bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ikonografia w słowniku gwarowym
Authors: Kąś Józef
Published: December 2021

W związku z szybkim zanikaniem wiejskiej kultury materialnej opisy językowe artefaktów stają się coraz trudniejsze. Istotnym elementem dopełniającym takie opisy staje się w tej sytuacji ikonografia. Ikonografia jest więc w słowniku gwarowym:1) dopełnieniem definicji;2) szansą weryfikacji definicji;3) pomocą w poprawnym ustawieniu ekspozycji etnograficznych;4) środkiem przedstawienia specyfiki etnograficznej w danym regionie;5) uzupełnieniem opisu etnologicznego;6) środkiem przedstawienia relacji między elementami składowymi artefaktu złożonego konstrukcyjnie.
Badanie pola tematycznego z zakresu stroju ludowego na podstawie danych z Korpusu Spiskiego
Authors: Grochola-Szczepanek Helena
Published: December 2021

Celem artykułu jest omówienie leksyki z zakresu stroju ludowego, utrzymującej się współcześnie w mowie mieszkańców Spisza. Powszechnie wiadomo, że archaiczne nazwy zanikają wraz z wymieraniem tradycyjnych form życia wiejskiego, a ich miejsce zastępują nowe, ogólne określenia. Dane do badania pola tematycznego pochodzą z Korpusu Spiskiego. Otrzymane wyniki stanowią zbiór ok. 150 nazw elementów stroju ludowego. W opisie stosuje się podział na makro- i mikropola w obrębie stroju męskiego oraz kobiecego. Leksyka zróżnicowana jest pod względem formalnym, semantycznym, geograficznym oraz frekwencyjnym.
Simulation and Experimental Investigation of a Hollow, Bipolar Needle Electrode
Authors: Liu Jan , Hauser Lina , Kappel Marcel , Göhring Chris , Pott Peter P.
Published: December 2021

Localized impedance measurements at the needle tip identifying the present tissue type could aid clinicians in needle procedures. To assess the sensitivity field of a hollow, bipolar needle electrode, a 3D finite element approach using COMSOL Multiphysics was chosen. The simulated bipolar needle electrode consists of two hypodermic needles (17 G and 23 G) with an insulating layer of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in between. Impedance values were recorded while steadily increasing the insertion depth of the needle electrode in a layered tissue structure of skin (dermis), fat, and blood. Simulation results reveal a highly local sensitivity volume around the needle tip that can be approximated by half a tri-axial ellipsoid with elliptic radii of 0.735 mm, 2.886 mm, and 1.774 mm. A comparison with simulated and measured impedance values shows great correspondence.
Automated Robust Interpretation of Intraoperative Electrophysiological Signals – A Bayesian Deep Learning Approach
Authors: Kortus Tobias , Krüger Thilo , Gühring Gabriele , Lente Kornelius
Published: December 2021

Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) is an essential tool during numerous surgical interventions to assess and monitor the functional integrity of neural structures at risk. A reliable signal interpretation is of importance to support medical staff by reducing manual evaluation. Deep learning (DL) techniques proved to be a robust tool for the analysis of neurophysiological data. The large amount of required manually labeled data as well as the lack of interpretability of the results however often limit the use of DL in medical scenarios. A possible way to tackle these obstacles is the utilization of Bayesian deep learning (BDL) methods. The modelling of uncertainties in the network parameters and the thereby possible quantification of predictive uncertainties allows both the identification of potential erroneous predictions as well as the targeted selection of informative signals in the context of active learning. To evaluate the applicability of BDL for the analysis of electrophysiological data as well as to increase the training efficiency by active learning, we implemented a multi-task Bayesian Convolutional Neural Network (BCNN) for the simultaneous classification of action potentials and the assessment of relevant signal characteristics (latency, maximum, minimum). We compare the results for electromyographical signals (EMG), containing in total approximately twelve thousand signals from 34 patients, with both a traditional non-Bayesian single-task and multi-task CNN. For all models, including the BCNN, we could achieve similar performances with detection rates over 97% accuracy. Further, we could improve training efficiency of the BCNN using pool-based active learning and therefore significantly reduce the required amount of manual labeling. The evaluated predictive uncertainties of the BCNN prove useful both for the efficient selection of informative signals in the context of active learning as well as the interpretation of the predictive posterior distribution and therefore trustworthiness of the classifications.
A method to determine the accuracy of shape setting thin, spirally shaped Nitinol wires
Authors: Ehmann Tim , Zuniga M. Geraldine , Lenarz Thomas , Rau Thomas S.
Published: December 2021

Electric stimulation of the auditory nerve using a cochlear implant (CI) is presumed to be superior when the electrode array (EA) is placed close to the inner wall of the cochlea. Nitinol is investigated as an actuator that enables an intracochlear shape change of the EA from a straight configuration (also necessary for the insertion) to a spiral shape fitting to the inner wall. As shape setting of the thin Nitinol wires is crucial, a method to quantify the accuracy of the shape setting is presented. To measure the trained shape of thin Nitinol wires (ø 100 μm) a contactless, optical method was developed. For each wire, a photomicrograph was captured and processed using a custom Matlab algorithm. Threshold based segmentation followed by morphological operations to remove artefacts were applied to extract the wire’s shape. Utilizing an iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm the actual shape was registered to the desired spiral path. Finally, the root mean squared error describing the deviation between both spirals was calculated as a measure for the “shape error” (εshape). In total 147 Nitinol wires of 16 batches were analyzed to quantify the reliability of the shape setting procedure. The proposed method was successfully applied in all samples. On average εshape was 0.06 ± 0.02 mm. Deviation from the desired shape was < 0.1 mm (< 0.15 mm) in 95% (99%) of the samples. In summary, the presented method is suitable to control the trained shape of thin Nitinol wires. Furthermore, our results confirm a high reliability of the shape setting procedure used for our thin Nitinol actuators intended for future applications in CI EAs.
Impact of statins on vascular scaffolds response in porcine carotid arteries
Authors: Kischkel Sabine , Grabow Niels , Bünger Carsten M. , Püschel Anja
Published: December 2021

Surgical treatments of arterial occlusive disease with fully absorbable polymeric scaffolds, as a potential alternative to permanent metallic stents, are increasingly penetrating the clinical field. An addition part of the management of patients suffering from vascular diseases is the administration of statins. In this study, absorbable x-ray marked PLLA-based polymer scaffolds and permanent bare-metal stents (BMS) were implanted interventionally into both common carotid arteries (CCA) of 6 healthy female pigs via the left common iliac artery (8F-sheath). The pigs were administered dual antiplatelet drugs oral starting 3 days before the procedure until the end of the study. In Addition, the pigs received atorvastatin orally, beginning 5 days prior to surgery and lasting until the study ended. Stented CCA segments were explanted after 4 weeks, and processed for quantitative histomorphometry, and estimation of vascular inflammation and injury scores. Polymer scaffolds showed a decreased residual lumen area and higher stenosis after 4 weeks (6.41 ± 0.83 mm² and 40.52 ± 5.01%) as compared to the bare-metal reference stent (15.17 ± 0.896 mm² and 7.80 ± 0.88%). After 4 weeks, inflammation score were higher in the polymer group (1.30 ± 0.37) compared to the BMS group (0.42 ± 0.18). In contrast, the BMS showed a slightly elevated vascular injury score (0.85 ± 0.12), as compared to the polymer (0.60 ± 0.23) group. In this preclinical model, the new absorbable polymeric scaffolds showed similar technical feasibility and safety for vascular application as the permanent metal stents. Although no positive trends were observed with oral treatment with atorvastatin, further optimization with a dual-loaded coating is still reasonable. In addition, reduced strut thickness of the polymer scaffolds would have potential to positively impact tissue ingrowth between struts and should be considered in future work on stent design.
Comb filters for the removal of transcranial current stimulation artifacts from single channel EEG recordings
Authors: Guggenberger Robert , Gharabaghi Alireza
Published: December 2021

The combination of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) and electroencephalogram (EEG) for mobile and home-based interventions offers the potential for control and adaptation of stimulation parameters. Yet, during stimulation, the EEG is heavily affected by stimulation artifacts. Spatial filters are often unsuited because too few channels are recorded and hardware capabilities are limited. Due to their speed and as they can be used for single channels, we explore the performance of single-channel weighted comb filters on artifact removal. At any given time point t, the recording r(t) is a superposition of a neurophysiological signal n(t), the stimulation artifact a(t) and noise e(t). Now, we can estimate the artifact a(t) based on the recording from an earlier (or later) time-point shifted by the artifacts period. A weighted estimate based on multiple time points has the potential to improve the signal recovery. Therefore, we explored several approaches and evaluated their performance on simulated and real data. The comb kernel filters were implemented in Matlab (https://github.com/agricolab/ARtACS) and Python (https://github.com/agricolab/pyARtACS), and the code is open access under an X11-license. We found that independent of the weighting function, all comb filters exhibit similarity in their suppression of the DC component, the artifacts frequency, and its harmonics. Yet, different weighting functions exhibit different pass-band performance, evident as ringing and amplification, and their induction of time-domain echoes. Interestingly, we note that a causal uniform filter is comparable to more complex approaches, while offering the option for real-time filtering. Comb filters are able to remove tACS artifacts even if only a single channel is available. As comb filters require no assumptions about the shape of the artifact, they might also be useful for filtering of non-sinusoidal, e.g. pulsed or saw-tooth, transcranial current stimulation.
Persistent homology approach distinguishes potential pattern between “Early” and “Not Early” hepatic decompensation groups using MRI modalities
Authors: Singh Yashbir , Jons William , Conte Gian Marco , Jagtap Jaidip , Zhang Kuan , Sobek Joseph D. , Rouzrokh Pouria , Eaton John E. , Erickson Bradley J.
Published: December 2021

Primary sclerosis cholangitis (PSC) predisposes individuals to liver failure, but it is challenging for radiologists examining radiologic images to predict which patients with PSC will ultimately develop liver failure. Motivated by algebraic topology, a topological data analysis - inspired framework was adopted in the study of the imaging pattern between the “Early Decompensation” and “Not Early” groups. The results demonstrate that the proposed methodology discriminates “Early Decompensation” and “Not Early” groups. Our study is the first attempt to provide a topological representation-based method into early hepatic decompensation and not early groups.
Development of a mobile, cost-effective and easy to use inertial motion capture system for monitoring in rehabilitation applications
Authors: Schlage Nana , Kitzig Andreas , Stockmanns Gudrun , Naroska Edwin
Published: December 2021

Many people are familiar with the feeling of instability, pain, or subsidence in the knee joint after a knee injury. There are many different methods for examining the knee, such as the drawer test or the Lachman test [1], before and after surgery. While these tests can be used in short term and provide useful results, motion capture systems can be used as an alternative measurement method, almost as a substitute in longer term. These include marker-based or mechanica l systems, which achieve good measurement results but are expensive and inflexible. For this reason, this paper presents a mobile, easy-to-use motion and easy expandable capture system using a low-cost IMU-based development system. The modular design of the system allows it to be adapted to each body region with simple adjustments. However, the present work focuses on applications for capturing human motion sequences and deriving three joint angles of the lower extremities to detect malposition.
Validation of a Fluid-Structure Interaction Model for the Characterization of Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair Devices
Authors: Ott Robert , Öner Alper Ö , Bellé Paul Hermann , Borowski Finja , Schmitz Klaus-Peter , Stiehm Michael
Published: December 2021

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is the second most frequent indication for heart valve surgery and catheter interventions. According to European and US-American guidelines, transcatheter mitral valve repair in general and transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) in particular may be considered as a treatment option for selected high-risk patients. However, the biomechanical impact of TEERdevices on the mitral valve (MV) has not yet been fully understood. To address this problem, a 3D-Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) framework utilizing non-linear Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for the MV apparatus and Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) for the pulsatile fluid flow was developed and validated against in vitro data. An artificial MV-model (MVM) with a prolapse in the A2-P2 region and a custom-made TEER device implanted in the A2-P2 region were used for the in vitro investigations. In accordance with ISO 5910, projected mitral orifice areas (PMOA), flow rates as well as atrial and ventricular pressures were measured under pulsatile flow conditions before and after TEER device implantation. For the FSI-model, the MVM geometry was reconstructed by means of microcomputed tomography in a quasi-stress-free configuration. Quasi-static tensile test data was utilized for the development of linear- and hyperelastic material models of the chordae tendineae and leaflets, respectively. The fluid flow was modelled assuming an incompressible, homogenous Newtonian behaviour. Time-varying in vitro transmitral pressure loading was applied as a boundary condition. In vitro investigations show that TEER device implantation in the A2-P2 region effectively reduces the regurgitation fraction (RF) from 55 % to 13 %. Moreover, the comparison of experimental and numerical data yields a deviation of 2.09 % for the RF and a deviation of 0.40 % and 6.47 % for the maximum and minimum PMOA, respectively. The developed FSI-framework is in good agreement with in vitro data and is therefore applicable for the characterization of the biomechanical impact of different TEER devices under pulsatile flow conditions.
Influence of sterilization on the drug release behaviour of drug coated silicone
Authors: Wulf Katharina , Raggl Stefan , Eickner Thomas , Paasche Gerrit , Grabow Niels
Published: December 2021

Sterilization processes ensure sterility of drug delivery systems, but may negatively affect the properties of biomaterials and incorporated drugs by changing their physical, chemical, mechanical properties and drug release behaviour. Therefore, it is important to investigate their influence. In this study, the influence of ethylene oxide (EtO) sterilization on the drug loading and release behaviour of incorporated Diclofenac (DCF) in a Poly-L-lactide (PLLA) coating and Dexamethasone (DMS) in the silicone carrier is presented. Silicone samples containing DMS were coated with PLLA containing DCF varying in layer thickness (5, 10, and 20 μm). Half of the samples underwent EtO sterilization, the other half was not sterilized. All un-/sterilized sample surfaces were in view of the morphology and hydrophilicity examined. Furthermore, in vitro release studies of DMS and DCF were conducted. The sterilized sample surfaces showed no morphological and hydrophilicity changes. The DCF and DMS loadings were similar for the sterile and untreated samples. This also applied to the in vitro DMS release profiles apart from the end of the studies where slight differences were evident. The results indicate that both drugs loaded in the polymer coating and the silicone were not impaired by the sterilization process. Thus, EtO sterilization appears suitable for DMS containing silicone and DCF incorporated PLLA coatings as a dual drug delivery system.
Femtosecond laser structuring of permeable and resorbable biomaterial
Authors: Grossmann Swen , Illner Sabine , Ott Robert , Rhinow Grit , Tautorat Carsten , Bohne Eric , Schmidt Wolfram , Grabow Niels , Schmitz Klaus-Peter , Siewert Stefan
Published: December 2021

Bioresorbable nanofiber nonwovens with their fascinating properties provide a wide range of potential biomedical applications. Modification of the material enables the adjustment of mechanical and biological characteristics depending on the desired application. Due to the nanosized fiber network, post-production structuring is very challenging. Within this study, we use femtosecond laser technology for structuring permeable and resorbable electrospun poly-L-lactide (PLLA) membranes. We show that this post-production process can be used without disturbing the fiber network near the structured areas. Furthermore, the modification of the water permeability and mechanical characteristics due to the laser structuring was investigated. The results prove femtosecond laser technology to be a promising method for the adjustment of the membrane properties and which in consequence can help to optimize cell adhesion, enable revascularization and open up applications of nanofiber membranes in personalized medicine.
Analysis of Preterm Pregnancies using Empirical Mode Decomposition based Fractal Features
Authors: Padmanabhan Vardhini , Namadurai Punitha , Swaminathan Ramakrishnan
Published: December 2021

Preterm birth (gestational age < 37 weeks) is a serious pregnancy related complication that could lead to fetal morbidity and mortality. Monitoring the activity of uterus is considered to be crucial for the early diagnosis of preterm birth. Uterine Electromyography (uEMG) is a non-invasive technique that provides a quantitative measure of uterine activity from the abdominal surface. In this work, an attempt has been made to characterize preterm uEMG signals using Empirical Mode Decomposition based Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (EMD-DFA). Preterm signals with varied gestational ages are considered from an online database. EMD-DFA is applied on these signals to compute the fluctuation function. The double-logarithmic plot of fluctuation function versus scale is evaluated and Chi-square analysis is performed for identifying linear scaling regions. Five features namely shortterm exponent (Hs), long-term exponent (Hl), inflection point, short-term fractal angle (αHs) and long-term fractal angle (αHl) are extracted and analyzed. Further, Coefficient of Variation (CV) is computed to examine the variations of these features among different subjects. Results show that EMD-DFA is able to characterize the fluctuations of preterm signals. From the double-logarithmic plot, a slow variation of fluctuation function is observed with respect to scale when the time to delivery is more. This indicates the presence of rapid signal fluctuations in the early stages of pregnancy. Based on the feature values, it is observed that the signal fluctuations are more correlated and smoother as the time to delivery approaches. Among the extracted features, CV values of Hs, Hl, αHs and αHl are observed to be low indicating that these features have least inter-subject variations in preterm signals. The EMD-DFA based fractal features show the ability to detect the subtle variations in uEMG signals. As early diagnosis of preterm delivery is imperative for timely medical intervention and treatment, it appears that the proposed approach could aid in determining the changes in uterine contractions in preterm condition.
Design of ultra-wideband antenna for the localization of pulmonary lesions during thoracoscopic surgery
Authors: Battistel Alberto , Pott Peter Paul , Roessner Eric Dominic , Moeller Knut
Published: December 2021

Biopsies or surgical excisions for diagnosis should be taken for pulmonary lesions which show evidence of growth or are larger than 8 mm. This is usually performed by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. To improve the intraoperative localization of these lesions, we propose to add an ultra-wideband antenna directly on a thoracoscopic tool and locate the lesion through microwave imaging. Here the design of an antenna for such a goal is undertaken. Numerical simulations are used to quantify the influence of a fictional lung lesion on the signal recorded by a bowtie antenna of different lengths (2 to 6 cm) and widths (0.5 to 1.5 cm). It is found that the most important design parameter is the total length of the antenna. The width of the antenna, instead, affects only marginally the signals, but it has a limited effect for deeper lesions
Artefacts in continuous overnight blood pressure assessment based on pulse transit time
Authors: Krefting Dagmar , Kesztyüs Tibor , Dathe Henning
Published: December 2021

Continuous non-invasive blood pressure measurements bear a high potential. Particular in Somnology they allow to derive comfortably the systolic and diastolic blood pressure from an electrocardiogram and a synchronous photoplethysmogram without sleep disruption. In this short article some possible problems of this method are discussed along overnight recordings with a SOMNOtouch NIBP device.
Analysis of uterine electromyography signals using time-frequency based topological features for detection of preterm birth
Authors: Selvaraju Vinothini , Pa Karthick , Swaminathan Ramakrishnan
Published: December 2021

Detection of preterm birth (gestational week < 37) is a global priority as it causes major health problems to neonates. Assessment of uterine contractions (burst) is required to detect and prevent the threat of preterm birth. Uterine electromyography (uEMG) is widely preferred to measure the uterine contractions noninvasively. These signals are nonstationary in nature. It can be handled by topological data analysis (TDA) effectively. Therefore, TDA can be used to explore the characteristics of uEMG burst signals. In this study, an attempt has been made to distinguish term (gestational week ≥ 37) and preterm conditions using timefrequency based topological features in uEMG burst signals. These signals are obtained from the publicly available online dataset. The annotated burst signals are segmented and subjected to a short time Fourier transform. The transformed real and imaginary Fourier coefficients are plotted in the complex plane and the envelope of the data points are computed using the alpha-shape technique. Four topological features such as, area, perimeter, circularity and ellipse variance are extracted. These features are statistically analyzed. The coefficient of variation (CoV) is calculated to measure the inter-subject variations. The results show that the proposed method is able to discriminate between term and preterm conditions. The extracted features namely, area and perimeter exhibit significant difference (p < 0.05) between these two conditions. The CoV of the perimeter is observed to be low, implying that this feature can handle inter-subject variations in burst signals. The extracted topological features are useful to analyze the characteristics of term and preterm pregnancies
Comparison of Deep Learning Algorithms for Semantic Segmentation of Ultrasound Thyroid Nodules
Authors: Gomes Ataide Elmer Jeto , Agrawal Shubham , Jauhari Aishwarya , Boese Axel , Illanes Alfredol , Schenke Simone , Kreissl Michael C. , Friebe Michael
Published: December 2021

Ultrasound (US) imaging is used as a preliminary diagnostic tool for the detection, risk-stratification and classification of thyroid nodules. In order to perform the risk stratification of nodules in US images physicians first need to effectively detect the nodules. This process is affected due to the presence of inter-observer and intra-observer variability and subjectivity. Computer Aided Diagnostic tools prove to be a step in the right direction towards reducing the issue of subjectivity and observer variability. Several segmentation techniques have been proposed, from these Deep Learning techniques have yielded promising results. This work presents a comparison between four state of the art (SOTA) Deep Learning segmentation algorithms (UNet, SUMNet, ResUNet and Attention UNet). Each network was trained on the same dataset and the results are compared using performance metrics such as accuracy, dice coefficient and Intersection over Union (IoU) to determine the most effective in terms of thyroid nodule segmentation in US images. It was found that ResUNet performed the best with an accuracy, dice coefficient and IoU of 89.2%, 0.857, 0.767. The aim is to use the trained algorithm in the development of a Computer Aided Diagnostic system for the detection, riskstratification and classification of thyroid nodules using US images to reduce subjectivity and observer variability
Quantitative structure–activity relationship study on prolonged anticonvulsant activity of terpene derivatives in pentylenetetrazole test
Authors: Nesterkina Mariia , Muratov Viacheslav , Ognichenko Luidmyla , Kravchenko Iryna , Kuz’min Victor
Published: December 2021

Quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) study has been conducted on 36 terpene derivatives with anticonvulsant activity in timed pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) infusion test. QSAR models for anticonvulsant activity prediction of hydrazones and esters of some monocyclic/bicyclic terpenoids were developed using simplex representation of molecular structure (SiRMS; informational field [IF]) approach based on the SiRMS and the IF of molecule. Four 2D partial least squares QSAR consensus models were developed with the coefficient of determination for test sets

R

test

2

>
0.62

{R}_{\text{test}}^{2}\gt 0.62

. Based on the established QSAR models, we found that carvone and verbenone cores possess the most significant contribution to antiseizure action examined on the model of PTZ-induced convulsions at 3 and 24 h after oral administration of terpene derivatives. Moreover, carbonyl and hydroxy group substitution in terpenoid molecules followed by hydrazones and esters formation leads to enhancement and prolongation of antiseizure action due to the contribution of additional molecular fragments. The presented QSAR models might be utilized to predict anticonvulsant effect among terpene derivatives for their oral administration against onset seizures.
Intensifier-Verb Collocations in Academic English by Chinese Learners Compared to Native-Speaker Students
Authors: Wu Junyu , Tissari Heli
Published: December 2021

It is difficult for L2 English learners in general, and especially Chinese learners of English, to form idiomatic collocations. This article presents a comparison of the use of intensifier-verb collocations in English by native speaker students and Chinese ESL learners, paying particular attention to verbs which collocate with intensifiers. The data consisted of written production from three corpora: two of these are native English corpora: the British Academic Written English (BAWE) Corpus and Michigan Corpus of Upper-Level Student Papers (MICUSP). The third one is a recently created Chinese Learner English corpus, Ten-thousand English Compositions of Chinese Learners (TECCL). Findings suggest that Chinese learners of English produce significantly more intensifier-verb collocations than native speaker students, but that their English attests a smaller variety of intensifier-verb collocations compared with the native speakers. Moreover, Chinese learners of English use the intensifier-verb collocation types just-verb, only-verb and really-verb very frequently compared with native speaker students. As regards verb collocates, the intensifiers hardly, clearly, well, strongly and deeply collocate with semantically different verbs in native and Chinese learner English. Compared with the patterns in Chinese learner English, the intensifiers in native speaker English collocate with a more stable and restricted set of verb collocates.
Comparing the Effects of Different Post-Listening Output Tasks on Second Language Incidental Vocabulary Acquisition: Revisiting the Involvement Load Hypothesis
Authors: Chang Le , Ding Yumeng
Published: December 2021

Based on the Involvement Load Hypothesis, the present study investigated the differential effects of three post-listening output tasks (gap-filling, translation, and sentence-making) on immediate acquisition and retention of such vocabulary dimensions as productive knowledge of orthography, receptive recall of meaning and form, and productive knowledge of grammatical functions. Ninety second-year English majors were divided into three groups to finish listening plus one of the post-listening tasks. The results showed that the post-listening output tasks had positive effects on immediate acquisition of productive vocabulary knowledge, partially in agreement with the Involvement Load Hypothesis. However, the effects on vocabulary knowledge retention were found to be largely inconsistent with the Involvement Load Hypothesis. The finding thus challenges this hypothesis in that involvement load is not the only determining factor and suggests that the theoretical construct of involvement load should be constructed with more caution.
On L2 English Learners’ Formulaic Language Use and Spoken English Fluency
Authors: Xuan Junlei , Yang Huifang , Shim Jaewoo
Published: December 2021

This study explored the distribution of three types of English formulaic language, which involves four categories in L1 Chinese L2 English learners’ speaking performance. In addition, it investigated the relationship between the English learners’ use of formulaic language and their spoken English fluency. A CCA (canonical correlation analysis) was conducted to examine the correlations between two sets of fluency variables (dependent variables) and linguistic variables of English formulaic language use (independent variables). The fluency variable set consists of: (1) temporal indices such as SR (speech rate), AR (articulation rate), MLR (mean length of run), and PTR (phonation time ratio); (2) linguistic variables of English formulaic language like F2R (two-word formulaic sequences/run ratio, B3R (three-word lexical bundles/run ratio), and B4R (four-word lexical bundles/run ratio). These are calculated according to the frequency of the English formulaic language in the speech samples of the participants (n = 86) across three academic levels. The results indicate that the learners’ spoken English fluency is highly related to their use of English formulaic language. Its limitations and future research directions are also discussed.
Neonatal cervical lymphatic malformation involving the fetal airway the setting of emergency caesarean section
Authors: Francis Christopher John , Mills Katie , Kucera Jennifer Neville
Published: December 2021

Objectives

Lymphatic malformations are benign vascular anomalies comprised of lymphatic elements and most commonly occur in the neck. They may be diagnosed prenatally on ultrasound, and, in addition to confirming the diagnosis, fetal MRI can delineate the presence and extent of airway involvement. A variety of therapies are available for the treatment of lymphatic malformations including medical management, sclerotherapy, and surgery.

Case presentation

We report a case of a 28 year-old pregnant female diagnosed with a fetal neck mass by ultrasound at 21 weeks gestation. A fetal MRI was performed which demonstrated a multiseptated cystic neck mass most suggestive of a lymphatic malformation. The mass was noted to be intimately associated with the fetal airway. Follow up ultrasounds showed continued growth of the lesion throughout pregnancy. The baby was born by EXIT procedure and the lymphatic malformation was ultimately treated by a combination of medical treatment, sclerotherapy, and surgery.

Conclusions

Cervical lymphatic malformations have a classic imaging appearance and can enlarge throughout gestation as well as after delivery. The treatment plan typically involves a multidisciplinary approach.
“Riffraff” On the Waterfront: A Critical Analysis of Labor Imagery on the Imagined Docks of the Hollywood Dream Factory, 1934–1937
Authors: Judd Jonathan
Published: December 2021

At the height of the Great Depression, the American Labor Movement was ascendant as union strongholds and the belief in the power of collective action and labor solidarity were re-asserted. The energy and activism along the west-coast waterfront fomented the resurgent movement. With the revitalization of the International Longshoremen’s Union in 1933 came a succession of events that captured the American populace’s attention, including mass demonstrations and coast-wide general strikes. With this surge of events on the west-coast waterfront, from 1934 to 1937, there was a corresponding flurry of imagery disseminated to the American populace using the west-coast waterfront as a constant backdrop. Thus, an examination of the issues posed and the reality suppressed by this imagery is a crucial part of understanding how collective action and union organization exist in American visual culture. A critical evaluation of the specific ways that these Hollywood portrayals do damage to the image and perception of organized labor will allow for a confrontation with the structures of power upheld and held in tension through the dissemination of these films. This study will involve a close analysis of the following films: Fog over Frisco, Wharf Angel, Waterfront Lady, Barbary Coast, Frisco Kid, San Francisco and Mannequin.
Mendelssohn und Kant über den ontologischen Gottesbeweis
Authors: Lang Stefan
Published: December 2021

This essay develops a new interpretation of Moses Mendelssohn’s ontological argument in the Morning Hours: Lectures on God’s Existence. At the beginning, Immanuel Kant’s famous criticism of the ontological proof of God’s existence in the Critique of Pure Reason is presented. Then I offer an in-depth analysis of Mendelssohn’s original ontological argument in the Morning Hours. It is shown that with Mendelssohn’s new proof of God, Kant’s objections are answered. Finally, it is explained why Mendelssohn does not succeed in completely refuting Kant’s objections.
Birds of a feather?
Authors: Batisti Roberto
Published: December 2021

The Latin bird-name columba ‘pigeon, dove’ has often invited comparison with Proto-Slavic *gȍlǫbь ‘id.’, as well as with Greek κόλυμβος ‘grebe, diving bird’. However, the first comparison is formally problematic, while the second one is semantically difficult. The first section of the present paper discusses the etymology and derivational history of Lat. columba, concluding in favor of an IE formation probably parallel to, but not cognate with, the one reflected by Slavic. In the second section, Gk. κόλυμβος is discussed together with the verb κολυμβάω ‘to dive’, showing that the commonly assumed derivation of the latter from the former is unlikely. A new etymology is then proposed for this word-family, arguing that both κόλυμβος < *ḱolum‑gʷ(h₂)‑o‑ and the unattested *κολυμβᾱ‑ < *ḱolum‑gʷ(h₂)‑eh₂‑ inferrable from κολυμβάω arose from the univerbation of a syntagm *ḱolum gʷeh₂- ‘to go covered, to submerge oneself’. These forms would then be coradical of Gk. καλύπτω ‘to cover, hide’, ultimately reflecting the univerbation of a different periphrasis with the same noun *ḱol-u-/*ḱel-u- ‘cover’. The proposed derivation is supported by morphosyntactic parallels across IE and by phraseological collocations of κολυμβάω and καλύπτω in Greek itself.
Object and handling handshapes in 11 sign languages: towards a typology of the iconic use of the hands
Authors: Nyst Victoria , Morgado Marta , Hadjah Timothy Mac , Nyarko Marco , Martins Mariana , van der Mark Lisa , Burichani Evans , Angoua Tano , Magassouba Moustapha , Sylla Dieydi , Admasu Kidane , Schüller Anique
Published: December 2021

This article looks at cross-linguistic variation in lexical iconicity, addressing the question of to what extent and how this variation is patterned. More than in spoken languages, iconicity is highly frequent in the lexicons of sign languages. It is also highly complex, in that often multiple motivated components jointly shape an iconic lexeme. Recent typological research on spoken languages finds tentative iconic patterning in a large number of basic lexical items, underlining once again the significance of iconicity for human language. The uncontested and widespread use of iconicity found in the lexicons of sign languages enables us to take typological research into lexical iconicity to the next level. Indeed, previous studies have shown cross-linguistic variation in: a) the use of embodying and handling handshapes in sign languages (mostly of European origin) and b) the frequency of space-based size depiction in African and European sign languages. The two types of variation may be interrelated, as handling handshapes may use space-based size depiction. In this study, we first replicate earlier studies on the distribution of embodying and handling handshapes, this time in a data set consisting of a relatively large set of sign languages (n = 11), most of which are used in Africa. The results confirm significant variation across these sign languages. These findings are then compared to the use of space-based size depiction, revealing that these patterns independently from the distribution of embodying/handling handshapes. We argue that the results call for expanding typological studies on representational strategies in iconic signs beyond the now relatively well studied instrument/manipulation alternation. Fine-grained analyses on a multitude of iconic features in signs are likely to reveal cross-linguistic variation in iconic tendencies in SL lexicons.
Assessment of the quality of atmospheric air in woodlands of natural areas based on the intensity analysis of the process of dry deposition of impurities on an artificial underlying surface
Authors: Kuznetsov Vladimir , Bednova Olga , Tarasova Natalia
Published: December 2021

To assess the quality of atmospheric air, the authors propose to apply the process of dry deposition of impurities on an artificial underlying surface that binds impurities in contact with it. The mass of these impurities is calculated upon laboratory exposure, after being transferred to an aqueous solution. The ease of absorber fabrication and the low cost facilitate the monitoring of air pollution at various points in woodlands, where the stationary stations for air-pollution-monitoring are very difficult and costly to arrange. A large number of control points makes it possible to identify forest areas with the highest levels of air pollution. A dynamic air-quality study at one of the monitoring points is necessary and sufficient to determine the concentration of impurities. The authors surveyed an urban forest using the proposed method, and the survey results confirmed that areas with an elevated concentration of airborne nitrogen dioxide exist within the woodland. This can lead to soil eutrophication and changes in forest biodiversity at the species and ecosystem levels.
Jacques Tati and the Philosophy of the Sight Gag
Authors: Turvey Malcolm
Published: December 2021

In his article “Notes on the Sight Gag” from 1991, the philosopher Noël Carroll proposed a taxonomy of sight gags that recur throughout the genre of comedian comedy in cinema. This article revisits and augments Carroll’s taxonomy by analyzing the sight gags found in the films of Jacques Tati (1907-1982). Tati worked in a very different context than that of the silent Hollywood filmmakers from whose comic films Carroll largely derives his categories. He began making films in the sound era, and five of his six feature films were made in color. As a French filmmaker, he also sought to adapt the genre of comedian comedy in cinema to his culturally specific concerns. This article shows that he drew on at least three of the types of sight gag identified by Carroll. But he modified some of them and innovated several other kinds.
The Laughing Philosopher: The Affectionate Laughter of Agnes Heller
Authors: Nikulin Dmitri
Published: December 2021

This paper is a critical interpretation of the role of laughter in the work of Agnes Heller. Following the distinction between innate affect and culturally conditioned emotion, Heller argues that laughter is an affect that comes as the expressive reaction to the hiatus between the social and the natural. As such, laughter is ubiquitous and yet remains ultimately undefinable, because it signifies the unbridgeable gap between the two worlds that we inhabit at the same time. Laughter thus sonorously presents our human condition as expressible yet not graspable according to a single theory of laughter (superiority, relief, incongruity, and ambivalence, as defined by D. H. Monro), or any combination thereof. Paraphrasing Immanuel Kant, laughter is ultimately the instinct of reason that liberates us from the illusion that a resolution between the two conflicting constituents of our existence is ultimately possible.
Der prix de morale der Akademie von Dijon für das Jahr 1750
Authors: Urmann Martin
Published: December 2021

The article reconsiders Rousseau’s famous Discours sur les sciences et les arts within the medial and institutional context of the prize question (prix de morale) proposed by the Academy of Dijon for the year 1750. To do so, it pays special attention to the contributions submitted by Rousseau’s (thirteen) competitors, which so far have hardly been analysed by historians of literature and philosophy. The paper also expands on the institutional and social structure of the Academy of Dijon as well as the particular profile of its morality prizes organized since 1743. In addition, the article situates the contest of 1750 in the broader context of the concours académique and outlines the evolution of the genre with its specific rhetorical traditions since the end of the seventeenth century. Thus, the crucial question, how the Academy of Dijon came to select Rousseau’s text, can be approached from a different angle. Finally, this perspective also sheds new light upon certain aspects of a major work in the history of philosophy - the Discours sur les sciences et les arts.
Das Zeitkriterium in der Gattungstheorie und die frühmoderne Lyrikdiskussion
Authors: Lindel Korbinian
Published: December 2021

In genre theory, epic, dramatic and lyric poetry are often defined in terms of the past, present or future. This association of genres and time tenses is, howewer, far from being self-evident: The idea is widely unknown before 1800. Following recent studies on time and genre, my article traces this ›time criterion‹ back from Emil Staiger to its origins in the mid-18th century and into the German and French Enlightenment’s discourses on poetry.
Expressions of the Interior: Physiognomic Knowledge in Lavater, Goethe, and Alexander von Humboldt
Authors: Klausmeyer Bryan
Published: December 2021

This article examines the role of Johann Caspar Lavater’s (1741-1801) physiognomic ideas in shaping the relationship between the natural sciences and aesthetics at the turn of the nineteenth century. Using the examples of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s early morphological writing and Alexander von Humboldt’s Ideen zu einer Physiognomik der Gewächse (1806), it makes the case for the importance of Lavater’s »scientific« physiognomy for understanding the discursive- epistemological shift from the sensual empiricism of the eighteenth century to the perception of the invisible around 1800. Far from a direct line of intellectual- historical continuity from Lavater to Goethe and Humboldt, this article contends that the diffuse uptake of physiognomic concepts by exponents of Romantic science gave them a new meaning in relation to the study of ›life‹ and its hidden dynamics as well as with respect to the roles of art and aesthetics in comprehending nature’s ›interior‹.
Ein Ensemble ungewöhnlicher Reliefs im Militärpalast von Ninive
Authors: Miglus Peter A.
Published: December 2021

Out of the looting tunnels on Tell Nebi Yunus at Nineveh, which were dug into the ruins of the Late Assyrian military palace by henchmen of the so-called Islamic State, there came, amongst other objects, relief panels featuring anthropomorphic representations. These figures, shown in frontal view, are unusual when compared to the wider repertoire of Assyrian images known from the royal palaces on Kuyunjik. The decoration and context of these stone slabs raise questions regarding their function.
Covid-19 e Instagram: uma análise das publicações ibero-americanas
Authors: Renó Denis , Martínez-Rolán Xabier , Piñeiro-Otero Teresa , Versuti Andrea
Published: December 2021

Comprender el papel de la comunicación promovido por la sociedad iberoamericana durante la pandemia del Coronavirus es fundamental para construir conocimiento sobre la enfermedad. En este escenario, Instagram ocupa un lugar privilegiado, ya que lleva una diversidad de lenguajes posibles. Además, la relevancia de Instagram en el panorama de las redes sociales está creciendo. Este artículo presenta, a partir de un estudio desarrollado mediante procedimientos de análisis de Big Data, el primer resultado de varios que conforman una investigación internacional sobre el tema. En la etapa de proyecto se verificó el volumen cuantitativo de publicaciones, la publicación promedio por usuario y la participación de los diferentes idiomas utilizados en este grupo de análisis. Se espera que se puedan desarrollar más investigaciones a partir de los resultados aquí presentados, sobre todo por la urgencia de conocer el papel de la comunicación en el escenario pandémico en el que vivimos.
Field Test on the Isolation Effects of Duxseal-WIB Subjected to Vertical Excitation Forces
Authors: Ying Wang , Zhisong Zhang , Meng Gao
Published: December 2021

This study proposes a new vibration isolation technology for perforated wave-impeding blocks (conventional WIBs) filled with Duxseal (DXWIB). A series of field tests were performed on conventional WIB, porous WIB, and DXWIB under different distances and frequencies. Accordingly, we discuss (a) the influence of distance and frequency on the vibration isolation performance of these three methods and (b) the vibration isolation efficiency of these three methods. The test results showed that compared with conventional WIB and porous WIB, the vibration isolation of DXWIB was more efficient. For acceleration, the average vibration screening effects of DXWIB were improved by 53.0 %, 54.3 %, and 69.6 % in the X-, Y-, and Z-directions, respectively. As for displacement, the average vibration screening effects were improved by 56.8 %, 52.5 %, and 65.8 %. Moreover, DXWIB greatly increase the frequency bandwidth of vibration reduction, and has an excellent vibration isolation performance at frequencies of 5–70 Hz, which improves the defects of conventional WIB due to its design mechanism. The study creatively combines the wave-impeding block with the vibration-absorbing material Duxseal for vibration isolation, which greatly improves the efficiency of vibration isolation and enriches the methods used for vibration isolation.