Showing papers by "California State University, Long Beach published in 1984"

Real-time text-to-speech conversion system.

Abstract: A high-quality, real-time text-to-speech synthesizer system handles an unlimited vocabulary with a minimum of hardware by using a microcomputer-software-compatible time domain methodology which requires a minimum of memory and computational power. The system first compares test words to an exception dictionary. If the word is not found therein, the system applies standard pronunciation rules to the text word. In either instance, the text word is converted to a phoneme sequence. By the use of look-up tables addressed by pointers contained in a phoneme-and-transition matrix, the synthesizer translates the sequence of phonemes and transitions therebetween into sequences of small speech segments capable of being expressed in terms of repetitions of variable-length portions of short digitally stored waveforms. In general, unvoiced transitions are produced by a sequence of segments which can be concatenated in forward or reverse order to generate different transitions out of the same segments; while voiced transitions are produced by interpolating adjacent phonemes for additional memory savings. Pitch can be varied for naturalness of sound, and/or for intonation chanbes derived from key words and/or punctuation in the text, by truncating or extending the waveforms of individual voice periods corresponding to voiced segments.

The Factorial Validity of the Maslach Burnout Inventory in a Sample of California Elementary and Junior High School Classroom Teachers

Abstract: For a sample of 462 elementary and junior high school Southern California teachers, the responses scored separately for frequency and intensity to 22 items of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) were intercorrelated and subjected to a principal factors solution followed by varimax rotation. In each of the two rotated factor matrices empirical support was obtained for the presence of three a priori (hypothesized) dimensions of Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization, and Personal Accomplishment—constructs around which three MBI subscales had been designed. It was concluded that the two scoring systems could be expected to yield comparable factor structures and hence equivalent constructs. A conclusion also was reached that two of the three factors in the MBI were invariant with two found for a group of Massachusetts teachers who participated in a parallel investigation.

Diel movement patterns of the scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) in relation to El Bajo Espiritu Santo: a refuging central-position social system

Abstract: Movement patterns of scalloped hammerhead sharks in the vicinity of El Bajo Espiritu Santo, a seamount in the Gulf of California, were determined by tracking by ultrasonic telemetry 13 sharks and marking 100 sharks. The 13 tracked sharks swam back and forth along the seamount ridge throughout the day. They did not swim in different directions to reduce swimming effort when currents changed from a parallel to a perpendicular orientation to the ridge. Sharks tracked up to 8 km away into the pelagic environment soon returned to the seamount. From such trackings and repeated observations of marked sharks over periods of several weeks, it is believed that most sharks disperse and return to the seamount in a rhythmical fashion. The separate departures of individual hammerheads in five paired trackings indicated that the sharks left the seamount either in small groups or singly. For these reasons, we argue that the social system of the scalloped hammerhead shark can be described as a refuging system.

Effect of an automated bedside dispensing machine on medication errors

Abstract: The effect of an automated bedside dispensing machine on medication errors was studied on a 32-bed surgical unit of an 848-bed hospital. The experimental system (McLaughlin Dispensing System) included at each patient's bedside a locked medication cabinet that was electronically programmed to allow the nurse access to doses due at a particular time. The control system was a decentralized unit dose system. A crossover study design with random assignment of subjects and treatments was used. In the 14-day study period, nurses were observed by a pharmacist for 28 five-hour periods as they administered medications on the day and evening shifts. The mean error rates were significantly different--10.6% for the experimental system and 15.9% for the control system. Wrong time errors were the most common type. No significant differences were found between day and evening shifts or workloads of individual nurses. There was no treatment order effect. The error rate was significantly lower for the automated dispensing system than for the system using unit doses dispensed from a satellite pharmacy. Automated dispensing systems may be useful in reducing errors in administration time and dose omissions.

Subtidal Gastropods Consume Sulfur-Oxidizing Bacteria: Evidence from Coastal Hydrothermal Vents

Abstract: The black abalone (Haliotis cracherodii), a commercially important shallow-water gastropod common off White Point, Southern California, is found frequently at subtidal hydrothermal vents within mats of filamentous sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. Foraging vent abalones actively consume the bacteria and confine their nightly feeding forays to bacterial mats surrounding the vents. The growth of abalones consuming the sulfur bacteria exceeds that of control individuals consuming microalgae and is comparable to reported growth rates of abalones consuming macroalgae. Thus, off White Point, the black abalone may derive a portion of its nutrition from the subsidy of geothermal energy.

Automatic heliostat track alignment method

Abstract: A method of automatically aligning heliostats by comparing the actual sunbeam centroid position on a target to a command reference position to determine the error in the sunbeam centroid location. The sunbeam centroid position error is then analyzed to correlate the error to errors in the heliostats' track alignment system. New coefficients are established for the heliostats' track alignment system to automatically correct for errors in the system, this eliminates the need for resurveying and field work normally associated with aligning heliostats.

Diversity of soft-bottom benthos in a tropical estuary: Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica

Abstract: The community structure of soft-bottom infauna is described for the Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica, Central America, with special reference to the relationship between diversity and a tropical estuary. Of the 205 species of invertebrates collected in July, 1980, polychaetes comprised 58.6% by number of species and 68.1% by number of individuals. Density ranged from zero to 8 744 m-2 with a mean of 1 269 m-2 per station, and biomass ranged from zero to 10.986 g m-2 with a mean of 2.010 g m-2. Numerical analysis indicated considerable faunal homogeneity, characterized by polychaetes. Five major polychaete feeding guilds were recognized. From measures of diversity we concluded that the soft-bottom community of the Gulf of Nicoya was not rich for a tropical estuary. Physical processes (riverine runoff and frontal systems) mainly influenced community structure and function in the lower Gulf whereas biological processes (predation) seemed to prevail in the upper Gulf.

Jealousy: Compound emotion or label for a particular situation?

Abstract: Individuals generally experience several emotions when confronted with an unfaithful mate. Such observations have led some scholars to propose that jealousy is a compound emotion. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the concept of jealousy as a combination of primary emotions is an artifact of the failure to control for the focus of concern. The subjects were 149 undergraduates who read jealousy and nonjealousy scenarios and indicated the emotions they believed the partner of a relationship experienced in response to the actions of the mate. The results indicated that manipulation of the focus of concern was a more parsimonious explanation of the results than the assumption that the subjects were basing their responses upon a subjective experience of a compound emotion.

Influence of el ninos on california's wave climate

Abstract: Waves with exceptional height and periods caused severe damage along the coast of California in 1982-83. Because these large wave events coincided with a strong El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) climatic anomaly, which occurs 20-25 times per century, there was interest in determining if the extreme waves resulted from the ENSO or its related features. The meteorological setting featured a very large and intense low pressure zone over the north-central Pacific. Associated with this Pacific-wide pattern, a series of large mid-latitude storms developed at about weekly intervals and produced exceptionally long fetchs directed at the California Coast. Two time series of extreme wave events, using buoy data after 1981 and hindcasts before, were used covering the period from 1900 to 1984. One series considered waves with significant heights greater than 3 m (10 ft) and the second for those greater than 6 m (20 ft.) These were compared with a time history of ENSOs for the same period. A strong association was established between northern hemisphere winters during ENSO years and large wave events in Southern California. Strong ENSO winters had the largest storm waves, moderate ENSOs less intense waves, and weak ENSOs tended not to have storm waves greater than the threshold value used in this study. The correlation between large waves and ENSO years is significant at the 1% level. The correlation between lack of large waves and non-ENSO years is significant at the 0.5% level. Because of the great southerly extent of the most energetic storms, a large number of energetic wave trains approach the coast from the west, rather than the northwest, as previously assumed by many. ENSO winters are responsible for producing all of the wave events in this study with both heights greater than 6 m and periods of peak energy longer than 19 seconds. Five out of nine eastern Pacific tropical storms making landfalls on California in the 85 year period occurred during the late northern summer of ENSO years.

Naloxone and asymptomatic ischemia: Failure to induce angina during exercise testing

Abstract: Endorphins and endorphin receptors are believed to modulate pain perception. To investigate whether naloxone, a specific antagonist, could initiate anginal pain during exercise-induced myocardial ischemia in asymptomatic patients with angiographically defined coronary artery disease, a single-blind trial was conducted in 10 men with prior positive exercise electrocardiograms. Multistage treadmill exercise tests were performed twice within a week. On the second test, patients received naloxone, 2 mg intravenously, by a syringe infusion pump. Exercise was terminated because of fatigue in 6 patients and completion of the protocol in 4. No patient reported chest pain during exercise. Naloxone did not significantly alter exercise duration, heart rate, blood pressure and ST-segment changes compared with control testing. It is concluded that endorphins do not play a significant role in the recognition of anginal pain in patients who have asymptomatic exercise-induced ischemia.

Protein and Nitrogen Assimilation as a Factor in Predicting the Seasonal Macroalgal Diet of the Monkeyface Prickleback

Abstract: The monkeyface prickleback Cebidichthys violaceus was fed monospecific diets of eight species of its preferred macroalgae each month (as available) for 1 year (May 1982-April 1983). Assimilation efficiencies were mostly above 70% for both protein and nitrogen despite considerable variation in these two constituents with respect to dietary species and season. Thus, the greatest amounts of protein and nitrogen are assimilated by this fish from algal species with the highest protein and nitrogen contents (the annual red algae Porphyra perforata, Microcladia coulteri, and Smithora naiadum). These are also the algae that have been shown to rank highest in laboratory preference experiments. Nevertheless, other species with lower protein and nitrogen contents are frequently more abundant in the diets of wild monkeyface pricklebacks. Additional factors, such as algal availability, must be considered in prediction of this fish's diet. Received December 7, 1983 Accepted April 8, 1984

Bork's paradox: static vs. dynamic efficiency in antitrust analysis

Abstract: Judge Robert Bork holds two opposing attitudes towards perfect competition It is a highly useful economic model for illustrating allocative efficiency, but it is a defective policy model because it deliberately omits productive efficiency He reconciles these attitudes by combining perfectly competitive allocative efficiency with dynamically competitive productive efficiency in his analysis However, these two kinds of competition do not readily mix One is a static equilibrium concept, the other a dynamic disequilibrium concept One assumes perfect knowledge and the absence of change; the other assumes imperfect knowledge, learning, and continual flux Each kind of competition is built on assumptions which, if true, would preclude the existence of the other Bork's policy conclusions require the simultaneous existence of both kinds of competition If he drops dynamic competition from the analysis, a much more stringent antitrust policy is called for If he drops static competition, economic theory does not justify even his strictures against mergers and cartels

Multiplexed junction probe for fuel gaging system and system containing same

Abstract: A true mass fuel gaging system for aircraft utilizing multiplexing of tank unit measurements in or adjacent a fuel tank for improved accuracy and fault isolation. The system provides dual equipment channels for redundancy throughout all data processing portions of the system and also uses extensive built-in testing (BIT) routines so that upon detection of a fault an alternative channel can be switched into use. Detected fault locations are displayed in the cockpit with the fuel quantity displays. The system also provides displays of center of gravity measurements derived from fuel mass and location.

Carbon dioxide laser treatment of granuloma faciale

Abstract: The successful employment of carbon dioxide (CO2) laser vaporization in the treatment of granuloma faciale is described.

An Art Criticism Questioning Strategy within the Framework of Bloom's Taxonomy

Abstract: A review of research on questioning strategies indicates that, when properly sequenced, instructional questions can foster student involvement and the development of complex levels of thinking. Most questions posed in classrooms, however, elicit memory-recall responses. In this paper, these findings on questioning strategies are related to the need for more specific instructional guidelines if art criticism is to be widely implemented. It is proposed that the formulation of art criticism questions within the hierarchical categories of Bloom's taxonomy offers a much-needed methodological specificity that also promotes student interest and the development of analytical skills.

Balanced solar concentrator system

Abstract: This solar concentrator system is configured such that the base pedestal attachment point is located on the beam connecting the curved solar reflector and the heat energy receiver power conversion unit, herein envisioned as a Stirling engine. This attachment point is located near the balance point CG (Center of Gravity) of the power conversion unit-supporting beam-curved reflector subsystem such that the loads on the base pedestal and the attached solar tracking drive systems are minimized.

Developmental aspects of the perception of acoustic cues in determining the voicing feature of final stop consonants.

Abstract: The developmental use of vowel duration, final transition and voicing during closure as cues to voicing in final stop consonants were investigated, using 10 three-year-old, 10 six-year-old and 10 adult subjects. The stimuli were alterations of eight stop-vowel-stop words. The presentation of each stimulus item was response contingent. The resulting data supported the ability of adults and children to use both temporal and spectral cues to acoustic/ phonetic distinctions. However, three-year olds relied more on temporal cues, six-year olds relied more on spectral cues, while adults used both spectral and temporal cues in judging the voicing feature of final stop consonants.

Social Support and Its Relation to Health: A Critical Evaluation

Abstract: issues and problems related to the view that social support can moderate or reduce the adverse effects of stress on mental and physical health are discussed. Conceptual, methodological, and theoretical shortcomings of this body of research are presented. Research attention is directed toward the interactive process between provider and recipient of social support. Identification of factors involved in the receipt and offering of social support is essential for theory development. Recognition of individual differences in the giving, as well as taking, of social support is needed. The possibility is raised that the persistent belief in the power of social support to reduce stress, despite lack of convincing data, reflects a form of bias due to strong expectancies.

Tiny dinosaurs: are they fully grown?

Abstract: Newly discovered tiny fabrosaurid ornithopods from the Late Jurassic Morrison Formation of western Colorado, a related tiny ornithopod Hypsilophodon foxii, two tiny coelurosaurian theropods, Compsognathus longipes and C. corralestris, and Archaeopteryx lithographica are analyzed to determine their probable ontogenetic stage. Based on models of growth of selected living precocial, cursorial birds and on the proportional expression of bone sizes and degree of their ossification, it is suggested that these tiny dinosaurs were subadult to adult and probably grew no larger than domestic chickens (except Hypsilophodon which probably grew to the size of a domestic turkey).

Piezoelectric valve operator

Abstract: A valve (10) is provided for the control of fluid flow. The valve (10) includes a housing (20) having a fluid inlet aperture (40) and a fluid outlet aperture (48). A piezoelectric device (12) is disposed within the housing (20) adjacent the fluid inlet aperture (40) and the fluid outlet aperture (48). Structure (52, 54) is provided for applying a voltage to the piezoelectric device (12) for causing motion of the piezoelectric device (12) to thereby establish a path (62) within the housing (20) between the fluid inlet aperture (40) and the fluid outlet aperture (48) to enable fluid to flow through the housing (20).

Rolling aerial refueling boom

Abstract: An improvement in an aircraft refueling boom wherein the boom support attachment provides two axes of motion. The first axis, attached to the fuselage, provides for lateral motion of the boom about a longitudinal or roll axis of rotation essentially parallel to the air stream. The second axis of motion, the pitch axis, is located below and perpendicular to the roll axis so that the pitch axis rolls with any roll motion of the boom and provides for vertical displacement of the boom. The resultant boom nozzle motion is such that vertical displacement occurs in a conventional fashion while lateral displacement takes place in an arc or rolling motion rather than a yawing motion.

Surface-wave computations and the synthesis of theoretical seismograms at high frequencies

Abstract: Multi-mode, surface-wave dispersion—eigenvalue—computations are studied in the range of frequencies from 1 to 10,000 Hz, for structures composed of a sequence of homogeneous layers. When the original version of the Thomson-Haskell technique is applied to such structures, a loss-of-precision problem is encountered with Rayleigh-wave computations. Into the range of high frequencies, we now want to know whether the Love-wave formulation and the alternate Rayleigh-wave formulations are completely free of this problem. At low, intermediate, high, and very high frequencies, our numerical testing shows no evidence whatsoever of loss-of-precision problems; not for Love waves, for Rayleigh waves when Knopoff's method is used, nor for Rayleigh waves when the deltamatrix extension of the original Thomson-Haskell formulation is employed. In these three cases, when P digits are used in the computations, the resulting phase velocities can be obtained to full. P digit accuracy. All overflow/underflow problems can be controlled by simple modifications of the usual computational methods; these modifications do not affect the accuracy of the calculated dispersion. The computation of displacement-depth and stress-depth functions—eigenfunctions—is also studied up to extremely high frequencies. Once again, the original Rayleigh-wave formulation encounters loss-of-precision difficulties in these eigenfunction evaluations. The use of Knopoff's method completely solves this aspect of the problem with precision loss. As with dispersion calculations, all overflow/underflow problems are easily controlled by means that do not affect the accuracy of the computed eigenfunctions. In addition to precision loss and overflow/underflow problems, three further details affect efficiency and accuracy when synthesizing high-frequency seismograms by multi-mode summation of dispersed surface waves. Avoid branch-line integrals and spherical Bessel functions of nonintegral order by using spherical structures combined with transformations permitting replacement of Bessel functions with circular or exponential functions. The number of higher modes treated explicitly, at each of the higher frequencies, should be limited by selective sampling combined with summation procedures approximating inclusion of all modes. As frequency increases, the structural specification must be monitored to ensure the homogeneous layers used to approximate the true structure do not become much thicker than the vertical extent of the eigenfunction lobes.

The Myth of the Male Ethnographer and the Woman's World

Abstract: It is here argued that the traditionally accepted view regarding the inaccessibility of the woman's world to male ethnographers is largely a rationalization that justifies not collecting information about women, glosses over the fact that much such information is readily attainable, makes the questionable assumption that this information will be so distorted as to be useless, and erroneously implies that there are no comparable problems for male ethnographers working with the man's world.

Semi-moist pet food having free gravy, and process for preparation thereof

Abstract: A shelf-stable, semi-moist pet food, wherein partly farinaceous solid pieces are covered by or immersed in an aqueous free gravy. The solid pieces are prepared to be resistant to significant swelling or disintegration when in contact with an aqueous liquid, preferably by incorporating binding means such as vital wheat gluten. A preferred aqueous gravy has a pH of less than about 4.7 and a sufficiently low water activity so that the gravy itself is also shelf stable. The mixture of gravy and solid pieces has a water activity of less than about 0.9 and a pH of less than about 4.7 to resist microbiological growth.

The Older Adult as Computer User

Abstract: Computerization of the contemporary workplace has been rapid and extensive. It is likely that this change will have a major impact on the older worker. In the laboratory, older adults are less able than younger adults to master new material (Hartley, Harker, and Walsh, 1980). In field studies, they have been characterized as less likely to adopt innovations (Phillips and Sternthal, 1977). The exposure of older adults to computer use raises questions for both applied and basic research. Can older adults master common computer applications? Can techniques be found that will improve or speed mastery? Does familiarity with one application transfer to others of the same class? How does knowledge develop as the older adult learns? How is the knowledge base accessed to solve specific problems, to carry out specific tasks?