The structural complexity and the typological universals associated with relative clauses (RCs) have made the structure particularly interesting to linguists and second language acquisition (SLA) researchers. Currently, much controversy is found in RCs in East Asian Languages. This dissertation tests the syntactic status of "relative clauses" in Chinese and explores second language (L2) learners' processing and production of different types of Chinese RCs.In the theoretical part of the dissertation, I test whether Comrie (2002)'s proposal of analyzing putative relative clauses in East Asian languages as "attributive clauses" can be applicable to Chinese. From a review of syntactic literature and movement test, I argue that there are crucial differences between Chinese RCs and attributive clauses. Further, reconstruction effect suggests that A-bar movement takes place within gapped Chinese RCs. More specifically, following Sauerland (2000)'s proposal, I suggest that the derivation of Chinese RCs involves the movement of an operator taking a complex NP as its complement to the Spec of CP, and that complex NP matches with an external head outside the RC.Further, I examine the possibility of analyzing AdjP+DE structure as relative clauses, and examine the flexibility and effect of demonstrative and numeral-classifier positions and their relation with relative clauses.In the experiment chapter, I discuss results from three experiments that tested the relative degrees of difficulty for L2 learners among different types of RCs including Subject, Direct Object, Indirect Object and Object of Preposition relative clauses, I seek plausible linguistic and psycholinguistic proposals in explaining the performance data. The experiments include a self-paced word order judgment task, a written sentence completion task, and a written sentence combination task. It was found that the L2 acquisition of Chinese RCs is generally consistent with the Noun Phrase Accessibility Hierarchy (Keenan & Comrie, 1977), a typological generalization based on natural languages and a hierarchy that was found to be predictive of learners' order of acquisition in SLA studies of many other languages.

The mathematical modeling and simulation of the flow of fluid through porous media are important in many areas. Relative permeability and capillary pressure functions are macroscopic properties that are defined within the mathematic model. Accurate determinations of these functions are of great importance. An established inverse methodology provides the most accurate estimates of the unknown functions from the available data. When the inverse method is used to determine the flow functions, the media properties, absolute permeability and porosity are typically represented by single average values for the entire sample. Fortunately, an advanced core analysis tools utilizing nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and imaging (MRI) to determine complete distributions of porosity and permeability has been developed. The process for determining multiphase properties from experimental data is implemented with the computer program SENDRA. This program is built around a two-dimension, two-phase simulator. In this thesis, the computer code is extended to represent all three spatial coordinate directions so that the porosity and permeability distributions in three-dimensional space can be taken into account. Taking the sample's heterogeneity into account is expected to obtain more accurate multiphase property. Three synthetic experiments are used to show the erroneous estimation of flow functions associated with the homogeneity assumption. A proposal approach is used to predict the relative permeability of wetting phase using NMR relaxation data. Several sets of three-dimensional NMR experiments are performed. Three-dimensional saturation distribution and relaxation are determined. Relative permeability of wetting phase are calculated by applying an empirical relation. This approach provides a in situ measurement of relative permeability of wetting phase from NMR data.

Raw material accounts for a large proportion (approximately 75 percent) of a sawmill’s operating costs. However, about 15 percent of raw material ends up as low valued sawdust and planer shavings due to inaccurate cutting. Sizable financial benefits can be realized through maximizing conversion of raw material into valuable solid wood. Advanced process control in a sawmill can help achieve straighter cuts closer to final product dimensions and reduce loss of valuable raw material. A novel and practical method for enhanced process control in a sawmill is presented. A laser arrangement consisting of industrial point and line scanners is used to obtain a surface profile of the entire (two-dimensional) top and bottom surfaces of a lumber board. Each surface profile is independent of the other and free of data contamination caused by relative motions between the measured surface and sensors. Point scanners and line scanners simultaneously record 1-D and 2-D height data, respectively, along the length of the board. One-dimensional height data are used to identify relative motions through a mathematical technique based on linear inverse theory. Subtracting relative motion information from raw line scanner data provides an accurate 2-D surface profile. A second line scanner placed below the board can be used to obtain a separate 2-D profile of the bottom lumber surface. Separate-sided profiling is advantageous because typically a different saw or machine mills each side of a board. Thus, knowing the surface profile of each side of a board is crucial not only in diagnosing a deficiency in the milling process but also in determining the location of this deficiency. Results demonstrate that two-dimensional surface profiling can identify common surface defects such as step, washboard and knot tear-out with an accuracy of 0.3mm. Reproduction of each surface is rapid (approximately 0.2 seconds) and stable.

Professional furniture movers must carry objects of all shapes, sizes and weights. When carrying boxes between a house and the moving van, professional movers will carry boxes two different ways. The first way is holding the box in their hands in front of their body, and the second way is holding the box behind them and leaning forward so the box can rest on their backs while walking. The Mover’s Assistive Device (MAD) is an aid developed to decrease the effort of movers when carrying boxes and has been shown to reduce the amount of needed grip strength. The goals of this research were to compare the effects of technique (carrying in front or behind the body) as well as the effects of using the MAD on the way movers coordinate their 1) legs and 2) trunk and hips. Movement was tracked using a camera system and reflective markers attached to the participants. In study 1 ten male participants completed the four different carrying conditions on a treadmill. The different segments of the leg did not change coordination patterns between the front and back carries, however, the coordination was more stable (similar across all steps) in the front carry. When participants used the MAD, their legs moved in a more coordinated motion than when they did not use the MAD, and is considered to be useful in maintaining balance and control while carrying a box. In study 2 thirteen male participants completed the four different carrying conditions on a treadmill. The trunk and the hips did not change coordination between the front and back carries, but they became more coordinated when participants were wearing the MAD. A more coordinated motion between the trunk and hips is suggested to be beneficial to low back health. / Thesis (Master, Kinesiology & Health Studies) -- Queen's University, 2012-10-01 21:43:33.045

This thesis discusses Internally Headed Constructions in Japanese, specifically, the "Counter-Equi NP" (CENP) construction and the "Internally Headed Relative Clause" (MC) construction. In both of these constructions, an NP within the embedded clause is interpreted as an argument of the matrix clause. / There are two major goals in this thesis. The first goal is to provide a unified syntactic and semantic analysis of the CENP and IHRC constructions. I argue that the CENP construction is basically the same as the IHRC construction, even though some previous researchers have assumed the contrary (Kuroda 1992, 1999, Ohara 1996, Shimoyama 1999, among others). Furthermore, I argue that both the CENP NP and the MC NP are arguments of the matrix verbs. / The second goal is to closely examine the syntactic and semantic properties of the CENP construction and the IHRC construction. As discussed by Hoshi (1995) and Shimoyama (1999), the interpretation of the argument which is "modified by the IHRC" in these constructions is quite similar to that of E-type pronouns (Evans 1977a,b; 1980). In addition, there are some facts that show that the event of the embedded clause is linguistically connected to the event of the matrix clause. Regarding all these properties, the CENP construction behaves in the same manner as the IHRC construction. In this thesis, adapting the E-type pronoun analyses of the IHRC (Hoshi 1995 and Shimoyama 1999), I propose an alternative analysis of the CENP construction and the IHRC construction to capture those properties. / Moreover, even though the CENP construction and the IHRC construction share many properties with each other, there are some differences between them (Shimoyama 1999, among others). In particular, the CENP cannot appear as the subject of the matrix clause, whereas the IHRC can. However, we observe restrictions on possible internal heads with regard to the subject IHRC, in contrast to the CENP. This thesis tries to account for those differences under a unified analysis of the CENP construction and the IHRC construction, together with an analysis of the subject MC, which adapts Shimoyama's (1999) analysis of the IHRC.

Cough reflex testing (CRT) is used to assess the sensory and motor components of a reflexive cough. When used as an adjunct to the clinical swallowing evaluation, it has the potential to identify individuals who are more likely to aspirate silently in the event of aspiration. It is unknown how reliable clinicians are at interpreting cough responses and the factors that influence this reliability. Therefore, this study ascertained the reliability of Speech Language Therapists in interpreting cough responses in CRT and determined how sensory perception and training influence reliability. Additionally, the study determined a relative measure of CRT interpretation validity through a comparison with ‘expert’ consensus ratings. A total of 111 clinicians completed an online survey consisting of ratings of 30 audio-, visual- and audiovisual clips over three sessions, and a final questionnaire. Reliability was substantial (κ=.76) in rating for presence of cough but only fair (κ=.25) in rating for strength of cough. Clinicians used a variety of auditory and visual cues to assist in decision making. Training did not result in higher reliability. Ratings of individual clinicians were significantly associated with consensus ratings for presence of cough (p < 0.001) and strength of cough (p < 0.05). In summary, clinicians could reliably and accurately judge presence of cough response, but were poorer at rating the strength of cough.

There is a known link between relative deprivation and street crime among market liberal countries. Although some research has been done with cross-national data, there is none to suggest that the observed link is as valid in a country well known for its extended welfare and generous social expenditure like Sweden. The following study uses longitudinal data to see if this recognized link between relative deprivation and street crime also stands in a country with almost a century long tradition of striving for social-, economic- and cultural equality. Even though Sweden, over the last decade, has been subjected to a series of deregulations due to policy changes at national level, and with a following rise in inequality, it is still considered to be one of the most equal countries in the west. It is therefore not unlikely that the high degree of social security will reduce the negative impact of relative deprivation on social relations among its citizens, perhaps enough so that the correlation will be significantly weakened. The results indicate that the negative impact of relative deprivation on social relations still remains evident, even with a high degree of social security, suggesting that an extensive welfare does not significantly reduce the negative effect of relative deprivation on social relations.

Cancer therapy with high-energy particles has proved to be beneficial over the last 10 years. Protons are regarded as being more advantageous because of their distinctive physical depth dose distribution that allows dose conformation to the tumor while sparing normal tissue. In this study, the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) values for the 200-MeV clinical proton beam at iThemba LABS were measured at strategic positions along a 5 cm Spread-Out-Bragg-Peak (SOBP). RBE values were evaluated at the initial plateau of the virgin beam (24.2 mm in Perspex), and at the middle part, distal part and distal edge (12.4% max. dose) along the SOBP (depth in Perspex= 161.4, 181.3 and 207.7 mm respectively). Biological systems used were Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-Kl) for both cell survival and micronuclei frequencies as well as human T-lymphocytes for micronuclei frequency analysis. (60)^Co y-irradiation served as a reference. Cell survival measurements yielded RBE values of 1.17 at the distal part and 1.62 at the distal edge (12.4 max. dose). For micronuclei analysis, a limiting RBEap+ay value of 1.3 at the distal part was observed. Using T-lymphocytes, RBEap+/ay values calculated were 2.1, 2.7 and 3.2 at the middle part, distal part and distal edge, respectively. These results show an increase in RBE with depth of penetration and are explained by an increase in ionization density at the end of the SOBP. This is influenced by a high fraction of low-energy protons at that position. Protons were found to be most potent per unit dose towards the end as they slow down to a complete stop. It is recommended that an RBE value slightly greater than the current 1.1 be applied in therapy. Also, that the less steep biological effective depth dose curve be taken into account when dose planning. / Thesis (MSc. ARST) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2003

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Past research associated relative left frontal cortical activity with approach motivation, or the inclination to move toward a stimulus, as well as positive affect. Work with anger, a negative emotion often high in approach, helped clarify the role of relative left frontal cortical activity. Less work, however, examined positive emotional states varying in approach motivation and relative left frontal cortical activity. In the present research, it was predicted that positive facial expressions varying in degrees of approach motivation would influence relative left frontal cortical activity measured with electroencephalography (EEG) alpha power and task persistence measured with time working on insolvable geometric puzzles. Furthermore, relative left frontal cortical activity should positively relate to task persistence. In support of these predictions, determination compared to satisfaction facial expressions caused greater relative left frontal activity measured with EEG alpha power, a neural correlate of approach motivation. This effect remained when accounting for the contribution of muscle activity in the EEG signal, subjective task difficulty, and the extent to which participants made facial expressions. Determination compared to neutral facial expressions also caused greater self-reported interest following the puzzle task. Facial expressions did not directly influence task persistence. However, relative left frontal cortical activity was positively correlated with total time working on insolvable puzzles in the determination condition only. These results extend embodiment theories and motivational models of asymmetric frontal cortical activity.