Thesis (Ph. D.)--Princeton University, 1972. / Typescript. "This essay and the composition '91 plus 5' together constitute the dissertation." Includes bibliographical references (leaf 79).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Princeton University, 1985. / This essay and the composition "Clarinet Quartet" together constitute the dissertation but are otherwise unrelated. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [123]-139 (vol. 1)) and index.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by impaired socialisation. The current project examines the hypothesis that ASD represents a broad range of distinct disease processes typified by environmental insult(s) during a period crucial for the development of any of the systems responsible for social integration skills, sharing simply the fundamental disruption to social functioning with various, definable systemic pathologies related to the initial insult conferring the heterogeneity of the condition. ASD will therefore have both modifiable environmental factors relating to the aetio-pathogenesis of the condition and likely, remediable disease processes. Following an examination of the relevant literature this project presents the Variable Insult Model of Autism. As part of a wider research strategy, this project goes on to explore potential modifiable environmental factors in patients with ASD.Zinc deficiency was explored as a potential environmental modifiable factor involved in the pathophysiology of autism and co-morbid disease. 72 patients with ASD were compared with 234 non-ASD controls. Mean serum zinc levels in the ASD group vs. the control group were 10.01 umol/l (SD 1.52 umol/l) vs. 11.61 umol/l (SD 2.14 umol/l, with a statistically significant difference - p < 0.0001, CI 1.2 – 2.1). The findings withstood correction for age and sex, and zinc did not correlate with diet or supplement use in the ASD group. Total lymphocyte count increased as zinc increased in the ASD group with zinc levels of 10.5 umol/l or above, suggesting zinc status is poor in patients with autism and this is affecting immune function. Urinary metabolomics, quantitative PCR stool analysis and autonomic function were also explored in ASD, as biomarkers of systemic disease processes presenting potential modifiable factors. The urinary organic acids of 49 patients were analysed versus population norms. 90% of patients with ASD had at least one abnormality. A follow-up study of 122 patients revealed succinic acid and 2-hydroxyhippuric acid were significantly raised in the ASD group versus population means (p = < 0.0001 and < 0.0001 respectively). Quantitative PCR analysis was conducted on 29 patients with autism versus 7 age-matched controls. Firmicutes to Bacteriodetes ratio was significantly elevated in the autism group versus the controls 69:41 (SD 8) vs. 54:46 (SD 8) (p < 0.003). A follow-up study of 143 patients and 12 controls showed consistent abnormalities in the composition of firmicutes and bacteriodetes (p = 0.005) and this withstood correction for age and sex (p = 0.009), suggesting an on-going abnormality in gut flora composition in the ASD-cohort. Autonomic profiles were available in 45 patients with ASD. There was marked variability in vagal tone, however in 11 patients with ASD who had both autonomic profile and qPCR stool analysis there was suggestion of a positive correlation between vagal tone and microflora composition (represented by firmicutes to bacteriodetes ratio) (p < 0.003).In summary, evidence suggests there are modifiable environmental factors associated with the aetiology, pathophysiology and disease evolution in ASD, and this is worthy of further consideration and investigation. From the preliminary results presented here, zinc status is poor in ASD and may be affecting immune function; gut flora abnormalities appear common and may be affecting neurological function in ASD.

abstract: Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) are soft sounds generated by the inner ear and can be recorded within the ear canal. Since OAEs can reflect the functional status of the inner ear, OAE measurements have been widely used for hearing loss screening in the clinic. However, there are limitations in current clinical OAE measurements, such as the restricted frequency range, low efficiency and inaccurate calibration. In this dissertation project, a new method of OAE measurement which used a swept tone to evoke the stimulus frequency OAEs (SFOAEs) was developed to overcome the limitations of current methods. In addition, an in-situ calibration was applied to equalize the spectral level of the swept-tone stimulus at the tympanic membrane (TM). With this method, SFOAEs could be recorded with high resolution over a wide frequency range within one or two minutes. Two experiments were conducted to verify the accuracy of the in-situ calibration and to test the performance of the swept-tone SFOAEs. In experiment I, the calibration of the TM sound pressure was verified in both acoustic cavities and real ears by using a second probe microphone. In addition, the benefits of the in-situ calibration were investigated by measuring OAEs under different calibration conditions. Results showed that the TM pressure could be predicted correctly, and the in-situ calibration provided the most reliable results in OAE measurements. In experiment II, a three-interval paradigm with a tracking-filter technique was used to record the swept-tone SFOAEs in 20 normal-hearing subjects. The test-retest reliability of the swept-tone SFOAEs was examined using a repeated-measure design under various stimulus levels and durations. The accuracy of the swept-tone method was evaluated by comparisons with a standard method using discrete pure tones. Results showed that SFOAEs could be reliably and accurately measured with the swept-tone method. Comparing with the pure-tone approach, the swept-tone method showed significantly improved efficiency. The swept-tone SFOAEs with in-situ calibration may be an alternative of current clinical OAE measurements for more detailed evaluation of inner ear function and accurate diagnosis. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Speech and Hearing Science 2012

The chief objective of this dissertation is the description of tone realization differences in Hanoian and Saigonese dialects based on a representative sample of recorded material, with special focus on read monologue and semi-spontaneous conversational speech. The research discusses mainly issues of tone production but it is complemented by a section on tone perception in form of a perception test. The theoretical background in Section 2.1. describes the topic of tonality and tonal languages in general. Section 2.2. is devoted to the description of the Vietnamese language and attention is specifically paid to tonal inventories of both researched dialects. Tonogenesis is mentioned on a general level as well as in the Vietnamese language in particular. Chapter 3 introduces the research methodology, namely the speaker selection, speech material preparation and recording, data extraction and preparation for the analyses and the perception test. Chapter 4 is divided into three sections. Section 4.1. speaks about tone realizations in isolation and carefully preselected context. Its goal is to investigate the behaviour of tonal contours influenced by as few variables as possible. The results should be comparable to the findings of previously conducted studies. Section 4.2. strives to assess data from a...

Life Cycle is a modern musical composition written for chamber orchestra. Life Cycle is scored for flute, clarinet, electric guitar, viola, cello, glockenspiel, vibraphone, marimba and drum kit. This composition is composed in four movements, each representing a different phase of the composer's musical life-journey. Life Cycle infuses elements and techniques from the Classical idiom with jazz, pop and rock idioms.

Objetivo: Comparar a fala, o tônus e as mobilidades dos lábios, da língua e da mandíbula de usuários de prótese total em diferentes períodos de adaptação. Método: Foram avaliados quanto aos aspectos de fala, tônus e mobilidades dos lábios, da língua e da mandíbula, quarenta usuários de prótese total (grupo experimental) e quarenta sujeitos com dentição natural (grupo controle). O grupo experimental foi dividido em três sub amostras, de acordo com o tempo de uso da prótese, a saber, um mês, seis meses e 12 meses. Resultados: Há maior dificuldade das mobilidades dos lábios, da língua e da mandíbula e maior alteração de tônus muscular orofacial em usuários de próteses há 12 meses, tanto na comparação entre os dois grupos, quanto entre as sub amostras do grupo experimental; piores resultados para a fala automática são observados em usuários de prótese há seis meses, ao contrário da nomeação, coordenação motora da fala e fala espontânea, que são aos 12 meses de uso da prótese. Estes resultados ocorreram novamente, tanto na comparação entre os grupos experimental e controle, quanto na comparação das sub amostras do grupo experimental entre si. Conclusões: Os dados obtidos neste estudo demonstraram que usuários de prótese total há 12 meses apresentam maior dificuldade para as mobilidades dos lábios, da língua e da mandíbula, para o tônus muscular orofacial e para a fala, que aqueles que têm um ou seis meses de tempo de uso. / Objective: To compare speech, tonus and mobility of lips, tongue and jaw denture wearers in different periods of adaptation. Methods: We evaluated the aspects of speech, tonus and mobility of lips, tongue and jaw, forty denture wearers (experimental group) and forty subjects with natural teeth (control group). The experimental group was divided into three sub samples, according to the time of fitting, ie one month, six months and 12 months. Results: There is increased difficulty of mobility of the lips, tongue and jaw and greatest change in muscle tone in orofacial prosthesis users for 12 months in the comparison between the two groups, and between the sub experimental samples; worse results for Automatic speech are seen in hearing aid users for six months, as opposed to the appointment, coordination of speech and spontaneous speech, which are at 12 months of fitting. These results were again, in the comparison between the experimental and control groups and in the comparison of experimental samples under each other. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that denture wearers is the most difficult 12 months for the mobility of the lips, tongue and jaw, for orofacial muscle tone and speech, that those who have one or six months time of use.

04.01.17 abstract.txt 1 file:///home/misa/Desktop/dp/abstract.txt The primary purpose of this thesis is to determine criteria for a high- dynamic range (HDR) image viewer accented by computer graphics artists and other users who work with HDR images produced by physically-based renderers on a daily basis. Also an overview of already existing solutions is present. Based on both of them, a new HDR viewer is designed and implemented giving an emphasis on its memory and performance efficiency. For these purposes two alternative image data layouts, Array-of-Structures (AoS) and Structure-of-Arrays (SoA), are discussed and their impact is measured on the speed of an algorithm for changing image saturation which has been selected as a representative part of whole tone mapping process of the viewer. It has turned out that the latter type of layout allows the algorithm to run about 3 times faster or more under the conditions of a defined testing environment. The thesis has two main contributions. First it gives the above users a tool which could help them when working with HDR images. Second it indicates that there may be a potential of significant speed-up of implementations of tone mapping algorithms.

Introduction: Bantu languages, such as Tswana, are tone languages which use syllabic tone variation to convey word meaning. Vocal pathologies may affect vocal fold control that is required to vary syllabic tone. A person with a voice disorder could therefore be misperceived due to inability to effectively vary tone. Aim: To develop and validate a Tswana minimal pair word list for the assessment of tone production and tone perception, and to determine whether a voice disorder in a first language (L1) Tswana-speaker influences the accuracy of tone perception by typical L1 Tswana-speaking individuals. Method: A word list of 45 Tswana words, with accompanying pictures and sentences were compiled and validated by means of three pilot studies. Based on the results of the pilot studies the word list was narrowed down to 16 minimal pairs. Data were collected from a control group (9 typical L1 Tswana-speaking individuals) and an experimental group (5 L1 Tswana-speaking individuals with voice disorders). Participants from both groups produced the target words and a recording of each word production was judged by a listeners’ panel of five typical L1 Tswana-speaking judges. Results: Typical L1 Tswana listeners did not achieve 100% accuracy in a tone perception task. The mean scores of the control speakers ranged between 71% and 98%. The experimental group participants’ scores were lower although not significantly lower (p=0.109), ranging between 61% and 90%, compared to the scores of the control group. The experimental participant, who obtained the lowest mean score (61%), presented with a severe primary organic voice disorder. Conclusion: Not all typical speakers were able to produce word-level tone variation that makes word identification possible in a single-word context. Although no significant difference was found between the results of the two groups, indications are that a voice disorder could negatively impact syllabic tone variation. / Dissertation (MCommunication Pathology)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / MCommunication Pathology / Unrestricted

The 1961 Hammer horror film, The Curse of the Werewolf, paired innovative make-up and set design with the avant-garde music of Benjamin Frankel (1906-1973). Frankel’s concert works had by this time embraced serialism, but The Curse of the Werewolf was his sole attempt at composing an almost entirely serial film score. This music more fully bridged the divide between the continental modernist practices found in his concert works with more conventional film music techniques. Thus, The Curse of the Werewolf’s score represents a crucial point in Frankel’s broader creative development as a composer who increasingly embraced twelve-tone methods in his concert works. Drawing from historical surveys, analytical scholarship, journal articles, and Frankel’s own writings, this thesis provides historical context surrounding Frankel’s life and involvement with the film. Most importantly, this study examines Frankel’s implementation of serialism in The Curse of the Werewolf’s score and its relation to the film’s visual and narrative components. I examine three pivotal scenes through traditional film music analysis combined with twelve-tone analysis. These analyses show how Frankel pairs motives with onscreen characters and situations while still embracing serial methods. This study sheds light on serialism’s application in film through the work of an overlooked British composer.