A cognitive-functional approach to utterance pairs: A critical review of dialogic construction grammar

The combination of construction grammar and dialogic syntax in cognitive linguistics facilitates a novel cognitive-functional approach to investigating dialogues, which highlights the engagement of interlocutors and aims to examine the cognitive motivation and mechanism underlying the resonances and temporary constructions in utterance pairs. Nevertheless, studies on dialogic construction grammar are scarce and unsystematic, some of which concern theoretical explanation instead of practical application with sufficient data. As a result, it is demanding to testify its explanatory force in diverse types of utterance pairs in natural language. Basically grounded on the monograph Dialogic Construction Grammar: A Theoretical Framework and Its Application, this review sorts out the development of dialogic construction grammar, and manages to presents how the Event domain-based Schema-Instance model is constructed to explore the cognitive mechanism of common types of utterance pairs, particulary, wh-question and answer pairs, namely wh-dialogues, with the intention to  explain how dialogic construction grammar theory is applied to investigate the cognitive-functional properties of common utterance pairs in linguistic communication, at the same time pointing out the future work that might be done in the studies on construction grammar

A test of models for fungal growth based on metabolic heat rate measurements

This paper presents a test of modelling of fungal growth based on the heat produced by Penicillium roqueforti growing on malt extract agar. Thermal power (heat production rate) of P. roqueforti was measured by isothermal calorimetry at 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30°C. The equivalent diameter of similar colonies growing at 20°C were measured by image analysis. Four predictive equations including time lag were tested on the thermal power curves for the accelerated growth phase. All equations were successful in fitting the growth curves and the result did not suggest that one of the equations was superior to the others. P. roqueforti had the fastest growth at 25°C as judged form the thermal power curves and simulation results. Calorimetric measurements have several advantages over conventional techniques. For example calorimetric measurements are continuous and not limited to organisms growing on agar surfaces; also growth inside of a substrate can be studied. Therefore calorimetry can be a valuable measurement technique in predictive microbiology

Multi-point and multi-objective optimization of a centrifugal compressor impeller based on genetic algorithm

The design of high efficiency, high pressure ratio, and wide flow range centrifugal impellers is a challenging task. The paper describes the application of a multiobjective, multipoint optimization methodology to the redesign of a transonic compressor impeller for this purpose. The aerodynamic optimization method integrates an improved nondominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II), blade geometry parameterization based on NURBS, a 3D RANS solver, a self-organization map (SOM) based data mining technique, and a time series based surge detection method. The optimization results indicate a considerable improvement to the total pressure ratio and isentropic efficiency of the compressor over the whole design speed line and by 5.3% and 1.9% at design point, respectively. Meanwhile, surge margin and choke mass flow increase by 6.8% and 1.4%, respectively. The mechanism behind the performance improvement is further extracted by combining the geometry changes with detailed flow analysis

Measurements of Fungal Activity as a Function of Relative Humidity by Isothermal Microcalorimetry

The heat produced by the metabolism of a mould fungus (Penicillium brevicompactum) growing on softwood was measured by isothermal calorimetry under different relative humidity (RH) levels during desorption (from 95% to 65% RH) and absorption (from 65% to 95% RH). The humidification method was successful and it was possible to decrease and increase the relative humidity and moisture content in small steps. The calorimetric measurements were difficult to interpret as the thermal power was not constant at most levels. However, a general trend with lowered activity at lower relative humidity was seen. Calorimetry can possibly be used in mapping dynamic mould activity under changing environmental conditions and can therefore be applied in predicting the risk of mould in buildings

Impact of temperature on growth and metabolic efficiency of Penicillium roqueforti - Correlations between produced heat, ergosterol content and biomass

The influence of temperature on the growth of the mould Penicillium roqueforti growing on malt extract agar was studied by correlating the produced heat (measured by isothermal calorimetry), ergosterol content (quantified by GC-MS/MS) and biomass of the mould at 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30°C. The results were analysed with a simple metabolic model from which the metabolic efficiency was calculated. The results show that the impact of temperature on growth rate and metabolic efficiency are different: although the mould fungus had the highest growth rate (in terms of thermal power, which was continuously measured) at 25°C, the substrate carbon conversion efficiency (biomass production divided by substrate consumption, both counted as moles carbon) was highest at 20°C. The temperature of the most rapid growth did therefore not equal the temperature of the most efficient growth

HARL: A Novel Hierachical Adversary Reinforcement Learning for Automoumous Intersection Management

As an emerging technology, Connected Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs) are believed to have the ability to move through intersections in a faster and safer manner, through effective Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication and global observation. Autonomous intersection management is a key path to efficient crossing at intersections, which reduces unnecessary slowdowns and stops through adaptive decision process of each CAV, enabling fuller utilization of the intersection space. Distributed reinforcement learning (DRL) offers a flexible, end-to-end model for AIM, adapting for many intersection scenarios. While DRL is prone to collisions as the actions of multiple sides in the complicated interactions are sampled from a generic policy, restricting the application of DRL in realistic scenario. To address this, we propose a hierarchical RL framework where models at different levels vary in receptive scope, action step length, and feedback period of reward. The upper layer model accelerate CAVs to prevent them from being clashed, while the lower layer model adjust the trends from upper layer model to avoid the change of mobile state causing new conflicts. And the real action of CAV at each step is co-determined by the trends from both levels, forming a real-time balance in the adversarial process. The proposed model is proven effective in the experiment undertaken in a complicated intersection with 4 branches and 4 lanes each branch, and show better performance compared with baselines

Cytosine Modifications and Distinct Functions of TET1 on Tumorigenesis

Vast emerging evidences are linking the base modifications and gene expression involved in essential metabolic pathways. Among the base modification markers extensively studied, 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and its oxidative derivatives (5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC), 5-formylcytosine (5-fC), and 5-carboxylcytosine (5-caC)) dynamically occur in DNA and RNA and have been acknowledged as the important epigenetic markers involved in regulation of cellular biological processes. The modification of C has been characterized biochemically, molecularly, and phenotypically, including elucidation of its methyltransferase complexes (writer), demethylases (eraser), 10-11 translocation proteins (TETs), and direct interaction proteins (readers). The levels and the landscapes of these epigenetic markers in the epitranscriptomes and epigenomes are precisely and dynamically regulated by the fine-tuned coordination of the writers and erasers in accordance with stages of the growth, development, and reproduction as naturally programmed during the life span. In mammalian genome, the TET family is consisted of three members, including TET1, TET2, and TET3. The link between aberrant modifications and diseases, such as cancers, neurodegenerative disorders, and heart diseases, has been appreciated. This review article will highlight the research advances in the writers and erasers for the modifications of cytosine in genome, as well as the dual function of TET1 in tumorigenesis as a tumor suppressor and a promoter. Additionally, the future research directions are addressed