A phase transition for the heights of a fragmentation tree

We provide information about the asymptotic regimes for a homogeneous fragmentation of a finite set. We establish a phase transition for the asymptotic behavior of the shattering times, defined as the first instants when all the blocks of the partition process have cardinality less than a fixed integer. Our results may be applied to the study of certain random split trees. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 39, 247‐274, 2011     

To breathe or not to breathe—That is the question: An investigation of speech breathing kinematics in world class Shakespearean actors

Anteroposterior diameter changes of the rib cage and abdomen were recorded during respiratory and speaking activities in four adult subjects, three men and one woman, all of whom had extensive dramatic training and experience and were earning their livelihood as professional actors. Data were charted to solve for lung volume, and volume displacements of the rib cage and abdomen. The more vigorous and louder monologue performances by the professional actor subjects differed from other speaking and reading activities in the following parameters of lung volume, separate volumes, relative volume contributions, and the frequent use of respiratory phase transitions. Novice actor subjects' monologue performances are compared to the monologue performances of the professional actor subjects.