bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Palatalization in Laomian: evolution and resistance
Authors: Zhang Yijia , Jin Xiaoyu , Liu Li
Published: July 2023

Palatalization is a common phenomenon in the Laomian language of South-east Asia. This paper compares the phonetic bilabial, velar, and coronal consonants of Laomian and their counterparts in related languages. A phonological analysis of the evolution of palatalization in Laomian is provided from a feature geometry perspective using the frameworks of nonlinear phonology and Optimality Theory. The results show that bilabials in Laomian, like those in related languages, include only the simple palatalized form ‘bilabial + glide j’ without evolving into affricates. Velars, based on different functions of [i], evolve into prepalatals and ‘velar + glide j’ respectively. Alveolars turn into prepalatals before vowels with the [-back] feature. A limited set of words in Laomian can still be pronounced in two ways with consonants belonging to two categories, reflecting different evolutionary stages of phonetic chains.
Understanding the phase transition mechanism in the lead halide perovskite CsPbBr3 via theoretical and experimental GIWAXS and Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Hoffman Alexander E. J. , Saha Rafikul Ali , Borgmans Sander , Puech Pascal , Braeckevelt Tom , Roeffaers Maarten B. J. , Steele Julian A. , Hofkens Johan , Van Speybroeck Veronique
Published: July 2023

Metal-halide perovskites (MHPs) exhibit excellent properties for application in optoelectronic devices. The bottleneck for their incorporation is the lack of long-term stability such as degradation due to external conditions (heat, light, oxygen, moisture, and mechanical stress), but the occurrence of phase transitions also affects their performance. Structural phase transitions are often influenced by phonon modes. Hence, an insight into both the structure and lattice dynamics is vital to assess the potential of MHPs. In this study, GIWAXS and Raman spectroscopy are applied, supported by density functional theory calculations, to investigate the apparent manifestation of structural phase transitions in the MHP CsPbBr3. Macroscopically, CsPbBr3 undergoes phase transitions between a cubic (α), tetragonal (β), and orthorhombic (γ) phase with decreasing temperature. However, microscopically, it has been argued that only the γ phase exists, while the other phases exist as averages over length and time scales within distinct temperature ranges. Here, direct proof is provided for this conjecture by analyzing both theoretical diffraction patterns and the evolution of the tilting angle of the PbBr6 octahedra from molecular dynamics simulations. Moreover, sound agreement between experimental and theoretical Raman spectra allowed to identify the Raman active phonon modes and to investigate their frequency as a function of temperature. As such, this work increases the understanding of the structure and lattice dynamics of CsPbBr3 and similar MHPs.
Microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-Zr alloys fabricated by two-step spark plasma sintering from TiH2 and ZrH2 powders
Authors: Banjongaxsorn Kunpot , Khantachawana Anak , Watanabe Chihiro , Srirussamee Kasama , Kondoh Katsuyoshi
Published: July 2023

Ti is well-known for its high strength-to-weight ratio and biocompatibility. It can be alloyed with Zr to improve mechanical properties. Currently, Ti-Zr alloys can be fabricated by powder metallurgy using Ti and Zr powders, although high oxidation reactivity and cost could still be an issue. In this study, premixed TiH2 and ZrH2 powders were used to prepare Ti-Zr binary alloys with different Zr contents of 0–30 mass% ZrH2 via dehydrogenation and sintering by spark plasma sintering (SPS) process. α-Ti and δ-TiH2 phases coexisted in the sintered Ti-Zr alloys, and a characteristic lamellar microstructure was formed. The tensile strength of the Ti-Zr alloys increased with increasing Zr content due to the solid solution effect, grain refinement and the appearance of δ-TiH2 phases, although the elongation was reduced. This study shows that the fabricated Ti-Zr alloys possess controllable mechanical properties, which can be beneficial for biomedical and other engineering applications.
Variations of the improved characteristics on microstructure and mechanical properties of Al–Cu alloy fabricated by magnetic field assisted wire-arc additive manufacturing after heat-treated
Authors: Zhang Xujing , Zhao Wenyong , Wei Yanhong , Long Jinwei , Qian Longgen
Published: July 2023

In this investigation, Al–Cu alloy was used for wire-arc additive manufacturing experiment with and without assisted longitudinal magnetic field (ALMF) introduced, subsequently, heat treatment was conducted, aiming to investigate the variations of the improved characteristics brought by ALMF on microstructure and mechanical properties after heat-treated. The results indicated that the improved pores condition brought by ALMF was greatly weakened after heat-treated, while the promotion for the columnar to equiaxed transition and the improvement to precipitation remained. As for mechanical properties, the improvement of the uniform distribution of microhardness by the ALMF deteriorated. Moreover, the optimisation brought by ALMF on reducing the anisotropy of tensile strength was greatly weakened, and the improvement of elongation disappeared.
A comprehensive modelling and experimental approach for damped oscillations in U-tubes via Easy JavaScript Simulations
Authors: Orjuela Fredy A , García-Farieta J E , Hortúa Héctor J , Munévar E
Published: July 2023

In recent years, science simulations have become popular among educators due to their educational usefulness, availability, and potential for increasing the students’ knowledge on scientific topics. In this paper, we introduce the implementation of a user-friendly simulation based on Easy Java/JavaScript Simulations (EJS) to study the problem of damped oscillations in U-tubes

EJS. Furthermore, we illustrate various advantages associated with the capabilities of EJS in terms of design and usability in order to encourage teachers to use it as an educational supplement to physics laboratories

.
Surface modification of polyethylene using argon and argon/methane DBD atmospheric pressure plasma jet
Authors: Bedrouni F , Ouchabane M , Almabouada F , Saidi-Amroun N
Published: July 2023

This article investigates the surface modification of polyethylene (PE) using an atmospheric pressure plasma jet of the DBD type (APPJ) maintained with pure argon (Ar) and with a premixed gas containing 90% argon and 10% of CH4. First and for both plasma jets, the jet length and the optical emissions coming from the plasma species were studied in terms of flow rate and applied voltage. Comparing to Ar, it has been shown that when the premixed gas is used, the jet length gets smaller, the transition point from laminar to turbulent regime was shifted to a low flow rate, and the emission of CH, H2 and C2 appeared, while O and N2 emission coming from ambient air was quenching. The PE surface treatment in both laminar and turbulent regime has been evaluated using water contact angle (WCA) measurement and attenuated total reflection (ATR). The obtained results showed that the hydrophilicity of PE has been improved in both plasma jets due to oxygen group (C=O) incorporation, but Ar plasma jet was observed to induce surface degradation compared to Ar/CH4 plasma due to the higher excited species.
Local piezo- and ferroelectric properties of γ-glycine single crystal observed via piezoresponse force microscopy
Authors: Ivanov Maxim , Buryakov Arseniy , Khusyainov Dinar , Silibin Maxim , Vilarinho Paula M , Paixão José António
Published: July 2023

In this work, we demonstrate an approach of local mechanical polishing processing to modify the type of intrinsic piezoelectric activity of γ-glycine polymorph grown in a form of a single crystal. By using the piezoresponse force microscopy, the increase in intensity for both out-of-plane (3 times) and in-plane (5 times) piezoelectric tensor components is demonstrated. Application of local switching spectroscopy reveals the piezoelectric behavior of non-polished and the ferroelectric behavior of polished areas being related to the local mechanical polishing-assistant rearrangement of NH
3+
tails of zwitterions in polymorph molecular chain of γ-glycine. These rearrangements were demonstrated to facilitate the switching behavior of the local dipole moment at the applied electric field surpassing the internal coercive field of about Ec ∼ 3 G V /m .
Scalar induced gravitational waves from Chern-Simons gravity during inflation era
Authors: Feng Jia-Xi , Zhang Fengge , Gao Xian
Published: July 2023

We investigate the scalar induced gravitational waves (SIGWs) in the Chern-Simons (CS) gravity with a dynamical scalar field during slow roll inflation. Due to the parity violation in the CS term, the SIGWs are generally polarized, which are effectively characterized by the degree of circular polarization. We derive the semianalytic expression to evaluate the power spectra and the degree of circular polarization of the SIGWs, which receive contributions from the general relativity and the parity-violating term, respectively. We find that the correction from the parity-violating CS term is negligible on large scales, which means that the degree of circular polarization of SIGWs is very small.
Physical aspects of
modified gravity theories
Authors: Marciu Mihai , Ioan Dana Maria
Published: July 2023

The paper extends basic Einstein–Hilbert action by incorporating an invariant derived from a specific contraction between the Einstein tensor and energy momentum tensor. This represents a non–minimal coupling between the space–time geometry and matter fields. The fundamental Einstein–Hilbert action is extended by considering a generic function

. This function is subsequently dissected into its primary components: a geometric part reliant on the scalar curvature, and another segment encapsulating the interaction between geometry and matter fields. Distinct cosmological models are formulated at the backdrop of these dynamics, rooted in specific associations between the matter energy-momentum tensor and Einstein tensor. Upon deriving the consequent field equations, the cosmological model's physical implications are explored through a dynamical system analysis applied to diverse coupling functions. This exploration reveals that the current model aligns with various phases in the Universe's evolution, potentially elucidating several late-time historical epochs.
Temporal response of the conductivity of electrolytes
Authors: Bonneau Haggai , Démery Vincent , Raphaël Elie
Published: July 2023

We study the temporal response of the electric current in an electrolyte under a sudden switch on or switch off of an external electric field of arbitrary magnitude. We use Stochastic Density Functional Theory including hydrodynamic interactions to express the current as a function of the ionic correlations. Assuming small density fluctuations, we linearize the field theory to compute the correlations in the transient regime. We first show that the correlations do not follow the same trajectory when the field is switched on or switched off. Accordingly, the behavior of the current differs in the two cases: it decays exponentially when the field is switched off, but it relaxes algebraically to its stationary value when the field is switched on. This difference is a non-linear effect since an exponential relaxation is recovered in both cases in the weak field limit.
Damage Characteristics of Asphalt Stabilized Macadam Under Freeze-thaw Action
Authors: Yin Guohong , Zhang Ping , He Yongnan , Yang Yongzhi
Published: July 2023

In order to study the freeze-thaw resistance of asphalt stabilized macadam asphalt pavement in cold regions, the asphalt stabilized macadam specimens were subjected to freeze-thaw cycles at different times. Based on CT non-destructive testing and digital image processing technology, the change laws of porosity, void number and void equivalent diameter of asphalt stabilized macadam specimens were studied, so as to analyze the freeze-thaw damage characteristics of asphalt stabilized macadam from the micro level, The effect of adding 2% SBS modifier on the freeze-thaw resistance of asphalt stabilized macadam was studied. The results show that with the increase of freeze-thaw times, the porosity and the number of voids of asphalt stabilized macadam increases gradually, while the equivalent diameter of voids decrease first and then increase; The addition of 2% SBS can hinder the development of void connectivity and the generation of new voids, and improve the water damage resistance of asphalt stabilized macadam.
Development of Starting Wind Speed Calibration System
Authors: Han Guanglu , Qiu Shi , Yang Zongbo , Yang Maoshui , Ma Hui
Published: July 2023

This starting wind speed calibration system is developed on the basis of wind tunnel design theory, with the hot-wire anemometer as the standard instrument, the single-chip microcomputer as the reading and control center, and the power section uses PWM technology to control the fan rotate. The system is suitable for automatic calibration of starting wind speed of EL15-1A/1C, ZQZ-TF, EC9-1 and other common wind speed sensors indoors or on the site without wind (wind speed<0.2m/s). According to the test, within the wind speed range of 0.3~0.8m/s, the wind field uniformity index of the system is 0.04~0.08m/s, and the stability index is not more than 0.5%. Compared with wind tunnels of provincial meteorological laboratories, the numerical trend of the starting wind speed is consistent.
Thermal Performance of the Evaporator in the two Phase Mechanically Pumped Cooling Loop
Authors: Chen Hao , Tang Wenhui , Xiang Liyin , Xu Pengfei
Published: July 2023

In the two-phase mechanically pumped cooling loop, the performance of the evaporator is very important as it directly contacts with the electronic equipment to absorb the waste heat. The evaporator with the micro channels which can enhance heat exchange is designed and it can be used to dissipate the heat generated by the electronic equipment with discrete heat sources. The effects of working medium flow rate and heating power on the performance of the evaporator were analyzed through numerical simulation. Meanwhile, the changes of evaporator performance were also investigated while the heating power changed periodically and suddenly. In addition, the flow and heat transfer process in the evaporator at the initial stage were analyzed by transient calculation. The results showed that the evaporator with micro channels can reduce the maximum temperature by 47.66% and the maximum temperature difference by 83.39% compared with the evaporator without micro channels. In addition, the evaporator showed good stability under variable power condition.
Experimental Study on Effect of Water Depth on Earthquake Response of a Deep-water Cable-stayed Bridge Tower
Authors: Li Songlin , Geng Bo , Leng Siyuan , Deng Yasi , Liu Yangqing
Published: July 2023

With the aim of investigating the effect of water depth on the earthquake response of a deep-water cable-stayed bridge tower, this study designed and manufactured a large-scale bridge tower model, taking a cable-stayed bridge across a deep reservoir of a hydropower station as a reference. Under the boundary conditions similar to the reference, shaking table tests were conducted to reflect the structural response of the bridge tower under white noise and earthquake actions at different water depths. The time history curve of the bridge tower’s structural response was recorded and used to investigate the variations in the natural frequency, displacement, stress and strain of a deep-water cable-stayed bridge tower at different water depths under earthquake actions. The results showed that the natural frequency of the bridge tower decreased almost linearly with the increase in the water depth. The displacement at the tower top increased gradually with the increase in the water depth under earthquake actions. In addition, the stress and strain at the tower bottom increased almost linearly in the transverse direction and nonlinearly in the longitudinal direction with the increase in the water depth.
Simulation Study on Hydrodynamic Performance of Slurry Bubble Column with Vertical Tube Internals
Authors: Li Guiyong , Chen Guanghui , Duan Jihai
Published: July 2023

The gas-liquid-solid mixing characteristics in slurry bubble column were studied using the CFD-PBM model under different cross section coverage ratios of tubes. The research shows that with the increase of the proportion of the cross section area of the vertical tube, the flow field in the slurry bubble column tends to be stable, the liquid phase flow rate in the column becomes faster, and the large-scale liquid circulation strengthens, resulting in the decrease of gas holdup. As the proportion of cross section area in the vertical column increases, the distribution of gas-solid holdup becomes more uneven in the radial direction. However, increasing the number of vertical tubes can improve the axial distribution of solid particles in the reactor while reducing the size of bubbles in the column. Therefore, it can be concluded that in order to achieve effective gas, liquid, and solid mixing in slurry bubble column, the ratio of cross section area of vertical internals is crucial under given conditions.
The high voltage system the novel MPGD-based photon detectors of
COMPASS RICH-1 and its development towards a scalable HVPSS for
MPGDs
Authors: Bressan A. , Carrato S. , Chatterjee C. , Cicuttin A. , Crespo M.L. , D'Ago D. , Dalla Torre S. , Dasgupta S. , Ballina Escobar M.G. , Samayoa W.F. , García Ordóñez L. , Gregori M. , Hamar G. , Kosoveu A. , Levorato S. , Mannatunga K. , Martin A. , Tessarotto F. , Triloki  , Valinoti B.
Published: July 2023

The COMPASS RICH-1 detector underwent major upgrade in 2016 with the installation of four
novel MPGD-based photon detectors. They consist of large-size hybrid MPGDs with multi-layer
architecture composed of two layers of Thick-GEMs and bulk resistive Micromegas. A dedicated high
voltage power supply system, realized with commercial devices, has been put in operation to
protect the detectors against errors by the operator, monitor and log voltages and currents at a 1 Hz rate, and automatically react to detector misbehavior; it includes also the HV compensation for
the detector gas pressure and temperature variations.

The needs posed to the high voltage
power supply systems by the operation of Micro Pattern Gaseous Detectors pushed the development of
a novel single channel HV system able to overcome the performance of the commercial devices in
terms of high-resolution diagnostic features and intelligent dynamic voltage control. In this talk
the COMPASS HV system and its performance are illustrated, as well as the stability of the novel
MPGD-based photon detectors during the physics data taking at COMPASS. The performance of the
novel single channel power supply system when connected to a single photon Micro Pattern Gaseous
Detector is presented in realistic working condition during a test beam with the preliminary
results of multiple channels operation.
Deciphering the sensitivity of urban canopy air temperature to anthropogenic heat flux with a forcing-feedback framework
Authors: Wang Linying , Sun Ting , Zhou Wenyu , Liu Maofeng , Li Dan
Published: July 2023

The sensitivity of urban canopy air temperature (

T
a

) to anthropogenic heat flux (

Q

A
H

) is known to vary with space and time, but the key factors controlling such spatiotemporal variabilities remain elusive. To quantify the contributions of different physical processes to the magnitude and variability of

Δ

T
a

/

Δ

Q

A
H

(where

Δ

represents a change), we develop a forcing-feedback framework based on the energy budget of air within the urban canopy layer and apply it to diagnosing

Δ

T
a

/

Δ

Q

A
H

simulated by the Community Land Model Urban over the contiguous United States (CONUS). In summer, the median

Δ

T
a

/

Δ

Q

A
H

is around 0.01

K 

W 

m

−

2

−
1

over the CONUS. Besides the direct effect of

Q

A
H

on

T
a

, there are important feedbacks through changes in the surface temperature, the atmosphere–canopy air heat conductance (

c
a

), and the surface–canopy air heat conductance. The positive and negative feedbacks nearly cancel each other out and

Δ

T
a

/

Δ

Q

A
H

is mostly controlled by the direct effect in summer. In winter,

Δ

T
a

/

Δ

Q

A
H

becomes stronger, with the median value increased by about 20% due to weakened negative feedback associated with

c
a

. The spatial and temporal (both seasonal and diurnal) variability of

Δ

T
a

/

Δ

Q

A
H

as well as the nonlinear response of

Δ

T
a

 

to

Δ

Q

A
H

 

are strongly related to the variability of

c
a

, highlighting the importance of correctly parameterizing convective heat transfer in urban canopy models.
Comparison of Brownian jump and Brownian bridge resetting in search for Gaussian target on the line and in space
Authors: Pinsky Ross G
Published: July 2023

We consider a Brownian searcher with diffusion coefficient D in d-dimensions, for

d
=
1
,
2
,
3

, that starts from the origin and searches for a random target with a centered-Gaussian distribution. The searcher is also equipped with a resetting mechanism that resets the searcher back to the origin. We consider three different resetting mechanisms. One is a Poissonian reset with rate r whereby at the reset time the searcher instantaneously jumps back to the origin, one is a periodic reset with period T whereby at the reset time the searcher instantaneously jumps back to the origin, and one is a Brownian bridge reset with period T, whereby the Brownian motion is conditioned to return to the origin at time T. Unlike the first two search processes, this last one has continuous paths. For d = 1 and d = 3, we obtain analytic formulas for the expected time to locate the random target, and minimize them over r or T, as the case may be. In one dimension, this expected time scales as

σ
2

D

, which is not surprising, but in three dimensions we obtain the anomalous scaling

σ
3

D

. We compare the relative efficiencies of the three search processes. In two dimensions, we show that the expected time scales as

σ
2

D

for the Poissonian reset mechanism.
Density of states of a 2D system of soft-sphere fermions by path integral Monte Carlo simulations
Authors: Filinov V , Levashov P , Larkin A
Published: July 2023

The Wigner formulation of quantum mechanics is used to derive a new path integral representation of quantum density of states (DOSs). A path integral Monte Carlo approach is developed for the numerical investigation of DOSs, internal energy and spin-resolved radial distribution functions for a 2D system of strongly correlated soft-sphere fermions. The peculiarities of the DOSs and internal energy distributions depending on the hardness of the soft-sphere potential and particle density are investigated and explained. In particular, at high enough densities the DOSs rapidly tends to a constant value, as for an ideal system of 2D fermions.
Relationships between economic development and resident environmental behavior and participation in areas with different economic and similar natural and cultural conditions
Authors: Wu Junli , Gao Guijuan , Zhang Bing , Yang Zhongyi
Published: July 2023

Economic development level (EDL) cannot completely explain environmental behavior and participation (EBP) patterns as many other factors affect environmental performances, and the conflict of ‘Maslow’s Hierarchy Needs model’ or ‘Affluence hypothesis’ and ‘Challenge-response Model’ hypothesis has been continuously discussed. In the present study, a standardized two-dimensional array (STDA) model is employed to deliberate on the EDL-EBP relationship in different sub-groups with the highest ($21389.08) and the lowest ($5216.41) average capita GDPs in Guangdong Province, China. This is the first attempt to investigate the relationships between the regional EDL represented by capita GDP and public environmental behaviors represented by actual resident’s resource consumption, pollution emission and environmental participation in areas with similar natural and cultural condition, and an Environmental Effort Indicator (EEI) is established based on the STDA model. The results show that (1) the STDA model is applicable in distinguishing resident’s EBPs of 20 prefecture-level cities (PLCs) of Guangdong Province with rather different EDLs; (2) the relationship of EDL-EBP is not liner pattern and is behavior- and region-specific; (3) public participation plays an important role that is most decisive to the EEI; (4) the V-shaped EDL-EEI relationships can be explained each other with the EKC model. The formation of resident’s good environmental habits would be a long-term process and environmental education is a key way to accelerate the process and to maintain sustainable developments of the nature and human society.
Hoax, Fraud, Plagiarism, Forgery
Authors: Abramson Julia Luisa
Published: July 2023

Deception is a central preoccupation in the Western discursive tradition. Within this context, deceptive texts constitute a metagenre that borrows from the array of conventional forms. Its history twins that of narrative traditions whose productions the fakes mimic. Intent, context, effect, and the nature of the deception inform categorizations of hoax, fraud, plagiarism, and forgery. Across these modes, recognition of the deception precedes analysis of a textual fake as such. Mirroring conventional productions, textual fakes imitate what culture values. Their investigation attends to purposes that writers and readers pursue as they participate in the life of a text. Across discursive spheres, representation interacts with the real, the virtual transforms the concrete, the technological inflects the natural. Such categories remain essential for analysis even as they blend in practice. Technological platforms that amplify the written word also expand the range of textual deceptions. Contemporary forms from phishing emails to fake news tweets share mechanisms of deception with literary and other textual fakes, from the fabricated autobiography to the allegedly ancient verse attributed to a nonexistent bard.
Ecological Rhetoric
Authors: Ingraham Chris
Published: July 2023

As the problems wrought by anthropogenic global warming have become more urgent, scholars of rhetoric have turned more than ever before toward environmental topics and ecological perspectives. These interests have influenced the contemporary study of rhetoric enough that it is now possible to identify some different yet overlapping strains of research at the nexus of ecology and rhetoric. Doing so, however, is not without ongoing contestations, including over the nature of ecological thought, expanding systems of rhetoric, environmentalisms, ecofeminisms, and critical eco-futures. Despite these challenges, rhetoric and ecology may pair so well together because each is a capacious figure of thought, capable of accommodating others.

As a way of thinking about interconnectedness in particular, “ecology” has been taken up by many scholars in diverse fields and disciplines. As a result, the ways the concept is mobilized in studies of rhetoric reflect an unruly assortment of approaches to, and understandings of, ecology, the influence of which cannot be traced to any pure or universal version of the term, because, as with “rhetoric,” no such common meaning exists. Grappling with the complex convergence of both terms might help scholars to constellate a semi-stable image of what it can mean and involve to study these topics together.
Minority Influence and Social Change
Authors: Gaffney Amber M.
Published: July 2023

Societies and small groups only undergo change when individuals or groups dissent from the dominant perspective. The powerful rarely have the motivation to share their power and resources or to create change to a system that benefits them. Therefore, the onus of social change is often carried by those who lack the resources or numbers to make the ones in power bend their knees. Social change is often the product of the hard work of minority groups and the consistent branding of perspectives that provide an alternative vision to dominant majority perspectives. As witnessed by the typically slow nature of societal progress, the vast number of attempts from minorities to create social change are unsuccessful or require their efforts to extend over long periods of time. However, when they are successful, they transform groups and societies (both for the greater good and for destructive purposes). The major areas of empirical research in the minority influence tradition focus how minorities and majorities differently impact message processing. However, the literature can benefit from more fully examining the contexts in which minority influence occurs. This requires a scholarly focus on group processes and intergroup relations to be integrated into the minority influence tradition to expand the motives underlying minority influence and social change. Moreover, considering the target's relationship to both minority and majority sources and the implications these sources have for group composition and intergroup relations will help to expand this large innovative body of work
Statistical Learning
Authors: Bogaerts Louisa , Siegelman Noam , Frost Ram
Published: July 2023

Statistical learning refers to the ability to pick up on the statistical regularities in our sensory environment, typically without intention or conscious awareness. Since the seminal publication on statistical learning in 1996, sensitivity to regularities has become a key concept in our understanding of language acquisition as well as other cognitive functions such as perception and attention.

Neuroimaging studies investigating which brain areas underpin statistical learning have mapped a network of domain-general regions in the medial temporal lobe as well as modality-specific regions in early sensory cortices. Research using electroencephalography has further demonstrated how sensitivity to structure impacts the brain’s processing of sensory input.

In response to concerns about the large discrepancy between the very simplistic artificial regularities employed in laboratory experiments on statistical learning and the much noisier and more complex regularities humans face in the real world, recent studies have taken more ecological approaches.
Human Capital in a Historical Perspective
Authors: Cappelli Gabriele , Ridolfi Leonardo , Vasta Michelangelo
Published: July 2023

Human capital can be defined as the set of knowledge and skills that individuals accumulate over time. These range from basic competences to more sophisticated forms of knowledge (intermediate and upper-tail human capital). All of them entail complex measurement problems in historical perspective as sources are often too scarce, problematic, and unreliable to allow proper measurement. Human capital is usually measured relying on the extensive margin of education or the quantity of education, that is, how many people are able to read or count or how many people have a certain degree of schooling. Less is known about the effective acquisition of skills, for example, the quality of education. Human capital can affect labor productivity and innovative capacity and it is generally regarded as one of the most important determinants of economic growth, figuring prominently in debates on the origin of the Industrial Revolution and the transition from preindustrial to modern economic growth. The determinants of education are several and vary widely over time and across space, including economic, institutional, cultural, and social factors. Historically, the acquisition of skills has deeply changed in nature, passing from the largely decentralized and fragmented systems of the preindustrial period to the 19th-century systems of mass education, where education was more and more universal and free, and the accumulation of skills was largely coordinated by states and other public authorities. In several regards, literature on human capital is still limited. Few efforts, for instance, have been made to harmonize data, integrate them in a comparative and regional perspective, explore the potential of individual-level information, and assess if and to what extent different dimensions of human capital such as technical and higher education have affected long-term patterns in economic growth and development. Other aspects have long been neglected or remain virtually unexplored, such as gender differences in education, the efficiency of education systems and its determinants, and the analysis of human capital in developing countries.
Forecasting Electricity Prices
Authors: Maciejowska Katarzyna , Uniejewski Bartosz , Weron Rafal
Published: July 2023

Forecasting electricity prices is a challenging task and an active area of research since the 1990s and the deregulation of the traditionally monopolistic and government-controlled power sectors. It is interdisciplinary by nature and requires expertise in econometrics, statistics or machine learning for developing well-performing predictive models, finance for understanding market mechanics, and electrical engineering for comprehension of the fundamentals driving electricity prices.

Although electricity price forecasting aims at predicting both spot and forward prices, the vast majority of research is focused on short-term horizons which exhibit dynamics unlike in any other market. The reason is that power system stability calls for a constant balance between production and consumption, while being dependent on weather (in terms of demand and supply) and business activity (in terms of demand only). The recent market innovations do not help in this respect. The rapid expansion of intermittent renewable energy sources is not offset by the costly increase of electricity storage capacities and modernization of the grid infrastructure.

On the methodological side, this leads to three visible trends in electricity price forecasting research. First, there is a slow but more noticeable tendency to consider not only point but also probabilistic (interval, density) or even path (also called ensemble) forecasts. Second, there is a clear shift from the relatively parsimonious econometric (or statistical) models toward more complex and harder to comprehend but more versatile and eventually more accurate statistical and machine learning approaches. Third, statistical error measures are regarded as only the first evaluation step. Since they may not necessarily reflect the economic value of reducing prediction errors, in recent publications they tend to be complemented by case studies comparing profits from scheduling or trading strategies based on price forecasts obtained from different models.
Southern Gallo-Romance: Occitan and Gascon
Authors: Kristol Andres M.
Published: July 2023

Occitan, a language of high medieval literary culture, historically occupies the southern third of France. Today it is dialectalized and highly endangered, like all the regional languages of France. Its main linguistic regions are Languedocien, Provençal, Limousin, Auvergnat, Vivaro-dauphinois (Alpine Provençal) and, linguistically on the fringes of the domain, Gascon. Despite its dialectalization, its typological unity and the profound difference that separates it from Northern Galloroman (Oïl dialects, Francoprovençal) and Gallo-Italian remain clearly perceptible. Its history is characterised by several ruptures (the Crusade against the Albigensians, the French Revolution) and several attempts at "rebirth" (the Baroque period, the Felibrige movement in the second half of the 19th century, the Occitanist movement of the 20th century). Towards the end of the Middle Ages, the Occitan koinè, a literary and administrative language integrating the main dialectal characteristics of all regions, was lost and replaced by makeshift regional spellings based on the French spelling. The modern Occitanist orthography tries to overcome these divisions by coming as close as possible to the medieval, "classical" written tradition, while respecting the main regional characteristics. Being a bridge language between northern Galloroman (Oïl varieties and Francoprovençal), Italy and Iberoromania, Occitan is a relatively conservative language in terms of its phonetic evolution from the popular spoken Latin of western Romania, its morphology and syntax (absence of subject clitics in the verbal system, conservation of a fully functional simple past tense). Only Gascon, which was already considered a specific language in the Middle Ages, presents particular structures that make it unique among Romance languages (development of a system of enunciative particles).
Cancer-associated fibroblasts promote cancer stemness by inducing expression of the chromatin-modifying protein CBX4 in squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Fisher Matthew L , Balinth Seamus , Hwangbo Yon , Wu Caizhi , Ballon Carlos , Goldberg Gary L , Mills Alea A
Published: July 2023

The chromobox-containing protein CBX4 is an important regulator of epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation, and has been implicated in several cancer types. The cancer stem cell (CSC) population is a key driver of metastasis and recurrence. The undifferentiated, plastic state characteristic of CSCs relies on cues from the microenvironment. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a major component of the microenvironment that can influence the CSC population through the secretion of extracellular matrix and a variety of growth factors. Here we show CBX4 is a critical regulator of the CSC phenotype in squamous cell carcinomas of the skin and hypopharynx. Moreover, CAFs can promote the expression of CBX4 in the CSC population through the secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6). IL-6 activates JAK/STAT3 signaling to increase ∆Np63α—a key transcription factor that is essential for epithelial stem cell function and the maintenance of proliferative potential that is capable of regulating CBX4. Targeting the JAK/STAT3 axis or CBX4 directly suppresses the aggressive phenotype of CSCs and represents a novel opportunity for therapeutic intervention.
Arterial hypertension in patients with takotsubo syndrome: prevalence, long-term outcome, and secondary preventive strategies: a report from the Takotsubo Italian Network register
Authors: Silverio Angelo , Bossone Eduardo , Parodi Guido , Scudiero Fernando , Di Maio Marco , Vriz Olga , Bellino Michele , Zito Concetta , Provenza Gennaro , Iuliano Giuseppe , Cristiano Mario , Novo Giuseppina , Mauro Ciro , Rigo Fausto , Innelli Pasquale , Salerno-Uriarte Jorge , Cameli Matteo , Tremiterra Giuliana , Vecchione Carmine , Antonini-Canterin Francesco , Galasso Gennaro , Citro Rodolfo
Published: July 2023

Aims

The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term outcome of takotsubo syndrome (TTS) patients with and without hypertension (HT) and to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment with beta-blockers (BBs) and/or renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi).

Methods and results

The study population includes a register-based, multicentre cohort of consecutive patients with TTS, divided into two groups according to the history of HT. Further stratification was performed for BB/RAASi prescription at discharge. The primary outcome was the composite of all-cause death and TTS recurrence at the longest available follow-up. The propensity score weighting technique was used to account for potential confounding. In the overall population (903 patients, mean age 70 ± 11 years), HT was reported in 66% of cases. At a median 2-year follow-up, there was no difference in the risk of the primary composite outcome between patients with and without HT. The adjusted Cox regression analysis showed a significantly lower risk for the primary outcome [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 0.69; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.49–0.99] in patients who received BB vs. those who did not. Renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system inhibitors treatment was not associated with the primary study outcome. The lower risk for the primary outcome with BB treatment was confirmed in patients with HT (aHR: 0.37; 95% CI: 0.24–0.56) but not in patients without (aHR: 1.83; 95% CI: 0.92–3.64; Pinteraction < 0.001).

Conclusion

In this TTS study, HT did not affect the long-term risk of adverse events but increased the probability of benefit from BB treatment after discharge. Owing to the favourable outcome impact of BB prescription in TTS patients with HT, a tailored pharmacological therapy should be considered in this cohort.
Clusters of acidic and hydrophobic residues can predict acidic transcriptional activation domains from protein sequence
Authors: Kotha Sanjana R , Staller Max Valentín
Published: July 2023

Transcription factors activate gene expression in development, homeostasis, and stress with DNA binding domains and activation domains. Although there exist excellent computational models for predicting DNA binding domains from protein sequence, models for predicting activation domains from protein sequence have lagged, particularly in metazoans. We recently developed a simple and accurate predictor of acidic activation domains on human transcription factors. Here, we show how the accuracy of this human predictor arises from the clustering of aromatic, leucine, and acidic residues, which together are necessary for acidic activation domain function. When we combine our predictor with the predictions of convolutional neural network (CNN) models trained in yeast, the intersection is more accurate than individual models, emphasizing that each approach carries orthogonal information. We synthesize these findings into a new set of activation domain predictions on human transcription factors.
Association Between the Healthy Lifestyle Index and Risk of Multimorbidity in the Women’s Health Initiative
Authors: Peila Rita , Xue Xiaonan , Shadyab Aladdin H , Wactawski-Wende Jean , Espeland Mark A , Snetselaar Linda G , Saquib Nazmus , Ikramuddin Farha , Manson JoAnn E , Wallace Robert B , Rohan Thomas E
Published: July 2023

Background

Multimorbidity, defined as the presence of 2 or more chronic health conditions, is increasingly common among older adults. The combination of lifestyle characteristics such as diet quality, smoking status, alcohol intake, physical activity (PA), sleep duration, and body fat as assessed by body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference, and risk of multimorbidity are not well understood.

Objectives

We investigated the association between the healthy lifestyle index (HLI), generated by combining indicators of diet quality, smoking, alcohol, PA, sleep amount, and BMI, and risk of multimorbidity, a composite outcome that included cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, cancer, and fracture.

Methods

We studied 62 037 postmenopausal women aged 50–79 years at enrollment in the Women’s Health Initiative, with no reported history of CVD, diabetes, cancer, or fracture at baseline. Lifestyle characteristics measured at baseline were categorized and a score (0–4) was assigned to each category. The combined HLI (0–24) was grouped into quintiles, with higher quintiles indicating a healthier lifestyle. Multivariable adjusted estimates of hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the risk of developing multimorbidity were obtained using Cox proportional hazard models.

Results

Over an average follow-up period of 16.3 years, 5 656 women developed multimorbidity. There was an inverse association between the HLI levels and risk of multimorbidity (compared to the HLI_1st quintile: HR_2nd quintile = 0.81 95% CI 0.74–0.83, HR_3rd quintile = 0.77 95% CI 0.71–0.83, HR_4th quintile = 0.70 95% CI 0.64–0.76, and HR_5th quintile = 0.60 95% CI 0.54–0.66; p trend < .001). Similar associations were observed after stratification by age or BMI categories.

Conclusions

Among postmenopausal women, higher levels of the HLI were associated with a reduced risk of developing multimorbidity.
Quantification of Chlorate and Perchlorate in a Broad Range of Food Commodities, Including Baby Food, Nutritional Formulas, and Ingredients by LC-MS/MS: First Action AOAC 2022.06
Authors: Huertas-Pérez José Fernando , Mottier Pascal , Konings Erik , Baslé Quentin , Tan Shi Ying , Kopeć-Durska Monika , Zawada Patrycja , Griffin Ashley , Sánchez-Calderón María Guadalupe , Silva-Robledo Juan Pablo , Rubio Lisette
Published: July 2023

Background

Chlorate is an effective herbicide, but also a byproduct of chlorinating agents used to disinfect water, which is one of the reasons why it is regularly found in food. Perchlorate is a ubiquitous contaminant, which is naturally occurring in the environment but also released from anthropogenic sources such as the industrial use of certain natural fertilizers. Chlorate affects the hematological system, and perchlorate the thyroid.

Objective

Implement and validate a simple and robust analytical method for the accurate determination of chlorate and perchlorate in baby food, infant and adult formulas, and ingredients thereof, which is suited for its application in routine environments where a broad variety of food commodities must be analyzed simultaneously.

Method

Typically, analytes are extracted with a mixture of water, acidified methanol, and dichloromethane. Optionally, for dairy products and byproducts, extraction can be performed with water, acidified methanol, and EDTA, followed by two steps of cleanup (freezing out and dispersive solid-phase extraction with C18 in acetonitrile). Quantitative determination is carried out by isotopic dilution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Results

The method was single-laboratory validated in five Nestlé Quality Assurance Centers (NQACs) in a comprehensive range of representative matrixes of different categories such as baby foods, infant/adult formulas, and ingredients, with results generally in agreement with the acceptance criteria of the Standard Method Performance Requirement (SMPR®) 2021.001 defined by AOAC INTERNATIONAL, in terms of representative matrixes validated, LOQs, trueness, and precision.

The data generated during validation show that the method proposed is simple, accurate and robust enough to be implemented and applied in routine environments.

Conclusion

The data generated during validation show that the method proposed is simple, accurate and robust enough to be implemented and applied in routine environments.

Highlights

The AOAC Expert Review Panel approved the present method as AOAC Official First Action 2022.06.
Trans-scale thermal signaling in biological systems
Authors: Suzuki Madoka , Liu Chujie , Oyama Kotaro , Yamazawa Toshiko
Published: July 2023

Biochemical reactions in cells serve as the endogenous source of heat, maintaining a constant body temperature. This process requires proper control; otherwise, serious consequences can arise due to the unwanted but unavoidable responses of biological systems to heat. This review aims to present a range of responses to heat in biological systems across various spatial scales. We begin by examining the impaired thermogenesis of malignant hyperthermia in model mice and skeletal muscle cells, demonstrating that the progression of this disease is caused by a positive feedback loop between thermally driven Ca2+ signaling and thermogenesis at the subcellular scale. After we explore thermally driven force generation in both muscle and non-muscle cells, we illustrate how in vitro assays using purified proteins can reveal the heat-responsive properties of proteins and protein assemblies. Building on these experimental findings, we propose the concept of ‘trans-scale thermal signaling’.