Using Predictability for Lexical Segmentation

This study investigates a strategy based on predictability of consecutive sub‐lexical units in learning to segment a continuous speech stream into lexical units using computational modeling and simulations. Lexical segmentation is one of the early challenges during language acquisition, and it has been studied extensively through psycholinguistic experiments as well as computational methods. However, despite strong empirical evidence, the explicit use of predictability of basic sub‐lexical units in models of segmentation is underexplored. This paper presents an incremental computational model of lexical segmentation for exploring the usefulness of predictability for lexical segmentation. We show that the predictability cue is a strong cue for segmentation. Contrary to earlier reports in the literature, the strategy yields state‐of‐the‐art segmentation performance with an incremental computational model that uses only this particular cue in a cognitively plausible setting. The paper also reports an in‐depth analysis of the model, investigating the conditions affecting the usefulness of the strategy.     

Investigation of the effect of group counselling based on schema therapy on academic expectation stress in high school students

This research is a preliminary evaluation study to determine whether group counselling based on schema therapy has an effect on academic expectation stress in high school students. In this study, a 2 × 3 split-plot design was used. The Academic Expectation Stress Inventory was applied for data collection purposes. The effect of group counselling based on schema therapy on academic expectation stress was tested using a two-factor ANOVA for mixed measurements. As a result of the analysis, the intervention*time effect was found to be significant with regard to academic expectation stress. The findings obtained in the study reveal that group counselling based on schema therapy creates a significant decrease in adolescents' academic expectation stress level, and this decline continues, as shown in the follow-up test. As a result, it can be said that the group counselling programme based on schema therapy, which was developed as a preliminary evaluation study, has the potential to reduce the academic expectation stress level of high school students.     

Protean and boundaryless career attitudes and organizational commitment: The effects of perceived supervisor support

Despite the traditional sentiment that protean and boundaryless career attitudes indicate a decline in organizational commitment, little empirical evidence is available. The present study examined the relation of protean and boundaryless career attitudes to organizational commitment and whether the perceived supervisor support moderated these relationships. The results based on data from 380 employees demonstrate that organizational mobility preference is negatively related to all three dimensions of organizational commitment. Self-directed career management is positively related to affective and normative commitment and negatively related to continuance commitment, while values-driven career orientation is negatively related to normative commitment. Moreover, there is no significant evidence provided for a moderating effect of perceived supervisor support on the relationships between protean and boundaryless career attitudes and organizational commitment. Perceived supervisor support has only a main effect on affective and normative commitment.     

A new driver behavior model to create realistic urban traffic environment

This paper presents a new driver behavior model, which emulates various driving styles (i.e. behaviors) for different categories of drivers. The model was highly parametric and was developed based on a two-layer Hierarchical Concurrent State Machines (HCSM) programming framework. Our study has been specifically oriented to create a realistic urban traffic environment with hazardous situations typical of real life in a driving simulator, and let the novice drivers to practice in a safe environment. In our study, we used TRAFIKENT driving simulator as a test-bed. Experiments and evaluations demonstrated satisfactory results in terms of behavioral validity of our model.     

Characterization of Al/n-ZnO/p-Si/Al structure with low-cost solution-grown ZnO layer

We report the fabrication of Al/n-ZnO/p-Si/Al diode structures with a flower-like ZnO layer. The average grain size, microstrain and dislocation density in the ZnO layer were determined as 25?nm, 1.55?×?10^?3 and 3.23?×?10¹³?cm^?2, respectively. From absorption spectra, the optical band gap was found to be ～3.17?eV. A red shift was attributed to non-stoichiometry arising from Zn⁺² ions substituting for oxygen vacancies. The ideality factor was determined as 1.55. The barrier height was calculated as 0.71?eV from I–V characteristics and 0.73?eV using the Norde plots.     

Professional vs. amateur judgment accuracy: The case of foreign exchange rates

Highly knowledgeable people often fail to achieve highly accurate judgments, a phenomenon sometimes called the “process-performance paradox.” The present research tested for this paradox in foreign exchange (FX) rate forecasting. Forty professional and 57 sophisticated amateur forecasters made one-day and one-week-ahead FX predictions in deterministic and probabilistic formats. Among the conclusions indicated by the results are: (a) professional accuracy usually surpasses amateur accuracy, although many amateurs outperform many professionals; (b) professionals appear to achieve high proficiency via heavy reliance on predictive information (unlike what has been observed before, e.g., for stock prices); (c) forecast format strongly affects judgment accuracy and processes; and (d) apparent overconfidence can transform itself into underconfidence depending on when and how forecasters must articulate their confidence.     

Cross‐group friendships and outgroup attitudes among Turkish–Kurdish ethnic groups: does perceived interethnic conflict moderate the friendship‐attitude link?

We investigated associations between cross‐group friendships, perceived interethnic conflict, and outgroup attitudes in the context of intractable Turkish–Kurdish conflict in Turkey. Measures of cross‐group friendship quantity, perceived conflict, outgroup attitudes, multiculturalism, and outgroup responsibility for conflict were completed by Turkish (N = 320) and Kurdish (N = 153) participants (M_age = 21, 156 males, 317 females). Both cross‐group friendships and perceived conflict were related to outcome variables. While cross‐group friendships were beneficial for both groups’ outgroup attitudes when perceived conflict was lower; when perceived conflict level was higher, positive associations between friendships and attitudes became non‐significant for the Turkish group and negative for the Kurdish group. Implications of the findings for the intergroup contact theory have been discussed.     

Analogies between al-Māturīdī’s and Duns Scotus’s Ethical Perspectives

Al-Māturīdī and Duns Scotus share an ethical paradigm that represents the middle ground between divine command and natural law theories in ethics. While al-Māturīdī’s theory can generally be located between Ash?arite divine command and Mu?tazilite natural law theories in Islamic ethics, Scotus’s theory can be placed between William of Ockham’s divine command and Thomas Aquinas’s natural law theories in Christian ethics. Although the starting point of their ethical perspectives is fundamentally based on criticism of natural law theory, neither theologian can be labelled as a typical divine command theorist. This moderate theory may therefore be described as the theory of soft divine command. The main purpose of this article is to draw attention to some similarities between al-Māturīdī’s and Duns Scotus’s ethical perspectives: First, both theologians highlight the composite picture of human nature in terms of morality. In other words, they posit that humans have two opposite tendencies: ‘affection for justice’ and ‘affection for advantage’. Second, although both theologians grant reason an ontological authority in determining what is good and bad, this authority is not limitless. Finally, both theologians argue that, unless one takes account of God’s freedom and wisdom, the moral order in the world cannot be fully comprehended.