114612 research outputs found
Sort by
Investigating crosslinguistic representations in Polish-English bilingual children : evidence from structural priming
Get PDFA key question in the study of language representation in bilinguals is whether knowledge is shared across languages. Crosslinguistic syntactic priming has been widely used to test bilingual adults’ shared representations, but studies with child bilinguals are few and have several limitations. We addressed these limitations in two studies with Polish-English bilingual children aged 5– 11 years (N=96). We investigated bidirectional priming across languages and within each language for a structural alternation with syntactic overlap (attributive constructions) and one without structural overlap (possessive constructions). Bidirectional crosslinguistic priming was found for possessives but not for attributives. Within-languages, there was priming for possessives and attributives in both languages. Priming was not related to children’s age, vocabulary, or language dominance scores. We show that representations can be selectively shared between languages at the construction level. The extent to which young bilinguals have shared representations depends on the frequency and complexity of structures in each language
The contribution of an X chromosome QTL to non-Mendelian inheritance and unequal chromosomal segregation in A. freiburgense
No full textAuanema freiburgense is a trioecious nematode with co-existing males, females, and selfing hermaphrodites. Crosses of XO males with XX females result in a low percentage of XO sons due to the elimination of the nullo-X spermatids by the fathers. This process yields most viable sperm containing an X chromosome, leading to a higher transmission probability of the X chromosome compared to expected transmission via random segregation. The mechanism underlying this process involves the asymmetric distribution of essential cellular organelles during sperm formation, which likely depends on the X chromosome. Specifically, sperm components segregate with the X chromosome daughter cell, while other components are discarded in the nullo-X daughter cell. Here we found that intercrossing two strains of A. freiburgense results in lines in which males produce viable nullo-X sperm. Thus, crosses of those hybrid males with females result in a high percentage of sons. To uncover the genetic basis of nullo-spermatid elimination and X-chromosome drive, we generated a genome assembly for A. freiburgense and genotyped the intercrossed lines. We identified a QTL encompassing several genes on the X chromosome that are associated with its non-Mendelian inheritance observed in A. freiburgense. This finding provides valuable clues to the underlying factors involved in asymmetric organelle partitioning during male meiotic division and thus non-Mendelian transmission of the X chromosome and sex ratios.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest
Capture of mechanically interlocked molecules using rhodium-mediated terminal alkyne dimerisation
No full textThe transition metal-mediated dimerisation of terminal alkynes is an attractive and atom-economic method for preparing conjugated 1,3-enynes. Using a phosphine-based macrocyclic pincer ligand, we demonstrate how this transformation can be extended to the synthesis of novel, hydrocarbon-based interlocked molecules: a rotaxane by ‘active’ metal template synthesis and a catenane by sequential ‘active’ and ‘passive’ metal template procedures
Stakeholder views of the proposed introduction of next generation sequencing into the cystic fibrosis screening protocol in England
No full textThe project aimed to gather, analyse, and compare the views of stakeholders about the proposed UK cystic fibrosis (CF) screening protocol incorporating next generation sequencing (NGS). The study design was based on principles of Q-methodology with a willingness-to-pay exercise. Par-ticipants were recruited from 12 CF centres in the UK. The study contained twenty-eight adults who have experience with CF (parents of children with CF (n = 21), including parents of children with CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)-related metabolic syndrome (CRMS)/CF screen positive—inconclusive diagnosis (CFSPID), an uncertain outcome (n = 3), and adults with CF (n = 4)), and nine health professionals involved in caring for children with CF. Parents and health professionals expressed a preference for a sensitive approach to NGS. This was influenced by the importance participants placed on not missing any children with CF via screening and the balance of harm between missing a case of CF compared to picking up more children with an uncertain outcome (CRMS/CFSPID). Given the preference for a sensitive approach, the need for adequate explanations about potential outcomes including uncertainty (CFSPID) at the time of screening was emphasized. More research is needed to inform definitive guidelines for managing children with an uncertain outcome following CF screening
Design and implementation of a marker-based AR-enabled tool tracking system for manufacturing manual operation
Get PDFAlthough automation and robotics are widely implemented in manufacturing industry nowadays, assembly tasks and rework processes are still carried out manually by human operators because of their complexity and the need for a level of adaptability and flexibility greater than automation solutions can provide. However, manual operations exhibit variability and are subject to human errors, which could lead to unexpected delays or quality issues. Enabling traceability of manual operations is also intrinsically more challenging than for automated processes as it typically relies on the operator consistently providing direct input (e.g. HMI/operator interaction).Research suggests that augmented reality (AR) technology can contribute to enhance human-machine interaction by providing operators with a seamless digital bi-directional interface with physical systems (e.g. product or production systems), thus improving manual operations’ overall effectiveness. Existing research related to the development of AR-based solutions for manufacturing focus essentially on training and maintenance use cases, while there is limited development of applications aiming at supporting in-production operations. In addition, while AR technologies are used to provide information to the operator, the development of capabilities allowing manual process and operators to be monitored during operations, are lacking. The research presented in this paper adopt a holistic approach combining manual operation monitoring and operator feedback capabilities. The DAMPO (Digitally Augmented Manual Process Optimisation) system implements a) computer vision technologies to provide continuous operator and manual operations monitoring capabilities b) content rich and highly interactive user interfaces using screen-based 3D and AR-based information display, and c) near real-time data capture, management and processing pipelines that provide both real-time system/user interaction and collection of historical process data. The use case for this research focuses on specific manual assembly operations of safety critical components of seating systems for the automotive industry, which require precise sequence of operations and full traceability of the assembly process for audit purposes (safety critical operations). The DAMPO system is implemented in the Automation Systems Group's Digital Automation Laboratory at the University of Warwick, WMG department, UK, and is used to support both low TRL level research and direct engagement with industry on developing human centric manufacturing solutions. The DAMPO systems implement both process monitoring capabilities (i.e. data capture) and Electronic Work Instruction functions (information feedback and presentation of the operator) in view of improving process traceability and implementing no-fault forward capabilities. The DAMPO solutions combines a wide range of a) visual computing methods (fiducial, IR marker and 3D object based pose estimation), and b) information display and operator interface technologies (e.g. projected, screen-based and head-mounted AR layer display, HMI and work instruction screens with interactive 3D content, haptic feedback), which can be combined differently depending on the use case, and use case requirements such as hand free operations, complexity of work instructions or operator feedback and interactions, etc. This production-ready solution is tested and evaluated on a replicable production cell using real product and real assembly process
Derivation of equivalent circuit rotor current from rotor bar current measurements in brushless doubly-fed machine
No full textEpistasis, core-genome disharmony, and adaptation in recombining bacteria
Get PDFRecombination of short DNA fragments via horizontal gene transfer (HGT) can introduce beneficial alleles, create genomic disharmony through negative epistasis, and create adaptive gene combinations through positive epistasis. For non-core (accessory) genes, the negative epistatic cost is likely to be minimal because the incoming genes have not co-evolved with the recipient genome and are frequently observed as tightly linked cassettes with major effects. By contrast, interspecific recombination in the core genome is expected to be rare because disruptive allelic replacement is likely to introduce negative epistasis. Why then is homologous recombination common in the core of bacterial genomes? To understand this enigma, we take advantage of an exceptional model system, the common enteric pathogens Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli that are known for very high magnitude interspecies gene flow in the core genome. As expected, HGT does indeed disrupt co-adapted allele pairings, indirect evidence of negative epistasis. However, multiple HGT events enable recovery of the genome’s co-adaption between introgressing alleles, even in core metabolism genes (e.g., formate dehydrogenase). These findings demonstrate that, even for complex traits, genetic coalitions can be decoupled, transferred, and independently reinstated in a new genetic background—facilitating transition between fitness peaks. In this example, the two-step recombinational process is associated with C. coli that are adapted to the agricultural niche
Local large deviations for periodic infinite horizon Lorentz gases
Get PDFWe prove optimal local large deviations for the periodic infinite horizon Lorentz gas viewed as a ℤd-cover (d = 1,2) of a dispersing billiard. In addition to this specific example, we prove a general result for a class of nonuni-formly hyperbolic dynamical systems and observables associated with central limit theorems with nonstandard normalisation