scholarly journals The influence of information status on the prosody of sentence topics

2021 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Baumann ◽  
Jane Mertens ◽  
Janina Kalbertodt
Keyword(s):  
Direct Relationship ◽  
Syntactic Structure ◽  
Pitch Accent ◽  
Final Position ◽  
Limited Extent ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Information Status ◽  
Production Experiment ◽  
Main Effect ◽  
The Status

In a production experiment on German we investigated the prosodic effects of informativeness (comprising information status and contrast) on sentence-initial referents, i.e. sentence topics. While referents in sentence-final position usually receive the nuclear accent of the utterance, commonly defined as the last and information-structurally crucial pitch accent in an intonation unit, sentence topics in German often carry a prenuclear accent. However, the status of prenuclear accents is still unclear: are they just “ornamental” or do they express meaning differences? We expected to find a direct relationship between the informativeness of a sentence topic and its prosodic prominence but the hypothesis could only be confirmed to a very limited extent. Results show that informativeness does not affect the accent type of sentence-initial referents, as they are consistently marked by rising prenuclear accents, even on given items. Only the parameter duration shows a main effect of informativeness in the expected direction, since contrastive referents proved to be longer than given ones. In general, and surprisingly, however, contrastive topics are mostly produced as prosodically less prominent than non-contrastive items that are either given, accessible or new. An explanation that holds for our data set may be that the contrast is already expressed by a parallel syntactic structure, which speakers often realize prosodically by a flat hat pattern. We conclude that prenuclear accents on sentence- initial referents are consistently placed for rhythmic reasons in German and that their prosodic form is only slightly influenced by a referent’s level of informativeness.

scholarly journals Marked and Non-Marked Attribute Structures within a Secondary Predicate in the French Language

2020 ◽  
pp. 143-155
Author(s):  
Iuliia Zelena
Keyword(s):  
Information Structure ◽  
Syntactic Structure ◽  
French Language ◽  
Different Types ◽  
The Status ◽  
Productive Potential ◽  
Semantic Transfer ◽  
Argumentative Structure ◽  
Transfer Mechanisms

The article is devoted to the study of marked and unmarked attributive constructions, considering the influence of semantic transfer mechanisms, taking into account their productive potential. Structuraland semantic characterization of types of attributive constructions is performed in light of two initial theories –in view ofreferentstatusand actual sentence fragmentation. An independent research of relationsbetween predication manifestations and the semanticand syntactic structure of a sentence has been performed by determining the valence properties of attributive verbs. The distinctionbetween different types of constructionswith the attribute complement isdescribed and it is specifiedthat there is a direct correlation between the type of attributive sentences and the emergence of predicative relation.The article is dedicated to the analysis of modification of the information structure and the status of the referent in sentences containing attributive object. Given the types of interpretation of attributive sentences and, based on the results of contextual analysis, it became possible to prove that change of argumentative structure in verbal group gives a reason to treat attributive verb with elements SN2 and X as a predicative focus of the sentence and permit to consider it as the complex secondary predicate.

scholarly journals Family Life for Children in State Care

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 715-747
Author(s):  
Clarie Breen ◽  
Jenny Krutzinna ◽  
Katre Luhamaa ◽  
Marit Skivenes
Keyword(s):  
Family Life ◽  
Foster Parents ◽  
Limited Extent ◽  
Best Interest ◽  
Family Unit ◽  
Theoretical Literature ◽  
Biological Parents ◽  
The Family ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Right

Abstract This paper examines what set of familial circumstances allow for the justifiable interference with the right to respect for family life under Article 8, echr. We analyse all the Courts’ judgments on adoptions from care to find out what the Court means by a “family unit” and the “child´s best interest”. Our analysis show that the status and respect of the child’s de facto family life is changing. This resonates with a view that children do not only have formal rights, but that they are recognised as individuals within the family unit that states and courts must address directly. Family is both biological parents and child relationships, as well between children and foster parents, and to a more limited extent between siblings themselves. The Court’s understanding of family is in line with the theoretical literature, wherein the concept of family reflects the bonds created by personal, caring relationships and activities.

scholarly journals Increased size and relative abundance of migratory fishes observed near the Athabasca oil sands

FACETS ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 833-858 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim J. Arciszewski ◽  
Kelly R. Munkittrick ◽  
Bruce W. Kilgour ◽  
Heather M. Keith ◽  
Janice E. Linehan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oil Sands ◽  
Cumulative Effect ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
White Sucker ◽  
Athabasca Oil Sands ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Arctic Grayling ◽  
Normal Ranges ◽  
The Status ◽  
Relative Abundances

Responses to chemical and physical stressors are commonly expected among organisms residing near the Athabasca oil sands. Physiological effects have been observed in fishes during field studies; but further effects associated with development are not clear or consistent among species. For instance, data from a fish fence in 2009 show declines in the relative abundances of some species, including Arctic grayling ( Thymallus arcticus). In contrast, increases were seen in white sucker ( Catostomus commersoni). This divergence suggests incomplete understanding of the status of fishes residing near the oil sands. However, an important challenge limiting understanding is the lack of reliable baseline or reference data. To overcome this challenge, we used iterative normal ranges and a historical data set (electrofishing surveys done from 1987 to 2014) to determine if changes have occurred in fishes captured in the lower Athabasca River. These analyses revealed clear increases in the lengths of white sucker and walleye ( Sander vitreus) and their relative abundances during the spawning season. The occurrence of these changes may be associated with overwintering location, but reduced fishing pressure in Lake Athabasca, eutrophication, or a cumulative effect may explain the form of changes detected in this study.

scholarly journals Pills or Sleep Deprivation? Sleep-Deprivation as a Therapeutic Option Intervention in Psychiatry

2020 ◽  
pp. 16-32
Author(s):  
Andrey Viktorovich Antsyborov ◽  
Irina Vladimirovna Dubatova ◽  
Anna Valerievna Kalinchuk
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Deprivation ◽  
Therapeutic Option ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Clinical Effects ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Close Supervision ◽  
The Status ◽  
Clinical Conditions ◽  
Traditional Approaches

In recent decades, sleep deprivation has evolved from a single experimental data set to the status of an effective and affordable therapeutic intervention used in daily clinical practice. The mechanism of action of this method is aimed at the same neurotransmitter systems and brain regions as antidepressants. As in the case of pharmacotherapy for sleep deprivation, it should be used under close supervision of a physician. Clinical effects with sleep deprivation are achieved much faster than with psychopharmacotherapy, but they are not long-term in nature. It is possible to improve the results using a combination of pharmacotherapy and sleep deprivation. The use of sleep deprivation in clinical conditions is aimed primarily at preventing depression and its recurrence, as well as in cases resistant to pharmacotherapy. In modern conditions, the method of sleep deprivation is a significant alternative to traditional approaches to therapy of depression.

Effect of Wing Length on the Prevalence of Trypanosomes in Glossina Morsitans Morsitans in Eastern Zambia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cornelius Mweempwa ◽  
Kalinga Chilongo ◽  
Kyoko Hayashida ◽  
Boniface Namangala
Keyword(s):  
Wing Length ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Population Data ◽  
Glossina Morsitans Morsitans ◽  
Tsetse Flies ◽  
Wing Vein ◽  
Data Set ◽  
The Status ◽  
Length Variable

Abstract BackgroundTsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) transmit trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness in humans and nagana in livestock). Several studies have indicated that the age, sex, site of capture, starvation and microbiome symbionts, among others, are important factors influencing trypanosome infection in tsetse flies. However, reasons for a higher infection rate in females than in males still largely remain unknown. As species and sexes of tsetse flies of larger body size are the most mobile and the most available to stationary baits, it was hypothesized in this study that, the higher trypanosome prevalence in female than in male tsetse flies was because females were larger than males.Materials and methodsBlack screen fly rounds and epsilon traps were used to collect tsetse flies in eastern Zambia. Wing vein length was measured and the presence of trypanosomes was examined by microscopy. Principal component method was carried out to determine which variables had potential to be used as predictor variables. The multilevel binary logistic regression method was applied on whole data, one-method data and one-sex data sets to evaluate the hypothesis. ResultsA total of 2,195 Glossina m. morsitans data were evaluated (1,491 and 704 males and females, respectively). The wing length variable contributed the highest variance percentage (39.15%) to the first principal component. The wing length variable showed significant influence on prevalence of trypanosomes when the whole data set was analyzed. The log odds for the prevalence of trypanosomes significantly increased by 0.123 (p = 0.032), per unit increase in wing length. Moreover, moving from females to males, wing length significantly reduced by 0.150 (p < 0.0001) and females had higher trypanosome prevalence rates than males, though not always significant. ConclusionWing length is an important determinant factor for trypanosome prevalence in G. m. morsitans and could partially explain the higher prevalence of trypanosomes in females than in males. To verify this status, however, it’s clear that, reasonably representative population data is required for analysis – a serious challenge with the current tsetse sampling methods. Nonetheless, analysis of combined data from mobile and stationary methods that includes both sexes data, could verify the status.

Pure donation or hybrid donation crowdfunding

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-260
Author(s):  
Liang Zhao ◽  
Zhe Sun
Keyword(s):  
Selection Problem ◽  
Lower Probability ◽  
Evaluation Theory ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cognitive Evaluation Theory ◽  
Cognitive Evaluation ◽  
The Status ◽  
Research Gap ◽  
Model Selection Problem

Purpose Despite the growing research exploring the possibility and feasibility of financing socially oriented projects through crowdfunding, relatively little research examines which crowdfunding model is better to serve such purpose. The purpose of this paper is to offer novel insights to mitigate this research gap. Design/methodology/approach A unique data set collected from the largest Chinese crowdfunding platform is used to test the hypotheses. To solve the perceived self-selection problem, the propensity score matching method is adopted in this paper. Based on this approach, the results of similar prosocial campaigns in two different models (pure donation and hybrid donation) are compared. Findings The empirical results show that the hybrid donation model is negatively associated with the status of success and the extent of success of prosocial campaigns. Specifically, compared to the pure donation model, hybrid donation model leads to a lower probability of success, fewer contributors, a lower funding amount and a lower completion ratio. Originality/value The paper contributes to a relatively understudied theme in crowdfunding, namely, donations. It does so by introducing the concepts of pure vs hybrid donation models and investigates the model selection problem in financing social projects through crowdfunding based on cognitive evaluation theory.

scholarly journals Formation and breakdown of the alliance between state and civic forces in post-2013 Egypt: a state-in-society approach

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mazen Hassan
Keyword(s):  
Arab World ◽  
Public Attitudes ◽  
Original Data ◽  
Threat Perception ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Status ◽  
State Actors ◽  
Elite Interviews ◽  
The One

Purpose This paper aims to examine why the alliance formed between non-Islamist forces and state actors to oust Mohamed Morsi from power in 2013 broke down quickly. Design/methodology/approach This paper makes use of original data set derived from three waves of surveys fielded in 2011, 2014 and 2015 that ask questions about public threat perception. Around 10 elite interviews were also conducted to further test the study’s hypothesis. Findings On the one hand, non-Islamists, civic forces challenged the status and interests of state actors in a way that made state actors view them with heightened distrust. On the other, many civic forces, in face of high threat perception, prioritized law during and order after Morsi’s removal, driven – at least partly – by shifts in public attitudes. Originality/value Many views look at transitions in the Arab world from the angle of how Islamists interact with traditional power holders. Such an approach, however, could be reductionist in many ways because it disregards civic forces. This is a point this paper seeks to address.

scholarly journals Snow and ice applications of AVHRR in polar regions: report of a workshop held in Boulder, Colorado, 20 May 1992

1993 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Steffen ◽  
R. Bindschadler ◽  
G. Casassa ◽  
J. Comiso ◽  
D. Eppler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
Satellite Data ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Ice Surface ◽  
The Status ◽  
Ice Surface Temperature ◽  
Snow And Ice

The third symposium on Remote Sensing of Snow and Ice, organized by the International Glaciological Society, took place in Boulder, Colorado, 17–22 May 1992. As part of this meeting a total of 21 papers was presented on snow and ice applications of Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) satellite data in polar regions. Also during this meeting a NASA sponsored Workshop was held to review the status of polar surface measurements from AVHRR. In the following we have summarized the ideas and recommendations from the workshop, and the conclusions of relevant papers given during the regular symposium sessions. The seven topics discussed include cloud masking, ice surface temperature, narrow-band albedo, ice concentration, lead statistics, sea-ice motion and ice-sheet studies with specifics on applications, algorithms and accuracy, following recommendations for future improvements. In general, we can affirm the strong potential of AVHRR for studying sea ice and snow covered surfaces, and we highly recommend this satellite data set for long-term monitoring of polar process studies. However, progress is needed to reduce the uncertainty of the retrieved parameters for all of the above mentioned topics to make this data set useful for direct climate applications such as heat balance studies and others. Further, the acquisition and processing of polar AVHRR data must become better coordinated between receiving stations, data centers and funding agencies to guarantee a long-term commitment to the collection and distribution of high quality data.

How German children use intonation to signal information status in narrative discourse

2013 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 1015-1061 ◽  
Author(s):  
LAURA E. DE RUITER
Keyword(s):  
Narrative Discourse ◽  
Pitch Accent ◽  
Natural Speech ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Adult Control ◽  
Target Model ◽  
Information Status ◽  
Speech Data ◽  
Adults And Children ◽  
German Children

ABSTRACTRecent research on adult German suggests that speakers use particular pitch accent types to signal the information status of discourse referents. This study investigates to what extent German five- and seven-year-olds have acquired this mapping. Semi-natural speech data was obtained from a picture-elicited narration task in which the information status was systematically varied. Surprisingly, data from an adult control group were inconsistent with the claim of a clear status-accent mapping, and demonstrated that adult scripted speech cannot be taken as a target model. However, compared with adults' unscripted speech productions, children were indeed adult-like in their information status marking. Both child groups accented new referents, but tended to deaccent given referents. Accessible referents (whose first mentions were less recent) were mostly realized like new referents. Differences between adults and children emerged in the use of intonation to structure narrations, suggesting that some functions of intonation may be acquired only later.

scholarly journals Measurement of Longitudinal Spin Asymmetries for Weak Boson Production in Polarized Proton-Proton Collisions at STAR

2016 ◽  
Vol 40 ◽  
pp. 1660019
Author(s):  
Jinlong Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Spin Asymmetry ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Proton Proton ◽  
Weak Boson ◽  
Spin Asymmetries ◽  
Proton Collisions ◽  
Double Spin ◽  
Polarized Proton ◽  
The Status ◽  
Proton Proton Collisions

The production of [Formula: see text] bosons in longitudinally polarized [Formula: see text] collisions is a powerful tool to study the spin-flavor structure of the proton. We report measurements of single- and double-spin asymmetries for [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] production in longitudinally polarized proton-proton collisions at [Formula: see text] GeV at RHIC. The single-spin asymmetry results for [Formula: see text] from data sets collected by STAR experiment in 2011 and 2012 provided new constraints on proton’s polarized sea quark distributions and prefer a sizable value for [Formula: see text] polarization. The status for the analysis of a much larger data set collected by STAR in 2013 will also be given.

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