(Un)markedness of trills : the case of Slavic r-palatalisation

This paper evaluates trills [r] and their palatalized counterparts [rj] from the point of view of markedness. It is argued that [r]s are unmarked sounds in comparison to [rj]s which follows from the examination of the following parameters: (a) frequency of occurrence, (b) articulatory and aerodynamic characteristics, (c) perceptual features, (d) emergence in the process of language acquisition, (e) stability from a diachronic point of view, (f) phonotactic distribution, and (g) implications. Several markedness aspects of [r]s and [rj] are analyzed on the basis of Slavic languages which offer excellent material for the evaluation of trills. Their phonetic characteristics incorporated into phonetically grounded constraints are employed for a phonological OT-analysis of r-palatalization in two selected languages: Polish and Czech

mistr: A Computational Framework for Mixture and Composite Distributions

Finite mixtures and composite distributions allow to model the probabilistic representation of data with more generality than simple distributions and are useful to consider in a wide range of applications. The R package mistr provides an extensible computational framework for creating, transforming, and evaluating these models, together with multiple methods for their visualization and description. In this paper we present the main computational framework of the package and illustrate its application. In addition, we provide and show functions for data modeling using two specific composite distributions as well as a numerical example where a composite distribution is estimated to describe the log-returns of selected stocks

Worker Rights Consortium Assessment re Lianglong Socks Co. Ltd (China): Findings, Recommendations, and Status Report

WRC report of its assessment of labor violations at the Lianglong factory in China. Outlines RJ McCarthy’s positive response to the assessment

Evaluation of the South Yorkshire Restorative Justice programme (SYRJP)

The SYRJP was developed in partnership between South Yorkshire Police and the Local Criminal Justice Board (LCJB) with the aim of implementing a county wide model of Restorative Justice (RJ) for use in neighbourhood policing and other community applications. It is aimed at tackling low level crime and anti-social behaviour in neighbourhoods and gives police officers the discretion to use Youth and Adult Restorative disposals as an alternative to prosecution for low level offending behaviour where offenders have no previous convictions, make an admission of guilt and where both offender and victim consent to the RJ process

Survey for Transiting Extrasolar Planets in Stellar Systems: III. A Limit on the Fraction of Stars with Planets in the Open Cluster NGC 1245

We analyze a 19-night photometric search for transiting extrasolar planets in the open cluster NGC 1245. An automated transit search algorithm with quantitative selection criteria finds six transit candidates; none are bona fide planetary transits. We characterize the survey detection probability via Monte Carlo injection and recovery of realistic limb-darkened transits. We use this to derive upper limits on the fraction of cluster members with close-in Jupiter-radii, RJ, companions. We carefully analyze the random and systematic errors of the calculation. For similar photometric noise and weather properties as this survey, observing NGC 1245 twice as long results in a tighter constraint on "Hot Jupiter", HJ, companions than observing an additional cluster of similar richness as NGC 1245 for the same length of time as this survey. This survey observed ~870 cluster members. If 1% of stars have 1.5 RJ HJ companions, we expect to detect one planet for every 5000 dwarf stars observed for a month. To reach a ~2% upper limit on the fraction of stars with 1.5 RJ HJ companions, we conclude a total sample size of ~7400 dwarf stars observed for at least a month will be needed. Results for 1.0 RJ companions, without substantial improvement in the photometric precision, will require a small factor larger sample size.Comment: 24 pages, 15 figures, submitted A

quantreg. nonpar: An R Package for performing nonparametric series quantile regression

The R package quantreg.nonpar implements nonparametric quantile regression methods to estimate and make inference on partially linear quantile models. quantreg.nonpar obtains point estimates of the conditional quantile function and its derivatives based on series approximations to the nonparametric part of the model. It also provides pointwise and uniform confidence intervals over a region of covariate values and/or quantile indices for the same functions using analytical and resampling methods. This paper serves as an introduction to the package and displays basic functionality of the functions contained within.https://arxiv.org/abs/1610.08329Published and Accepted manuscript versions

A review of restorative justice responses to offending

Restorative justice has been enthusiastically embraced in many justice systems as an alternative to incarceration for young adult and Indigenous offenders. But how well does it work? Abstract The present review sought to determine on the available evidence (a) whether restorative justice (RJ) is an effective means of reducing re-offending, (b) what benefits victims of crime obtain from participation in the RJ process, (c) whether the public supports the principles of RJ, and (d) how the cost and efficiency of RJ proceedings compare with conventional courts in cost and efficiency (i.e. time taken to finalize cases). The review finds little reliable evidence that RJ reduces re-offending. Victims who participate in RJ are generally satisfied with the experience but it is unclear whether they are more satisfied than victims in similar cases that are dealt with in court. The limited evidence available suggests that the public supports the principles of RJ. It appears to be a less expensive and more efficient way of finalizing criminal cases involving young people but, once again, the evidence on this issue at this stage is rather limited. Evidence Base, issue 1, 201

Worker Rights Consortium Remediation Report re Lianglog Socks Co. Ltd (China)

WRC report on the efforts to remediate violations previously found at Lianglong Socks, a producer of hosiery for RJ McCarthy Ltd, a supplier of school uniforms. Describes persistence of labor violations and finds that RJ McCarthy is not responsible due to their lack of influence in the matter