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Magic, Inherent Evil, and the Proto-feminism of María de Zayas y Sotomayor: A Comparison with Selected novelas of Miguel de Cervantes and Alonso de Castillo Solórzano
No full textThis article compares the portrayal of women who use magic in seventeenth-century novelas of María de Zayas y Sotomayor with novelas by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra and Alonso de Castillo Solórzano to illuminate the complexity and uniqueness of Zayas's proto-feminism. The article suggests that Zayas provides a nuanced portrayal of these women that departs only partially from the prevailing paradigm reflected in Cervantes's and Solórzano's more conventional representations. A restrained approach that blames both men and women for evil arguably permitted Zayas's work to be published in the censorial environment of her time. Examining who uses magic, how they are described, and the purposes and consequences of its use, is useful in understanding gender portrayal, as well as how Zayas's work differs from her contemporaries' and what that difference means for her incipient feminist ideals. Scholars have noted the ambiguous nature of Zayas's feminism and some have examined her portrayals of the supernatural, but none has conducted a detailed textual comparison integrating these subjects. © 2019 Liverpool University Press.All Rights Reserved
Face Threats in Threads: Assessing the Responses to Impoliteness in Facebook Comments on 1MDB
No full textImpoliteness has become common among online users and appears to be consented by netizens. This study seeks to investigate the reaction to impoliteness from the perspective of face-threat witnesses (FTWs) in Facebook comments. Twelve news posts on Facebook regarding the 1MDB scandal in 2015 were selected, and impolite comment threads that were reactions to the news were extracted. Fifty-two threads were found to contain impolite comments targeted at non-participants of this interaction, thus corresponding to the characteristics of face-threat witnesses. Dobs and Blitvich's (2013) model for participant response options, Culpeper's (2011, 2016) Conventionalised Impoliteness Formulae (CIF) and Bousfield's (2007) list of defensive counter-strategies were used to analyse the responses. Impolite responses by the FTWs were found to be atypical. Denying the opposition either via being offensive or defensive subjugated the preference in the findings, though offensive appeared more prominently. Apart from deny opposition, corroborate opposition, and react, the current study also discovered new categories for the response options which did not fit in any of the categories, hence labelled as Distinct Features. The FTWs not only sanctioned impoliteness, but initial impoliteness in their responses, despite being 'other-directed'. © 2019 Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. All rights reserved
A numerical study of single air bubble formation comparison between in viscous liquid and in water
No full textThe performance of bubble column reactors is dependent on bubble size that is formed through a sparger. Here, a single air bubble formation (BF) using an orifice in the viscous liquid is modeled by using the volume of fluid method. The interface between the air and the liquid phase is calculated by using the continuum surface force equation. Detailed characteristics of BF such as the instantaneous contact angle, bubble departure volume, bond number due to orifice size and surface tension, and capillary number are examined for different orifice sizes at constant air flow rate boundary condition. The numerical results are validated with available correlation and experimental data for orifice bond number reported in the literature. A comparison of BF characteristics between in the viscous liquid and in the water is examined. The instantaneous contact angle decreases steeply for the orifice with small size than a large orifice. The bubble volume increases with increasing contact angle and decreasing the orifice bond number. In comparison with water, a decreasing detachment time and dome width of bubble and an increasing bubble neck elongation are found in viscous liquid and decrease with increasing bond number. Moreover, there is a minimum capillary number, where the bubble neck elongation height and breakup processes are relatively fast. This study can helpful in designing a coarse gas sparger to develop pseudo-homogeneous bubbly flow regime at lower superficial gas velocity conditions. © 2019 Curtin University and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
ICT in Higher Education: An Exploration of Practices in Malaysian Universities
No full textInformation and communication technologies (ICTs) have been provided by higher education authorities to ensure that teachers use ICT to enhance their teaching, learning, and research outcomes. However, ICT has been found to be underutilized, especially by teachers. To investigate this issue, the technology adoption and gratification (TAG) model was validated and used to examine Malaysian university teachers' adoption and gratification of ICT for teaching and research purposes and then used to investigate the moderating effect of universities in different regions. The 397 teachers from the west and east Malaysian universities were surveyed using a stratified random sampling technique. The research data were analyzed using the three-stage structural equation modeling. There were focused use factors: 1) academic purpose; 2) research purpose; and 3) teaching purpose. The TAG model was useful in explaining differences in ICT uses. West Malaysian teachers' perceived usefulness and ease of use mediated the relationships between computer self-efficacy, gratification, and intention to use ICT, respectively. However, for east Malaysian teachers, only perceived ease of use did not mediate the relationship between computer self-efficacy and gratification. Finally, west and east Malaysian teachers' intentions to use ICT mediated the relationships between actual use, perceived usefulness, and ease of use. This paper confirms the utility of the TAG model for comparing teachers' adoption and gratification of ICT. In addition, this paper provides a basis for the targeted professional development of teachers in the east and west Malaysian universities which were selected based on the known differences. © 2019 IEEE
Correlation between body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness in female adults of different Body Mass Index
No full textBACKGROUND: Obesity has become a major public concern as it leads to significant health risk and economic burden especially to the developing countries. The prevalence of obesity is also significantly higher among the female adults. It is also known that low fitness level is a powerful and independent risk factor for premature mortality. However, the understanding of the relationship between overall body composition indices and cardiorespiratory fitness in adults remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between body composition with cardiorespiratory fitness among normal weight, overweight and obese in female adults. METHODS: Eighty-one female participants aged between 18 to 59 years who cleared the inclusion and exclusion criteria were divided into three groups; normal weight (N.=23), overweight (N.=29) and obese (N.=29). They went through bio-electrical impedance analysis measurement and cardiopulmonary fitness testing using ramp protocol in Sport Medicine human performance lab. RESULTS: It was noted that there was an inverse strong strength significant correlation between VO 2 max and Body Mass Index (r=-0.588, P<0.001, Waist Hip Ratio (r=-0.596, P<0.001), Percentage Body Fat (r=-0.684, P<0.001) and Body Fat Mass (r=-0.667, P<0.001). However, skeletal muscle mass showed no significant correlation with VO 2 max. There was also a high significant difference among the three groups in term of VO 2 max (F=7.683, P=0.001) after alleviating the age factor. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our study showed significant correlation between VO 2 and body composition particularly percentage of body fat (%) and body fat mass (kg). It will be more convenience and cost-effective especially in developing countries, if body composition can be used as an independent entity to predict cardiorespiratory fitness among individual. Furthermore, cardiorespiratory exercise testing showed significant differences of VO 2 max among 3 groups. This will be beneficial if the VO 2 max is used as a tool to predict cardiovascular risk. Therefore, we would suggest in-depth studies to be done in the future to provide more knowledge regarding this important topic on a bigger scale subjects. © 2018 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA
Electrochemical corrosion behavior of Sn-0.7Cu solder alloy with the addition of bismuth and iron
No full textThe corrosion behavior of Fe and Bi added Sn-0.7Cu solder was investigated in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. Addition of Fe and Bi results in higher corrosion current density, reduction in passivation and pseudo passivation domain. Formation of FeSn2 continuously forces the Sn to dissolve, forming SnCl2 and SnCl4. This process generates electric current flow, resulting in a rougher surface. Rougher corrosion products were observed on the surface of modified alloys. The presence of a Bi-rich phase results in galvanic action between Bi and Sn. EIS results show higher capacitance and lower overall electrical resistivity of the modified alloys. © 2019 Elsevier B.V
Suppression of the Viability and Proliferation of HepG2 Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Line by Konjac Glucomannan
No full textBACKGROUND: Konjac Glucomannan (KGM) is a water-soluble dietary fibre extracted from Amorphophallus konjac K. Koch (Araceae). Konjac fibre has been clinically proven as an effective antioxidant agent in weight control but its traditionally known tumour suppression property remains to be explored. OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study is to determine the potential anti-proliferative effect of KGM on cancer and normal human liver cell lines, HepG2 and WRL68, respectively. METHOD: HepG2 and WRL68 cells were treated with KGM, D-mannose, KGM-D-mannose and 5-fluorouracil. The morphological changes in those treated cells were observed. Cytotoxic effect of the treatments on cell viability and proliferation, and apoptosis genes expression were assessed by cytotoxicity assay, flow cytometry and RT-PCR analyses. RESULTS: The results show that KGM treatment resulted in reduced viability of HepG2 cells significantly, in line with the apoptosis-like morphological changes. Up-regulation of BAX and down-regulation of BCL2 genes as reflected by high Bax to Bcl 2 ratio suggests that the inhibitory effect of KGM on HepG2 cells most likely via Bcl2/Bax protein pathway. Despite the effectiveness of standard drug 5-FU in suppressing the viability and proliferation of HepG2 cells, it however, exhibited no selective inhibition of cancer cells as compared to KGM. CONCLUSION: Current findings suggested that KGM is a potential anti-cancer compound/drug entity, which could be an alternative preventive agent against liver cancer
X-chromosome association study reveals genetic susceptibility loci of nasopharyngeal carcinoma
No full textBackground: The male predominance in the incidence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) suggests the contribution of the X chromosome to the susceptibility of NPC. However, no X-linked susceptibility loci have been examined by genome-wide association studies (GWASs) for NPC by far. Methods: To understand the contribution of the X chromosome in NPC susceptibility, we conducted an X chromosome-wide association analysis on 1615 NPC patients and 1025 healthy controls of Guangdong Chinese, followed by two validation analyses in Taiwan Chinese (n = 562) and Malaysian Chinese (n = 716). Results: Firstly, the proportion of variance of X-linked loci over phenotypic variance was estimated in the discovery samples, which revealed that the phenotypic variance explained by X chromosome polymorphisms was estimated to be 12.63% (non-dosage compensation model) in males, as compared with 0.0001% in females. This suggested that the contribution of X chromosome to the genetic variance of NPC should not be neglected. Secondly, association analysis revealed that rs5927056 in DMD gene achieved X chromosome-wide association significance in the discovery sample (OR = 0.81, 95% CI 0.73-0.89, P = 1.49 × 10 -5 ). Combined analysis revealed rs5927056 for DMD gene with suggestive significance (P = 9.44 × 10 -5 ). Moreover, the female-specific association of rs5933886 in ARHGAP6 gene (OR = 0.62, 95%CI: 0.47-0.81, P = 4.37 × 10 -4 ) was successfully replicated in Taiwan Chinese (P = 1.64 × 10 -2 ). rs5933886 also showed nominally significant gender × SNP interaction in both Guangdong (P = 6.25 × 10 -4 ) and Taiwan datasets (P = 2.99 × 10 -2 ). Conclusion: Our finding reveals new susceptibility loci at the X chromosome conferring risk of NPC and supports the value of including the X chromosome in large-scale association studies
The pilot study on Down to Earth (D2E) injury prevention program among varsity netball players
No full textBACKGROUND: Sports injuries involving lower extremities have been reported to be very common in netball. We explored the effect of Down to Earth, a program which focuses on safe-landing techniques during sport activities, in reducing lower limbs injuries among varsity netball players. METHODS: This was a single-blinded controlled trial, where 42 varsity netball players were randomly assigned into two groups, the intervention group (N.=17) and the control group (N.=25). The intervention group was instructed to incorporate Down to Earth program in their training, while the control group continued to train using their standard program for 6 weeks. Data on lower extremity injury were collected during training or competition for the period of 6 weeks post intervention. RESULTS: The overall incidence of injuries was 5.9 injuries per 1000 hours of participations throughout the study. The mean exposure hour was 77 hours during training and 32 hours during match. The intention to treat analysis showed that the rate ratio ranges from 0.01-0.71. The number of training injuries were significantly higher in the control group than the intervention group (P<0.05). Based on number to treat, number of players that were needed to prevent one injury during training was three players and 37% of the players in intervention group were protected by the Down to Earth program. The intervention group had 0.01 lower rate of lower limb injury during training than the control group. CONCLUSIONS: This study has shown that Down to Earth program is beneficial in reducing the risk of lower limbs injuries during training among the varsity netball player. As previous study also reported that more training hours are advantageous for athletes to reduce injury risk, this suggests that Down to Earth could be considered as one of the effective programs for sports injuries prevention
Polarization-independent and high-efficiency broadband optical absorber in visible light based on nanostructured germanium arrays
No full textA broadband optical absorber based on the nanostructured germanium (Ge) film composed of single-sized circular nanodisk–nanohole arrays is proposed, which demonstrates high efficiency, strong polarization independence, and large viewing angle. Due to the electric and magnetic resonance absorption modes excited by the nanostructure arrays in highly lossy Ge film, the absorber obtains a high absorptivity, reaching above 90% over the full visible wavelength, and it can be maintained well at a large viewing angle over 50°. Based on the geometrical symmetry, the absorber is proved to be polarization independent. Moreover, the simple single-sized nanostructure within a certain size tolerance decreases the design and fabrication complexity. The structural configuration with a slight Ge sidewall formed in the nanofabrication process could enhance the overall light absorption. These results indicate that the proposed broadband absorber has great potential in various applications such as anti-reflective coating and perfect cloaking