Thesis (M.E. Physics and Electronic Engineering)--University of Waikato, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 109-112) Also available via the World Wide Web.

The purpose of this project was to develop a spoken word-recognition task that could be used clinically to evaluate recognition performance of individuals with hearing loss in a background noise. The test instrument incorporated monosyllabic words at seven levels over a 35-dB range presented in a background of "multi-talker" babble that was fixed in level. In Experiment 1, we established normative data on 24 young adult listeners with normal hearing and on 50 older adult listeners with high-frequency hearing loss. In Experiment 2, we examined the effects that age and hearing loss have on understanding speech in multi-talker babble by studying 15 subjects in each decade interval from 20 to 79 years.

Zugl.: Stuttgart, Univ., Diss., 2008

Les disques optiques numériques sont utilisés par de nombreux organismes, publics ou privés, pour l’archivage de données. Malgré les espoirs fondés dans l’utilisation de ces supports, des pertes d’information ont été observées, parfois après seulement quelques années d’archivage. Cette évolution a été attribuée au vieillissement des disques, sans préjuger des constituants impliqués. Ce travail de thèse visait à identifier les modifications chimiques et physiques résultant de l’application de différentes contraintes (photochimique, thermique ethydrolytique) sur des constituants de disques optiques : substrats de CD-R en polycarbonate, couches enregistrables de types « phtalocyanine » et « azoïque » et vernis de protection. L’étude de ce dernier constituant a permis d’élargir les recherches au cas du Blu-ray Disc. Ces évolutions physico-chimiques ont ensuite été corrélées à des variations des paramètres analogiques et numériques de disques soumis aux mêmes contraintes. L’objectif ultime de ce travail était de mettre en place une méthodologie générale permettant de comprendre l’origine de la perte d’information de disques optiques numériques exposés à des contraintes. / Optical discs are often used by many private or public organizations to archive essential data. For a long time these media were supposed to be reliable. However, a loss of the stored data was highlighted, sometimes only after a few years of storage. This degradation was attributed to the discs ageing, without any identification of the materials involved in this ageing. This work aimed to determine the chemical and physical modifications resulting from the application of different stresses (photochemical, thermal and hydrolytic) on the materials used in optical discs : the CD-R polycarbonate substrates, the recording layers based on phthalocyanines and azo compounds, and the protective layers. The study of this last component allowed us to extend the researches to the case of the Blu-ray Disc. These physico-chemical modifications were then correlated to variations in digital and analog parameters of discs submitted to the same stresses. The ultimate objective of this work was to propose a general method that could help to understand the origin of the loss of information of optical discs submitted to stresses.

Freie Univ., Diss.--Berlin, 1999-2000.

The new compact disc from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Tonal and Speech Materials for Auditory Perceptual Assessment, Disc 2.0 (1998), contains two lists of randomly interleaved 1-, 2-, and 3-pair dichotic digits. Two experiments are reported, in which the effects of low-pass filtering and inter-digit interval on dichotic digit recognition were investigated in adult listeners with normal hearing and with mild-to-moderate cochlear hearing loss. Results demonstrated that in the filtered condition, as the low-pass cutoff was increased, there was an increase in recognition performance for 1-, 2-, and 3-pair dichotic digits. When compared to normative data for the materials, findings indicate that the interleaved 1-, 2-, and 3-pair dichotic digit materials were essentially resistant to the effects of hearing loss. There was no significant change in recognition performance as a function of inter-digit interval. The studied 625-ms range of inter-digit intervals studied produced consistent recognition performance with both groups of listeners.

by Yau Ka Pui, Lea [and] Yeung Sze Man. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 108-112). / ABSTRACT --- p.II / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.IV / LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS --- p.VI / LIST OF TABLES --- p.VII / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.IX / CHAPTER / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Global Trend --- p.2 / Music Industry in a Global Perspective --- p.2 / Growth of Mass Retailing IndusTRy in Hong Kong --- p.5 / Marketing Situation of the Small Music Retailers in Hong Kong --- p.7 / Product --- p.7 / Price --- p.8 / Place the Stores --- p.8 / Promotion --- p.9 / Emergence of CD Chain Stores in HK Music Retailing in Early 1990's --- p.10 / HMV CD Retailing Chain Stores --- p.10 / HMV as a Store Differentiator --- p.11 / HMV's unique Store Atmosphere: --- p.13 / Carefuliy Designed Entertainment Facilities in HMV --- p.14 / HMV's Role as an Information Provider --- p.15 / Market Reality --- p.19 / CHAPTER CONCLUSION --- p.20 / Chapter II. --- RESEARCH OBJECTIVES --- p.22 / Chapter III. --- METHODOLOGY --- p.24 / Data Collection --- p.25 / Sampling Plan --- p.25 / Terminology --- p.26 / Chapter IV. --- DATA ANALYSIS AND RESULTS --- p.29 / Causeway Bay Store --- p.29 / Profile of Existing Shoppers --- p.29 / "Profile of HMV Buyers and "" Mere Shoppers""" --- p.35 / Profile of Buyers with regard to their Purchase Volume --- p.39 / Shatin Store --- p.43 / Profile of Existing Shoppers --- p.43 / "Profile of HMV Buyers and “Mere Shoppers""" --- p.47 / Profile of Buyers with regard to their Purchase Volume --- p.49 / Summary of Analysis and Results --- p.51 / Chapter V. --- RECOMMENDATIONS --- p.54 / The Marketing Model --- p.55 / The Market Segmentation for HMV Customers --- p.56 / Target Group Analysis --- p.58 / Generic Marketing Objectives --- p.59 / Enlarge the Market --- p.60 / Increase Market Share --- p.60 / Improve Profitability --- p.60 / Specific Objectives for HMV --- p.61 / Analysis of Mere Shoppers --- p.62 / The Marketing Tactics for Mere Shoppers --- p.62 / Free CD Trial in Neighbouring Retail Stores --- p.63 / Coupons --- p.63 / Set a Time Slot for CD on Sales --- p.64 / Men's Day --- p.64 / Analysis of the Light Buyers --- p.66 / Feasible Marketing Tactics for the Light Buyers --- p.66 / HMV Club --- p.67 / Chance of Getting an Autographed CD --- p.68 / Chance of Getting an Autographed Poster or Photograph --- p.68 / Dedication Service --- p.69 / "Modification on the Current ""Members Card""" --- p.69 / Analysis of the Medium Buyers --- p.72 / Marketing Tactics for the Medium Buyers --- p.72 / Starting from the Existing Pool of Information --- p.72 / Store Image --- p.73 / The Real Meaning of Quality Service --- p.75 / A Private Listening Area --- p.76 / Analysis of the Heavy Buyers --- p.76 / Marketing Tactics for Heavy Buyers --- p.77 / Customer Retention Program --- p.77 / HMV Credit Card --- p.77 / Direct Mailing Service --- p.78 / Quality Service --- p.78 / A Private Listening Booth --- p.78 / Long-term Marketing Strategy --- p.79 / The Significance of a Customer Database --- p.80 / Blueprint for Customer Segmentation --- p.81 / Quality Data for precise Target Segments --- p.81 / Basis for Relationship Marketing --- p.82 / Customer Databases as a Survey Research Complement --- p.82 / Customer Survey as a Monitoring Means --- p.83 / Chapter Conclusion --- p.85 / Chapter VI. --- CONLUSION --- p.86 / Project Limitation --- p.86 / Objectives achieved in this HMV Project --- p.87 / Marketing Implications for Other Organisations --- p.88 / APPENDIX --- p.90 / BIBLOGRAPHY --- p.108

<p>Studies of binding reactions are of highest importance in a vast number of areas of biomedicine and biotechnology. A demand for fast and accurate small-volume measurements grows stronger, partly due to the development of therapeutic antibodies. In this report, a novel method for studies of binding reactions of antibodies is described. The use of a microfluidic platform shows promising results in determination of affinity binding constants.</p><p>Affinities between 1E-09 and 1E-11 M have been determined for four TSH antibodies. Reproducibility tests give a CV below 10%, using different Gyrolab instruments and microfluidic CD:s. The method carries the advantages of using solution-based measurements of unmodified molecules. Also an initial proof-of-concept for measurement of binding reaction rate constants shows further usage of the method. The kinetic association rate constant has been determined to 2E+06 M-1s-1 for one antibody. The possibility of using this method for screening of antibody libraries is also discussed.</p>

Studies of binding reactions are of highest importance in a vast number of areas of biomedicine and biotechnology. A demand for fast and accurate small-volume measurements grows stronger, partly due to the development of therapeutic antibodies. In this report, a novel method for studies of binding reactions of antibodies is described. The use of a microfluidic platform shows promising results in determination of affinity binding constants. Affinities between 1E-09 and 1E-11 M have been determined for four TSH antibodies. Reproducibility tests give a CV below 10%, using different Gyrolab instruments and microfluidic CD:s. The method carries the advantages of using solution-based measurements of unmodified molecules. Also an initial proof-of-concept for measurement of binding reaction rate constants shows further usage of the method. The kinetic association rate constant has been determined to 2E+06 M-1s-1 for one antibody. The possibility of using this method for screening of antibody libraries is also discussed.

Les disques optiques numériques sont utilisés par de nombreux organismes, publics ou privés, pour l'archivage de données. Malgré les espoirs fondés dans l'utilisation de ces supports, des pertes d'information ont été observées, parfois après seulement quelques années d'archivage. Cette évolution a été attribuée au vieillissement des disques, sans préjuger des constituants impliqués. Ce travail de thèse visait à identifier les modifications chimiques et physiques résultant de l'application de différentes contraintes (photochimique, thermique ethydrolytique) sur des constituants de disques optiques : substrats de CD-R en polycarbonate, couches enregistrables de types " phtalocyanine " et " azoïque " et vernis de protection. L'étude de ce dernier constituant a permis d'élargir les recherches au cas du Blu-ray Disc. Ces évolutions physico-chimiques ont ensuite été corrélées à des variations des paramètres analogiques et numériques de disques soumis aux mêmes contraintes. L'objectif ultime de ce travail était de mettre en place une méthodologie générale permettant de comprendre l'origine de la perte d'information de disques optiques numériques exposés à des contraintes.