Audio Features Affected by Music Expressiveness

Within a Music Information Retrieval perspective, the goal of the study presented here is to investigate the impact on sound features of the musician's affective intention, namely when trying to intentionally convey emotional contents via expressiveness. A preliminary experiment has been performed involving $10$ tuba players. The recordings have been analysed by extracting a variety of features, which have been subsequently evaluated by combining both classic and machine learning statistical techniques. Results are reported and discussed.Comment: Submitted to ACM SIGIR Conference on Research and Development in Information Retrieval (SIGIR 2016), Pisa, Italy, July 17-21, 201

Imprinting a complete information about a quantum channel on its output state

We introduce a novel property of bipartite quantum states, which we call "faithfulness", and we say that a state is faithful when acting with a channel on one of the two quantum systems, the output state carries a complete information about the channel. The concept of faithfulness can also be extended to sets of states, when the output states patched together carry a complete imprinting of the channel.Comment: revtex4, 4 pages, submitted to PR

Evaluating degree of compaction of levees using cone penetration testing

Permeability and strength parameters of compacted soils (i.e., levees as well as other earthworks) may be correlated to the degree of compaction. Since the use of conventional and recent testing methods for the assessment of density and water content of earthworks, under construction, cannot be applied to existing levees, an expeditious and accurate method for the assessment of the degree of compaction of existing and new levees, after their completion, appears extremely useful. The purpose of this research is to develop a simple tool for the assessment of the degree of compaction of "compacted", partially saturated, fine grained soils. This paper illustrates the proposed method which combines in situ testing such as electric CPT or CPTu with laboratory penetration testing performed with a mini-cone in a calibration chamber (CC). © 2018, Taiwan Geotechnical Society

Evaluation of the degree of compaction of levees by a CPT- based method

Permeability and strength parameters of compacted soils may be correlated to their degree of compaction. Unfortunately, the use of conventional and recent testing methods for the assessment of density and water content of earthworks under construction cannot be applied to existing levees. Therefore, the development of an expeditious and accurate method for the assessment of the degree of compaction of existing and new levees, after their completion, appears extremely useful. The purpose of this research is to develop a simple tool for the assessment of the degree of compaction of “compacted”, partially saturated, fine grained soils. The proposed method combines in situ testing like electric CPT or CPTu with laboratory penetration testing performed with a mini–cone in a calibration chamber

Fluidity and cytosolic Ca2+ concentration of circulating polymorphonuclear leukocytes at baseline in some chronic and acute clinical conditions: review of our survey

Abstract. Objective: In this mini-review we describe the behavior of polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) membrane fluidity and of PMN cytosolic Ca2+ concentration in some chronic and acute clinical conditions. Methods: PMN membrane fluidity was evaluated employing the fluorescent probe Fura-2AM, and PMN cytosolic Ca2+ concentration was evaluated using the fluorescent probe TMA-DPH. Results: From the determination of these two parameters investigated on resting PMNs, an almost constant increase in PMN cytosolic Ca2+ concentration in chronic clinical conditions, such as vascular atherosclerotic disease with and without diabetes mellitus, essential hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes mellitus of both types, and a decrease in PMN membrane fluidity in acute clinical conditions, such as juvenile acute myocardial infarction and acute ischemic stroke, are evident. Conclusion: The possible reasons for this different behavior are analyzed on the basis of pathophysiological considerations

Nero Siciliano pig: effect of the diet on meat quality

In the context of a typical breeding system for the autochthonous pig races, the effects of the traditional diet (grain cereals, legumes and agro-industrial by-product) and of a commercial diet (pellets) on the meat quality of Nero Siciliano pig were studied. Thirty animals, 16 castrated males and 14 females, were divided into two groups of 15 each one homogeneous for live weight (32.47±1.74 kg), sex (8 males and 7 females) and age (2 months), called "Traditional" (TRA) and "Experimental" (EXPE). Pigs of "TRA" group were fed with barleycorn (2 kg/head/day) and citrus pulp (1 kg/head/day) whereas, those of "EXPE" group received 1.3 kg/head/day of a pelletted complete feed (Dry Matter: 87.5%, on a DM basis: 18.29% Crude Protein, 3.43% Ether Extract, 6.06% Crude Fiber, 7.43% Ash) formulated to be isoenergetic and isonitrogenous with the Traditional diet. The trial lasted 93 days, preceded by a 15day adaptation period. After the slaughter (FLW: EXPE 67.4kg vs. TRA 61.69 kg; P>0.05 and FCR: EXPE 3.71 kg/kg vs. TRA 6.65 kg/kg; P<0.001), chemical and fatty acid composition of the Longissimus lumborum muscle were determined as well as the acidic composition of the lard removed by the backfat. On the basis of the fatty acid profile, the quality indices were calculated. The oxidative stability (TBARs) of the intramuscular lipid was determined at 1, 3, 5 days after slaughtering. Data were subjected to ANOVA. Protein (EXPE 23.01 g/100g vs. TRA 23.17 g/100g) and lipid (EXPE 3.12 g/100g vs. TRA 2.69 g/100g) content of the muscle was unaffected by the diet whereas, moisture (EXPE 72.52 g/100g vs. TRA 73.072 g/100g) and ash (EXPE 1.01 g/100g vs. TRA 1.08 g/100g) levels showed significant (P<0.05) differences. As regards fatty acid composition of the meat, significant differences were observed for the total SFAs (EXPE 41.42% vs. TRA 38.95%, P<0.01) and PUFAs (EXPE 9.05% vs. TRA 12.11%, P<0.05) in particular for the n3 series (EXPE 0.79% vs. TRA 1.40%, P<0.05) and for the n6 series PUFAs (EXPE 8.11% vs. TRA 10.49%, P<0.05). Fatty acid composition of the lard showed significant (P<0.05) differences for MUFAs (EXPE 47.63% vs. TRA 49.11%) and PUFAs (EXPE 11.38% vs. TRA 10.01%); in particular significant differences for the n3 series (EXPE 0.77% vs. TRA 0.94%, P<0.05) and for the n6 series PUFAs (EXPE 10.62% vs. TRA 9.08%, P<0.01) were reported. The different distribution of the fatty acid classes in the meat and in the lard could be due to: i) the different acidic composition of the feeds (pellet vs. barleycorn + citrus pulp), ii) the different destinations of the plasmatic fatty acids during their metabolic cycle (constituents of adipose tissue, of tryglicerides, of membranes phospholipids). The quality indices have shown significant (P<0.001) differences only in the Longissimus lumborum muscle, with the highest values for the Atherogenic (EXPE 0.49% vs. TRA 0.42%,) and for the Thrombogenic indices (EXPE 1.11% vs. TRA 0.91%) in the EXPE group. No significant difference was observed for the oxidative stability of the muscle during the storage. Data show the importance to study specific diets for Nero Siciliano pig in relation to the destination of meat. Research supported by MIUR, PRIN-2003 ("Nero Siciliano pig breeding: evaluation of its production", Prof

Toward the Development of Load Transfer Efficiency Evaluation of Rigid Pavements by a Rolling Wheel Deflectometer

The jointed rigid pavement is currently evaluated by the Falling weight deflectometer which is rather slow for the testing of the jointed pavements. Continuous nondestructive evaluation of rigid pavements with a rolling wheel deflectometer can be used to measure the load transfer and is investigated. Load transfer is an important indicator of the rigid pavement's condition and this is the primary factor which is studied. Continuous data from experimental measurements across a joint allows for the determination of not only the load transfer efficiency provided parameters characterizing the pavement is known. A three-dimensional semi-analytical model was implemented for simulating the pavement response near a joint and used for interpretation and verification of the experimental data. Results show that this development is promising for the use of a rolling wheel deflectometer for rapid evaluation of joints

Behaviour of the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in young subjects with acute myocardial infarction

In the last years the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been examined in cardiovascular disorders and in particular in coronary artery disease and acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Now we examined this parameter in subjects with juvenile myocardial infarction at the initial stage and after 3 and 12 months. We enrolled 123 young subjects (112 men and 11 women, mean age 39.4\ub15.8 yrs) with AMI. The time interval between the AMI onset and the investigation was 13\ub17 days. The mean value of NLR observed in young AMI subjects was significantly increased compared to normal controls (N = 1.817\ub10.711; young AMI subjects = 2.376\ub10.873, p &lt; 0.0001). NLR does not discriminate STEMI (2.427\ub10.878) and non STEMI (2.392\ub10.868) or diabetics (2.604\ub11.000) and non diabetics (2.324\ub10.853), but it differentiates smokers (2.276\ub10.853) and non smokers (2.837\ub11.072). NLR at the initial stage is not correlated with the number of cardiovascular risk factors or with the extent of the coronary disease. In this study we found a significant decrease of neutrophil count at 3 and 12 months later AMI without any significant variation of lymphocyte and consequently we observed a decrease in NLR at these two intervals of time in comparison with the initial stage. Despite some limitations present in this study, it is interesting to underline that also in juvenile myocardial infarction this low-cost haematological marker may be considered together with other inflammatory indicators

Proactive, boundaryless, and confident graduates entering the labour market: does need for cognitive closure play a role as a moderator?

The university to work transition is a crucial and delicate stage for graduates, as it involves an essential change of role. Previous studies have shown that proactive personality, boundaryless mind-set and career self-efficacy are critical variables for a successful labour market integration/entry. This study analyzes the involvement of the need for cognitive closure as an individual variable that can both favor and hinder this process. Specifically, this work examines the moderating role of need for cognitive closure in the indirect association between proactive personality and career self-efficacy through boundaryless mind-set in a sample of 762 adults enrolled at the university or recently graduated therein. Results showed that career self-efficacy was positively predicted by proactive personality and boundaryless mind-set. Although a significant indirect effect was present thus confirming our first hypothesis, it did not vary depending on the need for cognitive closure proving that need for cognitive closure did not act as a moderator of this indirect association, hence not supporting our second hypothesis. These findings were discussed concerning the complexity of students’ choices in transition and the nature of the information processing process needed for those choices

Analysis of the correlations between oxidative stress, gelatinases and their tissue inhibitors in the human subjects with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is commonly associated with endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disorders. On the basis of this observation, our aim was to examine the oxidative status and the matrix metalloproteases (MMP) profile in a group of subjects with OSAS. We enrolled 48 subjects with OSAS defined after a 1-night cardiorespiratory sleep study, who were subsequently subdivided in two subgroups according to the severity of OSAS (low grade = L-OSAS; high grade= H-OSAS). We measured the parameters of oxidative stress, such as lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, total antioxidant status (TAS), nitric oxide metabolites (NOx), and the plasma concentrations of the gelatinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMP-1 and TIMP-2). We found a significant impairment of oxidative status in H-OSAS compared to L-OSAS and higher plasma levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in H-OSAS compared to L-OSAS. In this study we observed a positive correlation between TBARS and MMP-9, a positive correlation between PC and MMP-9, and a negative correlation between NOx and MMP-9, especially in the whole group of OSAS subjects. These data underline how strong interrelationships among some parameters of the oxidative stress, in particular those reflecting lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and NOx, and MMP-9 are evident in OSAS subjects. All these information may be useful in the clinical practice keeping in mind the cardiovascular complications generally accompanying the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome