Cultural Authenticity and the Impacts of Cultural Tourism in Malaysian Borneo

This project explores the effects of the cultural tourism industry on the indigenous cultures of Malaysian Borneo. Do the economic incentives of tourist dollars lead to the retention and assertion of indigenous identity, or do they create a façade that highlights only certain aspects of Dayak culture? This project simultaneously emphasizes the need for a reassessment of the phrase “cultural authenticity” that moves beyond purely historic perspectives and identities. These issues are addressed through an ethnographic exploration of tourist longhouses and cultural villages in Malaysian Borneo

Weighted ergodic theorems for weakly mixing transformation groups

In this paper we charácterize weakly mixing transformation groups in terms of weighted ergodic theorems

Cell cycle phase-specific surface expression of nerve growth factor receptors TrkA and p75NTR

et al.Expression of the nerve growth factor (NGF) receptors TrkA and p75(NTR) was found to vary at the surface of PC12 cells in a cell cycle phase-specific manner. This was evidenced by using flow cytometric and microscopic analysis of cell populations labeled with antibodies to the extracellular domains of both receptors. Differential expression of these receptors also was evidenced by biotinylation of surface proteins and Western analysis, using antibodies specific for the extracellular domains of TrkA and p75(NTR). TrkA is expressed most strongly at the cell surface in M and early G1 phases, whereas p75(NTR) is expressed mainly in late G1, S, and G2 phases. This expression reflects the molecular and cellular responses to NGF in specific phases of the cell cycle; in the G1 phase NGF elicits both the anti-mitogenic effect, i.e., inhibition of the G1 to S transitional and the differentiation response whereas a survival effect is provoked elsewhere in the cell cycle. A model is proposed relating these responses to the surface expression of the two receptors. These observations open the way for novel approaches to the investigation of the mechanism of NGF signal transduction.This work was supported by grants from the Association pour la Recherche contre le Cancer (ARC; 1394), the Ligue National Contre le Cancer (LNCC; Axe Oncogèné se et Signalization), the Rhône-Alpes Region, the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (Concerted French/Spanish Exchange program PICASSO), and the Spanish Ministry for Science and Education. J.L.U. is a recipient of a Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship from the European Union and fellowships from the LNCC, Comités départementales de la Saône et Loire et de l’Ain. E.B. is a recipient of a fellowship from the Spanish Ministry for Science and Education through the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. L.A.v.G. was supported by grants from the AUTODESK DEVELOPMENT, BV, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the LNCC, and the ARC. B.B.R., D.M.Z., and G.I.E. acknowledge funding for a concerted action network within the European Union Biomed 1 Cancer Research program (BMH1-CT94-1471) and a shared-cost network under the Biomed 2 Brain Research program (BMH4-CT96-0010).Peer Reviewe

ACCEPTANCE AND USE OF INTERNET BANKING: A DIGITAL DIVIDE PERSPECTIVE

Internet banking offers major advantages for both banks and their customers. However, not all people have equal access or skills to use such services. As banks are interested in migrating customers online, they need to reveal the conditions of internet banking services acceptance and use. The main objective of this study is to understand the factors influencing internet banking adoption taking into account insights from the digital divide theory. In order to explain internet banking usage we developed a research model drawing from the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and Digital Divide research. Moreover, a qualitative pre-study has led to the creation of a new construct: perceived security. The model was tested against comprehensive survey data (n = 503). As a result, more than 90% of the variance of internet banking usage was explained by the elaborated model. Results demonstrate that the strongest factor influencing the intention to adopt internet banking services is the degree to which an individual believes that it is safe to use such services. Hence, this paper contributes to existing technology acceptance literature by introducing the construct of perceived security. Other major implications for theory and practice are discussed

„Interkulturelle Kommunikation im Unterricht“ – Empirische Beobachtungen im Kontext von DaZ als Gegenstand von Fallarbeit in der Lehrer*innenbildung

Unser Beitrag hat zwei Schwerpunkte: Zuerst beschäftigen wir uns mit der Frage, wie die empirische Erforschung interkultureller Kommunikation in Lehr-Lern-Kontexten möglichst ohne Essentialisierung von Kultur aussehen kann. Wir schlagen vor, Unterrichtsinteraktion anhand der Prämissen der Konversationsanalyse (KA) zu untersuchen, und zeigen eine Beispielanalyse aus sprach- und fachintegriertem Projektunterricht in einer Internationalen Klasse (Willkommens-klasse). Darauf aufbauend zeigen wir anhand pilotierter Lehrveranstaltungen an der Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, wie empirisches Material für Fallarbeit im Lehramtsstudium ein-gesetzt werden kann, mit dem Ziel, eine kulturreflexive Haltung anzubahnen, die in einer Migrationsgesellschaft als Teil der Entwicklung von Professionalität von Lehrer*innen konzeptualisiert wird

„Interkulturelle Kommunikation im Unterricht“ – Empirische Beobachtungen im Kontext von DaZ als Gegenstand von Fallarbeit in der Lehrer*innenbildung

Unser Beitrag hat zwei Schwerpunkte: Zuerst beschäftigen wir uns mit der Frage, wie die empirische Erforschung interkultureller Kommunikation in Lehr-Lern-Kontexten möglichst ohne Essentialisierung von Kultur aussehen kann. Wir schlagen vor, Unterrichtsinteraktion anhand der Prämissen der Konversationsanalyse (KA) zu untersuchen, und zeigen eine Beispielanalyse aus sprach- und fachintegriertem Projektunterricht in einer Internationalen Klasse (Willkommens-klasse). Darauf aufbauend zeig en wir anhand pilotierter Lehrveranstaltungen an der Martin-Lu-ther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, wie empirisches Material für Fallarbeit im Lehramtsstudium ein-gesetzt werden kann, mit dem Ziel, eine kulturreflexive Haltung anzubahnen, die in einer Migrati-onsgesellschaft als Teil der Entwicklung von Professionalität von Lehrer*innen konzeptualisiert wird.This paper’s aim is twofold: First, we ask how intercultural communication may be conceptualized and empirically analyzed while avoiding the pitfall trap of cultural determinism. Our suggestion is to explore classroom interaction by adhering to the principles of Conversation Analysis (CA), and we show a single case analysis of an extract of classroom interaction in a language and content integrated learning project in a so-called International Class (Willkommensklasse). Second, we show how we have used such empirical material in teacher education at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. In courses that draw on casuistics, the goal is to allow the (prospective) teachers to develop a (more) culture reflexive stance, which we conceptualize as an integral part of profes-sionalization in a migration society

A Coupled Analysis of Atmospheric Mass Loss and Tidal Evolution in XUV Irradiated Exoplanets: The TRAPPIST-1 Case Study

Exoplanets residing close to their stars can experience evolution of both their physical structures and their orbits due to the influence of their host stars. In this work, we present a coupled analysis of dynamical tidal dissipation and atmospheric mass loss for exoplanets in X-ray and ultraviolet (XUV) irradiated environments. As our primary application, we use this model to study the TRAPPIST-1 system and place constraints on the interior structure and orbital evolution of the planets. We start by reporting on an ultraviolet continuum flux measurement (centered around ~1900 Å) for the star TRAPPIST-1, based on 300 ks of Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory data, and which enables an estimate of the XUV-driven thermal escape arising from XUV photodissociation for each planet. We find that the X-ray flaring luminosity, measured from our X-ray detections, of TRAPPIST-1 is 5.6 × 10⁻⁴ L*, while the full flux including non-flaring periods is 6.1 × 10⁻⁵ L*, when L* is TRAPPIST-1's bolometric luminosity. We then construct a model that includes both atmospheric mass loss and tidal evolution and requires the planets to attain their present-day orbital elements during this coupled evolution. We use this model to constrain the ratio Q′ = 3Q/2k₂ for each planet. Finally, we use additional numerical models implemented with the Virtual Planet Simulator VPLanet to study ocean retention for these planets using our derived system parameters

A genome-wide survey of sRNAs in the symbiotic nitrogen-fixing alpha-proteobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti

Schlüter J-P, Reinkensmeier J, Daschkey S, et al. A genome-wide survey of sRNAs in the symbiotic nitrogen-fixing alpha-proteobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti. BMC Genomics. 2010;11(1): 245.BACKGROUND: Small untranslated RNAs (sRNAs) are widespread regulators of gene expression in bacteria. This study reports on a comprehensive screen for sRNAs in the symbiotic nitrogen-fixing alpha-proteobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti applying deep sequencing of cDNAs and microarray hybridizations. RESULTS: A total of 1,125 sRNA candidates that were classified as trans-encoded sRNAs (173), cis-encoded antisense sRNAs (117), mRNA leader transcripts (379), and sense sRNAs overlapping coding regions (456) were identified in a size range of 50 to 348 nucleotides. Among these were transcripts corresponding to 82 previously reported sRNA candidates. Enrichment for RNAs with primary 5'-ends prior to sequencing of cDNAs suggested transcriptional start sites corresponding to 466 predicted sRNA regions. The consensus sigma70 promoter motif CTTGAC-N17-CTATAT was found upstream of 101 sRNA candidates. Expression patterns derived from microarray hybridizations provided further information on conditions of expression of a number of sRNA candidates. Furthermore, GenBank, EMBL, DDBJ, PDB, and Rfam databases were searched for homologs of the sRNA candidates identified in this study. Searching Rfam family models with over 1,000 sRNA candidates, re-discovered only those sequences from S. meliloti already known and stored in Rfam, whereas BLAST searches suggested a number of homologs in related alpha-proteobacteria. CONCLUSIONS: The screening data suggests that in S. meliloti about 3% of the genes encode trans-encoded sRNAs and about 2% antisense transcripts. Thus, this first comprehensive screen for sRNAs applying deep sequencing in an alpha-proteobacterium shows that sRNAs also occur in high number in this group of bacteria