Thesis (M.Sc.)--Acadia University, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 59-66). Also available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 1998. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 315-346). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Despite the scandals and the increase in violence towards vulnerable communities, Uribe and his government still had an extremely high approval rating. His popularity may be explained as a result of the majority of citizens benefitting from his policies because while they violate human rights, they function as mechanisms that support and enhance his success in delivering stability to Colombia’s middle and upper-classes. Moreover, Uribe did not address critics of his government or the media, instead he created a discourse that his government and its policies were responsible for successfully combatting the guerrillas and cartels and improving the economy. Thus many Colombians may have chosen to continue supporting him because they saw his clandestine government tactics as necessary.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Dominique Botha‟s False River, published simultaneously with the rewritten Afrikaans text Valsrivier in 2013, is a fictionalised memoir presented as a novel that is written into the tradition of the plaasroman. The text follows the lives of the Bothas of Rietpan in the Free State and spans the years between 1980 and 1997. In this thesis I discuss the novel focussing on questions surrounding narration and its affirmation or negation of agency, embodiment and subjectivity, the narrative construction of the Botha family‟s isolating liberalism in its present post-apartheid context, and the perception of the author and the novel by Afrikaans and English literary communities. I explore the text‟s relationship to genre, drawing on J.M. Coetzee‟s examination of the literary pastoral in White Writing: On the Culture of Letters in South Africa. It is through this theoretical lens that I argue that False River depicts a conflicted, inconsistent and perforated view of Afrikaner identity and its relationship to gender, notions of landed belonging, Afrikaans-English linguistic co-habitation, and black subjectivity, in an agrarian landscape that dominates through anthropopsychism and primogeniture. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dominique Botha se False River, tegelykertyd gepubliseer met die herskryfde Afrikaanse teks Valsrivier in 2013, is ʼn geromantiseerde memoir wat as fiksie aangebied word en is binne die tradisie van die plaasroman geskryf. Die teks beskryf die lewens van die Bothas van Rietpan in die Vrystaat vanaf 1980 tot 1997. In my tesis bespreek ek dié roman met die fokus op vraagstukke rondom die vertelling se bekragtiging of ontkenning van bemagtiging, beliggaming en subjektiwiteit; van die verhaalkonstruksie van die Botha-familie se isolerende liberalisme in die huidige postapartheid konteks, asook die persepsie van die outeur en die roman deur Afrikaanse en Engelse literêre gemeenskappe. Ek ondersoek die teks se verhouding tot genre, na aanleiding van J.M. Coetzee se behandeling van die literêre pastoraal in White Writing: On the Culture of Letters in South Africa, om aan te voer dat False River ʼn strydige, inkonsekwente en geperforeerde beskouing van Afrikaner-identiteit toon. Die verhouding van dié identiteit tot geslagtelikheid, grondbesit, Afrikaans-Engels linguistiese samebestaan, en swart subjektiwiteit word ook uitgelig binne die milieu van die agrariese landskap wat deur eersgeboortereg en die natuur-in-simpatie-procédé die karakters domineer.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Coastal erosion is a worldwide hazard of which the consequences can only be mitigated via thorough and efficient monitoring of erosion and vulnerability to erosion. This study aimed to establish the accuracy, efficacy and efficiency of various remote sensing techniques for the detection and monitoring of coastal erosion and vulnerability occurring in False Bay, South Africa. There is a need to monitor the erosion in this area as well as to determine the most effective techniques for monitoring the erosion in False Bay and other similar environments in the future. This study provides an assessment of the usefulness of different data sources and techniques for change detection in the coastal environment. The data sources used were Landsat TM/ETM+ imagery and aerial photographs. Image differencing, tasselled cap transformations, vegetation index differencing, Boolean change detection, and post-classification change detection were all performed on the Landsat imagery. The aerial photographs were assessed using the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) add-on for ArcGIS which determines statistical differences in the shoreline position as digitised in vector format. The results showed that while the resolution of the Landsat imagery was not sufficient to analyse erosion along the beach itself, the larger area covered by the satellite images enabled vulnerability indicators to be seen. Notably, the post-classification change detection indicated consistent increases in built-up areas, while sand dune, beach, and sand (not beach) all decreased. NDVI differencing showed consistent decreases in NDVI indicating decreasing plant health and density. The results of image differencing with both band 4 and the brightness band led to conclusions that vegetation health was decreasing while reflective surfaces such as bare sand and roads were increasing. All of these indicate an increased vulnerability to coastal erosion. The Boolean change detection method was found not to be useful in this case. Aerial photographs were studied on four focus areas: Bayview Heights, Macassar Beach, Strand, and Pringle Bay. The results showed erosion at all four areas, with Strand experiencing only erosion (no accretion) at an average of 53 cm erosion per year. Erosion at Macassar Beach and Pringle Bay was also severe, with Bayview Heights being the least severe and showing a combination of erosion and accretion. The higher resolution available on the aerial photographs was vital to view changes on the beach itself. In future studies requiring assessment of changes in the position or condition of the beach itself, aerial photographs or high resolution satellite data should be used. Studies of vulnerability extending over the entire coastal zone may make use of Landsat TM images. Post-classification change detection provides powerful change direction information and can indicate the percentage of area change from one class to another. However, image differencing and vegetation index differencing are much faster to perform and can provide information about general trends in the changes occurring. Therefore post-classification change detection might be used in areas of high and rapid change while image differencing and vegetation index differencing can be useful to cover vast areas where little change is expected. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Kus-erosie is ‘n wêreldwye gevaar waarvan die gevolge slegs deur deeglike en doeltreffende monitering van erosie en kwesbaarheid vir erosie verminder kan word. Hierdie studie poog om die akkuraatheid, doeltreffendheid en effektiwiteit van verskillende afstandswaarneming tegnieke vas te stel vir die opsporing en monitering van kus-erosie en kwesbaarheid in Valsbaai, Suid Afrika. Daar is ‘n behoefte aan die monitering van erosie in hierdie area, sowel as om die mees doeltreffende tegnieke van die monitering hiervan in Valsbaai en ander soortgelyke omgewings in die toekoms te bepaal. Hierdie studie bied ‘n evaluering van die nut van verskillende data-bronne en tegnieke vir die opsporing van verandering in ‘n kusomgewing. Die data-bronne wat gebruik is, is Landsat TM/ETM+ beelde asook lugfoto’s. Beeld differensievorming, “tasselled cap” transformasies, plantegroei indeks differensievorming, Boolse verandering en post-klassifikasie verandering is toegepas op die Landsat beelde. Die lugfotos is ge-evalueer deur die Digitale Kuslyn Analise Stelsel (Digital Shoreline Analysis System – DSAS). DSAS is ‘n bykomstige sagteware vir ArcGIS wat statistiese verskille in gedigitaliseerde kuslyn posisie bepaal. Die resultate toon dat terwyl die resolusie van die Landsat beelde nie voldoende was om strand-erosie self te analiseer, die groter area wat deur die satellietbeelde gedek word toegelaat het om kwesbaarheid aanwysers te ontleed. Spesifiek die post-klassifikasie verandering het aangedui dat konsekwente toenames in beboude areas voorkom, terwyl afnames in sandduine, strand en sand-areas voorgekom het. NDVI differensievorming het konsekwente afnames in NDVI getoon, wat dui op afnames in die gesondheid en digtheid van plantegroei. Die resultate van die beeld differensievorming met beide Landsat Band 4 en die helderheid-band het gelei tot die gevolgtrekking dat die gesondheid van plantegroei afgeneem het, terwyl reflektiewe oppervlaktes soos oop sand en paaie aan die toeneem is. Al hierdie resultate dui op die verhoogde kwesbaarheid vir kus erosie. Die Boolse verandering metode is bevind om nie van nut te wees in hierdie geval nie. Lugfoto’s van vier fokus-areas is bestudeer: Bayview Heights, Macassar Strand, Strand en Pringlebaai. Resultate van die DSAS analise het gevind dat oorwegend erosie by al vier areas plaasvind, met Strand die enigste area wat slegs erosie (geen aanwas) ervaar teen ‘n gemiddelde koers van 0.53 m per jaar. Erosie by Macassar Strand en Pringlebaai was ook ernstig, terwyl Bayview Heights die minste erosie ervaar het, met ‘n kombinasie van erosie en aanwas. Die hoër resolusie beskikbaar deur die lugfoto’s was noodsaaklik om veranderinge in strand areas waar te neem. In toekomstige studies wat die assessering van verandering in die posisie of toestand van strande noodsaak behoort lugfotos of hoë-resolusie satellietbeeld data gebruik te word. Studies oor die kwesbaarheid van ‘n hele kusstreek kan wel gebruik maak van Landsat data. Post-klassifikasie verandering bied kragtige informasie oor die rigting van verandering en kan die persentasie van verandering van een klas na ‘n ander aandui. Beeld en NDVI differensievorming is egter veel vinniger om uit te voer en kan informasie rakende die algemene tendense in verandering lewer. Post-klassifikasie verandering kan dus gebruik word in gebiede van vinnige en beduidende verandering plaasvind, terwyl beeld en NDVI differensievorming nuttig kan wees om groot areas te dek waar min verandering verwag word.

Submitted by Aelson Maciera (aelsoncm@terra.com.br) on 2017-09-27T18:38:57Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DissSDCP.pdf: 2530109 bytes, checksum: 969acf4fbd844c709316d1eb4bc99426 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ronildo Prado (producaointelectual.bco@ufscar.br) on 2017-10-10T18:02:51Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissSDCP.pdf: 2530109 bytes, checksum: 969acf4fbd844c709316d1eb4bc99426 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ronildo Prado (producaointelectual.bco@ufscar.br) on 2017-10-10T18:03:00Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissSDCP.pdf: 2530109 bytes, checksum: 969acf4fbd844c709316d1eb4bc99426 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-10-10T18:11:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissSDCP.pdf: 2530109 bytes, checksum: 969acf4fbd844c709316d1eb4bc99426 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-29 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / False memories can be defined as recollections that do not correspond to the facts experienced by subjects. Cognitive research have pointed out that the referred phenomenon is, to some extent, determined by semantic relations among stimuli. Based on these studies, behavior analysts have proposed experimental analogous of false memories using the stimulus equivalence paradigm to establish symbolic relations. The current master’s thesis was composed by one preliminary study and two main studies. The preliminary study aimed to assess the valence and arousal of pictures depicting facial expressions, and to select the meaningful stimuli that were employed on the class formation procedures of Studies 1 and 2. Study 1 aimed to analyze possible effects of emotional stimuli with different valences (positive, neutral and negative) on the occurrence of false memories. For this purpose, a systematic replication of Aggio’s (2014) Study 3, using lists of symbolically related stimuli through the stimulus equivalence paradigm was carried out. The main experimental manipulations of Study 1, in the present thesis, were the control of valence and arousal magnitudes attributed to the emotional stimuli; the use of emotional stimuli in the class formation procedure, which contained the unrelated distracting stimuli; and the randomization of list order presentation. Study 1 was structured in four phases, which encompassed 1) the establishment of six equivalence classes; 2) a false memories test with a memorization task and a recognition test, held one week after the beginning of Phase 1; 3) class merger and maintenance test, and 4) stimuli assessment through a semantic differential. Results showed that the false memories effect, under symbolic control, occurred only in relation to the positive stimuli list. It was hypothesized that the stability of the equivalence classes was an intervening variable. In order to verify the aforementioned hypothesis and search for new evidences regarding the effects of emotional valence on the establishment of false memories, a second study was proposed. The Study 2 had the same procedure as Study 1, with the exception of two changes: the reduction of the time interval employed between the first and the second phase, and the insertion of baseline review blocks of the six equivalence classes before the false memories test. These changes were adopted in order to increase the probability that the equivalence relations were stable and strengthened at the moment of the false memories test. Results showed the occurrence of the false memories effect in positive and neutral lists. These results suggest that stimuli with negative emotional valence can reduce the probability of false memories occurrence. / Falsas memórias podem ser definidas como lembranças não fidedignas aos fatos vivenciados pelos sujeitos. Pesquisas de base cognitivista têm apontado que o referido fenômeno é, em alguma medida, determinado por relações semânticas entre estímulos. A partir dessas evidências, analistas do comportamento propuseram análogos experimentais de falsas memórias com o emprego do paradigma da equivalência de estímulos como recurso para o estabelecimento de relações simbólicas. A presente dissertação foi composta por um estudo preliminar e por dois estudos principais. O estudo preliminar objetivou avaliar as propriedades de valência e alerta de imagens de expressões faciais, além de selecionar os estímulos significativos que seriam empregados na formação das classes de equivalência estabelecidas nos Estudos 1 e 2. O Estudo1 visou analisar os possíveis efeitos de estímulos emocionais com diferentes valências (positiva, neutra e negativa) sobre a ocorrência de falsas memórias. Para tanto, foi proposta uma replicação sistemática do Estudo 3 de Aggio (2014), o qual fez uso de listas de estímulos simbolicamente relacionados por meio do paradigma da equivalência de estímulos. As principais manipulações experimentais propostas, no Estudo 1, da presente dissertação, foram o controle das magnitudes das propriedades de valência e alerta atribuídas aos estímulos emocionais; a utilização de estímulos emocionais na formação das classes que continham os distratores não relacionados e o balanceamento das ordens de apresentação das listas. O Estudo 1 foi estruturado em quatro fases que envolveram: 1) estabelecimento de seis classes de equivalência; 2) teste de falsas memórias, compreendendo uma tarefa de memorização e um teste de reconhecimento, realizados uma semana após o início da Fase 1; 3) teste de fusão e de manutenção de classes e 4) avaliação de estímulos por meio de instrumento de diferencial semântico. Os resultados demonstraram que o efeito de falsas memórias, sob controle simbólico, ocorreu apenas na lista de estímulos de valência positiva. A estabilidade das classes de equivalência foi apontada como uma possível variável interveniente na determinação dos referidos resultados. A fim de verificar a hipótese supracitada e buscar novas evidências em relação aos efeitos da valência emocional, sobre o fenômeno das falsas memórias, foi proposto um segundo estudo. O Estudo 2 teve um procedimento idêntico ao adotado no Estudo 1, com exceção de duas modificações: a redução do intervalo de tempo empregado entre a primeira e a segunda fase e a inserção de blocos de revisão de relações de linha de base das seis classes de equivalência, antes da realização das tarefas de teste de falsas memórias. As alterações citadas foram adotadas a fim de aumentar a probabilidade de que as relações de equivalência estivessem estáveis e fortalecidas no momento de realização das tarefas de teste de falsas memórias. Os resultados indicaram a ocorrência do efeito de falsas memórias nas listas de valência positiva e neutra. Os referidos resultados sugerem que estímulos com valência emocional negativa podem reduzir a probabilidade de ocorrência de falsas memórias.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:32:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 2818845 bytes, checksum: be3f419fcc4c9f0b3cb6050f150daf3c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-02-16 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / This study aimed to estimate the probabilities of false and true alarms caused by the Cumulative Sum control chart over the i rational subgroups, according to various combinations of size n of subgroup rational, standardized decision interval h* and the tolerance value k*. To study them, were simulated data from a random variable Y, under normal distribution with mean μ0 = 0 and standard deviation 1 s 0 = for a process under statistical control over 50 rational subgroups, for n between 1-16. To this end, 1000 simulations were performed by rational subgroup. Then four out of control processes have been set for the statistical average at all rational subgroup ( μ1 = μ0 +ds 0 ) in which d refers to the displacement of the average in numbers of standard deviations of the process. The probability of false alarm a decreases with the increase, increase and decrease of k*, h* and i respectively, while the probability of true alarm Pd has direct relation to n and i, and inverse relation to h* for the same pre-defined minimum difference between the means μ0 and μ1 considering the choice of k* as being half of that difference in number of standard deviations. Both probabilities of true and false alarms were obtained by the normal and lognormal 3P probability distributions adjusted to the random variable Z(i) + S (i −1)* H . In order to give a power greater than 0.90 and a equal or less than 0.05 or 0.01 were recommended to different combinations of k*, h*, i and n. / O presente trabalho teve por objetivo estimar as probabilidades dos alarmes falsos e verdadeiros provocados pelo gráfico de controle CUSUM tabular ao longo dos i subgrupos racionais, em função de diferentes combinações entre o tamanho n do subgrupo racional, o interval o de decisão padronizado h* e o valor de tolerância k*. Para estudá-los foram simulados dados de uma variável aleatória Y, sob distribuição normal com média μ0 = 0 e desvio-padrão 1 s 0 = para um processo sob controle estatístico para até 50 subgrupos racionais com até 16 repetições. Para tanto, foram realizadas 1000 simulações por subgrupo racional. Em seguida foram estabelecidos outros quatro processos fora de controle estatístico para a média em todos os subgrupos racionais ( μ1 = μ0 +ds 0 ), em que d se refere ao deslocamento da média em número de desvios-padrão do processo. A robabilidade do alarme falso (a ) diminui com os respectivos aumento, aumento e diminuição de k*, h* e i, enquanto a probabilidade do alarme verdadeiro (Pd) possui relação direta com n e i, e inversa com h* para uma mesma diferença mínima pré-definida entre as médias μ1 e μ0 e considerando-se a escolha de k* como sendo a metade desta em número de desvios-padrão. Ambas probabilidades dos alarmes falso e verdadeiro foram obtidas por meio das distribuições de probabilidade normal e lognormal 3P ajustadas à variável aleatória Z(i) + S (i −1) * H . Para conferir um Pd igual ou superior a 0,90 e a igual ou inferior a 0,05 ou 0,01 recomendou-se diferentes combinações de k*, h*, i e n.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:32:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1927442 bytes, checksum: 4d51dbf78a2cc4c2f8a631ebde5dc6fe (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-08-02 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Developed at Motorola in 1987 the Six Sigma methodology seeks, by reducing the variability of key-processes, obtain critical to quality characteristics (CTQs) with defect probabilities close to zero. It has a Six Sigma process when the distance between the CTQ s target value (VN) and its nearest specification limit, is equal or greater than six standards-deviations (σ). In practice, despite the big attention being paid to the process, the average of the CTQ s probabilities distribution is able to shift until 1,5σ from the target value which even so, the process will be considered Six Sigma. So there is an interval between 4,5 and 6σ in which the process can vary without losing the quality level considered as world class . Thus, in this study, aimed establishes recommendations for planning the Shewhart control charts ̅ and R for monitoring Six Sigma processes. To do so, it was established a reference performance in which it was assumed the joint probability of false alarm equal to or less than 0.01; and the joint probability of true alarm growing according the reduction of the process Sigma level, from 0 in 6σ processes to 0.10 in those 5σ, reaching 0.90 at 4.5σ processes until reaches the unit for 3σ processes and inferior. Accordingly, it were investigated plannings with combinations between n = 2, 3, 4 and 5 and k = 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9 and 3.0. It was identified that the pair of graphs in question performed well when the process was only under the effect of average displacement and lost performance occurred the increase of the variation as the only disturbance present or when the two anomalies were acting. It was possibly identify that the average displacement is the most observed problem, the simultaneous occurrence of both anomalies is less frequent and exclusive presence of increased variation is rare. Therefore, it was recommended that planning with n = 5 and k = 2.9 for monitoring Six Sigma Practical processes (ie, with sigma level between 4.5 and 6σ), which performed well only when the process was mainly under the effect of the average displacement. However, it is expected a good performance of this planning when the process is mainly under the effect of the average displacement. Thus, it is likely that the processes quality level falls without any signal from the control charts in question to indicate quality loss due to the increase of the variation, with or without the presence of the average displacement. / Desenvolvida em 1987 na Motorola, a metodologia Seis Sigma busca, mediante redução na variabilidade dos processos-chave, obter características críticas para a qualidade (CTQs) com probabilidades de defeitos próximas de zero. Tem-se um processo Seis Sigma quando a distância entre o valor-alvo (VN) da CTQ e o limite de especificação mais próximo for igual ou superior a seis desvios-padrão (σ). Na prática, por maior que seja a atenção dispensada ao processo, a média da distribuição de probabilidades da CTQ pode deslocar em até 1,5σ do valor-alvo, que ainda assim o processo será considerado Seis Sigma. Então existe um intervalo de 4,5 a 6σ, no qual o processo pode variar sem que perca o nível de qualidade considerado de classe mundial . Desta forma, neste trabalho, buscou-se estabelecer recomendações para o planejamento de gráficos de controle de Shewhart ̅ e R para o monitoramento de processos Seis Sigma. Para tanto, estabeleceu-se um desempenho de referência no qual se admitiu a probabilidade do alarme falso conjunto igual ou inferior a 0,01; e a probabilidade do alarme verdadeiro conjunto crescendo de acordo com a redução do nível Sigma do processo, passando de 0 em processos 6σ para 0,10 naqueles 5σ, atingindo 0,90 em processos 4,5σ até atingir a unidade para processos 3σ e inferiores. Nesse sentido, investigou-se planejamentos com combinações entre n = 2, 3, 4 e 5 e k = 2,5, 2,6, 2,7, 2,8, 2,9 e 3,0. Identificou-se que o par de gráficos em questão apresentou bom desempenho quando o processo esteve sob efeito somente do deslocamento da média e perdeu desempenho à medida que ocorreu o aumento da variação como única perturbação ou quando as duas anomalias estiveram atuando. Foi possível identificar que o deslocamento da média é o problema mais observado, a ocorrência simultânea das duas anomalias é menos frequente e a presença exclusiva do aumento da variação é rara. Logo, recomendou-se o planejamento com n = 5 e k = 2,9, para o monitoramento de processos Seis Sigma Práticos (isto é, com nível sigma entre 4,5 e 6σ), que apresentou bom desempenho apenas quando o processo esteve principalmente sob efeito do deslocamento da média. Portanto, é provável que o nível de qualidade dos processos caia sem que os gráficos de controle em questão sinalizem a perda da qualidade em função do aumento da variação, com ou sem a presença do deslocamento da média.

ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION OF Yonglian Wang, for Doctor of Philosophy degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering, presented on May 19, 2009, at Southern Illinois University- Carbondale. TITLE: SPEECH RECOGNITION UNDER STRESS MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Nazeih M. Botros In this dissertation, three techniques, Dynamic Time Warping (DTW), Hidden Markov Models (HMM), and Hidden Control Neural Network (HCNN) are utilized to realize talker-independent isolated word recognition. DTW is a technique utilized to measure the distance between two input patterns or vectors; HMM is a tool utilized to model speech signals using stochastic process in five states to compare the similarity between signals; and HCNN calculates the errors between actual output and target output and it is mainly built for the stress compensated speech recognition. When stress (Angry, Question and Soft) is induced into the normal talking speech, speech recognition performance degrades greatly. Therefore hypothesis driven approach, a stress compensation technique is introduced to cancel the distortion caused by stress. The database for this research is SUSAS (Speech under Simulated and Actual Stress) which includes five domains encompassing a wide variety of stress, 16,000 isolated-word speech signal samples available from 44 speakers. Another database, called TIMIT (10 speakers and 6300 sentences in total) is used as a minor in DTW algorithm. The words used for speech recognition are speaker-independent. The characteristic feature analysis has been carried out in three domains: pitch, intensity， and glottal spectrum. The results showed that speech spoken under angry and question stress indicates extremely wide fluctuations with average higher pitch, higher RMS intensity, and more energy compared to neutral. In contrast, the soft talking style has lower pitch, lower RMS intensity, and less energy compared to neutral. The Linear Predictive Coding (LPC) cepstral feature analysis is used to obtain the observation vector and the input vector for DTW, HMM, and stress compensation. Both HMM and HCNN consist of training and recognition stages. Training stage is to form references, while recognition stage is to compare an unknown word against all the reference models. The unknown word is recognized by the model with highest similarity. Our results showed that HMM technique can achieve 91% recognition rate for Normal speech; however, the recognition rate dropped to 60% for Angry stress condition, 65% for Question stress condition, and 76% for Soft stress condition. After compensation was applied for the cepstral tilts, the recognition rate increased by 10% for Angry stress condition, 8% for Question stress condition, and 4% for Soft stress condition. Finally, HCNN technique increased the recognition rate to 90% for Angry stress condition and it also differentiated the Angry stress from other stress group.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:25:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2008-03-28Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:53:20Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 pelissari_gp_me_arafcf.pdf: 3328486 bytes, checksum: eca10418295f68f0485506997b0e2f5b (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / Diante do amplo uso popular da espécie Melampodium divaricatum (Rich. In Pers.) DC (Asteraceae) conhecida no Brasil como falsa-calêndula, fica evidente o provável potencial farmacológico desta espécie justificando assim estudos que possam confirmar suas atividades biológicas bem como aspectos que garantam a qualidade e segurança de seu uso pela população. Neste trabalho foram estudados os extratos aquosos, etanólicos e o óleo essencial obtido a partir das partes aéreas desta espécie buscando avaliar possíveis atividades biológicas, bem como o estudo de parâmetros farmacognósticos relacionados à qualidade do material vegetal em estudo. Avaliou-se o efeito destes extrativos no sistema imunológico murino, utilizando cultura de macrófagos peritoneais de camundongos Swiss e também a atividade antimicrobiana pela metodologia de difusão em ágar frente às bactérias Gram-positivas: Staphylococcus aureus e Bacillus subtilis e Gram-negativas: Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Shigella sonnei, Serratia marcescens. O estudo farmacognóstico foi realizado através de ensaios físico-químicos, qualitativos e quantitativos. Os resultados indicam que o material vegetal encontra-se dentro dos padrões de qualidade estabelecidos para materiais vegetais em geral. Os componentes majoritários presentes no óleo essencial, trans-cariofileno (48,6%); germacreno-D (13,2%); biciclogermacreno (10,6%); óxido de cariofileno (3,0%) e α-humuleno (2,2%) não apresentam variações estatisticamente significativas quando obtidos do material vegetal seco e fresco. Em triagem fitoquímica das partes aéreas foi caracterizada a presença de flavonóides e triterpenos e através de doseamento verificou-se que o extrato etanólico 99,5% apresentou um maior teor de flavonóides totais. / According the ample popular use of the Melampodium divaricatum (Rich. In Pers.) DC (Asteraceae) known in Brazil as false-calendula, it is evident the pharmacological potential of this species which justify studies that confirm its biological activities and aspects that guarantee the quality and safety of its use for the population. In this work the aqueous and ethanolic extracts as well as the essential oil from the aerial parts of this species had been studied in order to evaluate possible biological activities, as well as the study of related pharmacognostic parameters to the quality of the plant. It was evaluated the effect of these extractives in murine imunne system, using peritoneal macrophages cultures from Swiss mice and also the antimicrobial activity for the methodology of agar diffusion to Gram-positive bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis and Gram-negatives: Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Shigella sonnei, Serratia marcescens. The pharmacognostic study was carried through qualitative and quantitative assays physicochemical. The results indicate that the vegetal material was according to established standards of quality established for plant drugs in general. The majority components present in the essential oil trans-caryophyllene (48.6%); germacrene-D (13.2%); bicyclogermacrene (10.6%); caryophyllene oxide (3.0%), α-humulene (2.2%), do not present statiscally significant variations when obtained from dry or fresh plant. In phytochemistry analysis of the aerial parts the presence of flavonoids and triterpenoids was characterized and through dosage was verified that the ethanolic extract presented higher level of total flavonoids. As extracts as essential oils presented immunomodulatory activity to the murine macrophages, inhibiting powerfully the production of NO and H2O2 in a form dose-dependent.