The purpose of this thesis is to evaluate the differences between 9-ending on promotion prices used by Thai retailers and Swedish retailers. The quantitative research approach is the chosen method in order to evaluate the differences between 9-ending on promotion prices used by Thai retailers and Swedish retailers. The collection of data will be mainly concentrated on primary data through brochures from retailers in both countries. Evaluation of the price endings for advertised products in the brochures from Thai and Swedish retailers founded the distinctions between the use of 9-ending prices in many ways such as the way the retailers used left and right digits for price endings, the way they set the prices compared between the same product category and the same product sub-category.

Este trabalho tem como objetivo principal o estudo da expansão decimal dos números reais. Primeiramente provamos que todo número real possui ao menos uma expansão decimal. Na sequência, um método para encontrar a expansão decimal de um número entre 0 e 1 é apresentado, bem como um estudo sobre a expansão decimal de números racionais e irracionais. Em seguida, o estudo apresenta métodos que permitem encontrar aproximações racionais de números irracionais, além dos erros cometidos por essas aproximações. Na parte final, por seu turno, o foco do trabalho recai sobre a análise da regularidade (frequência) dos dígitos das expansões decimais. / This work has as main objective the study of the decimal expansion of the real numbers. First we prove that every real number has at least one decimal expansion. Further, a method to find the decimal expansion of real numbers between 0 and 1 is provided as well as a the study of the decimal expansion of rational and irrational numbers. Next, the study presents methods that provide rational approximations to irrational numbers, in addition to the errors committed by these approximations. At the end, by its turn, the focus of the work is put on the analysis of the regularity (frequency) of the digits of the decimal expansion.

Approximately 80% of the adult and elderly population ≥65 years have not been assessed or treated for a hearing loss, despite the effect a hearing loss has on communication and quality of life (World Health Organization [WHO], 2013a). In South Africa, many challenges to the health care system exist of which access to ear and hearing health care is one of the major problems. This study aimed to develop and validate a smartphone-based digits-in-noise hearing test for South African English towards improved access to hearing screening. The study also considered the effect of hearing loss and English speaking competency on the South African English digits-in-noise hearing test to evaluate its suitability for use across native (N) and non-native (NN) speakers. Lastly, the study evaluated the digits-in-noise test’s applicability as part of the diagnostic audiometric test battery as a clinical test to measure speech recognition ability in noise. During the development and validation phase of this study the sample size consisted of 40 normal-hearing subjects with thresholds ≤15 dB across the frequency spectrum (250 – 8000 Hertz [Hz]) and 186 subjects with normal-hearing in both ears, or normal-hearing in the better ear. Single digits (0 – 9) were recorded and spoken by a N English female speaker. Level corrections were applied to create a set of homogeneous digits with steep speech recognition functions. A smartphone application (app) was created to utilize 120 digit-triplets in noise as test material. An adaptive test procedure determined the speech reception threshold (SRT). Experiments were performed to determine headphones effects on the SRT and to establish normative data. The results showed steep speech recognition functions with a slope of 20%/dB for digit-triplets presented in noise using the smartphone app. The results of five headphone types indicate that the smartphone-based hearing test is reliable and can be conducted using standard Android smartphone headphones or clinical headphones. A prospective cross-sectional cohort study of N and NN English adults with and without sensorineural hearing loss compared pure-tone air conduction thresholds to the SRT recorded with the smartphone digits-in-noise hearing test. A rating scale was used for NN English listeners’ self-reported competence in speaking English. This study consisted of 454 adult listeners (164 male, 290 female; range 16 – 90 years), of which 337 listeners had a best ear 4 frequency pure-tone average (4FPTA; 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz) of ≤25 dB hearing level (HL). A linear regression model identified three predictors of the digits-in-noise SRT namely 4FPTA, age and self-reported English speaking competence. The NN group with poor self-reported English speaking competence (≤5/10) performed significantly (p<0.01) poorer than the N & NN (≥6/10) group on the digits-in-noise test. Screening characteristics of the test improved with separate cut-off values depending on self-reported English speaking competence for the N & NN (≥6/10) group and NN (≤5/10) group. Logistic regression models, that include age in the analysis, showed a further improvement in sensitivity and specificity for both groups (area under the receiver operator characteristic curve [AUROC] .962 and .903 respectively). A descriptive study evaluated 109 adult subjects (43 male, 66 female) with and without sensorineural hearing loss by comparing pure-tone air conduction thresholds, speech recognition monaural performance score intensity (SRS dB) and the digits-in-noise SRT. An additional nine adult hearing aid users (4 male, 5 female) was utilized in a subset to determine aided and unaided digits-in-noise SRTs. The digits-in-noise SRT was strongly associated with the best ear 4FPTA (r=0.81) and maximum SRS dB (r=0.72). The digits-in-noise test had high sensitivity and specificity to identify abnormal pure-tone (0.88 and 0.88 respectively) and SRS dB (0.76 and 0.88 respectively) results. There was a mean signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) improvement in the aided condition that demonstrated an overall benefit of 0.84 dB SNR. A significant individual variability between subjects in the aided condition (-3.2 to -9.4 dB SNR) and unaided condition (-2 to -9.4 dB SNR) was indicated. This study demonstrated that a smartphone app provides the opportunity to use the English digits-in-noise hearing test as a national test for South Africans. The smartphone app can accommodate NN listeners by adjusting reference scores based on a self-reported English speaking competence. The inclusion of age when determining the screening test result increases the accuracy of the screening test in normal-hearing listeners. Providing these adjustments can ensure adequate test performance across N English and NN English listeners. Furthermore, the digits-in-noise SRT is strongly associated with the best ear 4FPTA and maximum SRS dB and could therefore provide complementary information on speech recognition impairment in noise in a clinical audiometric setting. The digits-in-noise SRT can also demonstrate benefit for hearing aid fittings. The test is quick to administer and provides information on the SNR loss. The digits-in-noise SRT could therefore serve as a valuable tool in counselling and management of expectations for persons with hearing loss who receives amplification. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / National Research Foundation (NRF) / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / PhD / Unrestricted

Decentralised detection and monitoring of hearing loss can be supported by new mHealth technologies using automated testing, which can be facilitated by minimally trained persons. These technologies may prove particularly useful in an infectious disease (ID) clinic setting where patients are at high risk for hearing loss. The current study aimed to evaluate the clinical utility of mobile and automated audiometry hearing health technology in an ID clinic setting. The current study was exploratory as it aimed to determine whether smartphone automated audiometry and South African English Digits-In-Noise (SA Eng DIN) smartphone applications could be utilised in an infectious disease clinic setting to monitor an HIV-related hearing loss in a feasible and time efficient way. Smartphone automated audiometry (hearTest™) and speech-in-noise testing (SA English Digits-In-Noise (DIN) test) were compared with manual audiometry at 2, 4, and 8 kHz. Smartphone automated audiometry and the DIN test were repeated to determine the test re-test reliability. Two hundred subjects (73% female and 27% male) were enrolled. Fifty participants were re-tested with the smartphone applications. Participants’ ages ranged from 18 to 55 years with a mean age of 44.4 (8.7 SD). Threshold comparisons were made between smartphone audiometry testing and manual audiometry. Smartphone automated audiometry, manual audiometry, and test re-test measures were compared to determine the statistical significance of any differences observed using the Wilcoxon signed-ranked test. Spearman rank correlation test was used to determine the relationship between the smartphone applications and manual audiometry, as well as for test re-test measurements. For all participants, 88.2% of thresholds corresponded within 10 dB or less between smartphone audiometry and manual audiometry. There was a significant difference (p>0.05) between smartphone and manual audiometry for the right ear at 4 and 8 kHz and the left ear at 2 and 4 kHz respectively. No significant difference was noted (p>0.05) between test and re-test measures of smartphone technology except at 4kHz in the right ear in smartphone automated audiometry. The absolute average difference between the initial and re-test of DIN testing was 1.2 dB (1.5 SD). No significant difference was noted in the test re-test measures of the DIN test (p < vii 0.05). A correlation coefficient of 0.56 was present in the DIN test re-test measures when the Spearman rank correlation test was administered. Smartphone audiometry with calibrated headphones provides reliable results and can be used as a baseline and monitoring tool at ID clinics. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / MA / Unrestricted

Perception of dichotic chords (free recall and directed recall), nonsense syllables (CVs), and three-pair digits was assessed on 24 musicians and 24 nonmusicians. On the dichotic-CV and dichotic-digit free-recall tasks, there was a significant right-ear advantage, but there were no group differences. With the dichotic-chords, free-recall condition, a significant left-ear advantage was observed but no group difference. For the dichotic-chords, directed-recall conditions, the musicians performed significantly better by 10 percent than the nonmusicians. Unexpectedly, for the dichotic chords, the 62-72 percent correct performances were better on the free-recall condition than the 42-55 percent performances on the directed-recall conditions. These differences between the two response modes were attributed to the difficulty of the dichotic-chord listening tasks and the probabilities associated with the closed-set response paradigms. The findings suggest that the dichotic-chord paradigm used in this study should not be included in clinical protocols used to assess auditory perceptual abilities.

Dichotic listening was evaluated in free-recall and directed-recall (pre-cued, post-cued) response conditions using interleaved one-, two-, and three-pair dichotic digit materials. In the free-recall condition, the subjects recalled in any order the digits presented. In the directed-recall condition, a response task was examined where subjects recalled all digits presented to the cued ear (pre- or post-cued) followed by the digits presented to the opposite (non-cued) ear. Thirty 20- to 29-year-old adults with normal hearing and 30 60- to 79-year-old adults with mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss were evaluated. In all conditions, performance by the younger listeners was better than performance by the elderly listeners. As the difficulty of the dichotic digit task increased, recognition performance decreased. The recognition performance of elderly listeners was more affected by increases in the difficulty of the stimulus materials as compared to the younger listeners. In the free-recall condition, there was a right-ear advantage for both age groups. When instructional bias was imposed, the results favored the ear of instructed bias. The differences in recognition performance between young and elderly listeners likely reflect differences in the difficulty of the dichotic digit test conditions and variations in the demand on auditory memory.

Background: Current recommendations for osteoarthritis of the metacarpophalangeal joint (MCPJ) are confined to implant arthroplasty to preserve joint motion and provide pain relief. This study documents the median 2-year results of a novel soft tissue arthroplasty technique that interposes the dorsal capsule. Methods: A retrospective review of 10 MCPJ dorsal capsule interposition arthroplasties in 8 patients was conducted. Physical evaluation assessed MCPJ range of motion (ROM), grip strength, and pain. Outcome tests used were the Michigan Hand Outcome Score, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH). Kellgren and Lawrence Classification assessed severity of MCPJ osteoarthritis on preoperative radiographs. Results: The mean follow-up was 29 months from surgery. Average VAS was 2/10 postoperatively and average postoperative ROM improved 7 degrees. Average postoperative grip strength of the surgical hand was 30 kg. The QuickDASH average score was 24. Average Michigan Hand Questionnaire final score was 70. Patients with Kellgren Grades 2 or 3 osteoarthritis had the best QuickDASH and Michigan Hand Outcome scores. All patients working before surgery returned to work. No patient required a second surgery. Conclusion: This technique of dorsal capsule interposition arthroplasty provides a viable surgical option for isolated degenerative or traumatic arthritis of the MCPJ at an average follow-up of 2 years. Pain relief was most reliably provided in patients with less severe radiograph findings. The advantages of this procedure include preservation of bony anatomy, collateral ligaments, and volar plate to not preclude later implant arthroplasty.

This dissertation explores how the subcultural practice of liquid dance emerged from US rave culture and continues to sustain itself and evolve in today’s era of social media and EDM festival culture. I draw upon the concept of flow as a lens to trace the historical, aesthetic, digital, social and subcultural trajectory of liquid dance. I analyze how this subculture continues to evolve through individual practice, as well as how dance is shared through online and live dance exchange. My dissertation consists of seven chapters that provide both academic and practitioner perspectives of liquid dance. My research methods combine a multidisciplinary approach to implementing semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and digital archival research. My fieldwork consists of interviewing fourteen liquid practitioners, as well as conducting ethnographic research at an EDM festival where liquid dancers annually attend and participate. The purpose of this project is twofold. One, to contribute new knowledge to the field of dance studies on the specific dance genre of liquid, which up until now has not been documented in this field. Two, to provide a space for practitioners to openly share their perspectives in a collaborative effort to produce new knowledge. From the beginning, it has been my intention to produce a dissertation that provides the foundation for a continuing series of academic discussions from which to draw upon for further, future research and critical engagement with liquid dance. This document may also be used as a template for scholars across disciplines to deploy as a lens to analyze and critique other subcultural dance practices within the continuum of rave, club and dance music festivals. / Dance

In recent years, computational neuroscientists have suggested that human behaviour, including perception, occurs in a manner consistent with Bayesian inference. According to the Bayesian ideal observer model, the observer combines cues from multiple sensory streams as a weighted average based on each cue’s reliability. Most cue-combination research has focused on integration of cues between sensory modalities or within the visual modality. Cue combination within the tactile modality has been relatively rarely studied, and it is still not known whether cues from individual digits combine optimally. In this thesis, we use the ideal observer model to determine whether cues from three different digits are combined optimally. We predicted that cues from multiple digits would be combined according to the optimal cue combination model. To test our hypothesis, we devised a two-interval forced choice (2IFC) task where participants had to discriminate the distal/proximal location of a 1-mm thick edge across the fingerpad(s) of the index (D2), middle (D3), and ring (D4) fingers. We used a Bayesian adaptive method, the ψ method, to compute participants’ psychometric functions for single-digit (D2, D3, and D4) and multiple-digit (D23, D24, D34, and D234) conditions. We determined the stimulus level ∆x, the distance (mm) between the distal and proximal stimuli locations, at 76% correct probability. This distance corresponds to a sensitivity index d'=1 and is the σ value of the participant’s stimulus measurement distribution. We then used the single-digit σ values to predict optimal cue combination for the multiple-digits combinations. We did not observer optimal cue-combination between the digits in this study. We outline potential implications the results of this experimental have on determining how the nervous system combines cues between digits, focusing on theoretical and experimental updates to the experiment that might result in the observation of optimal cue combination between digits. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

L'objet de cette thèse est l'étude de certaines propriétés arithmétiques et combinatoires de la fonction somme des chiffres. Nous commençons par étudier les sommes d'exponentielles de la forme $dissum_{nleq x}expleft(2ipileft(frac{l}{m}S_q(n)+frac{k}{m'}S_{q}(n+1)+theta nright)right)$ en vue de montrer un résultat d'équirépartition modulo $1$ et un théorème probabiliste d'ErdH{o}s-Kac. Ensuite, on va généraliser un problème dû à Gelfond concernant l'étude de la répartition dans les progressions arithmétiques de la fonction somme des chiffres au cas des nombres ellipséphiques. En particulier, on donne un théorème analogue à celui d'Erdös, Mauduit et S'arközy sur l'uniforme répartition des entiers ellipséphiques dans les progressions arithmétiques sous une contrainte sur la somme des chiffres. Enfin, une étude de l'ordre moyen de certaines fonctions arithmétiques soumises à des contraintes digitales est faite en conséquence des travaux de Mkaouar et Wannès. / The aim of this thesis is the study of some arithmetic and combinatoric properties of the sum of digits function. We start by the study of exponential sums of the form $dissum_{nleq x}expleft(2ipileft(frac{l}{m}S_q(n)+frac{k}{m'}S_q(n+1)+theta nright)right)$ in order to establish a result of equidistribution modulo $1$ in addition to a probabilistic theorem of the kind ErdH{o}s-Kac. Then, we generalize a problem due to Gelfond concerning the distribution in residue classes of the sum of digits function in the case of integers with missing digits. Besides, we give a similar result to that of ErdH{o}s, Mauduit and S'ark"{o}zy on the uniform distribution of integers with missing digits in arithmetic progressions under a constraint on the sum of digits. Finally, a study of the order of magnitude of some arithmetical functions under digital constraints is done as a consequence of the works of Mkaouar and Wannès.