Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Acoustic Correlates of Stress-Shifting Suffixes in Native and Nonnative English: An Overview

Although laboratory phonology techniques have been widely employed to discover the interplay between the acoustic correlates of English Lexical Stress (ELS)–fundamental frequency, duration, and intensity - studies on ELS in polysyllabic words are rare, and cross-linguistic acoustic studies in this area are even rarer. Consequently, the effects of language experience on L2 lexical stress acquisition are not clear. This investigation of adult Arabic (Saudi Arabian) and Mandarin (Mainland Chinese) speakers analyzes their ELS production in tokens with seven different stress-shifting suffixes; i.e., Level 1 [+cyclic] derivations to phonologists. Stress productions are then systematically analyzed and compared with those of speakers of Midwest American English using the acoustic phonetic software, Praat. In total, one hundred subjects participated in the study, spread evenly across the three language groups, and 2,125 vowels in 800 spectrograms were analyzed (excluding stress placement and pronunciation errors). Nonnative speakers completed a sociometric survey prior to recording so that statistical sampling techniques could be used to evaluate acquisition of accurate ELS production. The speech samples of native speakers were analyzed to provide norm values for cross-reference and to provide insights into the proposed Salience Hierarchy of the Acoustic Correlates of Stress (SHACS). The results support the notion that a SHACS does exist in the L1 sound system, and that native-like command of this system through accurate ELS production can be acquired by proficient L2 learners via increased L2 input. Other findings raise questions as to the accuracy of standard American English dictionary pronunciations as well as the generalizability of claims made about the acoustic properties of tonic accent shift.
A latent curve analysis of unobserved heterogeneity in university achievements

The aim of this paper is to analyze academic achievement of a cohort of students enrolled in 2001 at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Bologna by using a latent growth model for longitudinal data. The basic idea of this approach is that individuals differ in their growth over time according to a continuous underlying or latent trajectory. Random coefficients in the model permit each individual to have a different trajectory. Latent growth models can be incorporated in the Structural Equation Models (SEMs) framework by viewing the random coefficients as latent variables. Hence model identification and estimation are performed according to the conventions of the SEM analysis. The effects of different covariates in the student temporal behavior is also evaluated.
Epidural spinal cord stimulation for recovery from spinal cord injury: its place in therapy

php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/). By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms (https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php). Journal of Neurorestoratology 2016:4 63–67 Journal of Neurorestoratology Dovepress
CENTRED FLOWS: A LEAN APPROACH TO DECISION MAKING AND ORGANISATION

Koskela has argued that the flow conception of production is a key to understanding and generating improvement innovations. However, it has tended to be assumed that this view is appropriate for the analysis of processes, rather than of operations. However, it is notable that Shingo also conceives of operations in terms of flows. The flow conception treats the process holistically, as a continuum, time is central to understanding them. Events, rather than objects, are key units. It is argued here that the key distinction between a process flow and an operational flow is that processes are essentially passive, acted upon by operations. Conversely, operations, whether human or mechanical, have the quality of intentionality. It is suggested that the idea of 'competence', borrowed from ethno methodology is a prime analytic device for understanding operational flows. Human activities have the quality that they can be understood as practical competencies or abilities that we can acquire for ourselves. It is suggested that we can extend production theory to examine the production of organisation, as distinct from its usual focus on the organisation of production. The organisations which design, construct and manage the built environment may be viewed as social processes which are produced in the exercise of the operational competences of their memberships.
Smiling is a Costly Signal of Cooperation Opportunities: Experimental Evidence from a Trust Game

We test the hypothesis that "genuine" or "convincing" smiling is a costly signal that has evolved to induce cooperation in situations requiring mutual trust. Potential trustees in a trust game made video clips for viewing by potential trusters before the latter decided whether to send them money. Ratings of the genuineness of smiles vary across clips; it is difficult to make convincing smiles to order. We argue that smiling convincingly is costly, because smiles from trustees playing for higher stakes are rated as significantly more convincing, so that rewards appear to induce effort. We show that it induces cooperation: smiles rated as more convincing strongly predict judgments about the trustworthiness of trustees, and willingness to send them money. Finally, we show that it is a honest signal: those smiling convincingly return more money on average to senders. Convincing smiles are to some extent a signal of the intrinsic character of trustees: less honest individuals find smiling convincingly more difficult. They are also informative about the greater amounts that trustees playing for higher stakes have available to share: it is harder to smile convincingly if you have less to offer.
Increasing crowd science projects in Japan: Case study of online citizen participation

Universities and research institutions have recently been preparing for open science. Open science includes various concepts such as open data and open access. Scientific activities participated in with citizens who are not specialists in the field are traditionally called citizen science. The recent developments of web-based information and communication technology (ICT) have further changed the methods and styles of citizen science. This new generation of web-based citizen science is referred to as “crowd science” in this study. Crowd science projects have gradually been launched in Japan as web-based data-collection and data-processing projects. However, what factors mainly contribute to the improvement of these Japanese projects are yet to be reviewed. In this article, six Japanese crowd science projects are reviewed and classified on the basis of levels of online citizen participation. It is suggested that super-volunteers, who are enthusiastic members of the project, should become key players for the growth of the project. Furthermore, it is revealed that online discussion forums have played a major role in enhancing participants’ communication. These forums result in fruitful discussions and achievements of the project. Knowledge of these key components is beneficial not only for future project organizers but also for universities and research institutions.
Flocking of Multi-agents in Constrained Environments

Flocking, arguably one of the most fascinating concepts in nature, has in recent times established a growing stature within the field of robotics. In this paper, we control the collective motion of a flock of nonholonomic car-like vehicles in a constrained environment. A continuous centralized motion planner is proposed for split/rejoin maneuvers of the flock via the Lyapunov-based control scheme to anchor avoidance of obstacles intersecting the paths of flockmates. The control scheme inherently utilizes the artificial potential fields, within a new leader-follower framework, to accomplish the desired formations and reformations of the flock. The effectiveness of the proposed control laws are demonstrated through computer simulations.
Avoidi ng Loops and Packet Losses in ISP Networks

Ev en in well managed Large ISP networks, failures of links and routers are common. Due to these failures the routers update their routing tables. Transient loops can occur in the networks when the routers adapt their forwarding tables. In this paper, a new approach is proposed that lets the network converge to its optimal state without loops and the related packet lossless. The mechanism (OUTFC-Ordered Updating Technique with Fast Convergence) is based on an ordering of the updates of the forwarding tables of the routers and fast convergence. Typically we have chosen a Network consisting of routers and Link costs for simulation. Link failures are simulated. Avoiding transient loops in each case is demonstrated, by constructing a Reverse Shortest Path Tree (RSPT). : ISP n etworks, OUTFC (Ordered Updating Technique with Fast Convergence), Link Failures,. Reverse Shortest Path Tree (RSPT).
Phenology of Flowering and Pod Maturity on Some Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) Clones

Phenology of flowering is an important aspect in the growth cycle of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) because the performance of plant especially flowering is linked with anthesis time, time and duration of stigma receptivity, fruit formation, crossing, and seed development which determine the plant breeding programs. Research was conducted at the Kaliwining experimental station of Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute (ICCRI). The cocoa plant was originated from top grafting seedling with the age of eight years. Design of experiment was randomized complete block design consisted of eight clones as treatment with three replica- tions. Each plot consisted of 20 sample flowers. The parameters observed were phenology of flowering and pod maturity. Phenology of flowering observed were age of flowering, number of opened flower buds, number of flower buds that dropped before being opened, number of flower buds that dropped after being opened, and number of opening flowers that developed into tiny fruits. Obser- vation on pod and been quality was done on pod size, pod weight, pod length, pod girth, and bean number. The result of experiment showed that difference in phenology of flowering and age of pod maturity existed within eight cocoa clones tested. KKM 22 showed the shortest flowering age and pod maturity, and lowest number of beans. The highest success of pollination was observed on Sca 6 and KW 617. ICCRI 03, Sulawesi 03, ICCRI 07, KKM 22 and KW 617 showed relative low success of pollination, that is was between 10 to 17.6%. Age of flower opening did not significantly influence age of pod maturity, on the other hand it did not negatively influence percentage of flower opening and percentage of pollinated flowers. The characteristic of flowering age had high genetic coefficient of variation as well as high estimated value of heritability. Percentage number of flower buds that dropped before open showed high genotypic and phenotypic coeffi- cient of variation, however the estimated heritability was grouped in low category. The characteristic of pod maturity age, percentage of flower opening and bean number in each pod had low values of genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation, and low heritability.
Environmental Consideration for Exporting Firms in Shoe and Leather Industry in Nigeria

This paper examines environmental considerations for shoe/leather exporting firm’s performance in Nigeria. The major objective of the paper is to investigate the influence of the environmental factor on (political, economic, socio-cultural, technological environment) on firm performance operating in the international market. A questionnaire was developed to collect information from the respondent’s base on a sample of 3 companies with 150 sample size. Data collected were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. The findings of the analysis shows that the Environmental Consideration on (Political, economic, socio-cultural, technological) have impact on firm performance (market share, increase sales, profit and achievement of corporate goal etc). Thus, firm should pay more attentions to their environment by doing periodic scanning particularly when going to international market. Key Words: Environmental consideration, international market, economic environment, political environment, technological environment, socio-cultural environment, performance.
Inhibition of Aluminum in NaOH Solution using Cleome droserifolia Leaves Extract

The inhibition effect of Cleome droserifolia leaves extract on the corrosion of aluminum metal in 1M NaOH solution has been investigated using the weight loss technique as a function of extract concentrations and temperatures at 25, 35, 45 and 55°C. Also, the surface morphology of Al metal was analyzed using scanning electron microscope. The plant extract of 14 g/l at 35°C has the highest inhibition value for the corrosion of aluminum metal with 78.6% inhibition efficiency. The values of the inhibition efficiency increase with increasing of the extract concentration and found to be temperature dependent. Entropy and enthalpy of activation were calculated and discussed. The adsorption of Cleome droserifolia extract on Al-surface obeys Temkin adsorption isotherm with high regression coefficients.
Paclitaxel conjugate block copolymer nanoparticle formation by flash NanoPrecipitation

Block copolymer drug nanoparticles have been explored for their potential in solubilizing hydrophobic drugs, reducing drug toxicity, and extending drug circulation times in vivo. Key factors in such applications involve the control of stability and nanoparticle size. Flash NanoPrecipitation, which was introduced recently, is an easily scalable technique that provides high solute loading, and controlled size nanoparticles using amphiphilic diblock copolymer stabilization. Using this technology, the anticancer drug paclitaxel conjugated to vitamin E succinate was formulated into stable and controlled size nanoparticles. Conjugation of the drug to vitamin E succinate to form a paclitaxel conjugate prior to mixing by Flash Nanoprecipitation reduces its solubility, and allows for the drug release rate to be controlled through the linker chemistry used to conjugate the drug to the nanoparticle.
A habitus of instability: youth homelessness and instability

ABSTRACT This research introduces the concept of a habitus of insecurity to account for the lives of homeless young people. It outlines how conditions of existence are internalised and how homeless young people come to expect and in turn recreate instability in their lives. This research addresses the internalisation and naturalisation of experiences of instability, insecurity and marginalisation and how people can come to subjectively aspire to what they are socialised to see as objectively probable or ‘for the likes of them'. The research draws on ethnographic research and participant observation to examine the complex lives of homeless young people and how they are shaped by instability and insecurity inculcated before, during and after experiences of homelessness. This research highlights that people should not be defined merely by their experiences of homelessness of housing status, but by the complex array of conditions that shape their lives.
Studies on Difference Patterns from Cosecant Patterns

Array antennas are popular in radar and communication applications. It is possible to control the pattern characteristics from array antennas very effectively and easily. Array designers used different techniques to produce narrow beams. But it is essential to produce not only narrow beams but also other beam shapes like Square and Cosecant beams. These shaped beams are extremely useful in search, track radars and also for ground mapping. The difference patterns are often produced from sum patterns with additional phase, but in the case of marine radars either sum or difference patterns are asymmetrical in their sidelobe structure. In view of the above facts intensive investigations are carried out in the present work to generate asymmetrical difference patterns form Cosecant patterns with Fourier series, Fourier Transform and Woodward-Lawson methodologies.
THE PERCEPTION OF DISORDERED l\l OF CHILDREN IN SPEECH THERAPY BY PEERS AND SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS

Subjective rating is the main method for measuring treatment effect for speech disorders in therapy and research. For complicated speech sounds such as Ul, perceptual judgments by ear are subject to variability. The main goals of the current study were twofold: (1) to compare age peer and speech-language pathologist judgments of Ul as spoken by children receiving speech therapy for Ul, and (2) to compare those listener judgments in both a single stimulus identification task and a two-stimulus paired comparison task. Sixteen syllables with lxl were presented by computer over headphones in the two tasks to 24 children (mean age 9 years) and 24 speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Variability, group and task differences were examined. Mean judgments of the tokens by SLPs and children were similar. Intra-rater reliability was better for SLPs than children. In the single stimulus identification task, SLPs also showed better inter-rater reliability than children. In the two-stimulus paired comparison task, SLPs and children had similar inter-rater reliability. Overall, the comparison task resulted in better inter-rater and intra-rater reliability for both groups. Implications for research and clinical evaluation of attempted Ul are discussed.
Restoration of degraded dry semideciduous forest ecosystems in Ghana: Effects of African mahogany species on soil chemistry, tree diversity and the application of leaf morphometrics for provisional seed zonation

The dry semideciduous forest zone is one of the most fragile and highly threatened ecosystems in Ghana. Recurrent bushfires and other anthropogenic disturbances have degraded this forest zone and converted a large proportion to savannah woodland. Moreover, the invasion of weeds following disturbances has impeded natural regeneration. Hence, the likely solution to this problem is restoration through the use of native forest tree species to catalyse natural regeneration. The use of African mahogany species in this regard has been emphasised. This study aims to (i) investigate the levels of phenotypic plasticity and ecogeographic and morphometric variation as well as similarity among populations of Khaya anthotheca and Khaya ivorensis with respect to leaf morphology as a basis for developing a preliminary framework for seed zonation for restoration; (ii) determine the effects of stand structure and native tree density on the recruitment of mahogany species in line-enrichment planting; and (iii) assess the effects of mahogany species on resident or native tree species diversity and soil chemical properties in restorations of degraded semi-deciduous forest ecosystems in Ghana. The results of the study indicated a highly significant phenotypically plastic response of leaf morphology to precipitation, temperature, altitude and latitude in Khaya ivorensis populations. In addition, it was established that leaf size in Khaya ivorensis and K. anthotheca varies inversely with latitude, annual potential evapotranspiration and aridity index. However, leaf traits vary directly with a precipitation gradient among the respective species. The results suggested a south-north clinal relationship to leaf traits, with the southern populations of the two Khaya species having larger leaf sizes than the northern populations. Thus, seeds collected from higher latitudes could be planted in the same zone or moved to lower latitude with high amounts of rainfall. However, the results from Poisson regression modelling indicated that stand basal area, growing space and crown diameter were positively associated with recruitment. However, stand dominant height was negatively associated with recruitment. The results indicated that mixed mahogany species foster the recolonisation of a diversity of native tree species and accelerate the regeneration rate in the restoration of fire-degraded dry semi-deciduous forest ecosystems compared to natural regeneration. Moreover, relatively higher amounts of Ca, Mg, base saturation, CEC, organic C and organic matter and low amounts of Al were recorded in the soils beneath mixed mahogany plantation sites compared to natural regeneration sites.
Website Structure Optimization Model Based on Ant Colony System and Local Search

The unabated growth of the World Wide Web in the last decade and the increasing size of the websites have resulted in significant amount of research activity to improve the link structure of the websites. A website can be considered as a directed graph with webpages as nodes and hyperlinks as edges referred to as the Webgraph. Website structure optimization or reorganization is also considered as a graph optimization problem. The researchers have developed few models to optimize the website link structure. It is observed that the heuristic and mathematical models cannot optimize webgraphs of large size and are also time consuming. This paper presents an Ant Colony and local search based hybrid metaheuristic model for the newly emerged website structure optimization (WSO) problem. The developed hybrid model is also compared with Ant colony method and it is observed that the model performs better than Ant Colony System based approach.
Social Engagement of Kazakh Students

The article reviews the problem of social engagement of Kazakh youth. Having analyzed Russian and foreign literature, the authors have come to conclusion that at present there is no unified definition of this term. The experimental part of the work has studied the social engagement of Kazakh students and revealed their motives for taking part in various types of socially important activities. The conclusion based on the results of the survey has been made.
The Question of Instability, Uncompetitiveness and Growth Slowdown of Small Middle –Income Countries in the Euro Area

The thesis of this article is that a small country with a below-average per capita income is in a disadvantaged macroeconomic position inside the euro area. Small middle-income countries expected an acceleration of growth by joining the EMU. They were hoping to catch up in the convergence process within the euro area. Yet things turned out differently. The crisis in 2009–2012 has led to excessive instability due to exogenous macroeconomic prices and the lack of a lender of last resort for sovereign debtors. Small MICs are more vulnerable to asymmetric shocks from abroad due to the ‘one-size-fits-all’ economic policy at the EMU level. This is reflected in the excessive volatility of real economic variables (such as GDP and unemployment), and excessive financial instability (such as indebtedness) and sovereign debt. The crisis also revealed weak price competitiveness of exports due to overvalued exchange rate of the euro and overall under-average productivity of the MICs. MICs had to respond with deflationary internal (surrogate) devaluations and depressed aggregate demand. Measures of internal surrogate devaluations may partially improve situation in the medium term, yet they may worsen the competitive growth situation in the long run. A macroeconomic environment of macroeconomic instability and weak competitiveness may trigger a slowdown in growth.