A transitional Arabic dialect of the northern Omani interior

A major classificatory division of the Arabic vernaculars spoken throughout much of the Arab world is that of the socially-based Sedentary (S) versus Bedouin (B) division. In studies of the Omani dialect area these terms are used to distinguish between the speech of the traditionally settled populace concentrated in and around the mountainous interior of the country (S type), and that of the nomadic and recently settled communities of the deserts (B type). However in some transitional regions the distinction between these dialects is blurred, as the spoken Arabic in these regions contains characteristics of both types. The present contribution examines important structural features of the spoken Arabic of al-Darīz and places the findings within the broader Omani typological context. It is shown that although the dialect exhibits some characteristics of accommodation to the speech of nearby Bedouin communities with respect to certain phonological features, the dialect of al-Darīz retains most of the distinctly S-type features which characterize the traditionally settled communities in and around the mountain region to the north of the country. This is in striking contrast with the situation in the town of al-Mintirib, which is located to the south of al-Darīz. The speech of the sedentary population of al-Mintirib has acquired most of the features which characterize the speech of the surrounding B populace. The differences in the speech of the population in the two towns can be explained by the contrasting socio historical circumstances in which the dialects of each town has developed

Zero-Divisors and Their Graph Languages

We introduce the use of formal languages in place of zero-divisor graphs used to study theoretic properties of commutative rings. We show that a regular language called a graph language can be constructed from the set of zero-divisors of a commutative ring. We then prove that graph languages are equivalent to their associated graphs. We go on to define several properties of graph languages

Complexity dichotomy on partial grid recognition

Deciding whether a graph can be embedded in a grid using only unit-length edges is NP-complete, even when restricted to binary trees. However, it is not difficult to devise a number of graph classes for which the problem is polynomial, even trivial. A natural step, outstanding thus far, was to provide a broad classification of graphs that make for polynomial or NP-complete instances. We provide such a classification based on the set of allowed vertex degrees in the input graphs, yielding a full dichotomy on the complexity of the problem. As byproducts, the previous NP-completeness result for binary trees was strengthened to strictly binary trees, and the three-dimensional version of the problem was for the first time proven to be NP-complete. Our results were made possible by introducing the concepts of consistent orientations and robust gadgets, and by showing how the former allows NP-completeness proofs by local replacement even in the absence of the latter

Retention of the passive verb in a Bedouin dialect of northern Oman

This article examines the form and function of the apophonic (“internal”) passive (AP) in an Arabic dialect of northern Oman. The AP is one of several features common to all the dialects of Oman, having been retained in dialects of both the “Bedouin” (B) and “sedentary” (S) types. In a study of the AP in dialects of Oman and eastern Arabia, Clive Holes (1998) showed that this category survives as a functioning marker of the passive voice in Omani S dialects mostly in the historically isolated interior of the country, albeit in verbs belonging to a restricted set of syntactic and lexico semantic categories. The purpose of the present study is to determine whether the same process of recession has taken place in a B dialect of the Omani interior. Results of the study reveal that in the B dialect of the Hidyīwī tribe, whose dīra is located in the hinterland of Mudhaybi in northern Oman, the AP is significantly more productive than in the S dialects described by Holes. This contrast corresponds with certain socio-historical factors which distinguish the different speech communities of the interior. In particular, the Hidyīwī community is significantly more isolated from outsider contact and maintains a more homogeneous, tight-knit social structure than towns in which the S dialects are spoken

Octilinear Force-Directed Layout with Mental Map Preservation for Schematic Diagrams

We present an algorithm for automatically laying out metro map style schematics using a force-directed approach, where we use a localized version of the standard spring embedder forces combined with an octilinear magnetic force. The two types of forces used during layout are naturally conflicting, and the existing method of simply combining these to generate a resultant force does not give satisfactory results. Hence we vary the forces, emphasizing the standard forces in the beginning to produce a well distributed graph, with the octilinear forces becoming prevalent at the end of the layout, to ensure that the key requirement of line angles at intervals of 45? is obtained. Our method is considerably faster than the more commonly used search-based approaches, and we believe the results are superior to the previous force-directed approach. We have further developed this technique to address the issues of dynamic schematic layout. We use a Delaunay triangulation to construct a schematic “frame”, which is used to retain relative node positions and permits full control of the level of mental map preservation. This technique is the first to combine mental map preservation techniques with the additional layout criteria of schematic diagrams. To conclude, we present the results of a study to investigate the relationship between the level of mental map preservation and the user response time and accuracy

The conduct of Australian Indigenous primary health care research focusing on social and emotional wellbeing: a systematic review

Objectives and importance of study: Values and ethics: guidelines for ethical conduct in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research (Values and ethics) describes key values that should underpin Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous)-focused health research. It is unclear how research teams address this document in primary health care research. We systematically review the primary health care literature focusing on Indigenous social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) to identify how Values and ethics and community preferences for standards of behaviour (local protocols) are addressed during research. Systematic review in accordance with PRISMA Guidelines and MOOSE Guidelines for Meta-Analyses and Systematic Reviews of Observational Studies. We searched four databases and one Indigenous-specific website for qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method studies published since Values and ethics was implemented (2003). Included studies were conducted in primary health care services, focused on Indigenous SEWB and were conducted by research teams. Using standard data extraction forms, we identified actions taken (reported by authors or identified by us) relating to Values and ethics and local protocols. A total of 25 studies were included. Authors of two studies explicitly mentioned the Values and ethics document, but neither reported how their actions related to the document's values. In more than half the studies, we identified at least three actions relating to the values. Some actions related to multiple values, including use of culturally sensitive research processes and involving Indigenous representatives in the research team. Local protocols were rarely reported. Addressing Values and ethics appears to improve research projects. The academic community should focus on culturally sensitive research processes, relationship building and developing the Indigenous research workforce, to facilitate acceptable research that affects health outcomes. For Values and ethics to achieve its full impact and to improve learning between research teams, authors should be encouraged to report how the principles are addressed during research, including barriers and enablers that are encountered

Systematic study of the decay rates of antiprotonic helium states

A systematic study of the decay rates of antiprotonic helium (\pbhef and \pbhet) at CERN AD (Antiproton Decelerator) has been made by a laser spectroscopic method. The decay rates of some of its short-lived states, namely those for which the Auger rates $\gamma_{\mathrm{A}}$ are much larger than their radiative decay rates ($\gamma_{\mathrm{rad}} \sim 1$ $\mu$s$^{-1}$), were determined from the time distributions of the antiproton annihilation signals induced by laser beams, and the widths of the atomic resonance lines. The magnitude of the decay rates, especially their relation with the transition multipolarity, is discussed and compared with theoretical calculations.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, and 1 tabl

Fundamental studies of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization, using time-of-flight mass spectrometry to identify biological molecules

MALDI MS was developed as a way of getting molecular weight information on small quantities (picomole to femtomole levels) of high-mass, thermally labile macromolecules. While most other analytical MS ionization techniques cause fragmentation, decomposition, or multiple charging, MALDI efficiently places intact macromolecules into the gas phase with little fragmentation or rearrangement. This project had 3 objectives: establish the MALDI capability at LLNL, perform fundamental studies of analyte-matrix interactions, and apply the technique for biochemical research. A retired time-of-flight instrument was adapted for MALDI analyses, relevant parameters influencing the MALDI process were identified for further study (matrix molar absorptivity, sample crystal preparation), and collaborations were established with research groups in the Biology and Biotechnology Research Program at LLNL. In MALDI, the macromolecule of interest is mixed with a high-molar excess (1:100 to 1:10,000) of an organic matrix which readily absorbs energy at the wavelength corresponding to a UV laser. Upon laser irradiation, the matrix absorbs the majority of the energy, causing it to desorb from the surface and gently release the macromolecule into the gas phase with little or no fragmentation. Once in the gas phase, ion-molecule reactions between excited matrix and neutral macromolecules generated ionized analyte species which then can be focused into a MS for detection