The Subjective Experience of Stuttering

In this dissertation, I investigate the subjective experience of stuttering. I use two distinct methodologies to look at two different aspects of the stuttering experience. In the first paper, I use a post-structural qualitative research methodology to better understand the experience of passing as fluent. In the second paper, I use the experience sampling method to quantify the mental and physical effort, what I call spontaneity, of stuttered speech.When a person who stutters can hide their stuttering to the extent that others do not know they stutter, they are said to pass as fluent. In the first paper I seek a more nuanced understanding of passing by asking how a person must relate to herself to pass as fluent. To answer this question, I utilize the ethical theories of philosopher Michel Foucault to contextualize data obtained from semi-structured interviews with nine participants who pass as fluent. The data suggests that rather than a repression of an authentic self, passing is more usefully understood as a form of resistance by people who stutter to a hostile society. Participants learned from experiences of delegitimization that their stuttering had ethical ramifications. Consequently, they used a variety of self-forming practices to pass and thereby achieve the privileges that come with perceived able-bodiedness.The second study measures spontaneity of speech in everyday speaking situations. Spontaneous speech is characterized by little premeditation, effortless production, and is enjoyable/meaningful. Attention is not directed on the physical production of speech. This is the first study to attempt to measure the concept of spontaneity of speech. The experience sampling method was used with 44 people who stutter. They were surveyed five times a day for one week through their cell phones. Results indicate that spontaneity and fluency vary by context and day. Importantly, an increase in spontaneity significantly decreases the impact of stuttering on peoples lives. Fluency did not significantly affect life impact of stuttering. This suggests that therapies that increase fluency without accompanying increases in spontaneity may fail to improve quality of life for people who stutter

Can Ecological Interactions be Inferred from Spatial Data?

The characterisation and quantication of ecological interactions, and the construction of species distributions and their associated ecological niches, is of fundamental theoretical and practical importance. In this paper we give an overview of a Bayesian inference framework, developed over the last 10 years, which, using spatial data, offers a general formalism within which ecological interactions may be characterised and quantied. Interactions are identied through deviations of the spatial distribution of co-occurrences of spatial variables relative to a benchmark for the non-interacting system, and based on a statistical ensemble of spatial cells. The formalism allows for the integration of both biotic and abiotic factors of arbitrary resolution. We concentrate on the conceptual and mathematical underpinnings of the formalism, showing how, using the Naive Bayes approximation, it can be used to not only compare and contrast the relative contribution from each variable, but also to construct species distributions and niches based on arbitrary variable type. We show how the formalism can be used to quantify confounding and therefore help disentangle the complex causal chains that are present in ecosystems. We also show species distributions and their associated niches can be used to infer standard "micro" ecological interactions, such as predation and parasitism. We present several representative use cases that validate our framework, both in terms of being consistent with present knowledge of a set of known interactions, as well as making and validating predictions about new, previously unknown interactions in the case of zoonoses

Day-to-day Variability of Stuttering

Variability has long been known to be a primary feature of the disorder of stuttering (Bloodstein & Bernstein Ratner, 2008; Costello & Ingham, 1984; Yaruss, 1997a, 1997b). Many factors that affect variability have been investigated (Brown, 1937; Johnson & Brown, 1935; Quarrington, Conway, & Siegel, 1962) yet the typical range of variability experienced by speakers remains unknown. This study will examine the speech of six adult speakers in three spontaneous speaking situations and two reading tasks. The frequency, duration, and types of stuttered events that occur on the tasks will be compared within and between speakers. The focus will be on describing variability in stuttering frequency and duration within speakers and attempting to detect consistent patterns between speakers

Fusion of Unobtrusive Sensing Solutions for Home-Based Activity Recognition and Classification using Data Mining Models and Methods

This paper proposes the fusion of Unobtrusive Sensing Solutions (USSs) for human Activity Recognition and Classification (ARC) in home environments. It also considers the use of data mining models and methods for cluster-based analysis of datasets obtained from the USSs. The ability to recognise and classify activities performed in home environments can help monitor health parameters in vulnerable individuals. This study addresses five principal concerns in ARC: (i) users’ privacy, (ii) wearability, (iii) data acquisition in a home environment, (iv) actual recognition of activities, and (v) classification of activities from single to multiple users. Timestamp information from contact sensors mounted at strategic locations in a kitchen environment helped obtain the time, location, and activity of 10 participants during the experiments. A total of 11,980 thermal blobs gleaned from privacy-friendly USSs such as ceiling and lateral thermal sensors were fused using data mining models and methods. Experimental results demonstrated cluster-based activity recognition, classification, and fusion of the datasets with an average regression coefficient of 0.95 for tested features and clusters. In addition, a pooled Mean accuracy of 96.5% was obtained using classification-by-clustering and statistical methods for models such as Neural Network, Support Vector Machine, K-Nearest Neighbour, and Stochastic Gradient Descent on Evaluation Test

Promoting global clinical care and research for children with orthopaedic disabilities through motion analysis technology

Human motion analysis is a tool used to understand orthopaedic disabilities in children and to plan and monitor treatment strategies. It enables clinicians to quantitatively describe rehabilitative progress, plan surgeries, and conduct research. While this technology is prevalent in major academic medical centers, access is lacking in many regions throughout the world. This paper presents a novel approach to offer more accessible technology at greatly reduced cost. Current applications are underway in the Philippines, Mexico, and Colombia. Through international partnerships, improvements in clinical care, medical education, and research have been observed

Optical detection of mealiness in apples by laser TDRS

Mealiness is a quality-impairing textural disorder, combining softness and absence of free juiciness. The only current test is destructive; it combines information from a mechanical probe test to classify the samples according to instrumental mealiness. Time-domain laser reflectance spectroscopy (TDRS) can assess simultaneously and independently the absorption of the light inside the irradiated body (µa coefficient) and the scattering of the photons across the tissues µ's, transport scattering coeff.) at each wavelength. With VIS and NIR lasers as light sources, TDRS was applied to Golden Delicious and Cox’s apples (n=90), forming batches of untreated and storage-treated (20°C & 95%RH) samples to induce mealiness. The collected data were clustered into groups according to their instrumental mealiness values. Three to seven optical coefficients were used as independent variables when building discriminant functions, which correctly identified 75-89% of mealy apples

NOTES ON THE NEST, BREEDING SEASON, AND ELEVATIONAL RANGE OF A RARE HUMMINGBIRD, THE PURPLE-BACKED SUNBEAM (AGLAEACTIS ALICIAE)

Abstract The breeding biology and phenology of the endangered hummingbird Purple-backed Sunbeam (Aglaeactis aliciae) are not well known. We report observations of nesting A. aliciae near El Molino, in La Libertad Department, Peru. On 11 March 2018, we found a female building a nest while on 10 March 2019 we found an incubating female. We describe specific characteristics of the nest and breeding behavior of nesting females. Based on our observations and that of others, the timing of nesting for this species seems to correspond to the mid-to-late rainy season, extending from at least March to May. Additionally, our sightings suggest a higher upper elevational range limit for this range-restricted Andean hummingbird than previously reported; the elevational range should be considered to be 2900–3700 m a.s.l.Resumen ∙ Notas sobre el nido, temporada reproductiva y rango elevacional del Colibrí de Alicia (Aglaeactis aliciae) La biología reproductiva y la fenología del Colibrí de Alicia (Aglaeactis aliciae) – una especie de colibrí amenazada – son poco conocidas. Aquí reportamos observaciones de nidificación de A. aliciae en El Molino, Departamento La Libertad, Perú. El 11 de marzo de 2018 encontramos una hembra construyendo un nido, mientras que el 10 de marzo de 2019 encontramos a una hembra incubando. Describimos las características del nido y el comportamiento reproductivo de las hembras. En base a nuestras observaciones e información previa sugerimos que la temporada de nidificación se desarrolla desde mediados a fines de la temporada húmeda, extendiéndose desde marzo a mayo. Nuestras observaciones también indican que la especie se encuentra a mayores altitudes que lo reportado previamente y que su rango altitudinal seria 2900–3700 m s.n.m

Propagation of Cestrum corymbosum by seeds and cuttings

Cestrum corymbosum é um arbusto ornamental nativo do Brasil. A pesquisa visou estudar sua propagação sexuada e vegetativa, avaliando a germinação e o crescimento e testando o efeito do tamanho das estacas e do ácido indolbutírico (AIB) no seu enraizamento e desenvolvimento. Para avaliar a germinação, foram utilizadas seis repetições de 100 sementes. Em seguida, 200 plântulas foram transferidas para embalagens individuais mantidas em canteiro. O experimento de propagação vegetativa, com delineamento inteiramente casualizado em arranjo fatorial 3 x 2, constituiu-se na combinação de três concentrações de AIB (0, 1000 e 2000 mg.L-1) e dois tamanhos de estacas (8 e 15 cm). As estacas foram plantadas em substrato comercial Plantmax HA®. No experimento de propagação sexuada, verificou-se elevada germinação (92%), assim como alta taxa de sobrevivência após repicagem para recipientes individuais (99,5%). Para o experimento de propagação vegetativa, foi detectada influência significativa do tamanho das estacas em relação à sobrevivência, enraizamento (P < 0,01) e número de folhas (P < 0,05). Estacas de 8 cm apresentaram melhor sobrevivência (93,3%) e enraizamento (91,3%). A aplicação de concentrações de AIB não resultou em diferenças significativas (P < 0,01), demonstrando não ser necessária para o enraizamento dessa espécie.Palavras-chave: Germinação; enraizamento; ácido indolbutírico; espécie nativa; Solanaceae.AbstractPropagation of Cestrum corymbosum by seeds and cuttings. Cestrum corymbosum is an ornamental bush native from Brazil. This research aimed to study the sexual and vegetative propagation of this species, evaluating germination and growth of the seedlings, and testing the influence of indolebutyric acid (IBA) and cuttings size on its rooting and development. In order to evaluate germination, six repetitions of 100 seeds were considered. After that, 200 seedlings have been transplanted to individual packages kept in a bed. The vegetative propagation experiment has been arranged in a 3 x 2 factorial completely randomized design that comprised the combination of three IBA concentrations (0, 1000 and 2000 mg.L-1) for two cuttings sizes (8 and 15 cm). The cuttings were planted in commercial substrate Plantmax HA®. A high germination (92%) has been verified. The survival after transplantation was very high (99.5%). It was detected statistically significant influence of the cuttings size on plants survival, rooting (P<0.01) and leaves number (P<0.05). The cuttings of 8 cm  presented better survival (93.3%) and rooting (91.3%) rates. The treatment with IBA in distinct concentrations did not produce results with significant differences (P<0.01).Keywords: Germination; rooting; indolebutyric acid; native species; Solanaceae. AbstractCestrum corymbosum is an ornamental bush native from Brazil. This research aimed to study the sexual and vegetative propagation of this species, evaluating germination and growth of the seedlings, and testing the influence of indolebutyric acid (IBA) and cuttings size on its rooting and development. In order to evaluate germination, six repetitions of 100 seeds were considered. After that, 200 seedlings have been transplanted to individual packages kept in a bed. The vegetative propagation experiment has been arranged in a 3 x 2 factorial completely randomized design that comprised the combination of three IBA concentrations (0, 1000 and 2000 mg.L-1) for two cuttings sizes (8 and 15 cm). The cuttings were planted in commercial substrate Plantmax HA®. A high germination (92%) has been verified. The survival after transplantation was very high (99.5%). It was detected statistically significant influence of the cuttings size on plants survival, rooting (P<0.01) and leaves number (P<0.05). The cuttings of 8 cm  presented better survival (93.3%) and rooting (91.3%) rates. The treatment with IBA in distinct concentrations did not produce results with significant differences (P<0.01).Keywords: Germination; rooting; indolebutyric acid; native species; Solanaceae