DIGITAL LITERACY IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE THROUGH TEXT MINING AND FANFICTION WRITING

This study investigates how digital literacy in a foreign language (FL) may be supported by the use of a digital resource that can aid the processes of reading and writing. Thus, this research is based on studies by Feldman and Sanger (2006) about text mining, and on research by Black (2007; 2009) about the incorporation of a text genre  typical  from the Internet, the fanfiction (text based on existing media), in language learning. Through the use of the text mining resource Sobek, which promotes the extraction of frequent terms present in a text, the participants of this study created digital media narratives in English as a foreign language (FL). The undergraduate Brazilian students who participated in the research used the tool Sobek to mediate the production of fanfictions. In the proposed task, each student read a fanfiction and used the mining tool to develop graphs with recurrent terms found in the story. From the data analysis, it was observed that the use of a digital tool supported text production in the FL, and its following practice of digital literacy, as the authors relied on the mining resource to create new fanfictions

Letramento digital em língua estrangeira por meio da mineração de texto e da escrita de fanfiction

This study investigates how digital literacy in a for-eign language (FL) may be supported by the use of a digital resource that can aid the processes of reading and writing. Thus, this research is based on studies by Feldman and Sanger (2006) about text min-ing, and on research by Black (2007; 2009) about the incorporation of a text genre typical from the Internet, the fanfiction (text based on existing media), in language learning. Through the use of the text mining resource Sobek, which promotes the extraction of frequent terms present in a text, the participants of this study created digital media narratives in English as a foreign language (FL). The under-graduate Brazilian students who participated in the research used the tool Sobek to mediate the production of fanfictions. In the proposed task, each student read a fanfiction and used the mining tool to de-velop graphs with recurrent terms found in the story. From the data analysis, it was observed that the use of a digital tool supported text production in the FL, and its following practice of digital literacy, as the authors relied on the mining resource to create new fanfictions.Este estudo investiga como o letramento digital em uma língua estrangeira (LE) pode ser apoiado pelo uso de um recurso digital que auxilie os processos de leitura e escrita. Assim, esta pesquisa se baseia em estudos de Feldman e Sanger (2006) sobre mineração de texto e em pesquisas de Black (2007; 2009) sobre a incorporação de um gênero de texto característico da Internet, a fanfiction (textos baseados em diversas mídias), no aprendizado de língua inglesa. Por meio do uso do recurso de mineração de texto Sobek, que promove a extração de termos frequentes presentes em um texto, os participantes deste estudo criaram narrativas de mídia digital em inglês como LE. Os estudantes de graduação que participaram da pesquisa utilizaram a ferramenta Sobek para mediar a produção de fanfictions.Na tarefa proposta, cada aluno leu uma fanfiction e usou a ferramenta de mi-neração para desenvolver gráficos com termos recorrentes encontra-dos na história. A partir da análise dos dados, observou-se que o uso de uma ferramenta digital apoiava a produção de texto na LE, e uma prática subsequente de letramento digital, pois os autores contavam com o recurso de mineração para criar novos exemplos de fanfiction

Como é que a política cambial aplicada na Malásia de 1991 a 2008 influenciou o seu crescimento económico?

Classificação: F31, F43A seguinte dissertação retrata um estudo efectuado sobre os desvios da taxa de câmbio real da Malásia face aos seus valores de equilíbrio, durante o período de 1991 a 2008. Para esse efeito utilizou-se a metodologia “Single-equation reduced-form approach”, onde a taxa de câmbio real de equilíbrio foi estimada como uma função dos fundamentais da taxa de câmbio que desempenham um papel mais preponderante no médio prazo, enquanto o ajustamento da taxa de câmbio real que permite restabelecer o equilíbrio foi obtido a partir da diferença do valor estimado da taxa de câmbio real de equilíbrio e o valor observado. Chegou-se à conclusão que existem três fundamentais que influenciam a evolução da taxa de câmbio real de equilíbrio, estes são o diferencial da produtividade da Malásia face aos seus principais parceiros, o grau de abertura da economia e o investimento em termos do PIB. No que diz respeito ao impacto dos desvios da taxa de câmbio de equilibrio no longo prazo sobre o crescimento da economia observou-se que este não influencia o seu percurso. Para além disso esta exposição apresenta um breve resumo da metodologia de relevante sobre o tema em causa bem como da evolução da economia e dos regimes cambiais aplicados na Malásia.The following thesis describes a study about misalignment of Malaysia Exchange rate during 1991 and 2008. For this purpose, it was used the Single-equation Reduced-form approach, where the real exchange rate equilibrium was estimated as an equation of the mainly exchange rate fundamental in the medium term, while the adjustment of the real exchange rate which restores the balance was obtained from the difference of the estimated value and the observed value of the real exchange rate. It was concluded that there are three fundamentals that have a significant impact on the real equilibrium exchange rate, these are the productivity differential of Malaysia over its main partners, the openness and the investment in terms of GDP. The exchange rate misalignment does not affect the economic growth. This exhibition also presents a brief summary of the main methodology on the subject in question and the evolution of the economy and exchange rate regimes applied in Malaysia

Hypolipidemic agent Z-guggulsterone: metabolism interplays with induction of carboxylesterase and bile salt export pump

Z-Guggulsterone is a major ingredient in the Indian traditional hypolipidemic remedy guggul. A study in mice has established that its hypolipidemic effect involves the farnesoid X receptor (FXR), presumably by acting as an antagonist of this receptor. It is generally assumed that the antagonism leads to induction of cytochrome P450 7A1 (CYP7A1), the rate-limiting enzyme converting free cholesterol to bile acids. In this study, we tested whether Z-guggulsterone indeed induces human CYP7A1. In addition, the expression of cholesteryl ester hydrolase CES1 and bile salt export pump (BSEP) was monitored. Contrary to the general assumption, Z-guggulsterone did not induce CYP7A1. Instead, this phytosterol significantly induced CES1 and BSEP through transactivation. Z-Guggulsterone underwent metabolism by CYP3A4, and the metabolites greatly increased the induction potency on BSEP but not on CES1. BSEP induction favors cholesterol elimination, whereas CES1 involves both elimination and retention (probably when excessively induced). Interestingly, clinical trials reported the hypolipidemic response rates from 18% to 80% and showed that higher dosages actually increased VLDL cholesterol. Our findings predict that better hypolipidemic outcomes likely occur in individuals who have a relatively higher capacity of metabolizing Z-guggulsterone with moderate CES1 induction, a scenario possibly achieved by lowering the dosing regimens

Superconductivity in graphene stacks: from the bilayer to graphite

We study the superconducting phase transition, both in a graphene bilayer and in graphite. For that purpose we derive the mean-field effective potential for a stack of graphene layers presenting hopping between adjacent sheets. For describing superconductivity, we assume there is an on-site attractive interaction between electrons and determine the superconducting critical temperature as a function of the chemical potential. This displays a dome-shaped curve, in agreement with previous results for two-dimensional Dirac fermions. We show that the hopping between adjacent layers increases the critical temperature for small values of the chemical potential. Finally, we consider a minimal model for graphite and show that the transition temperature is higher than that for the graphene bilayer for small values of chemical potential. This might explain why intrinsic superconductivity is observed in graphite

Holocentric Chromosomes of Luzula elegans Are Characterized by a Longitudinal Centromere Groove, Chromosome Bending, and a Terminal Nucleolus Organizer Region

The structure of holocentric chromosomes was analyzed in mitotic cells of Luzula elegans. Light and scanning electron microscopy observations provided evidence for the existence of a longitudinal groove along each sister chromatid. The centromere-specific histone H3 variant, CENH3, colocalized with this groove and with microtubule attachment sites. The terminal chromosomal regions were CENH3-negative. During metaphase to anaphase transition, L. elegans chromosomes typically curved to a sickle-like shape, a process that is likely to be influenced by the pulling forces of microtubules along the holocentric axis towards the corresponding microtubule organizing regions. A single pair of 45S rDNA sites, situated distal to Arabidopsis-telomere repeats, was observed at the terminal region of one chromosome pair. We suggest that the 45S rDNA position in distal centromere-free regions could be required to ensure chromosome stability. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Base