Search

Chirality is a concept that one object is not superimposable on its mirror image by translation and rotation. In particular, chiral plasmonics have been widely investigated due to their excellent optical chiral properties, and have led to numerous applications such as optical polarizing element etc. In this study, we develop a model based on the concept of the interaction between harmonic oscillators to investigate and explain the optical chiral mechanisms of strongly coupled metal nanoparticles (MNPs). The chirality of the scattering, absorption, and photoluminescence spectra are carefully discussed in detail. The results show that the chirality of the system originates not only from the orientations of the MNPs, but also from the different eigen parameters between them. Specifically, the derived three factors contribute to the chirality: the symmetry, the coupling strength, and the coherent superposition of the emitted electric field. This work provides a deeper understanding on the chiral plasmonics and may guide relevant applications in theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: ASPECTs is a widely used marker to identify early stroke signs on non-enhanced computed tomography (NECT), yet it presents interindividual variability and it may be hard to use for non-experts. We introduce an algorithm capable of automatically estimating the NECT volumetric extension of early acute ischemic changes in the 3D space. We compared the power of this marker with ASPECTs evaluated by experienced practitioner in predicting the clinical outcome. Methods: We analyzed and processed neuroimaging data of 153 patients admitted with acute ischemic stroke. All patients underwent a NECT at admission and on follow-up. The developed algorithm identifies the early ischemic hypodense region based on an automatic comparison of the gray level in the images of the two hemispheres, assumed to be an approximate mirror image of each other in healthy patients. Results: In the two standard axial slices used to estimate the ASPECTs, the regions identified by the algorithm overlap significantly with those identified by experienced practitioners. However, in many patients, the regions identified automatically extend significantly to other slices. In these cases, the volume marker provides supplementary and independent information. Indeed, the clinical outcome of patients with volume marker = 0 can be distinguished with higher statistical confidence than the outcome of patients with ASPECTs = 10. Conclusion: The volumetric extension and the location of acute ischemic region in the 3D-space, automatically identified by our algorithm, provide data that are mostly in agreement with the ASPECTs value estimated by expert practitioners, and in some cases complementary and independent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes Tolstoy's narrative on the Moscow poor in What Should We Do Then? in the context of the tradition of slum literature in late nineteenth‐century Russia. It focuses on the interplay between the human body and the environment in a literary tradition that is heavily influenced by the biomedical discourse of degeneration. It compares then the slum discourse with Tolstoy's representation of the poor. The argument is that Tolstoy recalls some elements of this discourse with the intention of distancing himself from it and proposing a new perspective on the slum reality. Tolstoy attempts to individualize and differentiate what may initially seem like an amorphous, threatening human mass, in order to highlight the anthropological normality of slum space and its dwellers. This aligns with his philanthropic program based on mutual love between rich and poor. However, his normalization and differentiation strategies eventually collapse due to the persistence of a threatening bodily otherness within the slums. The ultimate failure of Tolstoy's "naïve" plan for social amelioration is manifested in the persistence of the disturbing degenerate reality of slum bodies and spaces as a mirror image of the monstrosity of society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demand on adapting modern livestock farming to higher animal welfare standards requires a thorough understanding of a species' cognitive abilities to determine their adaptability. With the chicken being the world's most numerous birds in animal production, it is mandatory to identify its cognitive abilities and limitations in order to meet its needs. We investigated if chickens are able to use and understand the reflective properties of a mirror that is the correlation of reflections of food rewards and their real location. In total, 18 female chickens of two different breeds were tested in a mirror-mediated spatial location task. Eleven out of eighteen hens solved the task successfully and thus, possibly exploited the correlation between the reflection in the mirror and the real food reward. We found differences on a breed and on the individual level, with different amounts of time needed learning the association of reward and mirror image. The results imply sophisticated cognitive abilities in chickens, assuming they may be able to understand how mirror images represent objects in the real environment, and to make use of it during foraging. The chicken's cognitive ability might lead to a new understanding and provision of animal welfare-compliant production environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present study aims to improve the utilisation of granular piles (GP) for ground improvement by analysing the partially stiffened end-bearing granular piled raft (EBGPR) resting on the bearing stratum (BS). The study incorporates the use of the mirror image method and an elastic continuum approach to estimate the vertical settlement of the soil at the interface of the EBGPR. The study focuses on finding normalised variables such as settlement ratio, settlement reduction factor, settlement reduction factor for the BS, settlement influence factor (SIF), SIF for any depth, percentage load on the GP and on the base and normalised shear stress along the length of the GP with the effect of relative size of the raft. Based on the study, it was concluded that the SIF tends to decrease with an increase in the stiffening factor for the top portion of the GP. This finding suggests that the stiffening of the upper part of the GP can improve its strength and stiffness, and can potentially enhance the performance of the EBGPR foundation. Overall, the study is a comprehensive analysis of the partially stiffened EBGPR foundation, and provides useful insights into the behaviour and performance of such foundations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meditation apps present mindful listening as sonic self-care: a pathway to managing anxiety, depression, insomnia, and the distractions of other digital media. This essay investigates the collection of audio "sleepcasts" produced by Headspace, a Silicon Valley digital wellness corporation that claims over seventy million users of its meditation app. Sleepcasts are designed to extend media engagement and the productive labor of self-care beyond waking hours and past the threshold of consciousness. As they guide listeners through "night-time journeys" to palliative virtual escape zones, sleepcasts choreograph a sensory fade-out from hypervigilant insomniac listening to oblivious somnolence. I show how Headspace drew on a century-old scientific model of sleep as conditioned performance, blended with the domestic ritual of the children's bedtime story, to conjure fantasies of restorative travel, fulfilling work, and intimate relationships with virtual caregivers. These sedative audio journeys follow tourist itineraries shaped by colonialism, aligning "mindfulness" with the privileges of cosmopolitan mobility. By tethering sleepcasts to bedtime, Headspace cultivates nightly listening as ritualized self-care that is the mirror image of one's day job—the labor of rest that makes the next day possible. Meanwhile, listeners remain productive participants in the attention economy even as they fall asleep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volar fracture–dislocations of the proximal interphalangeal joint are rare injuries caused by an axial force on a flexed digit resulting in an avulsion fracture of the dorsal lip of the middle phalanx with volar dislocation of the joint. This volar subtype is analogous to the more common dorsal subtype with a mirror image fracture on the dorsal lip of the middle phalanx. The main significance in this type of injury lies in the disruption of the extensor mechanism at the central slip. The goals of treatment, apart from restoring a congruent and stable joint, is to restore the extensor mechanism to prevent a boutonnière deformity. In this article, we summarise the current literature and discuss the principles for treatment of this uncommon injury. Level of Evidence: Level V (Therapeutic) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Modified Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) in rural settings may be effective in the care of patients with severe mental illness (SMI) that are difficult to engage in community care. The objective of the present study was to explore the impact of the care by a hybrid ACT team on SMI patients' hospitalizations, length of hospital stay, symptomatology and functioning in a rural community treatment setting in Greece. Methods: The hybrid ACT team is an expansion of the services of the well-established generic Mobile Mental Health Unit in a rural area of Northwest Greece, and delivers home-based care for patients with SMI. This was a 3-year prospective, mirror image, pre-post observational study. Patients' symptomatology, functioning and general outcome were measured with the use of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF), and the Health of the Nation Outcome Scale (HοNOS). Results: The mean age of the 23 enrolled patients was 52.4 years and the mean age of disease onset was 23.5 years, with a mean number of hospitalizations 10.74. Over the 16-month follow-up patients' hospitalizations, both voluntary and involuntary, had been significantly reduced by almost 80%. Length of hospital stay had been significantly reduced by 87%, whereas patients' functioning and symptomatology had been significantly improved, by 17% and 14.5%, respectively. Conclusions: The model of hybrid ACT in rural areas in Greece may be effective in the treatment of difficult-to-engage patients with SMI and may improve patients' outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare disorder of motile cilia associated with situs abnormalities. At least 12% of patients with PCD have situs ambiguus (SA), including organ laterality defects falling outside normal arrangement (situs solitus [SS]) or mirror image inversion (situs inversus totalis [SIT]). Do patients with PCD and SA achieve worse clinical outcomes compared with those with SS or SIT? This cross-sectional, multicenter study evaluated participants aged 21 years or younger with PCD. Participants were classified as having SA, including heterotaxy, or not having SA (SS or SIT). Markers of disease severity were compared between situs groups, adjusting for age at enrollment and severe CCDC39 or CCDC40 genotype, using generalized linear models and logistic and Poisson regression. In 397 participants with PCD (mean age, 8.4 years; range, 0.1-21), 42 patients were classified as having SA, including 16 patients (38%) with complex cardiovascular malformations or atrial isomerism, 13 patients (31%) with simple CVM, and 13 patients (31%) without cardiovascular malformations. Of these, 15 patients (36%) underwent cardiac surgery, 24 patients (57%) showed an anatomic spleen abnormality, and seven patients (17%) showed both. The remaining 355 participants did not have SA, including 152 with SIT and 203 with SS. Overall, 70 participants (17%) harbored the severe CCDC39 or CCDC40 genotype. Compared with participants without SA, those with SA showed lower median BMI z scores (P =.03), lower FVC z scores (P =.01), and more hospitalizations and IV antibiotic courses for acute respiratory infections during the 5 years before enrollment (P <.01). Participants with cardiovascular malformations requiring surgery or with anatomic spleen abnormalities showed lower median BMI z scores and more hospitalizations and IV therapies for respiratory illnesses compared with participants without SA. Children with PCD and SA achieve worse nutritional and pulmonary outcomes with more hospitalizations for acute respiratory illnesses than those with SS or SIT combined. Poor nutrition and increased hospitalizations for respiratory infections in participants with SA and PCD are associated with cardiovascular malformations requiring cardiac surgery, splenic anomalies, or both. ClinicalTrials.gov; Nos.: NCT02389049 and NCT00323167; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emerging technology of rotating synthetic aperture (RSA) presents a promising solution for the development of lightweight, large-aperture, and high-resolution optical remote sensing systems in geostationary orbit. However, the rectangular shape of the primary mirror and the distinctive imaging mechanism involving the continuous rotation of the mirror lead to a pronounced decline in image resolution along the shorter side of the rectangle compared to the longer side. The resolution also exhibits periodic time-varying characteristics. To address these limitations and enhance image quality, we begin by analyzing the imaging mechanism of the RSA system. Subsequently, we propose a single-image super-resolution method that utilizes a rotated varied-size window attention mechanism instead of full attention, based on the Vision Transformer architecture. We employ a two-stage training methodology for the network, where we pre-train it on images masked with stripe-shaped masks along the shorter side of the rectangular pupil. Following that, we fine-tune the network using unmasked images. Through the strip-wise mask sampling strategy, this two-stage training approach effectively circumvents the interference of lower confidence (clarity) information and outperforms training the network from scratch using the unmasked degraded images. Our digital simulation and semi-physical imaging experiments demonstrate that the proposed method achieves satisfactory performance. This work establishes a valuable reference for future space applications of the RSA system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Left–right (LR) asymmetry is crucial for animal development, particularly in Drosophila where LR‐asymmetric morphogenesis of organs hinges on cellular‐level chirality, termed cell chirality. In this species, two class I myosins, Myosin1D (Myo1D), and Myosin1C (Myo1C), respectively determine dextral (wild type) and sinistral (mirror image) cell chirality. Previous studies demonstrated Myo1D's ability to propel F‐actin in leftward circles during in vitro gliding assays, suggesting its mechanochemical role in defining dextral chirality. Conversely, Myo1C propels F‐actin without exhibiting LR‐directional preference in this assay, suggesting at other properties governing sinistral chirality. Given the interaction of Myo1D and Myo1C with the membrane, we hypothesized that differences in their membrane behaviors might be critical in dictating their dextral or sinistral activities. In this study, employing single‐molecule imaging analyses, we investigated the dynamic behaviors of Myo1D and Myo1C on the plasma membrane. Our findings revealed that Myo1C exhibits a significantly greater proportion of slow‐diffusing population compared to Myo1D. Importantly, this characteristic was contingent upon both head and tail domains of Myo1C. The distinct diffusion patterns of Myo1D and Myo1C did not exert mutual influence on each other. This divergence in membrane diffusion between Myo1D and Myo1C may be crucial for dictating cell and organ chirality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to evaluate orbital symmetry in goat and sheep skulls. For this purpose, a total of 83 skulls, including 50 sheep and 33 goat skulls, were used in the study. Geometric morphometry method was applied. For symmetric analysis, one side of each orbit was photographed twice and mirror images were created. There were 36 landmards marked to determine the outer limit of the orbita. As a result of the study, asymmetric components (fluctuating asymmetry and directional asymmetry) for shape were statistically significant in both goats and sheep (p < 0.0001). The first three principal components explained 52.558% of the total shape variation in goats and 61.245% in sheep. This value for symmetric components was 59.095% and 67.742% for goats and sheep, respectively, and 66.791% and 71.154% for asymmetric components. As a result of discriminant function analysis, right and left orbital shapes showed grouping characteristics with similar success rates according to species. Although limited, the right orbit in goats (100%) and the left orbit in sheep (96.5%) were grouped more accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the images encountered in daily life are color images, yet grayscale remains prevalent in many fields due to its reduced data size and simplified operations. When reducing the dimensions of a three-channel color image to a single-channel grayscale, a portion of the original color information is inevitably lost. To yield high-quality grayscale images, this study introduces a color-to-gray conversion method based on chroma difference. This method defines a novel color distance metric for color-to-grayscale conversion, incorporating pixel chromaticity differences alongside brightness variations. The discrepancy in gray pixel values in the output grayscale image effectively mirrors the overall differences among input color image pixels. Optimization is conducted using the conjugate gradient method, ensuring appropriate reflection of luminance information from the input image and chromaticity data from the original color image within the grayscale rendering. Experimental validation confirms the efficacy of this approach. However, as the method accounts for all pixel pairs, it occasionally considers unnecessary pairs, leading to potential distortion in color differences between pixels and consequent inadequacies in chromaticity variation. To address this issue, a weighting factor is introduced, prioritizing color combinations with similar color differences. Experimental findings demonstrate that grayscale images produced using the proposed method outperform those generated by alternative approaches in preserving color differentials and retaining detailed features of the original image. The resulting output exhibits clear and natural outlines, as supported by both subjective and objective assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a one-year, retrospective, mirror-image study to investigate the clinical effectiveness and safety of aripiprazole once monthly (AOM) in patients with bipolar disorder (BD). We compared pre-treatment conditions with outcomes after 12 months of AOM treatment. Seventy-five bipolar patients were recruited from 12 hospitals in Korea. We included 75 patients with BD who had received at least three AOM treatments from September 2019 to September 2022 and had accessible electronic medical record (EMRs) for the year before and after the baseline visit. The overall number of mood episodes significantly decreased from a mean of 1.5 ± 1.2 episodes pre-AOM to 0.5 ± 1.2 episodes post-AOM. Manic episodes significantly decreased from 0.8 ± 0.8 episodes pre-AOM to 0.2 ± 0.5 episodes post-AOM, and depressive episodes significantly decreased from 0.5 ± 0.8 episodes pre-AOM to 0.2 ± 0.6 episodes post-AOM (p = 0.017). Moreover, the number of psychiatric medications and pills and the proportion of patients treated with complex polypharmacy were significantly decreased post-AOM. The small sample size was insufficient to fully represent the entire population of individuals with BD, and potential selection bias was introduced due to only including subjects who received AOM three or more times. The results of this study suggest that AOM can reduce mood episode relapse and may be clinically beneficial in the treatment of BD patients, potentially reducing issues associated with polypharmacy in some individuals. • The 1-year administration of AOM for BD patients significantly decreased the total number of overall mood episodes. • AOM administration significantly improved GAF, CGI-BP-S, and CGI-CB scores as well. • AOM administration significantly decreased the proportion of patients treated with complex polypharmacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysis of the brain activity in different mental tasks is an important area of research. We used complexity-based analysis to study the changes in brain activity in four mental tasks: relaxation, Stroop color-word, mirror image recognition, and arithmetic tasks. We used fractal theory, sample entropy, and approximate entropy to analyze the changes in electroencephalogram (EEG) signals between different tasks. Our analysis showed that by moving from relaxation to the Stroop color-word, arithmetic, and mirror image recognition tasks, the complexity of EEG signals increases, respectively, reflecting rising brain activity between these conditions. Furthermore, only the fractal theory could decode the significant changes in brain activity between different conditions. Similar analyses can be done to decode the brain activity in case of other conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this Letter, dynamic nano-thermal expansion images of reflective mirrors from high-intensity incident laser beams were observed in situ. The inspections are based on rapid 3D surface morphology changes on the reflective surfaces, captured by a Chromatic Confocal Microscope with Nanoscale Sensitivity (CCMNS). Nano-expansions of two types of coatings were studied: the E02 dielectric coating (coating 1) and the graphene-on-E02 complex film (coating 2), both applied to the same fused silica substrate. The superior thermal dissipation properties of coating 2, including enhanced heat dissipation, suppressed wavefront distortion, and its unique negative expansion coefficient, were observed. In addition to studying the effects of graphene coating, the CCMNS demonstrates an accurate and efficient approach for evaluating reflective mirrors. Moreover, the proposed methodology possesses enormous potential across various fields, ranging from estimating photonic elements dealing with high-intensity beams to physical thermal conductivity measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce a quandle version of the normalized (twisted) Alexander polynomial, which is an invariant of a pair of an oriented link and a quandle representation. The invariant can be constructed by fixing each Alexander pair, and we find various invariants in our framework, which include the quandle cocycle invariant and the normalized (twisted) Alexander polynomial of a knot. In this paper, we develop the theory of normalization with row and column relations of matrices. The theory works for several row and column relations, although the twisted Alexander polynomial is defined with one column relation. We give a formula of our invariant for the mirror image of an oriented link, which explains why the Alexander polynomial fails to detect the chirality of knots and why the quandle cocycle invariant effectively detects it from a unified point of view. We also show that cohomologous Alexander pairs yield the same invariant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: "How do animals perceive the world, and what are they thinking about?" To approach these questions, a method where animals face a touch screen and work on various visual tasks was used. There have not been many studies conducted on cetaceans (e.g., dolphins and whales) because the presence of water makes it difficult to use the electronic devices needed to study them. In this study, we aimed to train one captive killer whale to perform visual tasks using a monitor through an underwater window as if a touch panel were used. We started the training using real objects, which were then converted to photographs. Finally, we confirmed that the killer whale became able to perform the task even in monitor presentation. The successful use of this method suggests the possibility of conducting more detailed research on killer whale cognitive abilities, and further comparisons between terrestrial animals could be conducted in the future. This method is also expected to contribute to animal welfare, and it could also be used to propose new exhibitions to introduce the cognitive abilities of animals in zoos and aquariums. Matching-to-sample tasks have been a useful method in visual cognitive studies on non-human animals. The use of touch panels in matching-to-sample tasks has contributed to cognitive studies on terrestrial animals; however, there has been a difficulty in using these devices underwater, which is one of the factors that has slowed the progress of visual studies on underwater animals. Cetaceans (e.g., dolphins and whales) are highly adapted to underwater environments, and further studies on their cognitive abilities are needed to advance our understanding of the interactions between environmental factors and the evolution of cognitive abilities. In this study, we aimed to develop a new experimental method in which a captive killer whale performed a matching-to-sample task using a monitor shown through an underwater window as if a touch panel were used. In order to confirm the usefulness of this method, one simple experiment on mirror image discrimination was conducted, and the pairs with mirror images were shown to be more difficult to identify than the pairs with other normal images. The advantages of using this method include (1) simplicity in the devices and stimuli used in the experiments, (2) appropriate and rigorous experimental control, (3) the possibility of increasing the number of individuals to be tested and interspecies comparisons, and (4) contributions to animal welfare. The use of this method solves some of the problems in previous visual cognitive studies on cetaceans, and it suggests the further possibility of future comparative cognitive studies. It is also expected to contribute to animal welfare in terms of cognitive enrichment, and it could help with the proposal of new exhibition methods in zoos and aquariums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) provide a vision for contemporary science education with all students, including the fast‐growing population of multilingual learners in the United States K‐12 context. The shifts heralded by the NGSS have resulted in significant changes to English language proficiency (ELP) or English language development (ELD) standards so they better align with content standards and support all students, including multilingual learners, to engage in language‐rich disciplinary practices (e.g., arguing from evidence). The purpose of this article is to describe ELP/ELD standards aligned with content standards. Specifically, we describe how the policy initiatives of the NGSS as science standards and WIDA 2020 as ELP/ELD standards reflect each other in terms of conceptual foundations and architecture of the standards guiding classroom practices. By becoming more explicitly aware of how science standards and language standards present "mirror images" of each other, science educators will be better positioned to collaborate with their language education colleagues. As this article is intended to engage science educators who are generally familiar with the NGSS but likely new to ELP/ELD standards, we describe WIDA 2020 in detail and in ways accessible to a broad audience. In doing so, we aim to ensure the science education and language education communities are coordinated in their efforts to promote equitable science learning for all students, including multilingual learners. We close with implications for research, policy, and practice through collaboration between science education (as well as other content areas) and language education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Chirality dynamic tuning plays fundamental roles in chemistry, material science and biological system. Herein, a pair of azobenzene-bridged bis-tryptophan enantiomers (Azo-di- d / l -Trp) were designed and synthesized via simple reactions. With the fuel of glucono-δ-lactone (GdL), releasing protons during its hydrolysis, the alkaline solution of Azo-di- d / l -Trp gradually self-assembled into contrast chiral helical structures and displayed magnitude and mirror image of circular dichroism (CD) signals. While the chiral helices converted to CD silent nanoparticles when the azobenzene moiety isomerized from trans - to cis -form under UV irradiation. More importantly, this chiroptical switch, displaying reversible interconversion between chiral amplification and silent, can be smartly controlled via photoirradiation at various wavelengths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article by Professor Rainer Hollerbach from the University of Leeds deals with color parity patterns on twisted 2 × 2 × 2 and 3 × 3 × 3 Rubik's cubes. It presents 21 different parity patterns on the 2 × 2 × 2 cube that exhibit interesting symmetries. These patterns can then be combined with the other pieces on 3 × 3 × 3 cubes. The article emphasizes the mathematical definition and precision of these patterns and points out that they have handedness and differ from their mirror images. Various patterns on the Rubik's Cube are examined and properties and relationships between the patterns are described, including the combination of corner patterns with the centers and side pieces of the cube. [Extracted from the article]

Discrimination of reversible mirrored letters (e.g., d and b) poses a challenge when learning to read as it requires overcoming mirror invariance, an evolutionary‐old perceptual tendency of processing mirror images as equivalent. The present study investigated when, in reading development, mirror‐image discrimination becomes automatic during visual word recognition. The developmental trajectory of masked priming effects was investigated from 2nd to 6th grade and in adults, by manipulating letter type (nonreversible; reversible) and prime condition (control; identity; mirrored; rotated). Standardized identity priming increased along reading development. Beginning readers showed mirror invariance during reversible and nonreversible letter processing. A mirror cost (slower word recognition in mirrored‐letter than identity prime condition) was found by 5th‐grade but only for reversible letters. By 6th grade, orthographic processing was no longer captive of mirror invariance. A multiple linear regression showed that letter representations, but not phonological processes or age, were a reliable predictor of the rise of mirror‐image discrimination in 2nd–4th‐graders. The present results suggest a protracted development of automatic mirror‐image discrimination during orthographic processing, contingent upon the quality of abstract letter representations. Research Highlights: We traced the developmental trajectory of mirrored‐letter and rotated‐letter priming effects (e.g., ibea and ipea as primes of IDEA) in visual word recognition.Beginning readers (2nd–4th‐graders) showed mirror invariance and plane‐rotation sensitivity in orthographic processing, thus still being susceptible to the perceptual biases in charge in object recognition.A mirror cost was found in 5th‐graders but only for reversible letters; orthographic processing was no longer captive of mirror invariance by 6th‐grade.The automation of mirror‐image discrimination during orthographic processing depends on the quality of letter representations but not on phonological processes or age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a new tectonic plate reconstruction that suggests substantial revisions to events associated with development of the Peruvian flat slab and resolves several long-standing issues regarding the subduction of bathymetric highs in the region. The Tuamotu Plateau is widely considered to be the product of Easter Plume magmatism, and plate reconstructions suggest it formed following initial plume ascent at ca. 55 Ma. The Nazca Ridge is also linked to the Easter Plume and is an obvious candidate to be the spreading ridge conjugate to the Tuamotu Plateau. Models for the paired evolution of the two ridges, however, generally stop at ca. 33 Ma because of the inability of plate reconstructions to associate the two ridges across a spreading center prior to this time. In addition, seafloor magnetic data demonstrate that the Tuamotu Plateau developed at a complexly shaped and evolving mid-oceanic ridge that precluded development of a simple mirror image conjugate of the type commonly employed in Nazca Ridge reconstructions. Seafloor isochrons also suggest that a ridge jump separated the Tuamotu Plateau from its conjugate at ca. 42 Ma. Global plate models offer an alternative approach to assessing conjugate development, by showing how a hypothetical conjugate to the Tuamotu Plateau is built up over time. Using such a model, we found that the conjugate that developed during the main stage of Tuamotu growth (55 Ma to 42 Ma) cannot be the Nazca Ridge, which appears to have initiated at ca. 42 Ma, when the Easter Plume diverted volcanism southward. We named the newly recognized conjugate the Enigma Ridge. Importantly, subduction of this ridge starting from ca. 17 Ma on the north Peruvian trench can account for the missing slab buoyancy previously attributed to the hypothesized, but controversial, Inca Plateau. The Enigma Ridge must still be providing far more buoyancy over a much greater area than the Nazca Ridge, which only began to subduct rather recently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to evaluate retrospectively associated anomalies and outcome in prenatal aortic arch anomalies (AAAs). We included ninety patients with aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA), right aortic arch (RAA) with mirror image branching (RAA-mirror) or aberrant left subclavian artery (RAA-ALSA) and double aortic arch (DAA) between 2011 and 2020. In total, 19/90 (21.1%) had chromosomal anomalies, the highest rate being within the ARSA subgroup (17/46, 37%). All (13/13) of the RAA-mirror subgroup, 10/27 (37.0%) of RAA-ALSA, 13/46 (28.3%) of ARSA and 0/4 within the DAA subgroup had additional intracardiac anomaly. The rate of extracardiac anomalies was 30.7% in RAA-mirror, 28.3% in ARSA, 25.0% in DAA and 22.2% in the RAA-ALSA subgroup. A total of 42/90 (46.7%) had isolated AAAs: three (7.1%) with chromosomal anomalies, all trisomy 21 (3/26, 11.5%) within the ARSA subgroup. Out of 90, 19 (21.1%) were lost to follow-up (FU). Two (2.2%) intrauterine deaths occurred, and six (6.7%) with chromosomal anomalies terminated their pregnancy. In total, 63 (70.0%) were liveborn, 3/63 (4.8%) with severe comorbidity had compassionate care and 3/60 (5.0%) were lost to FU. The survival rate in the intention-to-treat cohort was 53/57 (93%). Forty-one (77.4%) presented with vascular ring/sling, two (4.9%) with RAA-ALSA developed symptoms and one (2.4%) needed an operation. We conclude that intervention due to vascular ring is rarely necessary. NIPT could be useful in isolated ARSA cases without higher a priori risk for trisomy 21 and after exclusion of other anomalies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article attempts to establish a mirror image of reflections on functional co-operation on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Caribbean Community and offers projections for a mature and viable Caribbean Community. Its reflections focus mainly on the history of functional co-operation, established in the founding Treaty of CARICOM in 1973, and an understanding of its foundational elements and practices analogous to tentacles connecting all aspects of the CARICOM regional movement. It justifies its approach by establishing that we see reflections in the mirror of our recollections. In this case, they are based on the perspectives of thought leaders and the findings of relevant research, the major point of departure of which is the Report of the CARICOM Task Force on Functional Co-operation. The recommendations of the Task Force were converted into a Declaration by the 28th Conference of the CARICOM Heads of Government in Barbados in 2007. They set the parameters of this contribution interpreted as 'mirrors of reflection' on the prospects of a golden era and priorities for sustainability of the Community. These elements include the people-centred approaches towards achieving the mission of integration proposed by the Caribbean Commission on the Economy. They also include investing in human capital, health and development, crime, security, and public health as the heart of functional co-operation. It is important to note that functional co-operation is an underlying component of a cohesive, coherent, and coordinated regional foreign policy and a broader arc of diplomacy that compounds the contradictions and challenges the Community faces. These challenges may, argues the author, be overcome by implementing the fundamentals for attaining the mission of a 'Community for all'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Features of Rayleigh scattering by a solid particle at a small distance compared to the wavelength from an impenetrable plane boundary are revealed. The choice of the Green's function in the integral representation of the Helmholtz equation makes it possible to reduce integration only over the particle surface and eliminate the contribution of the interface surface. When expanding over a small wave parameter, a well-known approach is used, making it possible to represent the solution of a given order as the sum of a potential function and a component expressed in terms of lower-order approximations. The potential component is found, expressed in terms of solid irregular harmonics centered on the particle and its mirror image. The vibrational velocity of the center of a particle and the scattering amplitude are determined. In the lowest order of the wavenumber, the scattering amplitude is expressed in terms of the monopole and dipole components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study published in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica examined the long-term impact of 3-monthly paliperidone palmitate (PP3M) on hospitalization in patients with schizophrenia. The study followed a cohort of 76 patients over a period of 6 years. The results showed that the use of PP3M after stabilizing on 1-monthly paliperidone (PP1M) led to a significant reduction in hospital admissions and bed days. Patients who continued on PP3M for 3 years experienced a 98% decrease in the mean number of admissions per year. The study also highlighted the cost savings associated with PP3M and the additional benefits of less frequent administration. [Extracted from the article]

A unique gyroid cubic phase has been discovered for a discotic star mesogen with three covalently attached DNA bases. In this cubic Ia3‾d ${Ia\bar{3}d}$ phase, the conjugated core of the mesogens and the thymine pseudo guests self‐assemble in mirror image continuous networks, representing a semiconducting material with three‐dimensional transport pathways. The hole carrier mobilities are found to be in the typical range of poly(phenylenevinylene) scaffolds. This structure is stabilized by a weak hydrogen bonding between the thymine bases and can be switched to a columnar liquid crystal – thermally and by the addition of complementary adenine guests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The presence of a double aortic arch (DAA) is manifested by compressive symptoms, requiring surgery. DAA cases are classified as either complete or incomplete type. DAA and a right aortic arch with mirror image branching (mRAA) have a similar configuration to the first branch artery. The first branch of the mRAA is the left brachiocephalic artery, which appears to be the same as that of an incomplete DAA due to blood flow interruption. The present retrospective study aimed to evaluate the differences between DAA and mRAA by fetal echocardiography. Methods: This single retrospective cohort study included all patients diagnosed with complete DAA, incomplete DAA, or mRAA at our facility between 2010 and 2022. The patients were diagnosed with complete DAA, incomplete DAA, or mRAA after birth and remaining fetal echocardiograms. The patients were divided into the DAA (complete DAA: n = 4, incomplete DAA: n = 3) and mRAA (n = 4) groups. The following three outcomes were compared: (1) angle between the right aortic arch and first branch (RF angle), (2) ratio of height to width of the region bounded by the aortic arch, first branch of the aortic arch, and descending aorta, and (3) maximum tracheal diameter on a three-vessel trachea view. Results: The incomplete DAA cases were difficult to diagnose via fetal echocardiography. On fetal echocardiography, the RF angle was significantly steeper in the DAA group than in the mRAA group (median 57° [36°–69°] vs. 75° [62°–94°]; p < 0.05). The DAA and RAA groups showed no significant differences in the ratio of height to width of the region bounded by the aortic arch, first branch of the aortic arch, and descending aorta (median 0.57 [0.17–0.68] vs. 0.73 [0.56–1.0]) and maximum tracheal diameter (median 2.5 [1.4–3.3] vs. 3.2 [2.8–3.5] mm). The cut-off value for the presence of DAA was an RF angle <71°. Conclusion: The DAA group (complete and incomplete DAA) had a significantly steeper RF angle than the mRAA group. Therefore, RF angle measurement could improve the fetal diagnosis and postnatal prognosis of DAA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jan David, S.J.'s Duodecim specula (Antwerp: Jan Moretus, 1610), an innovative emblematic treatise in twelve chapters, focuses on various kinds and degrees of specular image generated by the human soul. Each chapter responds to an opening imago , designed and engraved by Theodoor Galle, that illustrates the operations of the mirror in question. Three of the imagines, V. The Mirror of Others' Eyes , viii. The Mirror of Created Things , and X. The Mirror of Example , rather than displaying persons, actions, or things that fall under the purview of the respective mirror, instead depict the mirrored image that such a speculum is seen to reflect. Accordingly, as printed imagines that prove upon closer inspection to contain specular imagines or, better, that function as pictorial representations of particular kinds of image, these imagines imaginum (images of images) can be said to produce a trompe-l'oeil effect. They ask the reader-viewer to consider why s/he thinks s/he sees a present image when what is actually seen by the eye is a pictured image, a pictured picture, doubly mediated by the process of representation. My essay examines how and why this deceptive effect was marshaled by David as a figure of thought: by articulating the manner and meaning of these three specula in particular, he offers the reader-viewer a therapeutic antidote wherewith to combat the human propensity for idolatry and self-deception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) is a zonally elongated band of near-surface convergence and precipitation near the equator. During boreal spring, the eastern Pacific ITCZ migrates latitudinally on daily to subseasonal time scales, and climate models exhibit the greatest ITCZ biases during this time of the year. In this work, we investigate the air–sea interactions associated with the variability in the eastern Pacific ITCZ's latitudinal location for consecutive days when the ITCZ is only located north of the equator (nITCZ events) compared to when the ITCZ is on both sides of the equator or south of the equator (dsITCZ events) during February–April. The distribution of sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies and surface latent heat flux (SLHF) anomalies during the nITCZ and dsITCZ events follow the classic wind–evaporation–SST (WES) positive feedback mechanism. However, an alternative mechanism, embracing the effect of SST anomalies on vertical stratification and momentum mixing, gives rise to a negative WES feedback. Our results show that in the surface layer, there is a general progression of positive WES feedbacks happening in the weeks leading to the events followed by negative WES feedbacks occurring after the ITCZ events, with an alternate mechanism involving air–sea humidity differences limiting evaporation occurring in between. Additionally, the spatial structures of the components of the feedbacks are nearly mirror images for these opposite ITCZ events over the east Pacific during boreal spring. In closing, we find that understanding the air–sea interactions during daily to weekly varying ITCZ events (nITCZ and dsITCZ) helps to pinpoint how fundamental processes differ for ITCZs in different hemispheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existence of an object, non-superimposable on its mirror image, constitutes the phenomenon of chirality. This phenomenon is often treated as a curiosity without broader practical consequences. This paper aims to show the significant implications of chirality for chemistry and biology. Chirality is inherent to all living organisms and is essential for their function. For instance, biomolecules are composed of chiral building blocks (amino acids, monosaccharides), which are chiral and occur predominantly with one sense of handedness (homochirality of life). The explanation of the evolution of the homochirality of life therefore helps answer one of the important questions connected with the origin of life.. The paper concludes with a section devoted to current Czech stereochemical terminology. An experimental procedure describing the isolation of carvone enantiomers from natural sources is also included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the contemporary discourse of eco‐nationalism and its promotion of national sovereignty and belonging. I consider some of the strategies, symbols and narratives by which nationalist movements and political leaders have evoked environmental problems and particularly the global threat of climate change to justify excluding populations from 'native' lands, erect walls or other physical boundaries around national territories, and limit international traffic of people and goods. This promotion of nation seizes on concerns for continued collective existence, turning away from participation in global networks of culture, capital and cosmopolitanism to act as a bulwark against these networks. As such, it presents a mirror image of global nationalism: whereas the aim is still to take heed of global phenomena, these phenomena now appear as dark clouds on the horizon, from which national citizens must take cover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Christopher Meredith's novel Shifts (1988) is firmly established in the canon of English‐language Welsh literature as one of the most accomplished representatives of (post‐)industrial fiction, a genre this small country has produced in quality and amount 'out of all proportion to its size or population' (Knight, 2004). The aim of this paper is to explore the role of the medieval Mappa Mundi which two characters see in Hereford Cathedral in the context of the novel's circular structure and a rich network of other visual insets. Looking at the map from a variety of perspectives, including Murray Krieger's concept of ekphrasis as the superimposition of spatial relationships on a text by a visual work of art, I propose to read the fictional continuum of the novel as a mirror image of the medieval orbis terrarum on several planes: compositional, visual‐optical and symbolic. This reading is embedded within the broader context of the characteristics of the Welsh industrial novel discussed by Raymond Williams in his essay 'The Welsh industrial novel' (1979). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the value of high‐resolution follow‐up imaging in patients with neuralgic amyotrophy (NA) and the question of the best treatment algorithm remains unclear. Three patients (one female, two male) with the clinical presentation of SARS‐CoV‐2‐vaccination‐associated NA underwent initial magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) imaging and follow‐up examinations. All patients showed a marked clinical improvement, independent of treatment, including an almost full recovery of motor function over the course of 8–12 months which was accurately mirrored by imaging findings on MRN. MRN imaging is a valuable tool for monitoring the further clinical course of patients suffering from vaccination‐associated NA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a long time, scholarly research on Buddhism in Luoyang during the Tang Dynasty has mainly focused on eminent monks and Buddhist temples. This focus is evident in the recorded literature of ancient times, such as The Continued Biographies of Eminent Monks and The Biographies of Eminent Monks. Based on stone inscriptions, this paper examines the dissemination and development of Buddhism in the Eastern Capital of Luoyang during the Tang Dynasty. This article presents the following viewpoints and findings: Firstly, the epitaphs and pagoda inscriptions provide historical details that are not widely known, such as the names of temples in the suburb, the identities of prominent monks who propagated Dharma in Luoyang, the Buddhist scriptures chanted and learned by the Luoyang people, and the people's motivation to adopt Buddhism. Secondly, the epitaphs and pagoda inscriptions supplement important historical materials on Chan Buddhism, confirming the widespread popularity of the Northern Sect of Chan Buddhism in the Luoyang region. Thirdly, the epitaphs and pagoda inscriptions reveal that Luoyang Buddhist practice was popular, characterized by the succession of blood-related monastic companions; that is, many families had two or more relatives who became monks or nuns simultaneously or successively, a phenomenon that has not attracted attention from academic circles. Fourthly, the blood-related monastic companions of Buddhist practice affected the mentoring relationships and organizational management of temples and monasteries, promoting communication and interaction between Buddhism and traditional Chinese culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature offers various methods for measuring sound localization. In this study, we aimed to compare these methods to determine their effectiveness in addressing different research questions by examining the effect sizes obtained from each measure. Data from 150 participants who identified the location of a sound source were analyzed to explore the effects of speaker angle, stimuli, HPD type, and condition (with/without HPD) on sound localization, using six methods for analysis: mean absolute deviation (MAD), root-mean-squared error (RMSE), very large errors (VLE), percentage of errors larger than the average error observed in a group of participants (pMean), percentage of errors larger than half the distance between two consecutive loudspeakers (pHalf), and mirror image reversal errors (MIRE). Results indicated that the MIRE measure was the most sensitive to the effects of speaker angle and HPD type, while the VLE measure was most sensitive to the effect of stimuli type. The condition variable provided the largest effect sizes, with no difference observed between measures. The data suggest that when effect sizes are substantial, all methods are adequate. However, for cases where the effect size is expected to be small, methods that yield larger effect sizes should be considered, considering their alignment with the research question. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this communication, a planar dual port multiple input multiple output antenna of size 1.2λ0 × 0.6λ0 × 0.008λ0 with LHCP/RHCP features is reported for the fifth-generation new radio n77/n78 sub-6 GHz wireless applications band. The single unit of the proposed design consists of a modified L-shape rectangular radiator with Z-shape slot loaded DGS. The defected ground structure is optimized through machine learning algorithms to achieve the maximum ARBW (output) by Right Shifting (RS) and left shifting (LS) the DGS and obtaining input features. The performance metric for ANN with ADAM optimizer was found to be optimal with MSE and R2 of 0.99 and 0.82, respectively. ANNs can leverage gradient information to guide the optimization process. This enables faster convergence towards optimal solutions compared to popular GAs and PSO, which are often gradient-free optimization methods. The MIMO configuration is achieved by creating a mirror image of the single unit about the x-axis. The salient features of the proposed design are (a) Impedance bandwidth (IBW) of 3.0–4.2 GHz covering the n77/n78 band, (b) 3-dB axial ratio bandwidth (ARBW) of the 2.6–3.9 GHz (c) Port-1 is generating RHCP while Port-2 is generating LHCP, results in polarization diversity. Different diversity performance parameters (ECC < 0.005, DG ~ 9.99 dB, and MEG < 3 dB) are in the optimum range confirming the proposed configuration as a suitable design for a MIMO radiator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adam Ferguson (1723–1816) was a representative of the Scottish Enlightenment and a keen observer of modern commercialism. This article considers his account of corruption in his Essay on the History of Civil Society in order to contribute to a fuller understanding of corruption and its sources. According to Ferguson, modern commercial institutions generate a peculiar form of corruption by privileging private fortune over public virtue as a means of distinction between citizens. Ferguson's view sheds light on the contradictions of contemporary democratic capitalism and has, for this reason, some justification to serve as a mirror image of our present-day circumstances. In particular, Ferguson's concept of corruption can serve as a starting point for developing a concept of corruption that overcomes the dichotomy between narrowly individualist and overly broad structural understandings of the phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid organic‐inorganic perovskites (HOIP) due to their excellent optoelectronic properties and flexible structure have attracted enthusiastic interest. In particular, introducing chirality is a method to enhance compound performance. Herein, we report a multifunctional compound: (3APr)PbBr4 (1) (3APr=3‐Pyrrolidinamine) and corresponding enantiomer R and S‐(3APr)PbBr4 (R/S‐2). Compound 1 show reversible solid‐state phase transition, step‐like dielectric anomaly and broadband yellow emission under uv light excitation. Accompany with phase transition, structure dimension transition from 2D to 1D without space group change. Through introduce chirality, the R/S‐2 display mirror image 1D structural relationship, increased quantum yield from 3.43 % (1) to 13.65 % (R/S‐2) and exhibits corresponding CD signals. Then combine to first‐principles analysis, it was found that fluorescence is attributed to the formation of instantaneous defects during excitation, leading to the formation of self‐trapped excitons (STEs). This finding will further promote the development of multifunctional compound and the study of chiral substitution enhance compound properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper approaches the process of 'reflection' as an interpersonal and intra-personal creative act. As commonly used, the word 'reflection' appears to reference two seemingly different processes; the returning of a mirror image and the process of reflective thought. Examining the intersection of these two definitions – from infant development, through attachment theory to post-Kleinian thinking and Lacan – this paper finds that the act of 'reflection' can be conceived of as an act of triangulation, in a mathematical sense, whereby a pre-existing but unknown point is found/made using two known points as the vertices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diverse chiral structures observed in nature find applications across various domains, including engineering, chemistry, and medicine. Particularly notable is the optical activity inherent in chiral structures, which has emerged prominently in the field of optics. This phenomenon has led to a wide range of applications, encompassing optical components, catalysts, sensors, and therapeutic interventions. This review summarizes the imitations and applications of naturally occurring chiral structures. Methods for replicating chiral architectures found in nature have evolved with specific research goals. This review primarily focuses on a top-down approach and provides a summary of recent research advancements. In the latter part of this review, we will engage in discussions regarding the diverse array of applications resulting from imitating chiral structures, from the optical activity in photonic crystals to applications spanning light-emitting devices. Furthermore, we will delve into the applications of biorecognition and therapeutic methodologies, comprehensively examining and deliberating upon the multifaceted utility of chiral structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we consider a version of the Binary Reflected Gray Code (BRGC, or Gray code for short), called the mirror Gray code – in parallel and in comparison to the Gray code. We discuss some sources where the two codes are not distinguished and the reasons why. We present our arguments for treating the two codes as distinct, starting with a definition of the mirror Gray code and showing its main properties. Among the most important of these is the relationship between the two codes – the codewords of the mirror Gray code are “left-right mirror images” of those in the Gray code and vice versa. Other arguments we show are the differences in the algorithms for generating the codewords. We also present another approach that involves representing the codewords by integers (their serial numbers), generating and examining the two codes by using their sequences of serial numbers. For this purpose, we use the bijections that relate the pairs of combinatorial objects: binary vectors in a certain order and the corresponding integer sequences and subsets. In this way, we get different algorithms, sequences, and functions for successor and predecessor, for ranking and unranking at the mirror Gray code. We believe that this article provides at least one more perspective, as well as expands and enriches the knowledge of the Gray code. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a dual port dielectric resonator antenna is modeled using various machine learning algorithms i.e. deep neural network (DNN), Random Forest, and XG boost. The unique properties of proposed article are as follows: (i) two different diversity techniques i.e. pattern (with the help of metallic wall) and polarization (mirror image of the aperture) improves the isolation value between the ports; (ii) machine learning (ML) algorithms are used to optimize and predict the reflection coefficient as well as mutual coupling of proposed antenna. The accuracy of ML algorithms is verified by using HFSS EM simulator as well as experimental validation. Error is less than 1–2% between the value predicted from ML algorithms and HFSS/Experimental results. The proposed design is working well in between 2.4–4.02 GHz with 3-dB axial ratio from 2.84–2.95 GHz. All these features make the radiator employable to sub-6.0 GHz frequency band. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

So far, only a handful of species have successfully passed the mirror test, showing the mirror self-recognition ability. Birds that have been claimed to show this ability are all corvids. In this study, we conducted a series of mirror-related tests, including open mirror exposure, mirror-mediated foraging task and mark test, to investigate this ability in the African grey parrot. Subjects responded to the mirror on three levels. Three subjects consistently showed social behaviours towards the mirror, two of which repeatedly hit the mirror throughout the test, indicating a complete lack of mirror perception and self-recognition. Two subjects showed social behaviours or hit the mirror almost within the first 10 min of the mirror trial, indicating they initially recognized mirror images as conspecifics but changed this misconception over time. There was only one individual, who not only never hit the mirror and exhibited social behaviours towards the mirror, but also could use the mirror to locate hidden food and mark on the body that was invisible without a mirror. However, considering the lack of contingent behaviours and spontaneous mirror-guided self-directed behaviours, it is hard to assert the African grey parrot possesses mirror self-recognition. All in all, we found our subjects responded differently towards the mirror, showing varying levels of understanding of the mirror. Our findings support the gradualist perspective on mirror self-recognition. Different mark methods are also discussed, and we suggest attaching the mark on the mandible in future parrot research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the onset and cessation of rainy season over the Hengduan Mountains (HM) are determined by an objective method. The onset and cessation of climatological rainy season are largely controlled by large-scale circulation systems, such as the Indian summer monsoon (ISM), 200 hPa subtropical jet, and the South Asian high. Both onset and cessation dates exhibit strong interannual variability. For late onset, the lower-level northeasterly anomalies over the north Indian Ocean (IO) delay the advance of moisture transported by ISM, and are excited by the positive SST anomalies over the southwest IO. In accord with late cessation, the equatorial west IO cooling adjusts the zonal overturn circulation and causes the west side wet anomalies, which trigger the north IO cyclonic wind anomalies and the northwest Pacific anticyclonic wind anomalies following Gill response. These two anomalous flows merge, turn southerly, and continuously transport moisture to the HM, prolonging the rainy season. At upper levels, the late onset and cessation related circulation anomalies are almost mirror images and highly resemble the Silk Road pattern. The anomalous upper and lower-level circulation cooperate and favor the dynamical and thermodynamical processes, which contribute to the vertical motion anomalies and finally affect the onset and cessation dates. Especially, the 200 hPa geopotential height anomaly center on the north side of the Arabian Sea (AS) is stronger than the other centers both for late onset and cessation, and coincides well with the nearby Rossby wave source, which are reinforced via the planetary vorticity stretching term due to the upper-level wind anomalies induced by the IO SST anomalies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enantiostyly is a floral polymorphism characterized by style deflection to the right and left, which results in flowers with mirror images. To date, enantiostyly occurs only in species that offer pollen or nectar as floral resource. Here we describe the first case of enantiostyly in an oil‐flower species. Janusia anisandra (A. Juss.) Griseb (Malpighiaceae) shows right and left‐styled flowers in individuals occurring in an area of tropical dry forest in Northeastern Brazil. We described the floral morphology, investigate the reproductive system, and made focal observations of flower visitors behaviour. J. anisandra has morphological traits that are part of the floral conservatism found in the neotropical species of Malpighiaceae, which preserves features that are decisive for the interaction with oil‐collecting bees of the Centridini tribe, performing a highly specialized pollination system. The six stamens (two major and four smaller), located in the center of the flower, characterizes heteranthery, an intrafloral polymorphism, in which the stamens differ in shape, size, and function and is commonly associated with enantiostyly. We identified the two floral morphs in the same individual, characterizing a monomorphic enantiostyly; each of the morphs differs by lateral displacement of the style to the right or to the left, always accompanied by one larger stamen. The species is moderately self‐compatible. Four species of solitary bees of the genus Centris were registered visiting the two morphs of J. anisandra flowers. Centris aenea and C. fuscata were the main pollinators, performing 65% of the visits. This new discovery of a classical monomorphic enantiostyly in J. anisandra opens the way for investigations in the evolution of this system in oil‐secreting flowers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]