Solo Voice Detection Via Optimal Cancellation

Automatically identifying sections of solo voices or instruments within a large corpus of music recordings would be useful, for example, to construct a library of isolated instruments to train signal models. We consider several ways to identify these sections, including a baseline classifier trained on conventional speech features. Our best results, achieving frame level precision and recall of around 70%, come from an approach that attempts to track the local periodicity of an assumed solo musical voice, then classifies the segment as a genuine solo or not on the basis of what proportion of the energy can be canceled by a comb filter constructed to remove just that periodicity

Characterization of the singing voice from polyphonic recordings

In order to study the singing voice, researchers have traditionally relied upon lab-based experiments and/or simplified models. Neither of these methods can reasonably be expected to always capture the essence of true performances in environmentally valid settings. Unfortunately, true performances are generally much more difficult to work with because they lack precisely the controls that lab setups and artificial models afford. In particular, true performances are generally polyphonic, making it much more difficult to analyze individual voices than if the voices can be studied in isolation. This thesis approaches the problem of polyphony head on, using a time-aligned electronic score to guide estimation of the vocal line characteristics. First, the exact fundamental frequency track for the voice is estimated using the score notes as guides. Next, the harmonic strengths are estimated using the fundamental frequency information. Third, estimates in notes are automatically validated or discarded based on characteristics of the frequency tracks. Lastly, good harmonic estimates are smoothed across time in order to improve the harmonic strength estimates. These final harmonic estimates, along with the fundamental frequency track estimates, parameterize the essential characteristics of what we hear singers' voices. To explore the potential power of this parameterization, the algorithms are applied to a real data consisting of five sopranos singing six arias. Vowel modification and evidence for the singer's formant are explored

Listening comprehension in academic lectures : a focus on the role of discourse markers

Increasing involvement with students at the University of Namibia has indicated their overall difficulty with comprehending and recalling information from oral content lectures. It has also been observed that in general very little attention is given to the development of listening skills in L2 ESP and EAP courses. For this study, I conducted a quasi-experiment to determine whether the recognition and interpretation of discourse markers will enhance students' listening comprehension in academic lectures. Students were tested to determine their comprehension of content information in a video-taped lecture. Qualitative data were collected by means of a questionnaire. After an intervention period of eight weeks, where the experimental group received strategy training in the recognition and interpretation of discourse markers in spoken texts, both groups were again tested. Their results were statistically compared. I also looked at related findings of other researchers. Finally, aspects for possible future research will also be considered.English StudiesMA - (Specialisation in TESOL

A cultural change to enable improved decision-making in forensic science: a six phased approach

There has been an increased engagement by researchers in understanding the decision-making processes that occur within forensic science. There is a rapidly growing evidence base underpinning our understanding of decision-making and human factors and this body of work is the foundation for achieving truly improved decision-making in forensic science. Such an endeavour is necessary to minimise the misinterpretation of scientific evidence and maximize the effectiveness of crime reconstruction approaches and their application within the criminal justice system. This paper proposes and outlines a novel six phased approach for how a broadening and deepening knowledge of decision-making in forensic science can be articulated and incorporated into the spheres of research, practice, education, and policy making within forensic science specifically, and the criminal justice system more generally. Phases 1 and 2 set out the importance of systematic examination of the decisions which play a role throughout forensic reconstruction and legal processes. Phase 3 focuses on how these decisions can, and should, be studied to understand the underlying mechanisms and contribute to reducing the occurrence of misleading decisions. Phase 4 highlights the ways in which the results and implications of this research should be communicated to the forensic community and wider criminal justice system. Lastly, the way in which the forensic science domain can move forwards in managing the challenges of human decision-making and create and embed a culture of acceptance and transparency in research, practice and education (learning and training) are presented in phases 5 and 6. A consideration of all 6 connected phases offers a pathway for a holistic approach to improving the transparency and reproducibility of decision making within forensic science

We, of the Banyan tree : traditions of origin of the Alune of West Seram

Several small communities of Alune and Wemale shifting cultivators are established in the upland region of 'Wele Telu, the 'Three Large Rivers' of West Seram in eastern Indonesia. Although the centralised state regards these peripheral desa as marginal, this is not the view of the people themselves. Comparatively more isolated than the coastal communities, the mountain 'domains' (hena, inama, anakota) claim to have preserved a traditional relationship to their land and their ancient mode of affiliation and marriage alliances. Each domain forms a social, territorial, religious and political unit which is still relatively autonomous. In the past, mountain and coastal domains participated in a larger federative ceremonial order which did not bar them from also competing for hegemony and taking part in conflicting alliances, warfare, or head-hunting raids against one another. In the middle of the 17th century, to secure total control of the clove growing industry, the Dutch East Indies Company (VOC) dismantled the ruling system of Luhu, the largest political ally of Temate on west Seram, and entirely depopulated the peninsula. For two centuries thereafter inland Seram did not attract much foreign attention. When outsiders began recording the history of 'Wele Telu a century ago, the region had already changed drastically. Colonial policies, whose aims were full administrative control and subordination of the population, were forcefully implemented. The ceremonial and political federative orders of the Kakehan and the Saniri were banned and mountain settlements subjected to a complete re-configuration. Focusing on the Alune mountain domain of Manusa Manuwey (Hena Ma'saman.uey), this thesis explores how contemporary highland communities have preserved their traditional knowledge and adapted their socio-cultural practices to successive tumultuous historical change. The history of groups and domains is recounted in topogenies. The social knowledge embedded in these ordered sequences of sacred places/events is the warrant of the origin of these groups and the chronicle of all matters of renown in which they take pride. Topogenies also establish peoples' codes of social behaviour and their relation to the environment. They are the records of groups' rights, precedence and duties and a living register of the intricate network of relations between them. The origin structures of Manusa Manuwey examined in this thesis, situate the domain in an inner and central position in its region. It is a female centre, the 'source'/'core' (uwei) which 'distributed' (sama) the heirlooms generating wealth and fecundity, to the coastal groups as they 'departed' or came to settle at the domain's periphery. Non-localised named origin groups among both Alune and Wemale are called nuru. Alune nuru perpetuate themselves by reference to a genitor line of derivation, Wemale by reference to a genitrix one. Large nuru set forth 'branches' (sanai) over the whole region, establishing 'Houses' (luma) in the domains of both territories. Residency determines the linguistic affiliation and mode of derivation of these units. In Alune the notion of origin is encapsulated in the term uwei, (wei or wey) which conflates the ideas of 'origin', 'base', 'cause', 'centre' and 'source of continuity'. Notions of relative precedence within and between groups are expressed in metaphorical idioms. Within large nuru, 'branches' arrange themselves in a variable order of precedence linguistically constructed by using complementary categories such as 'ahead/behind' ('older'/'younger') or male/female. This is a loose and changeable precedence subjected to social competition. In Alune domains, earlier settlers take precedence over those who came afterward; they usually control larger sections of land and most positions of authority. However, prior establishment is insufficient to maintain these positions. Since large groups of settlers are better fitted to increase their status. a group of newcomers may gain renown for itself, expand in number, enter in strategic alliances and enhance its prestige, hence becoming an 'elder' nuru in that domain. Alune nuru are strictly exogamous. As they enter in relationships of exchange and alliances, Houses give precedence to bride-giving progenitors over their progeny, a relationship described in Alune terms as that of 'granary mother' to 'female child'. This relationship may be repeated, reversed or severed and new alliances initiated, challenging the previous order of precedence at each generation. Progenitors 'feed' and 'fecundate' their progeny. a ritual duty that parallels that of the ancestors. Social reproduction of groups was formerly secured by 'fecundating rituals' that are now prohibited. According to Alune elders. the present celebrations and exchanges of prestations are a mere token of the large celebrations of the past. Yet these ritual celebrations of food still keep the blessings flowing from the world of the Sky to the world of the Earth

Use of Schema on Read in Earth Science Data Archives

Traditionally, NASA Earth Science data archives have file-based storage using proprietary data file formats, such as HDF and HDF-EOS, which are optimized to support fast and efficient storage of spaceborne and model data as they are generated. The use of file-based storage essentially imposes an indexing strategy based on data dimensions. In most cases, NASA Earth Science data uses time as the primary index, leading to poor performance in accessing data in spatial dimensions. For example, producing a time series for a single spatial grid cell involves accessing a large number of data files. With exponential growth in data volume due to the ever-increasing spatial and temporal resolution of the data, using file-based archives poses significant performance and cost barriers to data discovery and access. Storing and disseminating data in proprietary data formats imposes an additional access barrier for users outside the mainstream research community. At the NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Data Information Services Center (GES DISC), we have evaluated applying the schema-on-read principle to data access and distribution. We used Apache Parquet to store geospatial data, and have exposed data through Amazon Web Services (AWS) Athena, AWS Simple Storage Service (S3), and Apache Spark. Using the schema-on-read approach allows customization of indexing spatially or temporally to suit the data access pattern. The storage of data in open formats such as Apache Parquet has widespread support in popular programming languages. A wide range of solutions for handling big data lowers the access barrier for all users. This presentation will discuss formats used for data storage, frameworks with This presentation will discuss formats used for data storage, frameworks with support for schema-on-read used for data access, and common use cases covering data usage patterns seen in a geospatial data archive

The Value of Data and Metadata Standardization for Interoperability in Giovanni Or: Why Your Product's Metadata Causes Us Headaches!

Giovanni is a data exploration and visualization tool at the NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Data Information Services Center (GES DISC). It has been around in one form or another for more than 15 years. Giovanni calculates simple statistics and produces 22 different visualizations for more than 1600 geophysical parameters from more than 90 satellite and model products. Giovanni relies on external data format standards to ensure interoperability, including the NetCDF CF Metadata Conventions. Unfortunately, these standards were insufficient to make Giovanni's internal data representation truly simple to use. Finding and working with dimensions can be convoluted with the CF Conventions. Furthermore, the CF Conventions are silent on machine-friendly descriptive metadata such as the parameter's source product and product version. In order to simplify analyzing disparate earth science data parameters in a unified way, we developed Giovanni's internal standard. First, the format standardizes parameter dimensions and variables so they can be easily found. Second, the format adds all the machine-friendly metadata Giovanni needs to present our parameters to users in a consistent and clear manner. At a glance, users can grasp all the pertinent information about parameters both during parameter selection and after visualization

Investigation of intervertebral disc degeneration using multivariate FTIR spectroscopic imaging

Traditionally tissue samples are analysed using protein or enzyme specific stains on serial sections to build up a picture of the distribution of components contained within them. In this study we investigated the potential of multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) to deconvolute 2nd derivative spectra of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microscopic images measured in transflectance mode of goat and human paraffin embedded intervertebral disc (IVD) tissue sections, to see if this methodology can provide analogous information to that provided by immunohistochemical stains and bioassays but from a single section. MCR-ALS analysis of non-degenerate and enzymatically in vivo degenerated goat IVDs reveals five matrix components displaying distribution maps matching histological stains for collagen, elastin and proteoglycan (PG), as well as immunohistochemical stains for collagen type I and II. Interestingly, two components exhibiting characteristic spectral and distribution profiles of proteoglycans were found, and relative component/tissue maps of these components (labelled PG1 and PG2) showed distinct distributions in non-degenerate versus mildly degenerate goat samples. MCR-ALS analysis of human IVD sections resulted in comparable spectral profiles to those observed in the goat samples, highlighting the inter species transferability of the presented methodology. Multivariate FTIR image analysis of a set of 43 goat IVD sections allowed the extraction of semi-quantitative information from component/tissue gradients taken across the IVD width of collagen type I, collagen type II, PG1 and PG2. Regional component/tissue parameters were calculated and significant correlations were found between histological grades of degeneration and PG parameters (PG1: p = 0.0003, PG2: p < 0.0001); glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content and PGs (PG1: p = 0.0055, PG2: p = 0.0001); and MRI T2* measurements and PGs (PG1: p = 0.0021, PG2: p < 0.0001). Additionally, component/tissue parameters for collagen type I and II showed significant correlations with total collagen content (p = 0.0204, p = 0.0127). In conclusion, the presented findings illustrate, that the described multivariate FTIR imaging approach affords the necessary chemical specificity to be considered an important tool in the study of IVD degeneration in goat and human IVDs