scholarly journals Hand Gestures Facilitate the Acquisition of Novel Phonemic Contrasts When They Appropriately Mimic Target Phonetic Features

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (11) ◽  
pp. 3571-3585
Author(s):  
Xiaotong Xi ◽  
Peng Li ◽  
Florence Baills ◽  
Pilar Prieto
Keyword(s):  
Native Speakers ◽  
Training Session ◽  
Hand Gesture ◽  
Hand Gestures ◽  
Speech Output ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Multimodal Training ◽  
Phonetic Features ◽  
The Given ◽  
Phonemic Contrasts

Purpose Research has shown that observing hand gestures mimicking pitch movements or rhythmic patterns can improve the learning of second language (L2) suprasegmental features. However, less is known about the effects of hand gestures on the learning of novel phonemic contrasts. This study examines (a) whether hand gestures mimicking phonetic features can boost L2 segment learning by naive learners and (b) whether a mismatch between the hand gesture form and the target phonetic feature influences the learning effect. Method Fifty Catalan native speakers undertook a short multimodal training session on two types of Mandarin Chinese consonants (plosives and affricates) in either of two conditions: Gesture and No Gesture. In the Gesture condition, a fist-to-open-hand gesture was used to mimic air burst, while the No Gesture condition included no such use of gestures. Crucially, while the hand gesture appropriately mimicked the air burst produced in plosives, this was not the case for affricates. Before and after training, participants were tested on two tasks, namely, the identification task and the imitation task. Participants' speech output was rated by five Chinese native speakers. Results The perception results showed that training with or without gestures yielded similar degrees of improvement for the identification of aspiration contrasts. By contrast, the production results showed that, while training without gestures did not help improve L2 pronunciation, training with gestures improved pronunciation, but only when the given gestures appropriately mimicked the phonetic properties they represented. Conclusions Results revealed that the efficacy of observing hand gestures on the learning of nonnative phonemes depends on the appropriateness of the form of those gestures relative to the target phonetic features. That is, hand gestures seem to be more useful when they appropriately mimic phonetic features. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.13105442

Effects of Hand Gestures on Auditory Learning of Second-Language Vowel Length Contrasts

2014 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 2090-2101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yukari Hirata ◽  
Spencer D. Kelly ◽  
Jessica Huang ◽  
Michael Manansala
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Native Language ◽  
Hand Gesture ◽  
Vowel Length ◽  
Hand Gestures ◽  
Auditory Learning ◽  
Segmental Phonology ◽  
Before And After ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Native English Speaking

Purpose Research has shown that hand gestures affect comprehension and production of speech at semantic, syntactic, and pragmatic levels for both native language and second language (L2). This study investigated a relatively less explored question: Do hand gestures influence auditory learning of an L2 at the segmental phonology level? Method To examine auditory learning of phonemic vowel length contrasts in Japanese, 88 native English-speaking participants took an auditory test before and after one of the following 4 types of training in which they (a) observed an instructor in a video speaking Japanese words while she made syllabic-rhythm hand gesture, (b) produced this gesture with the instructor, (c) observed the instructor speaking those words and her moraic-rhythm hand gesture, or (d) produced the moraic-rhythm gesture with the instructor. Results All of the training types yielded similar auditory improvement in identifying vowel length contrast. However, observing the syllabic-rhythm hand gesture yielded the most balanced improvement between word-initial and word-final vowels and between slow and fast speaking rates. Conclusions The overall effect of hand gesture on learning of segmental phonology is limited. Implications for theories of hand gesture are discussed in terms of the role it plays at different linguistic levels.

Indian Sign Language Recognition on PYNQ Board

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sukhendra Singh ◽  
G. N. Rathna ◽  
Vivek Singhal
Keyword(s):  
Sign Language ◽  
Hand Gesture ◽  
Language Recognition ◽  
Sign Language Recognition ◽  
Hand Gestures ◽  
Depth Images ◽  
Kinect Camera ◽  
Impaired People ◽  
Web Camera ◽  
Indian Sign Language

Introduction: Sign language is the only way to communicate for speech-impaired people. But this sign language is not known to normal people so this is the cause of barrier in communicating. This is the problem faced by speech impaired people. In this paper, we have presented our solution which captured hand gestures with Kinect camera and classified the hand gesture into its correct symbol. Method: We used Kinect camera not the ordinary web camera because the ordinary camera does not capture its 3d orientation or depth of an image from camera however Kinect camera can capture 3d image and this will make classification more accurate. Result: Kinect camera will produce a different image for hand gestures for ‘2’ and ‘V’ and similarly for ‘1’ and ‘I’ however, normal web camera will not be able to distinguish between these two. We used hand gesture for Indian sign language and our dataset had 46339, RGB images and 46339 depth images. 80% of the total images were used for training and the remaining 20% for testing. In total 36 hand gestures were considered to capture alphabets and alphabets from A-Z and 10 for numeric, 26 for digits from 0-9 were considered to capture alphabets and Keywords. Conclusion: Along with real-time implementation, we have also shown the comparison of the performance of the various machine learning models in which we have found out the accuracy of CNN on depth- images has given the most accurate performance than other models. All these resulted were obtained on PYNQ Z2 board.

Heat Power Determination of Dv-290 Refrigerator’s Evaporator on the Basis of Thermodynamic Parameters of Inlet Air / Określenie Mocy Cieplnej Parownika Chłodziarki Dv-290 Na Podstawie Parametrów Termodynamicznych Powietrza Wlotowego

2012 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 911-920
Author(s):  
Bernard Nowak ◽  
Zbigniew Kuczera
Keyword(s):  
Thermodynamic Parameters ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Specific Humidity ◽  
Physical Parameters ◽  
Air Cooling ◽  
Regression Equations ◽  
Evaporation And Condensation ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Given

Abstract The present paper introduces a method for calculating the thermal power of DV-290 mining air cooler’s evaporator. The power usually differs from the nominal power given by the manufacturer. The thermodynamic parameters of cooled air are not obtained as a result of in situ measurements, but in indirect manner that is by determining the evaporation and condensation’s pressure values of R407C refrigerant. The pressure dependencies formulated as a function of air enthalpy at the evaporator’s inlet were obtained using calculations of a computer program which solves the system of equations describing heat and mass transfer in the refrigerator’s compressor on the basis of previous measurements of air performed before and after its cooling. The obtained dependencies are demonstrated in a graphical (fig. 2 and fig. 3) and analytical (the regression equations (19) and (20)) manner, the values of correlation coefficients are also presented. For the known evaporation and condensation pressure values of the refrigerant, and thus for its basic physical parameters the complete thermal power of the evaporator was determined, that is its: air cooling overt power, dehumidification occult power, temperature, relative humidity and specific humidity of air after its cooling. In addition, using the mentioned method, the capacity of DV-290 refrigerator’s evaporator is provided for the given thermodynamic parameters of air before cooling, along with air thermodynamic parameters after cooling.

scholarly journals The Acute Effects of a Swimming Session on the Shoulder Rotators Strength and Balance of Age Group Swimmers

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (15) ◽  
pp. 8109
Author(s):  
Nuno Batalha ◽  
Jose A. Parraca ◽  
Daniel A. Marinho ◽  
Ana Conceição ◽  
Hugo Louro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Training Session ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Acute Effects ◽  
Muscle Strengthening ◽  
Repeated Measures Design ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Shoulder Strength ◽  
Isometric Torque ◽  
Gender Specific

The purpose of this study was to analyze the acute effects of a standardized water training session on the shoulder rotators strength and balance in age group swimmers, in order to understand whether a muscle-strengthening workout immediately after the water training is appropriate. A repeated measures design was implemented with two measurements performed before and after a standardized swim session. 127 participants were assembled in male (n = 72; age: 16.28 ± 1.55 years, height: 174.15 ± 7.89 cm, weight: 63.97 ± 6.51 kg) and female (n = 55; age: 15.29 ± 1.28 years, height: 163.03 ± 7.19 cm, weight: 52.72 ± 5.48 kg) cohorts. The isometric torque of the shoulder internal (IR) and external (ER) rotators, as well as the ER/IR ratios, were assessed using a hand-held dynamometer. Paired sample t-tests and effect sizes (Cohen’s d) were used (p ≤ 0.05). No significant differences were found on the shoulder rotators strength or balance in males after training. Females exhibited unchanged strength values after practice, but there was a considerable decrease in the shoulder rotators balance of the non-dominant limb (p < 0.01 d = 0.366). This indicates that a single practice seems not to affect the shoulders strength and balance of adolescent swimmers, but this can be a gender specific phenomenon. While muscle-strengthening workout after the water session may be appropriate for males, it can be questionable regarding females. Swimming coaches should regularly assess shoulder strength levels in order to individually identify swimmers who may or may not be able to practice muscle strengthening after the water training.

scholarly journals PETTLEP imagery and tennis service performance: an applied investigation

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nafih Cherappurath ◽  
Masilamani Elayaraja ◽  
Dilshith A. Kabeer ◽  
Amila Anjum ◽  
Paris Vogazianos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Age Groups ◽  
Training Session ◽  
Performance Outcomes ◽  
Service Performance ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Specific Training ◽  
Tennis Players ◽  
Imagery Training ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Junior Tennis

AbstractTennis is one of the most popular and widely played sports enjoyed by players of different age groups and genders as a profession as well as a mode of recreation. A novel method, PETTLEP imagery combines both conventional and non-conventional style of training of an athlete and improves one’s performance. This study aimed to analyze the tennis service performance of junior tennis players based on PETTLEP imagery training. Forty-four junior male tennis players (Mage=13.22 years, SD=0.42) were selected for the study. The investigator handed over the MIQ-R questionnaire to all the participants in which they scored 16 and above points as per previous research. The participants were equally divided (n=11) into three experimental groups (E1, E2, and E3) and a control group. The service performance outcomes of all the players were compared before and after a training session. The three experimental groups were assigned with service-specific training, service-specific training combined with PETTLEP imagery training, and PETTLEP imagery training alone, respectively, for three days per week for 12 weeks. They were tested on their service accuracy based on the International tennis number (ITN) manual on-court assessment test. The data were assessed for normality and analyzed using non-parametric methods to reveal main effects (each training method alone) as well as to calculate the combined effect of PETTLEP and service-specific training. Certain significant improvements in tennis service were observed with service-specific training alone. Though it marginally outperformed the PETTLEP imagery method, the most improved services were observed with both PETTLEP and service-specific training utilized together. This implies an additive effect when both methods are used together.

scholarly journals The Effect of Dual Language Activation on L2-Induced Changes in L1 Speech within a Code-Switched Paradigm

Languages ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 114
Author(s):  
Ulrich Reubold ◽  
Sanne Ditewig ◽  
Robert Mayr ◽  
Ineke Mennen
Keyword(s):  
Dual Language ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Predictor Variable ◽  
Predictor Variables ◽  
Acoustic Measures ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Language Activation ◽  
Dual Activation ◽  
Induced Changes

The present study sought to examine the effect of dual language activation on L1 speech in late English–Austrian German sequential bilinguals, and to identify relevant predictor variables. To this end, we compared the English speech patterns of adult migrants to Austria in a code-switched and monolingual condition alongside those of monolingual native speakers in England in a monolingual condition. In the code-switched materials, German words containing target segments known to trigger cross-linguistic interaction in the two languages (i.e., [v–w], [ʃt(ʁ)-st(ɹ)] and [l-ɫ]) were inserted into an English frame; monolingual materials comprised English words with the same segments. To examine whether the position of the German item affects L1 speech, the segments occurred either before the switch (“He wants a Wienerschnitzel”) or after (“I like Würstel with mustard”). Critical acoustic measures of these segments revealed no differences between the groups in the monolingual condition, but significant L2-induced shifts in the bilinguals’ L1 speech production in the code-switched condition for some sounds. These were found to occur both before and after a code-switch, and exhibited a fair amount of individual variation. Only the amount of L2 use was found to be a significant predictor variable for shift size in code-switched compared with monolingual utterances, and only for [w]. These results have important implications for the role of dual activation in the speech of late sequential bilinguals.

scholarly journals UWB-gestures, a public dataset of dynamic hand gestures acquired using impulse radar sensors

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahzad Ahmed ◽  
Dingyang Wang ◽  
Junyoung Park ◽  
Sung Ho Cho
Keyword(s):  
Learning Algorithms ◽  
Machine Learning Algorithms ◽  
Ultra Wideband ◽  
Reproducible Research ◽  
Hand Gesture ◽  
Hand Gestures ◽  
Radar Sensors ◽  
The Past ◽  
Human Volunteers ◽  
Public Dataset

AbstractIn the past few decades, deep learning algorithms have become more prevalent for signal detection and classification. To design machine learning algorithms, however, an adequate dataset is required. Motivated by the existence of several open-source camera-based hand gesture datasets, this descriptor presents UWB-Gestures, the first public dataset of twelve dynamic hand gestures acquired with ultra-wideband (UWB) impulse radars. The dataset contains a total of 9,600 samples gathered from eight different human volunteers. UWB-Gestures eliminates the need to employ UWB radar hardware to train and test the algorithm. Additionally, the dataset can provide a competitive environment for the research community to compare the accuracy of different hand gesture recognition (HGR) algorithms, enabling the provision of reproducible research results in the field of HGR through UWB radars. Three radars were placed at three different locations to acquire the data, and the respective data were saved independently for flexibility.

Shell Body Nose Forming by Rotary Swaging Process

2011 ◽  
Vol 213 ◽  
pp. 221-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeong Hwan Jang ◽  
Byeong Don Joo ◽  
Sung Min Mun ◽  
Young Hoon Moon
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Initial Thickness ◽  
Dimensional Changes ◽  
Rotary Swaging ◽  
Inside Diameter ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Forming Characteristics ◽  
Inner Diameter ◽  
The Given ◽  
Diameter Reduction

Studies on the forming characteristics by a rotary swaging process using the sub-scale specimens have been carried out to obtain a shell body nose of desirable quality. To analyze the changes of the nose thickness and length at the respective reduction of inside diameter, the finite element simulations were carried out. As a result, the desired target dimension is satisfied with the diameter reduction of more than 64 % for the given preform. The thickness of nose area increased up to 56.1 % from initial thickness of 2.62 mm to 4.09 mm after swaging. The values of the hardness before and after swaging were 208 HV and 325 HV, respectively. To analyze the dimensional changes (length and thickness) of nose area with decreasing inside diameter, the rotary swaging test was carried out for two different diameter reductions such as 65 % and 67 %. The lengths of nose area for the diameter reductions are 11.79 mm in 65 % and 12.53 mm in 67 %, respectively. At the diameter reduction of more than 67%, the crack occurs when the localized strain hardening reduces ductility in internal area. Therefore, the nose area should be formed from 64% to 67% reduction in target inner diameter.

Knowledge and Skills of Lay Participants Training with Basic Life Support Program in Case of Cardiac Arrest

2021 ◽  
Vol 104 (Suppl. 1) ◽  
pp. S44-S48
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Arrest ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Basic Life Support ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Training Session ◽  
Smartphone Application ◽  
Knowledge And Skills ◽  
Lay People ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Background: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is an important cause that leads to hospital admission and death. Improving lay people’s knowledge and skills in basic life support (BLS) may lead to reduced death associated with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. “BLS NU KKU” is a BLS training program developed from up-to-date literature as a smartphone application used to train lay people in the community. Objective: To evaluate BLS-related knowledge and skills of participants before and after BLS training. Materials and Methods: A one group pretest-posttest design was used to implement the present study in Khon Kaen, Thailand. Participants were 350 individuals age 18 and older. An 8-hour BLS training session was offered to 10 groups of 35 participants over the period of 10 months between November 2018 and August 2019. Self-administered questionnaires were used to assess BLS knowledge and Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills. Results: The mean score for BLS-related knowledge significantly increased after the BLS training (mean = 15.05, SD = 2.51) compared to the scores before the training (mean = 10.47, SD = 3.43) (p<0.05). BLS skills improved from 0% to 100% (p<0.001) will all skills rated with mostly “excellent” and “good”. Satisfaction with the training program was also rated mostly with “excellent” and “good”. Conclusion: The BLS training program effectively improved participants’ knowledge and skills for basic life support. This program should be disseminated to train lay people in other settings. Keywords: Basic life support, Cardiac arrest, Mobile application

POLICY OF PROMOTING ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION IN TIMES OF COVID-19 LOCKDOWN IN INDIA: A MEDICAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL ANALYSIS.

2021 ◽  
pp. 21-24
Author(s):  
Neha Sharma ◽  
Ayush Anand ◽  
Shreyas Joshi ◽  
Samrat Ray
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Application ◽  
Prospective Observational Study ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Family Welfare ◽  
Cumulative Number ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Given ◽  
Constitutional Analysis

BACKGROUND: India, with the declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic, started imposing restrictions in the country th and initiated a nationwide lockdown under Section 6 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 on 24 March 2020, followed by four phases of lockdown and then gradual unlock of the country. The rationale behind the same was to avoid social contact. Alcohol dispensing was also stopped during this time and was among the rst services to be reopened by the States. We propose in this paper that this lifting of ban on alcohol sale during the pandemic has led to a signicant increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country. METHODS: This is a prospective, observational study, done by collecting data from the Aargya Setu App, which is a mobile application launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on 2 April 2020 for contact tracing and elf assessment of COVID-19. The data of cumulative number of cases in 12 selected states of the country were compared before and after the lift of ban of alcohol and signicance was shown by the paired t test. RESULTS: The number of COVID-19 positive cases in the country during nationwide lockdown with simultaneous ban on alcohol sale when compared to cumulative number of cases after the lift of ban of alcohol sale during Lockdown and initial Unlock is statistically signicant (p = 0.04) CONCLUSION: We found that the decision to restart the sale of Alcohol could have been a factor for rise in number of cases in the country in the given timeframe. The decision to start the sale has also not been in accordance with the Indian Constitution and against the nation's founding ethics.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document