Evaluating the Sino-Tibeto-Austronesian Hypothesis

This paper analyses and evaluates the alleged genetic relationship between Sino-Tibetan and Austronesian, proposed by the French sinologist Laurent Sagart. The aim of the following paper is neither to prove, nor to disprove the Sino-Tibeto-Austronesian superphylum but to argue whether the data presented in favour of this proposed genetic relationship do or do not stand the scrutiny of a historical linguist. This paper also considers the hypothetical homeland of Proto-Sino-Tibeto-Austronesian people, with an eye towards competing hy-potheses, such as Sino-Indo-European. It is concluded that Sagart’s approach may be insuffi-cient for proof of controversial cases of disputed genetic relationship, given the non-obvious relatedness of the languages he is comparing.Orlandi Giorgio. Evaluating the Sino-Tibeto-Austronesian Hypothesis. Journal of Language Relationship, 16, 1-2, 1. https://doi.org/10.31826/jlr-2018-161-204

<Book Review>Japanese linguistics, The Japanese language I

Orlandi Giorgio (Georg). Japanese linguistics, The Japanese language I. Journal of Japanese Linguistics, 36, 2, 311. https://doi.org/10.1515/jjl-2020-2029

On the classification of the Ng Yap dialects: some thoughts on the subgrouping of Sinitic languages

The Ng Yap (formerly Sze Yap) dialects are routinely considered a branch of the Yue subfamily. This paper seeks to demonstrate that, contrary to this widespread opinion, these dialects show a wide range of distinctive features which, for formal purposes of language/dialect classification, may warrant their separation from the Yue subfamily. This paper also discusses the criteria which are often at the basis of language subgrouping in the field of Chinese linguistics. Nevertheless, this work should be regarded only as an attempt of stimulating a further discussion into a topic which has been overlooked for far too long.Orlandi Giorgio.. On the classification of the Ng Yap dialects: some thoughts on the subgrouping of Sinitic languages. Journal of Language Relationship, 17, 1-2, 128. https://doi.org/10.31826/jlr-2019-171-212

The Resonance Raman SpectraOf Biologically Relevant PolyeneDerivatives in T1: A TheoreticalInvestigation

The vibrational structure of the T1 resonance Raman spectra of β-ionylidene acetaldehyde (C15 aldehyde) and retinal are analyzed with the help of semiempirical quantum chemical calculations. The T1 equilibrium structures and vibrational force fields, along with the structure in the Tn state which is in resonance with the exciting wavelength, are obtained and employed to model the spectra under the assumption of a dominant Franck–Condon mechanism

On the relationship between drag and vertical velocity fluctuations in flow over riblets and liquid infused surfaces

Direct numerical simulations (DNS) of flow over triangular and rectangular riblets in a wide range of size and Reynolds number have been carried out. The flow within the grooves is directly resolved by exploiting the immersed-boundary method. It is found that the drag reduction property is primarily associated with the capability of inhibiting vertical velocity fluctuations at the plane of the crests, as in liquid-infused surfaces (LIS) devices. This is mimicked in DNS through artificial suppression of the vertical velocity component, which yields large drag decrease, proportionate to the riblets size. A parametrization of the drag reduction effect in terms of the vertical velocity variance is found to be quite successful in accounting for variation of the controlling parameters. A Moody-like friction diagram is thus introduced which incorporates the effect of slip velocity and a single, geometry-dependent parameter. Reduced drag-reduction efficiency of LIS-like riblets is found as compared to cases with artificially imposed slip velocity. Last, we find that simple wall models of riblets and LIS-like devices are unlikely to provide accurate prediction of the flow phenomenon, and direct resolution of flow within the grooves in necessary

L’epigrafia delle terme pubbliche nell’Africa romana tra linguaggio tecnico e pubblica utilità

The in-depth analysis of the epigraphic record from Rome related to the restoration of thermal baths and other water structures seems to reveal two so far neglected aspects, which emerge from the end of the third century A.D.: firstly, the frequent use of specialised technical terms to describe the parts of the buildings involved in the restoration works, occasionally including details of the decoration and the materials used. Secondly, reference is often explicitly made to the needs and requests of citizens, the ultimate recipients of these public works. On the basis of these results, the analysis has been extended to the epigraphic record from Roman Africa with the aim of determining whether, within the same chronological horizon, the same might apply to the North African provinces. These are especially noteworthy for their rich epigraphic heritage, which includes a high number of inscriptions relating to public works and thermal buildings in particular.Da un’analisi approfondita dei testi epigrafici di Roma relativi ai restauri di terme o di altre strutture idriche ad esse correlate, sembrano emergere, dalla fine del III sec. d.C., due aspetti fino ad ora poco approfonditi: in primo luogo, un’attenzione per l’uso di termini tecnici dettagliati per descrivere le parti degli edifici coinvolte nei lavori, senza a volte trascurare di menzionare l’ornato e i materiali utilizzati; in seconda istanza, compare un riferimento, spesso esplicito, ai bisogni e al desiderio dei cittadini, destinatari sociali dell’intervento. Sulla base di queste premesse, si è voluto estendere l’indagine all’Africa romana per comprendere se quanto emerso per Roma e altre realtà geografiche, nel medesimo ambito cronologico, sia valido anche per le province nordafricane, che si distinguono per il ricco patrimonio epigrafico, e per l’elevata percentuale di esso riguardante opere pubbliche e edifici termali in particolare

Vihronic Coupling in Carbonyl Compounds

The vibronic coupling integrals for a series of molecules containing carbonyl groups (formaldehyde, glyoxal, biacetyl) have been evaluated in the "floating orbital" scheme. The expression of the normal coordinates necessary for the evaluation of such integrals has been obtained through a MIND0/3 procedure, whereas the electronic wave functions were of CNDO/S type. The role of the main vibrations active in the coupling between the various states has been individuated and discussed with respect to spectroscopic properties, such as the induced intensities of forbidden bands, and to photophysical properties, such as the non-radiative deactivation of the lowest singlet state