Processing of canonical and scrambled word orders in native and non-native Korean

The present study aims to investigate the nature of processing mechanisms in adult first-language (L1) and second-language (L2) sentence processing, specifically, whether adult L2 learners are capable of developing native-like sentence processing strategies. By testing a head-final language (Korean) with relatively free word order, this study also examines whether and how scrambling (switching word order between subject and object of a transitive verb) affects L1 as well as L2 sentence processing (Miyamoto & Takahashi, 2002; Yamashita, 1997). The main purpose of the present study is to examine how L1 and L2 speakers integrate linguistic input and build their sentential representations in online processing of canonical and scrambled sentences. Previous research on L2 sentence processing disagrees as to whether and how L2 processing differs from L1 processing (e.g., Clahsen & Felser, 2006; Hopp 2006, 2010; McDonald, 2006; Sorace & Filiaci, 2006). Clahsen and Felser (2006) proposed the Shallow Structure Hypothesis (SSH), which predicts that L2 learners will rely on non-syntactic cues (e.g., plausibility or heuristic word order) instead of morphosyntactic cues (e.g., case-marking information) in sentence processing, and build less detailed syntactic representations. However, McDonald (2006) and Hopp (2006, 2010) attributed L1-L2 differences to processing difficulties rather than learners’ incomplete grammatical representations (the processing capacity approach, PCA). The PCA predicts that learners with advanced (or near-native) proficiency and/or high working memory spans could perform more like native speakers. Sorace and Filiaci (2006) proposed the Interface Hypothesis (IH) to account for the non-target-like response patterns found by near-native speakers, which predicts even near-native speakers will fail to perform like native speakers if integration of syntactic knowledge with other cognitive domains (e.g., pragmatics) is required. The present study tests the three approaches by investigating whether L2 learners of Korean use morphosyntactic (case-marking), heuristic word order, and/or non-syntactic (plausibility or information structure) information when processing scrambled sentences (i.e., the filler-gap dependencies), as compared to native Korean speakers. This study also considers whether such factors as proficiency and working memory capacities play a role in attaining native-like processing. Three experiments are implemented in the present study; the main task is an online self-paced reading task for all three, which measures participants’ online comprehension of sentences. Additionally, an agent identification task tests L2 learners’ offline knowledge of word order and case markers in Korean, and an offline acceptability task measures participants’ knowledge of information structures in Korean. The results of the present study confirmed what the processing capacity approach (PCA) predicts, L1 and L2 differences can be attributed to processing difficulties rather than learners’ incomplete grammatical representations. Thus, the findings of the study suggest that L2 processing is not qualitatively different from L1 processing

Industry portfolio allocation with asymmetric correlations

We develop a new framework of optimal consumption and portfolio choice at industry portfolio level under dynamic and asymmetric correlations between industry and market portfolios. We derive in closed-form the optimal consumption and investment strategies under regime-dependent correlations environment. Overall, we find that ignoring time-varying and asymmetric correlations between portfolios can be costly to investors when applied to a construction of the optimal portfolio. Finally, we empirically test the performance of the model-based investment strategy

Experimental and Modeling Studies of Bond Coat Species Effect on Microstructure Evolution in EB-PVD Thermal Barrier Coatings in Cyclic Thermal Environments

In this work, the effects of bond coat species on the thermal barrier coating (TBC) microstructure are investigated under thermal cyclic conditions. The TBC samples are prepared by electron beam-physical vapor deposition with two species of bond coats prepared by either air-plasma spray (APS) or high-velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) methods. The TBC samples are evaluated in a variety of thermal cyclic conditions, including flame thermal fatigue (FTF), cyclic furnace thermal fatigue (CFTF), and thermal shock (TS) tests. In FTF test, the interface microstructures of TBC samples show a sound condition without any delamination or cracking. In CFTF and TS tests, the TBCs with the HVOF bond coat demonstrate better thermal durability than that by APS. In parallel with the experiments, a finite element (FE) model is developed. Using a transient thermal analysis, the high-temperature creep-fatigue behavior of the TBC samples is simulated similar to the conditions used in CFTF test. The FE simulation predicts a lower equivalent stress at the interface between the top coat and bond coat in bond coat prepared using HVOF compared with APS, suggesting a longer cyclic life of the coating with the HVOF bond coat, which is consistent with the experimental observation

Long QT syndrome provoked by induction of general anesthesia -A case report-

Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is an arrhythmogenic cardiovascular disorder resulting from mutations in cardiac ion channels. LQTS is characterized by prolonged ventricular repolarization and frequently manifests itself as QT interval prolongation on the electrocardiogram (ECG). A variety of commonly prescribed anesthetic drugs possess the adverse property of prolonging cardiac repolarization and may provoke serious ventricular tachyarrhythmia called 'torsades de pointes', ventricular fibrillation, and sudden death. We experienced a case of ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation after anesthetic induction and it came out into the open that anesthetic induction provoked long QT syndrome

Effects of the plane of nutrition for grower pigs on their grow-finish performance and meat quality in winter

Little is known about the effects of the plane of nutrition on growth performance and meat quality of grow-finish pigs under commercial production conditions. The present study was thus addressed to this virtually unanswered question. One hundred and two barrows and 102 gilts weighing approximately 24 kg were fed phase I and II grower diets with a high, medium, or low plane of nutrition (HP, MP, or LP) to approximately 43 and 70 kg, respectively, in 6 replicates (pens). Subsequently, the HP and MP groups were fed the HP and MP1 finisher diets, respectively, the LP group being fed a second MP (MP2) finisher diet (LP1 group). Moreover, 68 LP-grower-fed barrows and gilts were added to the feeding trial and fed the MP1 and LP finisher diets to approximately 95 kg and thereafter, respectively (LP2 group). All MP diets had the lysine:calorie ratios comparable to the RNC recommendations, with < 18% differences between those of the HP and LP diets. The finisher pigs were reared in 16 pens and slaughtered at approximately 115 kg. The gain:feed ratio, but not average daily gain (ADG), was greater for the HP group than for the MP and LP during the grower phase I whereas during the grower phase II, ADG was greater (p < 0.05) for the HP and LP groups vs. MP. During the finisher phase I, ADG was less for the LP (LP1 + LP2) group vs. HP and MP, with no difference between the HP and MP groups; the gain:feed ratio was less for the LP vs. MP group. Backfat thickness was greater for the LP vs. HP group. The water holding capacity of fresh longissimus dorsi muscle (LM) and the sensory juiciness score for cooked LM were greatest for the LP group, the sensory flavor and tenderness scores being greater for the LP group vs. MP. In conclusion, results suggest that compensatory growth occurred for the LP and MP groups during the grower phase II and finisher phase I, respectively, with fat deposition increased for the LP group and that meat quality could be improved by the use of LP

Effects of the plane of nutrition during the latter grower and entire finisher phases on grow-finish pig performance in summer

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of the plane of nutrition (PN) for growing-finishing pigs on growth performance and meat quality in summer. One hundred and two barrows and 102 gilts weighing approximately 44 kg were placed on a high-, medium-, or low-plane grower diet (HPG, MPG, or LPG) with ME and lysine concentrations ranging from 3.33 to 3.40 Mcal/kg and 0.93% to 1.15%, respectively, for 29 days in 6 replicates (pens) in total. Pigs from each grower pen were divided into two finisher pens and provided with a high-plane finisher diet (HPF) containing 3.40 Mcal ME and 9.5 g lysine/kg and a low-plane finisher diet (LPF; 3.25 Mcal ME and 8 g lysine/kg), respectively, up to approximately 110 kg, and slaughtered. Growth performance of the pigs, including average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and gain:feed ratio, was not influenced by the grower-phase PN during any of the grower phase, a 31-d finisher phase I, and ensuing phase II. However, both the ADG and gain:feed ratio were greater (p < 0.05) for the HPF group than for the LPF group during the finisher phase I (748 vs. 653 g with SEM = 13 g and 0.333 vs. 0.299 with SEM = 0.008, respectively). The ADG, but not gain:feed ratio, was greater for the HPF group vs. LPF during the finisher phase II (673 vs. 623 g with SEM = 15 g for ADG and 0.322 vs. 0.323 with SEM = 0.005 for the gain:feed ratio). The carcass backfat thickness (BFT) was greater for the LPF group vs. HPF within the pigs which had been placed on LPG during the grower phase, but not within the pigs from the HPG or MPG group. Physicochemical characteristics of the longissimus dorsi muscle (LM) and sensory quality attributes of fresh and cooked LM were not influenced by either the grower-phase or finisher-phase PN. In conclusion, high PN is necessary for finishing pigs during the hot season to minimize the reduced rate of weight gain and also to prevent the increase of BFT that could result from low PN