scholarly journals Interlocutor accommodation of gradually altered nasal signal levels in a model speaker

Phonetica ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-112
Author(s):  
Telma Dias dos Santos ◽  
Jennifer S. Pardo ◽  
Tim Bressmann

Abstract Background: Phonetic accommodation is observed when interacting speakers gradually converge (or diverge) on phonetic features over the course of a conversation. The present experiment investigated whether gradual changes in the nasal signal levels of a pre-recorded model speaker would lead to accommodation in the nasalance scores of the interlocutor in a speech-shadowing experiment. Methods: Twenty female speakers in two groups repeated sentences after a pre-recorded model speaker whose nasal signal level was gradually increased or decreased over the course of the experiment. Outcome measures were the mean nasalance scores at the initial baseline, maximum nasal signal level, minimum nasal signal level and final baseline conditions. The order of presentation of the maximum and minimum nasal signal levels was varied between the two groups. Results: The results showed a significant effect of condition in F(3) = 2.86, p = 0.045. Both groups of participants demonstrated lower nasalance scores in response to increased nasal signal levels in the model (phonetic divergence). The group that was first presented with the maximum nasal signal levels demonstrated lower nasalance scores for the minimum nasal signal level condition (phonetic convergence). Conclusion: Speakers showed a consistent divergent reaction to a more nasal-sounding model speaker, but their response to a less nasal-sounding model may depend on the order of presentation of the manipulations. More research is needed to investigate the effects of increased versus decreased nasality in the speech of an interlocutor.

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. e033979
Author(s):  
Easter Elizabeth Olwanda ◽  
James G Kahn ◽  
Yujung Choi ◽  
Jessica Yasmine Islam ◽  
Megan Huchko

ObjectivesTo estimate the cost of human papillomavirus (HPV)-based screening through community health campaigns (CHCs) and home-based testing.SettingCHCs and home-based testing in six communities in rural Western Kenya.ParticipantsCHCs and home-based screening reached 2297 and 1002 women aged 25–65 years, respectively.Outcome measuresOutcome measures were overall cost per woman screened achieved through the CHCs and home-based testing and the cost per woman for each activity comprising the screening intervention.ResultsThe mean cost per woman screened through CHCs and home-based testing were similar, at $37.7 (range $26.4–$52.0) and $37.1 (range $27.6–$54.0), respectively. For CHCs, personnel represented 49% of overall cost, supplies 25%, services 5% and capital goods 23%. For home-based testing, these were: personnel 73%, supplies 25%, services 1% and capital goods 2%. A greater number of participants was associated with a lower cost per participant.ConclusionsThe mean cost per woman screened is comparable for CHC and home-based testing, with differences in type of input. The CHCs generally reached more eligible women in the six communities, whereas home-based strategies more efficiently reached populations with low screening rates.Trial registration numberNCT02124252.


1953 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. D. Patterson

An experiment, designed to test different ways of using straw with fertilizers, and involving a three course rotation of crops, was carried out at Rothamsted between 1933 and 1951. The methods of analysis developed for this experiment are described in the present paper and demonstrated using yields of potatoes.Treatment effects of interest are given by the mean yields over all years and the linear regressions of yield on time. These estimates are straightforward but the evaluation of their errors is complicated by the existence of correlations due to the recurrence of treatments on the same plots. Further complications are introduced when, as frequently happens in long-term experiments, treatment effects show real variation from year to year. A method is given for estimating standard errors which include a contribution from this variation.The various relationships between yields and the uncontrolled seasonal factors can also be examined; in the present experiment there is some indication that the effects of treatments on yields of potatoes are influenced by the dates of planting.In other circumstances the analysis requires modifications, some of which are briefly considered.


Author(s):  
Stephen C. Dryden ◽  
Andrew G. Meador ◽  
Andrew B. Johnston ◽  
Adrianna E. Eder ◽  
James C. Fleming ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective Orbital roof fractures are more likely to occur in younger children, specifically younger than 7 years. Cranium to face ratio decreases with age; however, there is no definition for measurement of the neurocranium or face. We propose using the length of the orbital roof as a measurement of the neurocranium and length of the orbital floor as a tool to estimate midface size. The purpose of this study is to test this measurement as a correlation rate of orbital roof fractures within the pediatric population. Design This is a retrospective study. Setting This study was done at the LeBonheur Children's Hospital. Participants Sixty-six patients with orbital roof fractures were identified and stratified by gender and age, specifically younger than 7 years and 7 years or older. Main Outcome Measures The main outcome measures were orbital roof length, floor length, and ratio thereof. Results Mean orbital roof length was 43.4 ± 3.06 and 45.1 ± 3.94 mm for patients <7 and ≥7 years, respectively (p = 0.02). Mean orbital floor length was 41.3 ± 2.99 and 47.7 ± 4.19 for patients <7 and ≥7 years, respectively (p < 0.00001). The mean roof to floor ratio (RTFR) for patients <7 years was 1.051 ± 0.039 and for patients ≥ 7 years was 0.947 ± 0.031 (p < 0.00001). Conclusion As children age, the relative length of the orbital roof decreases when compared with the orbital floor. The RTFR was more than 1.0 in children younger than 7 years. These differences were statistically significant when compared with children 7 years and older. This measurement shift follows the differences noted in orbital fracture patterns during childhood.


2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 481-486
Author(s):  
Zahra Ismail ◽  
Stuart J. Peacock ◽  
Laurel Kovacic ◽  
Jeffrey S. Hoch

Objectives: The Priorities and Evaluation Committee (PEC) funding recommendations for new cancer drugs in British Columbia, Canada have been based on both clinical and economic evidence. The British Columbia Ministry of Health makes funding decisions. We assessed the association between cost-effectiveness of cancer drugs considered from 1998 to 2008 and the subsequent funding decisions.Methods: All proposals submitted to the PEC between 1998 and 2008 were reviewed, and the association between cost-effectiveness and funding decisions was examined by (i) using logistic regression to test the hypothesis that interventions with higher incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) have a lower probability of receiving a positive funding decision and (ii) using parametric and nonparametric tests to determine if a statistically significant difference exists between the mean cost-effectiveness of funded versus not funded proposals. A sub-analysis was conducted to determine if the findings varied across different outcome measures.Results: Of the 149 proposals reviewed, 78 reported cost-effectiveness using various outcome measures. In the proposals that used life-years gained as the outcome (n = 22), a statistically significant difference of nearly $115,000 was observed between the mean ICERs for funded proposals ($42,006) and for unfunded proposals ($156,967). An odds ratio indicating higher ICERs have a lower probability of being funded was also found to be statistically significant (p < .05).Conclusions: Economic evidence appears to play a role in British Columbia cancer funding decisions from 1998 to 2008; other decision-making criteria may also have an important role in recommendations and subsequent funding decisions.


2015 ◽  
pp. 97-113
Author(s):  
Irena Sawicka

Continuity or Discontinuity – the Case of Macedonian PhoneticsThe article presents its principal topic of the continuity of linguistic phenomena based on the material of Macedonian phonetics, treated as a constituent of south-east European phonetics, and not as an element of the Slavic world. It provides, firstly, a static perspective, produced by enumerating typologically relevant features. Seen from this perspective, Macedonian phonetics is a component of the Central Balkanic area. Secondly, emphasis has been put on processes of phonetic convergence and their differences from those of grammatical convergence. These difference account for the instability of phonetic features, or in any case their generally lesser stability compared to morphosyntactic features, but on the other hand also for the possibility for some phenomena to survive in small areas, in a few dialects, and the possibility for linguistic features to reappear, which stems from alternating cross-dialectal interference. The Macedonian language territory abounds in such situations due to its multi-ethnicity, which is greater here than anywhere else in the Balkans. Particular in this respect is the area of Aegean Macedonia, where Slavic dialects are “protected” from the influence of the literary norm – albeit in the case of Macedonian even the realisation of the literary norm is not entirely stable in terms of phonetics.Ciągłość czy jej brak – casus macedońskiej fonetykiNadrzędny temat dotyczący ciągłości zjawisk przedstawiony został na materiale macedońskiej fonetyki. Fonetyka macedońska została rozpatrzona jako składnik fonetyki Europy południowo-wschodniej, a nie jako element świata słowiańskiego. Przedstawiono, po pierwsze, obraz statyczny, wynikający z wyliczania relewantnych typologicznie cech. Ten obraz klasyfikuje fonetykę macedońską jako składnik centralnego obszaru bałkańskiego. Po drugie, położono akcent na przebieg procesów konwergencyjnych w zakresie fonetyki i na różnice w stosunku do takich procesów w zakresie gramatyki. Wynika z nich: nietrwałość cech fonetycznych, a w każdym razie ogólnie mniejsza trwałość cech fonetycznych niż cech morfo-składniowych, ale też możliwość przetrwania pewnych zjawisk na małych obszarach, w paru gwarach, możliwość powracania cech fonetycznych, co wynika z naprzemiennej interferencji międzydialektalnej. Terytorium języka macedońskiego obfituje w takie sytuacje ze względu na większą multietniczność niż gdziekolwiek indziej na Bałkanach. Szczególny pod tym względem jest obszar Macedonii Egejskiej, gdzie dialekty słowiańskie są „zabezpieczone” przed działaniem normy literackiej. Chociaż w wypadku języka macedońskiego nawet realizacja normy literackiej pod względem fonetycznym nie jest całkiem stabilna.


Author(s):  
M. G. Keane ◽  
M. J. Drennan

The national cow herd consists of 1.64m dairy and 0.43m beef cows. They produce a total of 1.76m reared calves annually. Of these 0.42m heifers go as herd replacements, leaving 0.46m heifers and 0.88m males available for beef production. There is a 2:l ratio of males to femaies in the population of calves available for beef production. Also, there are few straightbred dairy heifer calves available and the mean birth date of heifer calves for beef production is later than that cf males. The objectives of the present experiment were (i) to compare the performance and carcass composition of non-implanted and implanted heifers and steers and (ii) to compare the carcass composition of serially slaughtered non-implanted and implanted heifers.Sixty tour (48 female and 16 male) Spring born Hereford x Friesian calves (initial live-weight 45 kg) were purchased and reared on milk replacer and concentrates. After 81 days they were blocked on weight and assigned from within sex type to 8 treatment groups.


2007 ◽  
Vol 100 (8) ◽  
pp. 375-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
B W Lloyd ◽  
D Becker

Summary Objectives To determine what paediatric specialist registrars think of the educational supervision they have received and what advice they would give to a consultant who wanted to be a more effective educational supervisor. Design A questionnaire study. Setting The North Thames Deanery, UK. Participants 129 year 3, 4 or 5 paediatric specialist registrars in the North Thames Deanery. Main outcome measures Reported value of educational supervision on a Likert scale; what elements of educational supervision were reported to be most useful; what elements of educational supervision were reported to be done poorly; what advice would specialist registrars give to a consultant who wanted to be a more effective educational supervisor. Results 86/129 specialist registrars responded (67%). The mean score on the Likert scale (0-a complete waste of time; 100-excellent) was 57 with 37% of respondents giving a score of less than 50. The most valued aspects of educational supervision were: feedback on performance-cited by 50 respondents (56% of respondents); career advice-cited by 43 (48%); objective setting-cited by 36 (40%); pastoral support-cited by 25 (28%). Aspects of educational supervision that were reported to be often not done well were: commitment to educational supervision- cited by 44 respondents (49% of respondents); ensuring sessions are bleep-free-cited by 43 (48%); listening rather than talking-cited by 23 (26%); being encouraging-cited by 18 (20%). Advice to consultants about how to improve educational supervision included: listen rather than talk; be encouraging; treat the trainee as an individual with individual needs. Conclusions We can find no other study of trainees’ views about how educational supervision can be improved. Although some trainees found educational supervision very valuable, many did not. Educational supervision should only be carried out by consultants who are committed to the task. An educational supervisor should listen carefully in order to understand the trainee's individual ambitions and needs, should provide specific feedback on performance and should be encouraging.


2019 ◽  
Vol 101-B (6_Supple_B) ◽  
pp. 16-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. T. Livermore ◽  
L. A. Anderson ◽  
M. B. Anderson ◽  
J. A. Erickson ◽  
C. L. Peters

Aims The aim of this study was to compare patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), radiological measurements, and total hip arthroplasty (THA)-free survival in patients who underwent periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) for mild, moderate, or severe developmental dysplasia of the hip. Patients and Methods We performed a retrospective study involving 336 patients (420 hips) who underwent PAO by a single surgeon at an academic centre. After exclusions, 124 patients (149 hips) were included. The preoperative lateral centre-edge angle (LCEA) was used to classify the severity of dysplasia: 18° to 25° was considered mild (n = 20), 10° to 17° moderate (n = 66), and < 10° severe (n = 63). There was no difference in patient characteristics between the groups (all, p > 0.05). Pre- and postoperative radiological measurements were made. The National Institute of Health’s Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) outcome measures (physical function computerized adaptive test (PF CAT), Global Physical and Mental Health Scores) were collected. Failure was defined as conversion to THA or PF CAT scores < 40, and was assessed with Kaplan–Meier analysis. The mean follow-up was five years (2 to 10) ending in either failure or the latest contact with the patient. Results There was no significant difference in PROMs for moderate (p = 0.167) or severe (p = 0.708) groups compared with the mild dysplasia group. The numerical pain scores were between 2 and 3 units in all groups at the final follow-up (all, p > 0.05). There was no significant difference (all, p > 0.05) in the proportion of patients achieving target correction for the LCEA between groups. The mean correction was 12° in the mild, 15° in the moderate (p = 0.135), and 23° in the severe group (p < 0.001). Failure-free survival at five years was 100% for mild, 79% for moderate, and 92% for severely dysplastic hips (p = 0.225). Conclusion Although requiring less correction than hips with moderate or severe dysplasia, we found PAO for mild dysplasia to be associated with promising PROMs, consistent with that of the general United States population, and excellent survivorship at five years. Future studies should compare these results with the outcome after arthroscopy of the hip in patients with mild dysplasia. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2019;101-B(6 Supple B):16–22.


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 177-186
Author(s):  
Aaron Asibi Abuosi ◽  
Samuel Kaba Akoriyea ◽  
Gloria Ntow-Kummi ◽  
Joseph Akanuwe ◽  
Patience Aseweh Abor ◽  
...  

Objective To assess hand hygiene compliance in selected primary hospitals in Ghana. Design A cross-sectional health facility-based observational study was conducted in primary health care facilities in five regions in Ghana. A total of 546 healthcare workers including doctors, nurses, midwives and laboratory personnel from 106 health facilities participated in the study. Main outcome measures The main outcome measures included availability of hand hygiene materials and alcohol job aids; compliance with moments of hand hygiene; and compliance with steps in hygienic hand washing. These were assessed using descriptive statistics. Results The mean availability of hand hygiene material and alcohol job aids was 75% and 71% respectively. This was described as moderately high, but less desirable. The mean hand hygiene compliance with moments of hand hygiene was 51%, which was also described asmoderately high, but less desirable. It was observed that, generally, hand hygiene was performed after procedures than before. However, the mean compliance with steps in hygienic hand washing was 86%, which was described as high and desirable. Conclusion Healthcare workers are generally competent in performance of hygienic hand washing. However, this does not seem to influence compliance with moments of hand hygiene. Efforts must therefore be made to translate the competence of healthcare workers in hygienic hand washing into willingness to comply with moments of hand hygiene, especially contact with patients.


2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denise Fleck ◽  
Roger Volkema ◽  
Sergio Pereira ◽  
Lara Vaccari

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of negotiation process and outcome on an individual’s desire to negotiate again with the same counterpart. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 115 dyads representing two companies negotiating an eight-issue property leasing agreement via e-mail. Desire to negotiate again was regressed on demographic/personality, process, and outcome measures. Findings Reaching an agreement was found to be significantly related to desire to negotiate again, while the number of messages exchanged and the mean number of competitive tactics employed were positively and negatively associated with reaching an agreement, respectively. Further, perceived honesty of self and counterpart were also associated with an individual’s desire to negotiate again. Originality/value This study focuses on an aspect of real negotiations often overlooked by researchers – the likelihood of future encounters with the same party – and examines three categories of factors that could affect a party’s desire to negotiate with a counterpart again – demographic/personality, process, and outcome (actual and perceived).


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document