619 research outputs found

    Gender, Oration, and Variable Affrication in Ende

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    This paper explores sociophonetic variation in Ende, a Pahoturi River (Papuan) language spoken by the Ende tän, and adds to a growing body of variationist work taking place in southern New Guinea. We examine variable affrication of Ende retroflex obstruents through conducting an auditory analysis of spontaneous speech produced by 16 speakers of Ende, and we consider what linguistic and social factors are linked with this variation. Specifically, we highlight the locally relevant social factor of participation in community oration, a prestigious practice in Ende society. The research thus provides a much-needed contrast and comparison with dominant sociolinguistic theories. The results provide evidence that retroflex obstruents in Ende are more likely to be realized as stops when produced by those who perform orations. Among the orators, the frequency of stop realizations is linked with age and gender, such that older, women orators produce more stops. In contrast, no age- or gender-based differences are observed among the non-orators. We argue that women orators are using the stop variant to assert symbolic power in a community where oration is one of the few avenues of power available to women

    Aumento de distensibilidade arterial e hipertensão renovascular na Sindrome de Goldenhar

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    This is a report of the successful angioplastic treatment of an association of renovascular hypertension with renal artery stenosis and the Goldenhar syndrome (a variant of oculoauriculovertebral dysplasia). For the first time to date, this association, which occurred in a 13-year-old girl, is reported. Additionally, increased arterial distensibility in spite of arterial hypertension was detected by noninvasive methods. The similarity of this finding and in those for other genetic diseases, suggests that the vascular lesions could be linked to the Goldenhar syndrome.Relatamos a associação de hipertensão renovascular por estenose de artéria renal e a Sindrome de Goldenhar (variante da displasia oculoauriculovertebral) em uma paciente do sexo feminino de 13 anos de idade. Este é o primeiro relato de tratamento por angioplastia. Além disso, detectamos por métodos não invasivos um aumento da distensibilidade arterial, a despeito da hipertensão arterial. A similaridade destes achados com outras doenças genéticas sugere que as alterações vasculares presentes podem estar relacionadas à Síndrome de Goldenhar

    ESR of MnO embedded in silica nanoporous matrices with different topologies

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    Electron spin resonance (ESR) experiments were performed with antiferromagnetic MnO confined within a porous vycor-type glass and within MCM-type channel matrices. A signal from confined MnO shows two components from crystallized and amorphous MnO and depends on the pore topology. Crystallized MnO within a porous glass shows a behavior having many similarities to the bulk. In contrast with the bulk the strong ESR signal due to disordered "surface" spins is observed below the magnetic transition. With the decrease of channel diameter the fraction of amorphous MnO increases while the amount of crystallized MnO decreases. The mutual influence of amorphous and crystalline MnO is observed in the matrices with a larger channel diameter. In the matrices with a smaller channel diameter the ESR signal mainly originates from amorphous MnO and its behavior is typical for the highly disordered magnetic system.Comment: 7 pages pdf file, 5 figure

    Instanton approach to the Langevin motion of a particle in a random potential

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    We develop an instanton approach to the non-equilibrium dynamics in one-dimensional random environments. The long time behavior is controlled by rare fluctuations of the disorder potential and, accordingly, by the tail of the distribution function for the time a particle needs to propagate along the system (the delay time). The proposed method allows us to find the tail of the delay time distribution function and delay time moments, providing thus an exact description of the long-time dynamics. We analyze arbitrary environments covering different types of glassy dynamics: dynamics in a short-range random field, creep, and Sinai's motion.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur

    SBML2LaTEX: Conversion of SBML files into human-readable reports

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    Summary: The XML-based Systems Biology Markup Language (SBML) has emerged as a standard for storage, communication and interchange of models in systems biology. As a machine-readable format XML is difficult for humans to read and understand. Many tools are available that visualize the reaction pathways stored in SBML files, but many components, e.g. unit declarations, complex kinetic equations or links to MIRIAM resources, are often not made visible in these diagrams. For a broader understanding of the models, support in scientific writing and error detection, a human-readable report of the complete model is needed. We present SBML2LaTEX, a Java-based stand-alone program to fill this gap. A convenient web service allows users to directly convert SBML to various formats, including DVI, LaTEX and PDF, and provides many settings for customization

    Simulating Dynamical Features of Escape Panic

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    One of the most disastrous forms of collective human behaviour is the kind of crowd stampede induced by panic, often leading to fatalities as people are crushed or trampled. Sometimes this behaviour is triggered in life-threatening situations such as fires in crowded buildings; at other times, stampedes can arise from the rush for seats or seemingly without causes. Tragic examples within recent months include the panics in Harare, Zimbabwe, and at the Roskilde rock concert in Denmark. Although engineers are finding ways to alleviate the scale of such disasters, their frequency seems to be increasing with the number and size of mass events. Yet, systematic studies of panic behaviour, and quantitative theories capable of predicting such crowd dynamics, are rare. Here we show that simulations based on a model of pedestrian behaviour can provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of and preconditions for panic and jamming by incoordination. Our results suggest practical ways of minimising the harmful consequences of such events and the existence of an optimal escape strategy, corresponding to a suitable mixture of individualistic and collective behaviour.Comment: For related information see http://angel.elte.hu/~panic, http://www.helbing.org, http://angel.elte.hu/~fij, and http://angel.elte.hu/~vicse

    Responsible Research and Innovation Associated With Risk Communication and Public Engagement on Health Emergency Preparedness at the Local Level

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    Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) associated with public health emergency preparedness (PHEP) and response pose major challenges to the scientific community and civil society because a multistakeholder and interdisciplinary methodology is needed to foster public engagement. In 2017, within "Action plan on Science in Society related issues in Epidemics and Total pandemics", twenty-three initiatives in eleven cities-Athens, Brussels, Bucharest, Dublin, Geneva, Haifa, Lyon, Milan, Oslo, Rome, and Sofia-represented effective opportunities for Mobilization and Mutual Learning on RRI issues in the matter of PHEP with different community-level groups. These experiences show that to effectively address a discourse on RRI-related issues in PHEP it is necessary to engage the local population and stakeholders, which is challenging because of needed competencies and resources. Under coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, we are proven that such a diversified multistakeholder engagement on RRI related to PHEP locally needs further elaboration and practical development

    Hipertensão arterial sistêmica secundária

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    The prevalence of secondary systemic arterial hypertension (S-SAH) is 3% to 5%. Before investigating the secondary causes of SAH, the following should be excluded: ._ Inadequate measurement of arterial pressure (AP). ._ White-coat hypertension; ._ Inadequate treatment; ._ Treatment non-adherence; ._ Progression of lesions in hypertension target organs; ._ Presence of co-morbidities; ._ Interaction with prescription drugs. Table 1 lists the situations when the presence of S-SAH should be investigated. Next, the main causes of S-SAH will be discussed. [Author supplied abstract

    The impact of metabolic syndrome on metabolic, pro-inflammatory and prothrombotic markers according to the presence of high blood pressure criterion

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    OBJECTIVES: We explored whether high blood pressure is associated with metabolic, inflammatory and prothrombotic dysregulation in patients with metabolic syndrome. METHODS: We evaluated 135 consecutive overweight/obese patients. From this group, we selected 75 patients who were not under the regular use of medications for metabolic syndrome as defined by the current Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults criteria. The patients were divided into metabolic syndrome with and without high blood pressure criteria (≥130/≥85 mmHg). RESULTS: Compared to the 45 metabolic syndrome patients without high blood pressure, the 30 patients with metabolic syndrome and high blood pressure had significantly higher glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid and creatinine values; in contrast, these patients had significantly lower high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol values. Metabolic syndrome patients with high blood pressure also had significantly higher levels of retinol-binding protein 4, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, interleukin 6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 and lower levels of adiponectin. Moreover, patients with metabolic syndrome and high blood pressure had increased surrogate markers of sympathetic activity and decreased baroreflex sensitivity. Logistic regression analysis showed that high-density lipoprotein, retinol-binding protein 4 and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels were independently associated with metabolic syndrome patients with high blood pressure. There is a strong trend for an independent association between metabolic syndrome patients with high blood pressure and glucose levels. CONCLUSIONS: High blood pressure, which may be related to the autonomic dysfunction, is associated with metabolic, inflammatory and prothrombotic dysregulation in patients with metabolic syndrome
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