4,773 research outputs found

    Automated identification of borrowings in multilingual wordlists

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    Although lexical borrowing is an important aspect of language evolution, there have been few attempts to automate the identification of borrowings in lexical datasets. Moreover, none of the solutions which have been proposed so far identify borrowings across multiple languages. This study proposes a new method for the task and tests it on a newly compiled large comparative dataset of 48 South-East Asian languages from Southern China. The method yields very promising results, while it is conceptually straightforward and easy to apply. This makes the approach a perfect candidate for computer-assisted exploratory studies on lexical borrowing in contact areas

    Rotating Boson Stars in 5 Dimensions

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    We study rotating boson stars in five spacetime dimensions. The boson fields consist of a complex doublet scalar field. Considering boson stars rotating in two orthogonal planes with both angular momenta of equal magnitude, a special ansatz for the boson field and the metric allows for solutions with nontrivial dependence on the radial coordinate only. The charge of the scalar field equals the sum of the angular momenta. The rotating boson stars are globally regular and asymptotically flat. For our choice of a sixtic potential the rotating boson star solutions possess a flat spacetime limit. We study the solutions in flat and curved spacetime.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figure

    A cross-linguistic database of phonetic transcription systems

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    Contrary to what non-practitioners might expect, the systems of phonetic notation used by linguists are highly idiosyncratic. Not only do various linguistic subfields disagree on the specific symbols they use to denote the speech sounds of languages, but also in large databases of sound inventories considerable variation can be found. Inspired by recent efforts to link cross-linguistic data with help of reference catalogues (Glottolog, Concepticon) across different resources, we present initial efforts to link different phonetic notation systems to a catalogue of speech sounds. This is achieved with the help of a database accompanied by a software framework that uses a limited but easily extendable set of non-binary feature values to allow for quick and convenient registration of different transcription systems, while at the same time linking to additional datasets with restricted inventories. Linking different transcription systems enables us to conveniently translate between different phonetic transcription systems, while linking sounds to databases allows users quick access to various kinds of metadata, including feature values, statistics on phoneme inventories, and information on prosody and sound classes. In order to prove the feasibility of this enterprise, we supplement an initial version of our cross-linguistic database of phonetic transcription systems (CLTS), which currently registers five transcription systems and links to fifteen datasets, as well as a web application, which permits users to conveniently test the power of the automatic translation across transcription systems

    KINEMATICS OF THE TRUNK AND THE SPINE DURING UNRESTRICTED AND RESTRICTED SQUATS – A PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS

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    The aim of the study was the assessment and comparison of trunk kinematics during restricted (knee not beyond toes) and unrestricted squats. Eight repetitions of restricted and unrestricted squats with 0, 25% and 50% bodyweight loading using a barbell were assessed with a 12 camera motion analysis system. A trunk marker set was developed and applied that allowed the measurement of the 3D kinematics of the trunk, divided into three segments (lumbar, thoracic and upper trunk) and the analysis of the sagittal curvature (lumbar and thoracic spine). The preliminary results of four subjects showed a larger range of sagittal motion between lumbar and pelvic segments for the restricted compared to the unrestricted squat. The lumbar curvature straightened with increasing load. The unrestricted execution seems to lead to higher stresses in the lower back

    Linking norms, ratings, and relations of words and concepts across multiple language varieties

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    Psychologists and linguists have collected a great diversity of data for word and concept properties. In psychology, many studies accumulate norms and ratings such as word frequencies or age-of-acquisition often for a large number of words. Linguistics, on the other hand, provides valuable insights into relations of word meanings. We present a collection of those data sets for norms, ratings, and relations that cover different languages: ‘NoRaRe.’ To enable a comparison between the diverse data types, we established workflows that facilitate the expansion of the database. A web application allows convenient access to the data (https://digling.org/norare/). Furthermore, a software API ensures consistent data curation by providing tests to validate the data sets. The NoRaRe collection is linked to the database curated by the Concepticon project (https://concepticon.clld.org) which offers a reference catalog of unified concept sets. The link between words in the data sets and the Concepticon concept sets makes a cross-linguistic comparison possible. In three case studies, we test the validity of our approach, the accuracy of our workflow, and the applicability of our database. The results indicate that the NoRaRe database can be applied for the study of word properties across multiple languages. The data can be used by psychologists and linguists to benefit from the knowledge rooted in both research disciplines.Introduction Combing Forests of Data Materials and Methods Materials Methods - Manual Concept Mapping - Automated Concept Mapping - Semi-Automated Concept Mapping - Labeling Word and Concept Properties Validation Descriptive Statistics of NoRaRe Data Curation Workflow Data Applicability - Case Study 1: Replication of existing Findings - Case Study 2: Comparison of Concept Mappings - Case Study 3: Cross-Linguistic Comparison Discussion and Conclusio

    Variations in coastal temperatures on the southern and central California coast

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    The results of a time series analysis of several years of coastal ocean temperature records are presented for discussion. The records have been analyzed by using digital filtering, covariance and spectral analysis. The low-frequency component of the temperature signal shows a strong seasonal component in southern California. There is little seasonal fluctuation between Point Conception and Pacific Grove. A period of midwinter warming is apparent in southern California. Intermediate frequency components show strong correlations in southern California with the presence of distinct and substantial temperature events occurring almost simultaneously over distances of the order of 200 km. High-frequency components have a large standard deviation in summer (0.8°C) and a low standard deviation in winter (0.4°C); these components are uncorrelated at stations even a few miles apart. Some coastal stations show a strong possible diurnal component; others, including the offshore islands, show no such components. Morro Bay appears to have an extraordinarily large diurnal component of temperature fluctuation. No attempt has been made in this paper to relate these phenomena to other oceanographic or meteorological variables

    The Catalytic Asymmetric Intermolecular Prins Reaction

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    Despite their significant potential, catalytic asymmetric reactions of olefins with formaldehyde are rare and metal-free approaches have not been previously disclosed. Here we describe an enantioselective intermolecular Prins reaction of styrenes and paraformaldehyde to form 1,3-dioxanes, using confined imino-imidodiphosphate (iIDP) Brønsted acid catalysts. Isotope labeling experiments and computations suggest a concerted, highly asynchronous addition of an acid-activated formaldehyde oligomer to the olefin. The enantioenriched 1,3-dioxanes can be transformed into the corresponding optically active 1,3-diols, which are valuable synthetic building blocks

    Interpretations of results from hydraulic modeling of thermal outfall diffusers for the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant

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    This report presents and interpretation of results obtained during the hydraulic model study previously documented in "Hydraulic Modeling of Thermal Outfall Diffusers for the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant" which described the hydraulic laboratory studies conducted to investigate outfall configurations for the thermal discharge from proposed Units 2 and 3 at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, jointly owned by the Southern California Edison Company and San Diego Gas and Electric Company. A number of different experimental investigations were performed to develop the conceptual design for the new Units 2 and 3 discharge diffusers. The primary reason for the investigations was the new California thermal standards (essentially ambient temperature increment less than 4°F), which in effect precluded the use of shoreline or single outlet discharges for new units and necessitated the use of multiport diffusers. The result of the investigations of different diffuser concepts was the establishment of a preliminary design for the discharge structures for Units 2 and 3, each consisting of a diffuser 2500 ft long containing 76 discharge nozzles with a nominal discharge velocity of 13 ft/sec. This preliminary design was later modified somewhat by the engineers of the Southern California Edison Company (SCE) in consideration of other factors such as structural requirements, cost, construction problems, and more accurate bathymetric details at the site. As a result the final design for each diffuser contains 63 discharge ports of diameters varying from 21.85 to 23.9 inches. The discharge ports are nozzle-riser assemblies at alternate angles of ¹25° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the diffuser and 20° up from horizontal. The nozzles are positioned approximately 6 ft from the ocean bottom. The diffusers are aligned perpendicular to shore and extend from approximately 3500 ft to 8500 ft offshore. The performance of the final diffuser design was evaluated in a series of confirming tests. The major results will be summarized and discussed in section 3 of this report. Sections 3 and 4 will also include projections and elaborations on several aspects of the diffuser performance to be expected in the prototype. The possible interactions of the proposed diffuser operation with existing site factors such as ocean currents, water temperature, heat losses, and the existing power plant (Unit 1) will also be discussed in section 4

    Catalytic Asymmetric Spirocyclizing Diels–Alder Reactions of Enones: Stereoselective Total and Formal Syntheses of α-Chamigrene, β-Chamigrene, Laurencenone C, Colletoic Acid, and Omphalic Acid

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    We disclose a general catalytic enantioselective Diels–Alder reaction of exo-enones with dienes to give spirocyclanes. The obtained products feature highly congested quaternary stereogenic spirocenters and are used in concise total and formal syntheses of several sesquiterpenes, including of α-chamigrene, β-chamigrene, laurencenone C, colletoic acid, and omphalic acid. The stereo- and regioselectivities of our spirocyclizing cycloaddition are effectively controlled by strongly acidic and confined imidodiphosphorimidate catalysts. Computational studies shed light on the origin of reactivity and selectivity
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