Validation of the TRMM Multi Satellite Rainfall Product 3B42 and estimation of scavenging coefficients for (131)I and (137)Cs using TRMM 3B42 rainfall data.

The TRMM rainfall product 3B42 is compared with rain gauge observations for Kaiga, India on monthly and seasonal time scales. This comparison is carried out for the years 2004-2007 spanning four monsoon seasons. A good correlation is obtained between the two data sets however; magnitude wise, the cumulative precipitation of the satellite product on monthly and seasonal time scales is deficient by almost 33-40% as compared to the rain gauge data. The satellite product is also compared with APHRODITE's Monsoon Asia data set on the same time scales. This comparison indicates a much better agreement since both these data sets represent an average precipitation over the same area. The scavenging coefficients for (131)I and (137)Cs are estimated using TRMM 3B42, rain gauge and APHRODITE data. The values obtained using TRMM 3B42 rainfall data compare very well with those obtained using rain gauge and APHRODITE data.

Biochemical indicators of dental caries in saliva: an in vivo study.

This study evaluated the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, copper and zinc levels in saliva of caries-active and caries-free individuals. Eighty healthy adults were divided according to WHO criteria: caries-free (DMFT = 0) and caries-active (DMFT >10). Saliva collected was estimated for SOD activity as well as copper and zinc levels using the atomic nitro blue tetrazolium chloride reduction method and absorption spectrophotometry, respectively. The Student t test was applied. In conclusion, SOD activity as well as copper and zinc levels increased in the caries-active group and showed statistically significant results.

Language training: some data on response classes and generalization to an occupational setting.

The study was designed to investigate whether present plural uncontractible forms of auxiliary and copula (are) are members of a single response class. A mentally retarded adult female served as the subject. Within a behavior training, reversal, and reinstatement design, only the uncontractible auxiliary are was trained, reversed, and reinstated using operant training contingencies. On probes, however, sentences involving auxiliary as well as those involving copula were tested. It was found that training the uncontractible auxiliary are was sufficient to induce generalized production of the uncontractible copular are. Subsequently, when the auxiliary production was reversed, the copular production was also reversed. Finally, when the auxiliary production was reinstated, the copular production was automatically reinstated. The results suggest that auxiliary and copula are, although distinct grammatically and developmentally, belong to a single response class. The study also revealed that with the help of operant training and generalization strategies, the subject was able to use the trained features in conversational speech exhibited in her occupational setting.

An experimental-clinical analysis of grammatical and behavioral distinctions between verbal auxiliary and copula.

The study was designed to investigate whether auxiliary is and copular is belong to a single response class. Two children acted as subjects. The auxiliary verb was trained, then reversed, and later reinstated in one of the subjects, while the copula was similarly trained, reversed, and reinstated in the other child. Both the auxiliary and the copular sentences were tested on probes. The first subject, who was trained only on the auxiliary, was able to produce the untrained copula. When the auxiliary production was reversed, the copular production also was reversed. Finally, when the auxiliary production was reinstated, the copular production also was reinstated. For the second subject, the auxiliary production was generated, reversed, and reinstated by training, reversing, and reinstating only the copula. These results suggest that the copular and auxiliary is belong to a single response class and training either of them is sufficient to generate the production of both.

A study of some factors affecting generalization of language training.

Two related experiments examined generalization across contexts involving different sentence forms when selected grammatical features were trained within a single syntactic context. Results obtained within a single-subject multiple baseline design showed that training the verbal/auxiliary (contracted with pronoun he) was sufficient to induce its generalization across a variety of verbs, object noun phrases, and a different subjective case pronoun, but not across an objective case pronoun. Similar results were obtained for the uncontractible auxiliary in the past tense. Generalization of the uncontractible auxiliary in the present tense was noted across different verbs; so also was the generalization of contractible copula to different adjectives qualifying the subjective case pronouns he and she (but not in qualifying an objective case pronoun it). Finally, generalization of possessive s inflection across male, female, and animal categories was evident. Trained behavior generalized to home situation in one of the experiments. Some unexpected results also suggest that training on certain forms of either verbal auxiliary or copula may be sufficient to generate correct production of both of them.

The operant training and generalization of pronouns and a verb form in a language delayed child.

The purpose of the present investigation was to train the correct use of three pronouns and the verb from "are" in a language delayed child and to assess the generalization of these trained responses to untrained stimuli. Within a multiple base-line design the four selected behaviors were sequentially trained using the techniques of positive reinforcement, modeling, and punishment for inappropriate responses. At succeding stages of training, probe trials were conducted to assess the extent of generalization of trained responses to untrained stimuli. A 100% generalization of trained responses to untrained stimuli was obtained for each of the four linguistic behaviors.