One of the most important parameters of speech is the fundamental frequency of vibration of voiced sounds. The audio sensation of the fundamental frequency is known as the pitch. Depending on the tonal/non-tonal category of language, the fundamental frequency conveys intonation, pragmatics and meaning. In addition the fundamental frequency and intonation carry speaker gender, age, identity, speaking style and emotional state. Accurate estimation of the fundamental frequency is critically important for functioning of speech processing applications such as speech coding, speech recognition, speech synthesis and voice morphing. This thesis makes contributions to the development of accurate pitch estimation research in three distinct ways: (1) an investigation of the impact of the window length on pitch estimation error, (2) an investigation of the use of the higher order moments and (3) an investigation of an analysis-synthesis method for selection of the best pitch value among N proposed candidates. Experimental evaluations show that the length of the speech window has a major impact on the accuracy of pitch estimation. Depending on the similarity criteria and the order of the statistical moment a window length of 37 to 80 ms gives the least error. In order to avoid excessive delay as a consequence of using a longer window, a method is proposed ii where the current short window is concatenated with the previous frames to form a longer signal window for pitch extraction. The use of second order and higher order moments, and the magnitude difference function, as the similarity criteria were explored and compared. A novel method of calculation of moments is introduced where the signal is split, i.e. rectified, into positive and negative valued samples. The moments for the positive and negative parts of the signal are computed separately and combined. The new method of calculation of moments from positive and negative parts and the higher order criteria provide competitive results. A challenging issue in pitch estimation is the determination of the best candidate from N extrema of the similarity criteria. The analysis-synthesis method proposed in this thesis selects the pitch candidate that provides the best reproduction (synthesis) of the harmonic spectrum of the original speech. The synthesis method must be such that the distortion increases with the increasing error in the estimate of the fundamental frequency. To this end a new method of spectral synthesis is proposed using an estimate of the spectral envelop and harmonically spaced asymmetric Gaussian pulses as excitation. The N-best method provides consistent reduction in pitch estimation error. The methods described in this thesis result in a significant improvement in the pitch accuracy and outperform the benchmark YIN method.

The design of a mooring system for a floating structure is a significant challenge; the choice of line structure and layout determine highly non-linear hydrodynamic behaviors that, in turn, influence the dynamics of the whole system. The difficulty is particularly acute for Self-Reacting Point Absorber Wave Energy Converters (SRPA WEC) as these machines rely on their movements to extract useful power from wave motions and the mooring must constrain the SRPA WEC motion without detracting from power production. In this thesis this topic has been addressed in an innovative way and new ideas on how these devices should be moored were investigated. As part of the study, an optimization routine was implemented to investigate the optimal mooring design and its characteristics. In this process, different challenges were faced. To evaluate the different mooring configurations, a high fidelity representation of the system hydrodynamics is necessary which captures the non-linearities of the system. Unfortunately, high-fidelity modeling tends to be very computationally expensive, and for this reason previous studies based mooring design largely relies on simplified representations that only reflect part of the mooring design space since some physical and hydrodynamic properties are dropped. In this work, we present how a full hydrodynamic time domain simulation can be utilized within a Metamodel-Based Optimization to better evaluate a wider range of mooring configurations spanning the breadth of the full design space. The method uses a Metamodel, defined in terms of the mooring physical parameters, to cover the majority of the optimization process a high fidelity model is used to establish the Metamodel in a pre-processing stage. The method was applied to a case study of a two-body heaving SRPA WEC. Survivability constrains where introduce into the model using a new statistical approach which reduces the execution time, and allowed the optimization routine. The analysis results lead to the conclusion that for SRPA WEC the mooring loads have a significant impact on how the body reacts with the waves, affecting both the energy that enter the system as well as the energy that is extracted as power. This implies that, in some cases, the mooring lines need to be considered in early stages of the designs as opposed to an afterthought, as is typically done. Results indicate that an optimal mooring design can result in a 26% increase in total annual power production. In addition, the mooring lines impact on mitigating parasitic pitch and roll were analyzed. It was established that in regular waves, the mooring lines can reduce the parametric excitations and improve the power extraction up to 56% for a particular sea state. By applying a computationally efficient iterative design approach to a device's mooring, parasitic motions and suboptimal device operation can be reduced, ultimately making WECs a more competitive source of energy. / Graduate / 0346 / 0537 / 0548 / 0547 / jortiz@uvic.ca

Reverse thrust operations of a model scale Contra-Rotating Open Rotor design were numerically modelled to produce individual rotor thrust and torque results comparable to experimental measurements. The aims of this research were to develop an understanding of the performance and aerodynamics of open rotors during thrust reversal operations and to establish whether numerical modelling with a CFD code can be used as a prediction tool given the highly complex flowfield. A methodology was developed from single rotor simulations initially before building a 3D‘frozen rotor’ steady-state approach to model contra-rotating blade rows in reverse thrust settings. Two different blade pitch combinations were investigated (β1,2 =+30°,- 10° and β1,2 =-10°,-20°). Thrust and torque results compared well to the experimental data and the effects of varying operating parameters, such as rpm and Mach number, were reproduced and in good agreement with the observed experimental behaviour. The main flow feature seen in all the reverse thrust cases modelled, both single rotor and CROR, is a large area of recirculation immediately downstream of the negative pitch rotor(s).This is a result of a large relative pressure drop region generated by the suction surfaces of the negative pitch blades. An initial 3D unsteady sliding-mesh calculation was performed for one CROR reverse thrust case. The thrust and torque values were in poor agreement with experimental values and the disadvantages relating to time costs and required computational resources for this technique were illustrated. However, the results did yield a nominal unsteady variation of thrust and torque due to rotor phase position. Overall the work shows that it may be possible to develop a CROR reverse thrust prediction tool of beneficial quality using CFD models. The research also shows that the frozen rotor approach can be adopted without undermining the fidelity of the results.

The purpose of this study was to determine the pitch and intensity level characteristics found in the vibrati of preferred oboe players whose vibrato was ranked by a panel of experts. The investigation also sought to discover factors that distinguish the preferred oboe vibrato from vibrato that is less preferred.

The purpose of this study is to examine the pitch content and compositional techniques of Takemitsu's recent solo piano works, which have not been analyzed by Koozin, and to trace the evolution of his techniques in his solo piano works during his career. It also discusses how Takemitsu projects his philosophy and aesthetics of musical composition through Western musical idioms.

Title: Analysis of baseball pitch Objectives: describe the aktivity of muscles during the baseball pitch, regular throw, front throw and throw without using left arm in baseball by surface electromyograpgy, compare the baseball pitch and other throw during a movement Methods: surface electromyography, videorecord Results: on the basis of analysis, i can assert, the aktivity of muscles during a baseball pitch is different in aktivity and also in intensity from other hindes of throw Keywords: baseball, electromyography, baseball pitch, overhead throw, regular throw, front throw, throw without left arm Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

This study describes tripper car operators’ exposure to coal tar pitch volatiles at an operation at Coal Distribution Steam Plant that involves the use of coal tar mix to feed as fuel the steam generating boilers. A cross-sectional task-based exposure assessment approached was used. The objectives of this study were to monitor tripper car operators’ exposures to coal tar pitch volatiles as benzene soluble fraction and to then compare the measured concentrations with the occupational exposure limit. The general aim of the study was to accumulate data about employee exposure to coal tar pitch volatiles in South African Petrochemical Refineries. A total of 56 samples was collected and analyzed for coal tar pitch volatiles – benzene soluble fraction. Of the 56 samples, 41 were personal samples collected on the breathing zones of the workers and 15 samples were field blank samples. The method used for the collection of the samples was the United States Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration Method 58. In South Africa the available occupational exposure limit for coal tar pitch volatiles is the time weighted average occupational exposure limit – recommended limit for cyclohexane soluble fraction which is 0.14 mg/m3. For the evaluation of personal exposure to compare with the occupational exposure limit, the UK Health & Safety Executive Method for the Determination of Hazardous Substances (MDHS) 68 was adopted in the past to monitor workplace air. This method was since withdrawn by the Health & Safety Executive after research conducted by the Health & Safety Laboratory revealed that unacceptable variability were introduced into the method due to the small mass changes involved and the difficulty in accurately weighing the filters before and after the cyclohexane extraction. Due to the unavailability of a suitable and acceptable method to assess workers’ exposure to coal tar pitch volatiles – cyclohexane soluble fraction to compare to the South African occupational exposure limit, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration Method Number 58 was used during this study for the collection of the samples. This is a validated method. This method follows a similar approach as the MDHS 68 however benzene is used instead of cyclohexane during sample extraction. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration have the permissible exposure limit of 0.2 mg/m3 for coal tar pitch volatiles – benzene soluble fraction to use when assessing worker exposure. This limit was used during this study for assessing tripper car exposure to coal tar pitch volatiles. No coal tar pitch volatiles were detected on the samples collected during the study. The results revealed concentrations below detection limit of the test laboratory analytical method. The detection limit used thereof was 0.1 mg per sample. The tripper car operators were therefore exposed to coal tar pitch volatiles at concentrations that complied with the permissible exposure limit 0.2 mg/m3. The hypothesis of this study was that the tripper car operators at Coal Distribution Steam Plant are over exposed to coal tar pitch volatiles – benzene soluble fraction. This hypothesis is therefore rejected. Based on the results derived from this study it is recommended that further research studies be conducted specifically with focus on different methods of exposure assessment to workers exposed to coal tar pitch volatiles in South African Petrochemical Refinery Plants. - ii - Since the method used was limited to the particulate phase of the contaminant exposure, with the gaseous phase of exposure to coal tar pitch volatiles only looked at when the PEL is exceeded. A method that can measure both the gaseous and particulate phase of the contaminant must be investigated.

Esta dissertação investiga o comportamento do acento nos compostos do idioma japonês. Os compostos do japonês falado em Tóquio apresentam apenas um acento, ou queda tonal H*L, por frase fonológica. Isso faz com que não se possa manter os acentos que estariam originalmente nas palavras simples. Apenas um acento sobrevive e seu local é de difícil determinação, porque, na maioria das vezes, não coincide com o local do acento anterior. Muitos linguistas já se debruçaram sobre esse tópico (McCAWLEY, 1965; SAITOU, 1997; KUBOZONO, 2001; TANAKA, 2001; LABRUNE, 2012) e com o auxílio dessas diferentes pesquisas, conseguimos estabelecer que diversos fatores influenciam no processo de acentuação dos compostos, especialmente aspectos morfológicos e fonológicos, como a fronteira de palavra e o pé fonológico. Assim, a acentuação do japonês não é determinada por cada membro do composto, mas pela distância em que a fronteira entre os membros está da margem direita da palavra. / This dissertation investigates the behavior of the accent of Japanese compounds. Compounds in Tokyo Japanese only have one accent, or pitch drop H*L, in a phonological phrase. Therefore, it cannot maintain the accent of the simple words which make it up. Only one accent survives and its location is hard to determine, because, most of the time, it does not coincide with the location of the previous accents. Many linguists have tackled this topic (McCAWLEY, 1965; SAITOU, 1997; KUBOZONO, 2001; TANAKA, 2001; LABRUNE, 2012) and with the help of these different analyses, we established that several factors influence the accentuation of a compound, especially morphological and phonological aspects, such as word boundary and phonological feet. Thus, the accentuation of Japanese compounds is not determined by each member of the compound in particular, but from the distance that the boundary between the compound \'s member is from the right margin of the word.

Allen Forte's theory of pitch-class set structure has provided useful tools for discovering structural relationships in atonal music. As valuable as set—theoretic procedures are for composers and analysts, the extent to which set relationships are perceptible by the listener largely remains to be investigated. This study addresses the need for aural-perceptual considerations in analysis, reviews related research in music perception, and poses questions concerning the aural perceptibility of set relationships. Specifically, it describes and presents the results of a computer-assisted experiment in testing the perceptibility of set-equivalency relationships.

Syftet med denna undersökning är fortsätta försöka ta reda på hur stora och små ändringar i pitch kan påverka lyssnarnas uppfattning av en melodi i termer såsom munterhet och exaltering. Denna undersökning baseras på en tidigare gjord studie inom området fast denna gång inom en annan musikgenre vilket är popmusik. Det mest intressanta resultatet är att respondenternas svar har visat på att även små förändringar i pitch på enbart 48 cents verkar ha påverkat uppfattningen av musiken. Denna undersökning bidrar till att fortsätta utveckla förståelsen för hur olika pitch i en melodi kan komma att uppfattas av lyssnarna och uppmuntrar till fortsatt forskning inom området.