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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
571

Modelling passenger mode choice behaviour using computer aided stated preference data

Khan, Omer Ahmed January 2007 (has links)
Redland Shire Council (RSC) has recently completed the preparation of Integrated Local Transport Plan (ILTP) and started its implementation and monitoring program. One of the major thrusts of the ILTP is to reduce the car dependency in the Shire and increase the shares of sustainable environmental-friendly travelling modes, such as walking, cycling and public transport. To achieve these objectives, a mathematical model is needed that is capable of modelling and forecasting the travelling mode choice behaviour in the multi modal environment of Redland Shire. Further, the model can be employed in testing the elasticity of various level-of-service attributes, under a virtual travel environment, as proposed in the ILTP, and estimating the demand for the new travelling alternatives to private car, namely the bus on busway, walking on walkway and cycling on cycleway. The research estimated various nested logit models for different trip lengths and trip purposes, using the data from a stated preference (SP) survey conducted in the Shire. A unique computer assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) instrument was designed, using both the motorised (bus on busway) and non-motorised travelling modes (walking on walkway and cycling on cycleway) in the SP choice set. Additionally, a unique set of access modes for bus on busway was also generated, containing hypothetical modes, such as secure park and ride facilities and kiss and ride drop-off zones at the busway stations, walkway and cycleway facilities to access the busway stations and a frequent and integrated feeder bus network within the Shire. Hence, this study created a totally new virtual travel environment for the population of Redland Shire, in order to record their perceived observations under these scenarios and develop the mode choice models. From the final model estimation results, it was found that the travel behaviour forecasted for regional trip-makers is considerably different from that of local trip-makers. The regional travellers for work, for instance, were found not to perceive the non-motorised modes as valid alternatives to car, possibly due to longer trip lengths. The value of time (VoT) determined for local work trip-makers (16.50 A$/hr) was also found to be higher than that of regional work trip-makers (11.70 A$/hr). From the survey analysis, a big part of the targeted population was found to be car captives, who are not likely to switch from cars to public transport; even if a more efficient transit infrastructure is implemented. In the past, the models have been generally calibrated using the mode choice survey data only, while that of the captive users were ignored. This yields a knowledge gap in capturing the complete travel behaviour of a region, since the question of what particular biases can be involved with each model estimation parameter by the captives remain unresolved. In this research, various statistical analyses were performed on the car captive users' data by categorising them into various trip characteristics and household parameters, in order to infer the relative influence of the car captive population on the travel behaviour of the study area. The outcomes of the research can assist the policy makers in solving the strategic issues of transit planning, including the future development of a busway corridor, with an efficient transit access mode network. The research findings can also be utilised in evaluating the feasibility of developing walkways and cycleways in the Shire, along with appraising the relative influence of car captive users on the travel behaviour forecasts for the study area.
572

Careers or Babies? What Young Australian Women Want

Melissa Johnstone Unknown Date (has links)
Abstract The majority of young Australian women aspire to be married with at least one child and in some form of paid employment by the time they are 35 years of age. In an age of increasing female labour force participation, it seems then that young women really can have it all. However, while younger generations of women are now more likely than their male counterparts to go to university, Australian women, compared to women in other countries, have low workforce participation rates after childbearing; and many move to part-time positions characterised by lower earnings, less responsibility and less opportunity for training and promotion. Further, there continues to be significant occupational segregation in the workplace, and women continue to earn significantly less than men. Why are Australian women not utilizing their skills to their full potential? The issue of balancing paid work with family responsibilities is central to this debate; and crucial is the role of Australian work-family legislation, which has previously focussed on improving Australia’s low fertility rate through financial aids rather than recognising women’s increased attachment to the paid workforce. This underscores the need for further research on how young Australian women negotiate work and family, to contribute to the evidence base for the formation of policy that supports the needs of young Australian women. This thesis takes an innovative approach of examining the work and family aspirations of a new generation of young Australian women negotiating work and family, transitioning from their late teens/early twenties to their early 30s. A prominent theoretical model of women’s work and family preferences, Lifestyle Preference Theory, postulates that women’s work and family outcomes are primarily the result of what they had always aspired, and that all women living in contemporary society can ‘choose’ their preferred type of lifestyle. However, as argued in this thesis, this model doesn’t take into account women’s circumstances, systemic-level supports and life changes that impact upon women’s decisions. Further, compared to previous generations of women, when most of the research on women’s aspirations was conducted, there is a new development process bridging adolescence and early adulthood, termed Emerging Adulthood. Using a mixed-methods approach of quantitative and qualitative analyses, this thesis examines young Australian women’s work and family aspirations according to their life experiences and within the social and structural constraints on their lives, during this developmental period of the life course and new socio-historical context. Chapter 1 provides a historical context to women’s changing roles and increasing workforce participation over past decades, while also discussing the pervasiveness of gender stereotypes and gender differences in the workforce. Chapter 2 discusses the Australian context in more depth; including work and family trends and systemic-level work-family support. This section also introduces theoretical contributions in the area of women’s aspirations, and developmental changes likely to affect young women. Chapter 3 then provides an analysis of young Australian women’s work and family aspirations, including the consistency of their aspirations over time, using nationally representative data from the younger cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH). Chapters 4 and 5 examine the representativeness of Lifestyle Preference Theory as a model of young Australian women’s work and family aspirations. Chapter 4 investigates whether Australian women can be categorised as ‘types’ committed to pursuing a particular lifestyle while Chapter 5 investigates whether women’s aspirations are independent of context, as theorised by Lifestyle Preference Theory, or correlated to women’s circumstances and the constraints on their lives. Chapters 6 and 7 aim to give voices to the experiences of young Australian women forming their aspirations during this period of the lifespan, by analysing qualitative comments from the younger cohort of the ALSWH. Chapter 6 provides a context of what is important and happening in the lives of young Australian women, while Chapter 7 provides a more thorough discussion of women’s comments about their aspirations and with a comparative discussion of their comments to current theoretical models. Through an analysis of focus group material, Chapter 8 continues to examine the experiences of young women during this developmental period of the lifespan. This Chapter reviews young women’s thoughts on their aspirations for work and family, how they anticipate making work and family decisions, and how they perceive and experience this developmental period of the lifespan. Chapters 9 and 10 return to the quantitative data of the ALSWH to investigate why women change their aspirations over time, and specifically look at the impact of first birth and life events on women’s motherhood and employment aspirations. These Chapters discuss the role of systemic-level work-family support on women’s changing aspirations. Chapter 11 provides an integrative conclusion of findings, which show that women are forming and adjusting their aspirations as best they can within their circumstances and the constraints on their lives, and the broader context of Australia’s work and family support systems. This Chapter provides recommendations for policy and directions for future research.
573

Selective grazing by sheep to improve the control of weeds of crops

Thomas, Dean Timothy January 2006 (has links)
[Truncated abstract] With the rapid development of multiple herbicide resistant weeds in crops, it is likely that an important role now exists for new grazing management strategies in farming systems to provide an integrated approach to weed management. In this thesis we examined the general hypothesis that sowing a legume of low preference by sheep relative to the target weeds of crops would improve the control of those weeds in a grazed pasture. To test this general hypothesis, legumes of low preference by Merino sheep were identified and a series of experiments conducted to determine the effect on pasture composition when these less preferred legumes were incorporated into a grazed pasture. We found a learned response that altered forage preference by sheep was important in determining the effectiveness of grazing to reduce seed set by weeds of crops. Investigations on this aspect of the grazing behaviour of sheep were a key part of this thesis. The short-term relative preference of Merino hoggets among 15 pasture legumes, 4 grain legumes and annual ryegrass was determined by offering adjacent monocultures of each of the forage genotypes to the sheep. The relative preference of the hoggets for each of the 20 forages was determined at three phases of plant growth from estimates of the amount of forage consumed. Sheep showed a low selective preference for Vetch (Vicia sativa L.), chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), biserrula (Biserrula pelecinus L.), lotus (Lotus ornithopodioides L.) and snail medic (Medicago scutellata L.) cvs. Kelson and Sava at the vegetative phase of plant growth. An indoor method was also developed to test the relative preference of sheep among forages growing in pots. Using this method chickpea and snail medic, but not biserrula, were found to have a low relative preference by sheep at the vegetative phase.
574

Preference of Western Cape Province consumers for the eating quality and appearance of pears

Blanckenberg, Anelle 12 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Our study aimed to determine the preference of Western Cape consumers for the eating quality and appearance of pears. Identifying the main sensory drivers of liking and consumer groupings with similar preferences may allow the pear industry to target specific markets and increase local consumption, which is stagnating at relatively low levels. Our first trial included 9 European pear cultivars (Pyrus communis L.) and one Asian pear cultivar (P. pyrifolia (Burm.) Nak.). These were chosen to represent a wide range of characteristics in order to identify the main sensory drivers of liking and possible consumer groupings. The majority of the 421 consumers, irrespective of gender, ethnicity and age, preferred pears with a distinct pear flavour, a sweet taste, a fair amount of malic acid, soft, juicy flesh with melt character, and a yellow or pale green peel colour with a typical pear shape. Astringency, sourness and grittiness negatively affected consumer preference. None of the pears were mealy and therefore we could not assess this characteristic. Two consumer clusters with similar preferences for eating quality and also for appearance were identified. In terms of eating quality, group 1 (55% of consumers) indicated a liking for a wide range of cultivars with poorly defined likes and dislikes. Group 2 (45% of consumers), in contrast, had a high liking for the eating quality of a small selection of cultivars while disliking the rest. Based on the preferences for appearance, group 1 (61% of consumers) again indicated a liking for a wide range of cultivars. Group 2 (39% of consumers) scored the most familiar cultivars, viz. Bon Chretien and Packham’s Triumph, very high and the other cultivars much lower than group 1. The objective of our second study was to investigate consumer preference for firm, juicy pears compared to soft pears with a melt character and to identify which of ‘Forelle’, ‘Packham’s Triumph’ and ‘Abate Fetel’ is best suited to either option. Pears were harvested within the commercial harvest window (H1) (flesh firmness at 6- 6.8kg, 6.4-7kg and 6-6.8kg respectively) and again a month later (H2). H1 and H2 pears were ripened at room temperature (20 ºC) for seven or one day, respectively. More consumers (67%) correlated positively with melt character, juiciness, overall pear flavour and sweet taste. These characteristics were the most prominent in H1 ‘Packham’s Triumph’ pears while H2 fruit were much firmer, but lower in preferred flavour characteristics. There is, however, also a market for crisp and juicy pears as 33% of the consumers showed a preference for these characteristics. ‘Forelle’ and ‘Abate Fetel’ could both be suitable for this market. ‘Forelle’ was preferred firm, probably because H1 soft pears were more astringent and sour as well as less juicy than H2. There was no difference in preference between H1 and H2 in ‘Abate Fetel’. In conclusion, most Western Cape consumers prefer European pears with the characteristic soft, melting texture, but a third of consumers seem to like firm, juicy pears. Hence, there is opportunity to develop a market for tree-ripe and Asian pears, but marketing will be needed to overcome appearance preferences. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ons studie was daarop gemik om die voorkeur van Wes-Kaap verbruikers vir die eetkwaliteit en voorkoms van pere te bepaal. Die identifisering van die belangrikste sensoriese drywers van smaakvoorkeure en verbruikersgroepe met soortgelyke voorkeure kan die peerbedryf toelaat om spesifieke markte te teiken en plaaslike verbruik te verhoog, wat tans op relatief lae vlakke stagneer. Ons eerste proef het 9 Europese peer kultivars (Pyrus communis L.) en een Asiatiese peer kultivar (P. pyrifolia (Burm.) Nak.) ingesluit. Die kultivars is gekies om 'n wye verskeidenheid eienskappe te verteenwoordig sodat die belangrikste drywers van sensoriese smaakvoorkeure en moontlike verbruikersgroeperings geïdentifiseer kon word. Die meerderheid van die 421 verbruikers, ongeag geslag, etnisiteit en ouderdom, het pere met 'n duidelike peer geur, 'n soet smaak, 'n redelike hoeveelheid appelsuur, sagte en sappige tekstuur met n smeltkarakter, en 'n geel of liggroen skilkleur met 'n tipiese peer vorm verkies. Frankheid, hoë suurvlakke en grinterigheid het verbruikers voorkeur negatief beinvloed. Geen pere in ons studie was melerig nie en daarom kon ons nie hierdie eienskap evalueer nie. Twee verbruikersgroepe met soortgelyke voorkeure vir eetkwaliteit en peervoorkoms is geïdentifiseer. In terme van eetkwaliteit het groep 1 (55% van die verbruikers) voorkeur vir 'n wye verskeidenheid van kultivars aangedui. Groep 2 (45% van die verbruikers) daarteenoor het die eetkwaliteit van net 'n klein seleksie van kultivars verkies, terwyl hul ‘n afkeur getoon het vir die res. In terme van voorkoms, het groep 1 (61% van die verbruikers) weereens van 'n wye verskeidenheid kultivars gehou terwyl groep 2 (39% van die verbruikers) baie hoë punte aan die bekende Bon Chretien en Packham's Triumph kultivars toegeken het, maar die ander kultivars baie laer as groep 1 bepunt het. Die doel van ons tweede proef was om verbruikersvoorkeur vir ferm, sappige pere teenoor sagte pere met 'n smelt tekstuur te bepaal en tot watter mate 'Forelle', 'Packham's Triumph’ en ‘Abate Fetel' geskik is vir iedere opsie. Pere is tydens die kommersiële oesvenster (H1) (fermheid 6-6.8kg, 6.4-7kg en 6-6.8kg onderskeidelik) en weer 'n maand later (H2) geoes. H1 en H2 pere is teen kamertemperatuur (20 ºC) onderskeidelik vir sewe of een dag rypgemaak. Die meeste verbruikers (67%) se voorkeur korreleer positief met 'n smeltende tekstuur, sappigheid, peer geur en soet smaak. Hierdie eienskappe was die prominentste in H1 'Packham’s Triumph' pere terwyl H2 vrugte baie fermer, maar laer in voorkeur geureienskappe was. Daar is egter wel 'n mark vir ferm, sappige pere aangesien 33% van die verbruikers 'n voorkeur toon vir hierdie eienskappe. 'Forelle' en 'Abate Fetel' sou beide geskik kon wees vir hierdie mark. 'Forelle' is verkies as fermer peer, waarskynlik omdat H1 sagte pere meer frank, suurder sowel as minder sappig was. Daar was geen verskil in verbruikersvoorkeur tussen 'Abate Fetel’ se H1 en H2 pere nie. Ten slotte, die meeste verbruikers van die Wes-Kaap verkies die smaak van ryp Europese pere met hul karakteristieke sagte, smeltende tekstuur, maar 'n derde van die verbruikers hou wel van ferm, sappige pere. Daar is dus 'n geleentheid om die mark vir boomryp en Asiatiese pere te ontwikkel, maar bemarking sal nodig wees om die verbruikersvoorkeure vir voorkoms te oorkom.
575

EXAMINING VEGETATIVE GROWTH OF COOL-SEASON FORAGE GRASSES FOR DAIRY CATTLE GRAZING PREFERENCE

Billman, Eric D. 01 January 2015 (has links)
The objective of this study was to determine dairy cattle preference amongst four species of cool-season forage grasses: eight orchardgrasses (Dactylis glomerata L.), five tall fescues [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.], five perennial ryegrasses (Lolium perenne L.), and six festuloliums [xFestulolium braunii (K. Richt.) A. Camus.]; 24 cultivars in total. Each grazing trial utilized four Holstein-Friesian heifers over six hours. Maturity differences were eliminated by having animals graze only vegetative material. After six grazing trials (three each in 2014 and 2015), consistent results in animal preference were not found; three of the six trials did show preference (P
576

Efeitos da intoxicação progressiva e aguda de chumbo sobre parâmetros comportamentais do Betta Splends: escototaxia e display agressivo

Santos, Bruno Rodrigues dos [UNESP] 20 February 2009 (has links) (PDF)
Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:28:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-02-20Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:16:58Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 santos_br_me_bauru.pdf: 823510 bytes, checksum: fe745f86976dbf0aa4a788cc05038cbb (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Foram administradas doses progressivas (12, 24, 36, 48 e 60μPb/L) e agudas (60μPb/L) de chumbo no Betta splendens (N = 23) e testados os comportamentos de display agressivo e escotataxia em cinco testes consecutivos, com intervalos de 18 horas - para dosagem progressiva - e 24 horas - para dosagem aguda. Realizaram-se sete experimentos: (1) validação do teste de preferência claro-escuro; (2) teste e re-teste da preferência claro-escuro; (3) efeito de doses progressivas de chumbo sobre teste de preferência claro-escuro; (4) efeitos de doses agudas de chumbo sobre teste de preferência claro-escuro; (5) teste e re-teste do display agressivo; (6) efeito de doses progressivas de chumbo sobre o display agressivo; (7) efeito de doses agudas de chumbo sobre o display agressivo, com exposição ao espelho. Os experimentos (1) e (2) indicaram que o Betta splendens apresenta comportamento de escotataxia, sendo que não houve habituação ao re-teste da preferência claro-escuro. Nos experimentos (3) e (4) indicaram que o chumbo em doses progressivas e agudas não alterou o comportamento de escotataxia, mas provocou déficits de memória de longo-prazo no teste de preferência claro-escuro. O experimento (5) não apresentou habituação no re-teste do display agressivo. Os experimentos (6) e (7) indicaram que o chumbo em doses progressivas e agudas aumentou a frequencia de comportamentos agressivos. Estes dados apontam para o teste de preferência claro-escuro como um novo modelo de ansiedade para o Betta splendens e que a exposição progressiva e aguda ao chumbo produz déficits de memória de longo-prazo e aumenta a agressividade deste. / Betta splends (N = 23) were treated with progressive (12, 24, 36, 48 e 60μPb/L) and acute (60μPb/L) lead poisoning. They were submitted to darkness preference and aggressive display test into five consecutive trials separated by 18 h to progressive poisoning and 24 h to acute poisoning between trials. Seven experiments were conducted so: (1) validation of darkness preference test; (2) exposition and re-exposition to darkness preference teste; (3) effect of progressive lead doses on the darkness preference teste; (4) effect of acute lead dose on the darkness preference test; (5) exposition and re-exposition to aggressive display test; (6) effect of progressive lead doses on aggressive display test; (7) effect of acute lead dose on aggressive display test. Experiments (1) and (2) data showed the darkness preference of Betta splendens, since there was no habituation to re-exposition to darkness preference test. Experiments (3) and (4) data showed deficits on long-term memory produced by progressive and acute lead poisoning. Experiment (5) data showed no habituation to re-exposition to aggressive display test. Experiments (6) and (7) data showed the increase of aggressiveness display produced by progressive and acute lead poisoning. Therefore, these seven experiments data showed how darkness preference test can be a possible anxiety model to Betta splendens and how progressive and acute lead exposition can produce deficits in long-term memory and aggressiveness display increased.
577

O conteúdo orgânico do sedimento influencia na distribuição intraespecífica de caranguejos-chama-maré / Sediment organic contents influence the intra-specific distribution of fiddler crabs

De Grande, Fernando Rafael [UNESP] 29 April 2016 (has links)
Submitted by Fernando Rafael de Grande null (f_degrande@ig.com.br) on 2016-05-09T22:11:36Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação De Grande FR 2016.docx: 219291 bytes, checksum: 72fea216c78027a5ee828c674b46f42e (MD5) / Rejected by Felipe Augusto Arakaki (arakaki@reitoria.unesp.br), reason: Solicitamos que realize uma nova submissão seguindo as orientações abaixo: A versão final da dissertação/tese deve ser submetida no formato PDF (Portable Document Format). Lembramos que o arquivo PDF não deve estar protegido e a dissertação/tese deve estar em um único arquivo, inclusive os apêndices e anexos, se houver. Por favor, corrija o formato do arquivo e realize uma nova submissão. Agradecemos a compreensão. on 2016-05-12T19:39:08Z (GMT) / Submitted by Fernando Rafael de Grande (frdegrande@gmail.com) on 2016-05-23T20:42:23Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação De Grande FR 2016.pdf: 671252 bytes, checksum: 287d0f386c65c5cc40b04f4c1a4d0d1b (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Felipe Augusto Arakaki (arakaki@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-05-24T12:38:37Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 degrande_fr_me_bot.pdf: 671252 bytes, checksum: 287d0f386c65c5cc40b04f4c1a4d0d1b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-24T12:38:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 degrande_fr_me_bot.pdf: 671252 bytes, checksum: 287d0f386c65c5cc40b04f4c1a4d0d1b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-04-29 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Caranguejos do gênero Uca são importantes organismos da macrafauna bentônica em ambientes estuarinos. Varias espécies coabitam bancos lodosos e arenos da zona-do-entre-marés onde eles se alimentam de micro-organismos ou detritos do sedimento. As espécies apresentam zonas relativamente distintas e o estabelecimento dessas zonas é causado por fatores bióticos e abióticos. Dentre estes fatores a matéria orgânica do sedimento é um dos mais importantes. Desta forma, nós testamos o efeito da matéria orgânica do sedimento sobre a distribuição intraespecífica de U. thayeri e U. uruguayensis em seus respectivos habitats. O teor de matéria orgânica do sedimento, a densidade e o tamanho dos caranguejos foi observado em quadrados amostrais dispostos ao longo de transectos perpendiculares a linha da água. Em laboratório foi utilizado microcosmos com e sem escolha para testarmos a preferência dos caranguejos por sedimento com alta e baixa matéria orgânica. Nós também avaliamos a alimentação (número de pinçadas no sedimento) e o número de tocas escavadas em cada tipo de sedimento para duas categorias de tamanho de U. uruguayensis (grandes e pequenos). Ambas as espécies apresentaram uma relação negativa entre o tamanho dos caranguejos e o teor de matéria orgânica do sedimento. Este padrão não é causado pelo comportamento de preferência dos caranguejos por sedimentos com diferentes quantidades de matéria orgânica. Além disso, ambas os tamanhos de caranguejos comem menos em sedimentos com alta quantidade de matéria orgânica. E, os caranguejos pequenos comem mais do que os grandes, independentemente do tipo de sedimento. Nossos resultados sugerem qua a matéria orgânica do sedimento indica a quantidade de comida disponível para os caranguejos chama-maré. Devido a isso, áreas com maior quantidade de matéria orgânica suportam populações mais densas. Em um banco monoespecífico os caranguejos menores ocupam a nível inferior da zona-do-entre-marés onde há mais matéria orgânica. Caranguejos grandes são predominantes na região superior da zona do entre marés. / Crabs of the genus Uca are important benthic macrofauna in estuarine environments. Several Uca species coexist on intertidal mud- and sand-flats where they feed on microorganisms or sediment debris. Species have relatively distinct zones, and zone establishment is based on biotic and abiotic factors. Sediment organic matter is thought to be one of the most important zoning factors. We tested the effects of organic matter content on intra-specific distribution of U. thayeri and U. uruguayensis in their habitats. Organic matter content, crab density, and size frequency were observed in quadrates at each meter along intertidal transects (length of transect). In laboratory microcosms with- and without-options were used to test any preference of crabs for high- or low-organic content sediment. We also assessed feeding (scoops into sediment) and the number of burrows dug into each sediment for two categories of U. uruguayensis (large and small individuals). Both species showed a negative relationship between crab size and organic content, and both showed higher densities in field sites with more organic matter. This pattern was not due to a preference behavior of crabs for sediments that vary only by organic matter. Both sizes of crabs fed less frequently in sediments with high organic content. Small crabs feed more than large crabs regardless of the sediment type. Our results indicate that food organic matter influences the amount of food available to fiddler crabs. Because of this, sites with high organic content support populations at higher densities. In a mono specific patch, small crabs occupy the lower level of the intertidal zone, which contains more organic matter. Large crabs are predominant in the intertidal zone high level. / FAPEPS: 2015/00456-7
578

Self-produced sound and kinesonic feedback in FPS games : do players have a preference between binaural and monophonic Foley?

Hulthe, Christoffer January 2018 (has links)
Based on prior research on concepts such as kinesonic feedback, and the here presented concept of kinesonic perspective, this study investigates whether or not players prefer binaurally recorded Foley over monophonically recorded Foley in a first-person video game environment, and whether or not binaural Foley has an impact on their relationship to, or perception of, the avatar. A game environment was created, in which players could switch at will between two audio modes; one containing binaurally recorded Foley, and the other containing monophonically recorded Foley. In the study, subjects were asked to state their preference between the two modes, motivate said preference, rate the two modes on three attributes, and answer questions regarding their perceived relationship to the avatar. Results showed no statistical significance regarding the preference of the sample, but a potential link was found between subjects’ preference and their perceived believability of the Foley sounds. The qualitative results showed that the binaural Foley had a complex impact on the subjects’ perception of and relationship to the avatar. The qualitative data also showed that subjects generally felt that the binaural Foley originated from their own body. Due to the small sample size and diversity of subject opinions it is however difficult to make any generalizations regarding the average player. Further research could investigate what role sound plays in the player’s ability to embody the avatar, as well as more thoroughly investigate the complex relationship between the kinesonic perspective of the avatar and that of the player.
579

Artificial Reverb vs. Real Recorded Reverb in the Back Channels in a 5.1 Surround Setup

Emilsson, Adrian January 2018 (has links)
When recording music for surround audio engineers sometimes face limitations in time, ideal microphone positions or a noisy audience. If this cannot be dealt with at the location, artificial reverbs are often used in the mixing to “fill in the blanks”. In this study, three instruments were recorded separately with two 5.1 surround microphone setups. Two audio engineer students created artificial reverbs that replaced the back channels of each microphone setup. A listening test was conducted where test subjects compared the 5.1 real recording to the two other stimuli with artificial back channels in terms of realism, envelopment and preference. The result showed that the real recording and the artificial back channels were interchangeable, but that the artificial back channels pointed towards more envelopment, and that the real recording pointed towards more realism.
580

Metrics to evaluate human teaching engagement from a robot's point of view

Novanda, Ori January 2017 (has links)
This thesis was motivated by a study of how robots can be taught by humans, with an emphasis on allowing persons without programming skills to teach robots. The focus of this thesis was to investigate what criteria could or should be used by a robot to evaluate whether a human teacher is (or potentially could be) a good teacher in robot learning by demonstration. In effect, choosing the teacher that can maximize the benefit to the robot using learning by imitation/demonstration. The study approached this topic by taking a technology snapshot in time to see if a representative example of research laboratory robot technology is capable of assessing teaching quality. With this snapshot, this study evaluated how humans observe teaching quality to attempt to establish measurement metrics that can be transferred as rules or algorithms that are beneficial from a robot's point of view. To evaluate teaching quality, the study looked at the teacher-student relationship from a human-human interaction perspective. Two factors were considered important in defining a good teacher: engagement and immediacy. The study gathered more literature reviews relating to further detailed elements of engagement and immediacy. The study also tried to link physical effort as a possible metric that could be used to measure the level of engagement of the teachers. An investigatory experiment was conducted to evaluate which modality the participants prefer to employ in teaching a robot if the robot can be taught using voice, gesture demonstration, or physical manipulation. The findings from this experiment suggested that the participants appeared to have no preference in terms of human effort for completing the task. However, there was a significant difference in human enjoyment preferences of input modality and a marginal difference in the robot's perceived ability to imitate. A main experiment was conducted to study the detailed elements that might be used by a robot in identifying a 'good' teacher. The main experiment was conducted in two subexperiments. The first part recorded the teacher's activities and the second part analysed how humans evaluate the perception of engagement when assessing another human teaching a robot. The results from the main experiment suggested that in human teaching of a robot (human-robot interaction), humans (the evaluators) also look for some immediacy cues that happen in human-human interaction for evaluating the engagement.

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