Discourse Prominence and Pe-marking in Romanian

2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 298-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus von Heusinger ◽  
Sofiana Chiriacescu
Keyword(s):  
Noun Phrases ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Activation Level ◽  
Topic Shift ◽  
Direct Objects ◽  
Referential Expressions ◽  
Object Marking ◽  
The One ◽  
Two Parameters ◽  
High Level

AbstractReferential expressions are used to introduce and continue reference to entities with particular referential properties, but also with particular discourse properties. In this paper we investigate the referential and discourse properties of pe-marked indefinite direct objects in Romanian, which are an instance of Diff erential Object Marking (DOM). Pe-marking is generally obligatory for definite noun phrases but optional for indefinite ones. The optionality of pe marking with indefinite descriptions constitutes the focus of the present article. We will show that, on the one hand, pe with indefinite descriptions allows the realization of referential properties such as specific or wide scope readings, but that on the other hand, pe also signals discourse prominence, in particular in such contexts where referential properties are neutralized. We assume three parameters for discourse prominence, namely referential persistence, the topic-shift potential and the type of anaphoric referring expressions. We used these three parameters in a web-based story continuation experiment. The findings of the experiment revealed several interesting patterns: (i) that pe -marked direct objects are referentially more persistent than their unmarked counterparts, (ii) that pe -marked direct objects show a systematic preference to become topics two or three sentences after being introduced in the discourse, and (iii) that (modified) definite NPs were chosen to refer back to the referent of the marked as well as to the referent of the unmarked direct object. On the basis of the first two parameters we conclude that the relevant discourse contribution of pe is to signal to the hearer that subsequent information about that referent will follow, whereas the third parameter indicates that the referent of the pe -marked indefinite is not necessarily associated with a high level of activation. The general findings of the experiment support Kehler et al.'s (2008) intuition to differentiate between referential persistence and the activation level of the referent.

Specificity and objecthood in Tagalog

2016 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 639-688 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOSEPH SABBAGH
Keyword(s):  
Large Body ◽  
Noun Phrases ◽  
Semantic Function ◽  
High Position ◽  
Differential Behavior ◽  
Proper Name ◽  
Comprehensive Survey ◽  
Direct Objects ◽  
The One ◽  
The Relationship

The relationship between the semantic function of noun phrases and the way(s) in which they are realized morphosyntactically in a clause has been a topic of intensive research in the typological literature as well as for theories concerned with the syntax–semantics interface. Considering just noun phrases that function as direct objects, it has been shown for language after language that that there is a systematic relationship between the semantic function of an object (e.g. whether it is pronominal, definite, indefinite, etc.) and its morphosyntax (e.g. whether it requires special case marking, whether it triggers agreement, whether it exhibits special distribution in terms of word order, etc.). This paper aims to contribute to the already large body of evidence documenting the relationships between form and semantic function by providing a comprehensive survey of the morphosyntax of transitive constructions in Tagalog, focussing, specifically, on the relationship between the semantic function of the theme argument and the morphosyntactic strategies by which theme arguments are realized. Contrary to what previous studies have claimed, I show that specific noun phrases are attested as direct objects of active clause in Tagalog. An exception to this is pronoun and proper name themes, which must either be oblique marked to function as a direct object or be realized as a subject. Developing and expanding upon analyses in Rackowski (2002), I propose that the differential behavior of specific themes (pronoun/proper names on the one hand versus non-pronoun/proper name specific themes on the other) follows from a clausal architecture in which there are at least two VP-external positions to which specific themes must raise – a relatively high position for pronoun and proper name themes, and a position intermediate betweenvP and VP for all other specific themes. The distribution of syntactic positions available for the theme argument is claimed to follow from a proposal in Merchant (2006), pre-figured in Jelinek & Carnie (2003) and related work, that relational hierarchies of the type familiar from typological research – in particular, the definiteness hierarchy – are directly encoded in the phrase structure.

scholarly journals An empirical study of authentication methods to secure e-learning system activities against impersonation fraud

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shauna Beaudin ◽  
Yar Levy ◽  
James Parrish ◽  
Theon Danet
Keyword(s):  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Learning Systems ◽  
Learning System ◽  
Descriptive Statistics ◽  
Learning Activities ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Academic Organizations ◽  
E Learning ◽  
The One ◽  
High Level

The demand for e-learning systems in both academic and non-academic organizations has increased the need to improve security against impersonation fraud. Although there are a number of studies focused on securing Web-based systems from Information Systems (IS) misuse, research has recognized the importance of identifying suitable levels of authenticating strength for various activities. In e-learning systems, it is evident that due to the variation in authentication strength among controls, a ‘one size fits all’ solution is not suitable for securing diverse e-learning activities against impersonation fraud. The focus of this exploratory study was to investigate what levels of authentication strength users perceive to be most suitable for activities in e-learning systems against impersonation fraud and aimed to assess if the ‘one size fits all’ approach that is mainly used is valid when it comes to securing e-learning activities from impersonation fraud. A sample of 1,070 e-learners was analyzed using descriptive statistics and exploratory factor analysis to uncover suitable levels of authentication strength to secure elearning activities against impersonation fraud. The findings determined that there is a specific set of e-learning activities that have high potential for impersonation and need a moderate to high level of authentication strength to reduce the threat.

Transcription factor/DNA interactions visualized by electron spectroscopic imaging

1992 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 450-451
Author(s):  
David P. Bazett-Jones ◽  
Mark L. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Phosphorus Content ◽  
Spectroscopic Imaging ◽  
Electron Spectroscopic Imaging ◽  
Dna Backbone ◽  
Two Parameters ◽  
High Level

A multisubunit RNA polymerase enzyme is ultimately responsible for transcription initiation and elongation of RNA, but recognition of the proper start site by the enzyme is regulated by general, temporal and gene-specific trans-factors interacting at promoter and enhancer DNA sequences. To understand the molecular mechanisms which precisely regulate the transcription initiation event, it is crucial to elucidate the structure of the transcription factor/DNA complexes involved. Electron spectroscopic imaging (ESI) provides the opportunity to visualize individual DNA molecules. Enhancement of DNA contrast with ESI is accomplished by imaging with electrons that have interacted with inner shell electrons of phosphorus in the DNA backbone. Phosphorus detection at this intermediately high level of resolution (≈lnm) permits selective imaging of the DNA, to determine whether the protein factors compact, bend or wrap the DNA. Simultaneously, mass analysis and phosphorus content can be measured quantitatively, using adjacent DNA or tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) as mass and phosphorus standards. These two parameters provide stoichiometric information relating the ratios of protein:DNA content.

Relations between carbon removal rates, biofilm size and density of a novel anaerobic reactor: the inverse turbulent bed

2000 ◽  
Vol 41 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 253-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Buffière ◽  
R. Moletta
Keyword(s):  
Removal Rate ◽  
Removal Rates ◽  
Carbon Removal ◽  
Biofilm Growth ◽  
Loading Rates ◽  
Biomass Activity ◽  
High Turbulence ◽  
The One ◽  
High Level ◽  
Very High

An anaerobic inverse turbulent bed, in which the biogas only ensures fluidisation of floating carrier particles, was investigated for carbon removal kinetics and for biofilm growth and detachment. The range of operation of the reactor was kept within 5 and 30 kgCOD· m−3· d−1, with Hydraulic Retention Times between 0.28 and 1 day. The carbon removal efficiency remained between 70 and 85%. Biofilm size were rather low (between 5 and 30 μm) while biofilm density reached very high values (over 80 kgVS· m−3). The biofilm size and density varied with increasing carbon removal rates with opposite trends; as biofilm size increases, its density decreases. On the one hand, biomass activity within the reactor was kept at a high level, (between 0.23 and 0.75 kgTOC· kgVS· d−1, i.e. between 0.6 and 1.85 kgCOD·kgVS · d−1).This result indicates that high turbulence and shear may favour growth of thin, dense and active biofilms. It is thus an interesting tool for biomass control. On the other hand, volatile solid detachment increases quasi linearly with carbon removal rate and the total amount of solid in the reactor levels off at high OLR. This means that detachment could be a limit of the process at higher organic loading rates.

scholarly journals Testing Todd: family types and development

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Jerg Gutmann ◽  
Stefan Voigt
Keyword(s):  
Rule Of Law ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
The Rule Of Law ◽  
State Fragility ◽  
Family Types ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Parsimonious Model ◽  
The One ◽  
High Level

Abstract Many years ago, Emmanuel Todd came up with a classification of family types and argued that the historically prevalent family types in a society have important consequences for its economic, political, and social development. Here, we evaluate Todd's most important predictions empirically. Relying on a parsimonious model with exogenous covariates, we find mixed results. On the one hand, authoritarian family types are, in stark contrast to Todd's predictions, associated with increased levels of the rule of law and innovation. On the other hand, and in line with Todd's expectations, communitarian family types are linked to racism, low levels of the rule of law, and late industrialization. Countries in which endogamy is frequently practiced also display an expectedly high level of state fragility and weak civil society organizations.

scholarly journals Varying Physical Constants, Astrometric Anomalies, Redshift and Hubble Units

Galaxies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajendra P. Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Hubble Constant ◽  
Astronomical Unit ◽  
Lunar Laser Ranging ◽  
Current Time ◽  
Physical Constants ◽  
Lunar Laser ◽  
Walker Metric ◽  
The One ◽  
Two Parameters ◽  
Secular Increase

We have developed a cosmological model by allowing the speed of light c, gravitational constant G and cosmological constant Λ in the Einstein filed equation to vary in time, and solved them for Robertson-Walker metric. Assuming the universe is flat and matter dominant at present, we obtain a simple model that can fit the supernovae 1a data with a single parameter almost as well as the standard ΛCDM model with two parameters, and which has the predictive capability superior to the latter. The model, together with the null results for the variation of G from the analysis of lunar laser ranging data determines that at the current time G and c both increase as dG/dt = 5.4GH0 and dc/dt = 1.8cH0 with H0 as the Hubble constant, and Λ decreases as dΛ/dt = −1.2ΛH0. This variation of G and c is all what is needed to account for the Pioneer anomaly, the anomalous secular increase of the moon eccentricity, and the anomalous secular increase of the astronomical unit. We also show that the Planck’s constant ħ increases as dħ/dt = 1.8ħH0 and the ratio D of any Hubble unit to the corresponding Planck unit increases as dD/dt = 1.5DH0. We have shown that it is essential to consider the variation of all the physical constants that may be involved directly or indirectly in a measurement rather than only the one whose variation is of interest.

Student Assessment of Learning Gains (SALGains)

2005 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gayle Vogt ◽  
Catherine Atwong ◽  
Jean Fuller
Keyword(s):  
Student Perception ◽  
Student Assessment ◽  
Business Communication ◽  
Online Classes ◽  
Learning Gains ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Assessment Of Learning ◽  
High Level

Student Assessment of Learning Gains (SALGains) is a Web-based instrument for measuring student perception of their learning in a variety of courses. The authors adapted this instrument to measure students’ achieved proficiency in analyzing cases in an advanced business communication class. The instrument showed that students did achieve a high level of proficiency and that they did so equally in both traditional and online classes.

scholarly journals The S66 Non-Covalent Interactions Benchmark Reconsidered Using Explicitly Correlated Methods Near the Basis Set Limit

2018 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manoj K. Kesharwani ◽  
Amir Karton ◽  
Nitai Sylvetsky ◽  
Jan M. L. Martin
Keyword(s):  
Computational Cost ◽  
The Other ◽  
Basis Set ◽  
Basis Sets ◽  
Explicitly Correlated ◽  
Non Covalent Interactions ◽  
Explicitly Correlated Methods ◽  
The One ◽  
High Level ◽  
Covalent Interactions

The S66 benchmark for non-covalent interactions has been re-evaluated using explicitly correlated methods with basis sets near the one-particle basis set limit. It is found that post-MP2 ‘high-level corrections’ are treated adequately well using a combination of CCSD(F12*) with (aug-)cc-pVTZ-F12 basis sets on the one hand, and (T) extrapolated from conventional CCSD(T)/heavy-aug-cc-pV{D,T}Z on the other hand. Implications for earlier benchmarks on the larger S66×8 problem set in particular, and for accurate calculations on non-covalent interactions in general, are discussed. At a slight cost in accuracy, (T) can be considerably accelerated by using sano-V{D,T}Z+ basis sets, whereas half-counterpoise CCSD(F12*)(T)/cc-pVDZ-F12 offers the best compromise between accuracy and computational cost.

scholarly journals Deep-Framework: A Distributed, Scalable, and Edge-Oriented Framework for Real-Time Analysis of Video Streams

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (12) ◽  
pp. 4045
Author(s):  
Alessandro Sassu ◽  
Jose Francisco Saenz-Cogollo ◽  
Maurizio Agelli
Keyword(s):  
Deep Learning ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Video Data ◽  
Video Analytics ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Real Time Analysis ◽  
Open Source Framework ◽  
Cluster Configuration ◽  
Time Requirements ◽  
High Level

Edge computing is the best approach for meeting the exponential demand and the real-time requirements of many video analytics applications. Since most of the recent advances regarding the extraction of information from images and video rely on computation heavy deep learning algorithms, there is a growing need for solutions that allow the deployment and use of new models on scalable and flexible edge architectures. In this work, we present Deep-Framework, a novel open source framework for developing edge-oriented real-time video analytics applications based on deep learning. Deep-Framework has a scalable multi-stream architecture based on Docker and abstracts away from the user the complexity of cluster configuration, orchestration of services, and GPU resources allocation. It provides Python interfaces for integrating deep learning models developed with the most popular frameworks and also provides high-level APIs based on standard HTTP and WebRTC interfaces for consuming the extracted video data on clients running on browsers or any other web-based platform.

scholarly journals Using Supermarket Loyalty Card Data to Provide Personalised Advice to Help Reduce Saturated Fat Intake among Patients with Hypercholesterolemia: A Qualitative Study of Participants’ Experiences

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1146
Author(s):  
Charlotte L. Lee ◽  
Paul N. Aveyard ◽  
Susan A. Jebb ◽  
Carmen Piernas
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Saturated Fat ◽  
Behavioural Intervention ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
Food Purchases ◽  
Acceptable Method ◽  
The One ◽  
High Level ◽  
Brief Advice ◽  
Loyalty Card

Background: The ‘Primary Care SHOPping Intervention for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention’ (PCSHOP) trial tested the effectiveness and feasibility of a behavioural intervention to reduce saturated fat in food purchases. The intervention offered feedback from data collected through a supermarket loyalty card to supplement brief advice from a nurse. This qualitative study aimed to describe participants’ experiences of receiving this intervention. Methods: We conducted semi-structured, one-to-one, telephone interviews with participants from the PCSHOP trial. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. We employed the one sheet of paper technique and a thematic analysis to develop high-level themes in NVivo software. Results: Twenty-four participants were interviewed (mean age: 63 years (SD 12)). They reported that the brief advice did not provide any new information but they welcomed the sense of accountability the nurse provided. The personalised shopping feedback and healthier swap suggestions provided novel information that challenged previously held beliefs about the saturated fat content of food purchases and encouraged some positive dietary changes. However, the taste preferences of the participant or other household members were a barrier to changing food shopping behaviours. Conclusion: Harnessing loyalty card data is a novel and acceptable method to offering personalised dietary feedback. Yet, issues on the suitability of the healthier swap suggestions limited the extent of dietary change. Trial registration: ISRCTN14279335. Registered 1 September 2017.

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