bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
COPSE
Authors: Maquil Valerie , Tobias Eric , Anastasiou Dimitra , Mayer Hélène , Latour Thibaud
Published: June 2017

Collaborative problem solving is a skill that has become very important in our everyday lives and is constantly gaining attention in educational settings. In this paper, we present COPSE: a novel and unique software framework for instantiating Microworlds as collaborative problem solving activities on tangible tabletop interfaces. The framework provides three types of building blocks: widgets (provide input and localized feedback), equations (define the model), and scenes (visualize feedback), which can be specified in the form of structured text. Aim of COPSE is to simplify processes of creating, adjusting, and reusing custom Microworlds scenarios. We describe the structure of the framework, provide an example of a scenario, and report on a case study where we have used COPSE together with 33 teachers to build new scenarios on the fly.
Inactivation of the Kinase Domain of CDK10 Prevents Tumor Growth in a Preclinical Model of Colorectal Cancer, and Is Accompanied by Downregulation of Bcl-2
Authors: Weiswald Louis-Bastien , Hasan Mohammad R. , Wong John C.T. , Pasiliao Clarissa C. , Rahman Mahbuba , Ren Jianhua , Yin Yaling , Gusscott Samuel , Vacher Sophie , Weng Andrew P. , Kennecke Hagen F. , Bièche Ivan , Schaeffer David F. , Yapp Donald T. , Tai Isabella T.
Published: June 2017

Cyclin-dependent kinase 10 (CDK10), a CDC2-related kinase, is highly expressed in colorectal cancer. Its role in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer is unknown. This study examines the function of CDK10 in colorectal cancer, and demonstrates its role in suppressing apoptosis and in promoting tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Modulation of CDK10 expression in colorectal cancer cell lines demonstrates that CDK10 promotes cell growth, reduces chemosensitivity and inhibits apoptosis by upregulating the expression of Bcl-2. This effect appears to depend on its kinase activity, as kinase-defective mutant colorectal cancer cell lines have an exaggerated apoptotic response and reduced proliferative capacity. In vivo, inhibiting CDK10 in colorectal cancer following intratumoral injections of lentivirus-mediated CDK10 siRNA in a patient-derived xenograft mouse model demonstrated its efficacy in suppressing tumor growth. Furthermore, using a tissue microarray of human colorectal cancer tissues, the potential for CDK10 to be a prognostic biomarker in colorectal cancer was explored. In tumors of individuals with colorectal cancer, high expression of CDK10 correlates with earlier relapse and shorter overall survival. The findings of this study indicate that CDK10 plays a role in the pathogenesis in colorectal cancer and may be a potential therapeutic target for treatment. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(10); 2292–303. ©2017 AACR.
Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in the Aetiology of Caries: Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Piekoszewska-Ziętek Paula , Turska-Szybka Anna , Olczak-Kowalczyk Dorota
Published: June 2017

Recent progress in the field of molecular biology and techniques of DNA sequence analysis allowed determining the meaning of hereditary factors of many common human diseases. Studies of genetic mechanisms in the aetiology of caries encompass, primarily, 4 main groups of genes responsible for (1) the development of enamel, (2) formation and composition of saliva, (3) immunological responses, and (4) carbohydrate metabolism. The aim of this study was to present current knowledge about the influence of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genetic variants on the occurrence of dental caries. PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for papers on the influence of genetic factors connected with SNP on the occurrence of dental caries in children, teenagers, and adults. Thirty original papers written in English were included in this review. Study groups ranged from 30 to 13,000 subjects. SNPs were observed in 30 genes. Results of the majority of studies confirm the participation of hereditary factors in the aetiology of caries. Three genes, AMELX, AQP5, and ESRRB, have the most promising evidence based on multiple replications and data, supporting a role of these genes in caries. The review of the literature proves that SNP is linked with the aetiology of dental caries.
Lipoencephalocele in a Child: An Uncommon Swelling in the Occipital Region
Authors: Verma Ajay Kumar , Pandey Anand , Chaubey Digamber , Sunil Kanoujia , Gupta Archika , Kureel Shiv Narain
Published: June 2017

Neural tube defects are common congenital malformations of the central nervous system. The 3 most common neural tube defects are anencephaly, myelomeningocele, and encephalocele. Lipoencephalocele is an extremely uncommon entity with sporadic reports in the literature. We treated a 4-year-old gild with occipital lipoencephalocele. This report presents the clinical presentation and management of the patient along with a review of the relevant literature.
Inhibition of the lncRNA Mirt1 Attenuates Acute Myocardial Infarction by Suppressing NF-κB Activation
Authors: Li Xiangrao , Zhou Jian , Huang Kai
Published: June 2017

Background/Aims: The expression of a novel lncRNA, myocardial infarction associated transcript 1(Mirt1), has been shown to be upregulated in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the role of Mirt1 in AMI is not clear. Methods: In this study, we analyzed the level of Mirt1 in cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts in AMI mice. Moreover, adenovirus mediated knockdown of Mirt1 was employed to clarify its roles in AMI mice or cultured cardiac fibroblasts. The cardiac functions and infarct size of AMI mice were examined, and tissues and cultured cells were collected and processed for histology and biochemical examination. Results: We demonstrated that Mirt1 was mainly expressed in cardiac fibroblasts, and that knockdown of Mirt1 improved cardiac functions, decreased cardiomyocytes apoptosis and attenuated inflammatory cell infiltration in vivo. Furthermore, knockdown of Mirt1 in cardiac fibroblasts not only attenuated the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes, but also suppressed the migration of macrophages under hypoxia in vitro. NF-κB signaling pathway, activated under hypoxia, was also inhibited by Mirt1 knockdown in fibroblasts. Conclusions: Knockdown of Mirt1 attenuates AMI injury presumably by decreasing cardiomyocytes apoptosis and reducing inflammatory cell infiltration. These effects could be attributed, at least partly, to inhibition of the NF-κB pathway, resulting in decreased expression of inflammatory factors.
Aspectos das inter-relações entre colonialismo, violência e interesses econômicos, representadas em O esplendor de Portugal, de António Lobo Antunes
Authors: Santos Fernanda Fátima da Fonseca
Published: June 2017

Neste artigo, destacam-se alguns aspectos da visão crítica que se desenvolve no romance O esplendor de Portugal acerca do colonialismo português na África. Entre esses aspectos, priorizam-se aqui as inter-relações entre o desenvolvimento do sistema capitalista no mundo e o estabelecimento e manutenção das formas do colonialismo português em Angola, caracterizadas sobretudo pela violência. Além disso, apresentam-se algumas das maneiras como essas relações são construídas na narrativa.
Reflexões sobre a revisitação do passado a partir de dois romances de José Eduardo Agualusa
Authors: Jacob Sheila Ribeiro
Published: June 2017

Este artigo propõe reflexões sobre a revisitação da história por meio da literatura a partir da leitura dos romances A conjura (1989) e O vendedor de passados (2004), ambos do escritor angolano José Eduardo Agualusa. Os dois livros nos permitem pensar sobre o assunto de maneira distinta: no primeiro, resgatam-se fatos e nomes históricos de Angola do final do século XIX, entrelaçando “ficção e realidade”, procedimento este adotado, na diegese do segundo romance convocado, pelo protagonista Félix Ventura.
Editorial
Authors: Rabello Rosana Baú
Published: June 2017

O dossiê, neste décimo nono número, propõe a discussão das várias maneiras como as criações artísticas - literatura, cinema, teatro, fotografia, escultura, dentre outras - relacionam-se com a história e passam a ser entendidas como processo: processo histórico, político e filosófico; semiótico e linguístico; individual e social, tudo a um só tempo. Entendemos que o enfoque historicizante ajuda a compreender a realidade de onde emergem essas produções, o alcance de sua representação social e o universo socioideológico no qual se inserem.
Smooth Muscle Cells Derived From Second Heart Field and Cardiac Neural Crest Reside in Spatially Distinct Domains in the Media of the Ascending Aorta—Brief Report
Authors: Sawada Hisashi , Rateri Debra L. , Moorleghen Jessica J. , Majesky Mark W. , Daugherty Alan
Published: June 2017

Objective—

Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) of the proximal thoracic aorta are embryonically derived from the second heart field (SHF) and cardiac neural crest (CNC). However, distributions of these embryonic origins are not fully defined. The regional distribution of SMCs of different origins is speculated to cause region-specific aortopathies. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the distribution of SMCs of SHF and CNC origins in the proximal thoracic aorta.

Approach and Results—

Mice with repressed LacZ in the ROSA26 locus were bred to those expressing
Cre
controlled by either the Wnt1 or Mef2c (myocyte-specific enhancer factor 2c) promoter to trace CNC- and SHF-derived SMCs, respectively. Thoracic aortas were harvested, and activity of β-galactosidase was determined. Aortas from Wnt1-
Cre
mice had β-galactosidase–positive areas throughout the region from the proximal ascending aorta to just distal of the subclavian arterial branch. Unexpectedly, β-galactosidase–positive areas in Mef2c-
Cre
mice extended from the aortic root throughout the ascending aorta. This distribution occurred independent of sex and aging. Cross and sagittal aortic sections demonstrated that CNC-derived cells populated the inner medial aspect of the anterior region of the ascending aorta and transmurally in the media of the posterior region. Interestingly, outer medial cells throughout anterior and posterior ascending aortas were derived from the SHF. β-Galactosidase–positive medial cells of both origins colocalized with an SMC marker, α-actin.

Conclusions—

Both CNC- and SHF-derived SMCs populate the media throughout the ascending aorta. The outer medial cells of the ascending aorta form a sleeve populated by SHF-derived SMCs.
Genome-Wide Temporal Profiling of Transcriptome and Open Chromatin of Early Cardiomyocyte Differentiation Derived From hiPSCs and hESCs
Authors: Liu Qing , Jiang Chao , Xu Jin , Zhao Ming-Tao , Van Bortle Kevin , Cheng Xun , Wang Guangwen , Chang Howard Y. , Wu Joseph C. , Snyder Michael P.
Published: June 2017

Rationale:

Recent advances have improved our ability to generate cardiomyocytes from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). However, our understanding of the transcriptional regulatory networks underlying early stages (ie, from mesoderm to cardiac mesoderm) of cardiomyocyte differentiation remains limited.

Objective:

To characterize transcriptome and chromatin accessibility during early cardiomyocyte differentiation from hiPSCs and hESCs.

Methods and Results:

We profiled the temporal changes in transcriptome and chromatin accessibility at genome-wide levels during cardiomyocyte differentiation derived from 2 hiPSC lines and 2 hESC lines at 4 stages: pluripotent stem cells, mesoderm, cardiac mesoderm, and differentiated cardiomyocytes. Overall, RNA sequencing analysis revealed that transcriptomes during early cardiomyocyte differentiation were highly concordant between hiPSCs and hESCs, and clustering of 4 cell lines within each time point demonstrated that changes in genome-wide chromatin accessibility were similar across hiPSC and hESC cell lines. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) identified several modules that were strongly correlated with different stages of cardiomyocyte differentiation. Several novel genes were identified with high weighted connectivity within modules and exhibited coexpression patterns with other genes, including noncoding RNA
LINC01124
and uncharacterized RNA
AK127400
in the module related to the mesoderm stage; E-box-binding homeobox 1 (
ZEB1
) in the module correlated with postcardiac mesoderm. We further demonstrated that ZEB1 is required for early cardiomyocyte differentiation. In addition, based on integrative analysis of both WGCNA and transcription factor motif enrichment analysis, we determined numerous transcription factors likely to play important roles at different stages during cardiomyocyte differentiation, such as
T
and eomesodermin (
EOMES
; mesoderm), lymphoid enhancer-binding factor 1 (
LEF1
) and mesoderm posterior BHLH transcription factor 1 (
MESP1
; from mesoderm to cardiac mesoderm), meis homeobox 1 (
MEIS1
) and GATA-binding protein 4 (
GATA4
) (postcardiac mesoderm),
JUN
and
FOS
families, and
MEIS2
(cardiomyocyte).

Conclusions:

Both hiPSCs and hESCs share similar transcriptional regulatory mechanisms underlying early cardiac differentiation, and our results have revealed transcriptional regulatory networks and new factors (eg, ZEB1) controlling early stages of cardiomyocyte differentiation.
Association Between Elevated Pulse Pressure and High Resting Coronary Blood Flow Velocity in Patients With Angiographically Normal Epicardial Coronary Arteries
Authors: Lembo Maria , Sicari Rosa , Esposito Roberta , Rigo Fausto , Cortigiani Lauro , Lo Iudice Francesco , Picano Eugenio , Trimarco Bruno , Galderisi Maurizio
Published: June 2017

Background

The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship of pulse pressure (
PP
), a raw index of arterial stiffness, with noninvasively determined coronary flow reserve (
CFR
) and its components, in patients with angiographically normal epicardial coronary arteries.

Methods and Results

The study population included 398 patients without angiographic evidence of coronary stenosis, who underwent high‐dose dipyridamole stress echocardiography with transthoracic‐derived
CFR
evaluation on the left anterior descending artery.
CFR
was calculated as the ratio between high‐dose dipyridamole and resting coronary diastolic peak velocities. Patients were divided into 2 groups: the first group included the first and second
PP
tertiles (n=298,
PP
≤60 mm Hg) and the second group included the highest
PP
tertile (n=100,
PP
>60 mm Hg). Mean blood pressure, systolic blood pressure (both
P
<0.0001), age (
P
<0.002), and left ventricular mass index (
P
=0.013) were higher in the highest
PP
tertile, which also showed higher resting coronary flow velocity (31.6±9.6 cm/s versus 27.7±6.4 cm/s,
P
<0.0001) and marginally lower
CFR
(2.5±0.6 versus 2.6±0.6,
P
=0.044). Hyperemic coronary flow velocity did not differ between the 2 groups. By separate multiple linear regression analyses, after adjusting for sex, age, the highest systolic blood pressure tertile (≥140 mm Hg), left ventricular mass index, and cardiovascular risk factors, the highest
PP
tertile was associated with resting coronary flow velocity (
P
=0.003) and only marginally with hyperemic coronary flow velocity (
P
<0.02), whereas its association with
CFR
was not significant.

Conclusions

In patients without epicardial coronary artery stenosis, the highest
PP
tertile is associated with an increased coronary flow velocity at rest.
Cellular Statistical Models of Broken Cloud Fields. Part III: Markovian Properties
Authors: Alexandrov Mikhail D. , Marshak Alexander
Published: June 2017

In the third part of the “Cellular Statistical Models of Broken Cloud Fields” series the cloud statistics formalism developed in the first two parts is interpreted in terms of the theory of Markov processes. The master matrix introduced in this study is a unifying generalization of both the cloud fraction probability distribution function (PDF) and the Markovian transition probability matrix. To illustrate the new concept, the master matrix is used for computation of the moments of the cloud fraction PDF—in particular, the variance—which until now has not been analytically derived in the framework of the authors’ previous work. This paper also serves as a bridge to the proposed future studies of the effects of sampling and averaging on satellite-based cloud masks.
Generation of Ensemble Mean Precipitation Forecasts from Convection-Allowing Ensembles
Authors: Clark Adam J.
Published: June 2017

Methods for generating ensemble mean precipitation forecasts from convection-allowing model (CAM) ensembles based on a simple average of all members at each grid point can have limited utility because of amplitude reduction and overprediction of light precipitation areas caused by averaging complex spatial fields with strong gradients and high-amplitude features. To combat these issues with the simple ensemble mean, a method known as probability matching is commonly used to replace the ensemble mean amounts with amounts sampled from the distribution of ensemble member forecasts, which results in a field that has a bias approximately equal to the average bias of the ensemble members. Thus, the probability matched mean (PM mean hereafter) is viewed as a better representation of the ensemble members compared to the mean, and previous studies find that it is more skillful than any of the individual members. Herein, using nearly a year’s worth of data from a CAM-based ensemble running in real time at the National Severe Storms Laboratory, evidence is provided that the superior performance of the PM mean is at least partially an artifact of the spatial redistribution of precipitation amounts that occur when the PM mean is computed over a large domain. Specifically, the PM mean enlarges big areas of heavy precipitation and shrinks or even eliminates smaller ones. An alternative approach for the PM mean is developed that restricts the grid points used to those within a specified radius of influence. The new approach has an improved spatial representation of precipitation and is found to perform more skillfully than the PM mean at large scales when using neighborhood-based verification metrics.
Trolling around the Patent-Antitrust Interface: The Roots of the NPE Challenge and the Role of Antitrust in Patent Reform
Authors: Abramson Bruce D.
Published: June 2017

Over the past few years, a growing number of critics have complained that nonpracticing “patent trolls” threaten the American economy. These entities and their patent monetization practices have begun to generate inquiries from sources both scholarly and political. This article sets the stage for the nascent antitrust inquiry into patent trolls by reviewing the history of the patent-antitrust interface, showing the relationship between these two bodies of law and broader economic thought, and demonstrating the ways in which the—generally positive—recalibration of their interface in recent decades has created many of our current challenges. In particular, it focuses on the creation of our contemporary system of very strong patent rights beginning in the early 1980s and on the ways in which these rights have proven to be so strong that they may be invite anticompetitive abuse.
Patent Assertion Entities & Privateers: Economic Harms to Innovation and Competition
Authors: Harris Robert G.
Published: June 2017

This article assesses aggressive rent-seeking activities by patent assertion entities (PAEs), especially in patent-thick industries. Patent thickets are “target-rich” environments, providing ample opportunities for rent-seeking and abuse of patents by PAEs. Fundamental differences in the strategic interests of practicing entities (PEs) and PAEs increase the opportunities for, and economic harm caused by, PAEs engaging in patent hold-up. PAEs exploit deficiencies in patent policy and enforcement, including the use of injunctions, excessive damages awards, and costly settlements stemming from actual or threatened litigation, the high cost of which increases “hold-up value.” The article also examines the threat to competition and innovation caused by “privateering”: the transfer of patents from PEs to PAEs. While there may be limits on the use of antitrust to moderate all of the harms caused by PAEs, cases involving privateering are ripe for investigation, prosecution, and remedy by enforcement agencies and private antitrust actions.
Biomechanical Analysis of the U.S. Navy Mark V and Mark XII Diving Systems
Authors: Bachrach Arthur J. , Egstrom Glen H. , Blackmun Susan M.
Published: June 2017

This study is one of a series of human factors analyses comparing two U.S. Navy surface-supported hardhat diving systems - the standard Mark V and the prototype Mark XII. The study assessed the range of motion in the two diving systems, using a biomechanical analysis. Fourteen anthropometric measurements were chosen which represented gross body movements used in hardhat diving and likely to be affected most by diving suits. After measuring each movement, comparisons were made with swim suit baselines to determine how much loss of mobility had occurred. The Mark XII was superior to the Mark V overall, both in wet and dry modes.
Visual Time Compression: Spatial and Temporal Cues
Authors: Scanlan L. A.
Published: June 2017

Previous research has demonstrated the improved target detection performance resulting from the coherent motion cues provided by a visually time-compressed radar display (Moll and Scanlan, 1972; Scanlan, Roscoe, and Williges, 1971). These studies indicate that, as the detection task becomes more difficult because of increased noise and clutter, the improvement due to time compression increases. The results of these studies further indicate that, if the spatial aspect of the target could also be enhanced, additional target detection improvement might be realized. The present study compared target detection performance on a standard time-compressed display with performance on two displays that provide both spatial and temporal target cues. A fourth display providing primarily spatial cues was also included in the comparison. The results indicate that the addition of spatial cues improves the detectability of a target under conditions of high noise and that at least five frames of storage are required for best performance.
Group Size and Cooperation
Authors: Hamburger Henry , Guyer Melvin , Fox John
Published: June 2017

To compare the effects of group size on cooperation, we introduce a class of simple multiperson games. These games can be regarded as n-person generalizations of the two-person prisoner's dilemma with expected value payoffs. In order to ensure that identical expected-value monetary alternatives are available to players in different-sized groups, we introduced a certain formal constraint on payoffs. Results of an experimental study comparing three-and seven-person groups show that the smaller-sized group is markedly more cooperative than the larger group. The primary emphasis of this paper is methodological. It demonstrates a technique to measure cooperation as a function of group size unconfounded by role-playing and utility considerations.
Third Party Intervention and the Bargaining Behavior of Group Representatives
Authors: Bartunek Jean M. , Benton Alan A. , Keys Christopher B.
Published: June 2017

The present study compared the effects of content, process, and passive types of third party intervention on the bargaining behavior of pairs of group representatives. The setting was a simulated school board-teachers' union dispute over a new contract. Each side was represented by one person who was instructed to bargain tenaciously and to obtain as much as possible. The job of the representatives was either in jeopardy (high accountability) or not (low accountability). In the content intervention condition, a reasonable settlement was suggested to the representatives by the third party. In the process intervention condition, he taught them how to paraphrase. In the passive condition he had them take a break from their negotiations. For the high accountable representatives, as predicted, the order of effectiveness of the interventions (number of agreements, average joint profit, and speed of resolution), from most to least, was content, process, and passive. Contrary to expectations, the process intervention did not produce the highest average joint profit for the low accountability representatives. The representatives who did reach agreement in the low accountability process and content conditions, however, achieved higher joint profits than the representatives in the passive condition. Directions for further research were indicated.
Changes in Public Support for U.S. Military Spending
Authors: Kriesberg Louis , Klein Ross
Published: June 2017

The proportion of Americans believing the United States is spending too little on national defense has varied considerably over the past four decades. In recent years; this proportion has increased from 12% in 1973 to 30% in 1978. Using data from the NORC General Social Surveys for 1973 through 1978, this article studies the correlates of opinions about defense spending and seeks to account for the trend toward increased support for greater arms spending.

The results of this analysis suggest that factors important in explaining variations in opinions about arms spending vary with different historical periods. Three interconnected changes over the six years under study are suggested by the data to produce the aforementioned trend: the decline of the impact of the Vietnam war, a rise in particular elements of conservative ideology, and an increase in anti-Soviet and anticommunist sentiment.
Arms Race and Military Expenditure Models
Authors: Moll Kendall D. , Luebbert Gregory M.
Published: June 2017

This review primarily covers quantitative studies of armament issues published during the 1970s. In addition, it surveys significant earlier works, summarizes other reviews, and recommends directions for future research. It categorizes one type of research as “Arms-Building Models” (including Richardson and bureaucratic models) that describe how nations build their military forces. It also groups another type: Lanchester “Arms-Using Models” describe how force attrition occurs in battle. The review subclassifies studies of both types according to their level of analysis (international, national, and so on). These classifications permit conclusions such as these: (a) Social and psycho-logical factors are poorly represented in existing models. (b) Bureaucratic models are often better predictors than Richardson-type models. (c) Arms-Using Models can assess military effectiveness, but they cannot provide reliable policy guidance at present. (d) Future studies of issues neglected in the past, using recently developed empirical data, show promise for rapid progress.
Guest Editorial: Issues in Special Education: Rarely a Case off “Either-Or”
Authors: Hallahan Daniel P.
Published: June 2017

Empiricism is a paradoxically fickle mistress. As Hallahan quite accurately points out, there is little opportunity for research to be definitive. It is easier to be unrestrained by facts, to be a polemicist, to advocate a specific, often uncompromising position. However, one's dogmatism may prove detrimental not only to oneself but to the field in general. Careful study can teach us much if only that we do not know what we think. Herein lies the ultimate challenge to the polemicist for whoever presumes to know the solution to all learning disabilities fails to know what he doesn't know. The implications of the limits of research are broader than Hallahan describes: What are the limits of the unrestrained polemicist—more somberly, of the untutored “professional?” If we cannot trust the best empirical techniques available, then what shall we trust? Hallahan's statement requires a very difficult decision; shall we follow him who speaks the loudest and most persuasively, appears the most competent, and has the most to gain from his position? The Intellectual answer is really not open to question; regrettably, our attitudes as we function in the real world are susceptible to such influences.—G. M. S.
Auditory-Perceptual Training: The State of the Art
Authors: Lyon Reid
Published: June 2017

The focus of the column this month is on auditory perception. First, Reid Lyon delineates the issues in this area, and then the editors describe some materials which claim to train the auditory process. If readers find confusion among studies cited, procedures proposed, and their own conclusion, they can be fairly certain that their perception of the state of the art is correct.—C.V.E., B.W.
The Control Tower Language: A Case Study of A Specialized Language-in-Action
Authors: Sumby William H.
Published: June 2017

A methodology is presented by which the constraint imposed upon a sublanguage by linguistic and non-linguistic factors is estimated. The asymptotic redundancy associated with the control tower language, when the materials analyzed were predicted letter sequences, was estimated to be 75 per cent compared to 55 per cent for newspaper text. The average constraint imposed upon the selection of message units by the physical situation was estimated to be approximately 82 per cent. When the interaction of situational and linguistic constraints is considered, the estimated redundancy for the language-in-action is increased to 95 per cent.
The Perception of English Stops by Speakers of English, Spanish. Hungarian, and Thai: A Tape-Cutting Experiment
Authors: Lotz John , Abramson Arthur S. , Gerstman Louis J. , Ingemann Frances , Nemser William J.
Published: June 2017

American English stops, including residual stops, i.e., stops in /s/-clusters after the removal of the /s/, were presented in front of stressed vowels for identification on the one hand to native speakers of American English, on the other, to native speakers of Puerto Rican Spanish, Hungarian, and Thai, languages with differences in the phonetic composition of their stop phonemes. Speakers of American English identified the residual stops with the voiced (lenis) stop; the others, with the voiceless stop. The results suggest that there is a hierarchic organization among the features of these stops: the lack of aspiration tends to force the evaluation of stops in the direction of /b, d, g/ in American English, whereas in the languages where other distinctions exist, the evaluation is different.
Cross-Linguistic Study of Temporal Characteristics of Different Types of Speech Materials
Authors: Barik Henri C.
Published: June 2017

The temporal characteristics of different types of utterances (spontaneous speech, semi-prepared material, formal speech, oral reading) in two languages (English and French) are examined. Relationships among temporal variables are found to be consistent across languages. The greater the speech proportion of the passage, the longer and more variable the duration of speech bursts and conversely, the shorter and less variable the duration of pauses. An inverse relationship is noted between speech rate and articulation rate, which may be due to stylistic differences across the different types of materials. Articulation rate is similar across languages in relation to each type of material separately, and is a relatively constant speech parameter.
Perceptions of Female and Male Speech
Authors: Kramer Cheris
Published: June 2017

The study elicited stereotypes of female and male speech behaviour. The results give strong evidence that the speech of females and the speech of males, as perceived by women and by men, do not have the same subject matter, or the same manner of delivery. Of the 51 speech characteristics considered by the participants, 36 were rated as differentiating between female and male speech. These popular beliefs have an impact on people's behaviour, especially in initial encounters.
On Interpreting the Error Pattern in Beginning Reading
Authors: Fowler Carol A. , Liberman Isabelle Y. , Shankweiler Donald
Published: June 2017

The error pattern in beginning reading was examined from two perspectives: the location of a misread consonant or vowel segment within the syllable and the phonetic relationship between a consonant or vowel and a misreading of it. The first analysis showed, as earlier work had led us to expect, that consonants in the final position in a syllable were more frequently misread than initial consonants. In contrast, the position of a vowel within the syllable had no effect on the frequency with which it was misread. With regard to the second analysis, consonant errors were found to bear a close phonetic relationship to their target sounds, while errors on vowels were essentially unrelated, phonetically, to the vowel as written. The striking differences, demonstrated by the results of both analyses, between the consonants and the vowels were attributed to the different linguistic functions of the two types of segments and to their different representations in English orthography. These findings underscore the importance of nonvisual, language-related cognitive operations in reading acquisition.
The Effect of Phonetic Complexity On Speaker Height and Weight Identification
Authors: Lass Norman J. , Dicola George A. , Beverly Amy S. , Barbera Cheriann , Henry Kenneth G. , Badali Mary K.
Published: June 2017

Our purpose was to determine the effect of phonetic complexity on speaker height and weight identification in an attempt to establish the minimal acoustic cues necessary for distinguishing speakers' heights and weights. A total of 28 speakers, 14 females and 14 males, recorded 16 utterances representing four levels of phonetic complexity: isolated vowels, monosyllabic words, bisyllabic words and sentences. Eight master tapes were constructed, one for each of the four levels of phonetic complexity and the two sex groups. Twenty-four female judges participated in four experimental sessions, one for each level of phonetic complexity. In each session they heard the female and male tapes of one kind of stimulus and were asked to make direct estimations of the speakers' heights and weights. Results show that listeners are capable of accurate height and weight identification at all levels of phonetic complexity investigated. Differences in listener accuracy are, on average, only 0.41 inches and 1.44 lbs. Moreover, no regular, progressive trend is evident in listener accuracy from the simplest to the most complex stimuli. Implications of these findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Accessibility of Place and Manner Features and the Place/Manner Dissimilation Principle in a Learning Task
Authors: Schramm-Coberly Mary , Healy Alice F.
Published: June 2017

Alveolar, labial, fricative, and stop features were not readily accessible to adult subjects in a concept-formation task that involved learning a linguistic suffixing rule, even though the alveolar stop category triggers an alternate form of the English past tense suffix. However, the place/manner dissimilation principle was accessed toward the end of the testing session, suggesting that subjects encountered it as an articulatory constraint, as a result of pronouncing stimuli throughout the experiment. Speakers may process the past tense and plural suffixing rules in terms of articulatory constraints (i.e., possible and impossible pronunciation sequences), rather than in terms of segment or feature categories.
Linking as a Marker of Fluent Speech
Authors: Hieke A.E.
Published: June 2017

A two-dimensional, speech dynamic analysis of natural speech identifies linking (liaison) as a prominent class of phenomena at the phonetic syllabic level. Consonant Attraction, the specific feature under experimental observation, is highly prevalent in casual English speech both in terms of absolute frequency and in a ratio of potential to actualized link points. A statistically significant difference between native and nonnative speech can be noted for this fluency phenomenon. It points to the role this and related processes can potentially play in a taxonomy of the oral language and suggests the use of this feature as one of the parameters of fluent speech, valuable particularly in second-language proficiency assessment. There are strong indicators that the degree of alteration due to this and similar processes of absorption in phonated speech has significant repercussions on canonical shape in English.
Intonational Prominence On Negatives in English
Authors: Yaeger-Dror Malcah L.
Published: June 2017

Negatives are generally used to express a disagreement with a preceding turn in a conversation (Sacks, Schegloff and Jefferson, 1974) and therefore provide "new" information relative to the immediately preceding turn. Consequently, current linguistic theory concurs with recent phonetic analyses which have shown that negatives will generally be intonationally prominent. However, sociologists maintain that speakers will generally avoid disagreement with other parties to an interaction. An analysis of several conversations shows that in many situations the interactional rules take precedence over the linguistic rules: Disagreement with some other speaker is generally realized with reduced amplitude and non-prominent fundamental frequency on the negative words, while disagreement with self or agreement with a previous speaker is realized with prominent fundamental frequency on the negative, often accompanied by prominent amplitude.
Morphophonology and Lexical Organization in Deaf Readers
Authors: Hanson Vicki L. , Wilkenfeld Deborah
Published: June 2017

Prelingually, profoundly deaf individuals, due to their hearing impairment, would not be expected to have the same access to phonological information as hearing individuals. They might therefore have difficulties in using phonological structure to relate different morphological forms of words. Deaf and hearing readers' sensitivity to the morphological structure of English words was tested in the present study by using a lexical decision (word/nonword classification) task. Target words were primed 10 trials earlier by themselves (e.g., think primed by think), by morphologically related words (e.g., think primed by thought), or by orthographically related words (e.g., think primed by thin). Response times of both hearing and deaf college students to target words were facilitated when primed by themselves and also when primed by morphological relatives. Response times of subjects in neither group were facilitated to targets primed by orthographically related but morphologically unrelated words. These results indicate that deaf readers, like hearing readers, are sensitive to underlying morphophonological relationships among English words.
Production of Syntactic Stress in Alaryngeal Speech
Authors: Gandour Jack , Weinberg Bernd
Published: June 2017

An acoustical investigation of syntactic stress in alaryngeal speech was undertaken. Measurements were made of fundamental frequency, relative intensity, vowel duration, and intersyllable duration from noun compounds and noun phrases spoken by four normal speakers, four esophageal speakers, four Blom-Singer tracheoesophageal speakers, four users of the Western Electric 5A electrolarynx, and one user of the Servox electrolarynx. Results indicated that esophageal and tracheoesophageal speakers were able to manipulate the relative magnitudes of fundamental frequency, intensity, and vowel duration in a manner comparable to those of normal speakers. With the exception of one user of the Western Electric 5A electrolarynx, who manipulated both fundamental frequency and duration, electrolarynx users generally manipulated only duration properties. All alaryngeal speakers manipulated intersyllable duration, whereas normal speakers did not. The degree of acoustical contrast for both peak fundamental frequency and vowel duration was significantly greater on syllables in final position than in initial position for normal and alaryngeal speakers alike. These findings suggest that stress contrasts in alaryngeal speech are based on a complex of acoustic cues which are influenced by linguistic structure.
A Comparison of T-Units and Cohesive Ties Used By First and Third Grade Children
Authors: Klecan-Aker Joan S. , Lopez Beth
Published: June 2017

The purpose of the present investigation was to compare the language abilities of first and third grade children through an examination of their narratives. Narratives were analyzed for differences in T-units and the use of two cohesive ties, reference and conjoining. Results indicated that the older children used longer T-units and generally more cohesive ties within their narratives. Implications for assessing expressive language in disordered populations are discussed.
Difference in Second-Formant Transitions between Aspirated and Unaspirated Stop Consonants Preceding [α]
Authors: Repp Bruno H. , Lin Hwei-Bing
Published: June 2017

Perceptual experiments with synthetic speech have shown that the category boundary on an acoustic [pa]— [ta] (/ba/-/da/) continuum (obtained by varying the onset frequencies of the second and third formants) is closer to the labial endpoint than the boundary on a [pha]-[tha] (/pa/-/ta/) continuum. of several possible explanations, the most plausible seems to be that natural unaspirated and aspirated stops have different formant transitions. To supplement limited data on this point in the literature, we conducted an acoustic analysis of CV syllables produced by 10 male speakers of American English. The results show very clearly that the second formants of [pha] and [tha] start 100–200 Hz higher than those of [pa] and [to] and reach comparable frequency values only at voicing onset. This difference, which is probably an acoustic consequence of subglottal coupling during aspiration, seems to be part of a listener's tacit knowledge of phonetic regularities and thus explains the perceptual boundary shift. It also needs to be taken into account in realistic speech synthesis.
Interpersonal Influence on Temporal Measures of Vocalization in Interview Situations
Authors: Swingle Paul G. , Hope Gordon F.
Published: June 2017

Following participation in an experiment, nine subjects were interviewed and debriefed by a single experimenter. Two temporal measures of vocalization were derived from 7.5 second samples obtained during the dialogue and monologue portions of the debriefing. Marked influence of the interviewee on the interviewer's vocal patterning was apparent for both the dialogue and the monologue. The differences between the two vocalization measures and the possible implications of such subtle nonlexical influences are discussed.
Corruption as cascades: When bribe givers turn bribe takers to recoup their losses
Authors: Mitra Siddhartha
Published: June 2017

Much of the corruption that we encounter in public life is circumstantial. That is, government servants turn corrupt in order to recoup the huge expenses that they have themselves had to incur, due to bribes they had to pay to get government jobs, costs exacted by social evils such as dowry, or corruption that the government servants themselves encountered at the entry points of other markets. A strategic policy for reducing corruption therefore should concentrate on making the entry points clean rather than spending resources thinly on curbing corruption everywhere.
A brief note on literacy and education in West Bengal
Authors: Ghosh Arun Kumar
Published: June 2017

West Bengal is relatively well placed in terms of literacy and education as compared to the other States of India. Data for 1998-99 show, however, that while enrolment at the primary level was as high as 94%, the enrolment ratio declines sharply to 51% at the middle level. By comparison, a well performing State like Himachal Pradesh shows a far more modest corresponding decline, from 92% to 84%. In both West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh, enrolment was lower for SCs and STs, as compared to the general population. As in the case of the general population, the SCs and STs of both States too exhibited the characteristic decline in enrolment between the primary and middle stages. It is a pattern that is corroborated by an independent data source for the SCs and STs of West Bengal, generated by the Council for Social Development over the course of a Planning Commission sponsored project. Overall, West Bengal has a relatively very large base of literates with a very low level of education.
Inter-generational social mobility: A study of Konyak Naga tribe
Authors: Nuken Amenla , Ladusingh L.
Published: June 2017

This paper attempts to examine social mobility among the tribal community of Konyaks in Nagaland using primary data collected on education and occupation from two generations from the same household. The findings show that mobility, both educational and occupational, is influenced moderately by the status of the preceding generation.
Capitalism: In search of alternatives
Authors: Chaudhary Rajinder
Published: June 2017

In the post-Soviet phase, the question of path of development and alternatives to capitalism is wide open. This article seeks to examine the Marxian theory regarding abolition of classes. It examines the conditions under which abolition of classes and rule of the working class becomes possible in Marxian theory. The analysis shows that abolition of classes is possible only under conditions of abundance and if abundance is not plausible, then in the Marxian framework working class rule is also not plausible. An attempt has also been made to sketch an alternative to capitalism. A tentative list of objectives that could form the strategic goal is discussed and it is argued that economic structure has to have a mix of market and non-market regulation, regulated private property and state/community ownership, etc. While this thesis has wide acceptance as the pragmatic goal for many critics of capitalism, usually the theoretical goal continues to be abolition of private property and rule of the working class. The thrust of this paper is to make a case for change in the ‘theoretical’ goal.
Survey method and approach to the informal economy
Authors: Sarkar Siddhartha
Published: June 2017

The recent phenomenal intensification of the informal economy and the rising interaction and interdependence of the formal and informal sectors have led to a growing interest in studies of the informal economy among researchers and policy-makers. The terms ‘informal sector1 and ‘informal economy’ are used interchangeably to denote the segment of the economy and labour market that has absorbed significant numbers of job-seekers and unemployed workers outside government regulations and formal systems of labour and social protection. Existing literature on the informal economy shows that there is no standardised conceptual framework wrapping the subject. Policy responses to the informal economy surveys have been able to untie some of the variables that undermine informal sector mainstreaming. The surveys have also identified interesting issues for further enquiry.
Sociology of poverty: Some conceptual issues
Authors: Ghosh Arun Kumar
Published: June 2017

The gradual shift from material deprivation to social deprivation has broadened the concept of poverty. This provides scope for further refining the concept, to which sociologists can contribute substantially. While British and American sociologists are working on poverty as a core issue, Indian sociologists have left poverty studies to the exclusive domain of economists and statisticians.