The Woman Question in Charlotte Bronte\u27s Jane Eyre: the interaction of Romanticism and mid-nineteenth-century Victorian England

Near the end of the twentieth century, various and even contradictory literary criticisms are available. Which one is best for interpretation? Specifically, which one is best for interpreting Jane Eyre? The answers vary. Terry Eagleton, for example, declares that there are indeed Marxist and feminist theories of literature which ... are more valuable since his hypothesis ts that literature . . . is vitally engaged with the living situations of men and women: it is concrete rather than abstract . What he means is that literature occurs in a social context

運用意識提升英語文法教學於國小外語：文法學習之效益研究

This study investigated the effects of consciousness-raising grammar teaching on EFL 6th graders’ learning of the English future tense as well as the participants’ opinions about consciousness-raising grammar teaching activities. Forty 6th graders, 20 in the high-level group and 20 in the low-level group, participated in the study for 8 weeks, twice a week, receiving consciousness-raising grammar teaching with the same activities. Pre-test and post-test were administered before and after the instruction. A questionnaire concerning consciousness-raising grammar teaching was distributed to gain the participants’ views about the activities. Paired sample t test and independent sample t test were used for analysis. The results showed that both high- and low-achievers’ performance in the posttest as compared to that in the pretest reached statistical significance. The low-achievers made even more progress than high-achievers; nevertheless, no claim can be made that conscious-raising grammar tasks are more effective for the performance of the low-achievers than the high achievers. Moreover, the participants had positive opinions about consciousness-raising tasks. The findings are in line with the previous studies (Ellis & Fotos, 1991; Fotos, 1993; Hu, 2008; Wang, 2008; Yip, 1994) concering the effecs of consciousness-raising activities.本研究探究意識提升文法教學對臺灣小六生英語未來式句型的學習成效。研究問題為：一，意識提升文法教學對高、低分組學生何者的學習成效較佳？二，研究對象對意識提升文法教學活動之看法為何？ 研究者對北市公立國小62位小六生施以劍橋兒童英語測驗，將分數在前、後各33%者，選為高分組及低分組，各20人。進行八週，每週兩次意識提升文法教學。以前、後測檢驗其對目標句型的熟悉程度。實驗教學後，以問卷調查研究對象對教學活動看法。 結果顯示，各組前、後測成績比較皆達顯著差異，且低分組進步幅度明顯多於高分組，但無法斷言意識提升文法教學活動對低分組有較佳成效。研究對象肯定意識提升文法教學活動。據此，研究者提出教學及研究建議

Parametric modeling of cellular state transitions as measured with flow cytometry

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Gradual or sudden transitions among different states as exhibited by cell populations in a biological sample under particular conditions or stimuli can be detected and profiled by flow cytometric time course data. Often such temporal profiles contain features due to transient states that present unique modeling challenges. These could range from asymmetric non-Gaussian distributions to outliers and tail subpopulations, which need to be modeled with precision and rigor.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>To ensure precision and rigor, we propose a parametric modeling framework StateProfiler based on finite mixtures of skew <it>t</it>-Normal distributions that are robust against non-Gaussian features caused by asymmetry and outliers in data. Further, we present in StateProfiler a new greedy EM algorithm for fast and optimal model selection. The parsimonious approach of our greedy algorithm allows us to detect the genuine dynamic variation in the key features as and when they appear in time course data. We also present a procedure to construct a well-fitted profile by merging any redundant model components in a way that minimizes change in entropy of the resulting model. This allows precise profiling of unusually shaped distributions and less well-separated features that may appear due to cellular heterogeneity even within clonal populations.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>By modeling flow cytometric data measured over time course and marker space with StateProfiler, specific parametric characteristics of cellular states can be identified. The parameters are then tested statistically for learning global and local patterns of spatio-temporal change. We applied StateProfiler to identify the temporal features of yeast cell cycle progression based on knockout of S-phase triggering cyclins Clb5 and Clb6, and then compared the S-phase delay phenotypes due to differential regulation of the two cyclins. We also used StateProfiler to construct the temporal profile of clonal divergence underlying lineage selection in mammalian hematopoietic progenitor cells.</p

Gene expression profiling of breast cancer survivability by pooled cDNA microarray analysis using logistic regression, artificial neural networks and decision trees

BACKGROUND: Microarray technology can acquire information about thousands of genes simultaneously. We analyzed published breast cancer microarray databases to predict five-year recurrence and compared the performance of three data mining algorithms of artificial neural networks (ANN), decision trees (DT) and logistic regression (LR) and two composite models of DT-ANN and DT-LR. The collection of microarray datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus, four breast cancer datasets were pooled for predicting five-year breast cancer relapse. After data compilation, 757 subjects, 5 clinical variables and 13,452 genetic variables were aggregated. The bootstrap method, Mann–Whitney U test and 20-fold cross-validation were performed to investigate candidate genes with 100 most-significant p-values. The predictive powers of DT, LR and ANN models were assessed using accuracy and the area under ROC curve. The associated genes were evaluated using Cox regression. RESULTS: The DT models exhibited the lowest predictive power and the poorest extrapolation when applied to the test samples. The ANN models displayed the best predictive power and showed the best extrapolation. The 21 most-associated genes, as determined by integration of each model, were analyzed using Cox regression with a 3.53-fold (95% CI: 2.24-5.58) increased risk of breast cancer five-year recurrence… CONCLUSIONS: The 21 selected genes can predict breast cancer recurrence. Among these genes, CCNB1, PLK1 and TOP2A are in the cell cycle G2/M DNA damage checkpoint pathway. Oncologists can offer the genetic information for patients when understanding the gene expression profiles on breast cancer recurrence

Difficulties in studying and teaching literature survey courses in English departments in Taiwan

textThis multi-case (two-case) interpretive study investigated the difficulties in studying and teaching the required survey courses of British and American literature in traditional English departments in Taiwan as well as what the students and instructors did when encountering these difficulties. Conducted in two traditional English departments in Taiwan, this study had two types of participants: two instructors with different nationalities offering British literature and American literature respectively and the upper-division English majors enrolled in the two classes. The focal student groups from the two classes were volunteers. For cross-validation of the findings, the following data sources were included: classroom observation for eight weeks, questionnaire (mainly to guide the interviews), semi-structured text-based and in-depth interviews with focal groups, and in-depth interviews with the instructors. Along with classroom observation narratives and analytic memos, interview data with these informants were transcribed and analyzed. The findings of this study support prior scholarly discussions concerning the fact that students majoring in a foreign language lack target language proficiency and target cultural understanding, and thus the ability to understand the assigned literary texts. Although the masterworks used in these courses were considered to be difficult, it was found that both teacher influence and learner characteristics were even more significant in shaping how difficulties were experienced in studying and teaching literature written in English as a foreign language. Institutional or instructional factors such as curriculum requirements, course requirements, and course objectives were found directly to influence students’ difficulties and successes. Further, the findings of this study pointed to the importance of motivation-related issues, as shown in individual interest, aptitude, and motivational orientation, but seldom mentioned in previous scholarly arguments or research data. As a result, instructors encountered difficulties given in their teaching that characteristics of the learners could not be changed in the short term and those of choice of teaching materials were more or less fixed by the curriculum. Based on these findings, suggestions are made for curriculum designers and instructors teaching foreign literature as well as for future research.Foreign Language Educatio

The Woman Question in Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre: the interaction of Romanticism and mid-nineteenth-century Victorian England

Near the end of the twentieth century, various and even contradictory literary criticisms are available. Which one is best for interpretation? Specifically, which one is best for interpreting Jane Eyre? The answers vary. Terry Eagleton, for example, declares that "there are indeed Marxist and feminist theories of literature which ... are more valuable" since his hypothesis ts that "literature . . . is vitally engaged with the living situations of men and women: it is concrete rather than abstract". What he means is that literature occurs in a social context.</p

Integrated Reading-Writing Instruction in EFL Elementary School English Class with Predictable Books: Effects on English Writing

This study aimed to understand and compare the effects of integrated reading-writing instruction with English predictable books and traditional vocabulary and sentence patterns instruction on the elementary school fifth graders' English writing ability. Sixty-eight 5th graders participated in the study for 14 weeks, two 20-minute sections per week; 34 people were assigned to the experimental group and 34 the control group, with the homogeneity in their CYLET between two groups. The experimental group received integrated reading-writing instruction with predictable books, while the control group received traditional vocabulary and sentence patterns instruction. Pre- and post-tests on writing were conducted before and after the experimental teaching. CHILDES was used to analyze English vocabulary and syntax as shown in the participants' writing performances. Paired-Sample t-Test and One-Way ANCOVA were used for statistical analysis. The results showed that integrated reading-writing instruction with English predictable books effectively enhanced the participants' writing. The experimental group improved significantly in the posttest as compared to the control group, especially on their English vocabulary use in writing. Traditional vocabulary and sentence patterns instruction failed to improve the control group's English vocabulary and syntax as shown in the writing performances. The researchers thus made recommendations for teaching and future research.本研究探究可預測書讀寫整合教學及一般生字與句型教學，對臺北市小五生英語寫作能力之影響。研究問題為：一、就詞彙及句法能力來探究可預測書讀寫整合教學是否可提升小五生英語寫作能力？二、可預測書讀寫整合教學（實驗組）及一般生字與句型教學（控制組），何者較能提升小五生英語寫作能力？研究者對北市六十八位小五學生施以劍橋兒童CYLET聽力及閱讀寫作前測同質性測驗，分實驗組與控制組各三十四人，分別施以可預測書讀寫整合教學及一般生字與句型教學。實驗教學進行十四週，每週兩次，每次二十分鐘。實驗組與控制組於實驗教學前後各接受一次自編「英語寫作能力測驗」。研究者透過CHILDES進行前後測資料編碼與分析，以詞彙的運用及句法能力為評斷指標。另以相依樣本t檢定分別檢驗兩組研究對象前後測的表現是否顯著提升，並以獨立樣本單因子共變數分析比較兩組前後測成績。結果顯示，可預測書讀寫整合活動，能有效提升小五生英語寫作能力，特別是詞彙的運用；句法能力上，對提升句子總數與正確句總數有顯著效果，但對提升平均句長的教學效果則有限。實驗組可預測書讀寫整合教學之成效優於控制組，控制組後測在詞彙的運用及句法能力表現皆退步，其中句子總數退步幅度達顯著差異。據此，研究者提出教學及研究建議

Associated factors with and genotypes of Chlamydia trachomatis infection among clients seeking voluntary counseling and testing for HIV infection in Taiwan

Background/PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the factors associated with Chlamydia trachomatis infection and the genotype distribution of the strains among the clients seeking voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Taiwan.MethodsThe VCT clients completed an anonymous self-administered questionnaire interview to inquire into the risks for sexually transmitted diseases, followed by providing a 10-mL first-catch urine specimen to detect C. trachomatis with the use of polymerase-chain-reaction assays. The genotyping of C. trachomatis strains was performed by sequencing of omp1 gene. A case–control study was performed to identify factors associated with chlamydial infection.ResultsFrom 2008 to 2011, 140 (4.2%) of the 3323 VCT clients tested positive for C. trachomatis by polymerase chain reaction assays of urine specimens. Compared with 280 control individuals without C. trachomatis infection, cases were more likely to be female (adjusted odds ratio, 3.28; 95% confidence interval, 1.56–6.90) and to report dysuria or urethral discharge (adjusted odds ratio, 2.57; 95% confidence interval, 1.44–4.61). Infections with genotypes Da and G were significantly more common in male than female individuals (genotype Da, 22.2% vs. 0%; and genotype G, 24.4% vs. 3.3%) and in men who have sex with men than heterosexuals (genotype Da, 22.2% vs. 0%; and genotype G, 24.4% vs. 3.3%).ConclusionAmong the VCT clients in Taiwan, female sex and presence of urethral symptoms were associated with C. trachomatis infection of the genitourinary tract. Homosexual male clients were more likely to be infected with genotypes Da and G than heterosexual clients were

Risk analysis of colorectal cancer incidence by gene expression analysis

Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading cancers worldwide. Several studies have performed microarray data analyses for cancer classification and prognostic analyses. Microarray assays also enable the identification of gene signatures for molecular characterization and treatment prediction. Objective Microarray gene expression data from the online Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were used to to distinguish colorectal cancer from normal colon tissue samples. Methods We collected microarray data from the GEO database to establish colorectal cancer microarray gene expression datasets for a combined analysis. Using the Prediction Analysis for Microarrays (PAM) method and the GSEA MSigDB resource, we analyzed the 14,698 genes that were identified through an examination of their expression values between normal and tumor tissues. Results Ten genes (ABCG2, AQP8, SPIB, CA7, CLDN8, SCNN1B, SLC30A10, CD177, PADI2, and TGFBI) were found to be good indicators of the candidate genes that correlate with CRC. From these selected genes, an average of six significant genes were obtained using the PAM method, with an accuracy rate of 95%. The results demonstrate the potential of utilizing a model with the PAM method for data mining. After a detailed review of the published reports, the results confirmed that the screened candidate genes are good indicators for cancer risk analysis using the PAM method. Conclusions Six genes were selected with 95% accuracy to effectively classify normal and colorectal cancer tissues. We hope that these results will provide the basis for new research projects in clinical practice that aim to rapidly assess colorectal cancer risk using microarray gene expression analysis

Gene Expression Profiling of Colorectal Tumors and Normal Mucosa by Microarrays Meta-Analysis Using Prediction Analysis of Microarray, Artificial Neural Network, Classification, and Regression Trees

Background. Microarray technology shows great potential but previous studies were limited by small number of samples in the colorectal cancer (CRC) research. The aims of this study are to investigate gene expression profile of CRCs by pooling cDNA microarrays using PAM, ANN, and decision trees (CART and C5.0). Methods. Pooled 16 datasets contained 88 normal mucosal tissues and 1186 CRCs. PAM was performed to identify significant expressed genes in CRCs and models of PAM, ANN, CART, and C5.0 were constructed for screening candidate genes via ranking gene order of significances. Results. The first screening identified 55 genes. The test accuracy of each model was over 0.97 averagely. Less than eight genes achieve excellent classification accuracy. Combining the results of four models, we found the top eight differential genes in CRCs; suppressor genes, CA7, SPIB, GUCA2B, AQP8, IL6R and CWH43; oncogenes, SPP1 and TCN1. Genes of higher significances showed lower variation in rank ordering by different methods. Conclusion. We adopted a two-tier genetic screen, which not only reduced the number of candidate genes but also yielded good accuracy (nearly 100%). This method can be applied to future studies. Among the top eight genes, CA7, TCN1, and CWH43 have not been reported to be related to CRC