Experimental methods to study cultural differences in linguistics

A relatively recent development in linguistics is the use of experimental methods in different cultural settings. It takes place within a larger trend in psychology following the observation that, up until today, research predominantly relies on North American and Northern European university students. When confronted to slightly more varied samples, the robustness of many theoretical generalizations no longer holds. Then why do we fail to see a significant rise in cross-cultural and cross-linguistic experimental research? A major hurdle comes from the fact that experimental research protocols are developed for a lab setting. This means that even when recent technological progress allows us to bring high-quality portable equipment to the field or conduct studies on the Internet, researchers still face challenges to design experiments that can work for diverse populations. This chapter offers an overview of studies that successfully overcome these hurdles and discusses future avenues for experimental research in diverse linguistic and cultural settings.

Procedures Experiments using Photogrammetric Method

Tangible objects are actual objects that can be touched and have a physical form. Therefore, the existence of tangible objects cannot be separated from the potential of damage and even disappearance. At the same time, tangible objects can be an essential source of research and can be a historical source that needs to be preserved. With the development of technology, objects can be recorded in digital forms, 2D Documentation, such as photos and videos, and increasingly sophisticated technology makes object recording developed in 3D Documentation. An easy method with good data quality results is photogrammetric. The implementation of the photogrammetric method has many advantages, some of which are straightforward procedures, portable equipment, and relatively low prices. This study uses a qualitative method based on photogrammetric experiments with various lighting settings and different needs. The results of this research are trying to breakdown of photogrammetric procedures that can applied according to field conditions.

Telehealth and Screening Strategies in the Diagnosis and Management of Glaucoma

Telehealth has become a viable option for glaucoma screening and glaucoma monitoring due to advances in technology. The ability to measure intraocular pressure without an anesthetic and to take optic nerve photographs without pharmacologic pupillary dilation using portable equipment have allowed glaucoma screening programs to generate enough data for assessment. At home, patients can perform visual acuity testing, web-based visual field testing, rebound tonometry, and video visits with the physician to monitor for glaucomatous progression. Artificial intelligence will enhance the accuracy of data interpretation and inspire confidence in popularizing telehealth for glaucoma.

Foundational Movement Skills and Play Behaviors during Recess among Preschool Children: A Compositional Analysis

This study aimed to examine the associations between play behaviors during preschool recess and foundational movement skills (FMS) in typically developing preschool children. One hundred and thirty-three children (55% male; mean age 4.7 ± 0.5 years) from twelve preschools were video-assessed for six locomotor and six object-control FMS using the Champs Motor Skill Protocol. A modified System for Observing Children’s Activity and Relationships during Play assessed play behaviors during preschool recess. Associations between the composition of recess play behaviors with FMS were analyzed using compositional data analysis and linear regression. Results: Relative to time spent in other types of play behaviors, time spent in play without equipment was positively associated with total and locomotor skills, while time spent in locomotion activities was negatively associated with total and locomotor skills. No associations were found between activity level and group size play behavior compositions and FMS. The findings suggest that activity type play behaviors during recess are associated with FMS. While active games without equipment appear beneficial, preschool children may need a richer playground environment, including varied fixed and portable equipment, to augment the play-based development of FMS.

Evaluation of a continuously active disinfectant for decontamination of portable medical equipment

A single spray application of a continuously active disinfectant on portable equipment resulted in significant reductions in aerobic colony counts over 7 days and in recovery of Staphylococcus aureus and enterococci: 3 of 93 cultures (3%) versus 11 of 97 (11%) and 20 of 97 (21%) in quaternary ammonium disinfectant and untreated control groups, respectively.

Emissions and Concentrations of Particulate Matter in Poznan Compared with Other Polish and European Cities

It is estimated that the excessive emission of airborne particulate matter shortens the life expectancy of a European city inhabitant by up to eight months. The conducted comparison shows the emission and concentration of PM10 in Poznan against the supra-regional background. The purpose of the comparison with similar area and population cities is to identify the position of the Poznan agglomeration in terms of particulate matter emissions. The main sources are: original research, PM official measuring stations’ data, and the relevant organizations’ reports. On the basis of the conducted comparison, it can be concluded that Wroclaw and Poznan achieve very similar results in terms of emissions. Cracow, on the other hand, as a city where for several years there have been significant problems with the phenomenon of smog and excessive emission of particulate matter, reaches extremely different values compared to Poznan. The article presents also the air quality in Poznan and other Polish and European cities. There were also measurements of PM mass and number conducted in Poznan. The results show that there is a significant difference between the air quality measured at official measuring stations (only some of them are measuring PMs at all) and that measured with portable equipment in different parts of the city.

Spectroscopic Investigation of Wall Paintings in the Alhambra Monumental Ensemble: Decorations with Red Bricks

The Alhambra Monumental Ensemble (Granada, Spain) is a unique well-preserved palatine city from the medieval Islamic period, and it constitutes the best example of Nasrid architecture. In this work, we focus on the study of one of its most unknown decorations: Wall paintings with the appearance of red bricks. These faux-brick decorations are found in many different locations within the Alhambra complex, including both exterior and interior walls, arches and vaults. We have considered locations from different Nasrid reigns to gain information about their characteristics in terms of materials, execution techniques and conservation state. They have been studied combining a non-invasive methodology using portable equipment (X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Raman spectroscopy) with complementary studies on selected samples (Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and Raman microimaging). In general, those located in the exterior are poorly preserved, in contrast with the good conservation state of the interior motifs. The red rectangles of these decorations were painted over a white finishing layer, which acted also as the edge lines between these false bricks. The red colour was always due to hematite (α-Fe2O3), as revealed by its characteristic Raman bands. The use of a natural red ochre pigment (very abundant in the region) could be hypothesised considering XRF and SEM-EDS results. In general, the white layer was made of lime mortar and the presence of CaCO3 in the painting layers suggests the use of lime-based techniques (either fresco or mezzo fresco). Only in one of the indoor locations, a different execution technique, based on gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) plaster, was used. The identification of calcium oxalate in this location, in the form of weddellite (CaC2O4·2H2O), can be interpreted as the result of organic binder degradation. Furthermore, superficial contamination with gypsum was always detected in outdoor locations.

Development of Gold Nanoparticle Micropatterns for the Electrical Detection of Proteins

Protein analysis can be used to efficiently detect the early stages of various diseases. However, conventional protein detection platforms require expensive or complex equipment, which has been a major obstacle to their widespread application. In addition, uncertain signals from non-specific adhesion interfere with the precise interpretation of the results. To overcome these problems, the development of a technique that can detect the proteins in a simple method is needed. In this study, a platform composed of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) was fabricated through a simple imprinting method for protein detection. The corrugated surface naturally formed by the nanoparticle assemblies simultaneously increases the efficiency of adhesion and binding with analytes and reduces undesired interactions. After forming the GNP micropatterns, post-functionalization with both cationic and neutral ligands was performed on the surface to manipulate their electrostatic interaction with proteins. Upon protein binding, the change in the electrical values of the micropatterns was recorded by using a resistance meter. The resistance of the positively charged micropatterns was found to increase due to the electrostatic interaction with proteins, while no significant change in resistance was observed for the neutral micropatterns after immersion in a protein solution. Additionally, the selective adsorption of fluorescent proteins onto the micropatterns was captured using confocal microscopy. These simply imprinted GNP micropatterns are sensitive platforms that can detect various analytes by measuring the electrical resistance with portable equipment.