Talking and gesturing about motion at different L2 proficiency levels

peer reviewedThe typological differences between verb-framed and satellite-framed languages observed by Talmy (2000) have been shown to be reflected in co-speech gestures as well (Gullberg, 2009; Kita & Özyürek, 2003; McNeill & Duncan, 2000). More specifically, differences between the types of language have been observed in terms of the semantic components encoded in gestures and the synchronization between gestures and speech. Such gestures should therefore be taken into account when studying L2 learners’ thinking for speaking patterns (Urbanski & Stam, 2022). Against this background, our study aims at determining how motion events are expressed in speech and co-speech gestures by native French speakers, Dutch native speakers, and CLIL French-speaking learners of Dutch. We conducted an elicitation experiment in which participants recounted the cartoon Tweety and Sylvester: Tweet Zoo (Freleng, 1957). Fifteen French speakers, fifteen Dutch speakers, and fifteen CLIL French-speaking learners of Dutch with a proficiency level ranging from A1 to B2 completed the task. We identified the semantic components (manner and path) encoded in the verbs and satellites. Gestures were classified as iconic, beat, deictic, or pragmatic (Kendon, 2004; McNeill, 1992). Iconic and deictic gestures were further analyzed regarding the semantic components of motion they convey (e.g., manner, path, ground, manner + path). Finally, we looked at the synchronization between speech and gestures (Urbanski & Stam, 2022). So far, 592 utterances and 741 gestures have been analyzed and our results show that French speakers tend to use PATHVERBS+PATHSATELLITES+PATHGESTURES in both their L1 and L2 to describe self-propelled motion events, whereas Dutch speakers prefer using MANNERVERBS+PATHSATELLITES+PATHGESTURES. As their proficiency level increases, learners use less often constructions only consisting in MANNERVERBS and use more often MANNERVERBS+PATHSATELLITES constructions. Learners with a pre-intermediate level align path gestures with verbs less often and more often with linguistic units that are not core elements of motion events in comparison with French speakers, Dutch speakers, and learners with an intermediate level. Finally, learners with a pre-intermediate level produce more manner fog gestures (which are often compensation gestures) and location gestures than learners with an intermediate level and native speakers. The number of pragmatic gestures also tends to decrease slightly as the L2 proficiency level increases. These tendencies suggest that CLIL French-speaking learners of Dutch rely more on gesture than L1 speakers and especially when they have a lower proficiency level

Motion in speech and gesture in a CLIL context

peer reviewedThe typological differences between verb-framed and satellite-framed languages observed by Talmy (2000) have been shown to be reflected in co-speech gestures as well (Brown & Chen, 2013; Kita & Özyürek, 2003; McNeill, 2005; McNeill & Duncan, 2000). Such gestures should therefore be taken into account when studying L2 learners’ thinking for speaking patterns (Stam, 2018). More specifically, studies show different correlations between the types of language and (i) the realization of manner fog gestures and (ii) the synchronization between gestures and speech (Kita & Özyürek, 2003; McNeill & Duncan, 2000). Against this background, our study aims at determining how motion events are expressed in speech and co-speech gestures by French speakers (FS), Dutch speakers (DS), and CLIL French-speaking learners of Dutch (CLIL-FSLD). We conducted an elicitation experiment in which participants recounted scenes from a Tweety and Sylvester cartoon. Fifteen FS, fifteen DS, and fifteen CLIL-FSLD with a pre-intermediate level completed the task. Using Kopecka's (2006) taxonomy, we identified the semantic components (manner and path) encoded in the verbs and satellites. Gestures were classified as iconic, beat, metaphoric, deictic, or pragmatic (McNeill, 1992; Kendon, 2004). Iconic and deictic gestures were further analyzed regarding the aspects of motion they convey (e.g. manner, path, ground) and their type (only for iconic gestures: enacting, representing, drawing, or molding (Müller, 2014)). Finally, we looked at the synchronization between speech and gestures following Stam (2006). So far, 418 utterances and 534 gestures have been analyzed and our results show that FS tend to use PathVERBS+PathSATELLITES+PathGESTURES in both their L1 and L2 descriptions, whereas DS prefer using MannerVERBS+PathSATELLITES+PathGESTURES. Second, CLIL-FSLD align path gestures with verbs more often than in the case of FS and DS. Finally, CLIL-FSLD produce more manner fog and non-substantive gestures. These tendencies suggest that CLIL-FSLD rely more on gesture than L1 speakers and that they tend to replicate the thinking for speaking pattern of FS

Identification and characterization of nanobodies targeting the EphA4 receptor

The ephrin receptor A4 (EphA4) is one of the receptors in the ephrin system that plays a pivotal role in a variety of cell-cell interactions, mostly studied during development. In addition, EphA4 has been found to play a role in cancer biology as well as in the pathogenesis of several neurological disorders such as stroke, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Alzheimer's disease. Pharmacological blocking of EphA4 has been suggested to be a therapeutic strategy for these disorders. Therefore, the aim of our study was to generate potent and selective Nanobodies against the ligand-binding domain of the human EphA4 receptor. Weidentified two Nanobodies, Nb 39 and Nb 53, that bind EphA4 with affinities in the nanomolar range. These Nanobodies were most selective for EphA4, with residual binding to EphA7 only. Using Alphascreen technology, we found that both Nanobodies displaced all known EphA4-binding ephrins from the receptor. Furthermore, Nb39 andNb53 inhibited ephrin-induced phosphorylationoftheEphA4proteininacell-basedassay. Finally, in a cortical neuron primary culture, both Nanobodies were able to inhibit endogenous EphA4-mediated growth-cone collapse induced by ephrin-B3. Our results demonstrate the potential of Nanobodies to target the ligand-binding domain of EphA4. These Nanobodiesmaydeservefurtherevaluationaspotentialtherapeutics in disorders in which EphA4-mediated signaling plays a role

Enzymatic Regulation of Protein-Protein Interactions in Artificial Cells

Membraneless organelles are important for spatial organization of proteins and regulation of intracellular processes. Proteins can be recruited to these condensates by specific protein–protein or protein–nucleic acid interactions, which are often regulated by post-translational modifications. However, the mechanisms behind these dynamic, affinity-based protein recruitment events are not well understood. Here, a coacervate system that incorporates the 14-3-3 scaffold protein to study enzymatically regulated recruitment of 14-3-3-binding proteins is presented, which mostly bind in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. Synthetic coacervates are efficiently loaded with 14-3-3, and phosphorylated binding partners, such as the c-Raf pS233/pS259 peptide (c-Raf), show 14-3-3-dependent sequestration with up to 161-fold increase in local concentration. The c-Raf domain is fused to green fluorescent protein (GFP-c-Raf) to demonstrate recruitment of proteins. In situ phosphorylation of GFP-c-Raf by a kinase leads to enzymatically regulated uptake. The introduction of a phosphatase into coacervates preloaded with the phosphorylated 14-3-3-GFP-c-Raf complex results in a significant cargo efflux mediated by dephosphorylation. Finally, the general applicability of this platform to study protein–protein interactions is demonstrated by the phosphorylation-dependent and 14-3-3-mediated active reconstitution of a split-luciferase inside artificial cells. This work presents an approach to study dynamically regulated protein recruitment in condensates, using native interaction domains.</p

Middeleeuws metaal. Synthese-onderzoek naar metalen materiële cultuur in de Vlaamse steden, 1000-1600 n.C.

Dit document geldt als inhoudelijk verslag bij het project Middeleeuws Metaal dat als syntheseonderzoek werd gesubsidieerd door het Agentschap Onroerend Erfgoed. Synthese-onderzoek behelst het samenbrengen en valoriseren van de resultaten van preventief archeologisch onderzoek binnen het Maltakader, dat in Vlaanderen voornamelijk in de voorbije twee decennia werd uitgevoerd. In dit project werd concreet beoogd om een stap voorwaarts te zetten in de studie van middeleeuwse materiële cultuur, meer bepaald metalen voorwerpen opgegraven in Vlaamse steden. Metaalvondsten zijn door hun aard als diverse, schaarse en kwetsbare kleinvondsten een ondergewaardeerde categorie in de archeologische praktijk. De resultaten van dit project - niet enkel dit rapport, maar ook een vrij toegankelijke online databank (www.middeleeuwsmetaal.be) - vormen een coherent referentiekader voor een vlottere en betere verwerking en interpretatie van vondstensembles en bieden aanknopingspunten voor voortgezet wetenschappelijk onderzoek

The influence of multidisciplinary team meetings on treatment decisions in advanced bladder cancer

Objectives: To investigate the role of specialised genitourinary multidisciplinary team meetings (MDTMs) in decision-making and identify factors that influence the probability of receiving a treatment plan with curative intent for patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Patients and methods: Data relating to patients with cT2-4aN0/X-1 M0 urothelial cell carcinoma, diagnosed between November 2017 and October 2019, were selected from the nationwide, population-based Netherlands Cancer Registry (‘BlaZIB study’). Curative treatment options were defined as radical cystectomy (RC) with or without neoadjuvant chemotherapy, chemoradiation or brachytherapy. Multilevel logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between MDTM factors and curative treatment advice and how this advice was followed. Results: Of the 2321 patients, 2048 (88.2%) were discussed in a genitourinary MDTM. Advanced age (&gt;80 years) and poorer World Health Organization performance status (score 1–2 vs 0) were associated with no discussion (P &lt; 0.001). Being discussed was associated with undergoing treatment with curative intent (odds ratio [OR] 3.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.9–4.9), as was the involvement of a RC hospital (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.09–2.65). Involvement of an academic centre was associated with higher rates of bladder-sparing treatment (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.31–3.21). Patient preference was the main reason for non-adherence to treatment advice. Conclusions: For patients with MIBC, the probability of being discussed in a MDTM was associated with age, performance status and receiving treatment with curative intent, especially if a representative of a RC hospital was present. Future studies should focus on the impact of MDTM advice on survival data.</p

The influence of multidisciplinary team meetings on treatment decisions in advanced bladder cancer

Objectives: To investigate the role of specialised genitourinary multidisciplinary team meetings (MDTMs) in decision-making and identify factors that influence the probability of receiving a treatment plan with curative intent for patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Patients and methods: Data relating to patients with cT2-4aN0/X-1 M0 urothelial cell carcinoma, diagnosed between November 2017 and October 2019, were selected from the nationwide, population-based Netherlands Cancer Registry (‘BlaZIB study’). Curative treatment options were defined as radical cystectomy (RC) with or without neoadjuvant chemotherapy, chemoradiation or brachytherapy. Multilevel logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between MDTM factors and curative treatment advice and how this advice was followed. Results: Of the 2321 patients, 2048 (88.2%) were discussed in a genitourinary MDTM. Advanced age (&gt;80 years) and poorer World Health Organization performance status (score 1–2 vs 0) were associated with no discussion (P &lt; 0.001). Being discussed was associated with undergoing treatment with curative intent (odds ratio [OR] 3.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.9–4.9), as was the involvement of a RC hospital (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.09–2.65). Involvement of an academic centre was associated with higher rates of bladder-sparing treatment (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.31–3.21). Patient preference was the main reason for non-adherence to treatment advice. Conclusions: For patients with MIBC, the probability of being discussed in a MDTM was associated with age, performance status and receiving treatment with curative intent, especially if a representative of a RC hospital was present. Future studies should focus on the impact of MDTM advice on survival data.</p

Immediate Carotid Artery Stenting or Deferred Treatment in Patients With Tandem Carotid Lesions Treated Endovascularly for Acute Ischaemic Stroke

Fifteen to 20% of patients with an acute ischaemic stroke have a tandem lesion defined by the combination of an intracranial large vessel thrombo-embolic occlusion and a high grade stenosis or occlusion of the ipsilateral internal carotid artery. These patients tend to have worse outcomes than patients with isolated intracranial occlusions, with higher rates of disability and death. The introduction of endovascular thrombectomy to treat the intracranial lesion clearly improved the outcome compared with treatment with intravenous thrombolysis alone. However, the best treatment strategy for managing the extracranial carotid artery lesion in patients with tandem lesions remains unknown. Current guidelines recommend carotid endarterectomy for patients with transient ischaemic attack or non-disabling stroke and moderate or severe stenosis of the internal carotid artery, within two weeks of the initial event, to prevent major stroke recurrence and death. Alternatively, the symptomatic carotid artery could be treated by endovascular placement of a stent during endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). This would negate the need for a second procedure, immediately reduce the risk of stroke recurrence, increase patient satisfaction, and could be cost effective. However, the administration of dual antiplatelet therapy could potentially increase the risk of symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage in patients with acute ischaemic stroke. Randomised controlled trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of immediate carotid artery stenting during EVT in acute stroke patients with tandem lesions are currently ongoing and will impact the current guidelines regarding the treatment of patients with acute ischaemic stroke due to these tandem lesions