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Look up Β or β in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
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| Greek alphabet | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Αα | Alpha | Νν | Nu |
| Ββ | Beta | Ξξ | Xi |
| Γγ | Gamma | Οο | Omicron |
| Δδ | Delta | Ππ | Pi |
| Εε | Epsilon | Ρρ | Rho |
| Ζζ | Zeta | Σσς | Sigma |
| Ηη | Eta | Ττ | Tau |
| Θθ | Theta | Υυ | Upsilon |
| Ιι | Iota | Φφ | Phi |
| Κκ | Kappa | Χχ | Chi |
| Λλ | Lambda | Ψψ | Psi |
| Μμ | Mu | Ωω | Omega |
| History | |||
| Archaic local variants
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| In other languages | |||
| Scientific symbols | |||
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Beta (UK /ˈbiːtə/ or US /ˈbeɪtə/; uppercase Β, lowercase β; Greek: Βήτα Bḗta) is the second letter of the Greek alphabet. In Ancient Greek, beta represented the voiced bilabial plosive /b/. In Modern Greek, it represents the voiced labiodental fricative /v/.
The letter Beta was derived from the Phoenician letter Beth 
. Letters that arose from Beta include the Roman letter ⟨B⟩ and the Cyrillic letters ⟨Б⟩ and ⟨В⟩.
In the system of Greek numerals Beta has a value of 2.
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Name [link]
Like the names of most other Greek letters, the name of beta was adopted from the acrophonic name of the corresponding letter in Phoenician, which was the common Semitic word *bayt ('house'). In Greek, the name was βῆτα bêta, pronounced [bɛ̂ːta] in Ancient Greek. It is spelled βήτα in the modern monotonic orthography, and pronounced [ˈvita]. In English, the name is pronounced either /ˈbeɪtə/ (US) or /ˈbiːtə/ (UK)).
Uses [link]
Computing [link]
In computing the term 'beta' is used as (usually) the last pre-release in the Software release life cycle. It is sometimes referred to as 0.x in version numbers or x.x bx where x represents a number.
Typography [link]
In some high-quality typesetting, especially in the French tradition, a typographic variant of the lowercase letter without a descender is used within a word: βίβλος is printed βίϐλος.[1]
In typesetting technical literature, it is a commonly made mistake to use the German letter ß (a double-s ligature) as a replacement for β. The two letters resemble each other in some fonts, but they are unrelated.
Mathematics and science [link]
Beta is often used to denote a variable in mathematics and physics, where it often has specific meanings for certain applications, such as representing beta radiation. In regression analysis, ⟨B⟩ symbolizes non-standardized partial slope coefficients, whereas ⟨β⟩ represents standardized (standard deviation-score form) coefficients; in both cases, the coefficients reflect the change in the criterion Y per one-unit change in the value of the associated predictor X.
Statistics [link]
In statistics, beta may represent type II error, or regression slope.
Finance [link]
Beta is used in finance as a measure of investment portfolio risk.
International Phonetic Alphabet [link]
In the International Phonetic Alphabet, Greek minuscule beta denotes a voiced bilabial fricative [β].
Meteorology [link]
The name Beta was used as a name during the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season as Hurricane Beta.
Videotape format [link]
Beta was the name of a domestic videotape format developed by Japan's Sony Corporation in the 1970s and 1980s. It competed with the VHS (Video Home System) format developed by the Japanese Victor Company (JVC), to which it eventually succumbed. The Beta format was also marketed as Betamax (Sony) and Betacord (Sanyo).
Rock Climbing Terminology [link]
The term "Beta" refers to advice on how to successfully complete a particular climbing route, boulder problem, or crux sequence.
Technical notes [link]
| description | character | Unicode | HTML |
|---|---|---|---|
| GREEK CAPITAL LETTER BETA | Β | U+0392 | Β Β |
| GREEK SMALL LETTER BETA | β | U+03B2 | β β |
| GREEK BETA SYMBOL | ϐ | U+03D0 | ϐ |
| MODIFIER LETTER SMALL BETA | ◌ᵝ | U+1D5D | ᵝ |
| GREEK SUBSCRIPT SMALL LETTER BETA | ◌ᵦ | U+1D66 | ᵦ |
References [link]
- ^ Haralambous, Yannis (1999). "From Unicode to typography, a case study: the Greek script" (PDF). p. 7. https://omega.enstb.org/yannis/pdf/boston99.pdf.
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Software release life cycle
A software release life cycle is the sum of the stages of development and maturity for a piece of computer software: ranging from its initial development to its eventual release, and including updated versions of the released version to help improve software or fix bugs still present in the software.
History
Usage of the "alpha/beta" test terminology originated at IBM. As long ago as the 1950s (and probably earlier), IBM used similar terminology for their hardware development. "A" test was the verification of a new product before public announcement. "B" test was the verification before releasing the product to be manufactured. "C" test was the final test before general availability of the product. As software became a significant part of IBM's offerings, the alpha test terminology was used to denote the pre-announcement test and beta test was used to show product readiness for general availability. Martin Belsky, a manager on some of IBM's earlier software projects claimed to have invented the terminology. IBM dropped the alpha/beta terminology during the 1960s, but by then it had received fairly wide notice. The usage of "beta test" to refer to testing done by customers was not done in IBM. Rather, IBM used the term "field test".
Beta (motorcycle manufacturer)
Beta is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer, specialising in off-road motorcycles. Beta are best known for their popular trials bikes. In 2005, they launched a range of enduro motorcycles using KTM engines. In 2010 they launched the new RR series, with a new engine made in-house. Beta motorcycles have been used by world trials champions such as Jordi Tarrés, Dougie Lampkin and Albert Cabestany.
History
Beta has its origins in 1904 as a bicycle manufacturing company named "Società Giuseppe Bianchi", originally based in Florence. The company started making motorcycles in 1948. The name Beta comes from the initials of Enzo Bianchi and Arrigo Tosi, who ran the company at that time. Focusing on two-stroke bikes through the 1950s and 1960s, the company started focusing development and production to off-road motorcycles in the 1970s.
Trials models
Beta have produced motorcycles for observed trials since the early 1980s and are now one of the leading manufacturers. Unlike the Trail and Enduro models, the trials bike have used Beta's own engines.
Folklore
Folklore can be described as traditional art, literature, knowledge, and practices that are passed on in large part through oral communication and example. The information thus transmitted expresses the shared ideas and values of a particular group. British antiquarian William Thoms is generally credited with coining the term "folklore" in 1846. As an academic discipline folklore shares methods, and insights with literature, anthropology, art, music, history, linguistics, philosophy, and mythology. Elliott Oring states that folklore is that part of culture that "lives happily ever after".Folkloristics is the academic study of folklore.
Definition
Ever since the term "folklore" was coined by William Thoms in 1846, there have been debates as to the meaning of the term among folklorists, with no widespread agreement.
The most common definition of folklore was that it represented 'oral tradition', or traditions that have been transmitted in an oral manner. This definition had several issues, however; in non-literate societies, for example, all culture is orally transmitted, making the concept of folklore in such a context all-encompassing. Moreover, even in literate societies there are many activities, such as brushing one's teeth or driving a vehicle, which are orally transmitted and yet not usually thought of as folklore. Accordingly, oral transmission alone is not seen as something that is enough to make something folkloric. Also problematizing the link between folklore and oral tradition is the fact that some practices that are widely deemed folkloric – such as epitaphs or chain letters – involve transmission through text. Similarly, some other folkloric practices, such as traditional dances, games, gestures, and symbols, are often transmitted visually rather than orally.
Folklore (Jorge Cafrune album)
Folklore is the second album by the Argentine singer Jorge Cafrune, released in Argentina in 1962.
Track listing
Folklore (Nelly Furtado album)
Folklore is the second studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado. It was released in North America on November 25, 2003 through DreamWorks Records. Folklore has sold over 3.5 million copies worldwide.
Production
The album's title was influenced by Furtado's parents' immigration to Canada, "When I look at my old photo albums, I see pictures of their brand-new house, their shiny new car, their first experiences going to very North American-type places like Kmart. When you have that in your blood, you never really part with it—it becomes your own personal folklore." The album also displayed a diverse sound but with a more rock-oriented, acoustic approach. Furtado attributed the mellowness of the album to the fact that she was pregnant during most of its recording. "Saturdays" features vocals by Jarvis Church and "Island of Wonder" features vocals by Caetano Veloso.
Folklore includes the single "Força" (meaning "carry on" or "strength" in Portuguese), which was written as the official anthem of the 2004 European Football Championship. Furtado performed the song at the championship's final in Lisbon, in July 2004. Other singles included the ballad "Try" and "Powerless (Say What You Want)", in which she embraces her Portuguese heritage; the song deals with "the idea that you can still feel like a minority inside, even if you don't look like one on the outside". Additional singles were released in certain territories; "Explode" in Canada and Europe, and "The Grass Is Green" in Germany.
