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Challenging infrarenal aortic neck characteristics have been associated with an increased risk of type Ia endoleak after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Short apposition (< 10 mm circumferential shortest apposition length [SAL]) on the first post-operative computed tomography angiography (CTA) has been associated with type Ia endoleak. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a model to predict post-operative SAL in patients with an abdominal aortic aneurysm based on the pre-operative shape. A statistical shape model was developed to obtain principal component scores. The dataset comprised patients treated by standard EVAR without complications (n = 93) enriched with patients with a late type Ia endoleak (n = 54). The infrarenal SAL was obtained from the first post-operative CTA and subsequently binarised (< 10 mm and ≥ 10 mm). The principal component scores that were statistically different between the SAL groups were used as input for five classification models, and evaluated by means of leave one out cross validation. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC), accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were determined for each classification model. Of the 147 patients, 24 patients had an infrarenal SAL < 10 mm and 123 patients had a SAL ≥ 10 mm. The gradient boosting model resulted in the highest AUC of 0.77. Using this model, 114 patients (77.6%) were correctly classified; sensitivity (< 10 mm apposition was correctly predicted) and specificity (≥ 10 mm apposition was correctly predicted) were 0.70 and 0.79 based on a threshold of 0.21, respectively. A model was developed to predict which patients undergoing EVAR will achieve sufficient graft apposition (≥ 10 mm) in the infrarenal aortic neck based on a statistical shape model of pre-operative CTA data. This model can help vascular specialists during the planning phase to accurately identify patients who are unlikely to achieve sufficient apposition after standard EVAR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Embryo implantation is a highly complex process that requires the precise regulation of numerous molecules to be orchestrated successfully. Micro RNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression and play a crucial role in the regulation of embryo implantation. This article aims to summarize the key findings of the literature regarding the role of miRNAs in human embryo implantation, emphasizing their involvement in critical stages such as decidualization, endometrial receptivity and trophoblast adhesion. Methods: This review includes primary research articles from the past decade. The studies utilize a range of experimental methodologies, including gene expression analysis and in vitro studies. Results: MicroRNAs, like miR-320a, miR-149, and miR30d secreted by preimplantation embryos and blastocysts significantly influence endometrial receptivity by promoting essential cellular processes, such as cell migration and trophoblast cell attachment, while others—miR17-5p, miR-193-3p, miR-372, and miR-542-3p—secreted from the endometrium regulate the decidualization phase. During the apposition and adhesion phases, miRNAs play a complex role by promoting, for example, miR-23b-3p, and inhibiting—as do miR-29c and miR-519d-3p—important biological pathways of these stages. During invasion, miR-26a-5p and miR-125-5p modulate important genes. Conclusions: This review underscores the critical impact of miRNAs in the regulation of embryo implantation and early pregnancy. The ability of miRNAs to modulate gene expression at various stages of reproduction presents promising therapeutic avenues for improving assisted reproductive technologies outcomes and addressing infertility. Further research into miRNA-based diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies is essential to enhance our understanding of their role in reproductive health and to exploit their potential for clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of syntactic connection is fundamental for presenting the syntactic structure of any language. Linguists have described in detail the dichotomy of coordination and subordination, both from the point of view of the semantic relationships between the components of syntactic units and of the use of linguistic means to connect these components. Nevertheless, some syntactic structures have not yet received a comprehensive grammatical description. The article is devoted to the analysis of constructions with nouns being in appositive relations, as their combinations are interpreted inconsistently in modern scientific and educational literature. It has been established that the units in appositive constructions are connected on the basis of logical subordination, which appears in two variants: if the equal case ending agreement for both nouns is required in the entire paradigm, the linkage is characterized as agreement (without distributing it into complete and incomplete), if the case ending in entire paradigm is absent, it is viewed as a case (nominal) adjunction. The dependent component in parallel-case combinations of common nouns is considered to be the one that represents another name or an additional, including evaluative, attribute to the same referent that is named by the word being defined. In appositive combinations of a proper name and a common noun, the dependent component is noted to be the one expressed by a proper name of any type. The syntactic function of the dependent components in appositive phrases is suggested to be characterized without employing the concept of apposition, thus treating them as coordinated or uncoordinated attributes.

Background/Objectives: Embryo implantation is a highly complex process that requires the precise regulation of numerous molecules to be orchestrated successfully. Micro RNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression and play a crucial role in the regulation of embryo implantation. This article aims to summarize the key findings of the literature regarding the role of miRNAs in human embryo implantation, emphasizing their involvement in critical stages such as decidualization, endometrial receptivity and trophoblast adhesion. Methods: This review includes primary research articles from the past decade. The studies utilize a range of experimental methodologies, including gene expression analysis and in vitro studies. Results: MicroRNAs, like miR-320a, miR-149, and miR30d secreted by preimplantation embryos and blastocysts significantly influence endometrial receptivity by promoting essential cellular processes, such as cell migration and trophoblast cell attachment, while others—miR17-5p, miR-193-3p, miR-372, and miR-542-3p—secreted from the endometrium regulate the decidualization phase. During the apposition and adhesion phases, miRNAs play a complex role by promoting, for example, miR-23b-3p, and inhibiting—as do miR-29c and miR-519d-3p—important biological pathways of these stages. During invasion, miR-26a-5p and miR-125-5p modulate important genes. Conclusions: This review underscores the critical impact of miRNAs in the regulation of embryo implantation and early pregnancy. The ability of miRNAs to modulate gene expression at various stages of reproduction presents promising therapeutic avenues for improving assisted reproductive technologies outcomes and addressing infertility. Further research into miRNA-based diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies is essential to enhance our understanding of their role in reproductive health and to exploit their potential for clinical applications.

Simple Summary: Whirligig beetles inhabit both fresh and brackish waters and possess a pair of split compound eyes. The dorsal eyes are situated above the water surface, whereas the ventral eyes are submerged beneath the water. Due to the difference in optical environments between water and air, we expected a difference in visual features and signal processing between the dorsal and ventral eyes. Using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and microcomputed tomography, we investigated the functional modifications of different features of the split compound eyes of Dineutus mellyi (Coleoptera: Gyrinidae). Both dorsal and ventral parts of the split compound eyes of D. mellyi are the superposition type, with the ommatidium of dorsal and ventral eyes comprised of a laminated corneal lens, bullet-shaped crystalline cone, upper distal rhabdom, a clear zone and lower distal rhabdom, a basal rhabdom, and an eight retinular cell just above the basement membrane. In contrast to the dorsal eyes, ventral eyes are characterized by a higher field of vision but exhibit similar spatial resolution. The functional anatomy of the split compound eyes of whirligig beetles Dineutus mellyi (Coleoptera: Gyrinidae) was examined by advanced microscopy and microcomputed tomography. We report the first 3D visualization and analysis of the split compound eyes. On average, the dorsal and ventral eyes contain 1913 ± 44.5 facets and 3099 ± 86.2 facets, respectively. The larger area of ventral eyes ensures a higher field of vision underwater. The ommatidium of the split compound eyes is made up of laminated cornea lenses that offer protection against mechanical injuries, bullet-shaped crystalline cones that guide light to the photoreceptive regions, and screening pigments that ensure directional light passage. The photoreceptive elements, made up of eight retinular cells, exhibit a tri-tiered rhabdom structure, including the upper distal rhabdom, a clear zone that ensures maximum light passage, and an enlarged lower distal rhabdom that ensures optimal photon capture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the so-called 'expletive' mismo 'same', a non-comparative emphatic use of the prenominal adjective in appositions, which is currently attested in many varieties of American Spanish (e.g., Finalmente, Laura se sentó y aceptó el cigarrillo, mismo que nunca encendió 'lit. Laura finally sat down and accepted the cigarette, same that she never lighted up'). On the basis of corpus data, the geographical distribution of this form is precisely specified, and a novel analysis of its interpretive and combinatorial properties is provided. It is argued, in particular, that expletive mismo functions as an anaphoric reinforcer that is preceded by a null definite determiner and combines with an empty noun that takes a restrictive relative clause as its complement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Eucryptorrhynchus scrobiculatus and its related species Eucryptorrhynchus brandti together damage Ailanthus altissima and Ailanthus altissima 'Qiantou'. E. scrobiculatus possesses a large compound eye area and a higher number of ommatidia than E. brandti. Each ommatidium of E. scrobiculatus and E. brandti consists of a cornea, a crystalline cone, eight retinal cells, and its semi-fused rhabdom. The internal structure, including the cornea and rhabdom, of E. scrobiculatus is larger than that of E. brandti. Light/dark adaptational changes affect cone length, the position of pigment grains, and the cross-sectional area of the rhabdoms. Eucryptorrhynchus scrobiculatus and E. brandti are the main borers of Ailanthus altissima, causing serious economic and ecological losses. The external morphology and internal ultrastructure of the compound eyes of two related weevils were investigated with light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. E. scrobiculatus and E. brandti possess a pair of reniform apposition compound eyes and contain about 550 ommatidia per eye. The interommatidial angle of E. scrobiculatus and E. brandti are 7.08 ± 0.31° and 4.84 ± 0.49°, respectively. The corneal thickness, rhabdom length, and ommatidium length of E. scrobiculatus are significantly greater than those of E. brandti. Under light-adapted conditions, the pigment granules are mainly distributed at the junction of the cone and the rhabdom, and the diameter and the cross-sectional area of the middle end of the rhabdom is increased in the two weevil species. Under dark-adapted conditions, the pigment granules shift longitudinally and are evenly distributed on both sides of the cone and the rhabdom, and the diameter and cross-sectional area of the middle end of the rhabdom are decreased. The discrepancy in visual structure is beneficial for adaptation to niche differentiation of the two related species. The present results suggest that the two weevils possess different visual organ structures to perceive visual information in the external environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Introduction and objectives: Delayed vascular healing may induce late stent thrombosis. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is useful to evaluate endothelial coverage. The objective of this study was to compare stent coverage and apposition in non-complex coronary artery lesions treated with durable polymer-coated everolimus-eluting stents (durable-polymer EES) vs biodegradable polymer-coated everolimus-eluting stents (biodegradable-polymer EES) vs polymer-free biolimus-eluting stents (BES) 1 and 6 months after stent implantation. Methods: Prospective, multicenter, non-randomized study that compared the 3 types of DES. Follow-up angiography and OCT were performed 1 and 6 months later. The primary endpoint was the rate of uncovered struts as assessed by the OCT at 1 month. Results: A total of 104 patients with de novo non-complex coronary artery lesions were enrolled. A total of 44 patients were treated with polymer-free BES, 35 with biodegradable-polymer EES, and 25 with durable-polymer EES. A high rate of uncovered struts was found at 1 month with no significant differences reported among the stents (80.2%, polymer-free BES; 88.1%, biodegradable-polymer EES; 82.5%, durable-polymer EES; P = .209). Coverage improved after 6 months in the 3 groups without significant differences being reported (97%, 95%, and 93.7%, respectively; P = .172). Conclusions: In patients with de novo non-complex coronary artery lesions treated with durable vs biodegradable vs polymer-free DES, strut coverage and apposition were suboptimal at 1 month with significant improvement at 6 months.

This paper investigates the underlying structure of exceptive constructions with the Arabic exceptive marker 'illā and reveals the existence of two types of constructions: r(estrictive)-exceptives and s(ubtractive)-exceptives. The underlying factor that distinguishes these two constructions relates to the existence of a subtraction domain in s-exceptive constructions and its absence in r-exceptives. This distinction suggests that the exceptive marker 'illā 'except' has a different syntactic function in these two constructions. Furthermore, this difference in the functional status of ' illā suggests a different internal and external structure of the 'illā-XP in each of these constructions. I argue that while the 'illā-XP in r-exceptive constructions projects a R-ExP, involving a covert antecedent in the form of the NPIs 'ahad 'one' or shay' 'thing' and is a nominal adjunct, in s-exceptive constructions the 'illā-XP forms an S-ExP and can be classified into connected and free exceptives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nominal expressions in the Bantu languages have extraordinary typological characteristics. Their word order patterns are extremely diverse and some of the attested patterns are crosslinguistically very rare, or even unique. The same diversity can be found in the number of agreement marker paradigms. Equally remarkable are the prosodic idiosyncrasies found at the level of nominal expressions, especially the existence of prosodic boundaries associated with certain types of adnominal modifiers. Although logically unrelated, I argue that these typological characteristics can be accounted for by a single diachronic scenario here called the AMAR mechanism: a double tendency in the Bantu languages for the emergence of construals in which a nominalized modifier is in apposition to the phrase that contains its semantic head and for such appositional construals to be gradually reintegrated into a single nominal constituent. This paper aims to summarize some of the more remarkable typological characteristics of nominal expressions in the Bantu languages and to lay out the AMAR mechanism as a hypothetical diachronic explanation for many of them.

This French and German contrastive study is about constructions made of a noun phrase (sometimes limited to a single noun) and a name, such as Le capitaine Haddock / Kapitän Haddock ; l’oncle Charles /Onkel Karl ; Le poète Gottfried Benn /der Dichter Gottfried Benn. The use of the definite article in French and German is not identical and comparing such structures enables to better understand the ways various types of nouns work, especially nouns relating to function, status or profession. The study is not just about noun phrases devoid of determiners, but rather about the presence or absence of the definite article in N1N2 constructs. We shall compare those structures, usually viewed as ‘connected appositions’, with detached appositions and constructions using the same semantic types of nouns where the noun phrase using a noun instead of a name can be constructed without a determiner, use of a comma depending on co-textual and contextual elements that we shall explain. The comparison between those different types of appositions shows how close they are and enables to study the difference between designation and denomination of N1.

Objective: The Gore Excluder Conformable Endoprosthesis (CEXC) is designed to treat challenging infrarenal anatomy because of its active angulation control, repositionability, and enhanced conformability. This study evaluated 30 day and one year position and apposition of the CEXC in the infrarenal neck., Methods: Patients treated with the CEXC between 2018 and 2022 with an available 30 day computed tomography angiogram (CTA) were selected from four hospitals in a prospective registry. Endograft apposition (shortest apposition length [SAL]) and position (shortest fabric distance [SFD]) were assessed on the 30 day and one year CTAs. Maximum infrarenal aortic curvature was compared between the pre- and post-operative CTAs to evaluate conformability of the CEXC., Results: There were 87 patients with a 30 day CTA, and for 56 of these patients the one year CTA was available. Median (interquartile range [IQR]) pre-operative neck length was 22 mm (IQR 15, 32) and infrarenal angulation was 52° (IQR 31, 72). Median SAL was 21.2 mm (IQR 14.0, 29.3) at 30 days for all included patients. The SAL in 13 patients (15%) was < 10 mm at 30 days, and one patient had a SAL of 0 mm and a type Ia endoleak. There was no significant difference in SAL between patients within and outside instructions for use. The SAL significantly increased by 1.1 mm (IQR -2.3, 4.7; p = .042) at one year. The SAL decreased in seven patients (13%), increased in 13 patients (23%), and remained stable in 36 patients (64%). Median SFD was 2.0 mm (IQR 0.5, 3.6) at 30 days, which slightly increased by 0.3 mm (IQR -0.5, 1.8; p = .019) at one year. One patient showed migration (SFD increase ≥ 5 mm). Median endograft tilt was 15.8° (IQR 9.7, 21.4). Pre-operative maximum infrarenal curvature was 36 m -1 (IQR 26, 56) and did not significantly change thereafter., Conclusion: In most patients, the CEXC was implanted close to the renal arteries, and sufficient (≥ 10 mm) post-operative apposition was achieved at 30 days, which slightly increased at one year. Post-operative endograft tilt was relatively low, and aortic geometry remained unchanged after implantation of the CEXC, probably due to its high conformability., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The article discusses several solutions that aim to reveal the direction of the dependence between the components of the appositional construction. An emphasis is placed on the analysis of the most amorphous and debatable structural type: common noun + proper noun. One of these solutions concerns the choice of a basic research approach and its consistent and logically sound application, which would aid the correct “distribution” of the syntactic functions of the components in constructions of this structural type. The article draws special attention to the autonymic use of proper nouns. It is based on the premise that the two components of this type of appositional construction can have a common reference, which is a function of their different referential features and that these components contribute – to a varying degree – to the realization of these features.

This paper deals with the so-called ‘expletive’ mismo ‘same’, a non-comparative emphatic use of the prenominal adjective in appositions, which is currently attested in many varieties of American Spanish (e.g., Finalmente, Laura se sentó y aceptó el cigarrillo, mismo que nunca encendió ‘lit. Laura finally sat down and accepted the cigarette, same that she never lighted up’). On the basis of corpus data, the geographical distribution of this form is precisely specified, and a novel analysis of its interpretive and combinatorial properties is provided. It is argued, in particular, that expletive mismo functions as an anaphoric reinforcer that is preceded by a null definite determiner and combines with an empty noun that takes a restrictive relative clause as its complement.

Background: The risk of perioperative stroke and the rate of occlusion of long-term aneurysms in the treatment of unruptured aneurysms with flow diverters (FDs) are affected by stent apposition. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) may be an optional technique in evaluating apposition. Purpose: To explore the feasibility of the OCT imaging technique in evaluating stent apposition in the clinical application of the FD for unruptured aneurysms. Methods: OCT and Vaso CT were used in patients with indications for surgery to treat unruptured aneurysms with the FDs, to evaluate the apposition of the FDs after fully released, and to analyze OCT images for FDs apposition and compare with corresponding Vaso CT images. Results: A total of four patients were enrolled, and OCT found malapposition after FDs placement in all four patients, and the maximum gap between the stent and vascular wall ranged from 0.68 to 1.95mm and the length of malapposition ranged from 1.80 to 7.40mm. However, Vaso CT found malapposition only in two of the four patients and missed malapposition near aneurysm in all three patients treated by the FD combined with coiling and could not accurately evaluate the maximum gap and the length of the malapposition. Conclusion: The optical coherence tomography technique is a possible approach to evaluate apposition after the treatment of unruptured aneurysms by the FDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current paper argues that there are three types of nominal appositions, i.e. two juxtaposed noun phrases (NPs), in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). Each type shows special properties in terms of the nominal category of the two units, the deletion of the NP, word order, case agreement, and semantic relation. For each type, we propose a separate structural analysis. An adjunction analysis is motivated for Type I appositions which consist of a common noun followed by a proper name. For Type II appositions which involve two common nouns, we propose that they take a spec-head structure. A head-complement structure is finally proposed for Type III appositions which involve a pronoun followed by an accusative-marked NP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we develop a theory of the form and interpretation of nonrestrictive nominal appositives (NAPs) by combining two recent syntactic and pragmatic approaches. Following Ott (2016), we assume that NAPs are independent elliptical speech acts, which are linearly interpolated into their host sentences in production. Building on insights in Onea 2016, we argue that NAPs make their pragmatic contribution as short answers to discourse-structuring potential questions. We show how these two assumptions combine to yield a comprehensive theory of NAPs that captures their central syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic properties and furthermore sheds light on the mechanisms that govern their linear interpolation.* [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computational models of experimental data can provide a noninvasive method to estimate spinal facet joint biomechanics. Existing models typically consider each vertebra as one rigid-body and assume uniform facet cartilage thickness. However, facet deflection occurs during motion, and cervical facet cartilage is nonuniform. Multi rigid-body computational models were used to investigate the effect of specimen-specific cartilage profiles on facet contact area estimates. Twelve C6/C7 segments underwent non-destructive intervertebral motions. Kinematics and facet deflections were measured. Three-dimensional models of the vertebra and cartilage thickness estimates were obtained from pre-test CT data. Motion-capture data was applied to two model types (2RB: C6, C7 vertebrae each one rigid body; 3RB: left and right C6 posterior elements, and C7 vertebrae, each one rigid body) and maximum facet mesh penetration was compared. Constant thickness cartilage (CTC) and spatially-varying thickness cartilage (SVTC) profiles were applied to the facet surfaces of the 3RB model. Cartilage apposition area (CAA) was compared. Linear mixed-effects models were used for all quantitative comparisons. The 3RB model significantly reduced penetrating mesh elements by accounting for facet deflections (p = 0.001). The CTC profile resulted in incongruent facet articulation, whereas realistic congruence was observed for the SVTC profile. The SVTC profile demonstrated significantly larger CAA than the CTC model (p < 0.001). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While electron microscopy represents the gold standard for detection of synapses, a number of limitations prevent its broad applicability. A key method for detecting synapses is immunostaining for markers of pre- and post-synaptic proteins, which can infer a synapse based upon the apposition of the two markers. While immunostaining and imaging techniques have improved to allow for identification of synapses in tissue, analysis and identification of these appositions are not facile, and there has been a lack of tools to accurately identify these appositions. Here, we delineate a macro that uses open-source and freely available ImageJ or FIJI for analysis of multichannel, z-stack confocal images. With use of a high magnification with a high NA objective, we outline two methods to identify puncta in either sparsely or densely labeled images. Puncta from each channel are used to eliminate non-apposed puncta and are subsequently linked with their cognate from the other channel. These methods are applied to analysis of a pre-synaptic marker, bassoon, with two different post-synaptic markers, gephyrin and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunit 1 (NR1). Using gephyrin as an inhibitory, post-synaptic scaffolding protein, we identify inhibitory synapses in basolateral amygdala, central amygdala, arcuate and the ventromedial hypothalamus. Systematic variation of the settings identify the parameters most critical for this analysis. Identification of specifically overlapping puncta allows for correlation of morphometry data between each channel. Finally, we extend the analysis to only examine puncta overlapping with a cytoplasmic marker of specific cell types, a distinct advantage beyond electron microscopy. Bassoon puncta are restricted to virally transduced, pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPN) axons expressing yellow fluorescent protein. NR1 puncta are restricted to tyrosine hydroxylase labeled dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). The macro identifies bassoon-NR1 overlap throughout the image, or those only restricted to the PPN-SNc connections. Thus, we have extended the available analysis tools that can be used to study synapses in situ. Our analysis code is freely available and open-source allowing for further innovation.

While electron microscopy represents the gold standard for detection of synapses, a number of limitations prevent its broad applicability. A key method for detecting synapses is immunostaining for markers of pre- and post-synaptic proteins, which can infer a synapse based upon the apposition of the two markers. While immunostaining and imaging techniques have improved to allow for identification of synapses in tissue, analysis and identification of these appositions are not facile, and there has been a lack of tools to accurately identify these appositions. Here, we delineate a macro that uses open-source and freely available ImageJ or FIJI for analysis of multichannel, z-stack confocal images. With use of a high magnification with a high NA objective, we outline two methods to identify puncta in either sparsely or densely labeled images. Puncta from each channel are used to eliminate non-apposed puncta and are subsequently linked with their cognate from the other channel. These methods are applied to analysis of a pre-synaptic marker, bassoon, with two different post-synaptic markers, gephyrin and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunit 1 (NR1). Using gephyrin as an inhibitory, post-synaptic scaffolding protein, we identify inhibitory synapses in basolateral amygdala, central amygdala, arcuate and the ventromedial hypothalamus. Systematic variation of the settings identify the parameters most critical for this analysis. Identification of specifically overlapping puncta allows for correlation of morphometry data between each channel. Finally, we extend the analysis to only examine puncta overlapping with a cytoplasmic marker of specific cell types, a distinct advantage beyond electron microscopy. Bassoon puncta are restricted to virally transduced, pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPN) axons expressing yellow fluorescent protein. NR1 puncta are restricted to tyrosine hydroxylase labeled dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). The macro identifies bassoon-NR1 overlap throughout the image, or those only restricted to the PPN-SNc connections. Thus, we have extended the available analysis tools that can be used to study synapses in situ. Our analysis code is freely available and open-source allowing for further innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acquisition of lexical competence is a complex process, because for learners, it is not enough to distinguish the form and meaning of a lexical element in order to know how to integrate it correctly into the language context. The skill also involves the understanding of the properties of lexical and grammatical combinatorics. The present analysis of the written production of Lithuanian learners of French as a Second Language (FSL) is based on an annotated corpus and focuses on apposition. The term refers to a noun to which it provides additional information on its quality or nature. Choosing apposition for the study is prompted its particular use for elucidation in French then makes it possible to compare its use by FSL learners of and native speakers. The use of apposition in L1 of the analysed level is not very frequent, which poses another question, namely, how Lithuanian learners convey information without apposition. We task ourselves with noting, the different uses of apposition in FSL learners’ writing and analysing their particularities and correspondences in native speakers’ use. Apposition, as NP (noun phrase) constituent, will be analysed syntactically, taking into account correct, erroneous or uncertain constructs. The learners’ writings serve to orient the didactic reflections towards the general use of apposition in the learners’ corpora and a better represent typical interlanguage constructions.

Despite their apparent simplicity, the structure of DPs containing "complement" CPs (what we will call DCs) has long been obscure. One major strand of investigation has attempted to assimilate DCs to (close) nominal apposition, implying that N and CP form a structural unit that then combines with D. Danish has two kinds of DCs, a bare DC with the superficial structure [D N CP] and a prepositional DC in which the CP is encased in a PP. Exploiting clues provided by the allomorphy of the definite morpheme, we argue that the bare and prepositional DCs have very different structures, neither of which can be assimilated to apposition between N and CP. We further show that the two kinds of DC have distinct semantic and pragmatic properties. We then argue that English also has two different structures for DCs, and that they are plausibly parallel to the structures we establish for Danish. We conclude by arguing that two distinct structures give rise to the "apposition" relation: in one case it is between coarguments of D and in the other it is nonrestrictive composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Aim of this work was to investigate precision of deployment and conformability of a new generation GORE EXCLUDER Conformable Endoprosthesis with active control system (CEXC Device, W.L. Gore and Associates, Flagstaff, AZ, USA) by analyzing aortic neck coverage and curvature.Methods: All consecutive elective patients affected by abdominal aortic aneurysm or aortoiliac aneurysm treated at our institution between November 2018 and June 2019 with the new CEXC Device were enrolled. Validated software was adopted to determine the available apposition surface area into the aortic neck, apposition of the endograft to the aortic wall, shortest apposition length (SAL), shortest distance between the endograft fabric and the lowest renal arteries (SFD) and between the endograft fabric and the contralateral renal artery (CFD). Pointwise centerline curvature was also computed.Results: Twelve patients (10 men, median age 78 years (71.75, 81.0)) with available pre- and postoperative computed tomography angiography (CTA) were included. Technical success was obtained in all the cases. Preoperative median length of the proximal aortic neck was 16.1 mm (10.7, 21.7) and suprarenal (α) and infrarenal (β) neck angulation were, respectively, 28.9° (15.7°, 47.5°) and 75.0° (66.9°, 81.4°). Postoperative median apposition surface coverage was 79% (69.25%, 90.75%) of the available apposition surface. SFD and CFD were 1.5 mm (0.75, 5.25) and 7 mm (4.5, 21.5), respectively. Average curvature over the infrarenal aorta decreased from 25 m-1 (21.75, 29.0) to 22.5 m-1 (18.75, 24.5) postoperatively (p=0.02). Maximum curvature did not decrease significantly from 64.5 m-1 (54.25, 92.0) to 62 m-1 (41.75, 71.5) (p=0.1).Conclusions: Our early experience showed that deployment of the CEXC Device is safe and effective for patients with challenging proximal aortic necks. Absence of significant changes between pre- and postoperative proximal aortic neck angulations and curvature confirms the high conformability of this endograft. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the framework of a study of linguistic anthropomorphisms that apply an adjectival predicate from the subclass of psychological adjectives to an animal-referring noun, two configurations are scrutinised here: appositive constructions and metonymy. The corpus under analysis is drawn from the fictional works of Marie Darrieussecq. The hypothesis being tested is that these constructions involve a form of enunciative disengagement, of which they may even be markers. These instances of under-enunciation may elicit a euphemising reading interpretable in terms of an ethos of moderation, but equally they authorize a litotic reading (say less to suggest more). It can therefore be argued that we are dealing here not with a position but a posture of under-enunciation, a strategy of understatement that forces across an underlying point of view - animals are indeed the seat of emotions -, and that under-enunciative distancing combined with humour is designed only to pre-empt the anticipated accusation of anthropomorphism.

[fr] « Quelle différence faire entre le badal et le ‘aṭf al-bayān ? ». Voici une question d’étudiant, tout à fait légitime, qui, de manière assez intéressante, ne trouve pas de réponse immédiate. Cette réponse ne se trouve en effet ni dans les grammaires arabisantes de l’arabe (il s’agirait là plutôt d’une stratégie d’évitement), ni même dans les grammaires arabes traditionnelles de la l’arabe qui, pour beaucoup, ne se reposent en guise de distinction entre les deux que sur le sacrosaint ’i‘rāb (à supposer qu’il fut réalisé !) et dans le cadre très restreint (et donc contraint et réduit) de l’interpellation (nidā’). Rien ne vient alors différencier deux exemples donnés par Ibn Ǧinnī (m. 392/1002), illustrant respectivement le badal et le ‘atf al-bayān : qāma ’aḫū-ka zaydun et qāma ’aḫū-ka muḥammadun. Un grammairien logicien comme ’Astarābāḏī (m. 688/1289 indique même explicitement qu’il ne voit pas de différence manifeste entre le badal de totalité et le ‘aṭf al-bayān. Il existe toutefois un critère de distinction entre les deux, critère qui n’est ni distributionnel, ni flexionnel, et donc syntaxique, ni même sémantique et pragmatique même s’il en découle, mais suprasegmental et il se trouve que les grammairiens arabes médiévaux n’y sont pas sourds, ce que montrera cet article.

The research features the structures interpreted by many modern linguists as apposition. The spectrum of such structures is wide and varied. The identification of the relevant attributes of the category of apposition in the modern German language makes it possible to differentiate apposition from adjacent and similar syntactic formations. The main feature of apposition, which reflects their specificity, is the identical denotative correlation of the components. In the structural aspect, there are two models of apposition – free and connected ones. The main criteria for dividing apposition constructions into free and associated ones are the ability of the apposition group to expand and the intonational design, i.e. a merged or punctuated intonation. A separate version of the application fully meets the main feature of the apposition. An analysis of the structures attributable to the group of the associated application made it possible to narrow the group of apposition constructions. The author used the method of component elimination. The structural formula of a bound apposition (N-N in a monoflective) became the basis for the formation of structures with a different semantics from the apposition.

This study aims at improving the scarce corpus data regarding the nominal structure N1 N2 in juxtaposition, as in Romanian stat membru, French état membre, Spanish estado miembro 'member state'. We supply examples from several Romance languages showing that this structure, which initially was a compound pattern formed from terms calqued from other languages, underwent significant expansions that are ignored even in the recent literature. We attempt to point out the disadvantages of treating this structure strictly in morphology, as most of the literature has done until now, and we document the necessity to analyse this structure in syntax, as a restrictive apposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To validate new computed tomography (CT)–applied software used to determine endograft limb position and apposition after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Materials and Methods: Twelve EVAR patients (mean age 81±6 years; 10 men) with distal stent-graft extensions for 15 (3 bilateral) type Ib endoleaks during follow-up were selected based on the availability of the following CT studies: pre-EVAR, 1 month, and the penultimate scan prior to the scan disclosing the type Ib endoleak. Twelve patients (mean age 82±7 years; 11 men) without endoleak and a similar interval between the primary EVAR procedure and the penultimate CT scan of the endoleak group were selected as controls using measurements from both endograft limbs (n=21, 3 excluded). Prototype Vascular Imaging Analysis software was adapted to calculate 6 parameters for the distal apposition zone: fabric distance, shortest apposition length, endograft diameter, iliac seal surface (ISS), iliac endograft apposition surface (IEAS), and percentage of iliac surface coverage (IEAS/ISS × 100). Measurements were performed on the preoperative, first postoperative, and penultimate/matched follow-up CT scans. Interobserver variability was assessed with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Continuous data are presented as the median [interquartile range (IQR) Q1, Q3]. Results: CTA follow-up was not significantly different between the endoleak and control groups [30 months (IQR 18, 58) vs 36 months (IQR 21, 59), p=0.843]. Interobserver agreement was good to excellent for all parameters (ICC 0.879–0.985). Preoperative anatomy and endograft dimensions on the first follow-up CTA scan did not differ significantly between the groups. When the penultimate CTA scan was compared with the first postoperative CT scan, endograft dimensions had significantly changed in the endoleak group; importantly, apposition was significantly decreased, and fabric distance was significantly increased, indicating limb retraction. Differences in changes in endograft dimensions were significant between the groups. Conclusion: New CT-applied software was introduced to visualize apposition and position changes of endograft limbs during follow-up. The software demonstrated good-to-excellent interobserver agreement and enabled accurate analysis of post-EVAR endograft dimensions. Significant changes in apposition and position were observed with the software on the penultimate CT scan prior to diagnosis of type Ib endoleak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Michael O'Connor (whose 1980 opus, Hebrew Verse Structure , provides a compelling linguistically grounded description of the poetic line) has called the endurance of Lowthian parallelism a "horror" that wreaks havoc on lexical semantics and "is beyond the comprehension of any sensitive student of language." Why does a model known to be a descriptive failure for a century persist in teaching resources and commentaries? It is because nothing compelling has risen to replace it. O'Connor's linguistic analysis of the line offered the first piece to replacing the traditional model, but O'Connor's model was more compelling for the structure of the poetic line than for the relationship of lines. In this study I take up interlineal syntax and offer an analysis that compliments and completes O'Connor's approach, allowing us to provide a proper burial for the admirable but ultimately unworkable Lowthian parallelism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To validate computed tomography angiography (CTA)-applied software to assess apposition, dilatation, and position of endografts in the proximal and distal landing zones after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) of thoracic aortic aneurysm. Materials and Methods: Twenty-two patients (median age 75.5 years; 11 men) with a degenerative descending thoracic aortic aneurysm treated with TEVAR with at least one postoperative CTA were selected from a single center's database. New CTA-applied software was used to determine the available apposition surface in the proximal and distal landing zones, apposition of the endograft fabric with the aortic wall, shortest apposition length, endograft inflow and outflow diameters, shortest distance between the left subclavian artery and the proximal endograft fabric, and shortest distance between the celiac trunk and the distal endograft fabric on each CTA. Interobserver variability for these parameters was assessed with the repeatability coefficient and the intraclass correlation coefficient. Results: Excellent interobserver agreement was found for all measurements. Interobserver variability of surface and shortest apposition length calculations was larger for the distal site compared with the proximal site, with a mean difference of 10% vs 2% of the mean available apposition surface, 12% vs 5% of the endograft apposition surface, and 16% vs 8% of the shortest apposition length, respectively. Inflow and outflow diameters of the endograft showed low variability, with a mean difference of 0.1 mm with 95% of the interobserver difference within 1.8 mm. Mean interobserver differences of the proximal and distal shortest fabric distances were 1.0 and 0.9 mm (both 2% of the mean lengths). Conclusion: Assessment of apposition, dilatation, and position of the proximal and distal parts of an endograft in the descending thoracic aorta is feasible after TEVAR with the new software. Interobserver agreement for all measured parameters was excellent for the proximal and distal landing zones. The new method allows detection of subtle changes during follow-up. However, a larger study is needed to quantify how parameters change over time in complicated and uncomplicated TEVAR cases and to define the real added value of the new methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genitive in languages like Czech, German, Japanese or Latin is notoriously multiply ambiguous. Some senses (partitive, possessive, relational, objective) are more or less well-studied, but one, in particular, is understudied: the explicative genitive (also called the genitive of apposition or of definition). I discuss this genitive across several languages and argue that it encodes the inverse of the function that the definite article is standardly taken to encode. Like the definite article, the explicative genitive (also: the EG) is polymorphic, taking arguments of a wide range of logical types. I further argue that many cases of apposition involve the EG meaning, more specifically, that so-called close apposition should be modeled in terms of a covert EG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cobalt–chromium everolimus-eluting stent (CoCr EES) is associated with a lower rate of stent thrombosis even in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, the time-serial changes of endothelial coverage of the stent struts in the extremely early period have never been reported, especially in patients with STEMI. The aim of this study was to compare the vessel healing process between CoCr EES and cobalt–chromium bare metal stent (CoCr BMS) implantations using optical coherence tomography (OCT) in patients with STEMI. Sixty-three patients who had primary emergent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with CoCr EES (42 patients) or CoCr BMS (21 patients) were enrolled in this study for 3 years. OCT was performed just after, 2 and 12 weeks after EES or BMS implantations. Time-serial changes in the neointimal coverage (NIC), the neointimal thickness, and malapposition of stent struts were evaluated. NIC of stent struts did not differ between CoCr EES (23.2%, 99.4%) and CoCr BMS (24.0%, 97.8%) at 2 weeks and 12 weeks after PCI, respectively. Thicknesses of the neointima on the stent strut was significantly thinner in CoCr EES (34.0 ± 13.8, 107.0 ± 32.4 µm) than in CoCr BMS (40.0 ± 14.6, 115.7 ± 33.8 µm) at 2 weeks and 12 weeks after PCI (p = 0.011, p = 0.008), respectively. The malapposition did not differ just after PCI, and was completely resolved at 12 weeks after PCI in both groups. Thrombus was significantly less in CoCr EES than in CoCr BMS at 2 weeks (19.0% vs 42.9%, p < 0.01), and decreased over time in both groups, but at 12 weeks, disappeared only in CoCr EES (CoCr EES: 0% vs. CoCr BMS: 4.8%, p = 0.56). This study demonstrated that NIC and apposition of the stent struts almost completed at 12 weeks after EES and BMS implantations, while the neointimal thickness on the stent struts were thinner in EES than in BMS. Moreover, thrombus was significantly less in EES than in BMS implantations 2 weeks after PCI, which may explain the lower rate of acute and subacute stent thrombosis of EES compared with BMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Existing information on insect compound eyes is mainly limited to two-dimensional information derived from histological or ultrathin sections. These allow a basic description of eye morphology, but are limited in z-axis resolution because of the section thickness or intervals between sections, so that accurate volumetric information cannot be generated. Here we use serial-sectioning transmission electron microscopy to present a 3-D reconstruction at ultrastructural level of a complete ommatidium of a miniaturized insect compound eye. Besides the general presentation of the three dimensional arrangement of the different cell types within the ommatidium, the reconstruction allowed volumetric measurements and numerical analyses to be undertaken, revealing new insights into the number, size and distribution of cell organelles in insect ommatidia. Morphological features that can be related to miniaturization, namely the dimensions and displacement of nuclei, reduction of average pigment granule volume and loss of pigment granules in the terminals of the cone cells, the impact of metabolic activity of cell types on miniaturization, as well as maintenance of rhabdomere volume and limits to its miniaturization, are all discussed. Highlights • First 3D reconstruction of a miniaturized ommatidium on ultrastructural resolution level. • General organization and symmetry planes of ommatidia correspond to that found in larger hymenopterans and other insects. • Volumetric and numerical analyses reveal insights into the number, size and distribution of cell organelles in ommatidia. • The results reveal spatial constraints and adaptations in miniaturized compound eyes. • Analyses allow to propose cell type specific miniaturization limits depending on metabolic activity of the cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compound eyes in nocturnal or fossorial insects generally express visible light opsins at higher levels than diurnal insects. In this study, we tested whether dorsal (above water) and ventral eyes (below water) of the diurnal four-eyed whirligig beetle Gyretes sericeus Laboulbène, 1853, resemble opsin expression and function of diurnal or nocturnal insect eyes respectively. By immunocytochemistry, we compared expression of green LW-opsin in dorsal and ventral rhabdoms of whirligig beetle ommatidia. Basal rhabdomeres (bR) showed comparable expression levels of LW-opsin in both dorsal and ventral ommatidia. In contrast, the inner proximal (R1p) and distal (R1d) bR showed a weak and narrow expression dorsally, whereas R1p and R1d showed a higher and expanded expression ventrally. To test whether dorso-ventral specialization of ommatidia results in functional differences in light response, we studied the behavior of beetles after selective eye-occlusion experiments. During phototaxis experiments, whirligig beetles typically showed a clear preference for light. Positive phototaxis was mainly disrupted after dorsal eye occlusion suggesting dorsal dominance of light sensing. Together, differences in opsin expression, structure, and function of whirligig beetle eyes suggest dorso-ventral sub-functionalizations resembling eye adaptations of diurnal and nocturnal insects. We discuss how dorsal and ventral eye specializations may have evolved in adephagan beetles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the initial proximal position and seal of the Nellix EndoVascular Aneurysm Sealing (EVAS) system in the aortic neck using a novel methodology.Methods: Forty-six consecutive patients who underwent elective EVAS for an abdominal aortic aneurysm were retrospectively selected and dichotomized into an early (n=23) and a late (n=23) group. The aortic neck morphology and aortic neck surface (ANS) were determined on preoperative computed tomography (CT) scans; the endograft position and nonapposition surface (NAS) were determined on the 1-month CT scans. The position of the proximal endobag boundary was measured by 2 experienced observers to analyze the interobserver variability for the EVAS NAS measurements. The shortest distance from the lowest renal artery to the endobag (shortest fabric distance) and the shortest distance from the endobag to the end of the infrarenal neck (shortest sealing distance) were determined. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) are presented with the 95% confidence interval (CI). Continuous data are presented as the median and interquartile range (IQR: Q3 - Q1).Results: There were no differences between the early and late EVAS groups regarding aortic neck morphology except for the neck calcification circumference [41° (IQR 33°) vs 87° (IQR 60°), respectively; p=0.043]. Perfect agreement was observed for the NAS (ICC 0.897, 95% CI 0.780 to 0.956). The NAS as a percentage of the preoperative ANS was 47% (IQR 43) vs 49% (IQR 49) for the early vs late groups, respectively (p=0.214). The shortest fabric distances were 5 mm (IQR 5) and 4 mm (IQR 7) for the early and late groups, respectively (p=0.604); the shortest sealing distances were 9 mm (IQR 13) and 16 mm (IQR 17), respectively (p=0.066).Conclusion: Accurate positioning of the Nellix EVAS system in the aortic neck may be challenging. Despite considerable experience with the system, still around half of the potential seal in the aortic neck was missed in the current series, without improvement over time. This should be considered during preoperative planning and may be a cause of a higher than expected complication rate. Detailed post-EVAS nonapposition surface can be determined with the described novel methodology that takes into account the sometimes irregularly shaped top of the sealing endobags. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes a hitherto unnoticed semantic change process in Chinese, in which lexical (adjectival) materials develop into superlative operators, and subsequently turn into definiteness markers. Our analysis focuses on the semantic factors that underlie this meaning change trajectory. Specifically, we argue that frequent association of gradable adjectives with superlative implication leads to pragmatic strengthening in which the superlative implication conventionally enters the literal meaning. Furthermore, we show that a further change in the extension of the nominal part of superlative phrases leads to a maximality reanalysis that is compatible with the semantics of definite NPs. This paper contributes to the burgeoning field of applying truth-conditional semantics to theories of grammaticalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various new structures are emerging in Croatian as the result of the influence of English. This paper focuses on one such innovation – e.g. Konzum nagradna igra – and the possibility of its grammatical description. In this structure the proper name Konzum is placed in the position of an attributive adjective. The problem here is how to analyse this structure because the traditional descriptive grammar does not offer any adequate models. Two different approaches are suggested as possible solutions in literature. These include expanding the definition of apposition and changing the word category noun → adjective. In this paper we analyse the frequency with which structures of this type appear on the basis of analysis of magazines and websites, we test their acceptability with the help of a questionnaire and test the applicability of the two proposed approaches to the analysis of such structures. Our research has revealed that these structures are present in language and are acceptable and that the analysis based on the change of word category covers more cases that the expansion of the definition of apposition.

John 8:44 has been a source of concern because of its ambiguity. Is it to be read "of (your) father, the devil" or "of the father of the devil"? This article contends that the former, traditional reading is not ungrammatical as suggested in the grammars and more recently by DeConick and that accordingly the verse cannot be considered pro-gnostic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rioplatense Spanish Clitic Left Dislocations with epithets contain a left-dislocated direct object DP, an in situ direct object epithet DP, and a direct object clitic, all three apparently referring to the same event participant. Previous proposals have focused on syntactic licensing mechanisms but how the epithet's meaning is integrated in the sentence has not been addressed. We assume a multi-propositional framework to first show that these sentences encode two propositions, one at-issue (asserted) and one not-at-issue (non-asserted). The content of the epithet is absent from the at-issue proposition and is interpreted as a main semantic predicate in the not-at-issue proposition. Furthermore, we argue that this not-at-issue predication is best understood as a conventional implicature. Second, the epithet has been assumed to (unproblematically) pick up the left-dislocated DP as subject of predication. However, with quantified DPs and in intensional contexts the subject of predication may be different from the left-dislocated DP. The behavior of the epithet in these cases is shown to be similar to the behavior of pronouns in intersentential anaphora, thus suggesting that the syntax of this construction is underlyingly biclausal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent OCT study revealed that the lack of stent strut endothelial coverage is associated with late stent thrombosis after drug-eluting stent implantation. However, the sequential changes of stent strut endothelial coverage in the extremely early period have never been reported. Serial OCTs were performed in 35 patients with 35 EES (everolimus-eluting stent)-treated de novo lesions at 0, 2, 4, and 12 weeks after EES implantation. Serial changes in quantitative parameters of the neointima (neointimal thickness, stent strut coverage, and apposition of each strut) were analyzed. Mean neointimal thickness significantly increased from 35.9 to 51.8 and 108.2 μm at 2, 4, and 12 weeks, respectively ( p < 0.001 for all), and the percentage of uncovered stent struts significantly decreased from 74.7 to 19.5% and 0.4% ( p < 0.001, respectively). There was no stent malapposition at 4 weeks compared with immediate post-intervention (0 vs. 5.4 %, p = 0.031). This OCT study demonstrates that neointimal coverage of stent struts progresses to about 80 % and malapposition of stent struts completely disappears at 4 weeks after EES implantation. In addition, neointimal coverage of stent struts was almost complete within 12 weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with the stylistic potential of German syntactic means, their expressive–stylistic and functional–stylistic features. The study sets out to reveal the expressive syntactic means. Disorder of a proper sentence structure makes its expressiveness. In contrast to a «syntactic tension», the article analyses a «syntactic loosening» of a normative sentence structure as a current trend in German syntax, as a source of syntactic expressiveness and the most productive instrument of simplification of a sentence structure. Thus, it assimilates to the structure of the everyday language. Syntactic «loosening» of a normative sentence structure is formed by a simple hypotaxis, a failure of closed–in constructions and a lack of grammatical agreement among sentence parts. The study is carried out in the context of historical dynamics. The renunciation of a difficult multi-stage hypotaxis but using of a simple sentence as block structures leads to expression saving and easily understanding. Each of the blocks has a large amount of information. Parts of the sentence are in the same line and are united with nominal juxtaposition. Their development is closely related to the nominalization trend. The influence of colloquial speech on the literary German and its written form, closing to natural speech lead to the renunciation of closed–in constructions. The author proves that the removal of grammatical structures isn't new for the modern literary German, but it presents the perfectly sound tendency. As a result of this study, there is a conclusion that the modification of the grammatical structure isn't the result of an abrupt shift or radical turn but it is a natural continuation of a dynamic process.