13,827 research outputs found
Interaction in academic L2 writing: an analysis of interactional metadiscourse strategies in applied linguistics research articles
It has been acknowledged that academic writing is not only content-oriented but also involves various rhetorical
strategies that help writers project themselves on text so that the content as well as the writer’s stance can be
understood. Interactional metadiscourse (MD) strategies are established to play a rhetorical role that contribute to
the persuasiveness of argument. Due to the variation of rhetorical strategies across cultures, L2 writers tend to find
some problems employing appropriate interactional MD strategies to express a clear stance and engage readers in
the content presented. This paper examines the extent to which interactional MD strategies are employed in
advanced L2 writing. To this end, 34 research articles written by Yemeni/Arab applied linguistics L2 writers were
analysed. Based on Hyland (2005a), interactional MD strategies were identified via AntConc, a concordance
analytical software tool. Moreover, a qualitative analysis was conducted to examine the way how advanced L2
writers use interactional MD strategies to pursue persuasive goals. The findings indicate that L2 writers tend to
employ impersonal and less dialogic style in academic writing. A closer in-depth analysis indicates that the most
salient interactional strategies in Yemeni L2 writing include making bare assertion as well as marking certainty of
claims. They mostly tend to make assertion as they indicate research gaps and express conviction when they state
findings and summarize their research. The implications of such findings could be useful for genre analysis,
academic writing and L2 writing instruction
Evaluation of mavacamten in symptomatic patients with nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
BACKGROUND: Patients with nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (nHCM) often experience a high burden of symptoms; however, there are no proven pharmacological therapies. By altering the contractile mechanics of the cardiomyocyte, myosin inhibitors have the potential to modify pathophysiology and improve symptoms associated with HCM.
OBJECTIVES: MAVERICK-HCM (Mavacamten in Adults With Symptomatic Non-Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy) explored the safety and efficacy of mavacamten, a first-in-class reversible inhibitor of cardiac-specific myosin, in nHCM.
METHODS: The MAVERICK-HCM trial was a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging phase II study in adults with symptomatic nHCM (New York Heart Association functional class II/III), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥55%, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) ≥300 pg/ml. Participants were randomized 1:1:1 to mavacamten at a pharmacokinetic-adjusted dose (targeting plasma levels of 200 or 500 ng/ml), or placebo for 16 weeks, followed by an 8-week washout. Initial dose was 5 mg daily with 1 dose titration at week 6.
RESULTS: Fifty-nine participants were randomized (19, 21, 19 patients to 200 ng/ml, 500 ng/ml, placebo, respectively). Their mean age was 54 years, and 58% were women. Serious adverse events occurred in 10% of participants on mavacamten and in 21% participants on placebo. Five participants on mavacamten had reversible reduction in LVEF ≤45%. NT-proBNP geometric mean decreased by 53% in the pooled mavacamten group versus 1% in the placebo group, with geometric mean differences of -435 and -6 pg/ml, respectively (p = 0.0005). Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) geometric mean decreased by 34% in the pooled mavacamten group versus a 4% increase in the placebo group, with geometric mean differences of -0.008 and 0.001 ng/ml, respectively (p = 0.009).
CONCLUSIONS: Mavacamten, a novel myosin inhibitor, was well tolerated in most subjects with symptomatic nHCM. Furthermore, treatment was associated with a significant reduction in NT-proBNP and cTnI, suggesting improvement in myocardial wall stress. These results set the stage for future studies of mavacamten in this patient population using clinical parameters, including LVEF, to guide dosing. (A Phase 2 Study of Mavacamten in Adults With Symptomatic Non-Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy [MAVERICK-HCM]; NCT03442764)
The role of Schizosaccharomyces pombe SUMO ligases in genome stability
SUMOylation is a post-translational modification that affects a large number of proteins, many of which are nuclear. While the role of SUMOylation is beginning to be elucidated, it is clear that understanding the mechanisms that regulate the process is likely to be important. Control of the levels of SUMOylation is brought about through a balance of conjugating and deconjugating activities, i.e. of SUMO (small ubiquitin-related modifier) conjugators and ligases versus SUMO proteases. Although conjugation of SUMO to proteins can occur in the absence of a SUMO ligase, it is apparent that SUMO ligases facilitate the SUMOylation of specific subsets of proteins. Two SUMO ligases in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Pli1 and Nse2, have been identified, both of which have roles in genome stability. We report here on a comparison between the properties of the two proteins and discuss potential roles for the proteins
Prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in the Palestinian population
We determined the prevalence of hypertension and the level of awareness, treatment and control of hypertension among
Palestinian adults in a population-based cross-sectional survey. Two-stage stratified sampling method was used to select 2077
participants from the general population aged 25 years and over. Trained observers obtained two blood pressure (BP)
measurements from each individual by the use of a standardized mercury sphygmomanometer after a 5-min sitting rest.
Information on sociogeographical factors and antihypertensive medications was obtained using a standard questionnaire.
Hypertension was defined as a mean systolic BP (SBP) X140mm Hg, diastolic BP (DBP)X90mmHg, and/or use of antihypertensive
medications. The overall prevalence of hypertension was 27.6%, with a higher percentage among men (29.2 vs 26.4%; P¼0.04).
Hypertension increased with age in both men and women. Among hypertensive patients, 51.0% were aware of their elevated BP,
40.2% had treatment and only 9.5% achieved targeted BP control (o140/90mmHg). Patients under antihypertensive treatment
showed SBP and DBP that were only 3.1mmHg and 2.5mmHg lower than individuals without antihypertensive treatment,
respectively. The data show that hypertension prevalence among Palestinian adults is high, whereas the proportions of awareness treatment and control of hypertension were low. Concerted public health effort is urgently required to improve the detection, treatment and control of hypertension in Palestine.Technical and financial support for this study was made available by the Palestinian
American Research Council. We also wish to thank Dr Asa’d Ramlawi, Head of the
primary care department at the Palestinian Ministry of Health for his support. This
project is Funded by the Palestinian American Research Council
Skyrmions in a ferromagnetic Bose-Einstein condensate
The recently realized multicomponent Bose-Einstein condensates provide
opportunities to explore the rich physics brought about by the spin degrees of
freedom. For instance, we can study spin waves and phase separation,
macroscopic quantum tunneling, Rabi oscillations, the coupling between spin
gradients and superfluid flow, squeezed spin states, vortices and other
topological excitations. Theoretically, there have been already some studies of
the ground-state properties of these systems and their line-like vortex
excitations. In analogy with nuclear physics or the quantum Hall effect, we
explore here the possibility of observing point-like topological excitations or
skyrmions. These are nontrivial spin textures that in principle can exist in a
spinor Bose-Einstein condensate. In particular, we investigate the stability of
skyrmions in a fictitious spin-1/2 condensate of Rb87 atoms. We find that
skyrmions can exist in this case only as a metastable state, but with a
lifetime of the order of, or even longer than, the typical lifetime of the
condensate itself. In addition to determining the size and the lifetime of the
skyrmion, we also present its spin texture and finally briefly consider its
dynamical properties.Comment: 4 pages (REVtex), 3 PDF figures. See also cond-mat/000237
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