Towards a Multimedia Implementation of an NPComplete Dance Choreography Problem

The Dance Choreography problem is NPComplete.To solve non-trivial instances of such problems,heuristic algorithms are required, which we haveimplemented in our software we call Terpsichore©. Thesoftware creates amalgamations using figures fromestablished International Standard Ballroom Dancesyllabi, as well as our own proprietary syllabus. Amultimedia-based interface provides various coaching andteaching modules, delivered in a natural, human-likemanner

Music, Mathematics, and Microcomputers Building upon a Classical Tradition

In early Western medieval education, music was taughtas one of the quadrivium, which comprised four of the sevenliberal arts, in turn built upon an earlier Western classicaltradition that produced the trivium. We re-examine music’s closerelationship with the other elements of the quadrivium, andfurther establish links with elements of modern computingtheory

De Plana Musica and Introductio Musice: A Critical Edition and Translation, With Commentary, of Two Treatises Attributed to Johannes De Garlanda.

Johannes de Garlandia (fl. 1250, Paris), author of the seminal De mensurabili musica, has been linked to two plainchant treatises, De plana musica and Introductio musice. This dissertation presents the first critical edition and translation, with commentary, of these two treatises. It includes an introduction, Latin texts of the two treatises with English translations in parallel columns, critical apparatus, commentary, and appendices. De plana musica is transmitted in three sources, Introductio musice in four. The text of Introductio musice established here is shorter than that printed by Coussemaker (CS, 1:157-75), who included in the final portion of his text several independent short treatises. Also considered here as separate treatises are five other texts, hitherto described as sources for Introductio musice; one of these is an abridgement of Introductio musice, and the other four are peripheral treatises that share material with it. To the latter group is introduced one more treatise, Florence, Conventi Soppressi 388, fols. 56r-60v, described and presented here for the first time. All these texts are included in appendices; another appendix provides a critical edition of the Ars contrapunctus secundum Philippum de vitriaco, a treatise that parallels portions of Introductio musice. Paleographical evidence is used to date and determine the provenance of the pertinent manuscripts, one of which, Rio de Janeiro, Cofre 50.18, is described in detail here for the first time. The dissertation also addresses issues of authorship and dating of De plana musica and Introductio musice, their content, and their relationship with each other and with other medieval treatises. It concludes that although De plana musica may well have been written by the author of De mensurabili musica, the same author could not have written Introductio musice

The Complexity of Dance Choreography Procedures

We derive the conceptual link between dancechoreography and other significant problems in computerscience, mathematics, and operations research. Dancechoreography problems, formulated as decision problems,are shown to be NP-Complete. The correspondingoptimization problems are shown to be NP-Hard and NPEasy,and hence NP-Equivalent. We discuss the rationalebehind these classifications, and evaluate variousalgorithmic solutions and their implementations

Complexity and heuristics in ruled-based algorithmic music composition

Successful algorithmic music composition requires the efficient creation of works that reflect human preferences. In examining this key issue, we make two main contributions in this dissertation: analysis of the computational complexity of algorithmic music composition, and methods to produce music that approximates a commendable human effort. We use species counterpoint as our compositional model, wherein a set of stylistic and grammatical rules governs the search for suitable countermelodies to match a given melody. Our analysis of the complexity of rule-based music composition considers four different types of computational problems: decision, enumeration, number, and optimization. For restricted versions of the decision problem, we devise a polynomial algorithm by constructing a non-deterministic finite state transducer. This transducer can also solve corresponding restricted versions of the enumeration and number problems. The general forms of the four types of problems, however, are respectively NP-complete, #P-complete, NP-complete in the strong sense, and NP-equivalent. We prove this by first reducing from the well known Three-Dimensional Matching problem to the music composition decision problem, and then by reducing among the music problems themselves. In order to compose music both correct and human-like, we formulate new “artistry” rules to supplement traditional rules of musical style and grammar. We also propose the fuzzy application of these artistry rules, to complement the crisp application of the traditional rules. We then suggest two methods to model human preferences: (1) distinguish an expert’s compositions from alternative compositions by determining rule weights; (2) train an artificial neural network to reflect an expert’s musical preferences through the latter’s evaluations of a set of compositions. We were able to approximate that elusive factor of human preference with better than 75% accuracy. To solve the optimization problem, we adapt two different search algorithms: best-first search with branch-and-bound pruning (for m ≥ 1 optimal solutions), and a genetic algorithm (for m ≥ 1 near-optimal solutions). Through these algorithms, we test the techniques of rule weightings and of trained neural networks as evaluation functions. Our adaptation of the genetic algorithm produced optimal countermelodies in execution time favorably comparable to that taken by the best-first algorithm

The Hydrogen Breath Test: New Uses for an Old Test

org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

The performance of tool holder clamping technique in conventional lathe with passive damping system

There are various techniques proposed by some researchers to predict and detect the chatter where the objective is to prevent the occurrence of chatter in the cutting process to get a better surface finish product, higher productivity and tool life. These studies are mostly about active damping system by control the machining process parameters. Active damping techniques are not applicable under all circumstances because, for example, power requirements, cost, environment, etc. In those situations, the passive damping techniques are viable alternatives. Designed in passive damping for any structure is usually based on one of four damping mechanisms: viscoelastic materials, viscous fluids, magnetics or passive piezoelectric. Research on viscoelastic damping and other damping material in a lathe machine is hardly found. Thus, the relative influence of viscoelastic damping and softwood damping on conventional turning tool wear, tool vibration, and surface finish is investigated. The overall objective of this research is to evaluate the performance of new tool holder clamping technique by adding viscoelastic and softwood passive damping system for the application of conventional lathe machine. The specific objectives of the research are To evaluate the effectiveness of viscoelastic and softwood damping system in reducing tool wear during machining cold work tool steel AISI D2 of 45 HRC, To study the influence of clamping technique on tool vibration, and to study the effect of viscoelastic and softwood damping system on the surface finish. Nine set of experiments had been carried out during the experiment, three for each damping conditions: no damping, neoprene damping, and pine wood damping. Data obtained from experiment has been analysis by using ezANOVA software. As the summary of the experiment findings, neoprene damping shows extremely significant positive effect on the performance of machining of conventional lathe machines in tool wear and tool vibration. The attempt of using pine wood as damping material has result extremely significant lower tool vibration too. However, wood damping does not give significant effect on the tool wear and surface roughness

What Triggers Impulse Purchase Behavior: The Moderating Effects of User Expertise and Product Type

Exposing consumers to persuasive cues can cause them to make impulse purchases. Persuasive cues can be heuristic cue or systematic cue. Heuristic cue uses simple rules to process the information such as identity of the source or other non-content cues. Systematic cue emphasizes detailed processing of message content and uses message-relevant content or arguments to assist in decision making. The features of heuristic cue and systematic cue are investigated to see how they can impact one’s impulse purchase behavior. The amount of expertise a consumer has in a specific product type (search or experience) will shape the relationships between persuasive cues and impulse purchase. The findings contribute to the impulse purchase literature and help merchants and website designers decide on what persuasive cues to provide consumers without overloading them with unnecessary information. To consumers, they will have better grip on their own impulse purchase behavior when exposed to persuasive cues

Digital Platforms and Community Development: An Institutional Perspective on the Evolution of Platform-Based Ecosystems

Digital platforms are becoming an important catalyst for social transformation and development amongst a wide range of communities. However, prior studies have focused on the general structure of mature platform-based ecosystems and its impact on communities, with little research looking at the challenges facing digital platforms in their early stages of evolution to bring about change in a community. Using an interpretive case study approach, this study investigates how these platform-based ecosystems evolve and overcome institutional constraints to bring about social change. We build our theory development on the case of iGrow, which is a resource integration platform for the agricultural sector in Indonesia. The case indicates that an ecosystem needs to overcome different institutional constraints at various stages of its growth, and that the underlying digital platform helps the ecosystem in overcoming these constraints by offering an organizing vision that helps the ecosystem members construct meaning, provide legitimacy, and mobilize support for new practices and production activities. This analysis provides a theoretical foundation for understanding the mechanisms through which platform-based ecosystems evolve to enable or constrain community-driven change

Demographics and health care seeking behavior of Singaporean women with chronic constipation: implications for therapeutic management

Kok Ann Gwee1,2, Sajita Setia31Gleneagles Hospital, 2Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS), 3Janssen, Johnson and Johnson Pte Ltd, SingaporeIntroduction: Chronic constipation is significantly more prevalent in women than men in Singapore. We carried out a survey to study patient demographics, symptom prevalence, healthcare-seeking behavior, and patient satisfaction with available treatment options in women with chronic constipation.Methods: Responses were collected predominantly via a web-based survey from a panel representative of Singapore's women population. Eligibility was established using a nine-question screener.Results: A total of 1006 invited females took part in an online screener survey, of which 911 respondents did not meet the eligibility requirements for the chronic constipation survey. Of the total panelists consenting to participate (via both online and face-to-face interviews), 100 women met eligibility requirements and took the 22-question survey. Eligible respondents were skewed to younger patients but well mixed in terms of marital status. The majority of them were not keen on doing exercise and were working women, especially white collar females. The majority complained of straining and hard stools as the most common constipation symptoms (88% and 80% respectively) and rated constipation symptoms as severe or moderate. On average, respondents experienced constipation symptoms for 6 to 7 months in the last year. In more than two-thirds of respondents, constipation symptoms were frequent (at least 1 in 3 times). Most of the patients had attempted to treat constipation themselves and 80% had tried laxatives before visiting the doctor. Satisfaction with fiber supplements and laxatives was average and many of the users were not satisfied with their effect. Ineffectiveness and prolonged time taken for the treatment to take effect were the most common reasons for dissatisfaction. Nearly all respondents (97%) were interested in considering alternative prescriptive medication that is proven more effective.Conclusion: Chronic constipation symptoms in women are often severe and bothersome, and many patients are dissatisfied with available treatment options primarily because of lack of efficacy.Keywords: chronic constipation, demographics, health-care, laxative