Towards musical interaction : 'Schismatics' for e-violin and computer.

This paper discusses the evolution of the Max/MSP patch used in schismatics (2007, rev. 2010) for electric violin (Violectra) and computer, by composer Sam Hayden in collaboration with violinist Mieko Kanno. schismatics involves a standard performance paradigm of a fixed notated part for the e-violin with sonically unfixed live computer processing. Hayden was unsatisfied with the early version of the piece: the use of attack detection on the live e-violin playing to trigger stochastic processes led to an essentially reactive behaviour in the computer, resulting in a somewhat predictable one-toone sonic relationship between them. It demonstrated little internal relationship between the two beyond an initial e-violin ‘action’ causing a computer ‘event’. The revisions in 2010, enabled by an AHRC Practice-Led research award, aimed to achieve 1) a more interactive performance situation and 2) a subtler and more ‘musical’ relationship between live and processed sounds. This was realised through the introduction of sound analysis objects, in particular machine listening and learning techniques developed by Nick Collins. One aspect of the programming was the mapping of analysis data to synthesis parameters, enabling the computer transformations of the e-violin to be directly related to Kanno’s interpretation of the piece in performance

Consistency Conditions of the Faddeev-Niemi-Periwal Ansatz for the SU(N) Gauge Field

The consistency condition of the Faddeev-Niemi ansatz for the gauge-fixed massless SU(2) gauge field is discussed. The generality of the ansatz is demonstrated by obtaining a sufficient condition for the existence of the three-component field introduced by Faddeev and Niemi. It is also shown that the consistency conditions determine this three-component field as a functional of two arbitrary functions. The consistency conditions corresponding to the Periwal ansatz for the SU(N) gauge field with N larger than 2 are also obtained. It is shown that the gauge field obeying the Periwal ansatz must satisfy extra (N-1)(N-2)/2 conditions.Comment: PTP Tex, 15 pages, Eq.(3.18) inserte

Non-Abelian Stokes Theorem for Loop Variables Associated with Nontrivial Loops

The non-Abelian Stokes theorem for loop variables associated with nontrivial loops (knots and links) is derived. It is shown that a loop variable is in general different from unity even if the field strength vanishes everywhere on the surface surrounded by the loop.Comment: 18 pages,10 Postscript figures, PTP Tex, Journal-ref adde

Cohomological Yang-Mills Theory in Eight Dimensions

We construct nearly topological Yang-Mills theories on eight dimensional manifolds with a special holonomy group. These manifolds are the Joyce manifold with $Spin(7)$ holonomy and the Calabi-Yau manifold with SU(4) holonomy. An invariant closed four form $T_{\mu\nu\rho\sigma}$ on the manifold allows us to define an analogue of the instanton equation, which serves as a topological gauge fixing condition in BRST formalism. The model on the Joyce manifold is related to the eight dimensional supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory. Topological dimensional reduction to four dimensions gives non-abelian Seiberg-Witten equation.Comment: 9 pages, latex, Talk given at APCTP Winter School on Dualities in String Theory, (Sokcho, Korea), February 24-28, 199

Special Quantum Field Theories In Eight And Other Dimensions

We build nearly topological quantum field theories in various dimensions. We give special attention to the case of 8 dimensions for which we first consider theories depending only on Yang-Mills fields. Two classes of gauge functions exist which correspond to the choices of two different holonomy groups in SO(8), namely SU(4) and Spin(7). The choice of SU(4) gives a quantum field theory for a Calabi-Yau fourfold. The expectation values for the observables are formally holomorphic Donaldson invariants. The choice of Spin(7) defines another eight dimensional theory for a Joyce manifold which could be of relevance in M- and F-theories. Relations to the eight dimensional supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory are presented. Then, by dimensional reduction, we obtain other theories, in particular a four dimensional one whose gauge conditions are identical to the non-abelian Seiberg-Witten equations. The latter are thus related to pure Yang-Mills self-duality equations in 8 dimensions as well as to the N=1, D=10 super Yang-Mills theory. We also exhibit a theory that couples 3-form gauge fields to the second Chern class in eight dimensions, and interesting theories in other dimensions.Comment: 36 pages, latex. References have been added together with a not

On reversion phenomena in Cu-Zr-Cr alloys

Reversion phenomena in aged Cu-0.12% Zr-0.28% Cr alloy were investigated by means of resistivity measurement and transmission electron microscopy and compared with those of Cu-0.30% Zr and Cu-0.26% Cr alloys. Specimens in the form of a 0.5 mm sheet were solution-treated at 950 F for 1 hr water-quenched, aged, and finally reversed. The reversion phenomena were confirmed to exist in Cu-Zr and Cu-Zr-Cr alloys as well as Cu-Cr alloys, at aging temperatures of 300 to 500 F. The critical aging temperature for the reversion was not observed in all the alloys. Split aging increased the amount of reversion, particularly in Cu-Zr and Cu-Zr-Cr alloys, compared with that by conventional aging. The amount of reversion in Cu-Zr-Cr alloy was greatly affected by the resolution of Cr precipitate formed by preaging. Structural changes in Cu-Zr-Cr alloy due to the reversion were hardly observed by transmission electron microscopy

Maintaining and Enhancing Students' Collaborative Learning in a Japanese EFL Higher Education Context

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a huge shift towards digital forms of education. Although Japan has never gone into full lockdown, students have been strictly kept at home and socially isolated from classroom learning for extended periods. Teachers were urged to create online teaching and learning resources and began to consider the most suitable technologies to teach their courses. This paper reports on a teacher’s ongoing efforts to develop and deliver distancelearning English as a foreign language (EFL) courses in a higher education context. Drawing on a view that learning is social development, the researcher focuses on the concept of social presence in peer-to-peer communication that could enhance collaborative learning in a virtual classroom. Synchronous distance learning courses were developed utilising a text-messaging application and collaborative text-editing software with the aim to establish a communicative learning space. Analysis into the students’ interactions in Slack workspaces – a text messaging applicationindicated a variety of interpersonal, open, and cohesive communication that signalled psychological closeness in the virtual learning environment. Group discussion sessions revealed that students could feel connected to each other in the synchronous EFL courses, which demonstrated the robustness of social interaction despite physical distancing. Major difficulties lay in three areas: technology, the nature of the task, and some students’ task preferences. These three areas need to be addressed when designing and delivering a distance learning course

Higher-dimensional WZW Model on K\"ahler Manifold and Toroidal Lie Algebra

We construct a generalization of the two-dimensional Wess-Zumino-Witten model on a $2n$-dimensional K\"ahler manifold as a group-valued non-linear sigma model with an anomaly term containing the K\"ahler form. The model is shown to have an infinite-dimensional symmetry which generates an $n$-toroidal Lie algebra. The classical equation of motion turns out to be the Donaldson-Uhlenbeck-Yau equation, which is a $2n$-dimensional generalization of the self-dual Yang-Mills equation.Comment: 12 pages, Late