211 research outputs found

    Lessons from Love-Locks: The archaeology of a contemporary assemblage

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    This document is the Accepted Manuscript version. The final, definitive version of this paper has been published in Journal of Material Culture, November 2017, published by SAGE Publishing, All rights reserved.Loss of context is a challenge, if not the bane, of the ritual archaeologist’s craft. Those who research ritual frequently encounter difficulties in the interpretation of its often tantalisingly incomplete material record. Careful analysis of material remains may afford us glimpses into past ritual activity, but our often vast chronological separation from the ritual practitioners themselves prevent us from seeing the whole picture. The archaeologist engaging with structured deposits, for instance, is often forced to study ritual assemblages post-accumulation. Many nuances of its formation, therefore, may be lost in interpretation. This paper considers what insights an archaeologist could gain into the place, people, pace, and purpose of deposition by recording an accumulation of structured deposits during its formation, rather than after. To answer this, the paper will focus on a contemporary depositional practice: the love-lock. This custom involves the inscribing of names/initials onto a padlock, its attachment to a bridge or other public structure, and the deposition of the corresponding key into the water below; a ritual often enacted by a couple as a statement of their romantic commitment. Drawing on empirical data from a three-year diachronic site-specific investigation into a love-lock bridge in Manchester, UK, the author demonstrates the value of contemporary archaeology in engaging with the often enigmatic material culture of ritual accumulations.Peer reviewe

    Finiteness and children with specific language impairment: an exploratory study

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    Children with specific language impairment (SLI) are well known for their difficulties in mastering the inflectional paradigms; in the case of learning German they also have problems with the appropriate verb position, in particular with the verb in second position. This paper explores the possibilities of applying a broader concept of finiteness to data from children with SLI in order to put their deficits, or rather their skills, into a wider perspective. The concept, as developed by Klein (1998, 2000), suggests that finiteness is tied to the assertion that a certain state of affairs is valid with regard to some topic time; that is, finiteness relates the propositional content to the topic component. Its realization involves the interaction of various grammatical devices and, possibly, lexical means like temporal adverbs. Furthermore, in the acquisition of finiteness it has been found that scope particles play a major role in both first- and second-language learning. The purpose of this paper is to analyze to what extent three German-learning children with SLI have mastered these grammatical and lexical means and to pinpoint the phase in the development of finiteness they have reached. The data to be examined are mostly narrative and taken from conversations and experiments. It will be shown that each child chooses a different developmental path to come to grips with the interaction of these devices

    Gewisse morphologische, physiognomische und antropologische Merkmale bei einwohnern eines jugoslawischen Küstengebiets

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    Autori su obavili analizu nalaza 498 ispitanika obaju spolova djece starosjedilaca (najmanje jedna generacija) u Solinu i Kaštelima. Ispitivanja su provedena kod djece stare 10—14 godina, s namjerom da se pridonese prikupljanju podataka nacionalnih obilježja. Ispitivanja su po karakteru sondažna. Problematika se je sastojala u tome da se utvrdi postoje li signifikantni nalazi i njihove međusobne korelacije. Ispitivanja su obavljena u području identične geografske širine, u kojoj je obavljao ispitivanja i Francuz Pont30, s namjerom da se ustanovi da li utvrđeni indeks odgovara onom spomenutog autora. Mjerenja, su izvedena standardnim instrumentarijem, a vršila ih je ekipa od triju članova, koautora ovog rada, koja je prethodno prošla blind test, konstruiran za ispitivanja te vrsti. Unošenje i obrada podataka učinjeno je na obrascima za ortodontske sistematske preglede (rubno bušene kartice br. 1226/038). Rezultati su komparirani s nalazima stranih autora. Utvrđeno je između ostalog da je SI i parametar Zy-Zy veći kod muških ispitanika. PŠ i SŠ su u cijelosti veće kod ispitanika bez anomalija. Usporedbene vrijednosti dobivenog indeksa za PŠ i SŠ vrlo su blizu mjerama po Pontu30, što potvrđuje pretpostavku, da se je radilo o ispitanicima sa širokim čeljustima. Statistička obrada vlastitih podataka prikazana je na tab. 1., dok ostale tablice prikazuju rezultate stranih autora. Tab. 2 i 4 sadrže i vlastite rezultate zbog preglednije komparacije. Autori se kritički osvrću na pomanjkanje standardne metodike u ispitivanjima te vrsti u nacionalnoj stomatološkoj literaturi Njemačke i Jugoslavije.The authors published an analysis of the findings in 498 test subjects of both sexes, children of the indigenes (at least one generation) of Solin and Kaštela. The testing was carried out in children aged between 10 to 14 for the purpose of contributing to the collection of data on national characteristics. The tests had a probing character and were meant to investigate the problem whether there existed any significant findings and to establish their mutual correlation. Testings were carried out in a region of identical geographical latitude to that in which the Frenchman Pont made his investigations (30). The aim was to establish whether the index obtained corresponded to that of the mentioned author. Measuring was carried out by means of standard instruments and a team consisting of three members, coauthors of this paper, was engaged in the task. The team had previously undergone the blind test for investigations of that kind. The elaboration and entry of data was made on forms for ortodontic systematic examinations (punch cards no. 1226/038). The results were compared1 to^ the findings of the foreign authors. It was ascertained that the width of the upper incisors and the distance Zy-Zy were higher in boys. Anterior and posterior widths of the upper dental arch were higher in subjects without malocclusions. The obtained values for both widths of the dental arch were very close to those of Pont, thus confirming the hypothesis that the test subjects had wide jaws. The statistical elaboration of our own data is shown in Table 1, while the other tables show the results of foreign authors. Table 2 and 4 contain also our own results for easier comparison. The authors point out at the lack of standard methods in investigations of that kind in the national German and Yugoslav dental literature.Die Autoren haben eine Befunderhebung bei 498 Kindern beiderlei Geschlechts von Alteingesessenen in Solin und Kaštela auf gewisse Merkmale, durchgeführt. Die Untersuchungen wurden an Kindern im Alter von 10 bis 14 Jahren gemacht, mit der Absicht Beiträge für nationale Merkmale zu sammeln. Es sollte festgestellt werden ob deutliche Befunde erhoben werden können, und ihre gegen seitigen Zusammenhänge geprüft werden. Die Untersuchungen wurden in Gebieten der gleichen geographischen Breite durchgeführt, in welchen auch der Franzose Pont seine Untersuchungen anstellte, mit der Absicht festzustellen ob der erhaltene Index dem Pontschen-Index gleich ist. Die Messungen wurden von den drei Koautoren dieser Arbeit mit standardisierten Methoden ausgeführt. Die Resultate wurden mit Befunden anderer Autoren verglichen. Unter Anderem wurde festgestellt, dass die Sl und der Parameter Zy-Zy bei männlichen Probanaen grösser ist. Die vordere und die hintere obere Zahn bogen breite ist im Ganzen grösser bei Untersuchten die keine Anomalien aufwiesen. Der Vergleichswert der erhaltenen Indexe für die angeführten Breiten sind den Pont - Werten sehr nahe, was die Vorraussetzung bestätigt, dass es sich um Probanden mit breiten Kiefern handelt. Die statistische Bearbeitung der eigenen Befunde ist auf Tabelle 1 dargestellt, während die übrigen Tabellen Resultate anderer Autoren zeigen. Die Tabellen 2 und 4 behalten auch eigene Resultate, wegen besserer Übersicht bei der Vergleichung. Die Autoren beanständen das Fehlen einer Standard- -Methode für Untersuchungen dieser Art in der nationalen stomatologischen Literatur Deutschlands und Jugoslawiens

    Generation of a wave packet tailored to efficient free space excitation of a single atom

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    We demonstrate the generation of an optical dipole wave suitable for the process of efficiently coupling single quanta of light and matter in free space. We employ a parabolic mirror for the conversion of a transverse beam mode to a focused dipole wave and show the required spatial and temporal shaping of the mode incident onto the mirror. The results include a proof of principle correction of the parabolic mirror's aberrations. For the application of exciting an atom with a single photon pulse we demonstrate the creation of a suitable temporal pulse envelope. We infer coupling strengths of 89% and success probabilities of up to 87% for the application of exciting a single atom for the current experimental parameters.Comment: to be published in Europ. Phys. J.

    Cytokine Release Syndrome During Sequential Treatment With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Kinase Inhibitors for Metastatic Melanoma

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    Switching from immunotherapy to targeted therapy in metastasized melanoma can be complicated by a cytokine release syndrome (CRS). CRS is a serious complication, which is induced by high levels of circulating cytokines, associated with T-cell engagement and proliferation, and results in a constellation of symptoms with variable organ involvement. We report 2 patients with BRAF V600 mutant melanoma who were previously treated with anti-PD-1±anti-LAG-3 antibodies and were switched to BRAF/MEK-inhibitors because of progressive disease. Both cases depict the complexity of interactions occurring during sequential treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors and kinase inhibitors. Early identification and management of CRS is crucial to decrease its toxicity and improve safety of further drugs to be given in a therapeutic ladder

    CHESS, Chemical Herschel surveys of star forming regions:Peering into the protostellar shock L1157-B1

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    The outflow driven by the low-mass class 0 protostar L1157 is the prototype of the so-called chemically active outflows. The bright bowshock B1 in the southern outflow lobe is a privileged testbed of magneto-hydrodynamical (MHD) shock models, for which dynamical and chemical processes are strongly interdependent. We present the first results of the unbiased spectral survey of the L1157-B1 bowshock, obtained in the framework of the key program "Chemical Herschel Surveys of Star Forming Regions" (CHESS). The main aim is to trace the warm and chemically enriched gas and to infer the excitation conditions in the shock region. The CO 5-4 and H2O lines have been detected at high-spectral resolution in the unbiased spectral survey of the HIFI-Band 1b spectral window (555-636 GHz), presented by Codella et al. in this volume. Complementary ground-based observations in the submm window help establish the origin of the emission detected in the main-beam of HIFI, and the physical conditions in the shock.}{Both lines exhibit broad wings, which extend to velocities much higher than reported up to now. We find that the molecular emission arises from two regions with distinct physical conditions: an extended, warm (100K), dense (3e5 cm-3) component at low-velocity, which dominates the water line flux in Band~1; a secondary component in a small region of B1 (a few arcsec) associated with high-velocity, hot (> 400 K) gas of moderate density ((1.0-3.0)e4 cm-3), which appears to dominate the flux of the water line at 179mu observed with PACS. The water abundance is enhanced by two orders of magnitude between the low- and the high-velocity component, from 8e-7 up to 8e-5. The properties of the high-velocity component agree well with the predictions of steady-state C-shock models.Comment: Accepted for Publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics (Herschel Special Issue

    Solar magnetism eXplorer (SolmeX)

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    The magnetic field plays a pivotal role in many fields of Astrophysics. This is especially true for the physics of the solar atmosphere. Measuring the magnetic field in the upper solar atmosphere is crucial to understand the nature of the underlying physical processes that drive the violent dynamics of the solar corona—that can also affect life on Earth. SolmeX, a fully equipped solar space observatory for remote-sensing observations, will provide the first comprehensive measurements of the strength and direction of the magnetic field in the upper solar atmosphere. The mission consists of two spacecraft, one carrying the instruments, and another one in formation flight at a distance of about 200 m carrying the occulter to provide an artificial total solar eclipse. This will ensure high-quality coronagraphic observations above the solar limb. SolmeX integrates two spectro-polarimetric coronagraphs for off-limb observations, one in the EUV and one in the IR, and three instruments for observations on the disk. The latter comprises one imaging polarimeter in the EUV for coronal studies, a spectro-polarimeter in the EUV to investigate the low corona, and an imaging spectro-polarimeter in the UV for chromospheric studies. SOHO and other existing missions have investigated the emission of the upper atmosphere in detail (not considering polarization), and as this will be the case also for missions planned for the near future. Therefore it is timely that SolmeX provides the final piece of the observational quest by measuring the magnetic field in the upper atmosphere through polarimetric observations

    Identification and functional characterization of a novel acetyl-CoA carboxylase mutation associated with ketoenol resistance in Bemisia tabaci

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    This is the final version. Available from Elsevier / Academic Press via the DOI in this record. Insecticides of the tetronic/tetramic acid family (cyclic ketoenols) are widely used to control sucking pests such as whiteflies, aphids and mites. They act as inhibitors of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), a key enzyme for lipid biosynthesis across taxa. While it is well documented that plant ACCs targeted by herbicides have developed resistance associated with mutations at the carboxyltransferase (CT) domain, resistance to ketoenols in invertebrate pests has been previously associated either with metabolic resistance or with non-validated candidate mutations in different ACC domains. A recent study revealed high levels of spiromesifen and spirotetramat resistance in Spanish field populations of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci that was not thought to be associated with metabolic resistance. We confirm the presence of high resistance levels (up to >640-fold) against ketoenol insecticides in both Spanish and Australian B. tabaci strains of the MED and MEAM1 species, respectively. RNAseq analysis revealed the presence of an ACC variant bearing a mutation that results in an amino acid substitution, A2083V, in a highly conserved region of the CT domain. F1 progeny resulting from reciprocal crosses between susceptible and resistant lines are almost fully resistant, suggesting an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. In order to functionally investigate the contribution of this mutation and other candidate mutations previously reported in resistance phenotypes, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to generate genome modified Drosophila lines. Toxicity bioassays using multiple transgenic fly lines confirmed that A2083V causes high levels of resistance to commercial ketoenols. We therefore developed a pyrosequencing-based diagnostic assay to map the spread of the resistance alleles in field-collected samples from Spain. Our screening confirmed the presence of target-site resistance in numerous field-populations collected in Sevilla, Murcia and Almeria. This emphasizes the importance of implementing appropriate resistance management strategies to prevent or slow the spread of resistance through global whitefly populations.European Union Horizon 2020Australian cotton research and development corporatio

    High Power Electric Propulsion: MARS plus EUROPA – Already Beyond 2025!

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    It’s mid-term realization plus global strategic investments: the results of the European Russian DEMOCRITOS project (Horizon 2020) related to the MW class INPPS (International Nuclear Power and Propulsion System) flagship will be described. INPPS flagship includes high power electric thrusters cluster, supplied electric power by the nuclear reactor (successfully tested in Russia) and a solar power ring. Two INPPS versions were studied – the wide and arrow wing versions. Both versions have a futuristic design with standardized interfaces for several flagship subsystems. Especially the high payload mass of INPPS allows the transport of – for example – up to 12 t to JUPITER moon EUROPA and about 18 t to MARS – as a function of specific impulse of electric thrusters. INPPS flagship not only allows scientific, but especially commercial and communication payloads as well. This means industrial-scale production of space flight systems for robotic and human space exploration. International cooperation related to INPPS realization are necessary within an International High Power Space Transportation program to realize the DEMOCRITOS core, ground and space components until 2025. DEMOCRITOS project included partners from Europe, Russia and a Brazilian guest observer and received several inputs from NASA Cleveland and JAXA Tokyo

    Linguistic foundations of heritage language development from the perspective of romance languages in Germany

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    This paper discusses the role of different factors determining the linguistic competence of heritage speakers (HSs) based on examples from speakers who speak a Romance language (French, Italian, Portuguese, or Spanish) as heritage language (HL) and German as the environmental language. Since the relative amount of contact with the HL and the environmental language may vary during the acquisition process, the role of language dominance (in terms of relative language proficiency) is of particular interest for HL development. In addition to dominance (and related to it), cross-linguistic influence (CLI) may have an influence on the outcome of HL acquisition. Finally, quality and quantity of input also determine HL acquisition and will be discussed in connection with heritage language education.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
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