The current study investigates how bilingual children encode and produce morphologically complex words. We employed a silent-production-plus-delayed-vocalization paradigm in which event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were recorded during silent encoding of inflected words which were subsequently cued to be overtly produced. The bilingual children's spoken responses and their ERPs were compared to previous datasets from monolingual children on the same task. We found an enhanced negativity for regular relative to irregular forms during silent production in both bilingual children's languages, replicating the ERP effect previously obtained from monolingual children. Nevertheless, the bilingual children produced more morphological errors (viz. over-regularizations) than monolingual children. We conclude that mechanisms of morphological encoding (as measured by ERPs) are parallel for bilingual and monolingual children, and that the increased over-regularization rates are due to their reduced exposure to each of the two languages (relative to monolingual children).

During the expedition POS397 ‘GroMet’ in 2010 the sediments of the Great Meteor Seamount (GMS) plateau were sampled quantitatively for the first time, allowing statistical analysis of the community structure of Harpacticoida and Canuelloida. Analysis of similarity revealed no differences between three geographic regions at family/species level. Analysis of diversity indicated slightly greater diversity in the south, with more species belonging to more genera/families. Dispersal opportunities possibly occurring at the plateau (emergence, erosion, rafting) are discussed. Of 18 investigated families 106 species were identified, but only 5.66% were already scientifically known and widely distributed. Within the investigated families, 37.74% of the species belonged to shallow-water genera, leading to the conclusion that the plateau was once connected to shallow-water habitats, perhaps functioning as a stepping stone, but is now geographically isolated. This isolation is most likely due to seafloor spreading of the Atlantic Ocean and descending of the GMS. On the plateau, six species with wider distribution ranges were present, indicating that species may arrive accidentally, but their means of settlement remains unknown. Comparisons of the identified GMS plateau fauna with that of other seamounts and mid-oceanic islands revealed similar communities at family level, but at species level the GMS shares only one species with the Seine Seamount; all other elevations had more species in common. Hence, the GMS plateau is considered to be isolated regarding benthic Copepoda but may play an important role in meiofaunal species distribution, as it represents a shallow-water habitat within the deep sea.

Crop plants have been used as mimic weeds to substitute for real weeds in competition studies. These mimic weeds have the advantages of availability of seed, uniform germination and growth, and the potential to confer better experimental controllability and repeatability. However, the underlying assumption that the competitive effects of mimic weeds are similar to real weeds has not been tested. We compared a range of morphological traits (plant height, node and leaf number, leaf area, leaf size, and dry weight) between the mimic weeds and real weeds: Japanese millet vs. junglerice, mungbean vs. bladder ketmia, and common sunflower vs. fierce thornapple. The impact of these mimic and real weeds on cotton was also assessed. There were similarities and differences between the mimic and real weeds, but impact on cotton lint yield was most closely associated with weed height and dry weight at mid-season. Mimic weeds may be satisfactorily substituted for real weeds in competition experiments where seasonal and environmental conditions are not limiting, such as with fully irrigated cotton, provided the plants have similar dry weight and height at mid-season. Alternatively, one can account for the differences in dry weight and height. We define here a generalized relationship estimating the yield loss of high-yielding, irrigated cotton from weed competition over a range of weed dry weights and heights, allowing extrapolation from the results with mimic weeds to the competitive effects of a range of weeds.

Recent research on the acoustic realization of affixes has revealed differences between phonologically homophonous affixes, e.g. the different kinds of final [s] and [z] in English (Plag, Homann & Kunter 2017, Zimmermann 2016a). Such results are unexpected and unaccounted for in widely accepted post-Bloomfieldian item-and-arrangement models (Hockett 1954), which separate lexical and post-lexical phonology, and in models which interpret phonetic effects as consequences of different prosodic structure. This paper demonstrates that the differences in duration of English final S as a function of the morphological function it expresses (non-morphemic, plural, third person singular, genitive, genitive plural, cliticized has, and cliticized is) can be approximated by considering the support for these morphological functions from the words’ sublexical and collocational properties. We estimated this support using naïve discriminative learning and replicated previous results for English vowels (Tucker, Sims & Baayen 2019), indicating that segment duration is lengthened under higher functional certainty but shortened under functional uncertainty. We discuss the implications of these results, obtained with a wide learning network that eschews representations for morphemes and exponents, for models in theoretical morphology as well as for models of lexical processing.

Many mammalian populations conform spatially and temporally to Bergmann's rule. This ecogeographic pattern is driven by selection for larger body masses by cooler temperatures and smaller ones by warming temperatures. However, it is unclear whether the response to warming or cooling temperatures is (a)symmetrical. Studies of the evolutionary record suggest that mammals evolve smaller body sizes more rapidly than larger ones, suggesting that it may be “easier” to adapt to warming climates than cooling ones. Here, we examine the potential asymmetrical response of mammals to past temperature fluctuations. We use the fossil midden record of the bushy-tailed woodrat, Neotoma cinerea, a well-studied animal that generally conforms to Bergmann's rule, to test the ability of populations to respond to warming versus cooling climate throughout its modern range in western North America over the late Quaternary. We quantified the response to temperature change, as characterized by the Greenland Ice Sheet Project 2 temperature record, using N. cinerea presence/absence and “darwins.” Our results show that populations within the modern range of N. cinerea show little difference between warming and cooling events. However, northern, peripheral populations are absent during older, cooler periods, possibly due to climate or taphonomy. Our study suggests adaptation in situ may be an underestimated response to future climate change.

This study explored the long-term effects of limited input on bilingual teenagers’ acquisition of complex morphology in Welsh. Study 1 assessed 168 12–13 and 16–17-year-old teenagers, across three bilingual groups: those whose first language was Welsh (L1 Welsh), those who learned Welsh and English simultaneously (L1 Welsh–English), and those who learned Welsh as a second language (L2 Welsh), on their receptive knowledge of grammatical gender. Study 2 assessed the same participants on their production of plural morphology. While the results of Study 1 revealed continuous progression toward adult norms among L1 Welsh-speaking bilinguals, with the simultaneous bilinguals progressing at a slower rate, the results of Study 2 revealed performances on plural morphology that were comparable to adult norms among the 16–17-year-old L1 Welsh-speaking bilinguals, and some progression among the simultaneous bilinguals. In contrast, delayed progression was seen among the L2 Welsh-speaking bilinguals across the board, with 16–17-year-old L2 participants lagging behind their L1 peers on both grammatical gender and plural morphology. The implications of these findings for our understanding of the long-term outcomes for bilinguals learning complex structures under minority language conditions are discussed.

Photocatalytic water splitting to form hydrogen can effectively alleviate energy and environmental problems attracting wide attention. However, the current photocatalysts have low photocatalytic efficiencies due to the narrow absorption spectrum, which is far from the actual application requirements. Herein, we use the as-prepared zinc porphyrin self-assemblies to visible-light-drive photocatalytic hydrogen evolution with Pt as the cocatalyst and ascorbic acid (AA) as the sacrificial agent. The results exhibit morphology-dependent performance and hexagonal stacks achieved optimal H2 evolution rate (47.1 mmol/h/g), then followed by nanodiscs, nanorod and tetragonal stacks, meanwhile the nanorods with different aspect ratios show size-dependent properties. The UV-vis absorption and photoluminescence spectra and the shortening of decay time of the corresponding ZnTPyP aggregates reveal that the well-defined self-assembled porphyrin networks are J-aggregation and boost efficient energy transfer with respect to monomer. Such porphyrin self-assemblies are standing for one of the most promising photosensitizers in photocatalysis field and provide an important reference for designing the next generation of hydrogen production.

The drying process, self-assembly of the proteins and the phase separation of a thermotropic liquid crystal (LC) from an initial aqueous solution represent a rich area of study. A focus of this work is to compare the behavior of two different proteins, bovine serum albumin [BSA] and lysozyme [Lys] in the ternary system through optical microscopy. During the drying process, the intensity profile shows three regimes in the presence of LC whereas no intensity variation is observed in its absence in both protein drops. The striking outcome is the presence of an umbilical defect of [+1] strength in every domain near the edge of BSA drop, whereas, each domain has a central dark region surrounded by a bright region in the dried Lys drop. Finally, the crack spacing in the dried Lys drop is reduced in the presence of LC whereas, no significant difference is found in the dried BSA drop.

The new species Lenonchium zanjanense sp. n. is described from a natural habitat of Zanjan province, Iran, including line, light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy illustrations and a molecular (18S, 28S) study. It is characterized by its 3.50–4.51 mm long body, rounded lip region, continuous and 13.5–15.5 µm broad, odontostyle 21–24 µm long, neck 362–490 µm long, double guiding ring, pharyngeal expansion 190–285 µm long, female genital system didelphic–amphidelphic, uterus simple and 185–320 µm long or 3.4–5.9 times the corresponding body diameter, vulva nearly equatorial (V = 45–53), tail conical-elongated to filiform (90–165 µm, c = 23–43, c′ = 2.4–5.3) with three or four mucro-like projections at the tip, spicules 58–64 µm long and 16–21 contiguous ventromedian supplements ending at the level of the anterior end of the spicules. The taxonomy of the genus is updated, with an emended diagnosis, list of species, key to their identification and a compendium of their main morphometrics. Lenonchium asterocaudatum is regarded as identical and a junior synonym of L. denticaudatum. New insights into the phylogeny of the group are also provided, and the classification of Lenonchium within Nordiidae is seriously questioned.

Thin films of Cu2ZnSnS4 have been synthesized through solution chemistry. The correlation between film morphology and the ratio of cations (copper, zinc and tin) and the amount of monoethanolamine (MEA) in solution has been investigated. The stoichiometric ratio of cations resulted in films comprised of fine grains (∼165 nm) with large crystals (∼ 1 − 2μm) spread over its surface. The films corresponding to copper poor and zinc rich solutions were comprised of grains having uniform size (∼300 nm). The addition of MEA to precursor solutions resulted in a significant drop of pinholes in the films, however, at the same time grain size decreases to 50 − 200 nm range depending on the amount of MEA present in the precursor solution.

Englerophytum and Synsepalum are two closely related genera of trees and shrubs from the African tropics. Previous molecular studies have shown that these genera collectively form a clade within the subfamily Chrysophylloideae (Sapotaceae). However, little is known about the inter-relationships of the taxa within the Englerophytum–Synsepalum clade. In this study, nuclear ribosomal DNA and plastid trnH–psbA sequences were used to estimate the phylogeny within the clade. Results indicate that the clade consists of six major lineages, two composed solely of taxa from the genus Englerophytum and four composed of taxa from the genus Synsepalum. Each lineage can be distinguished by suites of vegetative and floral characters. Leaf venation patterns, calyx fusion, style length and staminodal structure were among the most useful characters for distinguishing clades. Some of the subclades within the Englerophytum–Synsepalum clade were also found to closely fit descriptions of former genera, most of which were described by Aubréville, that have since been placed in synonymy with Englerophytum and Synsepalum. The clade with the type species of Englerophytum also contains the type species of the genera Wildemaniodoxa and Zeyherella, which are confirmed as synonyms.

Ti6Al4V alloy is commonly used in hip and knee replacements due to its high strength, ductility, wear, and corrosion resistance. Despite its optimal physical and chemical properties, Ti6Al4V based orthopedic implants have a limited lifetime of only 15–20 years. One of the main reasons for having limited lifetime is the suboptimal integration of Ti6Al4V implants with the juxtaposed bone tissue (osseointegration). To enhance osseointegration, and thus prolong the lifetime of orthopedic implants, Ti6Al4V implants surfaces were modified to have bioactive properties using electrochemical anodization process. In this work, oxide based micropit structures were fabricated on Ti6Al4V surfaces using a fluoride-free electrolyte consisting of NH4Cl in distilled water. Micropit structures were characterized for their surface morphology, crystallinity, and chemistry before and after high temperature crystallization heat treatment. Upon interaction of Ti6Al4V samples with simulated body fluid up to 30 days, enhanced calcium phosphate mineral deposition was observed on anodized surfaces.

The effect of polypropylene (PP) molecular weight on the properties of styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer (SBS)/PP blends was studied. All SBS/PP blends (50/50 and 90/10) exhibited a sandwich structure where the co-continuous SBS/PP layer was between the top and bottom PP layers. Solvent extraction tests suggested that the continuous phase structure of PP was independent of the blending ratio and PP molecular weight, while the SBS phase changed from a dispersed phase to a continuous phase as the SBS content increased. The decrease in PP molecular weight decreased the PP layer thickness but increased the phase domain size of SBS in SBS/PP(50/50) blends. As a result, less noticeable “stress-hardening” phenomenon was observed. The mechanism for the structural change was attributed to the different melt viscosities of each component. The crystallinity of the blends did not change with the variable PP molecular weight but decreased with the increasing SBS content.

The brush-clawed shore crab Hemigrapsus takanoi is a native species from the Western Pacific and an invader of the European Atlantic coast from northern Spain to southern Denmark. Despite the increasing concern about its rapid expansion, little is known about the early stages in its life history. In the present study, the larval morphology of H. takanoi is described and illustrated from specimens obtained in the laboratory from its type locality, Tokyo Bay, Japan. Its larval development follows the pattern of Varunidae, that involves five zoeae and one megalopa. The morphological characters of the larvae of H. takanoi are compared with those of the other known Hemigrapsus species of the North Pacific. In addition, to facilitate an early detection of the invasive species of Varunidae inhabiting European Atlantic waters, a summary of the key characters to identify their larval stages is included.

This contribution provides morphological and molecular data for one new and one known species of the genus Pungentus. The first species, P. azarbaijanensis n. sp., was recovered from the rhizospheric soil of grasses, collected in West Azarbaijan province, Iran, and was characterized by 2082–2365 μm long females having an angular lip region separated from the rest of the body by a constriction, 33–35 μm long odontostyle, vulva at 43.5–51.0%, 27.0–29.5 μm long rounded-conoid tail, and males unknown. It was compared morphologically with five species: P. angulosus, P. crassus, P. marietani, P. parapungens and P. pungens, which have didelphic-amphidelphic female reproductive system, body longer than 1.5 mm, and odontostyle longer than 20 μm. The second species, P. engadinensis, was recovered in three different regions of Iran (Mazandaran, Semnan and East Azarbaijan provinces). It was compared morphologically with some other populations reported all over the world. Besides morphological studies, molecular phylogenetic studies using partial sequences of 28S rDNA D2-D3 fragments were performed, and the phylogenetic relations of the two Iranian populations with other species and genera were discussed.

3T3-L1 cells serve as model systems for studying adipogenesis and research of adipose tissue-related diseases, e.g. obesity and diabetes. Here, we present two novel and complementary nondestructive methods for adipogenesis analysis of living cells which facilitate continuous monitoring of the same culture over extended periods of time, and are applied in parallel at the macro- and micro-scales. At the macro-scale, we developed visual differences mapping (VDM), a novel method which allows to determine level of adipogenesis (LOA)—a numerical index which quantitatively describes the extent of differentiation in the whole culture, and percentage area populated by adipocytes (PAPBA) across a whole culture, based on the apparent morphological differences between preadipocytes and adipocytes. At the micro-scale, we developed an improved version of our previously published image-processing algorithm, which now provides data regarding single-cell morphology and lipid contents. Both methods were applied here synergistically for measuring differentiation levels in cultures over multiple weeks. VDM revealed that the mean LOA value reached 1.11 ± 0.06 and the mean PAPBA value reached >60%. Micro-scale analysis revealed that during differentiation, the cells transformed from a fibroblast-like shape to a circular shape with a build-up of lipid droplets. We predict a vast potential for implementation of these methods in adipose-related pharmacological research, such as in metabolic-syndrome studies.

The mechanical deformation behavior of nanocomposite metals depends on the dimensions of their constituents, due to the interactions of dislocations with grain and phase boundaries. It is now becoming apparent that the mechanical behavior of these materials also depends on the constituent shapes. This article summarizes experimental and modeling investigations on two types of metal nanocomposites composed of intricately interpenetrating phases—those formed by phase separation in physical vapor codeposited alloys and those synthesized by liquid-metal dealloying. The opportunities and challenges these materials present for investigating complex microstructural morphologies and their effects on mechanical behavior are discussed.

Neoechinorhynchus is one of the most speciose genera of acanthocephalans, with approximately 116 described species. A recent study, aimed at establishing the genetic diversity of Neoechinorhynchus in Middle American freshwater fishes, validated nine species molecularly and morphologically and revealed the existence of 10 putative candidate species. Neoechinorhynchus golvani, a parasite commonly found in cichlids throughout Middle America with an allegedly large intraspecific morphological variability, was found to represent a species complex; species delimitation methods uncovered three additional genetic lineages. Here, we re-analyse the morphological and molecular data for N. golvani species complex infecting cichlids in that geographical area. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was conducted particularly for the length of apical, middle and posterior hooks of the species/lineages of Neoechinorhynchus in cichlids, revealing morphological variation in the length of apical hooks for Lineage 8, although no morphological distinction was observed for Lineages 9 and 10. A new concatenated phylogenetic analysis of one mitochondrial and two ribosomal DNA genes was used to further corroborate the species delimitation among lineages; Neoechinorhynchus Lineage 8 was found to be morphologically and genetically distinct from its sister taxa, N. golvani and other two undescribed genetic lineages, and is formally described as a new species. Neoechinorhynchus costarricense n. sp. is described from the intestines of eight species of cichlids in Costa Rica. The new species is distinguished from the other species/lineages of Neoechinorhynchus in cichlids mainly by the size of the apical hooks of the proboscis.