Inconsistent use of gesture space during abstract pointing impairs language comprehension

Pointing toward concrete objects is a well-known and efficient communicative strategy. Much less is known about the communicative effectiveness of abstract pointing where the pointing gestures are directed to “empty space.” McNeill's (2003) observations suggest that abstract pointing can be used to establish referents in gesture space, without the referents being physically present. Recently, however, it has been shown that abstract pointing typically provides redundant information to the uttered speech thereby suggesting a very limited communicative value (So et al., 2009). In a first approach to tackle this issue we were interested to know whether perceivers are sensitive at all to this gesture cue or whether it is completely discarded as irrelevant add-on information. Sensitivity to for instance a gesture-speech mismatch would suggest a potential communicative function of abstract pointing. Therefore, we devised a mismatch paradigm in which participants watched a video where a female was interviewed on various topics. During her responses, she established two concepts in space using abstract pointing (e.g., pointing to the left when saying Donald, and pointing to the right when saying Mickey). In the last response to each topic, the pointing gesture accompanying a target word (e.g., Donald) was either consistent or inconsistent with the previously established location. Event related brain potentials showed an increased N400 and P600 when gesture and speech referred to different referents, indicating that inconsistent use of gesture space impairs language comprehension. Abstract pointing was found to influence comprehension even though gesture was not crucial to understanding the sentences or conducting the experimental task. These data suggest that a referent was retrieved via abstract pointing and that abstract pointing can potentially be used for referent indication in a discourse. We conclude that abstract pointing has a potential communicative function

DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NOVEL SUB-COATINGS WITH POLYMORPHIC BROOKITE TITANIA NANOPARTICLES: ENHANCED UV/VIS PHOTOCATALYTIC ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTICANCER PROPERTIES

ABSTRACT Nosocomial and community infections and biofilm formation from bacteria has increased significantly through adaptation combined with overuse of broad spectrum antibiotics. Because the world population continues to escalate, hospitals and long-term managed care will also escalate, thereby increasing transmission of infections, lowering patients\u27 quality of health. Another disease on the rise throughout the world is skin cancer. A treatment modality that would cause less deleterious effects on the patient would be ideal. These two seemingly different issues could be solved with one product. First an inexpensive, safe, and non-selective antimicrobial surface coating would enhance the hospital arena and a coating that would treat skin cancer like wearing a band-aid would be patient friendly. We proposed two novel sub-coatings containing polymorphic Titanium dioxide, Br200 and BrNMP. Titanium dioxide is versatile, non-selective, and degrades compounds through photocatalytic oxidation. The antibacterial sub-coating made of Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) solution (PDDA) and Poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid) solution (PSS) in a 1:1 ratio of 0.1M PDDA/PSS as a 25 layer-by-layer coating on glass cover slips is known as the P sub-coating. It contains Nitrogen and Sulfur molecules that were associated via low temperature liquid deposition with Br200 or BrNMP Titania. XRD and XPS evaluations of these P sub-coatings containing the polymorphic Br200 and BrNMP confirmed a match with the original properties of the loose nanoparticles. P sub-coating with these Titania under long range ultraviolet light and visible light were evaluated for Methyl Orange oxidative-degradation to quantify photocatalytic activity. UVA irradiation of Br200 and BrNMP on the P sub-coating degraded Methyl Orange approximately two times faster than the same Titania on the control B sub-coating. The B sub-coating consisted of five mol of 3-glycidoxypropyl-trimethoxysilane mixed with 3 mol of Tetramethyl orthosilicate, prehydrolyzed with Ethanol and brought to pH 3 with Nitric acid. Light intensity, wavelength, surface material characteristics, and bacterial load affect efficiency of photo-oxidation. The super-hydrophilic nature of the polyelectrolyte-Titania coating may attract and enhance photo-oxidative activity due to bacterial adherence via hydrophilic fimbriae that attach to biotic and abiotic surfaces. Br200 demonstrated a stable working pH range including pH 3 to 4. The broad absorption edge of the polymorphic Brookite Titania Br200 and BrNMP enhanced by the N and S molecule surface interactions, and a narrowing of the band-gap, of the P sub-coating exhibited superior photocatalytic oxidative degradation on bacteria compared to the commercial P25 and vlp7000 Titania, or binder sub-coating with Titania. The polymorphic nature of Br200 and BrNMP may delay the electron/hole recombination centers due to electron transfer to different phases of crystallites. The LB sub-coating provided the polymorphic Titania with superior photocatalytic activity as compared to the P25 commercial product in vitro on HT-29 human colon cancer cells and HTB-67 Human Melanoma cells. The novel P sub-coating with polymorphic Brookite Titania can provide a low cost, effective method for decreased transmission of bacterial infections and biofilm formation in the healthcare arena and community setting. The novel format of using FDA approved liquid band-aid coated with Br200 non-selective Titania coating can provide lower pain and scarring in a topical format cancer treatment

A comment on the impact of the initial tax mix on the dividends of an environmental tax form

The effects of an increase in an emission tax rate are analyzed. The initial tax mix of the economy is such that the higher emission rate serves to internalize social costs an simultaneously approaches a second-best tax system (in the absence of environmental distortions). It is shown that this kind of tax system as a starting point for an environmental tax reform is not sufficient to reap a clear-cut double dividend even though "unnormal" cases like a backward-bending labor supply curve and adverse revenue effects are excluded. In particular, if the wage elasticity of labor supply is positive and the tax on the clean good is relatively high compared to the tax on the dirty good an environmental tax reform may lead to an "ecological paradox", i. e. increases the demand for the dirty good because the income effects caused by the decrease of the tax rate on the clean consumption good dominate both the substitution effects of the tax rate changes and the income effect of the increased emission tax rate. Hence, there may be no environmental dividend

Soft Power And Hard Power Approaches In U.S. Foreign Policy: A Case Study Comparison In Latin America

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of soft power versus hard power in U.S. policy towards Latin America. In recent years America\u27s unipolar moment has been challenged from populist leaders in the region to its inability to get a handle on the flow of illegal immigrants and illicit drugs that reach its shores. This thesis is a step to understanding the difference between power and influence as well as the effects of hard power and soft power in U.S. foreign policy. A historical comparative case study analysis has been conducted utilizing the cases of FDR\u27s Good Neighbor policy and Reagan\u27s contra war policies. This qualitative approach examined specific short-term and long-term goals of each policy and analyzed each strategy\u27s ability to achieve those stated goals. The results of the study reveal that both soft and hard power approaches can have positive as well as negative effects on American influence in Latin America

Impact investment intentions of Generation Z: exploring the factors that drive young private investors to decide for environmental, social and governance (ESG) funds

Treballs Finals del Màster en Oficial en Empresa Internacional / International Business, Facultat d'Economia i Empresa, Universitat de Barcelona. Curs: 2022-2023. Tutor: Martí SagarraThis study employs multiple linear regression analyses to investigate the factors influencing Generation Z's (Gen Z) intention to invest in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) funds. By adopting an extended version of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) as the conceptual framework, a survey of 128 Gen Z individuals reveals that perceived ease of investing, social norms, attitudes, perceived financial performance, risk perception, and consumer effectiveness significantly shape their investment intentions (IINT) in ESG funds. On the other hand, trust and pro-social attitudes, as well as the demographic factors gender, and place of residence did not demonstrate a significant impact. As the first research to explore the motivational drivers of Gen Z in this field, this study fills a gap in the existing literature, providing valuable insights for companies, investment managers, and policymakers to tailor strategies that attract and engage this critical group of investors

Technology and the early childhood classroom

As we close in on the 21st century, educators all over the nation are racing to meet the challenge to develop technological literacy in their students, students who are able to use computers and other technology to improve their learning and performance