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Purpose: Literature suggests a dependency of the acoustic metrics, smoothed cepstral peak prominence (CPPS) and harmonics-to-noise ratio (HNR), on human voice loudness and fundamental frequency (fo). Even though this has been explained with different oscillatory patterns of the vocal folds, so far, it has not been specifically investigated. In the present work, the influence of three elicitation levels, calibrated sound pressure level (SPL), fo and vowel on the electroglottographic (EGG) and time-differentiated EGG (dEGG) metrics hybrid open quotient (OQ), dEGG OQ and peak dEGG, as well as on the acous-tic metrics CPPS and HNR, was examined, and their suitability for voice assess-ment was evaluated. Method: In a retrospective study, 29 women with a mean age of 25 years (± 8.9, range: 18–53) diagnosed with structural vocal fold pathologies were examined before and after voice therapy or phonosurgery. Both acoustic and EGG signals were recorded simultaneously during the phonation of the sustained vowels /ɑ/, /i/, and /u/ at three elicited levels of loudness (soft/comfortable/loud) and unconstrained fo conditions. Results: A linear mixed-model analysis showed a significant effect of elicitation effort levels on peak dEGG, HNR, and CPPS (all p < .01). Calibrated SPL significantly influenced HNR and CPPS (both p < .01). Furthermore, F0had asignificant effect on peak dEGG and CPPS (p < .0001). All metrics showed significant changes with regard to vowel (all p < .05). However, the treatment had no effect on the examined metrics, regardless of the treatment type (surgery vs. voice therapy). Conclusions: The value of the investigated metrics for voice assessment purposes when sampled without sufficient control of SPL and fo is limited, in that they are significantly influenced by the phonatory context, be it speech or elicited sustained vowels. Future studies should explore the diagnostic value of new data collation approaches such as voice mapping, which take SP, QC 20240703

Knowledge on biodiversity is fundamental for conservation strategies. The Brazilian Pampa region, located in subtropical southern Brazil, is neglected in terms of conservation, and knowledge of its biodiversity is fragmented. We aim to answer the question: how many, and which, species occur in the Brazilian Pampa? In a collaborative effort, we built species lists for plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi that occur in the Brazilian Pampa. We included information on distribution patterns, main habitat types, and conservation status. Our study resulted in referenced lists totaling 12,503 species (12,854 taxa, when considering infraspecific taxonomic categories [or units]). Vascular plants amount to 3,642 species (including 165 Pteridophytes), while algae have 2,046 species (2,378 taxa) and bryophytes 316 species (318 taxa). Fungi (incl. lichenized fungi) contains 1,141 species (1,144 taxa). Animals total 5,358 species (5,372 taxa). Among the latter, vertebrates comprise 1,136 species, while invertebrates are represented by 4,222 species. Our data indicate that, according to current knowledge, the Pampa holds approximately 9% of the Brazilian biodiversity in an area of little more than 2% of Brazil’s total land. The proportion of species restricted to the Brazilian Pampa is low (with few groups as exceptions), as it is part of a larger grassland ecoregion and in a transitional climatic setting. Our study yielded considerably higher species numbers than previously known for many species groups; for some, it provides the first published compilation. Further efforts are needed to increase knowledge in the Pampa and other regions of Brazil. Considering the strategic importance of biodiversity and its conservation, appropriate government policies are needed to fund studies on biodiversity, create accessible and constantly updated biodiversity databases, and consider biodiversity in school curricula and other outreach activities.

Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccoides (wild emmer wheat) was one of the first plants that gave rise to domestic wheat forms in southwest Asia. The details of the domestication of emmer and its early dispersal routes out of southwest Asia remain elusive, especially with regard to its dispersal to the east. In this study, we combine whole genome data from a selection of specimens of modern wild T. turgidum ssp. dicoccoides and domestic T. turgidum ssp. dicoccum (emmer wheats) with a previously published 3,000 year old sample, to explore the phylogenetic relationships between wild and domestic populations of emmer, and especially the early dispersal routes south and eastwards to Africa and Asia, respectively. Our data confirm a marked differentiation between landraces from Europe, the Caucasus and Iran, and those from Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and India, the first group being more closely related to wild emmer from the northern and eastern Fertile Crescent. Gene flow is detected between wild emmer from the western Fertile Crescent and the second group of domestic emmer. These results support a dispersal route from southwest Asia to Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and India. We also observe a lower genetic variability in the wild emmer from the northern and eastern compared with that of the western Fertile Crescent. It is possible that the ancestors of domestic emmer that spread into Egypt still remain to be surveyed and analysed. Investigating the genetic content of ancient samples from Europe, the Caucasus or Iran would be very valuable to determine whether the two distinct types of germplasm arose during history or were already present during the early phases of dispersal.

[Societal Impact Statement]: Crop archaeogenomics has rapidly flourished in recent years, leading to a new way of understanding the past and bringing answers to important questions about human history in relation to plant management and food production. Furthermore, the knowledge derived from the analysis of ancient crops can contribute to the development of a more sustainable future. However, the extant legal framework presents a number of challenges when applied to this research field, particularly in the current scenario of disparities in scientific outcomes between countries. We expose the uncertainties of the legal framework and the factors that maintain or exacerbate these inequalities, as well as possible solutions., [Summary]: Crop archaeogenomics is a flourishing field that has greatly benefited from next-generation sequencing technologies. Ancient and historical plant remains are currently considered genetic resources and as such are subject to legal frameworks like those implemented by the Nagoya Protocol. In addition to the challenges in complying with genetic resource regulations that crop archaeogenomics share with other basic plant research disciplines, there are additional difficulties specific to this interdisciplinary field that includes science and humanities, namely, the need to comply with two different legislations before accessing the samples (one for genetic resources and one for cultural heritage), along with a high risk of not obtaining DNA. As a result, most studies to date have been done on samples for which the laws regulating genetic resources did not apply, sometimes avoiding the need of reaching Access and Benefit Sharing agreements with the country that originally provided the samples. This phenomenon is likely to worsen in the future, as the archaeological record is a limited resource and competition between laboratories will only widen the gap between developed and developing economies. Because crop archaeogenomics is a new and promising scientific field, it is desirable to begin a dialogue with other basic biological research fields to facilitate the implementation of these agreements so that basic sciences can easily utilize these biological samples while ensuring the rights of all parties involved.

Individuals most often use several rather than one substance among alcohol, cigarettes or cannabis. This widespread co-occurring use of multiple substances is thought to stem from a common liability that is partly genetic in origin. Genetic risk may indirectly contribute to a common liability to substance use through genetically influenced mental health vulnerabilities and individual traits. To test this possibility, we used polygenic scores indexing mental health and individual traits and examined their association with the common versus specific liabilities to substance use. We used data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (N = 4218) and applied trait-state-occasion models to delineate the common and substance-specific factors based on four classes of substances (alcohol, cigarettes, cannabis and other illicit substances) assessed over time (ages 17, 20 and 22). We generated 18 polygenic scores indexing genetically influenced mental health vulnerabilities and individual traits. In multivariable regression, we then tested the independent contribution of selected polygenic scores to the common and substance-specific factors. Our results implicated several genetically influenced traits and vulnerabilities in the common liability to substance use, most notably risk taking (bstandardised = 0.14; 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.10, 0.17]), followed by extraversion (bstandardised = −0.10; 95% CI [−0.13, −0.06]), and schizophrenia risk (bstandardised = 0.06; 95% CI [0.02, 0.09]). Educational attainment (EA) and body mass index (BMI) had opposite effects on substance-specific liabilities such as cigarette use (bstandardised-EA = −0.15; 95% CI [−0.19, −0.12]; bstandardised-BMI = 0.05; 95% CI [0.02, 0.09]) and alcohol use (bstandardised-EA = 0.07; 95% CI [0.03, 0.11]; bstandardised-BMI = −0.06; 95% CI [−0.10, −0.02]). These findings point towards largely distinct sets of gene

Individuals most often use several rather than one substance among alcohol, cigarettes or cannabis. This widespread co-occurring use of multiple substances is thought to stem from a common liability that is partly genetic in origin. Genetic risk may indirectly contribute to a common liabil

In this paper are reported the results of an extensive and innovative mechanical characterization carried out on three large diameter line pipes for gas transportation useful to calibrate a new plasticity finite element numerical simulation (FEM) model developed at Rina Consulting – Centro Sviluppo Materiali. In particular, the anisotropic hardening for the materials has been characterized by tensile tests carried out in the base material of the pipe with tensile specimen extracted along different orientations, considering also the pipe through thickness direction.

In dieser Arbeit wird mittels Literaturrecherche und einem Interview ein Konzept für eine Rezeptsammlung mit gesunden, regionalen und saisonalen Produkten für das Kochen mit Mittelstufenkindern entwickelt. Im ersten Abschnitt wird der Frage nachgegangen, wieso es wichtig ist, mit Kindern zu kochen und sie über gesunde, nachhaltige Lebensmittel aufzuklären. Darauf folgend wird besprochen, wie eine gesunde Ernährung für ein Mittelstufenkind in der Schweiz aussieht. Darin enthalten sind Auszüge aus dem Interview mit Anneco Dintheer-Ter Velde, Hauptverantwortliche für Ernährungsberatung im Kinderspital St. Gallen. Der letzte Abschnitt der Theoriearbeit beschäftigt sich mit der Frage, wieso eine saisonale und regionale Ernährung nachhaltig und sinnvoll ist. Die Arbeit endet mit einer Zusammenfassung und einem persönlichen Fazit. Basierend auf der erarbeiteten Theorie wurde in einem separaten Dokument ein Konzept für die Rezeptsammlung erstellt. Dieses klärt über seinen Zweck auf und enthält inhaltliche sowie formale Richtlinien für die Realisierung der Sammlung. Zur Veranschaulichung wurden drei Beispielrezepte angefügt.

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The aim 01 this study was to characterize the microsculpture of the cypselae surface 01 the Brazilian species of Baccharis L. sect. Caulopterae De. (Asteraceae). and to compare this data it with the taxonomy of the group. Scanning electro n microscopy was used to examine the cypsela surf ace of 25 taxa of Baccharis sect. Caulopterae Irom Brazjl. According to the micromorphology of the cypsela surface. the species can be classified into five distinct groups. The cypselae of the species of the Baccharis trimera species complex (B. crispa, B. cylindrica, B. jocheniana, B. myriocephala, and B. tomera) share the same micromorphological features., Para examinar la superficie de cipselas de 25 táxones de Bacchaos L. sect. Caulopterae De. de Brasil se ha utilizado la microscopía electrónica de barrido. El objetivo del estudio fue caracterizar la microescultura de la superficie de cipselas de la sección y colaborar con la delimitación taxonómica a nivel específico. Las especies fueron clasificadas en cinco grupos distintos según la micromorfología y asignados a la terminología existente. El complejo Baccharis trimera (B. crispa. B. cylindrica, B. jocheniana. B. myriocephala y B. trimera) mostró afinidades micromorfológicas de las cipselas.

A significant decrease in concentration of branched-chain amino acids in skeletal muscle of cirrhotic patients has been observed. These data are presented in further support of the concept that a relative deficiency of these amino acids may be present in cirrhotic patients.

Primary needs of human development are not met in poor development countries.Although ambitious goals have been set by the international community to meet specific human development targets by 2015, Official Development Aid is lagging and excessive external debt continues to drain much needed resources from poor countries despite the recent HIPC (Highly Indebted Poor Countries)Initiative. This paper outlines a 15-year program for implementing the 2015 Human Development targets while resolving fully the debt overhang problem for a set of 49 poor countries. The proposal requires additional contributions from 23rich countries amounting to 0.1 of 1% of their GDP over each of the 15y ears. Although only a small part of the effort would take the form of debt cancellation, the outstanding debt of the 49 poor countries would be totally extinct by year 2015. The program, to be implemented in a multilateral framework in which all interested parties have an effective voice, relies on several basic premises: a long term commitment by donors; a fair burden sharing among creditors; a fair distribution of newly available resources among poor countries, heavily indebted or not; a targeting of these resources to human development programs; a conditionality guaranteeing reasonable aid effectiveness.

JOSE has been developed for use in operational effectiveness studies performed in support of the acquisition process for Project AIR 5077 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C). It can be used to simulate an AEW&C and the Australian environment it must operate in. This includes platforms, sensors, C3 structure and other ADF assets that may be involved in joint operations. Development of JOSE will continue to meet the needs of the acquisition process and to support the capability when it enters service.

A general purpose ARINC (Aeronautical Radio, INC) serial interface has been developed for use with an IBM PC or compatible computer. The interface consist of a PC card and software to selectivity read, log, time tag and process data read from the ARINC bus. The PC card uses an XT slot and the data is written onto a floppy disk or hard disk. The data logging and post-processing software has been configured for ARINC 419/561 but can be readily reconfigured to other ARINC formats. ARINC 419/561 are low speed standards dealing with systems operating at 11 + or - 3.5 kilobits per second. The interface and PC software could readily be adapted to handle much higher speed ARINC and non- ARINC formats.

The programmable cockpit has been developed as a low cost alternative to a full research simulator. It is intended for use in cockpit display design and layout studies and for crew workload and other human factors studies. With this system it is possible to quickly change the design or layout of a display and evaluate it under representative flight conditions. A six degree of freedom flight dynamic model has been developed for the Programmable Cockpit. The model's development is described from it original from in the IBM PC-AT simulator to its current implementation in the Programmable Cockpit. It features and operation are described in some detail as well as it limitations. A brief overview of the Programmable Cockpit is also given. The hardware required for the simulator includes: IBM PC-AT 80286 computer with 80287 mathematics co- processor; Locus System Engineering touch screen; MetraByte DASH-8 eight channel, 12 bit A/D converter; and Measurement System Inc. analogue, spring- centered joystick.

Simplified mathematical models for both closed loop and open loop F/A-18 flight dynamics are presented. In each case a description of the model is given followed by a comparison of results produced with those published in the literature. Agreement is very good for the longitudinal dynamics and reasonable for the lateral dynamics. Keywords: Pitch(Motion); Yaw; Computerized simulation; Aerodynamic characteristics.

Much analysis of Pakistan’s government and civil service has been undertaken by political analysts and academicians, but rarely by an individual from within. As and when civil servants have written, they have made an unsuccessful attempt to emphasize their neutrality, quoting instances of how they resisted political pressure, argues Aminullah Chaudry. In Political Administrators, Chaudry shares personal experiences of his time as a civil servant, seeking to question existing literature on the topic. Elisabetta Iob finds that a lack of primary sources damages the book as a historical academic source.

Following eighteen months of intensive fieldwork, in Paper Tiger: Law, Bureaucracy and the Developmental State in Himalayan India author Nayanika Mathur details the everyday absurdities of bureaucracy in the Himalayan borderlands, showing the frequent gulf between ‘real life’ and the abstract workings of the law. Elisabetta Iob highly recommends this accessible, witty and vividly written book as an outstanding and essential example of ethnographic research.

Much analysis of Pakistan’s government and civil service has been undertaken by political analysts and academicians, but rarely by an individual from within. As and when civil servants have written, they have made an unsuccessful attempt to emphasize their neutrality, quoting instances of how they resisted political pressure, argues Aminullah Chaudry. In Political Administrators, Chaudry shares personal experiences of his time as a civil servant, seeking to question existing literature on the topic. Elisabetta Iob finds that a lack of primary sources damages the book as a historical academic source.

India Means Business is an excellent contribution to the current debate on the Indian economy and its performance. It is a particular boon to all those who first approach the study of the economic history of the Indian subcontinent, NGO workers and private or institutional actors who are (or plan to be) in business with a local counterpart. Reviewed by Elisabetta Iob. India Means Business: How the Elephant Earned its Stripes. Kshama V. Kaushik and Kaushik Dutta. Oxford University Press. February 2012.