Gestural communication of music structure during solo classical piano performance

The production and perception of music is a multimodal activity involving auditory, visual and conceptual processing, integrating these with prior knowledge and environmental experience. Musicians utilise expressive physical nuances to highlight salient features of the score. The question arises within the literature as to whether performers’ non-technical, non-sound-producing movements may be communicatively meaningful and convey important structural information to audience members and co-performers. In the light of previous performance research (Vines et al., 2006, Wanderley, 2002, Davidson, 1993), and considering findings within co-speech gestural research and auditory and audio-visual neuroscience, this thesis examines the nature of those movements not directly necessary for the production of sound, and their particular influence on audience perception. Within the current research 3D performance analysis is conducted using the Vicon 12- camera system and Nexus data-processing software. Performance gestures are identified as repeated patterns of motion relating to music structure, which not only express phrasing and structural hierarchy but are consistently and accurately interpreted as such by a perceiving audience. Gestural characteristics are analysed across performers and performance style using two Chopin preludes selected for their diverse yet comparable structures (Opus 28:7 and 6). Effects on perceptual judgements of presentation modes (visual-only, auditory-only, audiovisual, full- and point-light) and viewing conditions are explored. This thesis argues that while performance style is highly idiosyncratic, piano performers reliably generate structural gestures through repeated patterns of upper-body movement. The shapes and locations of phrasing motions are identified particular to the sample of performers investigated. Findings demonstrate that despite the personalised nature of the gestures, performers use increased velocity of movements to emphasise musical structure and that observers accurately and consistently locate phrasing junctures where these patterns and variation in motion magnitude, shape and velocity occur. By viewing performance motions in polar (spherical) rather than cartesian coordinate space it is possible to get mathematically closer to the movement generated by each of the nine performers, revealing distinct patterns of motion relating to phrasing structures, regardless of intended performance style. These patterns are highly individualised both to each performer and performed piece. Instantaneous velocity analysis indicates a right-directed bias of performance motion variation at salient structural features within individual performances. Perceptual analyses demonstrate that audience members are able to accurately and effectively detect phrasing structure from performance motion alone. This ability persists even for degraded point-light performances, where all extraneous environmental information has been removed. The relative contributions of audio, visual and audiovisual judgements demonstrate that the visual component of a performance does positively impact on the over- all accuracy of phrasing judgements, indicating that receivers are most effective in their recognition of structural segmentations when they can both see and hear a performance. Observers appear to make use of a rapid online judgement heuristics, adjusting response processes quickly to adapt and perform accurately across multiple modes of presentation and performance style. In line with existent theories within the literature, it is proposed that this processing ability may be related to cognitive and perceptual interpretation of syntax within gestural communication during social interaction and speech. Findings of this research may have future impact on performance pedagogy, computational analysis and performance research, as well as potentially influencing future investigations of the cognitive aspects of musical and gestural understanding.

Sistema de animação de personagens virtuais para comunicação não verbal

O principal objectivo da animação de personagens virtuais é o de contar uma história através da utilização de personagens virtuais emocionalmente expressivos. Os personagens têm personalidades distintas, e transmitem as suas emoções e processos de pensamento através dos seus comportamentos (comunicação não verbal). As suas acções muitas das vezes constituem a geração de movimentos corporais complexos. Existem diversas questões a considerar quando se anima uma entidade complexa, tais como, a posição das zonas móveis e as suas velocidades. Os personagens virtuais são um exemplo de entidades complexas e estão entre os elementos mais utilizados em animação computacional. O foco desta dissertação consistiu na criação de uma proposta de sistema de animação de personagens virtuais, cujos movimentos e expressões faciais são capazes de transmitir emoções e estados de espírito. Os movimentos primários, ou seja os movimentos que definem o comportamento dos personagens, são provenientes da captura de movimentos humanos (Motion Capture). As animações secundárias, tais como as expressões faciais, são criadas em Autodesk Maya recorrendo à técnica BlendShapes. Os dados obtidos pela captura de movimentos, são organizados numa biblioteca de comportamentos através de um grafo de movimentos, conhecido por Move Tree. Esta estrutura permite o controlo em tempo real dos personagens através da gestão do estado dos personagens. O sistema possibilita também a transição eficaz entre movimentos semelhantes e entre diferentes velocidades de locomoção, minimizando o efeito de arrastamento de pés conhecido como footskate. Torna-se assim possível definir um trajecto que o personagem poderá seguir com movimentos suaves. Estão também disponíveis os resultados obtidos nas sessões de avaliação realizadas, que visaram a determinação da qualidade das transições entre animações. Propõem-se ainda o melhoramento do sistema através da implementação da construção automática do grafo de movimentos.

Quantitative comparison of reconstruction methods for intra-voxel fiber recovery from diffusion MRI.

Validation is arguably the bottleneck in the diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) community. This paper evaluates and compares 20 algorithms for recovering the local intra-voxel fiber structure from diffusion MRI data and is based on the results of the "HARDI reconstruction challenge" organized in the context of the "ISBI 2012" conference. Evaluated methods encompass a mixture of classical techniques well known in the literature such as diffusion tensor, Q-Ball and diffusion spectrum imaging, algorithms inspired by the recent theory of compressed sensing and also brand new approaches proposed for the first time at this contest. To quantitatively compare the methods under controlled conditions, two datasets with known ground-truth were synthetically generated and two main criteria were used to evaluate the quality of the reconstructions in every voxel: correct assessment of the number of fiber populations and angular accuracy in their orientation. This comparative study investigates the behavior of every algorithm with varying experimental conditions and highlights strengths and weaknesses of each approach. This information can be useful not only for enhancing current algorithms and develop the next generation of reconstruction methods, but also to assist physicians in the choice of the most adequate technique for their studies.

Modelling of weather radar echoes from anomalous propagation using a hybrid parabolic equation method and NWP model data

Contamination of weather radar echoes by anomalous propagation (anaprop) mechanisms remains a serious issue in quality control of radar precipitation estimates. Although significant progress has been made identifying clutter due to anaprop there is no unique method that solves the question of data reliability without removing genuine data. The work described here relates to the development of a software application that uses a numerical weather prediction (NWP) model to obtain the temperature, humidity and pressure fields to calculate the three dimensional structure of the atmospheric refractive index structure, from which a physically based prediction of the incidence of clutter can be made. This technique can be used in conjunction with existing methods for clutter removal by modifying parameters of detectors or filters according to the physical evidence for anomalous propagation conditions. The parabolic equation method (PEM) is a well established technique for solving the equations for beam propagation in a non-uniformly stratified atmosphere, but although intrinsically very efficient, is not sufficiently fast to be practicable for near real-time modelling of clutter over the entire area observed by a typical weather radar. We demonstrate a fast hybrid PEM technique that is capable of providing acceptable results in conjunction with a high-resolution terrain elevation model, using a standard desktop personal computer. We discuss the performance of the method and approaches for the improvement of the model profiles in the lowest levels of the troposphere.

Enhancing actions of peptides derived from the γ-chain of fetal human hemoglobin on the immunostimulant activities of monophosphoryl lipid A.

Hemoglobin and its structures have been described since the 1990s to enhance a variety of biological activities of endotoxins (LPS) in a dose-dependent manner. To investigate the interaction processes in more detail, the system was extended by studying the interactions of newly designed peptides from the γ-chain of human hemoglobin with the adjuvant monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA), a partial structure of lipid A lacking its 1-phosphate. It was found that some selected Hbg peptides, in particular two synthetic substructures designated Hbg32 and Hbg35, considerably increased the bioactivity of MPLA, which alone was only a weak activator of immune cells. These findings hold true for human mononuclar cells, monocytes and T lymphocytes. To understand the mechanisms of action in more detail, biophysical techniques were applied. These showed a peptide-induced change of the MPLA aggregate structure from multilamellar into a non-lamellar, probably inverted, cubic structure. Concomitantly, the peptides incorporated into the tightly packed MPLA aggregates into smaller units down to monomers. The fragmentation of the aggregates was an endothermic process, differing from a complex formation but rather typical for a catalytic reaction.

Rendu d'images en demi-tons par diffusion d'erreur sensible à la structure

Le présent mémoire comprend un survol des principales méthodes de rendu en demi-tons, de l’analog screening à la recherche binaire directe en passant par l’ordered dither, avec une attention particulière pour la diffusion d’erreur. Ces méthodes seront comparées dans la perspective moderne de la sensibilité à la structure. Une nouvelle méthode de rendu en demi-tons par diffusion d’erreur est présentée et soumise à diverses évaluations. La méthode proposée se veut originale, simple, autant à même de préserver le caractère structurel des images que la méthode à l’état de l’art, et plus rapide que cette dernière par deux à trois ordres de magnitude. D’abord, l’image est décomposée en fréquences locales caractéristiques. Puis, le comportement de base de la méthode proposée est donné. Ensuite, un ensemble minutieusement choisi de paramètres permet de modifier ce comportement de façon à épouser les différents caractères fréquentiels locaux. Finalement, une calibration détermine les bons paramètres à associer à chaque fréquence possible. Une fois l’algorithme assemblé, toute image peut être traitée très rapidement : chaque pixel est attaché à une fréquence propre, cette fréquence sert d’indice pour la table de calibration, les paramètres de diffusion appropriés sont récupérés, et la couleur de sortie déterminée pour le pixel contribue en espérance à souligner la structure dont il fait partie.

On the generalized eigenvalue problem for the Rossby wave vertical velocity in the presence of mean flow and topography

In a series of papers, Killworth and Blundell have proposed to study the effects of a background mean flow and topography on Rossby wave propagation by means of a generalized eigenvalue problem formulated in terms of the vertical velocity, obtained from a linearization of the primitive equations of motion. However, it has been known for a number of years that this eigenvalue problem contains an error, which Killworth was prevented from correcting himself by his unfortunate passing and whose correction is therefore taken up in this note. Here, the author shows in the context of quasigeostrophic (QG) theory that the error can ulti- mately be traced to the fact that the eigenvalue problem for the vertical velocity is fundamentally a non- linear one (the eigenvalue appears both in the numerator and denominator), unlike that for the pressure. The reason that this nonlinear term is lacking in the Killworth and Blundell theory comes from neglecting the depth dependence of a depth-dependent term. This nonlinear term is shown on idealized examples to alter significantly the Rossby wave dispersion relation in the high-wavenumber regime but is otherwise irrelevant in the long-wave limit, in which case the eigenvalue problems for the vertical velocity and pressure are both linear. In the general dispersive case, however, one should first solve the generalized eigenvalue problem for the pressure vertical structure and, if needed, diagnose the vertical velocity vertical structure from the latter.

How the magnetopause transition parameter works

The transition parameter is based on the electron characteristics close to the Earth's dayside magnetopause, but reveals systematic ordering of other, independent, data such as the ion flow, density and temperature and the rientation and strength of the magnetic field. Potentially, therefore, it is a very useful tool for resolving ambiguities in a sequence of satellite data caused by the effects of structure and motion of the boundary; however, its application has been limited because there has been no clear understanding of how it works. We present an analysis of data from the AMPTE-UKS satellite which shows that the transition parameter orders magnetopause data because magnetic reconnection generates newly-opened field lines which coat the boundary: a direct relationship is found with the time elapsed since the boundary-layer field line was opened. A simple model is used to reproduce this behaviour.

Effects of physical habitat degradation on the stream fish assemblage structure in a pasture region

We compared the fish assemblage structure from streams with different intensities of physical habitat degradation and chemical water pollution by domestic sewage in southeastern Brazil. Eight streams (R1-R8) showing less disturbed or more disturbed conditions of chemical water quality and of physical habitat quality were selected. Cumulative abundance and biomass, combined in ABC plots, revealed (i) biomass curves above the abundance curves, represented by the streams R1-R2 (water and habitat less disturbed) and R5-R6 (water more disturbed and habitat less disturbed), and (ii) biomass curves below the abundance curves, represented by the streams R3-R4 (water less disturbed and habitat more disturbed) and R7-R8 (water and habitat more disturbed). The quantitative structure of the ichthyofauna showed significant correspondence with physical habitat condition but not with chemical water quality. The most significant species to cause the dissimilarity between less disturbed and more disturbed physical habitats was the exotic Poecilia reticulata. Such results indicate that in the focused region-with little influence of industrial pollution, noncritical domestic sewage discharge, and soil predominantly used for pasture-streams with high physical habitat integrity possess a differently structured ichthyofauna than streams with relatively low physical habitat integrity, reinforcing the importance of the physical habitat quality and riparian conservation along these water courses, warranting the conservation of these systems. Indeed, our results also reinforce the importance of including biotic descriptors, particularly of the ichthyo-fauna, in water-monitoring programs designed to reveal signs of human interference.

Lanthanum cobaltite black pigments with perovskite structure

In this work La1-xCaxCoO3 (x = 0-0.4) pigments were synthesized by the polymeric precursor method with heat treatments at 700, 800 and 900 C for 4 h. The powders were characterized by colorimetry, UV-vis spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). The X-ray diffraction patterns showed the presence of a single phase perovskite, changing its structure from rhombohedral to cubic, when calcium was added to the lattice. All of the pigments had a black colour with a strong absorption over the whole of the visible spectrum as a consequence of the different oxidation states of cobalt and the high short-range disorder. The substitution of Ca2+ for La3+ did not influence the pigment colour but decreased its final cost. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Primeiras Estórias e o filme A terceira margem do rio: estruturas artísticas e consciência possível

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Characterisation of supramolecular structures by novel recoupling methods in solid-state NMR

In this work, solid-state NMR methods suitable for the investigation of supramolecular systems were developed and improved. In this context, special interest was focussed on non-covalent interactions responsible for the formation of supramolecular structures, such as pi-pi interacions and hydrogen-bonds. In the first part of this work, solid-state NMR methods were presented that provide information on molecular structure and motion via the investigation of anisotropic interactions, namely quadrupole and dipole-dipole couplings, under magic-angle spinning conditions. A two-dimensional 2H double quantum experiment was developed, which is performed under off magic-angle conditions and correlates 2H isotropic chemical shifts with quasistatic DQ-filtered line shapes. From the latter, the quadrupole coupling parameters of samples deuterated at multiple sites can be extracted in a site-selective fashion. Furthermore, 7Li quadrupole parameters of lithium intercalated into TiO2 were determined by NMR experiments performed under static and MAS conditions, and could provide information on the crystal geometry. For the determination of 7Li-7Li dipole-dipole couplings, multiple-quantum NMR experiments were performed. The 1H-13C REREDOR experiment was found to be capable of determining strong proton-carbon dipole-dipole couplings with an accuracy of 500~Hz, corresponding to a determination of proton-carbon chemical-bond lengths with picometer accuracy In the second part of this work, solid-state NMR experiments were combined with quantum-chemical calculations in order to aid and optimise the interpretation of experimental results. The investigations on Calix[4]hydroquinone nanotubes have shown that this combined approach can provide information on the presence of disordered and/or mobile species in supramolecular structures. As a second example, C3-symmetric discs arranging in helical columnar stacks were investigated. In these systems, 1H chemical shifts experience large pi-shifts due to packing effects, which were found to be long-ranged. Moreover, quantum-chemical calculations revealed that helicity in these systems is induced by the propeller-like conformation of the core of the molecules.

From Craton to Rift: Empirically Based Ground-Truth Criteria for Local Events Recorded on Regional Networks

Region-specific empirically based ground-truth (EBGT) criteria used to estimate the epicentral-location accuracy of seismic events have been developed for the Main Ethiopian Rift and the Tibetan plateau. Explosions recorded during the Ethiopia-Afar Geoscientific Lithospheric Experiment (EAGLE), the International Deep Profiling of Tibet, and the Himalaya (INDEPTH III) experiment provided the necessary GT0 reference events. In each case, the local crustal structure is well known and handpicked arrival times were available, facilitating the establishment of the location accuracy criteria through the stochastic forward modeling of arrival times for epicentral locations. In the vicinity of the Main Ethiopian Rift, a seismic event is required to be recorded on at least 8 stations within the local Pg/Pn crossover distance and to yield a network-quality metric of less than 0.43 in order to be classified as EBGT5(95%) (GT5 with 95% confidence). These criteria were subsequently used to identify 10 new GT5 events with magnitudes greater than 2.1 recorded on the Ethiopian Broadband Seismic Experiment (EBSE) network and 24 events with magnitudes greater than 2.4 recorded on the EAGLE broadband network. The criteria for the Tibetan plateau are similar to the Ethiopia criteria, yet slightly less restrictive as the network-quality metric needs to be less than 0.45. Twenty-seven seismic events with magnitudes greater than 2.5 recorded on the INDEPTH III network were identified as GT5 based on the derived criteria. When considered in conjunction with criteria developed previously for the Kaapvaal craton in southern Africa, it is apparent that increasing restrictions on the network-quality metric mirror increases in the complexity of geologic structure from craton to plateau to rift. Accession Number: WOS:000322569200012

Assessment Of Dynamic Properties Of A Crowd Model For Human-Structure Interaction Modeling

As lightweight and slender structural elements are more frequently used in the design, large scale structures become more flexible and susceptible to excessive vibrations. To ensure the functionality of the structure, dynamic properties of the occupied structure need to be estimated during the design phase. Traditional analysis method models occupants simply as an additional mass; however, research has shown that human occupants could be better modeled as an additional degree-of- freedom. In the United Kingdom, active and passive crowd models are proposed by the Joint Working Group as a result of a series of analytical and experimental research. It is expected that the crowd models would yield a more accurate estimation to the dynamic response of the occupied structure. However, experimental testing recently conducted through a graduate student project at Bucknell University indicated that the proposed passive crowd model might be inaccurate in representing the impact on the structure from the occupants. The objective of this study is to provide an assessment of the validity of the crowd models proposed by JWG through comparing the dynamic properties obtained from experimental testing data and analytical modeling results. The experimental data used in this study was collected by Firman in 2010. The analytical results were obtained by performing a time-history analysis on a finite element model of the occupied structure. The crowd models were created based on the recommendations from the JWG combined with the physical properties of the occupants during the experimental study. During this study, SAP2000 was used to create the finite element models and to implement the analysis; Matlab and ME¿scope were used to obtain the dynamic properties of the structure through processing the time-history analysis results from SAP2000. The result of this study indicates that the active crowd model could quite accurately represent the impact on the structure from occupants standing with bent knees while the passive crowd model could not properly simulate the dynamic response of the structure when occupants were standing straight or sitting on the structure. Future work related to this study involves improving the passive crowd model and evaluating the crowd models with full-scale structure models and operating data.

Kyzylkumite, Ti2V3+O5(OH): new structure type, modularity and revised formula

The crystal structure of kyzylkumite, ideally Ti2V3+O5(OH), from the Sludyanka complex in South Baikal, Russia was solved and refined (including the hydrogen atom position) to an agreement index, R1, of 2.34 using X-ray diffraction data collected on a twinned crystal. Kyzylkumite crystallizes in space group P21/c, with a = 8.4787(1), b = 4.5624(1), c = 10.0330(1) Å, β = 93.174(1)°, V = 387.51(1) Å3 and Z = 4. Tivanite, TiV3+O3OH, and kyzylkumite have modular structures based on hexagonal close packing of oxygen, which are made up of rutile TiO2 and montroseite V3+O(OH) slices. In tivanite the rutile:montroseite ratio is 1:1, in kyzylkumite the ratio is 2:1. The montroseite module may be replaced by the isotypic paramontroseite V4+O2 module, which produces a phase with the formula Ti2V4+O6. In the metamorphic rocks of the Sludyanka complex, vanadium can be present as V4+ and V3+ within the same mineral (e.g. in batisivite, schreyerite and berdesinskiite). Kyzylkumite has a flexible composition with respect to the M4+/M3+ ratio. The relationship between kyzylkumite and a closely related Be-bearing kyzylkumite-like mineral with an orthorhombic norbergite-type structure from Byrud mine, Norway is discussed. Both minerals have similar X-ray powder diffraction patterns.