This study explores the diachronic variation of mid-vowel aperture (/e, ɛ, o, ɔ/) in word-final and penultimate-syllable positions in vowel harmony (VH) contexts in declamatory/journalistic French from 1925 to 2023.

Our corpora include two pre-existing corpora – the INA broadcast archives corpus (1940–1999) and the ESTER corpus (2000–2004) – as well as two novel corpora, which include recordings from the Archives de la Parole by Hubert Pernot (1925–1929) and a selection from Radio France and YouTube spanning 2020 to 2023.

Our results suggest a general tendency of VH weakening over the last century. Additionally, we found a significant acoustic convergence in terms of aperture between vowels /o/ and /ɔ/, but no convergence between /e/ and /ɛ/ in word-final position, contrary to prior research.

An auxiliary imitation experiment was designed to investigate the correlation between the loud/projected voice in older recordings and the F1 of mid-vowels in VH contexts. The imitation experiment reveals a significant increase in F1 in loud declamatory speech. However, no effect of speech style on VH was observed, supporting the diachronic process of VH reduction.

I introduce the book symposium on Jeremy Fantl's The Limitations of the Open Mind. The symposium began as a session at the 2023 American Philosophical Association meeting in Montreal; it features replies to Fantl's book by Nathan Ballantyne and Miriam Schleifer McCormick with replies to the replies by Fantl.

Compacted bentonite, used as an engineering barrier for permanent containment of high-level radioactive waste, is susceptible to mineral evolution resulting in compromise of the expected barrier performance due to alkaline–thermal chemical interaction in the near-field. To elucidate the mineral-evolution mechanisms within bentonite and the transformation of the nuclide adsorption properties during that period, experimental evolution of bentonite was conducted in a NaOH solution with a pH of 14 at temperatures ranging from 60 to 120°C. The results showed that temperature significantly affects the stability of minerals in bentonite under alkali conditions. The dissolution rate of fine-grained cristobalite in bentonite exceeds that of smectite, with the phase-transition products of smectite being temperature-dependent. As the temperature rises, smectite experiences a three-stage transformation: initially, at 60°C, the lattice structure thins due to the collapse of the octahedral sheets; at 80°C, the lattice disintegrates and reorganizes into a loose framework akin to albite; and by 100°C, it further reorganizes into a denser framework resembling analcime. The adsorption properties of bentonite exhibit a peak inflection point at 80°C, where the dissolution of the smectite lattice eliminates interlayer pores and exposes numerous polar or negatively charged sites which results in a decrease in specific surface area and an increase in cation exchange capacity and adsorption capacity of Eu3+. This research provides insights into the intricate evolution of bentonite minerals and the associated changes in radionuclide adsorption capacity, contributing to a better understanding of the stability of bentonite barriers and the effective long-term containment of nuclear waste.

For a positive integer $n \geq 2$, define tn to be the smallest number such that the additive energy E(A) of any subset $A \subset \{0,1,\cdots,n-1\}^d$ and any d is at most $|A|^{t_n}$. Trivially, we have $t_n \leq 3$ and

\begin{equation*} t_n \geq 3 - \log_n\frac{3n^3}{2n^3+n} \end{equation*}

by considering $A = \{0,1,\cdots,n-1\}^d$. In this note, we investigate the behaviour of tn for large n and obtain the following non-trivial bounds:

\begin{equation*} 3 - (1+o_{n\rightarrow\infty}(1)) \log_n \frac{3\sqrt{3}}{4} \leq t_n \leq 3 - \log_n(1+c), \end{equation*}

where c > 0 is an absolute constant.

We study the topological structure of the space $\mathcal{X}$ of isomorphism classes of metric measure spaces equipped with the box or concentration topologies. We consider the scale-change action of the multiplicative group ${\mathbb{R}}_+$ of positive real numbers on $\mathcal{X}$, which has a one-point metric measure space, say $*$, as only one fixed-point. We prove that the ${\mathbb{R}}_+$-action on $\mathcal{X}_* := \mathcal{X} \setminus \{*\}$ admits the structure of non-trivial and locally trivial principal ${\mathbb{R}}_+$-bundle over the quotient space. Our bundle ${\mathbb{R}}_+ \to \mathcal{X}_* \to \mathcal{X}_*/{\mathbb{R}}_+$ is a curious example of a non-trivial principal fibre bundle with contractible fibre. A similar statement is obtained for the pyramidal compactification of $\mathcal{X}$, where we completely determine the structure of the fixed-point set of the ${\mathbb{R}}_+$-action on the compactification.

EXOSC10 is an exosome-associated ribonuclease that degrades and processes a wide range of transcripts in the nucleus. The initial segment (IS) of the epididymis is crucial for sperm transport and maturation in mice by affecting the absorption and secretion that is required for male fertility. However, the role of EXOSC10 ribonuclease-mediated RNA metabolism within the IS in the regulation of gene expression and sperm maturation remains unknown. Herein, we established an Exosc10 conditional knockout (Exosc10 cKO) mouse model by crossing Exosc10F/F mice with Lcn9-Cre mice which expressed recombinase in the principal cells of IS as early as post-natal day 17. Morphological and histological analyses revealed that Exosc10 cKO males had normal spermatogenesis and development of IS. Moreover, the sperm concentration, morphology, motility, and frequency of acrosome reactions in the cauda epididymides of Exosc10 cKO mice were comparable with those of control mice. Thus, Exosc10 cKO males had normal fertility. Collectively, our genetic mouse model and findings demonstrate that loss of EXOSC10 in the IS of epididymis is dispensable for sperm maturation and male fertility.

The inverse dynamics model of an industrial robot can predict and control the robot’s motion and torque output, improving its motion accuracy, efficiency, and adaptability. However, the existing inverse rigid body dynamics models still have some unmodelled residuals, and their calculation results differ significantly from the actual industrial robot conditions. The bootstrap aggregating (bagging) algorithm is combined with a long short-term memory network, the linear layer is introduced as the network optimization layer, and a compensation method of hybrid inverse dynamics model for robots based on the BLL residual prediction algorithm is proposed to meet the above needs. The BLL residual prediction algorithm framework is presented. Based on the rigid body inverse dynamics of the Newton–Euler method, the BLL residual prediction network is used to perform error compensation on the inverse dynamics model of the Franka robot. The experimental results show that the hybrid inverse dynamics model based on the BLL residual prediction algorithm can reduce the average residuals of the robot joint torque from 0.5651 N·m to 0.1096 N·m, which improves the accuracy of the inverse dynamics model compared with those of the rigid body inverse dynamics model. This study lays the foundation for performing more accurate operation tasks using industrial robots.

There is an interpretative puzzle at the centre of Kant’s Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals. The text presents the single principle of morality (G, 4: 392), but instead of providing a definitive statement of the principle, we find a three-step sequence of formulas. The puzzle concerns the formula relation: given the contrast between the moral law’s individuality and the plurality of formulas, how do the formulas relate to each other and the moral law? This paper takes the first step towards a new account by focusing on G, 4: 436, a passage in which Kant makes claims about the matter and form of the moral law. By understanding the hylomorphism entailed by these claims, it is possible to achieve new perspectives on common questions about Kant’s ethics, in particular, the role of the formulas in deriving or explaining duties and how the formulas are used in the argument of Groundwork II and its transition from popular moral philosophy to metaphysics of morals.

In this article, we explore the bifurcation problem of limit cycles near the double eight figure loop (compound cycle with a 2-polycycle connecting two homoclinic loops). A general theory is established to find the lower bound of the maximal number of limit cycles (isolated periodic orbits) near the double eight figure loop. The Liénard system, a well-known nonlinear dynamical model, appears in a natural way in physics, chemistry, engineering, and so on, where periodic phenomena play a relevant role. As an application, we investigate an $(n+1)$th-order generalized Liénard system and prove the system has at least $7[\frac{n}{6}]+2[\frac{r}{2}]-[\frac{r}{4}]$ limit cycles near the double eight figure loop for any $n\geq5$ and $r=\rm mod(n,6)$, and their distribution is also gained.

This article examines the role of travel in the practice of Cold War politics, focusing particularly on the experiences of Indonesian trade unionists who travelled between Indonesia, the Soviet Union, and Eastern Europe. During the Sukarno era (1949–1966), Indonesians from the country's largest trade union federation SOBSI held leading positions in the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU). In 1965–1966, the army-directed purges against the Indonesian Left destroyed independent trade unionism as the country transitioned to the Suharto New Order regime. As leftist trade unionists were killed, imprisoned, or detained without trial, memories of travelling to the Communist bloc became denied, repressed, and submerged from history. The prison notebooks of Indonesian trade unionist Adam Soepardjan represent a unique set of underground writings produced after the army coup. An analysis of these notebooks reveals the ambivalences of Cold War political travel and the complex subjectivities of the traveller who appraises and reappraises the experiences of travel in a radically changed set of circumstances.

In this study, we describe a new species of Pseudoparacreptotrema (Allocreadiidae) from the mugilid Dajaus monticola collected in western Puerto Rico, where no allocreadiid has previously been reported, bringing the number of species in this genus to seven (five in D. monticola, two in Profundulus spp.). The new parasite species is distinguished from congeners by its overall size, oral-to-ventral sucker size ratio, pharynx size, cirrus sac, and oral lobe morphology, and by 0.64%–3.45% divergence in a 1019-bp alignment of 28S. We build on prior suggestions that the current concept of P. agonostomi likely includes multiple species and provide the first mitochondrial data (whole mitochondrial genome) as well as the complete nuclear rDNA array from Pseudoparacreptotrema to facilitate future phylogenetic work. Within the Allocreadiidae, phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial genomes and 28S provides conflicting topologies for the placement of Pseudoparacreptotrema and Allocreadium. The 28S phylogeny of six species of Pseudoparacreptotrema resembles that of four lineages of D. monticola in that in both host and parasite, Pacific coastal lineages branch earliest, and a Caribbean lineage is more recently evolved.

Previous studies have found that media coverage of a firm's corporate social irresponsibility (CSiR) often delays or blocks the completion of a cross-border acquisition when the acquiror is a multinational enterprise (MNE) from an emerging market. Drawing from the attention-based view, we argue that the effects of Chinese MNEs’ CSiR on deal completion vary depending on several contextual factors, as these factors garner more attention by making the deals more salient to stakeholders. Using a sample of cross-border acquisitions by Chinese MNEs from 2013 to 2020, we find that CSiR media coverage per se does not decrease the likelihood of a deal's completion. However, consistent with attention-based arguments, we find that CSiR media coverage negatively affects the deal's completion when the acquirors are state-owned enterprises and when the target country has high institutional quality. Our findings enhance our understanding of the effects of CSiR on cross-border acquisitions by highlighting the moderating roles of contextual factors related to stakeholder attention. Thus, it is important for MNEs to recognize the boundary conditions that may influence the potential sanctions from local stakeholders. Based on these findings, this study contributes to the literature on CSiR, cross-border acquisitions, and stakeholder attention.

The phoretic mite assemblage of the Douglas-fir beetle, Dendroctonus pseudotsugae Hopkins (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), has not been thoroughly documented. Phoretic mites can impact fitness and population dynamics of hosts; documenting a mite assemblage may provide information on their ecological roles. We caught Douglas-fir beetles in central British Columbia, Canada, and sorted associated mites into morphospecies. Representatives of the morphospecies were DNA barcoded (CO1 barcode region), indicating at least nine operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Representatives of all OTUs were slide-mounted and morphologically identified. There was a mean of 50.5 ± 4.7 mites per beetle, with both females and males carrying similar numbers of most mite species, except for OTU B1, which was found in higher numbers on females. OTU B1, Parawinterschmidtia furnissi (Woodring) (Astigmata: Winterschmidtiidae), was found in substantially higher numbers than all other OTUs and was always clustered in large aggregations in an anterior pocket on the beetles’ subelytral surface. When this OTU was removed from the calculation, the mean number dropped to 1.3 ± 0.2 mites per beetle. The consistent high numbers of OTU B1 in conjunction with its consistent anatomical aggregation suggests an important interaction between this particular mite species and the Douglas-fir beetle.

This article investigates the internationalization process of incubating, parenting, and eventually spinning-off overseas entrepreneurial ventures originating from emerging markets. In a comparative case study of Chinese high-tech firms, we leveraged multiple sources of data to reveal (1) how the exploitation of parent firms’ technological and platform resources enables them to initiate, support, and eventually profit from the international growth of foreign ventures that autonomously engage in the exploration of product and market innovations, and (2) how ambidextrous synergy was created through the continuous exchange, combination, and reconfiguration of knowledge and resources between parent firms and foreign ventures. These findings extend our understanding of how Chinese high-tech firms manage the learning process in overseas venturing. We draw implications of these findings for research and practice.

In this article, I summarize the main takeaways from The Limitations of the Open Mind and reply to concerns raised by Miriam Schleifer McCormick and Nathan Ballantyne. In reply to McCormick, I emphasize potential difficulties involved in helping people change their minds while representing yourself as taking an “objective stance” toward them. In reply to Ballantyne, I clarify my reasons for thinking that open-mindedness is a matter of being willing to change your mind and that amateurs can in some ways and in some situations be more immune to misleading arguments than experts can.

The increasing contamination of water by organic dyes causes water pollution in the enviroment. Factories discharge untreated effluents into nearby water courses adding to the existing water pollution; this poses a significant environmental challenge. Hence there is a pressing demand to develop efficient technology for wastewater treatment, and photocatalysis has emerged as an advanced oxidation process with a green chemical approach for such treatment. This study aims to synthesize montmorillonite/TiO2 (Mnt/TiO2) photocatalysts and clarify the effect of montmorillonite content on the photodegradation of the organic dye rhodamine B (RhB). Mnt/TiO2 was prepared by a chemical method with various mass ratios of mMnt:mTiO2 based on the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of Mnt. The physicochemical properties of the samples prepared were determined by the following methods: energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of the RhB solution of Mnt/TiO2 was investigated by UV-Vis spectroscopy under UVC irradiation. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS) was used to identify the photocatalytic by-products. The results showed that the structure of the nanocomposites has a ‘house-of-cards’ form with TiO2 nanoparticles randomly distributed on the surface and sheets of clay minerals. The best mass ratio of mMnt:mTiO2 is 10:1, corresponding to a 10 ppm RhB solution decolorization efficiency of 91.5% in 210 min. In this study, Mnt/TiO2 successfully cleaved the dye chromophore structure and broke the RhB rings into small and broken-ring compounds.