Multiple regression model for soundscape perception in urban open spaces based on ex-situ experiments with audios from 27 localities

Soundscape is an essential environmental element affecting people's experience in urban open spaces. In the complex mechanism of soundscape perception, the acoustic characteristics of the soundscape are the primary influencing factor. Herein, we used ISO 12913 soundscape indicators to carry out auditory perception experiments on typical soundscape materials recorded from 27 urban open spaces. The principal indicators pleasantness and eventfulness were calculated from the evaluation results of 68 participants. They were then taken individually to perform multiple regression with factors including psychoacoustic, physical acoustics indicators, the significance of various sound source types, and other indicators characterizing the sound composition. The results showed that: 1) The regression model for pleasantness (Ad R2= 0.703, F=21.48) showed that the significance of bird sounds contributed positively, and the significance of mechanical sounds and the level of S95 in the environment have a negative impact. 2) The regression model for eventfulness (Ad R2=0.676, F=19.05) showed that the number of significant sound sources and the level of F50 in the environment contributed positively. Simultaneously, the significance of mechanical sounds has a negative impact

Mandarin Chinese translation of the ISO-12913 soundscape attributes to investigate the mechanism of soundscape perception in urban open spaces

This study is part of a global collaboration to translate the soundscape attributes proposed in ISO/TS 12913-2:2018, which aims to standardise soundscape research globally. Cross-referencing results from two independent expert panels produced a set of eight soundscape attributes that were subsequently experimentally verified, forming a reliable questionnaire for soundscape characterisation in Mandarin Chinese. Employing the as-developed questionnaire, ex situ auditory-only soundscape perception experiments were carried out with 27 soundscape recordings from urban open spaces in the United Kingdom. The soundscape perception scale was used to evaluate participants' experiences, which were then projected into two dimensions of soundscape perception, pleasantness and eventfulness, following protocols from ISO 12913-3:2019. Physical and psychoacoustic parameters, as well as the characteristics of the sound sources, were extracted from the recordings. These parameters were used together to describe the soundscape characteristics of the recordings. Principal component analysis revealed that, when individuals are exposed to urban open spaces, the salient sound source becomes the foreground focus of attention, informing them to perceive the soundscape. Beyond this, perception stimulation is further based on the acoustic characteristics of the soundscape. Regression analysis investigated factors for pleasantness and eventfulness. For pleasantness, the overall S95 had a significant negative effect while birdsong was beneficial. With regard to eventfulness, mechanical sound had a detrimental impact, while the number of salient sound source types and the overall F50 had a positive impact. Furthermore, this study founds that certain types of sound sources make the sound more recognisable as a foreground sound, thereby stimulating perception, while others may be ignored as background sounds but still contribute to the perception through their acoustic characteristics

The Goldilocks Effect of Strategic Human Resource Management? Optimizing the Benefits of a High-Performance Work System Through the Dual Alignment of Vertical and Horizontal Fit

Although vertical and horizontal fit in strategic human resource management are foundational to the links between a high-performance work system (HPWS) and organizational performance, little is known about how these two fits interact to affect organizational performance. We address this shortcoming while also advancing knowledge on each type of fit. We offer a more nuanced examination of vertical fit (which has typically been assessed with respect to organizations\u27 broad strategic types) by focusing on the alignment of an HPWS with an organization\u27s market entry timing mode—a key element of strategy. We propose that among organizations pursuing new product development, the effect of an HPWS on organizational performance is most positive under a fast-follower entry timing, followed by a first-mover and finally a fence-sitter entry timing. We then hypothesize that the benefit of vertical fit is magnified when the complementary human resources practices comprising an HPWS are implemented with greater internal consistency (or with similar intensities) across the ability, motivation, and opportunity domains—reflecting a positive interaction between vertical and horizontal fit in predicting the effectiveness of an HPWS. Analyses of four-wave nationally representative panel data yield strong support for our dual-alignment model of SHRM

Adaptive Learning Pedagogy in UDL and Multi-Modal Training

Currently, most learning methods are based on classroom teaching through unidirectional communication using boards or slides. However, the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) asserts that the students can increase their performance if the instructors can provide the students with diversified information representation, expression, and engagement means. Although UDL minimizes the mismatch between the teaching and learning styles, we lack the detailed methods to implement the UDL and its associated multi-modal training methods in the context of air traffic control candidates and/or technical operators. We propose an approach that adapts the Index of Learning Styles (ILS) based on four categories: perception, input, processing, and understanding. Tailored to air traffic control candidates, we show how the adapted ILS framework can be used to (1) map the UDL principles (associated with multi-modal training methods) with the ILS outcomes using specific examples, (2) assess the teaching and learning styles of instructors and students, and (3) provide possible approaches to address any mismatch and/or ways to enhance the teaching materials. The developed approach will be used as a framework to investigate whether and how we would be able to enhance the air traffic control candidates’ performances at the FAA academy

Photo collage-based photograph display system on mobile computing platform

In the last few decades, mobile computing platform technology has grown rapidly, as observed from smart phones that have quickly become ubiquitous. The mobile computing platform is the most widely used platform in our life today, and digital photographs captured through these devices have become routine for most people. In this study, we propose a novel artistic method for displaying photographs in mobile devices as a photo collage. Using our system, users can view a representative photograph as a collage of photographs associated with a certain event and access each of photographs individually. To implement this, we employ centroidal Voronoi diagram to obtain an even distribution of tiles, and use the sites as the location of tiles. We use the edge avoidance technique to prevent tiles from being located across the edges. To obtain the direction of tiles that follow near a strong edge, we employ the Edge tangent Flow field and use the field as the directions of tiles. Finally, we search for photographs that best match the tiles calculated above by using a thumbnail difference metric

Adaptive Learning Pedagogy of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) for Multimodal Training

Traditionally, students or trainees usually receive training through a unidirectional instructional approach that can lack interactive activities or through a single material source in classrooms. Therefore, it is possible that some trainees might encounter a sink-or-swim situation if they are not able to understand the materials presented during classroom lectures nor execute correct procedures during laboratory sessions with time-intensive training. To address this issue, the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) asserts that trainees can increase their performance if instructors can provide the trainees with diversified means of information representation, expression opportunities, and engagement means. However, we lack the framework on how to adapt and integrate the process of evaluating the trainees’ learning styles with the UDL principles, especially in the context of time-intensive tasks such as air traffic control training. In this article, we propose an adapted framework that (1) utilizes the Index of Learning Styles (ILS) based on categories such as perception, input, processing, and understanding, (2) maps the UDL methods with the ILS outcomes, and (3) provides possible approaches to address any issues with the teaching materials. The developed approach might be used to investigate whether and how we could enhance the air traffic trainees’ performances at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Academy with minimum need to elongate the training time. The proposed approaches were benchmarked with a small group of qualified Aviation students at the University of Oklahoma who are preparing for the FAA training program to see whether we could find ways to support their learning styles given the time and resource constraints. This preliminary research provides a foundation to improve our approaches when we investigate the learning styles of the trainees’ at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Academy in the near future

Thermoelectric power of MgB2−x_{2-x}Bex_x

We investigated thermoelectric power $S(T)$ of MgB$_{2-x}$Be$_{x}$ ($x=0$, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.6). $S(T)$ decreases systematically with $x$, suggesting that the hole density increases. Our band calculation shows that the increase occurs in the $\sigma$-band. With the hole-doping, $T_{c}$ decreases. Implication of this phenomenon is discussed within the BCS framework. While the Mott formula explains only the linear part of $S(T)$ at low temperature, incorporation of electron-phonon interaction enables us to explain $S(T)$ over wide temperature range including the anomalous behavior at high temperature.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure