Variations In Tone Research Articles

Self-Reported Unfair Police Stops and Skin Tone, Ethnic Origin, and Citizenship Status among Latino Adults

While a growing literature has documented vast ethnoracial inequalities tied to the occurrence and outcomes of police contact, less research has examined the patterning of perceived unfair police stops among Latino populations. The present study relies on insights from tri-racial stratification theory to examine associations between perceived unfair police stops and skin tone, ethnic origin, and citizenship status among Latino adults. Data come from the Pew Research Center’s nationally representative 2021 National Survey of Latinos ( n = 3,019). We regress whether a respondent perceived being stopped unfairly by police in the past year on the Yadon-Ostfeld Skin Color Scale (i.e., 1–10, 10 = Darkest), ethnic origin (i.e., Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican, Salvadoran, Spaniard, Central American, South American, or other), and citizenship status (i.e., U.S. citizen or not). Results showed that having a darker skin tone and U.S. citizenship were associated with higher odds of experiencing a police stop perceived as unfair. Latinos with the darkest skin tones had nearly a one in five chance of a perceived unfair police stop. Average probabilities of a perceived unfair stop were higher for Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and Salvadorans than others followed by Mexicans/Chicanos. Dominicans’ probability was lower than five of the eight other groups. Findings identify heterogeneity among Latino populations such that variation in skin tone, citizenship status, and ethnic origin independently factor into self-reported unfair police stops. Research examining ethnoracial disparities in criminal legal contact and its consequences would benefit from more fully disaggregating panethnic groups.

Assessment of reduction in stimulus generalization of ethanol-seeking during recovery: A rapid procedure

Previously, we developed a procedure which showed that longer histories of reinforced alternative behavior decrease the risk of relapse caused by a range of stimuli which had previously occasioned drinking. The decrease in relapse risk was likely due to a decrease in attention to the stimuli over the course of repeated engagement in the alternative behavior. However, this previous procedure was time consuming and did not mirror the procedure we used to observe changes in relapse risk. This study aimed at replicating the previous relationship between the duration of engaging in an alternative behavior and shift in stimulus generalization for drinking using a procedure that allows longitudinal analysis over time and is consistent with other procedures we have developed. Rats were trained to respond for ethanol in the presence of one stimulus (16 kHz tone; food Fixed Ratio (FR)150 and ethanol FR5), and for food in the under another stimulus (8 kHz tone; food and ethanol FR5). Then, recovery-like sessions with food predominant responding occurred in the presence of only the low-cost food stimulus. During these sessions, rats were exposed to non-reinforced graded stimuli alternation from 8 to 16 kHz alternating with the reinforced low-cost food stimulus. The number of responses on each (food and ethanol) lever before completing 5 responses on either lever was the main measure. Consistent with the earlier procedure, the current procedure showed that graded variation of tone from 8 to 16 kHz produced a graded increase in responding for ethanol compared to responding for food. In addition, longer periods of engaging in recovery-like responding shift the generalization function downwards. This procedure confirms the earlier pattern of stimulus generalization over longer periods of behavior consistent with recovery. This strengthens our hypothesis that shifts in attention to alcohol-related stimuli are important to the development of relapse resistance during recovery.

Deciphering CEO disclosure tone inconsistency: a behavioural exploration

PurposeThis research employs a behavioural approach to investigate the determinants of CEO disclosure tone inconsistency. By examining CEO characteristics and psychological attributes, the study aims to unravel the complexities underlying tone variations in Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) reports. Through this exploration, the research seeks to contribute to understanding ethical considerations in corporate communications and provide insights into the nuanced interplay between personal, job-related and psychological factors influencing CEO disclosure tone.Design/methodology/approachThe study utilises a dataset comprising 1,411 MD&A reports from 143 companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange between 2012 and 2021. Multiple regression analyses with year- and industry-fixed effects are employed to examine the relationships between CEO gender, tenure, duality, ability and psychological attributes such as narcissism, myopia, overconfidence and tone inconsistency. Data analysis involves MAXQDA software for analysing MD&A reports and Rahavard Novin software for document analysis, supplemented by audited financial statements.FindingsThe findings reveal significant relationships between CEO characteristics, psychological attributes and tone inconsistency. Female CEOs exhibit reduced tone inconsistency, contrasting with previous research trends. CEO tenure correlates negatively with tone inconsistency, whereas CEO ability shows a positive correlation, indicating a nuanced relationship with performance. However, CEO duality does not exhibit a significant association. Psychological attributes such as narcissism and myopia are positively associated with tone inconsistency, while no substantial connection is found with managerial overconfidence.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the inaugural exploration of CEO disclosure tone inconsistency through a behavioural lens, advancing measurement precision in the field. By delving into CEO characteristics and psychological attributes, the study offers unique insights into the roots of tone inconsistency. Applying comprehensive lexicon and phraseology enriches the methodological approach, fostering dialogue among diverse stakeholders and adding distinct perspectives to the discourse on ethical issues in business. Through its meticulous examination of behavioural underpinnings, this study becomes a catalyst for reflection, dialogue and progress in corporate communications and ethical considerations.

50 shades of blackness

ABSTRACT Colorism is an age-old problem. This is where a person is given preferential treatment based on the color of their skin. Oftentimes in the Black community, dark-skinned people are treated less favorably compared to lighter-skinned people. As a result, many dark-complexioned Black people despise the color of their skin because they are deemed as socially unacceptable. Since Black people come in different shades the author created this poem to give relevance to all shades of Blackness. This poem is designed to show appreciation and celebration for all variations of skin tones in the Black community.

Individual differences in attention and working memory modulate the process of tone merging: evidence from Macau Cantonese

Cognitive functions, including attention and working memory, have been recognized to be associated with tone processing. However, it remains unclear how these cognitive functions might modulate the process of tone merging. In Macau Cantonese, three pairs of tones are currently undergoing or have completed merging, exhibiting different rates and ranges of merging within the speech community, providing a valuable opportunity to investigate this issue. Through a perception task, a production task, and a series of cognitive function tasks, we examined differences in cognitive performances among individuals distinguishing different tone pairs and explored the correlations between various indices of tone processing and cognitive functions. The results revealed that the completed merging of the T2–T5 pair showed no significant correlation with cognitive functions in perception and production. The T3–T6 pair, with an intermediate merging speed, exhibited a significant positive correlation between cognitive functions and both their perception and production. In contrast, the T4–T6 pair, characterized by a slower merging speed, showed a correlation only in the perception modality. Our findings suggested that cognitive functions affect tones at different stages of the merging process, influencing their perception and production in distinct ways. The results provide a novel perspective on the origin of tonal variation and the relationship between perception and production.

Study of Musicality in the Recitation of Religious Hymns

Religious traditions across the globe have their unique ways of reciting sacred hymns based on different melodic structures. Whether it is the chanting of Veda mantras in Hinduism or the recitation of Salaah in Islam or the singing of psalms in Christianity, there is a melodic flow in these hymns. Hymns have their own melodic appeal that makes them stand out among various melodic compositions, regardless of their language. The objective of this paper is to study the musicality of different religious hymns by selecting a few hymns from different traditions. This paper limits its study to the musical aspects of the oral traditions of reciting sacred hymns of different religions and it attempts to explore the unique musical elements in these hymns and also offers an insight into the artistic expressions across different religious cultures, through their musical recitations. Audio samples of the hymns are collected from various sources including field recordings, online resources and interviews. The collected data is subject to musical analysis by giving notations to the selected audio samples using musical notes of the Indian system of music, analyzing tonal variations and vocal techniques, and comparing the musical features to study the similarities and distinctions. The results of the analysis include finding the musical phrases from the chanting of different hymns, listing the observed commonalities and differences, and realizing the limited scope of melody. Eventually, the study accentuates the power of the musical notes, even with limited combinations, in building an effective auditory impact. These findings have significant implications on understanding the role of music in diverse religious traditions. This in turn results in establishing the fact that music has been an integral part of religious practices which takes it beyond the level of entertainment.

Perception of Mandarin tones across different phonological contexts by native and tone-naive listeners

Coarticulation is a type of speech variation where sounds take on phonetic properties of adjacent sounds. Listeners generally display perceptual compensation, attributing coarticulatory variation to its source. Mandarin Chinese lexical tones are coarticulated based on surrounding tones. We tested how L1-Mandarin and naive listeners compensate for tonal coarticulation using a paired discrimination task. L1 listeners showed greater perceptual sensitivity to tonal differences than tone-naive listeners. Yet, both L1 and tone-naive listeners showed differences in sensitivity to differently-coarticulated versions of the rising tone presented in the same tonal context. In different tonal contexts, both groups showed similar patterns of perceptual compensation for tonal coarticulation. Thus, although L1 and naive Mandarin listeners show different sensitivities to tonal variation, they display similar compensatory patterns for tonal coarticulation.

Pulse Wave Velocity: Methodology, Clinical Applications, and Interplay with Heart Rate Variability.

Pulse wave velocity (PWV) has been established as a promising biomarker in cardiovascular diagnostics, providing deep insights into vascular health and cardiovascular risk. Defined as the velocity at which the mechanical wave propagates along the arterial wall, PWV represents a useful surrogate marker for arterial vessel stiffness. PWV has garnered clinical attention, particularly in monitoring patients suffering from vascular diseases such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Its utility extends to preventive cardiology, aiding in identifying and stratifying cardiovascular risk. Despite the development of various measurement techniques, direct or indirect tonometry, Doppler ultrasound, oscillometric analysis, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), methodological variability and lack of standardization lead to inconsistencies in PWV assessment. In addition, PWV can be estimated through surrogate parameters, such as pulse arrival or pulse transit times, although this heterogeneity limits standardization and, therefore, its clinical use. Furthermore, confounding factors, such as variations in sympathetic tone, strongly influence PWV readings, thereby necessitating careful control during assessments. The bidirectional relationship between heart rate variability (HRV) and PWV underscores the interplay between cardiac autonomic function and vascular health, suggesting that alterations in one could directly influence the other. Future research should prioritize the standardization and increase comparability of PWV measurement techniques and explore the complex physiological variables influencing PWV. Integrating multiple physiological parameters such as PWV and HRV into algorithms based on artificial intelligence holds immense promise for advancing personalized vascular health assessments and cardiovascular care.

Fostering Creative Writing through Poetry in EFL Classroom

This study was conducted to examine how the ELT teacher implements creative writing through poetry in the ELT classroom during pandemic and to describe how the students express their emotions through tone of poetry in their creative writing. It is due to the existence of creative writing in language teaching and learning practice is significant to gaining students’ creativity and thinking. One of them is writing poetry. However, few literatures discussed on the method used by teachers through writing poems as well as the concern for emotion and tone embedded in students’ writing products. This study used qualitative descriptive with Indonesian EFL university students of the non-English department at an Islamic University in Indonesia as the participants. The result shows that teachers use student-centered methods to implement creative writing through poetry in the classroom during the global COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting was organized using Zoom Meeting with performing Warm-Up, Lead-In (Creation of Poem and Reading the Poem), and Follow-up. In addition, it was also found that the student’s creative works posted on Instagram were based on the negative variations of poetry tone including threatening, painful, and discouraged. The study underscores the pedagogical efficacy of student-centered creative writing in ELT, highlighting its role in enhancing emotional intelligence and validating the integration of digital platforms for remote learning. It advocates for culturally responsive curricula that leverage creative expression as a conduit for emotional articulation and critical thinking

Media Narratives Beyond the Headlines: A Review on Global Media Coverage of the COP15 UN Biodiversity Summit

Global media narratives refer to how international news outlets frame and present stories, shaping public perception and discourse on significant events like the COP15 UN Biodiversity Summit. This includes the themes, tones, and emphases used by different media sources to convey the importance, implications, and outcomes of such global events. This study explores global media coverage and narratives during the COP15 summit in December 2022, aiming to analyze dominant themes presented by international media, identify differences in reporting approaches among major outlets, and evaluate the influence of these narratives on public awareness and policy discourse regarding biodiversity. Using content analysis, the research studies news from various outlets to identify and quantify key themes such as ecological urgency, economic implications, policy negotiations, and scientific discoveries. Comparative analysis highlights variations in coverage focus, tone, and depth, revealing how regional contexts and media ownership influence reporting styles. Findings indicate that while some media outlets prioritize policy negotiations and economic implications, others emphasize ecological urgency and scientific findings, leading to varied public and policy responses. This research underscores the critical role of media in shaping public understanding and influencing policy debates on biodiversity. By providing insights into effective reporting practices, the study aims to enhance the quality of environmental journalism and foster informed public and policy engagement with biodiversity issues, contributing to the broader discourse on environmental communication and the power of media narratives in addressing global environmental challenges.

Developing augmented reality filters to display visual cues on diverse skin tones

Introduction: Variations in skin tone can significantly alter the appearance of symptoms such as rashes or bruises. Unfortunately, previous works utilizing Augmented Reality (AR) in simulating visual symptoms have often failed to consider this critical aspect, potentially leading to inadequate training and education. This study seeks to address this gap by integrating generative artificial intelligence (AI) into the AR filter design process.Methods: We conducted a 2 × 5 within-subjects study with second-year nursing students (N = 117) from the University of Florida. The study manipulated two factors: symptom generation style and skin tone. Symptom generation style was manipulated using a filter based on a real symptom image or a filter based on a computer-generated symptom image. Skin tone variations were created by applying AR filters to computer-generated images of faces with five skin tones ranging from light to dark. To control for factors like lighting or 3D tracking, 101 pre-generated images were created for each condition, representing a range of filter transparency levels (0–100). Participants used visual analog scales on a computer screen to adjust the symptom transparency in the images until they observed image changes and distinct symptom patterns. Participants also rated the realism of each condition and provided feedback on how the symptom style and skin tone impacted their perceptions.Results: Students rated the symptoms displayed by the computer-generated AR filters as marginally more realistic than those displayed by the real image AR filters. However, students identified symptoms earlier with the real-image filters. Additionally, SET-M and Theory of Planned Behavior questions indicate that the activity increased students’ feelings of confidence and self-efficacy. Finally, we found that similar to the real world, where symptoms on dark skin tones are identified at later stages of development, students identified symptoms at later stages as skin tone darkened regardless of cue type.Conclusion: This work implemented a novel approach to develop AR filters that display time-based visual cues on diverse skin tones. Additionally, this work provides evidence-based recommendations on how and when generative AI-based AR filters can be effectively used in healthcare education.

Exploring the Variation of Third Tone Sandhi in Native Chinese Mandarin: An Acoustic Analysis

Tone is one of the most prominent, distinctive, and significant properties of the Chinese language. In the realm of tone sandhi, one of the most interesting phenomena is the Tone 3 sandhi (T3). T3 sandhi is one of the rules in the phonological change, a low T3 syllable inevitably changes to a rising tone (T2) when it is followed by another T3 syllable. This study aims to investigate the underlying mechanism of the third tone (T3) sandhi in Mandarin Chinese, comparing the acoustic features in both real words and pseudowords. The current study employed a qualitative descriptive method and PRAAT6310 acoustic analysis software. The findings of the study demonstrated that T3 sandhi in real words of the Chinese language resembles pseudowords and is likely computed naturally in a phonological cognition process. This research provides an important reference value for research in the fields of tonal variation in Chinese language and language acquisition.

Anatomy's missing faces: An assessment of representation gaps in atlas and textbook imagery.

Previous research suggests that underrepresentation in medical curricula perpetuates inequities in healthcare. This study aimed to quantify the prevalence of human phenotypic diversity (e.g., skin tone, sex, body size, and age) across 11 commonly used anatomy atlases and textbooks in pre-clerkship medical education, published from 2015 to 2020. A systematic visual content analysis was conducted on 5001 images in which at least one phenotypic attribute was quantifiable. Anatomy images most prevalently portrayed light skin tones, males, persons with intermediate body sizes, and young to middle-aged adults. Of the 3883 images in which there was a codable skin tone, 81.2% (n = 3154) depicted light, 14.3% (n = 554) depicted intermediate, and 4.5% (n = 175) depicted dark skin tones. Of the 2384 images that could be categorized into a sex binary, 38.4% (n = 915) depicted females and 61.6% (n = 1469) depicted males. A male bias persisted across all whole-body and regional-body images, including those showing sex organs or those showing characteristics commonly associated with a specific sex (e.g. for males, facial hair and/or muscle hypertrophy). Within sex-specific contexts, darker skin was underrepresented, but male depictions displayed greater overall skin tone variation. Although most images could not be assigned to a body size or age category, when codable, these images overwhelmingly depicted adults (85.0%; 482 of 567) with smaller (34.7%; 93 of 268) or intermediate (64.6%; 173 of 268) body sizes. Ultimately, these outcomes provide reference metrics for monitoring ongoing and future efforts to address representation inequalities portrayed in anatomical imagery.

Face and Speech Emotion Recognition System

Abstract: Emotions serve as the cornerstone of human communication, facilitating the expression of one's inner thoughts and feelings to others. Speech Emotion Recognition (SER) represents a pivotal endeavour aimed at deciphering the emotional nuances embedded within a speaker's voice signal. Universal emotions such as neutrality, anger, happiness, and sadness form the basis of this recognition process, allowing for the identification of fundamental emotional states. To achieve this, spectral and prosodic features are leveraged, each offering unique insights into the emotional content of speech. Spectral features, exemplified by the Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficient (MFCC), provide a detailed analysis of the frequency distribution within speech signals, while prosodic features encompass elements like fundamental frequency, volume, pitch, speech intensity, and glottal parameters, capturing the rhythmic and tonal variations indicative of different emotional states. Through the integration of these features, SER systems can effectively simulate and classify a diverse range of emotional expressions, paving the way for enhanced human-computer interaction and communication technologies

‘Law and (dis)Order’: security rhetoric in the Irish Free State, 1922–1937

ABSTRACT This article examines the use of ‘law and order’ rhetoric by governing parties in the Irish Free State. In the post-Civil War period, Cumann na nGaedheal governments devised and implemented a series of public safety measures to combat real or perceived security threats, accompanying each with robust and repeated justificatory rhetoric. As this article illustrates, such rhetoric was also utilised as a means by which to burnish Cumann na nGaedheal’s image as the protectors of ‘stability’, and to cast doubt on the commitment of political opponents to the maintenance of order should they ever achieve power. In addition, the article counters the often implied view that whereas Cumann na nGaedheal (and later Fine Gael) embraced a reputation as the party of ‘law-and-order’, Fianna Fáil eschewed such nomenclature. Rather, it shall be demonstrated that despite variations in tone, once in power, Fianna Fáil adopted a broadly similar approach to the utilisation of ‘law-and-order’ rhetoric.

Muscle Tone, Stiffness, and Elasticity in Elite Female Cyclists after Consecutive Short Competitions.

For professional road cyclists, most overload injuries affect the lower limbs. They are mostly represented by contractures or muscle shortening, characterised by a variation of muscular tone, stiffness, and elasticity. This real-life study aimed to assess specific mechanical parameters in top-class female cyclists who participated in 3 races a week. Hypothesis. Muscle tone, stiffness, and elasticity will be affected immediately after competition and at the end of the week due to accumulated fatigue. Six professional cyclists were evaluated. This pilot study consisted of a controlled trial and three days of competition, with rest days between them. MyotonPRO was used to measure tone, stiffness, and elasticity in six leg muscles: vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis (VM), rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF), lateral gastrocnemius (LG), and medial gastrocnemius (MG). Daily basal and pre- and postrace measures were carried through to the 3 races in a week. The muscular tone of VL, VM, LG, and MG and the stiffness of VL, VM, RF, BF, LG, and MG decreased after races. VL and RF were mostly affected by (p=0.05) and (p=0.009), respectively. Basal elasticity improved over time until the last day. Muscle tone and stiffness decreased after a very intense and exhausting cycling endurance competition. Basal elasticity improved immediately after the race and continued this trend until the end of the week. More research is needed on changes in mechanical properties in competition and risk prevention of injuries.

Which Skin Tone Measures Are the Most Inclusive? An Investigation of Skin Tone Measures for Artificial Intelligence

Skin tone plays a critical role in artificial intelligence (AI). However, many algorithms have exhibited unfair bias against people with darker skin tones. One reason this occurs is a poor understanding of how well the scales we use to measure and account for skin tone in AI actually represent the variation of skin tones in people affected by these systems. To address this, we conducted a survey with 2,214 people in the United States to compare three skin tone scales: The Fitzpatrick 6-point scale, Rihanna's Fenty Beauty 40-point skin tone palette, and a newly developed Monk 10-point scale from the social sciences. We find that the Fitzpatrick scale is perceived to be less inclusive than the Fenty and Monk skin tone scales, and this was especially true for people from historically marginalized communities (i.e., people with darker skin tones, BIPOCs, and women). We also find no statistically meaningful differences in perceived representation across the Monk skin tone scale and the Fenty Beauty palette. We discuss the ways in which our findings can advance the understanding of skin tone in both the social science and machine learning communities.

Regional differences in the production of tones in standard mandarin

This study investigates the intricate patterns of tonal variations in monosyllabic words across distinct regional accents of Standard Mandarin, with a focus on Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Beijing. Due to the differing tonal systems of the local Chinese dialects in the three cities, speakers from these areas may exhibit distinct patterns in their production of tones in Standard Mandarin, influenced by their native Chinese dialects. Therefore, to capture the nuances of tonal differences, the study extracts the time-normalized f0 values of four tones (i.e., level, rising, dipping, and falling tones) from monosyllabic words in a Mandarin Chinese speech corpus. The overall f0 contours of the four tones within and across the three regional accents are modeled using growth curve analysis. We expect to find that regional accents of Standard Mandarin exhibit significant tonal variations such that the tone shapes of speakers from Shanghai and Guangzhou may significantly deviate from those of Beijing speakers. Specifically, there are variations in contour shape and temporal dynamics, particularly in the quadratic term for dipping tones and the slopes of rising and falling tones. These findings can provide valuable insights into the intricate characteristics of regional tonal variations in Standard Mandarin.

Phonetics relating stance-taking in tonal languages-examples from Mandarin Interjections

Previous studies on phonetics and stance-taking mainly focused on non-tonal languages. In this study, we found that tone variation could affect the perception of stance information. The study includes a production experiment and a perception experiment which is aimed to evaluate the stance polarity and stance strength. When the tone was nearer to its citation form as its duration got longer, the participants were more likely to identify the stance information as positive or negative. This gives us insight that there may be a express-inference process during the perception of stance-taking.

Predicting human chronological age via AI analysis of dorsal hand versus facial images: A study in a cohort of Indian females.

Predicting a person's chronological age (CA) from visible skin features using artificial intelligence (AI) is now commonplace. Often, convolutional neural network (CNN) models are built using images of the face as biometric data. However, hands hold telltale signs of a person's age. To determine the utility of using only hand images in predicting CA, we developed two deep CNNs based on 1) dorsal hand images (H) and 2) frontal face images (F). Subjects (n = 1454) were Indian women, 20-80 years, across three geographic cohorts (Mumbai, New Delhi and Bangalore) and having a broad variation in skin tones. Images were randomised: 70% of F and 70% of H were used to train CNNs. The remaining 30% of F and H were retained for validation. CNN validation showed mean absolute error for predicting CA using F and H of 4.1 and 4.7 years, respectively. In both cases correlations of predicted and actual age were statistically significant (r(F) = 0.93, r(H) = 0.90). The CNNs for F and H were validated for dark and light skin tones. Finally, by blurring or accentuating visible features on specific regions of the hand and face, we identified those features that contributed to the CNN models. For the face, areas of the inner eye corner and around the mouth were most important for age prediction. For the hands, knuckle texture was a key driver for age prediction. Collectively, for AI estimates of CA, CNNs based solely on hand images are a viable alternative and comparable to CNNs based on facial images.