Digital Commons Network^™

An Evolutionary Algorithms Approach To Physical Modelling Of Vocal Synthesis, Jared Drayton

School of Art, Design and Architecture Theses

This thesis documents the application of Evolutionary Algorithms to the Acoustic Articulatory Inversion of vowels using the Praat physical model. Speech synthesis by computational means has been a field for many decades, giving rise to several differing approaches. While the physical modelling approach has been a continually active area of research, it has yet to prove a viable solution to applied TTS systems partly due to the complexity of the model parameters, hence why an efficient and robust method of Acoustic-Articulatory Inversion of parameters for these models would benefit the field. To do so, the use of Evolutionary Algorithms as …

#Instafood: A Speculative Design Exploration Of The Eating Experience, Perception, Fabrication, And Consumption., Jie Yan

School of Art, Design and Architecture Theses

The discussion of dietary nutrition and the pursuit of satisfaction in eating experience has consistently attracted significant attention. While advanced technologies have been dedicated to providing solutions in these fields, the challenge of increasingly complex and diverse dietary needs requires more innovative approaches. Grounded in speculative design, this study introduces InstaFood, an approach to personalized eating for well-being. It speculates a future possibility of influencing intake by manipulating food-related visual cues, through a combination of perceptual impacts, social media image-based investigations, and digital fabrication.Research on crossmodal perception in psychology establishes a theoretical framework that links visual characteristics to food perception, …

What Role Do Metrics Of Value Play In Translating Policy Into Action In Partnership Management Of Landscape Restoration?, Adam Guy

School of Art, Design and Architecture Theses

Accelerating decline in the quality and extent of natural habitats has led to biodiversity loss characterised as an unprecedented global crisis. The emerging explanatory paradigm is that nature has been systematically undervalued economically.The response has been a (moral) demand for environmental restoration. This call to action, driven by the hegemonic sustainability discourse, proposes interventions driven by partnerships of local and state agents, empowered to act immediately despite pervading uncertainty around appropriate restoration techniques, and unpredictable outcomes. In the context of the delegislating neoliberal state, funding is problematic, engagement in partnerships is comparatively unsuccessful, and the policy context is muddled by …

Pain Anxiety And Pain Interference As Mediating Factors In The Relation Of Childhood Trauma And Fear Of Cancer Recurrence, Jennifer Kuo

Dissertations and Theses

Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), which is broadly defined as “the fear that cancer could return or progress in the same place or in another part of the body” (Vickberg, 2003), is often identified as an unmet need among cancer survivors, with rates ranging from 20-79% (Simard et al., 2013). Pain, another symptom commonly endorsed in cancer survivorship, is positively associated with fear of cancer recurrence (Janz et al., 2011; van den Beuken-van Everdingen et al., 2008). The Cancer Threat Interpretation Model suggests that cognitive biases exist in interpreting threat appraisal and pain coping by increasing the saliency of pain …

Online Perceived Social Support And Its Association With Psychopathology In Rural And Urban Youth, Ellen Alexandra Knowles

Dissertations and Theses

Social support is a fundamental aspect of development throughout adolescence. It has been found to buffer against the negative impacts of stress and provide general benefits to one’s well-being. Youth today are exposed to a range of opportunities for socialization with peers, both in-person and online, including interacting with others through texting, social media, video games, and other digital means. These online interactions have begun to be investigated as accessible methods through which adolescents can connect with others and maintain healthy relationships. Furthermore, digital social networks may be most critical for youth from isolated communities, including those from rural areas. …

Exploring The Links Between Unknowns, Uncertainty And Epistemological Understanding In A More Authentic Form Of School Science Investigation, Matthew Wharf

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

This research explored the role a more ‘authentic’ science investigation had on the epistemological understanding of secondary school students. It reviewed the understanding of what is taught within the science curriculum in terms of epistemology and the Nature of Science (NOS) and what may be considered a more authentic activity that more closely aligns with the qualities of professional science, where new knowledge is being formed as compared to what could be seen as conventional science investigations, the repetition of classic experiments. Lessons of 3 different classes, at different schools and in different years were used. An investigation lesson from …

Graduate Catalog 2024-2025, Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Graduate Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Pengaruh Sistem Pembayaran Nontunai Dan Penerimaan Pajak Terhadap Pertumbuhan Ekonomi, Annisa Putri Ramadanti, Nurjannah Rahayu Kistanti

Jurnal Ekonomi dan Pembangunan Indonesia

Technology has shifted the payment system from cash to cashless method. It turns out that has an impact on the fiscal sector and economic growth. This study aims to examine and analyze the effect of cashless payment systems on economic growth through tax revenue as a variable intervening in 2013-2022. Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) is used as an analysis method. The result of this study shows that cashless payment systems proxied by electronic money, debit/ATM cards, and credit cards have an impact on economic growth through tax revenue as an intervening variable, while internet banking does not. In …

Perceptions About Catholic High School Athletics, Kevin J. Calkins

Journal of Catholic Education

In the largest survey to date on Catholic school identity in athletics (49 U.S. States, n = 2273), administrators, counselors, and teachers responded to a survey about the perceived value of interscholastic athletics, school support of athletics, the contribution of coaches to school mission, Catholic identity in athletics, and the importance of the school’s athletic director and coaches to have a mission orientation. The results of the study indicate that administrators, counselors, and teachers have positive perceptions of Catholic high school athletics. Teacher perceptions differed more than administrators and counselors based on their age, gender, and religion. At least one …

Faith And Stem Education: A Path To Mutual Elevation In Catholic Schools, Michael Szopiak, Matthew Kloser

Journal of Catholic Education

Amidst increasing religious disaffiliation, often due to a perceived tension between faith and the STEM disciplines, Catholic schools provide critical opportunities for young people to recognize how these domains can be mutually elevating. The field, however, lacks guidance as to how this integration should occur in practice. This conceptual paper first provides an overarching framework for how aspects of the Catholic tradition, like Scripture and the Catholic social tradition, can shape traditional educational domains of STEM teaching and learning. Secondly, we provide a heuristic of three criteria for deeply engaging students at the interface of the Catholic faith and the …

Increasing Parent Faith Engagement At A Parish School, Grace Mazza Urbanski

Journal of Catholic Education

Increasing faith engagement among Catholic school shareholders is a priority for school leaders. Catholic school communities can learn from this year-long project with a parish school. Sacred Heart Parish School serves approximately 300 K3-8th grade students. Like many parish schools, Sacred Heart sees a growing number of parents disengaged with the faith life of the parish and school, despite 98% of them being registered parishioners. The parent population enjoys robust and regular social activities, but report they are uncomfortable or uninterested in faith activities. The mission of Sacred Heart Parish School is to nurture “children’s growth in the Catholic faith,” …

The Sound Of Silence: The Significance Of Nurturing Spirituality, Self-Transformation, And Academic Excellence In Augustinian Schools, William R. Driscoll

Journal of Catholic Education

This article examines silent reflection within the context of Augustinian Catholic schools. Tracing the rich lineage of Augustinian spirituality, it explores how cultivating interiority serves as a transformative practice that fosters spiritual growth, nourishes a deeper understanding of self and others, and compliments academic inquiry. Through a synthesis of theological, educational, and psychological perspectives, this article illuminates the multifaceted benefits of integrating silent reflection into the educational ethos of Catholic schools. Emic descriptions from students, teachers, and leaders provided insights into silent reflection programming designed to enrich the holistic development of students.

′Symbols′ As Expression Tools Of Islam And Their Usage Methods In Palace Architecture, Bora Bingöl, Namiq Abbasov, Shahla Abbasova

Khazar Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Islamic architecture consists of religion, politics, philosophy, and aesthetics. The religious expression of symbols in Islamic architecture is also extremely important in architecture. These religious symbols, which are used in palace buildings and generally in administrative places in the Islamic world, are shaped depending on the function of the buildings. In this period, the palace complexes were considered to be the most important structures representing state politics and economy. In this study, the purposes and methods of use of religious symbols used in many palace complexes of Islamic architecture were investigated. While investigating the main source and usage rules of …

The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On The Insurance Segment Of The Warsaw Stock Exchange, Tadeusz Winkler-Drews

Studia i Materiały Wydział Zarządzania Uniwersytet Warszawski

Purpose: The article aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the insurance sector of the Warsaw Stock Exchange S.A. in 2019–2021.

Design/Methodology/Approach: Quarterly financial reports were used to conduct the study. The economic condition was examined using elements of financial analysis, and the valuation was based on the analysis of market rates of return.

Findings: The results allowed us to conclude that the COVID-19 pandemic harmed the insurance sector of WSE. Due to the differences in the parameters of the size of capitalization, the scope of services provided, the territory of operation and the …

Keep You Safe, Nana Okamoto

LMU Theses and Dissertations

Yui, a bright-eyed Japanese woman, moves to America and thinks she finds her Prince Charming in a small Iowa town. She falls in love and into a trap, staged by his white nationalist family who use her as a pawn in their terrorist plan.

The Effectiveness Of Imagery Use In Motivating Physical Activity And Exercise, Karol Nedza

School of Psychology Theses

The research detailed across these chapters provides a comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted interplay between mental imagery, motivation, and physical activity. The global inactivity levels and their consequences for economic, health and social domains is at this point well documented. Despite the number of interventions and approaches, inactivity is steadily increasing annually. This thesis encompasses the effects of mental imagery in shaping behaviour, the diverse applications of mental imagery in sports and health-related behaviour change, and the emergence of Functional Imagery Training (FIT) as a powerful approach. FIT is discussed as a versatile tool for promoting behaviour change, grounded in …

The Purpose And Importance Of Words Of Knowledge When Praying For The Sick, Bruce L. Bauer

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

Seventh-day Adventists are not usually known for taking authority over sickness or taking a person by the hand and saying, “In the Name of Jesus of Nazareth, arise and walk.” And rightly so, for Adventists have been counseled that when praying for the sick “our prayers must take the form, not of command, but of intercession” (White 1942:230, 1915:218). Why, because only God knows what is right and best (White 1948:148, 149). In addition, Ellen White warns against prayers that insist on God doing what people think needs to happen (1948:148) and suggests that God’s people should only pray for …

Cas Monthly Newsletter January 2024, Andrews University

College of Arts & Sciences Newsletter

Key Dates for January

IN THIS ISSUE

UPDATES & REPORTS

Welcome to Dr. Jill Manoukian

Religion Department News

Visual Art, Communication & Design Department News

Community & International Development Program News

HAPPENINGS

Quantitative Research Working Group

Faculty & Staff Appreciation Week

Winter Symposium

Christmas at the Biology Botanical Conservatory

ACADEMIC & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Research Deadlines

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Maker Lab

Writing Center

Registration Tips

New Copy Machine in Nethery Hall

Professional Development In Gifted Education: A Systematic Literature Review, Geraldine Townend, Jennifer L. Jolly, Adrian W. Chew

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This systematic literature review explored the importance of professional development (PD) for educators working with gifted students. Findings highlighted the need for PD to improve teacher knowledge, skills, efficacy, and student outcomes, especially considering the heterogeneously grouped classrooms, unique student needs, and lack of pre-service gifted education training for most teachers. The review identified key themes including PD evaluation, teacher perceptions, and pedagogical practices. The findings suggested that effective PD programs should (a) enhance knowledge and classroom practice, (b) be evidence-based, (c) consider both teacher and student outcomes, (d) be of sustained duration, and (e) include collaborative activities with ongoing …

Review On Sizing And Management Of Stand-Alone Pv/Wind Systems With Storage, Guétinsom Jean Kafando, Daniel Yamegueu, Etienne Tchoffo Houdji

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Extending the public electricity grid to rural or peri-urban areas is sometimes very costly and unprofitable due to their remoteness, low population density and sometimes difficult accessibility. In view of this, and in the concern of a sustainable development, the autonomous PV and/or wind power systems is increasingly used. However, these fluctuating source systems remain unreliable due especially to their intermittent nature, what justifies the integration of battery storage systems to them. They are also still expensive, particularly in the African context, limiting their access to the greatest number of the population. In addition to these problems of cost and …

Theorizing Cultural Appropriation: Complications Of Globalization And Power In Hybrid K-Pop, David C. Oh

Media Studies - All Scholarship

The purpose of this paper is to theorize cultural appropriation using a critical perspective that centers structural inequity and uneven global power by examining the case of South Korean media. This paper argues that cultural appropriation is a particular form of intercultural borrowing that relies on structural inequities of power, whereby a more powerful culture takes from a less powerful culture in such a way that it causes structural and representational harm to the borrowed culture. To clarify cultural appropriation as a particular form of cultural borrowing, I provide a typology of different forms of cultural borrowing before positing six …

Immersive Storytelling As A Technology, A Practice, And An Experience, Nick Bowman, Lyndsay Gratch, Dan Pacheco, Tamara Makana Chock

Media Studies - All Scholarship

This thematic issue explores the transformative potential and challenges of immersive storytelling through extended technologies. While these technologies have been hailed as potential “empathy machines” that will encourage perspective-taking and understanding of others, they have also been critiqued for being distracting or engaging in identity tourism. Essays in this collection further demonstrated the complexities of extended reality storytelling. Collectively, these essays reflect ongoing dialogues about the efficacy of extended reality in conveying meaningful narratives, urging a nuanced understanding of technology’s role in storytelling. This collection serves as a catalyst for future explorations into where and how to craft immersive narratives …

Route Competition In Hong Kong's Aviation Industry, Yizhang Qiu, Sinchit Lai

Journal of Air Law and Commerce

Open sky policies have been implemented for decades, giving birth to many airline newcomers from diverse backgrounds lifting off into liberalized skies. EasyJet, Ryanair, Wizz Air, and Southwest Airlines are examples of independent budget airlines, branding the outcome of aviation liberalization and contributing to interoute competition through their networks. However, Hong Kong International Airport, which aspires to be a better and greater air hub, is crowded with local carriers, and the airport flight timetables rarely show the presence of non-local budget airlines or competing routes. This Article examines the importance of interoute competition and the role that budget airlines play …

Proposed Methodologies To Cure The No-Fly List’S Current Violations Of The Due Process Clause For Affected U.S. Citizens, Sierra Stone

Journal of Air Law and Commerce

Often, the No-Fly List is a helpful tool that increases the safety of commercial aviation for U.S. citizens flying domestically and internationally. The TSA and various intergovernmental agencies utilize a nomination process and those who meet the requisite criteria are added to a database and can be entered into the No-Fly List. Once being placed on the “List,” an individual is no longer allowed to board a flight flying anywhere within or over U.S. airspace. However, for a small number of people, this deprivation of the ability to fly came unjustifiably and without realistic opportunities to be removed from the …

Hybridization Of Learning Techniques And Quantum Mechanism For Iiot Security: Applications, Challenges, And Prospects, Ismaeel Abiodun Sikiru, Ahmed Dooguy Kora, Eugène C. Ezin, Agbotiname Lucky Imoize, Chun-Ta Li

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

his article describes our point of view regarding the security capabilities of classical learning algorithms (CLAs) and quantum mechanisms (QM) in the industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) ecosystem. The heterogeneity of the IIoT ecosystem and the inevitability of the security paradigm necessitate a systematic review of the contributions of the research community toward IIoT security (IIoTsec). Thus, we obtained relevant contributions from five digital repositories between the period of 2015 and 2024 inclusively, in line with the established systematic literature review procedure. In the main part, we analyze a variety of security loopholes in the IIoT and categorize them into …

Phase Structure Transformation And Growth Mechanism For Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Synthesized By Mechanochemical Method: A Mini-Review, Joseph Ekhebume Ogbezode, Nkechi Elizabeth Offia-Kalu, Bello A. Abdulhakeem, Vitalis Chioh Anye, Peter Azikiwe Onwalu

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

The various methods of synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have been extensively studied in several works of literature. These methods include physical, chemical, and biological nanosynthesis methods with applications in water filtration, environmental remediation, plant improvements, biomedicines, etc. These nanosynthesis approaches revolve around their mode of application, nanomaterial properties, and characterization mechanisms, while little effort has been made to investigate the effect of nanosynthesis parameters based on phase transformation and growth mechanisms of such IONPs. The parameters, which are physical, chemical, mechanical, mineralogical, and morphological, have proven to have tremendous implications on the magnetic behaviors, crystalline size, degree of …

Experimental Investigation And Comparative Environmental Impact Analysis Of Conventional And Naturally Occurring Kinetic Hydrate Inhibitors In Offshore Environments Using Toxicity And Bioconcentration Tools, Okon Okon, Joseph Atubokiki Ajienka, Sunday Sunday Ikiensikimama, Onyewuchi Emmanuel Akaranta, Virtue Urunwo Wachikwu-Elechi

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

In this present study, an in vivo experiment was carried out to determine the tendencies of a naturally occurring high-phenolic compound red-onion skin extract (HPC-ROSE) and conventional N-Vinylcaprolactam (N-VCAP) kinetic hydrate inhibitors (KHIs) to bio-accumulate in offshore environment through the analysis of their uptake and depuration kinetics by a Fish-Chemical Model using Cyprinus carpio marine invertebrate. This test was performed in the laboratory in a flow through experimental set up according to the guidelines by [49] (Fish-chemical exposure test). The uptake duration was 10 days with a depuration period of twenty days. The inhibitor toxicity test was evaluated by …

Microbiological Contamination Of Lettuce (Lactuca Sativa) Reared With Tilapia In Aquaponic Systems And Use Of Bacillus Strains As Probiotics To Prevent Diseases: A Systematic Review, Angelica Adiacao Jossefa, Leonildo Dos Anjo Viagem, Brunno Da Silva Cerozi, Sebastian Wilson

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Aquaponic systems are food production systems that combine aquaculture and hydroponic in a closed recirculation system where water provides nutrients to plants while plants purify water for fish. In this system, tilapia is the most commonly cultured fish and can be easily integrated with vegetable cultivation. However, tilapia host a diverse microbiota some of which are pathogenic and can infect humans. Previous studies have reported contamination of lettuce by pathogenic bacteria which can cause human diseases. Thus, there is an urgent need to employ effective methods to control those bacteria, and Bacillus strains have been successfully used in this context. …

Development Of Nanobodies Against The Coat Protein Of Maize Chlorotic Mottle Virus, Faith Njeri Njeru, Olivier Zwaenepoel, Geert Haesaert, Kris De Jonghe, Jan Gettemans

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Maize lethal necrosis (MLN) is a maize disease caused by the maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV), a potyvirus which causes yield losses of 30–100%. The present study aimed to isolate nanobodies against the MCMV coat protein (CP) for the diagnosis of MLN. MCMV CP expressed in Escherichia coli was used for llama immunization. VHH (i.e. variable heavy domain of heavy chain) gene fragments were prepared from blood drawn from the immunized llama and used to generate a library in E. coli TG1 cells. MCMV specific nanobodies were selected by three rounds of phage display and panning against MCMV CP. The …

Determinants Of The Share Of The Economy Contributed By The Forestry Industry In Ghana From 1975 To 2023, Kwabena Asomanin Anaman, Samuel Ampomah, Joseph Manzvera

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

The macroeconomic determinants of the share of the economy contributed by the forestry industry in Ghana were examined over the period from 1975 to 2023, based on the development of time-series cointegration and error correction models. The analysis indicated that the share of the forestry industry was positively influenced by the real value of the cocoa industry, the exchange rate, and the real interest rate. The relationship between the forestry industry's share and per capita real gross domestic product (GDP) was found to be curvilinear: at low levels of per capita income, the share of the forestry industry in the …