The affect bias in the metaphorical representation of anticipated events

When talking about anticipated events, speakers can conceptualize them either as destinations towards which they are moving or as entities moving towards them, which correspond to the Ego- and the Time-moving metaphors, respectively (cf. ‘We are approaching Christmas’ and ‘Christmas is approaching’). Research in psycholinguistics has shown affective valence, i.e. whether the conceptualized event is perceived as positive or negative, to be one of the factors that modulate metaphor choice; positive anticipation is preferentially associated with Ego-moving expressions, whereas negative anticipation is predominantly associated with Time-moving metaphors. This paper sets out to test if the time-affect association surfaces in naturally-occurring language use when both metaphorical patterns are available. By focusing on the temporal usage of the verb approach, we provide linguistic evidence in favor of such an affective bias in time representations. In addition, the language data point to a semantic preference for a particular type of event (i.e., personal vs social) under each metaphorical pattern. We interpret this finding as preliminary evidence for a possible semantic bias in time representations to be further investigated.

Synaptotagmin-1 C2B domains cooperatively stabilize the fusion stalk via a master-servant mechanism

Synaptotagmin-1 is a low-affinity Ca2+ sensor that triggers synchronous vesicle fusion. It contains two similar C2 domains (C2A and C2B) that cooperate in membrane binding, being the C2B domain the main responsible for the membrane fusion process due to its polybasic patch KRLKKKKTTIKK (321-332). In this work, a master-servant mechanism between two identical C2B domains is shown to control the formation of the fusion stalk. Two regions in C2B are essential for the process, the well-known polybasic patch and a recently described pair of arginines (398,399). The master domain shows strong PIP2 interactions with its polybasic patch and its pair of arginines. At the same time, the servant analogously cooperates with the master to reduce the total work to form the fusion stalk. The strategic mutation (T328E,T329E) in both master and servant domains disrupts the cooperative mechanism, drastically increasing the free energy needed to induce the fusion stalk, however with negligible effects on the master domain interactions with PIP2. These data point to a difference in the behavior of the servant domain, which is unable to sustain its PIP2 interactions neither through its polybasic patch nor through its pair of arginines, in the end losing its ability to assist the master in the formation of the fusion stalk.

Nkx2.9 Contributes to Mid-Hindbrain Patterning by Regulation of mdDA Neuronal Cell-Fate and Repression of a Hindbrain-Specific Cell-Fate

Nkx2.9 is a member of the NK homeobox family and resembles Nkx2.2 both in homology and expression pattern. However, while Nkx2.2 is required for development of serotonergic neurons, the role of Nkx2.9 in the mid-hindbrain region is still ill-defined. We have previously shown that Nkx2.9 expression is downregulated upon loss of En1 during development. Here, we determined whether mdDA neurons require Nkx2.9 during their development. We show that Nkx2.9 is strongly expressed in the IsO and in the VZ and SVZ of the embryonic midbrain, and the majority of mdDA neurons expressed Nkx2.9 during their development. Although the expression of Dat and Cck are slightly affected during development, the overall development and cytoarchitecture of TH-expressing neurons is not affected in the adult Nkx2.9-depleted midbrain. Transcriptome analysis at E14.5 indicated that genes involved in mid- and hindbrain development are affected by Nkx2.9-ablation, such as Wnt8b and Tph2. Although the expression of Tph2 extends more rostral into the isthmic area in the Nkx2.9 mutants, the establishment of the IsO is not affected. Taken together, these data point to a minor role for Nkx2.9 in mid-hindbrain patterning by repressing a hindbrain-specific cell-fate in the IsO and by subtle regulation of mdDA neuronal subset specification.

Fractal Scaling Properties in Rainfall Time Series: A Case of Thiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu, India

In the present study, the features of rainfall time series (1971–2016) in 9 meteorological regions of Thiruvallur, Tamil Nadu, India that comprises Thiruvallur, Korattur_Dam, Ponneri, Poondi, Red Hills, Sholingur, Thamaraipakkam, Thiruvottiyur and Vallur Anicut were studied. The evaluation of rainfall time series is one of the approaches for efficient hydrological structure design. Characterising and identifying patterns is one of the main objectives of time series analysis. Rainfall is a complex phenomenon, and the temporal variation of this natural phenomenon has been difficult to characterise and quantify due to its randomness. Such dynamical behaviours are present in multiple domains and it is therefore essential to have tools to model them. To solve this problem, fractal analysis based on Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (DFA) and Rescaled Range (R/S) analysis were employed. The fractal analysis produces estimates of the magnitude of detrended fluctuations at different scales (window sizes) of a time series and assesses the scaling relationship between estimates and time scales. The DFA and (R/S) gives an estimate known as Hurst exponent (H) that assumes self-similarity in the time series. The results of H exponent reveals typical behaviours shown by all the rainfall time series, Thiruvallur and Sholingur rainfall region have H exponent values within 0.5 < H < 1 which is an indication of persistent behaviour or long memory. In this case, a future data point is likely to be followed by a data point preceding it; Ponneri and Poondi have conflicting results based on the two methods, however, their H values are approximately 0.5 showing random walk behaviour in which there is no correlation between any part and a future. Thamaraipakkam, Thiruvottiyur, Vallur Anicut, Korattur Dam and Red Hills have H values less than 0.5 indicating a property called anti-persistent in which an increase will tend to be followed by a decrease or vice versa. Taking into consideration of such features in modelling, rainfall time series could be an exhaustive rainfall model. Finding appropriate models to estimate and predict future rainfalls is the core idea of this study for future research.

A novel benchmark for COVID-19 pandemic testing effectiveness enables the accurate prediction of new Intensive Care Unit admissions

The positivity rate of testing is currently used both as a benchmark of testing adequacy and for assessing the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, since the former is a prerequisite for the latter, its interpretation is often conflicting. We propose as a benchmark for COVID-19 testing effectiveness a new metric, termed ‘Severity Detection Rate’ (SDR), that represents the daily needs for new Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admissions, per 100 cases detected (t − i) days ago, per 10,000 tests performed (t − i) days ago. Based on the announced COVID-19 monitoring data in Greece from May 2020 until August 2021, we show that beyond a certain threshold of daily tests, SDR reaches a plateau of very low variability that begins to reflect testing adequacy. Due to the stabilization of SDR, it was possible to predict with great accuracy the daily needs for new ICU admissions, 12 days ahead of each testing data point, over a period of 10 months, with Pearson r = 0.98 (p = 10–197), RMSE = 7.16. We strongly believe that this metric will help guide the timely decisions of both scientists and government officials to tackle pandemic spread and prevent ICU overload by setting effective testing requirements for accurate pandemic monitoring. We propose further study of this novel metric with data from more countries to confirm the validity of the current findings.

Application of an Acrylic Polymer and Epoxy Emulsion to Red Clay and Sand

The use of nontraditional soil stabilizers increases. Various new soil binding agents are under study to augment renewability and sustainability of an earth structure. However, despite increasing interest involved in red clay, there is minimal research investigating the stabilizing red clay with polymer. This paper presents the findings obtained by applying the acrylic polymer and epoxy emulsion as binding agent for red clay and that for sand. The epoxy–hardener ratio, amount of epoxy emulsion, and amount of polymer aqueous solution were manipulated to quantify their effects on red clay and sand, respectively. After compacting a pair of cylindrical samples of which diameter and height are 5 cm and 10 cm, respectively, it is cured for 3 and 7 days in a controlled condition. Each pair is produced to represent the engineering performance at each data point in the solution space. An optimal composition of the binding agents for red clay and that for sand mixture are identified by experimenting every data point. In addition, given lime into each sample, the maximum unconfined compressive strength (UCS) endured by red clay sample and that by sand sample are 2243 and 1493 kPa, respectively. The UCS obtained by the sample mixed with clay and sand reaches 2671 kPa after seven days of curing. It confirms that the addition of lime remarkably improves the UCS. When the clay–sand mixture, of which the ratio is 70:30, includes 5% lime, the UCS of the mixture outperforms. Indeed, these findings, i.e., the optimal proportion of components, may contribute to the increase of initial and long-term strength of an earth structure, hence improving the renewability and sustainability of the earth construction method.