Typological disharmony and ergativity in Guajajara

From the introduction: The purpose of this paper is to present some results of research on Guajajara (G), a Tupi-Guarani language of Northeast Brazil, with the hope of contributing some facts of interest to universal grammarians. Guajajara is unique in that due to its particular combination of morphological and syntactic traits, it is inconsistent in terms of commonly discussed typological parameters. Some features of interest are: 1. Double cross-referencing of core NPs. a. General accusativity in cross-referencing pronominal clitics attached to the end of the clauses. b. Mixed ergativity with accusativity in the cross-referencing pronominal verb prefixes. 2. Registration in the verb of topicalization of oblique nominals. 3. The division of clauses into spans for the purposes of placement of tense, and other clitics, with no regard for the particular syntactic relation that the material of a span has to the clause as a whole. 4. The ergativity-accusativity splits, none of which are unique in themselves, but whose combination in G may be unique. Those splits are on the basis of independency-dependency of the verb, volitionality of the subject, on whether or not the subject of the dependent intransitive verb is the same as the subject of the independent verb, volitionality of the subject, and whether or not the subject of the dependent intransitive verb is the same as the subject of the independent verb, and on whether or not the verb in the sentence is preceded by an oblique nominal such as locative, or by an adverb. A split also may be conditioned on the relationship of object to subject on the agency hierarchy

African American Women in Leadership Positions: A Qualitative Study

In today’s society, an accurate representation of female minority leadership is needed. This study explored the (a) leadership development of African American women, (b) means and hindrances that African American women leaders met on their pathway to success, and (c) role of resilience among African American women. The current research was guided by the Smith (2010) study; Smith completed research on this subject matter using African American males. The current research used women rather than men but maintained the same methodology. The Consensual Qualitative Research Method (CQR; Hill, Thompson, & Williams, 1997; Hill et al., 2005) was used to analyze archived interviews of two past African American female presidents of a national diversity mental health association to identify themes and constructs that emerged from the interviews. The themes and constructs were used to identify the leadership development, the means and hindrances, and the role of resilience among African American women. The results of the current study also indicated that (a) positive feedback/success experience, (b) mentorship, (c) good educational experiences (d) early leadership involvement, and (e) attendance at conventions were instrumental for the participants’ leadership development. The results of the current research are consistent with the Smith (2010) findings

Wave Studies: Ripples

Musical composition for ondes Martenot and electronics commissioned by Why Note in Dijon, France and the Diaphonic Foundation, performed by Nadia RatsimandresyWhy Note; the Franco/British Diaphonic Foundation for cultural exchang

Collaborative computer music composition and the emergence of the computer music designer

This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London.This submission explores the development of collaborative computer music creation and the role of the Musical Assistant, or Computer Music Designer, or Live Electronics Designer, or RIM (Réalisateur en informatique musicale) and does so primarily through the consideration of a series of collaborations with composers over the last 18 years. The submission documents and evaluates a number of projects which exemplify my practice within collaborative computer music creation, whether in the form of live electronics, tape-based or fixed media work, as a live electronics performer, or working with composers and others to create original tools and music for artistic creations. A selection of works is presented to exemplify archetypes found within the relational structures of collaborative work. The relatively recent development of this activity as an independent metier is located within its historical context, a context in which my work has played a significant role. The submission evidences the innovative aspects of that work and, more generally, of the role of the Computer Music Designer through consideration of a number of Max patches and program examples especially created for the works under discussion. Finally, the validation of the role of the Computer Music Designer as a new entity within the world of music creation is explored in a range of contexts, demonstrating the ways in which Computer Music Designers not only collaborate in the creation of new work but also generate new resources for computer-based music and new creative paradigms

Hazard Analysis Study of Vehicle Impacts in a Chemical Plant

PresentationVehicles in chemical plants and refineries can be ignition sources for fires and explosions, particularly in situations involving crash impacts that cause chemical leakage. Generally, HAZOP methodology is used for facility risk evaluations, but HAZOP is inappropriate for mobile vehicles and normal protection systems or safeguards typically do not address such situations adequately. Thus, incidents caused by vehicle impacts can present a gap in a facility’s hazard assessment process. Hazards associated with vehicle incidents in a chemical plant were evaluated. An initial review revealed that there are few effective operational hazard-reduction actions that can be implemented, particularly for vehicle speeds over 40 mph. Therefore, speed control becomes the most important factor for risk reduction when selecting effective safeguards and providing hazard protection. Administrative actions such as controlling speed and limiting vehicle access to certain areas are suggested. Engineering controls include gate restrictions, ditches, berms, permanent and portable concrete barriers, guardrails, and bollards or posts to reduce risks associated with vehicle impacts. A list of suggested administrative and engineering controls is presented, along with a guideline for varied speed limits directed at reducing vehicle impacts, hence their associated risks and consequences. Hazard analysis teams can consider using this information as they conduct their reviews and make their recommendations

Therpopatch

Computer music design, creating the Therpopatch for the new instrument, the Oliotherpe, with Patricia Dallio

Review of standards for biodegradable plastic bags.

The Single Use Carrier Bags Charges (England) Order 2015 requires retailers to charge at least 5p for each single use carrier bag, except where exempted. Under section 18 of that order, the Secretary of State must— (a) complete a review of industry standards for the biodegradability of lightweight plastic material; and (b) lay a copy of a report before Parliament setting out the conclusions of the review, in particular— (i) whether it appears to the Secretary of State that there exists an industry standard appropriate for the purposes of an exclusion from the obligations specified in Part 2 on grounds of biodegradability; and (ii) if so, how that exclusion would be implemented. That review has now been completed. It found that there are a number of standards for plastic bag biodegradability. We will need to conduct further work before any of these could be used to exempt certain types of carrier bags on grounds of biodegradability. By the end of May 2016 retailers are required to report the number of bags that have been supplied, and the uses to which the proceeds of the charge have been put, after reasonable costs are deducted. The Government will use that opportunity to consider the early impacts of the charge. The Government will continue to consider the technical specification for a genuinely biodegradable bag, and will at that point further report on how an exemption for such a biodegradable bag can be implemented

Functional interaction between BMPR-II and Tctex-1, a light chain of Dynein, is isoform-specific and disrupted by mutations underlying primary pulmonary hypertension

Diverse heterozygous mutations of bone morphogenetic receptor type II (BMPR-II) underlie the inherited form of the vascular disorder primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH). As yet, the molecular detail of how such defects contribute to the pathogenesis of PPH remains unclear. BMPR-II is a member of the transforming growth factor-beta cell signalling superfamily. Ligand binding induces cell surface receptor complex formation and activates a cascade of phosphorylation events of intracellular intermediaries termed Smads, which initiate transcriptional regulation. Some 30% of PPH-causing mutations localize to exon 12, which may be spliced out forming an isoform depleted of the unusually long BMPR-II cytoplasmic tail. To further elucidate the consequences of BMPR2 mutation, we sought to characterize aspects of the cytoplasmic domain function by seeking intracellular binding partners. We now report that Tctex-1, a light chain of the motor complex dynein, interacts with the cytoplasmic domain of BMPR-II and demonstrate that Tctex-1 is phosphorylated by BMPR-II, a function disrupted by PPH disease causing mutations within exon 12. Finally we show that BMPR-II and Tctex-1 co-localize to endothelium and smooth muscle within the media of pulmonary arterioles, key sites of vascular remodelling in PPH. Taken together, these data demonstrate a discrete function for the cytoplasmic domain of BMPR-II and justify further investigation of whether the interaction with and phosphorylation of Tctex-1 contributes to the pathogenesis of PPH

Analysis and comparison of Scalextric, SCX, and Carrera Digital slot car systems: A mechatronic engineering design case study

Digital slot cars operate by transmitting both power and data over a single pair of wires much like DCC-controlled model railways and some home automation systems. In this manuscript we analyse and compare the cars, track, controllers, and electronic data transmission protocols of the three popular digital slot car systems