34 research outputs found

    Kiezdeutsh in den Kinos und auf den Strassen: Mediendiskurse zu einer neuen Sprechweise und ihre Darstellung im Film

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    The rapid and unique development of so-called “Jugendsprachen” (youth languages) in multicultural city spaces across Europe has been documented extensively in the past decade, receiving immense attention from linguists and the general public alike. As with countless other language registers, which from a grammatical standpoint depart from the accepted language norm, such “Jugendsprachen” have met with intense scrutiny and skepticism as to their legitimacy as expressive forms—a condition which is explored in this paper through a media discourse analysis of one such youth language: “Kiezdeutsch” or “hood German”. Spoken primarily in metropolitan areas such as Berlin and Stuttgart, “Kiezdeutsch” suffers a severe image problem: it is often characterized as being a perverted slang, too heavily influenced by Turkish and other languages of Germany’s immigrant community. This paper analyzes these and other media opinions surrounding “Kiezdeutsch”, which seem to propagate themselves independently from those in the field of language research, and evoke a certain inevitable social angst regarding language and culture erosion. Additionally, this paper dissects the popular 2013 comedy-film, Fack ju Göhte, which employs a stylized version of “Kiezdeutsch”, in order to provide insights into apparent attempts to reinterpret “Jugendsprache” and frame youth language as a socially acceptable language register, which carries no implicit danger to language development or cultural norms

    A systematic review of current knowledge of HIV epidemiology and of sexual behaviour in Nepal

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    OBJECTIVE: To systematically review information on HIV epidemiology and on sexual behaviour in Nepal with a view to identifying gaps in current knowledge. METHODS: Systematic review covering electronic databases, web-based information, personal contact with experts and hand searching of key journals. RESULTS: HIV-1 seroprevalence has been rising rapidly in association with high-risk behaviours, with current levels of 40% amongst the nation's injecting drug users and approaching 20% amongst Kathmandu's female commercial sex workers (FCSWs). HIV seroprevalence remains low in the general population (0.29% of 15–49 year olds). There are significant methodological limitations in many of the seroprevalence studies identified, and these estimates need to be treated with caution. There are extensive migration patterns both within the country and internationally which provide the potential for considerable sexual networking. However, studies of sexual behaviour have focused on FCSWs and the extent of sexual networks within the general population is largely unknown. CONCLUSIONS: Whilst some of the ingredients are present for an explosive HIV epidemic in Nepal, crucial knowledge on sexual behaviour in the general population is missing. Research on sexual networking is urgently required to guide HIV control in Nepal. There is also a need for further good-quality epidemiological studies of HIV seroprevalence

    Feedback-amplified electrochemical dual-plate boron-doped diamond microtrench detector for flow injection analysis

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    An electrochemical flow cell with a boron‐doped diamond dual‐plate microtrench electrode has been developed and demonstrated for hydroquinone flow injection electroanalysis in phosphate buffer pH 7. Using the electrochemical generator‐collector feedback detector improves the sensitivity by one order of magnitude (when compared to a single working electrode detector). The diffusion process is switched from an analyte consuming “external” process to an analyte regenerating “internal” process with benefits in selectivity and sensitivity

    The Epstein-Barr Virus G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Contributes to Immune Evasion by Targeting MHC Class I Molecules for Degradation

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    Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a human herpesvirus that persists as a largely subclinical infection in the vast majority of adults worldwide. Recent evidence indicates that an important component of the persistence strategy involves active interference with the MHC class I antigen processing pathway during the lytic replication cycle. We have now identified a novel role for the lytic cycle gene, BILF1, which encodes a glycoprotein with the properties of a constitutive signaling G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). BILF1 reduced the levels of MHC class I at the cell surface and inhibited CD8+ T cell recognition of endogenous target antigens. The underlying mechanism involves physical association of BILF1 with MHC class I molecules, an increased turnover from the cell surface, and enhanced degradation via lysosomal proteases. The BILF1 protein of the closely related CeHV15 c1-herpesvirus of the Rhesus Old World primate (80% amino acid sequence identity) downregulated surface MHC class I similarly to EBV BILF1. Amongst the human herpesviruses, the GPCR encoded by the ORF74 of the KSHV c2-herpesvirus is most closely related to EBV BILF1 (15% amino acid sequence identity) but did not affect levels of surface MHC class I. An engineered mutant of BILF1 that was unable to activate G protein signaling pathways retained the ability to downregulate MHC class I, indicating that the immune-modulating and GPCR-signaling properties are two distinct functions of BILF1. These findings extend our understanding of the normal biology of an important human pathogen. The discovery of a third EBV lytic cycle gene that cooperates to interfere with MHC class I antigen processing underscores the importance of the need for EBV to be able to evade CD8+ T cell responses during the lytic replication cycle, at a time when such a large number of potential viral targets are expressed

    The role of neutral Rh(PONOP)H, free NMe2H, boronium and ammonium salts in the dehydrocoupling of dimethylamine-borane using the cationic pincer [Rh(PONOP)(η2-H2)]+ catalyst

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    The σ-amine-borane pincer complex [Rh(PONOP)(η1-H3B·NMe3)][BArF4] [2, PONOP = Îș3-NC5H3-2,6-(OPtBu2)2] is prepared by addition of H3B·NMe3 to the dihydrogen precursor [Rh(PONOP)(η2-H2)][BArF4], 1. In a similar way the related H3B·NMe2H complex [Rh(PONOP)(η1-H3B·NMe2H)][BArF4], 3, can be made in situ, but this undergoes dehydrocoupling to reform 1 and give the aminoborane dimer [H2BNMe2]2. NMR studies on this system reveal an intermediate neutral hydride forms, Rh(PONOP)H, 4, that has been prepared independently. 1 is a competent catalyst (2 mol%, ∌30 min) for the dehydrocoupling of H3B·Me2H. Kinetic, mechanistic and computational studies point to the role of NMe2H in both forming the neutral hydride, via deprotonation of a σ-amine-borane complex and formation of aminoborane, and closing the catalytic cycle by reprotonation of the hydride by the thus-formed dimethyl ammonium [NMe2H2]+. Competitive processes involving the generation of boronium [H2B(NMe2H)2]+ are also discussed, but shown to be higher in energy. Off-cycle adducts between [NMe2H2]+ or [H2B(NMe2H)2]+ and amine-boranes are also discussed that act to modify the kinetics of dehydrocoupling

    Rh-POP Pincer Xantphos Complexes for C-S and C-H Activation. Implications for Carbothiolation Catalysis

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    The neutral Rh­(I)–Xantphos complex [Rh­(Îș<sup>3</sup>-<sub>P,O,P</sub>-Xantphos)­Cl]<sub><i>n</i></sub>, <b>4</b>, and cationic Rh­(III) [Rh­(Îș<sup>3</sup>-<sub>P,O,P</sub>-Xantphos)­(H)<sub>2</sub>]­[BAr<sup>F</sup><sub>4</sub>], <b>2a</b>, and [Rh­(Îș<sup>3</sup>-<sub>P,O,P</sub>-Xantphos-3,5-C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>3</sub>(CF<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>)­(H)<sub>2</sub>]­[BAr<sup>F</sup><sub>4</sub>], <b>2b</b>, are described [Ar<sup>F</sup> = 3,5-(CF<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>3</sub>; Xantphos = 4,5-bis­(diphenylphosphino)-9,9-dimethylxanthene; Xantphos-3,5-C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>3</sub>(CF<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub> = 9,9-dimethylxanthene-4,5-bis­(bis­(3,5-bis­(trifluoromethyl)­phenyl)­phosphine]. A solid-state structure of <b>2b</b> isolated from C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>5</sub>Cl solution shows a Îș<sup>1</sup>-chlorobenzene adduct, [Rh­(Îș<sup>3</sup>-<sub>P,O,P</sub>-Xantphos-3,5-C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>3</sub>(CF<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>)­(H)<sub>2</sub>(Îș<sup>1</sup>-ClC<sub>6</sub>H<sub>5</sub>)]­[BAr<sup>F</sup><sub>4</sub>], <b>3</b>. Addition of H<sub>2</sub> to <b>4</b> affords, crystallographically characterized, [Rh­(Îș<sup>3</sup>-<sub>P,O,P</sub>-Xantphos)­(H)<sub>2</sub>Cl], <b>5</b>. Addition of diphenyl acetylene to <b>2a</b> results in the formation of the C–H activated metallacyclopentadiene [Rh­(Îș<sup>3</sup>-<sub>P,O,P</sub>-Xantphos)­(ClCH<sub>2</sub>Cl)­(σ,σ-(C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>4</sub>)­C­(H)CPh)]­[BAr<sup>F</sup><sub>4</sub>], <b>7</b>, a rare example of a crystallographically characterized Rh–dichloromethane complex, alongside the Rh­(I) complex <i>mer</i>-[Rh­(Îș<sup>3</sup>-<sub>P,O,P</sub>-Xantphos)­(η<sup>2</sup>-PhCCPh)]­[BAr<sup>F</sup><sub>4</sub>], <b>6</b>. Halide abstraction from [Rh­(Îș<sup>3</sup>-<sub>P,O,P</sub>-Xantphos)­Cl]<sub><i>n</i></sub> in the presence of diphenylacetylene affords <b>6</b> as the only product, which in the solid state shows that the alkyne binds perpendicular to the Îș<sup>3</sup>-POP Xantphos ligand plane. This complex acts as a latent source of the [Rh­(Îș<sup>3</sup>-<sub>P,O,P</sub>-Xantphos)]<sup>+</sup> fragment and facilitates <i>ortho</i>-directed C–S activation in a number of 2-arylsulfides to give <i>mer</i>-[Rh­(Îș<sup>3</sup>-<sub>P,O,P</sub>-Xantphos)­(σ,Îș<sup>1</sup>-Ar)­(SMe)]­[BAr<sup>F</sup><sub>4</sub>] (Ar = C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>4</sub>COMe, <b>8</b>; C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>4</sub>(CO)­OMe, <b>9</b>; C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>4</sub>NO<sub>2</sub>, <b>10</b>; C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>4</sub>CNCH<sub>2</sub>CH<sub>2</sub>O, <b>11</b>; C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>4</sub>C<sub>5</sub>H<sub>4</sub>N, <b>12</b>). Similar C–S bond cleavage is observed with allyl sulfide, to give <i>fac</i>-[Rh­(Îș<sup>3</sup>-<sub>P,O,P</sub>-Xantphos)­(η<sup>3</sup>-C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>5</sub>)­(SPh)]­[BAr<sup>F</sup><sub>4</sub>], <b>13</b>. These products of C–S activation have been crystallographically characterized. For <b>8</b> in situ monitoring of the reaction by NMR spectroscopy reveals the initial formation of <i>fac</i>-Îș<sup>3</sup>-<b>8</b>, which then proceeds to isomerize to the <i>mer</i>-isomer. With the <i>para</i>-ketone aryl sulfide, 4-SMeC <sub>6</sub>H<sub>4</sub>COMe, C–H activation <i>ortho</i> to the ketone occurs to give <i>mer</i>-[Rh­(Îș<sup>3</sup>-<sub>P,O,P</sub>-Xantphos)­(σ,Îș<sup>1</sup>-4-(COMe)­C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>3</sub>SMe)­(H)]­[BAr<sup>F</sup><sub>4</sub>], <b>14</b>. The temporal evolution of carbothiolation catalysis using <i>mer</i>-Îș<sup>3</sup>-<b>8</b>, and phenyl acetylene and 2-(methylthio)­acetophenone substrates shows initial fast catalysis and then a considerably slower evolution of the product. We suggest that the initially formed <i>fac</i>-isomer of the C–S activation product is considerably more active than the <i>mer</i>-isomer (i.e., <i>mer</i>-<b>8</b>), the latter of which is formed rapidly by isomerization, and this accounts for the observed difference in rates. A likely mechanism is proposed based upon these data

    Correlates of high-impact physical activity measured objectively in older British adults

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    © The Author(s) 2017. Background Exposure to higher magnitude vertical impacts is thought to benefit bone health. The correlates of this high-impact physical activity (PA) in later life are unknown. Methods Participants were from the Cohort for Skeletal Health in Bristol and Avon, Hertfordshire Cohort Study and MRC National Survey of Health and Development. Associations of demographic, behavioural, physiological and psychological factors with vertical acceleration peaks ≄1.5 g (i.e. high-impact PA) from 7-day hip-worn accelerometer recordings were examined using linear regression. Results A total of 1187 participants (mean age = 72.7 years, 66.6% females) were included. Age, sex, education, active transport, selfreported higher impact PA, walking speed and self-rated health were independently associated with high-impact PA whereas BMI and sleep quality showed borderline independent associations. For example, differences in log-high-impact counts were 0.50 (P < 0.001) for men versus women and -0.56 (P < 0.001) for worst versus best self-rated health. Our final model explained 23% of between-participant variance in high impacts. Other correlates were not associated with high-impact activity after adjustment. Conclusions Besides age and sex, several factors were associated with higher impact PA in later life. Our findings help identify characteristics of older people that might benefit from interventions designed to promote osteogenic PA
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