Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Asymmetry in vowel perception in L1: evidence from articulatory synthesis of an [i]-[e] continuum

For the past 25 years, a debate on whether vowel discrimination is affected by stimulus presentation order has been raised and the role of peripheral vowels in our perception has been under careful examination. In earlier studies, the method used to synthesize a vowel continuum has been by fragmenting, in equidistant points, the F1/F2 Euclidean distance between two prototypes (best exemplars of two different vowel categories). Nonetheless, the resulting sounds were rather unrealistic, inasmuch as some of them were assigned formant-value combinations that cannot be produced by a human vocal tract. Furthermore, the assignment of fixed F3 and F4 values generated a false spectral peak (around 3100 Hz and thus close to that of [i]) which induced the listeners to identify more [i]'s than they should have. Evidence from a recent study on vowel prototypes suggests that [i] has a very narrow perception zone, despite its acoustic stability and peripherality and notwithstanding the absence of a mid-close [e] in the system. Bearing these methodological inconsistencies in mind, we opted to prepare our stimuli using articulatory synthesis. Therefore, we have synthesized a prototypic French [i] (stimulus no. 1, the most extreme) and then modified its parameters (jaw height and tongue position), gradually and in 9 steps, towards a prototypic French [e] (stimulus no. 10, the least extreme). We subsequently submitted the 10-vowel continuum to 34 native French listeners by conducting: a) an identification test in which listeners were requested to identify as [i] or [e] seven repetitions of each stimulus, presented in random order; b) a discrimination test in which listeners were presented with 34 stimulus combinations [18 one-step pairs (9 stimulus combinations, 2 orders) and 16 two-step pairs (8 stimulus combinations, 2 orders)] and were asked whether the two vowels were the same or different. The ISI (Inter-Stimulus Interval) was fixed at 250 ms and every pair was presented five times. Results from the identification test reveal a clear quantal perception of the two categories. The discrimination results demonstrate that: a) discrimination is more difficult when a more extreme (on the F2' dimension) stimulus is presented second and b) discrimination is significantly easier in the 2-step condition, in both orders of presentation.
Effects of landscape context on the invasive species Lantana camara in Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve, India

Non-native invasive species establish in favourable habitats in alien regions. Such favourable habitats are largely determined by local climatic, soil and biogeographic factors. Modelling these factors can help managers to identify areas of possible risk of invasion. This paper uses logistic regression modelling to identify variables conducive to high invasion in a tropical mixed forest in a biodiversity hotspot region in India. Using presence-absence data of an invasive species Lantana camara and local habitat variables from increasing buffer distances around sampling locations along with broad scale climatic parameters, we identify the variables that support invasion and spread. Results indicated that the percentage of moist deciduous forest at a distance of 50 m around the plot was significantly related to the invasion of L. camara. The study demonstrates the facilitation by moist deciduous forests to the growth and spread of L. camara in this region, and highlights the importance of using data at multiple scales for modelling invasion.Discover the world's research
Consistent model specification tests : Omitted variables and semiparametric functional forms

In this paper, we develop several consistent tests in the context of a nonparametric regression model. These include tests for the significance of a subset of regressors and tests for the specification of the semiparametric functional form of the regression function, where the latter covers tests for a partially linear and a single index specification against a general nonparametric alternative. One common feature to the construction of all these tests is the use of the Central Limit Theorem for degenerate U-statistics of order higher than two. As a result, they share the same advantages over most of the corresponding existing tests in the literature: (a) They do not depend on any ad hoc modifications such as sample splitting, random weighting, etc. (b) Under the alternative hypotheses, the test statistics in this paper diverge to positive infinity at a faster rate than those based on ad hoc modifications.
THE ORIGINAL STATUS OF WOLVES IN EASTERN NORTH AMERICA

Abstract Assessment was made of all available cranial specimens of wild Canis dating since the Blancan and prior to AD 1918 in the region east of the Great Plains and south of the Prairie Peninsula, Lakes Erie and Ontario, and the St. Lawrence River. The small wolf C. priscolatrans(= C. edwardii) of the early Irvingtonian seems unrelated to the modern red wolf (C. rufus), but gave rise to a lineage including the larger C. armbrusteri and culminating in C. dirus of the late Rancholabrean. A small wolf, possibly a descendant of the Eurasian C. mosbachensis, did not reappear in the east until near the end of the Rancholabrean. At the same time, the coyote (C. latrans) disappeared from the east, not to return until the small wolf was extirpated in the 20th century. Fragmentary remains of the small wolf, dating from around 10,000 and 2,000-200 ybp, show continuity with 14 complete, mostly modern, eastern skulls. Multivariate analysis indicates those 14 represent a well-defined species, C. rufus, distinct from large series of the western gray wolf (C. lupus) and coyote. There is no evidence that the red wolf originated as a hybrid of the latter two species, though early specimens from central Texas suggest it began to interbreed with C. latrans by about 1900. Three long-recognized red wolf subspecies appear valid: C. r. floridanus, Maine to Florida; C. r. gregoryi, south-central United States; and C. r. rufus, central and coastal Texas, southern Louisiana, and probably now represented in the captive/reintroduced populations. The subspecies C. lupus lycaon of southeastern Ontario and southern Quebec is statistically intermediate to C. rufus and western C. lupus, and may have resulted from natural hybridization of those two species. Such could explain how the red and gray wolf differ so sharply where their ranges meet in the west but morphologically approach one another in the east.
Comparison Study on Pyrolysis Characteristics and Kinetics of Corn Stover and Its Digestate by TG-FTIR

The pyrolysis potential of corn stover digestate (CSD) was compared with corn stover (CS). The effects of anaerobic digestion (AD) on pyrolysis were investigated at different rates by a thermogravimetric analyzer coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (TG-FTIR). The distributed activation energy model (DAEM) was used to show the differences in the kinetics. The results indicated that the AD process improved the thermal stability with lower mean reactivity (RM), higher solid residue (S850), and decreased release of observed gaseous productions, except for CH4. The release of CH4 from CSD was higher than that of CS, especially in the temperature range of 430 °C to 520 °C. The activation energies (E) of CS and CSD were 184 kJ/mol to 293 kJ/mol (conversions were 0.1 to 0.8) and 99 kJ/mol to 331 kJ/mol (conversions were 0.1 to 0.9), respectively. The activation energies decreased after AD at the same conversion level. The calculated TG data of CS and CSD from the kinetic parameters were in good agreement with the experimental curves.
Planning a ‘slum free' Trivandrum: Housing upgrade and the rescaling of urban governance in India

This paper examines how India’s national urban development agenda is reshaping relationships between national, State and city-level governments. Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, the flagship programme that heralded a new era of urban investment in India, contained a range of key governance aspirations: linking the analysis of urban poverty to city-level planning, developing holistic housing solutions for the urban poor, and above all empowering Urban Local Bodies to re-balance relationships between State and city-level governments in favour of the latter. Here, we trace Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission’s implementation in Kerala’s capital city, Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram), where the city’s decentralised urban governance structure and use of ‘pro-poor’ institutions to implement housing upgrade programmes could have made it an exemplar of success. In practice, Trivandrum’s ‘city visioning’ exercises and the housing projects it has undertaken have fallen short of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission’s lofty goals. The contradictions between empowering cities and retaining centralised control embedded within this national programme, and the unintended city-level consequences of striving for Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission funding success, have reshaped urban governance in ways not envisaged within policy. As a result, Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission has been important in rescaling governance relationships through three interlinked dynamics of problem framing, technologies of governance and the scalar strategy of driving reform ‘from above’ that together have ensured the national state’s continued influence over the practices of urban governance in India.
Relevance of Plasma Cholinesterase to Clinical Findings in Acute Organophosphorous Poisoning

Background: Organophosphorus (OP) poisoning is a major public health problem in developing world. OP pesticides inhibit carboxylic esterase enzymes including plasma cholinesterase (PChE). Clinical manifestations following OP poisoning can be associated with the extent of decrease of PChE. This study was designed to investigate the relevance of PChE level to clinical manifestations in OP poisoning and to evaluate usefulness of PChE in predicting clinical outcomes. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study which was conducted at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Karnataka from 1st October 2009 to 30th September 2010. Seventy-six OP poisoned patients were enrolled and their clinical manifestations were recorded. 5-ml samples of intravenous blood were collected from each patient (on first day and fifth day of treatment) under strict aseptic precaution and the PChE level was measured. Results: In total, mean age of patients were 25.5 (range: 21-30) years. Majority of patients were males (65.7 %), from rural areas (86.84 %) and agricultural workers (25%). Main clinical findings at the time of admission were congested conjunctiva (87%), pin point pupil (83%), lacrimation (80%), vomiting (78%), non-reactive pupil (75%), respiratory distress (60%) and abdominal pain (37%). Mean (SD) PChE at 6 hours post-exposure was 3672.4 (4200.1) IU/L. At presentation, cyanosis, muscle weakness, convulsion, respiratory distress and fasciculation were related to cases with >75%reduction of PChE, while, constricted and non-reactive pupil, lacrimation and congested conjunctivae were related to cases with 50-75% reduction and abdominal pain, dryness of conjunctiva, vomiting and diarrhea were related to <50% reduction. Deceased cases had the lowest mean PChE level at presentation (1270.2). Death was mostly observed among patients who had respiratory distress. Conclusion: A relative relationship between PChE level and clinical manifestations and outcomes was found. These findings can assist health professionals to better evaluate patient’s prognosis and improve their treatment plan.
A Generalized Active Learning Approach for Unsupervised Anomaly Detection

This work formalizes the new framework for anomaly detection, called active anomaly detection . This framework has, in practice, the same cost of unsupervised anomaly detection but with the possibility of much better results. We show that unsupervised anomaly detection is an undecidable problem and that a prior needs to be assumed for the anomalies probability distribution in order to have performance guarantees. Finally, we also present a new layer that can be attached to any deep learning model designed for unsupervised anomaly detection to transform it into an active anomaly detection method, presenting results on both synthetic and real anomaly detection datasets.
THE CONTINUED USE OF E-LEARNING SYSTEM : AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION USING UTAUT MODEL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TABUK

Despite the increase of Internet users and the development of the IT infrastructure, e-learning in developing countries is not yet largely diffused compared with the developed regions. Building on past studies related to UTAUT applications in the e-learning environment, the objective of this paper is to focus on the student continued use of a virtual learning system of the University of Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. The findings reveal that performance expectancy, and effort expectancy determine the intention of continued use of e-learning system. With stronger Internet experience, the effect of performance expectancy increases, and the influence of effort expectancy decreases. In addition, the effect of social influence on intention of continued use is seems to be stronger for women than for men. The theoretical and managerial implications of these results are discussed.
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF KIDNEY LIPID PROFILE, GLUTATHIONE AND MALONDIALDEHYDE LEVELS IN MALARIA INFECTED MICE TREATED WITH AFRAMOMUM SCEPTRUM

The effect of aqueous extract of Aframomum sceptrum (spice) on the kidney of mice induced with malaria was assessed in this study. Six groups of six mice each were used: normal control, parasite control, normal + 250 mg of spice, parasite + 250 mg of spice, parasite+350 mg of spice and normal+350 mg of spice. After four days of treatment with aqueous extract of A. sceptrum, the mice were sacrificed and the kidneys collected to determine the levels of some biomarkers. The results revealed that the parasitized mice had a significant (p 0.05) alteration was observed in kidney level of reduced glutathione (GSH). It can be inferred that the antioxidants and bioactive metabolites of A. sceptrum are responsible for the observed change. Thus, A. sceptrum can play a crucial function in the management of malaria.
Optimal Trading Policies for Wind Energy Producer

We study the optimal trading policies for a wind energy producer who aims to sell the future production in the open forward, spot, intraday and adjustment markets , and who has access to imperfect dynamically updated forecasts of the future production. We construct a stochastic model for the forecast evolution and determine the optimal trading policies which are updated dynamically as new forecast information becomes available. Our results allow to quantify the expected future gain of the wind producer and to determine the economic value of the forecasts.
Conversion of Oil Palm Biomass to Ethyl Levulinate via Ionic Liquids

Biomass is a potential renewable feedstock that can be used as a replacement for fossil resources. A variety of high end chemicals have been produced from biomass including ethyl levulinate, which is a viable biofuel for diesel engines. In this study, the capability of three types of imidazolium based ionic liquids (ILs) catalysts, i.e., 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM][Cl]), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate ([BMIM][HSO4]) and 1-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate ([HMIM][HSO4]) to convert oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) and oil palm mesocarp fiber (OPMF) biomass to ethyl levulinate were compared. The procedure entailed a sequential reaction of depolymerisation of biomass at 160 °C for 3 hours, followed by an esterification at 90 °C for 12 h in excess ethanol, with ILs-to-biomass ratio of 5 : 1 by weight and 20 wt% water. It was demonstrated that only the last two acidic [HSO4] counteranion based ILs are able to convert the biomass to ethyl levulinate. Mono-alkylated ILs, [HMIM][HSO4], consistently gave a higher efficiency than multi-alkylated ILs, [BMIM][HSO4], for both OPEFB and OPMF biomass conversions, with ethyl levulinate yields of 11.61 % and 13.54 %, and the process efficiencies of 39.26 % and 50.79 %. OPMF appears to be a slightly more efficient feedstock in ethyl levulinate production than OPEFB. This indicates the performance of ILs was dependent upon the character of their cation side chain, seeing that both ILs used have the same acidic [HSO4] counteranion. The experimental results suggested that [HMIM][HSO4] has the potential to be used in ethyl levulinate production from sustainable biomass feedstocks under mild operating conditions.
Flow-Mach-number-induced hysteresis phenomena in the interaction of conical shock waves – a numerical investigation

A flow-Mach-number-induced hysteresis phenomenon, in the shock-on-shock interaction of conical shock waves, is investigated numerically, by solving the Euler equations, using a W-modification of the non-stationary Godunov method with second-order accuracy both in space and time. The investigation reveals a multi-path hysteresis loop. It is shown that there are flow Mach number ranges in which three different wave configurations can be obtained for identical flow conditions. This study complements an earlier study by Ben-Dor et al. (2001) in which an angle-of-incidence-induced hysteresis was investigated both numerically and experimentally over a similar geometry. Based on the experimental findings of Ben-Dor et al.'s (2001) study, it is hypothesized that, in fact, four different wave configurations, three inviscid and one viscous, can be obtained for identical flow conditions. Since the geometry under investigation resembles supersonic intakes, this finding is relevant to their performance in supersonic/hypersonic flight.
User Resistance to the Implementation of Information Systems: A Psychological Contract Breach Perspective

The current study proposes an exploratory model to examine the antecedents of user resistance in information system (IS) implementations from the perspective of a psychological contract breach (PCB). The purpose of this study is to investigate PCBs between users and IS providers (ISPs), which extends IS theory in two ways: by elaborating on why some users psychologically resist the IS, and by more deeply exploring the social-psychological determinants of user resistance. Our results show that user-perceived PCBs can lead to user resistance and feelings of violation via reneging, high user vigilance, and incongruence between the users’ and the ISP’s understandings of the obligations. Our results also show that users’ interpretations—i.e., causal attribution of the breach and perceived fairness after the breach—moderate the relationship between user-perceived PCBs and feelings of violation. We discuss our findings and their academic and practical implications, and suggest directions for future research.
Spatial ecology of coyotes in the Denver metropolitan area: influence of the urban matrix

Urbanization alters landscapes and ecosystem processes that result in negative impacts for many species. However, urbanization also creates novel environments that certain species, including carnivores, are able to exploit. Coyotes (Canis latrans) are 1 example of a species capable of exploiting urban environments throughout North America and, in some cases, becoming involved in human–coyote conflict. As part of a comprehensive study of human–coyote coexistence in the Denver metropolitan area of Colorado, we investigated the spatial ecology of coyotes to determine movement and activity patterns relative to the urban matrix. We examined home-range size, habitat use, and resource selection for 22 coyotes monitored with GPS collars during 2012–2014. Mean (± SD) home-range size of resident coyotes (11.6 ± 11.0 km2) was smaller than ranges of transient coyotes (200.7 ± 232.4 km2). Home-range size did not vary by season or sex, but resident coyotes during the day (7.2 ± 10.5 km2) had smaller home ranges than during the night (11.3 ± 10.8 km2). Coyotes had high percentages of developed lands (44.5 ± 18.9%) within their home ranges, contrary to previous studies of urban coyotes. However, the percentage of coyote locations in natural lands (48.9 ± 22.4%) was higher than in developed lands (20.6 ± 11.7%). Homerange size of residents was not related to either the percentage of developed lands or altered lands within home ranges. Coyotes selected natural lands over developed lands, and they increased activity at night. Although coyotes were able to thrive in home ranges containing large amounts of development, they continued to avoid areas with high human activity by primarily residing in areas with natural land cover. Similar to urban areas throughout the Northern Hemisphere, coyotes in the Denver metropolitan area have become efficiently adapted to a highly developed landscape, reflecting the flexible nature of this opportunistic carnivore.
Mitigating harmful emissions from laying hens manure and enhancing productive performance through feeding on DDGS with or without Bacillus spp

A study included some inclusion rates of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) with or without dried Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis supplementation to Hisex brown laying hen diets was performed to evaluate the effects on nitrogen and phosphorus excretion in the manure as well as productive performance, egg quality criteria and some blood metabolites. A total number of 216 Hisex Brown laying hens 22 weeks old were randomly divided into eight treatment groups in a 4×2 factorial design experiment, included four levels of DDGS (0, 5, 10 and 15 %) and two levels of additives (0.0 and 1.5 × 10 CFU/g of dried B. subtilis and B. licheniformis fermentation product) through 22-34 weeks of the age. Results of excreted nitrogen and phosphorous were, by any standards, unique. Excreted nitrogen decreased by 8.62 and 4.31 % in hens fed 5 or 10 % DDGS, respectively. Excreted phosphorous declined by 3.33, 7.22 and 10.56 % in hens fed 5, 10 or 15 % DDGS, respectively when compared to the control group which fed diet without DDGS. The manure content of nitrogen and phosphorous decreased by 14.4 and 5.14 %, respectively from hens fed diets supplemented by dried B. subtilis and B. licheniformis comparing with those fed unsupplemented diets. Increasing DDGS level up to 15 % enhanced (P≤0.01) values of feed intake, egg weight, egg shape index and yolk color. Blood content of total protein increased by 9.88 % in hens fed on diets supplemented by probiotic bacteria. It appeared that increasing DDGS inclusion level in the diet up to 10 % and the addition of probiotic bacteria enhanced productive performance of laying hens and mitigated the harmful emissions from chicken manure such as ammonia; this means better production under environmentally friendly conditions.
Nonparametric estimation of regression functions with both categorical and continuous data

In this paper we propose a method for nonparametric regression which admits continuous and categorical data in a natural manner using the method of kernels. A data-driven method of bandwidth selection is proposed, and we establish the asymptotic normality of the estimator. We also establish the rate of convergence of the cross-validated smoothing parameters to their benchmark optimal smoothing parameters. Simulations suggest that the new estimator performs much better than the conventional nonparametric estimator in the presence of mixed data. An empirical application to a widely used and publicly available dynamic panel of patent data demonstrates that the out-of-sample squared prediction error of our proposed estimator is only 14–20% of that obtained by some popular parametric approaches which have been used to model this data set. c © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. JEL classi)cation: C14; C13