The stance of stalking: a corpus-based analysis of grammatical markers of stance in threatening communications

Corpora ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tammy Gales
Keyword(s):  
Corpus Analysis ◽  
Social Constructionist ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Linguistic Markers ◽  
Intense Fear ◽  
Complement Clauses ◽  
Functional Patterns ◽  
Threatening Communications ◽  
And Function ◽  
Occurrence Patterns

Threats made by stalkers have tremendous negative effects on the more than one million victims who receive them every year – from experiencing ‘psychological terrorism’ to undergoing physical harm ( Burgess and Marchetti, 2009 ). However, stalking, a criminal offence within the law, is ill-defined and difficult to prosecute, since the victim of stalking must demonstrate the stalker's intent to intimidate or cause ‘substantial emotional distress’ ( Black et al., 1990 : 717). Linguistically, such indicators of emotion and intent are manifested by markers of ‘stance’, a speaker/writer's culturally organised feelings, judgments or assessments about a recipient or proposition ( Biber et al., 1999 ). Through a corpus analysis of 397 authentic threats, I examine variation in the manifestation and function of overt grammatical markers of stance (adverbials, modals, and that- and to-complement clauses) between threats to stalk, harass and defame. Specifically, certainty verbs + that-complement clause constructions and prediction modals occurred at a significantly higher rate (p<0.001) in stalking threats – those in which the victims reported feeling intense fear or distress. In addition, strong co-occurrence patterns were found between these stance markers and pronouns. And, when using a qualitative social constructionist approach to examine distinctions in stance meaning and reveal underlying functional patterns, ( Precht, 2003 : 255), three distinctive functional patterns were revealed with the trigrams ‘I will be’, ‘I will have’ and ‘you know that’, wherein the stalking threatener is in complete volitional control of his or her own actions, demonstrates possession over the victim or an object related to the threat, and accuses the victim of a behaviour thought to be wrong, respectively. Therefore, while it has been demonstrated that there is not a one-to-one correspondence between linguistic markers and threateners' actions ( Gales, 2010 ; and Lord et al., 2008 ), through a closer examination of overt grammatical markers of stance – in combination with social psychology theories connecting speaker role, power and fear (e.g., Burgess and Marchetti, 2009 ) – linguists can help hone an understanding of stance in stalking threats and potentially contribute to the demonstration of a victim's claim of feeling fear.

scholarly journals Can Ultrasound Therapy Be an Environmental-Friendly Alternative to Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment?

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 2715
Author(s):  
Rodica Ana Ungur ◽  
Viorela Mihaela Ciortea ◽  
Laszlo Irsay ◽  
Alina Deniza Ciubean ◽  
Bogdana Adriana Năsui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ultrasound Therapy ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Knee Oa ◽  
Environmental Friendly ◽  
Chemical Pollutants ◽  
Osteoarthritis Treatment ◽  
Inflammatory Drugs ◽  
Anti Inflammatory ◽  
And Function

The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most used drugs in knee OA (osteoarthritis) treatment. Despite their efficiency in pain and inflammation alleviation, NSAIDs accumulate in the environment as chemical pollutants and have numerous genetic, morphologic, and functional negative effects on plants and animals. Ultrasound (US) therapy can improve pain, inflammation, and function in knee OA, without impact on environment, and with supplementary metabolic beneficial effects on cartilage compared to NSAIDs. These features recommend US therapy as alternative for NSAIDs use in knee OA treatment.

scholarly journals The effects of modern war and military activities on biodiversity and the environment

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 443-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Lawrence ◽  
Holly L.J. Stemberger ◽  
Aaron J. Zolderdo ◽  
Daniel P. Struthers ◽  
Steven J. Cooke
Keyword(s):  
Military Training ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Aquatic Systems ◽  
Ecosystem Structure ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Exclusion Zone ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
And Function ◽  
Ecosystem Structure And Function ◽  
Modern War

War is an ever-present force that has the potential to alter the biosphere. Here we review the potential consequences of modern war and military activities on ecosystem structure and function. We focus on the effects of direct conflict, nuclear weapons, military training, and military produced contaminants. Overall, the aforementioned activities were found to have overwhelmingly negative effects on ecosystem structure and function. Dramatic habitat alteration, environmental pollution, and disturbance contributed to population declines and biodiversity losses arising from both acute and chronic effects in both terrestrial and aquatic systems. In some instances, even in the face of massive alterations to ecosystem structure, recovery was possible. Interestingly, military activity was beneficial under specific conditions, such as when an exclusion zone was generated that generally resulted in population increases and (or) population recovery; an observation noted in both terrestrial and aquatic systems. Additionally, military technological advances (e.g., GPS technology, drone technology, biotelemetry) have provided conservation scientists with novel tools for research. Because of the challenges associated with conducting research in areas with military activities (e.g., restricted access, hazardous conditions), information pertaining to military impacts on the environment are relatively scarce and are often studied years after military activities have ceased and with no knowledge of baseline conditions. Additional research would help to elucidate the environmental consequences (positive and negative) and thus reveal opportunities for mitigating negative effects while informing the development of optimal strategies for rehabilitation and recovery.

scholarly journals Mutations in GDAP1 Influence Structure and Function of the Trans-Golgi Network

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 914
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Binięda ◽  
Weronika Rzepnikowska ◽  
Damian Kolakowski ◽  
Joanna Kaminska ◽  
Andrzej Antoni Szczepankiewicz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Golgi Apparatus ◽  
Experimental Therapy ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Charcot Marie Tooth Disease ◽  
Terra Incognita ◽  
And Function ◽  
Golgi Network ◽  
Cell Phenotypes ◽  
Tooth Disease

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is a heritable neurodegenerative disease that displays great genetic heterogeneity. The genes and mutations that underlie this heterogeneity have been extensively characterized by molecular genetics. However, the molecular pathogenesis of the vast majority of CMT subtypes remains terra incognita. Any attempts to perform experimental therapy for CMT disease are limited by a lack of understanding of the pathogenesis at a molecular level. In this study, we aim to identify the molecular pathways that are disturbed by mutations in the gene encoding GDAP1 using both yeast and human cell, based models of CMT-GDAP1 disease. We found that some mutations in GDAP1 led to a reduced expression of the GDAP1 protein and resulted in a selective disruption of the Golgi apparatus. These structural alterations are accompanied by functional disturbances within the Golgi. We screened over 1500 drugs that are available on the market using our yeast-based CMT-GDAP1 model. Drugs were identified that had both positive and negative effects on cell phenotypes. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first report of the Golgi apparatus playing a role in the pathology of CMT disorders. The drugs we identified, using our yeast-based CMT-GDAP1 model, may be further used in translational research.

scholarly journals Post-Divorce Experiences in Jordan: A Phenomenological Perspective

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (126) ◽  
pp. 31-52
Author(s):  
Husein M. Alothman ◽  
Mohammed Al-Hourani
Keyword(s):  
Family Support ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Married Women ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Marriage And Family ◽  
Gender Culture ◽  
Custody Of Children ◽  
Phenomenological Perspective ◽  
Major Factors ◽  
And Function

This study analyzes the post-divorce experiences of a sample of 50 Jordanian divorced participants. Qualitative and exploratory results are similar to the results of other studies that were conducted in certain western cultures. Similar issues included modern reasons for exiting a marriage, men's experiences of losing children and women's poor financial circumstances. Despite changes in the structure and function of the Jordanian family, post-divorce experiences continue to be influenced by the major factors of a traditional gender culture regarding the traditional reasons to exit marriage, with women retaining custody of children when they do not remarry and failure to establish cooperative custody. In addition, the results of this study reveal that progressive changes in women's choices to exit their marriages to better themselves. The study also sheds light on the perception of violence against married women as a reason for exiting marriage and family support to minimize the negative effects of divorce on women with a concurrent realization of the stigmatization of society toward divorced women. Nevertheless, additional research on this topic is needed to significantly add to our understanding of these phenomena

scholarly journals Platelet Function Disturbance During Veno-Venous ECMO in ARDS Patients Assessed by Multiple Electrode Aggregometry—A Prospective, Observational Cohort Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 1056 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saskia Wand ◽  
Jan Felix Huber-Petersen ◽  
Joern Schaeper ◽  
Claudia Binder ◽  
Onnen Moerer
Keyword(s):  
Platelet Aggregation ◽  
Platelet Function ◽  
Extracorporeal Circulation ◽  
Inverse Correlation ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Multiple Electrode Aggregometry ◽  
Observational Cohort ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Multiple Electrode

Extracorporeal (veno-venous) membrane oxygenation (vvECMO) has been shown to have negative effects on platelet number and function. This study aimed to gain more information about the impact of vvECMO on platelet function assessed by multiple electrode aggregometry (MEA). Twenty patients with the indication for vvECMO were included. Platelet function was analyzed using MEA (Multiplate®) before (T-1), 6 h (T0), one (T1), two (T2), three (T3), and seven (T4) days after the beginning of vvECMO. Median aggregational measurements were already below the normal reference range before vvECMO initiation. Platelet aggregation was significantly reduced 6 h after vvECMO initiation compared to T-1 and spontaneously recovered with a significant increase at T2. Platelet count dropped significantly between T-1 and T0 and continuously decreased between T0 and T4. At T4, ADP-induced platelet aggregation showed an inverse correlation with the paO2 in the oxygenator. Platelet function should be assessed by MEA before the initiation of extracorporeal circulation. Although ECMO therapy led to a further decrease in platelet aggregation after 6 h, all measurements had recovered to baseline on day two. This implies that MEA as a whole blood method might not adequately reflect the changes in platelet function in the later stages of extracorporeal circulation.

scholarly journals Consistency and Variability in Children’s Word Learning Across Languages

Open Mind ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 52-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mika Braginsky ◽  
Daniel Yurovsky ◽  
Virginia A. Marchman ◽  
Michael C. Frank
Keyword(s):  
Word Learning ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Parent Report ◽  
Corpus Analysis ◽  
Function Words ◽  
Lexical Categories ◽  
Derived Properties ◽  
Report Data ◽  
And Function

Why do children learn some words earlier than others? The order in which words are acquired can provide clues about the mechanisms of word learning. In a large-scale corpus analysis, we use parent-report data from over 32,000 children to estimate the acquisition trajectories of around 400 words in each of 10 languages, predicting them on the basis of independently derived properties of the words’ linguistic environment (from corpora) and meaning (from adult judgments). We examine the consistency and variability of these predictors across languages, by lexical category, and over development. The patterning of predictors across languages is quite similar, suggesting similar processes in operation. In contrast, the patterning of predictors across different lexical categories is distinct, in line with theories that posit different factors at play in the acquisition of content words and function words. By leveraging data at a significantly larger scale than previous work, our analyses identify candidate generalizations about the processes underlying word learning across languages.

scholarly journals Antibiotics as Major Disruptors of Gut Microbiota

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaime Ramirez ◽  
Francisco Guarner ◽  
Luis Bustos Fernandez ◽  
Aldo Maruy ◽  
Vera Lucia Sdepanian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Adaptive Immune System ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant ◽  
Childhood Exposure ◽  
Clostridioides Difficile ◽  
Culture Independent ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
And Function

Advances in culture-independent research techniques have led to an increased understanding of the gut microbiota and the role it plays in health and disease. The intestine is populated by a complex microbial community that is organized around a network of metabolic interdependencies. It is now understood that the gut microbiota is vital for normal development and functioning of the human body, especially for the priming and maturation of the adaptive immune system. Antibiotic use can have several negative effects on the gut microbiota, including reduced species diversity, altered metabolic activity, and the selection of antibiotic-resistant organisms, which in turn can lead to antibiotic-associated diarrhea and recurrent Clostridioides difficile infections. There is also evidence that early childhood exposure to antibiotics can lead to several gastrointestinal, immunologic, and neurocognitive conditions. The increase in the use of antibiotics in recent years suggests that these problems are likely to become more acute or more prevalent in the future. Continued research into the structure and function of the gut microbiota is required to address this challenge.

Physiological and Neurobiological Bases of Age-Related Hearing Loss: Biotherapeutic Implications

2013 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 299-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert D. Frisina ◽  
D. Robert Frisina
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Auditory Processing ◽  
Stria Vascularis ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Women And Aging ◽  
Auditory Tasks ◽  
And Function ◽  
Age Related Hearing Loss

Purpose The aim of this study was to highlight growing evidence of interactions between hormones and the structure and function of the auditory system. Method Recent studies implicating sex hormones and other natural hormones in the modulation of hearing status in age-related hearing loss were reviewed. Results Progesterone, a sex hormone, has been shown to have negative effects on the hearing of older women and aging mice, whereas, in contrast, estrogen was found in some cases to have a positive influence. Aldosterone, used in studies of animal models of autoimmune hearing loss, slowed the progression of hearing loss. Follow-up studies in humans revealed that auditory measures varied as serum aldosterone levels shifted within the normal range, in otherwise healthy older subjects. This was true for simple as well as complex auditory tasks (i.e., sound spatial processing), suggesting benefits of aldosterone to postperipheral auditory processing as well. In addition, evidence suggests that this functional hearing improvement occurred in association with anatomical improvements to the stria vascularis—an important site of anatomical change in presbycusis. Conclusions Audiology is now at the point where the search for biomedical interventions to modulate or prevent age-related hearing loss can move forward. Such interventions would require multidisciplinary collaborative initiatives by researchers in such areas as drug development, anatomy, auditory physiological and perceptual testing, and drug microdelivery systems.

scholarly journals Testosterone Administration Alters Hepatic Blood Flow Across Age: Systematic Review of Animal Experimental Studies

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (02) ◽  
pp. 096-101
Author(s):  
Ricardo Nucci ◽  
Valéria Tanasov ◽  
Walter Krause Neto ◽  
Romeu de Souza ◽  
Eliane Gama
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Hepatic Metabolism ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Hepatic Congestion ◽  
Testosterone Administration ◽  
And Function ◽  
Hepatic Injuries

AbstractTestosterone levels decline gradually with advancing age. At this point, testosterone administration as a therapy has been largely used to improve different outcomes. However, testosterone induces dose-dependent negative effects on the structure and function of the liver across age. Therefore, the present study aimed to carry out a systematic review of the effects of testosterone administration on the hepatic structure of adult and aged animals. We have searched the PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Scielo and Lilacs databases for animal experimental studies on the effects of testosterone administration on the hepatic structure across age. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, we included two articles in a systematic review and meta-analysis (regarding adult/aged rats). We have shown through a systematic review with meta-analysis that testosterone may cause chronic hepatic congestion. However, the present review had a small number of studies, which was considered a limitation. At this point, we encourage the development of more studies to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in hepatic injuries, as well as the hepatic metabolism of exogenous testosterone across age.

scholarly journals The diversity and function of sourdough starter microbiomes

eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A Landis ◽  
Angela M Oliverio ◽  
Erin A McKenney ◽  
Lauren M Nichols ◽  
Nicole Kfoury ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Diversity ◽  
Acetic Acid Bacteria ◽  
Fermented Food ◽  
Microbial Interactions ◽  
Structure Variation ◽  
Biogeographic Patterns ◽  
And Function ◽  
Occurrence Patterns

Humans have relied on sourdough starter microbial communities to make leavened bread for thousands of years, but only a small fraction of global sourdough biodiversity has been characterized. Working with a community-scientist network of bread bakers, we determined the microbial diversity of 500 sourdough starters from four continents. In sharp contrast with widespread assumptions, we found little evidence for biogeographic patterns in starter communities. Strong co-occurrence patterns observed in situ and recreated in vitro demonstrate that microbial interactions shape sourdough community structure. Variation in dough rise rates and aromas were largely explained by acetic acid bacteria, a mostly overlooked group of sourdough microbes. Our study reveals the extent of microbial diversity in an ancient fermented food across diverse cultural and geographic backgrounds.

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