http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/services/Feed ${session.getAttribute("locale")} 5 http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:5893 After an initial study (Harper, 2007) revealed a high crux-phi incidence in selected Scarlatti sonatas, Harper and Henriques, (2008)) examined ten recorded performances of K. 380 from the perspective of interpretative treatment of the crux – “the point in each half at which the thematic material, which is stated in parallel fashion at the ends of both halves, establishes the closing tonality”. The current study, based on six commercially available recordings of K. 159, and two unedited recordings by performers familiar with the ‘crux’ concept, examines evidence for a proportional sense of crux by composer, and a response to it by performers. A Scarlatti Sonata was chosen on grounds of its structural proportions, and acessibility of both commercial and unedited recordings on modern piano and historical keyboard instruments. Using audio digital editors, time readings of all performances were taken at several key moments. Equalized measurements with Audacity 1.3.3 & Peak 5 were taken and compared using Pogorelich’s interpretation as the median. Conclusions were drawn about the proportional sense of crux as reflected by performers. Although GS proportion is not present in K. 159, a mirrored symmetrical proportion is found: the crux occurs three measures before phi in the first half and three measures after phi in the second half. Performances in the two samples (commercial recordings/ live unedited recordings) ranged from MM 110 to MM 128. In comparing the length-ratios of the recordings that were time-modified to the chosen model (Pogerelich MM=112), it was found that performers tended to modify their overall tempo at the key points identified in the analysis. The underlying temporal framework. Conclusions: When repeats are played, the length of the A section corresponds to the occurrence of the crux in the B section (52 measures), indicating that the inclusion of repeats might be regarded as integral to the structure. Regardless of different types of recording (edited/unedited) and choice of instruments (piano/harpsichord), two performances of the same duration occurred in this sample. We infer that there is a proportional sense of crux by composer and by performers, evident in both foreground (surface) and background (structural) tempi. 2012-03-12T06:47:27.665Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:7087 Background electroencephalography (EEG), recorded with scalp electrodes, in children with childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) and control individuals has been analyzed. We considered 5 CAE patients, all right-handed females and aged 6–8 years. The 15 control individuals had the same characteristics of the CAE ones, but presented a normal EEG. The EEG was obtained using bipolar connections from a standard 10–20 electrode placement (Fp1, Fp2, F7, F3, Fz, F4, F8, T3, C3, Cz, C4, T4, T5, P3, Pz, P4, T6, O1 and O2). Recordings were undertaken in the resting state with eyes closed. EEG hallmarks of absence seizure activity are widely accepted, but there is a recognition that the bulk of interictal EEG in CAE appears normal to visual inspection. The functional activity between electrodes was evaluated using a wavelet decomposition in conjunction with the Wootters distance. Then, pairs of electrodes with differentiated behavior between CAE and controls were identified using a test statistic-based feature selection technique. This approach identified clear differences between CAE and healthy control background EEG in the frontocentral electrodes, as measured by Principal Component Analysis. The findings of this pilot study can have strong implications in future clinical practice. 2012-01-30T05:03:27.269Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:7694 In this sequel to our previous work [Rosso OA, Mendes A, Rostas JA, Hunter M, Moscato P. Distinguishing childhood absence epilepsy patients from controls by the analysis of their background brain electrical activity. J. Neurosci. Methods 2009;177:461–68], we extend the analysis of background electroencephalography (EEG), recorded with scalp electrodes in a clinical setting, in children with childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) and control individuals. The same set of individuals was considered—five CAE patients, all right-handed females and aged 6–8 years. The EEG was obtained using bipolar connections from a standard 10–20 electrode placement. The functional activity between electrodes was evaluated using a wavelet decomposition in conjunction with the Wootters distance. In the previous study, a Kruskal–Wallis statistical test was used to select the pairs of electrodes with differentiated behavior between CAE and control samples (classes). In this contribution, we present the results for a combinatorial optimization approach to select the pairs of electrodes. The new method produces a better separation between the classes, and at the same time uses a smaller number of features (pairs of electrodes). It managed to almost halve the number of features and also improves the separation between the CAE and control samples. The new results strengthen the hypothesis that mostly fronto-central electrodes carry useful information and patterns that can help to discriminate CAE cases from controls. Finally, we provide a comprehensive set of tests and in-depth explanation of the method and results. 2011-11-04T04:58:04.337Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:1890 An inflammatory basis for differences was determined with greater levels of phagocytosis and oxidative burst observed in BALB/c mice. C57BL/6 mice cleared the low inoculum with a reduced immune response; however, C57BL/6 mice are more susceptible to larger inocula, which overwhelms the immune system. These different susceptibilities result from a greater inflammatory response in BALB/c compared with C57BL/6 mice. 2010-04-27T06:59:34.673Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:1261 Near-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (NEXAFS) is widely used to probe the chemistry and structure of surface layers. Moreover, using ultra-high brilliance polarised synchrotron light sources, it is possible to determine the molecular alignment of ultra-thin surface films. However, the quantitative analysis of NEXAFS data is complicated by many experimental factors and, historically, the essential methods of calibration, normalisation and artefact removal are presented in the literature in a somewhat fragmented manner, thus hindering their integrated implementation as well as their further development. This paper outlines a unified, systematic approach to the collection and quantitative analysis of NEXAFS data with a particular focus upon carbon K-edge spectra. As a consequence, we show that current methods neglect several important aspects of the data analysis process, which we address with a combination of novel and adapted techniques. We discuss multiple approaches in solving the issues commonly encountered in the analysis of NEXAFS data, revealing the inherent assumptions of each approach and providing guidelines for assessing their appropriateness in a broad range of experimental situations. 2010-04-27T06:56:08.406Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:2120 This study examines the learning preferences of TAFE students who are characterised by having low socio-economic status backgrounds. These students enter TAFE classrooms with widely different knowledge, varying amounts of work experience, different motivation, language and numeracy levels and, consequently different learning needs. In addition, some students are in transition from school to work. The study suggests that student learning outcomes for this group are a 'co-production', that is, the students and the teacher together create the learning outcomes. The study highlights the central role of vocational teachers and the sophisticated work they do in accommodating curriculum to the learning needs of a student group of considerable diversity and educational disadvantage. Qualitative models are presented which relate students' learning preferences to teaching approaches adopted by vocational teachers. 2010-04-27T06:43:47.583Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:941 The purpose of the study was to explore the notion and place of singing in young children's emerging musical cultures. Participants were 50 Indigenous and non-Indigenous children aged 3-8 years and their parent(s) or close adult(s) from six areas in New South Wales, Australia, and Hawaii, USA. Data were collected on videotape in the form of semi-structured interviews, undertaken in familiar settings such as community centres, homes and schools. Children's interviews were based on questions about their favourite song (including an invitation to sing it), where and what they sing, with whom they sing and where they learn songs. Adults' interviews centred around a similar discourse, with the addition of discussion about musical background and heritage, and reasons behind singing with their children. Interviews were transcribed, and transferred to NVivo software for coding and analysis. 2010-04-27T06:42:00.036Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:1593 The human visual system is able to extract an object from its surrounding using a number of cues. These include foreground/background gradients in disparity, motion, texture, colour, and luminance. We have investigated normal subjects' ability to detect objects defined by either motion, texture, or luminance gradients. The effects of manipulating cue density and cue foreground/background gradient on both detection and recognition accuracy were also investigated. The results demonstrate a simple additive relationship between cue density and cue gradient across forms defined by motion, luminance, and texture. The results are interpreted as evidence for the notion that form parsing is achieved via a similar algorithm across anatomically distinct processing streams. 2010-04-27T06:26:27.777Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:3202 Two methods are presented for dealing with variable background signals in radiofrequency glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy (r.f.-GDOES). Their aim is to improve elemental analysis at trace levels, in bulk analysis or in compositional depth profiling, without having to measure background signals during the analysis. Each method uses background signals measured away from the analytical emission lines of interest during calibration only. The background signal is first determined during calibration for each material type of interest. During analysis in the first method the estimated background signal is varied according to the material type being analysed. In depth profiles this means identifying the various layers present as different material types, hence the name 'layer model'. The second method is a more conventional approach, where part of the background signal is estimated as a spectral interference. Results are presented for the bulk analysis of a tool steel and for two depth profiles: TiO₂ coating on silicon and TiN-coated tool steel. The two methods give similar results in the depth profiles, both significantly better than with a constant background. 2010-04-27T05:24:42.805Z ]]>