bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Food at the heart of the Empire: dietary reconstruction for Imperial Rome inhabitants
Authors: De Angelis Flavio , Varano Sara , Battistini Andrea , Di Giannantonio Stefania , Ricci Paola , Lubritto Carmine , Facchin Giulia , Brancazi Luca , Santangeli-Valenzani Riccardo , Catalano Paola , Gazzaniga Valentina , Rickards Olga , Martínez-Labarga Cristina
Published: September 2020

This paper aims to provide a broad diet reconstruction for people buried in archaeologically defined contexts in Rome (first to third centuries CE), in order to combine archaeological and biological evidence focusing on dietary preferences in Imperial Rome. A sample of 214 human bones recovered from 6 funerary contexts was selected for carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis. The baseline for the terrestrial protein component of the diet was set using 17 coeval faunal remains recovered from excavations at Rome supplemented by previously published data for the same geographic and chronological frames. δ13C ranges from − 19.9 to − 14.8‰, whereas δ15N values are between 7.2 and 10.0‰. The values are consistent with an overall diet mainly based on terrestrial resources. All the human samples rely on a higher trophic level than the primary consumer faunal samples. Certainly, C3plants played a pivotal role in the dietary habits. However, C4plants also seem to have been consumed, albeit they were not as widespread and were not always used for human consumption. The environment played a critical role also for Romans of lower social classes. The topographical location determined the preferential consumption of food that people could obtain from their neighborhood.
Wettability alteration and enhanced gas condensate recovery by treatment of carbonate reservoir rock using supercritical R134A and R404A gases
Authors: Nowrouzi Iman , Khaksar Manshad Abbas , Mohammadi Amir H.
Published: September 2020

The pressure drop around the well in the production from a gas condensate reservoir causes the formation of condensate in the area before it reaches the well and surface space. This condensate and occasionally water in the porous medium can block the well and create an additional pressure drop. Studies show that the chemical treatment of this area eliminates the problem by altering the reservoir rock wettability toward a moderate and strong gasphilicity. For this purpose, fluoropolymers-, fluorosurfactants-, and fluorochemicals-coated nanoparticles can be used. In this work, we have studied two types of fluoride gas namely R134A and R404A, which are widely used in refrigeration industry as refrigerant gases, perfumery, and industrial detergents. The basis of this study was the aging of rock samples in thin sections and plugs in these two gases at different pressures above the critical pressures of them at 70 °C at different times and then conducting the contact angle experiments by placing the drop of water and condensate on the cross sections and then performing imbibition tests using plugs. The results show that in addition to the efficiency of both gases in wettability alteration to gasphilic, the gasphilic intensity obtained at constant temperature depends on the pressure and the aging time of the samples.
Impact of organophilic clay on rheological properties of gasoil-based drilling muds
Authors: Bergane Cheikh , Hammadi Larbi
Published: September 2020

In this study, the impact of VG69 organophilic clay on the rheological properties of gasoil-based drilling muds (invert emulsions) was investigated. The flow curves of gasoil-based drilling muds as a function of the dose of VG69 organophilic clay were analyzed by the Casson model. The addition of VG69 organophilic clay with a quantity range between 0 and 5 g in gasoil-based drilling muds induces an increase in the yield stress and the viscosity at an infinite shear rate of drilling muds. It is also proven that the addition of VG69 organophilic clay leads to an increase in the viscoelastic and thixotropic properties of the drilling muds. The study of the stability of gasoil-based drilling muds by centrifugation showed that for a quantity of VG69 organophilic clay lower than 3 g, the stability of the drilling muds increases and for a quantity of VG69 organophilic clay higher than 3 g, their stability decreases. The results obtained showed that the addition of 3 g of VG69 organophilic clay to the gasoil-based drilling mud increased the yield stress by 230%, the viscosity at an infinite shear rate by 3.4% and it improved the mud stability by 70%.
How effective are River Basin Management Plans in reaching the nutrient load reduction targets?
Authors: Piniewski Mikołaj , Tattari Sirkka , Koskiaho Jari , Olsson Olle , Djodjic Faruk , Giełczewski Marek , Marcinkowski Paweł , Księżniak Marta , Okruszko Tomasz
Published: September 2020

Riverine nutrient loads are among the major causes of eutrophication of the Baltic Sea. This study applied the Soil & Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) in three catchments flowing to the Baltic Sea, namely Vantaanjoki (Finland), Fyrisån (Sweden), and Słupia (Poland), to simulate the effectiveness of nutrient control measures included in the EU’s Water Framework Directive River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs). Moreover, we identified similar, coastal, middle-sized catchments to which conclusions from this study could be applicable. The first modelling scenario based on extrapolation of the existing trends affected the modelled nutrient loads by less than 5%. In the second scenario, measures included in RBMPs showed variable effectiveness, ranging from negligible for Słupia to 28% total P load reduction in Vantaanjoki. Adding spatially targeted measures to RBMPs (third scenario) would considerably improve their effectiveness in all three catchments for both total N and P, suggesting a need to adopt targeting more widely in the Baltic Sea countries.
Bioaccessibility of metals in soils surrounding two dismissed mining sites in Northern Italy
Authors: Padoan E. , Romè C. , Mehta N. , Dino G. A. , De Luca D. A. , Ajmone-Marsan F.
Published: September 2020

Mining activities are one of the main contributors to metals contamination of soils, most often due to the inappropriate management of the mining residues. In Italy, hundreds of small mining sites are scattered around the mountainous areas, near small villages with fragile environments. Here, wastes and residues may have polluted the surrounding soils and become a threat to living organisms. We investigated two dismissed sites in Northern Italy with extractive wastes in unmanaged areas close to villages using bioaccessibility and size fractionation methods, focussing on particles that can potentially be eroded and/or ingested (< 10 µm and < 200 µm). In the Campello Monti site, Co, Cu and Ni showed high values in soils near the landfills, with the highest concentrations in the < 10 µm particles around the landfills and along the valley bottom. Lead and Ni were the most bioaccessible metals. In the Plassa site, Cd and Zn were the most important contaminants, with an average content of 118 and 34,000 mg/kg. They originated from mining wastes scattered through the slope and had a particularly high bioaccessible fractions, close to the 100% for Zn and above 80% for Cd in the fine particles. The study of the fine, more reactive and mobile particles offered a close insight into the lability of contaminants, as in both sites, a dispersion of metal contaminants through very fine particles in surrounding and downhill areas was observed, resulting in an increased risk to all living organism and for the environment.
State of the Art Imaging in Menière’s Disease. Tips and Tricks for Protocol and Interpretation
Authors: de Pont Lisa M. H. , van Steekelenburg Josephine M. , Verbist Berit M. , van Buchem Mark A. , Blom Henk M. , Hammer Sebastiaan
Published: September 2020

Purpose of Review

Menière’s disease (MD) is a burdensome and not well understood inner ear disorder that has received increasing attention of scientists over the past decade. Until 2007, a certain diagnosis of endolymphatic hydrops (EH) required post-mortem histology. Today, dedicated high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocols enable detection of disease-related changes in the membranous labyrinth in vivo. In this review, we summarize the current status of MR imaging for MD.

Recent Findings

The mainstays of hydrops imaging are inversion recovery sequences using delayed acquisition after intravenous or intratympanic contrast administration. Based on these techniques, several methods have been developed to detect and classify EH. In addition, novel imaging features of MD, such as blood-labyrinth barrier impairment, have recently been observed.

Delayed contrast enhanced MRI has emerged as a reliable technique to demonstrate EH in vivo, with promising application in the diagnosis and follow-up of MD patients. Therefore, familiarity with current techniques and diagnostic imaging criteria is increasingly important.
A new recommendation system using map-reduce-based tournament empowered Whale optimization algorithm
Authors: Tripathi Ashish Kumar , Mittal Himanshu , Saxena Pranav , Gupta Siddharth
Published: September 2020

In the era of Web 2.0, the data are growing immensely and is assisting E-commerce websites for better decision-making. Collaborative filtering, one of the prominent recommendation approaches, performs recommendation by finding similarity. However, this approach fails in managing large-scale datasets. To mitigate the same, an efficient map-reduce-based clustering recommendation system is presented. The proposed method uses a novel variant of the whale optimization algorithm, tournament selection empowered whale optimization algorithm, to attain the optimal clusters. The clustering efficiency of the proposed method is measured on four large-scale datasets in terms of F-measure and computation time. The experimental results are compared with state-of-the-art map-reduce-based clustering methods, namely map-reduce-based K-means, map-reduce-based bat algorithm, map-reduce-based Kmeans particle swarm optimization, map-reduce-based artificial bee colony, and map-reduce-based whale optimization algorithm. Furthermore, the proposed method is tested as a recommendation system on the publicly available movie-lens dataset. The performance validation is measured in terms of mean absolute error, precision and recall, over a different number of clusters. The experimental results assert that the proposed method is a permissive approach for the recommendation over large-scale datasets.
Intracellular Delivery of mRNA in Adherent and Suspension Cells by Vapor Nanobubble Photoporation
Authors: Raes Laurens , Stremersch Stephan , Fraire Juan C. , Brans Toon , Goetgeluk Glenn , De Munter Stijn , Van Hoecke Lien , Verbeke Rein , Van Hoeck Jelter , Xiong Ranhua , Saelens Xavier , Vandekerckhove Bart , De Smedt Stefaan , Raemdonck Koen , Braeckmans Kevin
Published: September 2020

Efficient and safe cell engineering by transfection of nucleic acids remains one of the long-standing hurdles for fundamental biomedical research and many new therapeutic applications, such as CAR T cell-based therapies. mRNA has recently gained increasing attention as a more safe and versatile alternative tool over viral- or DNA transposon-based approaches for the generation of adoptive T cells. However, limitations associated with existing nonviral mRNA delivery approaches hamper progress on genetic engineering of these hard-to-transfect immune cells. In this study, we demonstrate that gold nanoparticle-mediated vapor nanobubble (VNB) photoporation is a promising upcoming physical transfection method capable of delivering mRNA in both adherent and suspension cells. Initial transfection experiments on HeLa cells showed the importance of transfection buffer and cargo concentration, while the technology was furthermore shown to be effective for mRNA delivery in Jurkat T cells with transfection efficiencies up to 45%. Importantly, compared to electroporation, which is the reference technology for nonviral transfection of T cells, a fivefold increase in the number of transfected viable Jurkat T cells was observed. Altogether, our results point toward the use of VNB photoporation as a more gentle and efficient technology for intracellular mRNA delivery in adherent and suspension cells, with promising potential for the future engineering of cells in therapeutic and fundamental research applications.
Where are we? Using Scopus to map the literature at the intersection between artificial intelligence and research on crime
Authors: Campedelli Gian Maria
Published: September 2020

Research on artificial intelligence (AI) applications has spread over many scientific disciplines. Scientists have tested the power of intelligent algorithms developed to predict (or learn from) natural, physical and social phenomena. This also applies to crime-related research problems. Nonetheless, studies that map the current state of the art at the intersection between AI and crime are lacking. What are the current research trends in terms of topics in this area? What is the structure of scientific collaboration when considering works investigating criminal issues using machine learning, deep learning, and AI in general? What are the most active countries in this specific scientific sphere? Using data retrieved from the Scopus database, this work quantitatively analyzes 692 published works at the intersection between AI and crime employing network science to respond to these questions. Results show that researchers are mainly focusing on cyber-related criminal topics and that relevant themes such as algorithmic discrimination, fairness, and ethics are considerably overlooked. Furthermore, data highlight the extremely disconnected structure of co-authorship networks. Such disconnectedness may represent a substantial obstacle to a more solid community of scientists interested in these topics. Additionally, the graph of scientific collaboration indicates that countries that are more prone to engage in international partnerships are generally less central in the network. This means that scholars working in highly productive countries (e.g. the United States, China) tend to mostly collaborate domestically. Finally, current issues and future developments within this scientific area are also discussed.
A novel reusable anti-COVID-19 transparent face respirator with optimized airflow
Authors: Alenezi Hussain , Cam Muhammet Emin , Edirisinghe Mohan
Published: September 2020

This novel face mask is designed to be a reusable respirator with a small and highly efficient disposable fabric filter. Respirator material requirements are reduced by 75% compared to traditional designs and allow repeated cleaning or sterilization. The probability of virus particle inhalation is reduced using novel air filtration pathways, through square-waveform design to increase filter airflow. Air enters the mask from right and left side filters, while the area in front of the mouth is isolated. Clear epoxy is used for a transparent frame, allowing lip-reading, and mask edges contain a silicone seal preventing bypass of the filters. The mask is manufactured using silicone molds, eliminating electricity requirements making it economical and viable in developing countries. Computational fluid dynamics numerical studies and Fluent ANSYS software were used to simulate airflow through the filter to optimize filter air path geometry and validate mask design with realistic human requirements. The breathing cycle was represented as a transient function, and N95 filter specifications were selected as a porous medium. The novel design achieved 1.2 × 10−3kg s−1, 20% higher than human requirements, with air streamlines velocity indicating local high speed, forcing and trapping virus particles against filter walls through centrifugal forces.
The Brachiopod δ11B Record Across the Carboniferous‐Permian Climate Transition
Authors: Legett S. A. , Rasbury E. T. , Grossman E. L. , Hemming N. G. , Penman D. E.
Published: September 2020

We present the δ11B of well‐preserved brachiopod fossils coupled with geochemical modeling to examine how seawater boron responded to abrupt and dynamic climate changes in the Late Paleozoic. The Late Carboniferous, a time of major coal formation and glacioeustatic sea level changes, is characterized by relatively stable brachiopod δ11B of 15–17‰, similar to values seen in modern brachiopods. Brachiopod δ11B dropped by ~5‰ in the early Permian and then restabilized at a new value of 10‰ within a few million years. Mass balance models of seawater δ11B reproduced the overall trends in our brachiopod data but failed to capture the large drop in δ11B in the early Permian. Published seawater 87Sr/86Sr and δ44/40Ca data based on brachiopod shells also shift to lower values in the early Permian, suggesting a common control on all three seawater isotope systems. The Permian terrestrial record of evaporites and eolian deposits suggests a prolonged reduced delivery of dissolved weathering products to the ocean, accounting for the change in seawater 87Sr/86Sr. This reduced weathering, in turn, led to increased atmospheric CO2 and lowered seawater pH, which may have significantly decreased major removal mechanisms for seawater calcium and boron leading to declines in both isotope systems. We propose that boron removal via coprecipitation in carbonates and adsorption onto clay minerals was significantly diminished due to a reduction in the availability of the borate aqueous species caused by lowered seawater pH.
Graphical Interpretation of Wet Surface Evaporation Equations
Authors: Qualls Russell J. , Crago Richard D.
Published: September 2020

Potential (wet surface) evaporation is the basis for many methods to estimate actual evaporation. Penman's (1948, https://doi.org/10.1098/rspa.1948.0037) combination of energy budget with mass and energy transfer equations can be depicted on temperature‐vapor pressure graphs. Key to this depiction is two straight lines on the graph representing constant enthalpy of the air at measurement height and at the surface skin, with the gap between the lines representing a combination of aerodynamic resistance variables and available energy. The equations on which Penman based his formula are easily solved numerically (without need for Penman's famous assumption) for T0w, the temperature the surface would have if it was saturated, keeping all other variables constant. Wet surface evaporation is proportional to the vapor pressure difference between the measurement height and the surface skin. Equilibrium evaporation, based on the slope of the vapor pressure curve at T0w, is also easily represented in the graph. The difference between the correct wet surface evaporation rate and Penman's approximation is immediately visible on the graphs. The different wet surface evaporation rates are compared using data from a tropical savanna in Australia. Implications for the classic two‐component interpretation of Penman's equation are discussed.
Mantle and Crustal Sources of Magmatic Activity of Klyuchevskoy and Surrounding Volcanoes in Kamchatka Inferred From Earthquake Tomography
Authors: Koulakov Ivan , Shapiro Nikolay M. , Sens‐Schönfelder Christoph , Luehr Birger G. , Gordeev Evgeny I. , Jakovlev Andrey , Abkadyrov Ilyas , Chebrov Danila V. , Bushenkova Natalia , Droznina Svetlana Y. , Senyukov Sergey L. , Novgorodova Angelika , Stupina Tatyana
Published: September 2020

Klyuchevskoy and surrounding volcanoes in central Kamchatka form the Northern Group of Volcanoes (NGV), which is an area of particularly diverse and intensive Pleistocene‐Holocene volcanism. In this study, we present a new seismic tomographic model of the crust and uppermost mantle beneath NGV based on local earthquake data recorded by several permanent and temporary seismic networks including a large‐scale experiment that was conducted in 2015–2016 by an international scientific consortium. Having an unprecedented resolution for this part of Kamchatka, the new model reveals many features associated with the present and past volcanic activity within the NGV. In the upper crust, we found several prominent high‐velocity anomalies interpreted as traces of large basaltic shield volcanoes, which were hidden by more recent volcanic structures and sediments. We interpret the mantle structure to reflect asthenospheric flow up through a slab window below the Kamchatka‐Aleutian junction that feeds the entire NGV. The interaction of the hot asthenospheric material with fluids released from the slab determines the particular volcanic activity within the NGV. We argue that the eastern branch of the Central Kamchatka Depression, which is associated with a prominent low‐velocity anomaly in the uppermost mantle, was formed as a recent rift zone separating the NGV from the Kamchatka Eastern Ranges.
Increasing Resolution and Resolving Convection Improve the Simulation of Cloud‐Radiative Effects Over the North Atlantic
Authors: Senf Fabian , Voigt Aiko , Clerbaux Nicolas , Hünerbein Anja , Deneke Hartwig
Published: September 2020

Clouds interact with atmospheric radiation and substantially modify the Earth's energy budget. Cloud formation processes occur over a vast range of spatial and temporal scales, which make their thorough numerical representation challenging. Therefore, the impact of parameter choices for simulations of cloud‐radiative effects is assessed in the current study. Numerical experiments are carried out using the ICOsahedral Nonhydrostatic (ICON) model with varying grid spacings between 2.5 and 80 km and with different subgrid‐scale parameterization approaches. Simulations are performed over the North Atlantic with either one‐moment or two‐moment microphysics and with convection being parameterized or explicitly resolved by grid‐scale dynamics. Simulated cloud‐radiative effects are compared to products derived from Meteosat measurements. Furthermore, a sophisticated cloud classification algorithm is applied to understand the differences and dependencies of simulated and observed cloud‐radiative effects. The cloud classification algorithm developed for the satellite observations is also applied to the simulation output based on synthetic infrared brightness temperatures, a novel approach that is not impacted by changing insolation and guarantees a consistent and fair comparison. It is found that flux biases originate equally from clear‐sky and cloudy parts of the radiation field. Simulated cloud amounts and cloud‐radiative effects are dominated by marine, shallow clouds, and their behavior is highly resolution dependent. Bias compensation between shortwave and longwave flux biases, seen in the coarser simulations, is significantly diminished for higher resolutions. Based on the analysis results, it is argued that cloud‐microphysical and cloud‐radiative properties have to be adjusted to further improve agreement with observed cloud‐radiative effects.
Effects of River Partial Penetration on the Occurrence of Riparian Freshwater Lenses: Theoretical Development
Authors: Jazayeri Amir , Werner Adrian D. , Wu Huiqiang , Lu Chunhui
Published: September 2020

Previous studies of freshwater lenses in saline aquifers adjoining gaining rivers (“riparian lenses”) have so far considered only rivers that fully penetrate the aquifer, whereas in most cases, rivers are only partially penetrating. This paper presents a new methodology for obtaining the saltwater discharge and the shape of a steady‐state, non‐dispersive riparian lens, where the river is partially penetrating, combining two previous analytical solutions. The resulting analytical solution is compared to numerical modeling results to assess assumptions and the methodology adopted to approximate the “turning effect”, which is the change in groundwater flow direction (horizontal to vertical) near the partially penetrating river. Model parameters were taken from previous studies, representing simplified conditions in the River Murray floodplains (Australia). Consistency between analytical and numerical results and field observations highlights the capability of the proposed analytical solution to predict the riparian lens geometry and saltwater discharge into partially penetrating rivers. Sensitivity analysis indicates that larger riparian lenses are produced adjacent to the deeper and wider rivers, as expected. The change in width or depth of the river has more influence on the saltwater discharge and the horizontal extent of the riparian lens (and less effect on the vertical extent of the lens adjacent to the river) for shallower and narrower rivers. This research highlights the utility of the new method and demonstrates that the assumption of a fully penetrating river likely leads to significant overestimation of the saltwater discharge to the river and the riparian lens horizontal extent and vertical depth.
Shaking Water Out of Sands: An Experimental Study
Authors: Breen Stephen J. , Zhang Zifan , Wang Chi‐Yuen
Published: September 2020

Strong earthquakes can cause different kinds of hydrological responses, and several mechanisms have been suggested to explain them. Verification of these mechanisms, however, is often lacking. Here we test some hypotheses with a laboratory experiment, in particular the hypothesis that dynamic strain mobilizes trapped water in the unsaturated zone. We construct a sand chamber, partially saturated with water, and subject it to “seismic” shaking of controlled energy. Pore pressure in the saturated and unsaturated zones is monitored before and after shaking. We identify three distinct mechanisms: consolidation of sediments in the saturated zone, release of capillary water from the capillary fringe, and mobilization of isolated pore water in the unsaturated zone. Each mechanism may cause pore pressure in the saturated zone to suddenly increase with shaking, and each may offer new insights to understand the source of the extra water and other shallow hydrological responses that appear after earthquakes.
Polarimetric parity-time symmetry in a photonic system
Authors: Li Lingzhi , Cao Yuan , Zhi Yanyan , Zhang Jiejun , Zou Yuting , Feng Xinhuan , Guan Bai-Ou , Yao Jianping
Published: September 2020

Parity-time (PT) symmetry has attracted intensive research interest in recent years. PT symmetry is conventionally implemented between two spatially distributed subspaces with identical localized eigenfrequencies and complementary gain and loss coefficients. The implementation is complicated. In this paper, we propose and demonstrate that PT symmetry can be implemented between two subspaces in a single spatial unit based on optical polarimetric diversity. By controlling the polarization states of light in the single spatial unit, the localized eigenfrequencies, gain, loss, and coupling coefficients of two polarimetric loops can be tuned, leading to PT symmetry breaking. As a demonstration, a fiber ring laser based on this concept supporting stable and single-mode lasing without using an ultranarrow bandpass filter is implemented.
The design of nitrogen-doped core–shell-structured mesopore-dominant hierarchical porous carbon nanospheres for high-performance capacitive deionization
Authors: Zhao Yubo , Li Xiujuan , Mo Xiaoping , Li Kexun
Published: September 2020

Nitrogen-doped core–shell-structured mesopore-dominant hierarchical porous carbon nanospheres are proven to be a promising material for high-performance capacitive deionization.
Building human capacity, capability and future leaders for Australia’s rangelands
Authors: Taylor John A. , Erkelenz Paul A. , Churchill Amber C.
Published: September 2020

Maintaining a skilled, knowledgeable and adaptable workforce in Australian rangeland enterprises and research, development and extension/adoption (RD&E/A) organisations is a varied and challenging task, compounded by trends of sustained losses of human capacity through senior retirements and short-term appointments over the last decade. Concerns for how to fill these gaps while gaining the skills and knowledge needed for a successful career and leadership roles were raised by students and young professionals in the World Cafe session and throughout Early Career workshops and activities at the 2019 Biennial Conference of the Australian Rangeland Society (ARS). This paper responds to these expressed information needs through drawing on literature, experiences shared by session participants, and existing ARS members currently working in the rangelands in diverse roles to provide insights into two main areas: (i) skills and knowledge for personal development and future success in the rangelands across three broad classes of occupation/careers (i.e. advisors, researchers, and producers), and (ii) skills and knowledge that will be expected of future leaders in the rangelands. We outline a variety of options for professional development in the early stage(s) of a career working on aspects of sustainable production systems and pathways to leadership throughout a career in the rangelands. We note the apparent lack of formal rangeland-specific education in Australia, and suggest that this is a major impediment to efforts to build skills and knowledge to ensure the viability of the livelihoods and the integrity of our rangelands. Finally, we believe that the ARS has the potential to play a more central role in inspiring interest and passion for the rangelands, in providing current information on (i) range science and management-relevant education and training opportunities in Australia and internationally, and (ii) leadership development and training opportunities; and in facilitating and supporting mentoring to develop and retain human capacity for a resilient future.
Clitic position in Old Occitan affirmative verb-first declaratives coordinated bye
Authors: Donaldson Bryan
Published: September 2020

This paper offers a variationist analysis of object and adverbial clitic position in coordinated affirmative verb-first main declaratives introduced bye(t)“and” in Old Occitan. In this context, clitics occur in either preverbal (e·l vestit“and clothed him”) or postverbal position (e perdonet li“and pardoned him”). Following recent work on Medieval Romance coordination, I posit that proclitic and enclitic examples reflect different coordination structures at the underlying syntactic level. Data from complete analyses of five major 13th- and 14th-century texts, analyzed in a variationist approach using logistic regression, reveal that the choice between coordination structures – and hence, between proclisis and enclisis – is principled rather than random and depends on the degree of continuity or rupture/discontinuity between the conjuncts.
Productivity, richness, and diversity of light verb constructions in the history of American English
Authors: Sundquist John D.
Published: September 2020

This study provides an empirical analysis of productivity in Light Verb Constructions (LVCs) in the history of American English. LVCs contain a semantically light verb likemakeortakethat may be paired with an abstract nominal object, as inmake an assumptionortake charge. Using a 406-million word corpus of texts written between 1810 and 2009, we track the frequency of LVCs and analyze the range of light verb + nominal object pairings. Using statistical measurements of biodiversity from the field of ecology, we evaluate the hypothesis that “the rich get richer” among light verbs: the most frequent verbs become more frequent and more diverse, occurring with an ever-growing variety of different NP complements. The results contribute to ongoing discussions in cross-linguistic, diachronic research on reasons for the growth of LVCs, the gradient nature of linguistic productivity, and the role of exemplars in the interaction between type and token frequencies during periods of linguistic change.
Stress in real time
Authors: Hofmann Klaus
Published: September 2020

This contribution reviews a series of studies by Kelly (and Bock), suggesting that stress preferences of English nouns and verbs for left-hand and right-hand stress patterns are partly a result of alternating rhythm in real utterances. This claim is tested on diachronic corpus data to verify its historical implications. By using verse evidence to calibrate stress values for historical word classes, the quantitative analysis confirms that distributional asymmetries regarding strong and weak syllables in the contexts of nouns and verbs have existed at least since Late Middle English. In addition, the claim that stem-final segments predict the likelihood of right-hand stress is not only confirmed but the effect is found to be independent of etymological origin.
Revisiting the Intelligibility and Nativeness Principles
Authors: Levis John
Published: September 2020

Levis (2005) named two conflicting approaches to pronunciation teaching, the Nativeness
Principle and the Intelligibility Principle. This paper revisits those two principles to argue for the superiority of the
Intelligibility Principle in regard to where pronunciation fits within the wider field of language teaching, in how it effectively
addresses teaching goals, in how it best addresses all contexts of L2 pronunciation learning, and in how it recognizes the reality
of social consequences of pronunciation differences. In contrast, the Nativeness Principle, despite its long pedigree and
many defenders, falls short by advocating native pronunciation for L2 learners, which is both unlikely to be achieved and
unnecessary for effective communication in the L2.
Young children’s uses of referring expressions
Authors: da Silva-Genest Christine , Marcos Haydée , Salazar Orvig Anne , Caët Stéphanie , Heurdier Julien
Published: September 2020

This chapter investigates the repertoire and the
uses of referring expressions in natural dialogues of 28
French-speaking children, aged between 1;7 and 2;6 years old. We
focus on three strong forms (nouns, strong demonstrative pronouns
and strong personal pronouns) and three weak forms (clitic personal
pronouns, null forms and fillers). Their uses are analyzed for the
following factors: the linguistic development, the type of referent
(participants vs. entities), the syntactic function, and the
attentional and discursive status of the referent. The results
reveal contrasted uses of referring expressions. Nouns are mainly
used for new or reintroduced referents, generally in syntactic
functions other than subject, whereas clitic personal pronouns (as
well as the other weak forms) are mainly used for given referents
and always as subjects. The type of referent (entities vs.
participants) also influences the use of referring expressions. The
discussion addresses the issue of the intertwining of morphological,
syntactic and pragmatic development.
Referring in dialogical narratives
Authors: Rezzonico Stefano , Vinel Elise , de Weck Geneviève , Hassan Rouba , Salagnac Nathalie
Published: September 2020

In a recent overview of the literature on
spontaneous and experimentally-produced speech, Allen, Hughes, and Skarabela
(2015) identified many discourse-pragmatic factors that
affect the use of referring expressions. In this chapter, we first
assess the individual effects and the relative importance of four
factors (i.e., position of the referring expression in the
referential chain and its syntactic function, the referent’s
characteristics – primacy and/or animacy – and the chronological
age) in a narrative dialogue between a mother and her child. Second,
we describe the joint impact of these factors on the use of nouns
and third-person pronouns. A total of 30 typically-developing
French-speaking children aged 4 to 7 years participated with their
mother in a joint storytelling. Our results corroborate those found
in the literature on the factors affecting young children’s use of
referring expressions. Furthermore, they show a complex network of
relations between the factors, that interestingly, was not the same
for nouns and third-person pronouns.
Referring expressions and developmental language
disorders
Authors: Rezzonico Stefano , Bernasconi Mélanie , de Weck Geneviève , da Silva-Genest Christine , Jullien Stéphane
Published: September 2020

This study investigated the relation between
morphosyntactic and discourse-pragmatic features in the production
of referential expressions by French-speaking children with
developmental language disorders (DLD) as compared to their
typically developing peers (TD). Fifteen TD children and 15 children
with DLD, age 4;6 to 7;5 were asked to tell a picture-book story
with their mother. The type of referring expression, the position in
the referential chain, and the syntactic function were coded. Both
groups of children were sensitive to discourse and syntax. Children
with DLD differed from their peers in the use of object clitic
pronouns in subsequent mentions, the proportion of nouns produced
without a determiner, and null subjects. Null subjects only appeared
in a particular discursive and pragmatic context.
Variations in adult use of referring expressions during
storytelling in different interactional settings
Authors: Hassan Rouba , de Weck Geneviève , Rezzonico Stefano , Salazar Orvig Anne , Vinel Elise
Published: September 2020

During the language acquisition process children
experience language in different interactional settings. In terms of
child-directed speech, we argue that children are exposed to
different models that vary according to different factors. This
chapter aims at grasping some aspects of these models, with a focus
on referring expressions. Data consists of narratives in three
interactional settings: mother-child interactions (Mother-to-Child
context), kindergarten sessions (School context), and adults telling
a story to an experimenter (Adult-to-Experimenter context). Children
were aged from 3 to 7. We compared the participants’ uses of
referring expressions in these three contexts and, in the
Mother-to-Child context, mothers interacting with a language
impaired child or not. Results show that adults’ uses of nouns and
clitic pronouns vary according to the interactional setting, and
that the uses of mothers and teachers when interacting with children
at home or in school do not correspond to those of adults in an
experimental setting.
The impact of speech genres on the use of referring
expressions
Authors: Vinel Elise , Salazar Orvig Anne , de Weck Geneviève , Nashawati Salma , Rahmati Somayeh
Published: September 2020

This chapter is aimed to assess the impact of
speech genre on the use of referring expressions. We examined this
impact in two corpora of mother-child dialogues (toddlers, ages
1;10–2;6 years and older children ages 4–7 years) via two separate
studies. The first study showed that among the toddlers, the
discursive sequence and the utterance genre influenced the use of
referring expression more strongly than the position in the
referential chain. In the second study, which looked at the
narrative sequences in both corpora, we observed two phenomena:
firstly, demonstrative expressions were relatively independent of
the position in the referential chain, with genre overriding
position; secondly, position in the referential chain took
precedence for the noun-pronoun opposition, a key factor in how
characters are handled in a narrative. However, the results also
showed that the position factor interacted with both genre and age.
The discussion deals with the implications of these findings for
understanding children’s first uses of referring expressions.
Performance of the MeltPro MTB Assays in the Diagnosis of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Using Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded Tissues
Authors: Mu Jing , Liu Zichen , Zhang Chen , Wang Chongli , Du Weili , Lin Haifeng , Li Kun , Song Jing , Che Nanying , Liu Honggang
Published: September 2020

Objectives

The MeltPro MTB assays for detection of resistance to antituberculosis (TB) drugs perform well in genotypic drug susceptibility testing (DST) of clinical samples, but their effectiveness with formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues is unknown.

Methods

FFPE tissues were obtained from 334 patients with TB. Susceptibility to rifampicin (RIF), isoniazid (INH), and fluoroquinolones was examined using the MeltPro MTB assays, with Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) and/or phenotypic DST (pDST) results as references. Samples with discordant results were analyzed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction–targeted amplicon sequencing (MTA-seq).

Results

With pDST as the reference, the MeltPro MTB assays sensitivity for RIF, INH, levofloxacin (LVX), and moxifloxacin (MXF) was 95.00%, 96.00%, 100%, and 100%, respectively, and the specificity was 95.15%, 95.92%, 94.69%, and 89.92%, respectively. Concordance was 99.08% between the MeltPro MTB and Xpert (κ = 0.956) for RIF and 95.12% (κ = 0.834), 95.93% (κ = 0.880), 95.12% (κ = 0.744), and 90.24% (κ = 0.367) between the MeltPro MTB and pDST for RIF, INH, LVX, and MXF, respectively. MTA-seq confirmed the discordancy between the MeltPro MTB and pDST for 26 (89.66%) of 29 samples.

Conclusions

The MeltPro MTB assays rapidly and efficiently predict Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistance to the main first- and second-line anti-TB drugs in FFPE tissues.
Blurring the Borders with Anzaldúa in Context-Informed, Anti-Oppressive Research: The Case of Bedouin Women
Authors: Marey-Sarwan Ibtisam , Roer-Strier Dorit , Strier Roni
Published: September 2020

Studies show that context-blind, quasi-universalist professional discourses may engender oppressive social work practices with excluded populations. For example, research confirms that social work with children and families, overtly or covertly embedded in Eurocentric, binary discourse of risk and protection, has played a highly negative role in the history of social work with non-Western populations. Based on Gloria Anzaldúa’s theory of the border, the article proposes context-informed, anti-oppressive social work research as a strategy to deconstruct binary and essentialist social work discourses with marginalized populations. Exemplified by a research project conducted in partnership with thirty-three Bedouin women in the southern part of Israel, the article offers a platform for the examination of the border as a liminal arena in which change took place by blurring theoretical, methodological and practical borders.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Bacillary Load by Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra Polymerase Chain Reaction Cycle Threshold Value Predicts 2-Week Mortality in Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Associated Tuberculous Meningitis
Authors: Martyn Emily M , Bangdiwala Ananta S , Kagimu Enock , Rutakingirwa Morris K , Kasibante John , Okirwoth Michael , Stead Gavin , Wadda Vincent , Pullen Matthew F , Bold Tyler D , Meya David B , Boulware David R , Bahr Nathan C , Cresswell Fiona V
Published: September 2020

Background

The World Health Organization recommends GeneXpert MTB/RIF Ultra (Xpert Ultra), a fully automated polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, as the initial tuberculous meningitis (TBM) diagnostic test. The assay’s PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values represent the number of PCR cycles required for probe signal to be detected (low Ct value = high bacillary load) and may approximate tuberculosis (TB) bacillary load. We measured the relationship between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) TB bacillary load with mortality.

Methods

We prospectively enrolled 102 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–positive Ugandans with probable or definite TBM from April 2015 to August 2019. Xpert Ultra Ct tertiles and semi-quantitative categories were separately analyzed as predictors of 2-week mortality. We investigated associations between Ct and baseline clinical and CSF parameters.

Results

Subjects with Ct values in the low tertile (ie, high bacillary load) had 57% 2-week mortality—worse than the intermediate (17%) and high (25%) Ct tertiles and Xpert Ultra–negative (30%) probable TBM cases (P = .01). In contrast, the reported semi-quantitative Xpert Ultra categorization was less precise; with the medium to low category trending toward worse 2-week survival (42%) compared with very low (28%), trace (26%), and negative (30%) categories (P = .48). Ct tertile was significantly associated with baseline CSF lactate (P = .03).

Conclusions

High CSF TB bacillary load, as measured by Xpert Ultra Ct tertile, is associated with an almost 2-fold higher 2-week mortality in HIV-associated TBM and is a better predictor than the reported Xpert Ultra semi-quantitative category. Xpert Ultra Ct values could identify TBM patients at increased risk of death who may benefit from enhanced supportive care.
Validation of the Red Flags Index for Early Diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease: A Prospective Observational IG-IBD Study Among General Practitioners
Authors: Fiorino Gionata , Bonovas Stefanos , Gilardi Daniela , Di Sabatino Antonio , Allocca Mariangela , Furfaro Federica , Roda Giulia , Lenti Marco V , Aronico Nicola , Mengoli Caterina , Angeli Enzo , Gaffuri Nicola , Peyrin-Biroulet Laurent , Danese Silvio
Published: September 2020

Introduction

Diagnostic delay >12 months is frequent in Crohn’s disease [CD]. Recently, the International Organization for Inflammatory Bowel Disease [IO-IBD] developed a tool to identify early CD and reduce diagnostic delay. Subjects with an index ≥8 are more likely to have suspected CD (odds ratio [OR] 205, p <0.0001). We aimed to validate this questionnaire at the community level in patients seen by the general practitioners [GPs] in two large areas of Lombardy, Italy.

Methods

Consecutive adult patients referring to the GP were screened. The GPs administered the Red Flags [RF] questionnaire to the eligible patients. All patients were referred to the nearest participating centre to confirm or exclude the diagnosis of CD. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values [PPV, NPV] of the RF index [RFI] were calculated. Patients lost to follow-up after the first gastroenterological visit were analysed using a non-responder imputation, assuming they were negative for CD diagnosis.

Results

From November 2016 to November 2019, 112 patients were included. A total of 66 subjects [59%] completed the study after the first gastroenterological visit. The prevalence of CD was 3.6% in the study population [4/112]. The RF index had 50% sensitivity, 58% specificity, 4% PPV, and 97% NPV. A combined diagnostic strategy with faecal calprotectin [FC] [RFI ≥8 and/or FC >250 ng/g] resulted in significantly improved accuracy: sensitivity 100% [29–100%], specificity 72% [55–85%], PPV = 21% [5–51%], NPV = 100% [88–100%].

Conclusions

The RF Index combined with FC is a valid tool to identify patients with high probability of having CD at early stage.
Nationwide cohort study of tricuspid valve repair versus replacement for infective endocarditis
Authors: Lee Hsiu-An , Chou An-Hsun , Wu Victor Chien-Chia , Chan Yi-Shin , Cheng Yu-Ting , Chang Chih-Hsiang , Chang Shang-Hung , Hung Kuo-Chun , Chu Pao-Hsien , Chen Shao-Wei
Published: September 2020

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of tricuspid valve (TV) repair versus replacement for patients with infective endocarditis (IE).

METHODS

In this nationwide population-based cohort study, we identified 704 patients from Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database who underwent TV surgery due to IE between 2000 and 2013. Of them, 412 (58.5%) underwent TV repair and 292 (41.5%) underwent TV replacement, and their perioperative and late outcomes were analysed. Confounding was reduced using the inverse probability of treatment weighting on propensity score.

RESULTS

After inverse probability of treatment weighting, the in-hospital mortality rate between the 2 groups was not significantly different. However, patients who received TV repair had lower rates of perioperative complications, including massive blood transfusion, de novo dialysis and deep wound infection; longer ICU and hospital stays; and higher hospital cost. Regarding late outcomes, TV repair was associated with lower risks of all-cause readmission [subdistribution hazard ratio (HR) 0.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.60–0.78; P < 0.001], readmission for adverse liver outcomes (subdistribution HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.58–0.97; P = 0.025), new permanent pacemaker implantation (subdistribution HR 0.27, 95% CI 0.15–0.48; P < 0.001) and all-cause mortality (HR 0.60, 95% CI 0.51–0.71; P < 0.001) than TV replacement.

CONCLUSIONS

For IE, TV repair is associated with better early and late outcomes than TV replacement. A repair-first strategy is recommended for patients with IE for whom TV surgery is indicated.