The Pragmatic Functions of Repetition in TV Discourse

Since repetition is a natural phenomenon used to perform various functions in interactional discourse, adopting a pragmatic analysis to the discourse of Dr. Phil and his guests on Dr. Phil's TV show, this study attempted to explore the pragmatic functions of such repetitions as used by English native speakers. The data were gathered from conversations between native speakers of English, and based on 7 full episodes of Dr. Phil's TV Show. The researchers watched, and studied these episodes on YouTube. The study revealed that one of the salient features of TV discourse is repetition, which is employed to perform a variety of language functions. Repetition was used to express emphasis, clarity, emotions, highlight the obvious, be questionable, express annoyance, persuasion, express surprise, give instructions, and as a filler in order to take time, when the speaker was searching for a proper word to say what would come next. The study concluded that these findings had significant implications for EFL/ESL teachers and the interlanguage development of EFL/ESL learners

Holy places that have played a role in the urban evolution of damascus

This study describes some of the shrines that contributed to the urban development of Damascus from the emergence of Islam to the middle ages. It also discusses the connection between the existence of holy places which attract pilgrims for religious and spiritual reasons, and the expansion of cities. The main sources for this study are writings in the ‘virtues of the Holy Land’ genre, augmented by the publications on this subject by Orientalists and Arab scholars

Radar High Resolution Range & Micro-Doppler Analysis of Human Motions

In radar imaging it is well known that relative motion or deformation of parts of illuminated objects induce additional features in the Doppler frequency spectra. These features are called micro-Doppler effect and appear as sidebands around the central Doppler frequency. They can provide valuable information about the structure of the moving parts and may be used for identification purposes [1]. Previous papers have mostly focused on ID micro-Doppler analysis [2-4]. In this paper, we propose to emphasize the analysis of such "non stationary targets" using a 2D imaging space, using both the micro-Doppler and a high range resolution analysis. As in 2D-ISAR imaging, range separation enables us to better discriminate the various effects caused by the time varying reflectors. We will focus our study on human motion. We will see how micro-Doppler signature can be used to extract information on pedestrians gait. We will show examples on simulated and experimental data

Selenium status and supplementation in dromedary camels

The Arabian camel (Camelus dromedarius) is well suited to the desert environment due to its remarkable physiological and metabolic adaptation. Nutrients requirements of the camel are not well defined, particularly that of trace elements. Selenium supplementation is often recommended to treat conditions attributed to Se deficiency such as cardiomyopathy. This paper reports the results of four experiments carried out using pregnant, non-pregnant, young and adult female camels. The commercial source of Se (i.e. sodium selenite) was used to provide supplementary levels between 0 to 16 mg of Se/day. The concentration of Se in serum and the activity of erythrocytes glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were measured. The Se concentration in serum of camels increased linearly with increased Se supplementation levels from 0 to 4 mg/day, then plateau when levels further increased to a maximum of 16 mg/day. The average Se concentration (expressed as ng/ml) ranged between 100 and 500. Similar trend was observed for the GSH-Px activity. The results suggest a maximum tolerable dose of 8 mg/day and the recommended dose between 2 and 4 mg/day. (Résumé d'auteur

Preparation And Characterization Of Graphene Filled Epoxy Thin Film Nanocomposite For Electronic Applications

Grafin telah menarik perhatian yang besar dalam aplikasi elektronik kerana sifat-sifat mekanikal, elektrik dan haba yang unik kesan dari struktur dua dimensinya. Komposit nano filem nipis epoksi diisi serbuk nano grafin (GNP) telah dihasilkan menggunakan teknik ultrasonik dan salutan mejam. Kesan bebanan GNP dan masa sonikasi, kloroform sebagai larutan penyebaran untuk GNP (ch-GNP), amina sebagai ejen gandingan untuk GNP (m-GNP) dan sistem hibrid menggunakan GNP dan karbon nano tiub berbilang dinding (GNP-MWCNT) terhadap sifat tegangan, elektrik dan terma bagi komposit epoksi telah disiasat dalam kajian ini. Secara umumnya, penambahan GNP telah menurunkan kekuatan tegangan dan modulus untuk kesemua komposit epoksi. Walau bagaimanapun, komposit epoksi/GNP yang dihasilkan menggunakan 20 minit masa sonikasi mempunyai kekuatan tegangan dan modulus yang sedikit tinggi, dengan pecahan isipadu penelusan elektrik ambang yang rendah (0.1%). Kajian morfologi melalui mikroskop imbasan elektron (SEM) menunjukkan bahawa peningkatan pada penyerakan GNP telah dicapai dengan pertambahan masa sonikasi. Walau bagaimanapun, ubahbentuk GNP telah diperhatikan selepas masa sonikasi yang panjang. Kedua-dua komposit epoksi/ch-GNP dan epoksi/m-GNP yang dihasilkan menggunakan 20 minit masa sonikasi mempunyai sifat tegangan yang sedikit tinggi berbanding komposit epoksi/GNP, terutama pada bebanan pengisi yang rendah. Walau bagaimanapun, komposit epoksi/m-GNP menunjukkan nilai penelusan ambang pada bebanan pengisi yang lebih tinggi (isipadu 0.6 %) berbanding isipadunya 0.05 dan 0.1 %, masing-masing untuk komposit epoksi/ch-GNP dan epoksi/GNP. Analisis morfologi melalui SEM menunjukkan tahap penyebaran dan pengelupasan ch-GNP dan m-GNP yang tinggi di dalam komposit epoksi. Walau bagaimanpun, kajian morfologi melalui mikroskop transmisi elektron (TEM) menunjukkan bahawa kedua-dua saiz ch-GNP dan m-GNP adalah jauh lebih kecil berbanding GNP asal yang diperoleh. Dari sifat termal, didapati bahawa komposit epoksi/ch-GNP dan epoksi/m-GNP menunjukkan suhu peralihan kaca yang lebih tinggi berbanding komposit epoksi/GNP. Komposit hibrid epoksi/GNP-MWCNT menunjukkan peningkatan dalam sifat tegangan dengan peningkatan MWCNT berbanding GNP. Komposit hibrid epoksi/GNP-MWCNT dengan nisbah 0.1:0.4 bagi GNP:MWCNT, dengan jumlah pecahan isipadu pengisi nano 0.5 vol% menunjukkan sifat-sifat yang optimum di kalangan semua komposit, malahan sifat tegangan yang lebih tinggi daripada epoksi tulen dengan kekonduksian elektrik setinggi 1.82 x 10-2 S/cm, yang sekali ganda lebih tinggi daripada komposit epoksi dengan isipadu GNP 0.5%. Akhir sekali, kajian ini melibatkan penggunaan dua jenis resin epoksi yang berbeza, dengan menggunakan sistem hibrid GNP-MWCNT ke atas sifat-sifat komposit hibrid epoksi. Berbanding dengan komposit hibrid epoksi-DER (0.1:0.4), komposit hibrid epoksi-Epolam (0.1:0.4) telah menunjukkan sifat tegangan dan termal yang lebih rendah manakala kekonduksian elektrik komposit hibrid kekal hampir dengan penebat tulen matrik epoksi Epolam. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Graphene has attracted great attention in electronic applications because of the unique mechanical, electrical and thermal properties arising from its two dimensional structure. Graphene nanopowder (GNP) filled epoxy thin film nanocomposites were fabricated using ultrasonication and the spin coating techniques. The effect of GNP loading and sonication time, chloroform as dispersion solution for GNP (ch-GNP), amine as coupling agent for GNP (m-GNP) and hybrid system using GNP and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) (GNP-MWCNT) on the tensile, electrical and thermal properties of epoxy composites were investigated in this study. Generally, the addition of GNP decreased the tensile strength and modulus for all epoxy composites. However, the GNP/epoxy composites produced using 20 minutes of sonication time had a slightly higher tensile strength and modulus, with a lower electrical percolation threshold volume fraction (0.1 vol%). Morphological study via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that improvement in GNP dispersion was achieved with increased sonication time. However, GNP deformation was observed after a long sonication time. Both ch-GNP/epoxy and m-GNP/epoxy composites produced using 20 minutes of sonication time had slightly higher tensile properties than GNP/epoxy composites, especially at low filler loading. However, the m-GNP/epoxy composites exhibit percolation threshold value at higher filler loading (0.6 vol%) compared to 0.05 and 0.1 vol% for ch-GNP/epoxy and GNP/epoxy composite, respectively. Morphological analysis via SEM showed a higher degree of dispersion and exfoliation of ch-GNP and m-GNP in the epoxy composites. However, morphological study via transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that both ch-GNP and m-GNP size was far smaller than the as received GNP. From the thermal properties, it was found that ch-GNP/epoxy and m-GNP/epoxy composites showed a higher glass transition temperature than GNP/epoxy composites. The GNP-MWCNT/epoxy hybrid composites showed improvement in the tensile properties with increasing concentration of MWCNT compared to GNP. GNP-MWCNT/epoxy hybrid composite with 0.1:0.4 ratio of GNP:MWCNT with total nanofiller volume fraction of 0.5 vol% showed the optimum properties among all composites even higher tensile properties than the unfilled epoxy with highest electrical conductivity of 1.82 × 10-2 S/cm, which is an order of magnitude higher than that of the epoxy composite with 0.5 vol% GNP. Finally, this study involves the use of two different types of epoxy resin using GNP-MWCNT hybrid system on the properties of epoxy hybrid composite. As compared to epoxy-DER (0.1:0.4) hybrid composites, epoxy-Epolam (0.1:0.4) hybrid composites showed lower tensile and thermal properties while the electrical conductivity of the hybrid composite remains very close to that of the pure insulating epoxy-Epolam matrix

Maternal transfer of selenium by blood and milk in camels

Ten pregnant female camels were divided into two groups. The control group received no supplement; the experimental (treated) group received a daily oral supplement of 2 mg Se as selenite for the last three months of pregnancy and the first month of lactation. The Se concentration in serum increased significantly in the supplemented group and was threefold higher (305.9 ± 103.3 ng/mL) than in the concentration control group (109.3 ± 33.1 ng/mL). Blood values in camel calves were similar to those of the dams. The selenium concentration increased in similar proportions in milk (167.1 ± 97.3 ng/mL vs 86.4 ± 39.1 ng/mL in the supplemented and control groups respectively). In the colostrum, Se concentration was higher in both groups, but with a similar difference: 108.2 ± 43.9 ng/mL vs 302 ± 94.60. Significant correlations were reported between dam serum Se, camel calf serum Se, milk Se and GSH-Px both in dams and calves. (Résumé d'auteur

Irradiation effects in oxide glasses doped with transition and rare-earth elements

International audienceThe effect of -irradiation on silicate and aluminoborosilicate glasses doped with transition metals (TM) and rare earth (RE) elements has been studied using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR), Raman and luminescence spectroscopy. Irradiation leads to the reduction of both Cr and Mn ions in both types of glass matrix. It is shown that even small amounts of TM dopants completely block defect production, as occurs under irradiation in non-doped glasses. As well, TM doping results in the disappearance of structural changes in the glass (densification, polymerization increase and Na migration) for doses of ~ 10 Gy. Unlike TM-doped matrices, incorporation of RE ions into aluminoborosilicate glass blocks neither defect production nor structural changes in glass matrices during irradiation. Simultaneously, we observe a reduction of RE ions, most clearly demonstrated for Ce ions in aluminoborosilicate glasses. We propose that the relative stability of the different charge states of the RE ions is linked to the efficiency of the reduction process, and therefore to the evolution of the glass structure during irradiation