǽ:w, sèt, còp, k:, cɯɳ, dâ:j in Thai respectively to show that despite the morphological difference, at the level of discourse syntax, their discourse structures are quite common.
The Influence of Second Language Experience in the Pattern of Language Processing of the Bilingual Lexicon
Authors: Sudasna P. , Luksaneeyanawin S. , Burnham D.
Published: May 2019

The present experimental research studies whether Thai-English bilinguals’ language experience in their non-native language influences the pattern of language processing of the bilingual lexicon. Two groups of 100 native Thai bilingual speakers with high or low English language experience were asked to perform Stroop Interference Tasks, with the processing of word forms being either Thai or English and the processing in colour naming also being either Thai or English. The results showed that when the processing of word forms was in Thai, there was more intra- than interlingual interference, and that the degree of interference was equivalent between the two English experience groups. When the processing of word forms was in English, the high and the low groups showed more intra- than interlingual interference; however, the high group showed more interference than the low group did. The results provide evidence that the maximal interference occurs in the processing of the first language and the interference in the processing of the second language is proportional to L2 language experience. The results suggest that there is a relationship between language experience and language processing of the bilingual lexicon.
Participant Continuity in Thai Fictional Narrative
Authors: Rangkupan Suda
Published: May 2019

This paper examines participant continuity in Thai fictional narratives using the quantitative method of referential distance (RD) proposed by Givón (1983, 1995). According to Givón, referential expressions are different in terms of their RD value: average RD of full noun phrases is the highest, that of pronouns lower and that of zero anaphors the lowest. However, the result from this study shows that pronouns and zero pronouns in Thai have equal average RD value while full noun phrases have much higher average RD. Moreover, zero anaphors appear to have longer distance than expected. Considering the distribution of the long distance zero anaphors in different modes of text, we have found that they tend to refer to a character whose thought is presented as self-reflected. In this case, the reader is still able to resolve the referent of the zero anaphor. Therefore, the continuity of character is maintained. We can conclude that zero anaphors are devices for maintaining participant continuity even though the distance between the anaphor and the textual antecedent is quite long. Thus, we argue that features of the deictic center need to be taken into account in the investigation of participant continuity.
Towards Sustainable Eco-Cultural Tourism for Water-Based Settlements on the Banks of Chao Phraya River: Ko Kret, Case Study Nonthaburi Province, Thailand
Authors: Thadaniti Suwattana
Published: May 2019

“Ko Kret” is a small island of 4.12 square kilometres in the Chao Phraya River. The community of Ko Kret is a traditional settlement with historical value and identity. The residents are mainly from the Mon ethnic group, and have preserved their culture as expressed beautifully through their lifestyle, architecture and cultural activities, including temples, ancient houses, the style of settlement and the pottery artwork. At present, community development as well as cultural and art conservation facilitate tourism on this island. If the Ko Kret community can both display its way of life and manage the impact of tourism then Ko Kret can be protected as a living historic gem of the Chao Phraya River.
Paṭhamasambodhi in Nine Languages: Their Relation and Evolution
Authors: Laulertvorakul Anant
Published: May 2019

Paṭhamasambodhi is widespread in at least 5 countries in Southeast Asia. Hundreds of manuscripts and not less than 10 versions have been discovered. They are composed in 4 languages: Pāli, Mon, Cambodian and Tai, including Tai vernaculars: Siamese Thai, Northern Thai Northeastern Thai, Lao, Tai Lue, and Tai Khoeun. The styles of composition dramatically vary between detailed enumeration and concision, prose and verse, translation in the style of nissaya and non-nissaya, single language and dual languages—Pāli and another language. The comparative study of the different versions, with emphasis on their content, reveals their relation and the evolution of Paṭhamasambodhi. The Pāli version found in the Lanna region is the oldest complete version. It is probably the original version, which not only is rendered to Tai Lue, Tai Khoeun, Lao and Northern Thai, but evolved over centuries to become the three newer Pali recensions which later were rendered to northeastern Thai, Mon and Siamese Thai. The latter version was finally rendered to Cambodian. The content of Paṭhamasambodhi was gradually enhanced in three phases with different genres: 1) the legend of the Siddhattha Bodhisatta in the Pali of the Lanna region, the Northern Thai the Lao, the Tai Khoeun and the Tai Lue versions; 2) the legend of the Gotama Buddha in the two late Pāli versions as well as the Mon and the northeastern Thai versions; and 3) the legend of the Gotama Buddha's sāsana or teaching in both Pāli and Siamese Thai versions by His Supreme Patriarch Prince Paramanujitjinorot and the Cambodian version. The Northern Thai version is the transition link between the first and the second phase. The result of this study also provides the genesis of Paṭhamasambodhi.
Ramakian in Modern Performance: A Way to Cope With a Cultural Crisis
Authors: Kerdarunsuksri Kittisak
Published: May 2019

In the Bangkok period, the literary classic Ramakian has been reproduced again and again, either in literary forms or performing arts. This literary piece has been reinvented many times, particularly in the course of cultural crisis so as to demonstrate the glory of Thai culture. Although Ramakian is still able to be seen in the form of traditional theatre, i.e., khon (a masked dance-drama) in particular, it was also re-created in modern theatrical form during the mid-1990s, during which a cultural campaign was promoted by the government. This paper focuses on three modern theatrical productions of Ramakian : Rama - Sida ( 1996), Nonthuk (1997), and Sahatsadecha ( 1997), The paper addresses the questions: why was this classic re-created in modern performance and how was the story revised to make it fit into today’s society.
Class, Gender and the Representation of Peasant Women in Vietnamese Literature
Authors: Rato Montira
Published: May 2019

The paper seeks to explore how peasant women are portrayed in Vietnamese literature and tries to highlight that, throughout the development of Modem Vietnamese literature, the way in which peasant women are portrayed is closely related to political agendas and ideological struggles. It also proposes that the construction of peasant women in Vietnamese literature is not only gender- based, but also class-bound. In the period between 1930 and 1945, the victimisation of peasant women was used as a tool to criticise the colonial administration. In the 1945-75 period, literature took part in mobilising the force of peasant women in the building of a socialist nation. However, post-1975 literature reflected the failure of the Communist government and its Socialist ideology to eradicate the residue of the old values in the country side, including the patriarchal concepts and the kinship system. The post-war writers use the pictures of unhappy women in the remote villages to criticise and ridicule the rhetoric and promises of the revolution.
The Rite of the Elephant Duel in Thai-Burmese Military History
Authors: Chutintaranond Sunait
Published: May 2019

The tradition of a single combat on elephant back first emerged in Thai history in the 13th century during the Sukhothai period. Before that time, there was. no evidence that this tradition was practiced by mainland Southeast Asian rulers. The origin of the elephant duel is still unknown but there is historical interpretation that the Thais and other mainland Southeast Asian warriors had adopted this practice from Sri Lanka. The fight on elephant back is a kind of military ritual observed by pre-modem monarchs of mainland Southeast Asia. With the arrival of modern weapons, particularly fire-arms such as muskets and cannons, the tradition was brought to its end. This is due to the fact that the fighter riding on the back of a huge creature had become a clear target of the opposition gunners. Many of them had been murdered before the engagement. The tradition was terminated in late 16th century. The fight between King Naresuan of Ayudhya and the Crown prince of Pegu had marked the end of this fatal ritual after being practiced without interruption for over three centuries.
A Karaoke Approach for Language Teaching: The Case of the “Learning to Read Thai from Songs” Project
Authors: Hoonchamlong Yuphaphan
Published: May 2019

Karaoke is music video with text lyrics on screen. Thus karaoke provides audio, visual, and also textual information at the same time. As a language-teaching material, karaoke can therefore be viewed as a short authentic text, with the sung vocals functioning as an audio reading model accompanied by a corresponding visual context. I will discuss the design and implementation of "Learning to Read Thai from Songs", a web-based, interactive, multimedia, instructional-materials project which makes use of the aforementioned desirable features of "karaoke" to create instructional materials for enhancing the instruction of the Thai writing system and students' Thai script recognition practice by using Thai songs.