Impact of actual and self-perceived body type on visual perception of distances

2015 Spring.Includes bibliographical references.We investigate several questions regarding the proposition that physical body size and one's image of their own body type affect the ability to make accurate judgements of distances. Data collected include subjects' guesses of distances of four cones set 10, 15, 20, and 25 meters away and the weight, BMI, and self-perception of body image for each of 67 subjects. Interest lies in determining the covariates that are most important in explaining one's ability to accurately judge distances and whether weight or BMI is the better explainer among the physical body size predictors. We utilize linear mixed models to account for correlation among each subjects' own distance guesses and to allow for flexible modeling of subject-specific effects. Flexibility is further promoted through use of model averaging techniques to account for model selection uncertainty inherent in typical approaches in which an analyst selects only one model from which inferences are made. A generalization of the coefficient of determination from ordinary linear models is made to the linear mixed model setting (R²LMM) in order to provide an additional goodness measure for fixed effects and for individual fixed effects themselves. Baseline differences among subjects' ability to accurately judge distances are so vast that extracting the importance of the fixed effects becomes difficult. It is found that body size is a significant predictor of subjects' ability to accurately judge distances but body image is not at the 0.05 significance level. We recommend choosing weight over BMI as a predictor of guessing behavior based on information criteria, model averaging, and the generalized R²LMM. Specifically, heavier individuals tend to guess more accurately

Binding reconstruction and two modes of copy-chain interpretation

We present a theory for the interpretation of Ā-movement chains at LF in the copy theory of movement where the NP restrictor of a DP Ā-movement chain is interpreted in only one copy. Such a view is motivated for English by evidence from reflexive binding, building on observations in Barss 1986, and its interaction with parasitic gap licensing and weak crossover effects. Our approach offers a means for understanding the classification of Ā-movement types in Cinque 1990 and Postal 1994 in copy-theoretic terms

Resolving conflicts between locality and anti-locality: Evidence from Luganda and Haya

It has been proposed that grammars generally prefer to make the shortest possible move [Shortest], given the choice between two or more movers. It has also been proposed that there are general bans on movement which is in some sense too short [anti-locality]. What happens when the shortest move is too short? In this paper, I argue that elements which cannot move as a result of anti-locality are rendered irrele- vant for Shortest, and show that this provides a novel account of patterns of symmetry and asymmetry in Luganda and Haya passives. There we will see a curious pattern: internal arguments may move across no more than one other postverbal argument. The theory developed leads to a simple explanation of these effects. Movement of one ele- ment across another indicates that the crossed element is too close to the landing site to undergo movement; but given a particular definition of anti-locality, only one element may be anti-local to a given landing site

Small Molecule and Polymer Effects on Bio-mimetic Sensors

Formation of biomimetic membranes for the purpose of producing a protein based infrared biosensor has proven to be a difficult obstacle. Several methods have been employed and reproducibility is becoming more frequent. The use of polystyrene as an adhesion layer between the biomimetic and diamond surfaces is the most reliable form of reproducibility yet encountered. Unique properties of acetylcholine esterase based biosensors include infrared absorption bands that are not present in either the organo-phosphorous compounds or polystyrene used in this study. This information lends further weight for the practical use of infrared-ATR biosensor for the use of detecting organo-phosphorous nerve agents

Chronicles of Oklahoma

Article chronicles the accomplishments of Leon C. Phillips, the eleventh governor of the state of Oklahoma and the first governor chosen directly from the Legislature. The article is a speech given at his memorial service

An Infrared Approach to Thin-Layer Based Biosensors

Biosensors exploit the theoretical and instrumental approaches of analytical chemistry and the unique properties of biological molecules. They utilize the intermolecular interactions and specificity found in systems such as hormone-receptor, antigenantibody, pathogen-host and substrate-enzyme. Manipulation of the structural and energetic factors that guide formation of these macromolecular complexes may provide a rational basis for the development of new sensor technology. To this end we have investigated myoglobin thin films for their ability to bind ligands. FTIR spectroscopy has been chosen as the transduction methods and has been shown to discriminate between several analytes

Agreement and unlocking at the edge

A growing body of work argues that Agree has the effect of “unlocking” certain domains, phases, such that otherwise illicit extraction from them becomes permitted (Rackowski & Richards 2005, van Urk and Richards 2015, Halpert 2016, 2018, Branan 2018). First, we address when such unlocking is required. While some works argue that unlocking is only needed for extraction from deep within a phase, others argue that all extraction requires it. We argue in support of the former view, based on Chichewa facts reported in Mchombo (2004, 2006). Second, we consider the relationship between unlocking effects and phase theory more generally. We argue that the possibility of unlocking indicates that material deep within a phase must not be rendered inaccessible by spellout, or else unlocking effects should be impossible. We explore how unlocking might be handled in the cyclic linearization theory of phases (Fox & Pesetsky 2005, a.o.) which leaves syntactic elements accessible post-spellout

Transmission of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus during the Incubation Period in Pigs.

Understanding the quantitative characteristics of a pathogen's capability to transmit during distinct phases of infection is important to enable accurate predictions of the spread and impact of a disease outbreak. In the current investigation, the potential for transmission of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) during the incubation (preclinical) period of infection was investigated in seven groups of pigs that were sequentially exposed to a group of donor pigs that were infected by simulated-natural inoculation. Contact-exposed pigs were comingled with infected donors through successive 8-h time slots spanning from 8 to 64 h post-inoculation (hpi) of the donor pigs. The transition from latent to infectious periods in the donor pigs was clearly defined by successful transmission of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) to all contact pigs that were exposed to the donors from 24 hpi and later. This onset of infectiousness occurred concurrent with detection of viremia, but approximately 24 h prior to the first appearance of clinical signs of FMD in the donors. Thus, the latent period of infection ended approximately 24 h before the end of the incubation period. There were significant differences between contact-exposed groups in the time elapsed from virus exposure to the first detection of FMDV shedding, viremia, and clinical lesions. Specifically, the onset and progression of clinical FMD were more rapid in pigs that had been exposed to the donor pigs during more advanced phases of disease, suggesting that these animals had received a higher effective challenge dose. These results demonstrate transmission and dissemination of FMD within groups of pigs during the incubation period of infection. Furthermore, these findings suggest that under current conditions, shedding of FMDV in oropharyngeal fluids is a more precise proxy for FMDV infectiousness than clinical signs of infection. These findings may impact modeling of the propagation of FMD outbreaks that initiate in pig holdings and should be considered when designing FMD control strategies

Challenges and opportunities for agroforestry practitioners to participate in state preferential property tax programs for agriculture and forestry

All 50 states offer preferential property tax programs that lower the taxes paid on enrolled agricultural and/or forest lands. While agroforestry is a land-use that combines elements of both agriculture and forestry, eligibility criteria and other rules and regulations may prevent landowners from enrolling agroforestry practices in one or more of the agricultural and forestry tax programs. This pilot-scale study developed conceptual and methodological frameworks to identify the current barriers to and opportunities in preferential tax policies applicable to agroforestry practices. We conducted an extensive review of state preferential property tax programs relevant for agroforestry practices, following focus group discussions with regional experts in five selected states across the United States: North Carolina, Nebraska, Wisconsin, New York, and Oregon. Based on a systematic review of statutes and their supporting documents, we developed a database of programs, which support or create barriers to enrollment of agroforestry practitioners into the programs. We found that agricultural tax assessments were more likely to favor multi-use agriculture and forestry systems than the preferential tax assessments of forestlands in the five states. Forest farming and silvopasture, followed by alley cropping, windbreaks, and riparian forest buffers, were found to be the most common agroforestry practices allowed under preferential tax classifications in the study states. This study provides a framework for cataloging and analyzing preferential property tax-programs to document barriers and facilitators to agroforestry practices in the United States

Sources of inaccuracy in photoplethysmography for continuous cardiovascular monitoring

Photoplethysmography (PPG) is a low-cost, noninvasive optical technique that uses change in light transmission with changes in blood volume within tissue to provide information for cardiovascular health and fitness. As remote health and wearable medical devices become more prevalent, PPG devices are being developed as part of wearable systems to monitor parameters such as heart rate (HR) that do not require complex analysis of the PPG waveform. However, complex analyses of the PPG waveform yield valuable clinical information, such as: blood pressure, respiratory information, sympathetic nervous system activity, and heart rate variability. Systems aiming to derive such complex parameters do not always account for realistic sources of noise, as testing is performed within controlled parameter spaces. A wearable monitoring tool to be used beyond fitness and heart rate must account for noise sources originating from individual patient variations (e.g., skin tone, obesity, age, and gender), physiology (e.g., respiration, venous pulsation, body site of measurement, and body temperature), and external perturbations of the device itself (e.g., motion artifact, ambient light, and applied pressure to the skin). Here, we present a comprehensive review of the literature that aims to summarize these noise sources for future PPG device development for use in health monitoring