Fearing the Turban\u27d Turk : Socio-Economic Access to Genre and the Turks of Early Modern English Dramas and Broadside Ballads

This thesis explores an important means for the non-noble and non-gentry population of England to read and interpret the figure of the Turk as textually represented: the broadside ballad. Cheap to print and produced on an expansive scale, broadside ballads had access to economic and geographic segments of England beyond the reach of the drama. Aimed at a far more general audience than theater-goers (especially during the Restoration period), broadside ballads provide an alternative literary interpretation of the Turk, one long-neglected in Anglo-Ottoman studies. Current scholarship’s almost-exclusive focus on drama has led to a progress narrative positing an evolution in scholarly literature from “simple and stereotypical” representations of Turks to “complex and flexible” ones. Bringing a genre tailored to an audience made up of different socio-economic groups into the discussion, I forego such evaluative language. Instead, I argue that dissimilar representations not only reveal how English people thought of Turks but also how economics and status functioned in public discourse in England

Handgrip Peak Force and Rate of Force Development Measurements: Are They Reliable and Do They Correlate with Vertical Jump Power?

Handgrip peak force and rate of force development (RFD) measurements have been shown to be effective parameters at characterizing the strength capacities of numerous muscle groups, including those of the lower extremities. However, the reliability of these measurements and their relationship with vertical jump (VJ) peak power remains uncertain. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability of handgrip peak force and RFD measurements. A secondary aim was to determine if these measurements are correlated with the peak power produced during a VJ test. METHODS: Twenty young, healthy women (age = 21 ± 3 years) volunteered for this study. Participants reported for testing on two different occasions, separated by 2-7 days at approximately the same time of day (± 2 hours). For each testing session, participants completed three VJs followed by three handgrip maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) assessments with the dominant hand. VJs were performed using a linear velocity transducer that was attached to the posterior portion of a belt fastened around the participants’ waistline. For all VJs, participants were instructed to jump up as explosively as possible with both feet at the same time and land on the floor in the starting position. Prior to the VJ assessments, each participant\u27s body mass was entered into the linear velocity transducer microcomputer. Estimated peak power output was calculated in watts (W) and displayed by the microcomputer at the conclusion of each jump. Handgrip MVCs were performed using a novel strength testing device. This device consisted of a microcomputer and a load cell that was equipped with two semi-cylindrical handles for gripping. For each MVC, participants sat in an upright position and were instructed to squeeze the handles of the load cell “as hard and fast as possible” for 3-4 seconds. Handgrip peak force, peak RFD, and RFD at 0-100 (RFD100) and 0-200 (RFD200) milliseconds from contraction onset were calculated and displayed by the device at the conclusion of each assessment. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and coefficient of variation (CV) were calculated between sessions to assess the reliability of handgrip peak force and RFD variables. The relationships between these variables and VJ peak power were determined by Pearson correlation coefficients (r). RESULTS: Handgrip peak force, peak RFD, RFD100, and RFD200 were highly consistent between sessions, with ICCs ranging between 0.89 and 0.92 and CV values between 4.9 and 6.4%. There were significant correlations between VJ peak power and handgrip peak force (r = 0.612, P = 0.004), peak RFD (r = 0.731, P \u3c 0.001), RFD100 (r = 0.671, P = 0.001), and RFD200 (r = 0.701, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that peak force, peak RFD, RFD100, and RFD200 were reliable measures for assessing handgrip strength in young, healthy adults. These measurements were significantly correlated with VJ peak power and thus, could be effective parameters at predicting lower-body explosiveness. The predictive capacity of such parameters to determine a person’s peak power may be important in the early stages of rehabilitation, especially if that person is unable to perform a VJ test

Age-related Differences in Handgrip Strength Characteristics and Vertical Jump Performance

Handgrip strength characteristics, such as peak force and rate of force development (RFD), have been shown to be significantly associated with the performance capacities of the lower-body musculature. Declines in lower-body performance are commonly reported as a consequence of aging. However, few studies have investigated the influence of age on handgrip peak force and RFD. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine age-related differences in handgrip peak force and RFD between young and older women and the relationships of these characteristics with lower-body performance during a vertical jump (VJ) test. METHODS: Twenty young (age = 21 ± 3 years) and twenty older (67 ± 5 years) healthy women completed three VJs followed by three handgrip maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) assessments with the dominant hand. All VJs were performed on a jump mat. The jump mat assessed lower-body performance by measuring VJ height (cm). Handgrip MVCs were performed using a novel strength testing device. This device consisted of a microcomputer and a load cell that was equipped with two semi-cylindrical handles for gripping. For each MVC, participants sat in an upright position and were instructed to squeeze the handles of the load cell “as hard and fast as possible” for 3-4 seconds. Handgrip peak force, peak RFD, and RFD at 0-100 (RFD100) and 0-200 (RFD200) milliseconds from contraction onset were calculated and displayed by the device at the conclusion of each MVC and were normalized to body mass. Independent samples t-tests were used to compare VJ height and handgrip peak force and RFD characteristics between the young and older women. Pearson correlation coefficients (r) were calculated separately for the young and older women to examine the relationships between VJ height and handgrip peak force and RFD. RESULTS: The older women exhibited significantly lower VJ height (older = 20.3 ± 3.8 cm; young = 34.4 ± 5.9 cm; P \u3c 0.001), peak force (older = 2.4 ± 0.4 N·kg-1; young = 2.7 ± 0.5 N·kg-1; P = 0.028), peak RFD (older = 13.6 ± 2.6 N·s-1·kg-1; young = 16.4 ± 2.9 N·s-1·kg-1; P = 0.003), RFD100 (older = 13.2 ± 3.0 N·s-1·kg-1; young = 15.7 ± 3.3 N·s-1·kg-1; P = 0.016), and RFD200 (older = 9.3 ± 1.6 N·s-1·kg-1; young = 10.8 ± 1.6 N·s-1·kg-1; P = 0.003) than the younger women. Positive correlations were observed between VJ height and handgrip RFD200 (r = 0.502, P = 0.024) and peak RFD (r = 0.453, P = 0.045) for the younger women. Positive correlations were also observed between VJ height and handgrip RFD200 (r = 0.446, P = 0.049) and peak RFD (r = 0.408, P = 0.074) for the older women, although the latter correlation did not reach statistical significance. There were no significant correlations between VJ height and handgrip peak force (young: r = 0.389, P = 0.090; older: r = 0.311, P = 0.183) or RFD100 (young: r = 0.366, P = 0.113; older: r = 0.382, P = 0.096) for either age group. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrated that VJ height and handgrip peak force and RFD characteristics decrease in old age. The significant correlations observed between VJ height and RFD200 in the young and older women suggest that handgrip rapid strength (0-200 milliseconds) may be an effective predictor of one’s jumping ability

Reliability and Relationships between Supine Medicine Ball Throw Kinetics and Vertical Jump Height

Supine medicine ball throw (SMBT) assessments have been used previously to evaluate upper-body explosive strength in young adults. Kinetic variables, such as peak force and rate of force development (RFD), can be measured during a SMBT. These variables have been suggested to be important predictors of athletic performance capacities. However, limited data exist regarding the reliability of SMBT peak force and RFD measurements and how they associate with performance during a vertical jump (VJ) test. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability of SMBT variables and their relationship with VJ height. METHODS: Twenty young, healthy women (age = 21 ± 3 years) volunteered for this study. Participants reported for testing on two different occasions, separated by 2-7 days at approximately the same time of day (± 2 hours). For each testing session, participants completed three VJs followed by three SMBT assessments. All VJs were performed on a jump mat. The jump mat measured VJ height (cm) based on flight time. For the SMBTs, participants laid on a force plate in the supine position with their hands on the ball (2.7 kg) and knees and hips flexed at 90º. Participants were instructed to throw the ball explosively upward with as much force as possible, using a motion similar to a basketball chest pass. The vertical force signal (N) from the force plate was recorded during each throw and used to measure peak force and RFD variables. Peak force was calculated as the highest force value. RFDmax was calculated as the highest slope for any 20 ms epoch that occurred over the rising portion of the force signal. RFD30% and RFD40-80% were calculated as the linear slope of the force signal from the onset of the throw to 30% peak force and from 40% to 80% peak force, respectively. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and coefficient of variation (CV) were calculated between sessions to assess the reliability of SMBT peak force and RFD variables. The relationships between these variables and VJ height were assessed by Pearson correlation coefficients (r). RESULTS: The ICC for SMBT RFD30% was 0.55. This ICC was considerably lower than the ICCs for the other SMBT variables (0.82-0.88). The CV value for SMBT RFD30% was 27.2%, whereas the CV values for SMBT peak force, RFDmax, and RFD40-80% were all less than or equal to 14.0%. There were significant relationships between VJ height and SMBT peak force (r = 0.483, P = 0.031), RFDmax (r = 0.484, P = 0.031), and RFD40-80% (r = 0.491, P = 0.028); however, there was no significant relationship between VJ height and RFD30% (r = 0.359, P = 0.120). CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrated that SMBT peak force, RFDmax, and RFD40-80% were reliable measures for assessing upper-body explosive strength in young, healthy adults. These measurements were significantly associated with VJ height and therefore, may be effective parameters at predicting a person’s jumping ability and overall athletic performance potential. RFD30% was unreliable and not significantly correlated with VJ height. As a result, this variable should not be used as a performance measure when conducting SMBT assessments

Role of B19 \u27 martensite deformation in stabilizing two-way shape memory behavior in NiTi

Deformation of a B19\u27 martensitic, polycrystalline Ni49.9Ti50.1 (at. %) shape memory alloy and its influence on the magnitude and stability of the ensuing two-way shape memory effect (TWSME) was investigated by combined ex situ mechanical experimentation and in situ neutron diffraction measurements at stress and temperature. The microstructural changes (texture, lattice strains, and phase fractions) during room-temperature deformation and subsequent thermal cycling were captured and compared to the bulk macroscopic response of the alloy. With increasing uniaxial strain, it was observed that B19\u27 martensite deformed by reorientation and detwinning with preferred selection of the ((1) over bar 50)(M) and (010)(M) variants, (20 (1) over bar)(B19\u27) deformation twinning, and dislocation activity. These mechanisms were indicated by changes in bulk texture from the neutron diffraction measurements. Partial reversibility of the reoriented variants and deformation twins was also captured upon load removal and thermal cycling, which after isothermal deformation to strains between 6% and 22% resulted in a strong TWSME. Consequently, TWSME functional parameters including TWSME strain, strain reduction, and transformation temperatures were characterized and it was found that prior martensite deformation to 14% strain provided the optimum condition for the TWSME, resulting in a stable two-way shape memory strain of 2.2%. Thus, isothermal deformation of martensite was found to be a quick and efficient method for creating a strong and stable TWSME in Ni49.9Ti50.1

Steroid receptor expression in the fish inner ear varies with sex, social status, and reproductive state

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Gonadal and stress-related steroid hormones are known to influence auditory function across vertebrates but the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for steroid-mediated auditory plasticity at the level of the inner ear remain unknown. The presence of steroid receptors in the ear suggests a direct pathway for hormones to act on the peripheral auditory system, but little is known about which receptors are expressed in the ear or whether their expression levels change with internal physiological state or external social cues. We used qRT-PCR to measure mRNA expression levels of multiple steroid receptor subtypes (estrogen receptors: ERα, ERβa, ERβb; androgen receptors: ARα, ARβ; corticosteroid receptors: GR2, GR1a/b, MR) and aromatase in the main hearing organ of the inner ear (saccule) in the highly social African cichlid fish <it>Astatotilapia burtoni</it>, and tested whether these receptor levels were correlated with circulating steroid concentrations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We show that multiple steroid receptor subtypes are expressed within the main hearing organ of a single vertebrate species, and that expression levels differ between the sexes. We also show that steroid receptor subtype-specific changes in mRNA expression are associated with reproductive phase in females and social status in males. Sex-steroid receptor mRNA levels were negatively correlated with circulating estradiol and androgens in both males and females, suggesting possible ligand down-regulation of receptors in the inner ear. In contrast, saccular changes in corticosteroid receptor mRNA levels were not related to serum cortisol levels. Circulating steroid levels and receptor subtype mRNA levels were not as tightly correlated in males as compared to females, suggesting different regulatory mechanisms between sexes.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This is the most comprehensive study of sex-, social-, and reproductive-related steroid receptor mRNA expression in the peripheral auditory system of any single vertebrate. Our data suggest that changes in steroid receptor mRNA expression in the inner ear could be a regulatory mechanism for physiological state-dependent auditory plasticity across vertebrates.</p

Development of Stable Two-Way Shape Memory Behavior in a Polycrystalline NiTi Shape Memory Alloy

No abstract availabl

The African Cichlid Fish Astatotilapia burtoni Uses Acoustic Communication for Reproduction: Sound Production, Hearing, and Behavioral Significance

Sexual reproduction in all animals depends on effective communication between signalers and receivers. Many fish species, especially the African cichlids, are well known for their bright coloration and the importance of visual signaling during courtship and mate choice, but little is known about what role acoustic communication plays during mating and how it contributes to sexual selection in this phenotypically diverse group of vertebrates. Here we examined acoustic communication during reproduction in the social cichlid fish, Astatotilapia burtoni. We characterized the sounds and associated behaviors produced by dominant males during courtship, tested for differences in hearing ability associated with female reproductive state and male social status, and then tested the hypothesis that female mate preference is influenced by male sound production. We show that dominant males produce intentional courtship sounds in close proximity to females, and that sounds are spectrally similar to their hearing abilities. Females were 2–5-fold more sensitive to low frequency sounds in the spectral range of male courtship sounds when they were sexually-receptive compared to during the mouthbrooding parental phase. Hearing thresholds were also negatively correlated with circulating sex-steroid levels in females but positively correlated in males, suggesting a potential role for steroids in reproductive-state auditory plasticity. Behavioral experiments showed that receptive females preferred to affiliate with males that were associated with playback of courtship sounds compared to noise controls, indicating that acoustic information is likely important for female mate choice. These data show for the first time in a Tanganyikan cichlid that acoustic communication is important during reproduction as part of a multimodal signaling repertoire, and that perception of auditory information changes depending on the animal's internal physiological state. Our results highlight the importance of examining non-visual sensory modalities as potential substrates for sexual selection contributing to the incredible phenotypic diversity of African cichlid fishes

Evolution of ligand specificity in vertebrate corticosteroid receptors

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Corticosteroid receptors include mineralocorticoid (MR) and glucocorticoid (GR) receptors. Teleost fishes have a single MR and duplicate GRs that show variable sensitivities to mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids. How these receptors compare functionally to tetrapod MR and GR, and the evolutionary significance of maintaining two GRs, remains unclear.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We used up to seven steroids (including aldosterone, cortisol and 11-deoxycorticosterone [DOC]) to compare the ligand specificity of the ligand binding domains of corticosteroid receptors between a mammal (<it>Mus musculus</it>) and the midshipman fish (<it>Porichthys notatus</it>), a teleost model for steroid regulation of neural and behavioral plasticity. Variation in mineralocorticoid sensitivity was considered in a broader phylogenetic context by examining the aldosterone sensitivity of MR and GRs from the distantly related daffodil cichlid (<it>Neolamprologus pulcher</it>), another teleost model for neurobehavioral plasticity. Both teleost species had a single MR and duplicate GRs. All MRs were sensitive to DOC, consistent with the hypothesis that DOC was the initial ligand of the ancestral MR. Variation in GR steroid-specificity corresponds to nine identified amino acid residue substitutions rather than phylogenetic relationships based on receptor sequences.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The mineralocorticoid sensitivity of duplicate GRs in teleosts is highly labile in the context of their evolutionary phylogeny, a property that likely led to neo-functionalization and maintenance of two GRs.</p

Electrophysiological measurements of peripheral vestibular function—A review of electrovestibulography

Electrocochleography (EcochG), incorporating the Cochlear Microphonic (CM), the Summating Potential (SP), and the cochlear Compound Action Potential (CAP), has been used to study cochlear function in humans and experimental animals since the 1930s, providing a simple objective tool to assess both hair cell (HC) and nerve sensitivity. The vestibular equivalent of ECochG, termed here Electrovestibulography (EVestG), incorporates responses of the vestibular HCs and nerve. Few research groups have utilized EVestG to study vestibular function. Arguably, this is because stimulating the cochlea in isolation with sound is a trivial matter, whereas stimulating the vestibular system in isolation requires significantly more technical effort. That is, the vestibular system is sensitive to both high-level sound and bone-conducted vibrations, but so is the cochlea, and gross electrical responses of the inner ear to such stimuli can be difficult to interpret. Fortunately, several simple techniques can be employed to isolate vestibular electrical responses. Here, we review the literature underpinning gross vestibular nerve and HC responses, and we discuss the nomenclature used in this field. We also discuss techniques for recording EVestG in experimental animals and humans and highlight how EVestG is furthering our understanding of the vestibular system