Implicit prosody and contextual bias in silent reading

Eye-movement research on implicit prosody has found effects of lexical stress on syntactic ambiguity resolution, suggesting that metrical well-formedness constraints interact with syntactic category assignment. Building on these findings, the present eyetracking study investigates whether contextual bias can modulate the effects of metrical structure on syntactic ambiguity resolution in silent reading. Contextual bias and potential stress-clash in the ambiguous region were crossed in a 2 2 design. Participants read biased context sentences followed by temporarily ambiguous test sentences. In the three-word ambiguous region, main effects of lexical stress were dominant, while early effects of context were absent. Potential stress clash yielded a significant increase in first-pass regressions and re-reading probability across the three words. In the disambiguating region, the disambiguating word itself showed increased processing difficulty (lower skipping and increased re-reading probability) when the disambiguation engendered a stress clash configuration, while the word immediately following showed main effects of context in those same measures. Taken together, effects of lexical stress upon eye movements were swift and pervasive across first-pass and second-pass measures, while effects of context were relatively delayed. These results indicate a strong role for implicit meter in guiding parsing, one that appears insensitive to higher-level constraints. Our findings are problematic for two classes of models, the two-stage garden-path model and the constraint-based competition-integration model, but can be explained by a variation on the two-stage model, the unrestricted race model

Petrological constraints on the origin of enclaves from Kasatochi Volcano, Aleutian Islands, Alaska

Thesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2013Products of the 2008 eruption of Kasatochi volcano in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, include mafic and ultramafic crystalline intrusive rocks. I analyzed 42 such samples that were collected from Kasatochi in 2012. The mafic enclaves are hornblende gabbros that are texturally and compositionally layered and are composed of plagioclase (An���⁉�܉����), pargasitic hornblende, clinopyroxene, and accessory magnetite. The ultramafic samples include variable amounts of clinopyroxene and olivine with interstitial pargasitic hornblende and accessory spinel. Modal mineral abundances in the ultramafic enclaves were used to classify the samples as wehrlite, olivine-clinopyroxenite, and clinopyroxenite. Compositions of interstitial hornblende in the pyroxenite samples are the same as those for the gabbro, implying that the ultramafic enclaves resided within the same magma as the cumulate gabbro long enough to begin re-equilibration. The results of both whole-rock X-ray fluorescence and mineral electron microprobe analyses of the pyroxenite and peridotite samples indicate a non-mantle source: clinopyroxene Cr# is less than 25, Ni-in-olivine is less than 1600 ppm, and spinel is Cr# is less than 50. The presence of disequilibriurn textures, such as resorption in clinopyroxene, intimate a prolonged residence time in the host magma. Bulk and mineral compositions for representative mafic and ultramafic samples show that the two sample suites are chemically unrelated and therefore have different igneous origins. The mafic samples display textures and compositions that reflect a cumulate origin related to magma stored below Kasatochi, both of which were brought to the surface during the 2008 eruption. I also interpret the ultramafic enclaves as cumulates, but from a separate, unrelated magmatic source. The ultramafic and mafic enclaves from Kasatochi share mineralogical and compositional similarities with inclusions from neighboring Adak Island, suggesting that similar igneous processes occur at both volcanic centers

Event Structure of Resultatives in ASL

The relationship between the duration and telicity of the causing predicate and the gradability and standard of comparison of the resultant predicate in resultative constructions in American Sign Language (ASL) is investigated. Two homomorphic accounts of resultative constructions are considered, the feature-based approach of Beavers (2008), and the compositional approach of Ramchand (2008). The analysis utilizes morpho-phonological and semantics interface properties in ASL in order to discriminate between the two approaches. These properties are expressed by the Visibility Hypothesis (VH) in Wilbur, Malaia, and Shay (2012), which posits that the ends of semantic scales are phonologically marked in ASL in particular, but also in sign languages more generally. It is concluded that the compositional approach of Ramchand (2008) better accounts for the data

Reading the Cultural Landscape Through Necrogeography: A Study of Graveyards and Ethnicity in Polk County, Minnesota

This thesis is a necrogeographical account of the effort to ascertain, through studies of historical geography, settlement patterns, government census records, and church and cemetery records, the ethnicity of the population of Queen Township in Polk County, Minnesota. The total census population was compared to the total cemetery population to determine the percentages of Norwegians, Swedish, and other ethnic groups for the years 1900-1940. The problem was to find numerical affirmation that the percentage of ethnicity of the deceased should reflect the living population of this period. The literature review focuses on the ethnicity, cultural landscapes, social values, visual symbolism, regionality, folklore and other readings concerning cemeteries and their locations, burial practices and beliefs, grave markers, and histories. The methodology focuses on the collecting of data from libraries, government sources, cemetery sites, and genealogical and historical archives. These findings show the large percentage of ethnic Norwegians both living and buried in Queen township far outnumber the numbers of Swedish or other ethnic groups. Tha addition of these findings to the literature on the geneaology and necrogeography of Queen Township and Polk County, Minnesota may help other researchers understand the historical geography and the contribution of our forefathers to this area

The Role of Antonymy on Semantic Change

The role of antonymy in semantic change is investigated via the etymology of sets of English antonyms. The results show a developmental pattern wherein two words sharing an antonym tend to exhibit similar trajectories of semantic development. Metaphorical extension is proposed as the primary mechanism that produces this regularity with antonymy playing a secondary role. These results further support semantic change as regular, even in contexts not involving grammaticalization, and that furthermore, metaphor is not peripheral to language use. (See Lakoff & Johnson, 1980; Traugott & Dasher, 2002; Hopper & Traugott, 2003.) There are also implications for formal and cognitive representations that rely on antonymous relationships for modeling aspects of gradable predicates (such as Paradis, 2001; Kennedy & McNally, 2005)

Patient Satisfaction With Noise

Practice Problem: Noise on hospital units can interfere with patient rest, timely recovery, and statisfacton with care. Improvements in the reduction of hospital noise levels lead to improved patient satisfaction and improved rest. Patients were surveyed on their satisfaction with noise during the day and at night. PICOT: In Acute Care Patients (P), does the implementation of a noise reduction program (I) compared to no noise reduction program (C), affect patient satisfaction with noise (O) over a six-week period (T)? Evidence: Studies show that many hospitals have noise levels that exceed the World Health Organization’s recommended standards for noise levels. Evidence showed that implementing a noise reduction program that included quiet times and sleep menus produced an increase in patient satisfaction with noise. Intervention: Implementation of a noise reduction program and establishing a two-hour quiet time during the day. The program also established a sleep menu to identify and support patient bedtime rituals. Outcome: The implementation of a noise reduction program showed a statistical decrease in measurable noise levels. The project produced a clinically significant increase in patient satisfaction during the day and a clinically significant improvement in patient satisfaction with sleep quality and quantity. Conclusion: The goal of the noise reduction project was to improve the patients’ overall satisfaction with hospital noise during the day and overnight. This project showed that a noise reduction program could decrease noise levels and improve patient satisfaction with noise

Chemotactic response and adaptation dynamics in Escherichia coli

Adaptation of the chemotaxis sensory pathway of the bacterium Escherichia coli is integral for detecting chemicals over a wide range of background concentrations, ultimately allowing cells to swim towards sources of attractant and away from repellents. Its biochemical mechanism based on methylation and demethylation of chemoreceptors has long been known. Despite the importance of adaptation for cell memory and behavior, the dynamics of adaptation are difficult to reconcile with current models of precise adaptation. Here, we follow time courses of signaling in response to concentration step changes of attractant using in vivo fluorescence resonance energy transfer measurements. Specifically, we use a condensed representation of adaptation time courses for efficient evaluation of different adaptation models. To quantitatively explain the data, we finally develop a dynamic model for signaling and adaptation based on the attractant flow in the experiment, signaling by cooperative receptor complexes, and multiple layers of feedback regulation for adaptation. We experimentally confirm the predicted effects of changing the enzyme-expression level and bypassing the negative feedback for demethylation. Our data analysis suggests significant imprecision in adaptation for large additions. Furthermore, our model predicts highly regulated, ultrafast adaptation in response to removal of attractant, which may be useful for fast reorientation of the cell and noise reduction in adaptation.Comment: accepted for publication in PLoS Computational Biology; manuscript (19 pages, 5 figures) and supplementary information; added additional clarification on alternative adaptation models in supplementary informatio

The impact of animacy and speech rhythm on the word order of conjuncts in German preschoolers and adults

In this study, we investigated the impact of two constraints on the linear order of constituents in German preschool children’s and adults’ speech production: a rhythmic (*LAPSE, militating against sequences of unstressed syllables) and a semantic one (ANIM, requiring animate referents to be named before inanimate ones). Participants were asked to produce coordinated bare noun phrases in response to picture stimuli (e.g., Delfin und Planet, ‘dolphin and planet’) without any predefined word order. Overall, children and adults preferably produced animate items before inanimate ones, confirming findings of Prat-Sala, Shillcock, and Sorace (2000). In the group of preschoolers, the strength of the animacy effect correlated positively with age. Furthermore, the order of the conjuncts was affected by the rhythmic constraint, such that disrhythmic sequences, i.e., stress lapses, were avoided. In both groups, the latter result was significant when the two stimulus pictures did not vary with respect to animacy. In sum, our findings suggest a stronger influence of animacy compared to rhythmic well-formedness on conjunct ordering for German speaking children and adults, in line with findings by McDonald, Bock, and Kelly (1993) who investigated English speaking adults

Scholastic Probation and Size of High School

In recent years, much attention has been focused on school reorganization in Iowa (cf. Midland Schools, October and No\·- ember, 1953; \u27\u27The Iowan, December-January, 1953-54, and April.May, 1954.) Some proponents of reorganization claim that the small high school (a high school with total enrollment of less than 100 pupils) is not adequately preparing students for college. If true, it is to be expected that this would result in poor grades at the college len:l. One approach would be to determine whether or not there is a relationship between size of high school and scholastic probation. If it were established that there is a highly significant statistical relationship between high school size and probation, then a further study as to cause or causes would be indicated. Specifically, this investigation was concerned with the relationship of the small vs. the large high school and scholastic probation at Iowa State College. Stated as a question in terms of a popular criticism: Do we find an undue proportion of students from small high schools on probation at Iowa State College

Der Einfluss von Fersendämpfungselementen in Arbeitsschutzschuhen auf die Aktivierungscharakteristik der Rumpf- und Beinmuskulatur beim Gehen

Acht von zehn Menschen erkranken statistisch gesehen mindestens ein Mal in ihrem Leben an Rückenschmerzen. Präventive Maßnahmen sind besonders sinnvoll, um der Entstehung von Rückenschmerzen vorzubeugen. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass sowohl Dekonditionierung, als auch eine Überlastung des Muskelskelettsystems zu Rückenschmerzen führen kann. In dieser Arbeit geht es um die mögliche Beeinflussung von Auswirkungen körperlich schwerer Arbeit auf harten Industrieböden. Es ist das Ziel dieser Untersuchung, einen möglichen Einfluss einer integrierten gewichtsabhängigen Fersendämpfung im Arbeitsschutzschuh auf die muskuläre Aktivierung mittels Oberflächen-EMG zu prüfen. Es wurden 73 männliche Probanden in zwei Altersgruppen auf dem Laufband untersucht. Es wurden mittels OEMG die Aktivierungsmuster von 13 paarigen Muskeln untersucht. Die Daten wurden sowohl als Zeitverlaufskurven als auch als mittlere Aufwandsparameter analysiert. Für die zeitabhängigen Daten konnten lediglich Unterschiede zwischen den untersuchten Altersgruppen identifiziert werden. Die Datenanalyse der mittleren Aufwandsparameter bestätigte die bekannte Geschwindigkeitsabhängigkeit des muskulären Aufwandes. Zudem wurden erneut deutliche Unterschiede zwischen den beiden Altersgruppen sichtbar. Bei Betrachtung möglicher Effekte durch die unterschiedlichen Fersendämpfungselemente zeigten sich insgesamt wenig statistisch signifikante Veränderungen zwischen den einzelnen Testsituationen. Teilweise waren jedoch Tendenzen hinsichtlich der Beeinflussung durch das Alter der Probanden erkennbar: die jüngeren Probanden neigten zur Ökonomisierung bei optimaler Dämpfung, die Älteren bei zu starker Dämpfung. Insgesamt waren punktuelle Veränderungen und Tendenzen der Ökonomisierung sichtbar, die sich im Laufe eines Arbeitslebens bei circa 10.000 Schritten am Tag potenzieren. Somit könnte die Fersendämpfung im Arbeitsschutzschuh eine leicht umsetzbare präventive Strategie zum Schutz des muskuloskelettalen Systems sein