Native & non-native perception of casual speech : English & Catalan/

Consultable des del TDXTítol obtingut de la portada digitalitzadaUn aspecto fundamental en la percepción del habla es cómo se transforma la señal acústica en unidades significativas y se reconocen palabras. El habla coloquial se ve frecuentemente afectada por procesos de reducción fonética que son comunes y productivos, p.e., asimilación, lenición, elisión, etc. Los oyentes (nativos), sin embargo, pueden reconocer fácilmente las consecuencias acústicas de estos procesos y entender el mensaje del hablante. Este estudio examina el procesamiento del habla informal por parte de nativos y no nativos. Estudios sobre el Modelo de Asimilación Perceptivo ('Perceptual Assimilation Model,' p.e., Best, 1995) muestran que los hablantes tienden a asimilar los sonidos de una lengua extranjera (L2) a la categoría más próxima en su lengua materna (L1) y que la percepción de los sonidos de la L2 se puede predecir en base a cómo se asimilan a los sonidos de la L1. Este estudio elabora las predicciones de PAM y las extiende al procesamiento del habla coloquial en inglés y catalán por parte de hablantes nativos y no-nativos. En particular, examina si los hablantes no nativos tienen más facilidad para interpretar los procesos de reducción en la L2 que también se dan en su lengua (L1) en contextos parecidos (mismo proceso, mismo contexto), que procesos que se dan en contextos distintos (mismo proceso, contexto distinto) o procesos de la L2 que no ocurren en la L1 (proceso distinto). Con este objetivo, una frase en inglés, Is your friend the one that can't go to bed by ten, y una frase en catalán, Em sap greu que cap del dos xicots no em pugui donar un cop de mà, que presentaban diversos casos de asimilación, lenición y elisión, fueron segmentadas en fragmentos de 80 ms como en Shockey (1997, 1998, 2003). Los fragmentos se presentaron a 24 hablantes nativos (12 ingleses y 12 catalanes), y 24 no nativos (12 catalanes y 12 ingleses) con un nivel avanzado de la L2. Las respuestas se analizaron en función del reconocimiento de palabras y de las «confusiones.» Los resultados muestran que los hablantes no nativos presentan porcentajes de reconocimiento de palabras más bajos y el reconocimiento ocurre más tarde en general, además de más procesamiento de abajo hacia arriba ('bottom-up' o procesamiento fonético), tanto para los datos del inglés como del catalán. Los resultados también muestran que los no nativos son mejores a la hora de reconocer palabras reducidas por procesos existentes en la L1 en el mismo contexto, que por procesos que se dan en un contexto distinto o por procesos que no se dan en la L1. También se han identificado otros factores importantes en el reconocimiento del habla reducida, en particular factores relacionados con la frecuencia. Por último, se considera cómo los resultados contribuyen a la modelización del procesamiento del habla.A fundamental problem concerning speech perception is how listeners transform the acoustic signal into meaningful units and recognize words. Normal speech is often (heavily) affected by common, productive reduction processes, e.g., assimilation, weakening, deletion, etc. Despite this, (native) listeners are easily able to undo the acoustic consequences of these processes and understand the speaker's intended message. This study examines native and non-native processing of casual speech. Research related to the Perceptual Assimilation Model (PAM, e.g., Best, 1995) evidences that listeners tend to assimilate foreign sounds to the closest L1 category and that perception of L2 sounds may be predicted on the basis of how they assimilate to L1 sounds. This study extends the predictions of PAM to the processing of English and Catalan casual speech in native and non-native speakers. Specifically, it examines whether non-natives are better at interpreting the results of common L2 reduction processes that occur in contexts similar to the L1 (same process, same context) than L2 processes which occur in different contexts (same process, different context) or L2 processes which do not occur in the L1 (different process). A highly reduced English sentence, Is your friend the one that can't go to bed by ten, and Catalan sentence, Em sap greu que cap dels dos xicots no em pugui donar un cop de mà, affected by assimilation, weakening, and deletion, were gated in 80 ms steps as in Shockey (1997, 1998, 2003). Gates were presented to 24 natives (12 English and 12 Catalan) and 24 non-natives (12 Catalan and 12 English) with an advanced command of the language. Responses were examined in terms of successful recognition and «confusions.» Results show that non-native speakers exhibit generally lower and later lexical recognition, in addition to greater bottom-up (phonetic processing) than native speakers, both for the English and Catalan data. Moreover, the data bear out that non-natives are generally better at recognizing words affected by reduction processes existing in the L1 in the same context, than those occurring in a different context or not occurring in the L1. Other factors, particularly frequency, were identified as also important. Finally, the results are considered in terms of relevant issues in speech processing modeling

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

PANC Study (Pancreatitis: A National Cohort Study): national cohort study examining the first 30 days from presentation of acute pancreatitis in the UK

Abstract Background Acute pancreatitis is a common, yet complex, emergency surgical presentation. Multiple guidelines exist and management can vary significantly. The aim of this first UK, multicentre, prospective cohort study was to assess the variation in management of acute pancreatitis to guide resource planning and optimize treatment. Methods All patients aged greater than or equal to 18 years presenting with acute pancreatitis, as per the Atlanta criteria, from March to April 2021 were eligible for inclusion and followed up for 30 days. Anonymized data were uploaded to a secure electronic database in line with local governance approvals. Results A total of 113 hospitals contributed data on 2580 patients, with an equal sex distribution and a mean age of 57 years. The aetiology was gallstones in 50.6 per cent, with idiopathic the next most common (22.4 per cent). In addition to the 7.6 per cent with a diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis, 20.1 per cent of patients had a previous episode of acute pancreatitis. One in 20 patients were classed as having severe pancreatitis, as per the Atlanta criteria. The overall mortality rate was 2.3 per cent at 30 days, but rose to one in three in the severe group. Predictors of death included male sex, increased age, and frailty; previous acute pancreatitis and gallstones as aetiologies were protective. Smoking status and body mass index did not affect death. Conclusion Most patients presenting with acute pancreatitis have a mild, self-limiting disease. Rates of patients with idiopathic pancreatitis are high. Recurrent attacks of pancreatitis are common, but are likely to have reduced risk of death on subsequent admissions. </jats:sec

Comparison of the cost-effectiveness of sequential treatment with abaloparatide in US men and women at very high risk of fractures.

peer reviewed[en] BACKGROUND: Osteoporotic-related fractures represent an increasing burden to patients, health care systems and society. AIMS: This study estimated cost-effectiveness of sequential treatment with abaloparatide (ABL) followed by alendronate (ALN) compared to relevant alternative strategies in US men and women aged 50 to 80 years at very high fracture risk (bone mineral density T-score ≤  - 2.5 and a recent fracture). METHODS: A lifetime Markov-based microsimulation model was used to estimate healthcare costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Comparators were sequential treatment with unbranded teriparatide (TPTD)/ALN, generic ALN monotherapy, and no treatment. Analyses were conducted based on initial fracture site (hip, vertebral, or any fracture) and treatment efficacy data (derived from clinical trials or a recent network meta-analysis). RESULTS: From all analyses completed, sequential ABL/ALN demonstrated more QALYs for lower healthcare costs versus unbranded TPTD/ALN. No treatment was dominated (higher costs for less QALYs) versus ALN monotherapy. Sequential ABL/ALN resulted in favorable cost-effectiveness (at US threshold of $150,000/QALY) versus generic ALN monotherapy in men aged ≥ 50 years with any fracture type, women aged ≥ 65 years with any fracture type, and women aged ≥ 55 years having a hip or vertebral fracture. DISCUSSION: Similar cost-effectiveness of sequential ABL/ALN versus unbranded TPTD/ALN, ALN monotherapy, and no treatment was observed in both US men and women at very high fracture risk, with a moderate improvement in cost-effectiveness in men versus women and in patients with a hip or vertebral fracture. CONCLUSIONS: Sequential therapy with ABL/ALN was cost-effective in US men and women at very high risk of fractures

Cost-Effectiveness of Sequential Abaloparatide/Alendronate in Men at High Risk of Fractures in the United States.

peer reviewed[en] BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Abaloparatide (ABL) significantly increases bone mineral density in men with osteoporosis similar to what was reported in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. The cost effectiveness of sequential treatment with ABL followed by alendronate (ALN) in men at high fracture risk was compared to relevant alternative treatments. METHODS: A Markov-based microsimulation model based on a lifetime US healthcare decision maker perspective was developed to evaluate the cost (expressed in US$2021) per quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained of sequential ABL/ALN. Comparators were sequential treatment unbranded teriparatide (TPTD)/ALN, generic ALN monotherapy, and no treatment. Discount rates of 3RESULTS: Over the full age range, sequential ABL/ALN led to more QALYs for lower costs than sequential unbranded TPTD/ALN, while no treatment was dominated (more QALYs, lower costs) by ALN monotherapy. The costs per QALY gained of sequential ABL/ALN were lower than the US threshold of US$150,000 versus generic ALN monotherapy. The probabilities that sequential ABL/ALN was cost effective compared to ALN monotherapy were estimated at 51% in men aged 50 years and between 88 and 90% in those aged ≥ 60 years. CONCLUSIONS: Sequential therapy using ABL/ALN may be cost effective compared with generic ALN monotherapy in US men aged ≥ 50 years at high fracture risk, especially in those aged ≥ 60 years. Unbranded TPTD/ALN and no treatment were dominated interventions (less QALY, more costs) compared with ABL/ALN or ALN monotherapy

Selective oviposition of the mayfly Baetis bicaudatus

Abstract Selective oviposition can have important consequences for recruitment limitation and population dynamics of organisms with complex life cycles. Temporal and spatial variation in oviposition may be driven by environmental or behavioral constraints. The goals of this study were to: (1) develop an empirical model of the substrate characteristics that best explain observed patterns of oviposition by Baetis bicaudatus (Ephemeroptera), whose females lay eggs under rocks protruding from high-elevation streams in western Colorado; and (2) test experimentally selective oviposition of mayfly females. We surveyed the number and physical characteristics of potential oviposition sites, and counted the number and density of egg masses in different streams of one watershed throughout two consecutive flight seasons. Results of surveys showed that variability in the proportion of protruding rocks with egg masses and the density of egg masses per rock were explained primarily by seasonal and annual variation in hydrology, and variation in geomorphology among streams. Moreover, surveys and experiments showed that females preferred to oviposit under relatively large rocks located in places with high splash associated with fast current, which may provide visual, mechanical or both cues to females. Experiments also showed that high densities of egg masses under certain rocks were caused by rock characteristics rather than behavioral aggregation of ovipositing females. While aggregations of egg masses provided no survival advantage, rocks selected by females had lower probabilities of desiccating during egg incubation. Our data suggest that even when protruding rocks are abundant, not all rocks are used as oviposition sites by females, due to female selectivity and to differences in rock availability within seasons, years, or streams depending on variation in climate and hydrogeomorphology. Therefore, specialized oviposition behavior combined with variation in availability of quality oviposition substrata has the potential to limit recruitment of this species

Multi-Season Regional Analysis of Multi-Species Occupancy: Implications for Bird Conservation in Agricultural Lands in East-Central Argentina

<div><p>Rapid expansion and intensification of agriculture create challenges for the conservation of biodiversity and associated ecosystem services. In Argentina, the total row crop planted area has increased in recent decades with the expansion of soybean cultivation, homogenizing the landscape. In 2003 we started the first long-term, large-scale bird monitoring program in agroecosystems of central Argentina, in portions of the Pampas and Espinal ecoregions. Using data from this program, we evaluated the effect of land use and cover extent on birds between 2003-2012, accounting for imperfect detection probabilities using a Bayesian hierarchical, multi-species and multi-season occupancy model. We tested predictions that species diversity is positively related to habitat heterogeneity, which in intensified agroecosystems is thought to be mediated by food availability; thus the extent of land use and cover is predicted to affect foraging guilds differently. We also infer about ecosystem services provisioning and inform management recommendations for conservation of birds. Overall our results support the predictions. Although many species within each guild responded differently to land use and native forest cover, we identified generalities for most trophic guilds. For example, granivorous gleaners, ground insectivores and omnivores responded negatively to high proportions of soybean, while insectivore gleaners and aerial foragers seemed more tolerant. Habitat heterogeneity would likely benefit most species in an intensified agroecosystem, and can be achieved with a diversity of crops, pastures, and natural areas within the landscape. Although most studied species are insectivores, potentially beneficial for pest control, some guilds such as ground insectivores are poorly represented, suggesting that agricultural intensification reduces ecological functions, which may be recovered through management. Continuation of the bird monitoring program will allow us to continue to inform for conservation of birds in agroecosystems, identify research needed to reduce key uncertainties, and anticipate the effects of changes in agriculture in central Argentina.</p></div