Development of algorithm simulating spatial fold change of cell signaling for pattern formation in zebrafish

Embryos develop robust spatiotemporal patterns by encoding and interpreting biological signals in real time. Developmental patterns often scale with body or tissue size even when total cell number, cell size or growth rate are changed. A striking example of patterning is the segmentation of somites — the precursors of vertebral column. Despite decade-long efforts, how positional information for segmentation is encoded by cell signaling remained elusive. To address this fundamental question, we studied a novel zebrafish tail explant model that recapitulated the scaling of somite sizes with the length of unsegmented tissue in growing intact embryos. This paper provides an algorithm written in MATLAB as well as Python and finally finding a way to write an efficient algorithm to be able to answer the question described above. Information encoding by spatial fold-change of cell signaling is a remarkable strategy that could be utilized for engineering precisely patterned tissues or organs. We also discuss the limitations of simulations performed using MATLAB with performance decreasing with the large data sets. So, we tried to analyze the factors that impacted the performance of the algorithm. Finally, we tried to answer questions regarding the language selection in which a simulation method can be written efficiently.

SOME ASPECTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONTEMPORARY LATVIAN TERMINOGRAPHY: CHALLENGES, SOLUTIONS, OPPORTUNITIES

While studying the state of contemporary Latvian terminography, it must be acknowledged that terminological dictionaries are issued very often. The present research examines 450 Latvian terminological dictionaries that have been published in the last 30 years. Terminological dictionaries represent 30–40 % of the entire Latvian lexicography. Their characterization has a wide variety, both in terms of the authors and publishers, in terms of language selection and in terms of target audience. In addition, there are dictionaries approved by the Terminology Commission and dictionaries that are not approved by any official institutions. There is a lack of studies on the habits and needs of term dictionary users. In addition, publications of criticism or analysis about the qualitative performance of such dictionaries are also rare and no criteria has been developed to fully analyse and evaluate the development of terminology’s theory and practice. In this article, the authors have focused on exploring the situation in order to clarify the main trends in the characteristics of the terminography of Latvia. This was done through interviews with representatives of leading publishers who confirmed that the publishing houses are losing interest in issuing terminological dictionaries and discussion with the Chairman of the Terminology Commission of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. The authors have identified the main issues in organising the terminology process and determined answers to specific questions: what determines the dictionaries’ choice and credibility factor; how is feedback sought after a new dictionary is issued; what alternatives exist in areas where terminological dictionaries have been missing for decades, etc. Finally, the study analyses the new Latvian National Terminology Portal, which has been in operation for two years, with an aim to provide information on terms and to allow everyone to participate in the process of creating new terms.

Implementation of multilingual support of the European Multicenter Study about Spinal Cord Injury (EMSCI) ISNCSCI calculator

Objectives Since their introduction, electronic International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) calculators have evolved to powerful tools providing error-free ISNCSCI classifications in education, research and clinical practice. For increased accessibility and dissemination, a multilingual support is mandatory. The aim of this work was to setup a general multilingual framework for the freely available ISNCSCI calculator (https://ais.emsci.org) of the European Multicenter Study about Spinal Cord Injury (EMSCI). Methods The graphical user interface (GUI) and PDF export of the ISNCSCI worksheet were adapted for multilingual implementations. Their language-dependent content was identified. These two steps called internationalization have to be performed by a programmer in preparation of the translations of the English terms into the target language. This step following the internationalization is called localization and needs input by a bi-lingual clinical expert. Two EMSCI partners provided Standard Mandarin Chinese and Czech translations. Finally, the translations are made available in the application. Results The GUI and PDF export of the ISNCSCI worksheet were internationalized. The default language of the calculator is set according to the user’s preferences with the additional possibility for manual language selection. The Chinese as well as a Czech translation were provided freely to the SCI community. Conclusions The possibility of multilingual implementations independent from software developers opens the use of ISNCSCI computer algorithms as an efficient training tool on a larger scale.

How bilinguals perceive speech depends on which language they think they’re hearing.

Bilinguals understand when the communication context calls for speaking a particular language and can switch from speaking one language to the other based on such conceptual knowledge. There is disagreement regarding whether conceptually-based language switching is also possible in the listening modality. For example, can bilingual listeners perceptually adjust to changes in pronunciation across languages based on their conceptual understanding of which language they’re currently hearing? We asked French- and Spanish-English bilinguals to identify nonsense monosyllables as beginning with /b/ or /p/, speech categories that French and Spanish speakers pronounce differently than English speakers. We conceptually cued each bilingual group to one of their two languages or the other by explicitly instructing them that the speech items were word onsets in that language, uttered by a native speaker thereof. Both groups adjusted their /b–p/ identification boundary in accordance with this conceptual cue to the language context. These results support a bilingual model permitting conceptually-based language selection on both the speaking and listening end of a communicative exchange.

Street name changes as language and identity inscription in the cityscape

This article examines the role of language selection in constructing the cityscape of highly multilingual, postcolonial places like Malaysia and Namibia. The relationship between language policy, the construction of a national identity as well as linguistic inscriptions in the cityscape can be seen as part of language planning in relation to what gets represented, by whom, and for what purpose. We focus on street names as a typical target of language policy. In postcolonial societies, these renegotiations of the cityscape can be analysed against the backdrop of different processes, such as the erasure of names commemorating the colonial past, the inscription of important figures of the newly established nations, or the curation of the language regime with respect to the presence and symbolical function of languages. Using contrastive data and methodology, we analyse the renegotiation of postcolonial cityscapes in Kuala Lumpur (historical city centre, map data, large time span) and Windhoek (entire cityscape, newspaper reports, short time span). Our analysis establishes a notion of how the cityscape as a complex sociosymbolic text is being constantly rewritten by its actors. We find different motives attached to such processes of cultural representation, including national identity building and ideological consolidation of the cityscape.

A Brief Review of the Studies of Teacher Talk in Second Language Classrooms

This paper systematically reviews the studies of second language teacher talk in language classrooms firstly from the perspective of framework and then from three categories-linguistic function, medium-oriented function, procedural and regulative function. Next, a critical review of the relevant literature in China will be presented with the help of the tool <em>Citespace</em>. Through the comparison of studies at home and abroad, it is of significance to enhance the research in primary and secondary schools in China and consider the frameworks of teacher talk given by domestic authoritative scholars and look deep into teachers' discourse awareness and competence. Additionally, there are still many fields that researchers have not paid attention to, such as language selection and conversion, language ability, other time of teacher talk (play time; silence), lesson type (listening and speaking, reading and writing) etc.

THE ROLE OF “FEMALE LITERATURE” IN THE WORKS OF ENGLISH-SPEAKING ZIMBABWEAN WRITERS

The article introduces the study of “female literature” in Zimbabwe’s English language literary creative writing, which has undergone accelerated development. In the material presented, the methods of language selection and plot-compositional organization of literary text, the main categories of textuality are examined. The specialization of literature is shown, as an indicator of its growth. The author compares the traditional attitude towards women in African society, which is characterized by inequality, and the appearance in the XX-XXI centuries women writers, signifying a revolutionary change in their socio-cultural role. A typical problematic of works created in different historical periods is revealed. A comparison on the creativity of women writers of three generations is made, an interpretation of problems related to women's destinies is given, tendencies in the formation, disclosure, and establishment of new roles of women in society are revealed. The typology of plots is shown from the point of view of subject matter and completeness of the text. Particular attention is paid to the complexity of semantic structures of the text of small and large genres; its cognitive potential, adherence to the regional English language standard is revealed.