Academic literature on the topic 'Perception analysi'

As one of the main factors in any tourist destination, residents’ perception of the impacts of ecological resettlement has a substantial influence on the sustainable development of any world heritage site. Our research takes the residents of three different resettlement locations in the Wulingyuan scenic area, a world heritage site, as the object of our survey. Based on questionnaire investigations in 2010 and 2016, this article analyzes the residents’ diachronic perception of the impacts of ecological resettlement. Independent sample t-tests and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) are used to compare the differences in residents’ perception toward ecological relocation and analyse how demographic characteristics affect residents’ perception. Multiple stepwise regression analysis is applied to explore the main factors that contribute to the differences in the perception of impacts of ecological resettlement. The results show that during the study period, respondents have the strongest perceptions of the economic, socio-cultural, resource-environment and psychological impacts. However, they have negative perceptions of relocation policy impacts. Compared with 2010, residents with different gender, age, education level, income level and engagement in tourism have significant differences in perception of impacts of resettlement in 2016. Multiple stepwise regression analysis demonstrates that the perceptions of impacts of the ecological resettlement and economic policy are the primary factors to affect residents’ overall perceptions.

The aim of this study is to analyze classroom teachers' perceptions of curriculum literacy according to various variables. The research based on screening model was conducted with 416 classroom teachers. The data were collected with the curriculum literary scale, which was valid and reliable. Data collected with four-dimensional scale were analyzed with descriptive statistical techniques. As a result of analyses, it was determined that literacy perceptions of the classroom teachers participating in the research were medium level in terms of sub-dimension of program elements. In this dimension, the highest perception is about measurement-evaluation and the lowest perception level is about the program perspective. In-service and post-graduate teachers have higher perceptions of literacy in the sub-dimension of curriculum elements. In the research, classroom teachers' perception of curriculum literacy is quite high in the sub-dimension of program implementation. Classroom teachers totally agree that parents, the internet, auxiliary resources, colleagues, textbook and school management support are respectively important in order to implement the curriculum; While female teachers find parental support more important in the implementation of the curriculum; the perceptions of teachers who are classroom teachers on internet support are more positive. In the sub-dimension of the program development and philosophy in the research, classroom teachers' perceptions of program philosophy in general are at medium level. Teachers receiving in-service training and those who are classroom teachers have higher perceptions of program philosophy. In this dimension, classroom teachers' perception of having knowledge about the epistemological bases of the program and the development stages of the program is low. Male teachers and teachers receiving in-service training have a higher perception of the development stages of the program. In this study, the perceptions of classroom teachers were moderate in the scale of program literacy training need. Perceptions of classroom teachers about their expectation from MoNE and their obligation to develop themselves are moderate.

Abstract. Introduction. Individual activity that is directly involved in determining whether to purchase the seller's product. Purpose. This study aims to obtain empirical evidence by determining the direct effect of consumer perceptions and image bartenders on the decision to enroll in the Food & Beverage Service Study Program at Poltekpar Palembang and the indirect effect of consumer perceptions and image bartenders on the decision to enroll in the Dining Planning Study Program at Poltekpar Palembang via attitudes. This study utilized a sample of 145 prospective students who enrolled in the Palembang Poltekpar Dishes Study Program, who were chosen using a technique of purposive sampling. Consumer perceptions and Image Bartenders were found to have a significant positive effect based on descriptive statistical analysis methods and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis using the Analysis of Moment Structure (AMOS) program. Results. Consumer Perception and Image Bartender have a direct positive effect on the Selection Decision . Perception has a negative impact on the selection process. Directly on attitudes and Image Bartenders have a direct positive effect on the attitudes. Attitudes have a direct negative effect on the Decision to Choose.. Consumer Perception Variables have a positive influence on the Decision to through Attitude as an intervening variable, and the Image Bartender variable has a negative influence on the the decision through Attitude as an intervening variable Conclusions. Direct and attitude have a direct negative impact on the Palembang Poltekpar Digest Studies Program Selection Decision for prospective students. And the Consumer Perception variable has a positive influence on the Decision to Choose a Cuisine Study Program for prospective students who enroll in the PalemPoltekpar Dishes Study Program bang, while the Image Bartender variable has a negative influence with the Attitude variable.

A realistic perception of the condition of forests, and the attributes of the forestry sector, by the public constitutes one of the basic prerequisites for successful implementation of forest policy in any country. Although data objectively demonstrate that the condition of Czech forests has improved, opinion polls show a gap between the public perception of the condition of Czech forests and the real status of these forests. The reasons for the discrepancy between reality and the perception of the public, and between the results of different surveys, are analysed. The most significant differences were found in perceptions of damage and threats to forests. The effectiveness of communication about forest policy is discussed, and some ways to create more effective communication are examined.

Abstract It is an orthodoxy in cognitive science that perception can occur unconsciously. Recently, Hakwan Lau, Megan Peters and Ian Phillips have argued that this orthodoxy may be mistaken. They argue that many purported cases of unconscious perception fail to rule out low degrees of conscious awareness while others fail to establish genuine perception. This paper presents a case of unconscious perception that avoids these problems. It also advances a general principle of ‘phenomenal coherence’ that can insulate some forms of evidence for unconscious perception from the methodological critiques of Lau, Peters and Phillips.

La ricerca ha lo scopo di fornire evidenze sui benefici, in termini di salubrità, sostenibilità ambientale ed efficienza produttiva, dell’orzo (Hordeum vulgare L.), una coltura ampiamente diffusa in Puglia (Italia). Al fine di perseguire questo obiettivo generale, lo scopo della ricerca è duplice: (i) studiare la percezione dei consumatori circa la qualità dei prodotti biologici, in termini di sostenibilità e salubrità, e analizzare come e in che misura la qualità percepita dei prodotti biologici è influenzata dalla presenza di informazioni in etichetta relative alla qualità e dal profilo socio-demografico dei consumatori; (ii) confrontare la coltivazione dell’orzo in regime biologico e convenzionale, in condizioni pedo-climatiche favorevoli, al fine di valutare i potenziali impatti ambientali ed individuare la migliore soluzione in termini di sostenibilità ambientale ed efficienza produttiva. È stato usato un approccio basato su una Combinazione tra una variabile casuale Uniforme discreta e una variabile casuale Binomiale traslata, denominato modello CUB per analizzare le preferenze dei consumatori in termini di due componenti latenti, il livello di attrazione verso l’item considerato (feeling) e l’incertezza connessa alle modalità della raccolta delle risposte (uncertainty). È stata usata la metodologia della valutazione del ciclo di vita, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), usando alternativamente come Unità Funzionali (FU) 1 ha di terra destinata alla coltivazione di orzo per testare la sostenibilità ambientale, e 1 kg di granella secca di orzo per testare l’efficienza produttiva. I risultati del modello CUB evidenziano che la presenza di informazioni specifiche sull’etichetta dei prodotti (e.g. etichetta ambientale, certificazione biologica, indicazioni salutistiche) fanno percepire i prodotti biologici come prodotti di qualità superiore. I risultati sottolineano anche come il profilo socio-demografico dei consumatori svolge un ruolo fondamentale ne determinare il meccanismo di acquisto dei prodotti. I risultati di LCA mostrano che la coltivazione di orzo biologico è più sostenibile da un punto di vista ambientale (ma non è produttivamente efficiente), viceversa la coltivazione di orzo convenzionale è più efficiente da un punto di vista produttivo (ma non è sostenibile per l’ambiente). I risultati relativi all’efficienza produttiva e alla sostenibilità ambientale dovrebbero essere bilanciate da assunzioni metodologiche (la scelta dell’unità funzionale, il procedimento di allocazione) e da elementi qualitativi (la qualità della coltura, l’adattabilità a specifiche condizioni pedo-climatiche). L’unità funzionale di superficie (1 ha) è preferibile per l’analisi delle fasi di coltivazione in campo, mentre l’unità funzionale di massa (1 kg) è consigliabile per la valutazione di un contesto più ampio, quale un’intera filiera. La ricerca tenta di colmare la mancanza esistente nella letteratura economica relativa alla coltura dell’orzo, che rappresenta un punto di forza per le aziende agricole e di trasformazione pugliesi, grazie alle sue caratteristiche di sostenibilità e salubrità
The scope of the research is to provide evidences about the benefits, in terms of healthiness, environmental sustainability, and productive efficiency, related to barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), a widespread crop in the Apulia region (italy). Seeking to pursue this general goal, the aim of the research is twofold: (i) investigating consumers’ perception about quality of organic food, in terms of sustainability and healthiness, and analyzing how and to what extent perceived quality of organic food is influenced by the presence of information related to quality on food products’ label, and consumers’ socio-demographic profile; (ii) comparing organic and conventional cultivation of barley, under favorable pedo-climatic conditions, to evaluate the potential environmental impacts related to the cultivation of barley and to identify the most suitable solution in terms of environmental sustainability and productive efficiency. An approach based on Combination of Uniform and shifted Binomial random variables, named CUB model, was performed to analyze consumers’ preference in terms of two latent components, feeling and uncertainty. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was performed alternatively using, as Functional Units (FUs), 1 ha of land involved in cultivation of barley to seek environmental sustainability and 1 kg of dry matter grains of produced barley to check productive efficiency. Findings from CUB models highlight that the presence of specific information on food’s label (e.g. environmental label, organic certification, healthy claims) contributes to perceive organic food as food of superior quality. Results also underline how consumers’ socio-demographic profile plays a significant role in driving food purchasing decision mechanism. Findings from comparative LCA show that organic barley cultivation is the most environmentally sustainable solution (but not efficient in production), vice versa conventional barley cultivation is the solution most efficient in production (but not environmentally sustainable). Efficiency in production and environmental sustainability may be balanced with methodological assumptions (choice of functional unit, allocation procedure) and qualitative elements (crop quality and adaptiveness to specific pedo-climatic conditions). A land-based FU is preferred in the analysis of the agricultural stage, while a mass-based FU is suitable for the assessment of a wider context, such as the entire supply chain. The research seeks to fill the lack, existing in economic literature, about barley crop, which is a potential strength for Apulian farms and firms, thanks to its sustainability and healthiness properties.

Tra i diversi campi di ricerca nell’ambito dell’informatica musicale, la sintesi e la generazione di segnali audio incarna la pluridisciplinalità di questo settore, nutrendo insieme le pratiche scientifiche e musicale dalla sua creazione. Inerente all’informatica dalla sua creazione, la generazione audio ha ispirato numerosi approcci, evolvendo colle pratiche musicale e gli progressi tecnologici e scientifici. Inoltre, alcuni processi di sintesi permettono anche il processo inverso, denominato analisi, in modo che i parametri di sintesi possono anche essere parzialmente o totalmente estratti dai suoni, dando una rappresentazione alternativa ai segnali analizzati. Per di più, la recente ascesa dei algoritmi di l’apprendimento automatico ha vivamente interrogato il settore della ricerca scientifica, fornendo potenti data-centered metodi che sollevavano diversi epistemologici interrogativi, nonostante i sui efficacia. Particolarmente, un tipo di metodi di apprendimento automatico, denominati modelli generativi, si concentrano sulla generazione di contenuto originale usando le caratteristiche che hanno estratti dei dati analizzati. In tal caso, questi modelli non hanno soltanto interrogato i precedenti metodi di generazione, ma anche sul modo di integrare questi algoritmi nelle pratiche artistiche. Mentre questi metodi sono progressivamente introdotti nel settore del trattamento delle immagini, la loro applicazione per la sintesi di segnali audio e ancora molto marginale. In questo lavoro, il nostro obiettivo e di proporre un nuovo metodo di audio sintesi basato su questi nuovi tipi di generativi modelli, rafforazti dalle nuove avanzati dell’apprendimento automatico. Al primo posto, facciamo una revisione dei approcci esistenti nei settori dei sistemi generativi e di sintesi sonore, focalizzando sul posto di nostro lavoro rispetto a questi disciplini e che cosa possiamo aspettare di questa collazione. In seguito, studiamo in maniera più precisa i modelli generativi, e come possiamo utilizzare questi recenti avanzati per l’apprendimento di complesse distribuzione di suoni, in un modo che sia flessibile e nel flusso creativo del utente. Quindi proponiamo un processo di inferenza / generazione, il quale rifletta i processi di analisi/sintesi che sono molto usati nel settore del trattamento del segnale audio, usando modelli latenti, che sono basati sull’utilizzazione di un spazio continuato di alto livello, che usiamo per controllare la generazione. Studiamo dapprima i risultati preliminari ottenuti con informazione spettrale estratte da diversi tipi di dati, che valutiamo qualitativamente e quantitativamente. Successiva- mente, studiamo come fare per rendere questi metodi più adattati ai segnali audio, fronteggiando tre diversi aspetti. Primo, proponiamo due diversi metodi di regolarizzazione di questo generativo spazio che sono specificamente sviluppati per l’audio : una strategia basata sulla traduzione segnali / simboli, e una basata su vincoli percettivi. Poi, proponiamo diversi metodi per fronteggiare il aspetto temporale dei segnali audio, basati sull’estrazione di rappresentazioni multiscala e sulla predizione, che permettono ai generativi spazi ottenuti di anche modellare l’aspetto dinamico di questi segnali. Per finire, cambiamo il nostro approccio scientifico per un punto di visto piú ispirato dall’idea di ricerca e creazione. Primo, descriviamo l’architettura e il design della nostra libreria open-source, vsacids, sviluppata per permettere a esperti o non-esperti musicisti di provare questi nuovi metodi di sintesi. Poi, proponiamo una prima utilizzazione del nostro modello con la creazione di una performance in real- time, chiamata ægo, basata insieme sulla nostra libreria vsacids e sull’uso di une agente di esplorazione, imparando con rinforzo nel corso della composizione. Finalmente, tramo dal lavoro presentato alcuni conclusioni sui diversi modi di migliorare e rinforzare il metodo di sintesi proposto, nonché eventuale applicazione artistiche.
Among the diverse research fields within computer music, synthesis and generation of audio signals epitomize the cross-disciplinarity of this domain, jointly nourishing both scientific and artistic practices since its creation. Inherent in computer music since its genesis, audio generation has inspired numerous approaches, evolving both with musical practices and scientific/technical advances. Moreover, some syn- thesis processes also naturally handle the reverse process, named analysis, such that synthesis parameters can also be partially or totally extracted from actual sounds, and providing an alternative representation of the analyzed audio signals. On top of that, the recent rise of machine learning algorithms earnestly questioned the field of scientific research, bringing powerful data-centred methods that raised several epistemological questions amongst researchers, in spite of their efficiency. Especially, a family of machine learning methods, called generative models, are focused on the generation of original content using features extracted from an existing dataset. In that case, such methods not only questioned previous approaches in generation, but also the way of integrating this methods into existing creative processes. While these new generative frameworks are progressively introduced in the domain of image generation, the application of such generative techniques in audio synthesis is still marginal. In this work, we aim to propose a new audio analysis-synthesis framework based on these modern generative models, enhanced by recent advances in machine learning. We first review existing approaches, both in sound synthesis and in generative machine learning, and focus on how our work inserts itself in both practices and what can be expected from their collation. Subsequently, we focus a little more on generative models, and how modern advances in the domain can be exploited to allow us learning complex sound distributions, while being sufficiently flexible to be integrated in the creative flow of the user. We then propose an inference / generation process, mirroring analysis/synthesis paradigms that are natural in the audio processing domain, using latent models that are based on a continuous higher-level space, that we use to control the generation. We first provide preliminary results of our method applied on spectral information, extracted from several datasets, and evaluate both qualitatively and quantitatively the obtained results. Subsequently, we study how to make these methods more suitable for learning audio data, tackling successively three different aspects. First, we propose two different latent regularization strategies specifically designed for audio, based on and signal / symbol translation and perceptual constraints. Then, we propose different methods to address the inner temporality of musical signals, based on the extraction of multi-scale representations and on prediction, that allow the obtained generative spaces that also model the dynamics of the signal. As a last chapter, we swap our scientific approach to a more research & creation-oriented point of view: first, we describe the architecture and the design of our open-source library, vsacids, aiming to be used by expert and non-expert music makers as an integrated creation tool. Then, we propose an first musical use of our system by the creation of a real-time performance, called aego, based jointly on our framework vsacids and an explorative agent using reinforcement learning to be trained during the performance. Finally, we draw some conclusions on the different manners to improve and reinforce the proposed generation method, as well as possible further creative applications.
À travers les différents domaines de recherche de la musique computationnelle, l’analysie et la génération de signaux audio sont l’exemple parfait de la trans-disciplinarité de ce domaine, nourrissant simultanément les pratiques scientifiques et artistiques depuis leur création. Intégrée à la musique computationnelle depuis sa création, la synthèse sonore a inspiré de nombreuses approches musicales et scientifiques, évoluant de pair avec les pratiques musicales et les avancées technologiques et scientifiques de son temps. De plus, certaines méthodes de synthèse sonore permettent aussi le processus inverse, appelé analyse, de sorte que les paramètres de synthèse d’un certain générateur peuvent être en partie ou entièrement obtenus à partir de sons donnés, pouvant ainsi être considérés comme une représentation alternative des signaux analysés. Parallèlement, l’intérêt croissant soulevé par les algorithmes d’apprentissage automatique a vivement questionné le monde scientifique, apportant de puissantes méthodes d’analyse de données suscitant de nombreux questionnements épistémologiques chez les chercheurs, en dépit de leur effectivité pratique. En particulier, une famille de méthodes d’apprentissage automatique, nommée modèles génératifs, s’intéressent à la génération de contenus originaux à partir de caractéristiques extraites directement des données analysées. Ces méthodes n’interrogent pas seulement les approches précédentes, mais aussi sur l’intégration de ces nouvelles méthodes dans les processus créatifs existants. Pourtant, alors que ces nouveaux processus génératifs sont progressivement intégrés dans le domaine la génération d’image, l’application de ces techniques en synthèse audio reste marginale. Dans cette thèse, nous proposons une nouvelle méthode d’analyse-synthèse basés sur ces derniers modèles génératifs, depuis renforcés par les avancées modernes dans le domaine de l’apprentissage automatique. Dans un premier temps, nous examinerons les approches existantes dans le domaine des systèmes génératifs, sur comment notre travail peut s’insérer dans les pratiques de synthèse sonore existantes, et que peut-on espérer de l’hybridation de ces deux approches. Ensuite, nous nous focaliserons plus précisément sur comment les récentes avancées accomplies dans ce domaine dans ce domaine peuvent être exploitées pour l’apprentissage de distributions sonores complexes, tout en étant suffisamment flexibles pour être intégrées dans le processus créatif de l’utilisateur. Nous proposons donc un processus d’inférence / génération, reflétant les paradigmes d’analyse-synthèse existant dans le domaine de génération audio, basé sur l’usage de modèles latents continus que l’on peut utiliser pour contrôler la génération. Pour ce faire, nous étudierons déjà les résultats préliminaires obtenus par cette méthode sur l’apprentissage de distributions spectrales, prises d’ensembles de données diversifiés, en adoptant une approche à la fois quantitative et qualitative. Ensuite, nous proposerons d’améliorer ces méthodes de manière spécifique à l’audio sur trois aspects distincts. D’abord, nous proposons deux stratégies de régularisation différentes pour l’analyse de signaux audio : une basée sur la traduction signal/ symbole, ainsi qu’une autre basée sur des contraintes perceptives. Nous passerons par la suite à la dimension temporelle de ces signaux audio, proposant de nouvelles méthodes basées sur l’extraction de représentations temporelles multi-échelle et sur une tâche supplémentaire de prédiction, permettant la modélisation de caractéristiques dynamiques par les espaces génératifs obtenus. En dernier lieu, nous passerons d’une approche scientifique à une approche plus orientée vers un point de vue recherche & création. Premièrement, nous présenterons notre librairie open-source, vsacids, visant à être employée par des créateurs experts et non-experts comme un outil intégré. Ensuite, nous proposons une première utilisation musicale de notre système par la création d’une performance temps réel, nommée ægo, basée à la fois sur notre librarie et sur un agent d’exploration appris dynamiquement par renforcement au cours de la performance. Enfin, nous tirons les conclusions du travail accompli jusqu’à maintenant, concernant les possibles améliorations et développements de la méthode de synthèse proposée, ainsi que sur de possibles applications créatives.

La prise de compléments nutritionnels est utile lorsque l’alimentation quotidienne ne suffit plus à couvrir les besoins de l’organisme en nutriments et en énergie. Les ingrédients actifs de ces produits sont principalement des vitamines, des minéraux, des éléments traces, des extraits de plantes. Le mode d’administration par voie orale est largement plébiscité par les consommateurs, c’est pourquoi les produits sont commercialisés sous forme de comprimés effervescents, à croquer, sous forme de poudres et comprimés à mettre en bouche ou sous formes gélifiées. Outre leur efficacité sur le plan nutritionnel, ces produits doivent satisfaire le consommateur sur le plan organoleptique. Cependant, ces compléments nutritionnels sont souvent décrits avec des défauts de goûts non identifiés qui limitent leur acceptabilité.La caractérisation sensorielle de ces « mauvais goûts », l’identification des composés impliqués et la compréhension des mécanismes à l’origine de leur détection sont un véritable challenge pour les industries concernées. Dans ce travail, une méthodologie basée sur des approches sensorielles et cellulaires a été mise en œuvre afin d’améliorer les connaissances sur la perception des « mauvais goûts » des compléments nutritionnels et mettre en évidence des pistes envisageables pour de nouvelles stratégies de masquage.Pour la caractérisation et la quantification des « mauvais goût », les profils sensoriels de différentes gammes et formes de compléments nutritionnels ont été déterminés par des panels de dégustateurs. Un protocole d’analyse sensorielle adapté à la forme galénique évalué (effervescente ou orodispersible) a permis d’identifier et de quantifier certaines perceptions négatives. Les résultats obtenus démontrent en autre la présence d’une amertume prononcée pour de nombreux compléments nutritionnels, qui pourraient contribuer de manière récurrente à leur « mauvais goût ». Une analyse sensorielle de ces mêmes compléments nutritionnels dans des conditions avec et sans blocage du flux rétronasal a révélé des interactions perceptives positives et/ou négatives entre molécules aromatiques et sapides, dont l’origine bien que discutée reste à démontrer.La corrélation entre les profils sensoriels et les compositions nutritives des compléments nutritionnels a révélé que certains composés actifs comme des vitamines pouvaient être responsable de cette amertume. L’être humain possède 25 structures moléculaires spécialisées dans la reconnaissance des molécules amères que l’on appelle des TAS2Rs. L’utilisation d’un protocole d’expérimentation fonctionnelle in vitro a montré que quatre composés vitaminiques étaient capables d’activer un ou plusieurs TAS2R(s). Parallèlement, nous avons complété cette expérimentation fonctionnelle par des mesures psychométriques de seuil de détection à l’amertume chez l’humain. La comparaison des jeux de données sensoriels et cellulaires a révélé l’impact de la physiologie orale et de l’intégration centrale de l’information sur la perception d’un stimulus gustatif. Les résultats obtenus ont démontré que la combinaison d’une approche cellulaire et sensorielle semblait être une méthode alternative efficace pour évaluer la contribution d’un ou plusieurs composés aux perceptions sensorielles négatives des compléments nutritionnels
Taking nutritional supplements is recommended when a normal diet is no sufficient to maintain a good nutritional status. The active ingredients of these products are mainly vitamins, minerals, trace elements and plant extracts. The oral method of administration is widely preferred by consumers, therefore the products are marketed as effervescent tablets, chewable, orodispersible powders and tablets or gelled forms. In addition to their nutritional effectiveness, these products must meet consumer’s expectations as “taste” or “flavor”. However, these nutritional supplements are often described with not identified taste defects, which limit their acceptability.The sensory characterization of these “off-tastes”, the involved compounds identification and the understanding of the mechanisms at the origin of their detection are a real challenge for industry concerned. In this work, a methodology based on sensory and cellular approaches has been implemented in order to improve knowledge on the perception of nutritional supplements “off-tastes” and to highlight possible options for new masking strategies.For the “off-tastes” characterization and quantification, the sensory profiles of different ranges and forms of nutritional supplements were determined by panels of tasters. A sensory analysis protocol adapted to the galenic form evaluated (effervescent or orodispersible) allows to identify and quantify some negative perceptions. The results obtained also demonstrated the presence of a slightly strong bitterness for many nutritional supplements, which could recurrently contribute to their "off-taste". A sensory analysis of these same nutritional supplements with and without retronasal flow blockage conditions revealed positive and/or negative perceptual interactions between aromatic and sapid molecules whose origin remains to be demonstrated.The correlation between sensory profiles and nutritional supplements compositions revealed that some active ingredients such as vitamins could be involved in their bitterness. In humans, bitter substances are detected in the mouth by 25 bitter taste receptors called TAS2Rs. In vitro functional experimental protocol showed that four vitamin compounds were able to activate one or more TAS2R(s). In parallel, we completed this functional experiment with psychometric measurements of the human bitter detection threshold. Comparison of sensory and cellular data revealed the importance of oral physiology and information central integration on the taste stimulus perception. The results obtained demonstrated that the combination of a cellular and sensory approach seemed to be an effective alternative method to evaluate the real contribution of one or more compounds to the negative sensory perceptions of nutritional supplements

Cette thèse propose une nouvelle approche de l'analyse d'image couleur, en considérant d'une part certaines caractéristiques liées à la perception visuelle, d'autre part certaines données liées à la répartition spatiocolorimétrique de l'information couleur. Pour caractériser une scène, nous avons retenu plusieurs critères liés à l'analyse visuelle (sensibilité de la perception, focus d'attention, distance de vision, perception des contrastes. . . ), et développé plusieurs traitements spécifiques (quantification, segmentation, évaluation des différences d'aspect entre deux images. . . ), couplant ainsi dans un même processus une analyse descriptive et une analyse quantitative des scènes étudiées (en termes de formes, contrastes, textures, dispersions, discriminations, degré d'homogénéité. . . ). En parallèle, nous avons souligné les nombreux apports que pouvait apporter l'information couleur à l'analyse d'image, ainsi que les différents problèmes liés à cette information (aspect tridimensionnel de la couleur, non-uniformité de la sensibilité visuelle, caractérisation de l'information pertinente. . . ). Par rapport au problème de la non-uniformité perceptuelle, nous avons proposé une transformation d'uniformisation qui conduit à l'élaboration d'une métrique couleur. Pour chacun des aspects abordés, nous avons fait le point sur l'ensemble des connaissances et des recherches qui s'y rattachent. Nous avons également développé plusieurs algorithmes conçus comme des utilitaires pour l'ensemble des processus de traitement et d'analyse d'image couleur. A cet égard nous avons proposé quelques solutions afin de diminuer les temps de traitement (échantillonnage du plan image, définition d'une enveloppe circonscrite, étude parallèle des formes disjonctives. . . )

Comprendre comment les sons sont perçus et interprétés est un défi important pour les chercheurs qui s'intéressent à la perception auditive. L'approche écologique de la perception suggère qu'un auditeur est capable de reconnaître des événements sonores par l'intermédiaire de structures spécifiques appelées invariants. L'étude de ces invariants est intéressante pour la définition d'un contrôle intuitif des processus de synthèse sonore. Parmi les différentes approches utilisées pour identifier les structures sonores pertinentes sur le plan perceptif, les imitations vocales sont un domaine intéressant. L'objectif principal de cette thèse est d'évaluer comment les invariants sont transmis par imitation vocale. Un corpus de sons de synthèse contenant différents types d'invariants connus a été créé. Les participants ont pris part à un test perceptif où ils ont imité le corpus sonore. Un outil d'analyse d'imitations vocales a ensuite été développé et utilisé pour analyser les imitations. Les résultats montrent que les participants ont pu mettre en évidence les éléments saillants des sons, qui correspondent partiellement aux invariants utilisés dans le corpus sonore. Ce travail de thèse souligne également que les imitations vocales révèlent comment ces invariants sont transmis, à l'aide du biais induit par la perception. Il offre également des perspectives prometteuses d'exploration de la perception sonore par une évaluation plus introspective du ressenti à l'aide des imitations vocales
Understanding how sounds are perceived and interpreted is an important challenge for researchers dealing with auditory perception. The ecological approach to perception suggests that the salient perceptual information that enables an auditor to recognize events through sounds is contained in specific structures called invariants. Investigating such invariants is of interest for the definition of an intuitive control for synthesis processes. Among the different approaches used to identify perceptually relevant sound structures, vocal imitations might be an interesting direction. The main goal of this thesis is to evaluate how invariants are transmitted through vocal imitations. A sound corpus containing different types of known invariants based on an existing synthesizer was set up. Participants took part in a perceptive test where they imitated the sound corpus. A continuous and sparse model of vocal imitations was then developed and used to analyze the imitations. Results show that participants were able to highlight salient elements of the sounds, that partially correspond to the invariants used in the sound corpus. This study also highlights that vocal imitations reveal how these invariants are transmitted, with the help of the perception-induced bias. This study offers promising perspectives on assessing feelings using vocal imitations

Si la musique a participé au développement de la psychologie cognitive et de l'approche expérimentale de l'esthétique, la musicologie, et plus particulièrement sa branche analytique, n'a que très peu bénéficié des acquis de ce que François Delalande appelle « les sciences de la musique ». Cette situation est le résultat d'un l'éloignement ontologique entre les paradigmes sous-jacents des sciences cognitives, et ceux de la théorie et l'analyse musicologiques. La difficulté à assimiler une méthodologie transdisciplinaire – question épistémologique qui accompagne le développement des sciences cognitives –, est aussi responsable d'une forme de désintéressement chronique de la part des musicologues pour des disciplines scientifiques qui pourtant, permettent aujourd'hui de comprendre la musique en tant qu'objet façonné par une dynamique des contraintes perceptives et cognitives, ainsi que comme expérience esthétique vivante. Ce travail doctoral cherche à évaluer les raisons qui rendent pertinente et nécessaire l'ouverture de la musicologie analytique vers l'étude scientifique de la perception et de l'expérience esthétique, et propose une formulation des objectifs et des moyens qui pourraient être ceux d'une musicologie analytique qui reconnait et préserve sa place au sein de l’épistémè contemporain des sciences humaines et naturelles
While music has contributed to the development of cognitive psychology and experimental aesthetics, musicology, and more particularly its analytical branch, has taken little benefit from the achievements of what has been called "the sciences of music ". This situation is the result of a growing ontological distance between the paradigms underlying the development of cognitive sciences and those on which musicological theory and analysis are grounded. The difficulty in assimilating a transdisciplinary methodology – a central epistemological question that accompanies the development of cognitive sciences – is also responsible for the chronic lack of interest on the part of musicologists for the scientific disciplines which have open the possibility to understand music as an object shaped both by perception and cognition, and as a living aesthetic experience. This research evaluates the reasons that prove the relevance and the necessity of building a straight relation between the analytical musicology and the scientific study of perception and aesthetics. It also leads a discussion in order to propose a definition of the aims and the means characterizing an analytical musicology that recognizes and preserves its place within the frame of the contemporary human and natural sciences

On peut distinguer, dans toute phrase musicale tonale, un niveau d'organisation physionomique (rythmes, contours mélodiques, intensité etc. ) Désigne par le terme de structure superficielle et un niveau d'organisation sous-jacent défini par le réseau de relations hiérarchiques unissant les notes de la phrase. L'objectif de cette étude est de préciser comment des auditeurs, musiciens et non-musiciens, parviennent à passer de la perception des caractéristiques physionomiques de la surface musicale, a la compréhension du réseau de relations hiérarchiques qui lui est sous-jacent. Dans le premier tome, l'auteur considère un nombre important d'études expérimentales réalisées en psychologie de la musique. Ces travaux nous renseignent sur les differents processus perceptifs et cognitifs qui interviennent lors de l'écoute musicale. Leur interaction est abordee par un compte rendu détaillé du modelé de F. Lindahl et R. Jackendoff (1983) : A generative theory of tonal music. Dans le second tome, l'auteur expose une série de sept expériences cherchant à tester les hypothèses centrales de ce modèle. Il s'agit, dans les trois premières, de mettre en évidence l'influence des organisations sous-jacentes sur la mémorisation de mélodies. Les expériences sont ensuite réalisées dans des épreuves d'identification. Elles confirment l'existence d'un niveau de codage ou la phrase n'est plus représentée par ses aspects physionomiques mais par le réseau de relations hiérarchiques qui lui est sous-jacent. Trois aptitudes générales sont nécessaires pour abstraire un tel réseau : l'une relative a la connaissance implicite des hiérarchies de hauteur instaurées par le système tonal, l'autre aux principes de groupement rythmique, et la dernière aux processus de mémorisation. Tout auditeur occidental adulte possèderait ces trois aptitudes ce qui lui permettrait une compréhension plus ou moins elaboree des pièces musicales tonales. En conclusion, l'auteur envisage comment ces aptitudes apparaissent au cours du développement de l'enfant et ce qu'elles nous apprennent sur une compétence plus générale a structurer la musique
Two levels may be distinguished in any tonal melody : one corresponding to the physionomical organization (rhythms, melodic contours, dynamics, etc. ) Called "superficial structure", the other corresponding to the underlying organization defined by the network of hierarchical relations associating the phrase notes. The purpose of this study is to specify how musician and non-musician listeners manage to proceed from the perception of physionomical characteristics of the musical surface to the understanding of the underlying network of hierarchical relations. In the first volume, the author considers an important number of experimental studies realized in psychology of music. They inform us of the different perceptual and cognitive processes occuring while listening to music. Their interaction is studied in a detailed review of lerdahl and jackendoff's book : a generativ theory of tonal music (1983). In the second volume the author exposes a series of seven experiments aiming to test the central hypothesis of that modal. The first three show the influence of underlying organization on the memorizing of melodies. The following experiments, proceed by identification tests. They confirm the existence of a processing level in which the phrase is no more represented by its physionomical aspects but by its underlying hierarchical relations. Three general aptitudes are required in order to be able to abstract such a network : one concerning the implicit knowledge of pitch hierarchies set up by the tonal system, another concerning the principles of rhythmic grouping and the last concerning memorizing processes. Every occidental adult listener possesses the three enabling him to get a more or less elaborated understanding of a tonal musical piece. In conclusion, the author considers how those aptitudes appear during the child's growth and what they tell about a more general competence for musical structuring

High risk perception of the tourists affects tourism demand and causes serious declines in the number of tourists to destinations. With this respect, data collected from 500 randomly chosen foreign tourists were analyzed in order to identify their safety perception levels of Alanya town center and in which circumstances and places they have risk perceptions. Factors such as country of origin (nationality), gender, age, travel companion, education level, and duration of stay were tested in order to find out if they have an effect on safety/risk perceptions. Analysis included frequency tables and chi-squared tests. According to the main findings, majority of foreign tourists visiting Alanya find the destination safe (90,6%). There were significant differences in tourists’ perception of risk and safety among issues like traffic and criminal cases such as theft, purse-snatching, sexual harassment, crimes. Additionally, correlation was detected between one of the factors affecting risk perception, -gender and risk types such as -going out at nights, theft and sexual harassment; and foreign tourists’ showed different risk perceptions according to their gender.

To avoid flops, the control of the risks in product innovation and the reduction of the innovation cycles require valid and fast customer’s assessments. An Interactive Genetic algorithm is proposed for eliciting user’s perceptions concerning the shape of a product, in order to stimulate creativity and detecting design trends. Interactive users’ assessment tests are conducted on virtual products, for capturing and analyzing users’ responses. The IGA is interfaced with a CAD software (CATIA V5) and allows the creation in real time of a set of parameterized designs, which are presented iteratively by a graphical interface to the user for evaluation. After a description of the IGA, we present a study on the convergence of the IGA, according to the tuning parameters of the algorithm and the size of the design problem. An experiment was carried out with a set of 20 users on a particular product, table glasses. We describe the implementation of the perceptive tests and an analysis of the results. These results show how the IGA can be used to elicit user perception and detecting design trends.

The research field of consumer behavior is not a new one. In fact, many researchers have conducted surveys and experiments in this field. Also, the topic on how advertisement influences consumer perceptions has been explored. It is obvious that culture background and social economic status are different between developed countries and developing countries. This can vary consumers’ perception and behaviors. Non-profit advertisement will influence consumer’s perception and behavior on the basis of cultural background. Thus, it will also be extremely crucial for non-profit advertisements to study cultural differences to learn more about consumers. This study focuses on cultural background, aiming to find the differences on how different non-profit advertisement between China and U.S., and provide useful strategies to plan non-profit advertisements.

Our research team has developed the project Keeping youth safe from Cyberbullying under Erasmus+, that aims to deeper understand the dynamics of cyberbullying in online environments among youth, to develop educational resources for professionals involved in youth activities in order to prevent these type behaviours, to develop youth skills to protect themselves from cyberbullying and to disseminate findings among educational professionals. A 7 section online questionnaire was designed, aiming to gather descriptive data, general perception about the frequency and typology of cyberbullying type incidents, perceptions about the safety of the educational environment and parental support and an auto evaluation scale centred on self-efficacy perceptions. Data was collected from 92 participants. Present’s study interest is in analysing the relationship between perceived school safety and just-for-fun online harassment. In order to test our hypothesis that assumes that between perceived school safety and just-for-fun online harassment there is a dynamic relationship, we have used a confirmatory factor analysis, based on multiple regression analysis for curvilinear effects. Results confirm the dynamic relationship between perceived school safety and just-for-fun online harassment, meaning that the poorer and as well as the stronger school safety is perceived, just-for-fun online harassment is present in educational contexts; a fair school safety perception intrigues an almost non-existent just-for-fun online harassment among pupils/students. Qualitative results and cyberbullying prevention strategies are discussed.

The perceptions of empowerment and justice that employees create in their minds affect all processes within the organization. Psychological empowerment is the perception of the organization that the organization has built to empower its employees. Organizational justice encompasses rules and social norms developed in the distribution of benefits, distribution processes and interpersonal relationships. This study aims to determine the relationship between psychological empowerment and perceptions of organizational justice. The 105 employees who work in a public institution constitute the universe of the researcher. According to Spearman correlation analysis results, the statistically significant relation was found between psychological empowerment and organizational justice perception. The main hypothesis has not been rejected. The study also examined the relationship between dimensions of psychological empowerment and dimensions of organizational justice. The results revealed a statistically significant relationship. The most striking result is that the relationship between the dimension of autonomy and the dimension of organizational justice is found to be strongest. The weakest relationship is the relationship between the meaning dimension of psychological empowerment and the dimensions of the concept of organizational justice.

Research in the field of Language Attitudes and Social Perceptions have proven associations between a speaker’s accent, and listener’s perceptions of various aspects of their identity – intelligence, socio-economic background, race, region of origin, friendliness, etc. This paper seeks to critically analyze the methodology and theories in the field of accent perception through a review of existing research literature across various disciplines that have studied it. After reviewing Social Identity Theory, Prototype theory, and theories regarding Ethnolinguistic identity, it points out various knowledge gaps and limitations of methodologies previously used. It then studies the implications for future research, in various domains, proposing a new theoretical paradigm using mixed methods studies.

E-learning platform quality is an important subject in the community of researchers and practitioners. Quality assessment approaches have different perspectives and differ in many respects, such as: objective, target groups and methods used. In recent years, the utility of advanced person-centered methods has become increasingly obvious. Person-centered approaches assume that samples come from heterogeneous populations and focus on identifying unobservable subpopulations that include individuals or similar cases. In this category are included both traditional techniques (e.g. cluster analysis) and advanced techniques (e.g. Latent Class Analysis, Latent Profile Analysis). In the present study, the e-learning platform quality is a general concept defined through three dimensions. The overall perception of students regarding the e-learning platform quality is based on the assessment of the following dimensions: e-learning system quality, information quality, and service quality. The aim of this paper is to extend previous research by adopting a person-oriented approach (e.g. LPA - latent profile analysis) and examine the heterogeneity of students' perceptions of e-learning platform quality. A sample of 385 students from five Romanian universities participated in the study. The data was analyzed with Mplus package version 7.4. The results of LPA revealed the presence of three profiles, reflecting different levels of e-learning platform quality perceptions: low, moderate, and high. The resulting profiles are distinct with respect to e-learning system quality, information quality, and service quality. A one-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) showed that the perceptions of e-learning platforms quality differed significantly across the three profiles. Finally, the article presented the practical implications of the results. The results contribute, on one hand, to identifying groups of students who shared similar perception patterns when dealing with e-learning platform quality. On the other hand, the results are useful in developing a strategy of improving the e-learning platforms by including the specific needs of each student categories identified.

In this exploratory study, we measured applied traction forces during a chiropractic manual cervical distraction procedure for each of three “treatment” perceptions; (i) beginning to feel a stretch, (ii) stretch feels like it could be a treatment, and (iii) stretch definitely feels like a treatment. A single trained clinician performed manual cervical distraction procedures on 10 neck pain participants using a commercially available table that was embedded with force and motion sensors. Participants were prone on the table while manual distraction was applied with gradually increasing force. When the specified perception was experienced, the study participant depressed a hand switch. Data was summarized with descriptive statistics and plotted for graphical analysis. Point estimates and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for the distractive force associated with each of the 3 treatment perceptions. Mean traction forces with 95% confidence intervals, corresponding to each of the 3 perception levels were: i) beginning to feel a stretch 18.6 N (11.9–25.2 N), ii) stretch feels like it could be a treatment 25.5 N (18.3–32.6 N), and iii) stretch definitely feels like a treatment 36.2 N (26.2–46.1 N).

This paper reports on a longitudinal research study on the attitudes to computers, and the perceptions of a computing career, of students enrolled in an introductory computing course in the years 1995 to 1998. Previous programming experience had a positive effect on computer confidence, and ownership of a home computer had a positive effect on computer anxiety and computer confidence. There was a gender difference in computer attitudes and perception of a computing career, with females scoring significantly lower than males on all measures. The analysis showed decreased computer liking over the semester and an inconsistent semester effect on computer confidence over the four years. The differences between male and female computer attitudes and perceptions of a computing career persisted over the semester.

This working paper examines the puzzle of the gaps between the images that the EU projects, voluntarily and involuntarily, and the perceptions of the EU in Latin America. After reviewing some of the debates related to the role of perceptions in public policy and EU Public Diplomacy (EUPD), the paper analyzes some critical developments in global perceptions of the EU based on the study Update of the 2015 Analysis of the Perception of the EU and EU Policies Abroad (2021 Update Study), which assessed the attitudes of the EU in 13 countries. The third section examines some studies on the attitudes of the EU in Latin America, including some contributions from Latinobarometer. The fourth section offers comparative cases of EU perception in Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia based on the findings of the 2021 Update Study. The analysis of each country relies on the interpretation of surveys with some references to the press analysis and interview methods provided in the 2021 Update Study. Each case discusses specific trends in the following areas: visibility, primary descriptors, global economics, and international leadership. Also, it identifies some patterns in perceptions of the EU in social development, climate change, research/technology, development assistance, culture, the case of the critical juncture in the survey (pandemic), and the EU as a normative setter. The final section offers some general trends in the perceptions of the EU in Latin America.

Ce document présente les résultats d’une étude de la perception des risques et nuisances industrielles dans l’agglomération dunkerquoise, ainsi qu’une analyse de la perception et du fonctionnement de différentes structures de concertation consacrées à ces questions. Les auteurs analysent la façon dont les tensions entre risques et bénéfices socio-économiques liés à l’activité industrielle sont ressenties et gérées sur ce territoire fortement industrialisé, où différents acteurs sont engagés dans le projet commun d’articulation du développement industriel et d’amélioration de la qualité environnementale. Les chercheurs ont interrogé les Dunkerquois sur leur environnement, leur cadre de vie, leur perception des risques industriels, leur connaissance des consignes à appliquer en cas d’accident industriel, et la confiance qu’ils accordent à différents acteurs chargés de la gestion des risques. Ce travail s’appuie sur une enquête par questionnaire qui visait, en produisant de la connaissance sociologique sur ces thématiques, à intégrer l’analyse des perceptions et des opinions des habitants dans la réflexion sur la gestion des risques à l’échelle de leur territoire.

Numerous studies have emerged so far on Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2) across different disciplines. There is virtually no facet of human experience and relationships that have not been studied. In Nigeria, these studies include knowledge and attitude, risk perception, public perception of Covid-19 management, e-learning, palliatives, precautionary behaviours etc.,, Studies have also been carried out on public framing of Covid-19 discourses in Nigeria; these have explored both offline and online messaging and issues from the perspectives of citizens towards government’s policy responses such as palliative distributions, social distancing and lockdown. The investigators of these thematic concerns deployed different methodological tools in their studies. These tools include policy evaluations, content analysis, sentiment analysis, discourse analysis, survey questionnaires, focus group discussions, in depth-interviews as well as machine learning., These studies nearly always focus on the national government policy response, with little or no focus on the constituent states. In many of the studies, the researchers work with newspaper articles for analysis of public opinions while others use social media generated contents such as tweets) as sources for analysis of sentiments and opinions. Although there are others who rely on the use of survey questionnaires and other tools outlined above; the limitations of these approaches necessitated the research plan adopted by this study. Most of the social media users in Nigeria are domiciled in cities and their demography comprises the middle class (socio-economic) who are more likely to be literate with access to internet technologies. Hence, the opinions of a majority of the population who are most likely rural dwellers with limited access to internet technologies are very often excluded. This is not in any way to disparage social media content analysis findings; because the opinions expressed by opinion leaders usually represent the larger subset of opinions prevalent in the society. Analysing public perception using questionnaires is also fraught with its challenges, as well as reliance on newspaper articles. A lot of the newspapers and news media organisations in Nigeria are politically hinged; some of them have active politicians and their associates as their proprietors. Getting unbiased opinions from these sources might be difficult. The news articles are also most likely to reflect and amplify official positions through press releases and interviews which usually privilege elite actors. These gaps motivated this collaboration between Ekiti State Government and the African Leadership Centre at King’s College London to embark on research that will primarily assess public perceptions of government leadership response to Covid-19 in Ekiti State. The timeframe of the study covers the first phase of the pandemic in Ekiti State (March/April to August 2020).

The introduction of ride-hailing in cities of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) remains a relatively new topic in regional research and a contentious issue in local policy and practice. Evidence regarding users and how do they differ from non-users is scarce, and there is little documented evidence about how user preferences and perceptions may influence the uptake of ride-hailing. This paper uses primary data from a survey collected from users and non-users of ride-hailing in Bogotá during 2019 to develop a Latent Class Analysis Model (LCA) to identify clusters of users and non-users of ride-hailing. The paper builds on results from the LCA to reflect on conditions of advantage and disadvantage that may make ride-hailing attractive and beneficial for particular social groups. The paper identifies four unique clusters: Carless middle-income ride-hailing users, Disadvantaged non-users, Young middle-class non-users, and Advantaged ride-hailing users. The research uses data on such perceptions to draw insights that may inform commercial and policy decisions. Findings suggest that issues such as the perception of legality in ride-hailing and aversion to crime play a significant role in the choice of such a mode in the context of Bogotá, particularly among socially and transport advantaged users.

In the United States, public transit ridership in 2020 declined by 79% compared to 2019 levels. With lockdowns implemented during the early days of the pandemic, direct human-to-human interactions migrated to virtual platforms (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit). Social media platforms have aided researchers in answering numerous questions about current societal dilemmas, including COVID-19. This study investigates the public’s perception of transit systems via a social media analysis given the emergence of vaccines and other COVID-19 preventive measures. Findings revealed themes of fear and confusion concerning the use of public transportation during the pandemic. The public had doubts regarding the vaccines’ impact on transportation and movement throughout 2021, with most users concerned about the proliferation of new variants. Twitter users were concerned about the travel bans placed on African countries amidst the Omicron variant and urged the government to remove the bans. These findings will help bridge the gap between public health, transport, and commuter needs by helping transportation authorities and city planners better understand the social perception of transit systems during a pandemic.

The Altamont Pass commuter survey study examines commuters’ perceptions and behaviors towards public transportation during 2019-2020. Results are compared with surveys conducted in 2000 and 2006 to investigate whether there have been any longitudinal changes in the perceptions and behaviors of Altamont Pass commuters over the twenty-year interval. As the previous surveys do, this study focuses on the same three counties, namely, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Merced that comprise the Northern San Joaquin Valley (NSJV). When compared with the previous surveys, these findings reveal some significant differences of responses to most questions, and minor differences of responses to other questions, prompting several important conclusions.

Review question / Objective: What are the determining factors of school failure in the 1st year of engineering courses according to the perception of teachers and students of higher education institutions in Angola? Condition being studied: Our systematic review aims to analyze the determining factors of school failure in the 1st year of engineering courses (factors related to the teacher, student, higher education institution and educational policies). Study designs to be included: Questionnaires/Scale, interviews, focus group, case and multi-case studies, observational studies, document analysis.