The pivotal role of metaphor in the evolution of human language

There is broad agreement among evolutionary linguists that the emergence of human language, as opposed to other primate communication systems, is characterised by two key phenomena: the use of symbols, and the use of grammatical structure (Tomasello 2003). In this paper, we show that these two defining aspects of language actually emerge from the same set of underlying cognitive mechanisms within the context of ostensive-inferential communication. We take an avowedly cognitive approach to the role of metaphor in language change, setting out how general capacities such as the recognition of common ground, the inference of meaning from context, and the memorisation of language usage, can together lead to the conventionalisation of metaphors, and thence to systematic changes in language structure, including the development of grammatical linguistic units from formerly meaningful elements through grammaticalisation (Hoefler and Smith 2009). We show that the relevant cognitive competences are general-purpose mechanisms which are crucially not specific to language; they also underpin non-linguistic communication, where the same processes lead to the emergence of apparently arbitrary symbols

Increasing chromosome 1 copy number parallels histological progression in breast carcinogenesis

Chromosome 1 copy number in the benign breast lesions hyperplasia and atypical duct hyperplasia (ADH) was investigated using fluorescence in situ hybridization on paraffin sections. Progression of chromosome 1 changes occurring in parallel with histological progression from normal through hyperplasia and ADH to ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and invasive carcinoma was also assessed, both overall and within individual patients. The mean signal number for normal cells was 1.14, while that for hyperplasia was 1.56 and ADH was 1.5, while values for DCIS of 1.95 and invasive duct carcinoma of 1.79, were higher (P< 0.001). Six of the seven cases also showed a significant trend towards an increasing proportion of cells with greater than 2 signals per nucleus occurring with histological progression (P< 0.001). These results support the concept that benign proliferative breast disease is a biological precursor of in-situ and invasive ductal carcinoma, the early histological changes possibly indicating a field effect with further genetic changes required for the development of a malignant phenotype. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaig

The nonlinear association between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism: An individual data meta‐analysis

Objective: Narcissism can manifest in grandiose and vulnerable patterns of experience and behavior. While largely unrelated in the general population, individuals with clinically relevant narcissism are thought to display both. Our previous studies showed that trait measures of grandiosity and vulnerability were unrelated at low-to-moderate levels of grandiose narcissism, but related at high levels. Method: We replicate and extend these findings in a preregistered individual data meta-analysis ("mega-analysis") using data from the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI)/Hypersensitive Narcissism Scale (HSNS; N = 10,519, k = 28) and the Five-Factor Narcissism Inventory (FFNI; N = 7,738, k = 17). Results: There was strong evidence for the hypothesis in the FFNI (βGrandiose 1 SD = .36, βGrandiose > 2 SD = .53), and weaker evidence in the NPI/HSNS (βGrandiose 1 SD = .12, βGrandiose > 2 SD = .32). Nonlinearity increased with age but was invariant across other moderators. Higher vulnerability was predicted by elevated antagonistic and low agentic narcissism at subfactor level. Conclusion: Narcissistic vulnerability increases at high levels of grandiosity. Interpreted along Whole Trait Theory, the effects are thought to reflect state changes echoing in trait measures and can help to link personality and clinical models

1,1,3,3-Tetratriflylpropene (TTP): A Strong, Allylic C–H Acid for Brønsted and Lewis Acid Catalysis

Tetratrifylpropene (TTP) has been developed as a highly acidic, allylic C–H acid for Brønsted and Lewis acid catalysis. It can readily be obtained in two steps and consistently shows exceptional catalytic activities for Mukaiyama aldol, Hosomi–Sakurai, and Friedel–Crafts acylation reactions. X-ray analyses of TTP and its salts confirm its designed, allylic structure, in which the negative charge is delocalized over four triflyl groups. NMR experiments, acidity measurements, and theoretical investigations provide further insights to rationalize the remarkable reactivity of TTP

Prevalence and severity of mental disorders in military personnel: a standardised comparison with civilians

Aims. Provision and need for mental health services among military personnel are a major concern across nations. Two recent comparisons suggest higher rates of mental disorders in US and UK military personnel compared with civilians. However, these findings may not apply to other nations. Previous studies have focused on the overall effects of military service rather than the separate effects of military service and deployment. This study compared German military personnel with and without a history of deployment to sociodemographically matched civilians regarding prevalence and severity of 12-month DSM-IV mental disorders. Method. 1439 deployed soldiers (DS), 779 never deployed soldiers (NS) and 1023 civilians were assessed with an adapted version of the Munich Composite International Diagnostic interview across the same timeframe. Data were weighted using propensity score methodology to assure comparability of the three samples. Results. Compared with adjusted civilians, the prevalence of any 12-month disorder was lower in NS (OR: 0.7, 95% CI: 0.5–0.99) and did not differ in DS. Significant differences between military personnel and civilians regarding prevalence and severity of individual diagnoses were only apparent for alcohol (DS: OR: 0.3, 95% CI: 0.1–0.6; NS: OR: 0.2, 95% CI: 0.1–0.6) and nicotine dependence (DS: OR: 0.5, 95% CI: 0.3–0.6; NS: OR: 0.5, 95% CI: 0.3–0.7) with lower values in both military samples. Elevated rates of panic/agoraphobia (OR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.4–5.3) and posttraumatic stress disorder (OR: 3.2, 95% CI: 1.3–8.0) were observed in DS with high combat exposure compared with civilians. Conclusions. Rates and severity of mental disorders in the German military are comparable with civilians for internalising and lower for substance use disorders. A higher risk of some disorders is reduced to DS with high combat exposure. This finding has implications for mental health service provision and the need for targeted interventions. Differences to previous US and UK studies that suggest an overall higher prevalence in military personnel might result from divergent study methods, deployment characteristics, military structures and occupational factors. Some of these factors might yield valuable targets to improve military mental health

The role of mental disorders in the risk and speed of transition to alcohol use disorders among community youth

Background Among adolescents and young adults with DSM-IV alcohol use disorders (AUDs), there are inter-individual differences in the speed of transition from initial alcohol use (AU) to AUD. AUDs are highly co-morbid with other mental disorders. The factors associated with rapid transition from first AU to AUD remain unknown and the role of mental disorders in rapid transitions is unclear. Given this background we examined (1) whether prior anxiety, mood, externalizing and non-alcohol substance use disorders are related to the risk and speed of transition from first AU to DSM-IV alcohol abuse (AA) and alcohol dependence (AD) and (2) whether early age of onset of prior mental disorders (PMDs) is a promoter of rapid transition. Method A total of 3021 community subjects (97.7% lifetime AU) aged 14-24 years at baseline were followed up prospectively for up to 10 years. AU and mental disorders were assessed with the DSM-IV/M-CIDI. Results Among subjects with lifetime AU, several PMDs, such as specific phobia, bipolar disorder and nicotine dependence, were associated with an increased risk of AUD independent of externalizing disorders. Associations of PMDs with the speed of transition to AUDs were mostly weak and inconsistent. Only social phobia and externalizing disorders were associated with faster transitions to AD even after adjustment for other PMDs. Earlier age of onset of PMD was not associated with rapid transition. Conclusions Mental disorders are associated with the risk of AUD. With the possible exception of social phobia and externalizing disorders, they do not promote rapid transition, even if they occur particularly early. Future research needs to identify factors relevant to rapid transition to AU

Coherent instabilities in a semiconductor laser with fast gain recovery

We report the observation of a coherent multimode instability in quantum cascade lasers (QCLs), which is driven by the same fundamental mechanism of Rabi oscillations as the elusive Risken-Nummedal-Graham-Haken (RNGH) instability predicted 40 years ago for ring lasers. The threshold of the observed instability is significantly lower than in the original RNGH instability, which we attribute to saturable-absorption nonlinearity in the laser. Coherent effects, which cannot be reproduced by standard laser rate equations, can play therefore a key role in the multimode dynamics of QCLs, and in lasers with fast gain recovery in general.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Experimental study of the impact of ion orbit losses on the edge radial electric field at the ASDEX Upgrade tokamak

Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (grant FPU17/06273)EUROfusion Consortium 63305