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The Female Body and the Body Politic in Sex Scenes of Lou Ye’s Film: A Multimodal Discourse Analysis of Summer Palace
Get PDFThis article discusses the body politic of Yu Hong in the postsocialist Chinese film–Summer Palace (2006). Director Lou Ye places Yu Hong’s body in the sex scenes that metaphorically expresses a traumatic and sensitive political event, the “June Fourth Incident.” The portrayal of sexual intercourse, nudity, and this historical event is the unspeakable “secret” in mainland Chinese media. Therefore, the authors raise the question that, when sexual intercourse and the female body enter political discourse, how do we deal with the complex and dynamic power structures behind bodily attributes and the “anachronistic” historical objects that do not fit into the mainstream narrative and epistemological spaces? Drawing on body politic theory, feminist film theory, and a semiotic framework, we adopt multimodal critical discourse analysis to assess power relations and ideologies behind Yu’s body attributes in the sex scenes. The findings indicate that Lou constructs a complex communication system, using her body as a carrier of communication to express self-consciousness, constructing female subjectivity through the writing of feminine discourse, with the political purpose of seeking the freedom of the written word. Sexual liberation is sought by establishing a transgressive body that is not accepted by the mainstream and opposes the inherent power of government. Yu’s bodily pleasure is set up as an expression of narcissistic individualism through love, producing a vision of political ecstasy. Her melancholy body metaphor for the discomfort and confusion that preceded the student movement and the post-traumatic ambivalence. Using the female body as a site of political discourse and sexual liberation offers a new reading strategy for analysing the representation of the female body in film and other forms of media. In making the argument, the study contributes valuable scholarship to the film studies focused on sexual, gender, and political marginalised discourse
Economic Policy Uncertainty in the United States: Does It Matter for Equity, Commodity and Cryptocurrency Markets?
Get PDFIn recent years, the issue of worldwide uncertainty has gained more attention in academic literature. Therefore, the current study examines how the United States (U.S.) economic policy uncertainty (EPU) affects various stock indices, commodities and cryptocurrencies. This study takes data on stock indices and commodities from February 2005 to December 2023 and data on cryptocurrency from October 2017 to December 2023. For estimations, we employ the Quantile-on-Quantile regression (QQR) approach to investigate the impact and to understand how changes in EPU affect stock indices, commodities, and cryptocurrency returns at different levels of quantiles. The findings reveal that EPU has a negative impact on the stock indices and cryptocurrencies. For stocks, high uncertainty leads to more volatility, while EPU exhibits higher volatility for cryptocurrencies, indicating sensitivity to policy changes. Similarly, commodities react differently to the U.S. EPU, while gold tends to appreciate in uncertain times. Furthermore, we employ quantile regression for robustness check, and the findings validate the outcome of QQR at various levels of quantiles from lower to higher. Moreover, the findings of this study are helpful for investors, portfolio managers, and policymakers to develop better investment strategies and effectively manage risks across different asset classes
Sovereign Bond Holdings under Bank Competition in Vietnam
Get PDFThis article investigates the impact of bank competition on the holdings of sovereign bonds. Using bank-level data from Vietnam for 2007–2021, we design various proxies to indicate bank competition and apply the system generalized method of moments (GMM) to conduct main regressions. We find that banks are more likely to hold domestic treasury securities in response to greater market competition. We add strength to our analysis by conducting subsample checks to allow for potential structural breaks due to the financial and COVID-19 pandemic crises. In addition, we find that sovereign debt holdings are less prominent when banks are more inclined to search for higher income during periods of intense competition. Meanwhile, the risk profile of the financial institution does not modify the potency of the market competition-bond holding association. These results suggest that banks would retain more sovereign debt under competitive pressure for strategic rather than precautionary motives
Fasal-Fasal Tanah dalam Undang-Undang Adat Negeri Kedah: Bukti Aspek Ekonomi Melayu Tradisional yang Bersistem: Land Clauses in Undang-Undang Adat Negeri Kedah: A Proof of Systematic Malay’s Traditional Economy Aspect
Get PDFThis article discusses land clauses related to Undang-Undang Adat Negeri Kedah as evidence of the traditional Malay economy having its own system before colonisation. The clauses concerning land in traditional Malay legal texts have undoubtedly been discussed in previous writings. However, discussions about land clauses in these previous writings were solely aimed at arguing the existence of a systematic land legal system within the Malay community before British administration. The land clauses were also selectively discussed in previous writings and the objectives behind each enacted clause were not detailed enough to prove the existence of systematic economic practices among the Malay community. This raises a question as to whether other clauses related to the land aspect are not important and whether the clauses related to the land will ensure the Malay agricultural economy could run smoothly? Thus, this research aims to examine each clause related to land in Undang-Undang Adat Negeri Kedah to prove the existence of a systematic economy among the Malay. In brief, this writing found that the existence of special clauses regarding Undang-Undang Adat Negeri Kedah proves that the Malay land legal system was enacted to ensure economic activities run smoothly without disagreements on land and crops. This article uses a historical method, specifically text analysis on Undang-Undang Adat Negeri Kedah, as the main primary source.
Makalah ini membincangkan fasal-fasal berkaitan tanah yang terdapat dalam Undang-Undang Adat Negeri Kedah Abad Ke-19 bagi membuktikan bahawa aspek ekonomi Melayu tradisional sebelum pentadbiran kolonial telah pun mempunyai sistem yang tersendiri. Tidak dinafikan bahawa fasal-fasal berkaitan tanah dalam teks-teks perundangan Melayu tradisional telah disentuh dalam penulisan lepas namun perbincangan dalam penulisan lepas tersebut hanyalah bertujuan menghujahkan wujudnya sistem perundangan tanah yang teratur dalam kalangan masyarakat Melayu sebelum pentadbiran British. Fasal-fasal tanah disentuh secara terpilih dalam penulisan lepas serta matlamat dan tujuan setiap fasal ini digubal tidak dibincangkan dengan terperinci bagi memberi gambaran wujudnya amalan ekonomi bersistem dalam kalangan masyarakat Melayu. Hal ini menimbulkan persoalan “Apakah fasal-fasal lain berkaitan tanah tidak penting?” dan “Bagaimanakah fasal yang ada ini dapat memastikan ekonomi masyarakat Melayu iaitu kegiatan pertanian boleh berjalan dengan lancar?” Maka, kajian ini bertujuan untuk memperincikan setiap fasal berkaitan tanah yang ada dalam teks Undang-Undang Adat Negeri Kedah bagi membuktikan wujudnya amalan ekonomi bersistem dalam kalangan masyarakat Melayu. Ringkasnya, makalah ini mendapati bahawa fasal-fasal khusus berkaitan tanah dalam teks Undang-Undang Adat Negeri Kedah digubal sedemikian rupa bagi memastikan kegiatan ekonomi dapat berjalan dengan lancar tanpa sebarang pertelingkahan berkaitan tanah dan hasil tanaman. Penulisan makalah ini menggunakan kaedah sejarah iaitu kaedah analisis teks Undang-Undang Adat Negeri Kedah yang dijadikan sumber primer penting dan utama
Proline Priming Enhances Seed Vigour and Biochemical Attributes of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) during Germination
Get PDFSeed vigour is a desirable trait especially for direct seeded rice (DSR) cultivation. Seeds with high vigour could improve seed germination, support seedlings in competing with weeds for water and nutrients, and improving seedling establishment throughout the early stages of crop growth. The success of DSR system which account for more 25% of world cultivation areas is highly dependent on the seed vigour and seedling establishment. Seed priming is a promising technique to improve seed vigour. Proline is an amino acid that has been well studied for its roles in plants under different environmental stress conditions. Nevertheless, the effect of proline as a seed priming agent in improving seed vigour in rice remain elusive. In this research, the effect of 24 h of proline priming at various concentrations (0 mM, 1 mM, 2 mM, 10 mM and 20 mM) on rice seed vigour, amylase activity, and total soluble sugar (TSS) content of a Malaysia indica rice variety, MR269 was investigated. Results showed that seeds primed with lower concentration of proline (0 mM, 1 mM and 2 mM) had better germination responses while priming at high concentrations (10 mM and 20 mM) reduced seed germination. Among the concentration tested, priming with 1 mM proline enhanced seed vigour with significantly higher germination percentage (GP), germination rate index (GRI) and seedling vigour index (SVI). In addition, proline primed seeds also exhibited increased amylase activity and TSS content as compared to unprimed seeds. However, priming seed with 20 mM proline was detrimental to the seed vigour and seedling growth whereby lower GP, GRI and SVI and higher mean germination time (MGT) were observed. In short, this study shows that proline could be a potential seed priming agent to improve seed vigour in rice
Tracing the Indian Influences on Lexical Borrowing in Malaysian Standard English
Get PDFCulture is embedded in and reflected by language. Malaysian Standard English encompasses a vast number of indigenised words borrowed from Malay, Chinese, and Indian cultures (Baskaran, 2005). Malaysian Indians, the third-largest ethnic group in Malaysian society, have played a significant role in shaping Malaysian Standard English (MSE) through lexical borrowing from their rich and diverse cultural heritage. This study investigates the influence of Malaysian Indian culture on lexical borrowing in MSE. A survey adapted from Tan (2009a, 2009b) comprising both qualitative and quantitative questions was administered to 60 Malaysian Indian students at one of the public universities in Malaysia. It gathers 134 MSE words borrowed from Indian culture and examines the motivations for borrowing Malaysian Standard English words from Indian culture. The borrowed words are categorised under different cultural items like festivals, martial arts and acrobatics dances, medicine, food, social and recreational activities, religion, and clothing and apparel. The need to emphasise one’s Indian ethnic background emerged as the key motivation behind the adoption of the words in MSE. Also, the least significant motivation is the need to fill the lexical gap, which is different from many previous studies. By collecting those borrowed words and their underpinning motivations, this study offers valuable insights into the obvious relationship between language and culture, shedding light on how Malaysian Standard English reflects the influence of Malaysia’s Indian community. It also provides opportunities for people to acquire familiarity with Indian culture and promote smooth cross-cultural communication among Malaysian Indian ethnicity and other ethnic groups in Malaysia
Length-Weight Relationship and Condition Factor of Fishes in Two Major Rivers, the Chao Phraya and the Bang Pakong, in Thailand
Get PDFLength-weight relationship (LWR) was used as a tool to assess the status of fish stocks, through condition factor, in major rivers in Thailand. Fifty-one (51) fish species from each river, i.e., The examined for LWR using eleven years of monitoring data (2010–2020) for Bang Pakong and 14 years of monitoring data (2007–2020) for Chao Phraya, which comprised 57,871 samples. The parameters for LWR and condition factor were examined by species and by body shape, i.e., ovate, oblong, elongate or eel-like. The coefficient of determination (r2) of all log-transformed LWRs was greater than 0.90. Parameter b of LWR ranged between 2.06 and 3.46 (median = 3.00) for fishes from the Chao Phraya River and between 1.72 and 3.68 (median = 2.76) for fishes from the Bang Pakong River. The overall condition factor, which implies the well-being that indicates the health or fattening of the fishes in a stock, ranged between 0.93 and 1.09. There was no significant difference in the overall well-being (P = 0.279) between the two rivers. Fishes with oblong and elongate shapes in the Chao Phraya River showed higher median values of parameter b of LWR than those from the Bang Pakong River. However, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the well-being of the fish stocks between the two rivers when pooled by shape. The findings are fundamental information for fish stock assessment in the two rivers, which greatly support the small-scale fisheries in Thailand
Exploring the Antibacterial Activity of Ipomoea staphylina Extracts Against H. pylori: A Pharmacognostic Investigation of Whole Plant and Matured Stem with Emphasis on Quercetin Isolation
Get PDFIpomoea staphylina Rome & Schult, entrenched in ethnomedicinal practices, is recognised for its efficacy in treating stomach disorders. Traditionally used in Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu for stomach ulcers, its matured stem bark latex is therapeutically relevant, especially for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections. This prompts scientific exploration into its antibacterial properties. The research validates the antibacterial efficacy of I. staphylina extracts against H. pylori, scrutinising the whole plant and matured stem through a comparative pharmacognostic analysis. Utilising herbal standardisation techniques, we confirm the heightened purity of the powder. Antimicrobial assessments show exceptional efficacy of DME (dried Ethanolic extract of I. staphylina) and HLS (hydro alcoholic extract of I. staphylina) extracts. Quercetin isolation by using advanced instrumentation (Nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR], High resolution mass spectrometry [HR-MS], High-performance thin-layer chromatography [HPTLC], Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy [FTIR]) ensures precise compound identification. This methodology guarantees an exhaustive analysis, confirming purity and identifying bioactive components. Standardisation underscores theelevated purity of I. staphylina, with phytochemical screening revealing a predominant presence of phenolics and flavonoids. Antibacterial investigations highlight significant activity, particularly with DME and HLS extracts. These findings substantiate I. staphylina’s medicinal significance, especially its matured stem latex, as a promising treatment for H. pylori-induced stomach ulcers, affirming traditional use by Dharmapuri villagers
Identification of Benthic Foraminifera Presence in the Marginal Environments of Biliran Island, Philippines
Get PDFBenthic foraminifera are unicellular marine micro-organism with a hard exoskeleton and commonly present in the benthic community of marine ecosystem. This study aimed to identify the benthic foraminifera present along the coastal areas of eight municipalities in Biliran Island, Philippines. Quadrat sampling was conducted and three samples per quadrant transect of 1 m × 1 m divided into nine squares were collected. The samples were then observed under the microscope, and the specimens seen were identified by comparing them with the images of the sample species from the website https://marinespecies.org/. The researchers conducted an in-situ collection of the foraminiferal shells from intertidal areas along shallow water coastlines of the island. Results showed that the coastal environment of Biliran Island has the presence of the genera Spirillina, Quinqueloculina, Marginopora and Sorites. The identified species were classified based on their feeding mechanisms as herbivory and passive suspension feeding. The presence of benthic foraminifera species along the coastal environments of Biliran Island provides a record of the environment where they are found, making them natural bioindicators of water quality. This study provides a baseline for further studies on the distribution and abundance of benthic foraminifera in the area and can contribute to the understanding of the environmental conditions of the coastal areas in Biliran Island
Kaedah Didik Hibur semasa Praktikum: Satu Tinjauan dalam Kalangan Guru Pelatih Opsyen Pendidikan Islam
Get PDFKurikulum Standard Sekolah Rendah (KSSR) mengetengahkan kaedah didik hibur sebagai salah satu kaedah pengajaran dalam menghasilkan suasana pembelajaran yang santai dan menyeronokkan. Namun, guru kurang menguasai pedagogi pengajaran dan pemudahcaraan (PdPc) dari segi pengetahuan dan kemahiran menjadikan mereka cenderung untuk menggunakan kaedah tradisional semasa mengajar. Hal ini menyebabkan kurangnya tahap penggunaan kaedah didik hibur seperti nyanyian semasa proses PdPc. Objektif kajian ini adalah untuk mengkaji tahap pengetahuan, tahap kemahiran dan tahap penggunaan berkaitan kaedah didik hibur serta mengukur hubungan antara tahap pengetahuan dengan tahap kemahiran berkaitan kaedah didik hibur semasa praktikum. Reka bentuk kajian ini ialah penyelidikan tinjauan dengan menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif. Hasil analisis, dapatan kajian menunjukkan tahap pengetahuan berkaitan kaedah didik hibur adalah tinggi manakala tahap kemahiran pelaksanaan kaedah didik hibur pula berada pada tahap sederhana dan tahap penggunaan elemen nyanyian yang digunakan dalam kaedah didik hibur turut berada pada tahap sederhana. Dapatan kajian turut menunjukkan terdapat hubungan yang signifikan antara tahap pengetahuan dengan tahap kemahiran berkaitan kaedah didik hibur. Kajian ini dapat memberi gambaran jelas tentang kaedah didik hibur semasa pratikum. Peranan guru dalam menjadikan PdPc lebih menyeronokkan akan menghasilkan impak positif terhadap pencapaian akademik murid.