bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding Sandra Cisneros's “Never Marry a Mexican” through the Lens of Gloria Anzaldúa's Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza
Authors: Ledden Dennis B.
Published: March 2020

Three major concepts that Gloria Anzaldúa outlines in Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza are employed in order to determine the extent to which Clemencia, in Cisneros's short story, challenges traditional borderland gender ideology. Clemencia's alienation, which is caused by her relationships with her parents as well as through her liaison with Drew and her preoccupation with his wife, Megan, is reflective of Anzaldúa's assertion regarding the alienation of borderland Chicanas. That the psychologically conflicted Clemencia is unable to fully reconcile her identity dilemmas testifies to the deeply ingrained psychological and powerful social realities that Mexicanas since at least the time of Malinalli have had to endure in a male-dominated culture. Much as Clemencia's writing efforts suggest the possibility of her subsequent transformation, she has not yet been able to attain the New Mestiza identity that Anzaldúa advocates. “Never Marry a Mexican” constitutes Cisneros's dramatic attempt to present a tragic story of a young woman's desperate yet unsuccessful effort to forge an authentic identity in a culture that is resilient to change.
Penalties imposed on officers of the Customs and Tax Service for disciplinary offenses
Authors: Baran Beata
Published: March 2020

The subject of the article is the analysis of penalties imposed in disciplinary proceedings against officers of the Customs and Tax Service. Subjective and subject aspects, including types of penalties and penalty directives, have been developed in detail.
Whistleblower protection in the United States
Authors: Kobroń-Gąsiorowska Łucja
Published: March 2020

This article opens a series of analyzes of whistleblower protection in the context of their employee rights under US law, whose whistleblower protection system is in good faith one of the oldest, with well-established tradition. The subject of this study will not be specific issues related to the form of implementing informant protection in good faith. This article discusses whistleblower protection in the United States and with a focus on federal whistleblower rights and remedies in a labor context.
La estrella de Belén en el Evangelio de Mateo, en el Protoevangelio de Santiago y en otros tres textos apócrifos: un análisis literario y comparativo
Authors: Olivares Carlos
Published: March 2020

Este artículo explora el rol literario de la estrella de Belén del Evangelio de Mateo en cuatro textos apócrifos. Algunos aspectos literarios de los textos apócrifos son examinados. Este examen inicialmente determina las relaciones editoriales que existen entre estos y el texto canónico de Mateo. El estudio comienza con el Protoevangelio de Santiago, el cual edita y emplea con creatividad el Mateo canónico en lo tocante al relato de los magos y la estrella. Seguidamente, el artículo examina la actividad editorial que tres apócrifos realizan del Protoevangelio, en relación al astro. Estos son el Evangelio Árabe de la Infancia, el Evangelio Armenio de la Infancia, y el Evangelio de Seudo-Mateo. Un examen comparativo de los cuatro, permite concluir que, si bien existen elementos editoriales, el motivo de la estrella comprende un cuadro semejante presentado por el Mateo canónico, delineando su actuar en términos de movimiento.
Experiência e hermenêutica pentecostal: reflexões e propostas para a construção de uma identidade teológica
Authors: Gonçalves Alonso de Souza
Published: March 2020

Resenha

OLIVEIRA, David Mesquiati de; TERRA, Kenner Roger Cazotto. Experiência e hermenêutica pentecostal: reflexões e propostas para a construção de uma identidade teológica. Rio de Janeiro: CPAD, 2018, 224p.
Apresentação do Dossiê
Authors: Ruoso Carolina , Lima Joana D'Arc de Sousa , Pereira Marcele Regina Nogueira
Published: March 2020

Apresentação.
Artistas, curadores e valores de musealidade: diversidades e branquitude na exposição da 7a Edição do Bolsa Pampulha
Authors: Ruoso Carolina , Rodrigues Rita Lages
Published: March 2020

O presente artigo abordará a exposição da 7ª. Edição do Programa Bolsa Pampulha do Museu de Arte da Pampulha (MAP); analisaremos o papel dos artistas e dos curadores na elaboração de critérios de valores de musealidade. Em um primeiro momento, apresentaremos como uma residência artística pode contribuir para a formação da coleção dos museus; considerando um processo de diálogo entre artistas e curadores, o modelo de organização em série da coleção do MAP, do tipo exclusivo, possibilita uma escuta qualificada dos artistas, que questionaram nestas duas primeiras décadas do século XXI a identidade do referido museu. Em um segundo momento, descreveremos a exposição de 2019, em meio ao contexto de sensação de censura. Apresentaremos os valores identificados nas obras dos artistas, suas perspectivas plurais em defesa da presença da diversidade, tanto relacionadas à história da edificação como à história da cidade.  Palavras-chave: Residências artísticas. Critérios de musealidade. Museu de Arte da Pampulha. Exposições de arte.
Y el mundo seguirá girando
Authors: Tardáguila Javier
Published: March 2020

En este artículo, Javier Tardáguila repasa la historia de la integración de los videojuegos con los dispositivos móviles. Asimismo hace un análisis de las tecnologías disponibles en el mercado para el desarrollo de juegos para móviles, como las plataformas Symbian, C++ o Java .
Kitmaker
Authors: Giménez Ferran , Córcoles César , Rodríguez René
Published: March 2020

Nacida en 2004, Kitmaker es una multinacional española dirigida al sector de juegos para móviles. En esta entrevista, Iván Fernández, representante de la firma, comentó “entre otros aspectos“ que la clave de las compañías de contenidos para móviles está en el know- how (el saber hacer).
Más allá de Youtube
Authors: Delgado Antonio
Published: March 2020

Antonio Delgado, responsable del blog Caspa TV, explica en este artículo cómo las grandes cadenas de televisión están entrando en el sector de la televisión por Internet (IPTV) y se reinventan a si mismas para no perder sus ingresos en publicidad ni su audiencia.
Deciphering anomalous heterogeneous intracellular transport with neural networks
Authors: Han Daniel , Korabel Nickolay , Chen Runze , Johnston Mark , Gavrilova Anna , Allan Victoria J , Fedotov Sergei , Waigh Thomas A
Published: March 2020

Intracellular transport is predominantly heterogeneous in both time and space, exhibiting varying non-Brownian behavior. Characterization of this movement through averaging methods over an ensemble of trajectories or over the course of a single trajectory often fails to capture this heterogeneity. Here, we developed a deep learning feedforward neural network trained on fractional Brownian motion, providing a novel, accurate and efficient method for resolving heterogeneous behavior of intracellular transport in space and time. The neural network requires significantly fewer data points compared to established methods. This enables robust estimation of Hurst exponents for very short time series data, making possible direct, dynamic segmentation and analysis of experimental tracks of rapidly moving cellular structures such as endosomes and lysosomes. By using this analysis, fractional Brownian motion with a stochastic Hurst exponent was used to interpret, for the first time, anomalous intracellular dynamics, revealing unexpected differences in behavior between closely related endocytic organelles.
Whole brain delivery of an instability-prone Mecp2 transgene improves behavioral and molecular pathological defects in mouse models of Rett syndrome
Authors: Luoni Mirko , Giannelli Serena , Indrigo Marzia Tina , Niro Antonio , Massimino Luca , Iannielli Angelo , Passeri Laura , Russo Fabio , Morabito Giuseppe , Calamita Piera , Gregori Silvia , Deverman Benjamin , Broccoli Vania
Published: March 2020

Rett syndrome is an incurable neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in the gene encoding for methyl-CpG binding-protein 2 (MeCP2). Gene therapy for this disease presents inherent hurdles since MECP2 is expressed throughout the brain and its duplication leads to severe neurological conditions as well. Herein, we use the AAV-PHP.eB to deliver an instability-prone Mecp2 (iMecp2) transgene cassette which, increasing RNA destabilization and inefficient protein translation of the viral Mecp2 transgene, limits supraphysiological Mecp2 protein levels. Intravenous injections of the PHP.eB-iMecp2 virus in symptomatic Mecp2 mutant mice significantly improved locomotor activity, lifespan and gene expression normalization. Remarkably, PHP.eB-iMecp2 administration was well tolerated in female Mecp2 mutant or in wild-type animals. In contrast, we observed a strong immune response to the transgene in treated male Mecp2 mutant mice that was overcome by immunosuppression. Overall, PHP.eB-mediated delivery of iMecp2 provided widespread and efficient gene transfer maintaining physiological Mecp2 protein levels in the brain.
Cerebellar modulation of synaptic input to freezing-related neurons in the periaqueductal gray
Authors: Vaaga Christopher E , Brown Spencer T , Raman Indira M
Published: March 2020

Innate defensive behaviors, such as freezing, are adaptive for avoiding predation. Freezing-related midbrain regions project to the cerebellum, which is known to regulate rapid sensorimotor integration, raising the question of cerebellar contributions to freezing. Here, we find that neurons of the mouse medial (fastigial) cerebellar nuclei (mCbN), which fire spontaneously with wide dynamic ranges, send glutamatergic projections to the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG), which contains diverse cell types. In freely moving mice, optogenetically stimulating glutamatergic vlPAG neurons that express Chx10 reliably induces freezing. In vlPAG slices, mCbN terminals excite ~20% of neurons positive for Chx10 or GAD2 and ~70% of dopaminergic TH-positive neurons. Stimulating either mCbN afferents or TH neurons augments IPSCs and suppresses EPSCs in Chx10 neurons by activating postsynaptic D2 receptors. The results suggest that mCbN activity regulates dopaminergic modulation of the vlPAG, favoring inhibition of Chx10 neurons. Suppression of cerebellar output may therefore facilitate freezing.
Characterising a healthy adult with a rare HAO1 knockout to support a therapeutic strategy for primary hyperoxaluria
Authors: McGregor Tracy L , Hunt Karen A , Yee Elaine , Mason Dan , Nioi Paul , Ticau Simina , Pelosi Marissa , Loken Perry R , Finer Sarah , Lawlor Deborah A , Fauman Eric B , Huang Qin Qin , Griffiths Christopher J , MacArthur Daniel G , Trembath Richard C , Oglesbee Devin , Lieske John C , Erbe David V , Wright John , van Heel David A
Published: March 2020

By sequencing autozygous human populations, we identified a healthy adult woman with lifelong complete knockout of HAO1 (expected ~1 in 30 million outbred people). HAO1 (glycolate oxidase) silencing is the mechanism of lumasiran, an investigational RNA interference therapeutic for primary hyperoxaluria type 1. Her plasma glycolate levels were 12 times, and urinary glycolate 6 times, the upper limit of normal observed in healthy reference individuals (n = 67). Plasma metabolomics and lipidomics (1871 biochemicals) revealed 18 markedly elevated biochemicals (>5 sd outliers versus n = 25 controls) suggesting additional HAO1 effects. Comparison with lumasiran preclinical and clinical trial data suggested she has <2% residual glycolate oxidase activity. Cell line p.Leu333SerfsTer4 expression showed markedly reduced HAO1 protein levels and cellular protein mis-localisation. In this woman, lifelong HAO1 knockout is safe and without clinical phenotype, de-risking a therapeutic approach and informing therapeutic mechanisms. Unlocking evidence from the diversity of human genetic variation can facilitate drug development.
Enhancing Second Language Writing Self-regulation Through Self-assessment and Peer-assessment: A Case of Iranian EFL Learners
Authors: Fathi Jalil , Mohebiniya Sara , Nourzadeh Saeed
Published: March 2020

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of self-assessment and peer-assessment activities on second language (L2) writing self-regulation of Iranian English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) learners. For this purpose, a sample of forty-six English major students from two intact classes at an Iranian Islamic Azad University were recruited as the participants of the present study. Then, the two classes were randomly assigned to a self-assessment group (N=22) and a peer-assessment group (N=24). The self-assessment group was instructed on the writing assessment criteria in order to self-assess their writing tasks and the peer-assessment group was trained on how to assess the writings of their peers. The treatment carried out for the self-assessment and peer-assessment groups lasted for a period of one university semester. The data was collected through Second Language Writing Self-regulation (SLWS) administered as the pre-test and post-test of the study. The results obtained from the data analysis indicated that both self-assessment and peer-assessment were conducive in enhancing L2 writing self-regulation of the participants. Nevertheless, further analysis of the data indicated that the participants in the peer-assessment group were better than those in the self-assessment group with regard to writing self-regulation, suggesting that peer-assessment activities were more effective than the self-assessment activities in contributing to enhancing writing self-regulation of the EFL learners. The justification of the findings and their implications for L2 writing pedagogy are also discussed.
Arab EFL Learners’ Perspectives on L1 Influence: Factors and Constraints
Authors: Al-makatrah Elham Salem
Published: March 2020

This paper aims at examining the factors that cause L1 influence from the perspectives of adult native-Arabic speaking learners of English. It also reports on the possible constraints on L1 influence and further delves into the role of Psychotypology. Despite the recognition of the importance of L2 learners’ perspectives regarding the influence of their L1 and the factors contribute to such influence; this topic is an understudied area in the context of native-Arabic speaking learners of English. A semi-structured interview and a rewrite test were conducted with 40 undergraduate students at a public university, Jordan, where they were classified into two groups of 20 students each: beginner group and advanced group. The findings indicate that there are various causes of L1 influence including the peculiarity and complexity of some L2 structures/features as well as L1 –L2 structural differences. Learners’ psychotypological assessment of what is a similar, different, marked and unmarked structure across L1 and L2 is one of the restrictions on L1 influence. Moreover, Learners’ psychotypological assessment also varies depending on the learners’ L2 proficiency levels. The findings of this study can provide important insights into the research that considers various factors of the overall process of second language acquisition.
Structural Patterns of Multilingual Codeswitching between Arabic and English
Authors: M Alhamdan Alaa Hamdan
Published: March 2020

As multilingualism is increasingly embraced in Saudi Arabia, the inevitable practice of codeswitching is a topic of heated debate. While it has been the subject of strong-held beliefs and opinions, established scholarly work is needed to enlighten the understanding of this use of languages. Hence, this study explored naturally occurring data of the codeswitching use of Arabic and English by multilingual Arab students as they attend Arabic weekly cultural seminar sessions during their temporary stay and study in the US. It captures their codeswitching use via video recordings and subjected to linguistic analyses on three levels: whole text-level, sentence-level and morpheme-level, with the implementation of the mixed-method approach. The findings revealed that the linguistic analysis of 523 codeswitching occurrences found in the data revealed the structural complexity and variety of codeswitching as a linguistic resource available to multilinguals fluent in Arabic and English. Occurring spontaneously and rather unpredictably in multilingual interactions, it disproved common Saudi and other perceptions of it as a form of language offense and careless linguistic behavior.
Analytical Study: The Existential Predicament Perspective in Naguib Mahfouz’s Selected Novels
Authors: Naem Ali Dakhil , Bin Janoory Lajiman
Published: March 2020

This paper aims at analyzing the selected novels of Naguib Mahfouz in the light of the existential predicament of ‘man’. Such predicament is manifested in the aspects of despair, frustration, and poverty. The Characters in the novels play a significant role in displaying the sordid images of the modern futility of the conditions of the post-World War in Egypt. The paper assumes the existentialism as a theory and topic to comment on the situation, hence the researcher conducts the research within the existentialist theory. The texts that are selected in this paper are as follow, Midaq Alley, Cairo Trilogy, The Beggar, and The Thief and the Dogs.
Malaysian School English Language Teachers’ Perceptions on Teaching and Learning
Authors: Lung Choe Foo , Bhatti Nasreen
Published: March 2020

Studies on school teachers’ perceptions toward teaching and learning have shown inconsistent results which call for further research in the area. This study was an attempt to investigate the perceptions of teachers towards Teaching and Learning of the English Language. A Likert scale questionnaire with 33 items was developed by the researchers. A randomly selected group of Malaysian School English language teachers (n = 165) responded to the questionnaire. The descriptive statistics results indicated that the Malaysian School English Language Teachers’ perceptions of teaching are mainly positive; such as having higher intrinsic interest in adopting teaching as profession, decreased tendency in perceiving Teaching as a stressful profession, understanding the significance of listening and speaking skills (commonly neglected skills), awareness of the advantages of having literature in the English classroom, showing interest in the knowledge about high frequency words and lexiles, and showing interest in knowing and understanding students’ interests and problems. However, teachers’ perceptions regarding the education system, resource adequacy, class size and in the teaching of the writing skill are negative in the analysis. The findings further indicate the teachers’ technology illiteracy and although they acknowledge the supportive role of books in teaching language skills they seem not to be positive on the use of textbooks in the English classroom. The results have interesting implications for policy makers and researchers.
Arabic “Raa” between Plosiveness and Friction
Authors: Ibrahim Al-Ziyadat Tareq
Published: March 2020

The study aims to elucidate plosiveness and friction in the “Raa”, (the tenth alphabet in Arabic) benefiting from what the ancient and modern scholars said on the issue. The core issue of the study is Sibawey’s classification of the “Raa” a tense phoneme in whose articulation the sound repeatedly flows leaning toward the articulation of “Lam” (23 Arabic alphabet) avoiding laxity. Had not the sound repeated, we wouldn’t have had the “Raa”. Tensity (plosiveness) and frication are two contradictory features which can never have the same place of articulation. The sound is articulated at stages, each of which has its own features. After analysis, it was found that the articulation of “Raa” passes through three stages. In the second, in the space between vocal cords and top of the tongue the “Raa” is fricative, while in the third, the closure stage between top of the tongue and hard palate, the “Raa” is plosive but this plosiveness is less in intensity than that of plosive phonemes. Therefore the “Raa” can be neither plosive, nor fricative, but in between “medial”.
Cross-dressing in Children’s Adventure Fiction: Does it always challenge Gender Stereotypes?
Authors: Poynter Elizabeth
Published: March 2020

Gender identity is nowadays widely agreed to be socio-culturally constructed. Children’s books may have a powerful impact on such constructions, particularly in the mid-twentieth century before the supremacy of television and digital media. Much popular children’s fiction of this period has been dismissed as conforming to, rather than challenging, gender stereotypes. Is this in fact too simplistic a picture? Victoria Flanagan (Into the Closet; Reframing Masculinity) has theorised that in children’s adventure fiction females take on male identities to gain agency, often very successfully, while males perform femininity less successfully and generally with comedic effect. This study of six cases of cross-dressing in British children’s fiction does not support this view. Cross-dressing may be primarily a plot device aimed at heightening the mystery and tension; female cross-dressers may be passive and ‘feminine’, while males may in fact outperform females in the ‘opposite’ gender role and on occasion gain an agency through that cross-dressing which was denied them in their male attire. In all the cases explored here, the cross-dresser was a subsidiary character rather than a protagonist, and this may be key to determining how cross-dressing is portrayed.
Freud’s Return of the Repressed and Conflict in Achebe’s Arrow of God
Authors: Onunkwo Chibuzo , Olubunmi Nwaka Caroline
Published: March 2020

Chinua Achebe is widely acclaimed as the father of modern African Literature. His works of literature are read beyond the shores of Africa. Although Things Fall Apart, created renewed interest in the study of African Literature, Arrow of God, is affirmed by critics as the most complex of Achebe’s writing in terms of plot development, characterization and setting. Scholars have studied the text in terms of the demise of traditional African society by the imposing force of colonialism. For some of the critics, Ezeulu is seen as a representative figure that is destroyed while defending the cause of his community. This paper takes a different perspective on the various studies of the work. It attempts to discuss conflict in Arrow of God using Sigmund Freud’s idea of return of the repressed. Conflict is a situation in which people, groups, or countries are involved in a serious disagreement or argument. In this study we shall discuss the various shades of conflict under the following category: Ezeulu in conflict with himself, with his deity and the community using Freud’s concept of return of the repressed as a theoretical tool that controls this discussion.
Perceptions of Willingness to Communicate Orally in English among Iranian PhD Students
Authors: Saadat Uranus , Mukundan Jayakaran
Published: March 2020

Willingness to Communicate (WTC) in second Language (L2) has received substantial consideration in modern language research and instruction. This study intends to investigate how oral L2 WTC of a group of EFL Iranian PhD students in a public university in Malaysia has changed during their stay in this country and what factors have resulted in their willingness to communicate. A qualitative case study method was implemented to obtain information from 8 participants through semi-structured interview as the main method, followed by focus group discussion and solicited journal diaries of the participants. The analyses of data derived from the first research question yielded five major themes: lack of exposure to L2 oral communication, cultural values, low L2 self-confidence, L2 extrinsic motivation, and enabling behaviors. Analysis of the second research question revealed six major themes as: raised awareness, cultural background, personality, exposure to L2 oral communication, extrinsic L2 motivation, and increased L2 self-confidence. The findings of the study concluded that rare exposure to English oral communication in Iran resulted in having little practice of English language in authentic settings that led to low L2 WTC among the respondents of the study before coming to Malaysia. Besides, the respondents suffered from lack of L2 WTC upon arrival to Malaysia. However, by understanding their deficiencies and importance of L2 oral communication, they gradually changed their attitude toward L2 oral communication and tried to improve it. This study also provides theoretical and practical implications for designing teaching methods to maximize language learners’ L2 WTC in the classroom that leads to their L2 oral communication improvement.
The Implementation of Contextual Teaching Learning (CTL) to Improve the Students’ Speaking Ability in Islamic Studies Course
Authors: Subhan Roza Ahmad , Rafli Zainal , Rahmat Aceng
Published: March 2020

Contextual Teaching Learning (CTL) has been widely implemented in ELT. However, little used it specifically in speaking class in Islamic studies course. This research, which was a four-cycle action research conducted at the fourth semester English Language Education students at an Islamic university in Lampung, Indonesia aimed to find out how CTL can improve speaking skills especially in the subject of public speaking which includes storytelling, speech, News casting and drama in Speaking for Islamic Studies course. The data were obtained qualitatively through interviews, observation and filed notes during the learning process and also quantitatively through speaking tests for four cycles. Data were then analyzed by comparing the results of the pre-test, 55. 63 and the results of the post test after taking action in each cycle, namely storytelling gained 60.45, speech reached 64.9, news casting was 66.70, and the final drama reached 73.2. In addition, students tended to feel enthusiastic to work together in study groups and also thought critically, especially when connecting understanding the concept of language with the appropriate language context during their involvement in the speaking class. In other words, CTL could improve the students’ speaking abilities and also the quality of their learning activities. Thus, CTL could be implemented as one of the effective methods of speaking learning, especially those related to the Islamic context.
The Fallacy of the “Metropolis” in Postcolonial Feminist Discourses: Reading Osonye Tess Onwueme’s Tell it to Women: An Epic Drama for Women
Authors: Forbang-Looh Gilda N.
Published: March 2020

This paper focuses on intra-gender representations and difference, using Osonye Tess Onwueme’s Tell it to Women: An Epic Drama for Women, the major concern being the controversies in universalising Western Oriented Feminist discourses in non-Western contexts. Among these are questions of patriarchy, oppression, mothering and universal sisterhood which tend to dominate metropolitan discourses, yet do not represent non-western Feminist ideologies and the other. Postcolonial Feminism is used to discuss these fallacies and the need for assertiveness of the other-Idu women in the stronghold of Eurocentric Feminism as espoused by Ruth and Daisy. Analyses show that it is fallacious not to consider, study and understand other contexts/people or supposed others before theorising about them and their needs. There is need to assert and preserve one’s identity in the face of Western impositions. Thus, the need for reorientation of the perception and consideration of modern intellectual women towards rural women is necessary. This is imperative because uncritically propagating western discourses in non-western spaces has remained unproductive and will for a long time be so.
Prejudice in Joseph Conrad’s Post-Colonial Novel Heart of Darkness
Authors: Azam Nushrat
Published: March 2020

The paper analyses the underlying racism present in Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. Although Heart of Darkness has been considered one of the greatest works of art ever since it was first published, one aspect of the novel has been a constant source of criticism and debate among scholars and readers: racism. Whether this novel is racist is a question of utmost importance because this question puts the greatness of the novel in doubt. The purpose of this study is to answer this very question of racism through the analysis of the author’s point of view, characterization, visual description, use of symbols and language used in the novel with regards to racism. Through the analysis it has been concluded that through Conrad’s method of narration, style and literary skill, Conrad expertly masks racist viewpoints and hides the fact that at its core, Heart of Darkness is in fact a racist novel.
An Investigation into Texture, Power and Ideology in Electronic News Articles
Authors: Awad AlAfnan Mohammad
Published: March 2020

It is widely believed that media texts are shaped by the wider social and cultural structures. Therefore, attaining a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of media reporting entails complete understanding of the social artifacts and the cultural structures. Using Critical Discourse Analysis and Halliday and Hasan’s (1976) models of cohesion, this study examines texture, power and ideology in an electronic news article. The analysis looked into the context to comprehensively examine the text. The analysis revealed that referencing and lexical cohesion are the writer’s preferred model of cohesion throughout the text. It is also apparent that substitution and ellipsis are unexpectedly popular, which reflect a speech-like style. The critical analysis reveals that the article has hidden ideological meanings and is being divided along some ideological lines to reflect the views of those whose interest is being served and those whose interest is being undermined. The writer used foregrounding and lexis to serve his ideology, and backgrounding and sometimes omission to undermine the ideologies of the ‘other’.
Alcohol consumption and employment: a cross-sectional study of office workers and unemployed people
Authors: De Sio Simone , Tittarelli Roberta , Di Martino Giuseppe , Buomprisco Giuseppe , Perri Roberto , Bruno Guglielmo , Pantano Flaminia , Mannocchi Giulio , Marinelli Enrico , Cedrone Fabrizio
Published: March 2020

Background

Alcohol is a psychoactive substance with toxic and addictive properties. Biomarkers like GGT, AST, ALT and MCV are influenced by excessive ethanol consumption. Alcohol consumption represents a health risk and it has been linked to unemployment. The aim of this study how working status predict alcohol consumption through a cross sectional study comparing alcohol-related biomarkers levels in office workers and unemployed people.

Methods

This study includes 157 office workers and 157 unemployed people, who were recruited from January to December 2018. A propensity score matching procedure was applied to obtain two homogenous groups in terms of age and gender. A non-parametric analysis was performed on serum biomarkers that are generally altered by alcohol consumption. Logistic regression models were designed to evaluate how working status predict abnormal biomarker levels related with alcohol consumption.

Results

No differences in median biomarker values were found between groups. Logistic regression analysis showed that office work is a negative predictor of pathological biomarker levels. Office workers had a significant relation with the levels of GGT (OR 0.48; 95% CI [0.28–0.84]), AST (OR 0.42; 95% CI [0.22–0.78]), ALT (OR 0.39; 95% CI [0.23–0.66]), and MCV (OR 0.37; 95% CI [0.19–0.70]).

Conclusion

Office workers had lower absolute frequencies of pathological values of alcohol consumption biomarkers, after matching for age and gender compared with unemployed people. In addition, a significant negative association between office work is a negative predictor of biomarker levels of alcohol consumption. These results showed that work is an important determinant of health and that can represent a benefit for workers in terms of reducing the risk of consuming alcohol.
Ericaceae of Sulawesi: A new species of Diplycosia, a new variety of Vaccinium paludicolum and one rediscovery
Authors: Mustaqim Wendy Achmmad , Ardi Wisnu Handoyo
Published: March 2020

Diplycosia jiewhoei Mustaqim and Vaccinium paludicolum var. hirsutula Mustaqim are described. Diplycosia retusa has been rediscovered after a lapse of 116 years and is here illustrated by a photograph, while a description of the fruits is presented.
Analysis of Biodegradable Films of Starch from Potato Waste
Authors: Karki Dhan Bahadur , KC Yadav , Khanal Hemanta , Bhattarai Prabesh , Koirala Bandana , Khatri Sabin Bahadur
Published: March 2020

Starch was extracted from potato wastes and its peels to prepare bio-degradable films using glycerol and sorbitol at various concentrations of 35%, 45% and 55 (w/w) of dry starch. The properties of films prepared with modification techniques (hydrothermal treatment (HTT) and acid-alcohol treatment (AAT)) were analyzed. Biodegradability test was done by incubating with amylolytic bacteria (Bacillus lichneformis and Streptococcus bovis) for 24 hours and fungi (Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus stolonifer) for 72 hours. All microbial species were isolated from soil except S. bovis which was from calf stool and identified by conventional methods. The properties of modified starches were significantly different from non-treated starches. Tensile strength (10 N/m2) and elongation (9.47%) were significantly (p<0.05) superior in HTT starch films whereas solubility (25.8%) was superior in AAT starch films.  Elongation (8.91%) and solubility (29.98%) were significantly (p<0.05) superior in 35% and 55% glycerol used films respectively but tensile strength (13.02 N/m2) was superior in 35% sorbitol used films. WVTR (999 g/m2/d) was higher at 91% RH in 55% glycerol used films. Micro-organisms used showed a significant effect (p<0.05) on biodegradation of starch based films. Highest degradation was observed by B. lichneformis i.e, 57.85% while A. niger had minimum of 25.13%. Films prepared with 35% glycerol was significantly (P<0.05) degraded by B. lichneformis i.e, 78.86%. Films prepared by using glycerol with acid alcohol treatment was significantly (P<0.05) degraded by S. bovis (55.57%). Although the starch of same variety of potato waste was not studied, results of the study suggest possibility of preparation of starch based bio degradable films potato waste and its peels by using glycerol and sorbitol.
Performance Analysis of Brushless DC Motor Using Modified Queen Bee Evolution Based Genetic Algorithm Tuned PI Controller under Different Speed Conditions
Authors: Rawat Ankit , Azeem Mohd Fazle
Published: March 2020

The modeling of BLDC motor and performance analysis under diverse operating speed settings has been presented in this paper. BLDC motors gaining more & more attention from different Industrial and domestic appliance manufacturers due to its compact size, high efficiency and robust structure. Voluminous research and developments in the domains of material science and power electronics led to substantial increase in applications of BLDC motor to electric drives. This paper deals with the modeling of BLDC motor drive system along with a comparative study of modified queens bee evolution based GA tuned & manually tuned control schemes using MATLAB /SIMULINK. In order to evaluate the performance of proposed drive, simulation is carried out at different Mechanical load & speed conditions. Test outcomes thus achieved show that the model performance is satisfactory.
Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Isochroman Derivatives
Authors: Tamanna  , Kumar Mukesh , Joshi Kavita , Chauhan Pankaj
Published: March 2020

The isochroman scaffold constitutes an important structural unit, which is present in various bioactive natural products and synthetic pharmaceutical compounds exhibiting wide arrays of biological properties. Hence the synthesis of this class of heterocyclic compounds in a stereoselective fashion is highly significant and desirable. In the last decade, a substantial advancement has been witnessed ln the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of isochroman derivatives by employing metal catalysts bearing chiral ligands or by chiral metal‐free organocatalysts. This review aims to provide an overview of the transition metal‐catalyzed and organocatalyzed asymmetric syntheses of isochroman derivatives including isochromenes and isochromanones.

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Graphene‐Indanthrone Donor–π–Acceptor Heterojunctions for High‐Performance Flexible Supercapacitors
Authors: Pan Bingyige , Bai Li , Hu Cheng‐Min , Wang Xinping , Li Wei‐Shi , Zhao Fu‐Gang
Published: March 2020

To overcome the low energy density bottleneck of graphene‐based supercapacitors and to organically endow them with high‐power density, ultralong‐life cycles, etc., one rational strategy that couple graphene sheets with multielectron, redox‐reversible, and structurally‐stable organic compounds. Herein, a graphene‐indanthrone (IDT) donor–π–acceptor heterojunction is conceptualized for efficient and smooth 6H+/6e− transfers from pseudocapacitive IDT molecules to electrochemical double‐layer capacitive graphene scaffolds. To construct this, water‐processable graphene oxide (GO) is employed as a graphene precursor, and to in situ exfoliate IDT industrial dyestuff, followed by a hydrothermally‐induced reduction toward GO and self‐assembly between reduced GO (rGO) donors (D) and IDT acceptors (A), affording rGO‐π‐IDT D–A heterojunctions. Electrochemical tests indicate that rGO‐π‐IDT heterojunctions deliver a gravimetric capacitance of 535.5 F g−1 and an amplified volumetric capacitance of 685.4 F cm−3. The assembled flexible all‐solid‐state supercapacitor yields impressive volumetric energy densities of 31.3 and 25.1 W h L−1, respectively, at low and high power densities of 767 and 38 554 W L−1, while exhibiting an exceptional rate capability, cycling stability, and enduring mechanically‐challenging bending and distortions. The concept and methodology may open up opportunities for other two‐dimensional materials and other energy‐related devices.
Mowat–Wilson syndrome in a Chinese population: A case series
Authors: Ho Stephanie , Luk Ho‐Ming , Chung Brian Hon‐Yin , Fung Jasmine Lee‐Fong , Mak Harriet Hang‐Yee , Lo Ivan F. M.
Published: March 2020

Mowat–Wilson syndrome (MWS) is characterized clinically by a distinctive facial gestalt, intellectual disability, microcephaly, epilepsy, and nonobligatory congenital malformations such as Hirschsprung disease, urogenital anomalies, congenital heart disease, eye malformations. This article summarized the clinical features and molecular findings of 15 Chinese MWS patients. The results revealed a higher incidence of congenital heart disease in Chinese MWS patients compared to that previously reported in Caucasian cohorts, while the incidence of Hirschsprung disease and genitourinary malformation appeared to be lower. This suggests possible ethnicity‐related modifying effects in the MWS phenotype.
Zusammenwirken elektronischer und sterischer Effekte bei der Tieftemperatur‐CO‐Oxidation an Einzelatom‐Metallzentren in defekt‐manipuliertem HKUST‐1
Authors: Wang Weijia , Sharapa Dmitry I. , Chandresh Abhinav , Nefedov Alexei , Heißler Stefan , Heinke Lars , Studt Felix , Wang Yuemin , Wöll Christof
Published: March 2020

Im Gegensatz zu einzelnen, auf Oxid‐Nanopartikeln deponierten katalytisch aktiven Metalllatomen erlaubt die kristalline Beschaffenheit metallorganischer Gerüstverbindungen (MOFs) eine genaue Charakterisierung der Reaktionsmechanismen. Ausgehend von zunächst defektfreien HKUST‐1‐MOF‐Dünnschichten zeigen wir, dass Cu+/Cu2+‐Dimerdefekte, die kontrolliert durch Reduktion der reinen Cu2+/Cu2+‐Paare des intakten Gerüsts erzeugt wurden, die hohe katalytische Aktivität für die Tieftemperatur‐CO‐Oxidation erklären. Mit Hilfe der In‐situ‐IR‐Spektroskopie und der Dichtefunktionaltheorie konnte der Reaktionsmechanismus identifiziert werden. Dabei ist das wichtigste Zwischenprodukt eine ungeladene, schwach an Cu+/Cu2+ gebundene O2‐Spezies. Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen ein komplexes Zusammenwirken elektronischer und sterischer Effekte an Defekten in MOFs und liefern wichtige Richtlinien zur Einstellung und optimalen Nutzung der katalytischen Aktivität einzelner Metallatome.
A General Regioselective Synthesis of Alcohols by Cobalt‐Catalyzed Hydrogenation of Epoxides
Authors: Liu Weiping , Leischner Thomas , Li Wu , Junge Kathrin , Beller Matthias
Published: March 2020

A straightforward methodology for the synthesis of anti‐Markovnikov‐type alcohols is presented. By using a specific cobalt triphos complex in the presence of Zn(OTf)2 as an additive, the hydrogenation of epoxides proceeds with high yields and selectivities. The described protocol shows a broad substrate scope, including multi‐substituted internal and terminal epoxides, as well as a good functional‐group tolerance. Various natural‐product derivatives, including steroids, terpenoids, and sesquiterpenoids, gave access to the corresponding alcohols in moderate‐to‐excellent yields.
An Efficient Near‐Infrared Emissive Artificial Supramolecular Light‐Harvesting System for Imaging in the Golgi Apparatus
Authors: Chen Xu‐Man , Cao Qin , Bisoyi Hari Krishna , Wang Meng , Yang Hong , Li Quan
Published: March 2020

Light‐harvesting systems are an important way for capturing, transferring and utilizing light energy. It remains a key challenge to develop highly efficient artificial light‐harvesting systems. Herein, we report a supramolecular co‐assembly based on lower‐rim dodecyl‐modified sulfonatocalix[4]arene (SC4AD) and naphthyl‐1,8‐diphenyl pyridinium derivative (NPS) as a light‐harvesting platform. NPS as a donor shows significant aggregation induced emission enhancement (AIEE) after assembling with SC4AD. Upon introduction of Nile blue (NiB) as an acceptor into the NPS‐SC4AD co‐assembly, the light‐harvesting system becomes near‐infrared (NIR) emissive (675 nm). Importantly, the NIR emitting NPS‐SC4AD‐NiB system exhibits an ultrahigh antenna effect (33.1) at a high donor/acceptor ratio (250:1). By co‐staining PC‐3 cells with a Golgi staining reagent, NBD C6‐ceramide, NIR imaging in the Golgi apparatus has been demonstrated using these NIR emissive nanoparticles.
Improved techniques for parametric and nonparametric evaluations of the first‐passage time for degradation processes
Authors: Palayangoda Lochana K. , Ng Hon Keung Tony , Butler Ronald W.
Published: March 2020

For degradation data in reliability analysis, estimation of the first‐passage time (FPT) distribution to a threshold provides valuable information on reliability characteristics. Recently, Balakrishnan and Qin (2019; Applied Stochastic Models in Business and Industry, 35:571–590) studied a nonparametric method to approximate the FPT distribution of such degradation processes if the underlying process type is unknown. In this article, we propose some improved techniques based on saddlepoint approximation, which enhance those existing methods. Numerical examples and Monte Carlo simulation studies are used to illustrate the advantages of the proposed techniques. Limitations of the improved techniques are discussed and some possible solutions to such are proposed. Some concluding remarks and practical recommendations are provided based on the results.
Turnover of a Methane Oxidation Tricopper Cluster Catalyst: Implications for the Mechanism of the Particulate Methane Monooxygenase (pMMO)
Authors: Chen Yu‐Hsuan , Wu Chang‐Quan , Sung Pei‐Hua , Chan Sunney I. , Chen Peter Ping‐Yu
Published: March 2020

The CuICuICuI tricopper cluster complex is the only known catalyst capable of efficient methane oxidation near room temperature similar to the particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO). Here, we compare the turnover of the CuICuICuI tricopper catalyst with the biochemistry of the functional pMMO. Insights into the turnover of the biomimetic tricopper catalyst are derived from anaerobic electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS) and high‐resolution ESI‐MS (HR‐ESI‐MS). We follow activation of the tricopper cluster with O2/H2O2 by rapid‐freeze‐quench ESI‐MS, high‐resolution cold‐spray ionization mass spectrometry (HR‐CSI‐MS) and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, capturing all the species participating in the activation and deactivation pathways of the turnover cycle. The reactivity of the activated tricopper complex toward alkane oxidation is essentially the same as the biochemistry reported earlier for pMMO from Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath).
Applying Reaction Kinetics to Pseudohomogeneous Methanation Modeling in Fixed‐Bed Reactors
Authors: Scharl Valentin , Fischer Felix , Herrmann Stephan , Fendt Sebastian , Spliethoff Hartmut
Published: March 2020

Reactor simulations can reduce the effort when designing fixed‐bed reactors for methanation processes. Several microkinetic models were developed under a variety of operating conditions. However, most production‐scale fixed‐bed methanation processes exceed the temperature range in which these kinetic models were obtained. In addition, heat and mass transport limitations strongly influence the reaction kinetics. In this work, microkinetic rate equations for CO and CO2methanation were analyzed with respect to their suitability for high‐temperature, pseudohomogeneous reactor modeling. The best‐suited kinetic model was fitted to the operating conditions and validated by means of CFD simulations. It is shown that the simulations match the experimental data for various operating conditions.
Detecting outlying variables in multigroup data: A comparison of different loading similarity coefficients
Authors: Gvaladze Sopiko , De Roover Kim , Tuerlinckx Francis , Ceulemans Eva
Published: March 2020

Multivariate multigroup data are collected in many fields of science, where the so‐called groups pertain to, for instance, experimental groups or countries the participants are nested in. To summarize the main information in such data, principal component analysis (PCA) is highly popular. PCA reduces the variables to a few components that are linear combinations of the original variables. Researchers usually assume those components to be the same across the groups and aim to apply a simultaneous component analysis. To investigate whether this assumption is reasonable, one often analyzes the groups separately and computes a similarity index between the group‐specific component loadings of the variables. In many cases, however, most variables have highly similar loadings across the groups, but a few variables, which we will call “outlying variables,” behave differently, indicating that a simultaneous analysis is not warranted. In such cases, the outlying variables should be removed before proceeding with the simultaneous analysis. To do so, the variables are ranked according to their relative outlyingness. Although some procedures have been proposed that yield such an outlyingness ranking, they might not be optimal, because they all rely on the same choice of similarity coefficient without evaluating other alternatives. In this paper, we give an overview of other options and report extensive simulations in which we investigate how this choice affects the correctness of the outlyingness ranking. We also illustrate the added value of the outlying variable approach by means of sensometric data on different bread samples.