Effectiveness of computer-based auditory training in improving the perception of noise-vocoded speech

Five experiments were designed to evaluate the effectiveness of “high-variability” lexical training in improving the ability of normal-hearing subjects to perceive noise-vocoded speech that had been spectrally shifted to simulate tonotopic misalignment. Two approaches to training were implemented. One training approach required subjects to recognize isolated words, while the other training approach required subjects to recognize words in sentences. Both approaches to training improved the ability to identify words in sentences. Improvements following a single session (lasting 1–2 h) of auditory training ranged between 7 and 12 %pts and were significantly larger than improvements following a visual control task that was matched with the auditory training task in terms of the response demands. An additional three sessions of word- and sentence-based training led to further improvements, with the average overall improvement ranging from 13 to 18 %pts. When a tonotopic misalignment of 3 mm rather than 6 mm was simulated, training with several talkers led to greater generalization to new talkers than training with a single talker. The results confirm that computer-based lexical training can help overcome the effects of spectral distortions in speech, and they suggest that training materials are most effective when several talkers are included

Зв'язок сейсмічної активності з атмосферним інфразвуком

The connection the infrasonic fluctuations in an atmosphere with seismic activity in some region for period 1997–2000 are considered in the work. The model of stationary random process is used for the analysis. The coordination spectral of the characteristics infrasound and seismic activity are shown for the given period of time. The analysis of researches shows change of a spectrum infrasound before earthquake

Dispersal of individuals of the flightless grassland ground beetle, Carabus hungaricus (Coleoptera: Carabidae), in three populations and what they tell us about mobility estimates based on mark-recapture

Knowledge of the dispersal ability of endangered species is crucial for developing effective, evidence-based conservation policies. Due to their limited dispersal abilities and specific habitat requirements, insects are among the animals most threatened by habitat fragmentation. We studied three populations of the highly endangered species of ground beetle, Carabus hungaricus, at three sites in Central Europe (Hungary and Czech Republic) using mark-release-recapture (MRR). The total catch of 574 pitfall traps set at the three sites was 6255 individuals. Depending on the site, the percentage recaptured was 13–32%. average and maximum distance moved by individuals of both sexes at each of the sites ranged between 47–132 and 207–1104 m, respectively. The probability of the movements following an inverse power function (IPF) for the two sexes did not differ, but did differ among sites. Probability of dispers- ing for distances >100 m differed by an order of magnitude between sites, most likely because of differences in how the samples were collected. Despite the fact that individual beetles are able to move over distances in the order of kilometres, the high fragmentation of their habitats is likely to prevent them from colonizing most uninhabited habitat patches. Therefore, the conservation of this threatened ground beetle could be improved by adopting and implementing a policy of assisted dispersal. Our results from three study sites also provide an interesting illustration of the variability in the estimates of the probability of dispersal obtained using MRR

Longitudinal Polarization at future e+e−e^+e^- Colliders and Virtual New Physics Effects

The theoretical merits of longitudinal polarization asymmetries of electron-positron annihilation into two final fermions at future colliders are examined, using a recently proposed theoretical description. A number of interesting features, valid for searches of virtual effects of new physics, is underlined, that is reminiscent of analogous properties valid on top of $Z$ resonance. As an application to a concrete example, we consider the case of a model with triple anomalous gauge couplings and show that the additional information provided by these asymmetries would lead to a drastic reduction of the allowed domain of the relevant parameters.Comment: 18 pages and 1 figure. e-mail: [email protected]

Ion and proton loss paterns at the SPS and LHC

The collimation system of the LHC, primarily designed for proton operation, must function safely also with 208Pb82+ions. However, the particle-matter interaction in a collimator is different for heavy ions and protons. Heavy ions are subject to nuclear fragmentation, which creates a spectrum of secondary particles exiting the collimators with a Z/A ratio different from the nominal beam. These particles could be lost in a superconducting magnet and the induced heating might cause a quench. The program ICOSIM has previously been used to simulate these losses in the LHC. In this article, we present a benchmark of ICOSIM, using measured proton and ion loss maps in the SPS, and find a good qualitative agreement. We also make a quantitative comparison where the showers of the lost particles are simulated with the FLUKA code in the full magnet geometry. Here a discrepancy of a factor 3.8 is found. Estimation of expected uncertainties continues

Phosphorus, Crude Protein, and Digestible Dry Matter Concentrations of Forage Selected by Grazing Beef Cattle

Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient for beef cattle, but over-supplementation of P may have negative environmental and economic impacts. The P concentration in forage selected by grazing cattle may be sufficient to meet the nutritional requirements without supplementation. Similarly, the crude protein (CP) and in vitro digestible dry matter (IVDDM) concentration of forage selected by grazing cattle may be greater than available forage. This study was conducted to determine the P, CP, and IVDDM concentrations of forage selected by beef cattle grazing cool-season grass pastures. Fifteen fall-calving Angus cows were managed by either continuous or rotational stocking in 30-acre smooth bromegrass pastures, replicated twice. In July and August, one ruminally fistulated steer was placed in each pasture for one week. On two consecutive days at the end of each week, fistulated steers were ruminally evacuated, allowed to graze for 2 h, and sampled for forage selected during grazing. Forage samples were hand-clipped at ground level and from the upper half of the forage sward in pasture areas adjacent to the areas being grazed. A subsample of the ground-clipped forage was placed in the rumen and allowed to soak for 2 h following sampling of selected forage to correct the P, CP, and IVDDM concentrations in the selected forage for salivary P, CP, and IVDDM absorbed by selected forage. Hand-clipped and selected forage samples were analyzed for P, CP and IVDDM concentrations. Phosphorus concentrations in the available forage did not differ by month. However, P concentrations of available forage in continuously stocked pastures (0.22%) tended to be greater than in rotationally stocked pastures (0.20%). The P concentration of selected forage (0.39%) was almost twice as high as the available forage. Available forage in pastures managed by continuous stocking had greater CP and IVDDM concentrations than did forage in rotationally stocked pastures in both months. Results of this study show that cattle grazing cool-season grass pastures are able to select forage with an adequate crude protein and P concentrations to meet their nutrient requirement without supplementatio

South Saami Cultural Landscape Under Pressure

publishedVersio

A reescrita de Quincas Borba por um relojoeiro

The confrontation among different editions of novels and tales of Machado de Assis allows us to conclude that he looks at his own productions as a critical reader who reformulates them in the rewriting act. This procedure is expressed in works such as Iaiá Garcia and Memórias póstumas de Brás Cubas, standing out especially in Quincas Borba. When rewriting the version that had been published in fascicles in the magazine A Estação, Machado promotes ample structural and discoursive changes. In this article by means of the confrontation of the four initial chapters of the book Quincas Borba with those which had given origin to them one finds changes made under the angle of the discourse. These alterations interfere with the composition of the events and the characters, they contribute to modify the image of the narrator and the narratee, present in the novel in one or another vehicle, and provoke distinct effects in the receiver, determining equally, that the image of the reader be distinct. In the same way, the confrontation between the two versions of Quincas Borba proves that the option of Machado de Assis for the exercise of writing as an artisan practice allows us to infer the poetics that underlies the process of the creation of his fiction. Keywords: Machado de Assis. Rewriting act. Quincas Borba. Editions’ confrontation.O confronto entre edições diferentes de romances e contos de Machado de Assis permite constatar que ele se situa frente a suas próprias produções como um leitor crítico, que as reformula no ato de reescrita. Esse procedimento está expresso em obras como Iaiá Garcia e Memórias póstumas de Brás Cubas, destacando-se, sobremodo, em Quincas Borba. Ao reelaborar a versão que fora publicada em fascículos na revista A Estação, Machado promove amplas alterações estruturais e discursivas. Neste artigo, por meio do confronto dos quatro capítulos iniciais do livro Quincas Borba com aqueles que lhes deram origem, demonstram-se mudanças efetivadas sob o ângulo da narração ou do discurso. Essas alterações interferem na composição dos eventos e das personagens, contribuem para alterar a imagem do narrador e do narratário, presentes no romance de um ou de outro veículo, provocam distintos efeitos no receptor, determinando, igualmente, que seja diversa a imagem do leitor. Paralelamente, o confronto entre as duas versões de Quincas Borba comprova a opção de Machado de Assis pelo exercício da escrita como prática artesanal e permite depreender a poética que subjaz ao processo de criação de sua ficção. Palavras-chave: Machado de Assis. Reescrita. Quincas Borba. Confronto de edições

The extratropical upper troposphere and lower stratosphere

The extratropical upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (Ex-UTLS) is a transition region between the stratosphere and the troposphere. The Ex-UTLS includes the tropopause, a strong static stability gradient and dynamic barrier to transport. The barrier is reflected in tracer profiles. This region exhibits complex dynamical, radiative, and chemical characteristics that place stringent spatial and temporal requirements on observing and modeling systems. The Ex-UTLS couples the stratosphere to the troposphere through chemical constituent transport (of, e.g., ozone), by dynamically linking the stratospheric circulation with tropospheric wave patterns, and via radiative processes tied to optically thick clouds and clear-sky gradients of radiatively active gases. A comprehensive picture of the Ex-UTLS is presented that brings together different definitions of the tropopause, focusing on observed dynamical and chemical structure and their coupling. This integral view recognizes that thermal gradients and dynamic barriers are necessarily linked, that these barriers inhibit mixing and give rise to specific trace gas distributions, and that there are radiative feedbacks that help maintain this structure. The impacts of 21st century anthropogenic changes to the atmosphere due to ozone recovery and climate change will be felt in the Ex-UTLS, and recent simulations of these effects are summarized and placed in context

Assessing Site Productivity in Tropical Moist Forests: A Review

Reliable estimates of site productivity are essential for improved predictions of timber yields and for meaningful simulation studies. Few suitable techniques exist for tropical moist forests. Conventional indices such as site index cannot be estimated reliably for stands with many species or indeterminate ages. Emerging techniques require two steps: calibration and validation with permanent sample plots, and correlation with easily measured stand parameters. One promising index for the tropical moist forest is based on the expected diameter increment of individual trees adjusted for tree size and competition. Measures of stand height such as maximum stand height, canopy height and the height-diameter relationship may also prove useful. Proposed measures should satisfy four criteria: they should be reproducible and consistent over long periods of time; indicative of the site, and not unduly influenced by stand condition or management history; correlated with the site's productive potential; and at least as good as any other productivity measures available