Cognitive status and referential acts in functional discourse grammar

In Functional Discourse Grammar, both Ascription and Reference are characterized as actional processes and are captured at the Interpersonal Level of linguistic description. Additionally, the temporal sequencing of Discourse Acts seems relevant to establishing dependency relations among them. However, the remainder of the levels of representation in the theory contain static descriptions of linguistic structures and not of processes. In this paper, I will argue that this is the result of an inherent contradiction between FDG?s characterization as a static grammar and the dynamicity of verbal interaction, which is best solved if the theory commits itself to the procedural nature of the Interpersonal Level. In order to do so, the different categories that have been identified in the literature on the cognitive status of referents should find relevance in the grammar. Elaborating upon García Velasco (2014), I will show that the temporal dimension of the text creating activity and referent accessibility, are relevant for a full account of constituent preposing in Spanish

El sufijo nominalizador-Iing como un caso de préstamo: una propuesta de análisis en FDG

En este artículo se analiza un caso particular de préstamo lingüístico: el uso del sufijo inglés -ing con bases nativas y se da cuenta de su aparición y uso en el español peninsular de forma que resulta compatible con la arquitectura general de la Gramática Discursivo Funcional. En primer lugar, se introducen nociones relevantes del cambio lingüístico motivado por el contacto entre lenguas. A continuación, se describe el uso de anglicismos con el sufijo -ing en el español con especial referencia a formas híbridas que contienen bases nativas. Se trata la cuestión de si este fenómeno ilustra un caso de préstamo directo o indirecto y se concluye que muestra signos de ambos. En la segunda parte del artículo se integran estas observaciones en el marco de la Gramática Discursivo Funcional. Se argumenta que el Componente Contextual resulta crucial tanto para dar cuenta de la motivación del préstamo como del uso derivativo del sufijo, que es inicialmente introducido desde el contexto al codificador morfosintáctico.In this paper, I explore a particular type of borrowing into the Spanish language, the use of the English suffix -ing with Spanish bases, and provide an account of both its emergence in the language and its use in peninsular Spanish which is compatible with the general architecture of Functional Discourse Grammar and the theory of verbal interaction in which the grammar component is integrated. First, I introduce some relevant notions of contact-induced language change, lexical and affix borrowing and their motivating factors. Next, I describe the widespread use of -ing Anglicisms in the Spanish language with special attention to hybrid forms containing Spanish bases. I address the question whether the use of English -ing suffix with Spanish bases qualifies as a case of direct or indirect affix bor- rowing and I conclude that the process shows signs of both at the same time. In the second part of the paper, I integrate my findings in the theory of Functional Discourse Grammar. I argue that the Contextual Component is crucial both in accounting for the motivation of this borrowing and the derivational use of the suffix, which is introduced directly from the context and feeds the Morphosyntactic encoder

Degree Words in English: A Functional Discourse Grammar Account

El presente artículo desarrolla un análisis de las palabras de grado en el inglés en la Gramática Discursivo-Funcional. La función de las palabras de grado es especificar el grado o valor de una unidad graduable en una escala o dimensión. Una observación crucial es el hecho de que las palabras de grado muestran propiedades gramaticales diferentes, lo que se debe en parte a que tan sólo algunas introducen un estándar de comparación en forma de cláusula comparativa o de resultado. En consecuencia, el artículo argumenta que estas han de ser analizadas como predicados léxicos, mientras que aquellas que no introducen un estándar de comparación deben considerarse como la expresión gramatical de un operador en el Nivel Representativo. Por último, el artículo hace también referencia al valor interpersonal de los adverbios de grado en -ly.This paper proposes an account of English degree words within Functional Discourse Grammar. It is argued that the function of degree words is to specify the degree or value of a gradable unit along a scale or dimension. Crucially, the members of the degree word class show different grammatical properties, which is partly due to the fact that some introduce a standard of comparison with result or comparative clauses, whereas others do not. Consequently, it is claimed that the former are best treated as lexical predicates, while the latter should be considered the grammatical expression of operators at the Representational Level. Additionally, the interpersonal value of degree adverbs in -ly is also commented upon

Fatty Acids and Antioxidants in Multiple Sclerosis: Therapeutic Role of GEMSP

[EN] Multiple sclerosis is a high-frequency neurological disorder in young adults. Although there are some genetic and environmental factors that have been related to the onset of the disease, these are still not completely understood and nowadays multiple sclerosis can neither be prevented, nor its symptom effectively treated due to disease heterogeneity. For this reason, the search of prognostic factors and new therapeutic compounds for MS has long aroused among clinicians and researchers. Among these therapeutic compounds, GEMSP, which consists of a mixture of functional constituents as fatty acids, antioxidants, free radical scavengers and amino acids linked individually to poly-L-Lysine (PL), is emerging as a promising drug for MS treatment. Pre-clinical studies using GEMSP have demonstrated that this drug strongly inhibits brain leukocyte infiltration and completely abolishes experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. In addition, in an open clinical trial in humans treated with GEMSP, in 72% of the cases, a positive evolution of the state of the MS patients treated with GMSP was observed. In this review a biochemical characterization of main constituents of GEMSP, which include fatty acids as oleic acid, linoleic acid or azelaic acid and the antioxidants alpha-tocopherol or ascorbic acid, will be provided in order to understand their proved therapeutic effects in MS

Influence of elastomeric matrix and particle volume fraction on the mechanical response of magneto-active polymers

Magneto-active polymers (MAPs) are revolutionising the fields of material science and solid mechanics as well as having an important presence in the bioengineering community. These composites consist of a polymeric matrix (i.e., elastomer) filled with magnetic particles (i.e., iron particles). When bonded together, these two phases form a continuum solid that, under the application of an external magnetic field, mechanically reacts leading to changes in shape and volume or/and alterations in its rheological properties. Such a magneto-mechanical response is determined by the material properties of the polymeric matrix and magnetic particles. In this work, we present the mechanical characterisation of MAPs constituted by PDMS filled with carbonyl iron powder (CIP) particles. To this end, sixteen different combinations of elastomeric base/crosslinker mixing ratio (from 5:1 to 20:1) and particles' volume fraction (from 0% to 30%) are tested under tensile loading. These results are analysed and provide the bases for the formulation of a nonlinear constitutive model that accounts for these dependencies. The modelling approach is extended to incorporate magneto-mechanical effects. Finally, the complete model is used to provide theoretical guidance for magneto-active systems, highlighting potential applications in epithelial wound healing stimulation.DGG, DV and MAM acknowledge support from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No. 947723,project: 4D-BIOMAP). The authors acknowledge support from Programa de Apoyo a la Realización de Proyectos Interdisciplinares deI+D para Jóvenes Investigadores de la Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and Comunidad de Madrid, Spain (project: BIOMASKIN). DGG acknowledges support from the Talent Attraction grant (CM 2018 -2018-T2/IND-9992) from the Comunidad de Madrid and MAM acknowledges support from the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion y Universidades, Spain (FPU19/03874)

A Novel Approach to Trojan Horse Detection in Mobile Phones Messaging and Bluetooth Services

A method to detect Trojan horses in messaging and Bluetooth in mobile phones by means of monitoring the events produced by the infections is presented in this paper. The structure of the detection approach is split into two modules: the first is the Monitoring module which controls connection requests and sent/received files, and the second is the Graphical User module which shows messages and, under suspicious situations, reports the user about a possible malware. Prototypes have been implemented on different mobile operating systems to test its feasibility on real cellphone malware. Experimental results are shown to be promising since this approach effectively detects various known malwareMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovación TIN2009-14378-C02-0

Kv1.3 channels can modulate cell proliferation during phenotypic switch by an ion-flux independent mechanism

Producción CientíficaObjective: Phenotypic modulation of vascular smooth muscle cells has been associated with a decreased expression of all voltage-dependent potassium channel (Kv)1 channel encoding genes but Kcna3 (which encodes Kv1.3 channels). In fact, upregulation of Kv1.3 currents seems to be important to modulate proliferation of mice femoral vascular smooth muscle cells in culture. This study was designed to explore if these changes in Kv1 expression pattern constituted a landmark of phenotypic modulation across vascular beds and to investigate the mechanisms involved in the proproliferative function of Kv1.3 channels. Methods and Results: Changes in Kv1.3 and Kv1.5 channel expression were reproduced in mesenteric and aortic vascular smooth muscle cells, and their correlate with protein expression was electrophysiologicaly confirmed using selective blockers. Heterologous expression of Kv1.3 and Kv1.5 channels in HEK cells has opposite effects on the proliferation rate. The proproliferative effect of Kv1.3 channels was reproduced by “poreless” mutants but disappeared when voltagedependence of gating was suppressed. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the signaling cascade linking Kv1.3 functional expression to cell proliferation is activated by the voltage-dependent conformational change of the channels without needing ion conduction. Additionally, the conserved upregulation of Kv1.3 on phenotypic modulation in several vascular beds makes this channel a good target to control unwanted vascular remodeling.Instituto de Salud Carlos III (grant R006/009)Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (grant BFU2010-15898)Junta de Castilla y León (grant VA094A11-2