LexFindR: A fast, simple, and extensible R package for finding similar words in a lexicon

Published 30 September 2021Language scientists often need to generate lists of related words, such as potential competitors. Theymay do this for purposes of experimental control (e.g., selecting items matched on lexical neighborhood but varying in word frequency), or to test theoretical predictions (e.g., hypothesizing that a novel type of competitor may impact word recognition). Several online tools are available, but most are constrained to a fixed lexicon and fixed sets of competitor definitions, and may not give the user full access to or control of source data. We present LexFindR, an open-source R package that can be easily modified to include additional, novel competitor types. LexFindR is easy to use. Because it can leverage multiple CPU cores and uses vectorized code when possible, it is also extremely fast. In this article, we present an overview of LexFindR usage, illustrated with examples.We also explain the details of how we implemented several standard lexical competitor types used in spoken word recognition research (e.g., cohorts, neighbors, embeddings, rhymes), and show how “lexical dimensions” (e.g., word frequency, word length, uniqueness point) can be integrated into LexFindR workflows (for example, to calculate “frequency-weighted competitor probabilities”), for both spoken and visual word recognition research.This work was supported in part by U.S. National Science Foundation grants PAC 1754284 (JM, PI) and IGE NRT 1747486 (JM, PI). The authors are solely responsible for the content of this article. This work was also supported in part by the Basque Government through the BERC 2018-2021 program, and by the Agencia Estatal de Investigaci´on through BCBL Severo Ochoa excellence accreditation SEV-2015-0490

Resolving diverse oxygen transport pathways across Sr-doped lanthanum ferrite and metal-perovskite heterostructures

Perovskite structured transition metal oxides are important technological materials for catalysis and solid oxide fuel cell applications. Their functionality often depends on oxygen diffusivity and mobility through complex oxide heterostructures, which can be significantly impacted by structural and chemical modifications, such as doping. Further, when utilized within electrochemical cells, interfacial reactions with other components (e.g. Ni- and Cr-based alloy electrodes and interconnects) can influence the perovskite's reactivity and ion transport, leading to complex dependencies that are difficult to control in real-world environments. Here we use isotopic tracers and atom probe tomography to directly visualize oxygen diffusion and transport pathways across perovskite and metal-perovskite heterostructures, i.e. (Ni-Cr coated) Sr-doped lanthanum ferrite (LSFO). Annealing in 18O2(g) results in elemental and isotopic redistributions through oxygen exchange (OE) in the LSFO while Ni-Cr undergoes oxidation via multiple mechanisms and transport pathways. Complementary density functional theory (DFT) calculations at experimental conditions provide rationale for OE reaction mechanisms and reveal a complex interplay of different thermodynamic and kinetic drivers. Our results shed light on the fundamental coupling of defects and oxygen transport in an important class of catalytic materials.Comment: 39 pages, 10 figure

Drought differently destabilizes soil structure in a chronosequence of abandoned agricultural lands

Climate change is causing an increase in the frequency and severity of drought, and this has a significant influence on the global C cycle as soils are the main sink for C in terrestrial ecosystems. Drought can have serious consequences for the structural stability of the soil, which influences the protection of the organic matter stored in the soils and hence its mineralization. In this work we study the effects of an extreme drought event on the structural stability of the soil in Mediterranean annual grasslands developed after the abandonment of agricultural activity. This was done by building a chronosequence of abandoned vineyards and determining the changes in the stability of the soil aggregates and organic matter by monitoring these parameters for three consecutive years in permanent plots with different ages of abandonment. This period of time included an extreme drought event in the second year with a strong positive thermal anomaly, which caused a serious structural destabilization of the soil and had a major impact on the soil C and N cycles. The breakdown of the soil aggregates left unprotected a large amount of organic substrates that were rapidly mineralized when the environmental conditions were favourable for soil biological activity. This had significant repercussions on the functioning of these abandoned ecosystems, which became sources of atmospheric CO2, when under normal conditions they act as C sinks. Furthermore, the effects of this extreme event were more severe in the plots with longer periods of abandonment, which have the highest amount of C accumulated in the soil

High Open Circuit Voltage Solar Cells based on bright mixed-halide CsPbBrI2 Perovskite Nanocrystals Synthesized in Ambient Air Conditions

Lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) are currently emerging as one of the most interesting solution processed semiconductors since they possess high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY), and colour tunability through anion exchange reactions or quantum confinement. Here, we show efficient solar cells based on mixed halide (CsPbBrI2) NCs obtained via anion exchange reactions in ambient conditions. We performed anion exchange reactions in concentrated NC solutions with I-, thus inducing a PL red-shift up to 676 nm, and obtaining a high PLQY in film (65%). Solar cell devices operating in the wavelength range 350-660 nm were fabricated in air with two different deposition methods. The solar cells display a photo-conversion efficiency of 5.3% and open circuit voltage (Voc) up to 1.31V, among the highest reported for perovskite based solar cells with band gap below 2eV, clearly demonstrating the potential of this material.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Identification of main factors to characterize young people with greatest intention of buying footwear online

The study seeks to identify the main factors that contribute to characterize young people in an emerging city like Lima, one of the cities with the lowest online channel penetration in Latin America, intending to buy a physical product online. Surveys were applied and then analyzed using a logistic regression model that resulted in men with a greater experience of use, with a favorable perception of return, and with the possibility of being influenced by other people, have a greater probability of having high intention to buy online a physical product. From all the perceived risks that were originally proposed, the logistical risk (delivery and/or return) and the social risk were those that showed a better behavior to characterize young people with greater probability of buying footwear online

Outstanding performance of the microwave-made MMO-Ti/RuO2IrO2 anode on the removal of antimicrobial activity of Penicillin G by photoelectrolysis

This paper studies the applicability of a novel microwave-prepared mixed metal oxide (MMO-Ti/RuO2IrO2) anode in the electrolysis and photo-electrolysis of synthetic urine intensified with Penicillin G. Results are compared with those obtained using boron-doped diamond (BDD) as the anode. In general, electrolysis with both anodes are effective in terms of penicillin removal, and the combination with UV radiation shows a clear synergistic effect on the degradation of Penicillin G: 420% and 355% using MMO and BDD, respectively. The outstanding performance of the MMO-Ti/RuO2IrO2 anode is demonstrated by the decrease in toxicity and the reduction of the antibiotic effect on the urine observed during photo-electrolysis. Notably, photo-electrolysis using the MMO-Ti/RuO2IrO2 anode generates solutions with almost zero residual toxicity and without antibiotic effect, with lower specific energy consumption than using BDD anode. The remarkable performance of the microwaves-prepared MMO-Ti/RuO2IrO2 coatings makes them very promising for being used in the electrochemical treatment of sanitary wastes.Este artículo estudia la aplicabilidad de un novedoso ánodo de óxido metálico mixto (MMO-Ti/RuO 2 IrO 2 ) preparado con microondas en la electrólisis y fotoelectrólisis de orina sintética intensificada con penicilina G. Los resultados se comparan con los obtenidos usando diamante (BDD) como ánodo. En general, la electrólisis con ambos ánodos es efectiva en términos de eliminación de penicilina, y la combinación con radiación UV muestra un claro efecto sinérgico en la degradación de Penicilina G: 420% y 355% usando MMO y BDD, respectivamente. El excelente rendimiento del MMO-Ti/RuO 2 IrO 2ánodo se demuestra por la disminución de la toxicidad y la reducción del efecto antibiótico en la orina observado durante la fotoelectrólisis. En particular, la fotoelectrólisis utilizando el ánodo MMO-Ti/RuO 2 IrO 2 genera soluciones con una toxicidad residual casi nula y sin efecto antibiótico, con un consumo de energía específico menor que utilizando el ánodo BDD. El notable rendimiento de los recubrimientos MMO-Ti/RuO 2 IrO 2 preparados con microondas los hace muy prometedores para su uso en el tratamiento electroquímico de desechos sanitarios

Soil abandonment as a trigger for changes in Zn fractionation in afforested former vineyard acidic soils

Zinc is an essential element for plant nutrition, but it may cause toxicity depending on its bioavailability and potential transformation in soil. In vineyard soils, high concentrations of Zn are usually found, mainly due to agricultural practices. However, a great abandonment of vineyards has recently occurred, leading to changes in the total and bioavailable Zn concentrations, as well as Zn fractionation. We analyzed Zn concentrations (total, ZnT, and bioavailable, ZnED) and fractionation in the soil of three paired sites (PM, PT, and AR) up to depths of 50 cm in active and adjacent abandoned vineyards that were already transformed into forests. The ZnT averaged at 210 mg kg−1 among all studied vineyards. The results showed changes in the vertical pattern ZnT concentrations after vineyard abandonment at the PM and PT sites, while at the AR site, no great variation occurred. The ZnED (mean values = 7 mg kg−1) decreased after abandonment at PM and AR in the uppermost surface layers, while it increased in the top 10 cm at the PT site, reaching up to 60 mg kg−1. Regarding Zn fractionation in active vineyards, the residual fraction (ZnR) was the most abundant, followed by Zn bound to crystalline Fe and Al oxy-hydroxides (ZnC) and Zn bound to soil organic matter (ZnOM). After abandonment, the ZnR slightly increased and the ZnC slightly decreased at the PM and AR sites at all depths, while the ZnOM showed a noticeable variation in the uppermost 10 cm of the PT site. These results suggest that the soil organic matter that is provided during afforestation may play an important role in Zn fractionation and mobilization, depending on its humification degree and chemical stability. Zn mobilization could result in a positive nutrient supply for plants, but caution must be taken, since an excess of Zn could cause toxicity in long-term abandoned vineyards.Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C2021/46-GRCAgencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. JC2020-044426-IUniversidade de Vig

Assessment of prospective geological hazards in Torrevieja-La Mata coast (western Mediterranean) based on Pleistocene and Holocene events

The coastal zone in which the lagoons of La Mata and Torrevieja (Eastern Spain) developed can be described as a compilation of geo-hazards typical of the Mediterranean realm. This study has focused mainly on those linked to recent tectonics. Extensive use of the amino acid racemization dating method allowed us to establish the evolution of all the geomorphological units differentiated in the area, the most striking manifestation being at the La Mata Lagoon Bar, where MIS 5 deposits settled on MIS 7 sediments along a marked erosive unconformity, thereby attesting coastal uplift between these two stages. In addition, recent uplift processes were reflected on stepped abrasion platforms and, in some cases, enormous boulders were transported over these platforms by extreme surge waves. Furthermore, we obtained feasible evidence that, during the end of MIS 5, an earthquake with an offshore epicenter linked to Torrevieja Fault, Bajo Segura Fault or the set of faults linked to the former, was responsible for tsunami surge deposits represented in accumulations of randomly arranged and well-preserved Glycymeris and Acanthocardia shells. Recent catastrophic effects linked to the earthquakes were also detected. In this regard, comparison of the paleontological and taphonomic analyses allowed us to discern between wave and tsunami surge deposits. Therefore, evidence of these hazards undoubtedly points to important future (and present) erosive and/or catastrophic processes, which are enhanced by the presence of tourist resorts and salt-mining industry. Thus, these sites are also threatened by future increases in sea level in the context of warmer episodes, attested by raised marine fossil deposits. At the north of Cervera Cape, beaches will be eroded, without any possibility of sediment input from the starved Segura River delta. At the south of this cape, waves (and tsunamis) will erode the soft rocks that built up the cliff, creating deep basal notches