Starch is used in many food applications as thickeners, texturisers and fat substitutes. Native starches, although useful, have low stability to conditions such as high shear, extreme pH and high temperatures encountered during food processing. Starches are modified to make them more suitable for processing conditions. The modification of starch by the use of a naturally occurring compound (for example stearic acid) may produce desirable properties and also removes the risk of a chemical residue in the starch. Starch can be from several grain sources. Teff grain is highly underutilized and underresearched. The work conducted in this project investigates the pasting properties, gelling tendencies, clarity and flow properties (using a rheometer) of teff starch pastes treated with stearic acid, in comparison to maize starch pastes. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) were also used to investigate the possible impact of stearic acid on the structure of the starch granules and pastes. Starch suspensions containing stearic acid (0.25% - 4%) were pasted in a Rapid Visco Analyser using a short pasting cycle of approx. 30 min (held for 5 min at 91°C). Maize starch (treatments) showed a reduced peak viscosity within the holding period, while teff starch (treatments) did not. Teff starch showed increasing viscosity without reaching a peak during the holding time. The pasting cycles were then extended (holding time extended to 2 hr) to investigate the pasting behaviour of teff starch. The extended pasting cycle resulted in a reduced first viscosity peak for maize starch with added stearic acid. Teff starch with added stearic acid showed a large increase in viscosity without the formation of the first viscosity peak. However, both starches displayed a second pasting peak. The addition of stearic acid resulted in an increase in the viscosity of the second pasting peak from about 175 Rapid Visco Units (RVU) to 228 RVU for maize starch, and from 113 RVU to 250 RVU for teff starch. The final viscosity of maize starch increased from 186 RVU to 227 RVU, while that of teff starch increased from 194 RVU to 261 RVU. The second viscosity peak was not observed with waxy maize starch (approx. 97% amylopectin). This suggests that amylose-stearic acid complexation might have been responsible for the formation of this peak. Complexation Index (CI) values increased as the concentration of stearic acid was increased. This further suggests that some interaction between amylose and stearic acid had taken place. The pastes of maize and teff starches modified with stearic acid were more opaque and showed reduced gelling compared to their non-modified counterparts. Maize and teff starches and their stearic acid-treated counterparts followed the Power-Law Model and were shear thinning (n < 1). However, teff starch pastes (control and treatment) seemed to be less shear thinning than their maize starch paste counterparts. An increase in consistency, k, after the extended pasting cycle was used (compared to the short pasting cycle) for the treated starches, reflects the increased viscosities obtained during extended pasting. XRD further suggested that amylose-lipid complexes may have been present in the starch pastes (after extended pasting) due to the occurrence of the 4.4 Å and 12 Å peaks (characteristic of V-type starches). CLSM showed that stearic acid diffused into maize starch granules but not into teff starch granules. This was probably due to the pores of the surfaces of maize starch granules which may have facilitated the diffusion process. In contrast, teff starch granules do not have pores on their surfaces. This structural difference may be attributed for the pasting differences between teff and maize starches. The effects of stearic acid on the pasting (effect on first and second peaks and final viscosity), and functional properties (reduced gelling and increased opacity of pastes) of maize and teff starches have been attributed to the formation of amylose-lipid complexes. These high viscosity and low gelling starches may be extremely useful as fat replacers. Teff starch has the added benefit of its small starch granules which may add to its ability mimic the mouthfeel of fat globules. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Food Science / unrestricted

The purpose of this case study is to evaluate two methods of strategic planning within organizational visioning: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) analysis and Appreciative inquiry (Ai).  SWOT analysis is a method of strategic planning that is popular within companies and organizations due to its simple, yet thorough, approach.  Ai has recently emerged as an approach to strategic visioning and planning within organizational development.  However, little research has been conducted to evaluate either approach to organizational visioning, and there is a growing need to compare the two techniques.  In this case study, participants within one organization were divided, with half of the staff participating in Ai and the other half participating in SWOT.  Data for this mixed methods study was gathered through observation, focus group interviews, and pre-test, post-test, and delayed post assessments tests.  Through the explanatory sequential design, quantitative data evaluated the change in organizational commitment and vision clarity as a result of the interventions; while, qualitative data further explored participants\' perception of the intervention process and resulting effects.  The study found a statistically significant interaction between intervention treatments and the pre-test and post-test scores within the organizational commitment construct.  Seven themes emerged from the qualitative data; however, only two themes were specifically associated with an intervention treatment.  Participants in the SWOT intervention described the visioning process to be frustrating and negative; while, Ai participants found that the visioning process confirmed many of their beliefs and values about the department.  Recommendations for future practice suggest the use of Strengths, Opportunities, Aspiration, Results (SOAR) as an approach that combines and maximizes Ai and SWOT.  Suggestions for future research are to explore SWOT as a precursor to di-visioning within the Visioning Process Model. / Master of Science in Life Sciences

This thesis examined the relationships between instructors and students to determine the effects of prosocial instructor behavior on the college student experience for both in-person and online learning. Study One examined instructor rapport with students and verbal and nonverbal immediacy behaviors in face-to-face classes. Students reported on how their instructor constructed the classroom climate and perceptions of their instructor’s behavior. Results indicated that students’ perceptions of instructor verbal and nonverbal immediacy behaviors were related to lower student communication apprehension with instructors; whereas perceived classroom rapport was related with higher perceptions of their instructor’s credibility and was also related with a lower likelihood for students to engage in expressive and vengeful dissent about their instructor. Study Two used an experimental design to determine which instructor behaviors led to students’ perceptions of rapport, instructor credibility, and engagement in online learning. Results indicated that participants in the high professionalism and high clarity condition perceived more rapport, higher instructor credibility, and were more likely to be engaged in the class compared to participants in the low professionalism and low clarity condition. Perceptions of professionalism, clarity, and verbal immediacy all worked together as a significant model to predict rapport, instructor credibility, and engagement. In combination, this thesis revealed that positive student outcomes are a function of both instructor behavior and the environment they create.

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Microphone arrays have seen wide usage in a variety of fields; especially in sonar, acoustic source monitoring and localization, telecommunications, and diagnostic medicine. The goal of most of these applications is to detect or extract a signal of interest. This task is complicated by the presence of interferers and noise, which corrupts the recorded array signals. This dissertation explores two new techniques that increase signal clarity: interferer suppression and emergent signal detection. Spatial processing is often used to suppress interferers that are spatially distinct from the signal of interest. If the signal of interest and the interferer are statistically independent, blind source separation can be used to statistically extract the signal of interest. The first new method to improve signal clarity presented in this work combines spatial processing with blind source separation to suppress interferers. This technique allows for the separation of independent sources that are not necessarily simultaneously mixed or spatially distinct. Simulations and experiments are used to show the capability of the new algorithm for a variety of conditions. The major contributions in this dissertation under this topic are to use independent component analysis to extract the signal of interest from a set of array signals, and to improve existing independent component analysis algorithms to allow for time delayed mixing. This dissertation presents a novel method of improving signal clarity through emergent signal detection. By determining which time frames contain the signal of interest, frames that contain only interferers and noise can be eliminated. When a new signal of interest emerges in a measurement of a mixed set of sources, the principal component subspace is altered. By examining the change in the subspace, the emergent signal can be robustly detected. This technique is highly effective for signals that have a near constant sample variance, but is successful at detecting a wide variety of signals, including voice signals. To improve performance, the algorithm uses a feed-forward processing technique. This is helpful for the VAD application because voice does not have a constant sample variance. Experiments and simulations are used to demonstrate the performance of the new technique. / Ph. D.

Yes / The aim of this paper is to examine and clarify the nomological network of change and innovation (CI)-related constructs. A literature review in this field revealed a number of interrelated constructs that have emerged over the last decades. We examine several such constructs—innovation, creativity, proactive behaviours, job crafting, voice, taking charge, personal initiative, submitting suggestions, and extra-role behaviours. Our conceptual analysis suggests each one of these constructs represents a specific component of CI-related behaviours. However, we also found that on occasion these concepts have been dysfunctionally operationalized with evidence of three dysfunctional effects: (a) construct confusion, (b) construct drift, and (c) construct contamination. Challenges for future research to enhance conceptual and operational clarity are discussed. / The British Academy: [Grant number SG110409] awarded to the first author and by UK Leverhulme Trust: [Grant number IN-2012-095] awarded to the second author.

In this thesis I use both Dense Clarity - Clear Density as well as qualitative interviewing as methods to guide me through this examination of sound design. Through studying other works and executing personal tests I try to find out if there is a need to use sound and silence in a creative way to evoke emotion. I examine films as well as literature from the 1960s all the way to the 2000s, to see how the use of silence has unfolded over the years. I also create a visual production that strengthens my theory that silence affects narrative more than its credited for. But the essay isn’t just about silence, it’s revolved around sound too, expanding into how sound correlates with emotion and how one can apply it to their production. / I detta kandidatarbete använder jag både Dense Clarity - Clear Density samt Kvalitativ Intervju som metoder för att vägleda mig igenom denna forskning om ljuddesign. Jag kommer att studera andra verk och utföra egna experiment, med detta vill jag se om det finns ett behov av att använda ljud och tystnad på ett kreativt sätt för att väcka känslor. Jag granskar, samt undersöker både film och litteratur från 1960-talet, ända fram till 2000-talet för att se hur användningen av tystnad i film har utfällt sig genom åren. Med att jag skapar en visuell produktion, så stärks min teori, som är att tystnad kan påverka filmens narrativ, oerhört. Men denna uppsats kretsar inte bara runt tystnad, utan även runt ljud som korrelerar med känslor och hur man kan använda sig av deras relation för att skapa en starkare produktion.

Teacher clarity supports both cognitive and affective learning for all learners. The scholarly literature lacks research related to teacher clarity in nonlecture learning environments. The purpose of this qualitative study was to discover teacher clarity strategies that effectively promote student learning, particularly in nonlecture learning environments. The conceptual framework involved cognitive load theory and constructivism. The research questions explored how highly effective teachers experience clarity to promote student learning in nonlecture learning environments and what innovative strategies highly effective teachers practice to ensure clarity in nonlecture learning environments. For this in-depth qualitative interview study, data were collected through virtual synchronous focus groups and interviews with 10 State Teachers of the Year and State Teacher of the Year finalists and analyzed using manual and digital coding of emergent themes. Key nonlecture teacher clarity strategies discovered emphasized the importance of interaction, facilitation, and responsiveness through the establishment of safe and inclusive learning environments, active monitoring of student work and understanding, individualized application of strategic ambiguity, and utilization of technology tools. Further research is recommended in strategic ambiguity, interaction through facilitation, safe and inclusive environments, and teacher clarity through technology tools. By contributing to the body of knowledge of educational practices that improve student learning, my study has the potential to empower individual teachers to benefit all learners, and to support organizations in delivering equitable instruction in diverse secondary school settings.