Digital Commons Network^™

Pitch Estimation For Noisy Speech, Azar Khurshid

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

In this dissertation a biologically plausible system of pitch estimation is proposed. The system is designed from the bottom up to be robust to challenging noise conditions. This robustness to the presence of noise in the signal is achieved by developing a new representation of the speech signal, based on the operation of damped harmonic oscillators, and temporal mode analysis of their output. This resulting representation is shown to possess qualities which are not degraded in presence of noise. A harmonic grouping based system is used to estimate the pitch frequency. A detailed statistical analysis is performed on the system, …

Evaluation Of Lntelligent Medical Systems, Julian Bernard Tilbury

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

This thesis presents novel, robust, analytic and algorithmic methods for calculating Bayesian posterior intervals of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and confusion matrices used for the evaluation of intelligent medical systems tested with small amounts of data. Intelligent medical systems are potentially important in encapsulating rare and valuable medical expertise and making it more widely available. The evaluation of intelligent medical systems must make sure that such systems are safe and cost effective. To ensure systems are safe and perform at expert level they must be tested against human experts. Human experts are rare and busy which often severely restricts …

The Development Of Party Systems And The Determinants Of Partisan Voting In English Local Government Elections 1973-1998, Lawrence Ware

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

This thesis takes a quantitative approach to the study of the development of party systems in English local government following its reorganisation in the early 1970s. Aggregate data, including local election results and census information, are used to identify the determinants of partisan support and the subsequent effects upon variations in local party systems. The study develops the first major classification of local party systems between 1973 and 1998, focussing principally upon factors accounting for variations in the evolution of such systems. This study provides the first clear evidence that the operation of local electoral systems contributes towards the production …

The Process Of Design Is Almost Like Writing An Essay, Susan Orr, Margo Blythman

The Writing Center Journal

No abstract provided.

Writing Center Users Procrastinate Less: The Relationship Between Individual Differences In Procrastination, Peer Feedback, And Student Writing Success, Beth Rapp Young, Barbara A. Fritzsche

The Writing Center Journal

No abstract provided.

Both Sides Of The Curtain, Rachel Hatch

Illinois Wesleyan University Magazine, 2002-2017

Learning stagecraft in a liberal arts setting has distinct advantages, say School of Theatre Arts alumni.

A Meeting Of Minds Across The Workspace: Common Ground In Collaborative Design, Susan Elizabeth Reed

School of Psychology Theses

This thesis reports an exploration of how the use and construction of external representations through methods of signalling and conversational grounding, support the sharing of ideas for spatial design tasks and how that support changes as a function of access to a shared works pace, external representations and memory support. Further aims of the study were to develop a coding scheme to identify the use of language in establishing and maintaining mutual understanding between collaborators. Pilot studies identified appropriate tasks relating to visual problem-solving design tasks for use in the main studies. For the main studies, video recordings were obtained, …

Expanding The Study And Understanding Of Psychological Control, Brian K. Barber, Roy A. Bean, Lance D. Erickson

Faculty Publications

The two central purposes of this volume are to review the historical, conceptual, and empirical literatures on parental psychological control and to advance the rapidly growing scientific literature Ono this aspect of the parent-child relationship. Chapter 2 addressed the first task with a review of published material that has specifically investigated psychological control or variables that are conceptually similar to it. From this review of the historical conceptualizations of parental psychological control, we concluded that psychological control is a psychologically oriented, intrusive, constraining, and manipulating form of parental control in which parents appear to maintain their own psychological status at …

Mediating Ethically: The Limits Of Codes Of Conduct And The Potential Of A Reflective Practice Model, Julie Macfarlane

Osgoode Hall Law Journal

Discussions regarding the appropriate ethical behaviours for mediators and the subsequent development of formal codes of conduct have focused on hallmark issues such as third party impartiality and party self-determination. However, in an informal process, ethical choices are inherent in every intervention made by a mediator. In adopting the standard-setting approach of an adjudicative model, mediator codes of conduct are a poor fit with the conceptual and structural characteristics of this fluid, uncertain, and essentially private process. Confining the substantive and conceptual debate over mediation ethics to formal codes dangerously underestimates both the scope and the significance of choices faced …

Theft Of Time: Disciplining Through Science And Law, Laureen Snider

Osgoode Hall Law Journal

This commentary traces the genealogy of "theft of time," a newly discovered offence committed by employees against employers. A Foucauldian perspective is used to examine how truth claims from science, technology, and law constitute categories through which groups are sorted, classified, and censured: the processes of naming, blaming, and shaming. This commentary argues that to understand why some truth claims are heard and acted upon, while others are ignored or silenced, it is necessary to link the power/knowledge nexus to political economy, the structural dominance of capital, and the power relations thereby created and reinforced.

Irish Marketing Review, Vol. 15, No. 2, 2002, Aidan O'Driscoll

Issues

The Irish Marketing Review deals with issues, developments, research and practice in Marketing. This is a special joint issue in association with the Korean Academy of Marketing Science on " Researching the Cybermarket".

Innovation, Vol. 1, Issue 3, Autumn 2002, Unknown

Issues

No abstract provided.

Representations Of Motherhood: A Feminist Criticism Of Indian Post-Colonial Novels, Baishakhi Banerjee

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Childcare Facilities On Vigorous Physical Activity In Preschool Aged Children, Nicole Kelly-Goreham

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of childcare centers with differences in outdoor space and play equipment upon the amount of time spent at vigorous physical activity by children. The research questions guiding this research were:

1. Is there a difference among childcare centers in the amount of time spent in vigorous physical activity by preschool age children?

2. Is there any relationship between the amount of time spent in vigorous physical activity at the childcare center and the child's BMI, the time spent outdoors time spent in vigorous physical activity outside the center, parental BMI, …

Health Concerns Of Reentry Nontraditional Women Students: A Survey Of A Community College In Eastern Iowa, Diana D. Cooke Gehrke

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to investigate the health concerns ofreentry nontraditional women students in a community college in the state oflowa. This group was surveyed in May of2000 at the end of the spring semester. Three hundred nontraditional women students were randomly selected from a population of2,164 names supplied to the researcher by the office of admissions. The women were sent a 103- questionnaire survey accompanied by a cover letter and an informed consent. The categories covered were: (a) demographics, (b) tobacco use, (c) alcohol use, (d) personal relationship issues, (e) causes and management of stress, (f) health …

The Effects Of School Size And Gender On Adolescents’ Perception Of Stress, Dixie K. Nederhoff

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Due to financial difficulties many communities have consolidated their schools. Consolidation has resulted in larger schools than in the past and, possibly, a more stressful environment for adolescents. This study examined the perceived stress level of adolescents attending schools classified as IA, 2A, 3A, and 4A. The secondary purpose was to investigate gender differences in perceived stress. It was hypothesized that school size would have no effect on perceived stress as reported by adolescents. Also, based on previous literature, it was hypothesized that there would be gender differences in the perceived stress of adolescents.

The participants (N = 732) in …

Piagetian Developmental Reasoning Levels Of High School Students In Differentiated First Year Chemistry Courses, Pamela Kay Brewer-Michael

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This research studied the developmental reasoning levels of students in three different first year high school chemistry courses as related to achievement defined by cumulative grade point average and course selection. The Lawson Test of Formal Operations modified by Roy Unruh and Bruce Perry at the University of Northern Iowa was used to determine cognitive developmental level of subjects. A consumer type chemistry course, a traditional high school chemistry course, and an honors course under consideration with Marshalltown Community College for credit status were the three courses utilized in this study. Data was collected in a classroom group setting over …

A Christian Parent’S Guide To Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’S Stone, Gina Louise Burkart

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

A Christian Parent's Guide to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone provides parents with a variety of activities and opportunities for discussing Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone through the Christian lens. The guide is founded and supported by educational theorists such as Kohlberg and Piaget and is built on the principle that parents can help their children sort out fantasy and reality and moral issues by discussing literature with their children. Each chapter is broken down into four sections: Bridging the Gap, Talking About It at Home, Scripture Connection, and Activities. Bridging the Gap allows parents and children to …

The Student Worry Questionnaire-30: Further Examination Of Gender Differences, Janet A. Carter

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The construct of worry has captured the attention of researchers in recent years and has been implicated in several psychological disorders. Initially, the lack of validated instruments hampered the study of the worry construct. Several such instruments have been developed in recent years, but two instruments have predominated in the literature concerning the construct of worry-the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (Meyer, Miller, Metzger, & Borkovec, 1990) and the Worry Domains Questionnaire (Tallis, Eysenck, & Mathews, 1992). While both appear psychometrically sound, these instruments focused on different and distinct aspects of the worry construct. Some researchers (Davey, 1993; Starcevic, 1995; Tallis …

Leisure Constraints Among Residents Of A Remote And Isolated Island Environment, Andrea Teresa Criste

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to identify the leisure constraints among resident on a remote and isolate island environment. Individuals living in a remote and isolated environment encounter unique challenges when facing barriers or constraints that comes with living in extreme geographical disposition. Leisure constraint is a distinct subfield in the area of leisure, which was formerly termed, "barriers to participation." Intrapersonal, interpersonal and structural constraints refer to psychological, relationship and intervening factors within the basic leisure constraint construct. The study analyzed leisure constraint data obtained from a leisure needs, attitudes and opinions technical report conducted on Johnston Island …

Component-Based Development Using Uml, L. Zhao, Keng Siau

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Component-based software development (CBD) is a potential breakthrough for software engineering. Unified Modeling Language (UML) can potentially facilitate CBD design and modeling. Although many research projects concentrate on the conceptual interrelation of UML and CBD, few incorporate actual component frameworks into the discussion, which is critical for real-world software system design and modeling. This paper reviews component-based development, including the use of UML for modeling CBD. The paper then discusses the means by which UML extension mechanisms can be used to better support the popular component framework -- CORBA. Two other important component frameworks, DCOM and Web Services, are also …

General Educator Training For The Instruction Of English Language Learners : Is It Sufficient?, Jane E. Zirkelbach

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The present study examined perceptions from a small sample of teachers from two small Midwestern districts. Teachers were interviewed to collect information regarding the teachers' training for the general education instruction and the identification process for special education for English Language Learners (ELLs ). In addition, teachers were asked to suggest future methods of training and identify alternatives to special education referrals for ELLs. The results indicated that teachers are not adequately trained to instruct nor identify ELLs for special education and that future teachers should be trained to educate and communicate with ELLs. Recommendations include more comprehensive

A Descriptive Analysis Of Sexuality Education In The State Of Iowa : What Content Is Being Delivered To Secondary Students?, Brian Poncy

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The present study investigated what content in the area of human sexuality was being delivered to secondary students in the state of Iowa. The study was a descriptive study, which investigated the lesson plans used by the teacher(s) who delivered the participating school's sexuality education component. Specifically, the study compared what information schools cited that they were delivering to secondary students with a preset coding system developed by Ogletree, Rienzo, Drolet & Fetro (1995) to evaluate sexuality education curricula. Three areas were looked at which included sexually related content, skill building strategies, and teaching strategies. Results indicated that the participating …

Feminist Issues And Concerns In The Fictions Of Two Egyptian Women Writers: Alifa Rifaat And Nawal El-Saadawi, Shafiqa Anwar Fakir

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This thesis involves an examination of feminist issues and concerns in the fictions of two contemporary Egyptian women writers: Alifa Rifaat and Nawal el-Saadawi. The main focus will be on illuminating the social, sexual, economical problems that the literary female characters encounter and how they deal with these various forms of oppressions. Examination of these author's lives and works illustrates the complexity of women within the boundaries of the same nation in matters of gender justice and equality. This further, implicitly, illustrates the complexity of Arab women who tend to be viewed as a cohesive whole.

Balance Of Power, Interest, And Consistency In The Middle East From 1955-1967, Ryan Fitzharris

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Balance of power is a recurring theme in international relations theory. Balance of power theory comes out of the realist school of thought and is one of the most debated theories in international relations theory. The theory has drawn criticism for ignoring the role of domestic politics, which other theorists have corrected for. In addition, the idea of balance, that there exists a stable equilibrium point, is a prevalent theme in international relations theory. Other scholars have built on balance of power theory and its ideas about systemic incentives that drive or constrain states in the international system towards a …

Asia Pacific Perspectives Vol. 2 No. 1, February 2002, University Of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco

Asia Pacific Perspectives

Exploring Korean Values by Steven R. Brown and Byung-Ok Kil

The contours of the Korean value system are examined both extensively and through an intensive single-case study in which a representative personality is invited to appraise a set of historical figures under various conditions of instruction focused on Confucian and other values. The Q sample is comprised of the names of 50 historical and contemporary figures (e.g., Kim Ok-Gyun, assassinated reformer of the late Yi dynasty; Chun Bong-Joon, religious leader associated with peasant revolts in the late 19th century; Lee Hwang, 15th century Confucian scholar, et al.). Initially, 25 Korean …

A Place For Children? Children In Families Living In Emergency Accommodation: The Perspectives Of Children, Parents And Professionals, Ann Marie Halpenny, Anna Fiona Keogh, Robbie Gilligan

Reports

Homelessness affects the lives of an increasing number of children in Dublin. Research by Focus Ireland indicated that 1,262 children were living with their parent(s) in Bed and Breakfast (B&B) emergency accommodation in 1999 (Houghton & Hickey, 2000). More recent figures from the Northern Area Health Board (NAHB) Homeless Service show that 20% of first time referrals to emergency accommodation in the past year were families with 827 children. Much of the available information on these children’s well-being comes from studies on the health care needs and access to health care services of families living in emergency accommodation (Smith, McGee, …

Structural Identity Theory And The Dynamics Of Cross-Cultural Work Groups, P. Christopher Earley, Marty Laubach

Sociology and Anthropology Faculty Research

The creation of a global village, transnational corporations, internet and similar influences remind us constantly that a science of organizations and management is incomplete without the integration of concepts of culture and self-awareness. It is no longer appropriate to discuss organizational activities and employee actions without incorporating a more complete view of where such activities take place. Not only must we include an immediate social context, but we must deal with the international and cultural aspects of the social world as well. More than ever, understanding of employee action requires knowledge of how action is related to the environment in …

Postive Consequences Of Illness, Samantha Claire Sodergren

School of Psychology Theses

This thesis identifies systematically the domains of positive consequences of illness and details the development of a measure of the positive consequences of illness- the Silver Lining Questionnaire (SLQ). Further aims of the thesis include the use of the SLQ as a predictor of health outcome and an investigation of the prevalence and correlates of positivity in illness. The first study questioned 55 people about their positive experiences of illness and uncovered 17 themes. In the second study a pilot questionnaire based on these themes was administered to the participants of the first study and an additional sample of cancer …

Individual Differences In Secretory Immunoglobulin A (S-Iga) Reactivity To Acute Stress, Mark Anthony Wetherell

School of Psychology Theses

Secretory immunoglobulin-A (S-IgA) is an antibody found on all surfaces of the common mucosa and serves as a first line of defence against pathogens. S-IgA is the predominant antibody in human secretions and unlike many other immune parameters, can be measured non-invasively in saliva. In addition to being an efficient indicator of health status, S-IgA levels are sensitive to variations in subjective and objective levels of stress, both of which are also influenced by state and trait factors. Stress is known to play an important role in susceptibility to infections of the common mucosa, and as such, the role of …