Syntactic and pragmatic constraints on processing relative clauses

Thc oen itninteureasc ttioo nb eo fa pcreangtmraal tiiscs uaen di ns ymnotadcetlisc ocfo nsestnrtaeinnctse processing. It is well established that object relatives (1) are harder to process than subject relatives (2). Passivization, other things being equal, increases sentence complexity. However, one of the functions of the passive construction is to promote an NP into the role of subject so that it can be more easily bound to the head NP in a higher clause. Thus, (3) is predicted to be marginally preferred over (1). Passiviazation in this instance may be seen as a way of avoiding the object relative construction. 1. The pipe that the traveller smoked annoyed the passengers. 2. The traveller that smoked the pipe annoyed the passengers. 3.The pipe that was smoked by the traveller annoyed the 4.The traveller that the pipe was smoked by annoyed the 5.The traveller that the lady was assaulted by annoyed the In (4) we have relativization of an NP which has been demoted by passivization to the status of a by-phrase. Such relative clauses may only be obtained under quite restrictive pragmatic conditions. Many languages do not permit relativization of a constituent as low as a by-phrase on the NP accessibility hierarchy (Comrie, 1984). The factors which determine the acceptability of demoted NP relatives like (4-5) reflect the ease with which the NP promoted to subject position can be taken as a discourse topic. We explored the acceptability of sentences such as (1-5) using pair-wise judgements of samddifferent meaning, accompanied by ratings of easeof understanding. Results are discussed with reference to Gibsons DLT model of linguistic complexity and sentence processing (Gibson, 2000)

Mass transfer correlations for rotating drum bioreactors

Evaporative cooling is extremely important for large-scale operation of rotating drum bioreactors (RDBs). Outlet water vapour concentrations were measured for a RDB containing wet wheat bran with the aim of determining the mass transfer coefficient for evaporation from the bran bed to the headspace. Mass transfer was expressed as the mass transfer coefficient times the area for transfer per unit volume of void space in the drum. Values of ka' were determined under combinations of aeration superficial velocities ranging from 0.006 to 0.017 ms(-1) and rotation rates ranging from 0 to 9 rpm. Mass transfer coefficients were evaluated using a variety of residence time distributions (RTDs) for flow in the gas phase including plug flow and well-mixed and a Central Jet RTD based on RTD studies. If plug flow is assumed, the degree of holdup at low effective Peclet (Pe(eff)) numbers gives an apparent under-estimate of ka' compared with empirical correlations. Values of ka' calculated using the Central Jet RTD agree well with values of ka' from literature correlations. There was a linear relationship between ka' and effective Peclet number: ka' = 2.32 x 10(-3) Pe(eff). (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

An on-line investigation of lexical ambiguity processing in schizophrenia

The processing of lexical ambiguity in context was investigated in eight individuals with schizophrenia and a matched control group. Participants made speeded lexical decisions on the third word in auditory word triplets representing concordant (coin-bank-money), discordant (river-bank-money). neutral (day-bank-money), and unrelated (river-day-money) conditions. When the interstimulus interval (ISI) between the words was 100 ms. individuals with schizophrenia demonstrated priming consistent with selective. context-based lexical activation. At 1250 ms ISI a pattern of nonselective meaning facilitation was obtained. These results suggest an attentional breakdown in the sustained inhibition of meanings on the basis of lexical context. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).

On the intrinsic capacity for increase of Australian flying-foxes (Pteropus spp., Megachiroptera)

In the reproductive biology of organisms, a continuum exists from "highly reproductive species" at one end to "survivor species" at the other end. Among other factors, the position of a species along this continuum affects its sensitivity to human exploitation and its vulnerability to extinction. Flying foxes are long-lived, seasonal breeders, with a rigid, well-defined breeding season that is largely or wholly genetically determined. Unlike opportunistic, highly reproductive species, such as rabbits or mice, female flying foxes are unable to produce viable young before their second or third year of life, and are then capable of producing just one young per year. Such a breeding strategy will be successful only if flying-foxes are long-lived and suffer naturally low mortality rates. In this paper, we assess the vulnerability of flying foxes to extinction, using basic parameters of reproduction observed in the wild, and in captive breeding colonies of P. poliocephalus, P. alecto and P. scapulatus, and survival rates that are likely to apply to Australian conditions. Our models show explicitly that flying-fox populations have a very low capacity for increase, even under the most ideal conditions. The implications of our models are discussed in reference to the long-term management and conservation needs of Australian flying foxes. We conclude that current death-rates of flying-foxes in NSW and Queensland fruit orchards are putting state populations at serious risk.

CRIM1 Regulates the Rate of Processing and Delivery of Bone Morphogenetic Proteins to the Cell Surface

The Crim1 gene is predicted to encode a transmembrane protein containing six von Willebrand-like cysteine-rich repeats (CRRs) similar to those in the BMP-binding antagonist Chordin (Chrd). In this study, we verify that CRIM1 is a glycosylated, Type I transmembrane protein and demonstrate that the extracellular CRR-containing domain can also be secreted, presumably via processing at the membrane. We have previously demonstrated Crim1 expression at sites consistent with an interaction with bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). Here we show that CRIM1 can interact with both BMP4 and BMP7 via the CRR-containing portion of the protein and in so doing acts as an antagonist in three ways. CRIM1 binding of BMP4 and -7 occurs when these proteins are co-expressed within the Golgi compartment of the cell and leads to (i) a reduction in the production and processing of preprotein to mature BMP, (ii) tethering of pre-BMP to the cell surface, and (iii) an effective reduction in the secretion of mature BMP. Functional antagonism was verified by examining the effect of coexpression of CRIM1 and BMP4 on metanephric explant culture. The presence of CRIM1 reduced the effective BMP4 concentration of the media, thereby acting as a BMP4 antagonist. Hence, CRIM1 modulates BMP activity by affecting its processing and delivery to the cell surface

Aging per se does not influence glucose homeostasis - In vivo and in vitro evidence

OBJECTIVE - To assess the effect of age on glucose metabolism by examining 1) glucose metabolism in young and middle-aged subjects when total or regional adiposity is taken into account and 2) in vitro glucose transport in adipose tissue explants from young and middle-aged women paired for total and abdominal adiposity. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - Study 1: body composition, subcutaneous abdominal and visceral adipose tissue areas, and fasting and oral glucose-stimulated glucose and insulin were measured in 84 young and 81 middle-aged men and in 110 young and 91 middle-aged women. Study 2: glucose uptake in subcutaneous abdominal and visceral adipose tissue explants were measured in eight young and eight middle-aged women. RESULTS - Study 1: young and middle-aged men showed similar subcutaneous abdominal tissue area, whereas fat mass and visceral adipose tissue were greater in middle-aged than in young men (P < 0.01). Fat mass and subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue areas were greater in middle-aged as compared with young women (P < 0.01). Fasting plasma glucose and the glucose response to an oral glucose tolerance test were significantly higher in middle-aged than in young men and women (P < 0.001). Statistical control for visceral adipose tissue area eliminated the difference seen in glucose response in men and women. Study 2: glucose transport in subcutaneous and omental adipose tissue did not differ between young and middle-aged women. CONCLUSIONS - 1) Visceral obesity, more than age per se, correlates with glucose intolerance in middle-aged subjects; 2) aging does not influence in vitro adipose tissue glucose uptake.

An advanced method for eliminating impacts from frequency deviations in power system signal processing

Frequency deviation is a common problem for power system signal processing. Many power system measurements are carried out in a fixed sampling rate assuming the system operates in its nominal frequency (50 or 60 Hz). However, the actual frequency may deviate from the normal value from time to time due to various reasons such as disturbances and subsequent system transients. Measurement of signals based on a fixed sampling rate may introduce errors under such situations. In order to achieve high precision signal measurement appropriate algorithms need to be employed to reduce the impact from frequency deviation in the power system data acquisition process. This paper proposes an advanced algorithm to enhance Fourier transform for power system signal processing. The algorithm is able to effectively correct frequency deviation under fixed sampling rate. Accurate measurement of power system signals is essential for the secure and reliable operation of power systems. The algorithm is readily applicable to such occasions where signal processing is affected by frequency deviation. Both mathematical proof and numerical simulation are given in this paper to illustrate robustness and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. Crown Copyright (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.