19,187 research outputs found
Fluency in dialogue: Turn‐taking behavior shapes perceived fluency in native and nonnative speech
Fluency is an important part of research on second language learning, but most research on language proficiency typically has not included oral fluency as part of interaction, even though natural communication usually occurs in conversations. The present study considered aspects of turn-taking behavior as part of the construct of fluency and investigated whether these aspects differentially influence perceived fluency ratings of native and non-native speech. Results from two experiments using acoustically manipulated speech showed that, in native speech, too ‘eager’ (interrupting a question with a fast answer) and too ‘reluctant’ answers (answering slowly after a long turn gap) negatively affected fluency ratings. However, in non-native speech, only too ‘reluctant’ answers led to lower fluency ratings. Thus, we demonstrate that acoustic properties of dialogue are perceived as part of fluency. By adding to our current understanding of dialogue fluency, these lab-based findings carry implications for language teaching and assessmen
MAGPIE - a Maintainable Graph Pattern Indexing Engine:towards a versatile path index for the industrial graph database
The Economic Consequences of IFRS: The Impact of IAS 32 on Preference Shares in the Netherlands
The consequences of international accounting standards are likely to reach beyond the impact on financial statements. This paper demonstrates one of the economic implications of international standards. We focus on the impact of the IFRS regulation on preference shares (IAS 32) in the Netherlands. IAS 32 causes most preference shares to lose their classification as equity and these shares will hence be classified as liabilities. We document that for Dutch firms with preferred stock outstanding, the reclassification will on average increase the reported debt ratio by 35%. We find that 71% of the firms that are affected by IAS 32 buy back their preference shares or alter the specifications of the preference shares in such a way that the classification as equity can be maintained. The main determinant of the decision whether to give these consequences to IAS 32 is the magnitude of the impact of IAS 32 on a firm’s debt ratio. We conclude that IFRS does not only lead to a decrease in the use of financial instruments that otherwise would have added to the capital structure diversity, but also changes firms’ real capital structure.IFRS;Accounting Changes;Economic Consequences;IAS 32;Magnitude Effect;Preference Shares
Ultrasound-induced Gas Release from Contrast Agent Microbubbles
We investigated gas release from two hard-shelled ultrasound contrast agents by subjecting them to high-mechanical index (MI) ultrasound and simultaneously capturing high-speed photographs. At an insonifying frequency of 1.7 MHz, a larger percentage of contrast bubbles is seen to crack than at 0.5 MHz. Most of the released gas bubbles have equilibrium diameters between 1.25 and 1.75 /spl mu/m. Their disappearance was observed optically. Free gas bubbles have equilibrium diameters smaller than the bubbles from which they have been released. Coalescence may account for the long dissolution times acoustically observed and published in previous studies. After sonic cracking, the cracked bubbles stay acoustically active
Determinants of poverty in Kenya : a household level analysis
poverty;statistical analysis;measurement;Kenya;household surveys
Searching for galaxy clusters in the VST-KiDS Survey
We present the methods and first results of the search for galaxy clusters in
the Kilo Degree Survey (KiDS). The adopted algorithm and the criterium for
selecting the member galaxies are illustrated. Here we report the preliminary
results obtained over a small area (7 sq. degrees), and the comparison of our
cluster candidates with those found in the RedMapper and SZ Planck catalogues;
the analysis to a larger area (148 sq. degrees) is currently in progress. By
the KiDS cluster search, we expect to increase the completeness of the clusters
catalogue to z = 0.6-0.7 compared to RedMapper.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, to be published in the Proceedings of the
Conference "The Universe of Digital Sky Surveys", Naples, November 25-28 201
Acoustic properties of ultrasound contrast agents
Safety of contrast agents is reported in the years after. Both the intracoronary use of
sonicated Renografin as well as intravenous use of commercial product as
Albunex and Lechovist has been investigated. Thereafter more pathophysiologic
studies were performed. Ten Cate described the possibilities to determine the
stenosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery by the contrast outwash in
the interventricular septum and Cornel who incidentally reported the Thebesian
vein outflow in humans visualised by echo contrast. Cheiriff and his group described
myocardial perfusion studies to determine coronary flow reserve before and after
Percutaneous Transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Coronary collateral
perfusion after myocardial infarction or PTCA can be assessed. Also, successful
thrombolysis, resulting in a patent coronary artery, is often not accompanied by a
return of normal perfusion or wall motionUltrasound contrast agents have been used in the medical diagnostic field for a
number of years and for very different purposes. These agents have been employed
when echo images proved inadequate or when further information about the blood
flow was required. Originally, contrast agents were home-made, being produced
simply by passing saline through a
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