Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The reliability of measuring severity of stuttering in a foreign language

ABSTRACT Purpose With increasingly multicultural and linguistically diverse societies, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are being challenged with the task of working with clients who speak foreign languages. However, there is still a lack of evidence exploring how well SLPs are able to make reliable measurements of stuttering in languages other than their own. This study expands on existing knowledge and offers new reliability data for a different language that is commonly spoken worldwide, Vietnamese, enabling comparisons to be made to other foreign languages. Methods This study was undertaken to estimate the reliability of English-speaking SLPs’ use of a severity rating (SR) scale, to measure severity of stuttering in a familiar (English) and foreign (Vietnamese) language. Fifty-nine English-speaking SLPs rated 20 audio speech samples (10 English and 10 Vietnamese) of adults who stutter using a 9-point SR scale on two separate occasions. Results Results of the present study concur with previous studies identifying that language familiarity plays a pivotal role with SLPs’ abilities to reliably measure severity of stuttering. SLPs showed better agreement measuring severity of stuttering for mild and severe stuttering, regardless of familiarity with language. However, greater variability (poorer reliability) was found in the moderate range of the scale for both familiar (English) and foreign (Vietnamese) languages. Conclusion Results highlight the need for future research to focus on finding ways to assist SLPs to improve their reliability in the middle range of the scale, and further support stuttering measurement training packages to be developed in different languages.
Trajectory generation methods for radio and optical telescopes

The axes servo control of optical telescopes and antennas acts in two typical phases: the slew to a new target and the subsequent accurate tracking of the source. Although the tracking error minimization is paramount, a good design of the slewing phase is needed as well. In fact, saturations of velocity and acceleration can easily occur during telescope slew, introducing non-linearities in the control system which may lead to undesired behaviors. Also, sudden accelerations may trigger vibrations of the telescope structure, which may increase the slew time or even prevent a stable target acquisition. In this paper, a command pre-processor is adopted to provide recursively a valid path to reach the assigned target, never exceeding the specified rate and acceleration limits. Different generation methods are considered, with different degrees of smoothness and slewing time. Numerical simulations show their main features in different test cases, for both radio and optical telescopes.
Effects of nightly warming and nitrogen application on the diversity of soil fungi in winter wheat in the lower reach of the Yangtze River

ABSTRACT Fungi play an important role in ecosystem and crop production, but the effect of global warming on fungal communities in soil of winter wheat fields is not clear. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of nightly warming and nitrogen application on the diversity of soil fungi in winter wheat fields. In this study, the free air temperature was increased with infrared heating, and the heating treatment was combined with nitrogen fertilizer application. The five-year continuous temperature increases significantly changed the soil nutrient content and the community structure of the soil fungi. The changes in the physical and chemical properties of the soil caused by the increase in night-time temperature, reduced the dependence of winter wheat on arbuscular mycorrhizae, increased the diversity and the evenness of the soil fungal community was increased by 51%, and significantly increased the abundance percent of Blumeria from 16% to 46%, which is the causal agent of winter wheat powdery mildew.
A Deep Learning and Computer Vision Based Multi-Player Tracker for Squash

Sports pose a unique challenge for high-speed, unobtrusive, uninterrupted motion tracking due to speed of movement and player occlusion, especially in the fast and competitive sport of squash. The objective of this study is to use video tracking techniques to quantify kinematics in elite-level squash. With the increasing availability and quality of elite tournament matches filmed for entertainment purposes, a new methodology of multi-player tracking for squash that only requires broadcast video as an input is proposed. This paper introduces and evaluates a markerless motion capture technique using an autonomous deep learning based human pose estimation algorithm and computer vision to detect and identify players. Inverse perspective mapping is utilized to convert pixel coordinates to court coordinates and distance traveled, court position, ‘T’ dominance, and average speeds of elite players in squash is determined. The method was validated using results from a previous study using manual tracking where the proposed method (filtered coordinates) displayed an average absolute percent error to the manual approach of 3.73% in total distance traveled, 3.52% and 1.26% in average speeds <9 m/s with and without speeds <1 m/s, respectively. The method has proven to be the most effective in collecting kinematic data of elite players in squash in a timely manner with no special camera setup and limited manual intervention.
A Corpus-based Analysis of Phrasal Complexity across Different Sections of Research Articles in two Academic Disciplines

nouns are distinctive features of advanced academic writing (Biber, 2006; Biber et al. 1998). Taking macrostructure of research articles into account, the researchers found more abstract nouns in introduction section compared to results section which normally relies on concrete nouns (in current study, abstract nouns were used nearly twice as frequently in introduction section as in results section). Evidently, unlike concrete nouns, abstract nouns generally require more clari cation. While abstract nouns can be modi ed by pre-modi ers like attributive adjectives, and noun pre-modi ers, relative clauses merit special attention since they “open up more space for detailed description” (Tse & Hyland, 2010, p.4), something which seems necessary for establishing and occupying the niche. Against this backdrop, it may safely be argued that relative clauses in RAs are “primed” to occur in introduction section in RAs (see Hoey, 2005). In clinical medicine, the difference in the mean frequency of noun pre-modi ers between introduction vs methods, and methods vs discussion were statistically signi cant. In other words, pre-modifying nouns were higher in methods and results sections than introduction and discussion. The results obtained from this section of our analyses ran contrary to our initial expectations. Signi cantly higher proportion of noun pre-modi ers in methods section compared to introduction and discussion sections in our study could be analyzed in relation to the rhetorical purpose of these sections in RAs. Introduction and method sections are understood to be argumentative (Hood, 2004), while the method section is supposed to be expository (Martinez, 2003). Expository texts expose readers to the facts, reasons and evidences of a particular topic. It follows a pattern of development that encompasses examples, analyses, processes, classi cations and so forth (Richards & Schmidt, 2002). It is the processes, facts, and evidences that are foregrounded in methods section and, as opposed to
Croatian co-operatives’ story of revival: overcoming internal obstacles

We conducted semi-structured interviews with leaders or members of 45 Croatian co-operatives covering the different types of co-operatives from all historical regions to identify six main groups of internal obstacles to stronger development of co-operatives in Croatia: 1) those stemming from the “dual” nature of co-operatives, 2) free riding, 3) lack of innovative management, 4) insufficient focus on vertical cooperation among co-operatives, 5) lack of strategic steps toward a division of labor and horizontal cooperation, and 6) underdeveloped cooperation maps and protocols. Upon discussing each of these with a view on how the respective obstacles could be overcome, we conclude that through combined top-down and bottom-up efforts much can still be done to revive hundreds of local co-operatives that have barely survived or are inactive. The co-operatives themselves should be more pro-active in establishing bottom-up platforms for cooperation. Among possible improvements of governmental actions, we particularly recommend extending targeted project grants to also cover specific activities intended to enhance horizontal and vertical cooperation.
Analysis of a Japan-Philippines telecollaboration from a social realist
 perspective

This study applies social realist theory to the analysis of an ongoing online telecollaboration between Japanese undergraduate students in a classroom setting in Japan and Filipino teachers in an English conversation school in Cebu, the Philippines. The accepted goals of telecollaboration in an international context are the development of intercultural communication and linguistic skills. Analysis showed that, without guidance, the influence of Japanese educational policies on students, including a version of internationalisation known as kokusaika, can result in intracultural – rather than intercultural – communication. It is suggested that a focus on “small” – rather than “large” – culture may help address this issue in Japan, and improve intercultural and linguistic awareness.
Developing Additive Systems of Biomass Equations for Robinia pseudoacacia L. in the Region of Loess Plateau of Western Shanxi Province, China

The accurate estimation of forest biomass is important to evaluate the structure and function of forest ecosystems, estimate carbon sinks in forests, and study matter cycle, energy flow, and the effects of climate change on forest ecosystems. Biomass additivity is a desirable characteristic to predict each component and the total biomass since it ensures consistency between the sum of the predicted values of components such as roots, stems, leaves, pods, and branches and the prediction for the total tree. In this study, 45 Robinia pseudoacacia L. trees were harvested to determine each component and the total biomass in the Loess Plateau of western Shanxi Province, China. Three additive systems of biomass equations of R. pseudoacacia L. , based on the diameter at breast height (D) only and on the combination of D and tree height (H) with D2H and DbHc, were established. To ensure biomass model additivity, the additive system of biomass equations considers the correlation among different components using simultaneous equations and establishes constraints on the parameters of the equation. Seemingly uncorrelated regression (SUR) was used to estimate the parameters of the additive system of biomass equations, and the jackknifing technique was used to verify the accuracy of prediction of the additive system of biomass equations. The results showed that (1) the stem biomass contributed the most to the total biomass, comprising 51.82% of the total biomass, followed by the root biomass (24.63%) and by the pod and leaf biomass, which accounted for the smallest share, comprising 1.82% and 2.22%, respectively; (2) the three additive systems of biomass equations of R. pseudoacacia L. fit well with the models and were effective at making predictions, particularly for the root, stem, above-ground, and total biomass (R2adj > 0.812; root mean square error (RMSE) < 0.151). The mean absolute error (MAE) was less than 0.124, and the mean prediction error (MPE) was less than 0.037. (3) When the biomass model added the tree height predictor, the goodness of fit R2adj increased, RMSE decreased, and the accuracy of prediction was much improved. In particular, the additive system, which was developed based on DbHc combination prediction factors, was the most accurate. The additive system of biomass equations established in this study can provide a reliable and accurate estimation of the individual biomass of R. pseudoacacia L. in the Loess region of western Shanxi Province, China.
Estudo do efeito da temperatura sobre o comportamento reológico das polpas de gabiroba e goiaba - doi: 10.4025/actascitechnol.v33i1.5852

In this work a study on the rheological behavior of the guava and gabiroba pulp were studied in temperature range from 20 – 35°C. The rheological measurements were made in Brookfield rheometer equipped with coaxial cylinder. The rheograms were adjusted from the experimental data for the models of Ostwald de Waale, Bingham and Herschell-Buckley by Bayesian methodology. For both the pulps the pseudo plastic behavior was found, and pseudo plasticity was bigger at low temperatures. Considering the Ostwald de Waale model, the viscosity and consistency index decreased with the rising of the temperature while index of behavior increased with the rising of the temperature.
BCI-Based Rehabilitation on the Stroke in Sequela Stage

Background Stroke is the leading cause of serious and long-term disability worldwide. Survivors may recover some motor functions after rehabilitation therapy. However, many stroke patients missed the best time period for recovery and entered into the sequela stage of chronic stroke. Method Studies have shown that motor imagery- (MI-) based brain-computer interface (BCI) has a positive effect on poststroke rehabilitation. This study used both virtual limbs and functional electrical stimulation (FES) as feedback to provide patients with a closed-loop sensorimotor integration for motor rehabilitation. An MI-based BCI system acquired, analyzed, and classified motor attempts from electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. The FES system would be activated if the BCI detected that the user was imagining wrist dorsiflexion on the instructed side of the body. Sixteen stroke patients in the sequela stage were randomly assigned to a BCI group and a control group. All of them participated in rehabilitation training for four weeks and were assessed by the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) of motor function. Results The average improvement score of the BCI group was 3.5, which was higher than that of the control group (0.9). The active EEG patterns of the four patients in the BCI group whose FMA scores increased gradually became centralized and shifted to sensorimotor areas and premotor areas throughout the study. Conclusions Study results showed evidence that patients in the BCI group achieved larger functional improvements than those in the control group and that the BCI-FES system is effective in restoring motor function to upper extremities in stroke patients. This study provides a more autonomous approach than traditional treatments used in stroke rehabilitation.
Efficiency in the treatment of three livestock manures through a composting process with mechanized turning

This research aimed to evaluate the efficiency of the treatment of manure from three livestock production units (cattle, swine, and poultry), through composting with mechanized turning and incorporation of natural substrate (wood sawdust) in rural properties in the municipalities of Farroupilha, Relvado, and Caxias do Sul, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The experimental design consisted of nine treatments, three for each type of manure. These were classified as: T1 (cattle manure plus wood sawdust), T2 (swine manure plus wood sawdust), and T3 (poultry manure plus wood sawdust). The process involved the daily turning of the windrows by a mechanized process and sampling was carried out in triplicate at 60, 120, and 180 days of composting, between the months of July 2018 and July 2019. After each sampling, samples were properly stored and sent to the Chemistry Laboratory of the University of Santa Cruz do Sul for analysis of the following variables: Calcium (Ca), Cation Exchange Capacity (CTC), Phosphorus (P), Magnesium (Mg), Nitrogen (N), pH, and Potassium (K). Temperature measurements were made on the spot every 15 days. At the end of the experiment, all treatments reached the standards of humidity, temperature, pH, and NPK, established in Normative Instruction No. 25/200 for organic fertilizers, from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Brazil. Thus, the results demonstrated the efficiency of the mechanized composting process for the treatment of bovine, swine, and poultry manure, producing a highquality organic compost.
Terahertz emission from a bulk GaSe crystal excited by above bandgap photons

Spectral dependences of the amplitudes of terahertz (THz) transients radiated from a GaSe surface after its excitation by femtosecond optical pulses with photon energies in the range from 1.8 eV to 3.8 eV were used for the study of electron energy band structure of this layered crystal. The energy separation of 0.21 eV between the main Γ valleys and the satellite K valleys in the conduction band was determined from the maximum position of THz excitation spectrum; the polarity of the THz transients became inverted at photon energies higher than 3 eV due to the onset of electron transitions from the second, lower lying valence band.
Revisiting (In)visibility: A Reflexive Study of Two English Translations of Iqbal’s “Shikwa” and “Jawab-i-Shikwa”

This research is a comparative analysis of two translated versions of Iqbal’s Urdu poems: “Shikwa” and “Jawab-i-Shikwa” to determine the actual position of the two translators in the light of the concepts theorized by Venuti (2008). Venuti mainly focused on the visibility and invisibility of the translator. These theoretical aspects, conjoined with certain peripheral scholastic ideas, have been applied on both translated versions. Through the strategies of (in)visibility, the research also investigates how the boundaries between foreignization and domestication have been blurred, and how the ideologies are embedded in the translation process. The result displays a revised version of (in)visibility.
Capturing Student Satisfaction: A Case Study on the National Student Survey Results to Identify the Needs of Students in STEM Related Courses for a Better Learning Experience

The UK higher education has been one of the top destinations for international students over the last few decades, and it is beneficial to the UK local and national economy. However, recent changes of the governmental policies on the way UK universities are funded and the recession that still affects economies around the world have left many universities around the UK at financial survival risk. With relatively limited access to reduced research funds, student recruitment has a vital importance for most universities. It has been well established in the literature that academic reputation and the level of services have the most significant impact on national and international students. Thus, universities, to maintain their market share, must spend much energy and resources to improve the level of services offered to their students. The recently introduced National Student Survey (NSS) has become one of the most important metrics to assess student satisfaction that influences directly the university league tables and the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), which in turn effects international and national student recruitment. It is not surprising that underpinning student satisfaction has become the major target of UK universities. Therefore, a research investigation has been carried out to identify the most influential factors that comprise to the decision of overall satisfaction for the students studying Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. On this purpose, a detailed statistical analysis was carried out on the NSS results and it was concluded that there is strong evidence, that “teaching” and “organisation and management” are the vital influential factors on the overall satisfaction of students.
Analysis of the difference in depths and variation in slope steepness of the Sunda Trench, Indonesia, east Indian Ocean

The paper discusses geomorphology of the Sunda Trench, an oceanic trench located in eastern Indian Ocean along the Sumatra and Java Islands of the Indonesian archipelago. In particular, it analysis the difference in depths and variation in slope steepness between the two segments of the trench: the southern Java transect (coordinates 108.8°E 10.10°S to 113.0°E 10.75°S) and the northern Sumatra transect (97.5°E 1.1°S to 101.0°E 5.5°S). The thematic maps and geomorphological modelling were plotted using Generic Mapping Tools (GMT). The materials include high-resolution data on topography, geology and geophysics: GEBCO 15 arc-minute resolution grid, EGM2008 2.5 minute Earth Gravitation Model of 2008, GlobSed global 5‐arc‐minute total sediment thickness and vector geological datasets. In addition to the GEBCO-based bathymetric data, geological, topographic and geophysical maps, the results include enlarged transects for the Java and Sumatra segments, their slope gradients and cross-section profiles, derived from the bathymetric GEBCO dataset. The geomorphology framework of the Sunda Trench is largely controlled by the subduction of the Australian plate underneath the Sunda microplate. The geological processes take place in basin of the Indian Ocean at different stages of its evolution and influence the nature of the submarine geomorphology and geometric shape of the trench. Sunda Trench is seismically active part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. A large number of the catastrophic earthquakes are recorded around the trench. The histograms shows variation in depths along the segments of the Sumatra and Java. The Java segment has a bell-shaped data distribution in contrast to the Sumatra with bimodal pattern. The Java segment has the most repetitive depths at -2,500 to -5,200 m. The Sumatra transect has two peaks: 1) a classic bell-shaped peak at depths -4,500 m to -5,500 m; 2) shelf area with a peak from 0 to -1,750 m. The data at middle depths (-1,750 to -4,500 m) have a frequency <300 samples. The most frequent bathymetry for the Sumatra segment corresponds to the -4,750 m to -5,000 m (2,151 samples). Comparing to the Sumatra segment, the Java segment is deeper. For the depths >-6,000 m, there are only 138 samples for the Sumatra while 547 samples for Java. Furthermore, Java segment has more symmetrical geometric shape while Sumatra segment is asymmetric, one-sided. The Sumatra segment has a steepness of 57.86° on its eastern side (facing Sumatra Island) and a contrasting 14.58° on the western part. The Java segment has a steepness of 64.34° on its northern side (facing Java Island) and 24.95° on the southern part (facing Indian Ocean). The paper contributes to the studies of the submarine geomorphology in Indonesia.
High resolution residual wavefront reconstruction for closed-loop adaptive optics systems

High-resolution imaging with large ground-based telescope is challenging due to atmospheric turbulence. Adaptive optics (AO) system can provide real-time compensation for the wavefront distortion in the pupil of the telescope. However, the observed images still suffer from a blurring caused by the residual wavefront. Numerical post-processing with a good approximation of the residual wavefront can help to effectively remove the blur. In this paper, a gradients measurement model for the Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor (WFS) in a closed-loop AO system is built. The model is based on the frozen flow hypothesis with knowledge of the wind velocities of atmospheric turbulence layers. Then a high resolution residual wavefront reconstruction method using multiframe Shack-Hartmann WFS measurements and deformable mirror voltages is presented. Numerical results show that the method can effectively improve the spatial resolution and accuracy of the reconstructed residual wavefront.