The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies has been notable in supporting English as an Additional Language (EAL) learners, particularly in offering interactive assessments. AI-driven ...dialogue systems that produce culturally relevant humor and empathy, bridging the native language (L1) and the target language (L2), have been employed to engage EAL learners more effectively and boost their learning results. However, there's a noticeable gap in research concerning the fusion of humor, empathy, and intercultural dimensions in language learning. Intercultural dimensions encompass acquiring crucial knowledge, communication skills, and the values essential for meaningful interactions across cultures. This case study examines the effectiveness of an AI dialogue system, termed the Multidimensional Approach Culture, Humor, and Empathy Bot (MACHE-Bot), in elevating the English language learning experience and its potential to enhance EAL proficiency. Using convenience sampling, 37 individuals were selected from an English language learning group on Facebook. Following a two-week pilot study, semi-structured interviews were conducted. The results revealed that MACHE-Bot adeptly initiated and reciprocated with humor, empathy, and cultural nuances in a manner well-received by participants. Additionally, the study identified five pivotal factors in EAL learning with MACHE-Bot: (1) intercultural dimensions, which include culturally humorous interaction and culturally empathetic support; (2) user trust comprising both affective and cognitive elements; (3) anthropomorphism; (4) reciprocal self-disclosure; and (5) higher engagement and motivation. These five factors collectively contribute to creating an engaging, relatable, and supportive learning environment, facilitating a more natural learning process, and fostering a deeper learner-bot connection, thereby potentially enhancing motivation and investment in the learning process.
The literature has acknowledged the correlation between aggressive humor style and cyberbullying perpetration; however, little is known about how this occurs. In this study, we sought to gain an ...understanding of how and when someone with an aggressive humor style may develop into a perpetrator of cyberbullying. We propose that whether an individual's aggressive humor style results in cyberbullying perpetration depends on online social norms of tolerance for aggressive humor. When online normative tolerance for aggressive humor is high, individuals' aggressive humor style is positively correlated with their moral disengagement, which, in turn, increases their intention to commit cyberbullying. When online normative tolerance for aggressive humor is low, the effect of individuals' aggressive humor style on their moral disengagement is attenuated, which, in turn, weakens the relationship between aggressive humor style and cyberbullying perpetration. A total of 305 Chinese university students were recruited to participate in the experiment, and we found support for this hypothesis across the experiment. Several theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Conventional definitions of corporate hypocrisy focus on decoupling talk and action; incidences where an organization's ‘talk’ does not match its ‘walk’. However, in the context of corporate social ...responsibility (CSR), marketing communications are often aspirational and hence prone to accusations of hypocrisy. We therefore ask: is hypocrisy always undesirable? This case-informed conceptual paper draws upon the Diesel ‘Global Warming Ready’ campaign to investigate how humor – specifically irony – elevates conventional understandings of hypocrisy towards what we term ‘helpful hypocrisy’; the mobilization of critical reflection on complex ambiguities of CSR in non-moralizing ways. In doing so, we distinguish between idealized ‘single-talk’ and extended ‘double-talk’. We develop an analytical model to help analyze the layers of double-talk in the context of ironic CSR marketing communications, and we construct a conceptual model that explains the role of double-talk and irony. Based on our research, we propose an agenda for future research.
To evaluate the association between iris damage and cytokine levels in the aqueous humor (AqH).
A total of 201 AqH samples from 201 consecutive patients (mean age 73.7 ± 10.6) were collected at the ...beginning of corneal transplantation or cataract surgery. Iris damage of each case was assessed from preoperative slit-lamp findings based on its severity. The subjects were classified into three groups: eyes without iris damage (126 eyes), eyes with mild iris damage (51 eyes), and eyes with severe iris damage (24 eyes). The levels of cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, IL-17a, interferon gamma-induced protein IP-10, monocyte chemotactic protein MCP-1, IFN-α, IFN-γ, macrophage inflammatory protein MIP-1α, MIP-1β, P-selectin, E-selectin, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule sICAM-1, TNF-α, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor GM-CSF) in AqH were measured by multiplex beads immunoassay.
The levels of aqueous protein, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17A, MCP-1, TNF-α, E-selectin, P-selectin, and sICAM-1 in eyes with mild and severe iris damage were higher than in those without iris damage (P < 0.033). Multivariate analyses of clinical factors revealed that iris damage was associated with the history of complicated glaucoma, and the number of previous intraocular surgeries. The levels of AqH IL-6, IL-8, IL-13, MIP-1α, TNF-α, and sICAM-1 were significantly elevated in eyes with mild and severe iris damage in phakic eyes, and the levels of AqH IL-8 and sICAM-1 were significantly elevated in eyes with severe iris damage in pseudophakic eyes, compared with the eyes without iris damage (P < 0.045).
Iris damage was associated with the elevation in the levels of aqueous protein and cytokines.
To determine a threshold for interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-10/IL-6 ratio in the aqueous humor (AH) and the vitreous for the screening of vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL).
One hundred nineteen patients for ...whom IL-10 and IL-6 in the AH and/or vitreous had been measured were included: 16 patients with a final diagnosis of VRL and 103 patients with final diagnosis of uveitis. Groups were compared according to IL-10 and IL-6 levels and demographic data.
In patients with VRL (Group 1), mean IL-10 values were 5,636 pg/mL, and in patients with uveitis (Group 2), 6.7 pg/mL in the vitreous and 190 pg/mL in Group 1 and 8.6 pg/mL in the AH. In Group 1, the mean IL-10/IL-6 ratio was 29.02 in the vitreous and 10.9 in the AH; in Group 2, ratio was 0.1 in both humors. These values were significantly different between patients with VRL and with uveitis (P < 0.001). A cutoff of 65 pg/mL and 30 pg/mL IL-10 in the vitreous and AH, respectively, was associated with sensitivity of 93% and 78%, respectively, and specificity of 100% and 97%, respectively. A ratio higher than 1 in the vitreous had sensitivity of 93% and specificity of 100%.
Vitreoretinal lymphoma diagnosis is difficult, and tools like interleukin measurements in AH and vitreous can make it easier. The use of a cutoff for IL-10 and IL-10/IL-6 ratio could allow for an earlier diagnosis that may improve prognosis.
Humor in conversation among bilinguals Marianthi Georgalidou; Vasilia Kourtis-Kazoullis; Hasan Kaili
European journal of humour research,
10/2022, Letnik:
10, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
In this study, we analyse conversations recorded during ethnographic research in two bilingual communities on the island of Rhodes, Greece. We examine: (a) the bilingual in Greek and Turkish Muslim ...community of Rhodes (Georgalidou et al. 2010, 2013) and (b) the Greek-American/Canadian community of repatriated emigrant families of Rhodian origin (Kourtis-Kazoullis 2016). In particular, combining interactional and conversation analytic frameworks (Auer 1995; Gafaranga 2007), we examine contemporary approaches to bi-/multilingualism focusing on the pragmatics of humour in conversations among bilinguals. We scrutinise aspects of the overall and sequential organisation of talk as well as instances of humour produced by speakers of different ethnic origin, generation, and social groups. We focus on the construction of “otherness,” which reflects the dynamic interplay between the micro-level of conversational practices and the macro-level of discourse involving contrasting categorisations and identities pertaining to differently orientated ethnic and social groups. Based on the analysis, we will show a) how humorous targeting orients in-groups versus out-groups, and b) mediates the dynamic process of constructing the identity of speakers who, being members of minority linguistic communities, represent “otherness.”
In contrast to neovascular AMD (nAMD), no treatment option exists for dry AMD. Hence, the identification of specific biomarkers is required to facilitate diagnosis and therapy of dry AMD.
The ...proteome of 34 vitreous humor samples (dry AMD: n = 6; nAMD: n = 10; proliferative diabetic retinopathy PDR: n = 9; epiretinal membrane ERM: n = 9) was analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled mass spectrometry. Then, label-free relative quantification of dry AMD, nAMD, and PDR relative to ERM, which was defined as the reference group, was performed. Application of a bioinformatics pipeline further analyzed the vitreous proteome by cluster and gene set enrichment analysis. A selection of differentially regulated proteins was validated by ELISA.
A total of 677 proteins were identified in the vitreous of the four patient groups and quantified relatively to ERM. Different clusters of regulated proteins for each patient group were identified and showed characteristic enrichment of specific pathways including "oxidative stress" for dry AMD, "focal adhesion" for nAMD, and "complement and coagulation cascade" for PDR patients. We identified cholinesterase (CHLE) to be specifically upregulated in dry AMD and ribonuclease (pancreatic; RNAS1) together with serine carboxypeptidase (probable; CPVL) to be upregulated in both forms of AMD.
The described pathways specific for the different patient groups and the identification of characteristic differentially regulated proteins provide a first step toward the definition of biomarkers for dry AMD. The presented data will facilitate the investigation of mechanistic connections of proteins to the respective disease.
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