Complexity Measures of Music

We present a technique to search for the presence of crucial events in music, based on the analysis of the music volume. Earlier work on this issue was based on the assumption that crucial events correspond to the change of music notes, with the interesting result that the complexity index of the crucial events is mu ~ 2, which is the same inverse power-law index of the dynamics of the brain. The search technique analyzes music volume and confirms the results of the earlier work, thereby contributing to the explanation as to why the brain is sensitive to music, through the phenomenon of complexity matching. Complexity matching has recently been interpreted as the transfer of multifractality from one complex network to another. For this reason we also examine the mulifractality of music, with the observation that the multifractal spectrum of a computer performance is significantly narrower than the multifractal spectrum of a human performance of the same musical score. We conjecture that although crucial events are demonstrably important for information transmission, they alone are not suficient to define musicality, which is more adequately measured by the multifractality spectrum

Ameiva corax

Number of Pages: 2Integrative BiologyGeological Science

EFFECTS OF CHIGGER MITE (ACARI: TROMBICULIDAE) INFECTIONS ON AMEIVA (SQUAMATA: TEIIDAE) FROM THE ANGUILLA BANK

We examined 152 Ameiva plei from four sites on Anguilla and from Scrub Island, a nearby satellite, and 12 A. corax from Little Scrub Island, another Anguillian satellite, generated indices of condition by dividing mass (g) by SVL (mm), and quantified degrees of eutrombiculid chigger mite infections by measuring the total areas (mm2) of each lizard covered by one or more clusters of mites. Prevalence in infected A. plei (N = 77) varied significantly by site, but frequencies of infected males and females within sites did not differ signifi cantly. Indices of condition of infected and mite-free lizards did not differ significantly, nor was area covered by mites significantly correlated with condition, suggesting that mite infections are relatively asymptomatic. All Ameiva corax were infected, and area covered by mites was not significantly correlated with condition. Indices of condition for A. corax were signifi cantly lower than for infected A. plei, probably refl ecting the poorer condition of lizards occupying a food-deficient habitat

Phase Space Engineering in Optical Microcavities I: Preserving near-field uniformity while inducing far-field directionality

Optical microcavities have received much attention over the last decade from different research fields ranging from fundamental issues of cavity QED to specific applications such as microlasers and bio-sensors. A major issue in the latter applications is the difficulty to obtain directional emission of light in the far-field while keeping high energy densities inside the cavity (i.e. high quality factor). To improve our understanding of these systems, we have studied the annular cavity (a dielectric disk with a circular hole), where the distance cavity-hole centers, d, is used as a parameter to alter the properties of cavity resonances. We present results showing how one can affect the directionality of the far-field while preserving the uniformity (hence the quality factor) of the near-field simply by increasing the value of d. Interestingly, the transition between a uniform near- and far-field to a uniform near- and directional far-field is rather abrupt. We can explain this behavior quite nicely with a simple model, supported by full numerical calculations, and we predict that the effect will also be found in a large class of eigenmodes of the cavity.Comment: 12th International Conference on Transparent Optical Network

S and Q Matrices Reloaded: applications to open, inhomogeneous, and complex cavities

We present a versatile numerical algorithm for computing resonances of open dielectric cavities. The emphasis is on the generality of the system's configuration, i.e. the geometry of the (main) cavity (and possible inclusions) and the internal and external dielectric media (homogeneous and inhomogeneous). The method is based on a scattering formalism to obtain the position and width of the (quasi)-eigenmodes. The core of the method lies in the scattering S-matrix and its associated delay Q-matrix which contain all the relevant information of the corresponding scattering experiment. For instance, the electromagnetic near- and far-fields are readily extracted. The flexibility of the propagation method is displayed for a selected system.Comment: 15th International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks (2013

Large-scale changes in cortical dynamics triggered by repetitive somatosensory electrical stimulation.

BackgroundRepetitive somatosensory electrical stimulation (SES) of forelimb peripheral nerves is a promising therapy; studies have shown that SES can improve motor function in stroke subjects with chronic deficits. However, little is known about how SES can directly modulate neural dynamics. Past studies using SES have primarily used noninvasive methods in human subjects. Here we used electrophysiological recordings from the rodent primary motor cortex (M1) to assess how SES affects neural dynamics at the level of single neurons as well as at the level of mesoscale dynamics.MethodsWe performed acute extracellular recordings in 7 intact adult Long Evans rats under ketamine-xylazine anesthesia while they received transcutaneous SES. We recorded single unit spiking and local field potentials (LFP) in the M1 contralateral to the stimulated arm. We then compared neural firing rate, spike-field coherence (SFC), and power spectral density (PSD) before and after stimulation.ResultsFollowing SES, the firing rate of a majority of neurons changed significantly from their respective baseline values. There was, however, a diversity of responses; some neurons increased while others decreased their firing rates. Interestingly, SFC, a measure of how a neuron's firing is coupled to mesoscale oscillatory dynamics, increased specifically in the δ-band, also known as the low frequency band (0.3- 4 Hz). This increase appeared to be driven by a change in the phase-locking of broad-spiking, putative pyramidal neurons. These changes in the low frequency range occurred without a significant change in the overall PSD.ConclusionsRepetitive SES significantly and persistently altered the local cortical dynamics of M1 neurons, changing both firing rates as well as the SFC magnitude in the δ-band. Thus, SES altered the neural firing and coupling to ongoing mesoscale dynamics. Our study provides evidence that SES can directly modulate cortical dynamics

Retrospective Investigation of One-time Presenters Versus Repeat Presenters to Urban and Suburban Psychiatric Emergency Services : Cross-sectional and Clinical Characteristics

This study retrospectively reviewed 765 patients who presented within a one-year period at either a suburban, urban, or both suburban and urban psychiatric emergency services (PES). Demographic and clinical characteristics were examined. Particular focus included characteristics of children/adolescents and older adults, as well as the relationship between substance misuse and PES presenters. Adults presenting to PES more than three times were more likely to have a chronic mental illness, personality disorder, history of psychiatric treatment, and a history of noncompliance with treatment than those who presented three times or less. Significant differences were found between urban and suburban PESs, in that adults presenting to only the suburban PES were more likely to be employed. Children/adolescents who presented to PES multiple times were more likely to have a history of psychiatric treatment than children/adolescents who had presented one time. No significant differences that were predicted were found between older adults who presented to PES multiple times and older adults who presented to PES one time. Adults who re-presented to PES within 30 days of being discharged from PES were less likely to have social and economic problems. Adults with comorbid diagnosis of substance abuse and psychosis were more likely to visit PES more than one time within a year. Adults who presented to PES with a diagnosis of primary substance abuse without a chronic mental illness were more likely to be self-referred and discharged to the community

A Comparison Of Installation Methods And Maintenance Practices Of Protected Side Armoring

The IPET (Interagency Performance Evaluation Taskforce) Team\u27s significant finding is if the levees had armoring, the HSDRRS would have an element of resiliency. IPET defines resiliency as The ability to withstand, without catastrophic failure…beyond those intended or estimated in the design. …resilience refers to the ability to withstand higher than designed water levels and overtopping without breaching (USACE, 2007). In the analysis of armoring products, two criterions usually govern. First, the ability for the armoring to resist overtopping velocity from storms greater than the 100 year authorized level. Second, does the product facilitate installation and maintenance post-Katrina? This thesis will help expand the knowledge base and hopefully the comfort level of armoring products so that we may widen our range of resources. Different products and their methods for installation and maintenance will be presented. The result of one full-scale field test performed by USACE Armoring Team is described