Investigating The Lexical Support In Non-Native English Speakers Using The Phonemic Restoration Paradigm

Samuel and Frost (2015) investigated the differences between native and non-native English speakers’ lexical influence in speech perception. Using the selective adaptation method, the study showed that lexical support was weaker in less language proficient non-native speakers than native speakers; however, lexical support became stronger in more proficient non-native speakers. The present study investigated the lexical support in speech perception between native and non-native English speakers. Unlike the method used by Samuel and Frost (2015), the present study used the phonemic restoration paradigm. The benefit of using this method is to investigate the difference between native and non-native speakers in perceptually restoring missing phonemes. It was hypothesized that native speakers will show a higher phonemic restoration effect than non-native speakers, as well as greater sensitivity to the phoneme position in a word. In the current study, a group of native speakers and a group of non-native speakers participated in a phonemic restoration task. Both groups were presented with four-syllable stimuli words with one phoneme either replaced with white noise (replacement condition), or white noise added on that phoneme (added condition) in either the third syllable or the forth syllable, followed by an intact version of the same word. Participants rated the degradation of the manipulated word compared to its intact version. Results showed that both native and non-native speakers rated the added versions of the word more similar to the intact version than the replaced version. In addition, both native and non-native speakers rated the manipulated (i.e., added or replaced) versions of the word more similar to the intact version when the manipulated phoneme was in the fourth syllable than when the manipulated phoneme was in the third syllable. However, non-native speakers rated the replaced versions of manipulated words as similar to the intact versions as the native English speakers

Perceived Stress and Coping Strategies Among Newly Nurse Students in Clinical Practice

The present study aimed at assessing the stress level and coping strategies among students who were newly in Practicing the clinical training in different hospitals, at the Nursing College, Princess Nourah University. The study design was a descriptive analytical one. The study was conducted at the beginning of second semester in the academic year 2015/2016. The sample consisted of  three tools for data collection: which included a socio-demographic profile sheet, two scales; Perceived Stress Scale-14(PSS 14) to assess stress level , and Adolescent Coping Orientation for Problem Experiences (ACOPE) to assess The Students' coping strategies. Results revealed have that the percentage of stress level was higher in students among level five, with illiterate and non-working mothers, while the students whose fathers are working in a government work have a higher stress level than those whose fathers are not working in a government work. Results also showed that the long distance to reach Nursing School, the higher stress on the students, also, majority of subjects tend to use more of healthy coping strategies as compared to negative or unhealthy ones. The study recommended Presenting a psychological, social, and family consulting to the students who are highly stressed. In addition, education for the students according to the nature of the problems they face, clarify its causes, and how to treat it. Keywords: stress, students, coping, university, clinical ,Nursing college

Uncertainty in Digital Platforms and Ecosystems: The Dynamic Interplay Between Knowledge Problems

The information systems literature has long argued that innovation drives uncertainties in organizations. While extant research has extensively studied knowledge problems in the traditional firm setting and their implications on organizing and decision making, an updated understanding is required in relation to uncertainties within digital platforms and ecosystems, where organizational boundaries are blurred and downstream movement is becoming more popular. To address this issue, we explore the different dimensions of uncertainties in the digital platforms and ecosystems by classifying them based on the knowledge problems that dominantly contribute to their formation and the platform actors facing such uncertainties. A higher-level uncertainty emerges as a result of the interactions within these dimensions. In addition, the interactions evolve in longitudinal and dynamic patterns due to the complex nature of digital platforms and ecosystems

Cumulative abiotic stresses and their effect on the antioxidant defense system in two species of wheat, Triticum durum Desf and Triticum aestivum L.

The combined effects of heat and UV-B on the antioxidant system and photosynthetic pigments were investigated in the leaves of T. durum Desf. and Triticum aestivum L. The photosynthetic pigment content, in vitro evaluation of the antioxidant system activities including DPPH radical scavenging activity, and super oxide anion radical scavenging activity were determined. In addition, the antioxidant enzyme activities, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), were determined. Heat and UV-B irradiation alone caused a significant decrease in the photosynthetic pigment content, radical scavenging activity and super oxide radical scavenging activity in the two studied plants. The antioxidant enzymes SOD and GPX were stimulated in response to UV and/or heat stresses. The elevation of enzyme activities was higher under heat than under UV-B, especially in T. aestivum. According to our findings, it can be concluded that combined heat and UV-B provided cross-tolerance; otherwise, single stress was found to aggravate the responses

Synthesis and investigation of triphenylene twins and dyads

The work set out in this thesis focuses on the synthesis and investigation of triphenylene twins and diads. Since the discovery of discotic liquid crystals by Chandrasekhar in 1977, columnar systems have been much investigated due to their practical applications. However, the nematic phase which some discotic liquid crystals exhibit have been less thoroughly investigated, despite their importance in liquid crystal displays as optical compensating films. Our group has been particularly interested in such systems which have triphenylene at their cores. These are synthetically versatile and have molecular robustness, a useful attribute when they are used within devices. Numerous triphenylene twins have previously been synthesised by Cammidge et al. The current research therefore consists of three main phases: firstly, the synthesis of a series of diads linking two triphenylene units via alkyne bridges and an investigation of their liquid crystal properties, secondly, the synthesis of triphenylene-BODIPY hybrids and thirdly, the synthesis of a compound using diaminoisoindolene in a triphenylene core. For the first phase of the work, twins were prepared through links at the 1,2-, 1,3- anmd 1,4-benzene sites plus through a 2,5-thiophene. Diiodobenzene and diiodothiophene were used as precursors to link between triphenylene units with Sonogashira coupling reactions used in the key steps. The difficulty in this series which arose was that the monoacetylene triphenylene starting material is reactive and tended to form a homo-coupling product, so purification proved challenging. However, the full characterisations have been obtained and liquid crystal investigation showed both columnar and nematic behaviour in 1,3-ditriphenylene benzene and 2,5-ditriphenylene thiophene. However, the linear diad 1,4-ditriphenylene benzene shows only columnar mesophase, and we rationalise this observation by noting that the separation between triphenylene units is appropriate for supporting columnar organisation. The diad 1,2-ditriphenylene benzene shows no liquid crystal behaviour, likely because the geometry and triphenylene spacing in the system prevents any efficient cofacial organisation. The second phase of our work turned to explore the possibility of using (aza)BODIPY to synthesise symmetrical and unsymmetrical triphenylene-BODIPY hybrids. Precursor aminoisoindolenes were prepared again from monoacetylene triphenylene by reaction with ortho bromobenzamidine. The synthesis of a further diad series was undertaken by using a variety of aminoisoindolenes to produce aza-dipyrromethene product. The new twinned structures were characterised and none were found to display liquid crystal phases. Closer examination of their 1H NMR spectra, alongside molecular modelling, showed that the preferred arrangement in such structures was helical. This is an interesting and unusual arrangement but is unlikely to support liquid crystal behaviour. The final phase sought to prepare a twinned, co-planar structure incorporating both triphenylene and azaBODIPY. Initially the aim was to couple diacetylene triphenylene with bromo benzamidine by the same strategy had been used earlier but it proved unsuccessful. The strategy was changed and the diacetylene triphenylene reacted to produce dibenzonitrile triphenylene, but further reaction was not attempted due to lack of time. However, the new material was found to show mesophase behaviour

The use of mobile text messaging as a behavioural intervention to increase physical activity in adults with T2DM in Saudi Arabia

This feasibility study has informed the suitability of the protocol design for a future full-size RCT. Our findings have demonstrated that the research processes for our feasibility design have been feasible and acceptable. Our collected data demonstrated a small but statistically significant increase in exercise self-efficacy, physical activity levels and barriers to physical activity, although these findings need to be confirmed by randomised experimental trials in the future

The climate change risk reduction trap: low carbon spatial economic restructuring and disaster risk in Kuwait

The risks of climate change to economies are typically separated into physical risks and transition risks. Physical risks are the damages and losses that come from extreme weather events due to unmitigated climate change, while transition risks stem from the process of rapidly reducing carbon emissions and its potential disruptions to economies and society, such as stranded assets and shifts in production and the labour market. Combining the literature on spatial economic restructuring and climate disaster risk, we show that physical and transition risk can increase at the same time. We call this dynamic the climate change risk reduction trap, which occurs when new assets that are built as part of the low carbon transition become highly exposed and vulnerable to extreme weather and climate events. The paper provides an empirical illustration of this trap using the example of flash flood risk in Kuwait, a wealthy petroleum-based economy in the Middle East, and shows how decisions on urban planning and economic restructuring have increased flash flood risk. The analysis highlights the importance of considering climate disaster risk and environmental impact assessments in low carbon transition planning to avoid falling into the climate change risk reduction trap

Characterizing Surface Temperature and Clarity of Kuwait's Seawaters Using Remotely Sensed Measurements and GIS Analyses

Kuwait sea surface temperature (SST) and water clarity are important water characteristics that influence the entire Kuwait coastal ecosystem. The aim of this project was to study the spatial and temporal distributions of Kuwait SST using MODIS images (January 2003 - July 2007), and Kuwait Secchi Disk Depth (SDD), a water clarity measure, using SeaWiFS and MODIS data (November 1998 - October 2004 and January 2003 - June 2007, respectively). MODIS SST images showed a significant relationship with in situ SST data (r2= 0.98). Also, the semi-analytical diffuse light attenuation coefficient at 490 nm, Kd(490), and 488 nm, Kd(488), of SeaWiFS and MODIS, respectively, showed a significant relationship with in situ SDD (r2= 0.67 and r2= 0.68, respectively). The SeaWiFS and MODIS data provided a comprehensive view of the studied seawater characteristics that improved their overall estimation within Kuwait's waters

The Effect of LED Light Spectra on the Growth, Yield and Nutritional Value of Red and Green Lettuce (Lactuca sativa).

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) is a method of increasing crop productivity per unit area of cultivated land by extending crop production into the vertical dimension and enabling year-round production. Light emitting diodes (LED) are frequently used as the source of light energy in CEA systems and light is commonly the limiting factor for production under CEA conditions. In the current study, the impact of different spectra was compared with the use of white LED light. The various spectra were white; white supplemented with ultraviolet b for a week before harvest; three combinations of red/blue lights (red 660 nm with blue 450 nm at 1:1 ratio; red 660 nm with blue 435 nm 1:1 ratio; red 660 nm with blue at mix of 450 nm and 435 nm 1:1 ratio); and red/blue supplemented with green and far red (B/R/G/FR, ratio: 1:1:0.07:0.64). The growth, yield, physiological and chemical profiles of two varieties of lettuce, Carmoli (red) and Locarno (green), responded differently to the various light treatments. However, white (control) appeared to perform the best overall. The B/R/G/FR promoted the growth and yield parameters in both varieties of lettuce but also increased the level of stem elongation (bolting), which impacted the quality of grown plants. There was no clear relationship between the various physiological parameters measured and final marketable yield in either variety. Various chemical traits, including vitamin C content, total phenol content, soluble sugar and total soluble solid contents responded differently to the light treatments, where each targeted chemical was promoted by a specific light spectrum. This highlights the importance of designing the light spectra in accordance with the intended outcomes. The current study has value in the field of commercial vertical farming of lettuce under CEA conditions