The interface of syntax with pragmatics and prosody in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

In order to study problems of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) with morphosyntax, we investigated twenty high-functioning Greek-speaking children (mean age:6;11) and twenty age- and language-matched typically developing children on environments that allow or forbid object clitics or their corresponding noun phrase. Children with ASD fell behind typically developing in comprehending and producing simple clitics and producing noun phrases in focus structures. The two groups performed similarly in comprehending and producing clitics in clitic left dislocation and in producing noun phrases in non-focus structures. We argue that children with ASD have difficulties at the interface of(morpho)syntax with pragmatics and prosody, namely, distinguishing a discourse prominent element, and considering intonation relevant for a particular interpretation that excludes clitics

Constraints on the χ_(c1) versus χ_(c2) polarizations in proton-proton collisions at √s = 8 TeV

The polarizations of promptly produced χ_(c1) and χ_(c2) mesons are studied using data collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC, in proton-proton collisions at √s=8  TeV. The χ_c states are reconstructed via their radiative decays χ_c → J/ψγ, with the photons being measured through conversions to e⁺e⁻, which allows the two states to be well resolved. The polarizations are measured in the helicity frame, through the analysis of the χ_(c2) to χ_(c1) yield ratio as a function of the polar or azimuthal angle of the positive muon emitted in the J/ψ → μ⁺μ⁻ decay, in three bins of J/ψ transverse momentum. While no differences are seen between the two states in terms of azimuthal decay angle distributions, they are observed to have significantly different polar anisotropies. The measurement favors a scenario where at least one of the two states is strongly polarized along the helicity quantization axis, in agreement with nonrelativistic quantum chromodynamics predictions. This is the first measurement of significantly polarized quarkonia produced at high transverse momentum

Synthesis of polymer Janus particles with tunable wettability profiles as potent solid surfactants to promote gas delivery in aqueous reaction media

Janus particles exhibit a strong tendency to directionally assemble and segregate to interfaces and thus offer advantages as colloidal analogues of molecular surfactants to improve the stability of multiphasic mixtures. Investigation and application of the unique adsorption properties require synthetic procedures that enable careful design and reliable control over the particles’ asymmetric chemistry and wettability profiles with high morphological uniformity across a sample. Herein, we report on a novel one-step synthetic approach for the generation of amphiphilic polymer Janus particles with highly uniform and tunable wettability contrasts, which is based on using reconfigurable bi-phasic Janus emulsions as versatile particle scaffolds. Two phase-separated acrylate oils were used as the constituent droplet phases and transformed into their solidified Janus particle replicas via UV-induced radical polymerization. Using Janus emulsions as particle precursors offers the advantage that their internal droplet geometry can be fine-tuned by changing the force balance of surface tensions acting at the individual interfaces via surfactants or the volume ratio of the constituent phases. In addition, preassembled functional surfactants at the droplet interfaces can be locked in position upon polymerization, which enables both access toward postfunctionalization reaction schemes and the generation of highly uniform Janus particles with adjustable wettability profiles. Depending on the particle morphology and wettability, their interfacial position can be adjusted, which allows us to stabilize either air bubbles-in-water or water droplets-in-air (liquid marbles). Motivated by the interfacial activity of the particles and particularly the longevity of the resulting particle-stabilized air-in-water bubbles, we explored their ability to promote the delivery of oxygen inside a liquid-phase reaction medium, namely, for the heterogeneous Au-NP-mediated catalytic oxidation of d-glucose. We observed a 2.2-fold increase in the reaction rate attributed to the increase of the local concentration of oxygen around catalysts, thus showcasing a new strategy to overcome the limited solubility of gases in aqueous reaction media

A change in the transportation needs today, a better future for tomorrow – climate change review

No sooner than later, the world will be living hell as a result of the transportation effects on our climate now escalating. The pressure is now growing towards their resultant effects to be totally eradicated in order to save our planet otherwise, the stabilisation of these effects; global warming, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and degradation will need to be sought after. The world all over is at it now in an effort to restore our climate, to save it from the effects of these catastrophes/disasters. On the proposition of the Kyoto Protocol in1997, the main focus was to decrease greenhouse emissions of mainly six gases – Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulphur hexafluoride, Hydro fluorocarbons (HFCs) and Per fluorinated Compounds (PFCs). And transport alone, accounts for over 26% of global CO2 and has been regarded as one of the few industrial sectors wherein emissions are still on the increase, on this basis, researchers and policy makers are all at it to tackle the menace of climate changes through provision of sustainable transport. This paper focuses on the new and developed technologies like the renewable energy source [RES], which will be an alternative to transport fuels to avoid the dependence on petroleum which after effects are damaging to the world climate, and may probably not be there forever to continue serving the world ever increasing population. While the long term solutions are being sought, these alternatives will make do for now

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales in patients with bacteraemia at tertiary academic hospitals in South Africa, 2019 - 2020: An update

Background. The emergence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) has become a serious and significant public health threat worldwide, owing to the limited antimicrobial therapy options, and the elevated mortality rates associated with these infections. Objectives. To present an update on the epidemiology of CRE bloodstream infections among hospitalised patients reported under the Group for Enteric, Respiratory and Meningeal Diseases Surveillance in South Africa (GERMS-SA) between January 2019 and December 2020. Methods. Patients of all ages with CRE bacteraemia were included and isolates, when available, were sent to the reference laboratory for confirmatory testing and molecular characterisation. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess factors associated with in-hospital mortality. Results. We included 2 144 patients with CRE bacteraemia with a median age of 33 (interquartile range 1 - 51) years, of whom 1 145 (54.2%) were male. Klebsiella pneumoniae accounted for 79.8% of infections (n=863/1 082), of which 89.5% (n=611/683) were healthcare associated (HA). The most common carbapenemase genes were carbapenem-hydrolysing oxacillinase-48 (blaOXA-48-like) (76.8%; n=761/991), New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (blaNDM) (21.1%; n=209/991) and Verona integron-encoded metallo-β-lactamase (blaVIM) (1.3%; n=13/991). None of the screened isolates with a colistin minimum inhibitory concentration >2 μg/mL harboured the mobilised colistin resistance (mcr)-1 to mcr-5 genes. The crude in-hospital mortality rate was 36.6% (n=377/1 029). Patients aged ≥60 years (v. 1.6 - 9 years) (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 4.53; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.21 - 9.28), those with comorbidities (diabetes, malignancy, renal and/or cardiovascular failure) (aOR 1.72; 95% CI 1.17 - 2.52), those with altered mental state (aOR 5.36; 95% CI 3.21 - 8.92) and those with previous antimicrobial use (aOR 1.88; 95% CI 1.27 - 2.77) had increased odds of in-hospital mortality. Conclusion. The epidemiology of CRE bloodstream infections remained similar compared with the previous surveillance report. Most infections were HA and caused by OXA-48-like carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae with no plasmid-mediated colistin resistance. Standard infection control measures should be strengthened

Group B Streptococcus vaccine development: present status and future considerations, with emphasis on perspectives for low and middle income countries.

Globally, group B Streptococcus (GBS) remains the leading cause of sepsis and meningitis in young infants, with its greatest burden in the first 90 days of life. Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) for women at risk of transmitting GBS to their newborns has been effective in reducing, but not eliminating, the young infant GBS disease burden in many high income countries. However, identification of women at risk and administration of IAP is very difficult in many low and middle income country (LMIC) settings, and is not possible for home deliveries. Immunization of pregnant women with a GBS vaccine represents an alternate pathway to protecting newborns from GBS disease, through the transplacental antibody transfer to the fetus in utero. This approach to prevent GBS disease in young infants is currently under development, and is approaching late stage clinical evaluation. This manuscript includes a review of the natural history of the disease, global disease burden estimates, diagnosis and existing control options in different settings, the biological rationale for a vaccine including previous supportive studies, analysis of current candidates in development, possible correlates of protection and current status of immunogenicity assays. Future potential vaccine development pathways to licensure and use in LMICs, trial design and implementation options are discussed, with the objective to provide a basis for reflection, rather than recommendations

Integrated motor drives: state of the art and future trends

With increased need for high power density, high efficiency and high temperature capabilities in Aerospace and Automotive applications, Integrated Motor Drives (IMD) offers a potential solution. However, close physical integration of the converter and the machine may also lead to an increase in components temperature. This requires careful mechanical, structural and thermal analysis; and design of the IMD system. This paper reviews existing IMD technologies and their thermal effects on the IMD system. The effects of the power electronics (PE) position on the IMD system and its respective thermal management concepts are also investigated. The challenges faced in designing and manufacturing of an IMD along with the mechanical and structural impacts of close physical integration is also discussed and potential solutions are provided. Potential converter topologies for an IMD like the Matrix converter, 2-level Bridge, 3-level NPC and Multiphase full bridge converters are also reviewed. Wide band gap devices like SiC and GaN and their packaging in power modules for IMDs are also discussed. Power modules components and packaging technologies are also presented

Heterostructure Engineering of a Reverse Water Gas Shift Photocatalyst

To achieve substantial reductions in CO2 emissions, catalysts for the photoreduction of CO2 into value‐added chemicals and fuels will most likely be at the heart of key renewable‐energy technologies. Despite tremendous efforts, developing highly active and selective CO2 reduction photocatalysts remains a great challenge. Herein, a metal oxide heterostructure engineering strategy that enables the gas‐phase, photocatalytic, heterogeneous hydrogenation of CO2 to CO with high performance metrics (i.e., the conversion rate of CO2 to CO reached as high as 1400 µmol g cat−1 h−1) is reported. The catalyst is comprised of indium oxide nanocrystals, In2O3−x(OH)y, nucleated and grown on the surface of niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5) nanorods. The heterostructure between In2O3−x(OH)y nanocrystals and the Nb2O5 nanorod support increases the concentration of oxygen vacancies and prolongs excited state (electron and hole) lifetimes. Together, these effects result in a dramatically improved photocatalytic performance compared to the isolated In2O3−x(OH)y material. The defect optimized heterostructure exhibits a 44‐fold higher conversion rate than pristine In2O3−x(OH)y. It also exhibits selective conversion of CO2 to CO as well as long‐term operational stability

The DNA-PAINT palette: a comprehensive performance analysis of fluorescent dyes

DNA points accumulation for imaging in nanoscale topography (DNA-PAINT) is a super-resolution fluorescence microscopy technique that achieves single-molecule ‘blinking’ by transient DNA hybridization. Despite blinking kinetics being largely independent of fluorescent dye choice, the dye employed substantially affects measurement quality. Thus far, there has been no systematic overview of dye performance for DNA-PAINT. Here we defined four key parameters characterizing performance: brightness, signal-to-background ratio, DNA-PAINT docking site damage and off-target signal. We then analyzed 18 fluorescent dyes in three spectral regions and examined them both in DNA origami nanostructures, establishing a reference standard, and in a cellular environment, targeting the nuclear pore complex protein Nup96. Finally, having identified several well-performing dyes for each excitation wavelength, we conducted simultaneous three-color DNA-PAINT combined with Exchange-PAINT to image six protein targets in neurons at ~16 nm resolution in less than 2 h. We thus provide guidelines for DNA-PAINT dye selection and evaluation and an overview of performances of commonly used dyes