Academic View Research Articles

The use of modern methods of virtualization and shared network functions to optimize the resources used

The article addresses the virtualization of network functions and services for sharing with local and national operators. Reference was made to services for campus units (universities), where integration of services is also important. Consideration was given to the possibility of expanding interuniversity cooperation in IT infrastructure and services. The authors were identified a number of important issues from the point of view of academics. Opportunities for development were demonstrated with an indication of the key advantages and disadvantages of virtualization. The focus was on optimization opportunities with particular attention to reducing personnel, hardware and energy costs, as well as security and redundancy issues. Conditions for a conceptual (prototype) workstation were discussed. Subsequent research steps were presented, including implementation testing and analysis of the required network infrastructure. All aspects take into account the possibility of collaboration between units (e.g., academic units) through the introduction of virtualization and shared services. The article provides an overview of the solutions, indicating advantages and disadvantages, and presents conceptual possibilities for the development and implementation of selected solutions.

The Good and the Bad of SHROOM3 in Kidney Development and Disease: A Narrative Review.

Multiple large-scale genome-wide association meta-analyses studies have reliably identified an association between genetic variants within the SHROOM3 gene and chronic kidney disease. This association extends to alterations in known markers of kidney disease including baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate, urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio, and blood urea nitrogen. Yet, an understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind the association of SHROOM3 and kidney disease remains poorly communicated. We conducted a narrative review to summarize the current state of literature regarding the genetic and molecular relationships between SHROOM3 and kidney development and disease. PubMed, PubMed Central, SCOPUS, and Web of Science databases, as well as review of references from relevant studies and independent Google Scholar searches to fill gaps in knowledge. A comprehensive narrative review was conducted to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying SHROOM3 and kidney development, function, and disease. SHROOM3 is a unique protein, as it is the only member of the SHROOM group of proteins that regulates actin dynamics through apical constriction and apicobasal cell elongation. It holds a dichotomous role in the kidney, as subtle alterations in SHROOM3 expression and function can be both pathological and protective toward kidney disease. Genome-wide association studies have identified genetic variants near the transcription start site of the SHROOM3 gene associated with chronic kidney disease. SHROOM3 also appears to protect the glomerular structure and function in conditions such as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. However, little is known about the exact mechanisms by which this protection occurs, which is why SHROOM3 binding partners remain an opportunity for further investigation. Our search was limited to English articles. No structured assessment of study quality was performed, and selection bias of included articles may have occurred. As we discuss future directions and opportunities, this narrative review reflects the academic views of the authors.

Historical investigation on paradigm of "species standardization" of Chinese herbal medicine

The paradigm can be summarized as the same methodological principles followed by the members of the learning community who received common education, training, and edification in the common social and historical stage, and had common academic views, concepts, and terms. The "species standardization" paradigm of botanical drugs in China has experienced the period of non-standardization of names(the end of the Warring States period), the period of multi-dimensional textual research paradigm of traditional materia medica(from the end of the Warring States period to 1930s), and periods of modern plant taxonomy system research paradigm(from 1930s to the present). The multi-dimensional textual research paradigm of traditional materia medica is characterized by the textual research of species in different regions and years based on the classification of the natural attributes and the habit of correspondence between names and materials, from the multi-dimensional investigation of the name, appearance, color, smell, texture, growth environment, efficacy, and morphological characteristics of medicinal materials, to find the correspondence between names and materials. The purpose of the progress in traditional species standardization is practicality for humans, and there is a lack of systematic research on the classification and naming principles in line with its laws from the plant itself, resulting in inaccurate research results. The research paradigm of modern plant taxonomy is herbal research. The characteristics of this paradigm are using plant taxonomy knowledge to conduct textual research to confirm the species of the drug and calibrate the scientific name by the double name method, based on the plant morphology, harvest season, origin distribution, ecological habits, names, drug efficacy, and other data in the lite-rature of previous dynasties. This paradigm combines the knowledge of traditional materia medica and modern plant taxonomy, and the results of species research are accurate.

한강 정구의 학문관과 교육적 함의 고찰

The academic view of the Hang ang can be divided into four main categories : Seong-hak(聖學, sacred learning), Ha-gak(下學, etiquette learning), Bak-hak(博學, broad learning) and So-hak(小學, personality learning). The first is the pursuit of being a saint. Hangang devoted himself to a sacred learning with the goal of becoming a saint at a relatively early ag e. His humble personality was naturally embodied because he always felt that he lacked himself compared to a saint and reflected on himself. Second, the emphasis was placed on an etiquette learning. He emphasized etiquette in everyday life and emphasized the practice of basic personnel affairs before metaphysical philosophy. Third, he pursued a broad learning. Hangang’s trend of the broad learning began with the recognition that there was nothing to throw away in order to pursue the Neo-Confucian philosophical system. His pursuit of the broad knowledge was again implied by simplicity as he g rew older. The broad academic trend of youth had converg ed to simplicity in his last years. Fourth, a personality learning was thoroughly emphasized. So-hak was viewed as the starting point of all studies, and before learning the philosophical system of Neo-Confucianism, he emphasized basic manners as a human being, and emphasized constant self-discipline and a diligent lifestyle.
 This academic tendency of Hangang was also reflected in education. Hang ang ’s education viewpoint could be divided into three categ ories. First, it was the emphasis on a character education. The character education, which emphasized etiquette, was viewed as the starting point of education. The basis of all education is to cultivate basic personality education and manners, and after this basis was established, customized education was implemented to suit the intellectual level of the disciples. Second, it emphasized timely education suitable for the situation. In other words, it emphasized education suitable for the learner's environment and situation. Filial piety was taught to those in need of filial piety, and the achievement of Tao was taug ht to disciples who wanted to study. If a student's personality is brave, he/she was taught according to their personality. This type of customized education was able to maximize the effectiveness of education, and everyone could exercise their capabilities. Third, Hang ang pursued customized education tailored to individual characteristics. This is similar to the method Confucius did to his disciples, and the streng ths of his disciples could be maximized by educating them to suit their qualities and characteristics. Even today, education is customized, focusing on individual specificity, but most of them are cognitive differential education. Differential education according to such individual temperament and character is considered to require further research and active discussion in modern education.
 These comprehensive analysis and systematic research are meaningful in itself, but based on this, it is meaningful in that it laid the foundation for additional and in-depth research on Hangang’s practical life, ideas, or educational view. The educational implications of Hangang can be summarized as personality education, timely education, and customized education, and it will be a very meaningful study if Hangang’s educational ideas are re-analyzed and applied to modern education in the future. Above all, the customized education according to individual characteristics is expected to have a very high educational value and significance if it can be realized in modern society through additional research. In this reg ard, research on learning and education of Hang ang will be a reference to presenting the direction of new research and education today.

The Long-run Relationship between Real Exchange Rate and Real Interest Rate in Asian Countries: An Application of Panel Cointegration

The role of exchange rate policy in economic development has been the subject of much debate and controversy in the development literature. Interest rates and exchange rates are usually viewed as important in the transmission of monetary impulses to the real economy. In the short run the standard view of academics and policy-makers is that a monetary expansion lowers the interest rate and rises the exchange rate, with these price changes then affecting the level and composition of aggregate demand. Frequently, these influences are described as the liquidity effects of monetary expansion, viewed as the joint effect of providing larger quantities of money to the private sector. Popular theories of exchange-rate determination also predict a link between real exchange rates and real interest rate differentials. These theories combine the uncovered interest parity relationship with the assumption that the real exchange rate deviates from its long-run level only temporarily. Under these assumptions, shocks to the real exchange rate—which are often viewed as caused by shocks to monetary policy—are expected to reverse themselves over time. This study investigates the long-run relationship between real exchange rates and real interest rate differentials using recently developed panel cointegration technique. Although this kind of relationship has been studied by a number of researchers,1 very little evidence in support of the relationship has been reported in the case of developing countries. For example, Meese and Rogoff (1988) and Edison and Pauls (1993), among others, used the Engle-Granger cointegration method and fail to establish a clear long-run relationship in their analysis.

Examining the Relationship between Academic Mobbing and Meaningful Work in Universities

This study aimed to examine the relationship between academic mobbing and meaningful work according to the views of academics. The research sample of the study consists of 489 academicians working at various state universities in Turkey. Research data were collected through e-mail using mobbing and meaningful work scales. The t-test was used for pairwise comparisons between variables. One-way ANOVA was preferred in triple or more comparisons. Pearson correlation test was used to reveal the relationship between academic mobbing and meaningful work. Also, regression analysis was used to determine whether academic mobbing predicts meaningful work. According to the results of the research, while the academics found their professions to be moderately-high-level meaningful, they stated that they perceived academic mobbing at a low level. It was observed that there were differences in the high motivation dimension of the meaningful work according to the gender variable and that there were differences between the views of male and female academicians in all dimensions of academic mobbing, except for the dimension of attacks on social relations. According to the gender variable, it was observed that there were differences between the opinions of female and male academics in the high motivation dimension of meaningful work and in all dimensions of academic mobbing except the dimension of attacks on social relations. According to the title variable, it was found that academicians with a high title in all dimensions, except for high motivation, found their works more meaningful. Still, the perception of academic mobbing did not differ according to the title. In addition, it was found that there is a significant and negative relationship between academic mobbing and meaningful work. What is more, academic mobbing was found to predict meaningful work. Based on these results, some suggestions have been made for practitioners and researchers conducting similar studies.

Digital sovereignty and Internet standards: normative implications of public-private relations among Chinese stakeholders in the Internet Engineering Task Force

ABSTRACT (How) are Chinese actors contributing to increased state influence in Internet standard-making? In its open and private-based dimension, the Internet is possibly the twenty-first century’s epitome of the liberal international order in its global spatial dimension. Therefore, many see deep normative challenges deriving from the rise of powerful, non-liberal actors such as China. In particular, China and Chinese stakeholders are often portrayed as supporters and promoters of a multilateral Internet governance model based on digital sovereignty aimed at completely replacing the existing multistakeholder, private-based model. Academic views on this topic have become less dichotomous throughout the years, especially as China’s position on it has become more nuanced. However, this academic and policy debate is still open. This article analyses Chinese stakeholder actions in the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), the key venue for Internet standard-making. Through network analysis, this article maps the engagement of Chinese stakeholders in selected working groups of the IETF over time. Through expert interviews, this article interprets the drivers, evolution, and impact of such engagement. This research yields two main findings: first, it shows that the Chinese government does not have full control of its domestic private actors, among which there is both collaboration and conflict. Second, it concludes that Chinese stakeholders have increasingly accepted the existing functioning of IETF standard-making as they grew influential within it.

Social Tourism for Youth Groups: Key Preferences and Trends

The article studies youth tourism as a part of social tourism and a component of travelling system, which is characterized by social and economic features and impact by different factors and conditions. Theoretical and empiric research of youth tourism is topical, which is stipulated by such qualities of the younger generation as mobility, striving for cognition and today’s possibilities to organize leisure time and travelling. Due to complicated situation connected with COVID-19 and closing borders with foreign countries fast development of internal tourism is observed. The authors underlined specific features of youth tourism and showed its ties with territorial factors and conditions of future development. General academic methods, such as content-analysis, sociological method (survey was conducted among students of universities and colleges) and statistic methods: grouping, average-mean arithmetical ones were used in the research. While studying academic views of home and overseas scientists concerning youth tourism the authors paid attention to the importance of social and cultural components envisaged by travelling motivation for the given group of tourists and the impact of factors and conditions connected with regional features. It was pointed out that to plan the youth tourism development it is necessary to take into account preferences of young people in travel programs and events, various relations in social groups during holidays and travels, paying special attention on social and cultural components.

Restructuring and Reshaping Africa Oil Exporting Countries Post COVID-19 – A Participatory Development Strategy Approach

Abstract Research Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has the capacity of severely disrupting economic activities and triggering economic crisis, especially in Africa’s Oil Exporting Countries (AOECs). The African economy is likely to be the worst hit, especially the Africa Oil Exporting Countries (AOECs), as they have been majorly low income countries and considering the fall in oil prices, as oil revenue forms a major source of their revenue and government expenditure. Purpose: This study explored the stakeholders’ opinions on reshaping and restructuring the economies of six African Oil Exporting Countries, with the aim of ascertaining the views of academics within the six AOECs, as regards the economic revival post COVID-19. Research methodology: The study utilized the Participatory Development Strategy Approach (PDSA), employing the Cronbach Alpha Reliability test, Estimated Response Rate (ERR) and Explanatory Factor Analysis (EFA) to extract opinions from 1,260 stakeholders within the six AOECs. Results: The results show that the stakeholders are of the opinion that the solutions to the rebuilding of AOECs are multi-faceted, suggesting a mixture of both government and private institutions in varying degrees. Some of the respondents favoured going back to agriculture and agribusiness to revamp their economies. Novelty: The study utilized an uncommon methodology; the Participatory Development Strategy Approach (PDSA) to achieve its objective. The PDSA is meant to allow the affected stakeholders’ participation in the policy making process. The respondents were purely academics, as it is believed that academics are the sources of hope of solving myriads of human challenges such as hunger and economic crisis.

Dancing Plague: Archives of Celebration and Care in Bill T. Jones and Arnie Zane's Secret Pastures

Following the cancellation of influential contemporary choreographer Bill T. Jones's highly anticipated return to the stage in spring 2020, Jones reflected that COVID-19 was his "second plague." In referencing the AIDS epidemic that upended his career and personal life, Jones located methods of enduring not in the "unprecedented" present, but in the past. This essay considers the irreverent and buoyant Secret Pastures (1984), a work that reemerged as streaming media during the pandemic, as part of Jones's AIDS repertory. I describe how Secret Pastures' artistic and social archives, and the collaboration and friendship among Jones, Arnie Zane, Keith Haring, Peter Gordon, and Willi Smith documented therein, contain crucial practices of queer survival, particularly that of "alongsidedness." The essay argues that contexts for endurance can be found in the allegedly frivolous, glamorous, playful, humorous, and excessive aesthetics of Secret Pastures as much as they can be identified in, and more typically are ascribed to, more formalist, austere, and tonally serious works like D-Man in the Waters (1989) and Still/Here (1994). Modeling a toolkit of perseverance and flourishing, Secret Pastures reorients popular and academic views of minoritarian, particularly Black, and queer art and life as structured through trauma and scarcity. Secret Pastures shows how the onstage performance serves as a context for offstage friendships. Amid the ongoing hostilities of government abandonment, homophobia, white supremacy, and viral attack, art-making functions as a laboratory for modes of relationality that can endure.

The Needs of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Tools for Research Development: A Case in Laos

Recent advances in information and communication technology (ICT) have allowed humans to accomplish various tasks more effectively. This also applies to the quality of education, research, and development. For this reason, as one of the countries striving to improve the education system quality, Laos aims to leverage the ICT. As the empirical data on the ICT tools needed to achieve this goal in Laos is limited, this gap in extant knowledge has motivated the present study. Its aim is to examine the views of Laotian academics on the ICT tools and platforms needed, level of ICT usage, and required ICT training. The data for this quantitative study was obtained through a survey involving 11 participants who are directly involved in Building Research Building Social Research Capacities in Higher Education Institutions in Lao PDR and Malaysia (BRECIL) under the ERASMUS project. Subsequent analyses revealed that SPSS, Survey Monkey, Google Scholar, and Grammarly are among the tools academics need the most to support them in research. They also require plagiarism and grammar checking, dissemination and networking, and analysis and interpretation platforms. Most of the respondents also indicated the need for training on how to use ICT tools for analyzing research data. These findings can be used by the educational decision makers when formulating their strategies for introducing ICT tools and organizing training for Laotian academics on research and development.

The Auditor’s Reporting and its Role in Rationalizing Economic Decisions

The research aims to clarify the concept of Auditing Reporting and its role in rationalizing economic decisions in joint stock companies listed in the Iraq Stock Exchange from the point of view of academics and professionals on the one hand, and from the point of view of investors and lenders on the other hand, where the auditor’s reporting witnessed a great development in many areas that it addressed Many previous studies compared to reporting by the auditor in Iraq, as there are shortcomings in the information contained in the auditor's report in the field of rationalizing investment and lending decisions in joint stock companies listed in the Iraqi Stock Exchange. Accordingly, the research was based on the presentation and analysis of the results of the questionnaire prepared to test the relationship between informing the auditor in Iraq in his report and the rationalization of investment and lending decisions. However, it is necessary to develop the auditor’s report and improve its content of information, as investors and lenders as well as academics and professionals emphasize in this context the need to develop the auditor’s reporting and improve the content of his report of information to have an effective role in rationalizing decisions Economic.

A Study on the Connotation of Chinese Traditional Culture of Life Nourishing and Its Overseas Translation and Dissemination

The Chinese culture of life nourishing has a long history and is an important part of the excellent Chinese traditional culture. However, the theoretical discussion on culture of life nourishing is still insufficient, and the research on the culture of life nourishing and the history of terminology translation lags behind. Through the theoretical tracing of the origin of culture of life nourishing in philosophical classics, medical classics of traditional Chinese medicine and classics of Chinese alchemy, the research on its connotation is strengthened in this paper. Through the analysis of historical materials of English translation of key terms, the history and current situation of translation of Chinese traditional culture of life nourishing are discussed, and its overseas dissemination and acceptance are investigated from the perspective of translation and cross-cultural communication. Through the way of descriptive translation, the article points out that the English translation of culture of life nourishing and its terms has changed with the times. Sinologists and scholars have adopted different translation strategies and methods at different historical stages, but in general, domestication is more than foreignization, and transliteration is less. The research on the English translation and communication of culture of life nourishing in the new era can focus on the flexibility and diversity of translation strategies, appropriately increase the translation strategy of foreignization, including annotated transliteration and intra-text annotation. Besides, its ways of multimodal communication, translation and introduction need to be strengthened, so as to constantly display Chinese academic views on the basis of accurately interpreting Chinese traditional culture, and promote wider international exchanges of Chinese traditional culture.

Continuity or team-teaching approach for midwifery education? An exploratory qualitative study of student and academic preferences

BackgroundThe content of midwifery courses is very similar across universities. The teaching approach is not, with universities adopting a variety of pedagogical methods. AimTo explore views of midwifery students, midwifery academics and senior academic managers comparing a continuity approach where one main academic provides the majority of midwifery content plus pastoral care compared with a team-teaching approach of midwifery education where lecturers change throughout the course. MethodsSemi-structured interviews and focus groups were used to discover thoughts, benefits and disadvantages of two teaching approaches. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. FindingsMidwifery students and academics valued relationship building, consistency of advice and assessment expectations of the continuity approach but also appreciated a variety of teaching styles and content found in the team-teaching approach. Senior academic managers favoured a team-teaching approach due to workload concerns. DiscussionContinuity and team-teaching pedagogical approaches offer different advantages. Continuity in midwifery education may provide students with a meaningful trusting relationship with their teacher and consistency of information, which could aid learning. A team-teaching approach provides students with diversity of teaching styles and midwifery ‘stories’. A combination of both pedagogies offering both a mix of teachers and a named ‘go-to’ mentor might help meet student requirements for both continuity and variety. ConclusionRelationship building, consistency and trust, were all evident in the continuity approach whereas the team-teaching approach was considered to be a more sustainable workload model.

2015 개정 교육과정기 역사과 집필기준의 문서적 성격과 서술 내용 분석

In this thesis, I analyzed the writing standards(집필기준) of the 2015 revised curriculum period through characteristics, changes in form, and comparison with other compilation standards. the results are as follow. The writing standard is a document that has no legal basis. The purpose of making the writing standards has also lost its meaning. Many experts participate in the process in which textbooks are produced and used in schools. According to their expertise, textbooks will be produced, and control of government is no longer required. The contents of the writing standards were often in conflict with the national curriculum(국가 교육과정). Most of these contents are intended to impose specific political and academic views. Distorting the content of a legal document into a document that has no legal basis is a problem. In order for the writing standards to survive, there must be a legal basis, and they must remain in the role of supporting the national curriculum.

Barriers and facilitators to education experienced by students with disabilities in low- and middle-income African countries: a systematic review of qualitative evidence.

This review sought to collect and synthesize studies that investigated the lived experience of barriers and facilitators to educational access and excellence for students with disabilities in low- and middle-income African countries. Access to education in low- and middle-income African countries for students with disabilities is often inequitable. Although governments have developed policies and programs for student with disabilities, much of the literature guiding policy and program development has focused on the views of academics, parents, teachers, and political figures. This systematic review considered studies that included participants who were students or trainees at the time of the study, have a disability, and were located in a low- and middle-income African country. The phenomena of interest were barriers and facilitators to educational success for students with disabilities. This review included qualitative, interpretive, and critical studies that drew on the experiences of students with disabilities. An initial search was conducted in CINAHL and MEDLINE, followed by development of a full search strategy that was used for AMED, Embase, CINAHL, Global Health, MEDLINE, and Epub Ahead of Print, In-Process and Other Non-Indexed Citations, Daily and Versions, spanning from 1910-2021. Articles were limited to those published in English. The JBI approach was followed for study selection, critical appraisal, data extraction, data synthesis, and assessing confidence in the findings with ConQual. Thirteen qualitative studies were included from seven African countries, and included primary, secondary and postsecondary students. The data were qualitatively synthesized into 64 findings, within six categories, which then formed two synthesized findings. The synthesized findings were: barriers and challenges to engaging in education, and supports for educational success. This review is a synthesis of the lived experiences of students with disabilities in low- and middle-income African countries to understand, in their own words, the challenges and supports they encounter during their educational journeys. Although many barriers and supports reported by students with disabilities and other stakeholders (eg, parents, teachers, administrators) are similar to those identified in this review, our findings identify that integrated research that includes students with disabilities will provide contextual and individual factors that are crucial for students to achieve equitable access to education. PROSPERO CRD42019137951.

Comparing Professional and Consumer Ratings of Mental Health Apps: Mixed Methods Study.

BackgroundAs the number of mental health apps has grown, increasing efforts have been focused on establishing quality tailored reviews. These reviews prioritize clinician and academic views rather than the views of those who use them, particularly those with lived experiences of mental health problems. Given that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased reliance on web-based and mobile mental health support, understanding the views of those with mental health conditions is of increasing importance.ObjectiveThis study aimed to understand the opinions of people with mental health problems on mental health apps and how they differ from established ratings by professionals.MethodsA mixed methods study was conducted using a web-based survey administered between December 2020 and April 2021, assessing 11 mental health apps. We recruited individuals who had experienced mental health problems to download and use 3 apps for 3 days and complete a survey. The survey consisted of the One Mind PsyberGuide Consumer Review Questionnaire and 2 items from the Mobile App Rating Scale (star and recommendation ratings from 1 to 5). The consumer review questionnaire contained a series of open-ended questions, which were thematically analyzed and using a predefined protocol, converted into binary (positive or negative) ratings, and compared with app ratings by professionals and star ratings from app stores.ResultsWe found low agreement between the participants’ and professionals’ ratings. More than half of the app ratings showed disagreement between participants and professionals (198/372, 53.2%). Compared with participants, professionals gave the apps higher star ratings (3.58 vs 4.56) and were more likely to recommend the apps to others (3.44 vs 4.39). Participants’ star ratings were weakly positively correlated with app store ratings (r=0.32, P=.01). Thematic analysis found 11 themes, including issues of user experience, ease of use and interactivity, privacy concerns, customization, and integration with daily life. Participants particularly valued certain aspects of mental health apps, which appear to be overlooked by professional reviewers. These included functions such as the ability to track and measure mental health and providing general mental health education. The cost of apps was among the most important factors for participants. Although this is already considered by professionals, this information is not always easily accessible.ConclusionsAs reviews on app stores and by professionals differ from those by people with lived experiences of mental health problems, these alone are not sufficient to provide people with mental health problems with the information they desire when choosing a mental health app. App rating measures must include the perspectives of mental health service users to ensure ratings represent their priorities. Additional work should be done to incorporate the features most important to mental health service users into mental health apps.

The Right to Family Reunification of Children Seeking International Protection under the Convention on the Rights of the Child: Misplaced Reliance on Travaux?

Abstract This article focuses on a unique provision, article 9 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which stipulates a right to family reunification for all children, including those seeking international protection. Relying on the rules of treaty interpretation of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (VCLT), the article argues that the desirable interpretation of article 9 prescribes a positive obligation upon States to provide entry to the territory of a State for the purposes of family unity. It also challenges the prevailing academic view that only article 10 of the CRC applies in the migration context, while article 9 of the CRC is applicable exclusively within State borders. The article contends that the text of these provisions, as well as the context of the CRC, does not support the opinion of a considerable number of scholars, who argue that children seeking international protection fall outside the scope of article 9 of the CRC. It suggests that the interpretation of article 9 of the CRC, using the proper interpretative methodology of the VCLT, demands the articulation of a distinctive child-centred approach to family reunification and a presumption against family separation of children seeking international protection.

A corpus-based quantitative study on the interpersonal functions of hedges in Chinese and German academic discourse

Hedge is one of the most essential ways of accomplishing interpersonal function. With its help, the speakers are able to say as much information as they could in the fewest possible words and better promote the interpersonal interaction while communicating, such as expressing politeness, providing more opportunities for further discussion, avoiding subjectivity, and boosting credibility. Therefore, hedge has become a commonly used interpersonal strategy for researchers. In this study, the corpus consists of 170 Chinese and 170 German academic articles from renowned linguistic empirical studies that were published between 2010 and 2019. Based on the theoretical research of prior studies, the interpersonal function of hedges and the similarities/differences of its pragmatic realization between Chinese and German academic written discourses are investigated from a quantitative perspective. It is concluded that the Chinese researchers are more cautious in using strong-modality-expressing-hedges. They communicate with readers indirectly and implicitly, focus on avoiding their own responsibilities, demonstrate a conservative and cautious attitude, and provide more room for further discussion, while the German researchers are considered more active in using those types of hedging strategies, which make them more direct while interacting with readers, concentrating on emphasizing the correctness of their own academic views and highlighting their positive attitude towards their own opinions.

Curriculum Design for a World Englishes and Intercultural Communication Course: Survey Research

With the current position of the English language in the globalized world, individuals from different backgrounds meet on the common ground of English, which serves the function of lingua franca. In this connection, currently, a variety of Englishes are in sight, and each speaker contributes to these varieties with his or her cultural being. Considering the limited number of research studies focusing on curriculum design in the field of world Englishes and interculturality, the present study aims at designing a curriculum for a potential world Englishes
 and intercultural communication course by obtaining the views of ELT academics and ELT undergraduate students. Survey research model was adopted in the current research study, and data were collected through two online questionnaires. The initial questionnaire was the primary data collection tool and filled by 28 ELT academics and 25 undergraduate students, whereas the follow-up survey was administered to 2 ELT professors, 2 EFL instructors and 3 ELT undergraduate students. Descriptive statistics were computed to analyse the quantitative data, and the qualitative data were analysed using the bottom-up approach. The items selected by more than half of the participants in each group were included in the course curriculum.
 than half of the participants in each group were included in the course curriculum.