bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prenatally Diagnosed Turner Syndrome and Cystic Hygroma: Incidence and Reasons for Referrals
Authors: Alpman Asude , Cogulu Ozgur , Akgul Mehmet , Ataman Arıkan Esra , Durmaz Burak , Karaca Emin , Sağol Sermet , Ozkinay Cihangir , Ozkinay Ferda
Published: February 2009

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence and reasons for referrals for prenatally detected Turner syndrome and cystic hygroma cases among prenatal cases performed between 1998 and 2007. Methods: In this study 3,595 amniocentesis, chorionic villus and cordocenthesis materials obtained between 1998 and 2007 were evaluated. Among prenatal cases, 23 Turner syndrome cases were also evaluated according to their referral reasons. Among the indications of prenatal cases, cystic hygroma was evaluated according to karyotype results. Results: Twenty-three cases were Turner Syndrome in which 7 cases were detected to have mosaic pattern. The indications for prenatal diagnosis for the cases were cystic hygroma in 11 cases, missed abortion in 6 cases, advanced maternal age in 5 cases and positive screening test results in 1 case. Among 18 cases having cystic hygroma detected by ultrasonography, 8 cases (44.4%) were found to have a 45,X karyotype, 3 cases were found to be mosaic Turner syndrome (16.7%), 5 cases (27.7%) had normal karyotype, 1 case (5.6%) 47,XX,+13 and 1 case (5.6%) 47,XX,+21. Conclusion: The present study indicates the importance of cystic hygroma in prenatal diagnosis of Turner Syndrome and other aneuploidies.
Bidirectional Communication between Neural and Cardiac Cells in Human Amniotic Fluid
Authors: Stefanidis Konstantinos , Loutradis Dimitris , Anastasiadou Vasiliki , Dinopoulou Vasiliki , Eleni Evangelia , Arampatzi Eleni , Lekka Kalioppi , Mesogitis Spiros , Antsaklis Aris
Published: February 2009

Objective: To evaluate whether amniotic fluid cells contain cardiomyocyte- and neuron-like cells. Study Design: In this experimental study, cells from human amniotic fluid samples were analyzed for mRNA expression of microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2), vimentin and oxytocin (OT) receptor via RT-PCR. Immunocytochemistry was also performed with MAP-2, OT receptor, vimentin and troponin I antibodies. Results: In all samples, MAP-2, vimentin and mRNA expression were detectable. OT receptor was also detectable. The cells showed strong immunoreactivity for molecular markers of neurogenic cells including MAP-2 and vimentin. The cells also showed strong immunoreactivity for molecular markers of cardiac muscle such as troponin I and for OT receptors. This report also shows that atosiban (an OT antagonist) added to culture medium of amniotic fluid cells did not induce neurogenic and cardiomyogenic differentiation. Conclusions: The observed concurrent development of cardiomyocyte- and neuron-like cells suggests that amniotic fluid contains progenitor cells and there is bidirectional communication between both cell types.
KDOQI Hypertension, Dyslipidemia, and Diabetes Care Guidelines and Current Care Patterns in the United States CKD Population: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2004
Authors: Snyder Jon J. , Collins Allan J.
Published: February 2009

Background/Aims: National Kidney Foundation Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) guidelines aim to slow chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression and reduce morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess current CKD population health and adherence to recommendations in National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2004 participants aged ≥20 years (n = 14,213). Methods: We assessed hypertension and dyslipidemia management and diabetes control, stratified by CKD status and prior history of cardiovascular disease (CVD), to ascertain awareness, treatment, and control. Results: Hypertension was likelier among participants with than without CKD regardless of CVD history, but awareness, treatment, and control were not. Hypertensive participants with CKD were less likely than those without to be taking angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor-blocking agents. Of participants with no CVD history, high cholesterol was likelier among those with CKD stages 3–4 than among those without CDK, but awareness and treatment were less likely; of participants with CVD history, high cholesterol was less likely among those with than without CKD, and awareness and treatment were as likely. Diabetes control was less likely among diabetic participants with early-stage CKD than without CKD, but not significantly different between late-stage and non-CKD participants. Conclusions: The study timeframe coincided with or pre-dated release of KDOQI guidelines. Many opportunities for improvement in CKD patient care are evident. Future releases of NHANES data could be used to assess whether improvement occurs.
Cell Therapy Based on Adipose Tissue-Derived Stromal Cells Promotes Physiological and Pathological Wound Healing
Authors: Ebrahimian T.G. , Pouzoulet F. , Squiban C. , Buard V. , André M. , Cousin B. , Gourmelon P. , Benderitter M. , Casteilla L. , Tamarat R.
Published: February 2009

Objective—

We hypothesized that adipose tissue may contain progenitors cells with cutaneous and angiogenic potential.

Methods and Results—

Adipose tissue-derived stroma cells (ADSCs) were administrated to skin punched wounds of both nonirradiated and irradiated mice (20 Gy, locally). At day14, ADSCs promoted dermal wound healing and enhanced wound closure, viscolesticity, and collagen tissue secretion in both irradiated and nonirradiated mice. Interestingly, GFP-positive ADSCs incorporated in dermal and epidermal tissue in vivo and expressed epidermal markers K5 and K14. Cultured ADSCs in keratinocyte medium have been shown to differentiate into K5- and K14-positive cells and produced high levels of KGF. At Day 7, ADSCs also improved skin blood perfusion assessed by laser Doppler imaging, capillary density, and VEGF plasma levels in both irradiated and nonirradiated animals. GFP-positive ADSCs incorporated into capillary structures in vivo and expressed the endothelial cell marker CD31. Finally, in situ interphase fluorescence hybridization showed that a small number of ADSCs have the potential to fuse with endogenous keratinocytes.

Conclusion—

ADSCs participate in dermal wound healing in physiological and pathological conditions by their ability to promote reepithelialization and angiogenesis. Hence, adipose lineage cells represent a new cell source for therapeutic dermal wound healing.
Tissue-Specific Roles of ABCA1 Influence Susceptibility to Atherosclerosis
Authors: Brunham Liam R. , Singaraja Roshni R. , Duong MyNgan , Timmins Jenelle M. , Fievet Catherine , Bissada Nagat , Kang Martin H. , Samra Amrit , Fruchart Jean-Charles , McManus Bruce , Staels Bart , Parks John S. , Hayden Michael R.
Published: February 2009

Objective—

The ATP-binding cassette transporter, subfamily A, member 1 (
ABCA1
) plays a key role in HDL cholesterol metabolism. However, the role of
ABCA1
in modulating susceptibility to atherosclerosis is controversial.

Methods and Results—

We investigated the role of
ABCA1
in atherosclerosis using a combination of overexpression and selective deletion models. First, we examined the effect of transgenic overexpression of a full-length human
ABCA1
-containing bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) in the presence or absence of the endogenous mouse
Abca1
gene.
ABCA1
overexpression in the atherosclerosis-susceptible
Ldlr
−/−
background significantly reduced the development of atherosclerosis in both the presence and absence of mouse
Abca1
. Next, we used mice with tissue-specific inactivation of
Abca1
to dissect the discrete roles of
Abca1
in different tissues on susceptibility to atherosclerosis. On the
Apoe
−/−
background, mice lacking hepatic
Abca1
had significantly reduced HDL cholesterol and accelerated atherosclerosis, indicating that the liver is an important site at which
Abca1
plays an antiatherogenic role. In contrast, mice with macrophage-specific inactivation of
Abca1
on the
Ldlr
−/−
background displayed no change in atherosclerotic lesion area.

Conclusions—

These data indicate that physiological expression of
Abca1
modulates the susceptibility to atherosclerosis and establish hepatic
Abca1
expression as an important site of atheroprotection. In contrast, we show that selective deletion of macrophage
Abca1
does not significantly modulate atherogenesis.
Patterns That Connect
Authors: Whitehand Dawn
Published: February 2009

Despite the rationalist approach to science over the past four centuries, some physicists hold that new ideas mirror metaphysical perspectives of the natural world. The implications of these recent scientific theories present significant and complex interpretative problems for researchers who adopt a more traditional or rationalist philosophical position. Through her artwork, the author provides a conduit for a visual interpretation of the former, more holistic approach. She uses innately recognized symbols that appeal to humanity's natural and spiritual understandings of the environment and the cosmos. This cross-disciplinary artwork parallels contemporary scientific insights into our natural environment and the physical world that characterize, for example, Bohm's conception of implicate order.
Fact and Fantasy in Nanotech Imagery
Authors: Goodsell David S.
Published: February 2009

Imagery has played an important role in nanotechnology, both as a tool in research and in spurring excitement in outreach and education. The limitations of the image-making process, however, may give misleading impressions of the feasibility of nanotech applications.
Normality in Husserl and Foucault
Authors: Gyllenhammer Paul
Published: February 2009

Husserl and Foucault appear to have little in common when it comes to the question of normality. Husserl often discusses the emergence or constitution of norms from a subjective perspective whereas Foucault targets norms as a coercive problem. But if we recognize that the body is the locus of concern for both thinkers, then we can see that Husserl's interest in norm optimization is at home with Foucault's genealogical critique of bio-power. The essay draws a line of comparison between Husserl and Foucault around the idea of an optimizing practice.
Ageing and Personhood in Twenty-First Century Europe: A Challenge to Religion
Authors: Coleman Peter
Published: February 2009

The nature and experience of human ageing is changing as people come to live longer lives both as active 'young-old' and dependent 'old-old'. Europe is in the forefront of population ageing and stands in great need of a creative response at many levels, including from religious bodies. There needs to be recognition that older Europeans benefit less than in the past from the elder's traditional religious role of witnessing and transmitting faith. Indeed in some European countries older people can be greatly troubled in their own faith yet pastorally unsupported as Christian churches focus on evangelizing the reluctant young. Pastoral theology needs to be developed to encourage creative responses to the older person's isolation, which can be cultural and spiritual as well as physical. Possibly the greatest challenge is to respond effectively to the rising numbers entering the fourth age in a state of dementia. In this respect western Christianity has much to learn from the Eastern Orthodox tradition, which lays less emphasis on rationality as the criterion for human and moral status, and more on the person in relationship. Even if we forget who we are, we can and should be remembered by others, and in the last analysis are remembered by God.
Faith-Based Organizing—A Justice Ministry: A Strategy for Ministry
Authors: Galluzzo Gregory
Published: February 2009

First, this article challenges some of the assumptions about churches and charity, and secondly it offers an alternative vision for church. Along the way, the article draws on the work of notable scholars in the fields of faith-based and community organizing, and discusses some prominent case-studies. In short, the article argues that justice ministry is an essential strategy towards building a healthy church congregation.
A Comparison of Tropical and Midlatitude Thunderstorm Evolution in Response to Wind Shear
Authors: Wissmeier Ulrike , Goler Robert
Published: February 2009

The influence of vertical wind shear on storm development within a tropical environment is studied with the aid of two numerical models and compared with that in simulations of midlatitude storms. The simulations show that larger wind shears are required in a tropical environment than in a midlatitude environment for a storm of given updraft velocity to split. This finding is supported by the experience of forecasters at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology Regional Forecasting Centre in Darwin that the operational storm forecasting tools developed for midlatitude storms overforecast supercells within the tropics.

That tropical storms require higher shears to split can be attributed either to the larger gust front speed or to the earlier gust front occurrence compared to those in the midlatitudes. A fast gust front cuts off the storm from the warm moist inflow and the updraft has little or no time to split. In the cases where the midtropospheric relative humidity is larger in the tropics or comparable with that in the midlatitudes, the total liquid water and ice content within the deeper tropical storms is larger than in the midlatitude storms, causing a stronger downdraft. In other words, the main contribution to the negative buoyancy of the downdraft is the water loading rather than the evaporative cooling. When a tropical storm is simulated in an environment with smaller midtropospheric relative humidity than in the midlatitudes, the amount of liquid water and ice within the storm is comparable to that within the midlatitude storm. Intense evaporation within the tropical storm then leads to a stronger negative buoyancy than in the midlatitude storm, causing a stronger downdraft and thus an earlier or a faster-spreading gust front.

At higher shears in the tropics, entrainment reduces the storm depth and thus water loading, resulting in a delayed gust front initiation and/or reduction of the gust front speed, which then allows storm splitting to occur.
Customization of RegCM3 Regional Climate Model for Eastern Africa and a Tropical Indian Ocean Domain
Authors: Davis Neil , Bowden Jared , Semazzi Fredrick , Xie Lian , Önol Bariş
Published: February 2009

Rainfall is a driving factor of climate in the tropics and needs to be properly represented within a climate model. This study customizes the precipitation processes over the tropical regions of eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean using the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) Regional Climate Model (RegCM3). The convective schemes of Grell with closures Arakawa–Schubert (Grell–AS)/Fritch–Chappel (Grell–FC) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology–Emanuel (MIT–EMAN) were compared to determine the most realistic spatial distribution of rainfall and partitioning of convective/stratiform rainfall when compared to observations from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM). Both Grell–AS and Grell–FC underpredicted convective rainfall rates over land, while over the ocean Grell–FC (Grell–AS) over- (under-) estimates convective rainfall. MIT–EMAN provides the most realistic pardoning and spatial distribution of convective rainfall despite the tendency for overestimating total rainfall. MIT–EMAN was used to further customize the subgrid explicit moisture scheme (SUBEX). Sensitivity tests were performed on the gridbox relative humidity threshold for cloudiness (RHmin) and the autoconversion scale factor (Cacs). An RHmin value of 60% (RHmin-60) reduced the amount of total rainfall over five heterogeneous rainfall regions in eastern Africa, with most of the reduction coming from the convective rainfall. Then, Cacs sensitivity tests improved upon the total rainfall amounts and convective stratiform partitioning compared to RHmin-60. Based upon all sensitivity simulations performed, the combination of the MIT–EMAN convective scheme, RHmin-60, and halving the model default value (0.4) of Cacs provided the most realistic simulation in terms of spatial distribution, convective partition, rainfall totals, and temperature bias when compared to observations.
Greenland Ice Sheet Surface Air Temperature Variability: 1840–2007*
Authors: Box Jason E. , Yang Lei , Bromwich David H. , Bai Le-Sheng
Published: February 2009

Meteorological station records and regional climate model output are combined to develop a continuous 168-yr (1840–2007) spatial reconstruction of monthly, seasonal, and annual mean Greenland ice sheet near-surface air temperatures. Independent observations are used to assess and compensate for systematic errors in the model output. Uncertainty is quantified using residual nonsystematic error. Spatial and temporal temperature variability is investigated on seasonal and annual time scales. It is found that volcanic cooling episodes are concentrated in winter and along the western ice sheet slope. Interdecadal warming trends coincide with an absence of major volcanic eruptions. Year 2003 was the only year of 1840–2007 with a warm anomaly that exceeds three standard deviations from the 1951–80 base period. The annual whole ice sheet 1919–32 warming trend is 33% greater in magnitude than the 1994–2007 warming. The recent warming was, however, stronger along western Greenland in autumn and southern Greenland in winter. Spring trends marked the 1920s warming onset, while autumn leads the 1994–2007 warming. In contrast to the 1920s warming, the 1994–2007 warming has not surpassed the Northern Hemisphere anomaly. An additional 1.0°–1.5°C of annual mean warming would be needed for Greenland to be in phase with the Northern Hemispheric pattern. Thus, it is expected that the ice sheet melt rates and mass deficit will continue to grow in the early twenty-first century as Greenland’s climate catches up with the Northern Hemisphere warming trend and the Arctic climate warms according to global climate model predictions.
Investigating Spatial Downscaling of Satellite Rainfall Data for Streamflow Simulation in a Medium-Sized Basin
Authors: Rahman Sayma , Bagtzoglou Amvrossios C. , Hossain Faisal , Tang Ling , Yarbrough Lance D. , Easson Greg
Published: February 2009

The objective of this study was to investigate spatial downscaling of satellite rainfall data for streamflow prediction in a medium-sized (970 km2) river basin prone to flooding. The spatial downscaling scheme used in the study was based on the principle of scale invariance. It reproduced the rainfall variability at finer scales while being conditioned on the large-scale rainfall. Two Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM)-based real-time global satellite rainfall products were analyzed: 1) the infrared (IR)-based 3B41RT product available at 1 hourly and 0.25° scales and 2) the combined passive microwave (PMW) and IR-based 3B42RT product available at 3 hourly and 0.25° scales. The conceptual Hydrologic Engineering Center-Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) was used for the simulation of streamflow. It was found that propagation of spatially downscaled satellite rainfall in the hydrologic model increased simulation uncertainty in streamflow as rainfall grid scales became smaller than 0.25°. The streamflow simulation uncertainty for satellite downscaling was found to be very similar to that for ground validation Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) downscaling at any given scale, indicating that the effectiveness of the spatial downscaling scheme is not influenced by rainfall data type. Closer inspection at the subbasin level revealed that the limitation of the selected spatial downscaling scheme to preserve the mean rainfall intensity for irregularly sized drainage units was responsible for the increase in simulation uncertainty as scales became smaller. Although the findings should not be construed as a generalization for spatial downscaling schemes, there is a need for more rigorous hydrometeorological assessment of downscaled satellite rainfall data prior to institutionalizing its use for real-time streamflow simulation over ungauged basins.
Housing for the “Worst of the Worst” Inmates
Authors: Mears Daniel P. , Mancini Christina , Beaver Kevin M. , Gertz Marc
Published: February 2009

Despite concerns whether supermaximum security prisons violate human rights or prove effective, these facilities have proliferated in America over the past 25 years. This punishment—aimed at the “worst of the worst” inmates and involving 23-hr-per-day single-cell confinement with few privileges or services—has emerged despite little evidence that the public supports it. Based on public opinion survey data, this study identified the extent to which support exists for supermax prisons and so tested three interrelated hypotheses about variation in public views. The focal contention is that support can be linked to groups that are most concerned with symbolic threats, to those most embracing of a belief in individual agency, and to those who have had negative contacts with offenders. The article concludes with a discussion on implications for theory, research, and policy.
A Bayesian Approach to the Identification of Children with Learning Disabilities
Authors: Wissink John F. , Kass Conine E. , Ferrell William R.
Published: February 2009

It is suggested that identification of learning disabilities be divided into two stages, screening and clinical diagnosis, to permit more effective use of clinical resources. The sequential revision of the probability that a child has learning disability based on data about the child and implemented by Bayes' rule is proposed as an efficient screening method. Forty component disabilities, potential data for screening, were selected and classified. For want of objective data, subjective estimates of the relatedness of these disabilities and their statistical prevalence among children with and without learning disability (quantities needed for the Bayesian revision) were obtained from specialists in this field. Some of the disabilities were found to be potentially highly diagnostic and relatively independent and could be used for identification.
The Development of Visual Selective Attention and Verbal Rehearsal in Learning Disabled Boys
Authors: Tarver Sara G. , Hallahan Daniel P. , Cohen Sandra B. , Kauffman James M.
Published: February 2009

This experiment is provocative in that it purports to show that learning disabled boys may be developmentally slow rather than physically impaired or functionally fixated. The strength of the experiment, which researchers will particularly note, is the use of a well-researched experimental paradigm with which normal development has previously been established. Hence, the authors can utilize this remembering task to compare the development of learning disabled boys relative to those in previous studies who have not had learning handicaps. — G.M.S.
Focus and the Interpretation of Pitch Accent: Disambiguating Embedded Questions
Authors: Schafer Amy , Carlson Katy , Clifton Harles , Frazier Lyn
Published: February 2009

It has been suggested that prosodic disambiguation of sentences is largely a matter of prosodic phrasing. Ambiguities can be resolved if a prosodic break aligns with a major syntactic boundary of one structure but not another. The placement of pitch accents is viewed as playing only a supporting role (cf. Price, Ostendorf, Shattuck-Huffnagel, & Fong, 1991). This view of prosodic disambiguation does not apply tho all structures of a language. We report five experiments studying ambiguous sentences like (i) and (ii):

(i) I asked the pretty little girl WHO is cold. I asked the pretty little girl who is COLD.

(ii) Joshua began to wonder WHEN his girlfriend got a tattoo. Joshua began to wonder when his girl friend got a TATTOO.

The presence of a prominent pitch accent on the interrogative constituent ( who, when) biased listeners to a emmbedded question interpretation whereas its absence biased thhem to a relative clause(i) or temporal adjunct(ii) analysis. The results suggest that accent, like prosodic breaks, can play a central role in guiding sentence comprehension.
Effects of Distance on Visual and Audiovisual Speech Recognition
Authors: Jordan Timothy R. , Sergeant Paul
Published: February 2009

Face-to-face conversations in every day life are conducted over a range of distances. However, previous research provides only limited indications of the effects of distance on visual and audiovisual speech recognition. We report an experiment which investigated effects of distance on perception of unimodal visual speech and congruent and incongruent audiovisual speech using a talking face presented at distances of 1, 5, 10, 20, and 30m and auditory, visual, congruent, and incongruent forms of the syllables /ba/, /bi/, /ga/, and /gi/. Identification of unimodal visual speech was unaffected by increasing distance to 10m, but was impaired at 20 and 30m. However, despite these drops in unimodal visual speech identification, visual speech improved performance with congruent auditory speech at all distances and impaired performance with incongruent auditory speech at distances up to 20m, indicating that auditory speech recognition is influenced by visual speech even when encoded from distant faces. Implications of these findings for understanding visual and audiovisual speech recognition are discussed.
The Perception of Lexical Tone in Mambila
Authors: Connell Bruce
Published: February 2009

The issue of the perception of lexical tone has been addressed mainly through studies of Southeast Asian languages which feature phonological contour tones as well as level tones. Little attention has been paid to African languages which have, almost exclusively, only level tones. This paper examines tone perception in Mambila, a Benue- Congo language with four levellexicaltones. A categorization experiment was run to determine some of the salient aspects of the perceptual nature of these tones. Since the four tones are well defined with respect to production, we sought to determine whether this characteristic carried over into perception, the expectation being that experimental stimuli, on the basis of pitch height alone, would fall into four reasonably well defined categories. Results showed interesting differences across the four tones, with indications that the two Mid tones, T2 and T3, are perceptually different than the High (T1) and Low(T4) tones.The experiment was run a second time,using a group of native English listeners, to assess to what extent results for the Mambila listeners were determined by the perceptual structure of the Mambila tone system. A Signal Detection analysis was used, which revealed important differences between the two groups of listeners. Results are discussed in light of what is known about universal tendencies of tone systems and the historical development of the Mambila system.
The Behavior of H *and L* Under Variations in Pitch Range in Dutch Rising Contours
Authors: Gussenhoven Carlos , Rietveld Toni
Published: February 2009

A Dutch rising intonation contour can be realized either as a rise that begins low and ends mid-to-high (“low rise”) or as a rise that begins mid and ends high (“high rise”). These two contours could either be the extremes on a phonetic continuum representing a single phonological contour, for instance L* H - H%, or be realizations of two phonologically different contours, L* H-H% and H* H-H%. In order to decide between these two analyses, listeners were asked to rate stimuli with different pitch ranges on a number of semantic scales whose meanings vary with pitch range. Our hypothesis was that H - tones are higher as the pitch range increases, while L* is lower. Two preliminary experiments, in which we presented F0 contours of high rises and low rises in a number of different pitch ranges, revealed that perceived surprise, rather than perceived prominence, is an appropriate response variable for measuring pitch range perception, where increased pitch range corresponds to higher H-tones and lower L*. Subsequently, listeners were asked to indicate the degree to which each of a number of appropriately manipulated stimuli expressed "Surprise.” The results lend strong support to the hypothesis that the low rise and the high rise are categorically distinct contours of Dutch, and that their first tones are L* and H*, respectively.
The Effect of Cue-Enhancement on Consonant Intelligibility in Noise: Speaker and Listener Effects
Authors: Hazan Valerie , Simpson Andrew
Published: February 2009

Our previous work (Hazan & Simpson, 1998) has shown that increasing the salience of perceptually important regions of nonsense word and sentence materials aids speech perception in noise. This study aimed to extend these findings by investigating the robustness of these enhancement techniques in improving consonant intelligibility for a range of different speakers and for groups of listeners with different language backgrounds. In Experiment 1, nonsense vowel-consonant-vowel (VCV) tokens produced by two female and two male speakers without phonetic training were annotated to highlight segments of the signal corresponding to the consonant constriction/occlusion and vowel onset/offset regions. These regions were selectively amplified to enhance the cues they contained, then combined with speech- shaped noise at 0 dB SNR and presented to normally hearing listeners. Significant improvements in intelligibility were found for all speakers although the extent of the improvement varied across speakers. In Experiment 2, a subset of these stimuli were presented to two groups of learners of English — a Japanese- L1 groupanda Spanish - L1 group —and a new group of native-English controls. Results showed a significant effect of enhancement in all listener-groups and similar speaker effects for the non-native and native English listeners. Error patterns were related to the distance between the phonological systems of listeners' L1 and L2.
The Hebrew Vowel System: Raw and Normalized Acoustic Data
Authors: Most Tova , Amir Ofer , Tobin Yishai
Published: February 2009

It is well known that different languages use different vowel systems interms of variety and number. The Hebrew vowel system consists of five vowels /i, e, a, o, u/. The present research identified the acoustic features of the vowels produced by Hebrew speakers differing in age and sex. Ninety speakers (men, women, boys, and girls) were recorded. The vowels were presented in a nonword context that was placed in a meaningful Hebrew sentence. The data included measurements of F0, F1, F2, F3, F4, and vowel duration for the five different vowels produced by the four groups of participants. Conversion of the physical frequency measures of formants into a critical band (bark) scale was performed as well. The results indicated that the F2/F1 ratio is a distinctive feature of all five vowels, keeping with the findings of previous research in other languages. Nevertheless, the values of the F2/F1 ratios led to an overlap between different vowels producedby different groups of speakers. Applying the bark transformation as speaker normalization procedure succeeded in reducing speaker differences while increasing vowel differences.
The Effects of Parallelism and Prosody in the Processing of Gapping Structures
Authors: Carlson Katy
Published: February 2009

Two studies explored the processing of ambiguous sentences like B ill took chips to the party and Susan to the game, which may be assigned a gapping (Susan took chips) or a nongapping structure (Bill took Susan). The central question was what factors affect the ultimate interpretive preferences for these sentences. In a written questionnaire, sentences with greater parallelism between arguments in the positions of Bill and S usan received more gapping responses, though an overall bias toward the non gapping structure was seen. An auditory comprehension study showed that prosodic parallels between arguments also affected interpretation. In both experiments parallelism played a significant role in determiningan interpretation, but the simpler structure, the nongapping structure, was preferred overall.
Constrained Emergence of Universals and Variation in Syllable Systems
Authors: Redford Melissa A. , Chun Chi Chen  , Mkkulainen Risto
Published: February 2009

A computational model of emergent syllable systems is developed based on a set of functional constraints on syllable systems and the assumption that language structure emerges through cumulative change over time. The constraints were derived from general communicative factors as well as from the phonetic principles of perceptual distinctiveness and articulatory ease. Through evolutionary optimization, the model generated mock vocabularies optimized for the given constraints. Several simulations were run to understand how these constraints might define the emergence of universals and variation in complex sound systems. The predictions were that(1) CV syllables would be highly frequent in all vocabularies evolved under the constraints; (2) syllables with consonant clusters, consonant codas,and vowel onsets would occur much less frequently; (3) a relationship would exist between the number of syllable types in a vocabulary and the average word length in the vocabulary; (4) different syllable types would emerge according to, what we termed, an iterative principle of syllable structure and their frequency would be directly related to their complexity; and(5) categorical differences would emerge between vocabularies evolved under the same constraints. Simulation results confirmed these predictions and provided novel insights into why regularities and differences may occur across languages. Specifically, the model suggested that both language universals and variation are consistent with a set of functional constraints that are fixed relative to one another. Language universals reflect underlying constraints on the system and language variation represents the many different and equally-good solutions to the unique problem defined by these constraints.
Rethinking the Word Frequency Effect: The Neglected Role of Distributional Information in Lexical Processing
Authors: McDonald Scott A. , Shillcock Richard C.
Published: February 2009

Attempts to quantify lexical variation have produced a large number of theoretical and empirical constructs, such as Word Frequency, Concreteness, and Ambiguity, which have been claimed to predict between-word differences in lexical processing behavior. Models of word recognition that have been developed to account for the effects of these variables have typically lacked adequate semantic representations, and have dealt with words as if they exist in isolation from their environment. We present a new dimension of lexical variation that is addressed to this concern. Contextual Distinctiveness(CD), a corpus-derived summary measure of the frequency distribution of the contexts in which a word occurs, is naturally compatible with contextual theories of semantic representation and meaning. Experiment 1 demonstrates that CD is a significantly better predictor of lexical decision latencies than occurrence frequency, suggesting that CD is the more psychologically relevant variable. We additionally explore the relationship between CD and six subjectively-defined measures: Concreteness, Context Availability, Number of Contexts, Ambiguity, Age of Acquisition and Familiarity and find CD to be reliably related to Ambiguity only. We argue for the priority of immediate context in determining the representation and processing of language.
The Effect of Production Variables in Monolog and Dialog on Comprehension by Novel Listeners
Authors: Murfitt Tara , McAllister Jan
Published: February 2009

Prior research has identified a number of dimensions along which speakers modify referring expressions. The present study aimed to determine and describe the actual relationship existing between these production characteristics and corresponding measures of listener comprehension. Spoken descriptions were elicited from eight speakers during monolog and dialog conditions of the tangram task. In a subsequent listening experiment, 163 new subjects listened to the referring expressions from the speech corpus, and were asked to select, from an array of tangram figures, the one that was being described in the referring expression. Results revealed that the production variables most commonly documented by previous researchers collectively contributed to listener comprehension to a surprisingly small, but consistently significant, degree. Furthermore, the communicative context in which referring expressions were produced did not substantially influence their overall comprehensibility; instead, communicative context, as well as the individual characteristics of the speaker who produced the referring expression, appeared to affect which variables listeners found most useful when inferring what the speaker meant.
Dialectal Variation in the Lexical Tone System of Ma'ya
Authors: Remijsen Bert
Published: February 2009

This paper deals with dialectal variation in the lexical tone system of Ma'ya, an Austronesian language featuring three lexically contrastive tonemes (High, Rise, and Fall). Representative acoustic data were collected from the Misool, Salawati, and Laganyan dialects, and on the basis of these data, an account is given of their tone systems, and of how these tone systems compare to one another. The objective of this investigation is to gain insight in diachronic development in lexical tone systems.

The Rise toneme features the most variation, both within and between dialects. Evidence is presented that the diachronic, between-dialectvariation in the Rise toneme is due to synchronic between-context variation (cf. Ohala, 1989). While this synchronic variation is still evident in the Salawati dialect, the two other dialects developed in radically different directions. In the Misool dialect, the generalization of one of the realizations of the Rise triggered a push-chain style tonal change, in which another toneme, the Fall, shifted upward in the tonal space, ensuring perceptual contrast. In the Laganyan dialect, on the other hand, the tonal contrast between the Fall and the Rise is lost in one context. The Laganyan dialect also developed a boundary tone which only surfaces when the syllable with which it is associated has a voiced coda.
Assimilation Violation and Spoken-Language Processing: A Supplementary Report
Authors: Weber Andrea
Published: February 2009

Previous studies have shown that spoken-language processing is inhibited by violation of obligatory regressive assimilation. Weber (2001)replicated this inhibitory effect in a phoneme-monitoring study examining regressive place assimilation of nasals, but found facilitation for violation of progressive assimilation. German listeners detected the velar fricative [x] more quickly when fricative assimilation was violated (e.g., *[bIxt]or*[blInx n])than when no violation occurred (e.g., [baxt] or [blu:x n]). It wa sa rguedth ata combination of two factors caused facilitation: (1) progressive assimilation creates different restrictions for the monitoring target than regressive assimilation does, and (2) the sequences violating assimilation (e.g., *[Ix]) are novel for German listeners and therefore facilitate fricative detection (novel popout). The present study tested progressive assimilation violation in non-novel sequences using the palatal fricative [C]. Stimuli either violated fricative assimilation (e.g., * [ba:C l ]) or did not (e.g., [bi: C l ]). This manipulation does not create novel sequences: sequences like *[a:C] can occur across word boundaries, while *[Ix] cannot. No facilitation was found. However, violation also did not significantly inhibit processing. The results confirm that facilitation depends on the combination of progressive assimilation with novelty of the sequence.
Early Sound Patterns in the Speech of Two Brazilian Portuguese Speakers
Authors: Teixeira Elizabeth Reis , Davis Barbara L.
Published: February 2009

Sound patterns in the speech of two Brazilian-Portuguesespeaking children are comparedwith early production patterns in English learning children as well as English and Brazilian Portuguese (BP) characteristics. The relationship between production system effects and ambient language influences in the acquisition of early sound patternsis of primary interest, as English and BP are characterized by differing phonological systems. Results emphasize the primacy of production system effects in early acquisition, although even the earliest word forms show evidence of perceptual effects from the ambient language in both BP children. Use of labials and coronals and low and midfront vowels in simple syllable shapes is consistent with acquisition data for this period across languages. However, potential ambient language influences include higher frequencies of dorsals, use of multisyllabic words, and different phone types in syllable off set position. These results suggest that to fully understand early acquisition of sound systems one must account for both production systemeffects and perceptual effects from the ambient language.
Intonational Rises and Dialog Acts in the Australian English Map Task
Authors: Fletcher Janet , Stirling Lesley , Mushin Ilana , Wales Roger
Published: February 2009

Eight map task dialogs representative of General Australian English, were coded for speaker turn, and for dialog acts using a version of SWBDDAMSL, a dialog act annotation scheme. High, low, simple, and complex rising tunes, and any corresponding dialog act codes were then compared. Dialog acts corresponding to information requests were consistently realized as high-onset high rises((L+)H*H—H%).Howeverlow-onset high rises (e.g., L*H —H%) corresponded to a wider range of other “forward-looking” communicative functions, such as statements and action directives, and were rarely associated with information requests. Low-range rises (L*L—H%), by contrast, were mostly associated with backward-looking functions, like acknowledgments and responses, that is they were almost always used when the speaker was referring to what had occurred previously in the discourse. Two kinds of fall-rise tunes were also examined: the low-range fall-rise (H *L— H %) and the expanded range fall-rise (H * + L H —H %). The latter shared similar dialog functions with statement high rises, and were almost never associated with yes/no questions, whereas the low-range fall-rises were associated more with backward-looking functions, such as responses or acknowledgments. The Australian English statement high rise (usually realized as a L* H — H % tune) or “uptalk,” appears to be more closely related to the classic continuation rises, than to yes/no question rises of typologically-related varieties of English.
Prosodic Effects on Word Reduction
Authors: Carter Allyson K. , Clopper Cynthia G.
Published: February 2009

It is widely known that English-speaking children reduce words by omitting syllables in certain predictable patterns (e.g., banána ~n ána). One way to better understand the nature of phonological reductions in children is to examine adults'word reduction behavior. This study explored whether adults produce predictable output patterns when reducing words. Undergraduate participants heard a list of polysyllabic words varying systematically across syllable number and primary stress location and were asked to generate a “reduced” form, similar to common English reductions (e.g., rhinóceros~ rhíno). Regardless of stress and syllable number, participants reduced the stimulus words significantly more often to left-headed disyllabic or monosyllabic feet, retaining stressed syllables and omitting unstressed syllables. The general bias found was similar to that which children exhibit in natural speech, namely, to maintain well-formed prosodic patterns and preserve salient syllables. On the other hand, a tendency to preserve word-initial instead of word-final syllables was also found, suggesting subtle differences in language processing between children and adults. The current study contributes to the psycholinguistic literature on adults' syllable omissions in abbreviations and fast-speech registers by examining the processing strategies that adults may use when reducing words.
Syllabification of Intervocalic Consonants by English and Japanese Speakers
Authors: Ishikawa Keiichi
Published: February 2009

This study investigated how English and Japanese speakers syllabify two-syllable English words and nonwords with single intervocalic consonants. In oral tasks, participants inserted a pause between two parts of English words and nonwords. In written tasks, they selected their preferred syllabification of English words between two alternatives. In Experiment 1 both English and Japanese speakers generally tended to place intervocalic consonants in the second syllables, following the maximum onset principle. Japanese speakers showed a stronger preference for this type of segmentation than English speakers. Responses by speakers of both languages were affected by the position of stress, the length of the stressed vowel, and the sonority of the intervocalic consonant, reflecting the universal effects of these factors on syllabification. Japanese speakers produced a relatively large number of CVCV/C (C= consonant, V= vowel) responses (e.g., sala/d )which were also influenced by vowel length and consonant type. Experiment 2 tested the Japanese speakers who had been trained to recognize English syllables. They showed more ambisyllabic responses and fewer CVCV/C responses than the untrained participants, suggesting their tendency toward syllabic segmentation, rather than moraic segmentation. The results are discussed in light of linguistic and psycho linguistic theories of syllabification.
Perceiving Prosody from the Face and Voice: Distinguishing Statements from Echoic Questions in English
Authors: Srinivasan Ravindra J. , Massaro Dominic W.
Published: February 2009

We examined the processing of potential auditory and visual cues that differentiate statements from echoic questions. In Experiment 1, four natural speech statement-question pairs were identified by participants, and then analyzed to determine which characteristics were ecologically valid. These characteristics were tested in subsequent experiments to determine if they were also functionally valid. In Experiment 2, the characteristics of the most discriminable utterance pair were successfully extended to the other utterance pairs. For Experiment 3, an auditory continuum (varying in F0, amplitude, duration) was crossed with a visual continuum (varying in eyebrow raise, head tilt), using synthetic speech and a computer-animated head. Participants judged five levels along each of these two speech continua between a prototypical statement and prototypical question, in an expanded factorial design. Experiments 4 and 5 were unable to appreciably enhance the weak visual effect relative to the strong auditory effect (from Experiment 3). Overall, we found that both auditory and visual cues reliably conveyed statement and question intonation, were successfully synthesized, and generalized to other utterances. However, the weak visual effect relative to the robustly strong auditory effect precluded optimal integration and conclusive examination of information processing through model-fitting.
Reanalysis of Clause Boundaries in Japanese as a Constraint-Driven Process
Authors: Miyamoto Edson T.
Published: February 2009

When processing the initial segment of a sentence, readers may favor an interpretation that will turn out to be incorrect as more words are read. In these cases, a reanalysis process is necessary in order to correct the mental representation built up to that point. It has been previously proposed that readers obey a minimum change restriction, as they prefer to change the mental representation as little as possible. The present paper reports two experiments in Japanese suggesting that a minimal change restriction is unnecessary to characterize reanalysis. It is proposed instead that the present data and previous observations are more naturally explained by a constraint-driven model in which revisions are performed only when required by parsing constraints.