Nonverbal Vocalisations – A Forensic Phonetic Perspective

This contribution approaches nonverbal vocalisations from an angle which is probably quite different from most other perspectives – its usability for forensic speaker comparison purposes. Thus the question is whether and if so, to what extent, nonverbal vocalisations are speaker specific. In this paper, it is argued that it is not so much any one individual trait which is speaker specific but rather a behavioral pattern consisting of various elements. How these vocalisations are covered in forensic phonetic reports is described. Various aspects of the behavioral pattern are dealt with: hesitations/filled pauses, breathing, clicks, question tags, tempo, and laughter

Nonverbal Vocalisations – A Forensic Phonetic Perspective

This contribution approaches nonverbal vocalisations from an angle which is probably quite different from most other perspectives – its usability for forensic speaker comparison purposes. Thus the question is whether and if so, to what extent, nonverbal vocalisations are speaker specific. In this paper, it is argued that it is not so much any one individual trait which is speaker specific but rather a behavioral pattern consisting of various elements. How these vocalisations are covered in forensic phonetic reports is described. Various aspects of the behavioral pattern are dealt with: hesitations/filled pauses, breathing, clicks, question tags, tempo, and laughter

Perceived consequences of female labor-force participation: a multilevel latent-class analysis across 22 countries (Consecuencias percibidas de la participación femenina en el mercado de trabajo: un análisis multinivel de clases latentes en 22 países)

This paper investigates whether there are different patterns of traditionality in different countries with regard to a perceived negative impact of labor-force participation of mothers on their children and family life. For this purpose, individual-level traditionality subgroups and segments of countries with different traditionality patterns of their nationals were identified simultaneously by means of multilevel latent-class (ML-LC) analysis of the answers to three items of the Changing Family and Gender Roles module of the International Social Survey Program (ISSP). This module was fielded in 22 countries in the years 1994 and 2002. Six individual-level subgroups and five country segments can be discerned. The structure of individual-level subgroups is almost identical in both years. Four individual-level subgroups differ only quantitatively in their level of traditionality. Two further subgroups are characterized by a unique tendency to defend working mothers against criticism. From 1994 to 2002 the sizes of traditional subgroups decrease, and there is also some change in the composition of country segments. This paper investigates whether there are different patterns of traditionality in different countries with regard to a perceived negative impact of labor-force participation of mothers on their children and family life. For this purpose, individual-level traditionality subgroups and segments of countries with different traditionality patterns of their nationals were identified simultaneously by means of multilevel latent-class (ML-LC) analysis of the answers to three items of the Changing Family and Gender Roles module of the International Social Survey Program (ISSP). This module was fielded in 22 countries in the years 1994 and 2002. Six individual-level subgroups and five country segments can be discerned. The structure of individual-level subgroups is almost identical in both years. Four individual-level subgroups differ only quantitatively in their level of traditionality. Two further subgroups are characterized by a unique tendency to defend working mothers against criticism. From 1994 to 2002 the sizes of traditional subgroups decrease, and there is also some change in the composition of country segments.Este trabajo analiza si existen diferentes patrones de tradicionalismo en los diferentes países sobre la percepción de un impacto negativo de la participación laboral de las madres en sus hijos y en su vida familiar. Para ello se identificaron, de forma simultánea, subgrupos de tradicionalismo a nivel individual y segmentos de países con diferentes patrones de tradicionalismo de sus ciudadanos, a través de un análisis multinivel de clases latentes (ML-LC) de las respuestas a tres preguntas del módulo Familia y Roles de Género del International Social Survey Program (ISSP), que se aplicó en 22 países en los años 1994 y 2002. Se identificaron seis subgrupos de nivel individual y cinco segmentos de países. La estructura de los subgrupos a nivel individual es casi idéntica en ambos años. Cuatro subgrupos a nivel individual difieren solamente de manera cuantitativa en su nivel de tradicionalismo. Dos subgrupos más se caracterizan por una tendencia a defender de la crítica a las madres que trabajan. De 1994 a 2002 el tamaño de los subgrupos tradicionales disminuye, y también se ha producido algún cambio en la composición de los segmentos de países

Lacerda 120. Proceedings of the Fifth International Workshop on the History of Speech Communication Research

This volume contains papers presented at the 5th International Workshop on the History of Speech Communication Research (Porto, 2022). This conference was designed to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the birth of the Portuguese phonetician Armando de Lacerda (1902–1984). The papers address the life and work of Armando de Lacerda in the context of the development of experimental phonetics throughout Europe and in Brazil in the mid twentieth century. The workshop was jointly organized by the International Speech Communication Association Special Interest Group on “The History of Speech Communication Sciences”, the Institute of Contemporary History (NOVA University of Lisbon; University of Évora), the University of Porto (Rectory; Linguistics Centre), Ferraz de Lacerda, Lda., and supported by the International Phonetic Association. It was also sponsored by the University of Coimbra (Science Museum; Faculty of Letters)

Proceedings of the Fifth International Workshop on the History of Speech Communication Research Porto, May 28–29, 2022

UIDB/04209/2020 UIDP/04209/2020publishersversionpublishe

Effects of Activated Bt Transgene Products (Cry1Ab, Cry3Bb) on Immature Stages of the Ladybird Adalia bipunctata in Laboratory Ecotoxicity Testing

Insect-active Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins are expressed by several transgenic crop plants to control certain pests, but nontarget organisms such as ladybirds also can be exposed to these proteins in the field. We developed an improved ecotoxicity testing protocol and conducted feeding trials in a laboratory setting to test for possible adverse effects of different concentrations of microbially produced trypsin-activated Cry1Ab and Cry3Bb toxins on the coccinellid Adalia bipunctata. Larval/pupal mortality, development time, and overall body mass accumulation were recorded. Even at the lowest concentration (5 μg/ml), A. bipunctata larvae fed with the lepidopteran-active Cry1Ab toxin exhibited significantly higher mortality than the control group. In experiments with the coleopteran-active Cry3Bb, only a concentration of 25 μg/ml resulted in a marginally significantly higher mortality compared to the control. Both experiments revealed a slight decline in mortality at the highest concentration of 50 μg/ml, though this was statistically significant only in the Cry1Ab treatment. No differences were detected for development time and body mass of newly emerged adults. Dilutions of the expression vector pBD10—used as a control to exclude effects of the toxin production method—at concentrations between 10 and 100 μg/ml revealed no significant effects on either of the studied parameters. This suggests that the increased mortality of larvae in the toxin feeding trials was caused directly by the activated Bt toxins and raises questions regarding their commonly postulated specificity and their mode of action in A. bipunctata. Implications of the reported results for ladybird populations and their biological pest control functions in transgenic crop ecosystems are discusse

Dynamic changes on the Wilkins Ice Shelf during the 2006–2009 retreat derived from satellite observations

The vast ice shelves around Antarctica provide significant restraint to the outflow from adjacent tributary glaciers. This important buttressing effect became apparent in the last decades, when outlet glaciers accelerated considerably after several ice shelves were lost around the Antarctic Peninsula (AP). The present study aims to assess dynamic changes on the Wilkins Ice Shelf (WIS) during different stages of ice-front retreat and partial collapse between early 2008 and 2009. The total ice-shelf area lost in these events was 2135 ± 75 km2 ( ∼  15 % of the ice-shelf area relative to 2007). Here, we use time series of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite observations (1994–1996, 2006–2010) in order to derive variations in surface-flow speed from intensity-offset tracking. Spatial patterns of horizontal strain-rate, stress and stress-flow angle distributions are determined during different ice-front retreat stages. Prior to the final break up of an ice bridge in 2008, a strong speed up is observed, which is also discernible from other derived quantities. We identify areas that are important for buttressing and areas prone to fracturing using in-flow and first principal strain rates as well as principal stress components. Further propagation of fractures can be explained as the first principal components of strain rates and stresses exceed documented threshold values. Positive second principal stresses are another scale-free indicator for ice-shelf areas, where fractures preferentially open. Second principal strain rates are found to be insensitive to ice-front retreat or fracturing. Changes in stress-flow angles highlight similar areas as the in-flow strain rates but are difficult to interpret. Our study reveals the large potential of modern SAR satellite time series to better understand dynamic and structural changes during ice-shelf retreat but also points to uncertainties introduced by the methods applied

The cat at the polyclinic : a comparison between accredited ”Cat Friendly Clinics” and non-accredited clinics

Katten är idag ett vanligt sällskapsdjur men inte en lika vanlig patient på kliniken. En anledning till det är att många kattägare upplever flertalet svårigheter med att ta sin katt till en klinik. För att förbättra kattens välmående har International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) skapat ett program där kliniker kan ansöka om att bli ackrediterade “Cat Friendly Clinic” (CFC), eller kattvänlig klinik. Krav ställs på anpassningar av lokaler, utrustning och hantering för att ackreditering ska uppnås. En litteraturöversikt visade att katter är unika i hur de uppfattar sin omgivning och att miljön bör anpassas därefter. Det är viktigt att både personal och kattägare hanterar katten på ett respektfullt och artanpassat sätt för att katten ska vara så stressfri som möjligt i samband med besöket. Den genomförda enkätstudien syftade till att jämföra CFC-ackrediterade och icke ackrediterade kliniker i Sverige, med avseende på åtgärder som vidtagits för att förbättra kattens klinikbesök. Enkäten besvarades av 20 st CFC-ackrediterade kliniker och nio st icke ackrediterade kliniker. Resultatet av studien tyder på att CFC-ackrediterade kliniker har genomfört fler anpassningar och visar ett större intresse för att utbilda sin personal inom området. Författarna till detta kandidatarbete ville belysa ämnet katthantering på klinik. På grund av enkätstudiens begränsade storlek går det inte att avgöra om resultaten speglar de verkliga förhållandena på svenska kliniker idag. Trots det tyder litteraturöversikten på att de anpassningar som CFC-ackrediterade kliniker har genomfört kan ge ett ökat välmående för katten i samband med ett klinikbesök. Nyckelord: katt, hantering, stress, CFC-ackrediterad, icke ackrediteradThe cat is a common pet nowadays but not a frequent patient in the clinic. One reason for this is that many cat owners experience several difficulties in taking their cat to the clinic. To improve the cat's well-being, the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) has created a program where clinics can apply to become an accredited "Cat Friendly Clinic" (CFC). Requirements are made for adaptations of premises, equipment and handling to achieve accreditation. The literature review shows that cats are unique in how they perceive their surroundings and the environment should be adapted accordingly. It is important that both staff and cat owners handle the cat in a respectful manner, specifically tailored for cats so that the cat is as stress-free as possible in connection with the visit. The survey conducted was aimed at comparing CFC-accredited and non-accredited clinics in Sweden, with regard to measures taken to improve the cat's visit at the clinic. A questionnaire was answered by 20 CFC-accredited clinics and nine non-accredited clinics. The results of the study indicate that CFC-accredited clinics have implemented more adaptations and they also show a greater interest in educating their staff about this subject. The authors of this bachelor thesis wanted to highlight the subject of cat management at the clinic. Due to the limited size of the survey, it is not possible to determine if the results reflect the true conditions in Swedish clinics today. Despite this, the literature review suggests that the adaptations that CFC-accredited clinics have implemented can provide an increased well-being for the cat in connection with a visit to the clinic. Keywords: cat, handling, stress, CFC-accredited, non-accredite

Detection and Characterisation of Lactobacillus spp. in the Bovine Uterus and Their Influence on Bovine Endometrial Epithelial Cells In Vitro

Bacterial infections and inflammation of the uterus are common in dairy cattle after parturition. In particular, pathogenic bacteria that cause endometritis have been the focus of research in cattle reproduction in the last ten years. The aim of the present study was to identify commensal lactobacilli in the bovine uterus and to examine their influence on the synthesis of pro- inflammatory factors in bovine endometrial epithelial cells in vitro. Lactobacillus species were isolated from healthy bovine uteri and further characterised. Bovine endometrial epithelial cells in the second passage (n = 5 animals) were co-cultured with the autochthonous isolates L. buchneri, L. ruminis and L. amylovorus as well as with a commercially available L. vaginalis in different multiplicities of infection (MOI = 1, 5 and 10, respectively). Endometrial epithelial cells cultured without bacteria served as controls. At distinct points in time (2, 4 and 6 h) total RNA was extracted from co-cultured epithelial cells and subjected to reverse transcription quantitative PCR of pro-inflammatory factors. Furthermore, the release of such factors by co-cultured epithelial cells was measured by ELISA or EIA after 24 and 48 h. L. ruminis and L. amylovorus induced increased interleukin (IL) IL1A, IL6, IL8 and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 mRNA levels and the release of IL8 and prostaglandin F2α in endometrial epithelial cells compared with control cells. In contrast, L. buchneri did not significantly influence the expression and release of these factors. Toll-like receptors 2 and 6 transcripts were found unchanged in co-cultured and untreated epithelial cells in vitro. However, endometrial epithelial cells of each animal showed individual differences in the response to bacterial load. These results suggest that Lactobacillus species are present in the bovine uterus, revealing immunomodulatory properties