1,087 research outputs found
Effects on L1 During Early Acquisition of L2: Speech Changes in Spanish at First English Contact
Spanish phonological development was examined in six sequential bilingual children at the point of contact with English and eight months later. We explored effects of the English vowel and consonant inventory on Spanish. Children showed a significant increase in consonant cluster accuracy and in vowel errors. These emerging sequential bilingual children showed effects of English on their first language, Spanish. Cross-linguistic transfer did not affect all properties of the phonology equally. Negative transfer may occur in specific areas where the second language is more complex, requiring reorganization of the existing system, as in the transition from the Spanish five-vowel to the English eleven-vowel system
The growth companies puzzle: can growth opportunities measures predict firm growth?
While numerous empirical studies include proxies for growth opportunities in their analyses, there is limited evidence as to the validity of the various growth proxies used. Based on a sample of 1942 firm-years for listed UK companies over the 1990-2004 period, we assess the performance of eight growth opportunities measures. Our results show that while all the growth measures show some ability to predict growth in company sales, total assets, or equity, there are substantial differences between the various models. In particular, Tobin's Q performs poorly while dividend-based measures generally perform best. However, none of the measures has any success in predicting earnings per share growth, even when controlling for mean reversion and other time-series patterns in earnings. We term this the 'growth companies puzzle'. Growth companies do grow, but they do not grow in the key dimension (earnings) theory predicts. Whether the failure of 'growth companies' to deliver superior earnings growth is attributable to increased competition, poor investments, or behavioural biases, it is still a puzzle why growth companies on average fail to deliver superior earnings growth
Constellations of identity: place-ma(r)king beyond heritage
This paper will critically consider the different ways in which history and belonging have been treated in artworks situated in the Citadel development in Ayr on the West coast of Scotland. It will focus upon one artwork, Constellation by Stephen Hurrel, as an alternative to the more conventional landscapes of heritage which are adjacent, to examine the relationship between personal history and place history and argue the primacy of participatory process in the creation of place and any artwork therein. Through his artwork, Hurrel has attempted to adopt a material process through which place can be created performatively but, in part due to its non-representational form, proves problematic, aesthetically and longitudinally, in wholly engaging the community. The paper will suggest that through variants of ‘new genre public art’ such as this, personal and place histories can be actively re-created through the redevelopment of contemporary urban landscapes but also highlight the complexities and indeterminacies involved in the relationship between artwork, people and place
To Tie or Not to Tie-Over Full-Thickness Skin Grafts in Dermatologic Surgery:A Systematic Review of the Literature
BACKGROUND Tie-over dressings are frequently used for skin grafts. Although a dressing is necessary for split-thickness skin grafts, their use in full-thickness skin grafts (FTSGs) is questionable. OBJECTIVE This review was conducted to investigate the influence of different tie overs and dressings on graft take for FTSGs in cutaneous surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS An electronic database search was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane library. The following search terms and comparable were used: skin transplantation, tie-over, fixation, sutures, and take. RESULTS Fifteen articles met the inclusion criteria. Eight studies describe no use of a tie-over dressing for FTSGs. Dressing types included antibacterial dressings, foam or sponges, and bolsters. The lowest graft take was 80% (with a tie-over dressing). The highest graft take was 100% (with and without a tie-over dressing). CONCLUSION The results show that, regardless of the technique used, the overall graft success rate is high. Although a definite recommendation could not be made, it seems that a graft without a tie-over dressing can suffice in certain circumstances
Investigating situated cultural practices through cross-sectoral digital collaborations: policies, processes, insights
The (Belfast) Good Friday Agreement represents a major milestone in Northern Ireland's recent political history, with complex conditions allowing for formation of a ‘cross-community’ system of government enabling power sharing between parties representing Protestant/loyalist and Catholic/nationalist constituencies. This article examines the apparent flourishing of community-focused digital practices over the subsequent ‘post-conflict’ decade, galvanised by Northern Irish and EU policy initiatives armed with consolidating the peace process. Numerous digital heritage and storytelling projects have been catalysed within programmes aiming to foster social processes, community cohesion and cross-community exchange. The article outlines two projects—‘digital memory boxes’ and ‘interactive galleon’—developed during 2007–2008 within practice-led PhD enquiry conducted in collaboration with the Nerve Centre, a third-sector media education organisation. The article goes on to critically examine the processes involved in practically realising, and creatively and theoretically reconciling, community-engaged digital production in a particular socio-political context of academic-community collaboration
Incomplete Excision of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Systematic Review of the Literature
The treatment of choice for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is complete surgical excision. Incomplete excision of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma has an increased risk of local recurrence, deep subclinical progression, and metastasis. This study aimed to investigate the proportion and risk factors of incomplete excised cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. A systematic review of the literature was performed. Incomplete excision rates for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma ranged from 0.4% to 35.7%. The pooled incomplete excision risk estimate was 13% (95% confidence interval 9-17%). Risk factors noted in more than one study for incomplete excision included tumor depth and size, type of operator, head and neck localization, and former incomplete excision. We found an overall incomplete excision rate of 13% for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Risk factors should be taken into account in the management of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma surgical treatment
The Far-Infrared Properties of Spatially Resolved AKARI Observations
We present the spatially resolved observations of IRAS sources from the
Japanese infrared astronomy satellite AKARI All-Sky Survey during the
performance verification (PV) phase of the mission. We extracted reliable point
sources matched with IRAS point source catalogue. By comparing IRAS and AKARI
fluxes, we found that the flux measurements of some IRAS sources could have
been over or underestimated and affected by the local background rather than
the global background. We also found possible candidates for new AKARI sources
and confirmed that AKARI observations resolved IRAS sources into multiple
sources. All-Sky Survey observations are expected to verify the accuracies of
IRAS flux measurements and to find new extragalactic point sources.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, accepted publication in PASJ AKARI special issu
Correcting for the Effects of Interstellar Extinction
This paper addresses the issue of how best to correct astronomical data for
the wavelength-dependent effects of Galactic interstellar extinction. The main
general features of extinction from the IR through the UV are reviewed, along
with the nature of observed spatial variations. The enormous range of
extinction properties found in the Galaxy, particularly in the UV spectral
region, is illustrated. Fortunately, there are some tight constraints on the
wavelength dependence of extinction and some general correlations between
extinction curve shape and interstellar environment. These relationships
provide some guidance for correcting data for the effects of extinction.
Several strategies for dereddening are discussed along with estimates of the
uncertainties inherent in each method. In the Appendix, a new derivation of the
wavelength dependence of an average Galactic extinction curve from the IR
through the UV is presented, along with a new estimate of how this extinction
law varies with the parameter R = A(V)/E(B-V). These curves represent the true
monochromatic wavelength dependence of extinction and, as such, are suitable
for dereddening IR--UV spectrophotometric data of any resolution, and can be
used to derive extinction relations for any photometry system.Comment: To appear in PASP (January 1999) 14 pages including 4 pages of
figures Uses emulateapj style. PASP, in press (January 1999
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