bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Environmentally sustainable investment: Dynamics between global thematic indices
Authors:   UDI – Research Unit for Inland Development. Department of Management and Economics. Superior School of Technology and Management, Avenida Dr. Francisco Sá Carneiro, n.º 50, 6300-559 Guarda (Portugal). vigab@ipg.pt, Gabriel Vítor
Published: February 2018

This study analyses the long-term and short-term dynamics established between environmentally sustainable investment segments, applying a diverse methodological proposal based on the Johansen cointegration approach, Granger causality concept, and impulse response functions and considering a multivariate asymmetric GARCH model. Five environmental investment segments were selected, in particular concerning alternative energy, clean technology, green building, sustainable water, and pollution prevention. The results show that the investment segments do not follow similar paths in the long term. In the short term, sustainable water is particularly autonomous and contributes to explaining the movements in the remaining segments. Evidence of own and cross-contagion effects was found as well as asymmetric volatility effects. This poses great challenges for investors in diversifying investment.
Bootstrap method for calculating technical provisions for claims
Authors:   Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Jurídicas. Departamento Economía Financiera y Contabilidad, Paseo de los Artilleros, s/n, 28032 Madrid (España). jessica.paule@urjc.es, Vianez Jessica Paule , Granado Sánchez Manuel ,   Facultad de Estudios Empresariales y Turismo. Departamento Economía Financiera y Contabilidad, Av. De la Universidad, s/n, 10071, Cáceres (España). m_granado@unex.es, Coca Pérez José Luis ,   Facultad de Estudios Empresariales y Turismo. Departamento Economía Financiera y Contabilidad, Av. De la Universidad, s/n, 10071, Cáceres (España). jlcocap@hotmail.com
Published: February 2018

Proper risk management is one of the main objectives in the insurance companies, the good assessment of uncertainty is one of the keys to success in this business sector, therefore, covers the object of our study. The key to managing uncertainty is to foresee the possible claims and thus estimate the technical provisions to set up by the company for the payment of these. The European directive Solvency II, which came into force in 2016, substantially modified the methodology to be used for the estimation of technical provisions used previously. This regulation establishes a better assessment of the risk to meet payments for claims without having problems of low liquidity or insolvency. Adapting ourselves to this norm, we proceed to estimate technical provisions through the Chain Ladder method implemented by the triangle format, which adapts to the directive and takes into account the behaviour of the payments for claims in different years. To reduce uncertainty in our estimates, we use the Bootstrap method which we will determine the reliability of the data estimating the error. Using the data obtained from an insurance company in its area of cars, we carry out hypothesis to determine the reliability of the Chain Ladder with Bootstrap estimation method.
Involvement, consistency and adaptability in the new style of relations (ner). The experience of ner Group in the Basque Country
Authors:   Departamento de Economía Aplicada V. Facultad de Economía y Empresa. C/ Agirre Lehendakari, 83, 49015, Bilbao (España). maria.alvarezsainz@ehu.eus, Alvarez Sainz María , Apellaniz Valle Kepa Xabier ,   Departamento de Sociología y Trabajo Social. Facultad de Economía y Empresa. C/ Agirre Lehendakari, 83, 49015, Bilbao (España). kepaxabier.apellaniz@ehu.eus
Published: February 2018

This paper analyses the perception the people working at the organizations of ner Group in the Basque Country have of the cultural features of the new style of relationships (ner), created by Koldo Saratxaga during his successful running of Irizar Group. The ner, an innovation in culture and management, an answer to the challenges placed by the Technologies of Information and Communication and the Knowledge Society, is based on persons, basic pillars of the organizations; persons who work in self-managed teams with responsibility, confidence and freedom to reach customers satisfaction. The commitment and integration of persons with the organization they work for are strengthened by implementing internal solidarity based on the reduction of the wage differences, the profit sharing and the employment security in case of crisis, using then the relocations between organizations of ner Group. The developed empirical research, once designed an specific questionnaire, allows us to conclude that the majority of the people declare a high level of Involvement, consider the ner an organizational and management tool which makes directing activity to reach customer satisfaction feasible, they perceive the existing Consistency and voice that this makes possible relationships based on mutual trust and they judge positively the existing Adaptability, portrayed by commitment to the internal solidarity and to society and community.
Operational Risk Management in Financial Institutions: An Overview
Authors: Aloqab Abdullah , Alobaidi Farouk , Raweh Bassam
Published: February 2018

After the 2008 financial crisis, many attributed the crisis due to the inability of financial risks to manage operational risks. The period during and after 2008 was critical in providing insight on how vital operational risk management is essential to financial institutions and how best these risks can be managed. The study begins with an overview of the concept of risk and BASEL I, II and III and how they apply to financial institutions. Further, the paper discusses the growing need for operational risk management in the context of financial institutions taking into considerations various models and approaches used in the management of financial risks. Moreover, several pieces of literature discussed operational risks in the financial institutions. The paper also looks at the various methods of operational risk identification and management before concluding that for better management of operational risks in banks, there is the need to comply with both the national and international regulations and procedures.
Ontological Conflicts Concerning Indigenous Peoples in Contemporary Brazil
Authors: Lea Vanessa R.
Published: February 2018

Inspired by Mauro Almeida's (2013) notion of ontological conflict, this article examines the current situation of the Indigenous peoples in Brazil. Various concrete situations are examined to exemplify the ways in which, at best, they are denied a voice unless their leaders adapt their discourse to concerns that resonate with those of their non-Indigenous interlocutors. Native ontologies relating to reciprocity and the use of natural resources for subsistence, without concern for creating a marketable surplus, are systematically subordinated to the vested interests of corporate capital, exemplified by the construction of hydroelectric dams and mining activities. The state stands by as Indigenous lands are subjected to arson attacks, and the judiciary fails to take action against the encroachment of Indigenous lands. The situation in Southern Mato Grosso borders on outright genocide. The economic and political crisis has worsened the situation, with dwindling resources for monitoring deforestation and for providing adequate health and educational services. The crisis in the industrial sector has favored advocates of the merits of large-scale monoculture of crops like soya for export on the commodity market. The wisdom of adaptation to the environment by the Indigenous peoples is ignored and their shrinking land base, coupled with their growing population, serves to make them increasingly dependent of governmental welfare benefits. This is then interpreted as evidence of the inevitability of capitalist globalization with disparagement of anything other than capital-intensive monoculture. The gap is constantly widening between the Indigenous peoples and the economic elite whose interests the state unabashedly represents.
Indigenous Games and Sports in the Australian National Curriculum: Educational Benefits and Opportunities?
Authors: Evans John , Georgakis Steve , Wilson Rachel
Published: February 2018

The introduction of the national Australian Curriculum (AC) has the potential to make a significant impact on Indigenous education (Australian Curriculum 2012). Indigenous perspectives will now feature in all key learning areas in the national curriculum. More specifically, in the Health and Physical Education (HPE) curriculum, endorsed in 2015, the teaching of Indigenous Games and Sports (IGaS) is “encouraged for all students” (ACARA 2012, 28). However, there has been very little research into its place or a clear rationale for its inclusion. This article outlines the possibilities for the inclusion of IGaS across Australian schools. We provide details on IGaS and suggest an appropriate pedagogy for teaching purposes. We also outline two rationales for the inclusion of IGaS: first, for the contribution they can make to the development of social justice within schools; and second, for the way IGaS can promote fully inclusive classrooms that recognize and welcome Indigenous students.
Colonial History, Current Numerical Picture of Languages Spoken in Delhi and the National Capital Region of India, and a Look at the Ongoing Language Efforts
Authors: Prasannanshu
Published: February 2018

Many languages around the world are becoming endangered and are dying. This phenomenon is seen in India too. The death of a language is not just the loss of a language: it has serious accompanying social implications. The online version of UNESCO's Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger lists 197 Indian languages as being endangered. This number is an interesting coincidence and grim reminder because the 2001 census of India also lists 197 languages as mother tongues in Delhi, many of which are in fact endangered (Moseley 2010). In a type of racial profiling, some communities were singled out by the colonialists in India as criminal tribes. Their identity, language and culture were stigmatized by this labelling and suffered a setback. In recent times there has been a substantial amount of governmental effort to preserve and promote endangered languages in India, but it remains to be seen how effective this will prove to be.
As regras de civilidade prescritas pelas Ligas da Bondade nas escolas públicas estaduais do sul de Santa Catarina (1953-1970)
Authors: Niehues Mariane Rocha , Rabelo Giani
Published: February 2018

O presente artigo resultado de uma pesquisa que buscou perceber quais as regras de civilidade as Ligas da Bondade, implantadas nas escolas pblicas estaduais do sul de Santa Catarina, prescreviam aos/as alunos/as participantes entre os anos de 19531970, bem como compreender o que levou as escolas implantarem as Ligas da Bondade. Com o intuito de aprofundar este estudo, foram estabelecidos alguns objetivos especficos: Identificar o intuito com que foram criadas as Ligas da Bondade nas escolas pblicas estaduais do sul de Santa Catarina; Investigar sobre as atribuies das Ligas da Bondade, Entender como funcionavam as Ligas da Bondade; Identificar quem eram os membros participantes das Ligas da Bondade. Foram analisados, por meio de uma pesquisa documental, os relatrios das Ligas da Bondade da EEB de Meleiro, em Cricima, a escola EEB Professor Lapagesse; em Maracaj a EEB Manoel Gomes Baltazar. Estes documentos encontram-se no banco de dados do Centro de Memria da Educao do Sul de Santa Catarina (virtual).
Literatura e formação humana
Authors: Pessoa Jadir De Morais
Published: February 2018

O artigo discute a fecundidade da relao entre arte e educao, particularizando a literatura como potencializao do olhar pesquisante, tanto sobre questes tericas quanto sobre processos humanos e sociais que envolvem o fenmeno educacional. Considera que a educao constituinte e constituda pela cultura, entendendo-a, por isso, como formao humana, projeto cultural. Considera tambm que a literatura pode ser tomada como representao do real, sem perder sua caracterstica essencial de criao do esprito humano, constituindo-se, portanto, por seus prprios princpios e regras. Isso significa dizer, nos termos de Bourdieu, que a literatura campo ou espao de relaes sociais, que tem tudo a ver com a educao no sentido de formar o cidado como ser portador de valores e aspiraes.
Juventude e contemporaneidade: vínculos complexos e futuro incerto
Authors: Tiellet Maria do Horto Salles , Antunes Maria da Penha Fornanciari , Costa José Ferreira da
Published: February 2018

Neste artigo apresentam-se os campos da educao, do emprego/renda e da violncia que compem os desenhos fractais da realidade complexa dos jovens da cidade de Cceres/MT, municpio localizado na fronteira com a Repblica da Bolvia. A faixa etria de 15 a 24 anos o recorte populacional da pesquisa quanti-qualitativa, cujo aspecto quantitativo diz respeito utilizao de diferentes bancos de dados que compem os fractais irregulares da realidade cacerense, em que tm destaque a desigualdade social, os baixos ndices de violncia, a localizao geogrfica do municpio, como pontos complexos e fragmentados a serem desvendados. A cidade de Cceres permite paradoxos que precisam ser mais bem estudados.
Políticas para educação de jovens e adultos no Brasil: a produção da área nos anos de 2011 e 2012 veiculadas na ANPED
Authors: Jardilino José Rubens Lima , Araújo Regina M. B. , Freitas Angelita A. A. , Nunes Célia Maria F.
Published: February 2018

Resumo Este artigo visa apresentar o balano da produo cientfica acerca das Polticas Pblicas para a Educao de Jovens e Adultos - EJA- apresentada no Grupo de Trabalho Educao de Pessoas Jovens e Adultos, denominado tambm como GT 18, da Associao Nacional de Ps-Graduao e Pesquisa em Educao (ANPED), nos anos de 2011 e 2012. Para realizao deste trabalho, foram consultados todos os resumos dos textos submetidos ao GT 18, no perodo mencionado, totalizando 32 produes e foi feita leitura na ntegra dos trabalhos considerados com potencial para esta pesquisa. Algumas pesquisas foram empreendidas com o intuito de mapear as polticas pblicas para Educao de Jovens e Adultos no Brasil. Os trabalhos denominados Estado da Arte e Estado do Conhecimento tm sido recorrentes em vrias reas do conhecimento. Dentre eles destacamos os de Ventura (2008), Santos Viana (2011) e Arajo Jardilino (2011). O artigo que ora se apresenta, se insere neste tipo de pesquisa dada a sua importncia e relevncia. A partir dos trabalhos apresentados, percebem-se algumas continuidades no que foi constatado nas pesquisas anteriores, como tambm, algumas alteraes. Chama a ateno o nmero reduzido de pesquisas apresentadas na ANPED, GT 18, que trataram do financiamento da Educao de Jovens e Adultos. Percebeu-se tambm uma continuidade quanto ao aumento da quantidade de produes sobre os programas federais para a EJA, especialmente o PROEJA. A pesquisa constata um interesse crescente da academia por compreender, analisar e at mesmo intervir neste meio, buscando melhorias para as polticas de oferta da Educao de Jovens e Adultos em nosso pas.
Novos rumos da história da educação
Authors: McCulloch Gary
Published: February 2018

Trata-se da aula magna proferida pelo Professor Gary McCulloch, do Instituto de Educao da Universidade de Londres, na UNINOVE no dia 18 de abril de 2013. O texto aborda as tradies tericas da Histria da Educao, as inovaes pelas quais esse campo vem passando nas ltimas dcadas e termina projetando desafios e esperanas. Traduo e notas: Marisa Bittar.
La reinvención freiriana en la universidad: Paulo Freire, el movimiento zapatista, el psicoanálisis sociopolítico y la pedagogía erótica
Authors: Escobar Miguel
Published: February 2018

Cuando me desped de Paulo Freire en Ginebra (Suiza) en 1978, un sueo lleg conmigo a Mxico: reinventar a Freire y no solamente repetirlo. Comenc ese mismo ao a trabajar en la Facultad de Filosofa y Letras, ffyl, unam. En 1994 me encontr frente al grito de lucha de las comunidades zapatistas,Ya Basta! que le daba vida revolucionaria al pensamiento freiriano. Ese Ya Basta! me desafi a ir a la praxis desde la prctica y no slo desde la teora, lo que permiti definir mejor el proyecto de investigacin La lectura de la realidad en el aula. Pensar la prctica para transformarla. El escrito que aqu se presenta es la sntesis de un caminar, entre profesor y estudiantes, pensando la prctica para transformarla. Proceso que gest una metodologa, mrcyt, la cual ha permitido que quienes participan en el proceso educativo emerjan como sujetos capaces de pronunciar su mundo.
Licenciatura em educação do campo: desafios e expectativas
Authors: Arruda Maria da Conceição Calmon , Oliveira Lia Maria Teixeira de
Published: February 2018

Este artigo analisa as expectativas e concepes de um grupo de alunos matriculados no curso de Licenciatura em Educao do Campo (LEC) da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ). A LEC tem como proposta poltico pedaggica contribuir com as polticas pblicas e os movimentos sociais em prol do fortalecimento das escolas pblicas situadas no campo e o acesso universidade de seus docentes. A LEC tem o desenho curricular o regime de alternncia e seu pblico alvo so alunos que comprovem vnculo efetivo com o campo. Os dados educacionais revelam que apesar dos avanos das ltimas dcadas, nas reas rurais os ndices educacionais ainda esto aqum dos mensurados nos centros urbanos. Isto ocorre tanto no que diz respeito aos anos de estudos da populao, quanto infraestrutura da rede de ensino. H, ainda, carncia de professores aptos/dispostos a atuarem em escolas do campo.
Genetic inactivation of alpha-synuclein affects embryonic development of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra but not the ventral tegmental area in mouse brain
Authors: Tarasova Tatyana V , Lytkina Olga A , Goloborshcheva Valeria V , Skuratovskaya Larisa N , Antohin Alexandr I , Ovchinnikov Ruslan K , Kukharsky Michail S
Published: February 2018

Lesion of the dopaminergic neurons of the nigrostriatal system is a key feature of Parkinson's disease (PD). Alpha-synuclein is a protein that is a major component of Lewy bodies, histopathological hallmarks of PD, and is involved in regulation of dopamine (DA) neurotransmission. Previous studies of knockout mice have shown that inactivation of alpha-synuclein gene can lead to the reduction in number of DA neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). DA neurons of the SN are known to be the most affected in PD patients whereas DA neurons of neighboring ventral tegmental area (VTA) are much less susceptible to degeneration. Here we have studied the dynamics of changes in TH-positive cell numbers in the SN and VTA during a critical period of their embryonic development in alpha-synuclein knockout mice. This precise study of DA neurons during development of the SN revealed that not only is the number of DA neurons reduced by the end of the period of ontogenic selection, but that the way these neurons are formed is altered in alpha-synuclein knockout mice. At the same time, DA neurons in the VTA are not affected. Alpha-synuclein exerts a modulating effect on the formation of DA neurons in the SN and has no effect on the formation of DA neurons in VTA, the structure that is much less susceptible to degeneration in PD brain, suggesting a potential role of alpha-synuclein in the development of the population of DA neurons in substantia nigra.
3.3-Å resolution cryo-EM structure of human ribonucleotide reductase with substrate and allosteric regulators bound
Authors: Brignole Edward J , Tsai Kuang-Lei , Chittuluru Johnathan , Li Haoran , Aye Yimon , Penczek Pawel A , Stubbe JoAnne , Drennan Catherine L , Asturias Francisco
Published: February 2018

Ribonucleotide reductases (RNRs) convert ribonucleotides into deoxyribonucleotides, a reaction essential for DNA replication and repair. Human RNR requires two subunits for activity, the α subunit contains the active site, and the β subunit houses the radical cofactor. Here, we present a 3.3-Å resolution structure by cryo-electron microscopy (EM) of a dATP-inhibited state of human RNR. This structure, which was determined in the presence of substrate CDP and allosteric regulators ATP and dATP, has three α2 units arranged in an α6 ring. At near-atomic resolution, these data provide insight into the molecular basis for CDP recognition by allosteric specificity effectors dATP/ATP. Additionally, we present lower-resolution EM structures of human α6 in the presence of both the anticancer drug clofarabine triphosphate and β2. Together, these structures support a model for RNR inhibition in which β2 is excluded from binding in a radical transfer competent position when α exists as a stable hexamer.
PTEN negatively regulates the cell lineage progression from NG2+ glial progenitor to oligodendrocyte via mTOR-independent signaling
Authors: González-Fernández Estibaliz , Jeong Hey-Kyeong , Fukaya Masahiro , Kim Hyukmin , Khawaja Rabia R , Srivastava Isha N , Waisman Ari , Son Young-Jin , Kang Shin H
Published: February 2018

Oligodendrocytes (OLs), the myelin-forming CNS glia, are highly vulnerable to cellular stresses, and a severe myelin loss underlies numerous CNS disorders. Expedited OL regeneration may prevent further axonal damage and facilitate functional CNS repair. Although adult OL progenitors (OPCs) are the primary players for OL regeneration, targetable OPC-specific intracellular signaling mechanisms for facilitated OL regeneration remain elusive. Here, we report that OPC-targeted PTEN inactivation in the mouse, in contrast to OL-specific manipulations, markedly promotes OL differentiation and regeneration in the mature CNS. Unexpectedly, an additional deletion of mTOR did not reverse the enhanced OL development from PTEN-deficient OPCs. Instead, ablation of GSK3β, another downstream signaling molecule that is negatively regulated by PTEN-Akt, enhanced OL development. Our results suggest that PTEN persistently suppresses OL development in an mTOR-independent manner, and at least in part, via controlling GSK3β activity. OPC-targeted PTEN-GSK3β inactivation may benefit facilitated OL regeneration and myelin repair.
Confirmation for conformational selection
Authors: Jiang Yajun , Kalodimos Charalampos G
Published: February 2018

NMR studies settle part of a long-standing debate about the mechanism used by the Hsp70 chaperone to recognize substrates.
Georgian Symbolism: Context and Influence
Authors: Oboladze Tatia
Published: February 2018

In the 1910s in the Georgian literary area the first Symbolist group TsisperiQantsebi (The Blue Horns) comes into being, with a clearly defined purpose and aesthetic position, which implied renewing the Georgian literature and including it into the Western context. Desiring to expand the thought area and to modernize Georgian literature, Georgian Symbolists rested on the philosophical and worldview principles of French Symbolism. Georgian Symbolism appears as an original invariant generated from the French Symbolist aesthetics, which is unequivocally national.
Emasculation of male characters as seen through Sula by Toni Morrison
Authors: KPOHOUE Ferdinand
Published: February 2018

Emasculation is a drawback of slavery as it was practiced in the Americas. Men are limited in their power in order to be exploited without strong reactions. This aspect appears in Sula where female characters play the main roles. Male characters are shaped to be absent, irresponsible or insane. Female characters take care of the household and fight for their own survival. Children are educated by the female characters, male characters are regularly absent, some of them have deserted the household. The objective of this paper is to explain, through the emasculation system, the behaviors of some male characters such as Shadrack, Plum Peace, BoyBoy, Jude and Ajax (Albert Jacks) in Sula in order to provide deeper understanding to Toni Morrison’s skills to deal with the conditions of Blacks in the South of the USA.  This can help to understand more Sula which is deeply rooted in the black community with its traditions and realities.
The Relationship between Iranian EFL Teachers’ Creativity and Time Management Skills
Authors: Barjesteh Hamed , Asadpour Sorour Azam , Manochehrzadeh Mehdi
Published: February 2018

Early research on creativity has illustrated that time is a significant resource education in general and classroom in particular. It is vital for incubation, thus, individuals should be given enough time to do a creative work. The current study sought to uncover the probable relationship between English language teachers’ creativity and time management skills. We hypothesized that teachers’ creativity plays a role in a number of variables such as age, gender, and teaching experience. It was also surmised that teacher creativity correlates time orientation. To measure teacher creativity, Zhou and George (2001) self-rating creativity was employed. In addition, Trueman and Hartley (1996) time management scale comprising five constructs, production of creative ideas, production of useful ideas, daily planning, confidence in long-term planning, and perceived control of time, were utilized to gauge time orientation. To comply with the objective, a total of 202 intermediate students from three English language institutes took part for the purpose of this study. They were requested to fill out the questionnaires. The data were collected over a period of three weeks. The data were analyzed using Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient to probe the relationship between the variables. The results suggest that teachers with more time orientation incorporate more teaching activities in their classroom. However, the findings revealed that a number of variables like age, gender and teaching experiences were not significant factors for teachers’ creativity skills. The findings suggest that a teacher should widen his perception of creativity and repertoire of employing activities in order to maximize students' capacity for novelty The may help language teachers and policy makers bring to a focus on the effects of time management skills and teachers’ creativity in the EFL content to achieve a better result in learning process.
Empowerment and Collaborative Agency in Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry
Authors: Ben Moussa Maher
Published: February 2018

This article examines the issue of child agency and empowerment in Mildred’s D. Taylor’s novel Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry. This theme is addressed by some critics who come to the conclusion that Taylor’s protagonist, the young girl Cassie Logan, develops agency and subversive subjectivity in the course of the novel. This study challenges such readings to argue that the ending of Taylor’s novel does not reflect empowerment; and consequently does not support such conclusions. Through expanding self-in-relation theory to feminism as an interpretive tool, this paper suggests that Cassie Logan’s subversive agency remains partial and incomplete because she fails to engage in an inter-connected and constructive relationship with the ‘other’. Cassie’s empowerment is partial because she fails to exert it in the larger community of African Americans and whites, that otherwise could have stimulated a greater impetus for activism. This study concludes that agency and subjectivity are constructed and empowered within the community which is larger than the self and the family.
The Impact of Visual Aids on the Retention of English Word Stress Patterns
Authors: Ghaemi Farid , Rafi Fahimeh
Published: February 2018

The present study aimed at comparing the effectiveness of three different techniques on learners’ long term memorization of English word stress patterns. After administering a quick placement test, 67 Iranian EFL elementary learners at language institutes were selected to participate in the study. Then they were divided into three groups. Before starting the instruction, a pretest was conducted to classify the participants’ abilities on word stress patterns. Then the new techniques were used to teach English word stress patterns. In all three groups, words were printed largely on a piece of paper and the syllables were clearly specified by dots. In group ‘A’, pronunciation and stress pattern of new words were taught aurally through the repetition of the words. In group ‘B’, all the procedure was exactly similar to that of group ‘A’, the only difference was that the stressed syllables were printed in bold. In group ‘C’, all the procedure was exactly similar to that of group ‘B’,  except that the stressed syllables were not only printed in bold, but also introduced by teacher’s hand gesture. After two weeks, a delayed posttest was conducted to check long term memorization of the word stress patterns. The results of the study indicated that there was a significant difference between pretest and delayed posttest in all three groups. But the most meaningful difference belonged to group ‘C’. That is, the participants in the third group (gesture group) outperformed those in the other groups. Finally, some implications and suggestions provided for further research.
Investigating ‘Othering’ in Sandra Cisneros’s The House on Mango Street
Authors: Vichiensing Matava
Published: February 2018

In Sandra Cisneros’s novel The House on Mango Street is about the Latino experience as a minority group in the United States. This article focused on the concept of ‘othering’ originally as part of a post-colonial theory. This concept can be related to feminist and Marxist perspectives as well. It is also involved in many academic fields, including literature. The construction of othering in this novel can be manifested in forms of linguistic features, mimicry, double consciousness, unhomeliness, gender roles, and socioeconomic class. The findings represented the negative effects of the othering practices in which affecting psychological, economical, and sociocultural dimensions of the people in general.
The Effects of Vocabulary Pre-teaching and Pre-questioning on Intermediate Iranian EFL Learners’ Reading Comprehenstion Ability
Authors: Mousavian Somayyeh , Siahpoosh Hossein
Published: February 2018

Considering comprehension is a main skill in English learning. It is critical to use pre-reading methods in reading instruction to assist students increase their comprehension. This study investigated the effectiveness of pre-questioning and vocabulary pre-teaching on EFL pupil reading comprehension ability. Sixty students participated in the study. An experimental plan was utilized. Twenty pupils were elected for the first experimental group that received vocabulary pre-teaching method, the second experimental group, also consisted of 20 students, received pre-questioning strategy and 20 students in control group gave the conventional method. Students in the groups on both pre-test and post-test were asked to consider a reading text, and after that reply reading comprehension queries. Findings revealed that there were statistically significant variation among the groups. The experimental groups outperformed the control group. Moreover, results indicated that the vocabulary pre-teaching one performance was better than the pre-questioning group.
The Far East taiga forest: unrecognized inhospitable terrain for migrating Arctic-nesting waterbirds?
Authors: Wang Xin , Cao Lei , Bysykatova Inga , Xu Zhenggang , Rozenfeld Sonia , Jeong Wooseog , Vangeluwe Didier , Zhao Yunlin , Xie Tianhe , Yi Kunpeng , Fox Anthony David
Published: February 2018

The degree of inhospitable terrain encountered by migrating birds can dramatically affect migration strategies and their evolution as well as influence the way we develop our contemporary flyway conservation responses to protect them. We used telemetry data from 44 tagged individuals of four large-bodied, Arctic breeding waterbird species (two geese, a swan and one crane species) to show for the first time that these birds fly non-stop over the Far East taiga forest, despite their differing ecologies and migration routes. This implies a lack of suitable taiga refuelling habitats for these long-distance migrants. These results underline the extreme importance of northeast China spring staging habitats and of Arctic areas prior to departure in autumn to enable birds to clear this inhospitable biome, confirming the need for adequate site safeguard to protect these populations throughout their annual cycle.
Subcutaneous ocrelizumab in multiple sclerosis: Results of the Phase 1b OCARINA I study
Authors: Newsome Scott D. , Goldstick Lawrence , Robertson Derrick S. , Bowen James D. , Naismith Robert T. , Townsend Ben , Figueiredo Catarina , Kletzl Heidemarie , Giraudon Mylene , Bortolami Oscar , Zecevic Dusanka , Giacobino Caroline , Clinch Susanne , Shen Yun‐An , Deol-Bhullar Gurpreet , Bermel Robert A.
Published: October 2024

Objective

Subcutaneous ocrelizumab is being developed to provide treatment flexibility and additional choice to patients with multiple sclerosis. OCARINA I (NCT03972306) is an open‐label, multicenter, Phase 1b, dose‐finding study to investigate the pharmacokinetics, safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of subcutaneous ocrelizumab and to select a dose for the Phase 3 OCARINA II study (NCT05232825).

Methods

Patients with relapsing or primary progressive multiple sclerosis (aged 18–65 years; Expanded Disability Status Scale score 0.0–6.5) were enrolled into two groups: previously treated with intravenous ocrelizumab (Group A) or naïve to ocrelizumab (Group B). Patients received single ascending doses of subcutaneous ocrelizumab up to 1200 mg. Following dose escalation, new patients in Group A were randomized (1:1) to receive a single 600 mg intravenous ocrelizumab dose or the candidate subcutaneous dose, which was predicted to result in similar exposure as the 600 mg intravenous dose while being safe and well tolerated. The area under the concentration–time curve for both formulations was used to select the subcutaneous ocrelizumab dose. Patients in all cohorts could enter a dose‐continuation phase.

Results

Eighty‐eight and 47 patients were enrolled into Group A and B, respectively; most patients were female (72.7%/63.0%), and mean age at baseline was 45.7 and 39.7 years, respectively. Subcutaneous ocrelizumab was well tolerated across all doses tested. The 920 mg subcutaneous ocrelizumab dose was selected for the OCARINA II study based on pharmacokinetic and safety data.

Interpretation

Subcutaneous ocrelizumab may provide patients with multiple sclerosis with an additional treatment option.
Popular weight‐loss medications could have applications for SUD
Authors: Enos Gary
Published: October 2024

Two categories of medications that have soared in popularity in addressing weight loss could eventually become impactful strategies in the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD). But the findings that suggest this potential has been observational to this point, meaning more targeted trials will be necessary before these therapies can be seen as a breakthrough.
Addiction professionals do so much with so little: NAADAC
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: October 2024

Last week NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC) met in Washington for its annual conference and Hill Day, when members of the group go to Capitol Hill to make specific asks of their representatives. Held in a different location each year, the conference site this year made visits to Congress essential. So does the state of the organization, which is now under the leadership of Terrence D. Walton, who came to the organization from Rise Up (formerly called the National Association of Drug Court Professionals).
Recovery ecosystem: More than treatment
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: October 2024

Andre L. Johnson, Psy.D., founder and CEO of the Detroit Recovery Project, shared his vision of a “recovery ecosystem” at the annual meeting of the Association of Addiction Professionals (NAADAC) in Washington, D.C. last week. “The world has changed, it's not the world of the 80s,” he said. Johnson, after he was sober for two years, went to Morehouse for an undergraduate psychology degree and went on to work at a hospital in Detroit, where he “sat down with CEOs and CFOs and learned how money is moved around and how programs are designed based on resources,” he said. After completing a clinical internship at Tarzana Treatment Center treating 12‐18‐year‐olds, he received a doctorate in clinical psychology from the Michigan School of Psychology. What he stressed at NAADAC was this: “we needed to develop a recovery support program.” Treatment alone wasn't working in the drug‐ravaged city. The time of 120 days in treatment was over.
Stages of change are not boxes or labels
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: October 2024

Carlo DiClemente, Ph.D., the legendary creator, with Prochaska, of the stages of change theory for motivational interviewing, talked about the relevance of this 40‐year‐old model in current treatment at the annual meeting of the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC) in Washington last week. He noted not to put people in one of the “boxes”: pre‐contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance and relapse. Substance use is more fluid than that, and in fact, relapse is not itself a substance use problem, he said — it's a problem that is probable and to be expected and dealt with in any health behavior such as diabetes, diet and exercise.
NASADAD head wins Oxford House award
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: October 2024

Last week Robert Morrison, executive director of the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Agency Directors (NASADAD) received the 2024 Tom Fellows Award for service from Oxford House Inc. at the world convention held in Orlando, Florida.
OASAS head named to NAM
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: October 2024

Last week Chinazo Cunningham, M.D., commissioner of the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), announced her election to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM). “I am extremely honored to be one of the newest members of the National Academy of Medicine,” she said.
Sustainable Solution Processing Toward High‐Efficiency Organic Solar Cells: A Comprehensive Review of Materials, Strategies, and Applications
Authors: Ma Bing , Yan Yongdie , Wu Maoheng , Li Sunsun , Ru Min , Xu Zhaoyang , Zhao Wenchao
Published: October 2024

Organic solar cells (OSCs) have emerged as promising candidates for renewable energy harvesting due to their lightweight, flexible, and low‐cost fabrication potential. The efficiency of OSCs is largely determined by the choice of solvents, which significantly affect the film morphology of the active layers, the intermixed donor‐acceptor domains, and overall device performance. Beginning with an introduction to the importance of solvent selection, the screening and classification of solvents, emphasizing their characteristics and classification based on sustainability, solubility, and other additional considerations are explored. Various non‐halogenated solvents, highlighting commonly used aromatic solvents, biomass‐derived solvents, and water/alcohol‐based solvents are explored. The state‐of‐the‐art donor and acceptor materials, focusing on efficient donor materials such as PM6 and D18, and high‐performing Y‐series acceptors are also presented. Strategies for developing high‐performance OSCs processed using non‐halogenated solvents are examined, including solvent engineering with additive and additive‐free approaches, ternary strategies, and layer‐by‐layer techniques. The fabrication of large‐area devices using non‐halogenated solvents is addressed, focusing on blade‐coating, slot‐coating, and other processing techniques. Finally, this review outlines future research directions in the non‐halogenated solvent processing of OSCs, emphasizing the need for continuous innovation to overcome existing limitations and propel OSC technology toward commercial viability.
Cohesion Regulation of Polyphenol Cross‐Linked Hydrogel Adhesives: From Intrinsic Cross‐Link to Designs of Temporal Responsiveness
Authors: Xing Qi , Zhen Li , Zhou Xiaolu , Zhong Shitong , Li Fuxia , Li Jiyao , Meng Ruoyu , Duan Peipei , Luo Jun , Yang Jiaojiao
Published: October 2024

Polyphenol hydrogels have found widespread application in wound healing, bone repair, drug delivery, and biosensors due to their robust wet adhesion, high ductility, and excellent self‐healing ability. However, these hydrogels often exhibit low intrinsic cohesion, which limits their overall adhesive strength. Enhancing cohesion is critical for improving both the adhesion and mechanical properties of the hydrogels, thereby expanding their utility in biomedical fields. This review begins by exploring strategies to enhance the cohesion of polyphenol hydrogel adhesives, detailing modifications that act individually or synergistically. The importance of temporally regulating cohesion is emphasized to accommodate various applications and environmental conditions. Finally, this paper discusses remaining challenges in cohesion regulation and outlines prospects for future research. It is hoped that this comprehensive review will provide new insights into the development of advanced polyphenolic hydrogel adhesives and contribute to the design of “smart adhesives” for increasingly complex needs in biomedical applications.
Effective Water Confinement and Dual Electrolyte–Electrode Interfaces by Zwitterionic Oligomer for High‐Voltage Aqueous Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Deng Yinyan , Xing Chunxian , Li Chuan , Zhou Yangbo , Peng Zhiping , Fei Linfeng , Zhi Chunyi , Wang Tao
Published: October 2024

Aqueous lithium‐ion batteries (ALIBs) have attracted significant interest due to their inherent advantage on safety. However, water itself has a narrow electrochemical stability window (ESW), limiting the energy density of ALIBs. Here, a low‐molecular‐weight zwitterionic oligomer, oligo(propylsulfonate dimethylammonium propylmethacrylamide) (OPDP), as an effective water binding agent for high‐voltage ALIBs is demonstrated. The OPDP can effectively confine water molecules while reducing water activity. The OPDP‐based electrolyte, with an ultra‐high water weight percentage of 25.4%, possesses an outstanding ESW of up to 3.26 V and an ionic conductivity as high as 3.18 mS cm−1. Furthermore, the aqueous Mo6S8//LiMn2O4 full cell with OPDP‐based electrolyte achieves a 99.7% capacity retention after 200 cycles at 0.5C with a high Coulombic efficiency (CE) of 98.7% and a specific energy of 88–101 Wh kg−1. Also, it achieves an 89% capacity retention after 2000 cycles at 10C with a high CE of 99.9%. These postmortem characterizations suggest that robust organic–inorganic hybrid cathode/anode‐electrolyte interfaces have been constructed during the cycling through the heteroatoms of N, S, and O in the zwitterionic oligomer, leading to the inhibited hydrogen/oxygen evolution reactions and high performance of the full cell. This work provides a promising strategy for developing low‐cost and high‐voltage aqueous batteries.
Ag–Pt Alloy Nanoparticles Modified Zn‐Based Nanosheets for Highly Selective CO2 Photoreduction to CH4
Authors: Li Qiuchan , Wang Qi , Zeng Yubin , Xu Yanfei , Gu Xiang‐Kui , Ding Mingyue
Published: October 2024

Multi‐electron involved photoreduction of CO2 to hydrocarbon fuels is a long‐standing challenge, particularly in manipulating the selectivity of the target products. Here, a novel Ag–Pt bimetallic alloy on Zn‐based supports by photo‐deposition is designed for photocatalytic CO2 reduction to CH4 without any additives. This photocatalyst exhibits ≈ 98.9% selectivity for CH4. Experimental and theoretical calculations demonstrated that the excellent performance of the photocatalyst can be attributed to the localized surface plasmon resonance effect of metals, as well as the synergistic effects of the bimetallic sites. These factors are found to be beneficial not only for capturing solar radiation and facilitating electron migration but also for promoting the adsorption and activation of CO2 and the protonation of *CO. As a result, the photocatalyst achieved high selectivity and activity of photoreduction of CO2 to CH4. This work provides insights into the design of photocatalysts with highly selective target products for CO2 reduction.
Boosting Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution by a Light Coupling and Charge Carrier Confinement Strategy
Authors: Xu Yixue , Qiu Fan , Xu Shun‐Qi , Zhu Shifan , Zhang Yeheng , Liu Haohao , Zong Pengfei , Ma Liu , Hong Kunquan , Wang Yuqiao
Published: October 2024

High‐performance photocatalysis requires efficient light absorption and low charge carrier recombination rates. Herein, a light coupling and charge carrier confinement strategy is demonstrated to simultaneously enhance the light absorption efficiency and suppress the charge carrier recombination for high‐performance photocatalysis. The strategy is achieved by the delicate incorporation of catalysts into a dual‐core‐shell structure (e.g., CdS@SiO2@NaYF4:Yb/Tm), in which CdS (catalyst), SiO2, and NaYF4:Yb/Tm serve as shell, outer core, and inner core, respectively. Interestingly, the absorbed light can be confined within the CdS layer through multiple reflections between the CdS and SiO2 interfaces, achieving light confinement. This confinement endows a longer light residence time, enhanced light reabsorption and reutilization efficacy, and a higher concentration of photogenerated charge carriers per unit of time. Moreover, the insulating SiO2 can confine the photogenerated charge carriers within CdS layer, thus shortening their diffusion length for reduced recombination rates. Notably, when employed as the photocatalyst, this dual‐core‐shell structure showed a superb photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate up to 74.67 mmol g−1 h−1, which is 11 times higher than that of pristine CdS. This work provides a new strategy for the design and synthesis of high‐performance photocatalysts.
Advancing Two‐Photon Photodynamic Therapy Over NIR‐II Excitable Conjugated Microporous Polymer with NIR‐I Emission
Authors: Li Bo , Yu Xinlei , Lu Xin , Sun Xianshun , Kai Yuanzhong , Cheng Longjiu , Zhou Hongping , Tian Yupeng , Li Dandan
Published: October 2024

The availability of second near‐infrared (NIR‐II) excitable two‐photon photosensitizers with NIR‐I emission for efficient photodynamic therapy (PDT) is limited by challenges in molecular design. In this study, a NIR‐II light‐excitable two‐photon conjugated microporous polymer (Tph‐Dbd) with emission in the NIR‐I region is developed. The large conjugated system and delocalized electronic structures endow Tph‐Dbd with a large two‐photon absorption cross‐section under NIR‐II light excitation. Moreover, the efficient electron acceptor and donor units within the π‐conjugated backbones result in NIR‐I emission for high signal‐to‐background ratio imaging, as well as separated highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital distributions for excellent singlet oxygen generation ability. The excellent NIR‐II excitable two‐photon absorption activity, NIR‐I emission, good biocompatibility, and high photostability allow Tph‐Dbd to be used for efficient in vitro fluorescence imaging guided PDT. Moreover, the impressive photothermal effect of Tph‐Dbd can overcome the limitations of PDT in the treatment of hypoxic tumors. This study highlights a strategy for designing NIR‐II excitable two‐photon photosensitizers for advanced PDT.