Investigating Hybrid Models Of Speech Perception

The ability to perceive sounds as words involves a transformation from detailed speech signals to invariant meanings, which are separate from information about the speaker of a particular word. The nature of this transformation is a central issue in the field of speech perception. A particular focus of ongoing debate concerns talker-specific details: are they causally relevant to lexical perception, or are they useful only for tasks like speaker recognition? One common way to investigate the impact of voice information is to examine the time-course of its effects on future perceptual events. Early research reported no consistent long-lasting effects, implying that speech representations do not contain talker-specific detail (Jackson & Morton, 1984). However, subsequent work reported long-lasting effects, leading to a focus on modelling speech representations as abstractions over detail-rich episodic memories (Goldinger, 1996). Current hybrid models (Church & Schacter, 1994; McLennan & Luce, 2005; Goldinger, 2007) incorporate abstract and detail-rich speech representations but differ in the relative importance assigned each. Two types of hybrid models are differentiated: a) models with combined representations, where abstraction occurs over detailed memories of speech episodes; versus b) models with separate representations, where different processing paths exist from the speech signal to word and speaker recognition. To investigate these models, this thesis reports multiple experiments investigating the time-course of the decay patterns of voice effects in repetition priming. Results from auditory lexical decision indicate that voice information only affects the speed of future perceptual processes within a short time window: until around three items intervene between prime and target. This finding clarifies previous results, which found no long-lasting effects, by providing an exact time-course of voice information’s impact. Nevertheless, the results reported here differ from the predictions of studies investigating recognition accuracy, where long-lasting effects are commonly found. To address these differences, additional experiments using continuous and blocked word recognition paradigms were conducted. Again, talker-specific effects only persist within the same short time window, while abstract repetition priming effects persist much longer. By de-emphasizing the contribution of voice information, these findings assert the importance of abstract linguistic representations in hybrid models with separate representations

Desarrollo de un Sistema Informático de Gestión de Créditos Financieros para la Empresa Credifácil usando la Metodología de desarrollo de Software Rational Unified Process

El presente trabajo de investigación tiene como propósito desarrollar un Sistema Informático de Gestión de Créditos Financieros usando la Metodología de desarrollo de Software Rational Unified Process, para la Empresa Credifácil, a través de este trabajo de investigación se detallarán los procedimientos y técnicas utilizadas para lograr un Sistema Informático que dé solución a la problemática existente en la empresa en cuanto a la gestión crediticia. En este trabajo de investigación consiste en implementar un Sistema Informático en Microsoft Visual Studio 2010, que de trámite al proceso de otorgación de créditos a los clientes que capta la empresa, cuyo propósito es mejorar la calidad en la atención de los clientes el cual permitirá administrar de forma efectiva los créditos otorgados. El Sistema Informático organiza la captura inicial de la información de los clientes y garantes hasta la generación del registro y desembolso del crédito en el sistema y su correspondiente operatividad de cobranza. A la vez el Sistema Informático será utilizado a través de una red generando una interacción dinámica de información actualizada para la otorgación y recuperación de los créditos. Como resultado de este trabajo de investigación, se podrá contar con una herramienta que permitirá controlar los procesos crediticios con la finalidad de optimizar los flujos de información administrativa de la empresa, de manera eficiente, confiable y segura.The present investigation work has as purpose to develop a Computer System of Administration of Financial Credits using the Methodology of development of Software Rational Unified Process, for the Company Credifácil, through this investigation work the procedures and techniques will be detailed used to achieve a Computer System that gives solution to the existent problem in the company as for the credit administration. In this investigation work it consists on implementing a Computer System in Visual Microsoft Studio 2010 that of step to the process of grant of credits to the clients that it captures the company whose purpose is to improve the quality in the attention of the clients which will allow to administer in an effective way the granted credits. The Computer System organizes the initial capture of the information of the clients and guarantors until the generation of the registration and payment of the credit in the system and its corresponding collection operability. At the same time the Computer System will be used through a net generating a dynamic interaction of up-to-date information for the grant and recovery of the credits. As a result of this investigation work, he/she will be able to have a tool that will allow to control the credit processes with the purpose of optimizing the flows of administrative information of the company, in an efficient, reliable and sure way.Tesi

Perceptual learning, talker specificity, and sound change

Perceptual learning is when listeners hear novel speech input and shift their subsequent perceptual behavior. In this paper we consider the relationship between sound change and perceptual learning. We spell out the connections we see between perceptual learning and different approaches to sound change and explain how a deeper empirical understanding of the properties of perceptual learning might benefit sound change models. We propose that questions about when listeners generalize their perceptual learning to new talkers might be of of particular interest to theories of sound change. We review the relevant literature, noting that studies of perceptual learning generalization across talkers of the same gender are lacking. Finally, we present new experimental data aimed at filling that gap by comparing cross-talker generalization of fricative boundary perceptual learning in same-gender and different-gender pairs. We find that listeners are much more likely to generalize what they have learned across same-gender pairs, even when the different-gender pairs have more similar fricatives. We discuss implications for sound change

Inventory of potential recreation assets

The demand for outdoor recreation in the United States is rapidly increasing. Contributing to this increased demand are higher incomes, a shorter work week, more leisure time, longer paid vacations, and expanded and improved highway systems. Providing adequate recreation facilities will be the responsibility of both public and private sectors of the economy. But present projections of future recreational demands indicate that construction by the public sector will not keep pace with expanding needs. Private outdoor recreation enterprises can earn profits. They are businesses, and have the opportunities and problems common to all businesses. Some will succeed and some will fail. This publication is intended to help you to recognize the questions you need to answer in deciding if a recreation enterprise is a desirable business for you.Published June 1970. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalo

Campground development guide

Published October 1972. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalo

A National Survey of Skin Infections, Care Behaviors and MRSA Knowledge in the United States

A nationally representative sample of approximately 2000 individuals was surveyed to assess SSTI infections over their lifetime and then prospectively over six-months. Knowledge of MRSA, future likelihood to self-treat a SSTI and self-care behaviors was also queried. Chi square tests, linear and multinomial regression were used for analysis. About 50% of those with a reported history of a SSTI typical of MRSA had sought medical treatment. MRSA knowledge was low: 28% of respondents could describe MRSA. Use of protective self-care behaviors that may reduce transmission, such as covering a lesion, differed with knowledge of MRSA and socio-demographics. Those reporting a history of a MRSA-like SSTI were more likely to respond that they would self-treat than those without such a history (OR 2.05 95% CI 1.40, 3.01; p<0.001). Since half of respondents reported not seeking care for past lesions, incidence determined from clinical encounters would greatly underestimate true incidence. MRSA knowledge was not associated with seeking medical care, but was associated with self-care practices that may decrease transmission.</p

The farm as a vacation business

This publication is designed largely for the landowner, farmer or rancher who is considering an alternative use of his land -- recreation as a business. Judging from the number of requests we receive for information, the vacation farm is being considered by many as a new enterprise and a new source of income. The vacation farm can earn profits, like any business, or it can fail. They have the problems and opportunities similar to other businesses. This publication is intended to help you recognize certain factors that will contribute to success or failure. We hope that it will also help you decide if this particular recreation enterprise is a desirable business for you and your family. In this publication on vacation farms, the authors intend to focus on questions about the feasibility of starting a vacation farm and how one actually commences such an enterprise. We shall include basic questions farmers need to ask themselves before investing, information about the season and the clientele, comments on promotion programs, rules for guests and managers, caution on capital investment, and information about fees and income. If, after reading this publication, you need additional assistance, contact your County Extension Agent. Assistance is also available from sources such as the Soil Conservation Service, Farmers Home Administration, Forest Service, Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, State Highway Division, and the State Game Commission.Published August 1972. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalo

Anesthesia and cognitive performance in children: No evidence for a causal relationship

* Both authors contributed evenly to the manuscript Recent findings of an association between anesthesia administration in the first three years of life and later learning disabilities have created concerns that anesthesia has neurotoxic effects on synaptogenesis, causing later learning problems. An alternative hypothesis is that those children who are likely to undergo surgery early in life have significant medical problems that are associated with a vulnerability to learning disabilities. These two hypotheses were evaluated in a monozygotic concordant–discordant twin design. Data on anesthesia administration and learning abilities and disabilities were available for 1,143 monozygotic twin pairs (56 % female) from the Netherlands Twin Registry. Parents of the twins reported on anesthesia use before age 3 and again between ages 3 and 12 years. Near age 12, educational achievement and cognitive problems were assessed with standardized tests and teacher ratings. Results showed that twins who were exposed to anesthesia before age 3 had significantly lower educational achievement scores and significantly more cognitive problems than twins not exposed to anesthesia. However, there was one important exception: the unexposed co-twin from discordant pairs did not differ from their exposed cotwin. Thus, there is no evidence for a causal relationship between anesthesia administration and later learning-related outcomes in this sample. Rather, there is evidence for early anesthesia being a marker of an individual’s vulnerability for later learning problems, regardless of their exposure to anesthesia