Recently there have been two causal modelling approaches to indicative conditionals,i.e.extrapolationist(Deng&Lee,2021)and filterist(Liang&Wang,2022),although they all take an interventionist position on subju...Recently there have been two causal modelling approaches to indicative conditionals,i.e.extrapolationist(Deng&Lee,2021)and filterist(Liang&Wang,2022),although they all take an interventionist position on subjunctive conditionals.Motivated by the so-called OK pairs,they try to provide a convincing explanation of the intuition underlying the OK pairs.As far as we know,what they have done is to provide not only an explanation of the OK pairs,but also a way of distinguishing between indicative and subjunctive conditionals.Although we agree with their success in explaining the OK pairs within a causal modelling framework,we argue that their ways of distinguishing between indicative and subjunctive conditionals fail.Instead,we argue that their approaches can be used to distinguish between two readings of conditionals,the epistemic reading and the ontic reading.which can be applied to both indicative and subjunctive conditionals.We conclude by arguing that these two readings are related to two approaches to asking and answering causal questions:the“auses-of-effects"approach and the"effects-of-causes"approach.展开更多
Learning to handle hypothetical situations in a new language is always difficult(Catford,et al.,1974).This rule holds true for Moroccan Arabic(henceforth MA)speakers learning English because grammatical devices in the...Learning to handle hypothetical situations in a new language is always difficult(Catford,et al.,1974).This rule holds true for Moroccan Arabic(henceforth MA)speakers learning English because grammatical devices in the two languages differ in almost all equivalent situations.For instance,while English verb forms are used to indicate tense in conditional sentences,MA uses them to indicate aspect.Adopting the typology of conditional constructions suggested by Dancygier(1999)and Dancygier&Sweetser(2005),this study provides a contrastive analysis of conditionals in English and MA to predict the possible errors EFL/ESL learners are likely to make while learning English.The analysis shows that the main discrepancy between English conditionals and MA conditionals lies in the verb form used by the two systems.Accordingly,if EFL/ESL learners are influenced by verb form in their L1,they are likely to face some challenges while learning English conditionals.That is,they are likely to use the past tense in the protases of English predictive conditionals and generic conditionals since the perfective form of the verb is used in the protases of these two types in MA.Concerning the protases of English non-predictive conditionals,Moroccan EFL/ESL learners are likely to use either the past tense or the present tense since both the perfective and the imperfective forms of the verb are possible in the protases of MA non-predictive conditionals.However,due to the fact that the perfective form is the prototypical form in the protases of conditionals in MA,EFL/ESL learners are likely to use the past tense more often than the present tense.The analysis also shows that EFL/ESL learners tend to use the present tense in the apodoses of English conditionals since the prevalent form in the apodoses of MA conditionals is the imperfective.展开更多
The issue of whether online teaching could replace traditional classroom(TC)teaching has attracted the attention of researchers in the applied linguistics literature.The current study attempted to shed light on this p...The issue of whether online teaching could replace traditional classroom(TC)teaching has attracted the attention of researchers in the applied linguistics literature.The current study attempted to shed light on this proposition by testing it on the difficult linguistic target of conditional if-clauses in English.The difficulty of these clauses stems from the fact that different tenses are used to express meanings that are sometimes not related to the tense used.The study recruited 49 participants,who were divided into two groups(23 in the online group,26 in the TC teaching group)and given a multiple-choice task containing 20 items.The study adopted a longitudinal research design(pretest and posttest).Each group was pretested before receiving just one two-hour treatment session.Then both groups were posttested.The results showed that both groups struggled with the second and third types of conditionals more than the zero and first types.The TC teaching group improved in the posttest in all types of conditionals.The online group improved in only two types of conditionals(zero and first).The TC teaching group outperformed the online group in the second and third conditionals.The findings indicate that classroom learning is superior to online learning and that,depending on their type,some conditionals in English are more difficult to learn than others.展开更多
In order to provide scientists with a computational methodology and some computational tools to program their epistemic processes in scientific discovery, we are establishing a novel programming paradigm, named ‘Epis...In order to provide scientists with a computational methodology and some computational tools to program their epistemic processes in scientific discovery, we are establishing a novel programming paradigm, named ‘Epistemic Programming’, which regards conditionals as the subject of computing, takes primary epistemic operations as basic operations of computing, and regards epistemic processes as the subject of programming. This paper presents our fundamental observations and assumptions on scientific discovery processes and their automation, research problems on modeling, automating, and programming epistemic processes, and an outline of our research project of Epistemic Programming.展开更多
Conditionals are often divided into two categories: real conditional and unreal conditional. This paper will only discuss the former. As for the latter, it has been explained comparative exhaustively both in tradition...Conditionals are often divided into two categories: real conditional and unreal conditional. This paper will only discuss the former. As for the latter, it has been explained comparative exhaustively both in traditional grammar and contemporary grammar. In fact, real conditional is much more difficult than it is thought, because people have not described it as exhaustively as unreal conditional.展开更多
The mechanistic target of rapamycin(m TOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that plays a pivotal role in cellular growth, proliferation, survival, and metabolism. In the central nervous system(CNS), the mTOR pathway regul...The mechanistic target of rapamycin(m TOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that plays a pivotal role in cellular growth, proliferation, survival, and metabolism. In the central nervous system(CNS), the mTOR pathway regulates diverse aspects of neural development and function. Genetic mutations within the m TOR pathway lead to severe neurodevelopmental disorders, collectively known as “mTORopathies”(Crino, 2020). Dysfunctions of m TOR, including both its hyperactivation and hypoactivation, have also been implicated in a wide spectrum of other neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative conditions, highlighting its importance in CNS health.展开更多
This paper deals with Mckean-Vlasov backward stochastic differential equations with weak monotonicity coefficients.We first establish the existence and uniqueness of solutions to Mckean-Vlasov backward stochastic diff...This paper deals with Mckean-Vlasov backward stochastic differential equations with weak monotonicity coefficients.We first establish the existence and uniqueness of solutions to Mckean-Vlasov backward stochastic differential equations.Then we obtain a comparison theorem in one-dimensional situation.展开更多
Upper Andean tropical forests are renowned for their extraordinary biodiversity and heterogeneous environmental conditions.Despite the critical role of litter decomposition in carbon and nutrient cycles,its dynamics i...Upper Andean tropical forests are renowned for their extraordinary biodiversity and heterogeneous environmental conditions.Despite the critical role of litter decomposition in carbon and nutrient cycles,its dynamics in this region remains unexplored at finer scales.This study investigates how micro site conditions influence litter decomposition of 15 upper Andean species over time.A reciprocal translocation field experiment was conducted over 18 months in 14 permanent plots within four sites in Colombian Andean mountain forests.Each plot contained three litterbeds(microsites),each with the 15 species,harvested at 3,6,12 and 18 months,totaling 2520 litterbags.Different forest variables,including canopy openness,leaf area index,slope and depth of litter,were measured in each litterbed.ANOVAs and linear mixed models were used to assess variation between sites and plots respectively,while multiple linear regression analyses evaluated the effects of forest variables on decay rates over time at the micro site scale.Results showed differences in absolute decay rates between sites but consistent relative decay rates,indicating varying magnitudes of decomposition,yet maintaining the same order based on their litter quality.Decay rates varied between species,with more variation in labile species compared to recalcitrant ones.Despite substantial variation in forest characteristics within sites,their influence on litter decomposition was minimal and declined over time.This suggests that,at finer spatial scales,the forest microenvironment plays a lesser role in litter decomposition,with litter quality emerging as the primary driver.This study is a step towards understanding the fine-scale dynamics of litter decomposition in upper Andean tropical forests,highlighting the intricate interplay between microenvironmental factors and decomposition processes.展开更多
Aerobic glycolysis,also known as the Warburg effect,and the accumulation of lactate that it causes,are increasingly recognized outside the field of oncology as triggers of chronic non-neoplastic disorders.This review ...Aerobic glycolysis,also known as the Warburg effect,and the accumulation of lactate that it causes,are increasingly recognized outside the field of oncology as triggers of chronic non-neoplastic disorders.This review integrates preclinical and clinical evidence to evaluate the ability of melatonin to reverseWarburg-effect-like metabolic reprogramming.Literature on neurodegeneration,age-related sarcopenia,type 2 diabetes,chronic kidney disease,heart failure and pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH)has been reviewed and synthesised.In all of these conditions,hypoxia-inducible factor 1α(HIF-1α)and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4(PDK4)inhibit the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.This diverts pyruvate away fromthe tricarboxylic acid(TCA)cycle and promotes glycolysis.In cell and animal models,melatonin consistently inhibits PDK4,destabilizes HIF-1αunder normoxic conditions,activates SIRT1/3-dependentmitochondrial biogenesis andmitophagy,and eliminates reactive oxygen and nitrogen species.These actions reduce lactate production,restore oxidative phosphorylation and attenuate tissue damage.This appears to induce cognitive and synaptic improvements in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease models,increased muscle mass and function in ageing rodents,improved insulin sensitivity alongside suppression of hepatic gluconeogenesis in diabetic models,reduced fibrosis in nephropathy,and normalization of vascular remodeling in hypoxia-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH).Early-stage clinical trials corroborate a decrease in oxidative and inflammatorymarkers,improved sleep quality and modest cognitive benefits.However,they report conflicting effects on insulin sensitivity,which are largely related to the dose and timing of administration in relation to food intake.Overall,the current data suggest that melatonin is a pleiotropic metabolic modulator capable of counteracting the Warburg phenotype in multiple organs.However,human studies remain scarce,and well-designed randomised trials incorporating chronotherapy are needed before clinical adoption.展开更多
Cloud data sharing is an important issue in modern times.To maintain the privacy and confidentiality of data stored in the cloud,encryption is an inevitable process before uploading the data.However,the centralized ma...Cloud data sharing is an important issue in modern times.To maintain the privacy and confidentiality of data stored in the cloud,encryption is an inevitable process before uploading the data.However,the centralized management and transmission latency of the cloud makes it difficult to support real-time processing and distributed access structures.As a result,fog computing and the Internet of Things(IoT)have emerged as crucial applications.Fog-assisted proxy re-encryption is a commonly adopted technique for sharing cloud ciphertexts.It allows a semitrusted proxy to transforma data owner’s ciphertext into another re-encrypted ciphertext intended for a data requester,without compromising any information about the original ciphertext.Yet,the user revocation and cloud ciphertext renewal problems still lack effective and secure mechanisms.Motivated by it,we propose a revocable conditional proxy re-encryption scheme offering ciphertext evolution(R-CPRE-CE).In particular,a periodically updated time key is used to revoke the user’s access privileges while an access condition prevents a malicious proxy from reencrypting unauthorized ciphertext.We also demonstrate that our scheme is provably secure under the notion of indistinguishability against adaptively chosen identity and chosen ciphertext attacks in the random oracle model.Performance analysis shows that our scheme reduces the computation time for a complete data access cycle from an initial query to the final decryption by approximately 47.05%compared to related schemes.展开更多
The carbonylation of amines offers a promising route for synthesizing N-substituted carbamates with high atom economy.However,conventional catalysts exhibit limited catalytic efficiency,and the underlying proton trans...The carbonylation of amines offers a promising route for synthesizing N-substituted carbamates with high atom economy.However,conventional catalysts exhibit limited catalytic efficiency,and the underlying proton transfer mechanism remains elusive.Herein,we reported a metal-free,room-temperature strategy utilizing 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene(TBD)as a dual hydrogen bond catalyst to synergistically activate propylamine(PA)and dimethyl carbonate(DMC).This green catalytic system achieves a 10-fold acceleration in reaction rate compared to other hydrogen bonding catalysts under mild conditions.This is enabled by dual hydrogen bonding of TBD with PA and DMC,which facilitates rapid proton transfer and stabilizes tetrahedral intermediates.Theoretical calculations confirm that the dual hydrogen bond system significantly lowers activation energy compared to single hydrogen bond analogs.Furthermore,it was revealed that the hydrogen bonding network within the product is the primary factor responsible for the sluggish reaction rate.This study demonstrates the effectiveness of a dual hydrogen bond system in accelerating the carbonylation of amines and provides a green route to access carbamates.展开更多
In wave-equation migration and demigration,the cross-correlation imaging/forwarding step implicitly injects an additional copy of the source wavelet,so that the amplitude spectrum of the wavelet is applied redundantly...In wave-equation migration and demigration,the cross-correlation imaging/forwarding step implicitly injects an additional copy of the source wavelet,so that the amplitude spectrum of the wavelet is applied redundantly(effectively imposing a wavelet-spectrum weighting,often akin to an amplitude-squared bias).This redundancy degrades structural fidelity and amplitude balance yet is frequently overlooked.We(i)formalize the mechanism by which cross-correlation duplicates the source-wavelet amplitude effect in both migration and demigration,and(ii)introduce a source-equalized operator that removes the redundancy by deconvolving(or dividing by)the wavelet amplitude spectrum in the imaging condition and its demigration counterpart,while leaving phase/kinematics intact.Using a band-limited Ricker wavelet on a two-layer model and on Marmousi,we show that,if unmanaged,the redundant wavelet spectrum broadens main lobes,introduces ringing,and suppresses vertical resolution in migrated images,and inflates spectrum mismatches between demigrated and observed data even when peak times agree.With our correction,images recover observed-data-consistent bandwidth and sharpened interfaces,and demigrated data also exhibit improved spectrum conformity and reduced amplitude misfit.The results clarify when source amplitudes matter,why cross-correlation makes them redundantly matter,and how a lightweight spectral correction restores physically meaningful amplitude behavior in wave-equation migration/demigration.展开更多
After securing a market for their dried red chilli peppers in China,elated farmers in Uganda are expanding the spicy crop cultivation to thousands of acres.China’s increasing appetite for international cuisine and sp...After securing a market for their dried red chilli peppers in China,elated farmers in Uganda are expanding the spicy crop cultivation to thousands of acres.China’s increasing appetite for international cuisine and spices has created a most welcome demand for high-quality chillies.And given Uganda’s unique climate and soil conditions that allow for diverse chilli varieties,the East African country has a competitive edge.This has led to Uganda and China now having trade agreements in place,facilitating exports.展开更多
To ensure the compatibility between rolling stock and infrastructure when dynamically assessing railway bridges under high-speed traffic,the damping properties considered in the calculation model significantly influen...To ensure the compatibility between rolling stock and infrastructure when dynamically assessing railway bridges under high-speed traffic,the damping properties considered in the calculation model significantly influence the predicted acceleration amplitude at resonance.However,due to the normative specifications of EN 1991-2,which are considered to be overly conservative,damping factors that are far below the actual damping have to be used when predicting vibrations of railway bridges,which means that accelerations at resonance tend to be overestimated to an uneconomical extent.Comparisons between damping factors prescribed by the standard and those identified based on in situ structure measurements always reveal a large discrepancy between reality and regulation.Given this background,this contribution presents a novel approach for defining the damping factor of railway bridges with ballasted tracks,where the damping factor for bridges is mathematically determined based on three different two-dimensional mechanical models.The basic principle of the approach for mathematically determining the damping factor is to separately define and superimpose the dissipative contributions of the supporting structure(including the substructure)and the superstructure.Using the results of a measurement campaign on 15 existing steel railway bridges in the Austrian rail network,the presented mechanical models are calibrated,and by analysing the energy dissipation in the ballasted track,guiding principles for practical application are defined.This guideline is intended to establish an alternative to the currently valid specifications of EN 1991-2,enabling the damping factor of railway bridges to be assessed in a realistic range by mathematical calculation and thus without the need for extensive in situ measurements on the individual structure.In this way,the existing potential of the infrastructure with regard to the damping properties of bridges can be utilised.This contribution focuses on steel bridges,but the mathematical approach for determining the damping factor applies equally to other bridge types(concrete,composite,or filler beam).展开更多
The dynamic characteristics of the track system can directly affect its service performance and failure process.To explore the load characteristics and dynamic response of the track system under the dynamic loads from...The dynamic characteristics of the track system can directly affect its service performance and failure process.To explore the load characteristics and dynamic response of the track system under the dynamic loads from the rack vehicle in traction conditions,a systematic test of the track subsystem was carried out on a large-slope test line.In the test,the bending stress of the rack teeth,the wheel-rail forces,and the acceleration of crucial components in the track system were measured.Subsequently,a detailed analysis was conducted on the tested signals of the rack railway track system in the time domain and the time-frequency domains.The test results indicate that the traction force significantly affects the rack tooth bending stress and the wheel-rail forces.The vibrations of the track system under the traction conditions are mainly caused by the impacts generated from the gear-rack engagement,which are then transferred to the sleepers,the rails,and the ballast beds.Furthermore,both the maximum stress on the racks and the wheel-rail forces measured on the rails remain below their allowable values.This experimental study evaluates the load characteristics and reveals the vibration characteristics of the rack railway track system under the vehicle’s ultimate load,which is very important for the load-strengthening design of the key components such as racks and the vibration and noise reduction of the track system.展开更多
This paper introduces a framework for modeling random fields,with a particular emphasis on analyzing anisotropic spatial variability.It establishes a clear connection between the correlation function and the Kriging v...This paper introduces a framework for modeling random fields,with a particular emphasis on analyzing anisotropic spatial variability.It establishes a clear connection between the correlation function and the Kriging variogram across various anisotropic modes,providing mathematical models to enhance our understanding of random fields.A new anisotropy index,called LSAI,is introduced to quantify anisotropy based on the autocorrelation length and the orientation of the principal axes within the variogram.An LSAI value closer to one indicates a lower degree of anisotropy.The present study examines how the degree of anisotropy varies with different autocorrelation lengths and angles between the principal axes,providing valuable insights into these relationships.To improve the accuracy of parameter probability distribution estimations,this study integrates limited field test data using a Bayesian inference approach.Additionally,the Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation method is employed to develop a conditional random field(CRF)for the deformation modulus.By incorporating data from field bearing plate tests,the posterior variance data for the deformation modulus are derived.This process facilitates the construction of a detailed and reliable CRF for the deformation modulus.展开更多
Under earthquake action, different site conditions have a notable impact on the dynamic response of high-speed railway bridges after earthquakes, which in turn poses a threat to the running stability of trains in the ...Under earthquake action, different site conditions have a notable impact on the dynamic response of high-speed railway bridges after earthquakes, which in turn poses a threat to the running stability of trains in the post-earthquake period. Therefore, establishing a calculation method for the post-earthquake train speed threshold that considers the influence of different site characteristics is of great engineering significance. Taking the CRTS Ⅲ slab track as the research object, this study is based on the track irregularity root mean square rate(TRR), which the authors proposed earlier to quantify the track regularity level. Using the nonlinear least squares fitting method, the mapping relationship between the TRR and the postearthquake train running performance indicators on bridges is established. Furthermore, the influence of laws governing site categories and train speeds on post-earthquake train running performance on bridges is analyzed, and a train speed threshold for bridges based on running performance under random site conditions is proposed. The research results indicate that all train running performance indicators increase significantly with the increase of train operating speed;different site categories have a significant impact on post-earthquake track residual deformation and train running stability. The greater the amplitude of postearthquake track alignment residual deformation, the lower the threshold for the stable running speed of trains after the earthquake, with the speed threshold decreasing by up to 20%. The research outcomes can provide technical references for the post-earthquake safe operation and maintenance of high-speed railway bridges under complex site conditions, as well as the formulation of targeted train speed control schemes.展开更多
In this paper,we study the asymptotic behavior of the micropolar fluid flow through a thin domain,assuming zero Dirichlet boundary condition on the top boundary,which is rapidly oscillating,and non-standard boundary c...In this paper,we study the asymptotic behavior of the micropolar fluid flow through a thin domain,assuming zero Dirichlet boundary condition on the top boundary,which is rapidly oscillating,and non-standard boundary conditions on the flat bottom.Assuming“Reynolds roughness regime”,in which the thickness of the domain is very small compared to the wavelength of the roughness(i.e.a very slight roughness),we rigorously derive a generalized Reynolds equation for pressure,clearly showing the roughness-induced effects.Moreover,we give expressions for the average velocity and microrotation.展开更多
In this article,we show the existence,uniqueness and stability of bounded solutions to the following quasilinear problems with mean curvature operator(φ'(x′(t)))′=f(t,x),t≥t_(0),lim_(t→∞)x(t)=ψ_(0),lim_(t→...In this article,we show the existence,uniqueness and stability of bounded solutions to the following quasilinear problems with mean curvature operator(φ'(x′(t)))′=f(t,x),t≥t_(0),lim_(t→∞)x(t)=ψ_(0),lim_(t→∞)x′(t)e^(t)=0,where t_(0) and ψ_(0) are real constants,φ(s)=s/√1−s^(2),s∈R with s∈(−1,1),f:[t_(0),∞)×R→R satisfies the Lipschitz or Osgood-type conditions.展开更多
To address the issue of scarce labeled samples and operational condition variations that degrade the accuracy of fault diagnosis models in variable-condition gearbox fault diagnosis,this paper proposes a semi-supervis...To address the issue of scarce labeled samples and operational condition variations that degrade the accuracy of fault diagnosis models in variable-condition gearbox fault diagnosis,this paper proposes a semi-supervised masked contrastive learning and domain adaptation(SSMCL-DA)method for gearbox fault diagnosis under variable conditions.Initially,during the unsupervised pre-training phase,a dual signal augmentation strategy is devised,which simultaneously applies random masking in the time domain and random scaling in the frequency domain to unlabeled samples,thereby constructing more challenging positive sample pairs to guide the encoder in learning intrinsic features robust to condition variations.Subsequently,a ConvNeXt-Transformer hybrid architecture is employed,integrating the superior local detail modeling capacity of ConvNeXt with the robust global perception capability of Transformer to enhance feature extraction in complex scenarios.Thereafter,a contrastive learning model is constructed with the optimization objective of maximizing feature similarity across different masked instances of the same sample,enabling the extraction of consistent features from multiple masked perspectives and reducing reliance on labeled data.In the final supervised fine-tuning phase,a multi-scale attention mechanism is incorporated for feature rectification,and a domain adaptation module combining Local Maximum Mean Discrepancy(LMMD)with adversarial learning is proposed.This module embodies a dual mechanism:LMMD facilitates fine-grained class-conditional alignment,compelling features of identical fault classes to converge across varying conditions,while the domain discriminator utilizes adversarial training to guide the feature extractor toward learning domain-invariant features.Working in concert,they markedly diminish feature distribution discrepancies induced by changes in load,rotational speed,and other factors,thereby boosting the model’s adaptability to cross-condition scenarios.Experimental evaluations on the WT planetary gearbox dataset and the Case Western Reserve University(CWRU)bearing dataset demonstrate that the SSMCL-DA model effectively identifies multiple fault classes in gearboxes,with diagnostic performance substantially surpassing that of conventional methods.Under cross-condition scenarios,the model attains fault diagnosis accuracies of 99.21%for the WT planetary gearbox and 99.86%for the bearings,respectively.Furthermore,the model exhibits stable generalization capability in cross-device settings.展开更多
基金supported by China’s MOE project of Key Research Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences at Universities(22JJD720021)the project of Shandong University(11090087395308).
文摘Recently there have been two causal modelling approaches to indicative conditionals,i.e.extrapolationist(Deng&Lee,2021)and filterist(Liang&Wang,2022),although they all take an interventionist position on subjunctive conditionals.Motivated by the so-called OK pairs,they try to provide a convincing explanation of the intuition underlying the OK pairs.As far as we know,what they have done is to provide not only an explanation of the OK pairs,but also a way of distinguishing between indicative and subjunctive conditionals.Although we agree with their success in explaining the OK pairs within a causal modelling framework,we argue that their ways of distinguishing between indicative and subjunctive conditionals fail.Instead,we argue that their approaches can be used to distinguish between two readings of conditionals,the epistemic reading and the ontic reading.which can be applied to both indicative and subjunctive conditionals.We conclude by arguing that these two readings are related to two approaches to asking and answering causal questions:the“auses-of-effects"approach and the"effects-of-causes"approach.
文摘Learning to handle hypothetical situations in a new language is always difficult(Catford,et al.,1974).This rule holds true for Moroccan Arabic(henceforth MA)speakers learning English because grammatical devices in the two languages differ in almost all equivalent situations.For instance,while English verb forms are used to indicate tense in conditional sentences,MA uses them to indicate aspect.Adopting the typology of conditional constructions suggested by Dancygier(1999)and Dancygier&Sweetser(2005),this study provides a contrastive analysis of conditionals in English and MA to predict the possible errors EFL/ESL learners are likely to make while learning English.The analysis shows that the main discrepancy between English conditionals and MA conditionals lies in the verb form used by the two systems.Accordingly,if EFL/ESL learners are influenced by verb form in their L1,they are likely to face some challenges while learning English conditionals.That is,they are likely to use the past tense in the protases of English predictive conditionals and generic conditionals since the perfective form of the verb is used in the protases of these two types in MA.Concerning the protases of English non-predictive conditionals,Moroccan EFL/ESL learners are likely to use either the past tense or the present tense since both the perfective and the imperfective forms of the verb are possible in the protases of MA non-predictive conditionals.However,due to the fact that the perfective form is the prototypical form in the protases of conditionals in MA,EFL/ESL learners are likely to use the past tense more often than the present tense.The analysis also shows that EFL/ESL learners tend to use the present tense in the apodoses of English conditionals since the prevalent form in the apodoses of MA conditionals is the imperfective.
文摘The issue of whether online teaching could replace traditional classroom(TC)teaching has attracted the attention of researchers in the applied linguistics literature.The current study attempted to shed light on this proposition by testing it on the difficult linguistic target of conditional if-clauses in English.The difficulty of these clauses stems from the fact that different tenses are used to express meanings that are sometimes not related to the tense used.The study recruited 49 participants,who were divided into two groups(23 in the online group,26 in the TC teaching group)and given a multiple-choice task containing 20 items.The study adopted a longitudinal research design(pretest and posttest).Each group was pretested before receiving just one two-hour treatment session.Then both groups were posttested.The results showed that both groups struggled with the second and third types of conditionals more than the zero and first types.The TC teaching group improved in the posttest in all types of conditionals.The online group improved in only two types of conditionals(zero and first).The TC teaching group outperformed the online group in the second and third conditionals.The findings indicate that classroom learning is superior to online learning and that,depending on their type,some conditionals in English are more difficult to learn than others.
基金Supported in part by The Ministry of EducationCulture+1 种基金SportsScience and Technology of Japan under Grant-in-Aid for Explor
文摘In order to provide scientists with a computational methodology and some computational tools to program their epistemic processes in scientific discovery, we are establishing a novel programming paradigm, named ‘Epistemic Programming’, which regards conditionals as the subject of computing, takes primary epistemic operations as basic operations of computing, and regards epistemic processes as the subject of programming. This paper presents our fundamental observations and assumptions on scientific discovery processes and their automation, research problems on modeling, automating, and programming epistemic processes, and an outline of our research project of Epistemic Programming.
文摘Conditionals are often divided into two categories: real conditional and unreal conditional. This paper will only discuss the former. As for the latter, it has been explained comparative exhaustively both in traditional grammar and contemporary grammar. In fact, real conditional is much more difficult than it is thought, because people have not described it as exhaustively as unreal conditional.
基金supported by grants from Simons Foundation (SFARI 479754),CIHR (PJT-180565)the Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation of Canada (to YL)funding from the Canada Research Chairs program。
文摘The mechanistic target of rapamycin(m TOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that plays a pivotal role in cellular growth, proliferation, survival, and metabolism. In the central nervous system(CNS), the mTOR pathway regulates diverse aspects of neural development and function. Genetic mutations within the m TOR pathway lead to severe neurodevelopmental disorders, collectively known as “mTORopathies”(Crino, 2020). Dysfunctions of m TOR, including both its hyperactivation and hypoactivation, have also been implicated in a wide spectrum of other neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative conditions, highlighting its importance in CNS health.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(12001074)the Research Innovation Program of Graduate Students in Hunan Province(CX20220258)+1 种基金the Research Innovation Program of Graduate Students of Central South University(1053320214147)the Key Scientific Research Project of Higher Education Institutions in Henan Province(25B110025)。
文摘This paper deals with Mckean-Vlasov backward stochastic differential equations with weak monotonicity coefficients.We first establish the existence and uniqueness of solutions to Mckean-Vlasov backward stochastic differential equations.Then we obtain a comparison theorem in one-dimensional situation.
基金supported by the Universidad del Rosario(Small grant ID:IV-FPD003)。
文摘Upper Andean tropical forests are renowned for their extraordinary biodiversity and heterogeneous environmental conditions.Despite the critical role of litter decomposition in carbon and nutrient cycles,its dynamics in this region remains unexplored at finer scales.This study investigates how micro site conditions influence litter decomposition of 15 upper Andean species over time.A reciprocal translocation field experiment was conducted over 18 months in 14 permanent plots within four sites in Colombian Andean mountain forests.Each plot contained three litterbeds(microsites),each with the 15 species,harvested at 3,6,12 and 18 months,totaling 2520 litterbags.Different forest variables,including canopy openness,leaf area index,slope and depth of litter,were measured in each litterbed.ANOVAs and linear mixed models were used to assess variation between sites and plots respectively,while multiple linear regression analyses evaluated the effects of forest variables on decay rates over time at the micro site scale.Results showed differences in absolute decay rates between sites but consistent relative decay rates,indicating varying magnitudes of decomposition,yet maintaining the same order based on their litter quality.Decay rates varied between species,with more variation in labile species compared to recalcitrant ones.Despite substantial variation in forest characteristics within sites,their influence on litter decomposition was minimal and declined over time.This suggests that,at finer spatial scales,the forest microenvironment plays a lesser role in litter decomposition,with litter quality emerging as the primary driver.This study is a step towards understanding the fine-scale dynamics of litter decomposition in upper Andean tropical forests,highlighting the intricate interplay between microenvironmental factors and decomposition processes.
基金supported by Government of the Principado de Asturias through the Fundacion para el Fomento en Asturias de la Investigacion Cientifica Aplicada y a la Tecnologia(FICYT)and also co-founded by the European Union,GRUPIN(IDI/2024/000719).
文摘Aerobic glycolysis,also known as the Warburg effect,and the accumulation of lactate that it causes,are increasingly recognized outside the field of oncology as triggers of chronic non-neoplastic disorders.This review integrates preclinical and clinical evidence to evaluate the ability of melatonin to reverseWarburg-effect-like metabolic reprogramming.Literature on neurodegeneration,age-related sarcopenia,type 2 diabetes,chronic kidney disease,heart failure and pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH)has been reviewed and synthesised.In all of these conditions,hypoxia-inducible factor 1α(HIF-1α)and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4(PDK4)inhibit the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.This diverts pyruvate away fromthe tricarboxylic acid(TCA)cycle and promotes glycolysis.In cell and animal models,melatonin consistently inhibits PDK4,destabilizes HIF-1αunder normoxic conditions,activates SIRT1/3-dependentmitochondrial biogenesis andmitophagy,and eliminates reactive oxygen and nitrogen species.These actions reduce lactate production,restore oxidative phosphorylation and attenuate tissue damage.This appears to induce cognitive and synaptic improvements in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease models,increased muscle mass and function in ageing rodents,improved insulin sensitivity alongside suppression of hepatic gluconeogenesis in diabetic models,reduced fibrosis in nephropathy,and normalization of vascular remodeling in hypoxia-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH).Early-stage clinical trials corroborate a decrease in oxidative and inflammatorymarkers,improved sleep quality and modest cognitive benefits.However,they report conflicting effects on insulin sensitivity,which are largely related to the dose and timing of administration in relation to food intake.Overall,the current data suggest that melatonin is a pleiotropic metabolic modulator capable of counteracting the Warburg phenotype in multiple organs.However,human studies remain scarce,and well-designed randomised trials incorporating chronotherapy are needed before clinical adoption.
基金supported in part by the National Science and Technology Council of Republic of China under the contract numbers NSTC 114-2221-E-019-055-MY2NSTC 114-2221-E-019-069.
文摘Cloud data sharing is an important issue in modern times.To maintain the privacy and confidentiality of data stored in the cloud,encryption is an inevitable process before uploading the data.However,the centralized management and transmission latency of the cloud makes it difficult to support real-time processing and distributed access structures.As a result,fog computing and the Internet of Things(IoT)have emerged as crucial applications.Fog-assisted proxy re-encryption is a commonly adopted technique for sharing cloud ciphertexts.It allows a semitrusted proxy to transforma data owner’s ciphertext into another re-encrypted ciphertext intended for a data requester,without compromising any information about the original ciphertext.Yet,the user revocation and cloud ciphertext renewal problems still lack effective and secure mechanisms.Motivated by it,we propose a revocable conditional proxy re-encryption scheme offering ciphertext evolution(R-CPRE-CE).In particular,a periodically updated time key is used to revoke the user’s access privileges while an access condition prevents a malicious proxy from reencrypting unauthorized ciphertext.We also demonstrate that our scheme is provably secure under the notion of indistinguishability against adaptively chosen identity and chosen ciphertext attacks in the random oracle model.Performance analysis shows that our scheme reduces the computation time for a complete data access cycle from an initial query to the final decryption by approximately 47.05%compared to related schemes.
基金financially supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(2023YFC3905400)the Clean Combustion and Low-carbon Utilization of Coal,Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences,Grant No.XDA 29000000.
文摘The carbonylation of amines offers a promising route for synthesizing N-substituted carbamates with high atom economy.However,conventional catalysts exhibit limited catalytic efficiency,and the underlying proton transfer mechanism remains elusive.Herein,we reported a metal-free,room-temperature strategy utilizing 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene(TBD)as a dual hydrogen bond catalyst to synergistically activate propylamine(PA)and dimethyl carbonate(DMC).This green catalytic system achieves a 10-fold acceleration in reaction rate compared to other hydrogen bonding catalysts under mild conditions.This is enabled by dual hydrogen bonding of TBD with PA and DMC,which facilitates rapid proton transfer and stabilizes tetrahedral intermediates.Theoretical calculations confirm that the dual hydrogen bond system significantly lowers activation energy compared to single hydrogen bond analogs.Furthermore,it was revealed that the hydrogen bonding network within the product is the primary factor responsible for the sluggish reaction rate.This study demonstrates the effectiveness of a dual hydrogen bond system in accelerating the carbonylation of amines and provides a green route to access carbamates.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42430303)Strategy Priority Research Program(Category B)of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDB0710000)+2 种基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(42288201)the National Key R&D Program of China(2023YFF0803203)the IGGCAS start-up funding(Grant No.E251510101).
文摘In wave-equation migration and demigration,the cross-correlation imaging/forwarding step implicitly injects an additional copy of the source wavelet,so that the amplitude spectrum of the wavelet is applied redundantly(effectively imposing a wavelet-spectrum weighting,often akin to an amplitude-squared bias).This redundancy degrades structural fidelity and amplitude balance yet is frequently overlooked.We(i)formalize the mechanism by which cross-correlation duplicates the source-wavelet amplitude effect in both migration and demigration,and(ii)introduce a source-equalized operator that removes the redundancy by deconvolving(or dividing by)the wavelet amplitude spectrum in the imaging condition and its demigration counterpart,while leaving phase/kinematics intact.Using a band-limited Ricker wavelet on a two-layer model and on Marmousi,we show that,if unmanaged,the redundant wavelet spectrum broadens main lobes,introduces ringing,and suppresses vertical resolution in migrated images,and inflates spectrum mismatches between demigrated and observed data even when peak times agree.With our correction,images recover observed-data-consistent bandwidth and sharpened interfaces,and demigrated data also exhibit improved spectrum conformity and reduced amplitude misfit.The results clarify when source amplitudes matter,why cross-correlation makes them redundantly matter,and how a lightweight spectral correction restores physically meaningful amplitude behavior in wave-equation migration/demigration.
文摘After securing a market for their dried red chilli peppers in China,elated farmers in Uganda are expanding the spicy crop cultivation to thousands of acres.China’s increasing appetite for international cuisine and spices has created a most welcome demand for high-quality chillies.And given Uganda’s unique climate and soil conditions that allow for diverse chilli varieties,the East African country has a competitive edge.This has led to Uganda and China now having trade agreements in place,facilitating exports.
基金funded by the Austrian Federal Railways(ÖBB Infrastruktur AG)in the context of the research project‘VeMoDiss’(acronym)。
文摘To ensure the compatibility between rolling stock and infrastructure when dynamically assessing railway bridges under high-speed traffic,the damping properties considered in the calculation model significantly influence the predicted acceleration amplitude at resonance.However,due to the normative specifications of EN 1991-2,which are considered to be overly conservative,damping factors that are far below the actual damping have to be used when predicting vibrations of railway bridges,which means that accelerations at resonance tend to be overestimated to an uneconomical extent.Comparisons between damping factors prescribed by the standard and those identified based on in situ structure measurements always reveal a large discrepancy between reality and regulation.Given this background,this contribution presents a novel approach for defining the damping factor of railway bridges with ballasted tracks,where the damping factor for bridges is mathematically determined based on three different two-dimensional mechanical models.The basic principle of the approach for mathematically determining the damping factor is to separately define and superimpose the dissipative contributions of the supporting structure(including the substructure)and the superstructure.Using the results of a measurement campaign on 15 existing steel railway bridges in the Austrian rail network,the presented mechanical models are calibrated,and by analysing the energy dissipation in the ballasted track,guiding principles for practical application are defined.This guideline is intended to establish an alternative to the currently valid specifications of EN 1991-2,enabling the damping factor of railway bridges to be assessed in a realistic range by mathematical calculation and thus without the need for extensive in situ measurements on the individual structure.In this way,the existing potential of the infrastructure with regard to the damping properties of bridges can be utilised.This contribution focuses on steel bridges,but the mathematical approach for determining the damping factor applies equally to other bridge types(concrete,composite,or filler beam).
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52388102)the Sichuan Science and Technology Program(No.2024NSFTD0011)the Fundamental Research Funds for the State Key Laboratory of Rail Transit Vehicle System of Southwest Jiaotong University(No.2023TPL-T11).
文摘The dynamic characteristics of the track system can directly affect its service performance and failure process.To explore the load characteristics and dynamic response of the track system under the dynamic loads from the rack vehicle in traction conditions,a systematic test of the track subsystem was carried out on a large-slope test line.In the test,the bending stress of the rack teeth,the wheel-rail forces,and the acceleration of crucial components in the track system were measured.Subsequently,a detailed analysis was conducted on the tested signals of the rack railway track system in the time domain and the time-frequency domains.The test results indicate that the traction force significantly affects the rack tooth bending stress and the wheel-rail forces.The vibrations of the track system under the traction conditions are mainly caused by the impacts generated from the gear-rack engagement,which are then transferred to the sleepers,the rails,and the ballast beds.Furthermore,both the maximum stress on the racks and the wheel-rail forces measured on the rails remain below their allowable values.This experimental study evaluates the load characteristics and reveals the vibration characteristics of the rack railway track system under the vehicle’s ultimate load,which is very important for the load-strengthening design of the key components such as racks and the vibration and noise reduction of the track system.
基金supported by the Doctoral Research Funds for Nanchang HangKong University,China(Grant No.EA202411211)support is gratefully acknowledged.
文摘This paper introduces a framework for modeling random fields,with a particular emphasis on analyzing anisotropic spatial variability.It establishes a clear connection between the correlation function and the Kriging variogram across various anisotropic modes,providing mathematical models to enhance our understanding of random fields.A new anisotropy index,called LSAI,is introduced to quantify anisotropy based on the autocorrelation length and the orientation of the principal axes within the variogram.An LSAI value closer to one indicates a lower degree of anisotropy.The present study examines how the degree of anisotropy varies with different autocorrelation lengths and angles between the principal axes,providing valuable insights into these relationships.To improve the accuracy of parameter probability distribution estimations,this study integrates limited field test data using a Bayesian inference approach.Additionally,the Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation method is employed to develop a conditional random field(CRF)for the deformation modulus.By incorporating data from field bearing plate tests,the posterior variance data for the deformation modulus are derived.This process facilitates the construction of a detailed and reliable CRF for the deformation modulus.
基金supported by the Science and Technology Research and Development Program Project of China Railway Group Limited (Grant No.2022-Major-17)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos.52578619,52178180)+2 种基金the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No.2022YFC3004304)the Frontier Cross Research Project of Central South University (Grant No.2023QYJC006)the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province Funding Project (Grant No.2023JJ40724)。
文摘Under earthquake action, different site conditions have a notable impact on the dynamic response of high-speed railway bridges after earthquakes, which in turn poses a threat to the running stability of trains in the post-earthquake period. Therefore, establishing a calculation method for the post-earthquake train speed threshold that considers the influence of different site characteristics is of great engineering significance. Taking the CRTS Ⅲ slab track as the research object, this study is based on the track irregularity root mean square rate(TRR), which the authors proposed earlier to quantify the track regularity level. Using the nonlinear least squares fitting method, the mapping relationship between the TRR and the postearthquake train running performance indicators on bridges is established. Furthermore, the influence of laws governing site categories and train speeds on post-earthquake train running performance on bridges is analyzed, and a train speed threshold for bridges based on running performance under random site conditions is proposed. The research results indicate that all train running performance indicators increase significantly with the increase of train operating speed;different site categories have a significant impact on post-earthquake track residual deformation and train running stability. The greater the amplitude of postearthquake track alignment residual deformation, the lower the threshold for the stable running speed of trains after the earthquake, with the speed threshold decreasing by up to 20%. The research outcomes can provide technical references for the post-earthquake safe operation and maintenance of high-speed railway bridges under complex site conditions, as well as the formulation of targeted train speed control schemes.
文摘In this paper,we study the asymptotic behavior of the micropolar fluid flow through a thin domain,assuming zero Dirichlet boundary condition on the top boundary,which is rapidly oscillating,and non-standard boundary conditions on the flat bottom.Assuming“Reynolds roughness regime”,in which the thickness of the domain is very small compared to the wavelength of the roughness(i.e.a very slight roughness),we rigorously derive a generalized Reynolds equation for pressure,clearly showing the roughness-induced effects.Moreover,we give expressions for the average velocity and microrotation.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.12361040,12061064)the National Science Foundation of Gansu Province(Grant No.22JR5RA264)State Scholarship Fund(Grant No.20230862021).
文摘In this article,we show the existence,uniqueness and stability of bounded solutions to the following quasilinear problems with mean curvature operator(φ'(x′(t)))′=f(t,x),t≥t_(0),lim_(t→∞)x(t)=ψ_(0),lim_(t→∞)x′(t)e^(t)=0,where t_(0) and ψ_(0) are real constants,φ(s)=s/√1−s^(2),s∈R with s∈(−1,1),f:[t_(0),∞)×R→R satisfies the Lipschitz or Osgood-type conditions.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Funded Project(Project Name:Research on Robust Adaptive Allocation Mechanism of Human Machine Co-Driving System Based on NMS Features,Project Approval Number:52172381).
文摘To address the issue of scarce labeled samples and operational condition variations that degrade the accuracy of fault diagnosis models in variable-condition gearbox fault diagnosis,this paper proposes a semi-supervised masked contrastive learning and domain adaptation(SSMCL-DA)method for gearbox fault diagnosis under variable conditions.Initially,during the unsupervised pre-training phase,a dual signal augmentation strategy is devised,which simultaneously applies random masking in the time domain and random scaling in the frequency domain to unlabeled samples,thereby constructing more challenging positive sample pairs to guide the encoder in learning intrinsic features robust to condition variations.Subsequently,a ConvNeXt-Transformer hybrid architecture is employed,integrating the superior local detail modeling capacity of ConvNeXt with the robust global perception capability of Transformer to enhance feature extraction in complex scenarios.Thereafter,a contrastive learning model is constructed with the optimization objective of maximizing feature similarity across different masked instances of the same sample,enabling the extraction of consistent features from multiple masked perspectives and reducing reliance on labeled data.In the final supervised fine-tuning phase,a multi-scale attention mechanism is incorporated for feature rectification,and a domain adaptation module combining Local Maximum Mean Discrepancy(LMMD)with adversarial learning is proposed.This module embodies a dual mechanism:LMMD facilitates fine-grained class-conditional alignment,compelling features of identical fault classes to converge across varying conditions,while the domain discriminator utilizes adversarial training to guide the feature extractor toward learning domain-invariant features.Working in concert,they markedly diminish feature distribution discrepancies induced by changes in load,rotational speed,and other factors,thereby boosting the model’s adaptability to cross-condition scenarios.Experimental evaluations on the WT planetary gearbox dataset and the Case Western Reserve University(CWRU)bearing dataset demonstrate that the SSMCL-DA model effectively identifies multiple fault classes in gearboxes,with diagnostic performance substantially surpassing that of conventional methods.Under cross-condition scenarios,the model attains fault diagnosis accuracies of 99.21%for the WT planetary gearbox and 99.86%for the bearings,respectively.Furthermore,the model exhibits stable generalization capability in cross-device settings.
