Towards the development of a universal listening test interface generator in Max

This engineering brief describes HULTI-GEN (Huddersfield Universal Listening Test Interface Generator), a Cycling ‘74 Max-based tool. HULTI-GEN is a user-customisable environment, which takes user-defined parameters (e.g. the number of trials, stimuli and scale settings) and automatically constructs an interface for comparing auditory stimuli, whilst also randomising the stimuli and trial order. To assist the user, templates based on ITU-R recommended methods have been included. As the recommended methods are often adjusted for different test requirements, HULTI-GEN also supports flexible editing of these presets. Furthermore, some existing techniques have been summarised within this brief, including their restrictions and how they might be altered through using HULTI-GEN. A finalised version of HULTI-GEN is to be made freely available online at: http://www.hud.ac.uk/research/researchcentres/mtprg/projects/apl

RePEc and S-WoPEc: Internet access to electronic preprints in Economics

The first electronic Economics preprint appeared in 1993. Since then the growth has been dramatic as the use of the World Wide Web has exploded. RePEc has been instrumental in facilitating access to Economics preprints and in bringing order to the chaos that the WWW frequently represents. In a related effort S-WoPEc provides user friendly tools for adding data to the RePEc system. While this is significant in itself it has also been instrumental in fulfilling S-WoPEc's second goal--to provide increased exposure to Swedish Economics research

Using design patterns for software development

An effective way to solve problems in software design is to use software templates. It is known that the template is not a finished sample that we can translate into program code. Programming patterns are developed effective approaches, techniques and rules for solving problems when creating software. Considered the difference between each of the patterns, the complexity implementation of each and interaction between components. Found pros and cons each

On the Role of Metadata in Visual Language Reuse and Reverse Engineering – An Industrial Case

AbstractCollecting metadata on a family of programs is useful not only for generating statistical data on the programs but also for future re-engineering and reuse purposes. In this paper we discuss an industrial case where a project library is used to store visual programs and a database to store the metadata on these programs. The visual language in question is a domain-specific language, Function Block Language (FBL) that is used in Metso Automation for writing automation control programs. For reuse, program analysis and re-engineering activities and various data and program analysis methods are applied to study the FBL programs. Metadata stored in a database is used to provide advanced program analysis support; from the large amount of programs, the metadata allows focusing the analysis to certain kinds of programs. In this paper, we discuss the role and usage of the metadata in program analysis techniques applied to FBL programs

Stochastic resonance in electrical circuits—I: Conventional stochastic resonance.

Stochastic resonance (SR), a phenomenon in which a periodic signal in a nonlinear system can be amplified by added noise, is introduced and discussed. Techniques for investigating SR using electronic circuits are described in practical terms. The physical nature of SR, and the explanation of weak-noise SR as a linear response phenomenon, are considered. Conventional SR, for systems characterized by static bistable potentials, is described together with examples of the data obtainable from the circuit models used to test the theory

Continuous and non-invasive thermography of mouse skin accurately describes core body temperature patterns, but not absolute core temperature

Body temperature is an important physiological parameter in many studies of laboratory mice. Continuous assessment of body temperature has traditionally required surgical implantation of a telemeter, but this invasive procedure adversely impacts animal welfare. Near-infrared thermography provides a non-invasive alternative by continuously measuring the highest temperature on the outside of the body (Tskin), but the reliability of these recordings as a proxy for continuous core body temperature (Tcore) measurements has not been assessed. Here, Tcore (30 s resolution) and Tskin (1 s resolution) were continuously measured for three days in mice exposed to ad libitum and restricted feeding conditions. We subsequently developed an algorithm that optimised the reliability of a Tskin-derived estimate of Tcore. This identified the average of the maximum Tskin per minute over a 30-min interval as the optimal way to estimate Tcore. Subsequent validation analyses did however demonstrate that this Tskin-derived proxy did not provide a reliable estimate of the absolute Tcore due to the high between-animal variability in the relationship between Tskin and Tcore. Conversely, validation showed that Tskin-derived estimates of Tcore reliably describe temporal patterns in physiologically-relevant Tcore changes and provide an excellent measure to perform within-animal comparisons of relative changes in Tcore