A Cross-Linguistic Preference For Torso Stability In The Lexicon: Evidence From 24 Sign Languages

When the arms move in certain ways, they can cause the torso to twist or rock. Such extraneous torso movement is undesirable, especially during sign language communication, when torso position may carry linguistic significance, so we expend effort to resist it when it is not intended. This so-called “reactive effort” has only recently been identified by Sanders and Napoli (2016), but their preliminary work on three genetically unrelated languages suggests that the effects of reactive effort can be observed cross-linguistically by examination of sign language lexicons. In particular, the frequency of different kinds of manual movements in the lexicon correlates with the amount of reactive effort needed to resist movement of the torso. Following this line of research, we present evidence from 24 sign languages confirming that there is a cross-linguistic preference for minimizing the reactive effort needed to keep the torso stable

On The Linguistic Effects Of Articulatory Ease, With A Focus On Sign Languages

Spoken language has a well-known drive for ease of articulation, which Kirchner (1998, 2004) analyzes as reduction of the total magnitude of all biomechanical forces involved. We extend Kirchner\u27s insights from vocal articulation to manual articulation, with a focus on joint usage, and we discuss ways that articulatory ease might be realized in sign languages. In particular, moving more joints and/or joints more proximal to the torso results in greater mass being moved, and thus more articulatory force being expended, than moving fewer joints or moving more distal joints. We predict that in casual conversation, where articulatory ease is prized, moving fewer joints should be favored over moving more, and moving distal joints should be favored over moving proximal joints. We report on the results of our study of the casual signing of fluent signers of American Sign Language, which confirm our predictions: in comparison to citation forms of signs, the casual variants produced by the signers in our experiment exhibit an overall decrease in average joint usage, as well as a general preference for more distal articulation than is used in citation form. We conclude that all language, regardless of modality, is shaped by a fundamental drive for ease of articulation. Our work advances a cross-modality approach for considering ease of articulation, develops a potentially important vocabulary for describing variations in signs, and demonstrates that American Sign Language exhibits variation that can be accounted for in terms of ease of articulation. We further suggest that the linguistic drive for ease of articulation is part of a broader tendency for the human body to reduce biomechanical effort in all physical activities

Chiral Rings of Deconstructive [SU(n_c)]^N Quivers

Dimensional deconstruction of 5D SQCD with general n_c, n_f and k_CS gives rise to 4D N=1 gauge theories with large quivers of SU(n_c) gauge factors. We construct the chiral rings of such [SU(n_c)]^N theories, off-shell and on-shell. Our results are broadly similar to the chiral rings of single U(n_c) theories with both adjoint and fundamental matter, but there are also some noteworthy differences such as nonlocal meson-like operators where the quark and antiquark fields belong to different nodes of the quiver. And because our gauge groups are SU(n_c) rather than U(n_c), our chiral rings also contain a whole zoo of baryonic and antibaryonic operators.Comment: 93 pages, LaTeX, PSTricks macros; 1 reference added in v

Quantum Deconstruction of 5D SQCD

We deconstruct the fifth dimension of 5D SCQD with general numbers of colors and flavors and general 5D Chern-Simons level; the latter is adjusted by adding extra quarks to the 4D quiver. We use deconstruction as a non-stringy UV completion of the quantum 5D theory; to prove its usefulness, we compute quantum corrections to the SQCD_5 prepotential. We also explore the moduli/parameter space of the deconstructed SQCD_5 and show that for |K_CS| < N_F/2 it continues to negative values of 1/(g_5)^2. In many cases there are flop transitions connecting SQCD_5 to exotic 5D theories such as E0, and we present several examples of such transitions. We compare deconstruction to brane-web engineering of the same SQCD_5 and show that the phase diagram is the same in both cases; indeed, the two UV completions are in the same universality class, although they are not dual to each other. Hence, the phase structure of an SQCD_5 (and presumably any other 5D gauge theory) is inherently five-dimensional and does not depends on a UV completion.Comment: LaTeX+PStricks, 108 pages, 41 colored figures. Please print in colo

STICKY: Taboo Topics In Deaf Communities

This chapter offers an overview of taboo topics within deaf communities to bring forward issues not obvious to those outside deaf communities. We look at taboo behaviors of hearing people as they interact with deaf communities, considering linguistic and cultural appropriation, exploitation, and hearing privilege. We also look at taboo topics regarding social hierarchies within deaf communities, those based on gender and race, as well as those based on cognitive abilities, particularly language. These topics present a nuanced and diverse representation of deaf people, which is intended to sensitize those aiming to work with deaf communities or, in fact, with any oppressed group. Scholars need to behave responsibly. Linguists, unwittingly, may well have had a negative effect on deaf communities by exalting the language of those who were privileged enough to acquire a firm foundation in signing during the sensitive period for language development and discounting the language of others

Operational enhancements to improve applicability for challenging cell lines in the Sanofi Intensified Perfusion Platform (IPeP)

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Design of a normally-off diamond JFET for high power integrated applications

© 2017 Elsevier B.V. Normally-on (depletion mode) and normally-off (enhancement mode) diamond Junction Field Effect Transistors (JFETs) have been analyzed by means of a commercially available TCAD software. First, the parameters used for describing the incomplete ionization, avalanche, and mobility models in diamond have been discussed and assessed against the state-of-the-art. The on- and off-state electrical characteristics of diamond JFETs have been simulated with the suggested parameter values and matched with a set of available experimental data. Secondly, an optimization technique which can improve the performance of an enhancement mode diamond JFET that operates in the unipolar conduction regime has been proposed. This method takes into account the unique properties and limitations of diamond and highlights the main issues that can arise from the design of a normally-off diamond JFET. In particular, the crucial effect of the high temperature on the performance of the normally-off JFET has been investigated. The adopted technique is mainly based on a design of TCAD experiments and no mathematical algorithms have been developed for the calculation of the optimized set of parameters

Impermeability effects in three-dimensional vesicles

We analyse the effects that the impermeability constraint induces on the equilibrium shapes of a three-dimensional vesicle hosting a rigid inclusion. A given alteration of the inclusion and/or vesicle parameters leads to shape modifications of different orders of magnitude, when applied to permeable or impermeable vesicles. Moreover, the enclosed-volume constraint wrecks the uniqueness of stationary equilibrium shapes, and gives rise to pear-shaped or stomatocyte-like vesicles.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figure