Key Characters Research Articles

Response of Readers in the Novel The Call of The Wild

This research is to investigate readers' responses to the novel The Call of The Wild, focusing on its intrinsic elements. Employing a voluntary sampling strategy within the Telegram Reader Group, ten participants were selected to collect the data through a questionnaire, which was analysed in line with Jauss' theory. Qualitative descriptive methodology was employed, to understand readers' reactions to the novel's key components, including theme, plot, setting, character, and characterization. The research's implications are multifaceted: it enriches our comprehension of how readers interpret intricate literary elements, demonstrating the interplay between authorial intent and reader understanding. This research underscores the value of intrinsic elements in shaping reader engagement, offering insights applicable to authors, educators, and enthusiasts. The research's design showcases the feasibility of voluntary sampling in online reader communities and introduces a systematic approach to analysing reader responses through tailored questions. Overall, this research contributes to our understanding of reader interactions with literature, spanning realms from narrative interpretation to research methodology.

"Nothing will come of nothing": King Lear and the Paradoxical Debasement of Whiteness in HBO's Succession

Abstract: This essay examines the central role of racial whiteness in the self-construction and widespread reception of HBO’s popular series, Succession , as King Lear ’s twenty-first-century heir. Drawing on Christina Wald’s analysis of Succession as “serial Shakespeare,” conversations about the show in digital culture, and work in critical whiteness studies including several recent discussions of race in King Lear , I trace Succession ’s representation of the four Roy children’s battle for control of their father’s global media empire to the racialized portrayal of key characters in Shakespeare’s arguably grimmest tragedy. My focus is the Roy empire’s heir apparent, Kendall Roy, and his affinities with Edgar, Goneril, Cordelia, and Lear himself as figures of early modern racial ideologies. Kendall’s association with these characters in King Lear not only sheds light on the roles of race and gender in HBO’s flagrantly white drama, but also exemplifies what Arthur L. Little, Jr. describes as Shakespeare’s underappreciated but “prodigious contribution” to the making of white people. Succession ’s repeated exposures of the Roy siblings’ toxic, privileged whiteness, along with Kendall’s repeated, failed efforts to be crowned head of his father’s company, resonate with King Lear ’s oft-discussed emphasis on “nothing,” as well as its ambivalence about the future of a unified white nation. What Succession finally reveals about King Lear is a paradox fundamental to both dramas’ constructions of racial whiteness: debasement only adds to its power.

인도 서사시 전승 속 나가(nāga)의 역할에 대한 일고찰

This paper examines the role of nāgas, mythical beings with serpentine features, in the Ādi-parvan of the Mahābhārata (Mbh). In the epic period, nāgas were repositioned as semi-divine beings with typical characteristics in the Hindu pantheon, and some narratives depicted them as the subject of immense sacrifice. This paper analyzes two nāga narratives in the Mbh: the birth of the nāga race and Āstīka’s salvation of nāgas from Janamejaya's snake-sacrifice (sarpa-sattra).
 The first narrative integrates nāgas and Garuḍa, a bird-like creature, into the offsprings of Kaśyapa’s two wives, Kadrū and Vinatā. This depicts them as beings belonging to the same paternal lineage. The subsequent narratives dealing with the conflict between nāgas and Garuḍa, and Garuḍa's theft of amṛta (an elixir of immortality) are also connected to the existing independent mythical elements of the Vedas or Brāhmaṇas. These narratives are situated in a new system through their birth narratives in the epic.
 Nāgas and Garuḍa play somewhat different roles in the formation of a hierarchy of Hindu mythology centered on Viṣṇu, the supreme deity. Nāgas are depicted as menacing beings that need to be subdued, while Garuḍa attains the status of Viṣṇu's vāhana (vehicle) and establishes a predator-prey relationship with nāgas by making them his food under the grace of Indra, the king of the devas. The difference of the final blessing verses which are placed at the end of each story also indirectly reflects their mythical hierarchy or their roles.
 The second narrative, which deals with Janamejaya's snake-sacrifice and Āstīka's salvation of nāgas, is closely related to the Mbh's main plot as a frame story. In particular, Takṣaka, the king of nāgas, is one of the significant characters that acts as a link of different narratives and constitutes the core of the mythical narrative. Takṣaka's deeds and status centered on the snake sacrifice are at the intersection of two narratives: the Bhārata war and the tradition of nāgas.
 Janamejaya, who is in an antagonistic position with Takṣaka and is also one of the key characters of the frame narrative of the Mbh, performs two roles in those nāga stories. One is a descendant of the Bhārata clan and the other is a patron of the snake-sacrifice. By performing these two roles of ‘succession of Bhārata race’ and ‘eliminating threatening enemies’, he demonstrates how two independent traditions are merged in the Mbh's frame narrative. At this point, nāgas are regarded as having represented authority before the Bhārata story's appearance and, moreover, are configured as threatening enemies to be vastly sacrificed. Āstīka, on the other hand, who is configured as a savior of the nāga clan, was born between a Brahmin sage and a maiden of the nāga clan. This symbolically represents the combination of Veda and non-Veda traditions.
 In conclusion, Mbh's nāga narratives in Ādi-parvan can be cited as a good example of how independent traditions were incorporated into the epic and found their place in the mythological structure of the new system.

An Investigation into the Stylistic Functions of Misplaced Modifiers in John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men"

This paper explores the impact of the purposeful use of misplaced modifiers in John Steinbeck's Novella to create certain effects on the readers. In the narrative, George and Lennie, migrant workers during the Great Depression, pursue their dreams, with misplaced modifiers adding intrigue and character depth. George, practical and astute, continually corrects his mentally challenged yet kind companion, Lennie. Steinbeck employed this technique to infuse his writing with charm and captivation by placing descriptive phrases in unexpected places within the sentence, adding complexity, seizing attention, and nurturing thought-provoking reading. In "Of Mice and Men," these modifiers contribute to the growth of key characters, increasing tension, surprise, and irony, evoking emotions and setting the narrative tone. This empowered Steinbeck to express his unique style, displaying linguistic prowess. The paper sheds light on that linguistic phenomenon in Steinbeck’s novel, exploring his skillful manipulation of language, and how he uses it to create specific effects on the readers.

Morus Alba Fruit Extract and its Fractions Ameliorate Streptozotocin Induced Cognitive Deficit in Mice via Modulating Oxidative and Cholinergic Systems.

Increased oxidative stress and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity are key pathological characters contributing to the memory disorders. Thus, drugs targeting both oxidative stress and AChE are being explored for the management of cognitive dysfunction. Morus alba fruits (commonly consumed for its high nutritious value) are known to have antioxidant and AChE inhibitory effects. However, the role of Morus alba fruits in the management of memory disorders has not reported yet. This investigation was conducted to assess the antioxidant and AChE inhibitory potential of Morus alba fruit extracts in-vitro and to identify the components responsible for such effects. Further, the obtained bioactive component was studied for possible memory improvement effects against streptozotocin (STZ) induced dementia. To isolate the bioactive component in-vitro DPPH and AChE assays guided fractionation was performed. Memory functions in mice were determined using Morris Water Maze test while brain biochemical parameters were measured to understand the mechanism of action. In-vitro assays revealed strong AChE and DPPH inhibitory potential of methanol extract (ME), therefore, it was further fractionated. Among various fractions obtained, ethyl-acetate fraction (EAF) was found to possess marked AChE and DPPH inhibitory activities. On subsequent fractionation of EAF, bioactivity of obtained sub-fractions was found to be inferior to EAF. Further, both ME and EAF improved STZ (intracerebroventricular) induced cognitive dysfunction in animals by restoring endogenous antioxidant status (superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione) and reducing thiobarbituric acid reactive species and nitric oxide levels along with brain AChE and myeloperoxidase activity. TLC densitometric studies showed appreciable levels of phenolic acids and quercetin in both EAF and ME. It can be concluded that Morus alba fruit extract has the ability to modulate cholinergic and oxidative system due to presence of phenolic and flavonoid compounds and hence, could aid in the management of memory disorders.

Politics and Aesthetics: Jacques Rancière and Louis-Gabriel Gauny

This paper argues that much of Jacques Rancière’s redefinition of emancipation owes a lot to one key character from his archival research on nineteenth-century worker-poets, Louis-Gabriel Gauny, the self-proclaimed plebeian philosopher. This is especially the case in regard to Rancière’s understanding of subjectivation forming a double of the self and a double of social reality as worlds within worlds. The paper puts forward that Gauny’s form of emancipation is valid today as an aesthetic revolution that reveals Rancière’s practices of equality to be an emancipatory way of life. In doing so, it will engage with Gauny’s connection with the contemporary precariat.

Genetic Variability and Diversity for Yield and Yield Attributing Traits in M3 and M4 Generations of Butter Bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.)

Background: Butter beans (Phaselous lunatus L) belong to the family Leguminaceae, is one of the oldest cool season food legume crops. A throughout knowledge of existing genetic variation among yield and its yield component traits is essential for developing high yielding varieties in butter bean. Realizing the importance of genetic diversity and variability in key economic characters, the present investigation had been planned to assess the genetic diversity and variability in for yield improvement in butter bean breeding programme. Methods: Investigation was carried at Horticultural Research Station, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu during 2019-2021. A total of 2734 M2 mutant lines were evaluated as individual progenies in the previous study. Stringent selection was made based on yield, earliness and plant habit and a total of 35 mutant lines were identified and forwarded to M3 and a total of 12 mutant lines for M4 generations in present study. The data on elevan quantitative were analyzed using Mahalanobis D2 statistic. Result: The present study has assessed the genetic variation among studied traits of butter bean mutants for yield and its component traits. Thus, a total of five mutant lines namely BBMG-7-9-7, BBMG-9-10-6, BBMG-18-9-6, BBMG-25-13-3, BBMG-35-7-2 were identified to be forward to the M5 generation as promising mutant lines for developing high yielding varieties and to test its homogeneity and stability.

Evolutionary history, traits, and weediness inDigitaria(Poaceae: Panicoideae)

AbstractDigitaria is a large pantropical genus, which includes a number of economically problematic agricultural weeds. Difficulties in species identification and the circumscription of the genus have previously hindered progress in understanding its evolution and developing a stable classification. We investigate the evolutionary history of Digitaria by combining two approaches: (i) phylogenetic analyses of the currently available Sanger sequence data with previously unpublished sequences mainly from South East Asia, and (ii) newly generated genomic data from low-copy nuclear genes obtained using the Angiosperms353 probe kit, with new data mainly from Madagascar. Both methods gave congruent results. The combination of these results allowed us to confirm a new clade structure within Digitaria lineages, in partial agreement with the previous morphology-based classifications. We confirm that Digitaria as traditionally circumscribed is not monophyletic, comprising Anthephora, Baptorhachis, Chaetopoa, and Chlorocalymma. We present an inference of key character evolution with morphological support for clades with spikelets arranged in binate and ternate groups, with variable trichome morphology, spikelet length, and culm length. Geographical clade structure is also observed. No phylogenetic signal of weedy function was observed.

On the taxonomic status of the tenebrionoid genera Falsopedilus Pic, 1924 and Hintonosia Báguena Corella, 1948 (Coleoptera: Mycteridae) with descriptions of new species.

We re-evaluate the taxonomic placement of the genus Hintonosia Báguena Corella, 1948, hitherto placed in Aderidae Csíki, 1909. The assessment of key morphological characters based on the type specimen of the type species of this genus, Hintonosia bismacrocephalus Báguena Corella, 1948 (= Hintonosia macrocephalus Pic, 1935, homonym), demonstrated that it does not possess the synapomorphies of the Aderidae. Instead, its clear position in Mycteridae Blanchard, 1845 is uncovered, leading us to the transfer of Hintonosia to the subfamily Eurypinae Thomson, 1860 of Mycteridae. Moreover, Hintonosia was found congeneric with the mycterid genus Falsopedilus Pic, 1924 and the new synonymy is therefore proposed. Additionally, two African species of Falsopedilus are described, a key to, and a checklist of Falsopedilus species are presented.

Mythical Bird Humay in the Traditional Worldview of the Bashkirs

The article is devoted to the analysis of the image of Humay, that is one of the key characters in the oral folk art of the Bashkirs. In the mythology of the Bashkirs, Humay acts as a mythical swan bird, the mistress of the bird kingdom, possessing the gift of reincarnation. Humay-swan is a divine bird. She is not only the daughter of the Sun and the solar deity Samrau, but she herself is the incarnation of the Sun. As the wife of the the hero-ancestor and the god-demiurge Ural-batyr, Humay gives him the heavenly horse Akbuzat and the magic damask sword. She participates in the creation of nature and fauna of the Southern Urals and fights demonic forces. In mythology, Humay is recognized as the foremother of the Bashkirs. In the oral literature of the Bashkirs, remnants of reasoning about the Humay bird as a benefactor of people are found. As a mother-goddess, Humay patronizes the creation and preservation of family relationships, the fertility of women, and is the intercessor of women in childbirth. In the folk art of the Bashkirs, she acts as the patroness of heroes, the giver of happiness and wealth, and can also regenerate a person in a new quality. The image of the female deity Humay / Umay is found in the mythology of a wide range of peoples of the world.

Striving to thrive or striving to survive: Professional identity constructions of medical trainees in clinical assessment activities.

Assessment plays a key role in competence development and the shaping of future professionals. Despite its presumed positive impacts on learning, unintended consequences of assessment have drawn increasing attention in the literature. Considering professional identities and how these can be dynamically constructed through social interactions, as in assessment contexts, our study sought to understand how assessment influences the construction of professional identities in medical trainees. Within social constructionism, we adopted a discursive, narrative approach to investigate the different positions trainees narrate for themselves and their assessors in clinical assessment contexts and the impact of these positions on their constructed identities. We purposively recruited 28 medical trainees (23 students and five postgraduate trainees), who took part in entry, follow-up and exit interviews of this study and submitted longitudinal audio/written diaries across nine-months of their training programs. Thematic framework and positioning analyses (focusing on how characters are linguistically positioned in narratives) were applied using an interdisciplinary teamwork approach. We identified two key narrative plotlines, striving to thrive and striving to survive, across trainees' assessment narratives from 60 interviews and 133 diaries. Elements of growth, development, and improvement were identified as trainees narrated striving to thrive in assessment. Neglect, oppression and perfunctory narratives were elaborated as trainees narrated striving to survive from assessment. Nine main character tropes adopted by trainees with six key assessor character tropes were identified. Bringing these together we present our analysis of two exemplary narratives with elaboration of their wider social implications. Adopting a discursive approach enabled us to better understand not only what identities are constructed by trainees in assessment contexts but also how they are constructed in relation to broader medical education discourses. The findings are informative for educators to reflect on, rectify and reconstruct assessment practices for better facilitating trainee identity construction.

First Report of Caligus minimus Otto, 1821 (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida: Caligidae) from Plankton Samples Collected from Türkiye

During a plankton sampling conducted off the northeastern Mediterranean coast of Türkiye, a single female copepod, Caligus minimus Otto, 1821 was collected from a marine plankton sample. C. minimus is a well-known species of the genus Caligus O.F. Müller, 1785 which has been previously reported as a parasite from nine marine fish species belonging to eight different families. To date, however, C. minimus has never been reported from plankton samples. In this study, the general morphology based on the key diagnostic characters of the planktonic C. minimus is presented using confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) images. This is the first report of C. minimus from plankton samples off Turkish waters and global marine environments.

Flower morphology of Allium (Amaryllidaceae) and its systematic significance

Allium is a complicated genus that includes approximately 1000 species. Although its morphology is well studied, the taxonomic importance of many morphological traits, including floral traits, are poorly understood. Here, we examined and measured the floral characteristics of 87 accessions of 74 Allium taxa (belonging to 30 sections and nine subgenera) from Central to Eastern Asian countries. We then examined the taxonomic relationships between select flower characteristics and a phylogenetic tree based on ITS sequences. Our results confirm that floral morphology provides key taxonomic information to assess species delimitation in Allium. We found that perianth color is an important characteristic within the subg. Melanocrommyum, Polyprason, and Reticulatobulbosa. In subg. Allium, Cepa, and Rhizirideum, significant characteristics include ovary shape, perianth shape, and inner tepal apex. For species in subg. Angunium, the key taxonomic character is ovule number (only one ovule in per locule). In the subg. Allium, Cepa, Polyprason, and Reticulatobulbosa, which belong to the third evolutionary line of Allium, hood-like appendages occur in the ovary, although these do not occur in subg. Rhizirideum. Our results also indicated that the flower morphology of several species in some sections are not clearly distinguished, e.g., sect. Sacculiferum (subg. Cepa) and sect. Tenuissima (subg. Rhizirideum). This study provides detailed photographs and descriptions of floral characteristics and information on general distributions, habitats, and phenology of the studied taxa.

Biodiversity of Philippine marine fishes: A DNA barcode reference library based on voucher specimens

Accurate identification of fishes is essential for understanding their biology and to ensure food safety for consumers. DNA barcoding is an important tool because it can verify identifications of both whole and processed fishes that have had key morphological characters removed (e.g., filets, fish meal); however, DNA reference libraries are incomplete, and public repositories for sequence data contain incorrectly identified sequences. During a nine-year sampling program in the Philippines, a global biodiversity hotspot for marine fishes, we developed a verified reference library of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences for 2,525 specimens representing 984 species. Specimens were primarily purchased from markets, with additional diversity collected using rotenone or fishing gear. Species identifications were verified based on taxonomic, phenotypic, and genotypic data, and sequences are associated with voucher specimens, live-color photographs, and genetic samples catalogued at Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History. The Biodiversity of Philippine Marine Fishes dataset is released herein to increase knowledge of species diversity and distributions and to facilitate accurate identification of market fishes.

Four new records for the vascular flora of Bangladesh

This study records two species of Pteridophytes, viz., Hemionitis cordata Roxb. ex Hook. & Grev. and Ophioglossum nudicaule L.f. of Pteridaceae and Ophioglossaceae, and two species of Angiosperms, viz., Bacopa australis V.C. Souza and Salvia misella Kunth of Plantaginaceae and Lamiaceae, respectively, for the first time in Bangladesh, based on the plant specimens collected during our recent botanical explorations conducted in selected areas of Bagerhat, Barguna, and Cumilla districts. A detailed taxonomic description with key characters, notes on ecology, uses, distribution, distinctness from other similar taxa, representative specimens examined, and photographs of each of these four species have been provided. Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 30(1): 21-30, 2023 (June)

Inference of Ploidy Level in 19th-Century Historical Herbarium Specimens Reveals the Identity of Five Acorus Species Described by Schott

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott (1794–1865) was one of the pioneering researchers in the taxonomy of the species-rich monocot family Araceae. He described numerous new plant species in various genera, including Acorus, which is currently segregated as a monogeneric family and order occupying a position sister to the rest of the monocots. While describing his new species of Acorus, Schott mostly used characters that are currently considered of low, if any, taxonomic value. His descriptions lack some key characters including, for obvious reasons, chromosome numbers. Therefore, Schott’s species concepts cannot be properly interpreted according to the current understanding of the taxonomic diversity of Acorus, even though his species names must be examined for implementation of the principle of nomenclatural priority. The only way of resolving the taxonomic identity of Schott’s species names is through the identification of type specimens among historical herbarium collections, by inferring taxonomically significant characters that are missing in Schott’s descriptions. On the basis of herbarium collections of the Komarov Botanical Institute, St. Petersburg (LE), we were able to infer ploidy levels of the materials used by Schott to describe Acorus triqueter (diploid, Siberia), A. tatarinowii (tetraploid, China), A. nilaghirensis (tetraploid, India), A. griffithii (tetraploid, Bhutan), and A. commutatus (tetraploid, Bhutan). Leaf anatomy and pollen stainability were used as cytotype markers. All five species belong to the polymorphic Acorus calamus complex that comprises important medicinal plants. Detailed historical and nomenclatural analyses of Schott’s species names and herbarium collections are provided.

A Sociological Analysis of The Main Characters in The Novel The Good Earth

The purpose of the study is to analyze the main characters by collecting and choosing their actions, speech, and thoughts from the point of view of sociology. The approach is analytical (two methods: an extrinsic approach that deals with theories from some books, sociology ones, and an intrinsic approach that deals with elements in the Buck novel "The Good Earth" itself), characterization that explains the analysis in which the data are theories that support the cycle life of the main characters. Studying in libraries is the method. The writer initially finds that Wang Lung and O-lan's marriage gives them happiness. They rise from a position of poverty to one of wealth. By the time the story comes to an ends, the key main characters have all passed away and have all come back to earth. The condition of the earth determines Wang Lung's fate throughout his entire existence, which is an ongoing struggle against the twin spectres of famine and destruction.These facts drive the writer to investigate both their characteristics and how they interact with society as newly wealthy individuals. The conclusion shows that as humans originated from the earth, we will also return to it after death.

A new distribution record of Lemna turionifera (Araceae, Lemnoideae) in Korea

Here we confirm the first accurate distributional record of Lemna turionifera Landolt (Lemnoideae, Araceae) in Korea. The nomenclator, Elias Landolt (1926–2013), had collected the species in Korea, but to date, there have been no other identifiers of this species. A Lemna species collected from Andong showed the key characters of L. turionifera: pigmented fronds, consistently-sized papillae along the middle vein, purple-colored root base, and turion forming. The cpDNA sequence of the atpF-atpH intergenic spacer of our Lemna sample was identical or quite similar (99.6%–100%) to those found in Landolt's collection. Although we could not find flowers, fruits, or seeds during a field survey, after 15 days of indoor incubation, we were able to observe the flowering of L. turionifera. The flower was protogynous, and the spathe was reddish.

STRATEGY FRAMEWORK DEVELOPMENT BASED ON BUSINESS COMMERCIAL INTEGRATING CO-CREATION PROCESS TO GUIDE PSS TRANSITION

Product-Service System (PSS) is considered as a promising solution for manufacturing industry to address environmental and economic issues simultaneously. Despite the potential benefit, PSS uptake across industries is hardly found. This research aims to draw current state of manufacturing industry upon theoretical framework of PSS typology to get insights of the gap in between. The study exhibits PSS level assessment indicated by key character identified from the various literature of PSS typology. The study also introduces co-creation process as a strategy to increase system capability within PSS framework. Manufacturing companies are selected from various source of literature and article in PSS discussion to exercise PSS assessment. The evaluation of PSS current practice reveals that commercial based transaction (B2B and B2C) play a significant role to determine the suitable development strategy for PSS transition. Furthermore, the type of business commercial also determines the customer involvement level in co-creation process. A framework to guide PSS transition based on the business commercial is established, comprehends the type of value proposition, suitable business strategy, network configuration, and co-creation level.

«Быть» и «казаться»: смысловое измерение жизни в пьесе А. П. Чехова «Иванов»

The purpose of the study is to consider the philosophical and social aspects of the early play by A. P. Chekhov Ivanov, to analyze the relationship between reality and illusion in the semantic dimension of the characters’ lives. We are talking about the “struggle against the struggle for existence”, mentioned by K. A. Timiryazev, about the loss of the key goal in the clash of the heroes’ hopes and the surrounding reality. The categories of “to be” and “to seem” under study play a significant role in the life of the characters. Seeming to be transcends the limits of the work. Thus, the characters talk a lot about money; however, the monetary dimension is not the leading one in the movement of the plot, it only seems to be so. Debts, promissory notes, bank accounts are talked about, but in reality the characters lack funds. In other words, money reigns, but does not rule, being only in an illusory dimension, but even there it performs an anti-Darwinian function in the moral and physical health of the characters. A special place is given to the analysis of the uncertainty of the situation and the absurdity of the behavior of the protagonist. Ivanov groans under the weight of domestic problems, but as soon as the difficulties can be eliminated, he is unable to continue living. The departure from the field of the uncertainty of existence becomes fatal for the hero. Analyzing the work, we come to the conclusion that Ivanov is not the only one rushing about being unable to find the meaning of his existence, other characters similarly do not understand what they should be and what they should appear or to be. Finding oneself turns out to be fatal for the protagonist, while all the other characters remain between being and seeming, between living for themselves and living for others. The last altruistic option is chosen by the key female characters of the play. A backward evolution, the collapse of hopes and illusions, has certain parallels with the philosophy of A. Schopenhauer, A. Camus, E. N. Trubetskoy.