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Highlights • Caregiving stress (CS) does not predict telomere length (TL) in 1233 adults. • There is no effect modification of CS-TL by sex, age, or relationship to caregiver. • Previously published results linking CS and TL are not replicated in our sample. • These and other recent findings suggest CS is not generally predictive of TL. • However, it is possible that specific types of severe caregiving stress predict TL. Abstract Background Caring for chronically disabled family members is a stressful experience. In turn, psychosocial stress is linked to premature aging. Telomere length (TL) is a plastic genetic trait that is a biomarker of aging, and a possible mechanism linking psychosocial stress and accelerated aging. Methods TL was measured using qPCR method from blood samples in 1233 Filipino adults from Cebu, Philippines. Caregiving was measured as chronicity of care, or the sum total number of years an individual was the primary caregiver for any household member with a chronic illness or disability. Linear regression models were used to test for associations between chronicity of care and TL. Interaction terms were used to test whether or not the association between chronicity of care and TL differed by sex, age, and relationship to the caregiver. Specific statistical designs were publicly pre-registered before analysis began. Results Chronicity of care was not associated with TL. Neither did we find any evidence for caregiving varying in its effect on TL by caregiver sex, age, or relationship to the chronically ill/disabled. Conclusions We found no evidence of an association between chronicity of care and TL. This result coupled with a recent study of a similarly sized cohort suggests that previous significant results linking caregiving and TL may be due to very particular types of caregiving populations or are possibly artifacts of small sample sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A deep belief network (DBN) is effective to create a powerful generative model by using training data. However, it is difficult to fast determine its optimal structure given specific applications. In this paper, a growing DBN with transfer learning (TL-GDBN) is proposed to automatically decide its structure size, which can accelerate its learning process and improve model accuracy. First, a basic DBN structure with single hidden layer is initialized and then pretrained, and the learned weight parameters are frozen. Second, TL-GDBN uses TL to transfer the knowledge from the learned weight parameters to newly added neurons and hidden layers, which can achieve a growing structure until the stopping criterion for pretraining is satisfied. Third, the weight parameters derived from pretraining of TL-GDBN are further fine-tuned by using layer-by-layer partial least square regression from top to bottom, which can avoid many problems of traditional backpropagation algorithm-based fine-tuning. Moreover, the convergence analysis of the TL-GDBN is presented. Finally, TL-GDBN is tested on two benchmark data sets and a practical wastewater treatment system. The simulation results show that it has better modeling performance, faster learning speed, and more robust structure than existing models. Note to Practitioners—Transfer learning (TL) aims to improve training effectiveness by transferring knowledge from a source domain to target domain. This paper presents a growing deep belief network (DBN) with TL to improve the training effectiveness and determine the optimal model size. Facing a complex process and real-world workflow, DBN tends to require long time for its successful training. The proposed growing DBN with TL (TL-GDBN) accelerates the learning process by instantaneously transferring the knowledge from a source domain to each new deeper or wider substructure. The experimental results show that the proposed TL-GDBN model has a great potential to deal with complex system, especially the systems with high nonlinearity. As a result, it can be readily applicable to some industrial nonlinear systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract SrAl 2 O 4 monoclinic and Sr 12 Al 14 O 33 cubic phase nanocrystals were synthesized using sol-gel route and their morphology verified with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to confirm the crystallinity of the samples and the crystallites nanoscale. Luminescence emissions were investigated by Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) and Thermoluminescence (TL) methods in samples thermally treated at 1000 °C for 2 h and irradiated with β particles. TL glow curve was complex with 9 individual peaks, which was analyzed by T m -T stop method, general order kinetic theory using Computerized Glow Curve Deconvolution (CGCD). A thermal transfer TL phenomenon was observed when the samples were pre-heated in T m -T stop procedure. CW-OSL decays measured at 30 °C have high intensities even in low doses region and curves were deconvoluted using general order kinetic theory suppling two components for low doses and three components for high dose. Highlights • SrAl 2 O 4 monoclinic and Sr 12 Al 14 O 33 cubic phase nanocrystals were synthesized using sol-gel route. • Crystallites sizes by Scherrer Equation were about (42 ± 7) nm for cubic phase and (35 ± 4) nm for monoclinic phase. • Computerized Glow Curve Deconvolution (CGCD) and T m -T stop were used for TL emission. • CW-OSL curves were deconvoluted using general order kinetic. • CW-OSL intensities even in low doses region, supplying a minimum detectable dose of 2 mGy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Multiple anode configurations allows for the spatial separation of luminescence and UV-fluorescence. • Modulation of the high-voltage during measurements is able to separate the UV-fluorescence from luminescence. • UV-fluorescence may provide a more sensitive measurement of exo-electrons from quartz and feldspars. Abstract The measurement of OSL/TL relies on the initial trapping and subsequent release and recombination of charge in a suitable crystal structure. These measurements allow us to estimate the dose which the crystal has been subjected to and its age. During such processes, however, electrons can be emitted from the sample surface; the ability to measure such exo-electrons can provide information regarding the trapping process, as well as an alternative method of measuring trapped charge. Ideally, TL/OSL can be measured alongside exo-electrons. We will present a new design for an exo-electron detector compatible with the classic Risø reader stimulation head featuring multiple anode configurations and the option for high-voltage modulation to reduce the UV component during TL/OSL measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The present work describes the role of antisite defects centers in determining the phosphor characteristics of MgAl 2 O 4 , arising due to inversion nature of the spinel compound. The diverse decay characteristics impart this material both as long persistent bluish phosphor as well as short persistent red phosphors material depending upon the annealing temperature. TL study confirmed the fact that there are several defect centers which acts as electron and hole trap centers inside the band gap. FTIR and DRS study confirmed the presence of antisite defects centers viz. Al Mg + or Mg Al −, which act as an electron and hole trap centers and thereby delaying the electron-hole recombination process. Lower inversion nature of this spinel compound at higher annealing temperature results in decay in those defects concentration, as reflected in lifetime values. Graphical abstract MgAl 2 O 4 can be used both as long persistent blue emitting and as well as short persistent red emitting phosphor material depending on the annealing temperature during synthesis. Antisite defect centers such as [Al3+ Zn ] + and [Zn2+ Al ]- act as electron and hole trap centers as confirmed by TL, FTIR and DRS study are responsible for the lifetime behavior. Image 1 Highlights • The paper describes defect induced emission in MgAl 2 O 4 phosphor and role of antisite defects centers in determining the phosphor characteristics. • Upon thermal annealing the lifetime values for some color components reduced from several milliseconds to microseconds, which renders the material both as long persistent or short persistent phosphor. • TL study showed that there are several defect related trap centers present inside the band gap. • The inversion nature of the spinel compound leads to various antisite defects centers such as Al Mg + or Mg Al −, which act as a electron and hole trap centers and are mainly responsible for the diverse behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this study, TL and OSL dating were applied respectively to bricks and mortars taken from a few key structures of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Modena (northern Italy). The samples came from the Cathedral and the Ghirlandina Tower, built between the end of the XII century and the first half of the XIV century AD. TL dating of bricks showed that we were dealing with the well-known phenomenon of re-use of ancient Roman bricks. However, it was also possible to discover and date quite precisely a previously unknown renovation phase in the Cathedral apse area (XVI century). Regarding the OSL mortar dating, both Multi-Grain and Single Grain techniques were applied on quartz grains, possibly well bleached during mortar preparation. OSL gave good results for one sample from the Cathedral and three from the Ghirlandina Tower. The other gave ages much older than expected, indicating the possible uncompleted bleaching of the quartz grains as the main problem of this dating application. Finally, the application of the Bayesian statistical approach, reducing the error associated with the data, supported a new building chronology, in particular for the Ghirlandina Tower. Highlights • TL bricks and OSL mortars dating. • Evidence of reuse of Roman bricks. • Uncompleted bleaching of the OSL signal of mortar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The archaeological site of Taibeh located south of Wadi Musa, Jordan, incorporates at least two, maybe even five, successive layers associated with the Late Ahmarian, also known as Masraqan, technocomplex. The Masraqan is elsewhere connected with the beginning of the intensive use of plant food and with permanent settlements. Taibeh could be the first site to present as much as 5 successive layers of this cultural unit. The Masraqan is relatively well constrained in time, usually dated between 18 and 25 ka BP. A series of heated flints was collected at Taibeh to be dated using TL. Two informations are required for the estimation of a TL age: the equivalent dose (D e) which is the dose accumulated in the flint since it had been heated, and the dose rate (D ˙) to which the flint is exposed during the burial time. The D e estimation was done applying two different protocols, and both produced consistent results. The D ˙ estimation was realised using a modified version of DRAC (Durcan et al., 2015) which allows to use different radio-element concentrations for the flints and the surrounding sediment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discusses data concerning the secondary manufacture technology of a set of opaque coloured early Islamic mosaic glass tesserae from the qasr of Khirbet al-Mafjar (Jericho, Palestine). Archaeological contextualisation of the site had allowed attributing these finds to the Umayyad occupational phase of the building, and an in-depth study of the composition of the glassy matrix had provided evidence of a double supply of glass from Egypt and the Syro-Palestinian coast occurring in the production of the base glass intended to be used for the manufacture of mosaic tesserae. Here, a multi-methodological approach has been carried out to characterise colourants and opacifiers: visible reflectance spectroscopy (VIS-RS), optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersion analysis (SEM-EDS), micro-Raman spectroscopy (micro-Raman) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were performed on the opaque tesserae. Moreover, either optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) or thermoluminescence (TL) protocols for luminescence dating were applied on selected samples, with the aim of relating luminescence properties with the geochemical features of the glass tesserae, in the perspective of deepening the studies towards the absolute dating, an unquestionable help to the stimulating challenge of investigating ancient glass manufacture. Tin-based, phosphorus-based and copper-based opacifiers were identified, and the achieved results suggest the use of the same opacifiers and colouring agents regardless of the different base glass. Furthermore, data obtained by TL and OSL protocols revealed useful and stimulating potentialities these techniques could have in dating opaque glasses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies have been carried out to identify the defect centers responsible for the thermoluminescence (TL) peaks in the mineral tourmaline. The mineral exhibits three TL peaks approximately at 170, 250 and 310 °C. The EPR spectrum of the green tourmaline sample pre-heated to 500 °C presented a large signal around g = 4.3 due to Fe3+ ion. Room temperature EPR spectrum of irradiated green tourmaline shows the formation of two defect centers in the region of g = 2.0. One of the centers (center II) with a g factor equal to 1.96 is identified as an F+-center and is related to the observed high temperature 250 and 310 °C TL peaks. Center I exhibiting a doublet is due to hydrogen atoms (H0), stable in the crystal lattice at room temperature and this center correlates with the TL peak at 170 °C of the green tourmaline. An optical absorption measurement also was carried out. Bands at around 430, 730 and 1100 nm have been observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Durango apatite is a material that exhibits very strong athermal fading (AF) of luminescence signal. In this study, the EPR signals of natural Durango apatite in various different grain dimensions (ball milled for various durations up to 48 h and microscale grain size) were studied. The obtained EPR signal at room temperature yielded three different components with g values 2.0534 (hole center), 2.0398 (hole center) and 1.9920 (electron center). These components were observed for the reference grain size fraction of 100–180 μm; however, prolonged ball milling erases the two hole centers. The behaviour of all obtained components was investigated by step annealing processes (a) between room temperature and 400 °C in steps of 25 °C for 5 min and (b) between 400 °C and 1100 °C, in steps of 100 °C for 1 h. The EPR component with g value 1.9918 was almost totally removed until 1100 °C, while those with g values 2.0534, 2.0398 were erased after annealing at 500 °C and 400 °C respectively. The fading of EPR components was investigated for each ball milling (BM) and microscale grain size independently, at different storage times between 0 and 1000 min. Based on the results of fading and step annealing studies, the EPR component with g value 2.0398 could be directly correlated to the main dosimetric TL trap, while the component with g value 1.9920 appears to be responsible for TA – OSL signal for microscale grain size apatite, corresponding thus to a very deep trap. The behaviour of remnant EPR signal versus storage time could be successfully described by equations based on quantum mechanical tunnelling mechanism. Highlights • EPR signal of Durango apatite (grain size fraction of 100–180 μm) yields three different components at RT. • After ball milling, only one EPR component is monitored; the other two disappear. • EPR component with g = 1.9920 could be correlated to VDTs, as the origins of TA – OSL signal, based on thermal cleaning and athermal fading results. • EPR component with g = 2.0398 could be correlated to the main dosimetric TL trap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A historical radium (226Ra) needle was found in a building in Prague. The needle was concealed in a wall under a window frame. Ambient dose equivalent rate measured in close proximity to the frame reached up to 2 mSv/h. The place was located between a corridor and a staircase where people normally did not stay; hence, any significant radiation exposure was not suspected. Because of a remarkable history of the building, our speculation was that the needle could have been concealed there during World War II. To verify this assumption, one adjacent brick nearest to the place of the find was removed. The brick was used for retrospective dosimetry based on optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) of quartz extracted from a chosen brick block. Dose rate values inside the brick block were determined by a laboratory reconstruction. The original exposure conditions were simulated using the needle and a brick wall containing thermoluminescence detectors (TLDs). We also performed a computational simulation with the Monte Carlo technique. The simulation provided us a more detailed dose rate distribution inside the brick block. Finally, we compared OSL quartz, TLD, and Monte Carlo results. A good agreement among the results supports the speculation that the radium needle was concealed during World War II. Highlights • A historical radium (226Ra) needle was found in a wall. • A brick was used for dose reconstruction based on optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) of quartz. • Dose rate values inside the brick block were determined by a laboratory reconstruction with thermoluminescence detectors (TLDs). • Dose distribution was calculated using the Monte Carlo technique. • OSL, TLD, and Monte Carlo results were in a good agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed to analyze the thallium pollution and assess the potential ecological risks in the vicinity of coal mines in Henan province, China. We studied 90 surface farmland soil samples from 9 representative coal mines. The Tl concentrations were determined and the potential ecological risks were evaluated. Investigations revealed the farmland soils were modestly contaminated and the trace elements in coal mining areas transferred to the surface soils. Soil Tl contents and potential ecological risks in coal mining areas were significantly increased compared with the original soils which came from the villagers' mud houses built 40 years ago. The soil Tl concentrations ranged from 0.25 to 0.77(mean = 0.46) mg∙kg−1, which were higher than the original level (0.42 mg∙kg−1). The potential ecological risk index of Tl ranged from 24.00 to 73.2 (mean 44.08), representing a moderate pollution level as a whole of the soils in Henan. In general, high Tl concentrations and high potential ecological risk were found around SHQ and DTG. The soil Tl concentrations exceed the original level and pose noticeable ecological risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this work was to systematically assess the distribution of thermoluminescence (TL) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) properties along the length of crystals grown by the micro-pulling-down method, in relation to the microstructure and distribution of activators. We analyzed lithium magnesium phosphate (LiMgPO4; LMP) crystals doped with terbium (Tb; 0.8 mol%) or with a combination of thulium (Tm; 0.8 mol% or 1.2 mol%) and boron (B; 10 mol%). Crystals of several centimeters in length and 3 mm in diameter were cut into 20–40 slices, depending on length. For each sample, TL glow curves and OSL decay curves were examined. Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to assess the microstructure and elemental composition of several selected samples. Two-dimensional TL readouts were performed to identify the areas with higher and lower signal emission. Our study showed that there may be significant differences not only in LMP sensitivity along the crystal’s axis but also on the surface of the slice. The distribution of activators varies depending on the type of crystals and strongly affects luminescence properties.

LiMgPO 4 :Dy phosphors were synthesized by high-temperature solid-state method and sol-gel method. The effects of different synthesis methods on crystal structure, morphology, thermoluminescence (TL) properties, and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) properties of LiMgPO 4 :Dy were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), TL glow curve and continuous wave OSL (CW-OSL) curves. XRD patterns showed that the crystal phase of the samples synthesized by the two methods is LiMgPO 4. The morphology of the samples synthesized by sol-gel method was better than that synthesized by high-temperature solid-state method. The TL sensitivity of the samples synthesized by sol-gel method was higher than that synthesized by high-temperature solid-state method. The TL strongest glow peak of the LiMgPO 4 :Dy sample synthesized by high-temperature solid-state method was 363 K, while that the LiMgPO 4 :Dy sample synthesized by sol-gel method was 380 K. The OSL sensitivity of the samples synthesized by sol-gel method was significantly higher than that synthesized by high-temperature solid-state method. The synthesis method had no effect on the OSL decay of the sample. LiMgPO 4 :Dy phosphor synthesized by sol-gel method may be a suitable candidate material for radiation dosimetry. • We compared the properties of TL and OSL of LiMgPO 4 and LiMgPO 4 :Dy synthesized by different methods. • The samples synthesized by sol-gel method have higher sensitivity of TL and OSL. • The preparation method had no effect on the OSL decay of the sample. • OSL sensitivity of LiMgPO 4 :Dy have been reported for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possibility of using indigenously synthesized Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) phosphors, α-Al 2 O 3 :C and LiCaAlF 6 :Eu,Y is explored for application in space dosimetry. The dosimeters prepared using these phosphors were irradiated in BARC-TIFR Pelletron Accelerator facility with proton beam (8–20 MeV). The OSL properties with proton beam irradiation were compared with beta irradiation corresponding to 90Sr/90Y. No change in the OSL emission was found for both the phosphors when exposed to with low LET 90Sr/90Y beta (0.2 keV/μm) and high LET proton (2 keV/μm, 20 MeV). It was observed that Continuous Wave (CW) OSL signal decays faster with increasing LET of the proton beam for both types of dosimeters α-Al 2 O 3 :C and LCAF. The OSL dose response is linear for the high LET proton beam which is similar to the response obtained using low LET beta and gamma irradiation. The variation of OSL efficiency per unit fluence matches reasonably well with the theoretically calculated values of absorbed dose in water. • Indigenously synthesized LiCaAlF 6 :Eu,Y and Al2O3:C OSL phosphors are characterized for their application in space dosimetry. • CW-OSL of both the phosphors is sharper as LET of incident radiation increases. • LET dependent parameters are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• In the study with challenging data collected, two different classification classes were performed, normal and abnormal. • Extensive research was conducted using AlexNet, DenseNet, Google Net, InceptionV2, InceptionV3, MobileNetV2, NASNetMobile, ResNet18, ResNet50, ResNet101, ShuffleNet, and SqueezeNet. • High accuracy rates were obtained. • With a small set of data, the TL was done instead of classical deep learning. • Accelerating the system and decreasing human error during the ABR test diagnosis. The assessment of the well-being of the peripheral auditory nerve system in individuals experiencing hearing impairment is conducted through auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing. Audiologists assess and document the results of the ABR test. They interpret the findings and assign labels to them using reference-based markers like peak latency, waveform morphology, amplitude, and other relevant factors. Inaccurate assessment of ABR tests may lead to incorrect judgments regarding the integrity of the auditory nerve system; therefore, proper Hearing Loss (HL) diagnosis and analysis are essential. In order to identify and assess ABR automation while decreasing the possibility of human error, machine learning methods, notably deep learning, may be an appropriate option. To address these issues, this study proposed deep-learning models using the transfer-learning (TL) approach to extract features from ABR testing and diagnose HL using support vector machines (SVM). Pre-trained convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures like AlexNet, DenseNet, GoogleNet, InceptionResNetV2, InceptionV3, MobileNetV2, NASNetMobile, ResNet18, ResNet50, ResNet101, ShuffleNet, and SqueezeNet are used to extract features from the collected ABR reported images dataset in the proposed model. It has been decided to use six measures accuracy, precision, recall, geometric mean (GM), standard deviation (SD), and area under the ROC curve to measure the effectiveness of the proposed model. According to experimental findings, the ShuffleNet and ResNet50 models' TL is effective for ABR to diagnosis HL using an SVM classifier, with a high accuracy rate of 95% when using the 5-fold cross-validation method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present here the thermoluminescence (TL) properties of Ce-doped CaF 2 (CaF 2 :Ce) phosphor synthesized by combustion of the precipitate formed from the addition of NH 4 F to (Ca(NO 3) 2)⋅4H 2 O. The structure analysis of the synthesized sample was carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The CaF 2 :Ce phosphor shows an intense peak at about 120 °C and a low-intensity peak at 280 °C. Both peaks' thermoluminescence (TL) intensity was observed to increase with γ-dose. The kinetic parameters of TL peaks were calculated for CaF 2 :Ce phosphor using the Tm-Tstop and deconvolution methods. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) is utilized to identify the defect centers formed in γ-irradiated CaF 2 :Ce phosphor and also to infer the defect centers involved in the TL process. The presence of two defect centers is inferred and center I has a g -value equal to 2.018 and is identified as an O− ion. The O− ion correlates with the TL peak at 120 °C. Center II with a g -value of 2.0057 is ascribed to a radiation-induced Fe3+ ion and is observed to relate to the high-temperature TL peak at 280 °C. The UV–Vis optical absorption of pure CaF 2 and Ce-doped phosphors was investigated. • The TL glow curve of Ce-doped CaF 2 phosphor exhibits two peaks at 120 and 280 °C. • Defect centers were identified in γ-irradiated phosphor due to O− and Fe3+ ions. • The EPR signal due to O− ion is associated to the 120 °C peak. • The EPR signal due to Fe3+ ion is associated to the 280 °C TL peak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is focused on the channel modeling techniques for implementation of narrowband power line communication (NB-PLC) over medium voltage (MV) network for the purpose of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). Three different types of models, based on deterministic method, statistical method, and network parameters based method are investigated in detail. Transmission line (TL) theory model is used to express the MV network as a two-port network to examine characteristics of sending and receiving NB-PLC signals. Multipath signal propagation model is used to incorporate the effect of multipath signals to determine the NB-PLC transfer function. A Simulink model is proposed which considers the values of MV network to examine the characteristics of NB-PLC signals. Frequency selectivity is also introduced in the impedances to compare variations and characteristics with constant impedances based MV network. A state-of-the-art mechanism for the modeling of capacitive coupling device, and impedances of low voltage (LV) and MV networks is developed. Moreover, a comparative analysis of TL theory and multipath signal propagation models with the proposed Simulink model is presented to validate the performance and accuracy of proposed model. This research work will pave the way to improve the efficiency of next-generation NB-PLC technologies.

This study aims to assess the correspondence between session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) breakpoints with both the first lactate threshold (LT1) and the second lactate threshold (LT2) in elite open water swimmers (OWS). Six elite OWS of the National Olympic Team specialized in distances between 5 and 25 km participated to the study. OWS performed a set of 6 times 500 m incremental swimming step test during which blood lactate concentration (BLC), split time (ST), stroke frequency (SF), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were collected. To assess the corresponding breakpoints, we considered LT1 as the highest workload not associated with rise in BLC and LT2 as the increase of 2mM above LT1. According to the LT1 and LT2, the identified zones were: Z1 ≤3, Z2 between 4 and 6, Z3 ≥ 7. In conclusion, the intensity zones determined for OWS resulted different from what previously reported for other endurance disciplines.

This paper aims to study a brick with inscriptions in cuneiform characters in which the sentences are almost complete. Typological studies in agreement with historical records suggest that the tablet was manufactured in the 6th century BCE during the dynasty of Nebuchadnezzar II, Great King of Babylon. The sample was studied by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), thermoluminescence (TL), and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) techniques. The results showed that the brick is 2350 years old (± 40) and its firing temperature was lower than 400 °C.

The significance of input, namely meaning-bearing linguistic instances of the target language (TL) (VanPatten, 1996), in accounting for how learners create second language (L2) grammars has long been established (Gass, 1997). Krashen (1985), in his Input Hypothesis, even argues that the sheer provision of abundant comprehensible input would be “necessary and sufficient” for second language acquisition (SLA). In light of such characteristics as “lack of success” and “the importance of instruction” in Bley-Vroman’s (1989) Fundamental Difference Hypothesis vis-à-vis adult L2 learners, however, it appears that manipulating aspects of learning conditions may facilitate L2 grammar acquisition. Some researchers (e.g., Sanz and Morgan-Short, 2005) suggest that external manipulation ofinput through textual (Jourdenais, Ota, Stauffer, Boyson, & Doughty, 1995) or prosodic (Leeman, 2003) enhancement, or even input flood (Trahey & White, 1993) might induce internal processing, considering that the target forms are made more salient and are thus more likely to be detected by the learner. Others (e.g., Chaudron, 1983; Corder, 1967; Faerch & Kasper, 1980; Krashen, 1982; Sharwood Smith, 1986; VanPatten, 1996, 2002a, 2004a, 2007), while acknowledging the difficulty of controlling and measuring L2 processing, still see value in theorizing about the learner’s internal language acquisition mechanism to make sense of the manner input processing (IP) works, i.e., what kind of L2 input gets converted to intake and the rationale behind it.