Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New insights into /el/-/æl/ merging in Australian English

ABSTRACT A merger exists in Australian English in which /el/ is realized as [æl] for a number of speakers, particularly in Victoria. There have also been some observations of /æl/ raising to [el], termed “transposition”. Although thought to be characteristic of older speakers, empirical evidence for transposition is scant. Here we report the discovery of substantive degrees of merging in thirteen older speakers, aged between 51 and 80, from Ocean Grove, Victoria. Auditory and acoustic methods showed bidirectional vowel movement, with speakers converging on both the /æ/ and /e/ phonemes. Increasing velarization of the lateral has been posited as a factor in the development of the merger in Victoria, and thus /l/ quality was also investigated, with null results in terms of direct factors. The lateral, however, was shown to be dark in both syllable onset and coda positions, with evidence for /l/ being clearer in this age group when compared with younger speakers. Lexical frequency and orthography were also investigated as factors, the latter showing a significant effect and suggesting a role for velarization as a contrast maintenance strategy.
Assessment of Teachers’ Knowledge With Respect to Gender at Secondary Level: A Comparative Study in Indian Context

Bechan Singh Research Scholar Department of Education Assam University, Silchar Received: 12.02. 2021 Revised: 16.02. 2021 Accepted: 22.02. 2021 AbstractTeachers’ knowledge can be enriched through self-upgrading and professional training. Their knowledge is highly responsible for professional development, especially atthe secondary level, with regard to gender, knowledge varied from person to person. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the knowledge of teachers in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Assam in India at the secondary level. The descriptive survey method applied to compare thesecondary school teachers of Assam and Uttar Pradesh with regard to gender and their knowledge in teaching profession. Stratified random sampling technique used to undertake the 100 secondary school teachers from Cachar district of Assam and 100 secondary school teachers of Allahabad district of Uttar Pradesh. After collecting the data from teachers about their knowledge in teaching profession, t-test and analysis of variance used to draw inferences. Based on these two analyses, a significant difference was found inteachers’ knowledge in Indian context at the secondary level. However, no significant difference was observedfor teachers’ knowledge with respect to gender.
The Space Complexity of Scannable Binary Objects

Determining a consistent view of the contents of a shared array while its components are being modified is a fundamental task in distributed algorithm design. Snapshot objects address this problem when read/write registers are components of the array. A natural generalization of a snapshot object is a scannable object, an object with multiple components that each support Read and some other operations. Scannable objects also support the Scan operation, which provides an instantaneous view of all the object's components. This raises the question: How many instances of objects in some set O are required to implement a scannable object whose components are in O In this paper, we consider scannable binary objects, whose components are arbitrary 1-bit objects. If each component is a test-and-set object, there is a simple implementation using k test-and-set objects. However, when each component is non-monotonic (i.e. can change from 0 to 1 and from 1 to 0), we prove that more objects are needed. Specifically, when n ≤ 2^k-1 + 2, we show a lower bound of n + k - 2 base objects, even for obstruction-free, single-updater implementations. When n ≥ 2^k-2, we prove that 2^k-1 base objects are required for obstruction-free, single-updater implementations. When 2^k-1 +2 < n < 2^k-2, we show a gradual transition between these two lower bounds. We show that there is a lock-free implementation of an n-process, scannable binary object with k components from n + k instances of 1-bit base objects, nearly matching our lower bound when n łeq 2^k-1 + 2. There is a known wait-free, single-updater implementation that uses 2^k base objects, nearly matching our lower bound when n ≥ 2^k-2.
May I Interrupt? Diverging Opinions on Proactive Smart Speakers

Although smart speakers support increasingly complex multi-turn dialogues, they still play a mostly reactive role, responding to user’s questions or requests. With rapid technological advances, they are becoming more capable of initiating conversations by themselves. However, before developing such proactive features, it is important to understand how people perceive different types of agent-initiated interactions. We conducted an online survey in which participants () rated 8 scenarios around proactive smart speakers on different aspects. Despite some controversy around proactive systems, we found that participants’ ratings were surprisingly positive. However, they also commented on potential issues around user privacy and agency as well as undesirable interference with ongoing (social) activities. We discuss these findings and their implications for future avenues of research on proactive smart speakers.
An Evaluation of Visual Embodiment for Voice Assistants on Smart Displays

Smart displays augment the concept of a smart home speaker with a touchscreen. Although the visual modality is added in this device variant, the virtual agent is still only represented through auditory output and remains invisible in most current products. We present an empirical study on the interaction of users with a smart display on which the agent is embodied with a humanoid representation. Three different conditions are compared in a between-group experiment: no agent embodiment, a digitally rendered character, and a photorealistic representation performed by a human actress. Our quantitative data do not indicate that agent visualization on a smart display affects the user experience significantly. On the other hand, our qualitative findings revealed differentiated perspectives by the users. We discuss potentials and challenges of embodying agents on smart displays, reflect on their continuous on-screen presence, present user considerations on their appearance, and how the visualization influenced the politeness of the users.
Conversational review-based explanations for recommender systems: Exploring users’ query behavior

Providing explanations based on user reviews in recommender systems (RS) can increase users’ perception of system transparency. While static explanations are dominant, interactive explanatory approaches have emerged in explainable artificial intelligence (XAI), so that users are more likely to examine system decisions and get more arguments supporting system assertions. However, little attention has been paid to conversational approaches for explanations targeting end users. In this paper we explore how to design a conversational interface to provide explanations in a review-based RS, and present the results of a Wizard of Oz (WoOz) study that provided insights into the type of questions users might ask in such a context, as well as their perception of a system simulating such a dialog. Consequently, we propose a dialog management policy and user intents for explainable review-based RS, taking as an example the hotels domain.
Validating Formal Semantics by Property-Based Cross-Testing

To describe the behaviour of programs in a programming language we can define a formal semantics for the language, and formalise it in a proof assistant. From this semantics we can derive the behaviour of each particular program in the language. But there remains the question of validating the formal semantics: have we got the formalisation right? Our approach is to use property-based cross-testing of formal semantics, which is based on the combination of a number of existing approaches to validation. In particular, we give a concrete implementation of our ideas for a set of formalisations of Erlang and Core Erlang. We describe the adjustments that need to be made to execute these semantics, then we present and evaluate property-based testing in the context of cross-checking semantics, including random program generation and counterexample shrinking.
Prediction of self-reported depression scores using person-generated health data from a virtual 1-year mental health observational study

Background: Undiagnosed mental illnesses represent one of the biggest challenges in our society. Due to stigma surrounding mental health, many people experience symptoms years before diagnosis and often never receive active management.Objectives:We use person-generated health data, consisting of self-reports and data from consumer wearable devices to predict an individual's depression severity level. Methods: Reference labels and input feature sets were derived from a 1-year long longitudinal cohort study consisting of 10,036 individuals. Participant-reported PHQ-9 scores were used as reference labels for depression severity, and input feature sets consisted of self-reported socio-demographic information, lifestyle and medication change surveys, and objective behavioral data collected using consumer wearables. Results: Our best performing model achieved an adjacent accuracy of 0.889 (CI±0.006) and a Kappa of 0.655 (CI±0.015). We observe that socio-demographic features contribute strongly to model performance, and that although good performance can be achieved with self-reported features, the addition of a small number of threshold-based features, derived from objective wearable data, improves model robustness. Conclusions: To our knowledge, the presented classification model is developed using the largest longitudinal cohort study ever considered for depression diagnosis, and one of the first attempts to predict granular depression severity, beyond bi-nary classification of depressed individuals versus healthy controls.We demonstrate the feasibility of our approach for this non-trivial problem. Future work will focus on combining the output labels of this model with self-reports in order to attempt to predict changes in individual, longitudinal mental health status.
Brief Announcement: A Randomness-efficient Massively Parallel Algorithm for Connectivity

We give a randomness-efficient Massively Parallel Computation (MPC) algorithm for deciding whether an undirected graph is connected. For Connectivity on n-vertex, m-edge graphs whose components have diameter at most D = 2o(log n/ log log n), our algorithm runs in R = O(log D + log logm/n,.n) rounds and uses a total of (log n)O(R) random bits, O(m) machines, and n1-Ω(1) space per machine with good probability.1 With good probability means with probability at least 1 - 1/poly ((m log n)/n), which is the same as in Liu, Tarjan, and Zhong (SPAA '20). Our algorithm achieves a super-polynomial saving in randomness complexity as compared to the breakthrough algorithm of Andoni et al. (FOCS '18) and the subsequent improvement by Behnezhad et al. (FOCS '19). Our algorithm has the same round complexity as that of Behnezhad et al., but uses more total space. Our Connectivity algorithm is an instantiation of a general method we develop for converting randomized algorithms in the PRAM model to highly randomness-efficient MPC algorithms. We show that for k = o(log n/log log n) and p = nO(1), any time-k p-processor randomized PRAM algorithm computing a function on n input bits can be converted to an equivalent strongly sublinear MPC algorithm with O(k) rounds and only a total of (log n)O(k) random bits. Our Connectivity algorithm follows from applying this method to the recent CRCW PRAM algorithm of Liu, Tarjan, and Zhong (SPAA '20). Our approach is based on the design of a pseudorandom generator for PRAM algorithms. The analysis of our generator is built on classic and influential results in circuit complexity (Hå stad '86; Nisan and Wigderson '88), which we generalize from the setting of small-depth circuits to the more powerful setting of PRAM algorithms. The parameters that we achieve are optimal given the current state of the art in complexity theory, in the sense that further improvements will imply ≠ NC1.
Revisiting the original reasons for excluding inorganic fertilizers in organic farming—Why the ban is not consistent with our current scientific understanding

This paper reviews the original reasons of the organic farming movement for excluding mineral (inorganic) fertilizers. In this paper, their theories and decision criteria for excluding use of inorganic fertilizers in crop production were revisited. Original reasons for banning inorganic fertilizers were subjected to scientific scrutiny, which was not possible when they were formulated 50–100 years ago due to limited knowledge of the soil-crop system. The original reasons were as follows: Rudolf Steiner, the founder of biodynamic farming, played down the physical role of plant nutrients and pointed out “flow of forces” as being most important for soils and crops. Eve Balfour and Albert Howard, founders of the Soil Association in England, claimed that inorganic fertilizer increases the breakdown of humus in soil, leading to a decline in soil fertility. Hans-Peter Rusch, the founder of biological organic farming, considered inorganic fertilizers to be imbalanced products not matching crop composition and not in synchrony with crop demand. When testing these historical statements as scientific hypotheses, older and modern scientific literature was used for validation. Steiner’s belief about the “flow of forces” has not be verified using current methodologies. The claim by Balfour and Howard that inorganic fertilizers accelerate soil organic matter decomposition is not substantiated by data from long-term field experiments on carbon and nitrogen cycling in soil-plant systems. The statement by Rusch that inorganic fertilizers supply crops inappropriately is difficult to uphold, as the composition, time, and rate of application and the placement of fertilizer in soil or on foliage can be fully adapted to crop requirements. In light of accumulated scientific evidence, the original arguments lack validity. The decision to ban inorganic fertilizers in organic farming is inconsistent with our current scientific understanding. Scientific stringency requires principles found to be erroneous to be abandoned.
Familiarity and Novelty in Aesthetic Preference: The Effects of the Properties of the Artwork and the Beholder

Familiarity and novelty are fundamental yet competing factors influencing aesthetic preference. However, whether people prefer familiar paintings or novel paintings has not been clear. Using both behavioral and eye-tracking measures, the present study aimed to investigate whether the effect of familiarity-novelty on aesthetic preference is independent or dependent on artwork properties (painting content, visual complexity) and viewer characteristics (experience in art). Participants were presented with two images of paintings, one of which was repeatedly presented but was always paired with a new painting in a randomized lateral arrangement. They were asked to indicate which of the two images they preferred with the degree of their preference. Behavioral results demonstrated an interactive influence of painting content and complexity on familiarity-novelty preference, especially alongside the distinction between representational and abstract paintings. Also, the familiarity-novelty preference was modulated by the degree of art experience, for abstract paintings in particular. Gaze results showed the differential effects of painting content, complexity, and art experience echoing the behavioral results. Taken together, the convergent results derived from behavioral and eye-tracking measures imply that novelty is an important feature of aesthetic appreciation, but its influence is modulated by properties of both the artwork and the beholder.
A Companion Diagnostic With Significant Clinical Impact in Treatment of Breast and Gastric Cancer

The development of trastuzumab (Herceptin®) was one of the most significant cancer drug development projects of the 20th century. Not only was it a scientific and medical achievement but it also paved the way for the drug-diagnostic codevelopment model, where a predictive biomarker assay is developed in parallel to the drug. One of the challenges in the development of trastuzumab was to select the right patient population likely to respond and here, it was critical to have access to an accurate, robust and reliable assay for detection of HER2 overexpression in tumors. In the clinical development of trastuzumab, a clinical trial assay (CTA), developed by Genentech, was used for selection of HER2 positive patients. However, during the phase III trial with trastuzumab, a new optimized IHC assay, HercepTest™ was designed and developed by Dako. In the final stage of its development, a comparative study with the CTA was conducted in order to show concordance between the two assays. In September 1998, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) simultaneously granted approval to trastuzumab and HercepTest™. The assay has been used for patient selection in a number of significant breast cancer clinical trials such as the HERA, CLEOPATRA, EMILIA and more. In these trials, HercepTest™ demonstrated its clinical utility in the neoadjuvant, adjuvant, and metastatic setting as well as in relation to different types of HER2 targeted therapies. Likewise, the assay was used for selection of HER2 positive gastric cancer patients in the important ToGA trail. HercepTest™ was the first companion diagnostic ever approved by the FDA, and more than 20 years of use has documented its clinical impact.
Investigating Emotion Perception via the Two-Dimensional Affect and Feeling Space: An Example of a Cross-Cultural Study Among Chinese and Non-Chinese Participants

The categorical approach to cross-cultural emotion perception research has mainly relied on constrained experimental tasks, which have arguably biased previous findings and attenuated cross-cultural differences. On the other hand, in the constructionist approach, conclusions on the universal nature of valence and arousal have mainly been indirectly drawn based on participants' word-matching or free-sorting behaviors, but studies based on participants' continuous valence and arousal ratings are very scarce. When it comes to self-reports of specific emotion perception, constructionists tend to rely on free labeling, which has its own limitations. In an attempt to move beyond the limitations of previous methods, a new instrument called the Two-Dimensional Affect and Feeling Space (2DAFS) has been developed. The 2DAFS is a useful, innovative, and user-friendly instrument that can easily be integrated in online surveys and allows for the collection of both continuous valence and arousal ratings and categorical emotion perception data in a quick and flexible way. In order to illustrate the usefulness of this tool, a cross-cultural emotion perception study based on the 2DAFS is reported. The results indicate the cross-cultural variation in valence and arousal perception, suggesting that the minimal universality hypothesis might need to be more nuanced.
REPLY:

We thank the correspondents for their interest in our study regarding the development of ABIDE, a predictive model of hepatic decompensation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients with cirrhosis. We have previously published outcomes in the derivation cohort(1), and appreciate the opportunity to clarify our data. Significant alcohol intake (>20 g/d for men, >10 g/d for women) during 2 years prior to enrolment or during follow-up was a standard exclusion,(1) and only two patients were taking vitamin E.
Early life exposure to high fructose diet induces metabolic dysregulation associated with sex-specific cognitive impairment in adolescent rats

Background The incidence of adolescent mental health disorders is on the rise. Epidemiological studies suggest that poor nutrition is a significant contributor to this public health crisis, specifically through exposure to high level of dietary sugar, including fructose, during critical periods of development. Previous studies have shown that elevated fructose exposure during adolescence disrupts mental health. Further, it seems that infants display the highest level of exposure to fructose based on nutritional surveys. Despite these data, it is currently unknown how fructose exposure, specifically during infancy, may impact adolescent mental health. Methods We developed an experimental protocol in rats to investigate the effects of fructose exposure during infancy on behavioral, cognitive and metabolic endpoints in adolescence. Specifically, rat pups were exposed to fructose from birth until weaning through maternal diet. Metabolic assays, quantitative PCR and behavioral protocols such as open field, elevated O maze and a Go/ No-Go operant task, were used to determine whether high fructose exposure during infancy may set the stage for behavioral and metabolic dysfunction in adolescence. Results We found that exposing rats to high fructose from birth to weaning resulted in higher circulating glucose, insulin and leptin levels in adolescence. High fructose during infancy also increased bodyweight, disrupted metabolic homeostasis in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) as indicated by decreased activity of the cellular energy sensor AMPK, and impaired attention and impulsivity in a male-specific manner. This impaired attention observed in adolescent male rats following neonatal fructose exposure was partially rescued by viral-mediated, in vivo expression of a constitutively active form of AMPK in principal neurons of the BLA. Conclusion Our results suggest that exposure to high level of fructose during infancy may impact adolescent mental health in a male-specific manner and that manipulation of AMPK activity may mitigate this impact.