27 research outputs found
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Tension-driven Automatic Music Generation
The Ancient Greeks are one of the first civilisations we know of to have created algorithms to compose music. Since then, algorithmic techniques have vastly improved with increasingly sophisticated computers. In the last two decades, much research in this area has focused on two goals: designing algorithms which generate music as close as possible to that of human composers and implementing those algorithms to automatically generate music in interactive scenarios, such as video games.
To meet these goals, automatically generated music should:
- focus on higher-level concepts, such as musical tension,
- have long-term structure, and
- be able to adapt to changes in real time.
Combining these three requirements is, however, a challenging task. This dissertation investigates three steps to overcome this challenge. First, we argue that Lerdahl’s model of musical tension is suited to the automatic generation of tonal music that has long-term structure and that matches a given tension profile. By means of an illustrative example, we review Lerdhal’s model and implement a novel computational system to automate it. Second, we show that an effective generation strategy is to combine statistical methods with both rule-based methods and generative grammars to create a music generation system. Third, we implement the system and evaluate it through a collection of computational tests and empirical studies.
Our evaluation shows that:
(1) the system works effectively in real time, as long as the input tension profiles do not contain too many steep transitions,
(2) the hierarchical structure perceived by listeners matches the patterns intended by the system in the generated music, and
(3) tension-changing input profiles are accurately matched by the generated music
Coherence-Based Resilience Effects on Antenatal Autonomic Nervous System Stress Markers Controlled
AbstractAntenatal stress disrupts autonomic nervous system (ANS) equilibrium within the neuro-cardio-utero-placental (NCUP) structure perpetuating treatable conditions of depressive-based gestational hypertension disorders. The present ANS-based study of the NCUP system investigated the effect of coherence-based stress resilience (CBSR) post-4-week intervention. This quasi-experimental research design involved experimental (n = 8) and waitlist control (n = 3) conditions. Controlling for pretest values, quantitative pre-post methodology was used to assess the effect of CBSR to evaluate change in variables. Resultant of small sample size, significant findings are considered tentatively. Heart rate variability (p = 0.044), dehydroepiandrosterone/ dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (p = 0.142), Pregnancy Experience Scale (p = 0.155), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (p = 0.171), positive reappraisal (p = 0.117), systolic (p = 0.102) and diastolic (p = 0.084) maternal blood pressure (MBP) yielded statistical significance (p \u3c .20) for pre-post variables and large substantive significance. Stress index (p = 0.068), parasympathetic (p = 0.149) and sympathetic (p = 0.015) nervous systems, and low frequency (p = 0.185) yielded statistical significance for pre-post variables and large substantive significance. The current study supports prior findings that higher sympathetic and lower parasympathetic control may increase MBP of gestational hypertensive disorders such as preeclampsia. Continued study of noninvasive treatment for gestational hypertension, stress, and depression is imperative because a generational feedback loop of sequential depression is connected with the leading cause of antenatal death. Consequently, NCUP equilibrium resultant of CBSR is positive social change for global generations
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Decentralised computer systems
The architecture of the Web was designed to enable decentralised exchange of information. Early architects envisioned an egalitarian yet organic society thriving in cyberspace. The reality of the Web today, unfortunately, does not bear out these visions: information networks have repeatedly shown a tendency towards consolidation and centralisation with the current Web split between a handful of large corporations.
The advent of Bitcoin and successor blockchain networks re-ignited interest in developing alternatives to the centralised Web and paving a way back to the earlier architectural visions for the Web. This has led to immense hype around these technologies with the cryptocurrency market valued at several hundred billions of dollars at the time of writing. With great hype, apparently, come great scams. I start off by analysing the use of Bitcoin as an enabler for crime and then present both technical solutions as well as policy recommendations to mitigate the harm these crimes cause.
These policy recommendations then lead us on to look more closely at cryptocurrency's tamer cousin: permissioned blockchains. These systems, while less revolutionary in their premise, nevertheless aim to provide sweeping improvements in the efficiency and transparency of existing enterprise systems. To see whether they work in practice, I present the results of my work in delivering a production permissioned blockchain system to real users. This involves comparing several permissioned blockchain systems, exploring their deficiencies and developing solutions for the most egregious of those.
Lastly, I do a deep dive into one of the most persistent technical issues with permissioned blockchains, and decentralised networks in general: the lack of scalability in their consensus mechanisms. I present two novel consensus algorithms that aim to improve upon the state of the art in several ways. The first is designed to enable existing permissioned blockchain networks to scale to thousands of nodes. The second presents an entirely new way of building decentralised consensus systems utilising a trie-based data structure at its core as opposed to the usual linear ledgers used in current systems
Monitoring and Managing the Offloading, Physical Activity Engagement and Fall Risk of Persons with Diabetic Foot Disease
This thesis integrates a series of previously published papers centring around three
interrelated themes addressing the complex relationship between diabetic foot ulcers
(DFU) and physical activity engagement. The three foci of the thesis include: 1)
‘offloading’ DFU via specialized footwear that limit the application of physical stress
to ulcers during weight bearing activity in order to promote healing; 2) monitoring and
managing physical activity engagement of both patients at risk for DFU and patients
with active DFU; 3) the heightened risk of falls in individuals at risk for DFU. A
cohesive underlying foundation of the body of work contained within this thesis is an
effort to help care providers and patients achieve better physical activity profiles.
Offloading diabetic feet refers to the redistribution of physical stress away from sites
at risk for or with active DFU. Thus, it is important to both prevent DFU but also to
heal active DFU. This thesis includes two publications pertaining to the objective
measurement of patient adherence to offloading modalities as well as two
publications regarding the biomechanical assessment of devices used to offload
DFU. The need for offloading is necessitated by the fact that individuals with DFU
engage in weight bearing physical activity that can inflict physical trauma beyond the
tolerance of the soft tissue of their feet, however, the relationship between physical
activity and the formation as well as healing of DFU is not fully understood. A series
of five publications concerning physical activity within patients with, or at risk for DFU
are included in this thesis: two focus on improved monitoring of physical activity and
three focus on safely increasing physical activity engagement. Due to a number of
interconnected factors, individuals at risk for DFU are also at high risk for falling.
The final three publications included in this thesis are devoted to falls risk
Formation of media competence as means of influence on emotional, cognitive, and volitional development of personality
The article analyzes the state of modern education, actualizes
the need for its qualitative changes and priorities, new requirements for the
organization of innovative educational activities of schoolchildren. Theoretical research of scientists on media competence and media socialization
of students is analyzed. The essence of concepts «media competence of
the student» and «media socialization» is deepened based on the reviewed
literature. The article dwells on contradictions as factors of socio-psychological and educational problems, which indicate the understanding of the
advantages and disadvantages of the usage of media in the learning process.
It also researches the dependence of the world perception of high school
students on their presentation of information. The authors highlight the
advantages and disadvantages of using media in the learning process, the
dependence of students’ perception of the world on its representation by
television, cinema, magazines, newspapers, radio and the Internet. Pedagogical approaches and conditions of successful formation of media competence of students, and which make it possible to create a favorable learning environment for emotional, cognitive, volitional development of young
people are proposed. The essence and structure of media competence is characterized. The methodical system of high school students’ media competence formation for acquiring moral orientations is researched. The stages
of the organization of the formation of media competence of students are
defined. It is stated that during the formation of students` media competence
a significant role is played by the consideration of methodological and technological factors. To prepare modern students for life in society, we also
need to consider his individual qualities, abilities, willingness to use media
technologies, solve practice-oriented, research and creative tasks, take into
account the peculiarities of perception of media texts by teenagers. The
formation of students’ key competencies requires certain innovations in the
educational process. It should be organizational content and technological
innovations. Therefore, it is necessary not to abandon the media, but to
teach the child to consume media products consciously, distinguishing real
values from fake ones. Thus, there is an urgent need for further development of media education. Modern media open wide opportunities in the
field of education, changing the quality of education and upbringing, the
quality of daily life of the child. We conclude that the creation of an integrated system of media education, the formation of the young generation’s
media literacy and media competence contributes not only to their comprehensive development, but also allow to use variety of motives, knowledge,
skills, abilities, and attitudes to information. It also promotes the usage of
media competence, methods of collection and processing of information,
the use of creative abilities in creation of media texts and their evaluation,
the manifestation of citizenship and critical thinking. The components, criteria, indicators and levels of formation of media competence, which allow
to influence the comprehensive development of students, to avoid negative
influence due to purposeful manipulation of media and distortion of messages by them, are established. The use of innovative types of work for the
acquisition of media competence by students is suggested
Reproductive outcomes in women with low ovarian reserve
The number of women with low ovarian reserve seeking fertility treatment is increasing, due to advancing maternal age at conception. Women with low ovarian reserve have a low IVF success rate. This thesis aims to increase our understanding of women with low ovarian reserve, their reproductive outcomes and their reproductive physiology. The evidence is synthesised using two systematic reviews, a prospective cohort study, a retrospective analysis of data and two qualitative studies. The main findings are:
1. Low ovarian reserve, quantified by AFC, AMH and FSH, is associated with low live birth rates and incidences of pregnancy loss after assisted reproduction.
2. There is inter-cycle variation in AFC, AMH and FSH in women. In this cohort, FSH and AFC appear to have a higher magnitude of variation in comparison to AMH.
3. There is inter-cycle variation in AFC, AMH and FSH in women with low ovarian reserve.
4. Clinicians find treating women with low ovarian reserve challenging. Women with low ovarian reserve are unaware of their low IVF success rates and there is cultural and religious stigma about the acceptance of egg donation. Both clinicians and women with low ovarian reserve express willingness to take part and support research studies
Sexual dimorphism and quality of voice across the menstrual cycle
Dosadašnja istraživanja su potvrdila postojanje niza ponašajnih promjena žene u
plodnom periodu menstrualnog ciklusa, čija je svrha privlačenje adekvatnog partnera.
Uočene promjene različitih aspekata ponašanja su regulirane fluktuirajućom prirodom razine
spolnih hormona. Nedavno su istraživači počeli proučavati i promjene glasa u različitim
fazama ciklusa. Glas se može dovesti u vezu sa spolnim hormonima jer su na sluznici glasnica
pronađeni receptori za spolne hormone. Istraživanja potvrđuju da je glas žene privlačniji u
plodnom razdoblju, što ukazuje da može biti pokazatelj biološki važnih karakteristika.
Međutim, u dosadašnjim istraživanjima nisu identificirane specifične akustičke značajke
glasa koje se mijenjaju tijekom menstrualnog ciklusa i doprinose povećanju privlačnosti glasa
u plodnom razdoblju.
Pažnja istraživača je uglavnom usmjerena na spolno dimorfne značajke glasa po
kojima se razlikuje muški i ženski glas. Tek manji broj istraživača ispituje promjene značajki
kvalitete glasa, koje također mogu biti regulirane spolnim hormonima. Nadalje, uočene su
različite metode identificiranja faza ciklusa, što otežava usporedbu dosadašnjih nalaza. Osim
toga, analiza glasa se provodi na uzorcima izgovora samoglasnika i besmislenih fraza, koje
nisu dio svakodnevne komunikacije. Polazeći od pretpostavke da promjene glasa tijekom
menstrualnog ciklusa imaju adaptivnu funkciju privlačenja potencijalnog partnera, glas je
potrebno proučavati upravo u tom kontekstu.
Slijedom navedenog, cilj ovog istraživanja je bio ispitati promjene spolno dimorfnih
značajki i značajki kvalitete glasa tijekom menstrualnog ciklusa. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo
48 sudionica s prirodnim ciklusom i 20 korisnica hormonalne kontracepcije. Glas sudionica
je snimljen u tri faze menstrualnog ciklusa: u menstrualnoj, kasnoj folikularnoj i lutealnoj
fazi. Faze ciklusa kod sudionica s prirodno reguliranim ciklusom su određene metodom
brojanja dana ciklusa unaprijed uz potvrdu ovulacije testom za identificiranje naglog porasta
razine luteinizirajućeg hormona. U svakoj fazi ciklusa glas je snimljen u kontrolnoj situaciji
izgovaranja samoglasnika te u zadatku predstavljanja. Sudionice su se predstavljale
muškarcima i ženama, čije se lice razlikovalo u stupnju muževnosti, odnosno ženstvenosti.
Sudionice su također procjenjivale privlačnost osoba kojima su se predstavljale. Akustičkom
analizom glasa su u računalnom programu Praat izračunate prosječne vrijednosti spolno
dimorfnih značajki glasa te značajki kvalitete glasa. Rezultati analiza glasa u kontrolnoj situaciji pokazuju da je stabilnost glasa kod
sudionica s prirodnim ciklusom nešto veća u fazama ciklusa karakteriziranim povišenim
razinama spolnih hormona. Također je utvrđena veća ženstvenost glasa u plodnom razdoblju,
dok su najniže vrijednosti intenziteta glasa dobivene u lutealnoj fazi ciklusa. Kod sudionica
koje koriste hormonalnu kontracepciju nisu utvrđene promjene značajki glasa u različitim
fazama ciklusa. Usporedbom glasa dviju skupina sudionica, pokazano je da sudionice s
prirodnim ciklusom imaju generalno ženstveniji glas, što je posebice izraženo u plodnom
periodu. Također, dobivena je veća kvaliteta njihovog glasa u menstrualnoj i kasnoj
folikularnoj fazi.
Rezultati analize glasa u situacijama predstavljanja drugim osobama tijekom različitih
faza ciklusa pokazuju da su sudionice s prirodnim ciklusom imale tendenciju predstavljanja
ženstvenijim glasom i glasnije ženstvenom nego muževnom muškarcu u svim fazama ciklusa.
Također su se u plodnom razdoblju predstavljale glasnije ženstvenom muškarcu nego ženi, a
sudionice koje su bile u vezi su producirale i nešto ženstveniji glas. U skupini sudionica koje
su bile u vezi je također utvrđena nešto niža ženstvenost glas u situaciji predstavljanja
muževnom muškarcu nego ženi, ali samo u lutealnoj fazi ciklusa. Navedeni nalazi se mogu
objasniti utvrđenom većom privlačnosti ženstvenih muškaraca u ovom istraživanju te ukazuju
na mehanizam privlačenja potencijalnog partnera, koji je kod sudionica u vezi bio izraženiji
u plodnom razdoblju. Nadalje, promjene minimalne fundamentalne frekvencije glasa tijekom
menstrualnog ciklusa pokazuju da su se sudionice u plodnom razdoblju ženstvenoj ženi
predstavljale dominantnijim glasom, dok male promjene varijabiliteta fundamentalne
frekvencije ukazuju da su povećavale privlačnost vlastitog glasa u plodnom periodu. Ovi su
rezultati objašnjeni aktivacijom mehanizma unutarspolnog natjecanja.
U skupini sudionica koje koriste hormonalnu kontracepciju generalno nisu utvrđene
promjene glasa u situacijama predstavljanja muževnim muškarcima i ženama između
različitih faza ciklusa. Dobiveni nalazi ukazuju da su promjene opažene u skupini sudionica
s prirodnim ciklusom regulirane fluktuacijom spolnih hormona tijekom menstrualnog
ciklusa. Uzimajući u obzir dobivene promjene spolno dimorfnih značajki i značajki kvalitete
glasa, u zaključku se može kazati da dobiveni rezultati ovog istraživanja upućuju na važnost
ispitivanja glasa unutar definiranog socijalnog konteksta.Previous studies showed various changes in women's behavior across the menstrual
cycle. During their fertile period, women reported an increased preference for male masculine
traits, extra-pair sexual interests and fantasies, tendency to flirt with an attractive man, to
wear more revealing clothes and attractive make-up. Beside changes in behavior, studies
showed changes in some physical characteristics, with female face, odour, and gait being
more attractive in the fertile period. It is assumed that these changes represent an adaptation
with the purpose of finding an adequate partner and enhancing the genetic quality of the
offspring. It is proposed that these changes are regulated by the fluctuations of sex hormone
levels across the cycle. Receptors for sex hormones have been found on the vocal folds, thus
suggesting a link between hormone levels and vocal fold function. Increased estrogen levels
result in thickening of the laryngeal mucosa and increased mucus production, while increased
progesterone levels result in drying of the laryngeal mucosa. These physiological changes
might cause changes in voice production, as well as in voice quality and perceived
attractiveness.
Indeed, previous studies showed that attractiveness ratings of women's voices varied
across the menstrual cycle, with higher ratings for voice recordings made in fertile phase. It
was also found that women with feminine faces have more feminine and attractive voices.
Moreover, studies showed that women tend to change their voice when interacting with an
attractive man. This implies that voice is a valuable source of biologically important
information, such as women's fertility status and reproductive value. However, attempts to
identify specific acoustic characteristics that convey that information produced mixed results.
There are several methodological aspects to consider in explaining inconsistent
findings. Most of the researchers focused on investigating changes of sexually dimorphic
vocal features, such as fundamental frequency and its variability, while less focus has been
placed on assessing features that signal vocal quality, such as perturbation measures (jitter
and shimmer). Furthermore, the methods used to identify cycle phases vary between studies,
and most researchers relied on self-report methods to identify the fertile cycle phase. In
addition, in most of the studies, women's voice was recorded during read speech or phonation
of vowel, numbers, and sentences with no context. Those voice samples cannot represent a
natural variation of vocal characteristics that could be present in everyday communication.
Considering this, vocal changes across the cycle should be investigated during real or
simulated communication. Assuming that vocal changes across the ovulatory cycle represent an adaptation to attract potential mates, voice changes should be explored in a social context
in which they actually might occur – mating context.
Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate sexually dimorphic vocal
features and quality of voice during simulated interaction of women and other men and
women. Interaction was simulated in different phases of the menstrual cycle among women
with natural cycle and users of hormonal contraceptives.
The voices of 48 women with natural cycle and 20 users of hormonal contraception
were obtained in menstrual, late-follicular and luteal phase. Cycle phases were identified by
counting method and luteinizing hormone surge confirmation in the mid-cycle. In each cycle
phase, voice was recorded in a neutral situation of vowel production. In order to examine
vocal changes in a simulated social interaction, women had a task to introduce themselves
and leave a voice message for masculine and feminine versions of prototypical male and
female faces, which were presented on a screen in a random order. After they recorded four
messages, they rated the attractiveness of prototype faces. Voice samples were analyzed using
Praat, in which sexually dimorphic vocal characteristics, as well as vocal quality was
measured.
With regard to the control situation and vowel recordings, the results showed greater
vocal stability (lower fundamental frequency variability) among women with natural cycle in
cycle phases with higher sex hormone levels (late-follicular and luteal phase), compared to
the menstrual phase. Based on the changes in minimum fundamental frequency values,
women had more feminine voice in the late-follicular phase compared to the rest of the cycle.
In addition, voice intensity was the lowest in the luteal phase, probably because of the lower
activation levels in a cycle phase with high levels of progesterone. Among users of hormonal
contraception, there were no voice changes across the cycle.
Comparison of the two groups of women revealed that the natural cycle group had
higher formant dispersion. Naturally cycling women also had higher values of harmonics to
noise ratio, but only in menstrual and late-follicular phase, which implies greater vocal
quality. Absence of differences between the groups in luteal phase might be due to the
similarity of their hormonal profiles in this phase.
Analysis of voice recordings obtained during a message recording to feminine and
masculine man and woman showed that women with natural cycle had a tendency to speak
with more feminine voice (higher fundamental frequency) and a greater voice intensity when
leaving a message for feminine, compared to masculine man. This result was found regardless
of the cycle phase. Moreover, women had greater voice intensity in fertile period when leaving a message for a feminine man, compared to feminine women. In the same phase,
women who were in a relationship had a bit higher fundamental frequency in the same
situation. Greater vocal femininity and intensity directed to a feminine man is in line with the
attractiveness ratings obtained in this study, which showed that feminine man was more
attractive than masculine. These results imply vocal modulation with the purpose of attracting
a potential mate, which was more pronounced in a fertile period among naturally cycling
women who were in a relationship.
Furthermore, changes in the minimum fundamental frequency showed that women in
a fertile period produced less feminine voice directed to feminine woman, compared to the
rest of the menstrual cycle. This might imply dominance signaling to an attractive rival when
the probability of conception is high. Moreover, small changes in fundamental frequency
variability showed that women increased attractiveness of their own voice when leaving a
message for an attractive feminine woman in fertile period. These results could also be
explained in the context of intrasexual competition.
Among users of hormonal contraception, no vocal changes in different cycle phases
were found. Results obtained in this study imply that voice changes among women with
natural cycle are regulated by sex hormone levels.
To sum up, hormonal regulation of vocal changes in a control situation might be
related to the direct effects of hormones on the vocal cords, or indirect effects of hormones
on activation and arousal. These results are in line with the proposed proximal causes of vocal
changes across the menstrual cycle. Moreover, vocal changes during message recordings for
feminine and masculine man and women in various cycle phases imply a regulating role of
the sex hormones in activating behaviors directed towards the potential mate and the potential
rival. Those behaviors include voice modulation in a way to appear more attractive or
dominant. In addition, these behaviors appear to be more pronounced among women who
were in a relationship.
The results of this study also point out the importance of investigating vocal changes
across the cycle in a defined social context