bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distribución geográfica y afinidad por el sustrato de las algas verdes (Chlorophyceae) bénticas de las costas mexicanas del Golfo de México y Mar Caribe
Authors: Garduño-Solórzano Gloria , Godínez-Ortega José Luis , Ortega Martha M.
Published: January 2019

Se analizó la distribución geográfica de las algas verdes bénticas de las costas mexicanas del Golfo de México y el Mar Caribe, utilizando un banco de datos que incluye 98 publicaciones taxonómicas del periodo 1846 - 2000, con base en el índice de Jaccard. Se registraron 169 especies de 49 géneros. La mayor riqueza específica corresponde a Cladophora (26 especies) y Caulerpa (16). Se corroboró 70.8% del total de la ficoflora a través de 69 especies recolectadas por los autores en 25 localidades (40.8%), y 30% por medio de la consulta de los herbarios MEXU, ENCB y DUKE. En el esquema ficológico del ambiente marino se registraron 17 hábitats en cinco tipos de costa; en ellos se desarrollan las algas en sustratos duros (62.5%), suaves (48.4%), animales (36.8%), plantas (30%), flotantes (11%) y artificiales (12.2%). A lo largo de las costas de la vertiente atlántica de México, se confirmó la distinción entre dos provincias: una correspondiente a la ficoflora tropical de las costas de Quintana Roo hasta Veracruz (provincia Caribeña) y otra flora de aguas subtropicales, pobre en especies (provincia Caroliniana) donde Cabo Rojo es la frontera que separa la costa tropical y subtropical de México.
Cambios anatómicos en la corteza de Parkinsonia praecox (Ruiz et Pavón) Hawkins causados por la epífita Tillandsia recurvata L. (Bromeriaceae)
Authors: Páez-Gerardo Luis Enrique , Aguilar-Rodríguez Silvia , Terrazas Teresa , Huidobro-Salas Ma. Elena , Aguirre-León Ernesto
Published: January 2019

Tillandsia recurvata L. is commonly found growing on the branches and trunk of Parkinsonia praecox (Ruiz et Pavón) Hawkins in the semi-arid area of the Zapotitlán Salinas Valley, Mexico, and this relationship seems to affect the phorophyte in different ways. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the establishment of T. recurvata on bark tissues of the phorophyte P. praecox. The anatomical study of the bark allowed to recognize the presence of non-collapsed phloem, collapsed phloem, a cortex whose cells under the epidermis show chloroplasts and a multiple epidermis covered by a wide epicuticular wax layer. Tillandsia recurvata roots never penetrate the tissues. However, in those zones where the epiphyte occurs a wound periderm develops below the epidermis. Wound periderm provides protection against infection, but it probably also affects negatively the mobilization of carbon dioxide toward internal tissues or the dissipation of heat and light. These aspects seem to be more important than the photosynthesis decrease in branches where the epiphyte establishes. It is likely that the overweight caused by the large number of Tillandsia recurvata individuals on the branches prevents the adequate architectural development of the phorophyte Parkinsonia praecox.
Reseña de libro: La enciclopedia ilustrada de las leguminosas: sistemática, filogenia, biogeografía y usos de la familia a nivel mundial.
Authors: Grether Rosaura
Published: January 2019

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Notes on the flora of the Yucatan peninsula V: New records and miscellaneous notes for the family Leguminosae
Authors: Duno-de-Stefano Rodrigo , Rico-Arce Lourdes , Martínez-Bernal Angélica , Gutiérrez-Báez Celso
Published: January 2019

Two novelties of the family Leguminosae, Acaciella villosa (Sw.) Britton et Rose and Zornia gemella Vogel, are reported for the first time from the Yucatan Peninsula Biotic Province. Additionally,  information on two other little known species is included: Rhynchosia americana (Mill.) Metz, and Senna reticulata (Willd.) H.S.Irwin et Barneby. Lastly, information on some other species or names used in the region is discussed: Acacia spadicigera Schltdl. et Cham., Albizia adinocephala (Donn.Sm.) Britton et Rose, Albizia rubiginosa Miq., Bauhinia glabra Jacq., Eriosema simplicifolium (Kunth) G.Don, Lonchocarpus cochleatus Pittier, and Zornia diphylla (L.) Pers.
La flora arbórea de Michoacán, México
Authors: Cué-Bär Eva M. , Villaseñor José Luis , Arredondo-Amezcua Libertad , Cornejo-Tenorio Guadalupe , Ibarra-Manríquez Guillermo
Published: January 2019

Based on the review of floristic and taxonomic literature, as well as on the examination of specimens housed at the herbaria of the Centro Regional del Bajío (IEB) and the Instituto de Biología (MEXU), we recorded 845 species, 352 genera and 100 families of trees for the state of Michoacán, Mexico. The largest numbers of species per family were recorded for Asteraceae (82), Fabaceae (74), Mimosaceae (67), Caesalpiniaceae (39) and Burseraceae (38), while at the genus level Bursera (37), Quercus (35), Lonchocarpus (19), Senna (18), and Acacia (16) are the most speciose. The genus Beiselia (Burseraceae) and 14 species (1.8 %) are strict endemics to the state. A total of 28 families (28%) and 210 genera (60%) are represented in the state only by one tree species each. The most important vegetation types according to their species richness are tropical deciduous forest (593, 70.2%), coniferous forest (336, 39.8%) and oak forest (332, 39.3%). A high proportion (69.9%) of Michoacán’s tree species is located in 2-4 vegetation types; 173 species (21.5%) have been found just in one type, mainly in the tropical dry forest (87 species, 10.3%). The floristic richness of Michoacán is largely explained by its complex geologic history, its rugged physiography, its diverse climate, and its multiple vegetation types, as well as by its location at the confluence of the Holartic and Neotropical floristic kingdoms. Counties and species on which to focus conservation efforts for trees in the state are pinponted.
Primer registro en México de Tectaria xmichleriana, Tectariaceae
Authors: Mendoza-Ruiz Aniceto , Pérez-García Blanca , Valdez Ricardo
Published: January 2019

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La buena y la mala cara de las malezas: nuevo recuento de las plantas arvenses para el estado de Querétaro.
Authors: Linares Edelmira
Published: January 2019

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Orquideomanía ilustrada: historia natural, uso, ecología y conservación de las orquídeas mexicanas.
Authors: Meave Jorge A.
Published: January 2019

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Efectividad de algunos tratamientos pre-germinativos para ocho especies leñosas de la Mixteca Alta oaxaqueña con características relevantes para la restauración
Authors: Martínez-Pérez Gilberto , Orozco-Segovia Alma , Martorell Carlos
Published: January 2019

Para restaurar zonas fuertemente degradadas como la Mixteca Alta (Oaxaca, México) es importante usar especies nativas que faciliten la sucesión natural. Para ello necesitamos saber si sus semillas presentan latencia y cómo romperla. En ocho especies apropiadas para la restauración, evaluamos la efectividad de diferentes tratamientos pre-germinativos seleccionados con base en la literatura. Los resultados se analizaron con un nuevo método que resuelve algunos problemas estadísticos frecuentes en el análisis de estos experimentos. Acacia schaffneri, Ipomoea murucoides, Mimosa aculeaticarpa y Dodonaea viscosa presentan latencia física, ya que basta quebrantar la testa mediante abrasión o calentamiento para lograr una germinación rápida. A pesar de pertenecer a familias que sólo presentan latencia fisiológica, las semillas de Arctostaphylos pungens y Juniperus flaccida germinan sumergiéndolas en ácido, lo que quizá facilitó al embrión inmaduro la ruptura de la testa. Encontramos latencia fisiológica somera en Quercus deserticola y aparente ausencia de latencia en Quercus castanea.
Estructura y composición de la vegetación de la barra costera El Mogote, Baja California Sur, México
Authors: Romero-López Blanca Estela , León de la Luz José Luis , Pérez-Navarro José Juan , De la Cruz-Agüero Gustavo
Published: January 2019

Ubicada en la región meridional de Baja California Sur, la barra arenosa El Mogote exhibe en una superficie de un poco más de 15.5 km2 una vegetación con rasgos singulares debido a la confluencia de la franja costera arenosa con elementos florísticos de la región árido-tropical de la Región del Cabo y del Desierto Sonorense. Se analiza la vegetación mediante técnicas de clasificación y ordenación para determinar relaciones entre gradientes de vegetación y edáficos. Se identificaron nueve asociaciones vegetales que corresponden a tres ambientes: dunas, salitral y manglar. El gradiente de vegetación en la zona de dunas se explica en función de la salinidad y el tamaño de partículas del suelo. Algunos atributos ecológicos revisados mostraron que la riqueza específica y la diversidad de especies son superiores en las zonas menos expuestas al litoral y con suelo más estabilizado. Este tipo de vegetación afronta una fuerte presión debido a desarrollos turísticos en la zona.
Composición y patrones de distribución geográfica de la flora del bosque de oyamel del Cerro Tláloc, México
Authors: Sánchez-González Arturo , López-Mata Lauro , Vibrans Heike
Published: January 2019

Se analizó la composición y la distribución de las familias, los géneros y las especies de plantas vasculares del bosque de oyamel del Cerro Tláloc en el norte de la Sierra Nevada. En un intervalo altitudinal de 3,000 a 3,500 m se exploró el bosque maduro de oyamel para recolectar el mayor número posible de especímenes durante 16 meses consecutivos. Se encontraron 44 familias, 94 géneros y 137 especies. Tres cuartas partes de las especies pertenecen a sólo 15 familias, destacando Asteraceae, Poaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Geraniaceae, Onagraceae y Pinaceae. La mayoría de las familias y los géneros son de amplia distribución; aproximadamente 88% de las especies son exclusivas de América, de las cuales 32% son endémicas de México y 31% de México-Centroamérica. Solamente 6.6% de las especies recolectadas son exóticas, lo que sugiere que los cambios en la composición florística del bosque son consecuencia de las actividades humanas.
Plantas medicinales de cuatro mercados del estado de Puebla, México
Authors: Martínez-Moreno David , Alvarado-Flores Roberto , Mendoza-Cruz Myrna , Basurto-Peña Francisco
Published: January 2019

Se presenta el inventario de las plantas medicinales obtenido en cuatro mercados del estado de Puebla: Atlixco, Tepeaca, Tecamachalco y mercado Hidalgo de la ciudad de Puebla. Los mercados se visitaron una vez al mes durante medio año (enero a junio 2000). La información fue recabada mediante entrevistas abiertas con los comerciantes de cada mercado, preguntando por el nombre, el uso de las plantas, las partes utilizadas, las formas de preparación y la procedencia. Se hicieron colectas de los materiales para su determinación botánica; los ejemplares obtenidos se depositaron en el Herbario Nacional (MEXU). Se registraron 62 especies de plantas medicinales, pertenecientes a 31 familias; 50% de estas especies no habían sido reportadas en otros estudios sobre plantas medicinales realizadas en mercados en el estado de Puebla. Se discute el uso de las especies para diferentes enfermedades y por aparatos y sistemas orgánicos. La mayoría de las plantas estuvieron presentes durante todo el  periodo de muestreo, pero algunas de ellas, como el alampepe, el berro y la gobernadora fueron encontradas en una sola ocasión.
Juanulloa mexicana (Solanaceae), nuevo registro en el occidente de México
Authors: Vargas-Rodriguez Yalma Luisa , Cházaro-Basáñez Miguel de Jesús , Vázquez-García José Antonio
Published: January 2019

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Luis Alejandro Novelo Retana (24 de febrero de 1951 - 15 de junio de 2006)
Authors: Bonilla-Barbosa Jaime Raúl
Published: January 2019

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Anatomía vegetativa de Ctenitis melanosticta (Dryopteridaceae, Pteridophyta)
Authors: Hernández-Hernández Victoria , Terrazas Teresa , Mehltreter Klaus
Published: January 2019

The root, rhizome, petiole and blade anatomy of Ctenitis melanosticta was studied and compared with the available information for closely related genera. Root is diarc with sclerenchyma and parenchyma cells in the cortex, with fungal hyphae exclusively in the latter. The occurrence of sclereid nests in the rhizome is shared with Dryopteris and Campyloneurum. A cortical band was present in petiole and lamina, as in Dryopteris and other genera of the most derived ferns. The lamina had unifacial mesophyll and under the adaxial epidermis there were several layers of the fiber, as described for Elaphoglossum and Thelypteris, but differed from Asplenium, Dryopteris, and Polybotrya with collenchyma. The anatomy of C. melanosticta was similar to that of most species studied of Dryopteridaceae, although with some differences. Additional anatomical studies in species of Dryopteridaceae will allow to confirm the diagnostic value of several anatomical features, such as the lack of cortical band in the rhizome, the sclereid nests, the unifacial mesophyll, and the cortical band in the lamina.
Tillandsia borealis (Bromeliaceae), una nueva especie del norte de México
Authors: López-Ferrari Ana Rosa , Espejo-Serna Adolfo
Published: January 2019

Se describe e ilustra Tillandsia borealis , conocida de los estados de Durango y Sinaloa, México. Los caracteres que permiten reconocer a la especie aquí propuesta son: las inflorescencias erectas, las espigas elípticas a ovado elípticas, provistas de un pedúnculo corto, robusto y ebracteado y los pétalos verdes pálidos. Se compara T. borealis con T. carloshankii Matuda, T. prodigiosa Baker y T. macrochlamys Baker las cuales presentan características similares y se incluye un cuadro comparativo y un mapa de distribución de las mismas.
Relación de revisores del suplemento y Presentación
Authors: Álvarez-Sánchez Javier , Carabias Julia , Meave Jorge A.
Published: January 2019

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Editorial
Authors: Sarukhán José
Published: January 2019

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Restauración de bosques en territorios indígenas de Chiapas: modelos ecológicos y estrategias de acción
Authors: González-Espinosa Mario , Ramírez-Marcial Neptalí , Camacho-Cruz Angélica , Holz Silvia C. , Rey-Benayas José María , Parra-Vázquez Manuel R.
Published: January 2019

Los bosques de las montañas del sur de México han sido fragmentados y alterados en su estructura y composición florística por agricultura tradicional asociada al crecimiento poblacional. La restauración forestal no sólo es urgentemente necesaria en muchas áreas de Chiapas, sino que es una opción viable para recuperar servicios y productos que en adelante pueden utilizarse de manera sustentable. La restauración de los bosques debe partir del entendimiento de los procesos ecológicos básicos, para luego diseñar las medidas técnicas pertinentes e incorporar elementos económicos y sociales que guíen un enfoque adaptativo de los programas de acción. Al cabo de más de una década, nuestras experiencias de investigación, desarrollo tecnológico y vinculación social permiten proponer modelos que abarcan algunos de los aspectos ecológicos, técnicos y sociales implicados en la recuperación, conservación y aprovechamiento racional de los recursos forestales
Editorial y Relación de revisores (2007)
Authors: Meave Jorge A.
Published: January 2019

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El metabolismo ácido de las crasuláceas: diversidad, fisiología ambiental y productividad
Authors: Andrade José Luis , De la Barrera Erick , Reyes-García Casandra , Ricalde M. Fernanda , Vargas-Soto Gustavo , Crevera J. Carlos
Published: January 2019

México posee una gran diversidad de especies con el Metabolismo Ácido de las Crasuláceas (CAM). Las especies con este metabolismo pueden crecer en sitios donde la disponibilidad de agua es infrecuente, como son las zonas áridas y semiáridas y las copas de los árboles, o como hidrofitas en sitios con poca disponibilidad de CO2. Esta revisión presenta aspectos metodológicos, evolutivos, ecológicos y fisiológicos de este tipo de fotosíntesis. Además, se presentan datos de estudios recientes relacionados con la influencia de las condiciones ambientales en el ciclo diario de la fotosíntesis CAM. Finalmente, se presenta una reflexión sobre la falta de estudios en la fisiología de plantas CAM en México a pesar de su enorme diversidad.
Pérdida de diversidad florística ante un gradiente de intensificación del sistemaagrícola de roza-tumba-quema: un estudio de caso en la Selva Lacandona, Chiapas, México
Authors: Ochoa-Gaona Susana , Hernández-Vázquez Francisco , De Jong Bernardus H. J. , Gurri-García Francisco D.
Published: January 2019

Se analizó la dinámica del sistema agrícola de roza-tumba-quema (r-t-q) bajo un proceso de alargamiento de los años de cultivo de la parcela y un incremento de los periodos de cultivo, y se determinó bajo qué intensidad y frecuencia de uso los acahuales conservan especies propias de la flora leñosa nativa en la Zona Norte de la Selva Lacandona. Se levantaron 39 inventarios en acahuales de diferentes edades (EA) e historias de uso. Se generó un índice de integridad (II) que combina la intensidad y la frecuencia de uso de las parcelas. Mediante un análisis canónico de correspondencia se evaluó la relación de las especies con EA e II. Se encontró que los acahuales de mayores edades e II funcionan como reservorios de especies nativas propias del bosque maduro. Las tendencias del sistema de r-t-q son de incremento de su intensidad y frecuencia de uso, por lo que la matriz será mas homogénea y de mayor contraste con las áreas forestales, lo cual impedirá la dispersión, el establecimiento y el mantenimiento de la porción de flora nativa propia de estos hábitats, comprometiendo su sobrevivencia.
Un acto de magia o el milagro de la supervivencia.
Authors: Meave Jorge A.
Published: January 2019

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Inventario florístico del Cerro El Cebú y zonas adyacentes en la Reserva de la Biosfera El Triunfo (Polígono V), Chiapas, México
Authors: Martínez-Meléndez Jorge , Pérez-Farrera Miguel Ángel , Farrera-Sarmiento Oscar
Published: January 2019

Se registró un total de 502 especies pertenecientes a 301 géneros y 115 familias en el Cerro El Cebú y zonas adyacentes del Polígono V de la Reserva de la Biosfera El Triunfo, Chiapas, México. Las familias con mayor riqueza fueron Orchidaceae, Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Bromeliaceae y Polypodiaceae, con 58, 29, 28, 17 y 17 especies, respectivamente. Se reconocieron cinco tipos de comunidades vegetales, de los cuales el bosque mesófilo de montaña fue la más diversa, con 234 especies, seguido del bosque de coníferas con 150 y el bosque tropical perennifolio con 127. El bosque de encino y el bosque tropical caducifolio incluyeron únicamente 71 y 39 especies, respectivamente. Del total de taxa para el área, solamente trece están incluidos en listas de especies en peligro de extinción.
Diversidad, distribución y estrategias para la conservación de las Pleurothallidinae (Orchidaceae) en Oaxaca
Authors: Solano-Gómez Rodolfo , Alonso-Hernández Nancy , Rosado-Ferrer Karina , Aguilar-Hernández Mariana de Alba , García Rufina
Published: January 2019

El presente trabajo se realizó para determinar las áreas con mayor diversidad de las orquídeas de la subtribu Pleurothallidinae en Oaxaca, asimismo para conocer su distribución, preferencias de hábitat y regiones que son importantes para su conservación. Se revisó material colectado en el estado para el grupo; los sitios de colecta fueron georreferenciados y digitalizados sobre temas cartográficos del estado. A partir de 399 localidades se reportan 13 géneros, 120 especies y 2 subespecies para la subtribu en Oaxaca, 32 de ell as son endémicas y 12 se consideran en riesgo. El bosque mesófilo de montaña es el hábitat que alberga el mayor número de especies de Pleurothallidinae. Anathallis oblanceolata y Lepanthes nigriscapa, dos especies endémicas a Oaxaca, están probablemente extintas. La Sierra Norte y Los Chimalapas albergan más localidades para Pleurothallidinae en comparación con otras regiones, por lo que se proponen como áreas prioritarias de conservación de este grupo de orquídeas.
Mecanismos de tolerancia a elementos potencialmente tóxicos en plantas
Authors: González-Mendoza Daniel , Zapata-Pérez Omar
Published: January 2019

Las plantas presentan una serie de mecanismos celulares que pueden estar participando en la tolerancia a elementos potencialmente tóxicos. Estos mecanismos consisten en la formación de micorrizas, e l secuestro del metal en la pared celular de la planta, así como la precipitación con exudados radicales, la reducción ele la absorción del metal por la membrana plasmática y la quelación del metal en el citosol por fitoquelatinas, metalotioneinas, histiclina y prolina en forma libre. Asimismo, pueden involucrar el secuestro del metal en vacuolas mediante transportadores específicos localizados en el tonoplasto. Esta revisión ofrece una descripción de la participación de cada uno de los mecanismos de tolerancia en las plantas a metales potencialmente tóxicos.
Nota sobre la presencia de Hypochaeris radicata L. (Asteraceae: Lactuceae) en la flora del Distrito Federal, México
Authors: Hinojosa-Espinosa Oscar , Cruz-Durán Ramiro
Published: January 2019

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Machine learning approach yields epigenetic biomarkers of food allergy: A novel 13-gene signature to diagnose clinical reactivity v1
Authors: Alag Ayush
Published: January 2019

Current laboratory tests have a less than 50% accuracy in distinguishing between people who have food allergies (FA) and those who are merely sensitized to foods, resulting in the use of expensive and potentially dangerous Oral Food Challenges. Our study presents a purely-computational machine learning approach, conducted using DNA Methylation (DNAm) data, to accurately diagnose food allergies and find genes that are strong biomarkers of the disease. We built two deep learning classifiers with twelve CpG-input features each that achieved perfect accuracy and an AUROC of 1 on the completely hidden cross-validation cohort. In addition, 24 additional classifiers were created that each had an average cross-validation accuracy of 98.35%. These 26 classifiers yielded a total of 18 unique CpGs, which mapped to 13 genes that are strong epigenetic biomarkers of FA. Biological enrichment on the 13-gene signature yielded new insights. Notably, our FA-discriminating genes were strongly associated with the immune system, which helps validate our findings. Seven of the 13 genes overlapped with previous food-allergy and DNAm studies. Previous studies have also created a perfect classifier for this dataset, but they used a 96-CpG input feature set built on both data-driven and a priori biological insights. Our study is an improvement on previous work because it maintains a perfect classification accuracy using only 18 highly discriminating CpGs (0.005% of the total available features). In machine learning, simpler models, as used in our study, are preferred over more complex ones (all other things being equal). In addition, our completely data-driven approach eliminates the need for \textit{a priori} information and allows for generalizability to DNAm classification problems in other disease areas, which may result in novel gene associations or accurate diagnostic tests for those diseases.
Exploring the Relationship between Stay-abroad Experiences, Frequency Effects, and Context Use in L2 Idiom Comprehension
Authors: Suñer Ferran
Published: January 2019

This article explores to what extent a stay-abroad experience of L2 learners leads to more productive use of contextual clues and better benefits from frequency effects in L2 idiom comprehension. To this end, seventy-two learners of German (L1 French) were presented with a test on idiom comprehension that contained items both with and without a context and differing degrees of frequency. Furthermore, the participants completed a questionnaire on their stay-abroad experience (length of stay, country, etc.) as well as providing other data from their linguistic biography (language proficiency level, other languages, etc.). The results show that participants with a stay-abroad experience neither outperformed those without such an experience nor benefited from frequency effects and the presence of context. However, frequency was found to positively affect performance for items presented in context.
Arabic-speakers Learning Finnish Vowels: Short-term Phonetic Training Supports Second Language Vowel Production
Authors: Savo Satu , Peltola Maija S.
Published: January 2019

Considering all the many challenges of forced migration to the immigrants themselves, learning the local language is of extreme importance when attempting to integrate into a new society. Earlier research shows that the mother tongue phonology disturbs the perception of those redundant contrasts that are crucial to the target language, which then affects the production of the second language. The main purpose of this study was to see whether Arabic speakers learn to produce universally difficult non-native vowel sounds with only a short and simple articulatory training protocol. Thirteen Arabic speaking asylum seekers were tested and trained with natural stimuli produced by four speakers. The vowels /y/ and /ø/ were embedded in pseudowords /ty:ti/ and /tø:ti/. The first three formants of both pre- and post-test productions were analyzed, and the results of both acoustic and statistical analyses showed that there was a significant change in the production of both vowels. This implies that even a short-term phonetic training improves the production of the target language, which is worth noting as an enabler of the language learning process that immigrants undergo during their journey towards cultural integration.
The Influence of Classroom Environments on English Language Writing Instruction and Learning
Authors: Nabiryo Nancy R. , Sekiziyivu Samuel
Published: January 2019

Writing is one of the four language skills. Writing plays a big role in helping individuals clarify their thoughts, to the nation for storing information and in the academic world for taking notes and expressing logical arguments. Unfortunately, society still complains that school leavers do not know how to write indicating that either they were not taught writing or that the classroom environments where they were taught were not adequate enough to prepare them for the kind of writing they would need after school. This paper explores the influence of classroom environments on the teaching and learning of writing in secondary schools. Using a qualitative multiple case study design, we collected data from three schools through lesson observation and interviewing teachers and learners. Data were analyzed according to the emerging themes which were; classroom displays, lighting, and air. Findings portrayed that there were different teaching and learning environments but the success of writing instruction depended on how teachers modified the classroom environments to suit the different topics they were teaching. Therefore, there is a need to maximize the classroom environments to enhance writing instruction and learning.
The Effects of Explicit/Implicit Instructions on the Development of Advanced EFL Learners’ Pragmatic Knowledge of English: Apology Speech Act
Authors: Shark Pasand
Published: January 2019

The current study explored the effects of explicit and implicit instructions on the development of advanced EFL learners’ pragmatic knowledge in terms of apology speech act. A total of 10 English native speakers and 40 advanced EFL students participated in this study. The Iraqi Kurdish EFL learners were selected from grade 12 in British International School in Erbil/ Iraq and their level was determined by Oxford Quick Placement Test (OQPT) proficiency test. These 40 participants were divided randomly into two; explicit group (EG) and implicit group (IG) Later, they were provided a Multiple-choice Discourse Completion Test (MDCT) as a pre-test, which consisted of 10 different situations of apology and were based on the participants’ real-life situation, each situation included 3 options and only one answer could be selected which considered to be the most appropriate answer to them. The aim was to show if there were any significant differences between EG and IG. The English native speakers were given the same (MDCT) and were asked to choose the most appropriate answers. After the treatment, (EG) and (IG) were provided the same MDCT as a post-test. The findings revealed that the results of EG and IG were significant and they showed improvements after the treatment, and the EG outperformed the IG in post-test and delayed-test.
Exploring UAE Teachers’ Attitude towards the Successful Implementation of the General Rules in the "School for All" Initiative
Authors: Badr Haytham M.
Published: January 2019

The UAE federal law no. 29 of 2006 was a major step towards the recognition of the right of people with disabilities to receive the same educational, healthcare and recreational services among other services as received by their non-disabled ones. This new trend was later emphasized by the UAE Ministry of Education through some initiatives including the "School for All" initiative which was launched in 2010. This initiative set the general rules for the successful implementation of inclusion in the UAE context. The present study aimed at investigating the implementation of these rules from teachers' perspectives as a precursor of the successful inclusion in the UAE context. To do so, a questionnaire in the form of open-ended and close-ended questions was given out to all teachers of the investigated research site, totaling 194 teachers. However, only 77 teachers responded to the questionnaire, and then formed the main sample of the current study. The results revealed teachers' different attitudes towards the implementation of the general rules in the "School for All" initiative. Some recommendations towards the best teaching strategies that can be adopted to enhance effective teaching and learning in inclusive classes were also provided.
Research on the Strategy-based Instruction of News Broadcast Listening for English Minors in China
Authors: Zhang Jinzhu
Published: January 2019

News broadcast, as a kind of authentic input, are invaluable materials to improve listening proficiency for both ESL and EFL learners. However, the particular characteristics of news broadcast present a number of challenges to achieving comprehension: unfamiliar patterns of discourse, vocabulary, speech rates, syntactic structures, and a high density of factual contents, etc. in this paper, based on the Constructivism views on education, the author chooses 86 English learners in China who take English as their second major as the research subjects, carries out a strategy-based instruction to the experimental group. After the 15-week instruction, the author collects and analyses the data to examine whether the strategy-based instruction would help students improve their news listening performance.
Pronunciation Rating Scale in Second Language Pronunciation Assessment: A Review
Authors: Zhong Wenjun
Published: January 2019

By reviewing previous studies on pronunciation rating scale in second language pronunciation assessment, this article aims to summarize research gaps and weaknesses so as to contribute to the pronunciation rating scale research and development. Several research topics concerning construct, criterion, descriptor, scale length, scale format and scale users and suggestions with regard to participants, data collection methods and data analysis methods are provided for future research.
Woman Language: Features and Historic Change
Authors: Zhu Liwei
Published: January 2019

This paper first briefly looks at the previous studies done on female language from 1970s till now. Then it makes a brief analysis of some of the distinctive features of female language. Explanations about the reasons as to why these feature exist are offered from the physiological, psychological, social historical and social cultural standpoint. Finally, some changes about the woman language in recent years are expounded.
A Reflective Study on Intercultural Transmission and Appreciation among Silk Road Countries
Authors: Liu Chengcheng
Published: January 2019

The paper firstly introduces the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China with a global vision and long-term benefits advocating comprehensive cooperation among the Silk Road countries in infrastructure, politics, economy, finance and culture. Then it focuses on the theoretical analysis of culture, intercultural communication and cultural effects of the ancient Silk Road which had been transformed from a trading route to a comprehensive one containing economic ties, political trust, cultural exchange and common prosperity. The economic energy and cultural vitality of this ancient road is revived under the Belt and Road Initiative framework in accordance with the principles listed in the third part of the paper including respecting different cultural concepts, contributing our new thoughts, understanding other cultures with cultural empathy and making mutual choices in cultural interaction. Our great mission today is to contribute to the common development in and beyond cultures and ultimately attain the goal of building a community of shared future for all humankind.
A Contrastive Critical Discourse Analysis of Netanyahu’s and Abbas's Speeches on the Gaza War (2014)
Authors: Rababah Alaa’ G. , Hamdan Jihad M.
Published: January 2019

This study provides a contrastive critical discourse analysis of the speeches of the Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to the United Nations General Assembly regarding the Gaza War (2014). The analysis explores the representation of the “Self” and the “Other” in relation to the war. Van Dijk’s ‘Ideological Square’ theory is adopted to explore the group polarization of Us versus Them dichotomy. Moreover Halliday’s Systematic Functional Grammar is utilized in the analysis to study how the polarization of the “Self” and “Other” is constructed via particular grammatical transitivity choices. The results indicated that the representation of the “Self” and “Other” in the speeches reflects two different opposing ideologically-governed perspectives on the Gaza conflict. Both speakers present the “Self” as ‘strong’, ‘human’ and ‘honorable’ in contrast to the “Other” that is deemed to be a ‘dire threat’ and an ‘agent of destruction’.
A Study on the Network Catchphrases from the Perspective of Memetics
Authors: Chen Wen
Published: January 2019

Memetics is a new theory in linguistic research. It was put forward by Richard Dawkins in order to explain cultural evolutionism. Meme refers to imitation, replication and propagation, which plays an important role in language and cultural development. Memetics has already attracted many scholars’ attentions and has become more and more popular. With the thriving of the internet, netizens make changes in word selection and sentence patterns, so that meme is suitable for potential hosts. Network language is replicated quickly and disseminated widely, which influences people’s daily life. Therefore, the study of network catchphrase memes is valuable and meaningful. Memetics can explain cultural inheritance and language variation. It can also help people find the potential law of network language transmission. This thesis shows the characteristics of memes and network catchphrases respectively. Then the author analyzes the ways and factors of network catchphrases’ dissemination from the perspective of memetics, and discusses factors that affect the dissemination of network catchphrase memes. Therefore, the study on network language, especially catchphrases, has theoretical significance and practical value.
A Cross-linguistic Study of Person Agreement in Imposter Constructions
Authors: Furuya Kaori
Published: January 2019

This paper provides an analysis of person agreement in the imposter phenomenon studied by Collins & Postal (2012). In the constructions, full DPs are used to refer to speech-act participants like personal pronouns. Nonetheless, person agreement caused by imposters morphsyntactically varies in a subject-verb relation and subject-object relation cross-linguistically. Moreover, members of the classes of imposters are also not identical among languages. These patterns differ from those of personal pronouns. The paper argues that dual properties of the person feature (semantic and morphological) do not always coincide, leading to agreement alternations in PF. Furthermore, the D head does not always involve the person feature value, which induces dialectal and cross-linguistic variation. The analysis shows that regardless of the cross-linguistic variations, the syntactic operation for agreement is uniform in imposter constructions.
Effects of Creating an English Language Club on Intermediate Learners' Attitudes and Linguistic Achievement
Authors: Khorsheed Ranwa , Assaf Dareen , Al-Dammad Abdulaziz
Published: January 2019

This paper discusses the efforts of a group of ELT instructors at a private Syrian university, Arab International University (AIU), to modify students' attitudes towards general English remedial courses at the Foreign Languages Center (FLC) of the university. After analyzing the results of a questionnaire distributed to clarify the students' linguistic needs and assess their motivation, it was concluded that most students preferred interactive language exercises to theoretical text book activities. Thus, the instructors have resorted to practical methods embodied in establishing an English language club that seeks to fulfill students' needs. The club focused on two motivational activities: reading tabloids and making documentary short films. Consequently, regular weekly sessions were organized to hold these activities. All in all, students' attitudes were greatly enhanced and have become more positive. It was also noted that the students have become self-motivated to the extent of generating new and original ideas that will enrich the English language club at AIU. Furthermore, the students were able to achieve remarkable enhancement on their linguistic skills especially those of reading, writing and speaking in addition to acquiring and improving other personal skills e.g. team work, organizing and planning projects, and communicating ideas via oral presentations.
The Relationship between English Phonological Awareness of Chinese English Learners and Their English Skills
Authors: Hu Min
Published: January 2019

This study investigated the relationship between English phonological awareness (PA) of Chinese English learners and their three English skills (reading, spelling, and listening). Four-hundred college students participated in the study. The results of correlation and regression analyses demonstrated that: 1) overall PA correlated significantly with the three skills and predicted spelling strongly, listening intermediately, and reading weakly; 2) the three levels of PA had differential effects on English skills: reading was only significantly predicted by syllable awareness, spelling by onset-rhyme and phoneme awareness, and listening by all levels of PA; and 3) the predictive effects of tasks corresponded to the difficulty of the processing skill required by a task. This study has borne out a vital role of English PA in improving adult Chinese English learners’ English skills.
A Comparative Study of Hedges and Boosters in English and Jordanian Arabic: Economic Newspaper Articles as a Case Study
Authors: Al-Ghoweri Helen A. , Kayed Murad M. Al
Published: January 2019

The study investigated English and Jordanian economic newspaper articles. It sheds light on the similarities and differences in terms of the frequencies and percentages of using hedges and boosters. To this end, the researcher selected 60 newspaper articles. 15 articles were randomly chosen from recent issues published in 2016-2017 in two English newspapers, "The New York Times" and "The Guardian". The study compared the frequencies of hedging and boosting devices in these newspapers to the frequencies of hedging and boosting devices in two Jordanian newspapers "Alrai" and "Alghad".The findings of the study revealed that language plays a role in using these devices. Significantly, English economic articles used modal auxiliaries and approximates most, while Arabic economic articles used approximates and lexical verbs most.
Study on Identification of Lexical Meaning in E-C Translation of English for Electric Power
Authors: Jiang Xue
Published: January 2019

As one of the branch of English for Science and Technology, English for Electric Power bears the characteristic of professionalism in meaning and flexible in lexis. As key components in professional literatures, lexis of English for Electric Power needs to be paid enough attention and accurately identified in order to precisely comprehend professional reading materials. This paper focuses on solving the problem of identifying Electric English vocabulary precisely by analyzing the determination of the professional lexis from three aspects of morphological structure, reference relations and context. Distinguishing the meaning of Electric Power English vocabulary is a crucial part in the translation practice of Electric Power English, which  plays a vital role in ultimately understand and grasp the content of professional materials fully.
Self-deception in The Sense of an Ending
Authors: Yuan Yueqing
Published: January 2019

Julian Barnes’s The Sense of an Ending conveys his humanistic concern about individuals’ psychological dilemmas. This essay focuses on the self-deception of the internal narrator Tony. It analyses how his defence mechanisms assist his self-deception and how his narrative discourses reflect the instability of his self-deception. Tony is an example of those who indulge in self-deception and fail to take on due duty. Individuals tend to struggle between deceiving and facing themselves. Those who know themselves better are better prepared for shouldering responsibility and addressing problems.
Gender-based Responses to Peer Reviews in Academic Writing
Authors: Listyani Listyani
Published: January 2019

We are living in a digital era in which everybody who is not participating will be left behind. Yes, that is true. We are all chased by the rapid changes of this era, and we are running faster and faster to catch up with the latest technology. It seems as if we are all haunted to go deeper and deeper into the “tunnel of the digital era”. The same thing happens in the world of education. However, if we notice more closely, there are still some aspects that can be done directly without necessitating the use of technology. One example is student-student direct interactions. Technology can be used to facilitate peer assessments, not replace student-student interactions. One central research question to be answered in this paper is: What are male and female Indonesian students’ points of views towards peer reviews? Despite all the sophisticated technology we are all exposed to in this era, peer feedback should still be done directly with real, face-to-face communication in a classroom setting. Indirect online communication or chatting through social media may cause a misunderstanding and misinterpretation of one’s ideas. Data for this study was taken from 39 students’ opinions in their journals. They were Academic Writing class students of the English Department of UKSW Indonesia, in Semester II, 2015-2016. Most students stated that direct and interactive face-to-face communication is still needed. It proves that digitation cannot replace everything. Real communication with real peers in the real - not cyber - world can enhance successful learning. The findings also reveal that differences were found between male and female students’ reactions or perceptions towards peer reviews.
Struggling between Ancient and Modern Life: Yank’s Quest of Self-identity in The Hairy Ape
Authors: Dang Chen
Published: January 2019

The Hairy Ape is a canonical masterpiece of the twentieth-century playwright and Nobel Laureate in Literature Eugene O’Neill. Under the social backdrop of dehumanized American capitalism, this play has become one of the most potent plays of realism, expressionism and symbolism in American literature. Since its first rendition, this play has been a subject of numerous literary discussions. This play, revolving around the protagonist Yank’s quest for a sense of belonging in a world controlled by the rich, presents a forceful literary analysis of the psychology and identity of an alienated being, and of the impact of industrialization upon human nature. This paper, applying Rousseau’s theories of language and education, and Michel Foucault’s theories of identity, attempts to deconstructs the concept of being “modern” in the Enlightenment Period, discusses Yank’s quest of self-identity in a so-called modern society, who seemingly transforms from a noble savage into a monster and becomes a prey to social values, and demonstrates that personal tragedy results from his failure to come to terms with his identity.
Measuring impact of Surya Namaskar and Pranayama for management of child obesity in India
Authors: Kumar Gorav , Monga Guneet , Gothi Nilesh
Published: January 2019

Background: Obesity is fast becoming the developed world's greatest health problem. Moreover, childhood obesity is a major public health crisis nationally and internationally. The prevalence of childhood obesity has increased over few years. It is caused by imbalance between calorie intake and calories utilized.Methods: The current paper analyses the impact of Surya Namaskar and Pranayama on management of child obesity. For this purpose, a group of 120 respondents were selected for a 4-month program to measure that whether the program can improve their living standards or not.Results: The result revealed positive impact on the obesity of the participants, further the variables of their medical condition and living standards improvement is identified.Conclusions: One variable Rate_yoga_1 is predicting the Overall_quality of Surya Namaskar and Pranayama. Further, four variables medi_conImp_3, medi_conImp_2, medi_conImp_5 and medi_conImp_4 are predicting the medical condition improvement under session of Surya Namaskar and Pranayama, and two variables Livi_stanimpr_4 and Livi_stanimpr_3 are predicting the living standard improvement under session of Surya Namaskar and Pranayama.
Clinical study of anemia in rural school children of Mangalore, Karnataka, India
Authors: M. K. Mahroof , Khan Shamshad Ahmed , Saldanha Prakash
Published: January 2019

Background: The study was conducted to know the prevalence of anemia in rural school children located within 15km radius of Yenepoya Medical college hospital, Mangalore and to study the risk factors associated with anemia also to correlate the detection of anemia by clinical examination and by lab estimation of hemoglobin.Methods: A total of 550 children in the age group of 6-15 years were included in this study. Parental informed consent was obtained. A preplanner questionnaire was used to collect the health and socio demographic details. Blood was collected by venepuncture method and haemoglobin was determined by automated sysmex machine. Diagnosis of anemia was made according to WHO cut off value of Hb.Results: Out of 550 children 114(20.6%) were anemic. There was no significant difference between age and sex. Anemia was found to be more prevalent in children with h/o passing worms, undernourished, pica and low socio-economic status. Out of 550 children 174 children had conjunctival pallor on clinical examination. Among that 58 (33.3%) children had anemia on hemoglobin estimation. Majority of the children 116 (66.7%) who had pallor on clinical examination was found as non-anemic on hemoglobin estimation. On kappa co efficient, statistics showed that two examinations to detect anemia was 18.47 %, which indicates poor agreement.Conclusions: The overall prevalence of anemia among rural population is variable depending upon the region. Major factors which influence the prevalence of anemia were nutrition, socioeconomic status, pica and worm infestation. Clinical diagnosis by examination of pallor is poorly correlated by estimation of haemoglobin, hence anemia cannot be diagnosed by detection of pallor alone and it requires lab haemoglobin estimation to prevent wrong diagnosis of anemia.