University Paris Nanterre

This work presents the generation of an Airy beam by a leaky-wave structure (LWS) designed from a substrate-integrated waveguide (SIW) with dimension-varying slots. The Airy beam is radiated by judiciously designing the length of the slots to modulate the phase distribution. Compared to Airy beams generated by phased array antennas or metasurfaces, no complex feeding network associated with phase shifters and no space-wave illumination is required, thus allowing one to reach a low-profile structure. The features of the generated Airy beam are verified by experimental measurements performed on the LWS operating in the microwave domain. The parabolic path as well as the self-accelerating mainlobe of the Airy beam is validated in a frequency band spanning from 7.5 GHz to 8 GHz. The proposed low-profile Airy beam generator can be readily applied to wireless near-field communications for applications related to wireless power transfer, radio frequency identification, and the Internet of Things.

Resumo: Neste artigo, a problemática da adolescência é elaborada a partir da dimensão da temporalidade psíquica considerando seu caráter singular e sua complexidade. No adolescer, travessia crucial na história de vida do sujeito, o infantil vem a ser objeto de profunda ressignificação, em múltiplos planos. A ressonância dessa passagem, da infância à vida adulta, no psiquismo das figuras parentais, em particular no contexto histórico atual, é um dos elementos deste texto em que também são contemplados, com foco na temporalidade, alguns dos entraves e destinos da experiência da pandemia no funcionamento psíquico de sujeitos adolescentes.

Tool use is taxonomically associated with high behavioural flexibility and innovativeness, and its prevalence is greater in primates and some bird species. This association, however, is not known to be causally determinant of tool-related competence since flexibility and innovativeness are often observed in the absence of tool use and vice versa. For this reason, it is interesting to explore whether animals that can be loosely categorized as outstanding, or ‘intelligent’ physical problem solvers, are also remarkable using tools innovatively, rather than tool use presenting special constraints. We investigate this problem using plush-crested jays (Cyanocorax chrysops), a corvid new to cognitive research that shows highly flexible and inquisitive behaviour in the wild and has not been reported to use tools. We tested jays in two tasks of apparent similar manipulative complexity and incentive, one involving a tool (T) and the other not (NT). In the NT task birds had to open a box with a transparent lid blocked by a latch to get a reward, whereas in the T task, they had to use a rake to pull out the reward from the box. Eight out of nine subjects succeeded in the NT task, whereas none of them learned to solve the T task. This is consistent with tool use involving dedicated competencies, rather than just high problem-solving proficiency. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10071-024-01922-1.

Legal Question Answering (LQA) systems are facing a wide range of challenges. Deep learning-based methods need to be improved to better perform on the underlying logical reasoning tasks. We propose a hybrid neurosymbolic framework to achieve this, by enhancing the pretraining of BERT based models with LogicQA and the integration of PyReason.

Der Begriff Kulturkatholizismus ist weniger bekannt als seine Entsprechung für den Protestantismus. Am Beispiel der Zeitschrift Hochland , die in diesem Zusammenhang oft erwähnt wird, werden die Merkmale jenes Begriffs sowie die wichtigsten Aspekte seines Entstehungskontextes untersucht. Zeitschriftsgeschichte und Begriffsentwicklung miteinander in Beziehung setzen, hat den Vorteil, die Sinnpluralität des Begriffs und die bemerkenswerte Kontinuität der Zeitschrift, die von Carl Muth 1903 gegründet und bis 1941 geleitet wurde, deutlich zu machen. Schließlich wird anhand zweier signifikanter Beispiele geprüft, inwieweit der Begriff Kulturkatholizismus und das Erbe von Hochland nach 1945 noch relevant waren: welches war einerseits der Stellenwert der Kunstbilder in der Publikation und welche Rolle spielte andererseits die Zeitschrift für einen ihrer Autoren, E.-W. Böckenförde? La notion de Kulturkatholizismus est moins bien connue que son équivalent protestant. En s’appuyant sur le cas fourni par la revue Hochland , souvent citée en exemple à ce propos, on étudiera les traits distinctifs de cette notion et les éléments les plus déterminants de son contexte d’apparition. Croiser l’histoire de la revue et celle de la notion permettra de mettre en évidence le sens pluriel de cette dernière et la remarquable continuité de la première, fondée et dirigée par Carl Muth de 1903 à 1941. On éprouvera enfin la pertinence du terme de Kulturkatholizismus et la permanence de l’héritage de Hochland après 1945 à travers deux exemples privilégiés : la place de l’image d’art dans la publication et le rôle joué par la revue pour l’un de ses auteurs, E.-W. Böckenförde. The concept of Kulturkatholizismus is less well known than its Protestant equivalent. Based on the case provided by the magazine Hochland , often cited as an example in this respect, we will study the distinctive features of this word and the most decisive factors in its emergence. Combining the history of the journal with that of the concept highlights the plural meaning of the latter and the remarkable continuity of the former, founded and directed by Carl Muth from 1903 to 1941. Finally, we will test the relevance of the term Kulturkatholizismus and the permanence of Hochland ’s legacy after 1945 through two key examples: the place of the art image in the publication and the role played by the journal for one of its authors, E.-W. Böckenförde.

Bound states in the continuum (BICs) refer to nonradiative eigenmodes located within the radiation continuum, possessing infinitely high Q-factor and enabling exceptionally strong light-matter interactions. BICs have found applications across various domains in photonics and metasurfaces, including nonlinear optical enhancement, vortex beam generation, sensor technology, microlasers, and other related areas. This work starts by classifying the phenomena of BICs and introducing the theoretical formation mechanisms and topological characteristics. Then, the current and advanced applications based on BIC-devices are highlighted. Lastly, this work discusses the current challenges in studies related to BICs, such as structural precision, material selection, and measurement difficulties, and prospect the possible potentials in future developments. This review provides a theoretical background and application prospects of BIC-engineered devices in optical and photonics fields, laying a solid foundation for future industrial applications.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) can induce cardiac autonomic dysfunction identified by a decreased heart rate variability (HRV) which was linked to oxidative stress, vitamin D deficiency and sleep disturbance. Previous MS studies revealed the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of exogenous melatonin, as well as its benefits on sleep and vitamin D. We aimed to investigate the change in HRV, oxidative stress, systemic inflammation and sleep following melatonin supplementation in MS patients. Participants were randomly allocated to either a melatonin group (MG, n = 15) or a placebo group (PG, n = 12) (3 mg/night during 12 weeks). Pre- and post-tests included HRV analysis (Kubios software), sleep dairy and biological analysis [oxidative stress biomarkers (malondialdehyde (MDA), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and reduced glutathione (GSH)); 25-hydroxyvitamin D; C-reactive protein and cholinesterase Gen.2 (CHE2)]. Based on the pre-post supplementation change (Δ (T1₋T0)), melatonin increased the root mean square of successive differences between normal heartbeats [ΔMG (14.17 ± 16.93) vs. ΔPG (₋8.61 ± 12.67), p = 0.0007] and the HRV high-frequency band [ΔMG (6.86 ± 14.85) vs. ΔPG (₋12.58 ± 13.30), p = 0.0016] comparatively with placebo. MG showed a decrease in the HRV low-frequency band [ΔMG (₋4.96 ± 10.08) vs. ΔPG (10.22 ± 13.54), p = 0.003] as well as in the MDA [ΔMG (₋2.27 ± 1.92) vs. ΔPG (0.22 ± 2.30), p = 0.005] and AOPP levels [ΔMG (₋113.97 ± 137.72) vs. ΔPG (156.46 ± 230.52), p = 0.0008] compared with PG. Melatonin enhanced the GSH [ΔMG (10.51 ± 14.93) vs. ΔPG (₋5.05 ± 10.18), p = 0.004] and CHE2 levels [ΔMG (407.07 ± 723.26) vs. ΔPG (₋22.92 ± 506.52), p = 0.029] as well as sleep quality [scores: ΔMG (1.50 ± 1.28) vs. ΔPG (₋1.05 ± 2.05), p = 0.0006] and quantity [weighted total sleep time: ΔMG (0.74 ± 1.14) vs. ΔPG (₋1.04 ± 1.00), p = 0.0003] comparatively with placebo. Caregivers may recommend 12-week nocturnal melatonin intake to attenuate cardiac autonomic dysfunction, oxidative stress and sleep disorders in MS patients. Clinical registration This study was prospectively registered in the Pan African Clinical Trial Registry database (PACTR202007465309582) on 23 July 2020 (https://pactr.samrc.ac.za/.). Graphical abstract

In psycholinguistics, studies are conducted to understand language processing mechanisms, whether in comprehension or in production, and independently of the language modality. To do so, researchers need accurate psycholinguistic information about the linguistic material they use. One main obstacle to this process is the lack of information available in sign language. While some lexical databases exist in multiple sign languages, to the best of our knowledge, psycholinguistic data for French Sign Language (LSF) signs are not yet available. The present study presents FLexSign, the first interactive lexical database for LSF, inspired by ASL-Lex (Caselli et al., 2017). The database includes familiarity, concreteness, and iconicity data for 546 signs of LSF. These three factors are known to influence the speed or the accuracy of lexical processing. Familiarity and concreteness are known to generate a robust facilitative effect on sign processing, while iconicity plays a complex but crucial role in the creation and organization of sign language lexicons. Therefore, having accurate information on the iconicity of LSF signs would help to better understand the role of this notion in lexical processing. To develop the database, 33 participants were recruited and asked to complete an online questionnaire. The FLexSign database will be of great use to sign language researchers, providing linguistic information that was previously unavailable and offering many opportunities at both the experimental and clinical levels. The database is also open to future contributions.

Deficient sleep has been linked to a broad range of physical, cognitive and mental health impacts, in particular during adolescence. It is thus essential to understand its underlying mechanisms, including family factors. The goal of our study was to assess through combined subjective and objective assessments, how family members’ daily variations in sleep are interconnected, between parents and siblings of adolescents. A total of 111 participants within 30 families were included, of whom 30 adolescents (14.5 years +/− 2.1 years, 46.7% boys), 30 siblings (12.8 years + /− 3.8, 40% boys), 30 mothers (43.5 years +/− 5.5) and 21 fathers (47.5 years +/− 7.6). Sleep was objectively assessed using parallel actigraphy recordings during a single week for all family members. Adolescents’ daily variation in sleep duration and timing displayed many concordances with their siblings’ and their mothers’ sleep, but not with their fathers’ sleep. Adolescents whose parents did not set limits on sleep time or screen use went to bed over an hour later (p < 0.001) and slept over 30 min less on school nights. Our study demonstrates the important role of family sleep on adolescent sleep, through rule-setting and congruence between each family members sleep, in particular regarding sleep duration and timing.

The present study investigates whether action organization is enhanced when the affectively marked space corresponding to the affective outcome of a response is primarily perceived through vision (Rv-E hypothesis) or proprioception (Rp-E hypothesis). Sixty-four right-handed participants were seated in front of a vertical computer screen and were required to perform pointing movements on a graphic tablet. This tablet was positioned horizontally or vertically, and participants used a stylus to trigger the appearance of a positive or negative visual outcome. The tablet was concealed under a device that completely hid the tablet, stylus, and participants' forearms. The results reveal three critical characteristics of motor response coding. First, coding highly depends on the affectively marked space where the movement occurs. Second, this affective coding is primarily based on predictions from proprioceptive and tactile information, which guide the movement's direction. Third, the coding of affective space must align with the affective coding of the response to ensure effective movement organization. This study provides new insights into the affective coding of motor responses by analyzing movement's temporal and spatial aspects through kinematic analysis.

The chapter presents the aim of this book: to explore the literary and cultural connections between the Spanish-speaking world and other regions. It emphasizes the significance of travel in shaping cultural identity, producing knowledge, and confronting stereotypes. By examining travel narratives, the book delves into postcolonial studies, revealing how discourses on the “other” are intertwined with perceptions of oneself. It also scrutinizes European travel narratives from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, highlighting their role in perpetuating Northern hegemony and constructing perceptions of the Orient. Furthermore, the book explores transculturation processes in “contact zones,” where hybridity and syncretism emerge. It examines specific case studies to illustrate how individuals designated as “others” undertake journeys themselves. The discussion extends to Filipino literature in Spanish, showcasing how the Oriental subject can also embody Western influences, leading to active processes of neo-culturation. Divided into three parts, the book delves into journeys between Asia and Latin America, narratives of identity between East and West, and the role of the Philippines in shaping new cultural patterns. It challenges traditional dichotomies such as East/West and North/South, proposing a multiscalar and interconnected perspective on global interactions.

This chapter seeks to highlight the originality of the short novel Los ascensos del inspector Rojo (The Ascents of Inspector Rojo, 1924), which attests to the author’s project of creating a Philippine “human comedy” with costumbrista inspiration. It assumes an optimistic vision of the Philippines capable of projecting themselves into the future under American tutelage. Drawing on studies on virility (Alain Corbin, Jean-Jacques Courtine and Georges Vigarello), we show how the protagonist conquers a masculinity reformulated from the idea of virility, as he inserts himself into the new order. The general tone is humorous and defuses the violent dimension of the imposition of the new order. Los ascensos del inspector Rojo defines an amiable idiosyncrasy and a Filipinoness (in Aguilar’s words) compatible with the modernity proposed by the United States.

The purpose of this chapter is to show how, for the future of Europe, more than ever, the issues of work are central to the renewal of feminism, even if this cause is sometimes relegated to the background in debates in society. As long as women do not have full economic autonomy, as long as gender inequalities at work and in life are not really curbed, the European project of a fair and egalitarian society will be in vain. Admittedly, the European foundation is solid and constitutes an inescapable point of support. But the reality—real equality in the workplace—is still a long way off. Each crisis, and in particular that linked to Covid-19, has revealed all the inequalities suffered by women, particularly in the workplace. The aim of this chapter is to look back at the current trends and challenges facing women in the workplace, and to sketch out the contours of a genuine feminist democratisation of work.

Inequity in health and well-being is driven by systemic, political, and structural forces that, along with social factors, influence the allocation, access, and impact of health resources across communities based on religion, gender, caste, sexuality, and ability. Lesbian, gay, bisexual , transgender, intersex, queer/questioning, and plus (LGBTIQ+) communities, marginalized for subverting cis-gender norms, face heightened risks of poor health, well-being, and limited psycho-social, medical, and legal support. Understanding the challenges and triumphs of LGBTIQ+ individuals navigating oppressive and discriminatory legal, social, and structural forces can significantly contribute to improving their health and well-being. Additionally , such insights can inform public policy and legal structures to be more inclusive. This paper offers a commentary on the health and psycho-social well-being of LGBTIQ+ individuals, focusing on the systemic transitions in Russia, Turkey, Pakistan, and India. The unique, inter-sectional identities of queer individuals make them particularly vulnerable to stigma and discrimination. While

Aim: Studying the effects of self-paced concurrent high-intensity interval training and resistance training (HIIT-RT) on respiratory function, cardiopulmonary fitness and fatigue perception in patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS).Methods: Twenty-three PwMS were randomized into a 12-week training group (three times per week) (TG, n = 11) or a control group (CG, n = 12). Lung function (spirometry), aerobic capacity (graded cardiopulmonary-exercise-testing) and perceived fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS)) were evaluated pre- and post-intervention.Results: The forced vital capacity (p = 0.036, Hedges'g (g) = 0.93), forced expiratory time (p = 0.045, g = 0.88), peak expiratory flow (p = 0.043, g = 0.89) increased in TG compared with CG. The TG showed an increase in peak aerobic power (p = 0.004, g = 1.34) and peak oxygen uptake (p < 0.001, g = 2.58) compared with CG. There was a decrease in ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide (p = 0.02, g = 1.02) and FSS scores (p < 0.001, g = 1.72) in TG comparatively with CG.Conclusion: 12-week self-paced HIIT-RT enhanced lung function as well as aerobic fitness, and alleviated fatigue perception in PwMS.

While previous research has primarily explored functional and informational drivers, this study investigates how experiential education can facilitate electric vehicle adoption. Based on the BMW i3 test drive program case and blogs data, this research identifies two types of customers who participate in such programs: early adopters who have a high level of perceptual knowledge about electric vehicles but a low interest in the brand or the model, and the early majority, i.e. users with a moderate level of perceptual knowledge about electric vehicles and are hesitant to adopt it. This research contributes to the literature on customer education by demonstrating the positive role of experiential education in innovation adoption. Additionally, it contributes to the literature on customer knowledge by showing that customers do not participate in experiential education for the same reason. While early adopters compare similar models in the market, the early majority seek answers to technical questions.

Background The present study investigated the effect of time of day (08h00 vs. 11h00 vs. 14h00 vs. 17h00) and sex (girls vs. boys) on physical (i.e., five jump test (5JT), push-ball test and 5 m shuttle run test (5mSRT)), cognitive (i.e., attention) and mental (i.e., mental flexibility) performances. Methods Thirty schoolchildren, equally divided in girls (n = 15; age: 9.60 ± 0.51 years) and boys (n = 15; age: 9.40 ± 0.51 years) performed the digit cancellation test, the trail making test, the 5JT, the 2 kg push-ball test and the 5mSRT in a counterbalanced and cross over study design at 08h00, 11h00, 14h00 and 17h00 with 48 h of rest in between. Additionally, rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was determined after each repetition of the 5mSRT and the average of the score (i.e., sum of RPE scores divided by 6) was determined. Results Results showed that RPE at the end of the test was significantly higher at 11h00 compared to 08h00 (p = 0.02) and 14h00 (p = 0.001) and average RPE was higher at 11h00 compared to 08h00 (p = 0.001). Likewise, attention was significantly higher at 08h00 compared to 17h00 (p = 0.001) before and after the 5mSRT test only in girls. However, 5JT performance was significantly lower at 17h00, both in girls and boys, compared to at 08h00 (p = 0.02 and p = 0.001 respectively), 11h00 (p = 0.004 and p = 0.001 respectively) and 14h00 (p = 0.001 and p = 0.001 respectively). However, push-ball (p = 0.086) and 5mSRT performances [best distance (p = 0.173), total distance (p = 0.306), mean distance (p = 0.29), fatigue index (p = 0.06)] were time of day independent. Mental flexibility was significantly higher at 08h00, 11h00 and 14h00 compared to 17h00 (p = 0.001). Conclusion Mental flexibility, attention and jump performances were time of day dependent and push-ball test and 5mSRT performances did not change according to the time of day. Also, no clear sex effect was found on the diurnal variation of mental, cognitive and physical performances.