Visual Speech Segmentation: Using Facial Cues to Locate Word Boundaries in Continuous Speech

Speech is typically a multimodal phenomenon, yet few studies have focused on the exclusive contributions of visual cues to language acquisition. To address this gap, we investigated whether visual prosodic information can facilitate speech segmentation. Previous research has demonstrated that language learners can use lexical stress and pitch cues to segment speech and that learners can extract this information from talking faces. Thus, we created an artificial speech stream that contained minimal segmentation cues and paired it with two synchronous facial displays in which visual prosody was either informative or uninformative for identifying word boundaries. Across three familiarisation conditions (audio stream alone, facial streams alone, and paired audiovisual), learning occurred only when the facial displays were informative to word boundaries, suggesting that facial cues can help learners solve the early challenges of language acquisition.

Estimation of the flammability zone boundaries with thermodynamic and empirical equations

The flammability zone boundaries are very important properties to prevent explosions in the process industries. Within the boundaries, a flame or explosion can occur so it is important to understand these boundaries to prevent fires and explosions. Very little work has been reported in the literature to model the flammability zone boundaries. Two boundaries are defined and studied: the upper flammability zone boundary and the lower flammability zone boundary. Three methods are presented to predict the upper and lower flammability zone boundaries: The linear model The extended linear model, and An empirical model The linear model is a thermodynamic model that uses the upper flammability limit (UFL) and lower flammability limit (LFL) to calculate two adiabatic flame temperatures. When the proper assumptions are applied, the linear model can be reduced to the well-known equation yLOC = zyLFL for estimation of the limiting oxygen concentration. The extended linear model attempts to account for the changes in the reactions along the UFL boundary. Finally, the empirical method fits the boundaries with linear equations between the UFL or LFL and the intercept with the oxygen axis. xx Comparison of the models to experimental data of the flammability zone shows that the best model for estimating the flammability zone boundaries is the empirical method. It is shown that is fits the limiting oxygen concentration (LOC), upper oxygen limit (UOL), and the lower oxygen limit (LOL) quite well. The regression coefficient values for the fits to the LOC, UOL, and LOL are 0.672, 0.968, and 0.959, respectively. This is better than the fit of the "zyLFL" method for the LOC in which the regression coefficient’s value is 0.416.

Investigation into the impact of grain boundaries, film interface, and crystallographic orientation on the ionic conductivity of thin film gadolinium-doped ceria

The research reported in this dissertation investigates the impact of grain boundaries, film interface, and crystallographic orientation on the ionic conductivity of thin film Gd-doped CeO2 (GDC). Chapter 2 of this work addresses claims in the literature that submicron grain boundaries have the potential to dramatically increase the ionic conductivity of GDC films. Unambiguous testing of this claim requires directly comparing the ionic conductivity of single-crystal GDC films to films that are identical except for the presence of submicron grain boundaries. In this work techniques have been developed to grow GDC films by RF magnetron sputtering from a GDC target on single crystal r plane sapphire substrates. These techniques allow the growth of films that are single crystals or polycrystalline with 80 nm diameter grains. The ionic conductivities of these films have been measured and the data shows that the ionic conductivity of single crystal GDC is greater than that of the polycrystalline films by more than a factor of 4 over the 400-700°C temperature range. Chapter 3 of this work investigates the ionic conductivity of surface and interface regions of thin film Gd-doped CeO2. In this study, single crystal GDC films have been grown to thicknesses varying from 20 to 500 nm and their conductivities have been measured in the 500-700°C temperature range. Decreasing conductivity with decreasing film thickness was observed. Analysis of the conductivity data is consistent with the presence of an approximately 50 nm layer of less conductive material in every film. This study concludes that the surface and interface regions of thin film GDC are less conductive than the bulk single crystal regions, rather than being highly conductive paths. Chapter 4 of this work investigates the ionic conductivity of thin film Gd-doped CeO2 (GDC) as a function of crystallographic orientation. A theoretical expression has been developed for the ionic conductivity of the [100] and [110] directions in single crystal GDC. This relationship is compared to experimental data collected from a single crystal GDC film. The film was grown to a thickness of _300 nm and its conductivity measured along the [100] and [110] orientations in the 500-700°C temperature range. The experimental data shows no statistically significant difference in the conductivities of the [100] and [110] directions in single crystal GDC. This result agrees with the theoretical model which predicts no difference between the conductivities of the two directions.

Do patients respect the line? Transgression of boundaries reported by Swiss general practitioners

OBJECTIVE: Transgression of boundaries in the relationship between physician and patient is commonly studied with patient as victim and physician as transgressor. A recent survey in the U.S. reported that almost 90% of physicians face transgression by patients over one year. Incidents happened mainly through verbal abuse, disregarding privacy, and overly affectionate behavior. Since this incidence seems to be alarmingly high, we were interested to analyze how often general practitioners in Switzerland experience transgression by patients. METHODS: 24% of the members of the Swiss Society of Internal Medicine (SGIM) and of the Swiss Society of General Medicine (SGAM) (n=675/2781) responded to an internet-based survey which asked for experiences of transgression by patients and for physicians' responses to transgression in the last 12 months. RESULTS: 81% of responding physicians experienced transgression over the period of one year. Analyzing the frequency of incidents per physician per year, the most common forms of transgression were 'use of physician's first name' (7.7/y), 'asking personal questions' (1.8/y), 'being verbally abusive' (1.5/y), and 'being overly affectionate' (1.4/y). Calculated incidence of transgression was 3 per 1000 patient contacts. 39% of physicians decided to ignore the incident, 37% discussed the event openly. Transgression led to dismissal of patients in 13% of events. CONCLUSION: Transgression even in mild and modest form is a rare phenomenon in Swiss practices. PRACTICE IMPLICATION: The Swiss data do not suggest that there is a specific risk for Swiss practitioners to be exposed to major transgression for which they should specifically be prepared for example in communication skills trainings.