4,371 research outputs found
Perceptual tuning influences rule generalization: Testing humans with monkey-tailored stimuli
Comparative research investigating how nonhuman animals generalize patterns of auditory stimuli often uses sequences of human speech syllables and reports limited generalization abilities in animals. Here, we reverse this logic, testing humans with stimulus sequences tailored to squirrel monkeys. When test stimuli are familiar (human voices), humans succeed in two types of generalization. However, when the same structural rule is instantiated over unfamiliar but perceivable sounds within squirrel monkeysâ optimal hearing frequency range, human participants master only one type of generalization. These findings have methodological implications for the design of comparative experiments, which should be fair towards all tested speciesâ proclivities and limitations
Photometry of GSC 762-110, a new triple-mode radially pulsating star
Stars pulsating in three radial modes are very rare; only three examples are
known in the Galaxy. These stars are very useful since their periods may be
measured very precisely, and this will constrain the global stellar parameters
and the models of the star's interior. The purpose of this paper is to present
a new example of the class of triple-mode radial pulsators. A search for
candidate multi-mode pulsators was carried out in public survey data.
Time-series photometry of one of the candidates, GSC 762-110, was performed.
GSC 762-110 was found to be a triple-mode radial pulsator, with a fundamental
period of 0.1945d and period ratios of 0.7641 and 0.8012. In addition two
non-radial modes were found, for which the amplitude has diminished
considerably over the last few years.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic
Hormones and temporal components of speech: sex differences and effects of menstrual cyclicity on speech
Voice onset time (VOT) is a salient acoustic parameter of speech which signals the âvoicedâ and âvoicelessâ status of plosives in English (e.g. the initial sound in âbatâ vs. the initial sound in âpatâ). As a micro-temporal acoustic parameter, VOT may be sensitive to changes in hormones which may affect the neuromuscular systems involved in speech production. This study adopted a novel approach by investigating the effects of menstrual cycle phase and sex on VOT. VOT data representing the 6 plosives of English (/p b t d k g/) were examined for 7 women (age 20-23 years) at two phases of the menstrual cycle (day 18-25: High Estrogen and Progesterone; day 2-5: Low Estrogen and Progesterone). Results indicated that menstrual cycle phase had a significant interaction with the identity of the plosive (F (5,30) = 5.869, P .05), or the contrast between voiced and voiceless cognates (F (1,10) = .407, P > .05). In contrast, the high hormone phase VOT samples displayed significant plosive by sex interactions (F (5,50) = 4.442, P < .005). In addition, significant sex differences were found for the contrasts between cognate voiced and voiceless plosives (F (1,10) = 5.019, P < .05); the women displayed a more marked voiced/voiceless contrast. The findings suggest that ovarian hormones play some role in shaping some temporal components of speech
A comparison between conventional and LANDSAT based hydrologic modeling: The Four Mile Run case study
Models designed to support the hydrologic studies associated with urban water resources planning require input parameters that are defined in terms of land cover. Estimating the land cover is a difficult and expensive task when drainage areas larger than a few sq. km are involved. Conventional and LANDSAT based methods for estimating the land cover based input parameters required by hydrologic planning models were compared in a case study of the 50.5 sq. km (19.5 sq. mi) Four Mile Run Watershed in Virginia. Results of the study indicate that the LANDSAT based approach is highly cost effective for planning model studies. The conventional approach to define inputs was based on 1:3600 aerial photos, required 110 man-days and a total cost of 2,350. The conventional and LANDSAT based models gave similar results relative to discharges and estimated annual damages expected from no flood control, channelization, and detention storage alternatives
Heralded Two-Photon Entanglement from Probabilistic Quantum Logic Operations on Multiple Parametric Down-Conversion Sources
An ideal controlled-NOT gate followed by projective measurements can be used
to identify specific Bell states of its two input qubits. When the input qubits
are each members of independent Bell states, these projective measurements can
be used to swap the post-selected entanglement onto the remaining two qubits.
Here we apply this strategy to produce heralded two-photon polarization
entanglement using Bell states that originate from independent parametric
down-conversion sources, and a particular probabilistic controlled-NOT gate
that is constructed from linear optical elements. The resulting implementation
is closely related to an earlier proposal by Sliwa and Banaszek
[quant-ph/0207117], and can be intuitively understood in terms of familiar
quantum information protocols. The possibility of producing a ``pseudo-demand''
source of two-photon entanglement by storing and releasing these heralded pairs
from independent cyclical quantum memory devices is also discussed.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures; submitted to IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in
Quantum Electronics, special issue on "Quantum Internet Technologies
Thermal decomposition of vinyl- and allylsilane platinum(II) complexes and platinum(II)catalysed synthesis of (E),(E)-1,4-diphenyl-1,3-butadiene
Thermal stabilities of Pt(II) complexes: K[PtCl3(CH2=CHSiMe3)], K[PtCl3(CH2=CHCH2SiMe3)], K[(acac)PtCl(CH2=CHSiMe3)] and [PtCl(CH2=CHCH2SiMe3)]2, were examined. All complexes were found to be stable at room temperature but they decomposed without melting above about 90 oC. The allylsilane complex decomposed above about 125 oC. All complexes liberated chlorotrimethylsilane on decomposition, showing the facile cleavage of the C-Si bond by nucleophilic attack on the silicon by the chloride ion. (E),(E)-1,4-diphenyl-1,3-butadiene was stereoselectively synthesised in good yield from (E)-ÎČ-styrylsilane in the presence of Zeiseâs salt. KEY WORDS: Thermal analysis, Vinyl- and allylsilane platinum(II) Ï-complexes, Platinum(II) catalysed synthesis, (E),(E)-1,4-diphenyl-1,3-butadiene  Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2008, 22(3), 445-448
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