bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mock politeness and culture: Perceptions and practice in UK and Italian data
Authors: Taylor Charlotte 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThis paper investigates the extent to which perceptions of cultural variation correspond to actual practice with reference to (national) cultures in Britain and Italy. More specifically, the aspect of im/politeness that is addressed is mock politeness, a subset of implicational impoliteness that is triggered by an im/politeness mismatch. In the first phase of the study, two sets of comparable corpora are employed to investigate perceptions of mock politeness (using search terms such assarcasticandpatronizing) in relation to cultural identities. The first pair of corpora is composed of national newspapers in England and Italy, collected in 2014, and the second set are web corpora. What emerges from this stage is a strong tendency for both the English and Italian corpora to associate (potential) mock polite behaviors such as beingironicwith a British cultural identity.In the second stage of the study, I use a corpus of conversational data from British English and Italian online discussion forums, in which mock polite behaviors have been identified and annotated, in order to investigate whether there is any evidence for the cultural assumptions found in the first phase. As will be shown, the analysis reveals both variation in cultural practice and a significant gap between perceptions and practice.In describing and identifying this gap between perceptions and practice, I show both how (anglocentric) academic description has underestimated cultural variation, and, in contrast, how cultural variation is overestimated in lay description.
What word-level knowledge can adult learners acquire after minimal exposure to a new language?
Authors: Gullberg Marianne , Roberts Leah , Dimroth Christine 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Discussions about the adult L2 learning capacity often take as their starting point stages where considerable L2 knowledge has already been accumulated. This paper probes the absolute earliest stages of learning and investigates what lexical knowledge adult learners can extract from complex, continuous speech in an unknown language after minimal exposure and without any help. Dutch participants were exposed to naturalistic but controlled audiovisual input in Mandarin Chinese, in which item frequency and gestural highlighting were manipulated. The results from a word recognition task showed that adults are able to draw on frequency to recognize disyllabic words appearing only eight times in continuous speech. The findings from a sound-to-picture matching task revealed that the mapping of meaning to word form requires a combination of cues: disyllabic words accompanied by a gesture were correctly assigned meaning after eight encounters. Overall, the study suggests that the adult learning mechanism is a considerably more powerful than typically assumed in the SLA literature drawing on frequency, gestural cues and syllable structure. Even in the absence of pre-existing knowledge about cognates and sound system to bootstrap and boost learning, it deals efficiently with very little, very complex input.
Understanding and overcoming pragmatic failure in intercultural communication: From focus on speakers to focus on hearers
Authors: Padilla Cruz Manuel 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
For learners to communicate efficiently in the L2, they must avoid pragmatic failure. In many cases, teachers' praxis centres on the learner's performance in the L2 or his role as a speaker, which neglects the importance of his role as interpreter of utterances. Assuming that, as hearers, learners also have a responsibility to avoid pragmatic failure, this paper endorses the relevance-theoretic view of communication, its explanation about why misunderstandings arise, and the belief that the learner's sophistication in understanding is not the same as that of a native. Therefore, it argues that learners must be taught to be cautious optimistic hearers. As a result, learners will be able to reject interpretations of utterances, which, due to the linguistic or cultural incompetence of their native or non-native interlocutors in the L2 system, they are led to regard as relevant enough although their interlocutors may have expected them to arrive at a different interpretation.
Developing actional competence and the building blocks of telicity in L2 Italian
Authors: Rastelli Stefano , Vernice Mirta 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
The Aspect Hypothesis assumes that – in early interlanguages – the perfective past spreads from telic to atelic verbs because events occuring in the past are easier to be associated with predicates having an inherent endpoint in their lexico-conceptual representation. In this study it is questioned whether for initial L2ers knowing the general meaning of a verb entails knowing also its actional template and that learners have innate principles that drive them to distinguish telic and atelic verbs from scratch. Data from our experiment of prompted narrative suggest that L1 English, L2 Italian tutored learners – although having knowledge of some telic verbs of motion – prefer to use the underspecified <italic>andare</italic> `go' and to build telicity compositionally. The overuse of most frequent and “basic verbs” and the promotion of adjuncts to the rank of real arguments is a challenge for both the Aspect Hypothesis and the parametric view to the acquisition of the tense-aspect system in a second language.
Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of Withania somnifera root in fructose fed male rats
Authors: Shahraki Mohammad Reza , Samadi Noshahr Zahra , Ahmadvand Hassan , Nakhaie Alireza 
Published: February 2021

Abstract

Background: Insulin resistance is a metabolic disorder which affects the diabetes mellitus pathophysiology and alters the cell excitability. This study has been designed to evaluate the anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of chronic administration of Withania somnifera root (WSR) in fructose drinking water rats.

Methods: An experiment was carried out on 48 Wistar-Albino male rats, weighting 200±30 g, which were divided into six groups (n=8): control group (C), control morphine (CM), W. somnifera group (WS) which received WSR (62.5 mg/g diet), W. somnifera naloxone group (WSN) which received WSR and naloxone, fructose (F) group which received fructose drinking water and FWS group which received fructose-enriched drinking water and WSR during the trial period. A biphasic pain response was induced after intraplantar injection of formalin (50 μL, 1%). Pain behavior was measured using Dubuisson methods. The obtained data were analyzed by SPSS software V. 18, using ANOVA and Tukey test. Results were expressed as mean±SD. Statistical differences were considered significant at p<0.05.

Results: The results showed that the insulin resistance index, blood sugar, insulin, IL-6, TNF-α, and acute and chronic pain score in the F group were significantly increased in comparison with the control group, but these parameters in the FWS group were significantly decreased compared with the F group (p<0.001).

Conclusions: Our findings indicated that chronic oral administration of WSR has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in fructose drinking water rats and causes improved insulin resistance index.
Three 1930s Novels about Satan
Authors: Swindell Anthony 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
This essay surveys the treatment of Satan in three significant though largely neglected novels of the 1930s, Klaus Mann’s Mephisto (1936), Howell Davies’ Congratulate the Devil (1939), and Anton Tamsaare’s The Misadventures of the New Satan (1939). Despite the marginalization of discourse about Satan in European Christianity of the period, each of these novels adopts its own idiosyncratic stance towards the realistic representation of a diabolical entity, drawing on a combination of biblical and folkloric models. Whilst Mann’s novel reiterates and extends the Faustian tradition of the individual succumbing to damnation, the other two novels inventively uphold the folkloric reception of the biblical Satan as a social force.
The Real Exchange Rate and Economic Growth: A Survey
Authors: Rapetti Martin 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThis paper offers a systematic survey of recent research evaluating the impact of the level and volatility of the real exchange rate (RER) on economic growth. Existing empirical work finds a positive association between RER levels and economic growth, especially in developing countries. This relationship appears to be driven by cases of overvaluation hurting and undervaluation favoring growth. RER volatility, in turn, has a negative impact on growth. Together with the review of the literature, panel growth regressions with the 9.0 version of the Penn World Table database are carried out to evaluate previous findings. The paper also surveys the literature studying the mechanisms that explain the positive growth effect of the RER. One of them emphasizes that an undervalued RER reduces macroeconomic volatility, favoring capital accumulation and growth. Another one stresses that a competitive RER stimulates capital accumulation in modern tradable activities, facilitating structural change and economic development.
How reliable is procalcitonin as an inflammatory marker?1)
Authors: Biller Katharina , Fae Peter , Germann Reinhard , Walli Autar K. , Fraunberger Peter 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
The role of procalcitonin (PCT) plasma levels as a diagnostic tool for intensive care patients has been intensively investigated during the past years. In particular for recognition of bacterial infections, PCT levels have been shown to be superior to other clinical and biochemical markers. Furthermore, some very recent studies show that in patients with lower respiratory tract infections PCT guided antibiotic therapy reduces antibiotic use and thereby may also reduce duration of stay of patients in hospital and thus cut hospitalisation costs. However, various studies indicate that the value of PCT as a prognostic marker is limited because of false positive or negative values. Despite these limitations PCT plasma levels are currently measured in intensive care units. The present study summarises the possible clinical uses of this laboratory marker as a diagnostic tool for the assessment of critically ill patients.
Experimental study and kinetics modeling of gas hydrate formation of methane–ethane mixture
Authors: Naeiji Parisa , Varaminian Farshad 
Published: February 2021

Abstract.

In this study, gas hydrate formation kinetics of methane and ethane binary
mixtures has been studied and data of mixed methane–ethane hydrate
formation at 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 0.68, 0.8, and 0.9 mole fractions of
methane and at a temperature of 277.15 K and an initial pressure of
approximately 3.6 MPa were collected. The thermodynamic natural path was
used for modeling the hydrate formation rate in a constant volume process.
The results show that there is good agreement between model prediction and
experimental data, with an average error of 0.9%. It was observed that
the values of these parameters are dependent on the concentration of
components in the mixtures. The results indicate that this model can predict
constant volume experimental data of binary mixture hydrate.
The effect of a home-based strength training program on type 2 diabetes risk in obese Latino boys
Authors: Kelly Louise A. , Loza Armando , Lin Xiao , Schroeder E. Todd , Hughes Adrienne , Kirk Alison , Knowles Ann-Maire 
Published: February 2021

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effects of a home-based strength training (HBST) intervention on insulin sensitivity (SI), compensatory acute insulin response and β-cell function, body composition measures, and maximum strength in obese Latino boys.

Methods: A total of 26 obese Latino males aged between 14 and 18 years were randomized to either a twice-weekly (n=15) or a control group (C; n=15) for 16 weeks. HBST for 16 weeks, composed of two 1-h sessions per week. Outcome measures were assessed pre-and post-intervention/control condition and included SI, acute insulin response to glucose (AIR) and disposition index (DI), fasting glucose, 2-h glucose, body composition using waist-hip circumferences, body mass index (BMI), dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan, blood pressure, and strength by 1-repetition maximum. A repeated measures GLM was used to assess differences in changes in outcome measures, between the C and the HBST groups.

Results: There were no significant overall intervention effects on any of the outcome variables (p<0.05).

Conclusion: These results suggest that an HBST does not improve SI, maximal strength or decrease adiposity in obese Latino boys.
Cellular immune responses in amniotic fluid of women with a sonographic short cervix
Authors: Galaz Jose , Romero Roberto , Xu Yi , Miller Derek , Levenson Dustyn , Para Robert , Varrey Aneesha , Hsu Richard , Tong Anna , Hassan Sonia S. , Hsu Chaur-Dong , Gomez-Lopez Nardhy 
Published: February 2021

AbstractObjectivesA sonographic short cervix is one of the strongest predictors of preterm delivery. However, the cellular immune composition of amniotic fluid in women with a short cervix has not yet been described. Herein, we determined cellular and soluble immune responses in amniotic fluid from pregnant women with a mid-trimester asymptomatic short cervix.MethodsAmniotic fluid samples (n=77) were collected from asymptomatic women with a cervical length between 15 and 25 mm (n=36, short cervix) or ≤15 mm (n=41, severely short cervix) diagnosed by ultrasound. Flow cytometry and multiplex measurement of cytokines/chemokines were performed.Results(1) The cellular immune composition of amniotic fluid did not differ between women with a severely short cervix (≤15 mm) and those with a short cervix 15–25 mm; (2) amniotic fluid concentrations of multiple cytokines/chemokines were higher in women with a severely short cervix (≤15 mm) than in those with a short cervix 15–25 mm; (3) the cellular immune composition of amniotic fluid did not differ between women with a severely short cervix (≤15 mm) who ultimately underwent preterm delivery and those who delivered at term; and (4) amniotic fluid concentrations of IL-2, but not other immune mediators, were increased in women with a severely short cervix (≤15 mm) who ultimately delivered preterm compared to those who delivered at term.ConclusionsWomen with a severely short cervix (≤15 mm) have increased concentrations of pro-inflammatory mediators in the amniotic cavity; yet, these do not translate to changes in the cellular immune response.
A Count of Counts. Parallel Loanwords and Channels of Communication between Arabic, Latin, French and Occitan in the Levant at the Time of the Crusades
Authors: Lewis Kevin J. 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Medieval Levantine Arabic sources contain two separate but synonymous terms for ‘count’ – a title borne by many crusaders. These terms are “qūm.ṣ” and “kund”. Although past scholars have agreed that “kund” was a transliteration of Old French “conte”, they have disagreed on whether “qūm.ṣ” derived from Latin “comes” or Occitan “coms”. This paper argues in favour of the Latin etymology. The paper then proposes that the distinction in the usage of “kund” and “qūm.ṣ” depended on the medium through which Arabophones communicated with the Franks in question. Latin “comes” likely entered Arabic as “qūmiṣ” via translations of Latin documents produced by the chanceries of the settled Syro-Frankish aristocracy. Meanwhile, French “conte” entered Arabic as “kund” via less formal oral contact between Arabophones and temporarily visiting crusaders and pilgrims.
Referenzintervalle für eisenabhängige Blutparameter bei Kindern und Jugendlichen: Ergebnisse einer populationsgestützten Kohortenstudie (LIFE Child)
Authors: Rieger Kristin , Vogel Mandy , Engel Christoph , Ceglarek Uta , Thiery Joachim , Kratzsch Jürgen , Harms Kristian , Glock Fabian , Hiemisch Andreas , Kiess Wieland 
Published: February 2021

Zusammenfassung

Einleitung: Es werden pädiatrische Referenzintervalle zu eisenabhängigen Parametern kontinuierlich über das Alter unter Anwendung des, in der Laboratoriumsmedizin noch wenig bekannten, R-Pakets GAMLSS aus einer hoch standardisierten Probenpopulation ermittelt.

Methoden: 2778 Blutproben von LIFE Child-Probanden im Alter von 2,5 bis 19 Jahren wurden mittels Sysmex XN-9000 für Hämoglobin und Retikulozyten, sowie mittels Roche cobas 8000 für Transferrin und Ferritin analysiert. Die Schätzung der Referenzintervalle erfolgte durch wiederholte Modellberechnungen unter Anwendung der LMS-Methode nach Cole mit spezifisch gewichteten Teilstichproben.

Ergebnisse: Es wurden kontinuierliche und geschlechtsspezifische Referenzintervalle sowie geglättete Perzentilenkurven für Hämoglobin, Ferritin, Retikulozyten und Transferrin erstellt. Dabei konnten aufgrund der wiederholten Modellberechnungen Einzelkurven und durch Mittelung zusammengefasste Perzentilenkurven erstellt werden. Die Einzelkurven gaben einen Überblick über potentielle Schwankungen der einzelnen Parameterverläufe. Die gemittelten Kurven ermöglichten eine stabile Kurvenverlaufsbeurteilung der eisenabhängigen Parameter im Kindes- und Jugendalter.

Schlussfolgerungen: Hiermit stehen erstmals mit dem GAMLSS-R-Paket und für die hier verwendeten Gerätetechniken eruierte aktuelle alters- und geschlechtsspezifische Referenzintervalle zur Verfügung. Verglichen zu bisherigen Studien können frühere Ergebnisse vervollständigt und Diskrepanzen, abhängig vom unterschiedlichen methodischen Vorgehen, verdeutlicht werden. Relevante Erkenntnisse für die Diagnostik der Eisenmangelanämie, wie eine geschlechtsabhängige Beurteilung des Hämoglobins ab dem 11. Lebensjahr statt wie bisher ab 15 Jahren (nach WHO), werden dargestellt.
Unifying two general licensors of completive adverbials in syntax
Authors: Zhang Niina Ning 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
It is well-known that an agent-oriented adverbial is syntactically licensed by a functional projection in which an agent is base generated. How is a completive adverbial, such as in three minutes, licensed? It has been noted that such an adverbial is licensed by either a resultative or an incremental theme in the form of a nominal that is quantified by a numeral (and a classifier in numeral classifier languages). Both licensing conditions encode a bounded scale. This paper argues that the nominal in the special form can be analyzed as an element hosted in a ResultP, and thus the two conditions are also unified syntactically. The evidence for the analysis comes from the syntactic similarities and interactions between such a nominal and the resultative in a VV resultative construction in Mandarin Chinese.
Diachronic viability of syntactic alternatives
Authors: García Erica C. 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
The paper examines the diachronic implications of asymmetries in the synchronic distribution of syntactic variants, by inquiring whether syntactic alternatives can differentiate historically, following the model of morphological split. A discussion of the general principles underlying diachronic differentiation and syntactic variation is followed by an in-depth analysis, in a large corpus of Goldoni's comedies, of the alternation in Italian of con phrases with first and second person pronouns as object where the preposition is enclitic vs. preposed (meco/con me, teco/con te). The two variants are shown to be nonequivalent, and pragmatically in complementary distribution. The failure of the (older) variant with enclitic -co to survive historically and the order in which it disappeared in the three grammatical persons are both accounted for; it is further shown that the synchronic distribution of the alternatives, especially the relative proportion of cases of the older variant found in more or less "categorical" environments, foreshadows the historically observed outcome.
Still mirative after all these years
Authors: Delancey Scott 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
This article re-presents the case, first presented in DeLancey (1997), for the mirative as a crosslinguistic category, and responds to critiques of that work by Gilbert Lazard and Nathan Hill. The nature of the mirative, a category which marks a statement as representing information which is new or unexpected, is exemplified with data from Kham (Tibeto-Burman) and Hare (Athabaskan). The mirative category is shown to be distinct from the well-known mediative or indirective evidential category. Finally, the role of mirativity in the complex verbal systems of Tibetan languages is briefly outlined.
Synthesis and structure of [2-((L)-menthoxycarbonyl)ethyl]diphenyltin halides
Authors: Liu Qingtao , Shi Xiaowen , Zhang Changfa , Tian Laijin 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Two [2-((L)-menthoxycarbonyl)ethyl]diphenyltin halides, (L)-MenOCOCH2CH2SnXPh2 (X=Cl, 1; I, 2), have been synthesized and characterized by means of elemental analysis, FT-IR, NMR (1H, 13C, and 119Sn) spectroscopy, and X-ray single crystal diffraction. The tin atoms in 1 and 2 are both five-coordinated and possess the [C3SnOX] (X=Cl and I) trigonal bipyramidal environment with the trigonal plane defined by the three carbon atoms and the axial positions occupied by the halogen atom and internal carbonyl oxygen. There is a five-membered chelate ring in 1 and 2 with the Sn-O distance being 2.4781(16) and 2.512(2) Å, respectively.
Kontingenzbewältigung als Zügel der Herrschaft
Authors: Al Ghouz Abdelkader 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
After the collapse of the Abbasid Empire as a result of the Mongol conquest of Bagdad in 1258, a number of Sunni Muslim scholars perceived the sudden absence of the caliphate, an important Islamic political institution, as an experience of contingency. The emergence of the Mamluk dynasty (1250–1517) in Egypt and Syria caused an additional experience of contingency: the crisis of legitimacy of the Mamluk rulers. Furthermore, the Mamluks and their legal scholars did not assiduously apply the Shariʿa provisions to practical politics – theoretically, however, they accepted it in order to legitimize their rule over the so-called Islamicate regions. In some of his works, the Damascene Muslim scholar Taqī ad-Dīn Aḥmad Ibn Taymīya (d. 1328) faces up to these three experiences of contingency. This article therefore examines how Ibn Taymīya perceived these three phenomena and sheds light on the complex layers of strategies that he uses in order to cope with the experiences of contingency.