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The Challenges of Developing a Living Arabic Phonetic Dictionary for Speech Recognition System: A Literature Review
Get PDFPhonetic dictionaries are regarded as pivotal components of speech recognition systems. The function of speech recognition research is to generate a machine which will accurately identify and distinguish the normal human speech from any other speaker. Literature affirmed that Arabic phonetics is one of the major problems in Arabic speech recognition. Therefore, this paper reviews previous studies tackling the challenges faced by initiating an Arabic phonetic dictionary with respect to Arabic speech recognition. It has been found that the system of speech recognition investigated areas of differences concerning Arabic phonetics. In addition, an Arabic phonetic dictionary should be initiated where the Arabic vowels’ phonemes should be considered as a component of the consonants’ phonemes. Thus, the incorporation of developed machine translation systems may enhance the quality of the system. The current paper concludes with the existing challenges faced by Arabic phonetic dictionary
Impacts of COVID-19 on Global Healthcare Management and Research
Get PDFThe Coronavirus Infectious Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected most nations at all levels of functioning, individual to governmental. Therefore, it is imperative to evaluate the effects the virus has had on one of the most important socioeconomic global sectors, healthcare. This literature review explores key, recent research and management strategies that have been undertaken in healthcare systems around the world in order to make meaningful attempts at identifying the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease, and combating the spread of this deadly virus. Healthcare facilities have implemented a variety of changes, all geared towards reducing non-emergency patient visits and preventing transmission of the infection; this includes shifting appointments to online modality via telecommunication use, altering remedial options and procedures, and developing more effective personal protective equipment (PPE). Efforts have also been made to define appropriate treatment methods as well as a potential cure for COVID-19; many vaccines and antiviral drugs have been designed or are continuing to undergo clinical testing, and symptom management approaches are being employed along with careful evaluation or recommendation of already available medications to counter the disease. Our comprehensive analysis provides insights into prominent consequences as well as implications of COVID-19 in contemporary global healthcare research and management, and would help this crucial sector be better prepared for pandemics in the future.
Analysing Road Traffic Situation in Lilongwe: An Agent Based Modelling (ABM) Approach
Get PDFA 15, 451 km road network forms the main mode of transport for Malawi with 26 % paved. With increasing number of vehicles and elongated travel times during rush hour the study analysed the traffic situation on the M1 road between Mchinji and Area 18 roundabouts in Lilongwe City using an agent-based model (ABM). The methodology used game theory’s traffic grip model to analyse traffic flow by controlling traffic variables such as lights, speed limits and the number of vehicles. Each intersection was treated as non-cooperative game where each agent tried to minimize its queue resulting into Q−Nash’s equilibrium as the solution. The ABM tested the empirical relationships of traffic flow parameters in terms of density, flow, acceleration, deceleration, speed, time lost in traffic congestion and fuel consumption. The model was calibrated using traffic data collected through observing 1,312 vehicles sampled against 24,977. The observation results from the road junctions reveal that on average, a vehicle takes 20 mins 18 seconds, 37 minutes 6 seconds, 44 minutes 21 seconds and 58 minutes 53 seconds to exit Chitukuko, Bwandilo, Chilambula roads and Area 18 roundabout respectively upon entering the M1 at Mchinji roundabout. This data was then used to calibrate the business-as-usual model for the peak hour scenario for the road junctions. The model results show that a selected vehicle entering Chitukuko junction travels at an average speed of 22.60 km/hr, until it exits that junction. On average the selected motorists spend 2.52 l/km with a traffic density of 72 v/km. If dualized average speeds improved to 41.54 km/hr while the traffic density declined to 54.42 v/km, saving motorists MK 3,921,624.00 annually. The predictive model of the dual carriage informed that by 2021, commuters will spend MK 5,187,168 on fuel more than single-lane business as usual scenario of 2019
Binding Partners of 14-3-3 (YWHA) Protein Isoforms among Mammalian Species, Tissues, and Developmental Stages
Get PDFThe 14-3-3 (YWHA or Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase/Tryptophan 5-Monooxygenase Activation proteins) are a family of abundant, highly conserved, ubiquitous, acidic, and homologous proteins expressed in most eukaryotes ranging from plants to animals, including humans, important in regulating a multitude of cellular processes such as signal transduction, cell cycle, protein trafficking, metabolism, apoptosis, and development. Mammals have been noted contain seven isoforms of these proteins (beta, epsilon, eta, gamma, sigma, tau/theta, and zeta), encoded by separate genes. The 14-3-3 proteins are known to interact with over 200 binding partners in isoform-specific, tissue-specific, and developmental stage-specific ways. The present review article encapsulates previously published research articles that report 14-3-3-interactors, and investigates isoform-specific interactions within a wide array of mammalian species, cells, tissues, organs, and developmental stages. Of the hundreds of binding partners of 14-3-3 discovered till date, this paper focuses on analyzing selected, representative interactors with key functional roles. The study would help a better understanding of isoform-specific interactions of this critical protein family in mammals
Factors Affecting Unemployment Duration of the Science and Arts Stream University Graduates in Sri Lanka
Get PDFSri Lanka has a significant youth unemployment problem. In the recent years, a more serious problem is graduate unemployment. Therefore, Sri Lanka needs to develop appropriate policies to decrease the duration of unemployment. In this regard, research is required to determine the factors that affect unemployment duration of graduates in order to provide the policy makers with solid foundations for their decision-making processes. Globally several studies have investigated unemployment duration of graduates. Up to date, no study has been done in Sri Lanka that thoroughly investigates the unemployment duration of graduates in Sri Lanka. Thus, the main aim of this research is to identify the factors that affect the duration of unemployment in the Science and Arts stream graduates in Sri Lanka. A survival analysis was conducted to determine how the considered factors affect the duration of unemployment among the Science stream graduates. Due to the nature of the information gathered in relation to the unemployment duration of the Arts stream graduates, an ordinal logistic regression was applied to identify the significant variables of unemployment duration of the Arts stream graduates among the variables considered. The findings of this study show that the Semi Parametric Cox Proportional model is appropriate to determine the relationship between graduates' time taken to obtain the first job and explanatory variables. According to the analysis, the gender, the type of the degree, the job category (private or government sector jobs) and the results of the GCE Advanced Level General English subject have a significant impact on unemployment duration of Science stream graduates. For the Arts stream graduates, the family income, the professional courses followed by graduates during their academic years at the university and the participation in extra-curricular activities while in the university were found to be significant
Investigating the Determinants of App-based Land Transportation User Loyalty in Jakarta Using PLS-SEM Framework
Get PDFThis study aims to investigate user loyalty factors using application-based land transportation in Jakarta. The methodology in this study uses a quantitative approach and a questionnaire is used as an instrument to collect data. With an unknown population, this study used 301 samples of application-based land transportation users. The statistical method used to analyze the hypotheses in this study is Partial Least Square - Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with WARP-PLS. Based on the results of statistical tests, it was found that 6 hypotheses were accepted, and 5 hypotheses were rejected. The result of this study explains that ease of using the application affects the loyalty in using application-based transportation. Meanwhile, loyalty is not influenced by application display, service responsiveness in applications, service adjustment, service guarantee and user attitudes. This research further explains that the ease of using the application, application display, service adjustment, and service guarantee affect the user's attitude. On the other hand, service responsiveness does not affect attitude towards using. As novelty, the use of the loyalty framework in this study uses the use attitude as a mediator of main factors in service quality for application-based transportation in urban areas. As a managerial implication, it is interesting that the results of this study explain that loyalty in the use of application-based transportation is not automatically formed from a positive attitude towards using. The adjustment of services provided on the application because of competition in the application-based transportation industry must be able to meet user expectations which tend to change according to the offers provided by service providers
The Effects of Co-Teaching Zones of Regulation on Elementary Students’ Social, Emotional, and Academic Risk Behaviors
Get PDFStudent misbehavior is a significant concern in the current classroom. Teachers nationwide have implemented several approaches to reduce student misbehavior, including School-wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and co-teaching. However, since misbehaver still disrupts learning, research is still needed to find a classroom intervention that will reduce misbehavior in a classroom to prevent students from under achieving, disruption of peers’ learning and teacher burnout. Zones of Regulation focuses on self-regulation, while addressing sensory processing, executive functioning, and emotional regulation. This experimental study tested the effects of co-taught Zones of Regulation on students’ Social, Academic, and Emotional Behavior Risk Screener (SAEBRS). Fifty-six early elementary students (48% female) were assigned randomly to either the experimental group, which received co-taught direct instruction with Zones of Regulation or the control group, which received standard instruction with a morning meeting. It was predicted that the experimental group would score higher on the SAEBRS than the control group. Although results showed no statistical difference on the SAEBRS scores between the two groups, more students in the experimental group moved from “at risk” to “not at risk”. This study suggests additional research needs to be conducted to determine if co-taught Zones of Regulation instruction is an effective intervention for reducing misbehavior
Mechanical Strengths of Sawdust-Ash-Admixed Gum Arabic Concrete
Get PDFGum Arabic and sawdust ash were used both as an emulsifier admixture and supplementary cement material to address some of the gaps between pozzolanic and conventional concretes. Four concrete mixtures of 1: 2.24: 2.71, with a water-cement ratio of 0.5, and cement content of 370 kg/m3, was used. The concrete mixtures were designated as M-00, M-00GA, M-10GAS, and M-30GAS, signifying the control, control with gum Arabic (GA), and mix with both gum Arabic and sawdust ash (GAS), respectively. The dosage was 0.5 % of GA and the SDA replacement by wt. % was at 10 % and 30 %, respectively. The concrete samples were cured for 90 days, and tested for mechanical strengths. The results showed that adding GA alone to concrete mixture improved the mechanical strengths of the concrete and the gum Arabic acted like an accelerator. When both GA and SDA were used together in the dosage of 0.5 % with 10 % and 30 % proportions respectively, the mechanical strengths of the concrete decreased. The findings also reported that the two-third strength ratio at 28-days of curing which is used for the conventional concrete in stripping the formwork, may not be appropriate for use on pozzolanic concrete. This is because of the delay in setting times and thus, attaining the required design strength. Therefore, it is proposed to be taken at an age beyond 28 days of curing to carter for the pozzolanic effects which starts well above 28-days
A Brief History of Ethics in the Presence of a Pandemic
Get PDFThe current COVID-19 pandemic has had a strong effect on individual liberty versus a consequentialist ideal of the greater good for societal norms. Rather than arguing for the current situation, I have chosen to take a historical approach to address the ethics of dealing with these health situations in the past. Ultimately, I conclude that, while at risk of individual liberty, a rule utilitarian approach, as backed up by epidemiolocal data suggests that a mandate for the greater good is more ethical than a simple approach to individual liberty
Butadiene Rubber in the Petrochemical Industry
Get PDFThe Butadiene is a raw material used in the petrochemical industry. The use of Butadiene has risen with petrochemical market growth. The Global market is forecasting a demand growth for butadiene applications, especially for rubber materials. The estimated synthetic rubber market is 23.2 billion in five years. The dynamic growth in butadiene applications will introduce new products used in many things from the food industry to sports and goods. Also, the rubber materials have different applications in the automotive industry, oil and gas, medical products, and plastics. Companies’ strategic planning to increase the production of synthetic rubber for the global market. The demand increased as new applications were introduced to the market. The stability of oil prices will have the rubber market steady which always leads to optimal pricing. The diver for Butadiene rubber applications is to maximize production by having different kind of materials that applied for several products. The global business development indicated the ability to increases the synthetic rubber market rubber and capacities, which will enhance the chemical process techniques, new technology design, and efficiency that will maximize production and minimize product cost. Looking into the price difference between synthetic and natural rubber, many fluctuation variables were introduced in the price of each type. For example, synthetic rubber price is high, depending on crude oil, natural gasoline and naphtha prices, since those feedstocks are fed to the cracking units, as C4 is one of the cracking products. Therefore, any change in the oil prices will influence the butadiene price, which is the feed for most rubber plants. In addition, the utilities required for those plants to operate have a major impact on overall price. On the other hand, Natural rubber is an agricultural product and dependent on soil type and weather