Spatiotemporal dynamics of activation in motor and language areas suggest a compensatory role of the motor cortex in second language processing

The involvement of the motor cortex in language understanding has been intensively discussed in the framework of embodied cognition. Although some studies have provided evidence for the involvement of the motor cortex in different receptive language tasks, the role that it plays in language perception and understanding is still unclear. In the present study, we explored the degree of involvement of language and motor areas in a visually presented sentence comprehension task, modulated by language proficiency (L1: native language, L2: second language) and linguistic abstractness (literal, metaphorical, and abstract). Magnetoencephalography data were recorded from 26 late Chinese learners of English. A cluster-based permutation F-test was performed on the amplitude of the source waveform for each motor and language region of interest (ROI). Results showed a significant effect of language proficiency in both language and motor ROIs, manifested as overall greater involvement of language ROIs (short insular gyri and planum polare of the superior temporal gyrus) in the L1 than the L2 during 300–500 ms, and overall greater involvement of motor ROI (central sulcus) in the L2 than the L1 during 600–800 ms. We interpreted the over-recruitment of the motor area in the L2 as a higher demand for cognitive resources to compensate for the inadequate engagement of the language network. In general, our results indicate a compensatory role of the motor cortex in L2 understanding.Peer reviewe

A novel gas ionization sensor using Pd nanoparticle-capped ZnO

A novel gas ionization sensor using Pd nanoparticle-capped ZnO (Pd/ZnO) nanorods as the anode is proposed. The Pd/ZnO nanorod-based sensors, compared with the bare ZnO nanorod, show lower breakdown voltage for the detected gases with good sensitivity and selectivity. Moreover, the sensors exhibit stable performance after more than 200 tests for both inert and active gases. The simple, low-cost, Pd/ZnO nanorod-based field-ionization gas sensors presented in this study have potential applications in the field of gas sensor devices

Mental health stigma and mental health knowledge in Chinese population:a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the public stigma on mental illness and mental health knowledge (MHK) in China, public stigma and low MHK can negatively affect patients' health and increase the burden of mental disorders on society. This study aimed at investigating the rates of stigma and MHK, the correlates of stigma and MHK, and the association between MHK and stigma among a Chinese population. METHODS: The data is from the Tianjin Mental Health Survey (TJMHS), which involved a large and a representative sample of adult community residents in the Chinese municipality of Tianjin (n = 11,748). In a 12% random subsample (n = 1775) the Perceived Discrimination and Devaluation scale (PDD) and a Mental Health Knowledge Questionnaire (MHKQ) were administered. First, percentages of the responses to the individual items of the PDD and MHKQ were investigated. Second, sociodemographic correlates of PDD and MHK, and the association between stigma and MHK were investigated. RESULTS: We found that a sizable proportion of participants responded that others would hold a negative attitude towards (former) mental patients, especially with regard to engaging in closer personal relationships. Most people were not familiar about the causes, treatments and prevention of mental illness. Resident area, age, education level, Per capita family income and employment status were related to devaluation score and MHKQ score. MHK was negatively associated with public stigma. CONCLUSIONS: There is room for improvement with regard to levels of public stigma and MHK in China. Providing psychoeducation to improve public MHK could also contribute to reduction of public stigma

Top-down effect of arthropod predator chinese mitten crab on freshwater nutrient cycling

Aquatic litter decomposition is highly dependent on contributions and interactions at different trophic levels. The invasion of alien aquatic organisms like the channeled apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata) might lead to changes in the decomposition process through new species interactions in the invaded wetland. However, it is not clear how aquatic macroinvertebrate predators like the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) will affect the nutrient cycle in freshwater ecosystems in the face of new benthic invasion. We used the litter bag method to explore the top-down effect of crabs on the freshwater nutrient cycle with the help of soil zymography (a technology previously used in terrestrial ecosystems). The results showed significant feeding effects of crabs and snails on lotus leaf litter and cotton strips. Crabs significantly inhibited the intake of lotus litter and cotton strips and the ability to transform the environment of snails by predation. Crabs promoted the decomposition of various litter substrates by affecting the microbial community structure in the sediment. These results suggest that arthropod predators increase the complexity of detrital food webs through direct and indirect interactions, and consequently have an important impact on the material cycle and stability of freshwater ecosystems. This top-down effect makes macrobenthos play a key role in the biological control and engineering construction of freshwater ecosystems.Sincere thanks to the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Agriculture (JBGS [2021]126), Jiangsu Provincial Department of Science and Technology (BE2019393), Jiangsu Forestry Science and Technology Innovation and Promotion project (LYKJ [2021]16), and Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through SFRH/BD/119957/2016 scholarship for supporting this study financially. Thanks also to the Jiangsu Provincial Platform for Conservation and Utilization of Agricultural Germplasm for supporting this study

Magnetic structure and ferroelectric polarization of MnWO4 investigated by density functional calculations and classical spin analysis

The ordered magnetic states of MnWO4 at low temperatures were examined by evaluating the spin exchange interactions between the Mn2+ ions of MnWO4 on the basis of first principles density functional calculations and by performing classical spin analysis with the resulting spin exchange parameters. Our work shows that the spin exchange interactions are frustrated within each zigzag chain of Mn2+ ions along the c-direction and between such chains of Mn2+ ions along the a-direction. This explains the occurrence of a spiral-spin order along the c- and a-directions in the incommensurate magnetic state AF2, and that of a uudd spin order along the c- and a-directions in the commensurate magnetic state AF1. The ferroelectric polarization of MnWO4 in the spiral-spin state AF2 was examined by performing Berry phase calculations for a model superstructure to find that the ferroelectric polarization occurs along the b-direction, in agreement with experiment.Comment: 30 pages, 10 figures, 4 figure

An Integration Method of Bursting Strain Energy and Seismic Velocity Tomography for Coal Burst Hazard Assessment

AbstractThe occurrence of coal burst in underground coal mines is complex, abrupt, and diverse, and the evaluation and prediction of coal burst hazard is the premise of effective prevention and control of coal burst. In this study, a coal burst carrier system model under the synergistic action of roof, coal seams, and floor was established, and the evolution of coal burst in underground coal mines was discussed based on the stress-vibration-energy coupling principle. On this basis, an integration method of bursting strain energy and seismic velocity tomography for coal burst assessment was proposed. With the deep and complex panel in a mine as the research object, the coal burst risk of the panel during excavation was evaluated in time and space domains, respectively. Results showed that the bursting strain energy and the active seismic velocity tomography technology can accurately identify both the positive anomalies and the negative anomalies of stress field and energy field in the mining period. Moreover, the method can not only evaluate the coal burst risk of the panel in the temporal domain but also predict the area with potential strong seismic events in the spatial domain. The research conclusions can accurately illustrate the whole complex evolution process of coal burst in underground coal mines

Validation and reliability test of Chinese language patient-reported impact of symptoms in schizophrenia scale

BackgroundPatient-reported outcomes, or subjective evaluations directly reflecting the patient’s views, feelings, and judgments, are now being used to evaluate the outcomes of care and treatment of people with schizophrenia. In this study, we used an updated tool, the patient-reported impact of symptoms in schizophrenia scale (PRISS), translated into Chinese languages to assess the subjective experiences of schizophrenia patients.ObjectiveThis study aimed to test the psychometrics of the Chinese languages PRISS (CL-PRISS).MethodThis study used the Chinese version of PRISS (CL-PRISS), acquired from the harmonized English-language version. A total of 280 patients enrolled in this study were asked to complete the CL-PRISS, the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS), and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHO-DAS). Construct and concurrent validity was tested using the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Spearman correlation coefficient, respectively. The reliability of CL-PRISS was tested using Cronbach’s α coefficient and the internal correlation coefficient.ResultsConfirmatory factor analysis (CFA) analysis demonstrated three major factors in CL_PRISS: the first factor is productive experiences, the second factor is affective-negative, and the third factor experiences. The factor loadings between items and factors ranged from 0.436 to 0.899 (RMSEA = 0.029, TLI = 0.940, CFI = 0.921). The correlation coefficient between the CL_PRISS and PANSS was 0.845, and between the CL-PRISS and WHO-DAS was 0.886. The ICC of the total CL_PRISS was 0.913, and Cronbach’s α was 0.903.ConclusionThe Chinese version of the PRISS (CL_PRISS) can be effectively used for assessing the subjective experience of Chinese patients with schizophrenia