Granularity in the Semantics of Comparison

This paper makes the novel observation that definite comparatives, such as the bigger circle, impose restrictions on the cardinality of the comparison class (CC) against which their truth conditions are evaluated. We show that the corpus frequency counts of definite comparatives sharply drop when the comparison class used for their interpretation is formed by more than two individuals. Two alternative theories of these distributional facts are considered and tested experimentally through an acceptability judgment task. According to the first theory, the 2-Individuals Theory, definite comparatives presuppose that the CC is of cardinality 2; under the second theory, the 2-Degrees Theory, the meaning of the comparative is evaluated against a granularity γ that maps the individuals in the CC to degrees in the relevant adjectival scale, and definite comparatives presuppose that the set of the degrees resulting from this mapping is of cardinality 2. Our experimental results show that definite comparative descriptions are most frequent and felicitous when evaluated against comparison classes with two individuals, but also that acceptability drops off with higher cardinalities in a gradient manner that is sensitive to granularity. Taken together, these findings argue against the 2-Individuals theory of definite comparatives and lend support to the 2-Degrees theory.

Influence of Covid-19 Pandemic on the Economy of Tokumbo Vehicles Trade in Borno State: Implications for Counselling

The study was an opinion survey that investigated the influence of covid-19 pandemic on the economy of Tokumbo vehicles trade in Borno State, Nigeria. Population of the study comprised of all fairly used secondhand car dealers in the State. However, 150 Tokumbo car dealers constituted the sample. Purposive and stratified random sampling techniques were used in selecting sample. Researchers designed 18 items Structured Interview Schedule (SIS) tagged “Car Dealers Interview Schedule (CDIS)” and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) were the instruments used to elicit data for the study. The CDIS was divided into two parts (A & B). Part A collected information on demographic characteristics of the respondents while Part B elicited data on sources of capital for the Tokumbo dealers, brand of Tokumbo vehicles and the influence of covid-19 pandemic on Tokumbo trade in Borno State, Nigeria. The CDIS was validated by three experts in the field of Business Administration of the University of Maiduguri, Borno State and a coefficient of 0.74 was obtained using Cronbach alpha reliability method for the internal consistency which was considered relevant and adequate for the study. Descriptive statistics of frequency counts, percentage and bar graph were used in analyzing data collected for the study. Three objectives and three research questions piloted the study. Results of the study revealed loan and personal savings as some of the sources of capital for dealers in Tokumbo vehicles in Borno State. Toyota, Volkswagen, Honda, Mercedes Benz and Peugeot were some of the brands of Tokumbo cars in the study area while rent, loan repayment and gross reduction in sales were some of the effects of covid-19 pandemic on the trade in Tokumbo vehicles in Borno State, Nigeria. Based on the findings, implications for counselling, conclusions and recommendations were made.

The Influence of Leadership Behaviour on Organizational Culture Among the Academic Deans of State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in Panay Island, Philippines

This study aimed to determine the influence of leadership behaviour on organizational culture among the academic deans of state universities and colleges (SUCs) in Panay Island, Philippines. The 125 purposively selected academic deans who responded during the conduct of the study were the respondents of this investigation. Two (2) adapted research instruments were utilised to gather data, accompanied by an information sheet. Frequency counts, percentages, means, and standard deviations were used for descriptive analysis, while the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and Stepwise Multiple Regression Analysis set at 0.05 alpha level were employed for inferential analysis. The results of the study showed that the respondents possessed very high levels of "pioneering/visionary", "team facilitation", and "encouraging/coaching" leadership behaviours, while also possessing high levels of leadership behaviours in being "strategic", "management/administrative", and "relational/social". The respondents had a very great extent of the practice of organizational culture in all the four organizational culture traits. According to the findings, there were positive, significant correlations between each type of leadership behaviour and organizational culture. Furthermore, "management/administrative" and "encouraging/coaching" leadership behaviours significantly impact organizational culture. In conclusion, academic deans should encourage "management/administrative" and "encouraging/coaching" behaviours in themselves as well as their constituents to strengthen and enhance the extent of the practice of organizational culture in the institution. These appear to be powerful mechanisms for the organization to rapidly adapt to changing institutional demands, remain competitive, and maintain high levels of performance and effectiveness.

Real and Imagined Smellscapes

The smellscape is the olfactory environment as perceived and understood, consisting of odours and scents from multiple smell sources. To what extent can audiovisual information evoke the smells of a real, complex, and multimodal environment? To investigate smellscape imagination, we compared results from two studies. In the first, onsite participants (N = 15) made a sensory walk through seven locations of an open-air market. In the second, online participants (N = 53) made a virtual walk through the same locations reproduced with audio and video recordings. Responses in the form of free-form verbal annotations, ratings with semantic scales, and a ‘smell wheel’, were analysed for environmental quality, smell source type and strength, and hedonic tone. The degree of association between real and imagined smellscapes was measured through canonical correlation analysis. Hedonic tone, as expressed through frequency counts of keywords in free-form annotations was significantly associated, suggesting that smell sources might generally be correctly inferred from audiovisual information, when such imagination is required. On the other hand, onsite ratings of olfactory quality were not significantly associated with online ratings of audiovisual reproductions, when participants were not specifically asked to imagine smells. We discuss findings in the light of cross-modal association, categorisation, and memory recall of smells.

Level of Cellphone Usage and Academic Performance

This descriptive research paper was conducted to find out the level of cellphone usage and the English academic performance of the AB English students of the Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State College, Estancia, Iloilo. The respondents were the 46 AB English students, 16 of which were the first year and 30 were the fourth year AB English students enrolled in the first semester AY 2018-2019, classified according to sex and year level. The statistical tools used were mean, frequency counts and percentage, t-test, Pearson r. The researcher made questionnaire underwent the validity and reliability testing. Researcher made questionnaire were classified into two parts: Part I, the personal data sheet which include the questions name, sex and year level. Part II has 30 item-cellphone usage questionnaire. It was generally found out that AB English students have always level of cellphone usage. In view of these findings, it can be concluded that the level of cellphone usage of the AB English students when taken as an entire group was always but when classified as to sex, female always used their cellphone while males used their cellphones sometimes. The study also showed that first year AB English students have sometimes level of cellphone usage while the fourth year AB English students always used their cellphones.

Systemic Therapy Decision Making in Advanced Cancer: A Qualitative Analysis of Patient-Oncologist Encounters

PURPOSE: We sought to characterize patient-oncologist communication and decision making about continuing or limiting systemic therapy in encounters after an initial consultation, with a particular focus on whether and how oncologists foster shared decision making (SDM). METHODS: We performed content analysis of outpatient oncology encounters at two US National Cancer Institute–designated cancer centers audio recorded between November 2010 and September 2014. A multidisciplinary team used a hybrid approach of inductive and deductive coding and theme development. We used a combination of random and purposive sampling. We restricted quantitative frequency counts to the coded random sample but included all sampled encounters in qualitative thematic analysis. RESULTS: Among 31 randomly sampled dyads with three encounters each, systemic therapy decision making was discussed in 90% (84 of 93) encounters. Thirty-four (37%) broached limiting therapy, which 27 (79%) framed as temporary, nine (26%) as completion of a standard regimen, and five (15%) as permanent discontinuation. Thematic analysis of these 93 encounters, plus five encounters purposively sampled for permanent discontinuation, found that (1) patients and oncologists framed continuing therapy as the default, (2) deficiencies in the SDM process (facilitating choice awareness, discussing options, and incorporating patient preferences) contributed to this default, and (3) oncologists use persuasion rather than deliberation when broaching discontinuation. CONCLUSION: In this study of outpatient encounters between patients with advanced cancer and their oncologists, when discussing systemic therapy, there exists a default to continue systemic therapy, and deficiencies in SDM contribute to this default.

EFL supervisors’ written feedback focus and language functions: a mixed methods study

The objectives of this study were to examine the EFL supervisors’ written feedback focus, and language functions at selected public universities in Ethiopia. To address the objectives of the study, qualitative and quantitative approaches with concurrent mixed methods design was adopted. 55 supervisees were randomly selected out of 205 for the questionnaire survey. Besides, four supervisors were selected for interviews. Moreover, feedback comments on five theses drafts were utilized as data sources. To decide the language functions and feedback foci, frequency counts and percentages were used. Nonetheless, content analysis was used to analyze the interview data. The results showed that thesis supervisors used the directive feedback language function most prevailingly over the expressive function. Besides, the result indicated there was no balance of praise, criticism, and suggestions in the provision of feedback comments. The supervisors largely focused on content knowledge, followed by genre knowledge, and then linguistic accuracy and appropriateness (forms), respectively. Based on the results, supervisors were recommended to write their feedback comments in helpful and constructive ways based on the needs and preferences of their supervisees for the development of writing skills.

Perception and Use of OPAC by Users in Academic Libraries in Kwara State, Nigeria

Background of the study: The study investigated the use and perception of Online Public Catalogue (OPAC) by users in academic libraries in Kwara State, Nigeria. Purpose: The study adopted descriptive survey research method were a total number of 203 questionnaires were distributed amongst library users in both selected academic libraries. A simple random sampling technique was used for this study. Method: The descriptive analysis was used to analyze the collected data using frequency counts and simple percentages. Findings: The study revealed that majority of the respondents is aware of the existence and availability of OPAC. Although a very small percent of respondents in Unilorin and Kwara State Polytechnic got their awareness of OPAC through the library. The study also revealed that an average percent of respondents in both institutions can make use of the library OPAC effectively. Based on user’s perception of OPAC, the findings show that majority of respondents highly acknowledge OPAC, well perceived and more preferred to card catalogue. A high percent of respondents admitted that the library OPAC enable them to locate materials quickly on the shelf. However, most of the respondents showed that they are facing some challenges which include poor network services, power failure, poor assistance from the library staff etc. Conclusion: The researchers recommend that the library should create more awareness and effective user education for students on the use of OPAC at various levels to ensure maximum utilization of the library resources.

Knowledge of extension agents on climate smart agricultural initiatives in South-West Nigeria

This study examined the knowledge level of extension agents on six classes of climate smart adaptation initiatives (CSAI). A multi-stage sampling procedure was utilized to collect data from 277 agents in South-West Nigeria with the aid of a structured questionnaire. Data were descriptively analysed using frequency counts, percentages and means. The result showed that extension agents were knowledgeable on crop-mix (56.3%) and tillage-smart (53.4%) related initiatives with more than half of them scoring above the mean benchmark. However, they had a low knowledge level on the majority of the water management (59.2%), fossil-burning (94.2%), soil (75.8%), ICT and other adaptive initiatives (98.9%) as the majority of them scored below the mean benchmark for each of these categories. Seminars and workshops should be provided by extension organizations for these agents to upgrade their knowledge on these initiatives, thus positioning them to effectively be able to render needed advisories to farmers. This will equip farmers to be adept in responding adequately to managing climate change risks and also scale-up their use of CSAI.