33 research outputs found
English as a Lingua Franca in Europe and Asia: teaching policy on the ground
No full textThe present thesis considers the topic of English as a Lingua Franca as it is perceived and experienced by three groups: the ELF research community, ELT professionals, and ELF users themselves. This thesis first presents an overview of the theoretical foundations of ELF research, identifying key topics with which the ELF research community has grappled in recent decades. In order to determine how much closer the ELT community has gotten to aligning teaching policy, practices, and goals to students' specific needs and expectations, sociolinguistic research in the form of seven semi-structured interviews was conducted with L2 English speakers who use ELF to live, work, and study in their daily lives, and the ELT professionals tasked with developing their English skills in the classroom. The content of these interviews is then analyzed with regard to the specific needs and expectations of ELF users and the concerns of ELT professionals, followed by a discussion of the key issues uncovered in these interviews in light of the theoretical background of ELF research. The author provides suggestions for further research aimed at improving the ELT community's role in developing ELF proficiency in the expanding circle. Keywords: English as a Lingua Franca, English Language Teaching, Expanding Circle, ELF..
Angličtina jako lingua franca v Evropě a v Asii: Výuková politika v praxi.
No full textThe present thesis considers the topic of English as a Lingua Franca as it is perceived and experienced by three groups: the ELF research community, ELT professionals, and ELF users themselves. This thesis first presents an overview of the theoretical foundations of ELF research, identifying key topics with which the ELF research community has grappled in recent decades. In order to determine how much closer the ELT community has gotten to aligning teaching policy, practices, and goals to students' specific needs and expectations, sociolinguistic research in the form of seven semi-structured interviews was conducted with L2 English speakers who use ELF to live, work, and study in their daily lives, and the ELT professionals tasked with developing their English skills in the classroom. The content of these interviews is then analyzed with regard to the specific needs and expectations of ELF users and the concerns of ELT professionals, followed by a discussion of the key issues uncovered in these interviews in light of the theoretical background of ELF research. The author provides suggestions for further research aimed at improving the ELT community's role in developing ELF proficiency in the expanding circle. Keywords: English as a Lingua Franca, English Language Teaching, Expanding Circle, ELF...Diplomová práce se zabývá otázkou, jak angličtinu jako lingua franca (ELF) vnímají tři skupiny: výzkumníci zabývající se ELF, vyučující angličtiny (ELT) a samotní uživatelé ELF. V práci jsou nejprve představena teoretická východiska výzkumu ELF a identifikována hlavní témata, kterým se toto odvětví bádání věnuje v posledních dekádách. Aby bylo možné určit, zda se odborníkům zabývajícím se ELT daří propojit plánování, praxi a cíle výuky se specifickými potřebami a očekáváními studentů, bylo provedeno sociolingvistické šetření sedmi částečně strukturovanými rozhovory se mluvčími angličtiny jako L2, kteří používají ELF v každodenním životě, v práci a při studiu, a rozhovory s profesionály, kteří mají příslušné dovednosti rozvíjet ve výuce. Obsah těchto rozhovorů je následně analyzován s ohledem na specifické potřeby a očekávání uživatelů ELF a zájmů a cílů učitelů jazyka. Následuje vyhodnocení hlavních témat, která vyvstala během těchto rozhovorů, a jejich porovnání s teoretickým výzkumem v oblasti ELF. Autorka navrhuje další směr výzkumu s cílem zlepšit roli učitelů a ostatních profesionálů v oblasti ELT při rozvíjení dovedností potřebných pro komunikaci v tzv. rozšiřujícím se kruhu. Klíčová slova: angličtina jako lingua franca, výuka angličtiny, rozšiřující se kruh, uživatelé ELF, odborníci na ELTÚstav anglického jazyka a didaktikyDepartment of the English Language and ELT MethodologyFilozofická fakultaFaculty of Art
Blacks and whites in the Cuba have equal prevalence of hypertension: confirmation from a new population survey
No full textBackground: The excess burden of hypertension among blacks has been a prominent feature of the heath disparities literature, and many scientists presume it to be a stable and inevitable phenomenon. The underlying causes of this disparity can only be disentangled in a setting in which the population does not experience racial stratification of socioeconomic opportunities. While such conditions of racial equality remain uncommon, they may be approximated in Cuba, a country with a persistent policy of social inclusion over the last 5 decades. Methods. We report on a 2010-2011 stratified probability sample of those aged 15-74 years from the urban population of Cienfuegos in central Cuba. A total of 1496 adults (880 women and 616 men) were recruited and assessed for blood pressure and anthropometrics according to standardized protocols, as well as medication use, educational attainment and observed skin tone (dichotomized into black and white ). Weighted tabular and regression analyses were conducted to estimate adjusted prevalences of hypertension (\u3e 140/90 mmHg) and adjusted prevalence odds ratios for contrasts between the two skin color groups. Results: Mean pressures were higher for men than for women, but overall did not differ importantly between racial groups. About half of all diagnosed hypertensive men were on medication, a proportion that did not vary by racial group. For women, however, adjusted prevalence was somewhat higher among blacks, and treatment and control rates were also somewhat advantaged for white women. Conclusions: Overall, skin color was unrelated to mean blood pressure or hypertensive status in this population, although among women specifically some racial advantage appears evident in adjusted prevalence and control, and should be investigated further. The overall null result suggests that Cuba may exemplify the social conditions in which racial excess in hypertension, characteristic of much of the western world, is not a necessary reality. © 2013 Ordúñez et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd
Cancer Cell’s Achilles Heels: Considerations for Design of Anti-Cancer Drug Combinations
No full textLoss of function screens using shRNA (short hairpin RNA) and CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) are routinely used to identify genes that modulate responses of tumor cells to anti-cancer drugs. Here, by integrating GSEA (Gene Set Enrichment Analysis) and CMAP (Connectivity Map) analyses of multiple published shRNA screens, we identified a core set of pathways that affect responses to multiple drugs with diverse mechanisms of action. This suggests that these pathways represent “weak points” or “Achilles heels”, whose mild disturbance should make cancer cells vulnerable to a variety of treatments. These “weak points” include proteasome, protein synthesis, RNA splicing, RNA synthesis, cell cycle, Akt-mTOR, and tight junction-related pathways. Therefore, inhibitors of these pathways are expected to sensitize cancer cells to a variety of drugs. This hypothesis was tested by analyzing the diversity of drugs that synergize with FDA-approved inhibitors of the proteasome, RNA synthesis, and Akt-mTOR pathways. Indeed, the quantitative evaluation indicates that inhibitors of any of these signaling pathways can synergize with a more diverse set of pharmaceuticals, compared to compounds inhibiting targets distinct from the “weak points” pathways. Our findings described here imply that inhibitors of the “weak points” pathways should be considered as primary candidates in a search for synergistic drug combinations
Theology of culture in a Japanese context: a believers' church perspective
No full textThis thesis explores an appropriate relationship between Christian faith and culture. We investigate the hallmarks of authentic theology in the West, which offer us criteria to evaluate Christianity in Japan. Because Christian faith has been concretely formed and expressed in history, an analysis and evaluation of culture is incumbent on theology. The testing ground for our research is Japan, one of the most unsuccessful Christian mission fields. Thus this is a theology of culture in a Japanese context. Through a dialogue with H. Richard Niebuhr, John Howard Yoder, and Stanley Hauerwas, we embrace a believers' church perspective as our basic vision. The believers' church critically evaluates culture and seeks to transform it by standing on the boundary between the Kingdom of God and the world, and voluntarily participates in the redemptive suffering of God with the creature. It strives to be faithful to God and to imitate Jesus Christ, instead of seeking to control the world. It trusts in God; for it is He, and not we, who is in charge of history. Examination of Japanese Christian history is conducted in the light of the criteria above, in order to consider how Japan responded to Christianity. The criteria help us see the problem of nationalism both in superficial Christianity in Japan and in Constantinian Christianity in the West. We discuss three major Japanese theologians: Kazoh Kitamori, Yasuo Furuya, and Hideo Ohki. They help us refine our criteria for suffering, for theological assessment of Japan, and for the nature of believers' church as covenant community. We find in our investigation that although Christianity has always been in a minority in Japan, the church in Japan - like the church in the West - inclines to be co-opted by political powers, which is a core problem
Interferometric Single-Shot Parity Measurement in an InAs-Al Hybrid Device
No full textThe fusion of non-Abelian anyons or topological defects is a fundamental
operation in measurement-only topological quantum computation. In topological
superconductors, this operation amounts to a determination of the shared
fermion parity of Majorana zero modes. As a step towards this, we implement a
single-shot interferometric measurement of fermion parity in indium
arsenide-aluminum heterostructures with a gate-defined nanowire. The
interferometer is formed by tunnel-coupling the proximitized nanowire to
quantum dots. The nanowire causes a state-dependent shift of these quantum
dots' quantum capacitance of up to 1 fF. Our quantum capacitance measurements
show flux h/2e-periodic bimodality with a signal-to-noise ratio of 1 in 3.7
s at optimal flux values. From the time traces of the quantum capacitance
measurements, we extract a dwell time in the two associated states that is
longer than 1 ms at in-plane magnetic fields of approximately 2 T. These
results are consistent with a measurement of the fermion parity encoded in a
pair of Majorana zero modes that are separated by approximately 3 m and
subjected to a low rate of poisoning by non-equilibrium quasiparticles. The
large capacitance shift and long poisoning time enable a parity measurement
error probability of 1%.Comment: Added data on a second measurement of device A and a measurement of
device B, expanded discussion of a trivial scenario. Refs added, author list
update
Trends in cardiometabolic risk factors in the Americas between 1980 and 2014: a pooled analysis of population-based surveys
No full textBackground Describing the prevalence and trends of cardiometabolic risk factors that are associated with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) is crucial for monitoring progress, planning prevention, and providing evidence to support policy efforts. We aimed to analyse the transition in body-mass index (BMI), obesity, blood pressure, raised blood pressure, and diabetes in the Americas, between 1980 and 2014.Methods We did a pooled analysis of population-based studies with data on anthropometric measurements, biomarkers for diabetes, and blood pressure from adults aged 18 years or older. A Bayesian model was used to estimate trends in BMI, raised blood pressure (systolic blood pressure >= 140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure >= 90 mm Hg), and diabetes (fasting plasma glucose >= 7.0 mmol/L, history of diabetes, or diabetes treatment) from 1980 to 2014, in 37 countries and six subregions of the Americas.Findings 389 population-based surveys from the Americas were available. Comparing prevalence estimates from 2014 with those of 1980, in the non-English speaking Caribbean subregion, the prevalence of obesity increased from 3.9% (95% CI 2.2-6.3) in 1980, to 18.6% (14.3-23.3) in 2014, in men; and from 12.2% (8.2-17.0) in 1980, to 30.5% (25.7-35.5) in 2014, in women. The English-speaking Caribbean subregion had the largest increase in the prevalence of diabetes, from 5.2% (2.1-10.4) in men and 6.4% (2.6-10.4) in women in 1980, to 11.1% (6.4-17.3) in men and 13.6% (8.2-21-0) in women in 2014). Conversely, the prevalence of raised blood pressure has decreased in all subregions; the largest decrease was found in North America from 27.6% (22.3-33.2) in men and 19.9% (15.8-24-4) in women in 1980, to 15.5% (11.1-20.9) in men and 10.7% (7.7-14.5) in women in 2014.Interpretation Despite the generally high prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors across the Americas, estimates also showed a high level of heterogeneity in the transition between countries. The increasing prevalence of obesity and diabetes observed over time requires appropriate measures to deal with these public health challenges. Our results support a diversification of health interventions across subregions and countries. Copyright (C) 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier
Rising rural body-mass index is the main driver of the global obesity epidemic in adults
No full textBody-mass index (BMI) has increased steadily in most countries in parallel with a rise in the proportion of the population who live in cities 1,2 . This has led to a widely reported view that urbanization is one of the most important drivers of the global rise in obesity 3�6 . Here we use 2,009 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight in more than 112 million adults, to report national, regional and global trends in mean BMI segregated by place of residence (a rural or urban area) from 1985 to 2017. We show that, contrary to the dominant paradigm, more than 55 of the global rise in mean BMI from 1985 to 2017�and more than 80 in some low- and middle-income regions�was due to increases in BMI in rural areas. This large contribution stems from the fact that, with the exception of women in sub-Saharan Africa, BMI is increasing at the same rate or faster in rural areas than in cities in low- and middle-income regions. These trends have in turn resulted in a closing�and in some countries reversal�of the gap in BMI between urban and rural areas in low- and middle-income countries, especially for women. In high-income and industrialized countries, we noted a persistently higher rural BMI, especially for women. There is an urgent need for an integrated approach to rural nutrition that enhances financial and physical access to healthy foods, to avoid replacing the rural undernutrition disadvantage in poor countries with a more general malnutrition disadvantage that entails excessive consumption of low-quality calories. © 2019, The Author(s)
Repositioning of the global epicentre of non-optimal cholesterol
No full textHigh blood cholesterol is typically considered a feature of wealthy western countries1,2. However, dietary and behavioural determinants of blood cholesterol are changing rapidly throughout the world3 and countries are using lipid-lowering medications at varying rates. These changes can have distinct effects on the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol, which have different effects on human health4,5. However, the trends of HDL and non-HDL cholesterol levels over time have not been previously reported in a global analysis. Here we pooled 1,127 population-based studies that measured blood lipids in 102.6 million individuals aged 18 years and older to estimate trends from 1980 to 2018 in mean total, non-HDL and HDL cholesterol levels for 200 countries. Globally, there was little change in total or non-HDL cholesterol from 1980 to 2018. This was a net effect of increases in low- and middle-income countries, especially in east and southeast Asia, and decreases in high-income western countries, especially those in northwestern Europe, and in central and eastern Europe. As a result, countries with the highest level of non-HDL cholesterol�which is a marker of cardiovascular risk�changed from those in western Europe such as Belgium, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Malta in 1980 to those in Asia and the Pacific, such as Tokelau, Malaysia, The Philippines and Thailand. In 2017, high non-HDL cholesterol was responsible for an estimated 3.9 million (95 credible interval 3.7 million�4.2 million) worldwide deaths, half of which occurred in east, southeast and south Asia. The global repositioning of lipid-related risk, with non-optimal cholesterol shifting from a distinct feature of high-income countries in northwestern Europe, north America and Australasia to one that affects countries in east and southeast Asia and Oceania should motivate the use of population-based policies and personal interventions to improve nutrition and enhance access to treatment throughout the world. © 2020, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited
Trends in cardiometabolic risk factors in the Americas between 1980 and 2014: a pooled analysis of population-based surveys
No full textBackground Describing the prevalence and trends of cardiometabolic risk factors that are associated with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) is crucial for monitoring progress, planning prevention, and providing evidence to support policy efforts. We aimed to analyse the transition in body-mass index (BMI), obesity, blood pressure, raised blood pressure, and diabetes in the Americas, between 1980 and 2014. Methods We did a pooled analysis of population-based studies with data on anthropometric measurements, biomarkers for diabetes, and blood pressure from adults aged 18 years or older. A Bayesian model was used to estimate trends in BMI, raised blood pressure (systolic blood pressure >= 140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure >= 90 mm Hg), and diabetes (fasting plasma glucose >= 7.0 mmol/L, history of diabetes, or diabetes treatment) from 1980 to 2014, in 37 countries and six subregions of the Americas. Findings 389 population-based surveys from the Americas were available. Comparing prevalence estimates from 2014 with those of 1980, in the non-English speaking Caribbean subregion, the prevalence of obesity increased from 3.9% (95% CI 2.2-6.3) in 1980, to 18.6% (14.3-23.3) in 2014, in men; and from 12.2% (8.2-17.0) in 1980, to 30.5% (25.7-35.5) in 2014, in women. The English-speaking Caribbean subregion had the largest increase in the prevalence of diabetes, from 5.2% (2.1-10.4) in men and 6.4% (2.6-10.4) in women in 1980, to 11.1% (6.4-17.3) in men and 13.6% (8.2-21-0) in women in 2014). Conversely, the prevalence of raised blood pressure has decreased in all subregions; the largest decrease was found in North America from 27.6% (22.3-33.2) in men and 19.9% (15.8-24-4) in women in 1980, to 15.5% (11.1-20.9) in men and 10.7% (7.7-14.5) in women in 2014. Interpretation Despite the generally high prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors across the Americas, estimates also showed a high level of heterogeneity in the transition between countries. The increasing prevalence of obesity and diabetes observed over time requires appropriate measures to deal with these public health challenges. Our results support a diversification of health interventions across subregions and countries. Copyright (C) 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier.Wellcome TrustAlliance for Health Policy and Systems ResearchBernard Lown Scholars in Cardiovascular Health Program at Harvard T H Chan School of Public HealthBloomberg PhilanthropiesFONDECYT via CIENCIACTIVA/CONCYTECBritish CouncilBritish EmbassyNewton-Paulet FundDFID/MRC/Wellcome Global Health TrialsFogarty International CenterGrand Challenges CanadaInternational Development Research Center CanadaInter-American Institute for Global Change ResearchMedical Research CouncilNational Cancer InstituteNational Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteNational Institute of Mental HealthSwiss National Science FoundationWellcomeWorld Diabetes FoundationAcademy of Medical Sciences Springboard AwardRoyal SocietyUniv Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, PeruImperial Coll London, London, EnglandPontificia Univ Catolica Chile, Santiago, ChileUniv West Indies, Cave Hill, BarbadosUniv Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilMiami Vet Affairs Healthcare Syst, Miami, FL USAUniv Kent, Canterbury, Kent, EnglandCleveland Clin, Cleveland, OH 44106 USAYale Univ, New Haven, CT 06520 USACaja Costarricense Seguro Social, San Jose, Costa RicaInst Mexicano Seguro Social, Mexico City, DF, MexicoInst Nacl Ciencias Med & Nutr Salvador Zubiran, Mexico City, DF, MexicoUniv Cuenca, Cuenca, EcuadorUniv Fed Pelotas, Pelotas, BrazilPan Amer Hlth Org, Washington, DC USAUniv Pernambuco, Recife, PE, BrazilDalhousie Univ, Halifax, NS, CanadaUniv Fed Maranhao, Sao Luis, Maranhao, BrazilCAFAM Univ Fdn, Bogota, ColombiaUniv Republica, Montevideo, UruguayCtr Educ Med & Invest Clin, Buenos Aires, DF, ArgentinaUniv Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NetherlandsCanadian Fitness & Lifestyle Res Inst, Ottawa, ON, CanadaUniv Fed Juiz de Fora, Juiz De Fora, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, BrazilUniv Montreal, Montreal, PQ, CanadaUniv Vale Rio dos Sinos, Sao Leopoldo, BrazilNatl Council Sci & Tech Res, Buenos Aires, DF, ArgentinaUniv West Indies, Kingston, JamaicaMinist Hlth, Buenos Aires, DF, ArgentinaInst Nacl Salud Publ, Mexico City, DF, MexicoUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilHosp Clin Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilUniv Fed Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilMcGill Univ, Montreal, PQ, CanadaAndes Clin Cardiometab Studies, Timotes, VenezuelaNatl Inst Hyg Epidemiol & Microbiol, Havana, CubaUniv ICESI, Cali, ColombiaUniv Estadual Montes Claros, Montes Claros, MG, BrazilKings Coll London, London, EnglandInst Clin Effectiveness & Hlth Policy, Buenos Aires, DF, ArgentinaNatl Inst Publ Hlth, Mexico City, DF, MexicoUniv Autonoma Bucaramanga, Bucaramanga, ColombiaKingston Gen Hosp, Kingston, ON, CanadaHeart Inst, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilFdn Oftalmol Santander, Bucaramanga, ColombiaSimon Fraser Univ, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, CanadaInst Trop Med, Antwerp, BelgiumMinist Salud Publ, Havana, CubaHarvard TH Chan Sch Publ Hlth, Boston, MA USAWest Virginia Univ, Morgantown, WV 26506 USAFundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Rene Rachou Res Inst, Rio De Janeiro, BrazilUniv Fed Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, BrazilHosp Israelita Albert Einstein, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilEmory Univ, Atlanta, GA 30322 USAGorgas Mem Inst Hlth Studies, Panama City, PanamaSTAT Canada, Ottawa, ON, CanadaUniv Med Sci, Havana, CubaGorgas Mem Inst Publ Hlth, Panama City, PanamaUniv Puerto Rico, Med Sci Campus, San Juan, PR 00936 USAUniv Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706 USAMinas Gerais State Secretariat Hlth, Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilUniv Nove de Julho, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilPubl Hlth Agcy Canada, Ottawa, ON, CanadaUniv Ind Santander, Bucaramanga, ColombiaNatl Inst Hlth, Lima, PeruUniv Sao Paulo, Clin Hosp, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilHosp Italiano Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, DF, ArgentinaUniv Ctr Occidental Lisandro Alvarado, Barranquilla, ColombiaEpidemiol & Microbiol Inst, Havana, CubaUniv Fed Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilWHO, Geneva, SwitzerlandMiddlesex Univ, London, EnglandUniv Estadual Paulista, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilAlliance for Health Policy and Systems Research: HQHSR1206660Bernard Lown Scholars in Cardiovascular Health Program at Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health: BLSCHP-1902Newton-Paulet Fund: 223-2018Newton-Paulet Fund: 224-2018DFID/MRC/Wellcome Global Health Trials: MR/M007405/1Fogarty International Center: R21TW009982Fogarty International Center: D71TW010877Grand Challenges Canada: 0335-04International Development Research Center Canada: IDRC 106887International Development Research Center Canada: 108167Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research: IAI CRN3036Medical Research Council: MR/P008984/1Medical Research Council: MR/P024408/1Medical Research Council: MR/P02386X/1National Cancer Institute: 1P20CA217231National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: HHSN268200900033CNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: 5U01HL114180National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: 1UM1HL134590National Institute of Mental Health: 1U19MH098780Swiss National Science Foundation: 40P740-160366Wellcome: 074833/Z/04/ZWellcome: 093541/Z/10/ZWellcome: 107435/Z/15/ZWellcome: 103994/Z/14/ZWellcome: 205177/Z/16/ZWellcome: 214185/Z/18/ZWorld Diabetes Foundation: WDF15-122
