bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
SOCIAL SATIRE ON HIGHER EDUCATION: A COMPARATIVE STRUCTURAL SEMIOTIC STUDY OF THE MOVIES ALANGKAH LUCUNYA (NEGERI INI) AND PARASITE
Authors: Yulianeta Yulianeta , Tami Rosmah 
Published: June 2021

It is commonly believed that obtaining a higher education is one way to elevate people's social class. Two movies, the Indonesian film Alangkah Lucunya (Negeri Ini) ALNI (2010) and the Korean Parasite (PR) (2019), challenge this common belief. The two movies criticize higher education by conveying the message in satire. To unveil the meaning of the two movies' social satires, this study used Roland Barthes's structural semiotic analysis on five primary codes to explore the codes that regulate the structure of the narrative of the text (film) to find similarities and differences of their focus of criticism regarding higher education. The use of satiric form to contrast and juxtapose the rich and the poor, and the educated and uneducated shows that both Alangkah Lucunya (Negeri Ini) and Parasite uncover the influence of neoliberalism in the formal educational system that gives an impact to both lower and higher class, either in developed countries or developing countries. The satire content is intended to attract attention and to inspire people to move to change the situation.
LEARNER MOTIVATION IN THE EFL CLASSROOMS: VOICES FROM A BANGLADESHI UNIVERSITY
Authors: Chowdhury Takad Ahmed , Roy Sarbani , Abdullah Muhammad Kamarul Kabilan 
Published: June 2021

English proficiency is considered a door opener almost in any field anywhere in the world, yet all the attempts to improve effectiveness of teaching and learning of English language in Bangladesh seem to fail over decades. Although poor learning motivation is counted as a key aspect why students do not hold their attention to their English classes and make use of their capabilities to understand and learn cognitively, there has been a very limited number of studies in Bangladeshi context to deal with this critical issue. This mixed method study attempted to identify the sources of motivation for attending English classes of the 1st year undergraduate students at a Bangladeshi university. Quantitative data was collected using two close-ended questionnaires from 50 randomly selected Bangladeshi tertiary level English language learners and 10 teachers. The student questionnaire was developed by adding three items with the ten items adapted from Clement et al. (1994) and the teachers questionnaire was developed and administered to follow up the findings from the student participants. For a more complete analysis, structured interviews were conducted with 10 purposively selected students. The results indicated lack of intrinsic motivation among the learners, and based on the existing literature, the study recommended the way outs to improve motivation of the non-performing learners. The recommendations included, shifting from exam-oriented assessment system, teachers’ reflection of their own teaching practices, redesigning course curricula based on learning need and learners’ expectations, ensuring easy access to the latest educational facilities, and encouraging the roles of students and their peers to develop learners’ motivation and foster their autonomous learning opportunities. Finally, the limitations are drawn and suggestions for further research are provided.
THE EFFECT OF PHONOLOGICAL INSTRUCTION FOR STRUGGLING READERS IN ELEMENTARY
Authors: Novianti Ranti , Syihabuddin Syihabuddin 
Published: June 2021

This study aims to determine the impact of phonological instruction interventions on dyslexic students in elementary schools. We tested the effect of phonological instruction on phonological awareness, reading and spelling skills in 4 subjects who had almost similar reading difficulties at different grade levels. This study used an experimental design method single subject research (SSR). The SSR design used is the A-B-A design which consists of three stages of conditions, namely: A-1 (baseline 1), B (intervention), A-2 (baseline 2). Tests given to measure baseline and intervention results of phonology awareness tests, reading tests and spelling tests. Measurement of ability at the baseline was given as many as 4 sessions while the intervention for 12 sessions. The results showed that phonological instruction had an effect on increasing phonological awareness, reading and spelling skills. The significant effect of phonological instruction interventions suggests that understanding phonological principles is beneficial for students with dyslexia.
ANALOGICAL REASONING IN NARATIVE TEXT: AN INNOVATION TO IMPROVE STUDENTS’ CRITICAL THINKING
Authors: Suharno Suharno , Setyarini Sri 
Published: June 2021

The current rate of advancement in information and technology presents new challenges for EFL teachers at all levels of education. Students are confronted with perplexing data, leaving them feeling disoriented in the digital world and ignoring their awareness of social issues. This problem prompts the teachers to encourage students’ critical thinking skills through various strategies that require them to participate in learning. This study describes the implementation of analogical reasoning in a narrative text to promote EFL junior secondary students’ critical thinking skills and investigate the levels of students’ thinking skills promoted by the teachers through the learning strategy. A classroom action research covering two cycles was employed as a research design. There were three instruments to collect the data: classroom observation, interview with the teachers and students, and document analysis. The collected data were then analyzed and interpreted by referring to the theory of analogical reasoning, narrative text, and promoting critical thinking skills. This study revealed that the teachers applied analogical reasoning in three stages, such as retrieval, mapping, and reflecting integrated with students’ schemata. In terms of the students’ levels of thinking, this learning strategy had successfully promoted students’ thinking skills from applying to creating levels as indicated from the inferences made by the students.
THE GENERIC STRUCTURE OF THE THAI PRIME MINISTER'S WEEKLY ADDRESS
Authors: Phanthaphoommee Narongdej 
Published: June 2021

This study examines how the weekly Thai prime ministerial address constitutes as a genre and explains its implications against the Thai socio-political backdrop. Drawing on data derived from Thaksin Shinawatra’s, Abhisit Vejjajiva’s, Yingluck Shinawatra’s and Prayut Chan-o-cha’s weekly addresses, the study applies an integrated model of genre analysis based on Systemic Functional Linguistic perspective. The findings reveal that although the format of the Thai weekly address is emulated that of the US president’s, this unidirectional, weekly televised communication differs from other world leader’s addresses. Following an interpretation of the findings, the paper argues that the weekly address has become ritualised in Thai politics since almost all post-Thaksin prime ministers have employed this political marketing strategy to justify their rule and promote their administration’s performance in such a way as to embody the ‘senior-cum-leader’ trait that has become a major Thai tenet. The generic structure of the show is loosely organised around a long-running time slot and imbued with a strong sense of positivity and glorification of the century-long concept of Thai nationalism.
THE PORTRAYAL OF DEFAMATION CASE DEFENDANT IN COURT VERDICT
Authors: Zifana Mahardhika , Lukmana Iwa , Sudana Dadang 
Published: June 2021

In Indonesia, the law that regulates defamation case is not only the Criminal Code but also the Law of the Republic Indonesia Number 11 of 2008 on Information Electronic Transactions (the ITE Law). From 2009 to 2014, the ITE Law has brought 71 defendants in courts as the suspects of defamation case. This overlapping law seems to be caused by many dimensions that can be used to see whether a person’s name can be ‘defamed’ due to someone else’s language productions. The complexity of defamation in Indonesia leads this study to look into its legal dimensions from a linguistic perspective. Conducted in the context of law in Indonesia, this research attempted to discover the portrayal of defamation case defendants in court verdicts. The data of the research were collected from the copies of court verdicts of two defendants of defamation case in Indonesia, settling in 2014 and 2015. The data were in the form of texts explaining the position of the defendants in their relation to the grounds for judge’s final decision. This research employed van Leeuwen’s (2004) Critical Discourse Analysis as a framework to reveal social semiotic features depicting and explaining the construction and position of inclusion and exclusion of social actors in related discourses. Data interpretation and final conclusions unveil the existence of certain features that might violate the principle of presumption of innocence against defendants. This research also reveals marginalization of defendants in an effort to balance justice retributively and restoratively. The study indicates that the defendants turned to be the target of victimization in the production of court verdicts, while in fact, the law should place all subjects in equal positions before the delivery of such consequential decisions.
Detection of Aneuploidies in Products of Conception and Neonatal Deaths in Iranian Patients Using the Multiplex Ligation-Dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA)
Authors: Khorami Sarvestani Sara , Rafati Maryam , Soltanghoraee Haleh , Hoseini Azadeh , Soltani Azadeh , Jalilian Koosha , Ghaffari Saeed Reza 
Published: June 2021

Background: Around 70% of all pregnancies (Including 15% of clinically-recognized ones) are lost due to various fetal or maternal disorders. Chromosomal aneuploidies are among the most common causes of pregnancy loss. Standard chromosome analysis using G-banding technique (Karyotype) is the technique of choice in studying such abnormalities; however, this technique is time-consuming and sensitive, and limited by vulnerabilities such as cell culture failure. The use of molecular cytogenetic techniques, including array-based techniques and Multiplex Ligation-Dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA), has been proposed to overcome the limitations of this method to study the products of conception. This study has been designed to investigate the feasibility of using MLPA technique as a standalone genetic testing, with histopathologic examinations and genetic counseling to detect aneuploidies in products of conception and neonatal deaths.

Methods: Forty-two verified fetal and neonatal samples were studies and genetic counseling was scheduled for all parents. Histopathologic examinations were carried out on the products of conception, and appropriate fetal tissues were separated for genetic studies. Following DNA extraction and purification, MLPA was carried out to investigate chromosomal aneuploidies.

Results: Nine samples (21.42%) were diagnosed to be affected with aneuploidy. Detected aneuploidies were trisomy 22 (n=3), trisomy 21(n=1), trisomy 18 (n=2), trisomy 16 (n=1), trisomy 13 (n=1), and monosomy of chromosome X (n=1). The MLPA analysis results were conclusive for all of the fetal samples (Success rate: 100%).

Conclusion: These results suggest that MLPA, as a standalone genetic testing, is an accurate, rapid, and reliable method in overcoming the limitations of standard cytogenetic techniques in genetic investigation of products of conception.
Expression and Characterization of Two DNA Constructs Derived from HIV-1-vif in Escherichia coli and Mammalian Cells
Authors: Zamani Fatemeh , Bolhassani Azam , Shahbazi Sepideh , Faghih Ahmad , Sadat Seyed Mehdi 
Published: June 2021

Background: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is still a major global concern and no effective therapeutic vaccine has been produced to prevent the problem. Among HIV-1 proteins, vif as a basic cytoplasmic protein of HIV-1 is involved in late stages of viral generation and plays important role in HIV-1 virion replication. It also increases the stability of virion cores, which probably inhibits early degradation of viral entry. Therefore, it seems rational to apply this protein as a vaccine based on its impact on HIV-1 life cycle. This study aimed at cloning, expression and production of vif protein as an HIV-1 vaccine candidate.

Methods: In this study, vif sequence was amplified from pLN4-3 plasmid including HIV-1 vif gene and then cloned in pET23a to generate the recombinant plasmids of pET23a/vif with hexahistidine tags. BL21 competent cells were transformed to obtain the protein of interest. Ni-NTA column was used to purify the protein of interest and western blotting confirmed vif protein using anti-His tag antibody. In order to express the gene of interest in eukaryotic cells, vif was sub-cloned into pEGFP plasmids and HEK 293-T cells were transfected. Flow cytometry was then applied to evaluate GFP expression.

Results: vif protein was expressed in BL21)DE3) strain and identified as a23 kDa band in SDS-PAGE and confirmed by anti-His antibody in western blotting. The purified protein concentration was 173.3 μg/ml using Bradford assay. HEK-293T cells were successfully transfected by recombinant pEGFP plasmids and flow cytometry confirmed the cell transfection.

Conclusion: vif protein can be expressed in mammalian cells and may be a proper protein subunit vaccine candidate against HIV-1.
The Novel Drug Discovery to Combat COVID-19 by Repressing Important Virus Proteins Involved in Pathogenesis Using Medicinal Herbal Compounds
Authors: Mahmoudi Samira , Balmeh Negar , Mohammadi Niloofar , Sadeghian-Rizi Tahereh 
Published: June 2021

Background: The cause of COVID-19 global pandemic is SARS-CoV-2. Given the outbreak of this disease, it is so important to find a treatment. One strategy to cope with COVID-19 is to use the active ingredients of medicinal plants. In this study, the effect of active substances was surveyed in inhibiting four important druggable targets, including S protein, 3CLpro, RdRp, and N protein. RdRp controls the replication of SARS-CoV-2 and is crucial for its life cycle. 3CLpro is the main protease of the virus and could be another therapeutic target. Moreover, N protein and S protein are responsible for SARS-CoV-2 assembly and attaching, respectively.

Methods: The 3D structures of herbal active ingredients were prepared and docked with the mentioned SARS-CoV-2 proteins to obtain their affinity. Then, available antiviral drugs introduced in other investigations were docked using similar tools and compared with the results of this study. Finally, other properties of natural compounds were uncovered for drug designing.

Results: The outcomes of the study revealed that Linarin, Amentoflavone, (-)-Catechin Gallate and Hypericin from Chrysanthemum morifolium, Hypericum perforatum, Humulus lupulus, and Hibiscus sabdariffa had the highest affinity for these basic proteins and in some cases, their affinity was much higher than antiviral medicines.

Conclusion: In addition to having high affinity, these herb active ingredients have antioxidant, vasoprotective, anticarcinogenic, and antiviral properties. Therefore, they can be used as extremely safe therapeutic compounds in drug design studies to control COVID-19.
The Impact of Nrf2 Silencing on Nrf2-PD-L1 Axis to Overcome Oxaliplatin Resistance and Migration in Colon Cancer Cells
Authors: Payandeh Zahra , Pirpour Tazehkand Abbas , Mansoori Behzad , Khaze Vahid , Asadi Milad , Baradaran Behzad , Samadi Nasser 
Published: June 2021

Background: Nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) plays a key role in promoting chemoresistance in various cancers. PD-L1 is one of the downstream targets of the Nrf2 signaling pathway. This molecule has some beneficial impacts on tumors growth by inhibition of the immune system. This study aimed to investigate the potential role of the Nrf2-PD-L1 axis in the promotion of oxaliplatin resistance in colon cancer cells.

Methods: We examined Nrf2, PD- L1, and CD80 expression in the tumor and margin tissue samples from CRC patients. After that role of the Nrf2-PD-L1 axis in promotion of Oxaliplatin resistance was investigated.
Results: Our data revealed that Nrf2 and PD-L1 mRNA expressions were markedly higher in tumor tissues compared to margin tissues. The PD-L1 mRNA expression level was also increased in the resistant cells. However, Nrf2 expression was decreased in SW480/Res cells and increased in LS174T/Res cells. The inhibition of Nrf2 through siRNA treatment in SW480/Res and LS174T/Res cells has decreased the IC50 values of oxaliplatin. Inhibition of the Nrf2 has significantly increased the oxaliplatin-induced apoptosis, and reduced the migration in SW480/Res cells.

Conclusion: It is suggested that effective inhibition of Nrf2-PD-L1 signaling pathways can be considered as a novel approach to improve oxaliplatin efficacy in colon cancer patients.
The efficacy and safety of interferons for the treatment of patients with COVID-19: protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials
Authors: Noormandi Afsaneh , Fathalipour Mohammad , Daryabeygi-Khotbehsara Reza , Hassanipour Soheil 
Published: June 2021

Background and objective: COVID-19 has since been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), infecting millions worldwide. The use of Interferon (INF) subtypes previously examined in the treatment of SARS and MERS is also being initiated in some clinical trials. Although different clinical trials were evaluated IFNs in the treatment of COVID-19, their efficacy and safety remain unknown. Therefore, this study aims to systematically assess IFNs efficacy and safety in treating patients with COVID-19.
Methods: The protocol has been registered in the PROSPERO International Prospective Register (CRD42020200643) on 24 July 2020. This protocol has been arranged according to the PRISMA-P (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols) 2015 checklist.
Discussion: Due to lack of approved medication for the covid-19 treatment and also various mutations of this virus, evaluated the efficacy and safety of medications by various studies could help for finding treatments with high effectiveness. IFNs are one of the medications that have been administered in covid-19 infection. Moreover, the best time of administration and dose of this medication was unknown. Although meta-analysis is a potent source for assessing the accuracy of subjects, heterogeneity of articles is a potent limitation of our work.
Patterns of medication errors involving pediatric population reported to the French Medication Error Guichet
Authors: Azar Christine , Allué Delphine , Valnet-Rabier Marie B. , Chouchana Laurent , Rocher Fanny , Durand Dorothée , Grené-Lerouge Nathalie , Saleh Nadine , Maison Patrick 
Published: June 2021

Background: Medication error is a global threat to patient safety, particularly in pediatrics. Yet, this issue remains understudied in this population, in both hospital and community settings.
Objectives: To characterize medication errors involving pediatrics reported to the French Medication Error Guichet, and compare them with medication errors in adults, in each of the hospital and community settings.
Methods: This was a retrospective secondary data analysis of medication errors reported throughout 2013-2017. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were performed to compare actual and potential medication error reports between pediatrics (aged <18 years) and adults (aged >18 and <60 years). Two subanalyses of actual medication errors with adverse drug reaction (ADR), and serious ADR were conducted.
Results: We analyzed 4,718 medication error reports. In pediatrics, both in hospital (n=791) and community (n=1,541) settings, antibacterials for systemic use (n=121, 15.7%; n=157, 10.4%, respectively) and wrong dose error type (n=391, 49.6%; n=549, 35.7%, respectively) were frequently reported in medication errors. These characteristics were also significantly more likely to be associated with reported errors in pediatrics compared with adults. In the hospital setting, analgesics (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=1.59; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03:2.45), and blood substitutes and perfusion solutions (aOR=3.74; 95%CI 2.24:6.25) were more likely to be associated with reported medication errors in pediatrics; the latter drug class (aOR=3.02; 95%CI 1.59:5.72) along with wrong technique (aOR=2.28; 95%CI 1.01:5.19) and wrong route (aOR=2.74; 95%CI 1.22:6.15) error types related more to reported medication errors with serious ADR in pediatrics. In the community setting, the most frequently reported pediatric medication errors involved vaccines (n=389, 25.7%). Psycholeptics (aOR=2.42; 95%CI 1.36:4.31) were more likely to be associated with reported medication errors with serious ADR in pediatrics. Wrong technique error type (aOR=2.71; 95%CI 1.47:5.00) related more to reported medication errors with ADR in pediatrics.
Conclusions: We identified pediatric-specific medication error patterns in the hospital and community settings. Our findings inform focused error prevention measures, and pave the way for interventional research targeting the needs of this population.
Maximizing Science Learning through Practical Work in Secondary Schools in Tanzania: Student-Teachers’ Adaptation to Language Supportive Pedagogy
Authors: Nguru Festo 
Published: June 2021

There is a lack of clarity about the role of practical work in promoting learning and thinking, due to mediocrity in the way it is being handled. This study used mixed methods design to develop through microteaching, LSP integrated practical work to explore its characteristics in order to examine how the student-teachers adapted to the pedagogy in relation to its efficacy in developing science, English language, and pedagogy. The research was conducted at the University of Dodoma. The study involved 63 student-teachers and five lecturers with different specializations. The study was carried out in three cycles at the College of Education. It involved the second-year students who were studying Bachelor of Education in Science, who undertook a Physics Teaching Methods course. Review of lesson plans, achievement tests, classroom observations, and interviews with student-teachers, together with focus group discussions among the lecturers, were used to collect data. The qualitative data were analysed using the thematic analysis approach, while the quantitative data were analysed through repeated measures t-test. The student-teachers were able to plan and implement LSP practical lessons in which case students reported to have enjoyed their participation, sharing of experiences, and the bilingual classrooms. The findings from the repeated measures t-test show that there was a significant rise in the mean scores from pre-test (67.9) to the post-test (80.2), with very much reduced variability (SD) of scores among students from 24.9 (pre-test) to 6.6 (post-test). From interviews with 8 case students after each lesson, it was concluded that the students improved in science content, English language competence, and pedagogy.