bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characterization of GMPP from Dendrobium huoshanense yielding GDP-D-mannose
Authors: Yi Yuqi , Liu Lulu , Zhou Wenyan , Peng Daiyin , Han Rongchun , Yu Nianjun 
Published: February 2021

Abstract

Dendrobium huoshanense has been used for centuries in China and its polysaccharides are the main active components in treating loss of body fluids resulting from fever and asthenic symptoms. However, the biosynthetic pathway of polysaccharides in D. huoshanense remains to be elucidated. In this study, we obtained a guanosine diphosphate (GDP)-mannose pyrophosphorylase (DhGMPP) from D. huoshanense and characterized its function to catalyze the conversion of α-D-mannose-phosphate to GDP-D-mannose involved in the production of polysaccharides. DhGMPP, with the open reading frame of 1,245 bp, was isolated from RNA-Seq data of D. huoshanense. Phylogenetic analysis as well as sequence characterization suggested its involvement in the biosynthesis of GDP-D-mannose. In vitro enzyme assay demonstrated that GMPP encoded a pyrophosphorylase that converted α-D-mannose-phosphate and GTP into GDP-D-mannose. Identification of DhGMPP could provide more insights into the mechanism concerning polysaccharide biosynthesis in D. huoshanense and be utilized for enhancing polysaccharide accumulation through metabolic engineering.
Plurilingualism, learner autonomy and constructive alignment: A vision for university language centres in the 21st century
Authors: Little David 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
This article is my answer to the question: What is your vision of university language centres in the 21st century? I argue that language centres can best establish themselves as beacons of good practice by embracing, exploring and further developing the concept of plurilingualism, promoting the autonomy of their students, and constructively aligning curriculum, teaching/learning and assessment. Each of these activities requires research, so the realization of my vision entails that language centres should have the same obligation to engage in research as other academic departments. At present this is rarely the case, which suggests an important advocacy role for CercleS as it enters its fourth decade.
Recent developments concerning the use of English for teaching and research purposes
Authors: Gotti Maurizio 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe recent developments concerning the use of foreign languages in the academic world have strongly favoured English, which has become the preferred medium for international communication in many contexts. This spread of English as a lingua franca has had relevant implications for teaching and research purposes, due to the need for a common language for the development of specialised communication at a global level. This paper investigates the present globalising phenomenon in the academia, highlighting not only its recent trends but also the main problems that these recent developments have created. The first part of the paper explores the globalising effects of the use of English as a lingua franca in the world of research and the complex nature of its linguistic realisations, highlighting both homogenising and localising trends. The second part of the paper is devoted to the analysis of another phenomenon which is quite topical in the academic context at a global level, i.e. the use of English as a medium of instruction in higher education in many non-English-speaking countries. The implementation of these ‘international’ courses has opened up new opportunities for learning the English discourses relating to the specialised disciplines taught, but has also aroused dilemmas connected with language proficiency and the level of content competence acquired.
Learner autonomy, self-regulation skills and self-efficacy beliefs – How can students’ academic writing skills be supported?
Authors: Mickwitz Åsa , Suojala Marja 
Published: February 2021

AbstractHigh self-efficacy beliefs and effective self-regulatory strategies are increasingly important in academic settings, and especially in developing academic writing skills. This article deals with how students develop academic writing skills in two different pedagogical settings (as autonomous learners and in a traditional learning environment), and how this is associated with the students’ self-regulatory strategies and self-efficacy beliefs. In the study, self-regulatory skills referred to the ability to take charge of, manage and organize the learning process, while self-efficacy beliefs were defined as the strength of students’ confidence to accomplish an extensive task and sense of succeeding. The method was quantitative, including some qualitative elements, and data was elicited through a survey answered by 150 students, after they had attended courses in academic writing. The survey consisted of 1 open-ended question and 16 multiple-choice questions (a five-point Likert scale). The data was analyzed using SPSS. The results show that self-regulatory skills and self-efficacy beliefs have a greater impact on learning academic writing skills in traditional learning settings than in learning settings where the students are supposed to work more independently, and where teacher support is not available to the same extent.
Enhancing assessment in the recognition of prior learning with digitalisation
Authors: Heinonen Annemari , Tuomainen Satu 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
The processes to assess students’ learning acquired in various non-formal and informal learning environments have become increasingly common in Finnish university language centres in recent years. This paper describes new developments at the University of Eastern Finland to assess students’ non-formal and informal learning of English for Academic Purposes (EAP) with an electronic examination system. Recognition of prior learning (RPL) had previously been organised as on-campus examinations, although demand for digitalisation and electronic examination systems had been voiced to provide students and staff more flexibility and convenience. The digitalisation of the RPL process aimed to develop the system in the most popular language for validation, English, and to provide students and RPL assessors an increasingly effective method for assessing prior learning. Finnish higher education institutions have invested heavily in digital learning environments and this described transformation to a digitalised RPL process can be seen as a logical response. We introduce the new RPL system and its change from previous face-to-face assessment to the digital version, the rationale for and practical implementation of the digitalisation. We also present RPL assessors’ perceptions of the change, preview student data on the new system and offer suggestions on the systematic and evidence-based development of the recognition and validation of EAP in university language centres.
The university language centre as an open-badge issuer: New directions in ESP assessment and accreditation
Authors: Spencer Alice , Bussi Anna 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
In the present article, we demonstrate the utility of Open Badge certifications in documenting ESP, EAP and EMI courses. Open Badges are online records of achievement which document field-specific, soft and technical skills. They consist of a visual image and a set of embedded metadata, they are endorsed by the institution which issues them and are recognized at an international level. The information packaged within the badge image file is provided in an open source format and can be shared on social media platforms, as part of an online e-portfolio, as a link on an electronic CV, and on the platform which hosts the Badge. As of 2019, Turin University Language Centre offers Badges in “English for the Social Services” (B1 and B2), “English for Administrative Purposes” (A2, B1 and B2), “Academic Writing and Presentation Skills” (B2 and C1) and “English Medium Instruction” (B2 and C1). We will argue that Open Badge certifications are particularly suited to ESP, since they provide a record of specific hard and soft skills and of innovative teaching and learning practices which go undocumented in conventional certifications and on academic transcripts. We will emphasize the “glocal” quality of these certifications, inasmuch as they are internationally recognized awards tailored by local providers in response to local demands. We will suggest that this perspective is valuable for ESP training. Although ESP learners need to be able to share their credentials on international platforms, using a common language, it is important that we do not lose sight of the specific characteristics of professional activities at a local level. We will further argue that the University Language Centre is, in many ways, ideally suited to issue these kinds of certification.
Dialect vocabulary changes over 100 years. Standardization and new dialect forms in Hamaogi glossary
Authors: Inoue Fumio , Hanzawa Yasushi 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
This paper treats linguistic changes over a long time span, covering 100 years in terms of the birth years of the informants and over 250 years since the compilation of a dialect glossary. Data from seven generations about 20 years apart were acquired. We compare the absolute time of linguistic change in lexical items recorded in Hamaogi, a dialect glossary, with the results of a large-scale sociolinguistic survey in Tsuruoka City. For lexical phenomena, the change seems to be continuous over the 250 years. Lexical changes occurred in the feudal ages, after modernization, after WWII and even recently. New dialect is discussed as a symbol of language change in the opposite direction to language standardization. A “glottogram map” or “3D glottogram” presents concrete data of the spatial diffusion of the new dialect form, ganpo. We offer concrete observations of the development of new dialect, which is part of a language change in progress. More than 250 years seem to be necessary from the beginning to the end of a lexical change. This suggests that many dialect forms will remain until the 22nd century..
Improving diagnosis by feedback and deliberate practice: one-on-one coaching for diagnostic maturation
Authors: Sinha Pranay , Pischel Lauren , Sofair André N. 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Reflective practice is essential for the ongoing maturation of clinicians and requires regular self-evaluation in association with ongoing mentoring and feedback. Currently, most resident physicians do not have access to educational experiences that fulfill these needs. We present a novel model for structured one-on-one longitudinal coaching using the principles of deliberate practice to improve diagnostic skills. This is an easily implementable educational model that can be replicated in residencies across the country to improve clinical reasoning. Skills learned through this program have the potential not only to bolster the academic approach to patients but to also directly improve the clinical assessment and care of patients under the trainee’s care.
A multi-band planar antenna for biomedical applications
Authors: Yeap Kim Ho , Tan Eileen Mei Foong , Hiraguri Takefumi , Lai Koon Chun , Hirasawa Kazuhiro 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
We present the design of a compact tri-band adhesive planar antenna which operates as a gateway for biomedical applications. Operating in the Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) band (2.4–2.5 GHz), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.15.6 Wireless Body Area Network Ultra-Wide Band (WBAN UWB) (3.1–10.6 GHz) and the IEEE 802.11 Wireless Local Area Network or WLAN (WLAN) band (5.15–5.725 GHz), the antenna is useful in the context of body-signal monitoring. The ISM band is used for in-body communication with the implanted medical devices, whereas the WBAN and WLAN bands are for off-body communication with the base station and central medical server, respectively. We have designed our antenna to operate at 2.34/3.20/4.98 GHz. The simulation results show that the antenna has 10 dB bandwidths of 420 MHz (2.07–2.49 GHz), 90 MHz (3.16–3.25 GHz), and 460 MHz (4.76–5.22 GHz) to cover the ISM, WBAN, and WLAN bands, respectively. The proposed antenna is printed on a flexible Rogers RT/duroid 5880 epoxy substrate and it occupies a compact volume of 24 × 24 × 0.787 mm. The designed antenna is simulated using HFSS and the fabricated antenna is experimentally validated by adhering it to a human skin. The simulated and measured performance of the antenna confirms its omnidirectional radiation patterns and high return losses at the three resonant bands.
Research and application of seismic porosity inversion method for carbonate reservoir based on Gassmann’s equation
Authors: Liu Kaiyuan , Qin Li , Zhang Xi , Liu Liting , Wu Furong , Li Le 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Carbonate rocks frequently exhibit less predictable seismic attribute–porosity relationships because of complex and heterogeneous pore geometry. Pore geometry plays an important role in carbonate reservoir interpretation, as it influences acoustic and elastic characters. So in porosity prediction of carbonate reservoirs, pore geometry should be considered as a factor. Thus, based on Gassmann’s equation and Eshelby–Walsh ellipsoidal inclusion theory, we introduced a parameter C to stand by pore geometry and then deduced a porosity calculating expression from compressional expression of Gassmann’s equation. In this article, we present a porosity working flow as well as calculate methods of every parameter needed in the porosity inverting equation. From well testing and field application, it proves that the high-accuracy method is suitable for carbonate reservoirs.
Predicting the gas resource potential in reservoir C-sand interval of Lower Goru Formation, Middle Indus Basin, Pakistan
Authors: Mughal Muhammad Rizwan , Akhter Gulraiz 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
The integrated study of seismic attributes and inversion analysis can provide a better understanding for predicting the hydrocarbon-bearing zones even in extreme heterogeneous reservoirs. This study aims to delineate and characterize the gas saturated zone within the reservoir (Cretaceous C-sand) interval of Sawan gas field, Middle Indus Basin, Pakistan. The hydrocarbon bearing zone is well identified through the seismic attribute analysis along a sand channel. The sparse-spike inversion analysis has efficiently captured the variations in reservoir parameter (P-impedance) for gas prospect. Inversion results indicated that the relatively lower P-impedance values are encountered along the predicted sand channel. To further characterize the reservoir, geostatistical techniques comprising multiattribute regression and probabilistic neural network (PNN) analysis are applied to predict the effective porosity of reservoir. Comparatively, the PNN analysis predicted the targeted property more efficiently and applied its estimations on entire seismic volume. Furthermore, the geostatistical estimations of PNN analysis significantly predicted the gas-bearing zones and confirmed the sand channel as a major contributor of gas accumulation in the area. These estimates are in appropriate agreement with each other, and the workflow adopted here can be applied to various South Asian regions and in other parts of the world for improved characterization of gas reservoirs.
Impulse noise treatment in magnetotelluric inversion
Authors: Hidalgo-Silva Hugo , Gómez-Treviño Enrique 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
The problem of model recovering in the presence of impulse noise on the data is considered for the magnetotelluric (MT) inverse problem. The application of total variation regularization along with L1-norm penalized data fitting (TVL1) is the usual approach for the impulse noise treatment in image recovery. This combination works poorly when a high level of impulse noise is present on the data. A nonconvex operator named smoothly clipped absolute deviation (TVSCAD) was recently applied to the image recovery problem. This operator is solved using a sequence of TVL1 equivalent problems, providing a significant improvement over TVL1. In practice, TVSCAD requires the selection of several parameters, a task that can be very difficult to attain. A more simple approach to the presence of impulse noise in data is presented here. A nonconvex function is also considered in the data fitness operator, along with the total variation regularization operator. The nonconvex operator is solved by following a half-quadratic procedure of minimization. Results are presented for synthetic and also for field data, assessing the proposed algorithm’s capacity in model recovering under the influence of impulse noise on data for the MT problem.
Tensile properties of finger-jointed lumber under high-temperature and oxygen-free conditions
Authors: Yue Kong , Wang Feng , Lu Weidong , Tang Zhongqiu , Chen Zhangjing , Liu Weiqing 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
A model for engineered wood was developed that considers the parallel-to-grain tensile strength of finger-jointed lumber at high temperatures relevant to fire conditions. The finger-jointed lumber was composed of Douglas fir, larch, and poplar wood with phenol-resorcinol-formaldehyde (PRF) as an adhesive. The tensile properties of the finger-jointed lumber were evaluated at high temperatures under oxygen-free conditions, i.e. in a nitrogen atmosphere. A combination of chemical and thermal-physical property analysis of the PRF adhesive and microscopic observations on the glueline was used to discuss the reduction of tensile strength of the parallel-to-grain finger-jointed lumber at variable temperature. The results show that the tensile strength of the finger-jointed lumber decreased linearly with increasing temperature. The parallel-to-grain tensile strength of the PRF finger-jointed samples at 20 and 280 °C were 84 and 5% of the tensile strength of the solid wood at 20 °C, respectively. The thermal-physical properties and scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that the pyrolysis intensity of the PRF adhesive was lower than that of the wood at 220 °C or higher.
Changes in serum levels of Apo AIV in patients with newly diagnosed hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism: a preliminary study
Authors: Kaykhaei Mahmoud Ali , Ghezel Avadan , Ansari-Moghaddam Alireza , Sandoughi Mahnaz , Sheikhi Vahid , Heidari Zahra 
Published: February 2021

Abstract

Objectives
Apolipoprotein AIV has a role in chylomicrons and lipid secretion and catabolism. Also, Apo-AIV plays a role in the regulation of appetite and satiety. Previous studies on rats have shown that hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are associated with significant changes in Apo-AIV serum levels. There has been no research on serum Apo-AIV changes in hyper and hypothyroidism in humans.

Methods
This case-control study was performed on new patients with hyper and hypothyroidism. Eighteen patients with hyperthyroidism and 18 patients with hypothyroidism enrolled in the study. After 12 weeks treatment blood samples were recruited. If euthyroidism was achieved, serum Apo-AIV level was measured. Eighteen euthyroid healthy individuals without thyroid disease were chosen as the control group from general population.

Results
Serum levels of Apo-AIV before treatment in hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and in the control group were 85.61, 110.66 and 33.51 mg/dL respectively (p<0.001), which was significantly higher in hyperthyroid patients than hypothyroidism and control group. In patients with hyperthyroidism there was a significant decrease in serum levels of Apo-AIV after treatment (p=0.044). However in hypothyroidism a non-significant elevation in serum levels of Apo-AIV was observed (p=0.403). Furthermore, serum levels of Apo-AIV after treatment were significantly higher in both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism in comparison to control group (p<0.001).

Conclusions
The results of this study for the first time showed that the serum level of Apo-AIV is increased in patients with hyperthyroidism and is decreased in patients with hypothyroidism, and after treatment, there was a significant difference with the control group.
Electrolytic synthesis of ZrSi/ZrC nanocomposites from ZrSiO4 and carbon black powder in molten salt
Authors: Ming Li , Xiufeng Wu 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
ZrSi/ZrC nanocomposites have stable high-temperature properties, where conventional materials cannot meet increasingly demanding high-temperature environments. In this paper, the microstructure and electrochemical reduction mechanism of ZrSi/ZrC nanocomposites have been studied. A mixture of ZrSiO4 and carbon black powder was processed using ball grinding, sheet pressing, and sintering, and cylindrically-sintered sheet was prepared as the cathode for the electrolytic work. A high purity graphite rod was utilized as the anode.The microstructure of the electrolytic product was characterized and analyzed using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The experimental results showed that the diameter of the as-synthesized ZrSi/ ZrC fibers typically range between 100-400 nm when produced by the electrolysis of sintered pellets in equimolar CaCl2-NaCl molten salt at 850°C with a cell voltage of 2.8 V for 20 h under an argon atmosphere. The nanofibers were formed in core-shell microstructures that overlap and grow.
The functions of language mixing in the social networks of Singapore students
Authors: Botha Werner 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
In the context of multilingualism, there is still a dearth of research on the language practices of individuals and the social factors that explain their linguistic behaviour, particularly in the Singapore context. This article discusses the dynamics underlying a particular feature of vernacular Singapore speech – language mixing – and how such mixing practices form part of the social identity of the interactions between speakers in their respective social networks. The approach to this current study was adapted from Milroy’s research on social networks (Milroy, Lesley. 1989 [1980]. Language and social networks, 2nd edn. Oxford: Blackwell.) in order to provide access to subjects’ most natural use of languages – that is, their “vernacular” in the Labovian sense. This study investigates various aspects of the multilingual language practices of students in Singapore and reports on the social motivations and the social contexts of language mixing in the personal lives of these speakers in the context of other languages and language varieties.
All optical NAND/NOR and majority gates using nonlinear photonic crystal ring resonator
Authors: Mamnoon-Sofiani Hassan , Javahernia Sahel 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
All optical logic gates are building blocks for all optical data processors. One way of designing optical logic gates is using threshold switching which can be realized by combining an optical resonator with nonlinear Kerr effect. In this paper we showed that a novel structure consisting of nonlinear photonic crystal ring resonator which can be used for realizing optical NAND/NOR and majority gates. The delay time of the proposed NAND/NOR and majority gates are 2.5 ps and 1.5 ps respectively. Finite difference time domain and plane wave expansion methods were used for simulating the proposed optical logic gates. The total footprint of the proposed structure is about 988 μm2.