Abstract Literary genre theory is one of the basic issues in the fields of literary theory and semiotic studies. This paper investigates literary genre theory through analyzing many data of ancient Chinese literary criticism, and provides a critical insight of literary genre. Literary genre essentially refers to the textual kind of literary production and consumption in a conventionalized communicative setting in order to express the original understanding of reality. In Chinese literary theory, "Ti" (体) roughly corresponds with literary genre. In the context of "unity of man with Heaven and Earth" ( 天人合一) , social function and personality are the main criteria of literary classification in ancient China. The original concept of literary genre was tied very tightly to the performances and events on specific social occasions in both the West and the East. The perspective of dynamic semiotics tends to highlight fluidity and open-endedness of the relation between texts and genres.
Abstract Intertextual phenomenon exists in both fields of literature and art, and of science. However, intertextuality in literature is a positive one that produces new meaning and forms dialogue, therefore, occupies a decisive position, while intertextuality in science is a negative one that accurately transmits the others' thought. Since science's view of the past is completely different from literature, it values little intertextuality. As a kind of function relationship in which meanings transform and come into being, three elements are necessarily required· for the formation of intertextuality·. text a, text b, and intertextual relationship.
Abstract Through a questionnaire survey of non-local university students, this study examined direct language attitudes of English, Putonghua, and local dialects in the first-tier city Guangzhou, second-tier city Tianjin, and small city Yan'an. The significance of this study lies in two aspects: few of the previous studies examined language attitudes of non-local subjects; few of the previous studies compared attitudes toward three varieties across economically diverse cities. The study adopted Gardner & Lambert's (1972) motivation theory to measure direct attitudes of the participants. Findings included that non-local students showed positive attitudes toward Cantonese both integratively and instrumentally but not toward the Tianjin and Yan'an dialects. Furthermore, students had positive integrative and instrumental attitudes toward Putonghua in all three cities. Finally, they showed high and positive integrative and instrumental attitudes toward English, with the means of Guangzhou and Tianjin higher than those of Yan'an. Future research should incorporate qualitative measures to provide a deeper understanding of language attitudes.
Wei Zhang,1,* Lili Xu,1,* Shen Gao,2 Nan Ding,2 Ping Shu,1 Zhuo Wang,2 Yuping Li1 1Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China; 2Department of Pharmacy, Changhai Hospital Affiliated to The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Zhuo Wang; Yuping Li Email wztgyx223@163.com; grace_li_2020@126.comBackground: Proper inhaler technique is highly relevant to the effective management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The tiotropium bromide spray (TBS) (Spiriva® Respimat®) is a soft mist inhaler (SMI) preferred by patients to pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) and dry powder inhalers (DPIs) because of its convenience in use. However, the technique of using TBS inhaler in the real world is unclear.Objective: To evaluate techniques in using TBS inhaler and investigate the association between the patient characteristics and the correct use of TBS inhaler.Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 74 COPD patients who used TBS inhaler device for more than 3 months. The sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were recorded. The technique of using TBS inhaler was evaluated step by step. Incorrect use was defined as the patient's inability to complete the key steps in the inhalation manoeuvre. The percentage of incorrect use was compared between the groups. Risk factors related to incorrect use were analyzed by logistic regression analysis.Results: Of the 74 participants, only 2 (2.7%) patients completed all the steps correctly, and 48 (64.9%) patients misused the key steps in the inhalation manoeuvre. Incorrect preparation of the TBS inhaler for the first use was the most frequently misused step, accounting for 77.0%. Factors associated with misuse of TBS inhaler included the educational background (p=0.010), living state (p=0.031) and COPD assessment test (CAT) score (p=0.005) of the patients. Additionally, logistic regression analysis showed that the COPD duration was significantly associated with the incorrect use (p=0.019). Compared with patients with a higher educational background, patients with an elementary school background [OR 11652.99, CI: 22.72– 5975697.72], junior high school background [OR 7187.78, CI: 16.41– 3146787] and high school background [OR 1563, CI: 4.27– 572329.67] were more likely to misuse TBS inhaler. Patients living with their spouses alone were also more likely to commit errors in using TBS inhaler as compared with those living with their children [OR 12.29, CI of 1.14– 1.96]. Clinical factors like the COPD symptoms were relative to the technical use of the device. Better technique was accompanied by a lower CAT score [OR 1.49, CI of 1.14– 1.96].Conclusion: The incorrect use of TBS inhaler was common in COPD patients. Healthcare providers should not only teach the patients about the drug preparation but help them use the inhaler correctly. Special attention should be paid to patients with a short COPD duration and a low educational background and those who live without the company of their children. Proper use of TBS inhaler can significantly improve the symptom control of COPD patients.Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, inhaler technique, soft mist inhaler, incorrect use
