Modern American English Grammar: A Preliminary Corpus-based Study

Traballo Fin de Grao en Lingua e Literatura Inglesas. Curso 2018-2019Most of the existing literature has drawn our attention on the differences between British and American English by referring to contrasts in their pronunciation, spelling and vocabulary. However, the grammar of these two varieties has been very little considered from a contrastive and usage-based perspective. This study is thus intended to discuss some main features of the grammar of modern American English, namely the use of the present perfect versus the simple past, some of the auxiliary and semi-auxiliary verbs, the frequency of question tags, the question of agreement with collective nouns, the use of same prepositions, etc. To this end, I will firstly review the main works in the field and I will next refer to the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA) to investigate the actual use of these features and eventually compare them with their British English counterparts with the aid of the British National Corpus (BNC) since they can be regarded as comparable corpora. The selection of the American English variety can be justified by the fact that the American culture has to a large extent been imposed through cinema and television in such a way can be considered as the most influential variety in the world today. The results obtained will hopefully allow me to arrive at some interesting conclusions and to see up to what extent the description of grammar of American English corresponds with its actual us

Evidence for an attentional component in saccadic inhibition of return

After presentation of a peripheral cue, facilitation at the cued location is followed by inhibition of return (IOR). It has been recently proposed that IOR may originate at different processing stages for manual and ocular responses, with manual IOR resulting from inhibited attentional orienting, and ocular IOR resulting form inhibited motor preparation. Contrary to this interpretation, we found an effect of target contrast on saccadic IOR. The effect of contrast decreased with increasing reaction times (RTs) for saccades, but not for manual key-press responses. This may have masked the effect of contrast on IOR with saccades in previous studies (Hunt and Kingstone in J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform 29:1068-1074, 2003) because only mean RTs were considered. We also found that background luminance strongly influenced the effects of gap and target contrast on IO

Involuntary cueing effects during smooth pursuit: facilitation and inhibition of return in oculocentric coordinates

Peripheral cues induce facilitation with short cue-target intervals and inhibition of return (IOR) with long cue-target intervals. Modulations of facilitation and IOR by continuous displacements of the eye or the cued stimuli are poorly understood. Previously, the retinal coordinates of the cued location were changed by saccadic or smooth pursuit eye movements during the cue-target interval. In contrast, we probed the relevant coordinates for facilitation and IOR by orthogonally varying object motion (stationary, moving) and eye movement (fixation, smooth pursuit). In the pursuit conditions, cue and target were presented during the ongoing eye movement and observers made a saccade to the target. Importantly, we found facilitation and IOR of similar size during smooth pursuit and fixation. The results suggest that involuntary orienting is possible even when attention has to be allocated to the moving target during smooth pursuit. Comparison of conditions with stabilized and moving objects suggest an oculocentric basis for facilitation as well as inhibition. Facilitation and IOR were reduced with objects that moved on the retina both with smooth pursuit and eye fixatio

Parental support and its effect on the development of learning strategies in secondary school: an exploratory study

Este trabajo se centra en examinar el impacto que tiene el apoyo parental sobre las estrategias de aprendizaje de sus hijos. Para ello, se aplicó el Cuestionario de Estrategias de Aprendizaje (CEA) a un total de 80 estudiantes, de 1º y 4º de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria, procedentes de tres centros –de diferente titularidad– ubicados en la provincia de Lugo. Cuarenta de ellos recibían apoyo de sus padres en las tareas escolares de forma regular. El resto no contaba con ninguna ayuda de este tipo. Para el análisis estadístico se empleó el programa SPSS 15.0. Nuestros resultados indican que los alumnos –en general– muestran un nivel adecuado en el uso que hacen de las estrategias de aprendizaje, sin que se hayan registrado diferencias significativas en función del apoyo parental. Sin embargo, sí se han encontrado diferencias en las subescalas de organización (p<.010) y regulación (p<.050), obteniendo puntuaciones más altas los educandos que contaban con el apoyo de sus padres en la realización de las tareas escolares que los que no. Asimismo, se encontraron diferencias en la escala de metacognición (p<.050). Concretamente, en el caso de los alumnos de 1º ESO –varones–, donde los estudiantes que contaban con refuerzo paterno puntuaron significativamente más alto que sus homólogos en dicha escala. Además, se hallaron diferencias en función del género entre aquellos alumnos que recibían supervisión paterna, mostrando los chicos un mejor control emocional que las chicas (p<.050).This paper focuses on examine the impact that parental support has about the learning strategies in their children. To this end, it was applied the Learning Strategies Questionnaire (CEA) to a total of 80 students of 1st and 4th grade of Secondary School, from three centers –privates and publics– located in Lugo. Forty of them received parental support regularly in their academic tasks. The rest of them didn`t have any help of this type. For the statistical analysis we used the SPSS 15.0 program. Our results indicate that the students –in general– show an adequate level in the use of learning strategies, without registering significative differences according to the parental support. However, there have been found differences on the organization (p<.010) and regulation (p<.050) subscales, obtaining the students that have the help of their parents on the realization of the academic tasks higher scores than those who don`t have it. Likewise, there were found differences on the metacognition scale (p<.050). Specifically, in the case of the students –males– of the 1st grade, where the students that had parental support marked significantly higher than their homologous in that scale. Moreover, there were found differences according to the gender among those students that received parental support, showing males better emotional control than females (p<.050).peerReviewe

Use of eye-gaze technology feedback by assistive technology professionals:findings from a thematic analysis

Purpose: Eye-gaze technology offers professionals a range of feedback tools, but it is not well understood how these are used to support decision-making or how professionals understand their purpose and function. This paper explores how professionals use a variety of feedback tools and provides commentary on their current use and ideas for future tool development. Methods and Materials: The study adopted a focus group methodology with two groups of professional participants: those involved in the assessment and provision of eye-gaze technology (n = 6) and those who interact with individuals using eye-gaze technology on an ongoing basis (n = 5). Template analysis was used to provide qualitative insight into the research questions. Results: Professionals highlighted several issues with existing tools and gave suggestions on how these could be made better. It is generally felt that existing tools highlight the existence of problems but offer little in the way of solutions or suggestions. Some differences of opinion related to professional perspective were highlighted. Questions about automating certain processes were raised by both groups.Conclusions: Discussion highlighted the need for different levels of feedback for users and professionals. Professionals agreed that current tools are useful to identify problems but do not offer insight into potential solutions. Some tools are being used to draw inferences about vision and cognition which are not supported by existing literature. New tools may be needed to better meet the needs of professionals and an increased understanding of how existing tools function may support such development

Use of eye-gaze technology feedback by assistive technology professionals:findings from a thematic analysis

Purpose: Eye-gaze technology offers professionals a range of feedback tools, but it is not well understood how these are used to support decision-making or how professionals understand their purpose and function. This paper explores how professionals use a variety of feedback tools and provides commentary on their current use and ideas for future tool development. Methods and Materials: The study adopted a focus group methodology with two groups of professional participants: those involved in the assessment and provision of eye-gaze technology (n = 6) and those who interact with individuals using eye-gaze technology on an ongoing basis (n = 5). Template analysis was used to provide qualitative insight into the research questions. Results: Professionals highlighted several issues with existing tools and gave suggestions on how these could be made better. It is generally felt that existing tools highlight the existence of problems but offer little in the way of solutions or suggestions. Some differences of opinion related to professional perspective were highlighted. Questions about automating certain processes were raised by both groups.Conclusions: Discussion highlighted the need for different levels of feedback for users and professionals. Professionals agreed that current tools are useful to identify problems but do not offer insight into potential solutions. Some tools are being used to draw inferences about vision and cognition which are not supported by existing literature. New tools may be needed to better meet the needs of professionals and an increased understanding of how existing tools function may support such development

Hybrid Overlap Filter for LiDAR Point Clouds Using Free Software

Despite the large amounts of resources destined to developing filtering algorithms of LiDAR point clouds in order to obtain a Digital Terrain Model (DTM), the task remains a challenge. As a society advancing towards the democratization of information and collaborative processes, the researchers should not only focus on improving the efficacy of filters, but should also consider the users’ needs with a view toward improving the usability and accessibility of the filters in order to develop tools that will provide solutions to the challenges facing this field of study. In this work, we describe the Hybrid Overlap Filter (HyOF), a new filtering algorithm implemented in the free R software environment. The flow diagram of HyOF differs in the following ways from that of other filters developed to date: (1) the algorithm is formed by a combination of sequentially operating functions (i.e., the output of the first function provides the input of the second), which are capable of functioning independently and thus enabling integration of these functions with other filtering algorithms; (2) the variable penetrability is defined and used, along with slope and elevation, to identify ground points; (3) prior to selection of the seed points, the original point cloud is processed with the aim of removing points corresponding to buildings; and (4) a new method based on a moving window, with longitudinal overlap between windows and transverse overlap between passes, is used to select the seed points. Our hybrid filtering method is tested using 15 reference samples acquired by the International Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) and is evaluated in comparison with 33 existing filtering algorithms. The results show that our hybrid filtering method produces an average total error of 3.34% and an average Kappa coefficient of 92.62%. The proposed algorithm is one of the most accurate filters that has been tested with the ISPRS reference samplesThis research was funded by the Project Red de Tecnoloxías LiDAR e de Información Xeoespacial (Plan Galego 2011–2015 (Plan I2C): Programa Consolidación e Estructuración (Redes)-CN 2012/323)S

Spatial planning in Barizo's beach (Malpica de Bergantiños)

[Resumen:] El proyecto en cuestión se basa en una nueva organización territorial que se debe dar a la zona de la playa de Barizo. El borde costero se ha visto degradado debido a los efectos de temporales durante los últimos años lo que ha provocado numerosos derrumbamientos de taludes los cuales pueden afectar a la seguridad de los usuarios. Para ello se construirá una duna artificial mediante un vertido de arena de cantera. Se quiere realizar una mejora de los viales demoliendo el pavimento existente, convirtiéndola en una vía semipeatonal de adoquines de modo que los vehículos circulen a menor velocidad y orientar así la zona hacia un uso peatonal y más seguro para los usuarios. También se creará un nuevo paseo litoral de madera para facilitar a los visitantes la bajada a la playa. Se pretende crear una zona de aparcamiento que solucione los problemas de estacionamiento en el entorno de la playa, buscando una solución que concilie el desarrollo y el turismo con la protección del ambiental del espacio. A mayores, se ha creado una zona verde de descanso, bancos y mesas, con zonas de sombra para un disfrute óptimo de todas aquellas personas que visiten este lugar.Traballo fin de grao (UDC.ETSECCP). Enxeñaría de Obras Públicas. Curso 2016/201

Remodeling of the AC-12 intersection at PK 9.0 (Oleiros)

[Resumen:] El presente proyecto tiene por objeto mejorar las condiciones del tráfico y movilidad en el PK 9+000 de la carretera multicarril AC-12 en el municipio de Oleiros, provincia de A Coruña. Actualmente este punto cuenta con una glorieta, la cual permite realizar cambios de sentido en la AC-12 y en la N-VI, además de dar conexión a las urbanizaciones de O Pinar y Mesón da Auga. El trazado propuesto atraviesa terrenos catalogados por el planeamiento urbanístico como suelos urbanos, evitando la afección a una vivienda de protección arquitectónica. La solución adoptada busca dar mayor fluidez al tránsito de vehículos por la zona, evitando de esta manera las retenciones de tráfico que se producen en la intersección actual en las horas punta del día. Además, se pretende reducir la siniestralidad, puesto que se producen numerosos accidentes por alcance de vehículos en la entrada a la glorieta. Otro de los objetivos que se buscan es el de mejorar los accesos y facilitar los desplazamientos de las urbanizaciones O Pinar y Mesón da Auga a la N-VI y a la AC-12, y de las propiedades colindantes. Una vez analizados todos los aspectos técnicos y examinadas todas las posibles afecciones a elementos de interés, se diseña un enlace en diamante con pesas. Consta de un tronco principal, por el que circula la carretera AC-12; un vial de conexión, el cual atraviesa la AC-12 con un paso inferior de 26 metros de longitud, permitiendo realizar todos los desplazamientos posibles para los conductores, sin afectar directamente a la carretera principal; y cuatro ramales de entrada y salida al nuevo enlace.Traballo fin de grao (UDC.ETSECCP). Enxeñaría de Obras Públicas. Curso 2022/202