Numerical simulation of soil-structure interaction in framed and shear-wall structures

This paper deals with the modeling of the plane frame structure-foundation-soil system. The superstructure along with the foundation beam is idealized as beam bending elements. The soil medium near the foundation beam with stress concentrated is idealized by isoparametric finite elements, and infinite elements are used to represent the far field of the soil media. This paper presents the modeling of shear wall structure-foundation and soil system using the optimal membrane triangular, super and conventional finite elements. Particularly, an alternative formulation is presented for the optimal triangular elements aimed at reducing the programming effort and computational cost. The proposed model is applied to a plane frame-combined footing-soil system. It is shown that the total settlement obtained from the non-linear interactive analysis is about 1.3 to 1.4 times that of the non-interactive analysis. Furthermore, the proposed model was found to be efficient in simulating the shear wall-foundation-soil system, being able to yield results that are similar to those obtained by the conventional finite element method

Effect of low-protein diet, gender and age on the apparent ileal amino acid digestibility in broiler chickens raised under hot-humid tropical condition

The study was undertaken to investigate the effects of feeding low-protein diet, gender, and age on the apparent ileal amino acid (AA) digestibility of broilers raised under hot-humid environmental condition. Broiler chicks (320) of either sex were fed on diets varying in crude protein (CP) levels (standard vs. low), and were assessed for apparent ileal digestibilities (AID) of CP and AA at 3 and 6 week of ages, respectively. Birds were fed on 2 diets, i.e starter (CP 22.2%; 16.2%) and finisher (19.5% and 13.5%) ad lib. from 1–42 days. Results showed that birds fed on low-CP diet significantly increased the apparent ileal digestibility of CP and all AA except for Lys, regardless of sex and age. Sex had no influence on the AID for CP and all AA except for Val and Cys, as measured in this study. At 42 d, a significant increase was found in the AID for CP, Ser, including other 7 essential amino acids (EAA), irrespective of sex and diet. In conclusion, feeding broilers with low-CP diets caused a higher AID for the CP and most of AA under tropical condition. Gender had no effect on the CP and AA digestibility, whereas birds’ age influenced the AID highly at 42 days that of 21days

The Role of Memes in Shaping Political Discourse on Social Media

The article explores the role of memes in shaping political discourse on social media platforms, examining their influence on public opinion, political behavior, and the dynamics of ideological polarization. With the rapid proliferation of meme culture across platforms such as Twitter (X), Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, memes have emerged as potent tools for political communication, serving as vehicles for political expression and instruments for reinforcing ideological divides. By analyzing political memes’ circulation, engagement, and sentiment, this study reveals how memes predominantly circulate within political echo chambers, fostering increased engagement within ideologically homogenous groups while limiting exposure to opposing viewpoints. Additionally, the emotional resonance of memes and their viral potential contribute significantly to their effectiveness in influencing political opinions and mobilizing support for political movements. However, the study also highlights concerns regarding the spread of misinformation and the role of memes in exacerbating political polarization. The findings suggest that memes facilitate political participation and awareness and challenge democratic discourse by amplifying divisiveness. The article calls for further research into the long-term effects of meme-driven political communication on voter behavior, civic engagement, and democratic processes

Language use as an institutional practice: An investigation into the genre of workplace emails in an educational institution

Past studies that examined the genre of email regarded genre as a model by focusing on the content and form alone. However, this study examined the genre as a resource by analyzing the knowledge producing and knowledge disseminating that makes the genre possible in its socio-rhetorical context. The study, in line with critical genre analysis, examined the text-internal and the influences of the text-external elements on language use in email communication at a private higher educational institution in Kuala Lumpur. Using 378 emails, participant observation and interviews, this study analyzed the genre from the ethnographic, textual, socio-cognitive and socio-critical perspectives. To conduct the analysis, a novel integrative methodology that included approaches to text, context and genre analysis was applied. The study revealed that the emails could be categorized into four types of genres that varied in their communicative purposes, intentions, goals of communication, register and generic structures. The discussion email genre, which was used to negotiate issues, mainly included involved production and overt expression of argumentation. Enquiry email genre, which was used as a request-respond strategy, included narrative and nonnarrative discourse while the delivery email genre, which was used to provide files, mainly included informational production and non-narrative discourse. Informing email genre, which was used to notify the recipients about general interest issues, mainly included abstract style and informational production. This study also revealed that the institutional practices and disciplinary conventions of the discourse community influenced language use in the emails. This was reflected in the strategies, mechanisms and linguistic choices made in the four types of genres. The study contributed to the socio-rhetoric perspective and critical genre analysis based on conventionalized practices and procedures in the community of practice in academic management. The integrative approach is also highlighted as an analytical method to examine language use in email communication

Language Use as a Resource: E-Communication Dimensions of Register Variation in a Professional Context

The recent development in [critical] genre analysis moved the focus more into the institutionalized and conventionalized practices of the place discourse community; yet, examining the textual artifacts and register variations maintained their vital importance in the analysis. Using a functional multi-dimensional framework, this study examined register variation in more than 350 electronic messages that were exchanged in a professional context to explore register variations in the emails. The study revealed that the corpus of emails, if examined as a single genre, included instances of the seven dimensions of register variation. However, if it is examined as four types of genres based on the intentions of the communication, as in AlAfnan (2015a), it becomes apparent that the four types of email genres belong to different registers. The register of the emails that were parts of long strings discussing work related issues is ‘overtly argumentative’ and ‘narrative discourse’ registers. The register of the emails that intended to request information and/or respond to requests is ‘involved production’ register. The register of the emails that intended to inform recipients about general interest issues is ‘abstract style’ and ‘informational production’ registers. The register of the emails that intended to deliver attachments is ‘non-narrative discourse’ register. This study also revealed that the communicative purposes influenced language use, word choice, grammatical patterns and the syntactical structure of the emails.

Language, Power, and Social Dynamics in Online Gaming: A Discourse Analysis of Toxicity and Inclusivity in Digital Spaces

The article explores the intersection of language, power, and social dynamics in online gaming communities, focusing on toxic and inclusive language within multiplayer digital spaces. Through a discourse analysis of player interactions, this study investigates how language functions as a tool for asserting dominance, marginalizing certain groups, and fostering inclusivity. While toxicity remains pervasive in many gaming environments, with players using exclusionary language to assert control and maintain power hierarchies, inclusive language emerges as a counterforce, enabling players to challenge these norms and create more cooperative and supportive spaces. The findings reveal that toxic language- such as gendered insults and racial slurs- is predominantly used by more dominant players, particularly those with higher skill levels or social status within the game. These behaviors reinforce power imbalances and contribute to the exclusion of ‘other’ groups, including women and players who belong to different ethnic background. Conversely, inclusive language, including gender-neutral terms, supportive comments, and active resistance to toxic speech, is employed as a form of resistance by players seeking to create an environment that values respect and equality. Despite the ongoing prevalence of toxic behavior, inclusive language was found to be a significant part of player interactions, offering a pathway to challenge oppressive power structures and build solidarity. The study contributes to the growing body of research on the role of language in shaping digital spaces, emphasizing the importance of discourse in both perpetuating and disrupting power dynamics. The implications of these findings suggest that game developers and community leaders must take a more proactive role in addressing toxic language and promoting inclusivity through design features, policies, and community guidelines. By highlighting the role of language in constructing power relations and fostering inclusivity, the article calls for a more inclusive approach to online gaming, where all players, regardless of their identity, can participate and thrive without fear of harassment or exclusion

International monetary and exchange rate policies and world agricultural markets: the case of soybeans and soybean products

The main objective of the study is to quantitatively evaluate the effects of a monetary policy change by a given country on the world soybean and products markets. A system of bilateral exchange rate equations is incorporated into a multi-country nonspatial price equilibrium model of world soybean and products markets. The bilateral exchange rate equations are based on a stock-flow approach to exchange rate determination and do not require either the purchasing power parity nor the interest parity conditions to hold. In addition, exchange rate expectations are endogenized in the model using an extrapolative, quasi-rational approach. The regional soybean, soymeal, and soyoil submodels are linked through price transmission equations and trade flow identities;The model is estimated using a nonlinear, two-stage least squares estimator. A set of dynamic simulations of a change in U.S. monetary policy are conducted. The simulations account for the effects of monetary policy on the general price levels in each country as well as the joint product effects. In the dynamic simulations, a one percent, sustained increase in the growth rate of U.S. money supply (M1) was simulated over the period of flexible exchange rates (1971-1982);The dynamic policy simulation analysis provides strong evidence of a significant impact of a change in U.S. monetary policy on the U.S. and world soybean and products markets over the long run. The simulated expansion in the growth rate of U.S. money supply resulted in higher real prices and exports of soybeans and joint products in the U.S., lower real prices and higher imports of soybeans and products in importing countries, and lower real prices and exports of soybeans and products by U.S. export competitors. Furthermore, the monetary effects tended to be larger for the joint products (soymeal and soyoil) than for the primary product (soybeans) in all trading countries. Ignoring the global inflationary adjustments to a U.S. monetary policy change tends to over-estimate the impacts of monetary policy on U.S. markets over time. Finally, the study provides strong evidence that ignoring the simultaneous interaction of a primary commodity and its joint products tends to seriously overestimate the effects of a change in monetary policy on the primary commodity and to underestimate the effects on the joint products

Politic Driving Behavior in Africa: An Investigation into Positive and Negative Politeness through Signs and Signals

The study examines the use of nonverbal positive and negative politeness through the ‘encoding’ by ‘giving signals’ and the ‘decoding’ by ‘following signs’ of the politic-driving behavior in Africa. The thematic framework is basically based on the work of Brown and Levinson (1987) and AlAfnan (2022). The research sample included 723 drivers from 16 African countries [1]that belong to the five African regions. The examination looked into four variables that are the age, gender, level of education, and country of origin of respondents. The study found a positive correlation between education and politic driving behavior as educated drivers, especially female drivers, tend to be more cautious about their self-image and other drivers’ self-esteem than uneducated drivers. The study also reveals that age plays a significant role in following politic driving behavior as elder drivers are more polite than younger drivers, regardless of gender. The study also showed that Algerian male and female, Moroccan male and female, Tunisian male and female, and Cameroonian female drivers have the highest frequency of ‘following signs’ and that Moroccan male and female, Egyptian male, Algerian female, Tunisian male, Botswana male, and Cameroonian male drivers have the highest frequency of ‘giving signals’, which reflects their self-awareness and interest in other drivers’ self-esteem and self-worth