Systematic Changes Research Articles

Adapting attentional control settings in a shape-changing environment.

In rich visual environments, humans have to adjust their attentional control settings in various ways, depending on the task. Especially if the environment changes dynamically, it remains unclear how observers adapt to these changes. In two experiments (online and lab-based versions of the same task), we investigated how observers adapt their target choices while searching for color singletons among shape distractor contexts that changed over trials. The two equally colored targets had shapes that differed from each other and matched a varying number of distractors. Participants were free to select either target. The results show that participants adjusted target choices to the shape ratio of distractors: even though the task could be finished by focusing on color only, participants showed a tendency to choose targets matching with fewer distractors in shape. The time course of this adaptation showed that the regularities in the changing environment were taken into account. A Bayesian modeling approach was used to provide a fine-grained picture of how observers adapted their behavior to the changing shape ratio with three parameters: the strength of adaptation, its delay relative to the objective distractor shape ratio, and a general bias toward specific shapes. Overall, our findings highlight that systematic changes in shape, even when it is not a target-defining feature, influence how searchers adjust their attentional control settings. Furthermore, our comparison between lab-based and online assessments with this paradigm suggests that shape is a good choice as a feature dimension in adaptive choice online experiments.

Поведінка фінансових ринків в експериментальному економічному аналізі

Behavioral aspects play an important role, and an experimental analysis of financial markets allows studying the psychological and behavioral factors that are affecting participants. The aim of the article is to analyze the interaction of financial market participants in a controlled experimental environment in order to identify and reveal the peculiarities of their behavior, strategies and mutual influence. The information base of the research is official information and scientific publications. Research was conducted using the following methods: monographic; analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction; system analysis. Systematic changes in consumer demand, production and other spheres of economy determine not only household habits, but also affect decision-making by participants in economic relations. The identified calendar anomalies indicate that economic entities react to time factors and seasonal changes, which is important for management and forecasting strategies. Price bubbles are an expression not only of objective market conditions, but also of psychological and socio-cultural influences on the behavior of market participants. Understanding and predicting price bubbles requires a comprehensive approach that combines economic, psychological and social aspects. This will allow more accurate analysis and management of risks associated with price fluctuations and their possible consequences for economic stability. As part of the experimental economic analysis, it is found that calendar and seasonal effects play a significant role in the formation of economic trends. The study of the phenomenon of price bubbles and adaptive expectations in experimental economic analysis reveals deep structures of market dynamics.

Effect of macular pigment optical density on Yellow‐Blue and Red‐Green colour discrimination

The macular pigment (MP) absorbs preferentially short‐wavelength light and its narrow spectral absorption curve overlaps mostly the spectral responsivity function of S‐cones, although the M‐ and L‐cones are also affected. The MP is restricted to the centre ~14° disc region of the retina with a peak optical density (OD) at the centre in the range 0 to 1 log units. Although the macular pigment optical density (MPOD) decreases rapidly with increasing eccentricity, carotenoid supplementation studies reveal a large uptake of lutein and zeaxanthin, particularly in the parafoveal region and covering the centre ~6° to 8° of the fovea (doi: 10.1111/j.1475‐1313.2006.00386.x).Since the MP contributes to the reduced excitation of S‐cones, it is of interest to examine the effects MP may have on colour vision, particularly when ‘blue‐blocking’ lenses are also involved. We studied the relationship between MPOD and red/green (RG) and yellow/blue (YB) colour thresholds by measuring the spatial distribution of the MP in normal trichromats using the Macular Assessment Profile (MAP) test (doi: 10.1111/j.1475‐1313.2010.00748.x) and the corresponding RG and YB colour thresholds using the CAD test (doi:10.1093/bmb/ldx007).The results show negligible correlation between peak MPOD and YB thresholds and a small, but significant negative correlation with RG thresholds. This observation is of interest since increased MPOD values result in lower RG thresholds. The same experiment was also carried out in subjects with significantly larger amounts of MP following 3 months of supplementation with carotenoids. When averaged over the centre disc region of 2.5° and then over a parafoveal annulus between 2.5° and 4°, the corresponding, mean MP densities show only negligible correlations with RG and YB colour thresholds. To explain these findings, we calculated the expected cone‐contrasts for S‐, M‐ and L‐cones for chromatic displacements defined by the threshold ellipse. The results show that MP absorption of short‐wavelength light has a negligible effect on S‐cone contrast over the whole range of displacement directions associated with the colour threshold ellipse. Repeated calculations with simulated MPOD values up to 1 log unit, produced the same result. More recently, we modelled the effects ‘blue‐blocking’ lenses and pre‐receptor filters in the eye to explore changes to the orientation and the size of the colour threshold ellipse. The model predicts well the measured RG and YB thresholds and confirms the absence of significant threshold changes for MPOD values in the range 0 to 1 log unit. The model does, however, predict systematic changes in the orientation of the major axis (i.e., the tritan axis) and MPOD. These observations are of interest since the orientation of the major axis of the best‐fit ellipse appears to decrease monotonically from ~75° to 55°, as MPOD increases from very small values up to a peak OD of 1 log unit. More work is needed to investigate how YB and RG chromatic sensitivity is affected by combined absorption of short‐wavelength light by MPOD, the lens of the eye and ‘blue‐blocking’ spectacle lenses.

Azathioprine metabolite levels and outcomes during pregnancies with rheumatic disease

ObjectiveDespite widespread use of azathioprine (AZA) during pregnancy, no studies evaluated the impact of pregnancy on AZA metabolites 6-thioguanine nucleotide (6-TGN) and 6-methylmercaptopurine nucleotide (6-MMPN) disposition in rheumatic diseases. This...

Prediction and optimization of individual skill development patterns in physical education based on big data analysis

Abstract This paper proposes a data-based gray preprocessing neural network optimization model based on the principle of the BP neural network model and its optimization method. SPSS statistical software was used for statistical analysis to compare the student physical education test data of S college students from 2019 to 2023. The GA-BP optimization prediction model is applied to generate and process the raw data of 5-year sports tests to find the law of systematic changes and generate the data sequence with strong regularity so as to predict the condition of the future development trend of things. The results show that the measured and actual numbers have a high rate of conformity, and the maximum error is 0.67%, which is high accuracy. The overall speed and strength of boys and girls in sports is on the rise. The overall endurance level of boys is increasing while the overall endurance level of girls is decreasing. In the future, endurance training should be strengthened as a way to improve the continuing trend of low endurance quality among students.

Tuberculosis-induced osteomyelitis of the right distal tibia in a healthy male Saudi infant: a case report

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a challenging disease; however, it is preventable and curable in most cases. In 2022, TB was the second most common single infection leading to death worldwide after coronavirus disease. Almost 10 million people get infected with TB every year. TB manifests clinically in two types: pulmonary and extrapulmonary; the pulmonary type is the most common. Case presentation: A 17-month-old medically free male infant was referred to our institution with right distal leg pain, swelling and skin changes, started 1 month ago. Since then, both pain and swelling worsened and led to limping. The father denied any history of recent trauma, fever, cough, night sweating, infections, contact with sick patients, skin rashes in other body parts, or any other systematic changes. The baby was delivered at full term by cesarian-section due to placenta previa, with a birth weight of 3500 g, Prenatal and postnatal history is unremarkable. The patient was vitally stable and appeared healthy with no dysmorphic features. He was able to bear weight on his feet; however, his gait and walking abilities could not be assessed. Local examination showed swelling, erythema, and tenderness over the right distal tibia with an intact range of motion. The patient was admitted and initial investigations were done for him. After close observation and multiple investigations, a diagnosis of TB-induced right tibial osteomyelitis was made, and first-line management was initiated. Conclusion: This report highlights the importance of orthopedic surgeons in considering TB-induced osteomyelitis in the differential diagnosis of vague musculoskeletal symptoms.

Navigating Nutrition Inequities: BIPOC Maternal Health and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)'s Fruit and Vegetable Voucher.

The proposal to administer cuts for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) could create deficiencies in nutrition for already food insecure, low-income Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) pregnant, postpartum women, and children. WIC is a US Department of Agriculturefunded nutritional program for women, infants, and children. The current proposal is to cut the funding by $800 million for the 2024 fiscal year, affecting 75% of its low-income recipients and predominantly BIPOC. Relevant websites and journal articles were analyzed to determine how the proposed cuts would create barriers within the social determinants of health that contribute to disparities in health outcomes of WIC recipients. Many studies have demonstrated that nutrition in the first 1000 days is critical for the healthy development of newborns. Prior research suggests that maternal health outcomes for BIPOC populations are contingent upon the increased allocation of nutritional support programs such as WIC and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). Nutrients provided by the cash benefit voucher have been proven to contribute to participants' health outcomes, and allotment increases can benefit maternal and infant health outcomes. Neonatal nurses can help advocate for more robust policies that support the health of their patients. Future directions call for systematic changes in policies and legislation that directly affect maternal health outcomes, supportive breastfeeding policies, and applied research on solutions to improve maternal health outcomes of BIPOC populations in addition to increased awareness, education, and implementation of VeggieRx programs, investment in affordable, sustainable grassroots urban agriculture solutions.

Metal- versus ligand-centered reactivity of a cobalt-phenylenediamide complex with electrophiles.

A new series of [CoIII-CF3]n+ complexes supported by a bidentate redox-active ligand is presented. The cationic [Co-CF3]+ complex was first obtained by reacting [CpCo(tBuUreaopda)] (Cp = cyclopentadienyl, opda = o-phenylenediamide) with an electrophilic trifluoromethyl source, for which the redox-active phenylenediamide ligand serves as a 2e- reservoir to generate [CpCp(tBuUreabqdi)(CF3)]+ (bqdi = benzoquinonediimine). Electrochemical studies of [Co-CF3]+ revealed two reversible 1e- reductions. Chemical reduction with 1 or 2 equiv. reducing agent enabled isolation of the neutral and anionic complexes, respectively, where the [CoIII-CF3] bond remains intact in all three oxidation states (n = +1, 0, -1). Structural analysis shows systematic changes to the redox-active ligand backbone upon reduction, consistent with sequential ligand-centered electron transfer in the series [bqdi]0 to [s-bqdi]˙- to [opda]2-. In contrast, the reaction of [CpCo(tBuUreaopda)] with alkyl triflates resulted in ligand-centered alkylation at the ureayl groups instead of the targeted Co-alkyl bond formation, suggesting less favorable bond formation at cobalt and greater nucleophilic accessibility of the ligand compared to the metal center.

Tuberculosis-induced osteomyelitis of the right distal tibia in a healthy male Saudi infant: a case report

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a challenging disease; however, it is preventable and curable in most cases. In 2022, TB was the second most common single infection leading to death worldwide after coronavirus disease. Almost 10 million people get infected with TB every year. TB manifests clinically in two types: pulmonary and extrapulmonary; the pulmonary type is the most common. Case presentation: A 17-month-old medically free male infant was referred to our institution with right distal leg pain, swelling and skin changes, started 1 month ago. Since then, both pain and swelling worsened and led to limping. The father denied any history of recent trauma, fever, cough, night sweating, infections, contact with sick patients, skin rashes in other body parts, or any other systematic changes. The baby was delivered at full term by cesarian-section due to placenta previa, with a birth weight of 3500 g, Prenatal and postnatal history is unremarkable. The patient was vitally stable and appeared healthy with no dysmorphic features. He was able to bear weight on his feet; however, his gait and walking abilities could not be assessed. Local examination showed swelling, erythema, and tenderness over the right distal tibia with an intact range of motion. The patient was admitted and initial investigations were done for him. After close observation and multiple investigations, a diagnosis of TB-induced right tibial osteomyelitis was made, and first-line management was initiated. Conclusion: This report highlights the importance of orthopedic surgeons in considering TB-induced osteomyelitis in the differential diagnosis of vague musculoskeletal symptoms.

Characterization of serpentinization in olivine‐orthopyroxene‐H2O system revealed by thermogravimetric and multivariate statistical analyses

AbstractThermogravimetric (TG) analyses were used to characterize the products and quantify the extent of serpentinization as a stepwise weight loss during heating (TG loss) or its derivative (DTG). Multivariate analyses are powerful tools for extracting information from complicated spectrum data; however, no studies have applied them to characterize serpentinites. In this study, hydrothermal experiments of olivine‐H2O, olivine–orthopyroxene‐H2O and orthopyroxene‐H2O were conducted at 250–400°C and under vapor‐saturated pressure. The product minerals observed were serpentine+brucite+magnetite in the olivine‐H2O experiments and serpentine±talc in the orthoyroxene‐H2O and olivine‐orthopyroxene‐H2O experiments. These results are consistent with those of previous studies; however, the positions and width of DTG peaks for individual minerals were varied depending on the experimental conditions. To extract systematics from the TG spectra, non‐negative matrix factorization (NMF), an unsupervised machine learning technique, was applied to the DTG spectra of the experimental products. NMF revealed that the DTG profiles were explained by a linear combination of six basis spectra, which corresponded to the characteristic products, including three types of serpentine minerals (low‐, medium‐, and high‐T), two types of brucite (low‐and high‐T), two type of talc (talc+serpentine mixture, well‐crystallized talc) with different crystallinity, and noise during the TG measurement. Systematic changes in the factor loading revealed that, in the olivine‐H2O systems, the products changed from medium‐T serpentine+low‐T brucite to high‐T serpentine+high‐T brucite as serpentinization progressed. In the olivine‐orthopyroxene system, low‐T serpentine or poorly crystallized talc+serpentine mixture was initially formed, followed by the formation of well‐crystallized talc, resulting in dehydration. Applying NMF to DTG showed the mineralogical differences between olivine and orthopyroxene systems and increases of the crystallinity during the progress of serpentinization, suggesting its potential for characterizing various serpentinites within oceanic lithospheres that suffer from several stages of alteration and weathering at different temperatures.

From covalent transition states in chemistry to noncovalent in biology: from β- to Φ-value analysis of protein folding.

Solving the mechanism of a chemical reaction requires determining the structures of all the ground states on the pathway and the elusive transition states linking them. 2024 is the centenary of Brønsted's landmark paper that introduced the β-value and structure-activity studies as the only experimental means to infer the structures of transition states. It involves making systematic small changes in the covalent structure of the reactants and analysing changes in activation and equilibrium-free energies. Protein engineering was introduced for an analogous procedure, Φ-value analysis, to analyse the noncovalent interactions in proteins central to biological chemistry. The methodology was developed first by analysing noncovalent interactions in transition states in enzyme catalysis. The mature procedure was then applied to study transition states in the pathway of protein folding - 'part (b) of the protein folding problem'. This review describes the development of Φ-value analysis of transition states and compares and contrasts the interpretation of β- and Φ-values and their limitations. Φ-analysis afforded the first description of transition states in protein folding at the level of individual residues. It revealed the nucleation-condensation folding mechanism of protein domains with the transition state as an expanded, distorted native structure, containing little fully formed secondary structure but many weak tertiary interactions. A spectrum of transition states with various degrees of structural polarisation was then uncovered that spanned from nucleation-condensation to the framework mechanism of fully formed secondary structure. Φ-analysis revealed how movement of the expanded transition state on an energy landscape accommodates the transition from framework to nucleation-condensation mechanisms with a malleability of structure as a unifying feature of folding mechanisms. Such movement follows the rubric of analysis of classical covalent chemical mechanisms that began with Brønsted. Φ-values are used to benchmark computer simulation, and Φ and simulation combine to describe folding pathways at atomic resolution.

A kinetic study of mechanically activated atom exchange: the effect of milling frequency and ball mass.

This study investigates the mechanochemical reaction of hydrogen isotope exchange between solid benzoic acid and liquid heavy water. The systematic change of milling conditions revealed that the reaction rate scales with the milling frequency and the mass of the milling balls. The ball size being always the same, faster reactions stem from the use of higher milling frequencies and heavier balls. The kinetic curves are described by a kinetic model that accounts for the statistical, deformational and chemical factors involved in mechanochemical transformations. The results indicate that the reaction is driven by the generation of a new interface area caused by the deformation of the solid reactants.

Unraveling the effects of phason strain on the thermoelectric properties in Ag-In-Yb icosahedral quasicrystals

This study represents the experimental comparative analysis of the thermoelectric properties in an Ag-In-Yb phason-free icosahedral quasicrystal (iQC) and four phason-strained iQCs. The aim is to understand how phason strain affects these properties. The four phason-strained iQCs are 1/1 and 2/1 approximant crystals (1/1 AC and 2/1 AC), a sample grown by the Bridgman method with a high growth rate (phason QC-1), and a sample obtained by phonon–phason coupling (phason QC-2), the magnitude of phason strain decreasing in this order. Their compositions are similar to that of iQC, and in particular, the compositions of phason QC-1 and 2 are exactly the same as that of iQC, making them suitable for clarifying the correlation between physical properties and the magnitude of phason strain. Systematic changes were observed in the electrical resistivity, Seebeck coefficient, and electronic specific heat coefficient with increasing phason-strain magnitude, which can be interpreted as due to the effect of the phason-strain blunting the pseudogap at the Fermi level in the electronic density of states. In contrast, no appreciable dependence of phonon thermal conductivity on the phason-strain magnitude was observed; very low value and a plateau feature observed consistently for all the samples do not arise directly from the quasiperiodicity or high rotational symmetry but from complex structures with a large unit cell.

SEGMENTAL UNITS AS AN INDICATOR OF EMOTIONAL PERCEPTION OF THE SOUNDING SPEECH

Problem Statement. Our research refers to the theory of emotionality and focuses on expressive means of sounding speech. When considering expressive means of sounding speech, we refer to the segmental level, namely to the distinctive features of vowel phonemes. We suggest that the complexes of semantic features of vowel phonemes and the frequency of their realization is one of the indicators of emotional perception and its correlation with a particular emotion. Besides it affects the perception of sounding speech in a particular emotional way, regardless of its semantics. The author has described and developed the mechanism of psycholinguistic experiment on revealing the perception of emotionally colored speech in connection with the functioning of the units of the language system in their differential attributes in the perception of sounding speech. Results.The results of the research showed that the distinctive features of vowel phonemes may be one of the indicators of correlation of emotional perception with a particular emotion. Moreover, when emotionality increases, one should expect regular and systematic changes of means for its expression. Furthermore, the polar basic emotions of both German and Russian speakers may coincide in the perception of the same material, which can be explained by the presence of universal and culture-bound specifics of emotional perception of the distinctive characteristics of vowels. Conclusion. Due to the results of the research, we may conclude that a systematic approach to the study of the phenomena of speech is possible because of the fact that the relationship between the functioning of the distinctive characteristics of vowel phonemes and the emotional coloring of the sounding text has a systemic nature.

Empowering patients with persistent pain: The potential of cognitive functional therapy in interdisciplinary care: A single-case experimental design

Introduction and purposePersistent musculoskeletal pain (PMP) is multifactorial and causes both societal and financial burdens. Integration of multifactorial management in patients with PMP remains challenging. A single-case experimental design was performed on three patients suffering from high impact PMP (lumbar spine, shoulder and knee) to i) assess the potential for Cognitive Functional Therapy (CFT) in interdisciplinary care, ii) describe in detail the clinical journey patients experienced during the intervention, and iii) evaluate the changes and associations in relation to the outcome measures of pain, disability, maladaptive movement behavior, subjective overall improvement, health related quality of life and work status. These were monitored over one year, at the end of each of the six intervention modules. ResultsAfter introducing the intervention systematic changes were seen, with medium to large changes (Non-overlap of All Pairs 0.67–1) for all outcome measures. Associations between changes of the outcome measures were large (r ≥ 0.50) and changes occurred concurrently. Minimally clinically important difference thresholds were exceeded for all outcome measures and two patients achieved relevant improvements related to work reintegration. DiscussionThe positive results of this study are comparable with recent CFT studies. However, the difference regarding the number of sessions and duration of the intervention is evident. The length of the intervention in this study seemed to enable continuous significant improvements up until 12 months post onset and follow-up. ConclusionCFT in interdisciplinary care was effective for all measures. The detailed descriptions of the clinical processes aim to improve clinical care.

Implementation and Evaluation of a Comprehensive Resident Wellness Curriculum During the COVID-19 Pandemic

To evaluate the effectiveness of resident-led and faculty-led initiatives for physician wellness after implementation of a resident wellness program. We initiated a wellness curriculum with both resident and faculty-led components in a large academic OB/GYN residency program in October 2020. The curriculum was created and evaluated using the Logic model. Residents were surveyed pre and 8 months postintervention with the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the Physician Well-Being Index (PWBI), with activity-related questions added to the second survey. Descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney test, Chi-square test, and theme analysis were performed as appropriate. A large academic OB/GYN residency at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas PARTICIPANTS: All residents (n = 48) were invited to take part in the surveys. Response rate was 31/48 (65%) pre and 28/48 (58%) postintervention. Residents scored moderate for emotional exhaustion and depersonalization and high for personal accomplishment on both pre and post-MBI surveys. All indices of the PWBI improved over time; however, no significant differences were found in pre and postmeasures. Resident-led activities, which were alternated between individualized time off and group resident socialization, were rated significantly higher than faculty-led activities; 93% (52/56) of respondents rated resident-led activities in their top 2 most helpful initiatives compared to 7% (4/56) who rated faculty-led activities in their top 2 most helpful (p < 0.01) initiatives. Open-ended comments revealed that continued focus on wellness, attention to personal health, and systematic change were the most important ways to improve resident wellness. Decreases in burnout were not achieved over an 8-month period with program-level resident-led and faculty-led initiatives. Providing scheduled time for residents to use at their discretion and the continuation of events that encourage socialization are tools that are highest rated by residents to facilitate wellness.

Significance of electrolyte additive molecule structure in stabilizing interphase in LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2/artificial graphite pouch cells at high temperature

Electrolyte additives are pivotal for stable cycling of rechargeable lithium ion batteries (LIBs), which dictate the creation of the protective interphases on electrodes. Many additives have been proposed but less knowledge is available on the relationship between their molecular structure and interphase stability. This research compares three electrolyte additives with systematic changes in their cyclic ethylene sulfate structures, i.e. 1,3,2−dioxathiolane−2,2−dioxide (DTD), 4−methyl−1,3,2−dioxathiolane−2,2− dioxide (MDTD) and 4−propyl−[1,3,2] dioxathiolane−2,2−dioxide (PDTD) to investigate their effects on the performance of LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2/artificial graphite lithium ion pouch cells at high temperature. Comprehensive characterizations reveal that all these additives exhibit similar oxidative and reductive activity, but they lead to diverse long−term cycling performance at 55 °C. The sulfate species derived from the propyl functionalized PDTD form the most effective cathode and anode interphases in preventing electrolyte decomposition and improving cycling capabilities, with capacity retention of 85 % after 900 cycles at 55 °C. Meanwhile, a super stable (3000 cycles), high−capacity (1668 mAh) pouch cell is constructed at 25 °C. This work paves a road to design electrolyte additive more efficiently for high−energy−density LIBs at elevated temperature.

Domination of Managerial and Technical Frames—How the Circular Economy Is Reported in Finnish Business

AbstractOur research combines two research fields—the circular economy (CE) and sustainability reporting. Previous CE literature has focused on economic and environmental aspects, while the focus on social aspects has been rare. In the field of sustainability reporting, research on CE reporting is lacking. We address this gap. Our data consist of 32 sustainability reports from large Finnish companies. We applied frame analysis to the reports and found that CE reporting varies from none to moderate. Furthermore, we identified three different frames of CE reporting: CE management, technical CE and social CE. The management and technical frames dominate our data. This study contributes to the prior literature on CE reporting by showing how CE is positively framed in sustainability reports but lacks indications of the systematic change that is considered the core of CE in its previous conceptualisations. To achieve strong sustainability, companies urgently need to change the ways in which they operate.

Heterogeneity in habitat and microclimate delay butterfly community tracking of climate change over an elevation gradient

Gradients in community diversity and composition rarely track rates of warming, prompting efforts to understand the factors causing non-equilibrium responses to climatic change and their implications for conservation. Here, we test the roles of fine-resolution habitat heterogeneity and microclimate in delaying butterfly community responses to warming over a mountain elevation gradient. We assess species diversity and Community Temperature Index (CTI) in 2004–2005 and 2017 across 120 transect sites in the Sierra de Guadarrama (Spain), modelling temperatures based on topography, and vegetation structure based on LiDAR. A humped elevation gradient in species diversity was maintained over time. However, diversity in the later period was more positively related to vegetation heterogeneity, and sites with reduced rates of warming and greater forest cover maintained or increased their diversity. Site CTI declines with increasing elevation, showing little evidence of systematic change over the gradient between periods, although CTI increased most in locations with the greatest rates of spring microclimatic warming. Our results show that delays in community tracking of climatic conditions could result partly from positive effects of habitat and topographic heterogeneity providing microclimatic buffering against warming to existing communities; although barriers to colonization could also delay diversity increases and community thermophilization at high elevations. We suggest that protecting and managing complex habitats with high community diversity, and identifying localized microclimates that buffer populations against negative effects of warming, are more immediate conservation priorities over elevation gradients than efforts to ensure that communities track prevailing rates of warming.

Definiteness marking in American Norwegian: a unique pattern among the Scandinavian languages

This paper examines definiteness marking in American Norwegian (AmNo), a heritage variety of Norwegian spoken in the US. The description adds another language to the much-studied variation within Scandinavian nominal phrases. It builds on established syntactic analysis of Scandinavian and investigates aspects that are (un)like Norwegian spoken in the homeland. A central finding is that the core syntax of Norwegian noun phrases is retained in AmNo, while the morphophonological spell-out is sometimes different. Indefinite determiners, for example, are obligatory in AmNo, but some speakers produce them with non-homeland-like gender agreement. One systematic change is observed: double definiteness has been partially lost. The typical AmNo modified definite phrase lacks the prenominal determiner that is obligatory for varieties in Norway. I argue that this is a syntactic change which allows the realization of D to be optional. This is a pattern not found in the other Scandinavian languages. At the same time, this innovative structure in AmNo is not like English, the dominant language of the AmNo speakers. This demonstrates heritage language change that is distinct from both the homeland language and the dominant language.