Use Of Liaison Research Articles

Exploring the Pronunciation Awareness Continuum through Self-Reflection in the L2 French Learning Process

Second language (L2) researchers have established that examining learners’ awareness of their own learning process and progress is essential. However, learners exposed to the same input in the classroom may differ in the way that they perform. This difference may be due to the way and depth with which learners process the L2 information. The present study explores self-reflection (i.e., introspective verbal reports) to enhance L2 learning, helping learners develop an awareness of learning as a process. This four-semester-long study investigates whether there is a connection between phonological awareness and self-reflection and explores under which conditions self-reflection could be most beneficial for pronunciation. Sixty learners of French, divided into a Treatment group (with self-reflection) and a Comparison group (without self-reflection), were tracked across semesters. Results on pre/post read-aloud tests surrounding pronunciation lessons—on the vowels /y/-/u/ and the use of liaisons—were contrasted with students’ responses to self-reflection questionnaires to explore their learning process. The study revealed that overall, self-reflection led to better learning outcomes, and that a link between attention and understanding may exist, but when this link is absent, learners using self-reflection may not linearly progress.

Learning French Liaison with Gradient Symbolic Representations: Errors, Predictions, Consequences

Smolensky & Goldrick (2016) first made the case for Gradient Symbolic Representations (GSRs) as the inputs to phonological grammar using the phenomena of French liaison. Under this view, many common French words are stored underlyingly with partially-activated word-final consonants, and others with gradient blends of partially-activated word-initial consonants. In this paper, we follow up some of that view's predictions and consequences, focusing on the acquisition of French liaison using GSRs. We compare our simulations of error-driven GSR learning with observed errors made by French-learning children, and find the results to be encouragingly similar. We also compare predictions about the end state of GSR learning with a pilot study reporting adult French speakers' use of liaison in nonce words, where we find a rather less good explanatory fit. The paper emphasizes the role of word and collocation frequency in the development of phonological patterns by a GSR learner, and outlines many future avenues for research.

Challenges and Solutions in Evaluation Technical Assistance During Design and Early Implementation.

This case study discusses two federal grant initiatives and the evaluation technical assistance (ETA) provided to the grantees. One program is a multiphase program funded by the Children's Bureau (CB) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. The program funded communities interested in preventing homelessness among youth and young adults with child welfare histories. The funder, grantees, and ETA provider call it Youth At-Risk of Homelessness (YARH). Six federal agencies-the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and Labor, the Corporation for National and Community Service, and the Institute for Museum and Library Services-supported the second initiative known as Performance Partnership Pilots for Disconnected Youth (P3). We discuss the programs together as they share common features including a focus on building evidence, a focus on disconnected youth, use of liaisons to work with grantees who are developing interventions and planning or conducting evaluations at the same time, and having the same liaisons provide ETA to both the grantee/service providing group and the local evaluator. The article discusses (1) the grant programs, (2) details about ETA including its funding and provision, (3) details about the success and utilization of ETA, (4) benefits of ETA, and (5) balancing program or initiative requirements and evaluation needs and concludes with (6) thoughts on how to make ETA successful.

Use of nonclinical staff to coordinate oral anticancer drug prescriptions.

72 Background: In September 2018, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC) began using non-clinical pharmacy liaisons to oversee coordination of oral anticancer drug (OACD) prescriptions (RXs), a task previously performed by clinical staff. Liaisons interact with payers, specialty pharmacies and financial assistance (FA) groups. We assessed the impact of this strategy on time to receipt of OACDs. Methods: We collected prospective data on all new OACD RXs from HICCC’s medical oncology practice from 1/1/2018 to 9/17/2018 (pre-liaisons) and 9/17/2018 to 5/1/2019 (post-liaisons). We collected patient demographic and insurance data; date of prescription; date of drug delivery; and interactions with payers and FA groups. Federal Drug Association labels were reviewed for drug approval dates and indications. Daily drug cost was defined according to average wholesale price. We define time to receipt (TTR) as days from RX to OACD delivery and used multivariable linear regression to determine factors associated with TTR (log transformed). Results: Over the study period, we evaluated 707 RXs; 93 (13%) were never filled. Of 614 filled RXs, 350 (57%) were placed in the pre-liaison period and 264 (43%) in the post-liaison period. After introduction of liaisons, FA was pursued for more RXs (17% vs 25%, p = 0.007); there was no difference pre- and post-liaisons in patient demographics, distribution of payers, RXs needing prior authorization (PA) (76% vs 77%), off-label RXs (14% vs 16%), RXs for drugs approved < 2 years earlier (5% vs 3%) or mean daily cost ($471 vs $470). Mean TTR before and after liaisons were 11.9 and 11.6 days, respectively. Linear regression showed longer TTR was associated with commercial payers (p = 0.02), need for PA (p = 0.03), FA pursuit (p ≤ 0.0001) and daily OACD cost (p = 0.03); no association was seen with use of liaisons, patient age, off-label use or OACDs approved < 2 years earlier. Conclusions: Implementation of pharmacy liaisons to coordinate OACD prescriptions did not impact the time to OACD receipt, though liaisons were able to pursue financial assistance for more patients. Insurance and cost factors had the greatest impact on time to drug receipt. Task shifting may reduce the clerical workload for providers.

Exploring the effects of instruction on L2 French learner pronunciation, accentedness, comprehensibility, and fluency

Abstract This study investigates the effects of a 16-week course on the development of second language French pronunciation. The course targeted segmental and suprasegmental features and fluency development, and was administered entirely online. Pre- and post-test tasks (i.e., picture narration, reading-aloud, and conversation simulation) were used to analyze learners’ pronunciation development in terms of segmental errors, connected speech (use of liaisons and enchaînements), and fluency (including pauses and mean length of run). Participants’ accentedness, comprehensibility, and fluency were also judged by five native listeners. Findings revealed a significant decrease in segmental errors and unfilled pause frequency in all the tasks, and improvement in fluency in the reading and conversation tasks. Results also showed a positive trend but no significant improvement in the use of liaisons and enchaînements. There was, however, no significant improvement in the measures of listeners’ ratings. The results are discussed in light of previous research on pronunciation instruction.

The changing roles of registered nurses in Pioneer Accountable Care Organizations

ObjectivesThis study focuses on whether and how Pioneer Accountable Care Organization (ACO) leaders believe the deployment of the registered nurse workforce is changing in response to the shared savings incentives. MethodsSemistructured phone interviews with leaders from 18 of the original 32 Pioneer ACOs were conducted. ResultsNarrative analysis suggests that all of the organizations are developing new and enhanced roles for registered nurses across the continuum of care. Overall, eight types of changes were reported: enhancement of roles, substitution, delegation, increased numbers of nurses, relocation of services, transfer of nurses from one setting to another, the use of liaison nurses across settings, and partnerships between nurses coordinating care in primary and acute care settings. ConclusionsThis exploratory study suggests that Pioneer ACO leaders believe that payment models are affecting the deployment of the health workforce and that these changes are, in turn, driving outcomes.

Extended liaison as an interface between product and process model in assembly

This paper describes the use of liaison to better integrate product model and assembly process model so as to enable sharing of design and assembly process information in a common integrated form and reason about them. Liaison can be viewed as a set, usually a pair, of features in proximity with which process information can be associated. A liaison is defined as a set of geometric entities on the parts being assembled and relations between these geometric entities. Liaisons have been defined for riveting, welding, bolt fastening, screw fastening, adhesive bonding (gluing) and blind fastening processes. The liaison captures process specific information through attributes associated with it. The attributes are associated with process details at varying levels of abstraction. A data structure for liaison has been developed to cluster the attributes of the liaison based on the level of abstraction. As information about the liaisons is not explicitly available in either the part model or the assembly model, algorithms have been developed for extracting liaisons from the assembly model. The use of liaison is proposed to enable both the construction of process model as the product model is fleshed out, as well as maintaining integrity of both product and process models as the inevitable changes happen to both design and the manufacturing environment during the product lifecycle. Results from aerospace and automotive domains have been provided to illustrate and validate the use of liaisons.

Legal Considerations Of Intelligence Operations In Countering Transnational Organised Crime

The paper is focused on the application of intelligence operations in coun- tering transnational organised crime (TOC) and reviews the accompanying legal as- pects and effects. The purpose of this qualitative paper is to assess the topic from a global viewpoint and establish methodology for examining, evaluating and addressing the execution of intelligence operations, as performed by the global, regional, national, law enforcement or military intelligence entities. The collection of intelligence and the use of liaison may have political or foreign affairs' consequences, hence the im- portance of considering the existing and applicable legal frameworks or constraints. Some operational approaches cause policy and human rights concerns; however these may be the result of the lack of international or internal cooperation and/or available legal instruments providing for alternatives. The topic is not a time-stamped snapshot but is instead a subject to constant changes in terms of shifting environments and con- tributing viewpoints for assessing its status, and therefore in need of continual updat- ing.

La liaison en français langue seconde

This paper presents a longitudinal analysis of French liaison among Irish university learners. Quantitative analysis of their spoken language points to the clear distinction that underlies their use of liaison between obligatory and variable contexts. In the former case, they evidence near-categorical levels of use, while their use of liaison in variable contexts is more frequent than that observed in studies of native speakers in the same age group. Morphosyntactic and lexical analyses indicate that the learners use variable liaison in a small number of morphosyntactic contexts as opposed to the full range within which it is possible, while applying it to a limited number of words within these contexts. The findings are discussed in relation to a number of hypotheses that they raise concerning the acquisition of liaison in L2 French, along with some methodological issues that they evidence concerning the study of liaison in learner language.

Information communication networking in rural communities: the case of women in Imo State, Nigeria

This research focuses on exploring the existence or otherwise of any interactive information communication networks among women in Imo State. Using questionnaire and oral interview techniques, data were collected from 600 women, purposively chosen, covering the three senatorial zones of the State. Results show the existence of vibrant interactive networks among women, carried out on two levels: (i) diffused or non-restrictive patterns and (ii) restrictive or discriminatory patterns. Social, economic, political and health news and other aspects were found to be the determining information factors. Personal contact and use of liaison or intermediary and institutional frameworks are the means of the interaction. A number of inhibitors of effective interactive networks are identified.

Information communication networking in rural communities: the case of women in Imo State, Nigeria

This research focuses on exploring the existence or otherwise of any interactive information communication networks among women in Imo State. Using questionnaire and oral interview techniques, data were collected from 600 women, purposively chosen, covering the three senatorial zones of the State. Results show the existence of vibrant interactive networks among women, carried out on two levels: (i) diffused or non-restrictive patterns and (ii) restrictive or discriminatory patterns. Social, economic, political and health news and other aspects were found to be the determining information factors. Personal contact and use of liaison or intermediary and institutional frameworks are the means of the interaction. A number of inhibitors of effective interactive networks are identified.

Organizational structures in the construction industry

The links between the theoretical issues influencing the structure of construction project organizations are discussed. The impact of the environment of a construction project and the technological sophistication of the project are considered in terms of how these factors shape project organizations. The environment is variously assayed for its complexity, its dynamism and its hostility. The technology used in projects is assessed by its level of certainty (whether it is well understood), its complexity and the level of interdependence between subactivities in the project. The variables are used to formulate hypotheses concerning their impact upon the structuring of construction projects and these are studied in 18 case studies. The research has been developed within an interpretive (phenomenological) paradigm. The findings suggest that complex environments lead to greater decentralization of authority, mainly by delegation. In the dimension of technology, complexity led to a wider use of liaison devices ...

Variation, données et théorie linguistique (à propos d'un ouvrage récent de Pierre Encrevé)

Gadet, Françoise - "Variation, data and linguistic theory (about a book by Pierre Encrevé)". The importance of Pierre Encrevé 's "La Liaison avec et sans enchaînement", can be found in the way three levels of analysis are Linked : the description of the variable par of French liaison, the new use which is attributed to the role of the consonant in that it is no longer linked to the vowel, the formal treatment of liaison in multilinear phonology. The paper reviews what is French liaison and how it has usually been dealt with. Then, it describes P.E.'s inquiry into the use of liaison by French politicians. Finally, it proposes a resolution of traditional problems in French phonology, and shows that other aspects of French phonology are Hnked. This book is taken as a pretext to investigate the relationship between general linguistics and sociolinguistics (status of data, inherent variation, representation of a heterogeneous system).