The reanalysis and interpretation of garden-path sentences by native speakers and second language learners

This dissertation examines factors (verb bias and plausibility) that influence reanalysis processes in native and non-native processing of English and Mandarin garden-path sentences (Chapters 2 and 3) and the relationship between the amount of reanalysis and final interpretation of such sentences (Chapter 4). Verb bias refers to the likelihood of a particular verb taking a particular argument structure, such as a direct object (DO) or a sentential complement (SC). Previous research has demonstrated that native speakers of English are able to use verb bias information fast enough to generate predictions about the upcoming syntactic structure and that verb bias plays a larger role than plausibility in this predictive process (e.g., Garnsey, Pearlmutter, Myers, & Lotocky, 1997). However, little is known about the relative importance of verb bias and plausibility in second language sentence processing. A prevailing view in the L2 psycholinguistic literature claims that L2 learners underuse structural cues during real time processing, and that to compensate, they rely predominantly on lexical-semantic cues (Clashen & Felser, 2006). What has not been considered on this view is the use of lexically-associated structural cues, such as verb bias. Since such information is both lexical and structural, it is unclear whether L2 learners would be able to use these cues in real-time processing. In two self-paced reading experiments, Chapter 2 compared L1-Mandarin speakers of L2 English and L1-Korean speakers of L2 English with native English speakers on the resolution of temporary DO/SC ambiguity in sentences. Results showed that similar to native speakers, both L2 groups were able to use verb bias cue to predict the likely type of following structure, but were unable to use the plausibility cue predictively when the verb bias cue was present, challenging the view that L2 learners rely more on plausibility than syntax during parsing. While substantial research has been conducted on verb bias effect in English, few studies have examined such effects in other languages, especially in languages that have been found to rely more on plausibility than structural information, such as Mandarin (Su, 2001a, 2001b, 2004). In one self-paced reading experiment, Chapter 3 compared the relative contributions of verb bias and plausibility in processing Mandarin sentences that bore the surface level resemblance to English sentences with temporary DO/SC ambiguity. Since Mandarin allows null subjects, such a structure is temporarily ambiguous between an embedded clause and a blended structure, in which the object of the first clause is also the subject of the second clause. Results showed that verb bias trumped plausibility in Mandarin, such that readers made use of verb bias cues to anticipate the following structure and were only sensitive to plausibility information when verb bias allowed it, contrary to the claim that Mandarin relies heavily on plausibility in sentence comprehension. In Chapters 2 and 3, reading time (RT) at the disambiguating region in sentences was used as the diagnostic in determining the effects of verb bias and plausibility, based on the assumption that RT at the disambiguation reflects the amount of reanalysis work. In two self-paced reading and two event-related brain potential (ERP) experiments, Chapter 4 demonstrated that RT and ERP on-line measures at the disambiguation might not reflect primarily reanalysis, since both RTs and the amplitudes of the P600 and N400 ERP components were found to be unrelated to the accuracy of the final interpretation of garden-path sentences, as measured by responses to post-sentence questions, thus calling into question traditional assumptions about the meaning of traditional measures. The original prediction was that more time/effort spent reanalyzing at the disambiguation would lead to more success in question responses. Instead, whenever there was any trend toward a relationship between the online measures and question responses, it was opposite the predicted direction, i.e., when more time/effort was spent on the disambiguation, questions tended to be answered less accurately. Chapter 4 thus proposed that the RTs and ERP component amplitudes at the disambiguation may reflect the amount of confusion about and/or competition between different possible interpretations, rather than or in addition to any reanalysis triggered there. Overall, this dissertation examined the reanalysis processes at the disambiguation in garden-path sentences in both native and non-native sentence processing and the link between the reanalysis processes and the final interpretation in native sentence processing. It paved the way for conducting similar research on the final interpretation of garden-path sentences by L2 learners

Turnover intention and coping strategies among older nursing assistants in China: a qualitative study

IntroductionWith the increasing aging population, older nursing assistants have made significant contributions to institutional eldercare. However, there is a high turnover rate among these workers, and it is crucial to address this issue and find ways to stabilize the workforce. This study aimed to explore the factors influencing turnover intention and coping strategies among older nursing assistants, in order to provide targeted assistance and guidance to reduce their intention to resign and ultimately lower the turnover rate.MethodsQualitative research methods were employed to conduct semi-structured interviews with older nursing assistants in Changsha. The data obtained from these interviews were then analyzed using a phenomenological analysis approach and NVIVO (QSR International, Doncaster, Australia) software version 11.0.ResultsIt is found that several factors influence turnover intention among older nursing assistants. Which include work pay, work environment, professional identity, external motivation, and work pressure. Additionally, the coping strategies employed by these individuals in relation to their intention to resign include self-regulation, seeking support, self-improvement, and exploring motivation.DiscussionIt is also evident from our study that reducing the turnover intention of older nursing assistants requires a collaborative effort from older adult care institutions, functional departments, and eldercare nursing assistants themselves. By addressing the factors influencing turnover intention and providing support and resources for coping strategies, we can work towards stabilizing the workforce and improving institutional eldercare

Nadir CA-125 level as prognosis indicator of high-grade serous ovarian cancer

PURPOSE: The capacity of nadir CA-125 levels to predict the prognosis of epithelial ovarian cancer remains controversial. This study aimed to explore whether the nadir CA-125 serum levels could predict the durations of overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) in patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HG-SOC) from the USA and PRC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 616 HG-SOC patients from the MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC, USA) between 1990 and 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. The results of 262 cases from the Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research (JICR, PRC) between 1992 and 2011 were used to validate the MDACC data. The CA-125 immunohistochemistry assay was performed on 280 tissue specimens. The Cox proportional hazards model and the log-rank test were used to assess the associations between the clinicopathological characteristics and duration of survival. RESULTS: The nadir CA-125 level was an independent predictor of OS and PFS (p < 0.01 for both) in the MDACC patients. Lower nadir CA-125 levels (≤10 U/mL) were associated with longer OS and PFS (median: 61.2 and 16.8 months with 95% CI: 52.0–72.4 and 14.0–19.6 months, respectively) than their counterparts with shorter OS and PFS (median: 49.2 and 10.5 months with 95% CI: 41.7–56.7 and 6.9–14.1 months, respectively). The nadir CA-125 levels in JICR patients were similarly independent when predicting the OS and PFS (p < 0.01 for both). Nadir CA-125 levels less than or equal to 10 U/mL were associated with longer OS and PFS (median: 59.9 and 15.5 months with 95% CI: 49.7–70.1 and 10.6–20.4 months, respectively), as compared with those more than 10 U/mL (median: 42.0 and 9.0 months with 95% CI: 34.4–49.7 and 6.6–11.2 months, respectively). Baseline serum CA-125 levels, but not the CA-125 expression in tissues, were associated with the OS and PFS of HG-SOC patients in the MDACC and JICR groups. However, these values were not independent. Nadir CA-125 levels were not associated with the tumor burden based on second-look surgery (p = 0.09). Patients who achieved a pathologic complete response had longer OS and PFS (median: 73.7 and 20.7 months with 95% CI: 63.7–83.7 and 9.5–31.9 months, respectively) than those with residual tumors (median: 34.6 and 10.6 months with 95% CI: 6.9–62.3 and 4.9–16.3 months, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The nadir CA-125 level was an independent predictor of OS and PFS in HG-SOC patients. Further prospective studies are required to clinically optimize the chances for a complete clinical response of HG-SOC cases with higher CA-125 levels (>10 U/mL) at the end of primary treatment

Insight-HXMT on-orbit thermal control status and thermal deformation impact analysis

Purpose: The Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope is China's first X-ray astronomy satellite launched on June 15th, 2017, dubbed Insight-HXMT. Active and passive thermal control measures are employed to keep devices at suitable temperatures. In this paper, we analyzed the on-orbit thermal monitoring data of the first 5 years and investigated the effect of thermal deformation on the point spread function (PSF) of the telescopes. Methods: We examined the data of the on-orbit temperatures measured using 157 thermistors placed on the collimators, detectors and their support structures and compared the results with the thermal control requirements. The thermal deformation was evaluated by the relative orientation of the two star sensors installed on the main support structure. its effect was estimated with evolution of the PSF obtained with calibration scanning observations of the Crab nebula. Conclusion: The on-orbit temperatures met the thermal control requirements thus far, and the effect of thermal deformation on the PSF was negligible after the on-orbit pointing calibration.Comment: 25 pages, 35 figures, submitte

Processing Gapped and Gapless Relative Clauses in Mandarin: Evidence from Event–Related Brain Potentials

This paper reports an event–related potential (ERP) study examining the processing of “gapless” relative clauses (RCs), normal (“gapped”) RCs, attributive clauses, Subject–Verb–Object (SVO) forms and the morphological markers de and le in Mandarin Chinese. The objectives were to (1) determine whether a processing cost signature can be identified for gap–filler processing by comparing gapped RCs with SVO forms; and (2) determine whether processing gapless RCs is more similar to processing gapped RCs that they resemble on surface or attributive clauses that they resemble structurally by comparing gapped RCs, gapless RCs, and attributive clauses. ERP data was collected from 27 native speakers as they read 160 sentences containing gapped, gapless, attributive, and SVO sentences, which differed only in the second word of the string (e.g., 教授设计的/烧菜的/助手的/设计了/那个广告… The professor designed Ø/cooked food/assistant’s/designed that advertisement…). Results indicate that (1) the head noun evoked larger N400 and P600 components and the determiner elicited a larger sustained anterior negativity for the gapped RCs than for the SVO forms, and (2) the word immediately following the head noun evoked a larger P600 and the determiner elicited a larger sustained anterior negativity for both gapped and gapless RCs than for attributive clauses. These results indicate that (1) gap–filler integration in Mandarin is both semantic (hence the N400) and syntactic (hence the P600) in nature, and (2) gapless RCs are neurophysiologically processed more like gapped RCs than attributive clauses. The ERP signatures to verb+le, verb+de, verbs with verb–object (VO)+de morphological structure, and noun+de revealed that the processing costs for VO verbs and noun modifications were higher than for simple verbs, and the morphological markers de and le induced similar processing costs, even though de triggered the positing of a syntactic gap whereas le did not

Learning the Lexical Semantics of Mandarin Monomorphemic State-Change Verbs by English-Speaking Learners of Mandarin Chinese

Languages vary systematically in how semantic information is “packaged” in verbs and verb-related constructions. Mandarin Chinese contrasts typologically with English in its lexicalization of state change. Most Mandarin monomorphemic verbs are moot about or imply a state change, whereas many English monomorphemic verbs (e.g., kill, break) entail the fulfillment of a state change. Recent studies suggest that Mandarin monomorphemic verbs form a continuum in the strength of state-change implicature. State-change verbs have been found difficult for first language (L1) learners. This study reports two experiments that investigate the lexical semantic knowledge of Mandarin monomorphemic implied or moot state-change verbs by intermediate (N = 19, mean age 21) and advanced (N = 12, mean age 21) English-speaking second language (L2) learners of Mandarin Chinese. The results reveal L2 learners’ general preference for the state-change interpretation for the monomorphemic verbs and their limited sensitivity to the nuanced strength of state-change implicature in the Mandarin verbs. Typological differences in the lexicalization of state change are argued to contribute to the difficulties in L2 learning of the lexical semantics in the semantic domain of state change in Mandarin

Processing Gapped and Gapless Relative Clauses in Mandarin: Evidence from Event&ndash;Related Brain Potentials

This paper reports an event&ndash;related potential (ERP) study examining the processing of &ldquo;gapless&rdquo; relative clauses (RCs), normal (&ldquo;gapped&rdquo;) RCs, attributive clauses, Subject&ndash;Verb&ndash;Object (SVO) forms and the morphological markers de and le in Mandarin Chinese. The objectives were to (1) determine whether a processing cost signature can be identified for gap&ndash;filler processing by comparing gapped RCs with SVO forms; and (2) determine whether processing gapless RCs is more similar to processing gapped RCs that they resemble on surface or attributive clauses that they resemble structurally by comparing gapped RCs, gapless RCs, and attributive clauses. ERP data was collected from 27 native speakers as they read 160 sentences containing gapped, gapless, attributive, and SVO sentences, which differed only in the second word of the string (e.g., &#25945;&#25480;&#35774;&#35745;&#30340;/&#28903;&#33756;&#30340;/&#21161;&#25163;&#30340;/&#35774;&#35745;&#20102;/&#37027;&#20010;&#24191;&#21578;&hellip; The professor designed &Oslash;/cooked food/assistant&rsquo;s/designed that advertisement&hellip;). Results indicate that (1) the head noun evoked larger N400 and P600 components and the determiner elicited a larger sustained anterior negativity for the gapped RCs than for the SVO forms, and (2) the word immediately following the head noun evoked a larger P600 and the determiner elicited a larger sustained anterior negativity for both gapped and gapless RCs than for attributive clauses. These results indicate that (1) gap&ndash;filler integration in Mandarin is both semantic (hence the N400) and syntactic (hence the P600) in nature, and (2) gapless RCs are neurophysiologically processed more like gapped RCs than attributive clauses. The ERP signatures to verb+le, verb+de, verbs with verb&ndash;object (VO)+de morphological structure, and noun+de revealed that the processing costs for VO verbs and noun modifications were higher than for simple verbs, and the morphological markers de and le induced similar processing costs, even though de triggered the positing of a syntactic gap whereas le did not

Numerical study on parameter selection for steam extraction of rotational supercavitating evaporator

Текст статьи не публикуется в открытом доступе в соответствии с политикой журнала.With the application of supercavitation effect, a novel device named rotational supercavitating evaporator (RSCE) has been designed for seawater desalination. In order to study the effect of steam extraction on hydrodynamic characteristics of RSCE and then determine the steam extraction rate, numerical simulations are carried out on the supercavitating flows in RSCE at a constant rotational speed and at different steam extraction rates. The results show that steam extraction rate linearly increases with the decrease of extraction pressure and that the area and volume of the supercavity could be significantly affected by steam extration, as compared with the case without steam extration.However, both of them vary slightly with the increase of steam extraction rate in the process of steam extraction

Numerical study on parameter selection for steam extraction of rotational supercavitating evaporator

Текст статьи не публикуется в открытом доступе в соответствии с политикой журнала.With the application of supercavitation effect, a novel device named rotational supercavitating evaporator (RSCE) has been designed for seawater desalination. In order to study the effect of steam extraction on hydrodynamic characteristics of RSCE and then determine the steam extraction rate, numerical simulations are carried out on the supercavitating flows in RSCE at a constant rotational speed and at different steam extraction rates. The results show that steam extraction rate linearly increases with the decrease of extraction pressure and that the area and volume of the supercavity could be significantly affected by steam extration, as compared with the case without steam extration.However, both of them vary slightly with the increase of steam extraction rate in the process of steam extraction