6,415,795 research outputs found
Using Nigerian English in an international academic setting
This study examines the English pronunciation of a group of Nigerian students at a university in Sweden from the point of view of their intelligibility to two groups of listeners: 1) native speakers of English who are teachers at the university; 2) nonnative speakers of English who are teachers at the university. It is found that listeners who are accustomed to interacting with international students do better than those who are not, and that native speakers of English do no better or worse than non-native listeners. The conclusion is drawn that locally useful varieties of Nigerian English may not easily be used as for wider communication and that students preparing to study abroad would find it useful to gain access to a more widely intelligible variety
Models and Targets for the Pronunciation of English in Vietnam and Sweden
This paper aims to account for the factors that lie behind the choice of models and targets for the pronunciation of English by learners of English in Vietnam and in Sweden. English is the first foreign language in both Vietnam and in Sweden. English is used as a language of international communication in both settings. Swedish learners have much more exposure to spoken English than do Vietnamese learners and the Swedish language is more similar to English than is Vietnamese. These reasons, among others, explain why Swedish accents of English are typically considerably more intelligible than Vietnamese accents of English. Given that the majority of English speakers in the world are not native speakers, it is argued that the traditional learner target of approaching native speaker pronunciations is not appropriate for either group, but especially not for the Vietnamese learners. Instead maximal international intelligibility is a more useful target. To this end, learners need to be exposed to a variety of native and non-native models
Labour reallocation during transition: the case of Poland
This paper analyses the reallocation of labour during the transition period, which is argued not only to ease the transition from a planned to market orientated economy, but also to be fundamental to the successful integration of Poland into the European Union. Labour force survey data is used to gauge the overall level of reallocation during the period 1994-1998, a period in which the transition process is considered to be well and truly under way. The results obtained illustrate the inherent immobility prevailing in the Polish labour market during this period and would appear to suggest the presence of relatively significant structural rigidities in the labour market. It is argued that mobility rates of this magnitude are likely to result in considerable strains being placed on the Polish economy when it enters the European Union and could, over the medium term, result in relatively high levels of unemployment. Unless mobility is stimulated, European accession is therefore likely to be a socially costly process. The microeconometric analysis of the determinants of individual mobility presented in the second part of the paper offers a first step to identifying the demographic, economic and social attributes which either aid or inhibit effective labour reallocation. The results obtained highlight a number of important differences in mobility behaviour across age, gender, educational attainment, occupational grouping and labour market experience, which will need to be taken into account in the formulation of active labour market policies to stimulate individual mobility. --
The Circumstellar Medium of Cassiopeia A Inferred from the Outer Ejecta Knot Properties
We investigate the effect of the circumstellar medium density profile on the
X-ray emission from outer ejecta knots in the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant
using the 1 Ms Chandra observation. The spectra of a number of radial series of
ejecta knots at various positions around the remnant are analyzed using
techniques similar to those devised in previous papers. We can obtain a
reasonable match to our data for a circumstellar density profile proportional
to r^-2 as would arise from the steady dense wind of a red supergiant, but the
agreement is improved if we introduce a small (0.2-0.3 pc) central cavity
around the progenitor into our models. Such a profile might arise if the
progenitor emitted a fast tenuous stellar wind for a short period immediately
prior to explosion. We review other lines of evidence supporting this
conclusion. The spectra also indicate the widespread presence of Fe-enriched
plasma that was presumably formed by complete Si burning during the explosion,
possibly via alpha-rich freezeout. This component is typically associated with
hotter and more highly ionized gas than the bulk of the O- and Si-rich ejecta.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures; ApJ in pres
Where was the Iron Synthesized in Cassiopeia A?
We investigate the properties of Fe-rich knots on the east limb of the
Cassiopeia A supernova remnant using observations with Chandra/ACIS and
analysis methods developed in a companion paper. We use the fitted ionization
age and electron temperature of the knots to constrain the ejecta density
profile and the Lagrangian mass coordinates of the knots. Fe-rich knots which
also have strong emission from Si, S, Ar, and Ca are clustered around mass
coordinates q~0.35-0.4 in the shocked ejecta; for ejecta mass 2M_sun, this
places the knots 0.7-0.8 M_sun out from the center (or 2-2.1 M_sun, allowing
for a 1.3 M_sun compact object). We also find an Fe clump that is evidently
devoid of line emission from lower mass elements, as would be expected if it
were the product of alpha-rich freeze out; the mass coordinate of this clump is
similar to those of the other Fe knots.Comment: submitted to ApJ, companion to Laming & Hwang; 25 pages, 6 figure
Embedding electronic decision-support tools for suspected cancer in primary care: a qualitative study of GPs' experiences
Aim: The purpose of this evaluation was to obtain views from general practitioners (GPs) who piloted the electronic risk assessment tools (eRATs) for suspected lung or colorectal cancer. We wanted to find out whether GPs were able to integrate these tools into their everyday practice. We were also keen to identify facilitators and barriers to their more widespread use. Background: Cancer remains one of UK’s biggest health problems, in terms of morbidity and mortality. Comparative European data show that five-year survival figures for many cancers are lower in the United Kingdom than in comparable European countries. eRATs are intended to aid recognition of symptoms of lung and colorectal cancers in patients aged 40 years and over. Methods: This was a qualitative study; telephone interviews were conducted with 23 GPs who piloted the eRATs. A systematic qualitative analysis was applied to the data. The normalisation process model was used after data collection. This theory-driven conceptual framework was used to examine the operationalisation of this intervention in Primary Care. Findings: Electronic decision-support tools appear to be useful additions to the resources available to GPs in order to assist them with recognizing potential cancer symptoms. However, the tools need to be refined in order to integrate them into GP practice. The tools raised GPs’ awareness about cancer because of the prompt facility of the software, although this also raised the potential of ‘prompt fatigue’. GPs constantly receive alerts via their clinical system, particularly related to the Quality and Outcomes Framework. The integration of eRATs into routine practice could be engendered by improvement to the training packages that accompany them, and by its delivery via a platform compatible with all GP clinical systems
Integrating gender into index-based agricultural insurance: a focus on South Africa
Index insurance is an agricultural risk management tool that can provide a safety net for smallholder farmers experiencing climate risk. While uptake and scale-out of index insurance may be slow among smallholders, we can learn from experiences that demonstrate where crop insurance can protect smallholders’ livelihoods from climate risk. Integrating gender into climate risk management is necessary to ensure that the benefits of index insurance are experienced by both men and women. A dedicated intention to integrate gender may be required. Taking South Africa as a case study, the potential for gender-sensitive index insurance scale-out among smallholders is investigated
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