Self-organizing search lists using probabilistic back-pointers

A class of algorithms is given for maintaining self-organizing sequential search lists, where the only permutation applied is to move the accessed record of each search some distance towards the front of the list. During searches, these algorithms retain a back-pointer to a previously probed record in order to determine the destination of the accessed record's eventual move. The back-pointer does not traverse the list, but rather it is advanced occationally to point to the record just probed by the search algorithm. This avoids the cost of a second traversal through a significant portion of the list, which may be a significant savings when each record access may require a new page to be brought into primary memory. Probabilistic functions for deciding when to advance the pointer are presented and analyzed. These functions demonstrate average case complexities of measures such as asymptotic cost and convergence similar to some of the more common list update algorithms in the literature. In cases where the accessed record is moved forward a distance proportional to the distance to the front of the list, the use of these functions may save up to 50% of the time required for permuting the list

Ductility normalized-strainrange partitioning life relations for creep-fatigue life predictions

Procedures based on Strainrange Partitioning (SRP) are presented for estimating the effects of environment and other influences on the high temperature, low cycle, creep fatigue resistance of alloys. It is proposed that the plastic and creep, ductilities determined from conventional tensile and creep rupture tests conducted in the environment of interest be used in a set of ductility normalized equations for making a first order approximation of the four SRP inelastic strainrange life relations. Different levels of sophistication in the application of the procedures are presented by means of illustrative examples with several high temperature alloys. Predictions of cyclic lives generally agree with observed lives within factors of three

Cyclic creep and fatigue of TD-NiCr (thoria-dispersion-strengthened nickel-chromium), TD-Ni, and NiCr sheet at 1200 C

The resistance of thin TD-NiCr sheet to cyclic deformation was compared with that of TD-Ni and a conventional nickel-chromium alloy. Strains were determined by a calibration technique which combines room-temperature strain gage and deflection measurements with high-temperature deflection measurements. Analyses of the cyclic tests using measured tensile and creep-rupture data indicated that the TD-NiCr and NiCr alloy specimens failed by a cyclic creep mechanism. The TD-Ni specimens, on the other hand, failed by a fatigue mechanism

Teenage and adult speech in school context: building and processing a corpus of European Portuguese

We present a corpus of European Portuguese spoken by teenagers and adults in school context, CPE-FACES, with an overview of the differential characteristics of high school oral presentations and the challenges this data poses to automatic speech processing. The CPE-FACES corpus has been created with two main goals: to provide a resource for the study of prosodic patterns in both spontaneous and prepared unscripted speech, and to capture inter-speaker and speaking style variations common at school, for research on oral presentations. Research on speaking styles is still largely based on adult speech. References to teenagers are sparse and cross-analyses of speech types comparing teenagers and adults are rare. We expect CPE-FACES, currently a unique resource in this domain, will contribute to filling this gap in European Portuguese. Focusing on disfluencies and phrase-final phonetic-phonological processes we show the impact of teenage speech on the automatic segmentation of oral presentations. Analyzing fluent final intonation contours in declarative utterances, we also show that communicative situation specificities, speaker status and cross-gender differences are key factors in speaking style variation at school.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Requirement Analysis and Implementation of Multicriteria Analysis in the NEEDS Project

This report specifies the requirements for and implementation of the multicriteria analysis of future energy technologies performed by a large number of stakeholders within the EU-funded integrated projct NEEDS. The report is composed of two main parts and the appendix. The first part starts with a summary of the objectives of the analysis followed by a detailed specifiation of the analyzed problem, in particular the analysis context, discussion of the sets of criteria and alternatives, and the participation of the stakeholders. Next, the planned problem analysis process is first outlined, and then discussed in more detail. Finally, the requirements for the multicritria analysis are specified. The second part deals with the implementation of the dedicated Web-site developed for this analysis, and later extended to support analysis of any multicriteria choice between discrete alternatives. It starts with an overview of the problem analysis process and the corresponding basic assumptions. Te architecture of the application and its features are then presented. Lessons learned from the development and use of this application conclude this part of the report. The appendix contains a review of the state-of-the-art of applying multicriteria analysis to energy problems, as well as characteristics of three applications that exploit the multicriteria analysis methods for energy problems considered relevant to the analysis reported in this paper

Interaction of reed and acoustic resonator in clarinetlike systems

Sound emergence in clarinetlike instruments is investigated in terms of instability of the static regime. Various models of reed-bore coupling are considered, from the pioneering work of Wilson and Beavers ["Operating modes of the clarinet", J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 56, 653--658 (1974)] to more recent modeling including viscothermal bore losses and vena contracta at the reed inlet. The pressure threshold above which these models may oscillate as well as the frequency of oscillation at threshold are calculated. In addition to Wilson and Beavers' previous conclusions concerning the role of the reed damping in the selection of the register the instrument will play on, the influence of the reed motion induced flow is also emphasized, particularly its effect on playing frequencies, contributing to reduce discrepancies between Wilson and Beavers' experimental results and theory, despite discrepancies still remain concerning the pressure threshold. Finally, analytical approximations of the oscillating solution based on Fourier series expansion are obtained in the vicinity of the threshold of oscillation. This allows to emphasize the conditions which determine the nature of the bifurcation (direct or inverse) through which the note may emerge, with therefore important consequences on the musical playing performances

The Physicist's Guide to the Orchestra

An experimental study of strings, woodwinds (organ pipe, flute, clarinet, saxophone and recorder), and the voice was undertaken to illustrate the basic principles of sound production in music instruments. The setup used is simple and consists of common laboratory equipment. Although the canonical examples (standing wave on a string, in an open and closed pipe) are easily reproduced, they fail to explain the majority of the measurements. The reasons for these deviations are outlined and discussed.Comment: 11 pages, 10 figures (jpg files). Submitted to European Journal of Physic

Targeted delivery of bleomycin to the brain using photo-chemical internalization of Clostridium perfringens epsilon prototoxin

Cells infiltrating into normal brain from malignant brain tumors are protected by the blood brain barrier (BBB) which prevents the delivery and limits the effects of anti-tumor agents. We have evaluated the ability of photochemical internalization (PCI) to limit the effects of an agent known to broadly open the BBB to a target region of the brain. The PCI-based relocation and activation of macromolecules into the cell cytosol has the advantage of minimal side effects since the effect is localized to the area exposed to light, allowing the access of chemotherapeutic agents only to these regions. Non tumor bearing inbred Fisher rats were treated with photosesitizer, and a nontoxic intraperitoneal dose of Clostridium perfringens epsilon prototoxin (ETXp) followed by light exposure. Post-contrast T1 MRI scans were used to monitor the degree BBB disruption. F98 tumor cells were implanted into the brains of other animals that were subsequently treated 24 h later with ETXp-PCI BBB opening followed by the i.p. administration of bleomycin (BLM). PCI delivery of ETXp at low fluence levels demonstrated significant MRI enhancement. No effect on the BBB was observed if photosesitizer and light was given in the absence ETXp. The survival of animals implanted with F98 tumor cells was significantly extended following ETXp-PCI BBB opening and BLM therapy compared to controls. PCI delivered ETXp was effective in opening the BBB in a limited region of the brain. ETXp-PCI mediated BBB opening clearly increased the efficacy of BLM therapy

A combined approach of vesicle formulations and microneedle arrays for transcutaneous immunization against hepatitis B virus

Drug Delivery Technolog